With one disaster averted, debts punished and a new alliance formed, Vlad teleported to his chambers where he could hopefully repair the most important relationship in his life.

He materialized in their bathroom and used the time he was pouring water into the sink to wash his hands to inform Alexander of the new arrangement with the sorcerers and give him instructions.

Vlad sighed as he began washing Michael’s blood off his hands. It had been a while since he had heard someone’s screams as he tortured them, let alone the pathetic wails of a child taken far beyond his threshold of pain.

He felt dirty inside in a way that could not be washed away by water. Michael’s tear filled eyes, white face and choked gargles returned to him, playing before his eyes in agonizing detail.

How could Armando have stood there and watched as his son suffered for his crimes? What kind of man would one have to be to be so cruel to one’s own blood? Vlad liked to believe he would have behaved better in the same situation and been honorable but would he?

“Vlad?”

Vlad trembled. He didn’t want Erinna to see him like this. He was past the point of maintaining his composure and knew whatever he was feeling would be written clear as day on his face. Not to mention the bond would reveal it to her if she probed. But the worst thing was that given a chance, he would do what he had done again.

“Go back to sleep, angel.”

“Are you okay?” The concern in her voice nearly broke him. Especially since he knew she had had to put aside their argument in order to check up on him. He did not feel like he deserved that concern right now.

“I’m fine. I just- give me some time. I’ll come to you.”

He scrubbed viciously at his hands but it seemed the crimson color of Michael’s blood was increasing rather than decreasing.

“You tortured his son.” She stated without seeing his hands.

Vlad sighed, his hands gripping and tightening on the edge of the ceramic wash basin.

“I thought we agreed not to read each other’s mind without consent.” He said irritably.

“We also agreed on no secrets. But that’s something neither of us is doing well on.”

“You began that, not me.” He could not keep his tone anything but caustic when the words left his lips, tainted with resentment and betrayal.

There was silence. “You’re right. I did. I was wrong for not telling you. But I also shouldn’t have to keep things from you, Vlad.”

“Just go, Erinna. Please.” He pleaded, suddenly feeling very tired.

He didn’t want to hear more accusations or have her to see him in his moment of failure like this. Using Michael to get to Armando had been low, even for him.

His wife did not return to the bedroom and Vlad waited for more recriminations but none came. Instead, she stepped forward. Vlad tensed when he felt her right behind him, knowing soon enough that she would see the blood, the evidence of his transgressions.

But instead of being disgusted when she saw the red water, Erinna emptied the basin, put fresh water and began washing his hands for him.

Vlad’s jaw dropped and his mouth opened and closed a couple of times but no words came out. When she was done cleaning his hands, she dried them with a towel then kissed them.

“Thank you for what you did for me and the baby. I know it wasn't easy for you. You left that life...and I just dragged you tight back into it.”

Vlad was really thrown off. He had expected his wife to come flying at him with accusations and judgment because of what he had had to do. He had to reevaluate and lower down the walls he had already erected.

"I didn't want to get the child involved. When I gave him the ultimate, I never thought he would choose power over his son...that any parent would stand there and let their child..."

He trailed off, too choked up by anger and revulsion. He wanted to go back and wring the bastard's neck. Armando's nonchalance towards his son's wellbeing should not have come as a surprise since Vlad had gotten first hand dose of it with his own father but damnit, he had expected other fathers to be better.

"Not everyone who becomes parents deserves to be." His wife said quietly, her large green eyes looking into his in a way that said she understood why this incident had made him so angry. She brought her hand up and rested it on his chest in a gesture of comfort.

"I would never do that. If ever the baby or you are in danger, I would give everything up."

Erinna took his face in her hands and kissed him, her gentle lips like dewy petals. Something uncoiled in Vlad's chest, spreading through his body like warm honey.

"I know you would. You have always protected me. Even tonight when it cost you so much. You are going to be a good father."

Her endorsement meant everything in him, put at ease his daily worries of whether he would be able to defy his genetics and do right by his child.

"And husband? Am I a good husband to you, angel?"

"I wouldn't ask for anyone else."

Her eyes were so earnest, looking at him like he was her whole world, the only thing that mattered to her. That look was why Vlad had been willing to risk everything, even before knowing her.

"I'm glad to hear that. Because I wouldn't let anyone have you either way. I'd kill you first."

Erinna smacked his chest lightly. "You're ruining it."

"You should know the score before you let any blonde haired pansy with girly hair turn your head."

"No blondes for me. I'm spoken for."

Her eyes darkened, becoming smoky as she looked at his with desire that mirrored his. Vlad's body came to attention at once.

He leaned down and kissed her. Her sweet sigh as she parted her lips for him made the entire night worth it. His hand tangled in her hair, tilting her head for maximum exploration by his lips. His exhaustion molted away as her passion rejuvenated him. Her soft lips made his loins sing as she kissed him like she was starved for him.

“Missed you like this.” He groaned against her lips.

Her mouth was warm and her taste decadent as ever. It was the only heaven Vlad would know so he put his all into exploring and worshipping it. As her taste filled him, it pushed out the dirtiness he had felt from touching Michael. His wife’s hands travelled up his stomach to his chest and he growled, his hunger reaching ravenous levels.

Erinna was the one to break away their kiss. She traced her thumb on his bottom lip. Her eyes were swimming with guilt that tainted the desire in them.

“I was reckless. Once my mind focuses on something, it’s hard for me to think of the consequences and because of that, I almost put the baby in danger. I didn’t think of the power I was giving Trevante when I gave him my blood. I should have left when he asked for it.”

Vlad shook his head. “You had no chance from the moment that you entered his lair. Refusing him could have angered him and there is no telling how he would have retaliated.”

Erinna shivered.

“It was foolish to go alone. I was just…”

She trailed off and Vlad had to use their bond to fill in her sentence. He felt her worry, her fear for him. Her anxiety for their future caught Vlad by surprise. It ran deeper and was much more than he had thought.

It made him curse himself for not having been more in tune with his mate’s feelings. He had long since made peace with where his life would end up but that was not the case with his young, sweet wife. He should have known this would continue to eat her up despite all their talks about it.

Vlad bit his lip as he tried to decide how to deal with the situation. Half of him wanted to coddle her and tell her everything would work out but sometimes the bitter hard truth was kinder. It was better if he prepared rather than soothe her with false promises of a future he could not guarantee his presence in.

“You are worried and uncertain about our future and that’s my fault.”

He should have seen how she had not been placated by his reassurances on the night her control had slipped. Erinna was more intelligent than that and had seen through his justifications.

“I don’t want to wait to see what will happen, Vlad, to see if I will kill you or not. I can’t.” Erinna wiped a tear that fell down her flushed cheek but more fell.

Vlad closed his eyes once. He hated to see her tears.

“Can I show you something?” He asked, wiping away her tears with both thumbs.

Erinna nodded.

Vlad had his near death experience to at least thank for opening his eyes and letting him see he had been going about this the wrong way. Even though he had downplayed its impact on his to Erinna, it had allowed Vlad to actually think about what would happen to Erinna should the curse be fulfilled, should he suddenly not be there.

At first it had just been an idea, a possibility but now he pictured all the consequences that would result from his death and it was not a pretty picture.

He knew Erinna would be devastated but she was strong, stronger than anyone he knew and as long as she cast away these silly ideas of finding a way to break the curse and prepared herself for the inevitable, she would make it. She would find a way to move on and have a life without him.

He hoped with the presence of their child in her life, she would eventually be able to forgive herself because despite everything, Vlad would never blame her for killing him. He had made his choices and blaming Erinna for something he had brought on his own head would be juvenile. He had done the crime and would hence do the time.

Of all things, he wished he could leave her someone to help her carry on.

Alexander being the person he trusted the most aside from Erinna would have been his first choice but upon his death, Alexander would probably be among the first to turn on Erinna. His bond with Vlad as his protégé was his blessing and his curse; it would not allow him to see past Erinna taking his life.

The fact that they had had a friendship before and he loved Erinna would not matter and would be overshadowed by the fulfillment of the curse. Vlad wished it wouldn't be that way but it was the way it was. Alexander wouldn't be able to control it and neither would the other vampires. Who knew what they would do to his wife to avenge his life?

It was nothing Vlad wanted to think about so he decided to at least take some measures. To make sure she would be protected in the event that he was no longer there to do it himself.

Surprise shone in Erinna’s eyes when they arrived at the boat where he had teleported them to.

“Why are we here?”

“It’s easier if I show you.”

He took her head and led her to the room where his paintings where. When he had closed the door, he moved his easel aside and pulled the carpet up. Underneath it was a trap door and Vlad opened it to reveal a secret compartment that housed the trunk he had taken from his treasuries in the North earlier that day.

“What’s that?” Erinna asked.

He opened the trunk and heard his wife’s soft gasp. Silver and gold glinted from within the trunk; that of weapons as well as treasure. It was by no means all of his wealth but it would ensure a quick getaway and last her three life times. There was everything, from coins to jewelry and gems. There were also some weapons and preserved food, a few necessities that would come in handy.

“I wanted you to know where this was, in case I’m no longer here,” he said.

“You mean in case I kill you,” Erinna said in a frigid tone.

But no matter her icy voice, her feelings bounced to him through the bond and the hurt he felt there cut him deep. Vlad took a deep breath and continued.

“You will sail across the seas and settle in the free lands. No one will bother you and this money will see to your welfare and that of the baby. I put some weapons but you’re good with your powers now so you probably won’t need them.”

He hardly finished speaking before a clawed hand slapped him hard across his face. Vlad’s instinctive need to fight back had him wanting to react to the challenge but he quelled it, containing his anger. He had more or less expected this kind of reaction.

“I'm trying to find a way to save you and you're busy here what? Preparing for your death? Do you think this is amusing Vlad?”

This time there were not tears in her eyes or ice, just straight anger.

Vlad sighed and continued.

“There is more treasure and I'll employ someone, a neutral party I can trust who will get it to you when the dust has settled down-”

“Will you stop talking and listen to me?” She yelled, her face a purple shade he had never seen on her before. The vein on her temples was throbbing hard and her pulse beating so fast that it made him pause.

“Why?” She asked when he nodded. “Why would you do this to me? To us? You’re giving up?”

Vlad took her hands in his and drew her to him.

“I don’t know what the future holds and neither do you. I want to hope it will be good but we need to be prepared. Won’t you allow me the peace of mind of knowing that you and the baby will be fine?”

“The baby and I will be fine because you’ll be there!”

He hated the tears in her eyes, hated the knowledge that he had put them there. But it had been necessary. His only hope was that despite how angry he had made her, she would remember this moment and everything he had told her when the time came.

“I can’t promise that, you know that.”

“But I can promise you that. I’ll find a way.”

“We talked about this; I don’t want you chasing some elusive remedy for my curse.” He ran his fingers through his hair in frustration.

“You don’t get to make that decision.”

“It’s my life and I’m telling you I don’t want you to look for a way. That’s my decision. Now did you at least hear what I brought you here for?”

Erinna looked stunned for a moment but then she took her hands from his and moved away, wiping her tears.

“Nothing is going to happen to you so whatever you brought me here for, you wasted your time. You will be here and you will see this baby grow.”

“Erinna-”

“I said nothing is happening to you! It can't. I need you Vlad. I can't lose you- I won't. Please-” She broke, her anger dissolving into sobs and hiccups that gutted Vlad.

“Come here, angel.”

He extended his hand but she back away from him, whirled around and teleported away. Vlad wanted to go after her but he didn’t trust himself to not knock some sense into her or force his will on her in a manner that he would regret later.

He spent the next hour in the ocean, battling against the waves and other predators of the deep in the icy waters until the worst of his rage and aggression arising from frustration was gone. It was almost dusk when he finally returned to the castle.

Alexander was on him the moment he stepped into the castle.

“Erinna said you told her you don’t want her to break your curse. She’s devastated.”

Who had made the interfering, self-righteous fool the police of Vlad’s marriage?

“She shouldn’t have told you that.”

“Why? Because I’m just a servant? I don’t deserve to know?”

“Because you’ll only encourage her,” Vlad said, trudging up the stairs to his bedroom.

“And what’s wrong with that? Why don’t you want to live?”

Vlad stopped and dealt Alexander with a glare that would have made lesser men scramble for shelter.

“That’s what you think? That after I finally found my mate I don’t want to live the rest of eternity with her?” Vlad asked harshly.

“You certainly aren’t acting like it.”

“Because there’s no hope, Alexander! No one can break this curse for me. I brought it on myself and now I have to pay it.”

“Where there’s a will, there’s always a way.”

“Stop, just stop it. You, Miya, Erinna…you all frustrate me. You want to make me believe there is a way out of this when there is none. I won’t allow you to make me hope. I refuse.”

He had made peace with his future a long time ago. The only thing Erinna and Alexander could achieve by trying to convince him there was a way was make the whole process painful. If he even dared to hope for a little minute, then he would never recover when that hope was taken away.

“So we’re just supposed to let you die?”

“No, Alexander. We’ll do it your way since you have a solution. Right?” Vlad asked, allowing his anger to seep through and transform his eyes.

Alexander looked aside, looking hurt.

“You’d mock me for caring for your welfare?”

The only thing Alexander could help him with was by honoring his promise to see to Erinna’s safety should the worst come to pass.

“Go, Alexander, just go,” Vlad said, feeling exhausted of trying to make everyone see things from him point of view. “I’ve already had this discussion with Erinna; I will not go over it with you as well.”

It was his future; could he not decide how he wanted to spend what could be his last days?

“How can you be so sure it can’t be broken? Erinna is your intended mate. Do you think the universe would give her to you just to rip her away again?”

The optimistic fool.

“The universe is quite the vindictive bastard, believe me.”

“There is no seal on this earth that cannot be unsealed; no curse that cannot be broken.”

Vlad did not want to even know the motivational garbage the man was reading. It had to be the source of all these wishful statements.

“You think you’ll break not one but two curses? Because even if you do manage to save me from the fate Diana laid for me, will you also be there to save me from insanity?”

Alexander drew his head back in confusion.

“What are you talking about?”

“She didn’t tell you about that I see. The last people who disregarded the Curse of the Union, her ancestor and one of ours lived three thousand years ago. Damon and Illindra- did she tell you about them?”

Alexander shook his head.

“Well, I will. Damon lost his mind. He became increasingly aggressive with his mate until he killed her. He ate from her flesh like she was a roasted pig. Do you think that’s a fate that I want for Erinna?”

He would rather Diana’s curse take over and have her kill him before the Curse of the Union ever manifested. It made him sick to the stomach that a day could come when he lost his mind so much that he would lay a hand on Erinna. Sure, they did not know if the curse would affect them the same way as Illindra and Damian but the possibility was daunting enough.

Alexander’s mouth opened and closed like a fish.

“You’d never hurt her,” he said in the end.

“Wouldn’t I? Are you willing to swear your life on that?”

His prodigy looked aside.

“Who said it was the Curse of the Union? We do get rabid vampires here and then who can’t control their urges and if the Damian you mean is the one I’m thinking then it’s not surprising. He was never that stable to begin with. Come on, he was Ingrid’s child for crying out loud,” Alexander threw up his hands.

“What you’re doing now is called wishful thinking.”

“No, it’s called hope.”

“Hope is for fools.”

“Then I’ll be a fool. At least it’ll save your life.”

⚰⚰⚰⚰⚰⚰

“I wish you were here. You were always able to handle them more than me.”

Alexander laughed self-deprecatingly then chugged down the ale that would do nothing towards making him drunk but sure enough felt satisfying.