The Shadow Kingdom

Chapter 22 - Family Time

Adrian's eyes slowly open. I have lied here for hours, waiting for his body to replenish itself. "Welcome back to the land of the living." I kiss his cheek, hoping to infuse him with some of my own life-force.

"How long was I out?" He murmurs.

"About six hours. How do you feel? I think you bit off more than you could chew."

"I can suffer through it. Give me a day, and I'll be back to normal." Adrian stretches out on the bed and quickly realizes that he is under-dressed. "Where are my clothes?"

"I took the liberty of removing them. I seem to remember you doing the same that night when you carried me to your bed unconscious."

His lips twitch into the faintest smile. "Your clothes were torn and covered in blood. And I was a complete gentleman that night."

"Of which I have only your word." My body presses against his as I plant warm kisses down his chest, and it becomes apparent that my presence really does help to replenish his life-force. "You are certainly not being very gentlemanly right now..."

"Nor do I desire to be." His mouth consumes mine with the passion to which I have long since become addicted. The euphoria of this drug is unrivalled, and withdrawal from it would be fatal. Adrian leans up from the bed, and I yearn to feel his flesh against mine.

But suddenly, he collapses back onto the bed, coughing and wheezing like a man dying of consumption. "Adrian! Are you ok?"

He draws many heavy breaths before he can speak. "My spirit is willing, but my body refuses. Tomorrow, my love." A soft laugh of anticipation escapes me. I pull his arm around me like a blanket and lay my head against his chest. "Who was that girl?"

"Maddelen Keller, Verina's daughter. She and I are negotiating a deal right now."

"What are the terms?" He speaks as if he's only half-awake.

"House Ashcroft is asking for a loan. In exchange for denying them said loan, we have to pay the interest they would have earned, supply them with your blood for dirt cheap, send men to Switzerland for their protection, and cure Maddelen's cancer. Oh, and you'll love this one – they want you to marry her." Adrian's face stiffens in a melange of confusion and terror. I roar with laughter and give him a reassuring kiss. "Relax! No Swiss-German bitch is going to steal my man."

"So what did you decide?" I have his undivided attention now.

"Right now, Maddelen is begging her mother to agree to more reasonable terms. She is representing us in effect."

"Why would she do that?"

"Because I threatened to cut off her fingers if she doesn't." The same appalled reaction arises twice in one minute. "Once again, relax. I was bluffing. But she fell for it. Right now, she's about to find out how much her mother really loves her."

"And if Verina calls your bluff?"

"Then so be it. We send Maddelen back to Zürich with all her limbs attached, and we tell Verina no deal." Adrian mood visibly lightens. "Did you really think I was such a monster?"

"Not for a second." Adrian's eyelids become heavy, and I kiss him one last time before granting him his much-needed rest.

As usual, my eyes open before dawn. Every morning since Nathaniel's brutal attack, my heart beats erratically until I feel Adrian next to me. He is still sound asleep as he should be after his ordeal yesterday. I discreetly leave our bed and plant a gentle kiss on his forehead without waking him.