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Erinna and Alexander arrived home before Vlad fortunately and it gave her some time to take a bath.

She combed her hair and put on one of the gowns sewn by the new seamstress Vlad had employed to take over from Miya. Her work was good but was nothing compared to the clothes that Miya had shamelessly enhanced with magic.

The gown was made of black and flowy chiffon-like material that felt soft against her skin. It had long sleeves that trailed behind her and was cinched above her belly, giving her chest some pronunciation. Perhaps she was playing dirty, but she hoped to distract Vlad enough that he would not ask too many questions about her night.

She was waiting for him downstairs when they arrived.

Vlad’s lips lifted at the corners the moment he saw her and he left everyone to walk towards her. He put a hand under her chin, tilting her head up for a kiss that was as much about staking claim over one’s territory as well as passion. His masculine scent engulfed Erinna and for a moment, she forgot about the utter disaster that the day had been.

She opened up for her husband and let him kiss her and recentre her. She accepted every bit of his strength and let it pull her upright again. When she no longer felt like she was going to break from grief, she kissed him back. She moved her tongue against his, desperate for his warmth, desperate for the way only he made her feel alive. In him all her troubles drowned until she finally felt some hope.

She was reminded of why she was fighting for this in the first place, why despite all the disappointments she couldn’t give up. Vlad was worth saving. They were worth saving.

Vlad suddenly pulled away from the kiss, looking at her with a frown.

“You’re crying.”

“I’m not,” Erinna said, her hand swiping at her cheek. It came back wet.

“Did something happen when I was gone?” He asked.

Erinna’s mouth opened and suddenly she did not know what to say. She couldn’t lie to him.

Thankfully Alexander came to the rescue.

“Can you update me on the new changes?” He asked Vlad.

“Later,” Vlad said, not taking his eyes from Erinna.

With the full intensity of his gaze, she knew the truth was going to come out soon or later. Vlad’s personality was too strong, too forceful and too domineering to warrant anything but absolute obedience.

“Did someone hurt you whilst I was away?” He asked.

Erinna looked down, unable to meet his eyes.

“Did you do all the Provinces? You know, I wish you had taken me with you, it’s been a while since I’ve been to the East,” Alexander said, perhaps a touch to exuberantly as he came closer to the two of them.

Vlad’s eyes turned to ice. The air in the whole changed, becoming frigid.

“Alexander, I’m talking to my wife. Do you mind?”

“No, of course not, man. Sorry.” He gave Erinna an apologetic, I’ve-tried look and left the room.

“I’ll just talk to Lierian for a moment,” Erinna stumbled for excuses to evade the coming discussion.

“It can wait,” he said firmly and took them to their chambers.

The moment they arrived, Vlad crinkled his nose and sniffed.

“What?” Erinna asked but he was already moving towards the laundry basket.

He dug her dress from the very bottom where she had buried it. His eyes searched it and when his eyes saw the blood from that had gotten there when she had bled herself for Trevante, Vlad absolutely lost it. His eyes immediately bled over, a menacing expression came over his face, accompanied by a wind that suddenly swept through the room, knocking objects down.

“Who did this?”

“No one, I cut myself,” Erinna scrambled for an answer that was as close to the truth as possible.

“You were crying a few moments ago and now I find blood on your dress. You better give me a better answer than that or every head in this castle is going to roll until I find one.”

Erinna walked to him and took the dress from his finders, dropping it to the ground. She put her hands on his chest.

“It’s not why I was crying. The cut was not serious. See? It’s already healing.”

She showed him her hand and that at least seemed to mollify him. He closed his eyes and when he opened them, they were back to normal.

“I would kill every single one of them if they laid a hand on you.”

“I know.”

She had long since stopped trying to correct Vlad’s careless talk of violence and just accepted it as his version of love declarations. She tilted her head up and kissed him again.

“I missed you.”

Vlad looked at her suspiciously as if not knowing whether to take her word or not.

“Not more than me. How was your night? Was the baby kicking?” He asked, putting his hands on her belly.

“Only about a dozen times,” Erinna chuckled softly, relieved they were on safer topics.

“He’s going to be a good warrior.”

“Or she.”

“No, this is a boy. I know it,” he grinned but then the happy expression quickly faded. “You would tell me if anyone in this castle bothered you, right? Alexander, Terrence…anybody.”

“You worry too much. Come with me for dinner and tell me about your night?” She asked.

It was maybe an hour or two before dawn.

“I’m kind of grimy,” he said looking down at his clothes. They were spotless but Vlad liked his showers.

“Okay, fine. We’ll take a shower first or bath, whatever you prefer.”

“Didn’t you just shower?” He asked, burying his nose in her neck and inhaling.

It tickled so Erinna giggled.

“I can take two.”

“Now you’re talking.”

They did end up going for dinner two hours late but well, some…distractions could not be avoided. It was amazing how much Vlad’s presence did for her. By the time they emerged from the bathroom, all of her despair was gone and no one could have guessed about her breakdown from earlier evening. Her eyes were sparkling and her cheeks rosy.

“You look beautiful,” Vlad said, kissing her neck where he had already left several bites that night.

She brought his head up and kissed him again, unable to resist. He tasted like fresh and manly, every one of her dreams combined.

“I love you,” she told him.

“I know.”

In the kitchen, Erinna sat down and Vlad passed all the food that Lierian had left covered for her. Even after months of trying, she still had not managed to convince him to eat solid food so she had to be content with him watching her eat.

“Did you manage to secure all the Provinces?” Erinna asked.

“We barely even finished one. It’s not just the outer borders. We had to start from the inside.”

“But it’s working out well?”

“I think so,” he said adding more carrots on her plate.

Curse whoever had told him that vegetables were the food for pregnant women.

“Did you lie to me tonight, Erinna?” Vlad suddenly asked.

The question came out of nowhere that she did not even have time to prepare for it or school her reaction. Her fork clanked against her plate and her heart thudded hard against her chest.

“So you did,” he said grimly.

“I didn’t lie. Everything I said was true.”

“But you left something out. What upset you tonight?”

“I don’t want to discuss it now, Vlad.”

“Is it me? Did I do something? Because that would be the only reason you would run to Alexander with it,” he said.

“What do you-”

She stopped the question when she realized the answer. Her Recognition Mark, of course it would have told him of Alexander hugging her.

“You didn’t do anything, Vlad. I just- I need some time. I’ll tell you, I promise.”

But her words didn’t get the reaction she had hoped for. Vlad called Alexander.

“Take her back upstairs when she’s done eating,” he said and walked out of the kitchen.

“Vlad!”

But he was gone already.

“I’m guessing that didn’t go well. Although I’m a bit surprised my head is still attached to my neck. Did you tell him everything?” Alexander asked.

Erinna looked away, her eyes watery from Vlad’s rejection.

“Oh come on, Ty. I love you but you’re being stupid right now.”

That was easy for him to say. He was not the one who had to live with the knowledge that he would kill the person he cared most about in the world. She still shivered when she remembered waking up next to Vlad’s body contorted in pain beside her.

“I’m going to sleep, Alexander. I’ll tell you where we’re going when the sun sets.”

“You’re being stupid, Erinna!” Alexander yelled as she teleported away.

******

Erinna didn’t go to sleep but followed Vlad’s presence. It led her outside the castle and she arrived just to see him disappear into the forest with Shadow. What was he thinking? It was almost dawn.

She sat down on the stairs outside and waited. When the sun began peaking up, she conjured enough clouds to obscure it so that Vlad would at least return home safe.

“Are you alright?” Chase asked her when he saw her on the stairs.

She was probably breaking a million etiquette rules but she didn’t care. There was no way she was going outside whilst Vlad was out there.

“I’m fine.”

Chase nodded but brought her a blanket five minutes later. Erinna didn’t react as he draped it over her shoulders. Nothing was going to warm her as long as Vlad was out there angry with her.

He finally returned three hours later. Erinna scrambled off the stairs, her limbs about frozen from the cold and walked towards him. Vlad stopped Shadow next to her. He looked at her for a minute, sighed like he didn’t know what to do with her then swung her up in front of him side-saddle. He didn’t say anything as he drew the reins but Erinna felt like she could finally breathe. He was holding her, so he couldn’t still be that angry.

He took them to the stables, lowered Erinna to the ground and locked Shadow in.

“Do you want to talk to me now?”

Erinna looked down at her hands, suddenly aware that she was wringing them. It was a nervous gesture, so she tucked her hands behind her back and forced herself to look at Vlad. His body language was not all that encouraging either. His arms were crossed over his chest , his legs spread apart and dark eyes boring into her. There was no softness in his expression or posture and it gave her a pause.

She cleared her throat. “Do you remember that you said I should always tell you things? No matter how bad they are? That-”

“I know what I said. What I still don’t know is what happened tonight.”

“Okay. I’ll tell you.” She said, but the confession would not leave her throat.

Vlad raised an eyebrow, making Erinna close her eyes and force herself to forge on ahead.

“I visited a warlock.”

“You what?”

“I know I shouldn’t have. It’s ju-”

“You’re damn right you shouldn’t have!” He exploded, eyes flashing red. “This is about that curse, isn’t it? The same curse I said you should leave alone?”

“I thought he would be able to help, Vlad.” Erinna kept her voice gentle to not set him off any more. All she wanted to do however was yell at him, grab him and shake him until he saw how valuable his life was and how much he deserved a chance.

“What was his name?”

“Trevante.”

Vlad’s fingers dug into his thick black hair, tugging at it savagely.

“This is what I’m always talking about, Erinna. Why are you so impulsive? Do you realize the danger that you put yourself in? The danger that you put our baby in just because you can’t let go?”

“Let go of what, your life? What exactly am I supposed to let go of here, Vlad?” Erinna’s calm deserted her, her voice coming out sharp.

“Don’t turn this around. You went behind my back.”

“To save your life?” Erinna asked.

“And did you do that? Were you successful?” He asked sarcastically.

She looked away, angry tears glistening in her eyes.

“Maybe if you had actually sat down and talked to me before walking into the lair of a known voodoo warlock, I would have told you that I have been to Trevante already. What did he tell you? To burn the bones?”

“Stop mocking me. At least I’m trying. That’s more than can be said for you.”

“There is no person on this earth that you will see about this curse that I haven’t seen already. I know what I’m talking about when I say it’s a dead damn end.”

“I will decide when it’s a dead end.”

“You will decide nothing. You’re not leaving this castle.”

“What are you going to do? Tie me to a post?”

“If that’s what it’s going to take.” Vlad answered grimly.

The worst past was Erinna knew he was not even joking. She shook her head and moved to go back to the castle but he appeared in front of her.

“What did you pay him with?”

“What do you care?” She glared at him.

“I asked what you paid him with.”

“He wanted some blood.”

“And you gave him your blood? Just like that?” He laughed, cruelly and humorlessly.

“Yes I did. I would have given him all of it to save your life.” Erinna glared at him.

“Going to see him was stupid in the first place. But this…” Vlad shook his head and teleported away.

***********

Chapter 85

Considering how Vlad had been cheated out of the last things that he had had belonging to Diana, Vlad was not ecstatic to hear that his wife had gone to see the warlock.

A little bit of blood seemed innocuous and not such a hardship to give away but that was what he had thought when he had given the box of jewelry containing incomplete necklaces that he had confiscated from Diana’s house in his bid to free himself. He had given the jewelry to Trevante in exchange of information on curses, only to find out years later from another witch that that box had held the key to breaking his curse.

One of the ways a curse could be broken was by completing a project left behind by the curser. If Vlad had completed those necklaces, his curse might actually have been broken. The ultimate jokester, Trevante had known that whilst sending Vlad on a wild goose chase of looking for bones that had been destroyed a long time back. When Vlad had returned to skin him a new one for his treachery, the warlock had been long gone. Well, not this time.

Vlad didn’t bother searching for Trevante himself, aware of the man’s penchant for mind games. He teleported straight to Armando’s compound.

Per their agreement from the moment Armando and his family had sworn their allegiance to Vlad, he had given them their own land in Transylvania where they could live according to their laws and traditions without the interference of humans or cultural clashes with his vampires. When they had come to him, they had been seven but their clan now had fifty-seven men and boys, all who were taught the dark arts from the moment they leant to talk.

They had developed the area and were self-sufficient enough to not need to go to the human village. Rather, it was humans who sometimes came to them since the sorcerers practiced fish farming and were a source of various seafood when one did not want to bother with going fishing himself. The forty women and girls who were forbidden from practicing magic were the ones who mostly tended to all the produce and other tasks that needed doing.

Vlad materialized outside Armando’s house. He would have preferred to teleport right in but the magic barriers around the place kept him out.

“Armando! Get out you dead bastard!”

The door opened but Armando was wise enough to stay within the safety of his house.

“C-count Dracula?” The smaller man stammered. His face was pale with fear and his lips trembled with trepidation. He was right to be afraid. Had he had any sense, he would have never opened that door, not that it would have stopped Vlad.

“We don’t talk through the door, I’m not your girlfriend. Come face me like a man.”

“If you don’t mind, my lord, I’d rather-”

Vlad ignored the rest of the sentence and telekinetically pulled the sorcerer out of the house.

“How dare you betray me like this?”

“I didn’t-”

The denial angered Vlad even more and he kicked Armando to the ground. The animal in him came out full force. Did the man even understand the implications of his actions? Only one person could have given Erinna Trevante’s address or even told her about that traitorous bastard. If he thought that kick was the worst thing that was going to happen to him, he had another thing coming.

Because of him, Trevante had his wife’s blood and the essence of his child. Who knew what the sorcerer would use that for? Even if Vlad got to him in time, the damage might already be done.

Armando tried to rise again but Vlad kicked him in the full force, blood and teeth flying from the sorcerer’s mouth. It brought him a tiny sense of satisfaction but nothing to quench the anger inside him. His soul was crying for retaliation for the danger his mate faced even though she didn’t know or understand it. Blood was the foundation of all dark magic and with her blood, Erinna had given Trevante the key to do all that he wanted with her.

When Vlad finally allowed him to get to his feet after stomping him repeatedly enough to get the point that this was not a friendly visit across, Armando stumbled, looking dizzy and a bit dazed. His face was torn and a collage of abrasions and bruises, courtesy of Vlad’s boots. He swayed, looking he was going to keel over.

“No, you’re not fainting today you piece of swine. Drink this!” Vlad commanded, tearing into his veins with his fangs and forcing Armando to drink enough blood to keep his injuries under control.

After that, Vlad dug his hand into the back of Armando’s collar and began dragging him to where he knew most of his clan would be at this time of the day. The hold forced Armando to walk backward such that in the end, he couldn’t even keep up with Vlad’s pace and fell. Vlad continued walking, dragging Armando over the roughest terrain he could find.

There were far easier and cleaner ways of doing this but he wanted to get his hands dirty.

Stunned eyes followed them when they reached the Market Square where various sorcerers and humans were engaged in trade. They all stopped what they were doing to watch and follow Vlad as he dragged Armando right to the center of the Market Square. A pained scream came from a woman with three children. She left her children and came running towards Armando but two men grabbed her by her arms, restraining her.

“My husband! Let me go. Armando! What are you doing to him?” She cried, looking at Vlad with loathing.

Vlad pointedly turned away from her and hefted Armando onto a table that was filled with squid.

“My wife. Leave her, please.” Armando pleaded.

It was funny how people suddenly remembered they had loved ones when they conveniently forgot them as they did something that could come back to bite their family.

“What happens to her is up to you.”

“I have been loyal to you always. I did everything that you told me to. You are the one who broke our agreement but I was loyal.”

Vlad did not know whether to be impressed by the man’s obliviousness or annoyed by it. His agreement to let Armando stay close to him so that he could feed off Vlad’s anger and violence was the last thing on his mind.