Rated M to be safe because of some mature content.

Chapter 1

Secret affair

10th century

"Go!" Elijah shouted. "Hurry!"

His younger siblings were very tired for having to get up in the middle of the night, but they all obeyed without hesitation. 10-years-old Ginna was carrying her sobbing little sister Rebekah in her arms, 8-years-old Kol was right behind them. It was cold outside; they ran into the stable as fast as they could. The screams had already started.

"Father, please!" Elijah's desperate voice pleaded.

Rebekah sobbed even harder, Ginna tried her best to comfort her by stroking her hair. She glanced at Kol whose face was completely callous. There were only two goats in the stable; their only horse had died during the long cold winter.

"We need to stay warm," Ginna said quietly.

Kol didn't say anything, but he sat down beside Ginna when she settled in the haystack with Rebekah.

"Nik," Rebekah sobbed. "I want Nik."

"Be quiet," Kol snapped.

"Kol," Ginna scolded.

"I do not want to hear her whining," Kol replied tensely.

Rebekah buried her face in Ginna's chest and cried harder when they heard Nik screaming. Kol's face was still callous, but he leaned his head on Ginna's shoulder. She knew that he was just trying to cope with this the best way he could. Thankfully little Henrik wasn't here, Esther taken him with her to Ayanna. It made no difference if their mother would have been here, she wouldn't have done anything to help Nik. Finn wasn't here either, but he wouldn't have intervened any more than Esther.

"I hate him," Rebekah murmured. "I hate father."

Ginna didn't say anything; she kept stroking Rebekah's hair. The truth was that despite of everything, she couldn't bring herself to hate her father. Mikael had never harmed her, on the contrary. Often his cold eyes softened when he looked at her and sometimes he patted her head or lifted her up into his arms when they were alone. He was a cruel and harsh man, but Ginna loved him. She was probably the only one of his children who had ever seen his softer side. His heart had turned into ice after he had lost his beloved firstborn daughter, Freya, but there was something good in him. Ginna often felt guilty for feeling like that and she had never dared to tell her siblings about it. They would have no doubt despised her for loving a monster.

France, the de Martel estate, 1002

Elijah crossed his arms and glanced at his siblings one by one. Kol rolled his eyes, looking as bored as usual, Rebekah twirled her long blonde curl around her finger, Finn seemed careless and Nik tried his best to look innocent. Ginna suppressed a smile when she looked at him; he gave her a warning look. She responded to that with a barely noticeable nod. She wasn't going to say anything about his "secret affair" with their host's daughter, she had promised not to.

"Now," Elijah continued. "As I was saying, we have rules for a good reason. Unfortunately one of us feels superior enough to break those rules and put us all in danger." He paused and looked at Kol. "Isn't that right, brother?"

Nik was clearly relieved, his little secret was safe.

"What?" Kol asked. "What have I done now?"

"Oh, I think you know," Elijah replied icily. "You have been more than sloppy; you have barely bothered to cover your tracks. These people are not idiots."

"So what?" Kol snorted. "Honestly, what can they do to us?"

"Enough, Kol," Finn said firmly. "You will behave or I will make you."

Kol smirked at him.

"You and what army, big brother?"

"Me, for starters," Elijah stated and glanced at Nik who nodded.

"And me."

Kol rolled his eyes.

"You are all such dullards!" He paused and looked at his younger sister. "You are on my side on this, are you not, Bekah?"

Rebekah huffed and shook her head.

"No, I like it here and I don't want to leave because you are unable to show any self-control."

"Oh please," Kol snorted and glanced at Ginna. "Let me guess, you agree with Elijah?"

"I do," Ginna replied calmly.

Kol had often called her "a female Elijah", but that didn't bother her. She had always been calm and quiet; she usually kept her thoughts to herself. That didn't mean she would have followed anyone blindly, she simply valued her privacy.

"What a surprise. I doubt that you even know the meaning of fun."

Ginna smiled.

"I think we have a different idea of fun, brother," she replied. "Perhaps you could at least try to play nice for the rest of us."

Kol shrugged carelessly.

"Perhaps. Perhaps not."

"Kol…" Elijah started sharply, but his brother was already out of the door.

Elijah sighed and shook his head. Finn tapped his shoulder.

"You tried, brother," he stated and left.

It didn't take long for Nik and Rebekah to follow his example. The family meeting was over.

"What am I going to do with him?" Elijah muttered.

Ginna walked over to him and touched his shoulder.

"He is coping, just like he always has. I am sure he will come around eventually."

"One can always hope," Elijah sighed. "At least I do not have to worry about you, sister. I cannot tell how happy I am for that."

"No, 'Lijah, you do not have to worry about me," Ginna replied smiling. "I have no problem being a dullard."

Elijah laughed and kissed her forehead.

"Do you have plans for tonight?" he asked. "Would you like to play chess with me?"

"Oh, I would love to, but I am afraid I am quite tired," she replied. "Tomorrow perhaps?"

"Yes, of course. Sweet dreams, sister."

She kissed his cheek before walking out. Calmly she headed to her bedchamber and greeted the servant girl who was just preparing her bed. She had also lit up few candles.

"That will be all, thank you," Ginna said after the girl was finished. "I shall not need more assistance tonight."

"Yes, my lady," the girl replied and bowed before leaving.

Ginna sighed and walked over to the tall window. The stars had already appeared in the sky; she observed them quietly and smiled. After a moment, she heard the door to her chamber opening and turned around.

"My lord!" she gasped when she saw Tristan de Martel. "What are you doing here?"

He looked at her with his cold eyes and bolted the door.

"I think you know, my lady."

"What… This… This is highly inappropriate, my lord," she muttered and backed away when he approached her like a lion stalking its prey.

"Is it?" he stated, his lips curved into a predatory smirk.

She blinked her eyes nervously when he backed her into a corner.

"Is my lord going to hurt me?" she asked innocently.

He was in front of her now; his body trapped her against the wall.

"On the contrary, my lady," he hummed and took a hold of her gown. She gasped when she heard the sudden ripping sound.

"My lord…" she protested, but he silenced her with a bruising kiss. His hand cupped her breast through her undergarment and his other hand went under her hem. She moaned into his mouth when his fingers found her most sensitive place. He pulled away and looked at her with his cold predatory eyes.

"Tristan," she moaned, unable to stay in character. She knew how much he enjoyed their little games and she wanted him to be happy. He smiled and kept torturing her until she climaxed. Her whole body was trembling, but he didn't give her any time to recover. He lifted her up and wrapped her legs around his waist. Sometimes he was quite rough, but she didn't mind, she knew that he wouldn't really hurt her. She scratched his shoulders and moaned when he thrust into her again and again.

"My little wildcat," he groaned and kissed her. "You are mine."

She tilted her head back and enjoyed her second climax. Finally he finished as well and took a moment to catch his breath before carrying her to the bed. Gently he placed her onto her back and lied down beside her. Neither of them spoke, he took her hand and kissed it. They didn't cuddle after sex, but they were still close to one another and sometimes talked before he left. He never stayed for the night; he didn't want to ruin her reputation. Not that she would have cared about that, she wasn't really a lady.

No, a lady shouldn't have enjoyed the things they did. He was the first man she had allowed to touch her like that and she had never regretted for giving him her virginity. Her brothers, especially Elijah, would no doubt be furious, so she needed to make sure that they would never find out. There had simply been something about Tristan de Martel that had immediately caught her attention and the feeling had been mutual. He had once mentioned that most women were usually more or less cautious around him because of his reputation. He was a harsh man, but that had never scared her. There was a softer side in him and he did show her affection with small gestures, by caressing her cheek, stroking her hair or planting tender kisses on her neck.

"I liked that gown," she finally murmured.

"What?"

"You could have warned me that you were going to rip it, I would have worn something else."

He rolled on his side and touched her cheek.

"My sweet, I will have as many gowns made for you as you want."

She smiled and turned to face him.

"As many as I want?"

"Yes. Only the best for you."

His eyes softened when his fingers played with her sandy blonde hair.

"You are so beautiful, my sweet Ginna," he murmured. "I have never met a woman like you."

He was certainly right about that. She hadn't told him what she really was and she wasn't going to tell him. She didn't want to lose him. Of course she would lose him eventually, her family couldn't stay here forever, but she didn't want to think about that yet.

"Tristan?" she murmured. "Can I ask you a favor before you leave?"

"Yes, of course."

"Could you hold me until I fall asleep?"

She had never before asked that, but tonight she felt the need to feel his warmth. Ginna had always loved warmth and to her, the cold had been one of the worst things about becoming what she was. If her request surprised him, he didn't show it, he simply nodded.

"Of course."

"Thank you," she murmured and kissed him before resting her head on his chest.

He hesitated for a brief moment before wrapping his arms around her, his clumsiness made her smile. Right now the feared Tristan de Martel was like a fish out of water. To her this was a perfect moment, she felt safe and protected. She didn't expect any declaration of love or grand gestures, she was happy just like this.