Chapter 6
Khryssa Hart sat in her office working on paperwork. Alexander had torn up her resignation, of course. The day had been long and tedious. Finally at eight o'clock at night she was finally sitting down to finish up what she had come in early for to begin with. The floor was quiet. Everyone else had already gone home. Taking a sip of now ice cold coffee she grimaced.
"Yuck!"
Not bothering to get another cup she went back to the task at hand. Fingers flew across the keyboard and it was not until her cell phone rang did she turn to look away from the screen. It was a restricted number. She let it go into voicemail. Two hours had passed and she still was not done. Dark eyes burned with fatigue. Reclining back in the large leather chair she allowed her thoughts to drift briefly. In six months she would be getting married. There was still so much to be done.
Khryssa's parents had been surprised with the news. They did not know that she had even been seeing anyone, let alone something that had progressed this far. A smile came to her lips and while looking down at a slender hand she noticed how the ring sparkled. It was beautiful. Alexander had impeccable tastes.
Sophie and Chris would be graduating from high school in a couple of weeks. Max was growing up. She smiled once again remembering just a week or so ago, when she last saw Maximillian, how his voice had started to change. Life was progressing at a surprising pace. It was a good thing. Even the Lucard v Helsing feud had come to a screeching halt. Khryssa knew that Uncle Gustav and Alexander had some sort of discussion. Neither of the men bothered to tell her what it was about. All she knew was things settled down into a normal routine. The cell phone rang again, breaking her reverie. Once again it was a restricted number. Frowning slightly, she began to reach for the phone; it was at that moment when her office door flew open.
"Alexander! What is wrong?" She noticed the agitation upon his face right away. Getting out of the chair, she went to him quickly.
"Sit down Khryssa."
"Why? What is going on? Is everything okay?"
"Sit down."
She did as she was told without arguing, a rare occasion to be certain. She looked up expectantly to her fiancée. Smooth brow furrowed while he paused to speak. This could not be good she thought.
"Khryssa, there was an accident."
Her hand flew to her mouth. All she could think of was that something happened to either her parents or Uncle Gustav. "Please tell me."
"Eileen Townsend was on flight 5373 out of Milan heading to the city. Shortly after takeoff, the plane started to have mechanical issues. The plane went to make an emergency landing. It didn't make it. There were no survivors." He said heavily.
Tears blinded her vision and a hand came up to scrub away the tears. She nodded. "Do the boys and Uncle Gustav know? What about my parents?" Eileen was Aunt Eileen to be exact, her mother's younger sister.
He shook his head. "Not that I am aware of. I-"He faltered. "I was given the information due to some contacts before it made the news. I came right down." Alexander did not bother to tell her that the contacts were because he kept a close watch on all her relatives, just in case someone decided to hurt Khryssa by attacking her family.
"I need to get to Uncle Gustav's house now." She got up and stumbled. He grabbed her arm to steady her. Khryssa kept right on going. Only bothering to grab her purse because that was where her car keys were hidden. Alexander made her pause for a moment.
"I will drive Khryssa."
"No. You can't come into the house, you know this. Besides I need to hurry, your driver will take too long."
He took the keys from her hand, gently. A loving kiss brushed her cheek. "My love, my life, I will drive. You are too distraught."
She nodded mutely and accepted the fact that he was taking care of the situation. She allowed herself to be lead out of the office and down to the waiting car.
They both remained silent through the drive. He took her hand in his. Alexander drove with one hand while comforting her with the other. He stroked the softness of her skin and every so often she gripped him tight. The Maserati came to a halt in front of the Helsing residence.
Khryssa appeared to be numb to everything around her. She tried the door and noted it was locked. Pounding on the frame she called out for Uncle Gustav. It was only a brief wait for the door to open.
"Khrys! What are you doing here at this hour?" Only after Gustav had spoken did he notice that Lucard was standing beside his niece.
"Uncle Gustav, we need to speak for a moment. Something has happened."
Alexander did not say a word. His arm was around his grieving fiancée, trying to comfort her as best as he could. Gustav stepped outside and closed the door.
Khryssa started to speak. In that moment, tears began to stream down her cheeks. "Uncle Gustav, Alexander got word that there was a plane crash. Aunt Eileen was on the plane."
Gustav looked to his niece and then to the vampire next to her. The words came slowly and thickly. "Is she alright?"
Alexander spoke this time. "No Helsing, there were no survivors. I was given the news before it made it to the media. Although it might be showing now."
Gustav Helsing looked to the couple. Khryssa was upset, obviously. Even Lucard looked concerned. His concern was for Khryssa rather than the rest of the family. Gustav nodded to the pair and opened the door. "Come inside, both of you. Lucard you are invited."
Alexander was shocked at the invitation. Could it be now that his nemesis would be becoming family now that there was a truce between them? Guiding Khryssa in to the family home, he stepped in behind her. He was almost sure that the Cross of the Magyars would send him reeling. Walking further into the home, nothing happened. Gustav called down for the younger members of the family
"Christopher, Maximillian, Sophie! Down here please, pronto." Gustav called for the children.
The three kids trampled down the stairs with Max in the lead. Max saw Lucard first.
"Uncle Gustav Lucard is in the house!" The adolescent boy yelled out.
"I invited him in Max, it is fine." Uncle Gustav said. His voice was shaking slightly.
The three kids looked at each other, something was seriously wrong. Was Khryssa in some kind of trouble? Was Nosferatu back and hunting them? The air was filled with a sense of worry.
Khryssa spoke quietly "Sit down guys, we need to talk."
The three younger members of the family sat down on the sofa next to each other. Uncle Gustav perched on the arm of the sofa. He wanted to be right there when they needed him. Khryssa took a seat across from the children, with Alexander standing behind her. A glance from Khryssa was given up to Alexander. He nodded at her, an acknowledgement that she should break the news.
Max blurted out first. "Did he make you a vampire already?"
Shaking her head sadly she began to speak. "No Max, I am not a vampire. This is important though. Something has happened. Your mom was supposed to be here late tonight. The flight that she was on had something happen. There was a crash – "
"We gotta get to her. We gotta go see her Khrys! Where is she?" The words rushed out of Chris' mouth and he started to jump up.
"Chris, there were no survivors of the crash. I'm so very sorry." There it was said. Now it had to sink in.
The two boys started to cry. Sophie was in too much shock at first, but the tears came quickly to even her. Khryssa went over to them and knelt on the floor. Pulling the three of them in close she hugged them all at once.
"I'm so sorry. I am so sorry to be the one to tell you all this."
Max bolted out from under her arms and ran out the door. The slam was hard enough to shake the house. Chris got up to go find his younger brother. Alexander put a hand on the young man's shoulder and spoke softly.
"I will find him Christopher."
Khryssa smiled weakly at him and nodded. Alexander left right after that. In the house Gustav and Khryssa comforted Christopher and Sophie. Their thoughts turned to worry over the missing Max.
Alexander found Maximillian within a span of a few minutes. The boy was sitting in the park affectionately known to the locals as The General. Sitting down next to Max, Alexander let the silence continue. Max finally said something.
"What are YOU doing here?"
"I have the abilities to find you more easily and quicker than the rest."
"Go away."
"I am sorry for your loss Maximillian. I know what it is like to lose a mother."
"How would you know?"
"I was taken from mine right about the time when I was your age as a mortal. When I returned, she had died. It is not easy to lose someone you love. It never is. There is something to remember though, their soul lives on and they will always love you."
"What does that matter? She is gone!"
"She is only gone from your sight Max, not from your memories. "
"What do you mean?"
"You will always have memories of your mother young Maximillian. Those never go away. You will always love her, just as she will always love you."
"Do you think your mother still loves you Dracula?" Max spat the last word out.
"Yes I do."
Max turned to the vampire and started at him. He nodded. He did feel better even with just the few words from the vampire.
"Shall we return to the House of Helsing, Maximillian?"
"Sure."
The unlikely pair walked back together. Alexander reached up and ruffled the boy's hair gently. There was a fondness to the smile he gave Max. He wondered if this was what it felt like to be a father. That was something that pained him. It was a feeling he would never know. Yes he had children when he was a mortal. He never really knew them. They were raised to be warriors, and most of that training was done out of the sight of their parents. He would never know that emotion. Just the mere thought of that, made him feel something that he was not used to, it was sadness.
The days turned into months. Chris and Max were still hurt by their mother's death, but they were coping. Khryssa gave her beautiful home over to Chris and Sophie. It was a place that they could live in while going to the local university and still be on their own. She had helped Sophie take the upstairs bedroom that had once been Khryssa's. Chris decided to take the lower level bedroom so that they could have their privacy. Chris and Sophie received a generous graduation gift from Khryssa and Alexander. It was their tuition paid in full. It was one less thing for the pair to worry about. Max continued to live with Uncle Gustav. They all lived in some semblance of harmony. Even Alexander was somewhat accepted into the Helsing family. It was nice, but neither Khryssa nor Alexander wished to push the issue.
The wedding plans were almost done. The grand affair would be held on the grounds of the castle. Khryssa tried to keep it as small as possible. Alexander wanted the world to know. The butting of the heads was comical to them. She would roll her eyes as her fiancée would try to make even larger and more grandiose plans. He would playfully slap her bottom when she would bend over the desk and try to minimize his planning.
"Two more weeks Alexander and I won't have you trying to make this a wedding fit for royalty any longer!" She laughed at him with a smile.
"I am royalty my dear or have you forgotten?" He pulled her towards him. Lifting her with his unusual strength, he placed the laughing woman on his lap.
Khryssa moved over Alexander. Knees were placed on either side of his thighs. She straddled him in the office chair. Her short skirt rose high. That move exposed more of her long legs and part of her bottom than he wished for in the office. His hands went up to the wrinkling cloth and smoothed it down some, but he took no action to push her away.
She murmured softly against his lips. "How could I forget? After all you are my Prince Charming."
They kissed, enveloped in each other's arms for countless moments in time. The world around them ceased to exist yet again. His hand slipped beneath the hem of her blouse only to splay across the firmness of her belly. She broke the kiss to speak.
"Why Mr. Lucard are you getting fresh with the staff?"
"You are not staff Khryssa, you are my world."
She blushed at the words. He couldn't help but smile at the crimson tint that stained her cheeks. Dark curls dipped like a curtain of silk around them. It was only when they heard the dry –ahem- of a man in the room did they move.
"Ahh Steven, what sort of news have you brought me?" Alexander spoke to the man in the room while Khryssa climbed off of his lap and stood beside the chair.
Steven LeBlanc glared at Khryssa. His eyes burned with hatred like none she had ever seen before. Nonplussed by the exhibition she merely smiled in return. Leaning down Khryssa kissed her fiancée on the cheek.
"I am heading back to my office Alexander."
With a nod to both men, she left the office. What she did not notice was that both men's eyes followed her intently. Alexander saw what his employee was doing. He cleared his throat and gave his financial director a look.
"I do not know what problem you have with my soon to be wife Steven. I would suggest that you curtail it before you find yourself in." He paused to give the other man a cold smile. "-somewhat of a debacle."
"Yes Mr. Lucard." The man sneered.
"Enough! As far as I know you have had no dealings except socially at a few of the company parties with Khryssa and a business meeting or two. Curb your tongue Steven or I will curb it for you."
Steven made his face a blank slate. "Yes Mr. Lucard." With only a few more words to give Alexander the daily update he turned and walked away.
Alexander shook his head. Pressing a button on his desk he spoke with deadly tones. "Greta, I need to find a replacement for Steven LeBlanc. Get in touch with several of the headhunters now."
Greta's voice came through the speaker. "Yes Mr. Lucard, right away."
Alexander templed his fingers beneath his chin, there was a chill in his veins with the feeling something was amiss. He would look into this matter himself. Knowing if he must get involved that did not bode well for Steven LeBlanc. He stared at the computer screen for a moment before hitting the keys. The easiest way to find out information about someone was simply to start.
Hours passed since their last encounter. Khryssa's office line abruptly rang. Eyes widened with the shock. Rarely did her phone ring. That was what her assistant took care of. Picking it up, she muttered a single word.
"Hart."
"And hello to you too my darling. Or should I say good evening?"
Khryssa smiled against the mouth piece of the phone.
"Hello Handsome. What can I do for you this fine evening?" Was it already evening she thought? A glance to the clock told her it was after six p.m.
"I thought you might like to have dinner with a weary old man that is soon to be married."
"I will have to think about it. But I believe it can be done. See you in fifteen minutes?"
"I will be there with bells on."
"Really? Just bells? I did not know you were kinky Alexander." She heard him laugh at the response and hang up. Returning the phone to its cradle, she rose to change and freshen up. Khryssa chuckled to herself and wondered when in the hell did she start keeping a separate wardrobe in the office? Hunting through the small closet, she found something to wear. A simple black dress was donned as well as fresh make-up. Coming out of the powder room, she looked around the neatly kept office with a smile. Turning back to the desk Khryssa started the process of shutting everything down. The door opened and shut heavily with the lock clicking in place. She turned to greet Alexander.
"That was the quickest fifteen minut-"The sentence was cut off. It wasn't Alexander.
"Well well well, Dr. Hart. You are working late." Steven LeBlanc smiled coldly at her.
"You have no business here Steven. Get the hell out. Now."
He approached her. He was the predator and she was his prey. Khryssa was not afraid of him, yet. All she felt was a burning anger.
"Oh but I do have business with you Doctor. I have quite the proposal for you."
He came closer and even closer. They were at the point of being nose to nose when he reached out and grabbed her hair like a leash, pulling Khryssa with him. Steven dragged her across the floor with sheer force. She growled in pain. Without thinking her hand shot out and picking the letter opener off her desk, instantly she swung and drove the metal object into Steven's stomach. He dropped his grip on her hair and swore, bending over in pain. She moved quickly. Trying to get around him in a flash, he rose up quickly and punched her in the jaw. Khryssa hit her head upon the corner of her desk and almost blacked out. She was on the floor and still seeing stars when her attacker started the next round of the assault.
Kicking her in the stomach Steven shrieked at the downed Khryssa Hart. "You fucking cunt. You fucking stupid whore. You had everything and you chose him? Oh you will pay cunt, you will fucking pay!"
He started in on another round of kicks. The fresh round started with her head. Khryssa curled up in a ball to protect herself. The final kick to the head landed close to the temple. She blacked out for a mere moment hearing the screams of the deranged man. Coming to rather quickly Khryssa saw the man move up and out of the way. She couldn't comprehend what was happening.
In the span that the attack started to happen, Alexander felt that something was amiss. He didn't bother to use the stairs or the elevator. Disappearing in the blink of an eye and rematerializing in Khryssa's office Alexander picked the injured man up by the scruff of his neck. Hissing with anger he brought the man to face him.
"What have you done?" The words were shouted out. Even Khryssa cringed upon hearing his voice that angry.
"SHE SHOULD HAVE BEEN MINE" Steven spat out.
Alexander threw the man against the wall. The sound of bones breaking was evident. Khryssa tried to stand but fainted. The blows to her head did just enough damage that the motion of standing was too much for her body to take. Upon seeing her, Alexander took his anger out on the man. Pausing just short of killing him, Alexander made the man speak.
"Why have you done this!?"
"She was the most beautiful girl in the class. So elegant and fine was she. I fell in love with her on the spot. Yet she would never return my affections." Steven spoke quickly and blindly, his voice was almost a sing-song. He was under the spell of Alexander Lucard. "I tried to ask her out, but I couldn't. Our love was never to be." He turned his head towards Alexander. Trying to see out of eyes swollen shut, he continued to speak. "I followed her. I got to know her without ever getting a chance to speak her name. I knew she loved me though." He smiled a bloody smile. "It wasn't until I found out that she was selling her company to you that I knew she could be mine once more. I knew she had to be mine. You stepped in though. You brainwashed her. You took her away from me." Steven laughed maniacally.
It was the sound of the laughter that made him realize when and what Steven was speaking of. Alexander knew the man's resume. He went to medical school but did not finish. He started the next term working on a degree in business. Steven was part of Khryssa's class. When he fell in love with her she was just twelve years old at the oldest. More than likely she was all of eight. Without remorse and without hesitation, Alexander broke the man's neck, killing him instantly.
It was then when Khryssa raised her head, coming to. She saw the final moment of Steven LeBlanc's life. She saw the man she loved kill someone. It was not the first time she had been around death. It was the first time she ever seen someone take a life before. Rolling over on to her side, Khryssa vomited. Alexander came to her quickly, pulling her hair back with his hands. Crooning softly to his love, he was surprised when she pushed him away.
"Don't"
"Khryssa I was trying to protect you."
She vomited again. The bile rising once more, it happened a few more times before she rolled to her bottom trying to hoist herself back up. Her mind reeling from what she saw, a vague thought whispered through, I have a concussion. Alexander moved to help her, but she was not having it. It wasn't until she stood did the room start closing in around her, only to go dark once again. Khryssa fell downwards and was only stopped by the quick reaction of her fiancée. Alexander called for his security officer to have the incident taken care of. Holding Khryssa in his arms already, Alexander picked his fiancée up and carried her out swiftly.
It was a good forty-eight hours later when she fully woke up. She had been slipping in and out of consciousness for a while. Blinking a few times in the brightness of the lights she tried to sit up. A cool wet cloth brushed across her forehead. Confused to say the least, she croaked out a question.
"Where am I?"
"You are at Hopital Kirchberg Ma'am." The nurse replied.
Khryssa reached up and ran a hand through her tangled mass of curls. She winced with her own touch. Feeling around, her jawline was bruised and very sore. She had no recollection of what had happened. Alexander was right there beside the bed. He reached out to take her hand. She turned her head, wincing once again.
"Alexander, what happened? Why am I here?"
He hesitated. Should he tell her the truth? "You were attacked in the office, by Steven." He swallowed hard. She would start to remember eventually, he was sure.
"I don't remember."
"Don't try my love; it will come back soon enough."
She closed her eyes and sleep came very quickly. Alexander sat back down and continued to hold her hand. He was deathly afraid that he had lost her. To lose Khryssa would be his undoing. What made it just that much worse was that it would be by his hand.
Khryssa woke again hours later. It was night once again. Her head felt a bit clearer. Reaching up to rub her eyes, her hand was squeezed gently. Looking over to her left and seeing Alexander made her smile. The normally wine and roses voice was a bit rough from lack of use the last few days.
"Hello sleeping beauty." Alexander leaned in to kiss her lips. He had to smile when she made a face at him. He knew what she was thinking.
"How can you do that? I haven't brushed my teeth in lord knows how long Alexander."
"It doesn't matter to me. I am just glad to see you awake again."
"How long have I been asleep for?"
He thought about it before replying. "Fifty-five hours my love. Almost. You woke up for a brief while earlier and on and off for the last two days."
"What happened?" She frowned now. That was far too long.
"You were attacked by Steven in the office." He hesitated to finish the rest. When Khryssa looked at him though, he knew he must. "He knew you Khryssa. He had been following you for a very long time."
Khryssa shook her head and then winced. "Ow. That hurt. I never met him before coming to work for you a couple of years ago. I don't understand." Frowning she looked up at Alexander.
"He was in your graduating class at one point while you were in medical school. So sometime between eight to twelve years old you met him Khryssa. My security people are flushing out the details now."
"What?" She stared at her fiancée a bit blankly. She didn't quite comprehend what was going on.
"Steven LeBlanc met you while you were in medical school. He said he 'fell in love' with you there. He has been following you ever since. Since you were not with anyone for so long he was able to keep his fantasy of having you to himself, alive. When you and I became close his hatred of you began. He saw you as no longer pure."
Her face contorted into a look of horror. "That is frightening." She paused for a moment, before turning her eyes back to Alexander. "Where is he now?"
"He did not survive."
She struggled to sit up. Her head was swimming with the minor exertion. Khryssa was unsure if it was from the injury or Alexander's revelation. "Did you-" Her voice trailed off, unsure if she wanted to hear this.
"Yes."
"Why Alexander? Could the authorities not have handled this?"
Alexander moved closer to the woman that he loved. Raising a hand, his thumb pad stroked over her cheek. There was a haunted look in his eyes. "He would have continued to be a threat. I will not lose you Khryssa. You must understand, I will not allow someone to threaten you. I will not have someone try to harm you. I will not have someone try and take you from me. You are far too important for that. You are the one I love."
Her expression softened some. Lifting those dark eyes to stare at him for a while, no words were spoken. It was then that Khryssa noticed something. Alexander was unkempt. His hair was mussed and he had not shaven. There was tightness around his beautiful blue eyes, betraying the fact he had not slept much if at all. Nor had he fed recently. Reaching for him, Alexander came closer to meet the embrace. Khryssa wrapped arms around his neck and held on. A soft whisper brushed his ear.
"Feed Alexander."
Pulling back, with a darkening gaze, he spoke soft but firm. "No. Not now. Not like this. No."
"You need to. With me you will not go too far. You are starved. I can see it and I can feel it. If you go out now, you will hurt someone."
"You need your strength Khryssa." As much as he would love to taste her fully, he couldn't.
"Alexander, you need to. You must."
They argued back and forth for a while. It wasn't until Khryssa reached over in a fit of anger and grabbed a pair of bandage shears off the small table beside the bed that Alexander reacted. The blade dug in across her slender wrist, and very quickly the blood flowed freely. He tried to stop her but was taken off guard. His fingers slipped through the warm blood. He pulled back and moved away from her.
"You are going to sit there and watch me bleed?" Frustration permeated her tone.
"No, I am going to get your doctor."
"Alexander, please."
She had her arm over her head now, so the blood did not drip down onto the sheets. His eyes widened at the sight and scent of her blood. Greedily, he grabbed her arm and started to drink and lick the blood from the softest skin he had ever known. A quiet noise slipped past her lips. It was not unlike the sounds she made while they made love. That alone spurred his hunger. When he felt her starting to go limp, he remember what he was doing and to whom. Dropping her wrist he made a strangled cry.
"Khryssa?!"
She smiled sleepily and perhaps a bit drunk sounding. "Alexander, I am fine." What he did next surprised her the most. Alexander sat back down in the chair; those fine long fingered hands that she loved so much covered his face, turning away from her.
Ripping the O2 monitor off of her finger and undoing some of the leads that kept her trapped. Khryssa struggled to get out of bed. She didn't feel all that bad, a little lightheaded perhaps. Two steps were she needed to take to reach him and she pushed Alexander back into the chair. Climbing into his lap, she wrapped arms around him. Crooning softly, her cheek rested in his soft blond hair.
"I'm sorry Alexander. I should not have done that."
His arms encircled her waist, to pull her closer. "I could have killed you."
"No, you wouldn't have. I know better than that." A single fingertip slipped under his chin, tilting it upwards. She kissed his lips. The taste of her blood was still on them, Khryssa did not care. "I love you. I know you love me. You swore to protect me. Do you think I have not made the same promise to protect you? You were starving because of me Alexander. You needed to feed."
He shook his head. "I could have hurt you myself. You are injured and need your strength."
"I am okay, I promise. Perhaps a little tired, other than that I really feel fine." That was not quite the truth. She was more than a little tired, but really it wasn't anything serious. The unusual healing properties were doing their magic already.
Alexander raised his head to kiss her. Their lips met. This was a different sort of hunger. It was based on their need for each other. The door opened and the nurse made a noise. Alexander and Khryssa broke the kiss, looking in each other's eyes, they smiled.
"You seem to be feeling better Dr. Hart." The nurse said pointedly while bustling about. "I must insist that you get back into your bed."
Muttering something beneath her breath about this was NOT her bed; Khryssa did comply with the request and climbed back into the hospital bed. The parting from Alexander was done rather reluctantly. The nurse went through the paces of reattaching the leads.
"When will I be able to go home?"
"Perhaps tomorrow Dr. Hart, after Dr. Jacobs sees you."
"I would like to see my chart."
"I am afraid that is not possible Dr. Hart."
"I have privileges here might I remind you."
The nurse made an annoyed sound. Physicians made the worst patients after all. After logging into the computer, she printed out the papers pertaining to Khryssa's stay and handed them to her.
Khryssa went through everything line by line. Her brow creasing a few times over what she read. Handing the nurse back the papers she queried about her release once again. "Are you sure that I cannot be dismissed today?"
"Yes Ma'am, you have to wait for Dr. Jacobs."
Khryssa sighed, annoyed. "Very well, thank you." Turning to Alexander she spoke once again. "Alexander what day is it?"
"It is Saturday Sweetheart."
It was rare that he used such terms of endearment and it brought a smile to her lips. "Oh dear god, we are getting married in a week!" Her eyes widened and she made an attempt to get out of the bed again. The nurse gently pressed Khryssa's shoulders back, to settle her patient down once more.
Alexander smiled. "Everything will be fine. Your parents arrive early in the morning tomorrow. I have already made arrangements to have them picked up. They opted to stay at a hotel rather than with us, given the circumstances. All the arrangements have been finalized. Your gown is at the boutique, finished. The woman in charge would not let me even see it."
"Well good! You are not supposed to see the dress before the wedding! Granted I am also 'supposed' to be a virgin on my wedding night, we cured that issue a while ago."
"Yes we did, but it was the man who will be your husband that still took you for the first time."
"Good point." She smiled upwards at the man that would soon be her husband.
"You need to sleep Khryssa. Hopefully tomorrow you will be going home with me."
She made a face at him once again. Not wanting to sleep, wanting to talk with him instead. "You need to go home Alexander."
"No."
"Stubborn!"
"Yes." He smiled. "I will have someone bring me up some fresh clothing and other items that I may need. I am not leaving you."
Khryssa nestled back down into the bed. Alexander covered her up with the warm blankets. They looked into each other's eyes, both smiling.
"I love you Alexander."
"I love you too my Khryssa."
Alexander held her hand while she drifted back off to sleep. Marveling at the beauty and strength of this woman, he knew he had met his perfect match.