Intense images sporadically flashed in Isabella’s dreams causing her to toss and turn violently in her bed. She could picture her laying on the ground caught with several men surrounding her. She fixated on the blonde woman in a light blue dress standing off to the side. The young woman had a colorfully beaded bag over her shoulder. Isabella wondered if she was a villager or a passerby curious about the commotion Isabella had caused. But the guards did not notice the pretty woman even when blood began spurting out of her neck. Seeing the gushing blood, Isabella attempted to scream for the men to help the blonde woman. But she could not make any noise as she kept trying to yell. The young blonde woman’s dress became saturated in blood when Isabella found her voice screaming as she sat up in her bed.

Scanning the room, it sank into Isabella that she was no longer on the ground but safe in her own bed back inside the castle. Her bedroom scarcely lit by a single candlelight on her bedside. She dropped back into her bed with her head thumping against the pillow. Did she really see a young woman bleed out on the side of the mountain? Why did the men surrounding Isabella not help the woman in distress? Was it even real? She closed her eyes and breathed slowly attempting o calm her rapid beating heart. The realization dawned on her that her escape plan had failed miserably as her aching body could attest to.

She groaned opening her eyes to survey the damage done to her body. Bruises and minor cuts were scattered across her sore arms, but she could tell by sheer pain that her legs and feet took the brunt of the punishment. Throwing back the covers, Isabella noticed under her white nightgown that her legs and feet were wrapped in bandages. She had poorly chosen her footwear for the trek. Sitting up, she gradually shifted her legs to hang off the side of her bed. Carefully placing her bandage feet on the rug, she attempted to stand. As she shifted her weight onto the bottoms of her feet, sharp pain caused Isabella to vocalize. “Ow Ow Ow.”

“Good heavens, will you just sit down.” From the shadows a cool voice called out. Isabella recognized it instantly as Nathanial’s voice. Reading his tone, she knew her vampire husband was irritated. Straining against the dim light, she managed to pinpoint his location from a dark corner of her bedroom. Her bedroom drapes opened allowing evening light to enter the room. The moonlight accentuated the angles of his sharp face and short white hair. In fear she gripped tighter to the side of the bed as he let the drapes close blocking out the moonlight.

Isabella nervously waited as the tall thin figure began emerging from the darkness. As he approached her, she noted his cross expression warning her not to speak. From the candlelight, Isabella observed his attire was expertly tailored against his thin frame. His dress pants and silk shirt in navy blue offset perfectly against his white skin and hair. Nathanial took pride in dressing immaculately with rarely a hair out of place or a wrinkle in his outfit. He insisted Isabella be neat in appearance, and he approved her dresses and hairstyles. She herself could not be bothered, but presented a good façade for his approval.

Nathanial stood in front of Isabella and sternly asked her. “What were you thinking? You could have killed yourself with your stupid antics.”

Tears threatened to spill from her eyes. How could she explain to him the injustice she felt about the Council’s decision? She could not lay with another man as it would be affront to their marriage. Isabella had never engaged in these acts with a man before and could not do so because it was ordered. She assumed these acts would be part of a loving marriage. Isabella may have left her foolish ideals behind her when she agreed to marry Nathanial. But she could not take this step with a stranger.

Nathanial’s brows knitted together. “Answer me!” He shouted at Isabella and her response became less controlled. Meeting his gaze, her tears fell as she stumbled out. “Sir, I cannot abide by the decree set out by the council. I cannot do that.” As she began to sob, Nathanial relaxed his body stance and sat down beside her on the bed. Placing an arm around her, she could hear him offer comforting words. “Relax, Isabella.” Embarrassment flooded her as crying in front of him exposed her weaknesses. Wrestling with her self-control, she began pushing her feelings down commanding herself to stop crying. Isabella from experience pulled her emotions in and down to suppress them. And as fast as the tears had started, Isabella had composed herself.

Nathanial with his piercing blue eyes asked her. “Do you feel better now?” She took a hand and brushed away at the tears she shed. She nodded at him as she pulled her black hair from her face and began smoothing it over. Isabella cleared her throat and answered him. “I am sorry sir. I feel better.” She hoped to convince her vampire husband to fight the Council’s decree. “Excuse me sir, could you convince the Council to drop this decision?” She hoped he would see how ludicrous this decision was and fight on behalf of his wife. Her heart dropped when Nathanial sighed and took her hand in his.

“My dear sweet Isabella.” He said as his one hand stroked the top of her hand. She heard this tone before when he would bring up words such as tradition and duty. “Warlocks are such barbarians. The Council has the difficult responsibility of maintaining peace between the species. As the Queen, others look up to you for guidance and you must show obedience to the Council’s decisions.” Nathanial’s cool blue eyes met hers. “How does it look when you disagree with the Golden Oracle Council?”

Isabella focused on her hands still enveloped by his as waves of guilt rushed over her. She did have a duty to the villagers in the kingdom. And she had a duty to Nathanial and to the Council to provide a united front. Peace was important for the sake of the Dulra, Malagi and the Vilkros. When she had married Nathanial, she hoped to become a strong leader for her people. A red blush crossed her cheeks at the thought of her escape attempt. Her fleeing could cause unrest in the townspeople. She was determined to do better for her kingdom.

Nathanial stated to her. “All you need to do is provide an heir. Once it is born, you can hand it to one of the clans to raise it. Your life can return to normal.” Isabella felt a slight sting that she would have a child and give the child up once born. She had spent most of her time thinking about the forced conception than she did about bringing a child into the world. Isabella did want to become a mother at one point. Being married to a vampire her entire life meant she would be childless. Did she want that? And if she did have a baby, Isabella would want to remain with the child and become a mother. Would she have to give the child up to please Nathanial?

Isabella contemplated asking Nathanial when he expressed to her. “Will you promise me that you will not attempt another escapade down the mountain?” His expression softened as his gaze became gentle in nature. In these moments when Nathanial’s temperament became tender, she recognized the kind-hearted vampire she agreed to marry. She answered him. “No, I will not try to escape again.” He nodded as a smile crept on his face. Nathanial softly asked her. “Isabella, I know it might not be a good time as you are recouping, but I am meeting with members of the Council. Your little adventure today was noticed.” Even in the short time they had been married, she understood what he was silently asking for.

Pulling her hands away from his, Isabella with one hand brushed her black hair from the side of her neck. He needed to feed off her blood. Not because of hunger, they had mortal villagers who volunteered their blood for the food supply for the vampire residents. Nathanial fed off Isabella’s blood to absorb her powers for increasing his strength. A vampire husband that fed off his witch wife was not unusual as the rulers in the New World were paired similarly to Nathanial and Isabella. He spoke as he leaned his face toward her neck. “This will help you sleep dear.”

She recognized the typical sting as his fangs broke through her skin. Isabella closed her eyes at the routine feeding which made her feel drowsy. Nathanial could be trusted not to drink more than he should which would put her in jeopardy. Fatigue wrapped around her as Nathanial finished raising his head to red blood stains at the corner of his mouth. Her vampire husband picked her up and laid her down into bed with her head resting on the pillow. Nathanial ever considerate pulled her covers up as her eyes remained closed. She heard him speak. “Goodnight dear.” As he began leaving her room, her eyes drifted open to see the young blonde woman standing at the side of her bed. Isabella focused on her beaded bag as her eyes drifted close into sleep.