Sofia awoke soon after down, exhausted and her body heavy with ache, in both a bad and good way. The sort of ache that made it easy to stay in the comfort of the bed, but Sofia's life normally didn't afford her such luxuries. Her handmaids would be at her door before she knew it and Sofia preferred to already be awake when they arrived. She yawned as she sat up only to have her eyes widen to the unfamiliar surroundings.

Last night hadn't been a dream then, she thought as her attention was drawn to a weight pulling down on the neckline of her nightgown. She glanced down to find a bat nestled between her breasts, his claws clinging to the inside of her clothing.

Carefully removing him from her person, she tucked him into bed and made sure the curtains to the four-poster canopy were drawn so she could open windows and shed some light on her surroundings. Cedric's room was a spacious thing, lavish in décor, though neglected with time. There seemed a sufficient layer of dust on the fireplace mantel and other surfaces, indicating cleaning was not something he did often, if at all. He'd have to change that if he planned on keeping her.

Wait, keeping her? Since when was she in such agreement to this bonding? She was a princess, intended for a prince, not a vampire, though her prospects in the former had been none to her liking. Bonds aside, she had her family to think about to. Her father was probably up in arms trying to locate her and her mother and siblings sick with worry. She'd have to go back, but first she'd have to find out where 'here' was, and Cedric was asleep.

Sofia touched her fingers to the two punctures on her neck, already scabbed over and healing. It hadn't hurt really, in fact, after he'd broken the skin, it was quite pleasurable. He fed gently, and with reverence. There'd been no fear, just heart pounding anticipation. Was that how it was supposed to be? Or was she too bound by this blood rite already? Exactly what was the benefit to being a lifetime meal supply? Yes, it felt a little good… okay, very good, but not good enough to warrant a complete life change. Honestly, that she'd even consider trading her freedom for a few moments pleasure was green of her and she was well aware of it. And yet they'd made love, hadn't they? She blushed, more embarrassed at how easily she'd been swept up by passion, but she couldn't say she was upset about it. He'd made her feel so… alive.

But enough of her fantasies come true, she needing to get her bearings, and with her husband asleep until sundown, she spent her day exploring the manor. It was nothing like the castle she lived in, most the rooms abandoned with covered furniture and layers of dust. It might have been a seasonal home to a noble at some point as she surmised from the older portraits of royalty hanging in the halls. She saw no recognizable family making the dates hard to guess, but given the amount of dust and cobwebs, it must have been a good few decades since any person had inhabited these halls.

The kitchen was unfortunately bare, as expected, the latrines in desperate need of cleaning, and what plumbing there was produced only dirty water. This wasn't fit for any human, let alone a princess, she thought as she escaped to the yard and gardens, though overgrown, were still pleasant to the senses. She washed in a nearby stream and ate apples from a ripe tree and spent the pleasant afternoon walking about the grounds trying to unfurl its mysteries.

She would have killed for a cup of tea in the mid afternoon when she returned inside to explore more rooms. She struck gold with the library as books never went out of fashion and a work of fiction was often how Sofia passed the time back home.

After uncovering a chair and raising a cloud of dust, she cracked a window to air the place out a bit and settled in for a read of a few select titles. Alas, there weren't any books on vampires, so she'd just have to wait until Cedric woke up to resume her inquiries.

With the light waning as dusk approached, a soft squeak and a yawn triggered the change in Cedric's form, his limbs elongating and fur receding as he sat himself up and stretched. He hadn't slept that well in years, even before the accidental bonding. He didn't have time to think much of it given the fact he awoke alone with no trace of his bonded.

"Sofia?" He called for her, pushing the bed curtains aside and beginning his search of the old manor. "Sofia!"

"Yes, Cedric, I'm here!" She answered and met him in the hall, a book clutched in her arm. "Good evening. Did you sleep well?"

"Er…" He paused, not quite expecting her to be making pleasantries with him. She'd been largely under his spell last night so the reality of having to chase her down again when he woke up would have been expected, but here she was, calm and composed, asking how he slept like they were deeper acquainted. "Um… very well, thank you."

"That's good to hear," she smiled kindly. "Now that you're up, I have some questions I want to ask you."

Also expected, he smiled back, happy to enlighten his bride to whatever questions she had. Once the state of the manor was pointed out to him, he took notice. Cleaning wasn't something most vampires busied themselves with. His sense of time making him recall his last tidying up had been about three years ago, a mere moment to a vampire. It was easy enough to put to right with a swish of his wrist and enchanted words. The food stores were stocked, the wardrobes and trunks filled, and the latrines clean enough to eat off – not that they would.

In a mere five seconds, the place was sparkling and Sofia stood agape in awe while Cedric adjusted his coat with a smug smirk. He had to admit, this was the part about being a vampire that had its advantages.

"I'd heard your kind could cast magic, but I didn't think anything like this…" Sofia turned to him. "How incredible!"

"Yes, well, there'd have to be some upside to not being able to be in the sun and survive solely on human blood."

"Functional immortality isn't enough?"

"No, immortality becomes its own curse…" He said, enthusiasm noticeably lessened, but not wanting to depress her, clapped his hands together to snap them into a more attentive mood. "Right! Onto other matters."

Cedric did seem to be in a friendly mood now, Sofia noted as he showed her the kitchen and helped prepare a meal for her, followed by a hot bath that she didn't need any assistance with. Having been awake most of the day, she changed into a fresh nightgown rather than a dress when she emerged from the washroom and hesitantly joined him on the bed where he'd sat waiting.

"It doesn't bore you to just sit there?" she asked, crawling under the covers.

"Not really. The flow of time feels different for me. A scarce half hour might as well be a blink of an eye," he explained, turning to watch her nestle in. "How is it you're already comfortable here?"

Sofia shrugged her shoulders. "I don't feel in danger, although I do miss my family."

"I'll return you if you wish. I don't need to feed every evening, but I'd much rather not sneak into your room once a fortnight. Too much hassle."

She smiled up at him. "But you will?"

He nodded. He wanted to keep her happy. It'd be difficult being apart from her again, but seeing her every two weeks wouldn't be so bad.

"Thank you," Sofia leaned towards him and placed a kiss on his cheek.

"…Did you want to leave immediately?" He asked slowly, obviously wanting her to say 'no'.

"No," she smiled and shook her head, reaching a hand over to caress his cheek, guiding his face over to hers for a kiss.

"Sofia…" His voice dropped to a hush.

She wouldn't listen to protests, deciding she wanted one good kiss she would clearly commit to memory. Her lips molded against his for a moment before pulling back with a soft pucker that made Sofia blush and give flirtatious giggle. "It's okay for me to kiss you, isn't it?"

"Y-Yes," he swallowed and gave a nod of his head.

"…Do you plan to ravish me like you did last night?" She asked with feigned shyness. In truth, she'd welcome him back into her arms if he was so inclined.

"Ravish?" He squeaked.

Sofia smiled with a slight tilt to her head. "Has your boldness left you already?"

"I'm not usual one for boldness in the first place, my dear. Last night was… exceptional, but I was drunk on you having not fed properly for years. Never before have I even laid with a maid, so it's probably best if you temper your interest," he admitted, ashamed and yet willing to bear all to this strange woman.

"Oh," Sofia sounded disappointed, and was quiet for a moment, before sitting up and crawling over him. "Alright, then may I try?"

Cedric's fangs nearly sunk into his own lip the way he bit his lip to maintain his composure. He went down easily against the mattress as Sofia perched herself on his hips and examined him thoroughly with both her hands and eyes.

"I've never been with a man before… though I've wondered about it… craved it at times even… But as you surely know, royals, especially women, need to be discrete with such matters. Even before I came of age, I had suitors eager to court me, but I can't say I fancied any of them. Is that part of the bond as well? My attraction to you?"

"I'm not certain… I've never been human, and vampires have no need for things such as sexual attraction. Our prey we prefer to be healthy and youthful, but if you're hungry enough, it matters not what they look like," he explained, taking deep measured breathes as she unbuttoned his waistcoat and shirt to once again behold his bare chest.

"Never been human? Then… you were born this way? Not turned?"

"My parents were bonded… as such, I was born a halfling, and fulfilled the curse once I was fully grown by taking my first blood."

Sofia ceased her exploration, now more interested in their conversation. "Wait, vampires can reproduce?"

"Bonded pairs can, assuming they're the opposite sexes of course."

"Oh," Sofia brightly blushed and Cedric sat up, putting his hands around her waist to keep her upright in his lap.

"Would you like to hear how I came into being?" Cedric asked, and Sofia nodded, and so he told her how his parents met. It was a decent tale he supposed, but Sofia was beaming with tears in her lives when he finished, informing her they were still happily together in a faraway village.

"They sound charming, your parents," she giggled and draped her arms over his shoulders.

"Yes, I suppose they are, when they're not being 'parents'," he commented, trailing a hand up and down her side pensively.

"…What is it?" Sofia asked, tilting her head to look him in the eyes.

"You have a strong sense of duty like my father, willing bearing this burden… but you're also a woman, a princess. Surely you have grander dreams than sharing a life with the likes of me."

"I think I'm still processing it all…" She freely admitted, dragging a hand back to cup his cheek. "But I can tell you're a kind man, you'll be good to me."

"Those are my intentions, yes," he gazed up into her eyes and then down to her lips, craving a kiss.

"Then we'll make the most of this opportunity, won't we?" Sofia lowered her voice to a whisper and then gently kissed his lips, holding on for a few precious moments, before she leaned back and tugged off her nightgown.

"Yes, my dear, we shall indeed," he popped his trousers open and with a giggle, Sofia wiggled herself closer to meet their sexes.

A happy sigh fluttered from her lips as she sunk onto him and rolled her hips. "Mm!"

"Yes…!" He hissed through his teeth, grinding his pelvis upward to mate them closer together. This was a splendid angle, his wife's body having more bounce to it as she worked her hips on pure instinct. Gods, he wasn't sure he'd be able to return her to her family after this. Not knowing her like this and having to be wanton for her. While a small amount of time should have been inconsequential, he dreaded what the nights without her would be like.

"Then come with me," Sofia said softly as they cuddled in the afterglow. "You're my husband before you're a vampire, so my family will understand."

"I want to believe you, darling, but that's only one of many issues I see presenting a problem."

"Are you a coward?"

"Unequivocally so," he said with no hint of embarrassment or remorse. "Brave vampires end up dead – permanently."

She pouted and hid her head against his shoulder. "That's not fair. I'll get to meet your parents, won't I?"

"Oh gods, I would hope not, but no, it probably won't be avoided. My mother's probably on her way here as we speak…" Cedric trailed off before clearing his throat. Would dealing with his mother be better or worse than dealing with his royal in-laws? He heaved a sigh, wishing he had more of a backbone when it came to women.


Author's Note: I had hoped to do this story in 2 parts, but I'm dealing with writer's block again so I'm posting what I have.