Author Notes: Hello again, everyone! Thank you once more for the wonderful reviews and enjoy this next chapter. Uhm, was it supposed to be the last chapter? Well, enjoy it anyway and I look forward to your feedback :)

- Chapter Start -

All Zero could hear was the swift pounding of his heart against his rib cage as he climbed the wide marble staircase. If he weren't still in a state of shock, he suspected he might even be running about the place, screaming his head off at what he had just agreed to – becoming Yuuki's lover and bond mate when she was already Kuran's betrothed and bond mate.

What the hell - was he mad?

Hadn't he sworn to kill Yuuki the next time their paths crossed?

Hadn't she said she would be waiting for him?

Or had she known even then that he wouldn't be able to harm a hair on her head?

He could feel Yuuki's fingers trembling in his grasp - proof that she too, was affected by her own impulsive decision to blood bond with him. But there was nothing from Kuran to indicate his true feelings about having his precious princess turn the tables on the two of them... all without batting one of her enormous, soulful eyes.

Zero ground his teeth in exasperation. Honestly, did Yuuki think it was as simple as being confronted with a choice of vanilla and chocolate ice cream at that small sundae shop near Cross Academy they used to frequent, and that it was perfectly fine to have both instead of one?

That wasn't a decision that would shake the earth, but this was! Both the vampire world and the hunter one!

Zero's pragmatic mind was already boggling over the logistics of such an arrangement and the schedules they would have to come up with. He prayed Yuuki would handle that aspect because the very thought of having to call Kuran to make sure they didn't plan on dating her the same night was enough to make Zero feel hot and cold all over.

Besides, Yuuki may have said she loved him as much as she did Kuran, but they were siblings and purebloods, revered and respected in their world. Zero wasn't a part of that world and despite his acquiescence, he knew he wasn't the type of person to settle for being the third party in a relationship.

So where did this arrangement leave him then?

Nowhere.

The sudden tightening of Yuuki's fingers around his own came a split second before Zero could tear his his hand away. Turning to glare at her, he encountered her imploring gaze again, pleading for him to stay. Damnit all to hell, he could never say no to her.

With a growl of annoyance at his own easy capitulation, he looked away only to realise they had reached the top of the marble staircase. He had been so lost in his thoughts he hadn't noticed a single thing about his surroundings.

Two large doors with ornate carvings and gold doorknobs faced them across a wide carpeted corridor. There was a muted flow of power from Kuran and the doors opened inward without a sound. At a tug from Yuuki's hand, Zero braced himself and crossed the threshold with his host and hostess, the doorway being wide enough to accomplish this with ease. Then he stopped short, startled eyes darting about and taking everything in.

The Kurans' master bedroom - it couldn't be anything else - was enormous. Sumptuous. From the plush carpeting to the high ceiling, from the floor length curtains at the French windows to the gauzy hangings over the huge bed, from the polished mother of pearl finish of the furniture to the cleverly hidden lighting; everything gave off an impression of airy space and soft, soft white.

Zero felt his uncertainty about their new arrangement spike at the sight of the luxurious furnishings, a world away from his small, spartan bedroom. Just a glance at that bed had his mind conjuring up images of Yuuki and Kuran between the sheets... naked and entwined, dark hair tumbling against pale skin and red lips as they lost themselves in each other.

Ignoring the sharp, much too familiar pang squeezing his chest, Zero turned to Yuuki and pulled his hand free. "Well?"

Despite his brusque tone, Yuuki smiled at him. "Come sit on the bed, Zero. We'll be more comfortable there."

She grabbed his hands and started backing towards the bed, pulling him along. Heart lurching in shock, Zero twisted around to look at Kuran, still standing at the doorway with his hands in his trouser pockets. He swung back to Yuuki.

"Wait - what about him?"

Yuuki blinked, delicate eyebrows drawing together in puzzlement.

"I'm already bonded with Kaname, Zero. I... I thought you knew that."

"No! I mean, why the hell is he still here?"

"Like it or not, Zero, this is my bedroom," Kuran replied in an even tone, "I have every right to be here."

As if underlining his words, the doors closed behind him with a sharp click and he started approaching the bed. That graceful, predatory walk rooted Zero to the spot, making him wonder if he had zoned out at some point and completely missed the part where he agreed to having an audience. He swung to Yuuki again, yanking his hands from her grasp.

"And you're OK with him watching us?" he demanded in disbelief.

Yuuki nodded, her eyes imploring him again.

"Yes, I am. Zero... you're not the only one in my life. Kaname is too, and I don't want to go behind either of your backs."

Zero blinked, taken aback as much by her ready answer as the words themselves. Where was the Yuuki who had been terrified her beloved Kaname-senpai would find out what they had been up to?

That was it - the world had officially gone mad. Either that or he was having one hell of a dream.

Taking his nonplussed silence for agreement, Yuuki went to sit at the foot of the enormous bed and crossed one slender leg over the other. She held Zero's stunned gaze and smiled as she reached up to pull at one end of the silver ribbon around her neck, causing the loops to slip free and the length of silk to slither down to her lap.

The effect of that simple, teasing act had Zero's fangs extended to their full length in a heartbeat, igniting a hunger inside him that had nothing to do with the food in his belly. Before he knew it, he was sitting beside her, his burning gaze locked onto the base of that white slender neck.

Fate was being cruel again, giving him a skewed version of what he had always dreamed of. Well, to hell with it - he was going to grab it with both hands anyway. No way was he walking away from this now, despite his misgivings and the silent, daunting presence of Kaname Kuran standing just three feet away.

Bending his head, Zero put his lips at Yuuki's ear and heard the tiny hitch in her breath.

"You always have to win, don't you?" he muttered. He heard her soft laugh and felt gentle fingers brushing over his ear piercings and threading through his hair.

"Only when you let me," she whispered.

Surrendering to the inevitable, Zero allowed her to guide his face lower until his mouth was at a level with the base of her neck. He wrapped his arms around her and pulled her closer, his heart racing in his chest. He had gone without blood - hers or anyone else's - for two years now and the sheer prospect of feeding from the only girl he had loved - oh God, how he had longed for this moment!

Clamping his hands around Yuuki's tiny waist, he lifted her bodily onto his lap to make it easier for both of them. Her surprised giggle broke off when he started licking at her bite area, drawing his tongue over the sweet smelling skin again and again.

Zero... bite me!"

He ignored her entreaty and his own hunger as he licked and sucked at her neck, elation flooding him when her breathing quickened and she started shifting about on his lap. He knew she was experiencing the same sweet pain of anticipation he was, and he let it build higher and higher until he was literally shaking with need.

At last, his control splintered and he bit down, driving his fangs into Yuuki. The taste of that intoxicating blood filling his mouth shot straight to his head like the headiest of wine, its familiarity sweeping him back to the past, bringing up memories that were all at once painful and poignant. Back to all those times he had slaked his desperate thirst on her human blood.

The first time at the bottom of that staircase when he had attacked her from behind.

The second time in the guest bathroom after she had gone to search him out.

The third time behind the stage while preparations for the school dance was going on.

The fourth time in the kitchen after she had cut her finger on a broken plate...

Like still photographs caught up in a tornado, those memories and others swirled around inside Zero's brain. His senses exploded as their blood bond came full circle, sweeping through those past memories to forge a brand new one, one that demanded equal participation from both parties.

Raising his head, Zero stared at Yuuki, his chest heaving. Once upon a time, the crimson glow in her beautiful eyes and the pointed fangs between her rosebud lips would have shocked and disgusted him, but no longer. He had had two years to reconcile himself to two facts - one, she was Yuuki Kuran now, pureblood vampire princess; and two, he still loved her anyway.

He would always love her...

She was staring back at him, a look of desperation in her eyes, her entire body trembling as if held by the thinnest, frailest of control.

He would do anything for her...

"Bite me, Yuuki!" Zero rasped.

She didn't hesitate like she had two years ago, merely reached up and pressed her lips to the left side of his neck, marked by the large taming tattoo - the same place she had bitten him two years ago. After two eager swipes of her tongue, she bit down hungrily, the sensation of her fangs in his flesh turning his legs to water.

Groaning in pleasure, he mimicked her action and lost himself in the taste of her blood once more. Only one thing marred this sublime experience - the subtle yet unmistakable taste of Kaname Kuran. The tiny, distant part of Zero that could still think thrust that thought away at once, disliking what it meant. He held Yuuki tighter and drank even deeper, wanting to lose himself completely in her. He felt reborn and revitalised and closer to her than he had ever been.

In the past, her human blood had been just a temporary measure to keep his demons at bay, but their bond now made it a necessity he knew he would crave for the rest of his life. He was no longer aware of anything save Yuuki, the two of them lost in the silken, pulsing, crimson cocoon of their bond.

A few minutes later - perhaps an eternity - Zero felt something shift in his consciousness. Yuuki had withdrawn her fangs and was carefully licking his wounds closed, the gentle touches on his sensitised skin making him shiver. He drank a bit more before stopping with reluctance, licking her wounds closed with equal tenderness and then cleaning his own lips.

When he finally raised his head, Yuuki was smiling at him, her pretty face flushed and her huge eyes back to their rosewood hue.

"I love you," Zero confessed in a low voice at last. "Always have."

Always will.

Yuuki's smile widened, her eyes shimmering with unshed tears as she reached up to frame his face with her small hands.

"I love you too, Zero."

Kissing her followed naturally, the scent of his blood on her tongue strange but not unpleasant. The desire flooding through Zero now was one that had nothing to do with her blood and everything to do with her. He deepened the kiss, only half aware he had shifted around to lower her onto the bed and followed her down with their mouths still fused together.

He wanted her right now.

"Want you," he muttered against her lips. "I want you so much."

"I know," Yuuki whispered. "Make love to me, please."

Zero groaned in assent, only to freeze at the unexpected sound of a throat clearing. Bolting upright in shock, he twisted his head to find Kuran still standing beside the bed, chiseled jaw tight and eyes half lidded. Zero flushed red at once, chagrin clearing his head and chasing away his ardour.

Oh God, he had forgotten about Kuran's presence! He had almost - almost... Seeing Kuran's gaze shift to the side, Zero turned to see Yuuki giving her brother that same pleading look, the one he knew neither of them would be able to resist. His heart skipped a beat when she smiled and nodded before looking at him.

"Don't stop, Zero. I don't want us to hide anything from Kaname."

Zero felt the blood drain from his face. He still couldn't believe the overprotective Kuran had witnessed the completion of their blood bond and hadn't killed him for it, but - but -

"Are you crazy, Yuuki? You want him to see us make love?" he demanded, too incensed to feel any embarrassment at his own words. He wanted to shake Yuuki to within an inch of her immortal life for even suggesting such a crazy thing.

"No, I'm not and yes, I do want him to see, Zero."

Almost sputtering in shock, Zero swung back to Kuran.

"This is crazy and you know it!" he snarled. "Surely you of all people can't want to see us do this!"

When Kuran just shrugged at him with that same implacable look on his face, Zero turned to meet Yuuki's enormous eyes once more, feeling a mix of embarrassment, excitement, elation and exasperation welling up inside him.

"Fine," he bit out, breathing hard.

The world had gotten even madder than before, but it looked like the maddest one of all... was still himself.

To be continued...