Blood & Roses: Warriors of the Krieger

by Theresa Hissong

  “I don’t understand how I was in your dreams almost three hundred years before I was born,” I admitted.

  “Akalika said that it was more of premonition. When a potential Krieger is born, they are already a little different from everyone else. It’s like we were born to become what we are. Our bodies are larger than others our age. Some of us, as humans, already possess some sort of supernatural abilities.”

  “What did you think when they found you and asked you to become a vampire?” I asked.

  “Vampires were well known in those times. When I was approached about joining the Krieger, I jumped at the chance. It was, and still is, a great honor among our community.”

  After a glass of Merlot, we returned to the dance floor. My head rested against his massive chest and I let him whirl me around the floor. Dragus was a graceful companion on the dance floor. I absolutely love to dance, but my feet were giving out on me, and there were two hours left before dawn. I didn’t want to leave.

  “Charity, we need to go home,” he whispered against my hair. His breath left goose bumps on my neck.

  “Just a little longer,” I begged. He pulled me up against his chest and leaned in for that customary good night kiss. Oh boy, what a kiss it was. He explored my mouth with his tongue, teasing me with soft brushes against my fang. It took all of my will power not to ravage him right here in the middle of the dance floor.

  My number one rule was to never give it up on the first date, but Dragus was making it very hard for me to resist him. Although his hands were enormous, his touch was as soft as a butterfly’s wing. His velvet hands would move across the satin on my back, to my shoulders and then he would cup the side of my face when he kissed me.

  I kept every square inch of my body pressed close to his, not wanting to let go. With a heavy sigh, he finally released me and being the gentleman that he was, he never tried to pressure me into sex. Most likely because he could read my thoughts and caught on to the first date rule.

  He chuckled lightly and smiled, “Maybe some other time.”

  “Thank you,” I whispered. “This was wonderful.” I almost cried I was so happy.

  After a quick cleanup and an extra fast drive home, I made it to the house with less than an hour to spare before sunrise. My body was shutting down but my mind was racing. All I could do was lay there and smile. Dragus was a complete romantic and I loved it! Other men I have dated over the years had tried to be romantic, but that was nothing compared to what I’d experienced tonight. Like I told Dragus, he was going to totally spoil me. With that thought, I felt the pull of death and fell asleep thinking of romance.

  Charity? Adam’s voice in my head was the first thing I heard Monday night when I came back to life. The Lycans have been attacking innocents, you have to help! I’m changing and I can’t hold on much longer. I know why they’re attacking; they want all the blood for themselves. The full bloods are angry at the vampires and want us all like them. They know how painful the poison is to us and want us to suffer as they do.

  I sat straight up in the bed and automatically closed my eyes, reaching out for Adam. The pain had subsided, for that I was thankful, but the fuzziness of his thoughts had grown stronger, like listening to a radio station just on the edge of the service area.

  I spoke aloud and channeled all of my thoughts out toward him, “What do I need to do? The Krieger have hired doctors to start looking for a cure. We’re doing what we can, but I don’t know how long it will take.”

  The other hybrids have said there is some sort of potion that may help. It’s a rumor but I’m hoping it is true. Find a witch, a powerful one. See if they can help.

  The connection was lost as quickly as it came. Adam believes there’s a potion that may help, but where am I going to find out what it is. I know a witch who lives over in Maple Hills, a small community about twenty miles outside of town. She is one of the most powerful witches I know. If I contact her, will she know what to do?

  My cell rang and to no surprise it was Dragus. I knew immediately why he was calling and scooped up the phone.

  “Dragus,” I sighed. “I know why you’re calling. I’m fine.”

  The thundering growl from the other end was backed up by the sound of the Hummer’s engine racing full force to get to my house. “Don’t go outside. I’m on my way.”

  “I’m not going anywhere. Did you hear everything or do I need to repeat it?” I asked, reluctantly. I hate repeating myself.

  “I heard most of it, but I still don’t want you to go outside unless I’m there.”

  “I’m going to shower, and then Lydia is meeting me at the R.C. I’m not going outside until then.” I promised. I’m pretty sure Dragus will be here before I leave, since it sounded like the cruiser he was driving was moving at warp speed.

  After I stepped out of the shower, I sensed him in my house. I grabbed my new pastel pink silk robe and tied it around my waist. After I unbolted the door, I made my way up the stairs and into the living room.

  Dragus was standing by the big bay window looking out into the front yard. He immediately turned toward me then smiled. The feeling of his thoughts was more of a deep yearning to be at my side. I opened my arms inviting him over. He crossed the room and had me up in his embrace before I could gasp.

  After a few kisses, he sighed and reluctantly placed me back on my feet. I reached out for his hand and pressed my lips to the back of his wrist. “I’ve got to get dressed and go over to the clinic and then I will be right back.”

  “Let me feed you tonight, mi amado,” he said, brushing his thumb over my bottom lip. An electric pulse radiated through my spine at his touch.

  “Have you fed?” I was worried about him. He needed to feed to keep up his strength.

  “I haven’t fed tonight, but my strength is fine,” he assured me. “Come here.” Dragus sat down on the couch and pulled me down into his lap. I shifted where I was straddling his waist. Granted I was completely naked under this robe, but I didn’t care and neither did Dragus. I kissed him a little more then placed my left hand on his dragon tattoo and leaned in for the bite.

  Dragus responded to my attack with a deep groan, and his hands slid inside the folds of my cover. His colossal hands gripped the tops of my thighs and I felt his length harden beneath me. One hand slid up toward the inside of my sex and the anticipation had me moaning for more. His thumb circled the nub at my core while his other hand greedily found my breast. My hands were busy tracing the tight muscles across his broad chest, down his rippled stomach and I hooked my finger into the waistband of his tight denim jeans and gave them a little tug.

  I wiped my tongue across the wounds and was immediately flipped over onto my back. Dragus hovered over me waiting for my invitation to continue. I took a glance and noticed that his length was bulging, threatening to bust through the buttons on his pants. (I adore a man in a pair of Levi’s button fly jeans.) At no time did his hand leave the spot between my thighs and for that I was grateful. I moaned and arched my back as a slight electric pulse riveted my body. He pulled back just barely to keep me from coming too soon.

  “Is this considered the second date?” he begged. The uncontrollable desire in his words made my body ache more for his touch. The longing in his voice tugged at my heart. I nodded quite quickly and was scooped up into his massive chest, moving at vamp speed to my bed. Within seconds, my robe was unintentionally shredded and tossed to the floor. “I’ll buy you a new one,” he growled.

  I carefully removed his shirt and tossed it somewhere at the foot of the bed. He was considered on duty tonight. We didn’t need to be shredding his clothes.

  I memorized his wonderfully sculptured chest with my eyes this time. He was perfect in every single way. The way the muscles hugged his wide shoulders made my body burn for his touch. I wanted him like a drowning man wants a life raft.

  While he attentively nuzzled one breast, he rolled the tip of the other one with his fingers. Paying close attention to each one, not al
lowing the other to be left wanting. Occasionally, he would release his hold and blow cold air across my nipples causing them to harden more. His kisses trailed down across my stomach and stopped just at the crease in my leg. Strong hands grasped the back of my thighs and they were lifted up for access to the hot spot at my core.

  My fist grabbed a handful of his hair as he dipped his tongue lightly over the swollen nub at my center. Another round of electricity shocked my body straight to the core. I bucked off the mattress and Dragus had to place his forearm across my stomach to keep me from wriggling off the bed. He kept lapping at the heated spot as I exploded. “Oh, Dragus!” I screamed. He was just that good.

  Before the first round of ecstasy seized, he had entered me. I gasped from the welcomed presence as Dragus filled every inch and then some. I’d found another reason why Krieger were larger than most. He was huge in all the right places too.

  My nails dug into the skin on the back of his arms as I adjusted to him inside me. He moved slowly, at first. I pulled his face down to mine and kissed him passionately. Our bodies moved in unison, like they were made to be as one. I never had to think about what I wanted and neither did he. We knew exactly what the other wanted.

  When I nipped the spot on his neck that I had fed from, Dragus growled so loud it vibrated the walls. This only excited me more. His hands came up and gripped the top of my shoulders as his head dipped down into my neck. His thrust became harder, more violent and my response was to make sounds that I couldn’t describe. Just as another round assaulted my core, Dragus bit into my vein. The sensations were more that I could handle. I yelped loudly and held on as he thrust harder and harder till we both collapsed.

  He whispered, “Me estoy enamorando contigo.” I have no idea if he meant that for me, so I snuggled deeper into his embrace.

  We stayed in the bed for a little while longer, touching, kissing. Dragus stared into my eyes drinking in every inch of my soul. “I have to leave soon,” he whispered. “I don’t want to, but I must return to work.”

  “I know,” I pouted. The last thing I wanted was to disrupt my little piece of paradise, but I knew he had work to do. I snuggled closer into the crook in his arm. His sweet, musky scent enveloped me and I closed my eyes, drinking in every part of him.

  Dragus’ cell phone jolted us out of our post sex bliss. He sighed and reached for his jeans that had been discarded at the end of the bed.

  I jumped up and stepped into the shower to give him some privacy. It didn’t take long before I felt cool hands wrap around my waist when he joined me under the spray of water.

  “There’s been another attack. Bastian found a male bitten by a Lycan, but he is still alive. The victim has been rushed to the hospital.” Dragus grabbed the soap, lathered up his hands and made quick work of washing my back. Then he slid his hand downward and I groaned. If he kept this up there is no way he’d make it into work tonight.

  “I’m going to call my friend Kai, she’s a witch. I want to see if she has heard anything about a potion to cure them.”

  “This isn’t your job, Charity,” he demanded.

  I reached up and stopped his panic by placing two fingers across his lips. “I feel obligated to help. Adam thinks there is a cure, so I’m going to do what I can. You can’t budge me on this Krieger,” I said through clenched teeth.

  “Charity,” he growled. “I don’t want you involved. This is a Krieger issue, not yours. I demand that you listen to me and stop trying to help him.” He growled. Like full out animalistic growl!

  I turned around, gawking and shoved his chest hard, “You will not take my independence away from me Dragus. Who the hell do you think you are? You do not tell me what I should or shouldn’t do. No man demands me to do shit!” My total bliss faded and I was mad. With a huff, I stepped out of the shower and walked to the closet. While, I slung clothes across my bed and slammed a few drawers, for good measure, Dragus toweled off and redressed.

  It didn’t matter to me what he said, I was still calling Kai. Instead of waiting for him to leave, I moved to the nightstand and scooped up my phone.

  I pressed speed dial and waited for her to answer. Damn it! I got her voice mail.

  “Kai, this is Charity. I’m going to come see you in about half an hour. I need to talk to you about a potion. It’s important.” I looked up and noticed Dragus was gone.

  I slumped down on the edge of my bed clinching my fist. Guilt speared me and tears sprang from eyes, as I sat there kicking myself for being mean to him. And then I kicked myself more for crying. Now I had to clean my face, again.

  But this was so not my fault. I was torn over patching things up with Dragus or just staying totally pissed off at him for a day…or three. But I felt the need to apologize. The last thing I wanted was for him to leave here angry.

  I concentrated my thoughts toward Dragus and sent out a silent apology. I’m so sorry. Then the tears flowed and I squeezed my eyes tight holding them inside, but one managed to escape down my cheek. Damn!!!

  A brush of lips touched my forehead and a cool thumb gently wiped away the stray tear. I gasped and looked up; no one was there, but Dragus’ musky scent envelope me. How did he do that? The strength of the Krieger is an amazing thing, I guess.

  As sorry as I was for fighting with him, I was still going to see Kai. I turned off all of the lights in my room and headed upstairs, wondering if Dragus was still somewhere on my land.

  Ashby was standing at attention by the front door when I flung it open to see if Dragus was still there. I had to see him and apologize in person. Of course, his Hummer was already miles away. Ashby looked at me with compassion and started to speak, “Charity?”

  “Not now Ashby!” I snapped. Obviously Dragus told him what had happened or he left in such a hurry that Ashby guessed at our quarrel.

  Once in my car, I never looked back at the congregation of security around my house. A little part of me was annoyed that I wasn’t asked for permission from the Krieger to set up operations in my backyard. But since I was the one being hounded by a changing hybrid, they felt the obligation to stay close to me.

  Taking Highway 302, I made it to Kai’s in fifteen minutes. She was waiting for me at the door of her apartment. The complex was small, maybe twelve units and it was surrounded by residential homes. Her apartment was very simply decorated, white walls, and bookshelves loaded with material that ranged from romance to a few cookbooks. Jasmine incense burned in the kitchen and the smell blended well into the living room.

  Kai was a beautiful twenty year old witch. She was born into one of the most powerful bloodlines in the world. The females of the Laveau bloodline are born with powers of magic that could rival even the strongest vampire’s abilities. Her skin was deep brown and reminded me of melted chocolate and her hair was a few shades lighter. The Laveau family trait of green eyes was evident in her stare, as well as her pouty lips.

  Kai scooped me up into a tight hug, “Oh, Charity, I heard about what happened. Are you better?” She offered me a spot on the couch and then took a seat across from me in the recliner.

  “I’m fine,” I lied, sort of. I was physically fine, but my heart was breaking. Dragus and his stupid mouth made a perfect mess of an otherwise perfect moment between us. No matter what Dragus said, I must help Adam; see if there is any way to help.

  “Okay, I’ve called mother and she is looking into a potion. It may take a few days to make it…um, drinkable. From what she tells me, it doesn’t go down quite that easy. Something to do with toad slime and…,” she grimaced. I stopped her.

  “Ugh! Okay, whatever it takes. I just don’t want to know what’s in it,” I shivered. You’re damn right; I didn’t want to know what was in that potion. A big part of me was thankful I wasn’t the one to try it either.

  “I’m going to have to go hunt up some Wolfsbane for the concoction. It’s very hard to come by these days, but I think a friend of mine has some on hand.”

  Kai and I spent a good part of t
he night working on a plan to get the potion to Adam. From what Kai’s mother had said, the potion would have to be ingested and may make the hybrid very sick, before they got better. I couldn’t imagine anything giving him any more pain that what he had already experienced. I actually tried to contact with him in front of Kai, but he would never answer.

  “I don’t know why he won’t connect with me,” I pondered. “Maybe it’s too late, Kai. Maybe he has completed the change.” I looked up when she tsked. Kai was sitting there with her legs crossed and a file in one hand, going to town on her nails. The clock on the mantel chimed, telling me it was two in the morning.

  “The change won’t be complete until the next full moon,” she paused and counted to herself, on her fingers. “That would be in eight days. We’ve got time honey.” Eight days didn’t seem like a lot of time to me, but Kai acted unfazed by the deadline.

  “How the hell do you know this stuff?” I asked. I was in shock, that she may have had the answers all along. Then I got mad at myself for not calling her sooner.

  “Well, hello,” she pointed to herself. “I’m a witch!” Then she laughed. I couldn’t help myself, I laughed too, but only because after a day like today; I needed it.

  I returned home, secretly hoping that Dragus was waiting for me. My front yard held two Hummers, two human police cruisers and three cars I didn’t recognize. Those obviously belonged to the army of Nachtmann that were camped out around the house. I pulled around back and was relieved to find Lydia’s cute little red BMW convertible parked by the garage. She had a key and the code to the alarm, so I knew she would be waiting inside for me.

  When I stepped inside the kitchen, Lydia was sitting at the kitchen table drinking a glass of blood spiked Merlot. “I’ve discovered a new way to drink this bagged shit that taste like, well shit,” she shrugged, then laughed.

  “Can you make me one of those? I’ve had one hell of a night,” I sighed. It was all I could do not to break down and cry. Well, I did look at Lydia and then my bottom lip quivered. She tilted her head to the side and opened her arms toward me.