by Gina Rosavin
"Actually, it's not. I'm a witch, Adrian, the only person capable of carrying a vampire's child, as long as it's conceived on a full moon."
He stared at her, as disbelief and confusion warred in his eyes, finally giving in to a hesitant curiosity. His stiff shoulders visibly relaxed as he pondered her words. Then his face brightened, taking on a glow of pleasure.
"Kat, are you saying…?"
She nodded. "I've seen Dr. Vining already. He confirmed it."
"Vining knew? He didn't tell me? How dare he…"
Katerina held her hand against his chest."I asked him not to. He respected my wishes. And my privacy."
He held her gaze for several moments, then nodded. She sensed his difficulty in not immediately summoning Vining and extracting punishment for what she was sure he saw as a betrayal. He was doing this for her. Pride at his efforts warmed her.
"Very well. And he says you are fine?"
"Yes. Everything's just fine. Except for one thing."
Immediately his gaze grew concerned once more. "What?"
"I'm going to give birth in three months."
His silence hung heavily between them. She pulled her hand away, her heart pounding as she awaited his response. But none came.
Finally, he blinked, and shook his head as if to clear it. "Three months? How can this be?"
She sighed. "I don't know all of the details. I know it was a full moon the night we…" She turned away. With a deep breath, she continued. "Anyway, with that and the pomegranate juice you gave me, we were able to…and because you're a…vampire, the baby will not be..."
"Like human babies." He stood right behind her, but did not touch her. "Dr. Vining assures me the baby will not be…like you. He'll be normal, but he'll also have some special abilities. Vining says he won't be able to tell exactly what until…"
His hands were on her shoulders, drawing her against him, one arm sliding around her waist. His embrace was comforting and she didn't resist. "I never imagined I would…it's been so long."
She turned her head to meet his gaze. "You've had children?"
He nodded. "I buried those memories a long time ago."
She turned in his arms. "Tell me."
He closed his eyes for a moment, and when he opened them again, the bitterness tore at her. For a moment, she considered telling him she'd rather not know, when he began to speak.
"Obviously, I was still mortal at the time. I was considered well-off, though my assets were certainly not what they are today." He paused then, and smiled, almost to himself. Wanting to know more, she reached out with their link. His surprise jolted through her.
Go on. I want to know about your life.
His smile broadened. You delight me all the time, Kat. As I said, I was well-off, but once Rome was starting to lose control in various places, the battles began. It was a difficult time, but I was aligned with Falvius toward the north in Aquitania, what is now part of France, and we were successful in holding onto our realm for a time. A very brief time.
Tell me about your children. Did you have a wife?
He hesitated, and a tumble of thoughts assailed Katerina, an image of a fair young woman suddenly clear in her own mind. She had her answer. He'd been married. Granted it was almost two thousand years ago, but still…
"It was a long time ago. We were children when we wed, and our sons were born soon after." His voice was suddenly loud after their telepathic exchange.
"Sons?"
He nodded. "Gervais was the oldest, Simon the baby."
She smiled, as the images of two fair-haired boys materialized. His sons had looked like him, and she sensed his pride as he recalled them.
"They resembled you."
He smiled and nodded. "It's been a very long time since I thought of them."
She reached out and took his hand in hers, twining their fingers together. "Tell me what happened."
"It was a surprise. We had no idea anyone threatened us. They came in one night, and they destroyed everything."
Adrian's fingers tightened on hers, and she wriggled free, as the recalled anger came to him again. He turned away, letting the millennia-old memories wash over him. He could almost smell the burned homes and people, hear the cries for help, the pleas for mercy. He could see the fires, the mangled bodies of those he'd loved. His children, lifeless and cold, their bodies twisted and broken beneath the attackers' swords.
Behind him, Katerina gasped and he realized their link was still open. He blocked his thoughts from her and sensed her frustration. How odd, for once he was hiding from her?
"You shouldn't have seen that."
"I'm sorry." She choked on the words, and her arms came around him. "I didn't mean to make you remember, not that. Adrian, I can't imagine enduring such a terrible loss."
He smiled, and turned in her arms. Tears made her eyes liquid, and he pressed a kiss to her lips. That she felt such sorrow brought forth the recollection of the first night he'd ever seen her, when she'd been a child. Her magic enabled her to feel his pain.
"Kat, it's all right. It was a long time ago, and I no longer grieve for what is lost."
"But to lose a child! Both of them. Adrian, it bothers me more than I ever thought it could, simply because I know now losing my child would destroy me."
He shook his head. "I won't let that happen to you. I promise you will be safe."
"Yes, but Adrian, you have enemies. What if…"
He pressed a finger to her lips. He'd barely had time to adjust to the fact he was actually going to become a father, the many difficulties in raising a child had yet to be considered. "Don't trouble yourself with such worries."
"Your enemies killed your children before. What if…?"
He shook his head and held her closely. "It will not happen. After I avenged their deaths, I swore no one would ever take anything from me again."
"I hope you had them drawn and quartered."
He fought back a chuckle. Every so often, she displayed a ruthlessness which never failed to surprise, or please, him. The tigress in her called to the wolf in him.
"Did you?"
Her question drew him from his thoughts. "Did I what?"
"Have them drawn and quartered?"
He smiled at her unrelenting thirst for answers. But it was not what he wanted to dwell on, not now. "That is a tale for another time. You are tired, and I'm sure you need to rest."
"I feel fine. I want to know this. Please. Tell me."
He shook his head. "Tomorrow, perhaps." Tightening his embrace, he winked, and she gasped as he teleported them to his chamber.
"Adrian, I don't think we should…"
"Shhh. I just want to hold you tonight, Kat. Nothing more." Tears welled once more in her eyes and she nodded. He gave her a few moments to ready herself, and when she was settled in the bed, he slid in beside her, drawing her close. Tension made her stiff, and he caressed her back until she relaxed against him. After a few moments, her arms slid around his neck and she snuggled closer.
His mind whirled with all that had been revealed. The idea he had sired a child created a strange tangle of emotions he did not recognize. While he was proud Kat was going to bear his child, he didn't know if he wanted to be a father. His only experience with children had been so long ago, and what had led him to become what he now was. The agony of losing his sons had driven him nearly to madness. Being found by the vampire Antonus had given him the strength to go on. And when he had accepted his master's gift, he put his past behind him, once he destroyed those who had taken everything from him.
His grip on Katerina tightened, and the feel of her soft body against his calmed his growing anger. She had brought back these memories, and he had to face them now or he would never be a proper father to this new child. A new heir. He smiled. But as the image of a crying infant came to him, the smile faded.
Children were messy and loud, and capable of breaking many of his valuables. He sighed. Learning to live with that would be a cha
llenge, but with Kat by his side, he would survive.
Peaceful sleep had claimed her. He took the opportunity to study her, and realized there were already subtle changes. Though the dark smudges beneath her eyes betrayed her weariness, there was a glow about her which made his heart ache.
He caressed her arm, and she sighed at the touch, rolling to her back. He let his gaze wander, coming to rest on her slightly protruding belly. How had he not noticed this before? Slowly, he rested his palm there, as the reality of the situation finally struck him.
His child was nestled safely in Kat's womb, and he had to protect both of them. Her worries were valid. His fingers clenched at the thought of the danger they were still in. Machiavelli was out there, waiting for a chance. Adrian would not give him that chance. No one would ever take his family from him again.
He stiffened. Family? What a different meaning the word had suddenly taken. Before his family consisted only of those who served him and a handful of trusted friends and advisors. Now his family would be his wife and child. And there was no doubt Kat must marry him. He would not allow her to refuse. Tomorrow, he would tell her of his plans, and she would agree to them.
Chapter Twenty-Three
Katerina stared at Adrian in disbelief. Surely he wasn't serious? But she knew from the set of his jaw and the iron in his eyes that he was. Annoyance flashed through her and she lifted her chin.
"You can't order me to marry you," she said.
"I am not ordering you. But you must agree, this is the best way."
She shook her head and paced. "For who? You? What about me? I thought you said you wouldn't try and control me anymore."
He grabbed her arm as she passed, forcing her to stand still. "I am not trying to control you. But our child deserves a proper home. With a mother and a father."
"He'll have that. But it doesn't have to be this way. I won't be part of your games, and I won't allow you to use our child to force me into them."
"There are no games. I'm willing to give up what I worked for, all for you. And still that isn't enough. I want us to be married. I want you to be my wife."
"I want you to love me."
"I cannot describe what I feel for you. I only know that without you by my side, life has no pleasure at all. If that is not what you want, I don't know what else to say."
She closed her eyes against the plea in his. She wanted to hear him admit his love. Why wouldn't he use that word? "What are you afraid of?"
He stiffened, his eyes narrowing. "I am afraid of nothing."
"You're afraid of love."
His eyes hardened and he looked down at his hands, shifting uneasily as he spoke. "Love." He spat the word, as if it tasted vile. "What is love but a notion made up by bards and poets. It's not real. What's real is how much I need you to survive."
The silence between them was thick with tension. Finally, he raised his head and met her gaze. She tentatively reached out with her thoughts, surprised that he didn't resist her. She was overwhelmed by the discomfort that held him in its grip. He was clearly unused to being in such a vulnerable position, judging from the way he backed away from her when she neared.
"I understand now." She spoke aloud, afraid doing so in their thoughts would shatter the fragile moment.
"What do you understand?" Blue eyes turned to chips of ice. He was already shutting off the emotions.
"That such deep feelings are new for you. You think caring about someone makes you weak. But you're wrong. It makes you stronger, in ways that you can't imagine. You do feel it, but you're fighting it. Don't."
One golden eyebrow lifted. "You don't know what you're talking about."
"You already told me you care about me, you can't deny it. But you're afraid to admit any more than that. It's okay. I can wait." She turned away. She had to, for the smile that threatened at his strangled gasp was impossible to resist. It was about time he found out what it was like to be toyed with.
"You mock me." There was a bitter edge to his words, and her humor faded. She turned.
"No. But you need to face the truth, and admit that I'm right." She stepped closer. "And that's something you just can't bring yourself to do."
"Because I don't think you are right." He was before her in a flash, his arm sliding around her waist and drawing her against him. "We should be married immediately. There is no denying the child bonds us further."
She nodded. "You're right. But I don't think we should rush into something…"
"Will you ever trust me?"
She hesitated before answering. She wasn't sure if she could. But he'd tried so hard to do things her way, to let her make the decisions, to abide by whatever she wanted. What she wanted was for him to admit he loved her. It was the only obstacle that still remained. The only one keeping her from accepting his proposal. He had earned her trust, and she knew he would do anything for her. Was it enough?
"I don't know." She had to be honest. She pressed her fingers against his lips when he began to protest. "But I am trying. And I know you are. We have time."
"We don't. Our child will be born soon. I want us to be wed before then." He caressed her growing belly, and the touch left her knees weak. Damn him, he wasn't playing fair, and judging by the sparkle in his eyes, he enjoyed it.
She pushed him away. "I won't have you bringing this child up to be ruthless and greedy. I won't allow it."
"I would not second guess any decision you made in raising our child."
She arched an eyebrow. "Yes you would, so don't lie. The question is, can you accept it when your solution isn't the right one?"
"Of course I can. Haven't I proven that these last few weeks? I have not interfered at all with anything you wanted or needed to do." She smiled. His efforts had been admirable, even when she'd asked him to pipe American Rock and Roll into the office when they were working. She bit back a chuckle as she recalled how he'd insisted on working that afternoon in another part of the castle. She sobered as another realization dawned.
"Why are you insisting so hard?"
"Because I won't allow my child to be born a bastard."
She closed her eyes and turned away at his confirmation. His hand was on his shoulder, but she shrugged him off.
"It's just because of the baby, isn't it?"
"How can you say that? Kat, I asked you to marry me before I knew you were pregnant."
He was right, and she hated him for it. The baby kicked, a strong one that made her gasp. His hands were on her arms, but again, she pulled away.
"Please."
How could she refuse such an urgent plea? She turned to face him. "Is it truly me you want? Or just the baby?"
He smiled, his eyes warming as he drew her near. "It's always been you. Kat, I want you beside me. Our child is a blessing, but you are who I need beside me."
She bit her lip, then nodded. "All right, let's do it."
He let out a whoop of delight, and drew her close for a kiss. As her senses whirled, the baby kicked again, jolting her back to reality. Immediately, Adrian's eyes grew serious.
"Is something wrong?" he asked.
She shook her head and smiled. "No. Here." She took his hand and guided it to her belly. The baby kicked again, and once more. Adrian's eyes widened as they met hers. She grinned.
"Feel that?"
"Our child?"
She nodded. "Stefan and my mother say it's a girl, I'm not sure I believe them."
"A girl? Can Vining tell?"
"He's taken some blood. He says he has ways of finding out."
"Summon him, I want to know what he's learned."
Katerina laughed. "I have an appointment the day after tomorrow. We'll find out then. You can wait."
He narrowed his eyes, but soon nodded, resignation in his eyes as he realized she wouldn't be manipulated. His arms tightened around her.
"I will make the arrangements tomorrow. We can be wed this Saturday."
Katerina's chest tightened in apprehension. The enormity
of her decision left her speechless. She merely nodded, and refused to meet his questioning gaze.
* * *
Katerina stood on the steps of her parent's house, debating whether she should knock. Before she could decide, the door opened.
Olga's eyes widened in surprise, but a hopeful smile brightened her tired face. "Katerina, I didn't expect to see you. I was just going into town. To do some shopping."
"Mama, there's something I need to…something's happened, and I need to tell you."
