Aric spat out the word "no" as he rose to his feet. "No! Emily should have the throne; I have no desire to sit on it."Leanor responded while attempting to maintain her composure, saying, "But the law says it must be a male."His voice cracked with exasperation as he said, "Come on mom," he continued, "it's the fucking twenty-first century!!"Emily yelled out, "He's correct," as she joined her brother in the position of prominence. "If you look back at the history of vampires in general, our people have always been led by men, and as far as I can tell, every single one of them has messed things up,"Henry called out, "Here, here," as he moved closer to his companions and joined them. "You got my vote!"Aric approached his mother and inquired, "What do you say?" as he stepped in her direction. "Would you be willing to ascend the throne if we were able to remove your father from it?"Lady Leanor gave the three people who were intently staring at her some thought as she surveyed their fa
When you're as near to death as I was, being flung across the room by a master vampire and hitting a wall doesn't hurt as much as you might think when you're in that position.Through the haze that filled my eyes, I watched his feet as they traversed the room to get to me. I heard and felt my ribs fracturing, but I didn't feel any pain.Damn, I'm not dead yet.I could feel a dull aching in my neck when Lord Lothaire grasped the back of my neck and lifted me off the floor. I couldn't help but giggle since I must seem like a bloody marionette.He took me from room to room, past human slaves who were prostrating themselves on the floor as he approached. I hung limp in his arms as he moved through the rooms.After pushing through a door, I found myself in a bedroom set up like a torture chamber with all the necessary equipment.As Lord Lothaire went about the room, he threw me against the wall, and I immediately felt a searing agony in my side.When he came back to me, he pulled me into a
Lady Leanor entered the throne room together with her children and support staff.When she looked at the end of the room, she saw her husband scraping dirt from beneath his fingernails while he was covered in blood and internal organs and lazing on his raised throne as if he didn't have a care in the world.Before entering the corridor with her followers, Leanor shielded herself from the impending horror by covering her eyes and taking a deep breath before proceeding.When Lord Lothaire saw his exiled wife approaching, he yelled at the top of his lungs, "My darling Lady Leanor, how dare you to leave your exile without my express permission!""Your recent 'eccentricities' have made it essential," she said fiercely, pausing just outside the assault radius of her husband so that she would have time to respond. At this distance, she would have a chance to defend herself.Lord Lothaire chuckled as he asked, "My eccentricities? Why would my eccentric or not actions be any of your concerns?
I was acutely aware of the rapid beating of my heart. After that, there will be two beats. I could sense that the process was drawing to an end. Even if this liberation meant I would never see Aric again, I would be free of all the physical and emotional misery plaguing me.Oh, for the chance to spend just one more minute in his arms, to feel his lips crushed against mine, and to finally be able to part with him.If I could have one wish granted, it would have been it; the other would have been to visit my mother.To my great relief, she would never have any idea what the hell I'd gone through. I could only pray that, in her mind, I was free and leading a happy, fulfilling life in the free zone.As soon as my feet struck the floor, I heard someone scream my name, "Liberty!"I was too weak to open my eyes or cry in pain while my wrists were being unhooked, but I felt multiple pairs of hands holding me as they did so.My ribs were exposed and pointed upward as I was carefully positione
Aric cried, "Liberty!" as he ran from one room to the next on the floor of his father's house, anxious to locate her.He ran across humans and vampires, and they were all racing about as frantically as he was, looking for ways to get out of the tower and away from the conflict that was going on between the people who supported his parents.He yelled, "Liberty," catching a slave as she tried to get behind him, and asked, "Where is she?" referring to the pet.She screamed, "I don't know," as she struggled to escape his grasp. "Please let me go."Aric let her go after recognizing the extreme terror written all over her face and watching as she fled the scene.As he turned around to continue his quest, he muttered to himself, "Fuck."He continued to search but came up empty-handed, finding no sign of Liberty or Alfie anywhere. As he approached the final entrance, his hope was beginning to fade.He pulled the door open while praying to Saint Januarius that she was hiding behind this one.T
As Aide said that the queen, Lady Leanor, had arrived with a large mob to topple Lord Lothaire, I listened carefully as she spoke."She continued, "When I saw his face and all the fresh blood that was covering him as he allowed to meet with them, I knew he'd already harmed you rather badly," as she spooned some broth into my mouth. "When I saw his face and all the fresh blood that covered him as he let to meet with them.""After I was certain he had left, I went into his room and saw you hanging from a rope like an animal while you were bleeding to death.She proceeded while extending another scoop of food to me and said, "I contacted a couple of the slaves who I knew would help me and we carried you down." "After that, I consulted a witch to repair your ribs."I nodded in response to this while spreading my palm over my tummy to feel my body's still sore but otherwise sound side.Aida said to me as she watched me wince in pain, "They were able to fix the most serious breaks, but ther
"Aric," Lady Leanor shrieked, her voice breaking from the strain of her anguish, "what have you done?"Her son answered in a monotone, "I told you," as he stared down at his bloodied hands and away from his mother's face, revealing no sign of emotion. "I murdered him."She started walking around the room while asking her question, "But why?" "We devised a strategy to take him down, force him to abdicate the kingdom, and then throw him in jail while I reclaim what was rightfully mine."Aric said scornfully, "So," you still have a chance.Leanor snapped back an emphatic "No," all the while distractedly raking her fingers through her hair. "No, I can't do it."He finally inquired, "Why?" after becoming increasingly irritated by her exaggerated response to what he had done.She yelled angrily at him, "Because you fucking killed him!! " as she turned her back on him. "As long as your father was still alive, there was precedence for me to draw on to make my ascension lawful. However, the in
Lady Emily sighed as she looked up into my face and asked, "So," you're the one Aric killed our father for."I sat there, trembling in silence, staring intently into her eyes. It was unclear to me whether or not the passing of her father had caused her to feel resentment toward me.Was she formulating plans to exact revenge on me for my role in the passing of Lothaire?If she intended to end what remained of my life, it wouldn't take much for her to accomplish that goal because it's not like I had much left to live for."Can she walk?" she asked Aida rather than me, and to tell you the truth, I was happy about it. Despite the mending that had taken place, the rawness in my throat persisted."Yes," the other lady said as she moved into the conversation, "but she's still extremely feeble."The vampire questioned aloud as he stood to take a look at the human slave, "What did he do to her?"Aida saddened everyone by saying, "when she came, she'd been cruelly used." "I cannot provide any
The following morning, Liberty's mother came. She was saddened by the little details she knew about her daughter's ordeals, but overjoyed to learn that she was still alive. She embraced her daughter and her new husband, albeit with some reluctance.The newlywed couple's private apartment, located in a brand-new structure that Aric had selected as his seat of power, served as the setting for the day's festivities honoring them.The tower of suffering built by his father was going to be dismantled and lowered to the ground since this was already in the planning stages.Henry was given permission to transform Alfie, and a ceremony was arranged for them not long after his love awoke into his new existence not long after the ceremony was held for them.Two days after their hasty wedding ceremony, an announcement was made publically declaring the new Lord and Lady of the Northwest Territory. This notification was sent out by the law.Even though many of the lesser lords agreed with Lady Lea
When Aric's mother glanced at her son, completely disregarding my presence in the room, I couldn't help but nibble the inside of my lip nervously.Aric began by giving my hand a firm squeeze before rising to his knees and bending over his mother. "Mother," he said, "You did come to me earlier and tell me that Liberty was concerned that I might become like my father, did you not?""Well," Lady Leanor started, no indication that she was ashamed or trying to be deceptive, "sure I did since that's what she said."Aric continued, his tone becoming increasingly agitated as he vented his frustration, "You also insinuated that she had merely been using me until she could find someone with more authority to go on to.""What?"Emily inquired as she abruptly jerked herself upright, interrupting the conversation as her eyes swept over her mother, her brother, and me."Because she did," Leanor yelled at me while directing her murderous glare in my direction. "She leaped at the chance to abandon y
Aric took Liberty in his arms and led the way back to the chamber that he had staked a claim as their own.After temporarily leaving her to make arrangements for her mother's arrival, he returned to find Liberty standing naked under the stream of hot water coming from the showerhead.When he saw the scars that disfigured the previously smooth surface of her back, he couldn't believe that he had ever had any reason to distrust her.He undressed and joined her, then let his fingertips run over the scars his father had left in her flesh.While his arms were wrapped around her waist, he whispered into her ear, "For each and every one of these, I guarantee you a million wonderful moments."Liberty let out a contented sigh as she lay her back against his chest. She cherished the sensation of his strong arms surrounding her and protecting her at that very moment."Well," she continued with an invisible smile that suggested she was being playful, "you have eternity to do the work."Aric renew
When Aric looked down into my eyes, he muttered, "I know you worry, and I promise that with you by my side, I can cope with everything."I drew his lips back to mine and whispered the words, "I love you."I needed to feel him against me now more than ever. As I reached up, I fumbled around frantically, trying to undo the buttons on his shirt, and I was almost in tears since it felt like such a challenge.At long last, I could get it out of the way and get a feel for the velvety smoothness of his chest beneath my palms.Aric's hands were fumbling at the hem of my own shirt, pushing it up and over my head as I heaved a sigh of relief.After he freed his lips from the cloth, he kissed a path down my chin, going agonizingly down my neck and finally latching on to my nipple after pressing the cup of my bra down.I couldn't help but sigh in contentment as I ran my hands through his thick hair and gently cradled his head in my arms.I murmured, "Aric," with a longing for buildup buried deep
Aric's determination was almost shaken when he saw the agony in Liberty's eyes, but he managed to keep it together.If his mother's statement was accurate, he has been led to believe that she lied to him during their relationship. She has exploited her body to win his love and ensure her own future success.It seemed as though the evidence had been staring him in the face the whole time, didn't it?Because he had more authority, she ended up being his father's plaything, but as soon as that strategy backfired, she instantly found a way to get back into his bed.Aric muttered an expletive under his breath as he watched the woman who had once been his darling struggle to stand."Aric," she pleaded, tears streaming down her stunning face, "Aric, please, let me explain."While he had her by the shoulders and was choking her, he spat, "My mother explained enough." "You are more than a deceitful person who took advantage of me.""I never once exploited you," Liberty said under her breath as
Before I can continue, I need a few moments to collect my thoughts and proceed.I was finally allowed to talk to Lady Leanor when I told her that Lord Lothaire had brought me here and that he had made me one of his slaves."Did he cause you any pain?"Aric's mother questioned with sadness and anxiety on her face.I could not stop the tears from falling as I said, "Yes, ma'am," but "in ways, I wish I could forget."Lady Leanor groaned as she took another sip from her cup and remarked, "He was a dreadful beast."I nodded in agreement as I wiped my cheeks and said, "Yes, he was."When I looked up, I sniffed and said, "You know, I always wondered how a guy as violent as your father could have a kid as great as Aric, and I think I know the answer.""He had you," I said as I stood up and maneuvered my way across the cramped room to embrace the other woman. "Thank you."She was perplexed as she questioned, "For what?"I conveyed it to her while gazing down at her and saying, "for your compas
Liberty followed Lady Leanor into a cozy sitting area close to the office where Aric was working.Leanor stayed standing as she gazed down on the younger woman who had been chosen as the companion for her son and gestured for her to sit down."Are you hungry?"she enquired, noticing that she was beginning to feel hungry.Liberty said gently, "No, thank you," while wriggling uneasily under the inspection of the more experienced vampire.After nodding, Lady Leanor walked to the other side of the room and picked a blood bag out for herself. After ripping it apart, she transferred the blood-red liquid into a nearby cup before returning to her seat across from Liberty.Leanor couldn't help but emit a tiny giggle at the other woman's puzzled expression.Her voice was filled with mirth as she remarked, "I despise the taste those plastic bags leave behind in my mouth." "Call me old school, but if it's not coming directly from the vein, I prefer to drink it out of a cup," you can say that abou
"My mum!" I said, startled to realize that since I had sent her the little letter, I hadn't given her a second thought.As I whirled around to face Aric in a state of terror, I could hardly get the words out.I choked out the words, "I have to get to her!" "I don't want her to learn from anybody else about what happened to me.I pleaded with him, "Please, Aric," as tears filled my eyes.He reached out to wipe the tears from my face as he said, "Of course, my darling. We can board the plane and be there in forty-five minutes."When I heard the word "plane," the recollection of the last time I had been on a plane with Lord Lothaire caused my legs' knees to weaken.When I started shivering because of the recollection, Aric grabbed me about the waist and held me close while he seemed to understand that he had made a mistake.Despite Januarius's gift of peace, the recollection horrified me. All the atrocities I'd been forced to endure at Lothaire's hands rushed through my mind as though th
Aric's dispute with his mother continued until he discovered that Liberty was no longer in the area.As he looked around the room, he noticed that she was nowhere to be found at that point."Mother," he replied, holding out his hand to prevent her from offering yet another scathing response, "I am going to marry her regardless of what you think. I love her!""Love is not enough," Leanor said angrily in her response.A voice came behind them and said, "Love is enough."As Aric turned around, he noticed Liberty standing in the doorway, her chin lifted proudly over her chest.As she proceeded, she moved closer to Aric and intertwined her hand with his as she stood next to him. "Januarius informed me that our love was extraordinary," she said. "If he believes in us, then what gives you the right to doubt us?""I know you think you..." Leanor paused, staring at Liberty with a suspicious expression on her face. "I know you think you..." "Did you say Januarius talked to you?"Liberty said, "