Cured By Blood: A Vampire Pregnancy Romance (17 page)

“Wow.”

“Yep, she’s gone now. No more of that shit!”

*

Tara sat back in the velvet cushioned lounge chair under the stars. The balcony off of their room was nearly as large as the atrium at the manor. It overlooked a large garden of mazes and lush greenery. She had yet to learn about the different types of flowers, by Mayrinn was teaching her. Dru’s mother had been a fascinating woman to meet, regal and intimidating, but soft at the heart. Her love for Viktor and Sebastian had been immediate. Dru’s father, Davyyd, was just as smitten, but didn’t show it as much. Both knew English, although heavily accented, to Tara’s relief.

As she stretched and glanced at the elegant play pen, although calling it that seemed like a disservice, she saw both of her boys smiling and playing. They were already sitting up in the ornately carved frame and delicate looking netting, which was actually some ridiculous silk that Tara even had a hard time tugging on. Dru was out with his father, going over business transitions and helping Dru straighten his financials back in the states. Mayrinn was probably in the library. Tara sighed, the silence had been so welcome.

She had finally gotten used to feeding on people, as well. They were always happy and very polite. Dru was mistaken about the source. The people actually donated like they would at a blood drive, but on site. The blood was drained into a pitcher and then poured in chalices for the vampires to drink out of. Tara was relieved with this set up, and discovered nearly the whole tiny town participated.

Despite being vampires, Dru’s parents were well loved people. They had learned long ago that keeping their people happy was more prosperous than keeping them in fear. The entire region was gorgeous and so welcoming, albeit somewhat reverent of Dru’s family.

“Peaceful, isn’t it?” Tara turned to see Mayrinn walking up the side stairs onto the balcony. She walked over to the lounge next to Tara’s and sat down, “how are the boys liking it?”

“I think they got their outdoors love from their parents.”

“Their grandparents as well,” Mayrinn held up the goblet in mock salute, “they are beautiful children. I can’t be happier than I am now. I loved my son and I missed him. It has been decades since we saw him. And to not only have him return, but to have him return with a whole family, I could honestly take the eternal sleep with comfort now.”

“Why did he leave? Did he not keep in contact?”

“Ah, well,” Mayrinn sat back, sipped her blood and looked up at the stars, “we were a slave to the ways of the time period. His father and I arranged a marriage between him and a vampire child from France. She was a natural born as well, though several hundred years younger and hadn’t even hit her plateau yet. Securing a future marriage with them would have been very profitable. Dru, though, refused. Although now it is a blessing, at the time it had a significant impact on his father’s business relations.”

“Wow, that seems crazy to even think about.”

“We didn’t realize the errors of our ways until he was long gone, living another life somewhere else. It broke my heart and I missed him tremendously.”

“I could imagine. I’m happy he didn’t go through with it!”

“Me too,” her laugh was so elegant, Tara couldn’t help but smile, “I have to admit, the posed wedding photographs were a cute attempt.”

“How did you know?”

“Well, you both have the weary look of people fighting battles, as do most of your ‘guests.’ I also recognized some of the other people in the photographs, other vampires who have worked as guards or house help for people I know. Some of them even from here in Norway.”

“I feel rather foolish now.”

“No, don’t, it is what you did for my son to appease us. You went along with a fake wedding to help him transition back to us better, although it wasn’t necessary. I want to thank you for that. I also would like to ask you two to have a real wedding, with actual family, here in the main hall. I have the perfect dress for you.”

Tara was shocked. She wanted it so bad, had dreamed of it, but never wanted to ask. She felt like she had received so much that she shouldn’t question what had happened or what would, just to be happy that on paper they were married and they had two beautiful children to show for it.

“That would be wonderful,” Tara nodded, happy she didn’t have the capability of crying, because she was sure she would be bawling.

*     *     *

From an outside perspective, the scene would have been almost eerie. Hundreds of people were sitting in elegant rows on either side of the blue silk covered walkway. At the front stood a minister, Dru, his father, Ardo, Salvador and two other of his friends. On the other side was four female friends of the family.

Mayrinn sat in the first row, a toddler on each side of her. Although the place was packed, there was no fidgeting or subtle movement. Everyone help perfectly still as the organ music began and Tara came down the aisle.

Her dress was made of a white silk that had threads of iridescent blue in it. They matched her eyes, as well as her children’s and husband’s. The bodice faded into a lacy choker, the tight waist splaying into a wide loose skirt, the train trailing ten feet on the ground behind her. She held a bouquet of lilies and orchids with random blue morning glories. Dru couldn’t look away if he wanted to.

Tara made her way up the front, her eyes never leaving Dru’s. Everything they had been through, everything they had, and finally the ceremony to celebrate it all. As she passed the last pews. She stopped and turned to the side. Dru smiled as everyone frowned, until they saw her placing kisses on the tops of her son’s heads.

“Thank you,” she mouthed to Mayrinn who replied with a curt nod.

As dangerous as it was to have the boys exposed to others, the Kablarian family was respected and loved and no one would do anything in their home or near it. Dru had also told her that the security on the castle was crazier then she would imagine and that his father had only bolstered it since they had arrived.

After her side trip, Tara returned to the aisle and finished her walk. She stopped next to Dru and turned to face the minister. He spoke in Norwegian, and she only knew what he said from the tidbits she learned and what she was trying to remember Dru had told her before the ceremony.

After they said their own vows, Dru pulled out a different ring then the one she had been wearing. She expected the same ring, but this one was different. It was still a nest of silvery vines, but this one had a cluster of four light blue hued diamonds. Her heart nearly melted as he slid it on her finger, the perfect fit.

The ceremony finished up and Tara’s head spun. Blood flowed freely, as frightening as she thought that would be, but mixed with rich wines. Many of the people she met had fascinating accents, unbelievable ages, and were all legitimately happy for Tara and Dru.

As much fun and as wonderful as it was, Tara couldn’t help but be sad that her best friend wasn’t standing next to her when she was at the altar. The absence of her own parents had begun to eat at her as well. She wished her mother had been there, she wondered what she would have thought. How would she act about Tara being a vampire? What would she think of Dru? And would she love her grandchildren as Dru’s parents did?

“You look a little sad, is everything OK?”

“Yes, just thinking about people who aren’t here,” Tara gave Dru a weak smile and shrugged.

“I know love, I’m sorry.”

Tara nodded. Ardo was walking closer and Tara felt a tinge of resentment. He had killed Cyndi after all. She could have been convinced, pulled further in the loop. She was fixing to move in and would have learned the truth as soon as she was around the manor for more than a few hours. Instead she lost her chance, granted it was a chance to do just as much bad as good, to this man. Tara still wasn’t sure how she felt about that, how she felt about being friends with someone who had killed her best friend. She smiled tightly as he came up.

“Tara, may I speak to you in private?”

Tara glanced at Dru and he nodded for her to go. Still feeling uncertain, Tara guided Ardo over to the pavilion nearby, in view of Dru.

“How are you, Ardo?”

“Very well. I may be in town a few days, if you don’t mind I would like to get the stories from you and Dru about the crazy happenings after Salvador and I left.”

“I think I can do that.”

“Thank you. Also, I wanted to get something off my chest. I don’t know if it will make things harder or easier for you, though.”

“I won’t know unless you tell me.”

“This is true,” Tara was surprised at how uncomfortable the elder felt trying to talk to her, “So the night with Cyndi, I didn’t shoot her.”

Tara froze, her face stoic.

“Cyndi killed herself. She heard the fire fight and figured it had something to do with her and the information she had been giving to Blaine. She realized you were going to find out and she said you would never trust her around the kids and she wouldn’t blame you for not trusting her either.

She also wanted you to go on, not to be ‘tied down to a mortal,’ as she put it. So before I could get across the ten feet to her, she pulled out the gun and shot herself through the stomach. I reached out and almost had my hands all the way around the gun when it went off.”

Tara stared straight ahead, afraid to speak or move as she listened. Her friend tried to make it right, she blamed herself and killed herself trying to make it right. Tara thought she failed, though, because the death only created another hole and more betrayals.

As she glanced at Ardo and at the difficulty he had telling his story, she knew she believed him. The elders never shied away from committing murder in order to protect their own. He would have given her a reason or just told her it was part of being a vampire. He wouldn’t have made up a story.

“Thank you, Ardo. I’m glad you finally told me the truth. I wish I had known sooner, but I don’t think it really matters.” Tara looked back toward the party and shook her head slightly as Dru nodded toward her, “It doesn’t make it right, though, does it?”

“To me, no. To any vampire, no. But if your heart feels comforted, then maybe it does. Whether it does or doesn’t isn’t the issue. The fact of the matter was that your friend died trying to protect you, being as faithful as any I have seen. That is what I want you to take from this. Yes, people betray. Vampires, you will hear so many betrayals and secrets and conspiracies, not to mention all the things that slowly get leaked out. Your children, for example, first public showing of vampire children.

At least it is at a closed service, so only vampire see it, but today you confirmed a legend for them. When you live forever, life can become either incredibly boring or amazingly complicated. What you have to remember is who you can trust, who you should love, and who is there to fight by your side.”

“I wish you gave that speech at the banquet.”

“Yes, well, I don’t do public speeches, just awkward private ones.”

“I appreciate it, Ardo. Thank you for the truth and the kind words.”

Ardo nodded and walked back to join the party. Tara stayed where she was to allow Dru to come to her.

“Did you know, about Cyndi?”

“Yes, but only a few hours ago. He knew we would talk about it and wanted to tell you himself.”

“What do you think?”

“I think she was worried about you and scared about something she didn’t understand. I think that when she did start to believe and understand she was already in too deep and it was too late. I don’t know why she took her own life rather than come clean, but it was how she chose to go.

Maybe she thought she would never be trustworthy enough or she feared something happening to her by the vampires when people found out what she did to you and the babies, the risk she put you through.”

Tara nodded and stood silently for a moment before Dru jarred her back to reality.

“You know, this is our wedding.”

“Yep, I do know that.”

“Well, it is traditional at your Western weddings for the bride and groom to have the first dance. These people may be nearly immortal, but they aren’t going to stand around for centuries just waiting for a dance.”

“Ok,” Tara followed Dru in mock reluctance back to the center of the crowd. He took her hand and led her to the dance floor. She was shocked as she heard the delicate melody they had first danced to in his ballroom. Once again she was happy vampires couldn’t cry as she was spun around the floor weaving the memories of the past with her hopes for the future.

THE END

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