Lady Dhampir
Chapter 173

Although her kiss was full of passion, fear grew in her stomach as her husband's cold lips didn't respond as usual. Milena insisted, trying to pursue that kiss as usual, but after a while, it felt pointless. Moreover, she was too sad and weak to keep this going. She slowly pulled away, but to her surprise, Rayan kept her in his embrace. "I'm so sorry," she muttered. "You're mad, aren't you...?"

He sighed, and gently pushed a strand of her raven hair behind her ear.

"I'm mad at a lot of people, but not my wife."

"No, you ought to be, Rayan. You know I didn't want to do it, but I..."

"Milena, stop. Enough. I know you're probably going to blame yourself a whole lot for this, and I am not going to add to that. I have a lot more things I should be upset about, but not you. First, you know I'm too crazy about you to ever be really mad at you. It's my curse, but it's true. Second, this is our job. We're a married couple, but we are also both in very difficult positions at the head of this Kingdom. If I had thought you were wrong, trust me, I would have made this stupid Council a lot more difficult for everyone. All I did was give Ellias a bit of a challenge, and piss him off, because he deserved a humility lesson. And last..."

He let out a long sigh.

"This is the only valid outcome, Milena. If anything, you managed to put it the best way you could, and you did the one thing I can request of you, which is supporting me. Even if I am going to war, I'll know my wife is here, doing her best to keep my childish and whimsical brother from taking the wrong selfish decisions we both know he's capable of. This war wasn't going to disappear, and there's no magical solution to it, alright? We're both doing the best we can."

Milena shook her head. Although each word he had said was true, it didn't make the truth any easier to swallow. It was just painful and sad. All of this... if they hadn't been born as nobles, with their positions, they would have never met. They would have never suffered the fate of meeting, growing to love each other and finally having to part... It simply felt too cruel.

Seeing how she kept her head low, and those tears of hers weren't stopping, Rayan gently cupped her face in his hands, and had her look at him. Milena couldn't understand how he had a gentle smile on. He was about to go to war, on the frontlines, to face Giants and perhaps not come back. Why was she the one crying!

"My Queen, stop crying, please."

"I'm no Queen..."

"You're my Queen, and you'll always be; Moreover, you are a Grand Princess now. That's something."

Milena chuckled bitterly. If it had been in different circumstances, she would have been so happy with that title. Now, it just felt like a weak consolation for everything else that was being sacrificed. She just couldn't rejoice over that victory.

Still, Rayan's calm words finally helped her clear her mind. She shouldn't be weeping. She'd have all the time she wanted to cry once he was gone... Another thought that hurt too much. Still, she f****d herself to take several deep breaths and calm down, hold back those tears and swallow that knot in her throat.

"...You have to come back," she finally muttered.

"I will."

"I'm serious, Rayan. I'll die if you don't come back."

He chuckled, and gently kissed her forehead.

"Let's not do that. I want my princess right where I left her when I come back. Perhaps with a child or two."

"A child or two?" She repeated, confused. "Are you expecting me to have children with someone else?"

She thought he'd understand the joke, but instead, Rayan frowned. Ah, his jealousy...

"No," he said. "But I do hope we have a baby or two on the way when I leave. I'm a twin, remember? You never know, we could be unexpectedly blessed. Oh, I'd love to have a little princess... but a boy would be good too. This way he could look after his mom... Well, either would be good. As long as they look like you."

Milena blushed a bit. How could he be thinking about a possible pregnancy right then... Or was he just mentioning this to cheer her up? Yet, that sneaky smile wasn't going away from his face, and Milena did feel better just by staring at him. His embrace was gentle too, and unlike the passion she had tried earlier, that gentleness might have been what she actually needed. He gently caressed her cheek.

"I don't want to think you'll cry when I'm gone," he said, a bit more seriously this time. "I want to imagine you as strong as usual, kicking butts and doing the greatness you're capable of here. This is our Kingdom. I do not care for my brother to carry that stupid crown, but I know you and our allies will do great even if I'm not here. You can do that, right?"

As he softly pinched her chin, Milena smiled and nodded.

"I promise," she said. "But still, you have to come back. Even if it takes, months, years... Don't make me a widow. I don't care about taking all the work here, raising a child alone or kicking Ellias's b**t, but please, I need to know you'll come back." "Well, if it can make you feel better, I really don't have any intention to die," he chuckled. "How would I dare, when I have the best wife waiting for me at home?"

Milena gave him a suspicious but playful look, and came to kiss his lips, a very soft kiss. He smiled, and gently kissed her back, caressing her raven hair.

His hands on her hair and skin gave delicious chills to Milena. Once again, their kiss had a different meaning this time. It intensified, and after a while, there was nothing left in the room but the sounds of their kissing. He gently pushed and guided her to the bed, and Milena finally laid down underneath him. She didn't have much energy for s*x, after what had happened, but they still both ended up n***d somehow, in their quest for more caressing, more touch of their partner's skin, and kisses left in f*******n places. Rayan caressed her gently, restlessly, soothing her whole body with his cold hands. This felt more intimate and delicate than s*x. She had been so used to the raging passion between them, the stolen moments and reckless time and place, that this felt like a new door opened. She quite liked it too. Nothing but caresses, kisses, and yet it felt like a window in heaven itself. In the quietness of their bedroom, hugging in their silk sheets, for a while, it felt as if they were completely alone. The only beings left in this world... Milena was hot and cold. Her body was softly burning, but her husband's touch helped her cool down, in an amazing sensation of relief each time. If she had a fever, she wouldn't have been able to tell. She just wanted more of his hands on her body, more of his lips. For a long while, they stayed together, under the bed sheets and in the darkness of their bedroom, snuggling and cuddling together. This was perhaps the first time they had been so gentle and sweet together, acting like a young couple shyly discovering love. Milena liked it more than she would have thought. Her nausea was long gone, replaced by a sweet feeling of drowsiness.

No one came to disturb them, and she felt grateful someone was either guarding their door, or people were just that understanding. That Council had been so dreadful, mentally and physically. The couple needed some time alone, far from the rest of the world. Strangely, Milena was finally able to relax a bit, in her husband's arms, breathing slowly and dozing off at times. She wouldn't allow herself to fall into a deep slumber, her body was in that strange state in between. Rayan probably slept a little too, but each time she was awake, he was gently caressing her. His fingertips never left her skin, slowly going back and forth on each curve of her body. As if he knew she needed to feel him there. Milena was terrified at the thought she'd soon have to spend many nights alone in that vast bed...

"...I'm sorry," he suddenly whispered.

"Sorry for what?" Milena asked, suddenly worried.

"For leaving you here alone. It feels... like I'm giving you the hardest part of the work."

"Are you kidding? You're not going on a simple hunting party..."

"No. On a battlefield, everything comes to quick decisions, strategy and brute force. Things are going to be much harder for you here. I feel like I'm leaving you in the middle of a nest of snakes, while I'll be going to some faraway place and be of no help to you... Taking a lot of our allies, too."

"I don't care," she sighed. "I'll do my best, and... I'm not left completely empty handed either. I still have the power of House De Crescent and my father. My ladies-in-waiting are still here, and I may not be the most popular around, but I do have some friends... I would have done fine even without you or Rachael."

He chuckled, and rolled his body a bit closer to leave a kiss on her forehead, with a chuckle.

"I should be slightly offended by that, I think, but I'll forgive you this time. Just... let me know if you need anything from me, Milena. I'm serious. Anything. I'll give you all you want before I leave. I can't bear the thought of leaving you here, but... if I know you'll have all the weapons you need, I'll at least leave relieved."

"Anything...?" She repeated, a smile on her lips.

"Anything. I still have a few days. I can destroy another Noble House if you want. Maybe not a Duchy, but... You can still use the Society of Vampires too. De Carseus may be dead, but there are more, and they'll show up when you need help."

"... Did he really have to stab me?" Sighed Milena.

"...I guess he knew you'd be better being a victim rather than a possible culprit."

Milena sighed. She had figured this much, but she would have rather left there unharmed than with a hole in her stomach... She slowly nodded.

"I don't need anything. Just... promise me you'll come back; That's all I need, Rayan. Come back, alive. Don't you dare die without me. That I'll never forgive you for. I... don't care about anything else."

The vampire prince hugged her a bit tighter, and leaned to give her a new kiss.

"I promise. I won't let myself get killed... After all, I want to see the adorable faces of our children."

"Mh... You're not giving up on that, are you?"

"Well, we still have a few days before I leave. I'll happily dedicate as much time as I can working on that. Just the thought that my princess might carry our child, and I get to meet him or her when I get back... That's one thing that will definitely make me come back." Milena chuckled, but he gently grabbed her hand, and held it tight.

"Milena... Whatever is said to you, you have to remember this. I will never, ever betray you. That's the one promise I made you when you agreed to become my wife, and I swear I'll keep that promise until the day I die. So.... Don't believe the lies they'll tell you. Don't believe anything, until you see absolute, irrefutable... No. Don't believe it unless it's me. No one but me, Milena. No one else."

She nodded, and leaned closer onto his shoulder.

"Alright..."

Milena wasn't sure what she said next. She fell asleep, a deeper slumber this time. Perhaps she had been needing that conversation with him. Maybe she was completely exhausted, and had been pushing it away just to spend more time with her husband... Rayan was gone when she woke up later, in the middle of the night. He was going to be busy for a while with all the military meetings, last preparations before he actually left... Milena rolled in the bed, burying her face in the pillow. She wanted to cry again, but she couldn't. She had cried enough. She ought to be strong for those last few days. Most battles were already over within the Royal Castle, but if she showed weaknesses already, their enemies would show her no mercy once she was really alone. On the bed, something moved, and a bundle of fur walked up to her. Blanche put her black, wet nose against Milena's cheek, and she lifted her hand to caress her. The little pokes against her cheek quickly changed into little licks. "Thank you, Blanche..." Chuckled Milena, pushing away the raspy tongue. "I'll get up."

The princess sighed, and got up slowly. She took her time, as no one would be expecting her to be up that late. Eventually, Olivia appeared to help her get ready, but no word was exchanged between them. Milena needed some quiet time to think and calm down. She went to her office, and resumed work as if it was a normal day. Strangely, she seemed to need this kind of normal day, just to forget all of the craziness. Milena only heard word of the Society of Vampire people being released on condition to rally the army right away. Although she did receive a long letter from Alexis De Carseus, an apology from the House mentioning they'd do anything to make up for what Alban had done... Milena smiled only after reading that letter. How smart, they were using that fake killing attempt as a way to legitimize the House De Carseus's allegiance to her... Milena nodded, and resumed work. For a while, she only focused on work, and Olivia and Blanche let no one near. Only once midnight passed, did her ladies-in-waiting finally show up. They had a long meeting, discussing the repercussions of that Council. No one congratulated Milena for her new title, all of those women knew better, and that any celebration would have to wait until after the war.

Once that meeting was done, to Milena's relief, none of them stayed behind. Instead, they all left with much to do, but wishing her some good rest. That thought alone made Milena sigh. She ought to look really tired for them to ask her to take some rest... "Is my wife available?"

Her husband suddenly walked in, the only one who could be allowed in unannounced.

"Rayan!"

He smiled, and walked up to her, hugging her tightly without warning. Milena smiled, and hugged him back.

"Aren't you going to bed?" She asked, worried. "You ought to be tired as well."

"My Princess forgets, I'm never going to bed alone. Just for those last few days, I'm only going to sleep with you. I know I had said you should keep your own schedule, but may I be selfish for a little while? I want to go to bed holding you in my arms, and wake up with you... at the sunset."

Milena blushed and smiled. For the first time that day, she finally felt some relief in her heart. That was right. She ought to spend as much time as she could with him. If there was a time to be selfish, just once, it ought to be now. Now, while they still had some time left. If it had to be bittersweet, she'd rather allow herself to taste the sweetness for once...

"Alright," she said. "Although, I'm a bit disappointed."

"Disappointed?" Frowned Rayan. "What is it? Is it moving your schedule a lot? Do I have to kill someone?"

"Nothing that drastic... but you did promise we'd have to try hard at producing an heir or two. Should you mention something else than sleeping?"

A snarky smile appeared on his lips.

"Oh... Princess De Crescent, you're making me blush... But well. I guess I have to start."

"What?"

"Now, I mean... How sturdy is that desk?"

"Rayan!"