The Vampire King's Wife

Advice and A Vengeful Vendetta

Marco knew he had to tell her. It made his stomach tighten painfully as he tried to chalk up the courage to start the words. But he could never find the right ones. It always felt like his tongue was made of lead, and when he went to speak, those big blue eyes looking into his begged not to be hurt. 

To not be disappointed. 

And whether she knew it or not, Marco already had done both. And he didn’t know how to fix it or make it better. He wished he could go decades or centuries not telling her. Let her fall I 

n love with the mirage, but Alianna was a good woman who deserved more. 

Besides, the guilt gnawing at his gut wouldn’t let him. 

No way in hell could he hurt her like that. He couldn’t kiss her with a mouth he was using to lie to her as a he promised forever to her. It wasn’t how he wanted to start their story off. 

Sitting in his private study with a glass of scotch, Marco sat by the fire somberly. Alianna was off shopping with his mother, and so that left him free to think. To hang on what he should say. And how he said it. 

But nothing sounded right or came off like he was making excuses for what he’d done. And he couldn’t do that. There was no excuse for what he’d done and he knew that. 

“Heavy thoughts son?” Vincent asked joining him in the armchair across from him. Pouring himself a drink, Vincent asked, “What’s troubling you? From the way Alianna has been bouncing around, and the gossip from the walls, it seems you two are glowing brighter and brighter.” 

Raising his eyebrows, Vincent prodded, “Right down the aisle from what I hear.” 

Marco breathed out, “Yes…we’ve gotten closer. I keep meaning to talk to her about…our past.” Vincent’s eyes lit up with recognition as his son gently admitted, “Hurting her was the last thing I wanted to do dad,” Vincent closed his eyes, “I know son. I know it hurt you.” 

Rolling his eyes fighting tears, Marco confessed, “It hurt more when I lost her. I couldn’t make it up to her, I couldn’t fix it. I couldn’t tell her I was sorry.” Javier appeared at his brother’s side and placed a hand on his shoulder. “Brother.” 

Marco rubbed his eyes, “I wanted to tell her everything, after…after I hurt her. I tried to talk to her, but Delgado blocked me. YEARS without her, and I finally get her back.” Javier nodded, “And your dilemma brother?” Marco took a hard swig of his drink, “I could be selfish and not tell her a thing. Live in this and pretend we didn’t know each other before.” 

And since that was the road to a happy life for his son, of course Vincent wanted that for him. “That’s not an option?” he wondered only to get the saddest look from his son. “No…because then I’d have lied to her. I’ve already been lying to her, keeping things from her.” 

Javier thought it smart to point out, “Yeah but that’s not ALL your fault. I mean you’re not the one who wiped her memory.” He knew that, but Marco also knew how Alianna thought. And his actions, in disregard to what he knew, had led to her father protecting her. 

From her memories and him. 

“He did what he is known to do, keep his family safe,” Marco said tiredly in defense of Delgado. As much as he wanted to hate and be mad at the older vampire, Marco knew the older man had meant well. And had done what he had done for the sake of Alianna’s future. 

“It was my fault, I hurt her. And he protected her from that trauma, protected her from me.” Vincent’s eyes turned to slits as his mouth bunched to the side, “You were a child Marco,” Meeting his son’s eyes, Vincent seriously said, “If I had known something like that could happen so early, I would have kept you a lot closer. But I didn’t, and that will forever haunt me son.” 

Javier squeezed his older brother’s shoulder as their father told them both, “But I am proud of both of you. The young men you two have become despite my mistakes will forever leave me baffled.” Smiling, Marco felt his father’s love as he told him, “Tell her, don’t tell her, I support you either way. But just know I love you, and that you have made me so proud to be your father.” 

Nodding, Marco whispered thickly, “Thanks dad.” Vincent nodded at him with a beaming smile.  Javier patted his older brother’s shoulder, “And if there’s any consolation, I think she’s crazy about you. I don’t think she’d let you twos past ruin what you two have now.” Marco hoped not. 

But as he hoped, a woman walked into a room. 

The lab was cold and clean. 

Heels hitting the shiny floors in an echoing announcement, Arabella looked over at the older demon in front of her, “Did you do as I ask?” The man nodded, “I did Cherie…but I should warn you. A procedure like this does come at a cost, and not just in a financial way.” 

Arabella looked at Dr. Harshaw annoyed at being lectured from him. She’d gotten enough of that from her brother when she told him what she planned to do. “I can handle whatever your cost will be.” Dr. Harshaw, a hundred and the fifty-year-old demon with children of his own looked at Arabella afraid. 

“Not my cost deary, but if you’re not careful, you can get hurt doing this.” 

Smirking as she kicked off her heels, the nurses standing silently began to undress her and put her in the unattractive paper gown. “Once I do this, I will never be harmed again. Marco will protect me.” 

Dr. Harshaw couldn’t sway the young woman to think of another way to do this. And since he’d been paid, he couldn’t refuse her. So after prepping her, and confirming a few things, Dr. Harshaw put on his mask and held up a syringe, “It’s time.” 

Sitting back completely confident, Arabella felt the slight jab of pain. But she willed herself to believe that in the end, all of her pain will be worth it when she watched Marco crumble to her every desire.