Forbidden Love (IronStrange)

2.4

Summer, The Year Of Our Lord 1628
Stark Castle, Stark Lordship, Isle Of Stone, a province of King Edward I
Tony

I lay on my bed, hearing Stephen settling in his chamber next door. His introduction to the others went well, but I can't stop thinking about what he said earlier. He mentioned an old friend who reclaimed the Star Clan hall. I know without a doubt that the old friend must be the sharp smiled vampire who killed my mother. I don't know how I know it, it's a gut feeling. However, that's the James Lordship, and one lord cannot simply rush another's lordship over one vampire. I want, no, I need to find a way to get to that vampire and make sure those gleaming fangs and sharp smile die.

I roll over in bed, hugging the pillow to my body. Everyone else is in bed and asleep by now. Soon it will be the first hour of the new day. I bury my face in the pillow as I think of all I have and all I don't have.

I have a castle. I have people. I have more riches than most could dream of. But I don't have love. I foreswore it after my mother's death and I have stayed true to that. And I don't need love.

Love is a foolish sentiment that is completely unnecessary. There is no way I could ever fall in love, especially with the gorgeous vampire—nope, nope, nope, mildly attractive vampire in the room next door. This is just a phase, nothing important. I will not be foolish enough to fall again, and get hurt again. However, it's nice to have a friend.

Summer, The Year Of Our Lord 1628
Stark Castle, Stark Lordship, Isle Of Stone, A Province Of King Edward I
Stephen

Having finished my evening prayers, I sit and think.

Tony has been so kind to me. I can't reconcile this image with the person who swore vengeance on my clan. This isn't the person I've been scared of and hated half of my life. This is someone soft, someone kind, someone sweet and caring. The peace processes may be the only reason I'm here, but I can dream.

I can dream of this man noticing me and loving me. I can dream of this man holding me and kissing me. I can dream of this man and I being together, getting married. Oh, Lai, I can dream.

But dreaming won't make it happen. Dreams coming true would have to mean telling him who I really am, and telling him who I really am could, and really would, start a war. And that war would end in either his or my brother's death. I can't have that. I'm not going to be responsible for any deaths.

Soon I'll be back with my clan, my real family, and this phase will be over. I won't fall in love with and marry a human lord.

Loki, Carol, Brunhild, Bruce, Clint, Wanda, Scott, and Wong are all the family I need. That's it.

No human lord anywhere in that. Even if he is gorgeous.