(Previously named Tristan)

Erinna quickly changed, wearing a white dress that clinged to her bosom modestly but was otherwise loose and airy.

When she was presentable, she asked the guard outside her door to open it for her since she couldn't even dream of opening those doors. Dracula had obviously designed them to cage her in.

No human or elf was physically capable of opening them without breaking a muscle or two, which made her wonder how she had done it the day she had gotten the headaches. Much of the journey was a blur to her.

"Good morning, Countess." The vampire greeted her, not once meeting her eyes. It was an offence punishable by death.

She had given up trying to reason with Dracula on his ridiculous laws, if no one seeing her face was what brought him sleep at night then whatever.

"Morning, George. How are you this morning?" she smiled, feeling guilty now as she glanced at his arm knowing how Alex had oh so graciously chopped half of it off.

The man turned scarlet. Erinna didn't even know vampires blushed.

"Good milady. Thank you for asking."

"I'm just going to take Alex for a walk along the beach," she told him, deciding to cut the conversation short before Dracula and his paranoid self appeared.

Unlike the occasions with Alexander, Erinna knew if it was someone else lingering around her, heads would roll and she had no wish of putting George in danger.

"The Count," George began but she cut him off.

"He knows."

"I'd feel better if I came with you."

It was obvious being within five feet of the very same animal that had snacked on him was not on his list of priorities but it seemed to be a preferable option to facing Vlad's wraith after he found out he let her go outside wit no protection.

"Only to the door though," she told him not wanting to argue because Vlad refused for her to go anywhere alone.

When they got to the castle doors and two of the guards there offered to come with her, Erinna refused. Alex was not a fan of people, there was no need to antagonise him.

She refused to take a ride on Alex's back even when he kept nudging at her with his head to. She knew she was slowing him down but could not accept his offer. Her life had drastically changed ever since meeting The Count but she wasn't going to add lion riding to the list of oddities that now characterised her life.

She was aware of Dracula' cronies following them at a distance even when she had told them she'd be fine. She rolled her eyes; she had known he'd never let her go alone. With how paranoid he was, she wondered how stress hadn't killed him yet before remembering he was virtually indestructible.

They arrived at the creek that led to the lake and it was just as beautiful as before. She took off her sandals, wanting to feel the sand beneath her feet, something people took for granted yet she had never had the pleasure of experiencing in her seventeen years of being locked in her father's castle.

Her clothes and hair billowed in the wind and Alex moved around in circles around her, enjoying being outside as much as her. At first her pace had been exasperating him till in the end he had decided to let go and just enjoy himself as well.

They talked of everything and anything as they walked. Alex told her of his mate who had died in a savage trap three thousand years back and how much he had wanted to die until he had met his familiar.

Since then his duty and will for survival had been to make sure his familiar (The Count) was always protected.

Erinna told him of her father and her life in the castle to lighten the mood.

When they got to the edge of the water, Alex had changed his mind about bathing and Erinna had to talk him into it again. As she was washing him, Alex feeling playful and not wanting to be the only wet one, splashed her.

She gasped and then laughed mischievously whilst splashing him back. They started running around the shore splashing each other and giggling like toddlers.

At the end she had to lie down to catch her breath and dry her clothes a bit. She knew they would have to return to the castle before Dracula was ready to bust a vein but for then, she was just going to enjoy the peaceful night.

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"What way of holding a spear is that, Tristan?" The Count scowled, taking the spear from the boy.

He raised it, about to demonstrate when something or rather someone caught his attention. He looked far into the distance where he could sense her presence and sure enough, Erinna was walking back to the castle from the creek.

"I'll be back," he said and vanished before either Alexander or Tristan could reply.

"At least leave my spear," Tristan grumbled and proceeded to kick nearby anthills in frustration.

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Erinna gasped when Vlad appeared in front of her from nowhere whilst Alex and her walked back to the castle, making Alex leap all over the place in joy.

"You should stop doing that," she breathed.

One day he was surely going to give her a heart attack.

"You're wet," he frowned, displeased.

"We were playing," she giggled still on her fun high. Plus she knew if she didn't make light of it, Alex would get in trouble.

He gave Alex a disapproving look. If Alex wasn't his familiar, Erinna would have been worried about his life but this was one creature he actually couldn't kill no matter how much he might want to at times.

"Seriously, we were just having fun."

"You could have caught a cold," he said and regulated the temperature around her so that she was warm.

"You sound like a disapproving grandfather," she teased him.

"Grandfather huh?" He said, walking toward her in slow predatory steps.

The spark in his eyes chilled her. She couldn't tell if he was mad or not, with Vlad you could never be too sure; he gave a new meaning to the word mercurial. Only Alexander seemed to have mastered reading his moods accurately.

She found herself taking backward steps with every forward step he took, on instinct. He was so unpredictable that this could quickly go from her teasing him to one of their 'don't discuss' subjects to psycho Dracula.

"Vlad, what are you doing?" She asked nervously, staunching the need to lick her lips.

The best way to deal with predators was not to show them you were nervous or anxious.

"I don't know Countess, you tell me since you can read me so well."

Yes, that was her cue. Erinna turned around and bolted, or tried to anyway. He easily caught her, grabbing her by the waist.

"Vlad!" She screamed, struggling and making both of them lose their balance and fall onto the sand in a tangle of limbs.

He got on top of her and tickled her, making Erinna squeal and laugh. It was so unDracula-like that she found herself laughing at the absurdity of the whole situation as well as from how ticklish his hands made her. She laughed until she couldn't laugh anymore and no more sound was coming out.

"Vlad, V-Vlad, please stop," she gasped between laughs.

He finally did.

"What was it you were saying about grandfathers, Countess?"

"Nothing!"

"I don't know, it seems to me like you want me to prove something."

"No, you're wrong. I don't," she answered, struggling to keep a straight face.

Laughter was right at the tip of her tongue.

"So I have nothing to prove?"

"No, you have nothing to prove."

He raised his right eyebrow and she just knew he was going to twist her words.

"My masculinity is such a given for you that there is no need for me to try and persuade you?"

"I didn't say that, Vlad!"

"Then what did you say, angel?"

She didn't get to answer that because he wss tickling her again.

It was only when she called on Alex for help that the lion pushed Vlad off her.

"Ganging up on me with my familiar?"

"You brought it on yourself," she laughed.

He rolled back to her until he was hovering over her, his face mere centimeters from hers.

"I like it when you laugh. It's a sound worthy of angels."

She blushed from the roots of her hair to the tips of her fingers.

"You're on your way to becoming soft," she teased him.

"Try telling that to the people on death roll."

"You do know how to ruin the moment," she scowled.

"You know I don't tolerate disrespect, why would it surprise you when I punish those who cross me?" He frowned, tucking a stray strand of dark hair behind her ear.

The gesture was tender and sweet but she refused to be distracted.

"Because it's irrational. There are other punishments, I'm not all for flogging but it is better than just killing someone."

"This is one argument you can never win Countess so let it go. We'll agree to disagree," he smirked and kissed her lips.

"Don't distract me." She put up her hands to push his head away but Vlad paid no attention to her attempts.

"Let it go, Erinna."

He kissed her jaw, his hand caressing her waist sofly. Butterflies fluttered in her stomach and heat spread to her toes. But she couldn't just 'let go' the fact that he prided in killing people and didn't miss an opportunity to remind her.

"No," she protested but it came out weak.

Vlad must have read her quickly eroding resistance because he moved in full force then, taking his lips from her jaw to her mouth.

He coaxed her to open but he didn't need to, her lips were already moving against his. They disagreed on a lot of things but this was one place where they were always in sync.

Erinna gasped when Vlad's hand moved down her body, grabbing her right thigh and lifting it higher, drawing her pelvis to his so that she was pressed against him.

"You look so beautiful right now."

His compliment was said emphatically and with such raw emotion and unbridled desire that Erinna suddenly found herself self-conscious and embarrassed.

"Vlad, we're outside?" She mumbled.

"So?"

"So it's not proper for us to be this way. Anyone could be watching."

"Give me some credit Erinna, would I touch you if I thought there was any chance someone might see you?"

With Vlad she really couldn't answer that question. His possessiveness yearned to show the world she was his but it also was obsessive about keeping him to herself.

"Alright, fine. But I still won't kiss you, you were being a jerk," she told him, teasing him because her own body was on fire and she needed nothing more than him to quench the fire raging beneath her skin.

"Jerk?"

"Yes, a person who does things that hurt other people," she explained enthusiastically.

"You have been spending time with Alexander again I see."

She shrugged.

"Didn't I tell you to stay away from him?"

"That doesn't mean I have to obey you. I'm not one of your subjects, Vlad. I will not jump just because you demand it, Alexander is my friend, get used to it," she said with a frown.

"No, you're not one of my subjects, but he is."

Erinna's jaw dropped.

"You are going to order him to stay away from me?"

"If that is what it's going to take. I've told you numerous times I don't want you alone with him."

"Why do you feel so threatened by him?"

"Alexander is not a threat, if I thought he was, then I would use all the resources at my disposal to eliminate him. So tell me Countess, is he a threat?"

She glared at him, anger and annoyance bubbling inside her but his eyes remained cold and hard, the determination in them telling her this was not something he would back down on.

The worst thing was Erinna knew he was fully capable of carrying out his words and would do it just to spite her.

"No, he's not a threat."

"Good, now give me a kiss."

He brought his head down to join their lips but she moved her head aside so his mouth landed on her jaw instead.

"Erinna," Vlad growled dangerously.

His veins were sticking out, the cords at his neck severly pulled. Tension and frustration held his body was rigid except for the low frequency vibration she could feel in every few seconds from his raging fury.

She pushed at his chest but her movements failed to dislodge him, even by a millimeter.

"Get off me," she demanded, her eyes blazing with banked fury.

"I would think very well about my actions right now if I were you, angel."

The warning was clear but Erinna was far too gone to heed it.

"But you're not me and I refuse to be ordered around as if I'm a circus animal here to perform at your pleasure."

"Do you like him?"

"Of course I do, he's my first friend."

"Are you attracted to him?"

"Excuse me?" She asked incredulously.

"Why are you fighting me so hard about him?"

"Because that is life, you do not always get what you want."

"I do."

His eyes glinted and a chill went down Erinna's spine.

"If you ever, ever touch a hair on Alexander's head, this truce will be over. I will kill you."

Couldn't he see Alexander was the only thing that kept him human? He denied their friendship but she had seen and felt the bond between them. It was the only redeeming quality about him and if he ever severed that connection, it would be the nail in his own coffin.

Nothing, not even her could save him if he killed the only man who had sticked with him for centuries despite what an abominable creature he could be. If he killed Alexander, it would mean he was everything everyone thought him to be. Evil.

"Join the line, angel."

His voice was dry, cold and sarcastic and Erinna didn't like it.

She was not trying to fight with him. They had been having a wonderful time before his jealousy had reared its ugly head.

Maybe she was going around this the wrong way.

"What is it about him that you dislike so much?" She asked softly, setting her hostility aside in favor of understanding.

"You like him."

"Yes, as a friend."

"He's perfect for you."

Everything I can never be, Erinna heard the unspoken words. His statement lended her more insight on his reasoning than anything ever had.

In his mind, Alexander was exactly like Erinna. They were both kind, empathetic and less inclined to be controlled by darkness.

"But he's not the one I'm here with, is he? He's not the one whose curse I'm trying to break, is he? And he's certainly not the one I want to kiss even though he is being a world class jerk."

"You want to kiss me?" A soft, boyish smile that popped Vlad's dimple appeared on his lips.

Erinna's stomach turned to goo and all her negative emotions of the past few minutes gave way to pure, primal hunger. He really was beautifully beyond words and it wasn't just physical. His strength and perseverance radiated out of him, giving him a presence few could rival. Sexual appeal bursted right out of his soul.

"That is the only thing you heard?" She laughed softly.

"I choose my battles Countess and this is one I can win."

She was relieved the darkness that had been in his eyes had now dissipated, replaced by the insecurities he tried to hide with menace. With gentle hands, Erinna cupped his face.

"I don't want you to ever worry about Alexander, alright? He likes me but he loves you. If you can't trust me at least trust that. He would never do anything to hurt you."

His eyes sparkled as he stared at her, as if searching for something. Finally he looked aside, dropping his head on her chest.

"Okay. I believe you."

"I feel like we should get that in writing," she teased his, her fingers playing with his curly dark locks.

Vlad lifted his head.

"Now you're just pushing it, angel."

"Why do you call me that? I'm not perfect."

"You are to me. I know I'll never measure up, but one day I'm going to be worthy to call you mine."

"Vlad," she began but he shook his head.

"No, enough talking. Don't you think you have knocked me down enough for one day?"

A grin split Erinna's lips.

"That's not what I was trying to do."

"You forget angel, I know you better than you know yourself." His voice came out in a husky whisper that sent a jolt to Erinna's belly.

As she ruminated on his words, Vlad brought down his lips to the corner of her lips.

Erinna's heartbeat spiked up at once and her body reawakened for his. He did not kiss her lips but just the feel of his mouth on her skin made her blood sing. He dropped featherlight kisses on her jaw that became hungrier and deeper as he went down.

Erinna's body lit up and her hands pulled at his hair as she tried to contain the storm he was building within her. The bond had taken all their negative feelings and turned them into this red-hot desire that threatened to consume them both.

She moaned and writhed beneath him, seemly unable to control her reactions. That was what he did to her. One second she was a respectable Elven princess and the next she was a hungry siren.

"How is it possible that you can smell and taste this intoxicating?" Vlad asked as he nibbled on her neck but without breaking skin.

When he got to the juncture of her neck and shoulder, his kisses had become more aggressive, passionate and desperate. His fangs had descended and were leaving savage little bites on her skin.

She didn't think he even realised it but his talons had extended and broken through the fabric of her dress and were painfully digging into her waist. It was hard to abhor the pain though for it came mixed with the pleasure of what he was doing to her neck.

But she had to stop him. It was not the pain for she could deal with that. What she didn't want was to walk around with a sign that basically told everyone she had been intimate with him.

"Vlad stop, you're going to leave marks on my skin."

He raised his head, a frown on his lips. His eyes were heavy lidded and drunk with lust.

"So?"

"So I don't want that."

"Too late, angel." He grinned and went to kiss her decotellage but she pushed his head up, intent on distracting him.

He was so close to losing control and he didn't even realize it. Erinna was fine with that but she didn't want him to hate himself afterwards if he did.

"Don't you even care that Alex is here?"

"You're my fiancé, I can be inappropriate any time I want, now kiss me."

Unfortunately that was a rhetorical request because before she had time to answer him, Vlad was bringing his head down and crushing his lips to hers.

Oh well, they would deal with the consequences later.

She responded to him, her body hungry for his as much as his was for hers. Vlad growled with satisfaction as she moved her lips along with his, opening her mouth and giving him entrance when he became impatient. Her mind and common sense became a thing of the past as he invaded her both physically and emotionally.

His fangs slashed her tongue and he quickly withdrew.

"Damn it, I'm sorry. That was not supposed to happen. Are you okay?" Concern coated his words but the hunger in his eyes was hard to miss.

The metallic taste of blood in her mouth was making Erinna want to wretch so she did the one thing she could think of: she grabbed Vlad and kissed him to distract herself from it.