Chapter 34

Our laughs were all I heard as my uncle's door shut behind him loudly down the hall. So loud we had become, I was almost completely positive that Velkan's father would make a most unwelcome visit, though he did not.

"Think of the look on his face if he had walked in at that exact moment. No! Think of our faces!" Velkan said, chuckling quietly to himself. I had stopped by then, my face red from amusement. Slowly, I noticed his laugh quietly subsiding, his gaze coming carefully to rest on me.

"Not a good thing, I'm sure." I said quietly, the heat rising to my face at the mere thought of our intimate dealings. I noticed him blush slightly catching my insinuation. He rose silently from the bed, buttoning the shirt I had been so quick to remove.

His even breathing was the only reply I was to receive. I watched as he quietly straightened the cravat of his shirt, smiling silently in my direction. I could tell from the slight tinge of red on his cheeks that he had enjoyed every bit of what we had done. "Such a sudden turn of events that was." He said suddenly, buttoning the sleeves of his shirt. After a moment, he quickly reached for his vest.

"Perhaps this was a sign." I said quietly as he began to put on his vest. I had begun to walk about the room, searching for our discarded clothing. I found his coat lying on the ground, and as I bent to pick it up, I felt Velkan's hands slowly begin to wrap about my waist.

"A sign it was, indeed." He said quietly, as I slowly leaned into his touch. "A sign that we should be married sooner than I thought." My eyes widened suddenly, and craning my neck to meet his eyes, I found only joy reflected back.

"What are you talking about?" I asked him. He only smiled at me, his lips meeting my neck once again. I felt the hair standing up on my neck once again. "What do you speak of?" I asked him again, this time more urgently.

"Nothing." He said quietly. "Nothing." He released me, taking from my arm his coat. "How I wish I could spend one night with you…" he murmured quietly into my ear, his breath hot upon my neck. "Only one night." I playfully pushed him away from me, turning to face him.

"Not yet." I said simply. I hurried to him, pushing him towards the door. "Now go!" I whispered hurriedly.

"And if I refuse?" he asked me. I remained standing where I was, refusing to allow him any further into my room. We stayed the way we were, each not moving an inch.

"Christine!" I heard someone call suddenly. My uncle. He was coming down the hall, just turning to corner. I looked to Velkan, a terrified expression on my face.

"Now go!" I said again, this time in a hurried whisper. Velkan leaned in suddenly, capturing my lips in a hurried kiss. His hand lingered on my cheek for some moments, before hurrying out the door, silently closing it behind him.

"Christine!" I heard my uncle call again. He had by then walked down half of the dimly lit hallway. Hesitantly, I stepped out of my rooms, looking down the hallway and noticing Velkan's retreating form. "I see someone has come to call after you already. But why, I wonder, would he come to see you at this time of night?"

I turned suddenly, finding the smiling eyes of my uncle. Putting on a façade of pure indifference, I smiled. "He came to see if I was comfortably settled in my rooms. And also to see if I had enjoyed dinner." I said quietly. Christopher laid a friendly hand upon my shoulder.

"Such gallant service. I hardly know of a nobleman, never mind a prince, ever caring that much about the welfare of his guest. Just throw them in a room, I say." Christopher said amusingly to himself. I smiled and nodded.

"As do I!" I answered in reply. My uncle narrowed his eyes in confusion for some moments, thinking back to only moments before when he had interrupted Velkan and I. I knew the question burned on his lips before he had even had a chance to voice it.

"Was he in there when I knocked at the door?" he asked me. I laughed nervously before responding.

"Well, yes he was." I answered innocently. "He came in while I was playing a game of cards. Seeing me playing alone, he offered to keep me company. Of course, I was obliged to let him." I continued, creating this appearance of pure innocence. Christopher narrowed his eyes to small slits, pondering all I had explained to him.

"How strange that you sounded as though you were having a nightmare…" he said to me, struggling in vain to catch me in a lie. "What was he doing to you?"

"Nothing!" I answered, somewhat angrily. "He merely scared me, is all…"

My uncle did not venture any more comments, choosing, rather, to continue his silent examination of my face. I did not waver in my strong gaze, keeping my eyes tightly contained with his own, defying any wrongdoing at all. It took some moments before he finally accepted my answer as truth.

"Well then," he began, clearing his throat slightly. "I suggest you go back to your room. It is rather late, and we must be up early. It seems Boris Valerious would like to speak to the both of us." I widened my eyes in surprise, not expecting this sudden turn of events.

"Why?" I asked him. My uncle merely shrugged his shoulders in response.

"I have not an idea." He said. "He's taken quite an interest in us, it seems. What an interesting turn of events, to say the least."

A/N:
Short chapter, I know! I'm planning on having some really good stuff happening in the next chapter, and I really didn't want to give it all away yet! I'm just really 'setting the mood' for what is going to happen next. Plus, I really wanted to write the first scene where someone is beginning to become suspicious of Velkan and Christine's budding relationship. Hope I got that across!

Widow Dracula a.k.a. Unrequited Lover: I'm glad you liked these chapters much better! I like them too. I knew the chapter I wrote originally wasn't really that great, and I really wanted to get some feedback before I could rewrite again. I'm hoping this chapter is as good as the others! (The love scene in the last chapter was incredibly hard to write, I really hate writing that stuff because I feel like it comes out as smut...I hate that. Anyway, I hope 33 was tasteful and not too rushed for the relationship that they are in. I feel as though it is, lol.

SilverFlover: I am so glad you love my story as much as you do! Personally,I don't think I deserve that much praise for my story, though I am quite flattered you loved it! I think the writing is mediocre at best, lol. But then again, I am always critical of my works. I have been meaning to read your fic, but I never seem to get around to it, but I think I will be checking up on it after I'm done posting this next chapter. I'm sure it will be a wonderful read! BTW: Just out of curiousity, I was wondering what your favorite chapter in my fic was, lol. I always love to ask random questions, don't mind me, lol.

Countess Alana: Ahhhh...what can I say...my ever loyal reviewer. I haven't talked to you online lately, but don't think that I have forgotten about you, lol. I haven't! Hope you like this chapter!

Anthem82: Another of my loyal reviewers...I thank you so much for your positive feedback! I really am flattered that you have been as into reading my story as I have been in writing it. I truly do enjoy getting your feedback! If you ever have any suggestions as to the plotline of the story, or if you wish to comment on any character in particular, I would love to hear it! Your opinions are greatly valued and appreciated!

Agnes Fey: I loved your review, and I am so happy you love my story so much! I figured you would love the William and Aleera relationship, as Unrequited Lover does, lol. William has to be one of my favorite OCs next to Christine!