Ratings Warning: As you may have noticed, the rating has been upped to M with the posting of this chapter.

This, of course, means that (minor) smut happens here. Take heed and all that.

xXx

19

It had been a very, very long time since he had woken achingly hard, and even longer since his fangs had snapped out without his wish. Yet there they were, protruding obnoxiously from his gums the second after he breathed in a mouthful of the small woman curled up against him.

Annoyed, and with some effort, he snapped them back up and opened his eyes. As usual, her red-golden hair was covering half his field of vision, and he released his tight hold on her arms and slender waist to brush it away, not enjoying the shudder the soft touch of it pulled from his body.

It wasn't exactly that he was a stranger to lust, seeing as he had lived for centuries at the mercy of his baser needs, but that Beast had been caged for a long time—first controlled and dominated, and since locked away. Feeling it claw at his chest while Irin was in his arms . . . was unsettling.

He sat up and scooted away from her sleeping form. It was his own fault, of course; as evolved as he may have become, he could not deny what he was. He had not sated any of his vampire needs—be that sexual release, fighting or feeding—for years, which evidently wasn't going to work out with an affectionate female climbing on him every chance she got.

Godric shot his protégé a glance and sighed at the innocent expression on her sleeping face.

It had been easier with Nora, even as he felt her desire burn in their bond. Easier, because the power he knew he had over her made any thoughts of physical pleasure from her nauseating. Of course, he could force Irin as easily as his other progeny, but she would not be compelled to please him at an instinctive level, such as even a forced Child would.

A small tremor went up his spine. Such as she had been, by her other Maker.

The problem was his, and while he certainly wasn't about to take his primitive needs out on his youngling, he wasn't going to allow it to put distance between them either. She needed the closeness to heal, and he . . . He smiled softly when he recalled her purring attempt at bringing him comfort, even as he had put her in a full body-lock to avoid her discovering what her loving attention had done to his unprepared body.

Yes, he needed it too.

Unfortunately, his body wasn't quite in tune with the mental healing they both needed. With a disgruntled glare at the unyielding bulge in his linen pants he pushed off the bed and made his way to the bathroom.

Of course it was in there—of course. Where else would it be, the damned piece of fabric. Growling with irritation Godric snatched the red camisole up from the floor where Irin must have thrown it the night before, shredding it in half with on unsatisfyingly easy tug.

It smelled like her, though it'd not been on her body for many minutes. Unthinkingly, he brought it to his face, inhaling her scent deeply. The pained throb from his pants made him toss both pieces of cloth to the far corner with a disgusted grunt.

He was not doing this while sniffing her underwear.

The ancient being stripped naked and turned on the shower, breathing deeply as he stepped into the hot spray.

It wasn't her he wanted; she was just the unfortunate female to stir needs left unattended for too long. It wasn't her gentle touch or her delicate shape —it wasn't her. She was his Child, his responsibility, his broken little kitten who would never trust another soul if she, even for a moment, thought that his blood had burned with desire for her.

The dark haired vampire growled angrily at his circling thoughts, turning around under the spray so he could rest his back against the tiles. For a man renowned for his self-control he was coming up rather short on focus on this particular occasion, and it was beginning to strain his patience as his need for release became increasingly pressing.

With one last glance at the discarded, red cloth through the steamed glass separating the shower from the rest of the room he forced his mind to still before starting the slow, deep breaths that had drawn him into a meditative state more times than he could recall over the past many centuries.

Peace gathered around him as air filled his lungs and wafted out in an imitation of life, though the deep yearning was ever-present and jarring at the edges of his calm, refusing to be ignored any longer. In the nothingness shaped by his mind he felt the Beast from within, the wild thing that had slayed thousands—the vampire who had run barefoot through the untamed forests of ancient Europe and lived for his instincts alone. It stirred restlessly, pressing against the tight bonds he'd shackled it with, snarling and spitting as it fought for freedom.

He should possibly have worried at its intrusion into his meditation, but for the first time in centuries he felt no pain in its presence. As it twisted within him, all he sensed from it was a desperate longing devoid of anger and malice and fear.

Maintaining the careful connection to the Beast he reached down and wrapped a hand around his aching cock. Both man and creature groaned in relief as he squeezed, alleviating a bit of the tense pressure. Without pause he began the long, firm strokes that would bring the release he so desperately craved.

By the gods, why had he stopped seeking pleasure? Why had he stopped craving it? The heat rushing through his body and centring south of his naval was like the power of the sun being rebirthed within him, breaking through the void surrounding his very essence in blindingly bright cracks, until it finally—liberatingly—shattered completely as he lost his grip on the meditation.

A savage roar ripped through him, the call of the Beast, but instead of fighting to spring free in the few moments where the boundaries within him blurred, allowing his mind to encompass both man and vampire in one, it simply rested, for once at peace without having feasted on gallons of human blood.

It was the oddest sensation, waking up and feeling completely and thoroughly at peace.

The moment her conscience slipped back, signifying the setting of the sun, she recognised Godric's protective scent, Godric's protective aura and—best of all—Godric's protective arms around her, pressing her back into his strong body like a shield against the fright of being alone usually greeted her when she rose.

The instant, and extraordinarily loud, purr erupting from her chest made her Maker chuckle softly and brush his lips over her hair.

"Good evening, kitten."

Irin squirmed, twisting around so she could look into his eyes. She felt her lips pull into a wide smile, even before she saw it mirrored on the older vampire's face.

"You stayed!"

"I came back," he corrected, blue eyes sliding over her face. "My sheriff's duties do not begin before the court rises tonight, which allows for a little extra leisure time with my Daughter. Now, would you rather—"

His voice was muffled and silenced when she pressed her lips firmly against his, happiness and affection bubbling over and refusing to be contained inside her insufficient body for a moment longer. Just in the simple action of being there with her as she came back from the daytime rest he'd proven to her that at least some of the fondness she felt for the ancient man was reciprocated. He hadn't had to hold her while she was unconscious, hadn't had to calm her or give into her need to be as close to him as she could possibly get; he had taken her into his embrace simply because he had wanted to.

"Kitten . . . ."

The exasperated tone when he pulled his head back from her only made the giddy swirl of emotions filling her to the brim tip into playful mode. With a low growl she launched herself at him, pushing at his shoulders and hips with her hands and knees to flip him onto his back.

She was fully aware that he let her overpower him, and grinned happily at the quiet mirth dancing in his blue eyes as she straddled his sprawled-out form on the bed, hands pressing his wrists into the mattress. Her beloved Maker seemed in an unusually good mood.

"And now what?" he teased, one dark eyebrow rising at her bared, but fangless, teeth. "Never engage in battle without having a clear goal in mind, Daughter of mine."

But she did have a goal. Bending her head she kissed him square on the mouth again, and again, and when his fangs snicked out and he bared them at her in playful retaliation she moved to shower his nose, eyelids-that-were-nearly-eyeballs, cheeks and forehead in quick and unrelenting pecks, encouraged by his rumbling laughter and lack of resistance.

It lasted until she placed a kiss on his throat, right above the vein where she fed from on humans. One moment her lips were against his smooth skin, and the next she was on her back in the soft bed, blinking confusedly at the ceiling.

"Time to get ready, Irin. The King will be expecting us shortly."

She twisted her neck and looked at Godric as he walked from the bed. His voice was suddenly serious and sheriff, and she sighed when he pulled out another of the constrictive dresses Isabel had packed for, hanging it on the side of the cabinet for her.

"And this time, please keep your shoes on."

God, how she hated his sheriff- responsibilities.

"Godric, Irin. I trust you both had a pleasant rest?"

Godric bowed his head in acknowledgement of his King and his Child, all the while pulling the reluctant girl from behind his back where she was hiding from the room full of vampires. "Thank you, Majesty, yes. I hope you and your Child have recuperated after last night's trying news as well."

"Oh, yes." Clarissa sent him a teasing smile, before brushing a finger over Randall's neck in a more-than-suggestive manner. "But all that . . . resting . . . does make you hungry, no?"

He smothered an eye roll and tried to remember that the King's lover was still young—and spoiled—but the appearance of Irin's slim body in front of him, and the excited sheen in her eyes at the mention of hunger, saved him from having to think of a polite reply; his Child practically vibrated with what he knew was desire for blood, and her violet gaze was particularly pleading.

A chuckle sounded from the King. "Ah, I see that our Daughters are of the same opinion. I do suppose feeding would be advisable before we attend to business." He gave the ancient sheriff a quick glance. "Er . . . you do let her feed, yes?"

"I do." He gave his Daughter a stern look that, thankfully, had her press in against his side again without any protests or whining about wanting to feed right now. "But she still needs monitoring, and I only allow her to feed from females."

"Naturally." The slight satisfaction in the King's voice told him that his mention of gender had undoubtedly confirmed any suspicions he had had about the nature of their relationship, but he paid it no mind. The King, his lover and sheriffs could think what they wanted; all that mattered was his little one's continued healing and adaption to her new life.

"There are donors available in the dining room, for anyone who would like to feed, as well as TruBlood and Royal Blend, should you prefer a less . . . lively meal." Randall motioned for the rest of the room's occupiers to follow, and led the way.

Godric had attended his King's court before, and knew he kept a harem of willing humans for sex and feeding for himself and his lover, as well as for visitors. The addition of bottled and synthetic blood was a newer change, a slight acknowledgement of the eldest vampire in his kingdom's preferences.

He kept to the back once more, letting the other sheriffs file in ahead so he could ensure his kitten's calmness in the face of what would be the largest gathering of humans she had yet to see since her Turning.

It turned out to be a good choice, because the girl went completely rigid next to him when they finally arrived at the lush room, her large eyes darting from chaise longue to chaise longue as she took in the humans sprawled invitingly on each one, exposing naked flesh to entice the vampires eying up the offerings.

However, to his mild surprise she pressed in hard against him instead of darting for the nearest half naked person, her small hand clenching his as she took in the other vampires beginning their feedings.

Godric stroked her long hair away from her face, giving her a curious look. She seemed lost between fear and the usual hunger she felt around humans, and when her lips trembled as she stared at the Sheriff of Two stroking over a girl's breast before he bit into her neck, it finally dawned on him. This was the first time she saw others do what had undoubtedly been done to her before she was Turned.

"Irin."

She looked up at him, eyebrows knotted in confusion and discomfort.

"There is no force here, my Child. Don't fight your instincts; these humans are willing and enjoying sharing their blood. Listen to their sounds."

The redheaded girl cocked her head as she obeyed, and a new frown crossed her features when the girl under Two's effective administrations started moaning a bit louder.

"Enjoyment," he stated firmly, not wanting a repeat of her first encounter with human arousal during feeding. "Nothing more, nothing less." With a hand on her shoulder he steered her away from the two in front of them, towards a more quiet corner where a nicely plump and smiling young woman sat, watching them with a hopeful expression. "Now, if you are hungry, I will watch over you while you feed. Or you can have TruBlood, with me."

Slipping quickly towards the female human and out of his grasp his kitten made her choice quite clear, and he felt a smile cross his lips. She was healing.

"Well hello there, sugar." The girl turned her smile to his Daughter, coyly brushing her hair away from her neck. "And what's your name?"

"Irin." The redhead sat down carefully next to the human, eyes darting from her neck to her eyes. "What is your name?"

Pride swelled within him as she remembered his teachings even in the new and disturbing surroundings, and he sat down on the sofa in front of them, confident in her abilities to begin the process without his help.

"I'm Sheyenne." Her eyes slid to him, and she winked playfully. "Will he be joining us, Irin? I'm happy to be with the pair of you, if you'd like."

"He doesn't feed from humans," she mumbled, too preoccupied with keeping her eyes off the vein to catch the undercurrent in the other's suggestion.

"Irin is very young, Sheyenne. Do take good care of her." Godric sent the donor a firm look, which she seemed to understand. Her lustful gaze faded, and she turned her attention to the redhead, bending her neck in invitation.

"I see. Please, go ahead. You must be hungry; new ones always are."

His Child didn't hesitate, swiftly licking over the vein before burying her fangs. He checked that she was gentle—which the soft hum from Sheyenne indicated that she was—that she didn't clutch her too tightly, and that she drank slowly, before he leaned back, pleased that she was coming along so well. Maybe it wouldn't be too long before he could reintroduce a male—though not Alexander—in the comfort of his own nest, and if that went well, prepare her for hunting from the shadows. Though shy, her behaviour at the court had not been catastrophic, which indicated that it might not be much longer before he could have her around small gatherings.

The sofa dipped next to him as another female sat down. He didn't take his eyes from his Child to look at the newcomer, but he could smell the lust rolling off the human in thick waves, and when she slipped into his lap and playfully licked at his exposed wrist he didn't even spare her a glance before picking her up and placing her on her feet away from him.

Sadly, she didn't seem to take the hint that he was uninterested and preoccupied, and he felt annoyance break through his patience when she made to climb on top of him again, ample breasts thrust up in invitation.

"Don't be shy, handsome," she purred. "I taste very, very good, I promise."

If he hadn't closed his eyes in a moment's frustration with the foolish human's attempt at tempting a predator to her neck—or thigh—he would have been able to react in time.

But he did, and that was all it took for Irin to grab his admirer by the throat and rip her from his side with a furious snarl, sending her flying across the room with a squeal.

And then all hell broke loose.

He was by them when the human impacted with an expensive vase from pre-roman times, shielding her from the feral vampire with his own body and a very firm stare that made the redhead shrink back as realisation of her wrongdoings hit her, but before any words could bet uttered, one of the King's bodyguards snatched a hand out and clamped it around Irin's throat, undoubtedly to ensure that no more attacks on the King's harem occurred.

Violet eyes widened in unadulterated terror, and Godric rounded on the man, fighting his immediate and violent urge to rip the offender's arm off.

"Release her. Now!"

It should have ended there; he was obeyed without delay, but it was too late.

With a shriek of fear and a sharp pop, Irin blinked out of view, only to appear right behind him in the next second, trembling fingers clutching at the back of his shirt as she fervently begged for his forgiveness and protection in high-pitched hysteria.

There was a long, pregnant pause while he watched as if from afar, unable to stop what he knew would come as the gathered vampires drank in the sight of his trembling Daughter and processed what she had just done. Right in front of their eyes.

"So," the King's voice rang from across the room as he looked from the shivering baby vampire to his most powerful subject, cool calculation flickering behind his eyes. "It appears you haven't been completely forthcoming with the reasons for your young one's Turning."