Dr. Luna
The Vampires Promised Bride Chapter 61

Derek moved the clothing off of her and only left the bandages around her ribs. He looked over her blackened and bruised body and his heart wrenched in pain.

"Derek..." Lucy said quietly she gave him a soft smile. She could feel his emotions raging. He was hurting and angry for her. And he was angry at himself that it even happened. "Don't. We are past this part okay?"

Derek lifted her hand up to his lips kissing her fingers delicately. "It hurts my heart seeing this. I love you so much and this just hurts... I'll never be past someone hurting my soul..." It really was a good thing their emotions flowed together as if they were the same. Without the soul mate bond, it would have been very tough for the two of them to get through this moment. They knew how one another felt and their thoughts. They didn't feel unworthy because of this. They knew their acceptance. Still... it didn't make seeing the marks of abuse on your mate any easier. But through their mate bond, they could caress and ease each other. Their inner energy helped soothe the pain the other was feeling.

He tenderly washed her skin. As he did the tears flowed from his own eyes. Someone had hurt his precious little mate and he couldn't even do anything about it. He couldn't help feeling like a failure... it was his role to protect her and support her. Yet, a power so strong had gotten a hold of her. It was only normal to feel inadequate about his own strength. Someone else had to save his woman. Someone else has to fight the culprit.

He leaned down and gently kissed the marks on her body. Washing her skin with his own tears as well. She just quietly let him knowing he needed to let his emotions out too. He needed to take care of her in this way.

He carefully made his way washing her until he reached her breasts. Where he met with her eyes promising all the things he planned to do to her later. And how he would make sure her body would be purged by his body heat. She tried to get him to engage in that promise now but he only smiled and shook his head. There was no way he could possibly touch her like that in her condition. But he still left gentle kisses on her sensitive mounds smiling as he heard her protesting for more.

Derek sat the basin aside when he finally finished and gently eased her into the new clothes. He grabbed some pillows and helped prop her body up. Stealing soft kisses all the while continuing to dote on her. He leaned forward and kissed his mark on her neck, remembering the taste of her blood. Lucy was also reminiscing about the way he tasted to her and how much she wanted to drink from him again.

"That is definitely not a good idea." Derek chuckled knowing he wouldn't be able to stop himself then.

"Which is why it is a good idea." Lucy grinned up at him.

"You are a little minx!" He chuckled prodding her nose lightly. She heaved a pouting sighed and it felt good to have a normal interaction between them. He looked her body over and frowned slightly. "I guess I can probably carry you out there Lucy. But I'm propping you on the couch and you are staying there. Deal?" He watched as Lucy smiled up at him appreciatively.

"Thank you." Lucy reached her arms around his neck as he carefully lifted her body. She winced once at the shift but then rested comfortably in his chest. She played with his neck and traced feather-like touches over her mark on him. Enough that she could feel it arousing him. She smiled and bit her lip as he eased her onto the couch propping her up with support. "Oh, could you put that in a bag for me and bring it here?" Lucy asked and watched Derek chuckle and nod his head.

Abaddon appeared in front of Lucy and he frowned. "Should you be out here on the couch..."

"Now don't you start too." Lucy giggled as Derek walked back with the bag she requested.

"We pick our battles with Lucy. And this is what will make her happy right now." Derek eased himself in beside her, using his arm to support her into his side comfortably.

"I'll open the door then... so they will know you are ready." Abaddon walked over and as he opened the door was met with her family all standing there. They were just waiting for the okay.

"Lucy!" Aiden rushed in front of the couch and knelt in front of her. His bottom lip quivered but he quickly tucked it in. He didn't want to cry in front of her and upset her more. Though inwardly he was trembling with anger after seeing the condition his sister was in. "I've missed you."

"Missed you too." Lucy smiled and watched as her family filled the room. Jasper and Justice were next to make it to her. Then one by one each one of her family members came up to her letting her know how happy they were that she was back. Most of their eyes gave away the emotions they were hiding behind their smiles. They were very angry and all were eager for revenge.

"Lucy... I'm so sorry." Alexis said in a strangled voice. She felt guilty knowing that Lucy was covering for her. What happened to Lucy should have happened to her. And seeing her cousins face crushed her and made her love Lucy even more.

"Lex, don't. I have something for you." Lucy motioned for Derek to give Alexis the bag. She watched as Alexis opened it and looked up at her with her head to the side. "That is Aken's shirt... I thought that way you could have his scent close to you..." "Thank you so much, Lucy." Alexis's eyes watered as she clutched the bag close to her chest.

"He saved me for you, Lex. He cares just so you know. I think it is killing him to stay away from you but he wants to keep you safe. He couldn't stand your pain because of me..." Lucy watched the tears trickle from Alexis's face. "What am I going to do with him..." Alexis smiled, shaking her head slowly before moving aside so Freya could kneel in front of Lucy.

Wyatt placed his hand on Lucy's hand while Freya rested her head on Lucy's lap. Losing Lucy and then seeing her in the condition she was in took a toll on the both of them. It convinced them even more that they were doing the right thing keeping their children out of this battle with the witch. It revealed to them how easily they could lose them and there was nothing they could do. The other covens haven't been able to make an antidote for whatever potion Beryl has created. Though they had sample blood from a wolf that was killed by it recently. They still haven't been able to figure out how to stop its effects.

"I'm okay. It's okay." Lucy was the one comforting her parents instead of them comforting her. She knew they must also be feeling like failures. What happened to her was awful but it could have easily been worse. Much worse. And she decided she wouldn't let it break her. She was going to be stronger because of it.

A loud commotion broke the quiet moment between the parents and their daughter.

"Cody!" Kelsie yelled. "I can't believe you. Those weren't for you! I made you your own. Those were for Lucy." She growled as she chased Cody around the kitchen area.

"Aww Kels I didn't know... don't be mad." Cody dodged between Titus and then tried to hide behind Rhea.

"Uh oh Po panda strikes again." Titus chuckled and leaned back into his chair. This had been a regular occurrence ever since Rhea first came to his kingdom. It felt like only yesterday and yet it had been over two decades now. "Jason ate some too!" Cody immediately deflected to his twin brother.

"Sure, only because you offered them to me. How was I to know they were specially baked?" Jason smirked and leaned his head down into Jin's neck.

Kelsie jumped at Cody but he effortlessly grabbed her hand and twirled her back into his front. He leaned his head down and quietly whispered something inaudible to her making her cheeks heat up red.

"Save the foreplay for the bedroom." Brian chuckled as Raine covered her face, mortified over her parents.

"Hey whelp just wait until you find your mate." Cody winked up at the young dragon.

"Maybe I'll meet the lucky lady at this mating party coming up if I am fortunate. And if not... I think I don't mind tasting the other fruit available." Brian shrugged with a sly grin.

"Oh Dragon Fruit. I like it. Maybe I'll join in on this party..." Micah chuckled. "Just because I am not taking a mate doesn't mean I can't sample the fruit."

"Lucy got to sample your fruit. How was it Luce?" Justice asked with a smirk.

"It was awful." Lucy smiled trying not to laugh.

"Hey! That wasn't a kiss and I said no judgment." Micah pouted.

"The only reason you're still alive is because it wasn't a kiss." Jasper said with a snicker.

"Oh? Is that a challenge fangs?" Micah smirked, turning to Jasper.

"Fangs?" Jasper quirked his brow up. "You are a freaking werebear and you are calling me fangs?"

Lucy giggled and winced from the pain in her side. Not having your healing abilities was horrible.

"Hey, don't make her laugh." Derek scolded as he doted over Lucy gently brushing his fingers through her hair.

It was relaxing. It felt normal and everything felt like it was okay. Lucy was surrounded by the people she loved the most in this world. And the normalcy was exactly what she needed.

"Hey Aba, what about you? Does that all work in spirit form? You want to join us on the prowl?" Justice asked, slapping the half-demon on the back giving him a lower glance to the pants motion with his eyes.

Abaddon chuckled. "Yes. Everything still works in this form. But I think I'll hold off on prowling. I think I'd rather be the prowled than the prowler."

"Oh I like it. I want that too. I need a lady stalker." Justice said with a laugh.

-

Alexis made her way quietly out of the room and escaped to the balcony off of the room. She stared into the silence and leaped from the balcony. She silently fell to the ground lifting herself with her ice gently landing on her feet. White mist and sparkling crystals twinkled around her under the night sky. She walked to the garden that she always visited when she wanted to be alone. There she stared out in the darkness.

"I don't know if you can hear me... but thank you." She sighed. "I don't care what the risks are. I know you are trying to protect me but I just want to be with you. Are you really planning to keep avoiding me?" She bit her bottom lip staring into the darkness. "It isn't fair for you to decide this yourself. What do you really want? Do you really want me to move on and take another mate? You can't want this. Staying away from me isn't going to stop anything. It is only going to hurt us both."

She felt dumb talking into the darkness but it was the only way she could vent. She hated this. She hated he took the choices from her. She didn't want to take another mate not when she had a fated one. And now that she knew he did care about her she was infuriated. He wasn't even giving her a chance. Did he really plan to make her wait until Erebus was taken care of and then what about after that? Would he come to her then? And who knew how long it would take for the Erebus situation to be taken care of. She clicked her tongue angrily and glared into the darkness. "You aren't making this decision. No! If you won't show yourself to me then I will find you. I will drag you here and put you to your knees. You are mine. And I'm going to take what is mine. Just wait. I'm going to find you." Alexis turned and stormed away. She felt dumb always having to yell in the empty night air. She had no way of knowing if he was there to hear her or not. But it was all she could do to vent.

Little did she know in the darkness hidden Aken watched her. A smile played on his lips as he listened to her words. He watched her adorable self stomping away as she marched back to the castle.

"I'm sorry princess but you won't be able to find me. You deserve someone better than me and I hope you find him. This has to be goodbye for us. I've loved watching you grow. I've loved seeing your shining light. But your light isn't for me. The light doesn't belong in the dark.

The day can never be one with the night. Be happy Alexis... Find love... and be safe." It pained Aken to even think of another man embracing her. But it was dangerous for him to take her. And she was someone too pure for him. His darkness could never embrace her light. It was best all around to let her go. She would never know the man who loved her so much he was sacrificing himself for her. The sting of walking away hit him deep in his chest. After all these years of watching her... he loved her. He slowly fell deeper and deeper. She wasn't just a mate to him she was the woman he loved.

He was a monster who had dangerous enemies. He couldn't risk her life for his happiness. It was best for her to find another... it was best for her to have a chosen mate instead. It would be hell... but a hell he deserved. He would endure it as long as she was safe and happy. "Goodbye, my love."