Chapter 16

Chapter

Sixteen

Eleanna

I watch with a heavy heart as the last of our people cross the threshold into the grounds of an eerie, abandoned castle on the outskirts of the realm that now serves as our refuge. Alexandru's once-mighty stronghold, reduced to ashes and memories, lies far behind us, its fall from grace mirroring the upheaval in my own soul. The miraculous blood of my father courses through me, leaving a trail of potent change in its wake, but it's a bitter salve for the loss we've endured.

"Set up here." Alexandru's commanding voice cuts through the chill air, stirring his warriors and their families into action.

His silver eyes meet mine for a moment—steadfast, determined—and then he's moving among his men, aiding the wounded, his hands stained with the lifeblood of those who fell defending what we believed in.

I have the magic components we risked so much for, but what's the point? Getting close to Catarina, especially with the Darkened Pulse, is near impossible. But that's not something we'll be attempting any time soon. Not with the injured and so many people we need to protect and feed.

The castle grounds are a flurry of activity as fires are lit against the encroaching cold, and tents rise as temporary homes within the ruins.

I help wrap a young warrior's torso, brushing my fingers over the bandages—one of many tended lacerations and broken spirits. The shared grief is a palpable thing; it clings to everyone, an unwanted reminder born of lost loved ones and homes turned to dust.

"Eleanna, come, you must rest." Alexandru's words are gentle but laced with the command I've come to both resist and crave.

Within the castle, we choose a room untouched by time yet ravaged by neglect. Nadia helps me clean the room as best we can, then she leaves to help the others set up camp within the ancient walls and courtyard.

I sweep my gaze across the dimly lit chamber with flickering candlelight. The room reeks of dampness and decay. A four-poster bed, its velvet curtains tattered and worn, dominates the space. A single, dusty window reveals a desolate landscape beyond and allows a chilly breeze to enter through the broken glass, carrying with it the distant sounds of Alexandru and his officers discussing their next move.

While Alexandru confers with his officers outside, I rest on the bed. The candlelight hurdles flecks of light on the stone walls, illuminating the dampness and mustiness that cling to every surface. I pull the threadbare covers closer around me, seeking warmth in a world grown cold.

"We shall rise again," I whisper to the empty room, the conviction in my voice battling the uncertainty that gnaws at my resolve.

Supernatural power courses through me, untapped and formidable, waiting for the moment to reclaim what has been taken from us.

My mind wanders back to my original goal of securing my rule over the Sagori vampire family and ensuring their supremacy among the vampire clans by bringing back the bloodletting tradition. But now, doubt creeps in, clouding my thoughts as I question whether the old ways should really be revived.

I trace the raven tattoo on my calf, my fingers lingering on the intricate lines that form the emblem of my family's crest. Too restless to lay down, I rise and pace. My father's blood has healed me of the poison Catarina injected, but it's also changed me physically. I glance into a dusty mirror hanging on the wall, and I'm shocked to discover that my eyes are no longer blue but a cerise color that marks me as one of the most powerful vampires in existence.

Pondering my newfound strength, I'm surprised when three ravens fly through the broken window. Glossy black feathers reflect what little light filters from outside, and their red eyes glow like embers in the darkness, giving off an otherworldly aura filled with a sense of purpose and belonging. They move with vampiric speed and unnatural swiftness as they circle around me, then elegantly land on the furniture.

A thrill of recognition runs through me—they're a sign of my family's crest, a good omen in this dark moment.

"Welcome," I say warmly to them.

The ravens kraa in response, intelligent and attentive to my presence.

I feel an instant connection with them, a supernatural bond that tells me they're now my familiars, ready to do my bidding. I name them Moros, Erebos, and Nyx, after the ancient gods of darkness and night.

"Moros, Erebos, Nyx," I say to each raven in turn, solidifying our bond as they regard me with their gleaming, unnatural eyes.

These birds shall be my allies, my guardians.

The ravens, perched like protective bodyguards, watch me. Moros ruffles his feathers and hops along the armrest of a chair, Erebos preens his sleek wings, and Nyx seems to scrutinize an old tapestry with his head tilted in curiosity.

Dark, tumultuous thoughts rage within me like a powerful gale. The weight of my family's legacy suffocates as I sit in this place of exile and loss, haunted by the past and traditions that once seemed unbreakable. My father's expectations loom over me like a heavy shackle, but suddenly, I yearn to break free from them.

Alexandru—his image comes unbidden to my mind, his strength, his unwavering presence beside me through the recent upheaval. But I've been afraid to show any hint of weakness or vulnerability. Yet, something inside me is changing. It's in the racing of my heart whenever he crosses my mind.

I refuse to admit it, even to myself, won't allow the words to form even in my mind, but the truth presses against my lips—I'm falling in love with him. But I must never tell him, never admit.

"Eleanna." Alexandru's voice breaks through my reverie as he strides into the chamber. His silver eyes gleam like moonlight.

"Why are there ravens in our bedchamber?" he asks, looking at the birds.

"I'm the Mistress of Ravens."

"But you don't tend to have visits from them, Eleanna."

I stroke Nyx's feathers gently. "With my father's blood in my veins now, I've changed. Forever. I think they're a gift from my lineage, symbols of my family's crest. They're bound to me now. My familiars."

"Your familiars?" Alexandru raises an eyebrow. "Are you suggesting these creatures are here to serve you?"

I meet his gaze. "Not just serve me, but protect. To guide me on the path I must walk."

He nods slowly. "And what path is that, Eleanna? What do these ravens signify for you?"

"They are a portent of change, Alexandru. Perhaps a break from tradition. I feel a shift within my soul, in the power dynamics within the vampire clans. With their presence, I'm reminded that I'm no longer bound by the expectations of the past."

Alexandru's silver eyes soften as he steps closer to me. "You have always been a pillar of strength and resilience, Eleanna. But now, with this newfound connection to your lineage and not your father, and with these creatures by your side, I can sense a transformation in you."

I take a deep breath, a weight lifting off my shoulders as I allow myself to open up to Alexandru. "Lately, I've been grappling with conflicting feelings, with doubts about the past choices I have made. But these ravens—Moros, Erebos, and Nyx—they offer me clarity and purpose."

A faint smile tugs at the corners of Alexandru's lips as he reaches out to gently touch one of the ravens perched nearby. "Then I hope they may guide you toward your true destiny, Eleanna. And know that whatever decisions you make, I will stand by your side."

The words hover between us, and an understanding and unity blossom in my heart. I may be facing an uncertain future filled with darkness and turmoil, but with Alexandru's devotion and support and the watchful eyes of my familiars, I know I'm ready to re-strategize.

In a whisper laden with lust and heat, he says, "Now, I intend to fuck you until you forget every sorrow that haunts you."

My heart races, desire igniting within me as I move closer to him. Heat blooms on my cheeks—not from shyness, but from the raw desire his bold words awaken.

"Then take what you want," I say in a low and even voice as I give myself over to his command.

He cocks his head. "Take?"

I shiver. The softness of his tone is like a lover's touch, a true leader. One who's comfortable with power and the knee.

"Yes."

He approaches. "You with your shiny crown awaiting you, with powerful blood coursing through you, are letting me do what the fuck I want?"

"Because I think that's how it works, isn't it? Give and take, weakness and strength, master and slave."

I'm trying to find the right words, the one that take in us, my realm, how things could be. The world has shifted and taken me with it.

"Eleanna," he says, his clever hands undress me and with each piece of clothing he peels away from my body, a layer of our former lives falls away too. The fabric pools at my feet, and with it goes the fear, the uncertainty. "I don't think you could ever be a slave. It's not in you."

"I see clearer now, and one of those things is you." I reach out to take off his clothes but he grabs my hand, raises them to his lips.

"Sometimes I'll want you doing my bidding, I'll want it rough and depraved and I think you do too." He leans in. "And yes, I know what you mean."

I revel in the sensation of being unveiled before him—no longer just a queen or a warrior but a woman burning with desire. Each touch over my bared flesh stokes the flame within me, and he draws me in, kissing me with a gentle heat that has bite. He puts put my hands on his chest and walks me back, his mouth claiming and reclaiming mine, letting me undress him and soon, there's nothing left but our naked hunger, our bodies telling the ancient stories of longing and possession.

The kiss grows into the sear of a raging fire, of passion untampered and wild. It's hungry and it's mine. Then his lips leave mine, and I'm left gasping for air, my senses reeling from the sheer intensity of his passion.

For a moment I think he's going to step away, take those hot, strong muscles, the thick erection pushing into me away, but he doesn't. Instead, it's a change of tactic.

Alexandru is a cruel master, one who shows no mercy, as he trails his mouth down my throat with nips and sucks that leave a delicious mix of pleasure and pain in their wake. He's cruel because he knows how to do it just enough leave me aching for more.

I weave my fingers into his hair, pulling him closer as he reaches my breasts. He teases one taut nipple with his teeth, sending shivers through my body until I can't help but cry out. Then he lavishes the same attention on its twin, drawing moans of ecstasy from deep within me.

Liquid heat pools between my legs, and I clench my thighs, desperate for his cock. Alexandru chuckles, the vibrations teasing my flesh.

My breath hitches as Alexandru grazes my inner thigh with his fingertips, leaving a trail of tingling heat. Higher and higher, he traces, teasing me with featherlight caresses until he reaches the apex between my legs.

"Mmm, you're positively dripping for me, aren't you, my Queen?" he says as he places open-mouthed kisses along the column of my throat. "So wet and ready..."

I arch into him, pressing myself closer, eager for more. "Always."

"Always?" There's a wicked gleam to his eyes.

I grip his raven hair. "I've yearned for your touch, I thought…I couldn't bear dying without feeling you once more."

His quicksilver eyes flash with primal need as they meet mine, the intensity in their depths stealing the air from my lungs. Vulnerability and raw emotion swirl within those mercurial pools.

"We have wasted so much time, Eleanna." He tightens his grip on my hips possessively. "You are mine, as I am yours. And I'll be damned if I let anything tear us apart again. On the bed."

The vulnerability is gone, replaced with something darker, utterly thrilling and I do as asked. After all, I've given myself to his commands.

"On your back."

He doesn't give me time to do so, he pushes me on my back then hauls me to the edge so my head's hanging off.

"I'm through fighting this. Fighting us. I need you...now and always." I stop.

I'm presented with him close, and that leather and sandalwood scent of him is tantalizing and his cock is there, right there. It's majestic. The veins that run beneath the skin are prominent in his aroused state and I'm hungry. For him.

He trails a hand over me, taking his cock with the other and pumping it. Then he traces the shape of my mouth. "Open your mouth."

I do and he feed me his cock, pushing in, and at this angle, he reaches my throat.

"Suck."

He doesn't thrust his hips, he lets me suck and lick him as best I can, and he bends over me, hands parting my thighs as he straddles me and buries his face between my thighs.

Now Alexandru starts to thrust a little, groaning, right before his fingers and tongue start to fuck my pussy. He licks my slit, his fingers following before plunging in and he finds my clit and starts to suck and lick.

I'm a mess, shuddering shaking. My vision wavers and spots of black bloom, my lungs at bursting point. My entire being suddenly explodes into orgasmic pleasure, and he pushes hard, cock jerking in my mouth.

Then he rolls off me and I'm spasming, dragging in oxygen, his taste in my mouth, my pussy still feeling the welcome invasion of his fingers, the lick of his tongue.

He drags me up and out of bed, and we're standing in the room as he looks down at me. "Nice, but you can do better."

His eyes darken with desire, and then his mouth is on mine, hungry and demanding and cutting off anything I might say. His tongue delves deep, exploring every inch of my mouth as if it were uncharted territory waiting to be discovered.

I kiss him back, just as hungry as we touch each other, his hands palming my breasts, rolling and plucking at the stiff peaks. Electric pleasure zings through my veins.

He continues his descent, moving lower until he reaches the swell of my breasts. He takes one nipple into his mouth, swirling his tongue around it before biting down gently. I gasp at the sensation, my body responding instinctively to his ministrations.

"More," I plead, gripping him tighter. "Give me more."

He slides his hands to my hips and lifts me, settling me on the edge of a table. The sudden change in position takes me by surprise. I'm exposed before him, splayed open like an offering.

Alexandru kneels, spreading my thighs wide. His breath ghosts over my sex, and I shudder in anticipation.

"You're so wet," he murmurs, voice rough with desire. "So wet and waiting. It's a pity your last orgasm was so weak and quick."

Before I can form a reply, he dives in. At this angle his fingers fuck me deep, curling to gain maximum effect, and he sucks hard on my clit, biting softly then swirling his tongue over it in firm, deliberate strokes. Stars burst behind my eyelids at the sensation, and a strangled cry escapes me as the pleasure starts to build, rolling through me.

Another tremor hits, sparking deep delight and I try and push him away, or maybe pull him closer. It's intense.

But Alexandru holds me fast, feasting on me until I shatter around him.

And he doesn't stop. He keeps going until I come again, harder, wilder, like my whole body is destroyed and rebuilt by the pure ecstasy of the moment that goes on forever. I'm a mess, boneless, slumping as he pulls out.

He stands. "Fuck, I need to be inside you. Now."

With a fluid thrust of his hips, he sheaths himself to the hilt inside my pussy. I didn't think I could want more, but I do, and I cry out at the exquisite stretch and fullness, my head falling back in ecstasy. He sets a deep, powerful rhythm, driving into me again and again, hitting that secret spot inside that has me seeing the heavens.

I cling to his broad shoulders, my nails digging into his flesh as I move with him. Our bodies undulate as one. Nothing else exists except this moment, this joining of our bodies and souls.

"Alexandru!" I scream his name like a prayer as my release crashes over me again, my inner muscles clenching tight around him.

"Eleanna..." He groans, his thrusts growing erratic.

With one final surge of his hips, he finds his own end, spilling his seed deep as he shudders above me.

"You're mine," Alexandru says, pinning my wrists above my head. He begins to move again, slow and deep, dragging along my sensitive walls. "Say it."

"Yours," I breathe. "I'm yours, Alexandru."

Satisfaction flickers in his silver gaze. He picks up the pace, pounding into me as I writhe beneath him, desperate for more.

"Who do you belong to?" he demands.

"You," I cry. "Only you!"

A smug smile curves his lips. "That's right. You're mine, Eleanna, now and forever. No man will dare touch you."

The possessive claim sends a thrill through me, and I clench around him. Alexandru's eyes darken, and he redoubles his efforts, driving me higher and higher until I shatter once more with a broken sob.

He follows soon after, burying himself to the hilt as he comes deep inside me again. We collapse in a tangle of limbs, panting harshly.

Alexandru draws me flush against his hard body, his strong arms encircling my waist as he picks me up from the table and carries me to the bed. His heat seeps into my skin, igniting a smoldering ache deep in my core. He lays me down, following and he presses a tender kiss to my temple, his lips lingering.

"I do love you, Eleanna," he says.

My heart stutters in my chest. A surge of warmth and affection crashes over me, threatening to sweep me away. I gaze up at him with heavy eyelids, drinking in the rugged planes of his handsome face.

"Is that so, General?" I ask, trailing my fingertips along the sharp line of his jaw, relishing the rasp of his stubble against my skin. "And here I thought you only wanted me for my body."

Alexandru's silver eyes darken with unmistakable desire. "Oh, I want your body…" He moves his large hands possessively over the curve of my hips and nips at my earlobe, his teeth grazing the sensitive skin. "But I want all of you, Eleanna. Your mind, your heart, your very soul."

My breath catches at the intensity in his voice. No one has ever wanted me like this before—wholly and completely, with a ferocity that steals the air from my lungs. I press myself closer against him, winding my arms around his neck. The hard ridge of his arousal presses insistently against my belly, stoking the flames of my own desire.

"Then take me, Alexandru," I breathe, my voice a needy rasp. "Claim me, body and soul. I'm yours in this bed."

With a low, feral growl, Alexandru slants his mouth over mine in a bruising kiss. I open for him with a moan, our tongues tangling. He tastes of lust and sin, an intoxicating combination that leaves me dizzy with want. I cling to him as the rest of the world falls away, lost to the scorching heat of his kiss, the demanding press of his body against mine. In this moment, nothing exists but him and me and the desire we share.

Alexandru breaks the kiss, trailing his lips down my neck.

"On your hands and knees," he commands, his voice rough with need.

I hasten to obey and position myself so that my ass is raised. A thrill shoots through me at how exposed and vulnerable I am, waiting for Alexandru to take his pleasure. He runs a hand over the curve of my rear in lusty approval, then strikes me once, hard enough to sting. I cry out at the delicious sensation, clenching in anticipation.

But he doesn't do his delicious punishing strikes this time. And I look at him questioningly.

Alexandru chuckles darkly. "So eager for me, aren't you?" He leans over me, his chest pressed against my back as he murmurs in my ear, "I'm going to make you scream, Eleanna."

Before I can reply, he thrusts into me with one powerful stroke. Alexandru sets a punishing pace, pounding into me with deep, claiming thrusts. Gripping my hips, He holds me in place as he fucks me. The sound of flesh slapping against flesh fills the room, punctuated by my pleasured cries.

"Yes, Alexandru! Harder!" I beg, undone by the intensity of his passion.

He obliges, fucking me with wild abandon. The pleasure builds within me, intensifying with each thrust until I'm hovering at the brink of release. Just when I think I can't take anymore, Alexandru slides a hand between my legs and circles my clit with his thumb. The added stimulation sends me tumbling over the edge into ecstasy. I clench around him as my orgasm crashes over me in waves.

With a roar, Alexandru buries himself to the hilt as he finds his release. We collapse onto the bed, breathless and sated. I curl into his embrace, basking in the afterglow of our passion.

I lie in Alexandru's arms as a sudden surge of power courses through my veins. It feels as if the very essence of my vampiric nature has been revitalized and strengthened. I rise from the bed with newfound power.

At that moment, the kraaing of ravens fills the air. Two of them swoop down and land on my shoulders, their beady red eyes gleaming with intelligence. A third raven perches on my outstretched wrist, its sharp talons digging into my skin. I raise my hand and, with a flick of my wrist, summon three more ravens from the rafters. Their wings beat loudly as they join their brethren, creating a powerful circle around me, their presence further bolstering my courage.

The room goes still, and Alexandru sits up in bed, his stare wide with awe.

My voice rings out clear and strong, leaving no doubt about my intentions and my role in our quest for survival. "Alexandru, we will reclaim my kingdom, and we will have our revenge on Catarina and her army of devious vampires."

My words hang in the air, filled with conviction. A fierce bond forms between me and my ravens. The birds kraa in unison, a haunting chorus that seems to bolster my promise, our shared purpose.

Alexandru stands and walks to me, then reaches out to clasp my hand, his touch grounding me even as the weight of our impending confrontation looms large. "I believe in you, Eleanna. We'll emerge victorious, and your kingdom will be restored."

"First, we'll destroy The Darkened Pulse and show no mercy to our enemies."

Alexandru nods, his eyes gleaming. "Yes, my Queen."

The birds echo their approval, and I know Alexandru and I are of one mind now.

With the ravens by my side and the power growing within me, I'm confident we'll crush Catarina. I'll reclaim what has been lost, not just for myself but for Alexandru and our people. And I'll do so by embracing the change that is now inevitable, abandoning the old ways to create a future where friendship and power unite rather than divide.