Chapter Eleven

Dream

She only focused on the man at the end of the aisle. Her wedding gown moved with her movements like water. Her heart beat faster as she hoped it was Micheal. As she approached him, he slowly turned. Her blood ran cold as Darrain stood where Micheal was supposed to be. The man that would join them together in marriage didn't seem to notice that anything was wrong. The vampire priest hold a golden goblet adorned with red jewels out to them. Lorena and Darrain held it between them. The vows were made and the priest then handed them a small knife that Darrain used to cut his head and squeeze the blood into the cup.

"With this blood I promise to love you."

Lorena saw herself take the knife and copy him. Darrain held the cup against his fangs and she watched as his venom mixed with their blood.

"With this I bind myself to you."

Again Lorena copied him, and then handed the cup to him and he drank.

"Forever our love shall last and for eternity we are bound to one another."

Lorena repeated him once more and watched in horror as she brought it to her lips. Lorena cried at herself not to drink it, but she did any way. She felt it almost instantly as the mixture slid down her throat. The mixture made her giddy and she knew that they were truly bound to one another for all eternity. She felt their souls combine to be one. She belonged to Darrain for all eternity, and she knew that the process couldn't be undone. If they tried, it would destroy them both and she wouldn't leave this world while Micheal was still in it.

Present Day

She awoke with a start, and looked beside her, expecting to see Micheal there, but the place next to her was empty. Darrain stood watching her from across the room. She almost cried. It had been the first time that the dream had been about something so recent. He eyed her curiously before coming to stand beside her in the bed. She shrank away from him and he smiled at her.

"No need to be afraid of me my wife. I was only going to ease your pain, at least temporarily."

He sat beside on the bed and pulled her to him. Lorena tried to pull away but he held her there. He spoke in a whisper next to her ear,

"I will show you how good to feels to be with one of your own kind, Lorena. It will only hurt for a second."

Lorena tried even harder to break free, but he was stronger than she. His fangs protruded from their gums and slid into her neck. She let out a small gasp of surprise and pain. He was right, it did hurt. After a few moments the pain subsided and she was filled with an intense pleasure she had never known before. Her gasp of pain became moans of pleasure and she was lost in the pleasant feelings. She didn't know how long it lasted, but when he finally slid his fangs out of her neck and licked the blood from her neck, her body was stiff from being immobile for so long. He smiled at her and she returned it.

"Thank you." She whispered. His smile grew

"I told you it would feel good. Do you feel better now?"

She nodded

"Yes, I feel wonderful. Darrain, why did you agree to marry me?"

He was taken off guard by her question. His answer was simple and one she hadn't expected.

"To protect you. To keep you safe and alive."

She just stared at him, blank faced.

"Draco will escape his prison, and when he does he will come after you. He will kill you because you are powerful. The only one powerful enough to imprison him again."

" Why did you have to marry me?"

" Athien would have but he was already bound to Crystal. Marriage is the only way to assure that Draco couldn't bind you in other ways. Aside from my brother, I am the only one strong enough to keep you safe from my father. I don't want you to be unhappy here Lorena. I know about Micheal and what he means to you, because of that I have kept my distance. Tonight, we were supposed to...physically bind ourselves together but I won't do that because you belong to another. You have no idea how badly I want to. I could have while you were sleeping. It took all my control not to."

His suffering flooded through her through the bond. So much so she could barely keep it from consuming her. Suddenly the suffering was replaced with determination. She felt fear threaten to choke her. She was surprised as he pressed his lips to hers. The kiss lasted many moments and he teased her fangs out. He brushed his fangs against hers and pleasure rippled through them both. He came away breathing hard. He pressed his forehead against hers.