Romance with a Bite

by Tamsin Baker

Somehow, I had to find a way out of the witch’s hold. Perhaps I could find a sorceress of my own.

  The king inclined his head. “Let my guard show you to a guest bedroom where you can rest and wash up if you’d like. The feast will begin within the hour.”

  I was led off as the king called for his servants, no doubt to arrange a large, midnight feast they had not yet prepared for.

  The same guard who had walked me into the great hall, escorted me out and along the corridor to a large bedroom that resembled one of my own guest suites back home.

  “Thank you.” I told him. “I have not gotten your name.”

  He turned with a broad smile. “It is Thomas, Queen Alessandra.” He bowed and walked away, leaving me alone.

  I walked over to the mirrors, glancing at my plain travelling attire.

  I laughed at the comparison to the evening before. Thank goodness I did not need to wear a revealing dress that would accentuate my femininity to the masses tonight.

  The humans already seemed in awe of vampires, I didn’t need to add to the allure.

  I took off my clothes and had a long, hot shower, once I worked out how to operate their machinery. It was so different from our own.

  Putting the same clothes back on felt stiff and sticky, so I was relieved when a maid servant entered the room, her eyes downcast.

  “I don’t mean to intrude,” she stammered, “but my lord was wondering if you wished for clean clothes. A dress, perhaps?”

  “Yes,” I said, not worried by her appearance in my room, nor my nakedness. “Something simple please, and not revealing.”

  She hurried to the wardrobes in the room and began to pull out dresses.

  Yellow. Green. Purple and black.

  She lay them all on the bed and finally looked up, her face colouring with a deep blush. “These will all fit you once I tighten them. Would you like help dressing?”

  I surveyed the choices, drawn to the black and lavender.

  “Yes, I would.” I ran my hand over the soft fabric. “This one, please.”

  “Very good, ma’am.” The girl hurried to pull the dress over my head, arranging the flounces and boning in all the right places.

  “Lean forward,” she suggested, and my breasts fell into the right position in the bodice. “Now back.”

  And when I stood up, she began lacing me tightly.

  “Not too tight,” I said gently. “I’m not here for any courting purposes.”

  A nervous giggle was her response. “Yes, ma’am.”

  By the time she’d finished, I felt comfortable and relaxed, and when I walked over to the mirror, I was relieved to see that they had not dressed me as a strumpet. In fact, the dress was quite… pretty.

  “Thank you for your help.”

  She bobbed a curtsey and practically ran out the door.

  I couldn’t help the smile that tugged up my lips. I had succeeded in my desire to create peace with the humans, and thanks to the wards the king had up around the kingdom, the witch couldn’t touch me, either.

  It was time to celebrate the victories of today, and mourn those that I had lost.

  I walked out into the hallway, and followed the laughter and calls of the people obviously in the throes of a good party.

  There was music, and from the pounding, I had to assume, dancing.

  Another smile lifted my lips. We were so similar, these humans and my vampires, in so many ways.

  I walked through the open doors to be greeted by loud cheers from the humans around me.

  I stopped and stared at them.

  The king moved through the crowd, took my hand and led me to the table at the head of the hall, so very similar to my own feast nights.

  King Andrew picked up a wine goblet and held it up to his people.

  The room quieted as he began his speech.

  “Today, a miracle of sorts occurred. The Vampire Queen, Alessandra, came to our kingdom to offer friendship, and her hand in peace. We are in negotiations for uniting our two kingdoms and I believe that with this agreement, will come only great things for us all.”

  A roar went up around us and I smiled at the people who were beaming at us.

  “So tonight, drink, eat, and be merry, for we have much to celebrate.”

  He signalled to the band to continue and the music once again began to thrum and thump through the hall.

  I sat down at the right hand of the king, enjoying the revelry and energy of the people.

  “Can I offer you something to eat or drink?” King Andrew asked, gesturing to the table laden with every delicacy of human preference.

  I shook my head, not liking the smell of anything he offered, but not wanting to offend.

  “Thank you, but I am not hungry.”

  “Do vampires… eat?” he asked, the tone curious.

  “We do. Mostly rare meat, but I ate very well last night, and I don’t need much to sustain me for weeks after such a meal.”

  He laughed. “That must be nice.”

  He took a big drink of his wine and began eating the plate of meat in front of him. I could only imagine how much food his army would need to sustain their energy and size. So much more than my vampire army ever would.

  King Andrew was called to dance and I watched the man get up and join his people.

  A good king.

  The guard who had been escorting me since I arrived, Thomas, stepped up in front of me and bowed. “Queen Alessandra, I was wondering if you could follow me into one of the adjoining rooms for a moment.”

  I stared at him, wondering about his intentions, then cocked my head, considering him.

  He grinned. “It is nothing nefarious, I assure you.”

  I had no reason not to trust him, but after a lifetime of watching my own back, I was ready for anything.

  “All right.”

  I stood up and followed him into a room that must have been for the king to rest.

  There was a line of people there, two men and two women. All with excited vibrations around them.

  “What’s this?” I asked.

  “All of them wish to feed you and I was asked to offer them to you.”

  “Oh… Ah…” I stopped, unsure of how to continue. As queen I had often been told I could have any human I wanted. But that was not my way. My parents had taught me restraint. To live from the animals of our land, or the donated blood wine from which we thrived.

  I had not enjoyed a human in a very long time.

  “I fed last night, so I will not need nourishment for a while now. But thank you. All of you.”

  All four faces dropped with disappointment, and one of the women’s voices began to plead. “Oh, please. Is there no one who can tempt you? Do you like women? Or men? Is there a taste or a smell? Could you please see if any of us would satisfy you? It would be a dream come true, for all of us.”

  I looked from one face to the next, only to find that all of them truly desired this.

  I sighed. I did not have the strength for all four, but I did have a preference. Women in general, though they needed to be clean.

  “Let me see…” I walked closer and stepped towards the two young women who were both panting in excitement.

  I leaned in and smelled the first one, a delicious orange flavour rising from her skin. Yum.

  When I moved away she gasped as though rejected, but I smiled at her and moved over to the other woman.

  This one had no pleasant scent, nor warmth to the touch that would usually make me crave her blood.

  I straightened and stepped back. “The first woman is my personal preference. I don’t generally feed from men.”

  The guard stepped back and opened the door for the other three to leave. They looked so disappointed. Their shoulders rounded and their faces were fallen, but I couldn’t possibly appease them all.

  “Thank you for the compliment of your offer,” I managed to say before the guard ushered them out.

  He stood by the door, a smile on his face.

/>   “You’re going to watch?” I asked.

  He nodded, an interested gleam crossing over his face.

  The guard himself was one I would feed on. I’d gotten close enough to him multiple times to inhale his scent and feel his heat. But something about him told me that keeping a professional distance was best. I may need his help in the future, and blood drinking with humans could blur the lines of a relationship.

  The woman I’d chosen suddenly moved, catching my attention as she swayed back and forth to the music in the main room.

  “Are you sure this is what you want?” I asked her.

  She had amazing green eyes and skin the colour of cream.

  “Oh, yes, please. How do you want me?” She looked around as though trying to find a comfortable position.

  I could just bite her where we stood, but knowing this was her first time made me worry that she may faint.

  “Come, sit.” I led her to a sofa nearby and encouraged her to take a seat, while I perched on the large armrest.

  My mouth began to water and my fangs descended without my consent as we began the dance.

  I closed my eyes for a moment, enjoying the sensation inside my body. Of an ancient hunger that knew it was about to be fed.

  I opened my eyes and lifted her left hand to my mouth.

  The woman’s breath caught as she worried her lower lip with her teeth.

  I could sense her excitement and nervousness, the way her heart beat faster and stronger in her chest.

  But as she lifted her wrist higher, pressing it against my lips, she gave me the reassurance I needed that she wanted this also.

  “Please,” she whispered again.

  I turned her wrist to me, focusing on the blue, throbbing vein beneath the pale skin.

  It’s been so long…

  I opened my mouth and sank my fangs into her flesh, and a moan escaped me as warm blood flowed between my lips.

  The woman gasped and pressed her hand harder against my mouth.

  I drank more, my belly beginning to ache and burn with fresh blood.

  I began to withdraw my fangs as the woman beside me groaned and gasped like she was close to orgasm.

  Letting go of her wrist, I licked the two puncture wounds to seal them.

  She sagged on the sofa, her face a picture of pure bliss.

  “Thank you,” I managed to say as I staggered to the door, more intoxicated than I’d been in years.

  I’d forgotten how potent the blood of such a young, healthy woman could be.

  The guard standing by the door was aroused, his flesh jutting against his fitted pants.

  Our gazes met and he gave me an awkward shrug.

  I smiled as the woman behind me called out, “Thomas!”

  I looked over my shoulder and watched the guard walk over to her and begin kissing her.

  Heat pooled in my belly.

  “Oh… is she…?”

  He lifted his head. “My intended. I didn’t want you to think I was being biased, so I offered others, but thank you for choosing her.”

  His hand slid down to cup her breast and she moaned loudly, still lost somewhere in the haze of feeding bliss.

  I stifled the giggle that rose and shut the door firmly behind me.

  I’d never been used as foreplay in such a way before, but it didn’t feel bad. Not bad at all.

  Chapter 5.

  After I’d fed on the delicious human, I staggered back to my room and had one of the deepest sleeps I’d had in a long time. Dreamless, but totally satisfying.

  Luckily, for everyone concerned, especially me, the maid servant woke me well before sunrise.

  “Queen Alessandra.”

  I lifted my head to see the maid servant crouched by the bed, whispering rather urgently at me. “Hmmm?”

  “It’s an hour until sunrise. How long do you need to travel back to your kingdom safely?”

  A groan erupted as my still sleeping body complained at being startled.

  I rolled over and sat up, blinking rapidly.

  “Thank you for waking me up. I certainly need more time than I’d allowed.”

  I threw back the covers and sluggishly pulled on the travel clothes I’d worn from yesterday.

  A sense of happiness wove through me. I’d achieved the goals I’d set prior to leaving home. It appeared peace was brokered with the humans..

  Then I sighed. Now I had a witch to deal with.

  I glanced towards the maid hovering around me. “Tell your king I will be in touch as soon as possible.”

  She nodded and left me alone to get dressed.

  Once I was ready, I snuck along the hallways, enjoying the extra vigour the woman’s blood had given me. My muscles felt stronger, tougher, and there was a bounce in my step that simply hadn’t been there yesterday.

  Perhaps those of my population who rallied for a constant supply of humans had a point. My body felt truly stronger and different after feeding directly from the source, rather than eating meat, or even from the blood wine.

  Although, of course, we would need to moderate the policy if it ever came to fruition.

  I walked down the hallways and passed through the door containing the tingle of magic that protected the interior of the castle.

  An evil voice shot right into head.

  Where have you been? You must open the gates for me. I cannot. They are protected by a magic I cannot break through.

  I fell back against the wall, my breath caught in my throat.

  No! I couldn’t—wouldn’t— help her!

  I began to feel the prickles of her magic working on my arms and legs, moving me towards her desired destination. My feet dragged in the dirt as I gripped the stone wall.

  I couldn’t allow it. I wouldn’t do it!

  I launched myself with all my might back through the door that would protect me.

  The tingle of the wards passed over me and the witch’s hold on my body vanished, her voice gone from inside me head.

  Relief flood me, followed by a swift, hard, shove of anger.

  I slammed my fist into a stone wall. Damn! I’d thought I would be rid of her if I simply managed the treaty without her interference.

  What could I do now? How was I to return home? And should I simply allow the humans to stay possible victims to this witch? Because it was obvious that she wasn’t going to stop until her revenge was complete.

  I stood up and brushed the dust from my clothes. There was only one thing to do. The noble thing. My parents hadn’t raised a coward.

  Despite the risk to myself and Marcus, I would not cower beneath this woman’s blackmail. Risking the lives of my new allies was not an option either. They were non-magical humans who had no extraordinary powers, nor ways to protect themselves.

  I couldn’t just run away.

  I walked back into the castle and located the banquet room from the night before.

  An old fire dwindled in the grate, but there wasn’t a soul anywhere, nor a single sound to be heard.

  Pace in front of the king’s portrait, I began wondering how best to do what needed to be done.

  Plus, I could not dally. Getting underground soon was imperative. I could not stay in this beautiful, yet extremely well-lit castle once the sun had risen.

  Soft footfalls in the passageway caught my attention and I hurried over to see who was awake with me. The maid servant was there, walking along the corridor clinging to the sheets from my bed, probably to wash them.

  “Girl!”

  She yelped and jumped, probably more surprised to see me than I was to see her. “Queen Alessandra! I thought you’d gone home.”

  “I tried… but there is a complicating factor that makes it impossible for me to leave now.”

  “But the sun,” the maid said, glancing towards one of the many windows.

  I nodded. “I know. I cannot wait much longer before I must take shelter in your cellar. Can you wake the king for me?”

  Her mouth dropped open. “Ah… I
don’t have the power to…”

  I interrupted her. “You know I’m out of time, and this is critical. Can you find a way, or do I need to rouse the whole household?”

  I’d do it. I’d made enough noise for a whole party before.

  Her breath hissed through her teeth. Obviously, she didn’t like that option. “Oh… I’ll find a way. Wait here,” she said, then rushed off like there was a fire chasing her.

  I waited and paced, and I worried.

  The sun would rise soon, though my skin had not begun to tingle. Surely, I’d have enough time to save the humans and get below ground.

  Soon there was a loud commotion down the hall and I stuck my head out to see the king striding along the corridor, roughly pulling on a robe.

  He was accompanied by a single guard, who was barely dressed.

  I hurried forward.

  “What is this about?” he demanded, his voice groggy and thick with sleep.