by Abella Ward
"Hello?"
The sound of her father's voice made relief wash over her and her eyes fill with tears. "Hi, Papa."
"Aria? What's wrong, honey? You sound like you've been crying."
"No. No, I'm not crying." Not yet at least. "Papa? I'm pregnant." Silence. Nausea hit her, but she breathed through it. "Papa? Are you still there?"
"I'm here. What happened? Did he… hurt you?"
She knew he would react this way. Her father had always seen her as the perfect angel girl. She had never felt comfortable talking to him about any feminine things. They hadn't actually ever had a discussion about sex or menstrual cycles. Sonya's mother had told her about that kind of stuff. In fact, she had her period for almost two years before she told her father. And that was because all of her allowances was being spent on pads, and she was tired of having no money for herself.
"He didn't hurt me, Papa. I… I may have lost my head, but he didn't make me do anything I didn't want to do. But I don't know what to do now. I don't know if he's going to believe me…" Aria sniffed. "I didn't know a vampire could get me pregnant."
"Come home, Aria. If you can't trust him, then he's no good for you."
Aria sighed. Leaving Gavin and returning home was tempting. Their relationship hadn't improved at all since Paris. Was there any hope for the future? But even leaving wasn't an option. "If I come back home, you'll go to jail to settle your debt. I can't have that happen, Papa."
"No." Her father's voice was shocked. "Aria, honey, the debt has been expunged. I heard about it about four months ago. I thought you knew. I thought you were staying to earn more money to help with your university."
The debt was paid? Ice flooded her as she remembered the first day she had been here… when things were growing heated between her and Gavin, and she told him that if he wanted to sleep with her he had to wipe out her father's debt. Apparently, he had taken it to heart.
And when he had taken her in the limo on their way to Paris, he must have decided that she was worth the price. No wonder he had gotten so angry when Queen Monique brought out that caveman. Gavin thought that he had bought her. He thought she really did belong to him.
Her stomach churned. The tears she had been fighting started to pour down her face. "I've got to go, Papa. I'll call you later."
"Aria—"
"I have to go."
She hung up. What an idiot she had been… sticking around here for four months when she should have known that Gavin would have considered their intimacies just a business transaction. All the blood she had given him since – was she getting paid for that? Her chest ached as she held in a sob. She hated this. Hated that this is how she was going to have her first child.
And that was another thing. Both her hands rested on her belly. When she realized she was pregnant, her first reaction had been sheer joy. But that was quickly tempered by uncertainty. How could she be a mother in this situation? Especially with a father who was the vampire king…
She hadn't told Gavin about her pregnancy. He probably already knew. He probably didn't care. Or maybe that was why he was keeping her around now, even though the debt was paid. Maybe what he wanted from her now was the baby. In any case, it hurt more than she cared to admit, knowing that he had treated her like a prostitute. Even though he had no reason to treat her any other way.
She glanced at her cell phone and jumped. It was almost time for Gavin to drink from her. She hurriedly turned on a movie, fast-forwarding it to a sad part to excuse her tears.
She was just in time. Gavin entered the room moments later. He stopped in the doorway, looking startled for a moment. His gaze flickered to the TV and he sighed. Aria paused the movie as he came in, wiping her face while she shrugged off her cardigan.
"How are you today?" the king asked her stiffly. "Do you feel better?"
"A bit. But I'm still really tired." She had told him she had a cold, and that was why she had been staying in her room rather than standing at his side throughout the day's business. "I'd like to stay in and rest for a few more days, though."
Gavin nodded. He sat down beside her and took her wrist in his hands. She tugged it free. If he drank, he would leave right away. She needed to talk to him about this. But how? Just blurting out that she was pregnant didn't seem like a great idea. Although if he already knew, it didn't matter the way she told him.
"I heard that vampires and humans can still have babies together," she blurted. "Even though you're undead… I mean, all the myth stuff isn't true. You can go out into the sun and you don't turn into a bat… And you used to be human, right? So it's possible?"
The king snorted. "No. It is impossible for vampires to either become pregnant or father a child. I've heard of those myths where a human claims to have gotten pregnant by a vampire, but that's all it is. A myth. Those humans are just covering up their infidelity. They're liars."
He'd think she was a liar, too. Aria knew she shouldn't care, but his words stung. As Gavin grasped her wrist again, she thought about telling him. Maybe even telling him she knew that her debt was gone and there was no reason for her to stay. As his fangs pierced her skin and she began shuddering, she decided that she wasn't going to say anything. Not yet, at least.
It's because I don't want to give up this finery, she thought, her toes curling into the silk rug. That's it. I just don't want to give this up.
Chapter Six – Gavin
He would never tire of the noises she made while he drank from her. It made his skin tighten, burning fires rage inside him, and his mind to drift to images of bliss. Gavin had found himself coming to her more often than was necessary, just to hear these noises and feel this close to her. She had stayed with him for four months longer than was necessary, and he wanted to believe that maybe this was more than business to her.
But then there was this. The king withdrew, licking her blood from his lips, and she immediately pulled away from him. Frustration welled inside him. What did she want from him? Why stay when she made it clear she was disgusted by him?
Or maybe the question was, what did he want from her?
This was a business agreement. He agreed to this because of her blood type and wanted her to stay because she was a spitfire and he liked that. He had thrown caution to the wind and had given her himself, despite knowing it would mean he'd lose her. He'd have lost her eventually anyway, and he wanted to give her something of him that she would have forever. And yes, he also wanted something from her that he could have forever… but ever since Paris, she had been distant with him.
Maybe he should just apologize for the way he had overreacted there…
"I thought maybe we could go for a drive later in your new car." He fished a set of keys from his pocket and pressed them into her hand. "It's a Lexus. I remember you saying that you wanted one when you first came to the palace. And this is my gift to you. You don't have to give it back when… our arrangement is done."
"Thank you."
Gavin waited for a beat. "You're still mad at me for Paris, aren't you?"
"What makes you think that?"
Gavin stared at Aria's profile. She looked straight ahead, stubbornly not meeting his gaze. He opened his mouth to say he was sorry, but the words choked him. He closed his mouth again. What did he owe her? They had been clear when they came into this what they wanted, and that wasn't going to change.
"I'll see you later," he snapped. He almost winced at his tone.
Aria turned a dark look on him. "Don't bother. I'm going to go back to bed. I don't think it's a good idea for me to be giving you blood when I'm sick."
His hand clenched. He turned on his heel and left her apartment, irritated with her and with himself. How could he entertain diplomats the world over? Why did he always talk himself into such a bind with one person?
He stormed through the halls, grinding his teeth and muttering oaths to himself. It was half an hour later that he realized he was late for a meeting with the human chief of police. Apparently, the
kidnapping problem had not been resolved, despite him sending more resources to figure it out. He marched to his study, where the sniveling little man was waiting. He held an armful of paper files. The human bowed to the king, some of the files slipping from his arms as he did so.
"My lord, thank you for agreeing to see me."
"And what am I seeing you for?"
"We have reports of kidnappings."
Gavin rolled his eyes. "And this is new because…?"
"Over twenty-five humans have been taking in the last four months. And eye-witnesses from multiple kidnappings claim that vampires are to blame." The chief placed his files on Gavin's desk. "It's fairly damning evidence, my lord."
Gavin frowned. He opened the first file and flipped through it. It was a pretty, mid-twenties girl with black hair and blue eyes. The next was a man. Late sixties. The next a heavy-set woman with a nose ring. The king's brow furrowed as he read the information on them. None of the victims appeared to have any sort of connection to each other. As if they were taken by separate people… or by random. Could this be retaliation from Monique because he refused to take part of her breeding program?
"Investigate the possibility that this might be Queen Monique. But be discreet. I don't want her to find out and get offended if she isn't part of this."
The chief nodded. "We would like to assign a position to an undercover agent to try to follow the trail."
"Do it, then."
Gavin moved to the window as the man continued talking. If Monique was stealing his citizens, he would have to—
He jumped, startled, when he saw a familiar figure moving through the courtyard to the garage. Aria. His heart leaped to his throat and he turned back to the chief. "Coordinate with my head of security. You have my authority to do whatever is necessary to solve this."
"My lord—"
Gavin waved his hand, already out the door. She said she was going to sleep. Why would she be heading out, then? He rushed out of the palace in time to see the new Lexus he had just bought for her drive away. There was no need for her to leave. Anything she wanted or needed, she could send for… unless she was leaving leaving.
His skin was cold as he raced for the garage. There were no guards around, but he ignored that fact. He was a king and a powerful vampire. He could take care of himself. The regular limo sat in its normal spot, but it was too ostentatious to be bothered with today. Instead, he hopped on one of the motorcycles his messengers rode and took off after the Lexus.
As soon as he left the palace grounds, he lost her in traffic. Gavin cursed as he wove between vehicles, searching for Aria. His mind raced. Could she be going to pick up something for her cold? Or maybe she was visiting home… Yes, that had to be it. She was going to visit her father. With a destination in mind, he turned the bike over the center line and headed for her childhood home.
He got there just in time to see Aria entering Sonya's house. He drove the motorbike right onto the lawn, dread and anger warring within him. If Aria didn't want to be with him, and she came here, to her ex lover's house…
He hesitated just outside the door. It didn't have to be anything sexual going on here. So what if she was visiting her friend? She could be feeling cooped up and needed a break. Maybe her friend had called with an emergency. There was any number of reasons for this, and not one of them required him to be jealous.
I don't own her.
Aria's voice drifted from an open window. "I just don't know what to do."
"You can't hide it forever."
"I know. But Gavin doesn't believe that vampires can get humans pregnant, so how am I supposed to explain this?"
Ice flooded Gavin's veins. Aria was pregnant? That meant that she… Had her actions on the way to Paris just been her trying to convince him that he was the father? Or had she left her chambers while they were at Monique's palace to be with the man Monique had chosen to breed with her? Had she slept with him in defiance of Gavin's declaration that she was his?
And this morning, she had asked that to see if she could claim he was the father.
He slammed the door open, storming in. Sonya and Aria were standing nearby. Both jumped when he came in. Sonya's hand flew to her mouth, but Aria quickly regained her composure.
"Gavin, what are you—"
"You're pregnant?"
Aria closed her eyes briefly. She nodded. "Yes. I am. But—"
"So you betrayed me. You betrayed our agreement." Gavin was surprised at how flat his voice was compared to the anger and hurt waging inside of him. He wanted to grab Aria, throw her over his shoulder and take her back to the palace. He knew why he couldn't, though. He couldn't even touch her. "You betrayed me," he repeated.
Aria backed away from him, her arms wrapped around her middle. Her chest heaved and tears glimmered in her eyes. "I betrayed you? No. I didn't. I owe you nothing."
Gavin advanced on her until they were nose-to-nose. "We are still under our agreement. You will return with me to the palace at once."
Chapter Seven – Aria
Aria stared up at Gavin's glowering eyes. Part of her wanted to tell him what happened, to beg him to listen, to run tests or whatever it would take to convince him that the child she carried was his. But the larger part of her said that he would never believe her and that it wasn't her job to make him see reason.
"I'm not going anywhere," she said.
"Yes, you are. You're coming home with me."
"I am home."
Gavin narrowed his amber eyes. "Aria—"
"No." She tried to stay strong even though she was crumbling inside. "No, I am done. All I am to you is some sort of blood prostitute."
"That's not—"
"I know you wiped out my father's debt when we slept together. And you didn’t tell me. You wanted to keep me around because you think you own me. But you don't."
The king stepped back. A flash of regret crossed his face and he shook his head. "Aria, no, that's not what I meant. I'm…"
She held her breath, waiting. Was he going to apologize? If he did, then whatever was happening here… whatever he did, whatever she had said… Then maybe there was a way past all of that, and they'd be able to move forward together. Somehow. Her heart thumped hard as she realized how much she wanted that. Not to be bound by some agreement, but to be together because they wanted to be together.
Gavin's face closed off. "You're the one who said that you'd only sleep with me if the debt was wiped out. I thought it was obvious what I was doing when I took you, Aria. I was buying you since that was the only way you'd have me."
Her chest hurt. If she looked down, she was certain she'd see blood pouring from a gaping wound.
"I didn't tell you your father's debt was wiped out because I thought it would be obvious. Just because you let emotion cloud your judgment—"
"No, you just didn't want me to leave. Our agreement was that I would stay with you and give you blood only as long as it was necessary to pay my father's debt. Well, it's paid."
Gavin swallowed. Uncertainty clouded his eyes again. "Aria… What are you saying?"
The arrogance that had been there moments ago was gone. Did he want her to stay with him?
No, I can't think like that. There was nothing she could do to stop the tears, but she wasn't going to break. Not now. Not when he had never apologized for a word he had said, or done anything to make her think that he thought of her more than his paid woman. If her feelings had gotten the best of her before, they weren't going to defeat her now.
"I'm saying that our agreement is over. And I expect that you'll pay me for all the blood that you took from me after the debt was paid off."
Gavin's head dropped to his chest. He took a deep breath, his nostrils flaring, and when he looked back up, that spark of vulnerability was gone. He nodded, his face as expressionless as the day she had met him. "Fine. If that is what you want. I will have the funds transferred to your bank account as soon as I return to the palace. If you want the gifts I g
ave you, you'll have to make arrangements to pick them up. I hope you have a long and happy life with the man whose child you carry."
"Wait." Sonya stepped between them, holding her hands up. "No, wait. This isn't you think, your majesty. She didn't—"
"Vampires and humans can't have children together," Aria interrupted. She glared at her friend, warning her to be silent. "The king told me that himself just an hour ago. And he also told me that any human who claimed to be pregnant by a vampire was lying."
Sonya's shoulders slumped as she turned towards Aria. "Don't do this to yourself."
"Do what? Stop being his hooker? The only reason I agreed to any of this in the first place was for my father. Well, it's over, so I'm done." She leveled her chin at Gavin. "Goodbye, your majesty. You'll never have to see me again."
He was still for a moment, then slowly nodded. He stepped towards her again and took her hand in his. He rose it towards his mouth, and for a moment thought that he was going to take one last taste of her blood. In fact, she almost hoped for it. But he didn't go for her wrist. He pressed his lips to her hand, then dropped it. He didn't look at her as he left.
Sonya put her hands on her hips and narrowed her eyes at Aria. "What are you doing?"
"Getting out before it's too late."
"Honey, no." Sonya sighed, annoyed, as she embraced Aria. "You love him."
Aria struggled not to burst into tears. Her lip wobbled, a lump in her throat choking her. She closed her eyes tightly. "I don't… Maybe I do love him. I don't know. It's just so confusing. But it doesn't matter what I feel. It doesn't matter if I love him or not because he doesn't love me. He just thinks he owns me. And I am not going to be the woman who… There is just no point in loving him. I don't want to talk about this."
She pulled away from her friend, determinedly not looking at Sonya. She knew what to expect there. Sympathy. Maybe even pity. She couldn't deal with that right now.
"Okay. Okay," Sonya repeated. "We don't talk about this. I know what you're like. You have to have emotional distance from things to work it out. Plus you've been hiding this pregnancy of yours for months. So, how about instead of doing what I'd do—"
