A/N: Disclaimer in Chapter 1.

This is the 1st of 3 chapters I'm posting tonight.

I decided to post three chapters today which means I'll only have to type two tomorrow. Its just in case any of my family come tomorrow, the there's less for me to type (I've been brought up that its rude to play on the computer and watch TV when I have guests).

I hope everyone has a lovely Christmas tomorrow, the last two chapters will be up tomorrow night.

Chapter 26: Offer

As far as Vlad knew Ingrid hadn't done anything. Granted she did have a habit of going behind his back and undermining him (it had been quiet on that front for far too long), he thought they were on more friendly terms since marrying Erin.

Ingrid hadn't insulted anyone recently other than the Count, unless he was objecting to the leeway he gave her on the Council and the high position as one of the seven overseeing the training.

Why single Ingrid out when Erin was just as vocal?

Lucius shuffled slightly under Vlad's curious gaze. "How old is Ingrid?"

Vlad knew this wasn't a complaint. "Nearly 21."

Lucius nodded considering Vlad's answer, "You are the head of the Dracula house." Vlad prayed the Count didn't hear that, if he did he'd have to deal with an irate vampire and he was certain the Count wouldn't be the only one.

"Actually Dad…" Vlad paused, if it was about Ingrid his father wouldn't make the right choice, he shook his head slightly deciding to actually play devil's advocate. "Never mind." He closed his eyes for a moment preparing for the question he was worried would follow.

Lucius drew himself up to look Vlad in the eye. "Is Ingrid betrothed to Bertrand?"

Vlad screwed up his face in disbelief, "No." He then wished he hadn't said that considering how Lucius' eyes took on a more determined gleam.

"Then why is she so familiar with him?"

"Because Bertrand is her friend." Vlad knew there was more there but wasn't willing to mention it to anyone outside of Erin. He didn't want to be bitten in anger by either Ingrid or Bertrand.

The words were out of Lucius' mouth before he could stop them, "Vampires don't have friends."

"I have friends, my wife was my friend first. Robin and Tess are my friends. I have allies because I have friends. Friends show trust. I need people to trust me." Vlad voice grew louder as he spoke. Lucius stepped back at the fierce conviction in Vlad's tone.

Vlad was tired, he wanted to spend time with his wife, he was hungry and he wanted to go to sleep. At the moment Lucius was the only thing preventing him from doing that. He just hoped Erin had suspended the training for today like he asked otherwise he'd be even more exhausted by lunchtime.

"Why are you so concerned with my sister being friends with Bertrand?"

Bertrand and Ingrid were close, they challenged each other and as far as Vlad could tell the friendship did them both good. Bertrand could match Ingrid's schemes and plots with his own as well as foil hers as much as she could stop his. They both could keep each other in line (which was a brilliant advantage in Vlad's point of view). Their friendship wasn't a threat it was more of an asset.

"Its not appropriate for a female to be friends with a man unless she's already married."

"I guess my wife broke the rules before we were married then." Vlad snarled. This was archaic thinking; it was everything he wanted to change about their society. "Ingrid can be friends with whoever she wants. Has anyone complained?" Lucius didn't answer and Vlad knew no one had. "Why don't we get straight to the point? What has Ingrid got to do with you?"

Lucius was silent, "We're in a war." Vlad felt like clapping but resisted the urge. "Surely every available woman should be married as a means to increase the population?" That really was the wrong thing to say.

Anger filled Vlad, women were not a tool for breeding. His eyes turned a violent shade of red before transforming into orbs of coal, as he no longer could control his fury.

Lucius gave his reason for his comment, seeing Vlad's anger. "Your wife is currently continuing our population…"

"My wife is just over three months pregnant, the war began nearly two weeks ago. I would never ask her to 'breed' to save our kind, I will *never* ask any woman to do the same." He wouldn't allow it and as the Grand High Vampire he had the final say on any law that was suggested to him.

"I didn't mean it like that…"

Vlad forced the words though his clenched teeth, "That had better be true."

"I'll ask again, how does this affect you?"

"I wanted to know if I may ask you for her hand in marriage."

That explained all the strange looks he'd been giving Ingrid recently. Clearly Lucius had a crush on Ingrid. Vlad was worried about how long he'd been crushing on her. Also was this crush born out of actual affection or a desire to gain more power through a connection to the Chosen One.

Vlad couldn't believe the nerve of Lucius, "You insult my sister and her choices and now you're asking to marry her?"

"I thought if I presented reasons for a marriage you would agree to it."

If that's what he honestly thought he was mistaken, granted Vlad occasionally wished he could get rid of Ingrid especially when she nearly forced him into marrying a clan daughter she wasn't a burden. A few insults wouldn't make him want to part with her.

"If Ingrid marries a Council member she can't serve on the Council." Vlad reminded him, he wasn't keen on his sister marrying anyone on the Council. Erin was on the Council be default as their Queen, the only position that was allowed through marriage.

"But at the moment her loyalties are to you. Her loyalties should be to her husband first. Ingrid will lose her position but she will be busy raising children…"

Vlad cut him off sharply, "I am not making a decision for Ingrid."

"So you object to her marriage to me? I am of good breed," Why did he make himself sound like a pedigree dog? "My family are rich, I have good prospects and she will have security." Lucius was really trying to sell himself. "I'm sure she likes me and over time she will come to care for me as a wife should."

"Ingrid will make her own decision. My marriage is based on love, Ingrid's will be too." Marriage through 'good matches' couldn't continue, marriage was eternally binding in their world. Marriages based on love needed to be pushed; it might eliminate some of the hostility that existed between clan members.

Lucius still hadn't heard the answer he wanted. "May I ask her?"

"You can ask her but I'm not giving any consent to marry her unless its what *she* wants." Lucius nodded to him, pleased at Vlad's 'permission'. Permission was one thing, acceptance was another.

Vlad had decided from the moment to topic had begun. While Lucius was a supporter of his on the Council as far as he was concerned it wasn't worth an unhappy marriage.

YEKNODELTTILYEKNODELTTIL

Vlad walked blindly into his coffin room, still trying to actually work out what had just happened. Erin jumped turning and covering herself quickly; she was in the middle of getting undressed. Vlad didn't seem to notice he just stared straight ahead.

"VLAD!" Erin shouted, clicking her fingers to shut their door before anyone could see her state of undress. She yanked the shirt over her head the second the door closed. "Next time kno…what's wrong?"

He turned to her, confusion from his talk with Lucius, "I've just been asked for Ingrid's hand in marriage."

"What?" Erin could have sworn he just said someone had just asked to marry Ingrid. Judging by Vlad's serious face and the silence that filled the room she knew she'd heard him right. "By Bertrand?"

"Lucius."

"I knew he was looking at her strangely. I hope you told him 'no'."

"I said he could ask but I said it was up to Ingrid to make the final decision. I wasn't going to consent to a marriage unless Ingrid agreed."

Erin felt like hitting him around the head the way she'd seen the Count do to Renfield so many times. "By saying he could still ask her you've consented in his eyes!" He was just trying to keep everyone happy. "Do you think he honestly listened after you agreed he could ask her?"

"Yes." Erin folded her arms; he shifted under her firm but angry gaze. "No." He conceded looking the other way, unable to look at the disappointment he was sure was in her eyes.

Erin stepped forward and turned his face towards her. "Sometimes you're too sweet for your own good. Vlad you can't please everyone the whole time." Vlad nodded, Erin was right. "What do you think she's going to say, or do, when he asks her?"

Vlad gulped, a furious Ingrid was the thing of nightmares. Her anger at BING was nothing compared to her fury, even Stokely was just a temper tantrum. He shuddered as images flew through his head at what she might do to him.

YEKNODELTTILYEKNODELTTIL

Erin curled herself into Vlad, his arm automatically wrapping around her. She quietly read her book while Vlad read his. Vlad's was more to do with laws; he wanted to catch up on laws regarding betrothal and women's rights concerning them. After Lucius' opinion he was more concerned with removing them but could only do so if he knew what they were about.

Erin was enjoying her book, she liked all types of genres (with the exception of certain sci-fi books) crime, historical, action, fantasy, horror, she wasn't a fan of fluffy romances but she didn't mind something with a light sprinkling in. At the moment she was reading an Agatha Christie – And Then There Were None, the Count had recently 'found' a copy of the book (she wasn't sure she wanted to know how) and given it to her to read. It kept her mind active; it really was an intriguing story although a couple of slayers had nearly spoiled it twice already when they had commented on the book in front of her. It kept her guessing and took her mind of the war.

Robin was playing on his DS; no one needed to guess what the game was about but it probably began with 'v'. Bertrand was studying the maps more extensively and the Count was reading his times.

"VLADIMIR DRACULA! YOU'D BETTER START RUNNING!" The yell echoed down the corridor, reaching the room as clear as day.

The Count threw his paper down, "I am trying to read! Leave us alone Ingrid." He had to use the word 'us' didn't he, now Vlad didn't have a chance, Ingrid would look there for him first. He'd be lucky if she didn't have a clove of garlic with her.

Vlad's face flickered between panic and fear. He didn't expect Lucius to ask so soon, he at least hoped for a day to break the news softly to Ingrid. He glanced at Erin, unsure what to say to her.

"I think he's asked her." Erin summarised, this was the one time she wasn't feeling sympathetic to him.

"Who asked who what?" The Count asked.

The door flew off its hinges slamming to the ground. Ingrid was silhouetted in the doorway, a fierce look across his face.

Bertrand was the one to speak; someone Vlad had hoped wasn't around when Ingrid blew her top when she found out about Lucius' question. "What's wrong?" His face showed his concern, never had he seen Ingrid this angry and the fact it was directed at Vlad was unusual. Looking at Vlad he realised Vlad definitely knew why she was reacting in this way.

"He just tried to marry me off!"

Annoyance filled Bertrand; Vlad didn't even let him know he'd tried to do this. He tried to speak to Vlad but too many things entered his mind that he wanted to say to his leader. Any one of them probably would mean his execution but it would be worth it.

Vlad shrunk down in his chair trying to make himself disappear into it as everyone fixed their eyes on him.

Why couldn't Ingrid have waited until they were alone to kill him?

TBC

A/N: Thanks for reading.