Bad decisions.

The Count made them on a regular basis, hell his whole life was a bad decision. But just what the hell had he been thinking when he had told Erinna he was alright with her going to Ellingsdale for two whole months when he couldn't even stand being away from her for two hours?

He had promised to take her choices into consideration but this was more than he had bargained for. Her people were important to her, he knew but what good was going to Ellingsdale supposed to achieve?

Her father would do what he always did and fill her head with poison about him again. Vlad just knew when Erinna came back, Eric would have ruined whatever progress they'd made in the last months.

"Your mind is racing. Care to share?"

Vlad's head snapped up from where he was sitting on the window seal, glaring at the floor.

He had been so immersed in his thoughts that he had not heard Erinna finish her bath. She was now standing in front of him in a towel, a hand on her waist and a teasing smile on her face. His chest tightened and all the blood in his head did a downward spiral to his lower body.

Her face was pink and flushed from the heat of her bath and tendrils of her hair stuck to her face. The high temperature had also made her veins dilate such that her blood was very close to the surface. He could smell it as if her vein had been opened. His throat dried and his fangs dropped without any consent from his brain.

His eyes moved down, caressing every single feature of the beautiful woman that the gods had gifted to him. He did not know what they were thinking when they did that or how many drinks they had taken but he was not going to complain. She was everything he had ever wanted and everything he had never known he needed before.

The soft, white fluffy towel wrapped around her lush curves and molded

her soft body to absolute perfection. He could see the almost exaggerated indent of her small waist and the rounded curves of her hips. Her feet were bare and the sight of her toenails was his undoing.

"Vlad you're staring," she said, pulling her towel around her tighter and blushing in a way that left her whole chest pink.

He gulped.

Anything that was going to come from his mouth in that moment was going to sound dirty he knew. That towel had safely and ultimately plunged his mind into the gutter. But he wanted to convince her to stay, so he drew upon his non-existent gentlemanly side.

"You look beautiful," he said and bit his lip to keep in the innuendos that were hanging at the edge of his tongue.

Predictably, his wife blushed even harder. He cleared his throat to keep the reins on his sanity. His fangs were another issue though, they were agitated and grating on his gums.

"Don't try to distract me, you were thinking about something. What is it?" She asked softly, moving closer to him.

He was distracting her?

Vlad closed the curtain behind him. No one could see them but he did not want to take any chances. He stood up and walked to her, his hand going under her chin and raising her head so she could look directly

into his eyes.

Her own green ones were sparkling in their dimly lit room. They exuded life, love and vitality.

His thumb traced the shape of her bottom lip as he tried to formulate the words he needed to say despite his baser instincts saying otherwise. He just wanted to rip her flimsy towel and throw it across the room but that would not help his case.

"Do I have any chance of convincing you to postpone your trip to Ellingsdale?" He asked.

What he meant by that of course was I want to forbid you from ever leaving me, temporarily or otherwise but unfortunately, I made some rather foolish vows at our wedding

A frown replaced her smile, "But Vlad we discussed this, you said it was okay."

He moved away from her and ran his hand though his hair in frustration.

"I know what I said but it's not like they'll even take you back. You took my bite and you have my blood running through your veins."

Bringing up her biggest insecurity was unnecessarily cruel he knew but he didn't want her to go.

"Well I won't know that until I try, will I?" She asked drily, her own annoyance rising.

This was going all wrong.

"I'm making a mess of this; what I mean to say is, it's less than one week after our wedding."

He didn't want to be away from her, why couldn't she understand that?

Erinna sighed and put her hands on his chest. His whole body responded at the light touch of her dainty fingers, every nerve standing to attention.

"I know that but it's not like there is a choice. They need my help. I'll do my best to come back early, alright?"

No, it wasn't alright and he wasn't in any mood to be cordial so he took her wrists and dropped her hands from his chest. Her eyes widened at the rejection.

"Alexander will take you to the boarder," he told her and left.

😶😶😶😶😶

What had just happened?

Erinna had thought that Vlad and her were on the same page after he agreed to let her go to Ellingsdale but clearly that was not the case. It had been long since he had just walked out on her like that and she did not know what to make of it.

Perhaps he would come around. He had promised to take her to the boarder earlier, where her father would meet her. It would break her heart to leave Ellingsdale without giving him a proper goodbye. Their situation was so uncertain that she never knew when it would be the last time she would be seeing him.

She finished dressing in the traditional travelling dress of her people that Miya had made for her. She put on a long black cape that reached her feet. It had a hood and that cloaked her from all harsh weather elements and unwanted detection. She held it together with a

fancy brooch that brought some sparkle to the dull outfit.

With her dressing out of the way, the princess got down to her packing. Vlad had said the maids could pack for her but she only wanted a few items. She would be able to use her clothes that she had left in Ellingsdale whist she was there. Besides, her people would be astonished if they saw her wearing the rather provocative gowns that Miya made for her.

She only packed two extra outfits for the road, a few books she had found entertaining in Vlad's library and the spelled diary that Alexander had given to her. Apparently, a message would appear in his own diary every time she wrote in hers.

It was his way of maintaining contact with her since their telepathy would not be sustained over long distance. She could speak with him mentally now because he was close to Vlad and their link was a by-product of Alexander's close relationship with Vlad.

But before the coronation, her mind link with the vampires who were linked to her mate could only be weak and sketchy at best.

😑😑😑😑😑

Count Dracula sat at the top of the highest, most lonesome turret of his castle. His body was taut with tension and suppressed anger was rolling off him in waves. It could be seen in the way his shoulders were set and the way the cords in his neck were pulled.

Alexander approached with caution. Of course if he had any sense at all, he wouldn't have approached.

"You have taken up meditation?"

His question was not honored with a reply and that should have been enough warning, except Alexander had always been terrible at heeding warnings where Dracula was concerned. It was a character flaw that had seen him in the dungeons whipping himself many a time over the centuries.

He stood in silence, biting his lip as he tried to decide his next course of action. It was obvious something was off about his maker's mood but whether it was good off or bad off remained to be seen.

He wanted to probe deeper and use his empathy skills to get a clearer view of The Count's current state of emotions but the man had gotten so used to Alexander's maneuvers that he would be able to feel it if he was being mind-combed.

"Your eyes might suddenly find themselves on the ground if you do not quit staring at me like a besotted village wench," The Count warned darkly.

"Now you are just overstating your appeal. The Countess is the only one who finds the whole brooding thing attractive," Alexander smiled.

"Then stop bothering me and return to your own business."

"I will, after you tell me who it is you are itching to rip into pieces? Because I know that's the only reason you're prowling the shadows like this."

"That's where you have it wrong, Alexander. I'm a king; I don't have to 'itch' to do anything. If I want to kill someone then I'll kill someone."

"After those wedding vows you took? I highly doubt it. You couldn't even torture me," Alexander laughed, moving to sit next to his maker.

The night was beautiful. With the new moon gracing the skies and seemingly tiny stars gathered around it, the sky looked very serene; even the atmosphere felt soothing.

"Yes well, I prefer torture subjects who do not begin to scream before I even decide what to do with them."

Alexander knew it was a cover-up. Something had stopped The Count from

torturing him the night Erinna had taken the virus into her body in order to find a cure and it wasn't Alexander's inability to withstand pain.

His maker had been so angry that night that Alexander had thought by the time he was done with him, he would not be able to walk for the next century but

surprisingly, The Count had not done anything and Alexander was willing

to bet it had more to do with The Count's own failures than his own.

But then again Count Dracula developing a conscience was not a failure, hell it was an achievement of the century. Something to be celebrated.

"Fine, I'll give you this round. But why are you here so early in the evening?"

"How is my timetable your business?"

"It's not you prickly bastard but you never leave Ty alone at night. I just want to know if you have messed up so I can start evaluating how much damage control we'll need."

Ever since he had realized how much Erinna meant to his maker, her happiness had become Alexander's first priority because a happy Erinna could not leave an annoying Dracula.

There was silence for a long time and Alexander was beginning to think that was a silent answer for him to go jump over the cliff when The Count finally replied.

"She's leaving."

That was not what Alexander had expected.

"Where to?"

"Ellingsdale."

That was not good.

"She's coming back?" He decided to take the calm route.

There was no need to panic yet. Maybe she just missed her father. Although considering what an utter moron her father was, that thought was hard to imagine.

"Yes but that doesn't matter. She shouldn't be leaving."

"Well just tell her that then. I'm sure she can understand. If you reword that sentence of course."

The princess had a big heart and would do absolutely anything to make the ones around her happy but only if you were careful in your 'requests'. She did not react well to the words 'shouldn't', 'mustn't' and 'oughtn't' and his maker had a long road to go in making his suggestions and requests not come out sounding like demands.

"I told her she can leave."

Oh.

So this was not a case of Vlad asking Erinna to stay but of actually allowing her to go.

"So you brought this misery on yourself," Alexander smiled.

Something told him laughing would not be the best reaction so he kept it inside. If anyone heard how the little elf princess had the infamous vampire count wrapped around her little finger without even

trying, they wouldn't believe it. He could not believe it himself, he had never known anyone who could push Dracula's hand as successfully as Erinna did.

"When is she leaving?" He asked, trying to maintain a serious face.

"Laugh all you want Alexander, I know you're dying to," Dracula rolled his eyes.

Alexander decided to have mercy and just smile instead of the full on hands-on knees laughter that he really felt like letting loose.

"I just don't understand. You don't even want her five feet from you, why would you let her go all the way to Ellingsdale?"

Not that he wasn't in support of it. This showed some character growth in The Count. A few weeks back, he would never have considered this, let alone allowed it. His maker suffered from one of the worst cases of paranoia so Alexander knew this was a huge step for him.

But of course, he wouldn't be him if he didn't embarrass The Count for it. It was his sworn duty.

"That is none of your business," The Count said gruffly.

"Sure," Alexander laughed.

Dracula rolled his eyes.

"You're annoying. The bottom line is she's going. I want you to take her to the boarder for me."

"And you're saying this because you have lost function of your own legs?"

"No, I'm saying this because I'm your king and you'll do what I say, when I say it."

"And he's back again. I thought you were losing your touch, old friend." Alexander laughed.

"You will be losing your tongue if you don't rein it in right now."

Alexander sighed.

"Fine, I'll do it. But only because I saw the humongous tongue tearer you ordered. Why do we need that by the way? Aren't we doing the whole 'good vampire' thing now?"

"You ask too many questions. It is none of your business."

"Which translates to you're doing something you know she's not going to like."

He was pushing the line, Alexander knew but he could not let the issue go when he knew what was at stake. Vlad staying in Erinna's good graces was in the best interests of the whole vampire community if experience had taught him anything.

"I got word from our trackers," The Count finally said.

Alexander's eyes widened. He had hoped it had been a spur of the moment thing when Dracula had mentioned tracking down the remainder of the werewolves.

"Oh. Good news?"

"They managed to track down and kill all the rogue ones but the attacks scared the rest and they banded together with the current alpha. I want that group brought in alive so tongue tearers are not the only things you're going to see making their way through those castle gates. Terrence is updating his equipment," The Count said, referring to the vampire in charge of the activities of the dungeons.

"So this group is the only one left?"

"Yes, after we get them the werewolves will no longer be a problem."

Alexander wanted to argue the morality of the situation or how Erinna would absolutely be against this hunting and killing but he couldn't. Everything wrong in his maker's life stemmed from the actions of these bloodthirsty creatures. Who was he to stand in his way if he wanted retribution?

"What do you need me to do?"

"Keep your mouth shut is what. This cannot get to Erinna."

"I know."

"Alright, I'll keep you updated. I put Nicolai on their trail. They're good at covering their tracks but he'll have word for us soon."

******

Two hours after sitting, packing and repacking, Erinna began to realize Vlad was not coming back.

She was not afraid to travel alone; she could just teleport to the boarder of the territory, walk across the no man's land and have her father meet her at the boarder of Ellingsdale. She could even convince Alex to do it, the lion liked travelling. But she didn't want to leave on a bad note with Vlad.

She knew he didn't like her leaving but he could have had the decency to talk it out with her and reach a conclusion not just walk out. The situation was already hard on her without her having to deal with his bipolarity.

"Tiger?"

Her bad mood immediately left her as Alexander's face came through the door. His brown locks were poofed out, as if they had been blown by the wind. His face was a little flushed and his eyes glittering would not meet hers.

"Why do you look so guilty?" She laughed.

Alexander was awful at camouflaging his feelings.

"Wouldn't you want to know?" He grinned then asked, "Are you ready?"

"Ready for what?" Erinna frowned.

"The Count said I am to take you to the boarder."

"Oh no, he didn't," she said, shooting up from her chair and marching out of the room with Alexander at her heels.

If Vlad thought she would let him get away with being a child, a big four thousand years old child, then he could think again.

"I don't think we shou_" Alexander began but she interrupted him.

"Where is he Alexander?"

"Really, let's just go," he pleaded, looking around nervously as if Dracula could hear him.

"I said where is he?" She demanded.

The Count suddenly appeared at the end of the hallway, his arms crossed and his expression bemused.

"I'm here."

Alexander gulped whilst Erinna just glared at her mate, her hand on her waist.

"I think I'll just go guys, you know, leave you two to talk about this," Alexander said awkwardly with his hands raised in a conciliatory gesture as he took backward steps.

"There's no need for you to leave, this won't take long," The Count said, looking at his wife meaningfully.

Erinna narrowed her eyes at him then marched to where he was.

"What do you think you're doing?" She snapped.

It was his turn to narrow his eyes at her.

"Silent communication is not going to do it Vla_"

"Uhm Tiger, do you think now's the best time?" Alexander asked with a tight smile.

"Yes Countess, is now the best time?" Vlad asked in a flat tone that was reminiscent of the first days she had known him.

It chilled and confused her but then she looked around and saw the reason why her

mate was not so pleased. They had an audience and in her woman-scorned

rage she had failed to notice.

Vlad had made it clear in no uncertain terms that he would not be disrespected in front of his people and she'd just done that. All the guards that lined the wide corridors of the castle were looking at the scene in shock. She didn't blame them, they had probably never seen anyone talking to their count the way she had just done.

But it wasn't her fault, he was acting like a child and needed to be reprimanded for it. Although perhaps she could have gone about it in a better and more mature way that did not make Melissa's lessons on royal conduct seem a waste.

"I'm sorry. May I please talk to you?" She stretched every polite bone she had in her body and smiled so widely that her cheeks hurt from the false gesture.

She saw the twinkle of amusement in Vlad's eyes even though his face

remained stoic. The stupid vampire was enjoying her humiliation.

"There is nothing to talk about, Alexander will be taking you to the boarder. Take six guards with you," he said and turned around.

Erinna's jaw dropped to the floor as she watched him walk away. Was he really going to do this?

"Flies," Alexander said, popping her bottom lip.

She closed her mouth and turned around. She maintained her composure until she reached her room where she flung a pillow off the bed telekinetically. Why had he lied and said he was fine with her decision if he was not?

She would have cancelled the journey but now that he had just redressed her in front of everyone and refused to listen to her,

she was determined more than ever to make her journey a success.