The Bartender's Vampire [COMPLETED]

Chapter Eleven - Loyal

"So the werewolf is...?" Dracula leaves the question open, unwilling to finish it. 

Slowly, Draculaura nods. "He's my mate, Daddy. And his name's Clawd," she says. 

"Why?" 

"I don't know. Because I love him. Because he loves me. Because he's only ever treated me right," she says. 

"Darling..." Dracula clears his throat. "Princess, I do not want you to get hurt." 

"Daddy, he's not going to hurt me," she protests. 

Dracula's expression softens. He reaches across the table and places a cold, dead hand on top of hers. "Princess, that is not what I mean. I am talking about when he dies," he whispers. 

Draculaura swallows. "Oh," she breathes. 

"I suffered quite a lot when your mother died, because she was mortal, and I was not. I do not want you to go through the same thing. That is all," he says. "From what I have seen as of lately, the werewolf is a nice kid. Well-mannered, polite. And I am not blind. I know he is in love with you. I just do not want to see you heartbroken, Princess," he explains. 

"We'll figure it out, Daddy. Clawd and I. We'll... work through it," she says. 

Dracula nods, sighing as he leans back, steepling his fingers beneath his chin. "How long ago did he mark you?" he asks. 

Absentmindedly, Draculaura touches her first two fingers to the scar on her neck. "Two months ago." 

"You have done a great job at hiding that from me," he says. 

"Sorry," she whispers. "I didn't want you to be mad at me... at him."

"I cannot be mad at you, Princess. You are the only thing I love," he says. "And when it comes to him, I cannot hurt him. You love him. I would not take that away from you, not now. The boy has shown extreme loyalty to you. As long as that does not change, I have no reason to be mad at him, werewolf or not," he says. 

A soft smile forms on the girl's face. "Thank you, Daddy." 

He nods. "You are welcome." He clears his throat. "Will you be finishing college?" 

"Of course." 

"Good. You need a good education," he says. 

She nods. "I know, Daddy. Clawd will be finishing, too," she says. She smiles. "He's switched his degree, though." 

"To what?" 

"Architecture and construction," she says. "So I'm double majoring, too. Business and creative writing. After we graduate, I'm going to help him build his own business," she says. 

Dracula smiles softly, something he doesn't do all that often. "I am so proud of you, Princess," he says. 

Draculaura laughs lightly before smiling back at her father. "Thank you." 

He squeezes her hand. "We will find a way to keep the wolf around. No matter what." She nods. 

***

"How was breakfast with your dad?" Clawd asks. 

Draculaura lifts her gaze to his face. "Good. He's supportive," she says. She looks down for a moment as she stirs her coffee. "He likes you, says you're loyal and you love me, and that's really all that matters," she says. 

Clawd lets out a dramatic sigh. "Talk about a weight lifted off my shoulders. I didn't know what we'd do if he continued to hate me," he says. 

"Run away together," she says. 

He chuckles. "I'd run away with you any day of the week." He points his fork in her direction. "So don't tempt me, Vamp." 

She smiles widely, laughing. "No promises, Wolf."