In War, There Is Love

Maddening

Arms crossed on his chest and back leaning against the wall, Demetrius studied his young soldiers training. Some sparing, some swords-and-knives-fighting. They were all trying to give their best and show themselves when their King was watching. And just for a moment, Demetrius was nine again. The young Crown Prince, still trying to prove himself to his father despite the cruel looks, the beatings, the tortures necessary to make him tougher.

Mother! he had called for help, but perhaps that was the moment he had realized she would never come to his aid. Not only because she couldn’t defy her husband, but because she really didn’t want to.

She hated him just as much as his father did.

Maybe more.

Lilith and Anthony had been three at that time. Still too young to realize what was really happening around them, still safe. But for how long?

It was then that Demetrius had sworn to himself he would protect them. From their parents, from the world.

And he had. He had walked through fire for them, he had killed for them, and then he had taken his throne, his crown, his clan. Everything.

For one thing his father had been right; mercy was weakness. Caring was weakness. And yet his thoughts couldn’t stop but wander to the images of midnight blue eyes, long silver hair, faerie wings.

No, not only wandering. Obsessing. To the point he had started to see nothing but her, feel nothing but her. If she was weakness, then help the gods he wanted to be weak for the rest of his life.

For her. Just for her.

“She’s not coming, big brother,” Anthony said, humor in his voice, not realizing the depth of Demetrius’ thoughts.

“She will.”

Demetrius had not lied when he had told his wife she was just like him. Manipulative, prideful. Competetive. She would never say no to a challenge.

She would never say no to him, even if it was out of pride. Although Demetrius knew pride wasn’t the only factor in the equation.

...And there she was. Long hair in a high ponytail, training pants and boots and a tight leather waistcoat. Demetrius felt his heart speed up, the crave for blood increasing. Someone would think after living for many centuries he could control his cravings, but when it came to his wife, there was nothing he could control.

Demetrius realized he was looking at her like she was the last grip he had on life itself, and yet she was barely within reach. She looked—

“She’s your wife, brother. Stop drooling.”

This time Demetrius’s glare was murderous. “Not drooling.”

Anthony laughed either way.

“Now what is this funny, gentlemen?” Hands on her hips, Maya stopped in front of them, keeping her eyes on Anthony instead of her husband.

For someone as brave and fearless as she was, his wife was a coward when it came to Demetrius.

“I was just telling Demetrius—”

“Nonsense, like always.” The message in Demetrius’ eyes was clear. One more word and I’ll finally get rid of you, little brother.

The smile and the sudden silence told Demetrius his brother understood a little too well.

“I don’t know if you two have noticed, but everyone has stopped to look at you,” Anthony whispered, amused.

“When have they not?” Maya grinned, and right at that moment Demetrius realized he would kill for that grin to be directed at him. Just once. But he would unfold the meaning of that information later. “I was promised a duel, I remember.”

“You were promised training, wife,” Demetrius corrected, and finally his wife chose to look at him.

“Boring, as I have said.” Anthony chuckled, then hid it with a cough. “But if you insist on the names, husband, training it is. Or have you changed your mind? Are you afraid your faerie wife will know a trick or two? Do I have to go look for another partner?”

He shook his head slowly, then, to her surprise, lifted his hand and caressed her jawline with the back of his fingers, barely touching and yet witnessing how she shivered and looked up to him with something that resembled a lot to the thrum he felt in his blood when he touched her.

Another cough from Anthony brought them to themselves. “As I said, people are watching.”

Maya walked back to the middle of the training field, blue gaze on him, challenging, seducing. Demetrius couldn’t help but give her a lazy smirk.

“As if she isn’t the perfect match to your madness,” Anthony mostly whispered it, and if Demetrius wouldn’t have his inhuman abilities to hear he wouldn’t have caught it.

But he ignored it. Because it was easier than addressing it.

“No weapons?” Maya questioned, sounding surprised. Vampires were now gathered around them, witnessing what was going to happen between the King and Queen, who hated each other’s guts, probably wondering if both of them would be making it alive.

“Don’t need them, darling. But you’re free to get whatever you want.” He signed to the soldiers that had different weapons in their hands.

Just as he had predicted, his wife shook her head. “No use.” Playing with her pride was Demetrius’ favorite pastime.

“Excellent.” He grinned, but it slowly vanished to nothing as he let all the craving for blood, for her, gather into his eyes, turning them red, fangs elongating and making an appearance.

There was just a second when he saw a trace of fear in her pretty eyes, but just like that it was gone. Demetrius was glad he hadn’t finished this before starting. She would be more offended that way.

But he still couldn’t get that look out of his head, even when she let her powers start to grow out of her body, her huge silver wings spreading and her eyes turning a bright yellow.

Demetrius knew how he looked right now. Like the monster he truly was. But he hadn’t known she feared him.

Was it him she really feared?

The urge to know what had happened to her only grew bigger.

“Come on, husband,” she urged, “give it your best shot.”

If she wanted to play it this way... Demetrius was in front of her before she realized what had happened.

His fingers were around her throat, squeezing but not hard enough to choke her. Gasps of surprise came from around them, but his eyes were on her, on the way she battled between being furious and being turned on.

“This easily, darling,” he whispered in her ear so no one could hear. “This easily I could cut your breath short, or sink my fangs on your pretty neck to taste all of your sweet, sweet blood.”

“Do it then,” she coughed, her eyes turning to their usual angry blue. “Why don’t you?” Her voice rose.

“Don’t provoke me.”

“It’s my favorite thing to do.”

Demetrius squeezed harder, but when he thought he had her, something came out of nowhere, pushing him away, causing him to almost lose balance.

It was her wing. Goddamn faerie and her pretty, dangerous wings.

What surprised him even more was the crowd cheering for Maya. They actually... liked her. When was the last time vampires, especially vampires from the Tremere Clan, didn’t actually want to kill a faerie?

He knew the answer to that: never.

Which meant Maya had somehow earned their respect. And the pride he felt right now as he watched her watch him with a lazy grin was immaculate.

She would just never know.

Once more, taking him by surprise, she pulled one of the dagger strapped on her thigh and threw it at him. Demetrius caught when right when the point was half an inch away from his face, using his mind-control powers instead of his hand, and Maya let out a disappointed, “tsk.”

“I might not be good with my magic, but I’m good with my daggers.” She shrugged.

Without lifting a finger, but only with his mind, Demetrius threw the dagger right back at her, but at the last second she disappeared, making herself invisible.

Perks of being a light faerie, he presumed.

“Playing dirty now, aren’t we?” he shouted, not seeing her, but actually feeling her presence. Demetrius couldn’t pinpoint why. She was quiet, not even breathing, but he still could feel her all around him. Was it the mate bond playing with his mind?

He wanted to get rid of this feeling, chocking the life out of it before it even bloomed, however, at the same time, he felt he wanted to lean on it, grab it. Have it all to himself.

It was maddening.

Still, he threw his head back and laughed, a laugh that sounded maniacal to his own ears. It didn’t matter if she made herself invisible, if she tried to hide from him. He would always find her. There was no place in this world where his wife could hide herself from him. It gave him some sick satisfaction to realize that.

Suddenly he felt something sharp against his throat, but before she could cut him open, he held her small wrist tight. Immediately she became visible again behind his back, struggling but still refusing to let go of the knife.

“Did you think just because I cannot read your mind, I wouldn’t be able to feel your presence?”

She hissed. Silence had fallen all around them and Demetrius could feel rather than see the amused looks on their faces. “I could still cut your throat open,” Maya threatened.

“Could you now?” he mused. “Do you think it would get you rid of me, darling?”

“No,” she admitted after a moment of silence.

With only one movement on her wrist, Demetrius had her on the ground beneath himself, knees on her legs while holding both her wrists on one hand. She struggled, but it was in vain.

Once more he whispered in her ear, “You did so good, my darling wife.”

Demetrius was sure she hadn’t realized herself, but her breath quickened, her eyes half-dropped.

He barely forced himself to let go of her. If only they didn’t have an audience right now...

To hell with whatever reason they had to hate each other. When was the last time Demetrius had done the proper thing, anyway?

He offered her his hand so she could stand up, and surprisingly she took it. But just when he thought they were in some sort of silent truce, she dug her nails into his wrist so hard, she drew blood. “This isn’t over, husband,” she said before opening her wings and flying away.

“Of course it isn’t,” he said with a wicked grin.