Bonds of Blood [Lords of the Expanse] (Siren Publishing Classic) (14 page)

“There is nothing to forgive, Xandra,” he told her honestly as he rested his forehead to hers. “If I was not of a like mind, do you honestly believe that you could have done anything to get me to act as I just have?” he asked her as her eyes slowly rose to meet his. “When we are alone, Xandra, you do not ever have to suppress who you are. I know it is difficult for you, coming to a new world with different laws, rules, and ways of doing things. You are handling it all with amazing grace, and I know you will continue to. But I can bend laws on occasion as well as traditions to make you more comfortable.”

“Thank you, Andries. That means a great deal to me,” she told him simply and nodded. “I only do what I do because you are worth it, Andries. You are far more a blessing than my father could have ever imagined, and I’m sure if he knew just how much I cared for you already that he would likely come and shoot you for not being the monster that he seems to think your people are.” Her father was an ass. There were no two ways about it.

He could be a monster should the need be there and, should he ever meet her father, he’d ensure that the man knew that his judgment had been nowhere near close. “I do not know if ‘blessing’ is a word I wish to hear brandished about in regards to myself,” he commented dryly. “If you would not mind keeping that one to yourself, Xandra.” His men would likely die of shock.

“I will try.” She grinned cheekily up at him and nodded. “But you really are, Andries. You are charming, smart, but more than that.” She didn’t know how he would take this but said, “You keep me safe. You keep me happy, and together.” There was a small pause. “Together I think you and I will have a very, very good life.”

Another word that would have his crew running for cover, “charming.” Where did this female come up with these terms for him? Shaking his head slightly, he kissed her gently before he pulled from her. “We should do the tour and then feed you.” Maybe it was a low blood sugar or, more than likely, a lack of blood making her come up with these odd claims.

“Are you sure that’s wise?” The last time that she ate outside of their home with him, the first time she shared a meal with him, someone had tried to poison her. “I know I shouldn’t question your men, but you never found who tried to kill me on our wedding night,” she whispered, not in accusation, but reminder.

“You will not be harmed, Xandra,” he told her quietly as he finished buttoning his pants. Moving to her as he tugged the jacket back into place, he touched her cheek. “I will not allow anyone to harm you, Xandra. And I have two that could be the ones responsible under watch. Before we leave, I will know for sure who tried to cause you harm, I promise.”

Pressing her gown back down, she nodded and smiled. “I know you won’t let anyone hurt me, Andries.” Once she felt she was acceptable once more, she held her hands out. “All right, do I look all right, Andries? Am I back to normal and you can’t tell what we just did?” She didn’t realize that she carried the scent of their lovemaking heavily on her body.

His lips twitched slightly, but he nodded. “Perfectly acceptable, my lady,” he said, taking her hand and tucking it through his arm. “Come,” he told her and guided her out the door and through the halls. The few guards that were about for the night shift all twitched their noses as they passed but, thanks to their severe training, said not a word or made any other gesture that said they knew what had happened not that long ago. Over the next hour, he showed her through the many levels of the large vessel and made sure she knew where all the common areas, the mess hall, the exercise room, the entertainment area, as well as their rooms were.

She paused before a plaque on the wall with a map of the ship on it and frowned. Her fingers reached out and touched it as she shook her head. “This is wrong. Why is this backward?” she asked, pointing to two rooms. “These two rooms. They aren’t how I just saw with my eyes, why?” The armory and brig were switched.

Looking to the plaque, Andries lifted a brow. “We altered them when I first took command of the vessel. We needed a larger armory,” he explained. Seeing the next question, he spoke before she could voice it. “We didn’t bother changing the plaques because we all know where both are. But invaders will end up confused and disoriented should they manage to get on board, and we’ll be able to take them during their confusion.”

“It makes sense, and that’s actually a very good idea as well.” She grinned at him and nodded. “I would say that was actually a very strategic need and providence as well.” Leaning back against him, she closed her eyes and smiled. “Will you show me the quarters we will share while on the ship and then we can leave? Please?”

“Of course,” he said and guided her toward the lift. Taking it up several levels, he led her down the corridor and pressed his hand to the scanner at the door. “Before we leave, I’ll input your palm print into the system so that you don’t have to worry about being locked out,” he told her as he let her step into the room. Except for the commanding officers’ quarters, all other quarters were very barren and austere. But the commanding officers’ quarters were very lush and luxurious.

“This is very nice, Andries. I didn’t think that something on a spaceship would be so beautiful.” Even her father’s personal ship didn’t have rooms so nice. It was as if the furnishings from their bedroom and sitting room at their home had been transported to the ship. “I can see why traveling isn’t such a hardship for you, darling.”

“I rarely spend time in here when we’re traveling except to sleep,” he told her truthfully. “Although, with you on board I may end up in here more,” he commented, moving around. He’d honestly never noticed the luxuries. They were just expected for the command crew, something to show appreciation for all their hard work and long hours.

“I certainly hope that you will, because I don’t think your command staff would appreciate me being on the bridge with you as often as I would want to be. I need more than just when we sleep, Andries. I know I’m asking for a lot, and I apologize for that, but I really do.” She hoped he would understand, because she needed him. She needed him a lot more than he could possibly know.

“We’ll make it work, Xandra. Every relationship requires work. This is no different,” he said quietly to her as he moved closer. “It will take time to find our balance, but eventually we’ll figure it out. Now, we should go and find you food to eat,” he told her as he touched her back lightly. “Are you ready, my lady, or is there somewhere else you wish to see before we go?”

“No, going sounds good. Food sounds even better.” Her stomach growled in agreement as she spoke. “As you can hear, my stomach is in agreement on this.” Looking up at him, she smiled. She had thought they had made plans to go and go out to dinner. “Were we still going to go out for dinner, or would you rather we go home?”

Shaking his head, he stroked her back lightly. “We’re still going out,” he told her quietly. “I have a restaurant in mind, so if you are up for it, we will enjoy a night out. This way you can spend some time seeing our world.” The restaurant he had in mind had a good view of a lot of the city.

“I would like that. I want to go out. I want to get to know our world so that I have more of a sense of myself, if you don’t mind?” she asked with a grin, “and I even promise I won’t attack you over dessert.” It seemed she couldn’t keep her hands to herself, so that was something else she would need to work at, but if anyone could, she could.

“Might be a good idea, as it would get us arrested,” he told her, leading her back out of the large ship and then through the shipyards to their shuttle craft. Settling in, he told the computer where they were heading and then sat back with her as the computer engaged the engines and took off. “Just remember, in public you have to be much more restrained than when we are alone, Xandra. We need to ensure a more restrained public image for the peoples who remember or have heard of harder times and the disease that nearly ravaged our world

“I will keep that in mind.” she told him and leaned in close to him as they began the drive. “I like our alone time very much, Andries. However, I very much would like to also try to go out in public more with you as well. I want to make you proud.” Because he had given her every dream that she ever had. He gave her hope for their future, but more than that, he gave her a feeling of intense love.

“We shall be out more in public, Xandra. We will have parties and events to attend.” All of which he normally avoided like the proverbial plague. “You will have a great many invitations to look through and figure out which ones you wish to attend on a weekly basis.”

“Thank you, Andries. I should be able to decide which ones will be the best for us, with Aleina’s help of course.” Because Xan was still finding her way in this new life, still learning the ropes and what was the proper way to behave and react on so many things.

“We won’t concern ourselves with any for a time. Take the month we will be gone to immerse yourself in everything of this world, Xandra,” he advised softly. “There are lots of reading materials as well as visual aids for behavior per your station. Because of this station you hold, you have a greater amount of leniency than anyone of a station below yours. But there is a lot to know. I realize this, and I will help where I can.”

It was a good thing for the both of them that she learned quickly and anything she ever read stayed with her for all time. “Thank you. The month will be a very nice buffer to use. It is like an ancient Earth custom.” She smiled when he gave her that questioning look. “When a man and woman were married, they took time right after the wedding to just be together, to get to know each other’s role in the other person’s life. It was a ‘vacation’ of sorts called a honeymoon.”

“Seems a wise practice and good custom,” Andries said softly as he nodded his head slightly. What she said made sense about the “honeymoon.” “It would save a lot of confusion and frustration in many marriages, I’m sure,” he commented as he shifted in his seat to look out the view port to determine where they were.

“So we will call this our honeymoon.” She smiled at the old-fashioned word and how it felt on her tongue. “Our time to get to know each other’s roles in our lives.” Even if he would be working, he would still be in close proximity, and she could use the time to learn about the culture she married into. She watched him looking to see where they were and asked, “Are we there yet?”

“Another few minutes,” he told her, sitting back. Looking to her, he gently picked up one of her hands and laid it palm to palm on his. She had very small hands, just as the rest of her was quite petite, which was really very odd considering they fit together as though made just for each other. Frowning slightly, he noted small scars. No one would ever likely notice them but a Vampire with their superior sight, but it disturbed him to see even one mark on her soft skin.

Her heart was warmed even more toward him as he made the effort and took the time to touch her first. She really enjoyed it when he didn’t pull from her touch, but when he touched her, her universe took a shuddering breath of happiness. “All right, suddenly I’m in no hurry at all.”

Looking to her, he understood her meaning, the corner of his lips turning up in the barest hint of humor. “We will have more time later, my lady.” He paused as the shuttle slowed and moved into a berth. “For now though, we have arrived,” he said, standing and helping her to her feet. Tucking her hand through his arm, he led her from the shuttle and to the restaurant mere steps from where they had berthed. Entering, he had the attention of every employee in moments. It was rare to see him there, and when he did come, it was never with a companion.

As the hostess came up to him, Andries gave a short nod, and they were immediately led to a quiet corner in the back with a view of the city on one side and columns and curtains to give them privacy. Seating Xandra first, Andries took the seat that would ensure her safety by putting himself between her and all that would harm her. Ordering quietly in his language, Andries waited for the hostess to leave and drop the curtains that gave them absolute privacy with their unique sound-dampening fibers. Glancing to her, he wasn’t surprised to see her peering out the windows. “It is very unique at night, isn’t it?” he said softly near her ear.

She was taking in everything. The night was beautiful on his home world. It was glorious, the way that the lights danced and twinkled like stars moving across a backdrop of black silk. “Yes, your home world is beautiful, Andries,” she said with a smile and corrected herself easily. “Our home world is beautiful. I think that I prefer the night over the day, Andries,” she admitted and looked back at him. “I love our home world and I very much look forward to each and every discovery that we make together.”

Pausing as the waiter came with water and drinks for them both, Andries waited for him to leave. Lifting both her glasses, he inhaled slowly and took a small taste for those poisons that could only be found through the Vampire’s tongue. Satisfied that both were fine, he set them before her and tapped the smaller glass. “This is liquor, so be gentle with it,” he suggested. “Why do you like the night in preference to the day, Xandra?”

“It feels like the city sleeps in the day. However, at night”—she gestured toward the window and ignored the liquor—“it’s like the very world comes alive when the sun sets. I know that likely isn’t the case, but that is how it feels.”

“It actually is true, as most of my people are still night dwellers. It’s our natural time to be about. We can be up in the day as long as we’re older and are careful of the exposure. Thankfully, our sun is a bit farther out from us, thus the more moderate temperatures day and night and year round. It also is less likely to send us up in flames,” he commented softly to her.

She grinned and shook her head. “You prefer the night as well, don’t you?” She moved slightly to curve up closer to him and sighed as she did so. “This is nice.” Her head rested on his shoulder as she spoke. “To be here with you, just us and in such a comfortable place as well, it’s nice.”