The Holly and the Ivy - 6. Overexertion

The Holly and the Ivy

Chapter Six

As soon as the McGills and their entourage had been escorted out by Landyn and Ronan, Diarmad turned from the door, barely able to hold on to the edge of his desk. “Noël,” he panted, suddenly deathly pale. I quickly took him by his arm, and led him back to his chair, where he collapsed. He was shivering violently by then, beads of sweat running down his face. “Please, Noël…,” he lifted his trembling hand, trying to reach me, but didn’t have the strength.

He needs me to touch him.

I took his hand in mine, but it didn’t help. He was getting weaker as I watched. His head fell to the side and drool was running out of his mouth. I yelled, “Landyn! Ronan! Quick, something is wrong with Diarmad!” I was frantic, but they didn’t hear me. I panicked and did the first thing that came to mind. Clambering on the chair, I straddled his lap, and folded his twitching body in my arms, my forehead pressed firmly against his. That seemed to work. Slowly he became calmer, his labored breathing eased, and after a while he slipped his hands under my shirt, wrapped his arms around my waist, with his palms flat on my bare skin. His face nuzzled in my neck, he inhaled deeply, murmuring, “You smell so good…Noël.” Then I felt this weird sensation, as if something sharp was scraping against my throat.

“No! Stop!” Landyn’s sharp command pulled me out of my stupor. I jerked back from Diarmad, for the first time noticing how dizzy I felt. “Sire, you have to stop, you’re depleting him of his energy!”

I felt Diarmad’s arms around my waist tighten for a moment, pulling me against his body with surprising strength, before he finally released me. Almost unconscious by then, I barely felt someone pulling me off Diarmad's lap, before I must have totally blacked out.

I opened my eyes and found Simon sitting beside me, reading a book. My body felt heavy. I couldn’t move, even if I’d wanted to, which I didn’t. I was exhausted. Simon looked up when he noticed I was awake. His amazing green eyes seemed familiar somehow, but my head ached when I tried to remember.

He touched my forehead with the cool back of his hand. “How are you feeling Noël? Still dizzy? Any headache?”

Trying to understand why Simon of all people was sitting with me, the previous events came rushing back, and I blurted the first question that came into my mind. “How’s Diarmad?”

He scoffed. “He’s well, thanks to you. He almost died of overexertion though, due to his stupid stunt with the McGills. The cocky bastard almost killed you afterwards by depleting your energy too fast and even almost tried to dr-”

“Simon!” Landyn’s voice interrupted whatever he was going to say.

“What? Don’t you think he should be told about certain things?” Simon snapped back, clearly not impressed by Landyn's tone.

“That might be so, but it’s not our place to tell him; it’s the King’s, as you should very well know, especially after the little talk we had with him earlier.” He glared at his mate, then he turned to me. “Noël, I’m sorry about this. How do you feel?”

I had to think about that. My headache was gone, but… “I’m starving, and I feel pretty exhausted, as if I had studied all night and forgotten to eat or something like that…”

“Well, that is to be expected. Could you come with us into the kitchen, or should I bring you something and you eat here?”

“Nah, I’ll come with you,” and as an afterthought, “Where’s Diarmad?”

“He’s in the living room, but it is too dangerous for you to be near him in his weakened condition. We need to be sure he is in control of himself first, which could take a while. Your energy has to be fully restored also, before we can even think about letting you near him again.”

“But I have questions…”

“I’m sure you have." He ran his fingers through his hair repeatedly. "Look, after you’ve eaten something we’ll see how you feel. I can tell you’re recovering fast when you’re already awake this soon after the…incident. I know he wants to see you as well, he’s…dismayed about what happened.” He sighed. “Well come on, first food, then we’ll decide what to do next.”

The kitchen was open-plan, and the shutters to the living room were open. I could see Diarmad sitting on the couch, rifling through papers. When he heard us he looked up, apprehension on his face. I couldn’t help but smile, seeing the puppy-eyed look on the face of the man, who hours ago had been the embodiment of a fierce leader, demanding unequivocal obedience from his subjects.

After wolfing down two sandwiches, I felt decidedly better and without checking back on Landyn, I took my glass of water and went over to Diarmad. Settling myself on the opposite couch, I watched him expectantly.

Eventually he put his papers aside, lifted his head, and looked back at me. “I guess I should explain some more things to you, huh?”

“That would be a good start.” I folded my arms in front of my chest. “You almost died. Why did you have to show your recovered strength like that, at the risk of your life?”

“I am sorry Noël.” Diarmad paused until our eyes met, before continuing. “It was necessary. Sometimes a demonstration of strength is needed. In my position, I cannot always play it safe. I have to take risks, even if it is my life I am endangering, or…yours." He closed his eyes for a moment. “I should start at the beginning, before we came to this planet.”

Finally we were getting somewhere!

“Before I came here, I lived on Tracct. Due—”

I lifted my hands. “Wait! Tracct? Like Mars or Kepler 186f? A planet?”

“My home planet, yes. I was born on Tracct.”

He took a sip of water. I was furious. How could he casually tell me his home planet was Tracct, as if it were some mundane fact? I was still reeling from the idea aliens existed. A large part of me was still in denial. And one of them was my mate...their fucking King! Damn it! Not that he seemed to notice my inner rant. He calmly carried on with his explanations.

“Due to certain wrong decisions made in the past, our population had grown too large. We were in danger of being found out by the local inhabitants. The King sent out scout ships to search for another suitable place for us to live, as we have done before. They found Earth. After our science teams confirmed humans were compatible with us, a plan of action had been quickly implemented. Of course, only unmated clan members were allowed to settle on the new planet.”

“Why’s that?”

“Only unmated Seraei are able to adapt their form and blend in with the native population of a new planet. Those mated to native Tracctanians had to stay behind." His voice trailed off and he stared at a spot in front of him. Was he remembering people he had to leave behind?

“How do you look…unaltered?”

“Nobody knows anymore. The Seraei are old. We have forgotten.”

“So in some hundred years Seraei will spread out in search of another planet?”

“No! I will make sure that never happens.”

“How do you travel between worlds?”

“We use spaceships. There are also hidden portals we can use. It’s complicated. I don’t think it helps to explain the situation here on Earth, so let’s not go there today.”

I grudgingly agreed. “Okay. But—”

“Later. Back to Tracct. Three powerful, influential clans are living on my home world: the Rattrays, which is the clan of the King of Tracct, Gearalt, the McGills and mine, the Guerin clan. To get rid of his greatest opponent, King Gearalt decided the leader of the McGill clan was to be king on Earth. Luckily for him he was still without a mate, otherwise that wouldn’t have been possible. It was a clever move, only it didn’t work. The majority of the settlers, and their newly elected Council, chose my uncle to be their King.”

“Ouch! They didn’t take it well, huh?”

“No. From then on, the McGills tried with all available means, and when I say ‘all’ I mean ‘all’, to undermine my uncle and take over. Everything culminated in his assassination, conveniently before he could find his third mate.”

“Your uncle was killed by the McGills?”

“The murderer has never been found.”

“But it had to be them!”

“Of course, but without proof, nothing could be done. Almost nothing.” A faint smile appeared on his face. “The Council chose me to be my uncle’s successor, not Keelan."

“I bet someone was majorly pissed.”

“Indeed.” The smile vanished. “Members of my clan have always searched longer for their mates than other Seraei. The time it has taken me to complete the mating cycle though, it’s highly unusual. Even for us. It became more and more likely I could die, or become unfit to rule, before you would come of age. A reason for the McGills to plan a coup.”

“No shit! If you know all this, why don’t you throw them out?” My earlier anger at him was gone. He was in danger. Everything was forgotten. For the moment.

“I cannot do this. They still have supporters; the whole clan per se is large and not all of them are like Keelan. The chance it would end in a civil war is too great a risk.”

“Fuck this!”

“It is called diplomacy, Noël. We were able to agree on a treaty eventually. As soon as I am deteriorating, I am to step down, and the Council will elect a new king. Probably Keelan McGill. However, as it is a known fact the McGills have been trying to get this position since the beginning of our time here, certain rules and prohibitions had been implemented into the treaty. Among them the strict ban on using any offensive powers in my or your presence other than to defend me.” He snorted. “That will be the day when a McGill defends me or mine. Since Moira is a physician, she was the logical choice to monitor my health; see if I was still able to do my duty. One of the conditions of the treaty was that she had to be always by my side. We knew she was spying on us; watching me to see if I broke the law by making contact with you before it was time.”

“Are you sure she didn’t give you something? Some pills to make you worse?”

He waved his hand dismissively. “I think not. She never actively tried to worsen my condition."

I had my doubts about that, but kept quiet. She wasn't a threat anymore, no need to antagonize him over her. I could see it was difficult enough for him to speak about his weakness, revealing his vulnerability to me.

If he noticed my doubts, he didn't let on. “A direct attempt on my life would have been too obvious and difficult to hide anyway. I am well protected all the time. You, on the other hand… Something could always happen to you - a car accident, a fight. It would have been much easier to hide their involvement in incidents like this." He swallowed hard and turned his head, before once again seeking my gaze. "You were in grave danger Noël, and we could not even tell you. We operated a rapid alert system; guards were around you the whole time. You cannot imagine how relieved I was, when the Council finally approved and we could bring you here." He leaned forward, his hands clenched into fists. “Of course Eleanor had to die first, before they finally agreed.” He consciously relaxed his hands. “I had to show strength, Noël; demonstrate my ability to rule in order to nip any doubts in the bud effectively. This was a test I had to pass, at any cost.”

I let everything sink in, tried to see it from his position. “Okay I get this; still, I have to ask you a favor.” I had his full attention. “Next time you feel the need to demonstrate your um… regal prowess, could you consider a less reckless way that does not include your and my possible deaths?”

He chuckled. “I am sorry. I lost control, Noël. I miscalculated the amount of energy it would cost me. I was so angry I got carried away, I admit this.”

There was still something nagging at the back of my mind. I couldn't forget the weird sensation I felt before I blacked out. “What happened after the McGills were gone, were you… I had the feeling that you were gonna…bite me?” There, I had said it.

He didn't answer immediately, but the hand holding his glass was trembling. When he saw me watching him, he sighed. “Noël, I know I need to explain more things to you, but I am tired. I… could you… No, forget it, Landyn will kill me for even thinking about this…” He let his head fall on the back of the couch, his eyes closed, shielded by his forearm.

Like it happened before, I knew he needed me somehow, and I sat beside him on the couch. He took his arm from his face and turned his head. “Noël?”

My anger was gone, the need to protect him, help him was all I could think of, as weird as it was. “What do you want me to do?”

He closed his eyes again. “Can I hold you for a while?”

“Um… sure.”

After some awkward moving around, we finally settled on him lying on the couch, me beside him with my back against his chest, and his left arm around my waist, his chin resting on top of my head.

I was tense at first; trying not to think what had happened the last time I was this close to him. Because of that my neck and back started to act out. When the strain got stronger, I started to have muscle tremors. Diarmad muttered something to himself, then pulled me closer, and started to hum some melody I’d never heard before in my life. His whole body vibrated but after a while, I became sleepy and I even drifted off in his arms.

When I opened my eyes, it was dark outside. Somebody had thrown a blanket over us. Diarmad was still sleeping and I lifted my head so I could watch him in the flickering light of the fireplace. Before I could stop myself, I reached up and pushed some loose strands of his hair back from his forehead. Then my gaze fell to the base of his neck. I could see his pulse beating under his skin, slow and steady, indicating that he was fast asleep. It was as if my eyes were drawn to this very spot. I suddenly had the urge to scoot forward and lap at the pulsing dot, suckle it, bite it... Images flooded my mind, our naked, sweating bodies entwined with each other, him biting me, me tasting him… It sent hot sparks through my body, making my cock swell. Groaning I started to rub myself against Diarmad’s hip when his eyes flew open. My gaze was still riveted on his neck.

He pulled away. “Not yet amatan, not yet. We have to wait… We cannot…not yet.”

Not yet? What does he mean, not yet? I just dreamed I was a fucking vampire and he says ‘not yet’? If he knew… Instantly fully awake I tried to jerk back, painfully aware my throbbing erection was pressed against him still. I couldn’t get far as his arms were still around me, holding me in place. I shifted my leg, tried to hide my state, only to feel his equally hard length against my thigh.

Well, shit!

I looked at him bewildered and he whispered, “I just had a vivid dream… of us making love… as mates.” His eyes held mine as if he wanted to convey something to me, see if I understood the meaning of what he had just said.

I flushed in embarrassment. If he knew, I had just imagined biting him and wasn’t even really dreaming anymore… Hiding my face in his chest, I wished I could get those pictures out of my head. What is this? First I have two souls in me besides mine, then I find out I’m the mate of an alien king, and now I’m dreaming… being a vampire? This must be a nightmare… I’ll wake up soon, at home in my bed, Nana brings me… No. No, Nana is dead… Shit!

Stroking my head, Diarmad murmured, “Maybe I should answer your question now…” He began to play with some creases in the fabric of my shirt. “I really do not know where to start though. I am afraid when you hear what I have to tell you, you will be so disgusted with me and my race, you will leave, and I will never see you again."

And then you die.

I couldn't lie there any longer like this. I needed space. Hide. I disentangled myself from his arms, got up and went over to the fireplace. I felt his eyes on my back, watching me. Without turning around, I asked, "There's more?" There was always more.

He sighed. “Yes." When nothing came from him, I looked over my shoulder. He was slumped down on the couch, defeated by some kind of inner battle. After a long moment of silence, he continued in a much lower voice. “I guess I should explain what happened this morning.” He took in a deep breath. “Noël, in my heart you are my mate. For me there is no doubt. When I depleted my energy to a point beyond my control, my survival instinct took over. I did what I should only do if we were mates. I latched on to your energy; normally not a problem, it would not have caused you any harm, just a little bit of exhaustion. You could have coped easily. I did not… could not think at that moment. I am sorry.”

I listened to him, trying to find sense in his words, still not sure what I was feeling. There was still more.

“There is one last thing. Simon and Landyn have been pestering me for days to finally tell you."

I almost rolled my eyes. "One last thing, huh?"

He didn't smile. “In my weakened state I was not able to think properly. I told you before, for me you were my mate. I needed you.” He paused. “You were right in your assumption. I tried to bite you. I tried to drink your blood.”

I whirled around and when I saw he was serious, I gasped, “What? You tried to drink my blood?” That was it. I couldn’t take any more of this shit! “A fucking vampire?” All I could think of was to get out of there as fast as possible. I ran to the stairs.

Suddenly he was in front of me. “Noël, please listen to what I have to say.” I shook my head, but he ignored me. “During the joining ritual Seraei mates have to drink each other’s blood. It will prove we are rightful mates. If we are, we will get stronger. Without love the blood will be poisonous and the one who tries to drink it will die.”

I could only stare at him disbelievingly. He reached out to me, tried to take my hand, but I took a step back.

“Should you decide to become my mate despite everything you just heard, I will be the first. I would never endanger your life."

No fucking way!

“Seraei mates drink their partner’s blood regularly during sex, to tighten the bond or in cases of an emergency. If you do not want this, we can do without it, but then healing, regaining energy, and other things will take longer. We are not vampires.” He sounded almost angry. “We only drink the blood of our mates. If you never want to drink my blood again after our joining, I can live with that. Please Noël; do not refuse me without at least thinking about it.”

Lisa, Val, Zombie