The last of the sun's rays were saying their farewell when Erinna returned to Castello Dracula.

The castle was just waking up, the vampires rising to face the evening and the humans who had been guarding them, leaving to find their own sleep. Erinna knew the moment she arrived that Vlad was not back yet. His presence had become so distinct to her that she could just feel it when he was not there.

'Vlad?' She reached out to him mentally.

'Good evening, angel. Did you sleep well?'

Erinna's guilt surfaced but she stamped it down. Vlad would understand why she had to deceive him when she told him about everything that she had found out from her trip to Kingdom of Rock. Everything would work out.

'I'm fine. When are you coming home?'

'I think you're trying to say, 'Vlad, I miss you'.'

His absence hit her again, feeling her with longing. He had been away from one night and one day but it felt like forever.

'Of course I do. Don't you miss me too?'

She took off her dress and tried to gather her hair into her hands so that she could take a bath. Without Vlad there to help her dry it, she was going to risk it getting wet. It was so long now that walking around with it wet could only be a nuisance.

'Wouldn't I be rushing back if I did?'

'Vlad!'

Her exclamation drew out a low chuckle from him.

'I miss you, angel. No need to make my brain bleed.'

She was not going to apologize for that. He had brought it on himself.

'So? When are you coming home?'

'We're almost done. I'll be there in three hours or so.'

That was longer than she would have liked. She wanted to see him now, to share the news and let him know that there was hope after all.

Erinna faced the mirror when she was done pining her hair up. The image that faced her was very different from the one she had gotten used to seeing. Her face was fuller and her eyes though no longer bright with the innocence of youth, now shone with the vibrance of a person who knew what it was like to love and be loved. There were new depths to them, from secrets shared and losses encountered. There was also hope in there and it overshadowed all the pain that struggled to show through.

Her skin was still pale, glistening from within. It created a striking contrast for her emerald eyes and dark eyebrows.

Erinna put her hands on the part of her that had changed the most. Her stomach was big enough for it to finally sink in that there was a living being growing in there. Very soon the baby would be there and the thought of holding him or her filled with both fear and anticipation. She had never thought Vlad and her would ever have a baby but they had been given this gift. She was going everything in her power to always make sure the baby knew how special it was.

An idea coming to her mind, Erinna slid her right hand to artfully cover breasts and the other to cover the apex of her thighs then send the mental image to Vlad. It was followed by a string of profanity from him. The bond cried with desire and longing.

'Three hours?' She bit her lip to withhold her laughter from his violent reaction.

'Two hours, angel. Matter of fact, make it one hour.'

Poor Lierian and her parents. Vlad was going to be driving them hard.

'I can't stay like this for one hour. Maybe next time.' She teased him in a regretful tone.

'No, don't move. I'm coming now.'

'What about the barriers? Did you finish?' She laughed at his impatience. She could just picture him running his hand through his hair.

'Who cares about them? We'll finish tomorrow night.'

He really thought she was going to let him leave again once he returned, Erinna thought in amusement. It was not happening.

'Finish and then come back. I will wait.'

'Promise?'

Erinna laughed. 'Yes, Vlad. I will not shower without you. But one hour, remember.'

'Yes, one hour, angel. Now remove the hands.'

'You can remove them yourself when you get here.'

She withdrew from his mind in the midst of another string of curses. He was really too easy to tease. But a promise was a promise. Erinna put on another dress and went down for breakfast so that she could eat whilst she waited for him. A good thing too since her stomach was making its discontent known.

"Yes, yes. I will feed you," she said absent mindedly to the baby in Elvish, massaging her stomach.

When she stepped out of the bedroom, both Alex and Xander were camped outside, glaring at her. Erinna slapped her forehead as she realized the flaw in her afternoon escapade. If there was anyone who worried more than Vlad if she disappeared inexplicably, it was Alex.

"I'm sorry, Alex. I should have said where I was going."

He stepped forward and sniffed her, scrunching his face in disgust.

"You have absolutely no right to judge me, you haven't bathed in weeks."

"Should have eaten you, za dragons. Fool princess," Xander said and sauntered away.

"Thank you for worrying, Xander." She smiled at his feigned nonchalance.

She made her way down to the kitchen with Alex in tow. Terrence was sitting at the table alone with his breakfast in front of him. He sighed in what looked to be relief when he saw her. Was he just happy to see her or he also knew that she had not been there and was relieved to know nothing had happened to her? Things could go really wrong if someone told Vlad that she had been away before she did.

"You made it. I have a report for you. The Count entrusted me to come up with a new security system for the Rehabilitation Villages. He will take me tomorrow with him when he goes there so that I can tell the guardians how to set things up."

It was Erinna's turn to sigh in relief. So he didn't know about her trip to Kingdom of Rock. Funny how guilt made you suspicious of every reaction.

Erinna smiled, going for a normal response that did not give away her anxiety. If she told Vlad herself, she could control his reaction but if someone beat her to it...

"Good evening to you too, Terrence."

He grimaced at that. "I was rude again, wasn't I?"

She had come to accept that there were few things that Terrence showed much enthusiasm. Torture and punishment of prisoners were two of those things. Unluckily for her, her opinion seemed to mean a lot to him and he was always eager to share his ideas with her.

"It's alright. I would love to listen to what you have in mind but let me get something to eat first, okay?"

"The cook is here. She said she's just going to pick fresh apples and will be back in time to make a plate for you."

Thank heavens for that because Leila would frown at the food that Erinna was really craving.

"Did she bake any cookies today?"

"Yes but she said not to tell you. She put them in there." Terrence pointed to a cupboard helpfully.

At least there would never be any doubt of his loyalties. A wave of affection for him encompassed her but she refrained from touching him because Terrence would not appreciate it and Vlad would like it even less no matter how innocent the action.

Unfortunately for Erinna, Leila arrived before she could take the cookies.

"Good morning, Countess. I am very proud of you for waiting for proper breakfast. I thought for sure I would find you munching on cookies by now." Leila laughed as she came in with a basket full of apples.

Erinna and Terrence looked at each other, both biting their lips to contain their laughter. At least Terrence was dependable, if it had been Alexander; she would have been sold out already.

They ate breakfast together in comfortable silence. She traded her eggs with Terrence for the cookies he would give her after breakfast. It was their unspoken agreement since she could not stand eggs anymore and Terrence was the one person who might hate ginger more than Vlad.

"Now just have some fruits and I will give you the cookies." Leila said with that tone that could guilt trip anyone into doing what she said.

Erinna reached for an apple. Her second favorite thing ever since she had become pregnant. Apples with cinnamon. Apples with juice. Apples with peanut butter. Apples with cheese. Apples with Nutmeg. Apples with bread. Apples with jam. Apples with ginger. Apples grated into mashed bananas. Fried apples, boiled apples, roasted apples...it was just endless.

"Something other than apples. You have those every day."

It had been worth a try. She settled for a banana and true to her word, Leila gave them two cookies each when they were done. Terrence who was no longer eating took out his journal and began telling Erinna of the plans that he had. Leila was too busy washing plans that she never noticed each time Terrence passed a cookie to Erinna from his plate under the table.

"I don't understand how you can tolerate their taste." Terrence wrinkled his nose.

He had tried to keep his disgust throughout their entire briefing but must have reached his breaking point. Erinna couldn't help her soft chuckle because it reminded her of Vlad too much. He loathed ginger, which was really inconvenient because her pregnancy had come with cravings for ginger cookies and apples and he absolutely refused to kiss her until she washed her mouth.

Erinna felt a tug on her dress. She look down to see Alex who was trying to clamber onto her lap, his eyes on the one and a half cookies that she had left in her plate. Erinna laughed, she couldn't blame him for wanting a taste. They smelt really good.

"Okay, you can have this one."

She picked the half cookie, earning a resentful look from Alex.

"I would give you more but these are the last ones." She sighed woefully.

But he continued to look at her with have-pity-on-me-you-merciless-elf eyes so Erinna put down the smaller cookie and gave him the bigger one.

She was convinced Vlad was working together with Leila to limit her ginger cookies intake because whenever she mentioned wanting more than two, Leila made an excuse to change the subject or suddenly found a place she had to be.

"I thought you didn't eat anything that was not blood or meat?" She laughed at Alex as he scampered off her lap to go and demolish the cookie in the corner.

Just then, Alexander entered the kitchen. He looked more relaxed and happy than she had seen him in a while and that was before she told him how her trip to Kingdom of Rock had gone. Erinna wondered if it was Ingrid who had the good effect on him or if it was because Vlad was not there to harass him.

"My favorite elf," he declared kissing her cheek and swiping her last cookie.

Oh no, he didn't.

"Alexander, give it back."

She tried to grab his arm but he jumped away with his annoying vampire speed and made history of her cookie.

"No. You already ate the whole batch from yesterday. Do you want the Draculian heir to come out looking like the gingerbread man?"

"It was the last one; I was looking forward to eating it."

She swiped at her eyes when her vision blurred, surprised to find them wet.

"Are you crying? Over half a cookie?" Alexander laughed.

Erinna glared at him though it probably looked ridiculous, what with the flushed face and watery eyes. There were times when she loved being pregnant, then there were times she didn't. This was part of the latter.

"I'm not. I'm going to tell Vlad that you were stealing my food," she threatened him but didn't really mean it. Even if she did it in a joking manner, Vlad probably wouldn't take it the same way and Alexander would end up without a fang or something.

"I think he's with me on this one, Ty," Alexander laughed, "You'll thank me later."

"You are both very strange," Terrence said after watching their display.

His expression said he could not fathom why anyone would want to put ginger in their mouth.

Footsteps came from the hallway and one of the guards from outside came to announce River. When she came in, Tristan's mother looked good. Her cheeks were flushed from walking and her hair sparkling with some ointment. She also had a sweet fragrant scent on her that was neither overpowering nor nauseating. It was just the right amount of teasing.

Erinna realized she was not the only one who noticed. Terrence was looking at her in a way that left Erinna with no need to read his thoughts. There was some little color in his pale cheeks and an animalistic glint was dancing in his eyes that had already bled over. He looked ready to drool all over the table or jump on the human woman. Erinna kicked him under the table when she saw a hint of fang. He coughed and looked away.

"Are you okay, Terrence?" Alexander asked with amusement.

Erinna shot him a warning glance then turned and smiled at River.

"Hello, River, it's very kind of you to come visit us."

River was still looking at Terrence with wariness but she forced herself to relax and walk further into the kitchen. She however avoided going anywhere near Terrence's side and stayed close to Erinna.

"I just harvested some of my grapes. I thought you would want some," she extended a basket to Erinna.

"Thank you, at least someone is not trying to deprive me of food. River this is Terrence, Terrence this is River," she introduced them.

The two shared awkward greetings but Terrence kept staring at River when she went to greet Alexander.

"Leila has gone home unfortunately; she's avoiding me so that I won't guilt her into making me more cookies. But I can pour you a cup of tea," Erinna offered and began to stand up.

It was a bit of a struggle considering that her stomach was now the size of half a melon.

"Oh no, sit down please. I'm not staying for long. I was looking for Lincoln, the builder before I came in here."

"Builder? Are you extending your house?" Erinna asked.

"No; we have a leaking roof. Stan tried to fix it but I'm afraid he made even a bigger mess out of it," her friend sighed.

"Only you would trust that little miscreant to do a man's job," Alexander snorted.

Erinna threw a grape at him.

"How did you make do in the rain the other day?" Erinna asked.

The full rain season was not upon Transylvania yet since theirs started later than Ellingsdale but there had been a few early showers.

"The kitchen is not really affected, that's where we slept."

"Oh River, you should have said something. You know you're always welcome here and Vlad would not mind finding you someone to help fix the house."

"I can do it," Terrence volunteered in an eager voice that was not characteristic of him.

They all turned to look at him.

"You can?" Erinna asked.

"It's a roof, not the theory of existence. I can figure it out," he shrugged.

River looked worried and Alexander of course was not civilized enough to keep his thoughts to himself.

"Are you sure it's the roof you want to tackle, buddy?" He laughed.

Although she trusted Terrence to some degree, Erinna did not want to put River in danger. Terrence's reaction to her had not been encouraging. Telling herself it was for the greater good, she dipped into his thoughts for further investigation. Surprisingly, there was nothing concerning there unless one counted the fact that Terrence had a very rife imagination when it came to picturing a woman he had just met in varying degrees of nakedness.

Erinna left his mind quickly, having already seen too much. Still stunned, her mouth opened and closed with nothing coming out. Terrence must have seen her predicament and guessed it because he looked at her with eyes that pleaded for her not to say anything.

Erinna cleared her throat, "Uhm well, that's settled then. Terrence you can go with River."

"There's no need, really. I'm sure I'll find Jose soon," River tried to back out.

"When will that be? Terrence is not busy right now and will appreciate having something to do."

Refusing after that would have been rude so River smiled and left with Terrence.

"What was that?" Alexander asked as soon as they were out of the door.

"I think Terrence likes River," Erinna grinned.

"Even a blind man can see that but since when did you become a match maker, Lady Dracula?"

"I was helping them. Isn't it wonderful everyone is falling in love?" She asked dreamily.

First Chase and Lierian now River and Terrence. If everything went well, who knew? It might even work out for Alexander and Ingrid too.

"I'm pretty sure love had nothing to do with his reaction. You're too romantic for your own good."

"Oh shut up. Everyone deserves to be happy. Speaking of happy, you are in a very good mood. Things are still going well with Ingrid?"

"She hasn't killed me yet, I would say we are good." He paused to give her a smirk then went back to rummaging the cupboards for something to eat.

"That's not a very reassuring image."

When he had gotten his food, Alexander took her to his room under the precipice of showing her something when they both knew he was eager to hear how the journey had gone. It was not something they could discuss with everyone listening in however, at least not until they had updated Vlad on the new developments.

🤨🤨🤨🤨🤨🤨🤨

If there was one thing that Vlad had come to rely on in his four millennia on earth, it was his instincts. They had never failed him or let him down so if they were saying something was up, then something was up.

The first clue he got was the silent foyer when he teleported to his castle with three guardians in tow.

"Never thought I would say this, but I actually missed this place." Lierian said with a contented sigh as if it was not her fault that they had been delayed and forced to sleep away from home in the first place.

Vlad ignored her and teleported to the chambers, his priority to find his wife. Rather than the tantalizing image of his naked wife waiting for him that he had been led to believe he would see when he got home, he was met with the annoying sight of his nemesis lounging on his pillow.

Other than the aggravating sound of Xander tapping his tail on the wall to get a reaction out of Vlad, the room was silent, with no sign of Erinna. Even her scent was old, as if she had left the room a long time ago.

His growing unease sharpened his senses. It was extremely unlike Erinna to not be there waiting for him when he came back. She was always either in the foyer or their bedroom. What made it more concerning was the fact that she had seemed eager to have him back. What was so exciting that she had forgotten about their arrangement?

Vlad focused on their bond to determine her location.

Alexander's chambers.

It annoyed him that she had not been able to come meet him because she was distracted by his sad excuse of a right hand man but at least he could be assured she was safe if she was with him. He debated on whether to take a shower or go to see her first but the need to have his wife in his arms again won out.

Talking telepathically was not enough, neither was salivating over the image she had sent him for more than sixty-four times. Thoughts could not replicate her feminine scent or the feeling of her soft breasts as they pressed against his chest.