Prologue

If you were to look up the word Strigoi, the definition would read: the troubled souls of the dead rising from the grave. Strigoi are also known as immortal vampires. Sadly half of that definition is very true and one of those creatures of the night happened to be standing over me right now. I was ready to die, I had accepted my death but he would have none of that. No, he most certainly would not. In his eyes we belonged together. Playing for the same team.

By the way, my name is Rose Hathaway. I'm 18 years old and, until recently, I attended a special private boarding school called St Vladimir's. There, others like me trained to fight a race of ancient evil vampires called Strigoi, just incase you questioned the vocabulary lesson I started off with. My kind are known as Dhampir's. Also part of the student body of good old St Vlad's, are a race of good vampires knows as Moroi. Long store short, they are everything Stigoi aren't. They don't kill, they eat normal food, contain elemental magic, and they don't have too much of a problem with sunlight, though it does drain them if they are exposed to it for long enough. The only thing they have in common with Strigoi is they also need blood to survive. But like I said, Moroi do not kill. We Dhampir's, are born to protect Moroi from harm. We are told from our first moment's one phrase that we live by, 'they come first.'

Guess I'm kind of a shitty Dhampir since I completely turned my back on that rule when I abandoned my best friend Lissa, a Moroi Princess, to hunt down the man I love and kill him. Sounds twisted I know. But that's only because I haven't filled you in on this piece of information. The man I love, the man I lost my virginity to, Dimitri Belikov was forcibly turned into a Strigoi and disappeared to the wilderness know as Eastern Europe.

On my 18th birthday I signed myself out of school and began my quest to find him. When I did however, things didn't go as I had planned. Rather than fulfill my vow, I hesitated and lost my battle. Dimitri then held me captive for what felt like a lifetime. All in the hope that he could convince me to willingly turn Strigoi and be with him. I came close to giving in, my love for the man he once was holding so much weight it broke my heart every day. But I knew I couldn't do it. I couldn't choose to be an evil creature of the night. More over, I couldn't let him live as one either. In a conversation we had once, long before all of this, he told me he would rather die than live as one of those things.

Fast forward to today, right now, this very second. Dimitri stood over me looking down at my dazed and bloody body. I wasn't dead yet but trust me, it wasn't for a lack of trying on my part. Just a moment ago I stood on the edge of the very bridge I was laying on now, ready to jump. If I couldn't end up killing him, I could at least kill myself and end his mission to turn me. One small victory I supposed. If he saved me, which I was counting on, I had my silver stake ready so when he pulled my back from my attempted death drop, I could drive it into his heart and finish what I started so long ago.

Things didn't work out that way though. As I was about to stab him with my stake, his Strigoi reflexes quickly dodged my strike and slammed me on the ground. My head bounced on the concrete. Strangely the first thing that came to my mind was my elementary school defense instructor who taught us to tuck our chins to our chests when we fell so we wouldn't hit the back of our heads thus preventing concussions. Yet another lesson I ignored on this mission. I heard the distinct sound of bones breaking upon impact. I began to taste blood in my mouth. Breathing was impossible as I choked on more and more blood in my attempts for air. I may have not been the best in anatomy class but I'm pretty sure a slam to the ground like that, from a Strigoi like Dimitri would be somewhere equal to falling off a 6-story building. Not likely fatal, but if not, paralyzing at the very least.

My vision was blurry but I could see Dimitri's form getting closer and closer to my face. Then the world went black. The blackness wasn't the usual fading one would experience with being knocked out. This was deeper, more agonizing and it was tinted with red. Actually it wasn't black at all. It was completely red. Consuming red. It was also warm, like slipping into a warm bath. I had never felt anything so soothing. The endorphins here were 1,000 times what I felt with the feedings Dimitri took during my time in captivity. This was like a vampire bight + a bar of chocolate + the best orgasm ever all in one! I didn't know what was happening but if this could be transformed into a pill, drug dealers could probably dominate countries with it!

I completely forgot the world. Where was I? What was happening? Who was I? Simple questions I once knew the answers to. Now they were lost to me like bubbles being popped by this amazing high. Rosemarie Hathaway, Novice Guardian, High School Dropout, a girl in love with a dead man, a girl on a quest to lay his soul to rest was no more. No, that girl wasn't here anymore and would never be here again.

CHAPTER 1

My eyes opened and the red tint faded away. It morphed into a dull flat off white color. As my eyes began to wander I realized I was looking at a ceiling. The vast whiteness was broken up by tiny cracks. The cracks were evident of the ceiling's age. In the center I saw a chandelier. It must have been an antique. The brass had dulled long ago and there were tiny cobwebs in the corners where twisted metal met twisted metal forming the intricate design. It had been cleaned recently but who ever had done it couldn't reach those small tight corners. It wasn't completely lost on me that before the darkness took hold of me, I would have never been able to see these tiny details, even with my enhanced Dhampir senses. No, clearly something had changed. I knew I was lying down. The softness surrounding me told me the bed and sheets were fresh. I moved ever so slightly and felt a lovely sliding of fabric that covered my midsection from my back to just below my behind. 'Silk' I thought to my self. I was wearing silk. Was I wearing silk earlier? How much time had gone by?

A sound came from my right. Someone had stood up from a near by chair and was making their way to me. Before they had a chance to take another step I sprang out of the bed, throwing the blankets in that direction. Whatever was going on, I figured the blankets would buy me half a second of thinking time to better assess my situation. There were two windows that looked to lead to a balcony but they were both locked. Thinking there wasn't a large enough time frame to grab something heavy to break the glass I turned and braced myself against the narrow wall that separated the tow balcony doors. I was prepared to face my visitor with a lethal dose of kick-assery. Then I saw who had been in the room with me, Dimitri. The first time we met in Russia I hesitated and failed to kill him. I wouldn't make that mistake again. He was going down, I would end him here and now and I would love every moment of it! Wow, where did that come from? I thought. But it was true. I wanted to kill him. Not because of any blood bound vow, but because I craved the violence. I flew at him.

He caught ahold of my left arm and forced it over his right shoulder while at the same time taking control of my right arm and slamming me back into the narrow wall space. It was a classic Under / Over hold. Not a submission move. It was a move meant to gain control of an opponent.

"Don't fight me Rose" he whispered in my ear. His voice was a mixture of ice and endearment with a hint on condescendence. It infuriated me but turned me on at the same time. Damn him!

Refusing to give in I quickly forced my left arm down in between our bodies to break his hold. In the blink of an eye he stepped to his left turning his body slightly away from me and threw his left leg in front of both my legs. One twist of the waist was all it took. He used his hips to throw me to the floor and pinned me. Legs on either side of me and both wrists held to the ground in a death grip. Fucking Jujitsu! It was the St Vladimir gym all over again.

"Stop this Roza! You don't want to fight me my love."

I froze. What the hell did he just call me? Did he just say my love? My memories of the last few weeks were hazy but I clearly remember him never using the word love in all that time. He noticed the change in my demeanor and spoke again.

"I'm going to let you go now, if you fight me again I will hold you down again and I wont be gentle. You're body can take much more force now than it could before."

What was he talking about? Slowly he let go of my wrists and sat upright, still pinning me with his legs on either side of my hips. I touched my wrists, he was right. The strength he used to hold them down should have crushed them. I should be in massive amounts of pain right now. Shouldn't I? But no, my wrists weren't broken they didn't even hurt. I spoke for the first time "What is this? Why aren't I dead?"

"Did you really think I would let you die?"

A question answered with a question. This was doing nothing for my vicious mood. I guessed he could tell that whatever patience I had, if any, was about to go out the window. So he told me straight.

"I've Awakened you Roza"

We have just lost cabin pressure. No, he was lying. He had to be. Some part of me wanted to be appalled. I should have been disgusted. But I wasn't, I was awestruck. " I'm a… we're both…" my brain couldn't wrap itself around the word, so he said it for me. "…Strigoi" his thick Russian accent sounded like velvet saying the word. I realized then that for the first time in my life the word didn't inspire a negative reaction. Curiously, I slid my tongue over my k-9's and felt that they were longer than I remembered. The teeth were smooth and came to fine points. Sharp points that could rip thoughts open and allow fresh blood to flow into my mouth. A moan escaped me at the thought. I caught myself and looked back up at Dimitri. A Sinister smile graced his face. "Thirsty?" he asked darkly. I kept eye contact with him and nodded slowly.

He stood up and walked to the door. His 6'7" form was every bit as muscular as I remembered. His long hair was tied in a ponytail. Why the hell did he have to be so yummy? It just wasn't fair.

He reached the door and opened it. Surprisingly it was unlocked. A stark contrast to the room in which he previously held me. That room was kept locked and required two digital combinations to get out. A young man came in and sat in one of the two armchairs in front of the bed. Dimitri sat in the other facing the young man. One intake of breath told me he was human. Dimitri said nothing. He didn't have to. Even as a Strigoi, Dimitri and I were able to understand each other perfectly without mindless chatter. The young man was forcing back a smile. He was excited. Did he expect I would turn him? I remembered there were humans who worked for the Strigoi in the hope that their servitude would lead to their being turned.

Tilting my head I studied him. He looked me up and down clearly liking what he saw and exposed his neck to me. I looked back at Dimitri who gave the slightest of nods. I didn't even notice that I was now standing over the human. His sent was divine, so much so that it made me light headed.

The shape of the chair didn't leave much room for a modest feeding position so I straddled the young man's lap. The silk fabric I felt earlier was in the form of a deep red nightgown with a black lace trim that ran along the hem I examined it as it slid up my thighs. It black lace was also along my cleavage. That's where the human was looking. He eyed my bust line and looked to be on the verge of drooling. I felt his hands rest on my thighs with the intent of sliding the nightie higher. A deep growl from Dimitri halted the young man's attempt.

"You don't touch her!" he commanded in Russian. Before my Awakening I could have maybe identified one or 2 words. Now I understood him perfectly. My mind was so clear I could remember every phrase in my little Russian language book plus more from all the time I spent around Dimitri's family. Just like that, I found I would be able to understand and speak Russian.

My attention went back to the task at hand. Had I been human I would have been shaking in fear of the monster's voice. I turned my head to Dimitri but I did not fear him. I honestly was excited by his reaction. Jealous ay? I thought. I could have some fun with that. But maybe this wasn't the time. Besides, I was starving! I turned my attention back to the human sitting beneath me. His admiration for me turned into fear. He became a sniveling little insect. One I would be too glad to squish. He would make a terrible Strigoi, voice in my head whistered. I didn't know if Dimitri had intended to turn him but at that moment I didn't care. Less than a heart beat went by and I plunged my new fangs into the young man's jugular.

Oh…My…God… What the hell have I been doing with my life until now?

The taste of the pathetic human's blood was beyond anything my mouth knew could exist. I felt a tingling sensation run up my spine. It was Dimitri's fingertips grazing my skin. He was letting me know he was pleased with me. That only added to this outer body experience. One of my hands held the human's head while the other squeezed the side of his throat, massaging it blood into my mouth. Dimitri was no longer touching my back. He was on his knees kissing the exposed skin between my shoulders and slowly slid the spaghetti straps of the nightie off. The human's body went limp. He was dead. Drops of blood ran down my mouth and between my breasts, which were rapidly rising and falling with my heavy breathing.

I looked up into Dimitri's beautiful red eyes. He was standing over us now. The look on his face was one of pride. Then something changed. Dimitri's hand grabbed my throat and lightly squeezed it making breathing slightly difficult. The look on his face was fierce. Then he kissed me. It was hard and possessive and amazing. The human's blood mixed with the taste of Dimitri's tongue as we kissed. Violently I ripped his shirt open. His skin was a pure smooth white. His bulging muscles were firm, hairless and warm. Warm? Oh ya! That's right, we were the same temperature now.

He hadn't let my throat go when he broke the kiss and spoke. "First rule Roza, you are mine. If I ever see another man's hands on you I will kill him in the most brutal way I can think"

He kissed me again. We were against the wall and he slammed me into the plaster still holding my throat. I didn't mind. It was kind of… seriously….hot! "Second rule, if you betray me, I will slit your lovely throat and watch you bleed" His thumb gently traced a line across my windpipe simulating how he would cut me. I chuckled "Nice rule Comrade, but slitting my throat wont kill me now. Not unless you plan on taking my head off completely" Our kisses were getting more and more hungry. "Who said anything about killing you Rose? Slitting your throat would be your punishment. I told you, it would take a lot to make me kill you" I smiled "How romantic, what's rule #3?" Dimitri reached down and opened his pants. I didn't have time to blink before he released my throat, wrapped my legs around his waist and pulled my panties to the side. "Rule number 3: I get to have you whenever, where ever and how ever I say at any given moment." He held himself just at the entrance of my very wet and very needy lower half and stood there. Our eyes at equal level given that he had lifted me up in order to reach this position. And there he stopped. He didn't pull back but he didn't go any further either. He began to teasingly stroke me with the tip of his very large manhood. I was ready to explode!

It became clear that he wouldn't fuck me unless I gave him a total agreement to his 3 rules. I didn't have a problem with any of them. To be honest each one turned me on more than the next. He was still my Dimitri. A leader who took charge and made his moves with no apologies. A real man when all I knew before him were boys. But that was no reason not to take advantage of this fucked up business meeting and add a condition of my own. I mean being that we were making things clear. "Under one condition Comrade," He looked inquisitive and a little bit impatient, but that was to be expected considering our position. "You have to follow the same 3 rules lover. I will kill any bitch that touched you, I'll slit your throat if you screw me over and I can have you wherever, whenever and however I want. Deal?"

He plunged himself inside me. It hurt a little but the pleasure totally outweighed the pain. Actually the pain was pleasurable too. "That's my girl. Fire, fury, we are even more perfect for each other as Strigoi than as Dhampir. " He spoke between thrusts. A strange urge came over me and I slapped him across the face. He growled and thrust harder. This made me smile. Taking that as a challenge he held me tighter and slammed me against the wall harder than before. God this was sick! The old Rose would have been mortified! But this Rose couldn't get enough. I met Dimitri's eyes and grabbed his face under his chin. "I'm yours and you're mine, for eternity." Still thrusting he said the words my dark heart yearned to hear. "For eternity my Roza, I vow to love you for eternity."

Twisted as this was. It was the most intense, romantic, passionate moment I have ever had. "I love you too Dimitri. I always have and always will"

After spending an obscene amount of time marking every surface in the room, (The wall, the wall, the floor, the wall, night table, bookshelf, the wall, foot of the bed, then finally the bed itself) Dimitri and I held each other, completely sated. At least for now. As Strigoi we wouldn't need sleep ever again. That didn't change the fact that it was nice laying in each other's arms reveling in bliss. My head rested on his chest listening to his heartbeat when he spoke. "I'm so glad I didn't take you before Awakening you. It would have been nothing compared to this."

Pardon me? Oh no, no, no. My snarky personality couldn't let him get away with that comment. "Are you saying sex with me would have been disappointing?" A smile turned up half of his mouth. "Disappointing… no, restricted… very. There's no way you would have been able to come out of that unscathed as Dhampir." My eyes drifted to the cracked and dented plaster that used to be the wall separating the two balcony glass doors. "Touché lover." A moment of silence passed then I asked, "So what now Comrade? I know you have to have a plan for us now that I've been Awakened."

My mind went in so many directions. I was hoping for a plan that involved adventure, danger, blood and gore, fire and brimstone. A plan that would make us into the Strigoi equivalent of Bonnie and Clyde. My heart began to race and the infinite possibilities. Dimitri and Rose, deadly and sexy. Of all the ideas floating in my head, nothing could have prepared me for his next words.

"What comes next Roza, is we get married."

"We what?" I froze. Resisting the urge to slap him again. What was he talking about?

"We will get married. Then, and only then, will I reveal my plan to you." He got out of bed and got down on one knee, taking both my hands as I shifted so my legs were hanging off the edge of the bed before him. "A King needs his Queen, and I will have no other Queen but you Rose. What I have planned for us will go beyond poorly planned attacks on High Schools. I will take us to the very top of the food chain. Nothing will stop us. Make me the happiest man in the world. Marry me, love me and rule with me."

Most girl's dream of the day the man they love gets down on one knee and pledges his love and devotion to them. They dream of hearts and flowers and happily every after. Those were all things I never thought would be in my future until now. Dimitri was proposing! His proposal wasn't the gushy nonsense most girls pictured. I couldn't be happier! As a Strigoi the thought of all that mush made me gag. Dimitri was promising me the world! And unlike any other man, I knew he could deliver it. Before I was Awakened, I had noticed when he spoke to me about our future together his tone had been calculated. I realize now that he wasn't being cold to me. It was his ambition speaking. He still loved me; he had never stopped loving me. But now he had priorities beyond keeping some pansy Moroi Royal safe from harm. He wanted the best for us. I was suddenly glad he hadn't said the words 'I love you" before my Awakening. My Dhampir brain wouldn't have been able to understand the kind of love Dimitri felt for me. It was the same true love we began months ago, but now it was fuller. It was completely dedicated to our life together. To the power we could share. It had a more important meaning now.

Two against the world.

I looked into his eyes, reading his anticipation, loving the power I held in prolonging his agony for my response. Then I said it…

"Yes,"

He was on me then, kissing and touching my body. His hands were everywhere and his lips everywhere else. This was different from how we ravaged each other earlier. It reminded me of the cabin when I had lost my virginity to him. Only this was better. This time, he was all mine and I was all his. Both of us were naked and breathing heavily. Our clothing had been scattered about the room. Well, more like his clothing was scattered about the room. My red and black silk nightie was in shreds along with the black thong I'd been wearing.

He pulled back a looked down at me. His red eyes full of passion. This man, this vampire wanted to take over the world with me by his side. He was beautiful. His long dark hair fell around his face making him look feral. I almost couldn't take how sexy he was right then. I dared to ask, "What if I would have said no?" he made three tisking sounds with his tongue and whispered devilishly. "That Roza, would have been such a waste." My heart pounded! How could he get even sexier! This darkness we shared was addicting! All thoughts of my old friends, his family, my mom had faded away. All there was in the world was he and I.

"When will we get married? I doubt we'll be booking a church or a priest anytime soon." I spoke between his earth shattering kisses. "Right now Roza. We are getting married right now." He left me then. I began to protest until I saw him reach over to the night table and opened the top drawer retrieving and dagger and two small boxes. It didn't take long for me to see the dagger was silver. And even less time to feel the power radiating from it. I slid back to the end of the bed prepared to run. He was going to kill me? What did I miss?

He placed the dagger on the bed and held up both his hands. "Its not what you think Roza." He opened the two boxes. In them were two identical rings. The rings were pewter; the design was of a two-headed dragon. Their mouths held large beautifully cut garnets. They were stunning. Their only difference was one ring was much bigger than the other. Dragons… I thought of Lissa's family crest. "Why dragons?" I asked. His eyes were so focused I was sure a bomb could go off and he wouldn't flinch. "The dragon is part of our future Roza. Not because of Lissa, the last child of a dead royal line means nothing to us. These dragons represent something much grander."

Ok, so, he sold me on the rings. But that still didn't explain the silver dagger. Our connection didn't falter. He pointed at the dagger and began.

"We will use this dagger to make cuts on our left hands, over our hearts and the right side of our necks. Our blood will mix in our hands and hearts while we make love and drink from each other's throats. While we orgasm together we pledge our vow to each other. Then we will be one, forever.

Ho-Ly Shit…