Meeting Destiny; Lachlan’s Story (Annalese and the Immortals) (9 page)

“You will do no such thing! I will chain you to the wall myself if it comes to that. Lachlan knows Vlad. He understands. I wish I could help you sort your feelings for Sophie, but I can tell you, I have enough love to give for both you and Lach.” She took his hand and walked him back to the castle.

He had to face Lachlan. For the first time in his existence, he actually felt fear. He was in the last place in the world he wanted to be. He couldn’t tell her no. Vlad wanted to see her so badly, he went home.

The front door opened and out walked Lachlan, Michael in his arms.

“T., thank the gods.” As he embraced his sire, little Michael grabbed Vlad’s face and made his cute little cooing noise. “See Vlad, even Michael missed you. So did the rest of us.”

Lese put her hand on Lachlan’s arm. She didn’t mean to read him, it just happened. He knew.

“Aye sire, it’s all OK. No worrying. Come on, let’s go in and have a drink. Ye canna stand out here all night long.”

Lese took his hand and led him into the house and to his library. Vlad didn’t even bother with a glass. He just grabbed a bottle and took half in one gulp. Liquid courage.

“Lachlan”, he started then stopped for a moment, then started again. “Please let me get this all out and then I’ll take whatever punishment you deem appropriate. I started to develop feelings for her the day we found out about her pregnancy. I’m mated. It shouldn’t happen but, alas it did. We spent so much time together, I couldn’t help myself. When I touched her belly and felt Michael move that day, I knew. And I’ve been fighting this from that day. She’s your mate. I have no rights to have these feelings for her. No right to want her in the physical, carnal way I do. I know this. How wrong it is. The shit fucked-up part is there is a piece of me that doesn’t care. I just want her. And disrupting your happiness has really gotten to me. Sophie will not come home until I fix this. I don’t know how or even if I want to. The other night when she came to me, I almost took her. My fucking fledgling’s mate and I almost took her! I don’t think I can keep doing this. If I cannot find a way to fix this, Lachlan, you need to end me. Take my head. Be the prince of the castle. You both deserve to be happy together. Now, do as you see fit.” Vlad dropped to his knees, closed his eyes, and waited for a punishment that would never come.

“T., it’s not gonna happen. Yer me sire and I love ye. Maybe another man wouldn’t be so understanding, but I am. She’s an amazing woman. She’s my lover, me mate, and the mother of me son. I love that woman with every ounce of me. And she loves me back just the same. But see, here’s the kick in the arse for you. She loves you too. Different from how she loves me, but she does. And the attraction between all of us is natural. It’s who we are. Ye know this. Tell me what ye need right now, and we will try to get it done.”

Vlad was once again in tears. This time, he didn’t try to hide them. He stood, bowed his head in shame and spoke. “I need blood. It’s been a week, and I’m feeling it. I will be in the kitchen.”

Lachlan stopped him. “No.”

Again Vlad’s eyebrow went up. “No? Where do you expect me to get it from if not the kitchen?”

“From me.” It was Lese. “Do not start your bullshit arguing. I am here for you. And I’m well aware of what happens during a feeding. Vlad, come.” She held out her hand. He stood just staring at it for the longest time before he gave the nod and took it. She led him up the stairs, Lachlan behind her. They went to the far end of the corridor to a room none of the three had used. Annalese reached up to kiss Vlad while her mate stood behind her kissing her neck and shoulders. Vlad kissed her back with so much passion it almost felt like kissing Lachlan. She was unbuttoning his shirt while she continued the assault of kisses. It slid to the floor. Lachlan had her shirt off as well as his own. He reached around her, and touched Vlad, trying to make him see they were okay. Lachlan was well aware of the line they were about to cross, but surprisingly, he didn’t care. Vlad was in need and he knew no matter what, she loved him more.

Before long, the three stood kissing and touching, completely naked. When she’d fed from him before, Lese hadn’t looked, but this time, she did, and she made no secret about it. “Vlad, oh my God, you’re magnificent.”

Lachlan spoke. “Aye, sire, ye really are.”

Annalese reached to touch Lachlan’s hand on hers. Vlad closed his eyes. She whispered “That’s it, close your eyes and just feel. Let us love you, Vlad. Do you like my touch, our touch?” He wasn’t quite hard, but it was starting.

“Fuck yes! Cut me, take from me please!” She did. She cut the left nipple all the way across. She latched on like a new born and his shaft was instantly hard. “Oh sweet gods, that’s so good.” As Lese continued to draw from him, Lachlan’s hand was alone on Vlad’s shaft, and he gently stroked. Touching was as far as these two would go, but it was enough to let Vlad see they both loved him.

“Lach,” he squeaked out, and Lachlan nodded. Vlad was asking permission to go further. He would have never touched her otherwise. His hands wandered to her breasts. He pinched her nipples and rolled them between his thumb and forefinger while his other hand was between her legs rubbing her bundle. She removed her lips from his nipple and threw her head back in ecstasy.

“Annalese, I want to be inside you so bad, please!” He was begging.

She bit him and gave him that come-get-me smile. He had her on the bed in a minute, and kissed her. Lachlan was behind her on his side kissing her too. Vlad parted her legs and looked to Lachlan one last time. He nodded, and with that Vlad slid inside her and his fangs pierced her neck. He thrust with every draw. He knew he’d have to stop before he had his fill. She was too small to take all he needed. He was hard as steel and they moved in unison. Lachlan gave Vlad his wrist knowing he needed more. Teeth at his wrist, Lachlan reached down with his other hand to “handle” his own issue. When Annalese’s orgasm hit, it was so intense she cried out for both of them. Neither could hold on and they both went over the edge with her.

“I love you, Vlad” she told him. “I love you, Lach” she said as she turned her head to kiss her mate. They all slept taking turns with Michael.

Even Vlad got up. “Lese, I’ve got him baby. You sleep.” He kissed her forehead and went to tend to Michael.

T
he next few days seemed completely normal. They ate together, tended to Michael and talked. Lese and Lachlan even found private time together. They lay together completely happy and in love.

Vlad had been tending to Michael a lot…like almost all his evening hours. He was bonding with the little guy and Michael adored his papa. One month old and trying to crawl. Hybrids were completely of their own. Each was different, so you could only guess.

Vlad came to Lese with Michael in tow. “Would we be able to go to the garden to talk awhile?” She took Michael and called Lachlan.

“Of course we can.”

“Aye lass, I’ll take Michael. Go.” He gave her that smile. Oh gods, she loved that smile. She loved that man.

They went to their “spot” in the garden. Vlad held her in silence. “Annalese, this week here, home, I’ve never felt such peace in my heart. I haven’t felt odd or uncomfortable. I feel loved. We haven’t been sexual since the other night, but sleeping with you both, I actually sleep. I dream of you, though. It still feels wrong to me, loving you. But I am dealing with it. And no matter what—I do not want to leave this world. I can’t hurt you and I think it would, very much. I know you love Lachlan, as you should. But you love me too, just a little, I can feel it. And as wrong as all this is, I don’t want to give you up Lachlan either. Is this making sense?”

“Yes, perfect.” Lese told him. “What about your other issue? Do you think you can make things work without the pain?”

“No, not yet at least. Unless I think of you, then I’m aroused and ready to go. I hope all these talks we have help that problem. I’d really like to feel normal.” He pulled her into a very loving embrace.

Lese pulled away. “What are you going to do about Sophie? She’s your mate? And can ask you something? I asked Lachlan already, but he had no explanation for it. He suggested I ask you.”

Vlad was a bit puzzled by her, but let her ask anyway. “Well, my dear Annalese, you may ask me anything you want, although I cannot promise you that I will have the answers you seek.”

“Okay, here’s where I’m confused. Mated males only feed from a bag or their mate. But yet, I was able to feed you. And being faithful, you love me, fell in love with me, yet that shouldn’t have happened either. The sex, your bond should have prevented you from being able to perform. But we did. I asked Lachlan why we could. He said because we both wanted it. Everything, all of it, from the feeding to the love and sex. Because we both want it, it’s consensual. But you shouldn’t be able to do any of this. So my question is when you mated with Sophie, did you miss a step, do something wrong? Maybe she’s not the
one
Vlad, gods help me for saying that. I don’t understand. The worst part of all this is she’s my friend, and I’m in love with her mate. Now I feel like you, saying how wrong it is.”

“Ah,” he said. “You can see my dilemma. Lach may be the sharing kind, although I am still shocked over his acceptance of my feelings for you. I can assure you Sophie is not. If she were to know, she would end our relationship. Even if I had never told you or acted on my feelings, we would be done. She would never blame you or hold ill will. At least I don’t think so, but me—she would stake me knowing how painful it is.” The pain he was in was apparent in his violet eyes.

“The rest I cannot say. The only think I can think of is we never took our blood properly for the bond. As you know, she won’t feed from me directly. She says she’s not a vampire and refuses to cut me and drink from me. Maybe that’s why we are not fully bound. I do know when you took, it was the most sexually erotic sensation I’ve ever experienced. I’ve never fed another in that manner. You are so very special to me, Annalese.” He sighed. “Now let’s return you to your mate. He’s asking for you.”

They made their way back to the door and he turned to embrace her. “Whatever may happen, know I will love you beyond my grave my dear Annalese. I do not think these feelings will ever die.” With that he released her to her mate and went to his chambers.

Lachlan took Annalese into town, saying she needed a shopping trip. Michael had outgrown nearly everything and she needed things too. They stopped for dinner at an outdoor café. She noticed everyone who passed by bowing to Lachlan and to the baby. “Lach, what’s going on? Why are they doing that?”

“Aye, I am officially the Heir to the House of Dracul. I am royalty in their eyes and Michael is the future Prince. He too is royal.” Lese thought for a moment and then giggled. “Yeah, you’re both royal all right. Royal pains in the arse!” She continued to giggle and soon so was Lachlan. Michael just cooed like it made him happy.

By the end of their evening trip, they were overloaded with bags. Thankfully, Vlad had a fleet of SUV’s and they had taken one into town. Lese had no idea each car was bullet-proof and the tires were made special to not flatten. She just liked the comfort of the leather seats and the safety of the size. Her men were precious cargo and this was the safest they could be in. She just wished everything wasn’t black, ugh!

Days turned into weeks and weeks into months. December was almost upon them. Lachlan was taking seven month old Michael—who was walking already—out to find a tree for Yule. Vlad had the decorations brought down from the attic and every part of the castle was looking quite festive. The only thing missing was Sophie. Lese separately missed her friend. She would call every couple of weeks to check on Michael’s growth and to talk to Lese, but she refused to speak with Vlad. She had spoken to him on her first call after she left, and that was the last time. She had told Lese she knew he wasn’t right, wasn’t fixed, and until he was, there was no talking to him. And that being away didn’t bother her like she thought it would. Sophie told Lese in confidence that maybe it was just that she didn’t love him enough, and that she was seriously considering breaking the mating. Lese had no idea what Vlad would do if Sophie broke their bond.

The boys had returned with a ten foot tall tree. It was so big they decided to use it in the Grand Ballroom, considering there would be a Yule Ball in a couple of weeks. Vlad and Lachlan secured the tree in the corner by the fireplace and Michael did what he did best, which was get into everything. Lachlan was trying his best not to get angry with the little guy, but Michael had a way of pushing Lach’s patience to the breaking point. He never yelled, he would just sit him down and talk to him. If that didn’t work, a good old-fashioned spanking did the trick. Lachlan was just about to break, when Vlad scooped up the tiny tornado.

“Papa,” Michael cooed.

“Yes, Michael, Papa. And if you keep this up very unprince-like behavior, Papa is going to get angry and take you to the dungeon where they have no toys and no night-lights. Now my young prince, are you going to behave?” Vlad’s violet eyes stared straight into Michael’s baby blues.

Michael nodded. “Yes Papa.”

Vlad released the child and he scampered up the stairs. Lese began to laugh. “Oh Vlad, If I knew the threat of the dungeon would have worked, I would have had you do it weeks ago!” She excused herself to check on the little prince, leaving the men alone.

“Aye, sire” Lachlan started, but was stopped.

“Can we just stop with all the sire shit! I’m barely making it through the day and every time you say that, I feel guilt. Please, Lach. Can you go back to T. or Vlad or even asshole at this point, but not sire, anything but that!”

“Aye T., let’s go into the library and see if we canna get drunk. That boy is pushing me last nerve and I could use a drink or a bottle.”

Vlad agreed. “Yes I think I could use a few gallons of scotch.”

They sat in silence for the longest time, Lachlan breaking first. “Aye, how are ye holding up being Yule is coming and Sophie isn’t here? I know her leaving canna be an easy thing to handle.”

Vlad spoke. “Honestly, I thought it would be awful, but it isn’t. We put on a good show in front of everyone, but behind closed doors, things were strained. We weren’t talking…well I wasn’t talking. You know me. I’ve never been good with feelings. I tend to compartmentalize things. I just shut down. Sophie quit trying. We were just existing together in this house. I’ve been expecting to be summoned to the council to break the mating. She’s pulled away, Lach, and I can’t blame her. I caused all this mess. I seem to be good at causing messes these days. Even if I convinced her to come home, she would know my heart wasn’t in it. And that’s not fair to her. I would give her anything I had, but the thing she wants most, I cannot give.”

“Yer heart…because of Annalese.” Lach responded.

“Yes, Lach, because she holds my black Vampire heart in the palm of her hand and it beats because of her, for her. I know she belongs to you in every way, but that does not change my feelings. I will respect your bond. I have made to advances towards her since that night. I will do what I must to keep from going to her.”

“She loves you too, you know. T. she may have loved me first, but I know she loves ye. And I know that any other mated vampire would have taken yer head just for having the thoughts, but we don’t work that way in this house. So stop beating yourself up. We are a family…a might bit dysfunctional,” Lachlan chuckled, “but a family all the same. And gods damn it T., I love ye, ye ugly sadistic bastard!”

That got an amused laugh from Vlad. “So, on a different note, have you started shopping for Yule? The little prince will be easy. I’d like to be able to buy something for Annalese, so I guess I am asking permission.”

“Aye, Christ on toast, are ye really going there—family, remember?—ye damn stubborn bastard! Get her whatever ye want. She will love it and ye know that.” He nodded. They each finished their bottles and retired to their rooms for the night.

Lachlan lay curled behind his angel, thanking all the gods and goddesses for his blessing. He drifted off to a very peaceful sleep. A few hours later, his sleep was disturbed by Michael squeezing in between the two. He smiled and kissed his son and drifted back into a peaceful day sleep. Day turned to night and back into day again. And soon the Yule ball was upon them. Lese had chosen a deep red gown for the occasion, hoping she could fill a void for Vlad. Vlad didn’t speak of Sophie but Lese knew he missed her.

She made her way to the ballroom. The staff had done an amazing job transforming it into a winter wonderland. As she made her way across the room guests bowed. Oh boy. “Royal pain in the arse” she muttered. Lachlan noticed her first and patted Vlad so he would look up.

“How do you say it, Lach? ‘Christ on toast’ is it? Because that is the single most beautiful sight these old Vampire eyes have ever seen.”

Lach agreed. “Aye, she is a vision, isn’t she?” Lachlan greeted his mate with a kiss. He held her close “Aye, angel, you look sinful tonight.”

She blushed and stepped into the waiting arms of Vlad. He hugged her and kissed her cheek, and quickly released her. He would not let his feelings become public knowledge. What they all shared was best kept private.

Lachlan whisked her out to the dance floor. He held her tight and moved to the music. “Aye, me angel, gods, ye makin me wanna do some serious sinning with ye in that dress.”

She nuzzled his neck. “That was certainly the idea, fang boy.”

He grinned. “But I have a favor I need from me angel.” He told her what he had on his mind.

“Are you sure, Lach? I expected you to want to go too.”

“Nay angel, not this time. If ye canna do it, it’s okay. I just thought that it would be the perfect Yule gift.”

She thought for a minute. “I think you’re exactly right. I’m going to go see if the Prince of Wallachia would like to dance.” He released her and went to get a scotch.

She found Vlad in the company of two vampires she didn’t know.

“Hey, big guy.” She smiled as he introduced her as the Princess of Walachia. The Vampires bowed to her. “Oh, no. Please don’t do that. Vlad is your prince. Bow to him, not to me.”

Vlad did his eyebrow thing. “I see my dear Annalese isn’t comfortable with her status. She is to be respected as a princess, even if she refuses to let you bow. Understood?” They both nodded and excused themselves.

“Ah, my dear, did you need something or did you just want to see me scare the guests?”

She gave him a smile that melted his black heart. “Dance with me, Vlad. That’s why I came looking for you. I want to be close to you and I know it’s the only way we can, unless we plan on telling everyone we are having a crazy threesome love affair.”

“Oh it’s no affair, my dear Annalese. An affair leads one to believe it will end. My feelings for you, well, they are eternal.” He led her to the dance floor and pulled her as close as he felt he could, considering one hundred guests were watching them. Vlad whispered in her ear. “I love you, my dear Annalese. You own my heart and soul. It’s in your hand. Handle it how you see fit. You could never make me stop loving you.”

They danced awhile longer and he sent her to her mate. She went up to check on Michael once. When she returned, she found the vampires doing shots of Patron Silver Tequila. Oh boy, first scotch, now tequila. Thank gods they burned off alcohol quickly.

“Hey guys, are we trying to get drunk or just show up our guests?”

“Aye, angel, this stuff is pretty good. Ye want some?”

“Oh shit, no. You boys enjoy. I’ll start saying goodnight as we have guests leaving.” Annalese said goodbye to the guests as they left, bowing to their reluctant princess. She told herself to kick old Dracula in the shins for this princess crap.

She went in search of Vlad. She had a feeling she’d find him on the balcony and she was right. She curtsied when she approached him. “Good evening, oh dark prince of the castle.” She gave him the Vlad grin.

“I suppose I had that one coming. Come to me.” He opened his arms and she snuggled in close. “My dear, it was so difficult not to touch you tonight. Did you wear red intending on killing me? I’ll let you in on a secret. A stake would have been less painful than not being able to do just this.” She let her arms travel around his back so she could return his embrace. He held her for a long time, both silent. All of a sudden, Vlad broke. “I have been summoned to the council.”