The Count regarded the castle before him silently. No one could see him yet for his presence was being cloaked by the shadows, but they could feel him.

He could see it in their nervous over-the-shoulder glances and hurried steps.They knew there was something in the shadows, a predator stalking and hunting them for their blood. But they were wrong, not about who he was but about his intentions. He was only there for one person.

His undead heart stirred in the cavity of his chest, a mere movement he could have missed if it was not unusual. It only happened when Erinna was around and right then he could sense her with every fiber of his being.

If he closed his eyes and filtered out all the other sounds, he would be able to hear her heartbeat. He had become so attuned to its rhythm and could pick it out in a million of others. Her scent wafted through one of the windows of the ominous towers before him. It gave new life to the blood flowing through his veins and caused him to groan in anticipation. God, he had missed her.

He knew his decision to ignore her had been stupid but it had seemed like a good idea at the time. He had wanted her to miss him as much as he had missed her, had wanted her to feel his absence the way he felt hers. After everything else had not worked in making her stay in Transylvania, this had been his last resort.

He had thought that maybe if she missed him just enough, she would come back home. But he should have known from experience Erinna was not a woman to be manipulated. How many times had she shown him that?

"Who is there?" A voice called out.

Vlad rolled his eyes at the dramatic tone in the guard's voice.

"I said who is there?" The voice shouted again yet the caller did not dare come into the shadows to face him.

Vlad stepped away from his cover and walked languidly towards the castle entrance.

"Calm yourself elf, I heard you the first time."

The man's feet seemed to want to take a step back but to his credit, he remained fixed in his position. His stupid courage did not impress Vlad but it fascinated him enough to allow the man to keep his life.

"C-count Dracula," the man deduced.

"What gave it away? I left the cape today," Vlad said because he was feeling malicious. Weeks away from Erinna always did that to him.

"We were told to expect you," the man said, regaining his composure.

The cape joke was obviously lost on his audience, only Alexander would have gotten that one.

In the 2000 years that Vlad had been in the coffin, Alexander had masqueraded as him in order to keep invaders at bay and to maintain peace within the territory. Only a few select members of the clan and a couple of humans Alexander had chosen to guard his body had known the truth of the situation.

In those days, Alexander had taken up the cliché representation that the world had of him in a cape and ran with it. His friend had cultivated the villainous image a little too much and a little too enthusiastically that Vlad was still suffering from it whenever he visited those who felt comfortable enough with him to rib him for it.

He cringed at the very idea of ever wearing a cape and would never step out of the door in the ridiculous outfit. His royal robes were already too much and he only wore them when he wished to deliberately intimidate someone but apparently the cape thing had worked for Alexander when he was trying to get people to believe he was Count Dracula.

He should probably have considered it also if he was going to have a discussion with Eric but his usual black leather pants and tunic would have to do just as well. He had no time to dress up for someone whose opinion meant so little to him.

"Well, in that case I'm insulted you're not doing everything in your power to make me feel at home."

"T-the king, he said to tell you you're not welcome."

What else was new?

"Your king," he said darkly yet like it always did, his voice came out seductively. It was the curse of his existence.

Predictably, the elf's heartbeat picked up and he licked his lips, taking a step back.

"What?" He blinked.

"I'm saying your king. Not mine. Your king."

"You're in our territory, that means he is your king also," the little elf before him suddenly grew himself some balls. He was not little but still.

His stupidity had fascinated The Count at first but now it was just plain annoying. He had been dying to see Erinna for weeks and the measly creature before him was closer to his death than he realized if he thought he could delay him any further.

"I'd like to discuss the matrimonial rules of your people that make me the absolute ruler of this little kingdom on account of my marriage to its princess but I don't have the time so why don't you go fetch me the person in charge. And I mean Eric."

If the elf came back with his superior or anyone else except the man Vlad did not want to see but had to see, he would lose his patience.

When he had arrived, he had tried to sneak into the castle but of course that had been mission impossible. The place was barricaded in a familiar energy: Angelica and her stupid husband. Damn Erinna for tricking him into releasing them.

In twenty minutes, Eric finally appeared.

"Took your sweet time, didn't you?" He remarked drily.

"We can't all be at your beck and call," the king shrugged.

Since Vlad was not there to exchange jabs with the man, he ignored that statement and went right to the subject of his visit.

"Let down the barriers, I want to see my wife."

"The princess is indisposed."

"I know that, that's why I'm here."

"She will be fine, she just needs to rest."

"And I would prefer to determine that on my own."

Movement behind Eric caught Vlad's attention before a barefoot Erinna flew into his arms. One moment he was arguing with his father-in-law from hell and the next his arms were full of warm, soft woman. She smelt better than he remembered, felt better too. Her hair had a new scent she had not used in Transylvania but one that wasn't too unlikable either.

Her excitement set fire to his own. She was excited to see him and not hiding it. Her blood was racing close to the surface, her heart beating a staccato against her ribcage. This beautiful, wondrously lively woman was excited to see him. Him. Vlad Dracula. It was one of the most humbling experiences of his life.

He didn't even think about it, he held her closer, with her legs around his waist and brought down his lips to kiss hers, the way he had dreamed of for weeks. Desire immediately seized him and ignited the several hungers within him. She didn't disappoint; his wife pulled him closer, kissed him harder and let her own feelings run free.

"Heavens Erinna, control yourself. You're a princess," Eric looked away in embarrassment.

Vlad had a sudden urge to rearrange his face for talking to Erinna like that but who cared for nonessentials like Edmund when there was Erinna?

He had expected her to give him an earful for his behavior in the past weeks and he might still get it later but this was far better a welcome than anything. Edwin was not going to ruin that. But he broke the kiss because he genuinely wanted to know if she was okay. The day had been horrendous for her.

"Hello angel," he looked down at her and kissed the side of her mouth.

"You came," she grinned, her arms circling his neck and her eyes sparkling at him.

He had never thought anyone would be that excited to see him. It was a great feeling and infused him with warmth.

"Not yet, but the night is young," he said low enough for her ears only and winked. Predictably, her jaw dropped and her face flushed endearingly.

He scanned her for any remnants of her sickness but it seemed to have disappeared with the coming out of her familiar. Her fever was down and she seemed to have some color back in her cheeks although that could have been from him kissing her in front of her father.

"Where are your shoes?" He asked her.

Immediately, her face flushed, becoming a deeper shade of red.

"I thought I felt you and I guess I didn't think. I just rushed to check."

"You missed me."

And if that didn't feel good.

"You know I did."

"If you're all finished," Eric said drily.

What was the man's problem?

"You're causing a scene," the king said when he didn't get a reaction.

Erinna looked around then immediately clambered down from his arms. Vlad had an urge to continue holding her just so they could learn to mind their business but he didn't want to give Erinna a reason to put him in the dog house when she had already welcomed him so heartily.

"You want to come inside?" She asked and Vlad was shocked.

She loved him, he knew that but never in his wildest dreams had he ever imagined any decent person would ever allow him into their home and here sweet, pure Erinna was inviting him into her childhood home. He was so awed that for a few seconds he couldn't do anything but gape at her.

He always got what he wanted from people because they feared him or because he threatened them but for someone to let him in out of their own free will...

"Uhm," he coughed because he didn't know what to say.

It were a few moments in his life that he got to be speechless or to look like a retard but he suspected this was one of them. His only consolation was that it was all happening outside Transylvania; Alexander would have had a field day with him. He wouldn't hear the end of it until the next century.

"I'm not sure The Count has time for that sweetheart. You just came to say hello didn't you?" Eric glared at Vlad in a way that dared him to deny his claim but what did Vlad live for if for not to piss off his father-in-law?

"I'd love to come in," he said, putting his arm around Erinna and kissing her forehead.

She blushed and he cursed himself because he kept forgetting this was not Transylvania and that he was surrounded by a bunch of conservative puritans.

Whilst his own people reveled in the venereal and a man and a woman seeing to nature's basic needs would not be looked at twice at a social gathering, his wife's kinsmen were probably having heart attacks from him even kissing Erinna's forehead.

"Alright," she smiled at him then turned to Eric, "Father?"

Eric looked disgruntled.

"If I may have a word with you princess?"

"Of course we can talk. But can you grant Vlad access into the castle first?"

"About that," the king hedged.

"Maybe we can just go home?" Vlad said something he knew would spurt Eric right into action and like he had predicted, Eric gave an awkward laugh and waved his comment away.

"Of course not, there's no need for that. Come in. Melissa, have the kitchens prepare our best feast for The Count, won't you?"

The little midget knew Vlad didn't partake of any mortal food. He fought the urge to pull Erinna closer and tell Eric he had every meal he was ever going to need right there. Erinna meant more to him than the next blood bag so he kept the objectifying comment to himself even if he would have liked to see Eric's reaction.

"Father, Vlad doesn't really-," his bride began nervously.

"I insist," Eric cut in.

Vlad gritted his teeth. The urge to sock the man right in his jaw was getting stronger as the night progressed.

Erinna opened her mouth to try and explain again but he squeezed her shoulder and told her it was fine. If Eric wanted to play games, then games they would play.

**************

Three hours later and Vlad still hadn't gotten a moment alone with his wife. Eric had invited the whole clan to come and witness firsthand the animal holding his daughter hostage. Well, he had called it a dinner invitation but Vlad knew better.

He didn't like social interactions and he especially didn't like pretending to like people he could barely tolerate but for Erinna he would do this. She was trying to get back into her people's good graces and he wouldn't ruin it for her. He didn't smile or make conversation with anyone but he at least didn't open his mouth and offend anyone.

"Are you okay?" Erinna asked him when they finally sat down to a dinner that made everything within his vampire veins, want to hurl.

"You mean am I close to snapping and throwing one of your kinsmen out of the window?" he teased her.

"That's not funny," she swatted at him but her eyes twinkled.

That at least was one consolation for this whole charade he was being forced through. He would play social guinea pig, whatever times necessary just to have Erinna laugh at one of his morbid bordering on sadistic jokes any night.

"Sure is. Especially that one. Why is he looking at you like that?" He asked.

There was one particular elf whose eyes hadn't left Erinna the whole night. The others looked at her in the usual way people who were awed by her beauty did but there was something different in the other elf's gaze. Vlad was not sure he liked it.

"That's Deacon," she told him which didn't really explain anything.

"And?" he persisted.

"And nothing."

She was lying but he would get it out of her.

"So, Count Dracula, any plans to join the lands?" One of the elves whose name he hadn't cared enough to memorize, said.

He was an ugly shriveled little thing with a receding hairline. Vlad had never come across any aesthetically challenged elves but this guy was one of them.

Vlad shrugged at the question because he didn't want to encourage any of them and make them think he actually wanted to talk to them.

"We are still discussing it," Erinna tried to make up for his rudeness.

"Well Ellingsdale is a land of elves. We will not have it_"

"Uncle, perhaps if we could just finish dinner?" The man who had been staring at Erinna all night cut in to save her the awkwardness.

Vlad didn't like that one bit.

Erinna must have seen him glaring at the elf because she entwined her hand with his under the table.

"Who is he?" He repeated again.

"Later."

So he was someone. Vlad didn't know how he felt about that. No, that was a lie. He knew exactly how he felt about that and murderous topped the list. It didn't miss his eyes that the fool was the same age group as his wife or that Eric kept trying to encourage Erinna into conversation with him.

"Sweetheart did you know Deacon's family is one of the founding families of our tribe?" Eric said and Vlad's grip tightened on his glass.

"Really?" Erinna said with polite curiosity.

"Yes, tell her the whole story Deacon."

"I'm sure the princess knows her history, my lord," the elf said.

Vlad relaxed. Minutely.

If the damned elf had taken the bait....

"What I'd rather know is how the princess is finding her new life," the man said with an almost malicious smile.

"It's great, thank you," Erinna smiled and kissed Vlad's cheek.

"Of course," Deacon gave a plastic smile.

"Do we have a problem?" Vlad flat out asked because he had never been one for subliminals. If the fool had something to say then he should just come out and say it.

Eric quickly jumped in.

"Wine, Count Dracula? It is a rare bottle I acquired ages ago from the Persians. It is perfectly aged," the king smiled.

Vlad gave one last warning glare to Darren or Deacon, then turned his attention to Elvis.

"That is a kind offer but I do like my drinks young, fresh and a bit warmer than that," he said, giving a toothy almost animalistic smile that displayed his peaking fangs. In due correspondence, his eyes flashed red for just one second.

The elves at the table jumped back except Erinna, Eric and Dylan. That did not do well for Vlad's annoyance, he wanted the little hound panting for his wife's affection to fear him.

"The Count is just joking, right Vlad?" Erinna smiled and discreetly elbowed him in the ribs.

"Of course angel," he went along with her lie, biting his cheek to keep back his smirk. She was such a peacemaker.

The elves looked reluctant to return to their food but he had come to learn there really was no one who could resist Erinna.

"Interesting sense of humor," one of the elves said dryly.

Vlad rolled his eyes but remained civil for the rest of the evening. Eric kept testing him of course by asking him if he wanted to try different foods. He ignored all the questions and remained quiet unless it was to Erinna.

She took his hand and squeezed it again midway through dinner.

"Thank you for coming."

He shrugged because it meant nothing. There was no way he would ever stay away whilst she needed him. He would cross a thousand rivers and face a million annoying elves who believed his very existence was a curse to nature if it meant he got to be with Erinna.

"No, I mean it. Thank you," she smiled and he groaned because that innocent action affected him in ways that were far from innocent.

"Eat up Countess," he said to distract himself from how good she looked, how, beautiful and how at peace.

Being in Ellingsdale agreed with her. Her skin had regained some of its luminescence that it had lost from being forced to live in the shadows. It was glowing in a way that made it seem like the sun had been lit underneath it. She looked radiant.

"I would if I wasn't eating alone. You really can't eat mortal food?" She asked him quietly.

"I could, Alexander likes it but I can't stand the taste," he told her as he took a sip from the wine set before him.

The taste was bland and did nothing for his preferences but he was trying to distract himself from leaping at Erinna's jugular.

"I have something you might like," she smiled, oblivious to how dirty her words sounded. He decided to tease her.

"Right in front of your father? I thought you would have some shame, Countess."

Her whole face turned scarlet and he followed the blush as it disappeared into her cleavage.

"That's not what I meant!"

"Really now?"

"Yes. I meant you should try these cocoa sweets. They are very nice," she said, holding out a brown bar of something that was as appealing as a bar of soap.

It took his attention from her elevated bosom. He already had a thousand problems with her dress. Why was the neckline so low and why did it push out her chest like that? Every pair of eyes at the table had strayed to her chest at least once during dinner and it was nearly sending him over the wall.

Maybe he should get her maid to bring her a cape? But Erinna would give him hell for that, she didn't like him interfering with her clothes at all.

"It's nice, I promise," she cajoled, mistaking his distraction for reluctance.

He didn't care about the damn sweet and whether it was nice or not but just because he would jump through whatever hoops to make her happy, he took her hand and brought it to his lips. He opened his mouth and closed it around both her fingers and the cocoa sweet.

An almost foreign taste exploded on his tongue, enlivening his taste buds. It was a combination of sweet and spicy and four thousand years back he might have enjoyed it but all he could do now was compare it to the taste of Erinna's blood. He swallowed the sweet to avoid enduring the unpleasant taste then focused on something he really could enjoy. Erinna's fingers.