Tourmaline Truth

by Khloe Wren

  "What do you know of Vampires, Sharon?"

  "My dad told me to avoid them. He said to stay away from cities at night because that's where they hunt. They, um, they drink blood."

  A shudder ran through her as she saw his eyes darken and his gaze focus on her pulse. Without her consent her head tilted, baring her neck to him. Part of her brain told her to run, but most of it told her to give him whatever he asked for. Sharon's head was beginning to pound from all this warring in her mind. As he lowered toward her, she began to tremble, fear and arousal coursing through her. His soft lips pressed over her heated skin, and she jolted from the contact. She held her breath, waiting for the pain. But it didn't happen. He simply kissed her neck and moved away.

  "Not yet, love. There are things you need to know first. I refuse to take you, or your blood, until you give me your consent—and even though your body is offering itself, I can see your mind is spinning." He paused with a sigh, his fingers continuing to stroke her face and neck. "Where to start..."

  "What makes you so sure I'm your 'Eternal Bride'?"

  "Your eyes. Each Vampire has irises the color of a gemstone. Their bride always has the exact same color. Our stone is most rare. Paraiba Tourmalines are highly sought after. The Earth has only created a few of them over the years. Also, your scent calls to me. I can't fight the need I have to be close to you. Just as you can't resist me. Your mind is no doubt screaming at you to run, yet your body refuses to leave."

  "It's giving me a headache."

  Oh bloody hell, why'd she go and say that? Barret was pulling a level of honesty from her she wasn't entirely comfortable with. His wandering fingers began stroking farther down her neck and over the skin bared above her shirt's modest neckline.

  "That will disappear as soon as you stop fighting your attraction to me."

  Deciding to leave the topic of her unnatural attraction to him alone for the moment, she asked the first thing that came into her head.

  "What about the drinking blood thing?"

  He smiled at her, flashing the tips of his fangs as his gaze followed his hands. "Unlike in the movies, Vampires do not randomly feed off anyone they meet. A Vampire can, in fact, live for a century without ever drinking any blood. But without his Eternal Bride's essence to nourish him, he will die on his one hundredth birthday. I will need to drink from you, Sharon, at least every third day. If I go longer than that, it will leave me weakened. It is said that within a month of being parted from his Bride, a Vampire will die."

  "So, you'll bite me and turn me into one of you then?"

  "No, love. You will always be as you are now. Fully human, just with an extra long life span, once I claim you. Vampires are born not created. And all Vampires are male."

  "You mean, um. What you're saying is, that I'll birth Vampires with you? If, you know, we, um, become intimate."

  Even alluding to sex had her cheeks heating, and his low chuckle didn't help her embarrassment.

  "Oh, we'll definitely become intimate. And yes, you'll birth beautiful baby boys who will look as human as any other until they reach puberty and they stop aging. You will only ovulate once every four years. On the twenty-ninth of February each leap year, you will go into your fertile time. For one day. Pregnancy for Brides is thirteen months but unlike other women, Brides don't suffer morning sickness."

  His hand had moved down her body and he now ran circles around her belly button with a cool fingertip. Slowly, he'd moved her shirt up before he'd started touching the soft skin of her tummy. She groaned as heat pooled between her thighs. His fingers trailed across to her hip and suddenly stopped. Her breath froze. He'd found one of her stretch marks. No woman carried a baby for nine months without gaining at least a few stripes for her effort.

  "Does it disgust you that I've already had a baby?"

  She went to move. Suddenly wanting to be far away before he could reject her. She needed to get back to the hospital to retrieve Darcy. What had she been thinking? Leaving her daughter like that. Damn, what if someone took her before the nurses found her? Oh no. She had to check. Did Vampires have phones? Before she could scoot off the bed, she was pinned with him over the top of her. His strong thighs bracketed hers as he held her shoulders to the bed.

  "Stop. You're panicking, Sharon. I will cherish any child of yours. I'm simply struggling to understand how you had one. Brides are not meant to be fertile until after they are claimed."

  "Darcy is mine! I birthed her three months ago. The stretch marks you found prove I'm not lying."

  Fury flowed through her at his doubting her claim.

  "A girl? You birthed a baby girl? How long were you pregnant? Nine or thirteen months?"

  "The normal nine months and yes, Darcy is most definitely female. Why?"

  "I do believe you, Sharon. I never doubted your honesty. It's only that it's incredibly rare. I've never heard of a bride having a daughter, or even having a child with a human male. I need to contact the Old Ones in Italy. Maybe they know how this could be. Where is Darcy's father?"

  "I made a mistake and thought he was someone worthwhile. Turns out, not so much. He's a punk who ran out as soon as he realized how much babies cost to raise. I haven't seen him in over four months."

  Tears pricked her eyes. She fought to hold them in. She didn't want to cry, especially over that loser.

  "Where is Darcy? Is she safe?"

  Her heart broke all over again. "I-" she swallowed hard, "I don't know." The tears broke free and slid down her face. "I thought you wanted to hurt us. I needed to protect her. I knew you'd catch me. I left her at the hospital with a note. But what if the nurses didn't find her before someone took her? She'd be crying by now. Wanting a bottle." She sobbed, her body shuddering beneath the solid weight of Barret. She hadn't been able to breast feed Darcy, because her milk hadn't come in. She'd failed her daughter on so many levels.

  "Shh, Sharon. We'll get her back. I have a phone line down here. You can ring the hospital. See what you can find out."

  Sharon hesitated for a moment before accepting Barret's offer of help. "You promise not to harm her?"

  "Oh, Sharon. I'd never harm either of you. I'll always protect you both."

  ~ * ~

  Barret rose from the bed, his body stiff and aching. He wanted nothing more than to sheath himself within his Bride's core as his fangs slid into her neck, but she wasn't ready. He shook his head as he went to retrieve the phone book to find the hospital's phone number. Dammit, she'd feared him enough that she abandoned her child to strangers. A flash of fury raced through him. If only she'd known how he would cherish and protect her and her children for the rest of their lives! He would rather die than cause her, or her daughter, harm.

  He returned to the bed with the directory and the cordless phone. Sharon had moved to sit on the mattress, with her arms curled around legs and her chin resting on her knees. Sitting like that, she looked so innocent, fragile and scared. He placed what he was holding next to her before he climbed onto the mattress. He sat behind her, stretching a leg out on either side of her curvy hips. Even through their layers of clothing, he felt the heat of her seep into him. Sparks of awareness flew through his blood stream as he wrapped his arms around her and nuzzled his face into her hair.

  "Shh, love. Ring the hospital and see what you can find out."

  He had a bad feeling the staff at the hospital were going to be more than unhelpful. They'd no doubt be rude and hurtful, but they had to start somewhere. She sniffled and her shoulders moved against him as she took a deep breath.

  "Okay. Ring the hospital. I can do that."

  She lifted her head and lowered her knees. Opening the huge yellow phone directory over her thighs, she began searching for the right number. Quickly locating it, she dialed and as she finished, she mumbled, "Here goes nothing."

  Barret rested his cheek against her head just above her ear so he could hear both sides of the conversation. He had a feeling Sharon wasn't going to want to relive this little cha
t to tell him about it afterward. After three rings, a tinny sounding voice answered Sharon's call.

  "Royal Melbourne Hospital, you're speaking with Cindy. How can I help you?"

  Sharon audibly swallowed before she spoke.

  "Ah, I. I'm calling about my baby."

  "Is the baby a patient here or do you need to speak with emergency?"

  "I'm not sure. I, um, I left her there earlier. You have to understand. I love Darcy, I do. But I was being chased! I had to protect her so I left her in the emergency waiting room, where she'd be safe."

  Sharon's nervous rambling was cut short by the now venomous voice of Cindy.

  "For real? You abandoned that sweet baby girl in a room full of strangers—sick strangers—and now you're ringing in an attempt to justify it?"

  Barret felt Sharon's spine stiffen.

  "I was being chased by a Vampire! What was I meant to do? I knew he'd catch me and I couldn't risk Darcy!"

  "Seriously? You had a real live Vampire chasing you and you ran! You must be truly mad. Everyone knows they protect their Eternal Bride with their life. Damn, what I wouldn't give to have one chasing me! I would have turned the tables and gone after him! But no, I have boring hazel eyes, nothing gemstone-like about them." Cindy paused to release a frustrated sigh. "Sorry, that was inappropriate of me. I have personal history with people who abandon their kids, but that's got nothing to do with you. Please hold the line while I put you through to the Director of Nursing."

  Barret rubbed his hands up and down Sharon's arms trying to ease some of the tension in her muscles as the phone clicked and horrid classical music played for a minute or two. The moment it stopped, Sharon stiffened beneath his touch.

  "Martha Robinson, Director of Nursing."

  "Um, hi. Cindy told me I needed to speak to you about getting my daughter back."

  "Sorry, ma'am, but I need some more details than that. Let's start with your name and your daughter's, and we'll go from there."

  "Ah, yes. Of course. My name is Sharon Marie Denibe and my daughter is Darcy..." Sharon's voice broke on a sob. She shoved her fist into her mouth to curb the sound but it tore through Barret. He shouldn't have stalked her all night like he had, damn Nobles. Aside from not wanting her to publicly freak out on him, he'd wanted to learn a little about her before he claimed her. He guessed she didn't live in the city, or if she did, he was certain she didn't grow up there. What was her family like? Did she still live with her folks? He mentally shook his head. She would have called them to come for her and Darcy had she had help close by.

  He continued his gentle massage of her shoulders and neck as he pondered all the details he wanted to know about his Bride. Her skin was like fine porcelain beneath his bronzed fingers. So smooth and soft to touch. He lowered his mouth and began to lay feather light kisses to her flesh. He ran his fingers through her hair to move it from her neck. Ever so slightly she tilted, giving him better access. A grin stole across his face as butterflies took flight in his belly. His fangs throbbed as he watched her pulse flutter at the base of her throat. He was leaning in toward that spot when her words caught his attention.

  "You can see me first thing? Nine o'clock? I just need to bring proof that Darcy is mine?"

  He'd missed a massive chunk of the conversation by the sounds of it. But there was no way in hell his Bride was going out in daylight unprotected. He knew she would argue the point. There was nothing, really, he could do to stop her. He'd known her for a few hours, hardly long enough for her to trust him completely. Especially when it came to her child. He breathed deeply trying to curb the desire to chain her to the bed so she couldn't leave no matter what.

  Sharon said her thanks then ended the call. Dropping the phone to the covers, she buried her face in her hands and her body began to shake.

  "Hey, love. Don't cry. I missed most of the conversation, but I gather she told you a way to get Darcy returned to you?"

  "Oh yeah, she did. I need to prove that I am Darcy's mother, then I need to prove I'm fit to care for her. That shouldn't be hard. I have her birth certificate at home and I have a clear record with Social Services. Once I explain that I was in fear for her life when I left her, and they see my home and how well Darcy is looked after, they have to give her back, surely."

  As she spoke, she twisted around to kneel between his knees. Her tears were still flowing but the smile indicated they were happy ones. Damn, women were odd creatures. He decided he'd leave the argument about going out in daylight for a little later. He wanted her to enjoy this moment of relief. Taking her face in his palms, he lowered his lips to hers until she froze and he saw fear flash across her features.

  "You have no need to be scared of me, Sharon. I will always protect you. I'd never harm you. What do I need to do for you to believe me?"

  "I don't know. You have to admit, this whole thing is more than a little overwhelming."

  "It shouldn't be. It's not your fault you've not been educated about Vampires and Eternal Brides. I'm sorry for scaring you so much. I stupidly assumed you would know you were destined for a Vampire because of your eyes."

  "Pale blue eyes aren't that uncommon."

  "Maybe that's why you've gone unnoticed but, love, with the tinge of green and the luminescent glow that make them Paraiba Tourmaline, they are more than unique."

  Chapter Two

  Toki Davidson stood with his hands clasped behind his back as he watched the sun rise over the golf course. As the last shadows of night were chased away, the phone on the desk behind him rang. He moved over toward it, his robes brushing the hard wood floor as he walked.

  "Toki."

  "Sire. The Tourmaline Vampire which you placed me in charge of watching brought a woman home with him this morning."

  "Splendid. I was hoping he'd find his bride. I will send others to help you capture them both. Let's give them the daylight hours to cement the claiming."

  "Yes, Sire."

  Toki hung the phone up and sat in the leather wingback chair near the desk. A wide grin spread over his face. This Eternal Bride would be his. After the twenty-ninth of February passed this year, he'd been told he had earned the right to breed with a Bride. The next one captured would be his. At thirty-eight years of age, Toki was more than ready to start having sons. He hoped this woman was pretty. Blonde hair and smooth skin would be perfect.

  The book he'd been reading before he stopped to watch the dawning of a new day sat on the desk. He picked up the leather-bound volume and flicked through its pages again. The writing was on parchment. Of course something penned so long ago was not in English but Norse, the language of the mighty Vikings. He'd only been a lad in his late teens when he first found the book with his name imprinted in the leather. He'd been told he was named after the original Noble. Naturally he'd assumed this document would detail the life of his namesake. It had taken him years to translate the whole thing. Now, he'd read it enough times he didn't need his English version. He knew each word by rote.

  As all Nobles were, he'd been raised with the notion their role was to protect women from the Vampires. Keeping the destined brides locked up until their Vampires either died on their hundredth birthday or were caught and killed. How wrong he'd been. As he'd worked his way up the ranks, he learned about how Nobles were conceived. Honestly, he'd struggled with the concept, until he'd been promoted to be the guardian who prepared a bride for an Elder. The thrill of changing a woman who swore she wanted nothing to do with you, to one writhing with the pleasure you gave her, was an astonishing thing to behold. That had proved to him that his Viking ancestors' blood was strong in his veins. However, the bride he'd helped prepare for years now, didn't interest him. She had ink black hair and Amethyst purple irises. Toki shuddered. No, the subtly of Tourmaline's blue-green eyes was much more to his tastes.

  Aside from learning on the job, so to speak, this book he held had explained so much to Toki. It appeared the original Toki had detailed everything he could about how Vampires treat their b
rides, as he'd been raised by a bride after his Viking father stole his mother. Of course the Vampire had rescued his bride. Even a Viking was no match for a Vampire on the rampage searching for his missing Eternal Bride. The Vampire's compassion only ran so far however. He allowed his Bride to keep the child only until he was of age. At twelve he was sent on his way, alone in the world. His mother had told him about his biological father before he left, explaining where to find the Viking. So that was where Toki had gone. His true father took him in and trained him to be a strong Viking warrior.

  Once the original Toki reached adulthood, it became obvious he was no longer aging. He confessed to his father all he knew about Vampires. His father, still besotted with the Eternal Bride he'd had so briefly, was not happy to learn she had been treated poorly because of him impregnating her. Father and son decided women should be protected from Vampires, and as Vikings, it was their duty to offer it. They began to set up a castle to hold these women. They also custom built dungeons to hold the Vampires, for once a woman was claimed, she was linked to her Vampire's life force.

  They started raiding in search of Vampires and their brides, keeping a close watch for women with gemstone colored eyes. It wasn't long before Toki's sire had been killed in battle leaving him alone. In his isolation, he began to take more notice of the captured brides and their beauty. Unable to understand why he couldn't have his own Eternal Bride, he began to bed one woman who had caught his eye.

  After a number of leap year cycles, Toki discovered all babies he sired were boys and like him, were not fully human. He raised his sons to follow in his footsteps and the Nobles were created.

  With a sigh, Toki placed the well-read book back on the shelf and headed from the room. He needed to meet with the Noble guarding the Tourmaline Vampire. Hopefully he would have his own Bride very soon to give him sons that would grow to take their place as Noble Elders. He smiled as his body shuddered in anticipation. He couldn't wait for the next twenty-ninth of February.