Elijah Mikaelson & The Dragon's Legacy

Chapter 9

By Autumn of 1622, Elijah was now a year into his "temporary" position as Estate Manager. He and Angelica worked side by side sharing ideas.  Elijah was repeatedly impressed by Angelica's natural business prowess and they made a very good team. The estate was becoming profitable and the tenants adored Angelica. For Elijah, this came as no surprise as he had fallen deeply in love with Angelica and she with him. She knew he was no ordinary man and eventually Elijah told her exactly what he was – all that he was. He braced himself for her to retreat from him in horror but she did not. He showed her what he was, and she did not fear him, instead touching the side of his face as he bared his vampire teeth and flashed his blood red eyes. He told her about the blood lust and told her how he satisfied it, his need to feed on human blood. This was a problem for her, not in the actual blood consumption but the risk of him being discovered. After giving it some thought and asking him some clarifying questions, she presented him with her solution: That he should feed on her to ensure his needs did not attract attention. He was adamantly opposed to the idea but she argued her point until whe wore him down, and he found himself agreeing to her plan.

Elijah would feed on her as he needed which would keep what he was safe and hidden. He would give her his blood to heal her bite wounds and to keep her healthy. This arrangement only caused them to grow closer and to crave more intimacy with each other, but Elijah held back as he respected Angelica and the old Duke too much to give in to such desires outside of marriage.

Elijah discovered that not only was Angelica immune to the effects of heat and fire, but also that Angelica was immune to compulsion. He had told her about the ability and she wanted to experience it for herself but when he tried to compel her it didn't work. He had to compel the maid to show her he really could do it. They would laugh quietly to themselves when they would think back on that awkward moment.

Elijah told Angelica he wanted to marry her but he did not want to leave her stuck to a man who could not give her children. Angelica gently touched her hand to his cheek, telling him that their destiny must lie elsewhere than being parents, that perhaps their destiny was to merely be together.

One evening after Angelica retired to bed, Elijah and the old Duke were talking in the library, and Elijah steeled himself for a conversation with Angelica's father, her aristocratic father, to ask for her hand in marriage to Elijah, a commoner. To Elijah's pleasure, the old Duke was ecstatic at the thought as he had seen with his own eyes how good Elijah and Angelica were together. Elijah seemed to understand Angelica even better than the old Duke. The old Duke smiled and slapped Elijah on the back, saying, "Well it's about time, my boy!" The old Duke told Elijah about destiny, about how it was supposedly Angelica's destiny to live her life in that convent but destiny brought her and Elijah together. Elijah kept his vampire nature a secret from the old Duke and the old Duke kept Angelica's mysterious birth and fire immunity gift a secret from Elijah, although Elijah already knew about the latter matter already. But the two men were bonded now as Elijah was joining the family.

At dinner the next evening, Elijah formally asked for Angelica's hand in marriage, and Angelica happily accepted, jumping into his arms embracing him, running to her father, hugging and kissing him. The wedding would be small and private because the old Duke's social circle was virtually non-existent but Angelica did not care. All that mattered was that she was going to marry the love of her life, her soulmate, her savior.

The private ceremony took place the following month in the small chapel officiated by the local priest. There was no big party, no reception, just dinner back at the estate. The old Duke eventually excused himself to the library for a drink but before he left the dining room he paused to kiss his daughter on the cheek, then to squeeze Elijah's shoulder, before saying, "I wish your mother had been here to see this." The old Duke left the newlyweds alone in the dining room.

It was time for Angelica and Elijah to retire to their bedroom. Angelica was not sure what to expect as her mother never explained such things to her so she had to ask Mrs. Pietra, the family cook, about the delicate matter. Needless to say, Mrs. Pietra was not a great help on the topic as she was too uncomfortable to have any kind of meaningful conversation with Angelica. Angelica found no helpful information amongst the books she had read either.

Elijah sensed that she was nervous about the wedding night, and he squeezed her hand as they walked upstairs together, stopping at the threshold of her bedroom door. They paused before walking in but eventually did and closed the door behind them. Angelica admitted she was not quite sure what to do next. Elijah smiled at his bride and ran his hand down the side of her face. He kissed her on the lips, gently at first and then with slightly greater pressure. As he held her close to him, she could feel that he desired her. He moved behind her and undid the buttons on her dress until he pushed it gently off her shoulders and it slid to the floor, revealing her undergarments. Angelica felt as though her skin were on fire as every touch of his lips to hers, of his hands on her skin, made her feel as though she would ignite. Elijah removed his jacket and then his shirt, and set them on the chair.

Elijah was quite muscular and she moved her fingers along the curves of his arms and his chest, feeling each muscle as she did. Her touch was electric and he pulled her to him and kissed her again, pressing more firmly and she returned that pressure. Elijah moved behind her again and pulled her hair away from the left side of her neck. She extended her neck for him, and Elijah's visage changed to vampire, and he sank his teeth into her neck, drinking from her. She breathed deeply as he did, her eyes rolling back at the exhilaration it created in her. He released his bite and then bit into his wrist and placed it in front of her mouth. She took his wrist and drank from it, an exchange the two had made frequently over the last year. It was the blood sharing rite that cemented their intimate bond. She was energized by drinking his blood and felt it course through her body, creating a warming, tingling effect that now seemed more intense than she had previously felt.

Elijah loosened the ties on her undergarment and it soon joined the dress on the floor, her skin glistening in the candlelight. Elijah thought for a moment that this must be what an angel looks like. Elijah picked her up in his arms and walked over to her bed, laying her gently onto the sheets. He removed the rest of his clothes and climbed into bed next to her. He kissed her again and she kissed him back while caressing her skin with his hands. She trembled under his touch. Elijah gazed into her green eyes and she gazed back into his, she smiled at him and he smiled back at her. He gently positioned himself on top of her as they kissed, being careful not to put his full weight on her. He could feel the heat rising off of her, she was ready for him and he was definitely ready for her. As Elijah gently entered her, she gasped and Elijah paused as he was concerned for a moment that he was hurting her. She looked into his eyes and kissed him deeply, and Elijah began to gently move his hips. She soon followed his lead, relishing in the sensation, and moving with him. The rhythms they created brought her to a point of unexpected ecstasy, and it would not be the only time that night that he would bring her, and she would bring him, to such pinnacles of pleasure.

Elijah awoke early in the morning as the rising sun shone through her window, lighting the room. He opened his eyes and smiled as he held Angelica while she slept, her head resting on his chest, his arms wrapped around her. He held perfectly still not wanting to wake his Angelica, his ... wife. But the sunlight had other ideas and his Angelica loved the sun. She opened her eyes, looked up at him, and smiled, "Good morning, husband," and he returned her smile, with a "Good morning, wife." She leaned up and kissed him, then kissed him again, holding the kiss a little longer, and then with a sly grin on her face she pulled herself on top of him. He put his hand around the back of her neck and pulled her to him, kissing her as they joined together again. They were definitely going to be late for breakfast this morning.