Author's Note: So sorry for the long wait with this chapter but life has been crazy right now. Thank you all for the support and I really hope you like it.
Anya was quietly waiting for Raven to start speaking. It had been a couple of minutes since Octavia left the room and the air was tense around them. It was making the Trikru vampire become hesitant about this conversation and her need to flee was increasing with each passing second. She was doing all in her power to not show her nervousness to the younger vampire, but based on the way she was staring at her, it was clear that the shattered connection between them still allowed their feelings to be shared with each other.
But enough was enough.
"Maybe this was a bad idea..." Anya starts to say while going towards the door but is stopped by Raven who doesn't look at her.
"Forgive me." the Arkadia vampire whispers at her. "Forgive me for causing you so much pain."
And because of their bond Anya can feel the depth of the apology. She could feel how broken and shattered her soulmate was. And that was hurting her too. They needed to fix this. She had a choice now; she could either make Raven pay for what she did to her or she could be the bigger person and try to understand her mate.
"Why would you do something like that?" she asks instantly. "Not only were you hurting me by rejecting our bond, but you were also hurting yourself. Why would you cause yourself pain? Are you a masochist?" she tries to joke.
Raven laughs sadly.
"Maybe I am. Maybe I'm just too broken and damaged to be deserving of such a bond. You could do so much better than me, Anya. You're a wonderful person and you shouldn't be stuck with someone like me. I'm no good." Raven whispers brokenly.
"Clearly our souls seem to think the opposite because they bonded." the Trikru vampire replies surely. "I'm not perfect, Raven, and I have also done my fair share of ugly things." she continues saying. "But who am I to deny you of your happiness? I could never hurt you like the way you hurt me."
"I'm sorry." the younger vampire cries. "It pained me so much to reject you, to see your face when I told you that I felt nothing when the truth was that I had never felt that way with another creature. For the first time in my whole existence I felt loved. I felt desire, lust and passion like never before. And it was all because of you."
"Then why didn't you tell me that before?!" Anya complains. "We could have avoided all of this pain."
"I am afraid!" Raven screams at her. "I'm scared of how much I care for you and how much power you seem to have over me."
"You have that power over me!" the older vampire reminds her. "You broke my heart Raven." she confesses. "And it hurt so much."
"I never meant for that Anya, I didn't know when we first met."
"Neither did I." the older brunette exhales and sits down on the couch. "But it happened, and as much as you want to deny it, the bond has already started."
"What do you mean?"
"I can't drink blood." Anya confesses to her.
"Shit." Raven closes her eyes. "And you won't be able to until we finish the Bond."
"I know." the Trikru vampire closes her eyes. "But I won't force you to do anything Raven. Say the words and we'll no longer have to see each other apart from meetings and things like that."
"Do you want that?" the younger vampire asks brokenly.
"Of course I don't." she gets close to Raven and caresses her cheek. "But I also don't want to be deceived and lied to. I deserve better than that. Can you give me that, Raven kom Arkadia?"
"No." Raven whispers brokenly and sees the way Anya's eyes close. "Not yet." she continues saying. "But please, give me time. Don't give up on me like the others have done."
Anya stares at her mate and can see the determination and desire to be better, to be good enough for her and their relationship. And, Raven was being honest with her, which was what she wanted from the start. Love wasn't easy and she could wait until the Arkadia vampire felt ready. Besides, with time she learned to be a very patient vampire.
"I won't give up on you Raven." Anya promises her surely. "I'll wait as long as I have to."
"Thank you." Raven whispers brokenly and is one step from hugging Anya before she hears the door of the room opening. "Shit!" she screams when she sees Clarke and Octavia. "What the fuck happened to you two?!"
"Assassins." Clarke says while taking her clothes off and walking to the shower without another word.
"Is she alright?" Anya asks Octavia who watches her friend retreat.
"She killed two vampires in less than five minutes. She was terrifying." Octavia tells them everything. "I owe her my life."
"Where did this happen?"
"In front of her room." the younger brunette tells them calmly. "But the assassins didn't seem to be aware of Lexa."
"So they were there only to kill Clarke." Anya says somberly. "This is bad news."
"Fucking bad news if you ask me." Octavia mutters. "It means that someone just tried to kill the Queen."
"What about the other guards on shift?" Raven asks. "Clarke is never truly alone."
"Probably killed." Clarke returns with her face clean and a bathrobe.
"We think it's a mole."
"Of course it's a mole." Anya huffs desperately. "Your house is not clean Clarke. And the moment someone finds that out they'll use it against you."
"I'm aware Anya." the Queen replies carefully. "I want to get rid of this mole before Azgeda learns of our weakness."
"I agree." Anya says immediately. "We can't let Azgeda know that it's possible to bribe the vampires of your coven."
"Well someone already knows because they tried to kill you." Octavia says surely. "My brother would never hire assassins to kill you, Clarke. He believes that he can earn your forgiveness and his position back. Besides, his vendetta is against Lexa, not you."
"They were in my room."
"Yes, but they didn't know that you had Lexa in there. Besides, Bellamy set the trap in her room, not in yours."
"I heard him say that he wanted to help Lexa get rid of you." Raven adds. "He said so to the boy that has an infatuation with Lexa."
"The bellboy?" Clarke asks confused. "Makes sense of how he could gain access to the room."
"So the two incidents occurring the same night was just a coincidence?" Anya asks.
"Seems that way." Octavia says. "The location of your room is public knowledge if you bribe or hack the system. But the location of your guards was not."
"So a mole still gave them up." Raven says brokenly.
"Who can have access to that information?" the Trikru vampire asks.
"Miller, Harper and Octavia." the hacker answers back. "And Clarke of course."
"Was there a possibility for the information to be logged somewhere?"
"All the guards must log their weapons in and out." Raven checks her tablet. "But it doesn't say the location where they'll be."
"We need to interrogate Miller and Harper." Clarke says solemnly. "But I don't want to warn them about it in case they decide to either escape or kill themselves."
"Then what will you do?" Octavia asks. "Because in case you don't remember, we also have Bellamy and his mole to worry about."
"What if we're thinking about this in the wrong way?" Raven asks them. "What if there's no mole helping Bellamy?"
"But you said that he needed a mole to get the poison." Octavia reminds the older brunette.
"I know, but we're not the only coven that produces weapons like this. Besides, we are not the only ones that have been preparing for a possible war. It would be naive to think so." the hacker explains. "Also, that explains why Bellamy used the mundane to put the poison inside Lexa's room and not the mole from within us."
"It's because he's being the mole for the coven that tried to assassinate you." Anya realizes what Raven is trying to say. "He gave the information of the guards' positions in exchange for the poison."
"And he didn't align with any other coven because the moment he poisoned Lexa he believed you would ask him to return home. So he couldn't betray you in such a way." Octavia gets what Raven is trying to say. "Motherfucker."
"So the mole that the assassins had was Bellamy, who got the poison from one of the 12 covens of the Coalition." Clarke closes her eyes in resignation. "This does not make things become any easier."
"But at least it means that we don't have a mole apart from Bellamy."
"We must change all of our drills, routines, partners and movements." Clarke says solemnly. "Octavia, I want you to go with Miller and Harper, tell them that Bellamy betrayed us and that we need to plan ahead for the safety of our guards."
"But what if they're the mole and Bellamy got the poison from someone else?" Anya asks.
"Just because we're changing the routine that doesn't mean we'll trust them. From now on, any talk about Bellamy, Lexa and Azgeda will only happen between us. No one else knows." the Queen warns them.
"Of course." they all promise.
"And Raven, I need to ask you a favor." she tells her hacker who smirks because she can see the blonde blushing.
This had nothing to do with the war.
CLCLCLCL
Laying in her bed, Clarke can't stop herself from staring. Lexa is moving around her room, talking about what she does for a living and how she learned everything she knows about criminals and police work. It pleases her immensely to see how confident and strong Lexa is, how independent and capable she is of surviving in this tough world they live in. It also calms her fears and doubts, making her realize that although she's a vampire, Lexa is also capable of protecting and aiding her.
"So all your family works for the police?" Clarke asks her from the bed.
"Most of them." Lexa replies to her proudly. "My cousin is a detective for the Detroit Police Department and my uncle just retired."
"And your aunt?" she asks curiously.
"She teaches combat and gun training at the station but she never became an officer. She preferred to teach others what she learned."
"Very noble." Clarke tells her honestly. "And your parents?" she asks softly.
Lexa smiles sadly at her.
"I don't really know." she confesses. "I was very little when they died and my uncle and aunt adopted me. I don't even remember their faces."
"I'm sorry." the vampire apologizes while kissing her mate's hand lovingly.
"Don't be." the mundane replies honestly. "It happened a long time ago. There are some things I remember about my time with them, but most of the times I cannot see their faces. I don't know why." Lexa smiles warmly. "But my aunt gave me a picture of them many years ago and that fills the holes my mind has."
"I didn't mean to make you remember painful things." Clarke tells her softly because she can feel her mate's sadness.
"I want you to know everything about me." Lexa promises her while getting close to the bed. "In fact, I was thinking that since you'll be coming to Detroit with me..." she gets embarrassed. "If you would like to meet my family?"
"That would make me very happy." the blonde vampire tells her with a bright smile. "But wouldn't that be strange for them since we've just met?"
"They don't need to know how serious we are about each other..." Lexa starts explaining while blushing. "I mean, I told my cousin Lincoln about us."
"You did?" Clarke asks her teasingly and it makes Lexa huff in fake annoyance. "What did you tell your cousin about me?"
"That I really liked you. I mean, he immediately figured it out that I stayed the weekend at this island because of you."
"I'm surprised he didn't warn you about being too fast or something like that."
"Lincoln has the same belief I have about people. When two people are meant to be, then who are we to stop them from being together?" the brunette says happily.
"You are spectacular." Clarke whispers with complete awe and it makes Lexa blush again.
"You're just saying that because you love me."
Clarke smiles at her.
"I do love you." the vampire tells her while laying on her side. "But you're also quite spectacular."
"Spectacular enough so that you'll help me catch my perp?" she asks her mate teasingly. "I mean, now that I think about it, a thief is nothing in comparison to the war of vampires you have to worry about."
"The woman that stole the money?" Clarke asks and the brunette nods. "And what's important to you is important to me."
"That's very sweet of you." Lexa tells her while kissing her on the lips and avoiding her mate's embrace. "We don't have time for that." she says while laughing. "Not if you want to help me catch the woman before your meeting."
"The meeting won't start until I'm there." Clarke tells her surely.
"You can't be late." Lexa admonishes her softly.
"I'm the Queen and a Queen is never late. Everyone else is just early."
"Did you just quote the Princess Diaries?" the brunette asks while laughing loudly.
"So what if I did?" the vampire purrs while letting go of the covers of the bed."Are you sure we don't have time?" she asks again while unabashedly standing naked in front of her mate.
Instead of answering, Lexa silently stares at the blonde woman. She's naked and that's all she can focus on. Her attempts at mocking Clarke are quickly forgotten and replaced with desire and lust.
Ever since Clarke returned to the room, all they've done is have passionate sex. Not that Lexa was complaining about that because her mate was an insatiable machine that gave as good as she got. But it was strange for the brunette to allow her lust to cloud her judgment like this. She was usually one that focused first on her responsibilities and then her pleasure. With Clarke all of that changed because all she could think about was kiss her mate, be under and on top of her and to let her sink her teeth on her.
"Lexa?" the blonde teases her mate when she doesn't respond.
"I want you. Now." Lexa moves quickly and lands on top of Clarke who shrieks in delight.
"Lexa!" the vampire says while grabbing her mate from the waist. "Don't tempt me." she warns her mate who is biting her earlobe teasingly.
"You were the one teasing me!" the brunette exclaims while kissing Clarke's eyes.
"I want you too Lexa." Clarke promises her. "Just give me time to control my inner beast."
"I told you I'm not afraid of you." Lexa caresses her cheek lovingly.
"That doesn't mean I'm not afraid of myself." Clarke murmurs softly.
Lexa makes the blonde woman look at her.
"Do you trust me?" she asks warmly.
"Of course I do." the vampire says immediately.
"Then trust my trust in you." she winks at her mate who huffs in annoyance.
"It's not that simple Lexa." Clarke says while putting her on the bed.
"You explained to me how that part of yourself makes you feel." the mundane grabs her hand. "But a part of me, and perhaps it is because of our bond, tells me that your inner creature would NEVER be capable of hurting me. That its whole purpose now is to protect me and our bond." she gives the vampire a bright smile.
"Lexa..." the blonde closes her eyes.
"Let go." Lexa whispers to her while kissing her neck. "Make love to me."
Groaning in desperation, Clarke grabs her mate's face and stares straight at her, allowing Lexa to see the color of her eyes change. Moaning in delight, the brunette kisses Clarke deeply and can't help herself from using her tongue, making Clarke purr and respond to her caress with one of her own.
Using her strength, Clarke quickly moves Lexa up the bed and places herself on top, moving her hips in a soft but strong dance. She can hear her mate moaning, wanting the touch to be stronger and more direct, which is something that Clarke also wants.
"Clarke... " Lexa whispers to her hotly. "Please claim me."
Clarke's inner beast grows and purrs at hearing this. Closing the distance between the two of them, she allows her fangs to come out and kisses Lexa, who groans when she feels her elongated teeth grazing her lips.
"So hot." Lexa moans while licking Clarke's fangs and making the vampire whimper in desperation. "Mine." she sucks on the blonde's tongue.
"Yours." Clarke submits to her and a small part of herself is surprised when her inner beast accepts this.
"Show me." the brunette tells her while separating Clarke from her and making the vampire stare at her. "I love you Clarke, all of you. Don't deny us both."
Clarke purrs and nods in understanding before kissing Lexa deeply, using her speed and strength to quickly discard both of their clothes. Once they're both naked, Lexa starts caressing the vampire's skin and marks, making the blonde close her eyes in contentment and fulfillment. No one, in all of her years as a vampire, had ever loved her as much as Lexa. And she had never loved another like she loved Lexa. She felt content and complete. For the first time since she woke up to this new existence she felt truly happy.
Separating from Lexa's mouth, Clarke stares at her mate and smiles lovingly at her, making sure of moving her hand downwards towards the brunette's sex. Placing her mouth on the mundane's neck, she starts peppering it with kisses while her fingers are softly moving inside and outside of Lexa, making the brunette moan and scream in delight.
"Clarke..." Lexa moans when she feels Clarke's fangs touching her skin. "Bite me." she commands and the vampire purrs before obeying her mate's orders.
"Oh Goooooood!" she screams when she feels the vampire's fangs sucking her skin and blood.
She can feel all of the emotions Clarke is feeling because of their bond, which means that Clarke can also feel everything she's feeling, making the exchange and sensations between them increase. It becomes too much at one point, the passion, the love and satisfaction that comes from the orgasm, that Lexa blacks out and so does Clarke, who also orgasms from feeling Lexa come undone beneath her.
"Lexa?" Clarke is the first that regains consciousness and immediately checks on her mate. "Darling?" she asks while caressing her cheek.
"Hey..." Lexa wakes up and smiles at her warmly. "You just made me blackout."
Clarke laughs. "So did you."
"I did?" the brunette asks surprised while looking around them. "Was I out for long?"
"No dear. I woke up seconds after blacking out and I immediately checked on you." she calms her own. "Vampire stamina." she smirks at Lexa who chuckles.
"That was..." the mundane tells her softly while caressing the blonde's skin and eyes that returned to normal. "Thank you for trusting me."
"Thank you for believing in me." Clarke kisses her softly while getting up from the bed.
"Where are you going?" Lexa asks her immediately and that makes the vampire chuckle.
"If we stay for longer then we really won't have time to catch your thief. And we don't want you to return to Detroit empty handed, right?"
"But I also want to return the favor." Lexa pouts but stands up as well. "It's a fight between my pride and my lust. And the latter one is winning."
"Then I'll be the strong one this time." Clarke pecks her lips. "Now go take a shower while I call Octavia and get more information about the meeting."
"We'll continue this..." Lexa points at them both while possessively placing her hands on top of Clarke's body. "I want to taste you too." she purrs seductively and smirks when she can see Clarke swallow heavily.
"Tease." the blonde jokes while pushing her mate to the bathroom. "Stop stalling and go take a shower."
Once she watches her mate turn the shower on, she moves to the lounge area and takes her cellphone out, not really caring about covering her nakedness.
"Octavia..." she says softly.
"My Queen." the younger vampire replies immediately. "Everything has been prepared just like you asked."
"Good." Clarke acknowledges. "How are things between Anya and Raven?"
"Better." Octavia tells her hesitantly. "Although they still haven't done anything about them being soulmates at least they're talking civilly with each other."
"Better that than the awkwardness they had going on earlier." the blonde huffs. "Anya is a good friend and ally. We need her expertise now more than ever."
"I understand and so does Raven. She would never do anything to compromise or harm our ties with Trikru."
"I know." Clarke closes her eyes. "I'm just concerned, that's all."
"How's Lexa?"
"Surprisingly calm and composed about all of this." the older vampire chuckles.
"She's special." Octavia agrees with her. "When do you think it'll be the right time to talk about what Raven, you and I seem to suspect of her?"
"Not now." Clarke tells her carefully. "I want to be in a place where Azgeda won't find us first."
"I already started preparations for the trip. I visited Detroit many times and I know some very good places to set up our headquarters."
"Good, spare no expense and make sure that no one, apart from our close circle, knows about the location of this place and what it will have."
"Will do boss." the younger vampire promises her. "Will we still have that meeting once you're done with the petty thief?"
"Yes." Clarke smirks. "It shouldn't take us very long based on the information Raven acquired for me. I'll give it to Lexa once she's done showering."
"Showering?" Octavia teases her.
"We're not doing this. Bye O." Clarke chuckles while hanging up and standing up from the couch.
"You know, you could have told me that it wouldn't take us too long to catch the woman." Lexa tells her from outside the bathroom and Clarke smiles softly.
"I asked Raven to send us some info about her and she delivered." Clarke raises her hands in mock surrender.
"Can't have you doing my job now." the brunette teases her softly.
Usually she would have been mad, but because it was Clarke and she could feel her emotions, it was clear that Clarke was doing this out of care and innocence. She knew that it was important for her and the blonde was trying her best to help her. Besides, wasn't she doing the same with the Bellamy situation? They were now no longer two people but one person with different needs and desires. It seemed natural to intervene and help the other if they could.
"But what you can certainly do, now that you've made it clear that it won't take us very long to catch her, is join me in the shower." she smirks when she sees her mate's nipples perk up. "Wash my hair and a little more..."
Lexa promises and turns around to make her way back to the shower. Instead, she feels the air moving around her and can't stop herself from yelping when she notices Clarke use her strength to grab her and her speed to rush them towards the bath.
"God you're hot." Clarke growls while taking her bathrobe off. "I promise to make you scream." she vows and Lexa closes her eyes when she feels a soft tongue caressing her neck.
They could procrastinate for a little longer.