Chapter 18

Chapter

Eighteen

Eleanna

W e gather in the makeshift war room. The air's thick with tension, each breath carrying the weight of battles past and the uncertainty of the one that looms before us. My fellow vampires—my allies in this dark hour—surround a worn table, their faces etched with concern.

"Eleanna," Alexandru begins, his voice steady as ever, "we must consider the western pass. It's narrow and treacherous, but it could lead us straight to Catarina's stronghold undetected, where we can destroy The Darkened Pulse and extinguish her invulnerable power."

I lean forward, tracing my finger over the map. "The element of surprise is crucial. But we can't afford any missteps…the terrain will be as much our enemy as Catarina's forces."

Ivan nods gravely. "General Amanar, if I may, your scouts report heavy patrols in that area. Our numbers are not what they once were."

Nicolai, gripping the hilt of his sword, shifts closer. "Then we strike swiftly. Like shades at dusk, silent but vicious."

Marianne, her eyes alight with the fires of vengeance, nods. "We've trained for moments such as these. Persistence and control will be in our favor."

"But let us not forget those we have lost. We fight not just for victory but for their memory as well," Nadia says, her voice soft but firm.

Their words resonate within me, strengthening my purpose. We are united by more than just a common enemy; our shared losses bind us tightly together.

The General looks at me. "Eleanna, if there was another way, we'd take it."

"Ivan—"

"Knows this. It's his job to let me know the dangers and the odds." Alexandru holds my gaze and I bite my lip. "It's the only way, Eleanna."

Then I frown. "The ravens…" They could help, scout. We're not as disadvantaged as I thought, and from the look in his eye, he sees that, too.

"Then it's settled," I say, nodding. "We take the western pass, swift and steadfast. For our fallen, for our future."

The meeting dissolves and the others depart.

Alexandru envelops my hand in his, his stare burning into me with fierce determination. "We will triumph in this war, my Queen. On my life, I swear it."

My heart swells at his unwavering conviction. I lace my fingers through his, and savor the electric tingle of his touch. "And when we do, we'll create a realm of lasting peace. A sanctuary where our people can flourish, free from the constant specter of bloodshed." I smile up at him, hope blossoming in my chest. "That's the beautiful future I envision for us."

He tightens his hand around mine as he draws me closer until mere inches separate us. The closeness ignites a smoldering yearning deep within me. "A future I'll fight to my last breath to make real. For you, my beloved. For our kingdom."

I tilt my head, a soft smile tugging at my lips. "Careful, General. You're in danger of becoming a romantic." My free hand traces the hard planes of his chest, the cool metal of his armor a tantalizing contrast to the searing heat building between us.

A roguish grin splits his handsome face. "I'll show you just how romantic I can be."

In a blur of supernatural speed, he sweeps me into his arms, capturing my mouth in a crushing kiss that sets my blood aflame. I melt into him, relishing the exquisite press of his lips moving against mine, his tongue delving deep to claim me. In this blissful moment, the looming war fades away, eclipsed by the sheer perfection of being enveloped in Alexandru's embrace, of drowning in his intoxicating scent.

When he finally pulls back, we're both breathing hard, pulses racing in sync.

"I care deeply for you, Eleanna," he says, his voice rough with emotion. "More than life itself. Never doubt that."

Tears prick my eyes. This powerful warrior, this stoic general, exposing his deepest feelings, his very soul, to me. The vulnerability in his gaze cracks open my own armored heart. "I could never doubt you, Alexandru. You are my strength."

He lets me go and starts to roll up the map. Then he gestures to the door and I go through, together we make out way to the bedchamber. We should prepare for the arduous journey ahead. But we're not leaving now.

I close the door and lean against it. "We're more than alone. Whatever shall we do?"

"Would you care to spar, my Queen?" Alexandru's eyes glint.

Laughter bubbles up at the unexpected question, and I nod. "Very well."

His black pony-tailed hair sways as he assumes a combat stance, beckoning me with a taunting smirk.

Smiling, I step into the center of the room. The damp stone walls echo with our every move as we circle each other.

"Prepare to be disarmed." He lunges forward with a speed that would intimidate any other opponent.

I parry his strike, pushing back with equal force. "That's your tactic…will you ever learn?"

"Perhaps I enjoy being corrected by you." His voice is low, his movements fluid and mesmerizing.

"Is that so?" I feint to the left and then turn, slipping under his guard. With a swift move, I pin him against the wall, my body pressed close to his. "Looks like I win again."

"Your victory...is my surrender." Alexandru's breath fans across my face, his gaze never leaving mine.

Time seems to slow as we embrace, the air electric between us. Alexandru's strong hands cup my face, his thumb tracing the curve of my cheek with a tenderness that belies his fierce warrior's heart.

"Eleanna, my beloved..."

"Alexandru," I breathe against his lips. "I am yours, now and always."

His eyes blaze with an intensity that steals breath. "And I am yours, my fierce beauty. In this life and the next."

A smile tugs at my mouth. "Pretty words, General. But can you back them up on the battlefield?"

His answering grin is wolfish. "Is that a challenge, Your Highness? I never back down from a fight."

"Good," I whisper, nipping playfully at his bottom lip. "Because this war has only just begun. And I need my fearsome vampire warlord by my side."

He captures my mouth once more in a kiss that's both possessive and claiming. I surrender to the heat of it, the sheer rightness of being in his arms. The power singing through my veins is a benediction and a chance to rise from the ashes of my past and forge a new future with the man I love.

"In alliance, we will build a kingdom that will last a thousand years," I say. "And our love will be the stuff of legends."

Alexandru laughs, low and warm, the sound curling around my heart like a caress. "I feel sorry for the fool who tries to stand in our way."

And in that perfect, shining moment, I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that nothing—not even Catarina's deceit, not the weight of my father's legacy, nor death itself—can tear us apart.

The weight of my father's blood in my veins is a gift—a chance for rebirth, free from the shadows of the past. Vulnerability is no longer a weakness but the very source of our strength, binding us in harmony with indestructible cords of trust and affection. Because of him, this man.

"Alexandru," I whisper between kisses, "I love you."

The words hang in the air, heavy with truth and certainty. He pulls back slightly, searching my face, and the depth of his devotion shines bright.

"Say it again," he urges.

"I love you, Alexandru. More than power, more than vengeance...more than life itself."

His tightens his arms around me, drawing me even closer. "As I love you, Eleanna."

"Then we'll fight not only for our throne," I say, gazing into his eyes, "but also for our shared dream."

Alexandru seals our pact with another kiss, tender and fierce all at once, and it's home.

After our lips part, I lean my forehead against Alexandru's broad chest, savoring the warmth of his flesh and the steadiness of his presence, and the future stretches out before us, filled with possibility.

"When this war's over, I want to make you my wife, Eleanna. I want to build a life with you, a family."

My heart swells at his words, and I can picture it so clearly—Alexandru, ruling side by side, our children with his dark hair and my fierce spirit, running through the halls of a castle untouched by strife.

"Yes, yes, that's what I want, more than anything, too."

I grab him and pull his mouth to mine once again, pouring all my hopes and dreams into the kiss. His embrace holds the true depth of our connection—not just the fire of passion but the unshakable foundation of trust, respect, and understanding.

When we finally pull apart, I sense a shift in the air. Moros, Erebos, and Nyx soar into the room, their red eyes glinting in the firelight as they settle on a nearby perch.

My familiars' presence is a reminder of the power that now flows through my veins, the legacy I must wield with wisdom and poise. It's also a symbol of the everlasting bond I share with Alexandru—a love that even the darkest magic cannot touch.

Alexandru takes my hand and leads me toward the bed, his eyes glowing with desire. My heart pounds as he pulls me close, brushing his lips over mine in a teasing caress.

"My Queen," he murmurs, sliding his hands down to cup my ass. "Will you join me?"

"Gladly," I whisper, heat blooming under his touch.

Our hands can't seem to move fast enough as we discard layers of clothing. With nothing in my way, I explore the hard planes of his chest, tracing the scars that mark him. He shudders when I brush my fingers lower, circling his cock, already straining for my attention.

Alexandru growls and spins us around, pressing me into the mattress as he continues his sensual assault on my neck and breasts. I arch up to meet him, craving the feel of him. He slides one hand between my legs, and I gasp at the wave of pleasure that ripples through me.

"You're so wet already," he says, nipping at my ear. "So eager for your future king."

"Yes…" I moan, clutching at his back. "Only for you, always for you."

He positions himself at my entrance, our eyes locking as he sinks into me with agonizing slowness. I dig my nails into his shoulders, struggling to breathe through the intensity of being filled so completely.

When he's buried to the hilt, he pauses. "You're so very beautiful, Eleanna."

Tears prick at my eyes. No matter how many times he says those words, they never fail to move me. "Stop the flattery, Alexandru, and make love to me."

He begins to move then, his strokes deep and unhurried, stoking the fire inside me to a raging inferno. I raise my hips to meet his thrusts, shuddering at the intensity. It's different, this heat, intimate in ways that strip me down and lay me bare far beyond nakedness and I close my eyes, the emotions of this vulnerability the pleasure of his slow, intimate thrusts bring almost too much to face.

"Look at me," he commands softly.

I drag in a breath and open my eyes, gazing up at him. His eyes are heavy-lidded, pupils blown wide with desire, hot need and a savageness behind it all. But there's tenderness there too. Always tenderness for me.

And his heart, his vulnerabilities naked, strong, bared just for me, like he's showing me the inside of his soul.

He shifts slightly, changing the angle of his thrusts, and he hits just the right spot. The coil of pleasure in my belly winds tighter and tighter until I'm trembling on the edge of release.

"Come for me, Eleanna," he says. "Let me feel you."

Like a dam bursting, my climax crashes over me in a blinding wave of ecstasy. I cry out his name as I shatter around him, my inner walls pulsing. He groans as I grip him with my core, his body going rigid, his cock twitching, spurting heat and life in me as he finds his own release.

We lie there for long moments, limbs entangled, hearts racing as we both catch our breath. He rolls onto his side and gathers me close, tucking my head under his chin. Wrapped in Alexandru's arms with the crackling fire casting a warm glow over us, it's easy to believe that our love will truly conquer all. That together, we are strong enough to defeat any foe.

But I know this is what we have right now, and I'll take what I can get if it's with him.

I trace idle patterns on his chest with my fingertips. "I wish we could stay like this forever. Just you and me, with no threats or responsibilities looming over us."

Alexandru's chuckle rumbles through me. "As tempting as that sounds, my Queen, I'm afraid our duties won't allow for such luxuries." He tilts my chin up to meet his gaze, eyes glinting. "But I fully intend to steal every private moment with you that I can."

Heat rises to my cheeks at the promise in his words. "You're insatiable, aren't you?"

"Only for you, my beloved." He brushes a tender kiss to my forehead. "Though I fear you may be my greatest weakness. The mere thought of any harm befalling you is enough to drive me mad."

I press closer, savoring his solid strength. "I'm not some fragile flower, Alexandru. You know I'm more than capable of defending myself."

"Yes, but it doesn't stop me from wanting to protect you." He tightens his arms around me possessively. "You are my heart, Eleanna. My very reason for existing."

Tears sting my eyes at the raw emotion in his voice. "As you are mine," I whisper fiercely. "Our fates are entwined now. Where you go, I go."

He captures my mouth with a need that leaves me breathless and aching for more. "My feisty, beautiful Queen," he murmurs against my lips. "Whatever did I do to deserve you?"

I smile up at him, my heart nearly bursting with the depth of my love. "You stole my heart with your arrogance and your charm. And I haven't wanted it back since."

His answering grin is both roguish and tender. "Ah, so you finally admit my charms are irresistible?" Alexandru traces the curve of my cheek, his calloused fingers impossibly gentle. "I must confess, from the moment I first laid eyes on you, I was captivated. Ensnared by your fiery spirit and breathtaking beauty."

I lean into his touch, pulse fluttering wildly. "Ensnared? You make me sound like some kind of trap. Though I suppose I did lure the fierce General Amanar into falling hopelessly in love with me."

"Hopelessly, irrevocably, eternally." He punctuates each word with a kiss—my brow, my cheek, the corner of my mouth. "I am forever yours, my Queen. In this life and the next."

Warmth blossoms in my chest. "I never believed in fate or destiny until I met you." Tilting my head, I brush my nose playfully against his. "But now I know our souls are bound, two halves of the same whole."

"My beloved Eleanna." Alexandru's voice is a reverent whisper. "I swear to love you with every breath in my body, every beat of my immortal heart. Not even the angel of darkness can sever the ties that bind us."

Tears blur my vision, the shimmering trails cool against my flushed skin. "You are my strength, my solace, my guiding star in the darkness." I lace my fingers through his silky hair, anchoring him to me. "And the best sex I've had."

He laughs and kisses me into oblivion.

A breathless moan escapes me as Alexandru's touch ignites sparks beneath my skin. "Is that so?" His voice is a sinful purr, eyes glinting with mischief and desire. "I'll have to ensure I maintain that prestigious title."

I arch into him, craving his touch, his closeness. "I have no doubt you will, my insatiable General." I trail my fingers down the sculpted planes of his chest, reveling in the feel of hard muscle beneath smooth skin. "Though I may need frequent reminders."

"Gladly, my Queen." In a blur of preternatural speed, he flips us over, pinning me beneath the solid weight of his body. Alexandru grazes the sensitive skin of my throat with his fangs, sending delicious shivers racing down my spine. "I plan to worship every inch of you until the only name you remember is mine."

My back bows off the bed, a needy whimper falling from my kiss-swollen lips. "Alexandru, please..." I barely recognize my own voice, raw and desperate with want.

He chuckles darkly, the sound vibrating against my flesh. "I do so love it when you beg." His tongue laves the pulse point hammering wildly beneath my jaw. "Tell me what you need, my beloved. Let me hear all the wicked desires of your heart."

"All of you, Alexandru. Any way I can get you. Now and forever." Dragging his mouth back to mine, not knowing what the future holds and whether this is our last time or the first of many, I pour every ounce of passion and longing into the kiss.