Dawn Rising

Alexander stood over the hulking warrior humbled at his feet. His heart pounded in his chest as his mind raced. What kind of life would a vampire give his little girl? Did he plan to turn her? Alexander thought of the redheaded grandchildren, little carbon copies of Alex, he'd never bounce on his knee. But, he valued his daughter's happiness above all else. He placed a hand on top of the warrior's head as much as it broke his heart to give Alex over into his hands. "You'd better. Or you'll be at the business end of my shotgun so fast...I'll..."

Excited with the happy news. But, utterly exasperated with her husband. Leigh hissed, "Alexander." She shooed her husband out of the way and dropped to her knees in front of Lucien, snatching him up in a hug. This moment called for a little finesse and a lot of grace. "She's all yours now. Take care of her." Lucien's shoulders quaked as he squeezed her in return. But, the warrior never broke.

Alex exhaled a happy sigh, hugging her dad for all he was worth. As far as a blessing went, it was probably the best she was going to get from her dad. Her mom could always be counted on to smooth out the wrinkles. Alex glanced up at Lucien, who was helping her mom up onto her feet. "Thank you, Dad."

Alexander shrugged as he grumbled, "I couldn't stop you anyway." He shot one last warning scowl over Alex's head at Lucien. And gave the warrior a look that said he knew exactly where he'd aim that shotgun if he saw so much as a frown of unhappiness on his little girl's face. He was certain that no matter how powerful Lucien's regenerative abilities were. Some parts wouldn't heal.

Alex snickered, "No, but having your permission makes all the difference." She turned and gave her mom a quick squeeze. "We need to do something with Janine," she whispered into her mother's ear. Janine sat on the couch, snotting on her shirt, bawling big crocodile tears, like she'd lost her best friend. And maybe, in a way, she had. Janine and she had been inseparable for the better part of their adult lives. They shopped, they rode the train to work together every morning, and they were there for each other. That wouldn't change. She'd always be there when Janine needed her. And likewise, Janine would be there for her.

Much to her embarrassment, Janine always cried at happy endings. Movies, TV shoes, novels, it didn't matter what the media. She bawled like a baby. Chagrined, she wiped her snotty nose on the hem of her shirt, and blotted at the mascara, surely running down her face, with her sleeve. Ed Hardy would never be the same. She always knew one day, either Alex or she would finally meet Mr. Right and ride off into the sunset. She just hadn't expected it to happen so soon. Trying to get herself together, she sniffed dramatically, big shaky breath in, big shaky breath out. "I'm so happy for the two of you," she huffed in between snivels.

Alex's gentle hug brought forth a fresh deluge of tears. "You'll need a bride's maid right?" Janine asked, resorting to wiping her tears on the collar of Alex's sweatshirt.

Alex stifled her chuckle at Janine's not so subtle hint. The woman did subtle like a wrecking ball. "Of course. I can't plan a wedding all by myself." She patted Janine gently on the back, trying to release herself from the trembling arms that held her fast. Alex felt the collar of her sweatshirt dampen with tears. She was tempted to shed a few herself. But, for once, they were tears of happiness instead of sadness and desperation.

Diverted from the sad/happy moment, Janine extricated herself from Alex's hug. "Oh, you know I'm there for you." She gave Lucien a quick, half-hearted embrace before she dragged Leigh into the kitchen to plan. "You know," she said to Leigh, tapping her index finger against her chin. Her creative mind speeding along at a thousand miles an hour with all of the ways she could make this a wedding to remember. "I'm thinking taffeta, miles and miles of taffeta. And a wedding cake...you know, a big one with a champagne fountain in the middle."

Leigh shot her daughter a disparaging look over her shoulder before she disappeared into the kitchen. Janine tugged on her sleeve, hurrying her along. To plan, according to the girl, the wedding of the century.

Lucien blew out a deep breath. "Now we have to go to the Lodge and tell the brothers."

Alex rolled her eyes, why couldn't they just sneak off somewhere and elope like normal people? "Oh boy," she muttered. She could not imagine what kind of reception she'd get from the warriors. Would they like her? Would they resent that she'd taken Lucien away from them?

Chapter 46

Alex tried to keep from fidgeting as she watched the contests take place. The Brothers were all too enthusiastic to see their brother so happy. The warriors were as protective of her as Lucien. Her worries were for nothing. They'd welcomed her with open arms and quickly adopted her into their ranks, as a little sister of sorts. She'd always wanted older brothers. Now she had dozens of them.

Alex mussed that she hadn't fully understood what she was getting herself, or Lucien into when she'd said yes to his proposal. In the days that followed, leading up to the big event, there was planning, planning, planning. In the midst of all this planning, most of it by Janine, Alex just wished they'd skipped the wedding and gone to the Justice of the Peace. "Go Lucien go!" she cheered from the sidelines. The two warriors locked in a display of hand to hand combat left her heart pounding in worry.

Playing with the white leather fringe of her skirt, Alex rolled her eyes at Janine. Beads and silver bells affixed to the fringe jangled in between her fingertips. She had always imagined that her wedding day would be filled with visions of taffeta and ruffles, not leather and sweaty men. She smiled to herself as she mussed, at least she had found her prince charming, even if he was clad in a loincloth not a tuxedo.

The moon was rising in the night sky, slowly and lazily as if it had all of the time in the world. When the moon reached its zenith the ceremony would begin. Alex shuttered nervously. Couldn't the moon hurry it up a bit? She couldn't wait to be Lucien's wife.

Drumbeats filled the air, announcing the approach of the moon to the fullest of its glory. At least they hadn't had to wait a full month to seal the deal. Even the few days she'd had to wait seemed to take forever to pass. For some reason, the ceremony required a full moon. Superstition she supposed. There was so much folklore surrounding weddings. She'd never realized how much.

"Finally," Alex muttered. The hunt was the last scheduled event before the ceremony. She shot a glance across the crowd to Janine. She snickered to herself as she watched Janine's unabashed flirtations, tracing patterns across the naked chest of a buff warrior with a lacquered fingernail.

John Mark took in a deep breath as the pale feminine fingers traced a path across his chest. Despite her over the top attempts at flirting, his mind was elsewhere. He was the newest addition to The Sons and tonight was his opportunity to prove himself to his leader. He had been tracking the buck for weeks, studying his prey's habits harder than he had any textbook in school. Tonight he whispered a prayer to his ancestors to be successful in the hunt. The woman's scent was distracting and he was still relatively young by warrior standards. She wasn't the one he longed for. But, nonetheless his fangs had sprung forth as if they had a will of their own.

Janine swatted the young warrior, John Mark, on the butt and wished him luck. Grinning, she trotted over to Alex. "I know you're not supposed to be looking. But, have you ever seen such a display of man flesh in one place? This is better than when the male stripers come to town!" she exclaimed breathlessly.

Janine waggled her fingers furtively under Alex's nose in an attempt to get her attention. This wasn't the wedding she'd planned for Alex. There wasn't an inch of taffeta anywhere. And most of the guests couldn't eat the cake or drink the champagne. But, everyone seemed to be having a great time. Except for Alex, who looked as if she were about to jump out of her skin she was so nervous. Finally, giving up, Janine mumbled to Alex, or rather to herself since Alex wasn't listening anyway. "I'm gonna see if anyone else needs more war paint." With a contented sigh, she trotted toward the group of warriors, preparing for the hunt. "Yoooo hoooo, boys! Anyone need a little help over here?"

Alex wandered over to join her mother and father. She sighed, resting her head on her father's arm. "They aren't really going to lay the carcasses at my feet are they?" She reveled in the warmth of her father's chuckle and wrapped her arms around his waist. Until moonrise, she was still his little girl.

The sounds of drumbeats and the orange glow of the bonfire permeated the night as the hunters raced through the woods in search of the best game for their offering to the bride and groom. John Mark's heart pounded with excitement. He darted to the left and leapt across the narrow streambed. Crouching low and sniffing deeply of the earth beneath him, he caught the buck's scent. This deer was an old one, strong and powerful. It would make a fine prize for Lucien and Alex. His fangs descended in preparation for the attack.

When the hunters began to filter in from the periphery of the woods, Alex took her place beside Lucien. Their arms were laden with offerings. Thank god she hadn't seen the movie Bambi since she was a kid, otherwise she'd be sick to her stomach at the sight of the dead animal carcasses.

She plastered a smile on her face as the assortment of carcasses accumulated at her feet. Intent to survive this night, she focused on her wedding night not the dead deer meant as wedding gifts. She thanked hunter after hunter. Her stomach lurched in repugnance. Just as offerings were made to them, offerings had to be made to the goddess. She watched Lucien tear away the vital organs of each animal, tossing them into the bonfire in sacrifice to the Grandmother. The sweet stench of burning flesh filled the night air.

Lucien nodded in approval as the last hunter returned, hefting a large deer carcass over his shoulder. With a thud the young warrior laid it at Lucien's feet. "John Mark, you have done well." Lucien said, his deep voice echoed off the pines and the walls of the bluff that surrounded them. "May these gifts from the Great Spirit of the Hunt please my wife as they please me."

Alex took a deep breath and spoke the required words. She'd been around hunters all of her life. They took pride in their kills. And the eager faced hunter was no exception. "I find these gifts pleasing. May our wigwa always be filled with such blessings." The shouts of joy and triumph from the men filled her ears.

Lucien gripped Alex's hand tightly and led her to the Great Father and his brother, the Prophet. "I present this woman to you. She is to be my wife," he said, dropping reverently to his knees.

The Great Father nodded to Lucien and turned his attention to Alex. "Do you accept him?" He tried for gentleness with the trembling female at his feet. She was new to their world. New to their ways. Although not born of blood, she was one of his children. A daughter.

Alex's heart pounded as she found breath to mumble a weak, "Yes." It was still a little difficult to get used to the idea of who the men were. She still had the desire to stretch her fingers out to touch them; just to make sure they were real. All of the rough sketches and portraits she'd seen did the men no justice. On paper, they looked like ordinary men. Men who lived, played their parts in history, and died. They were so much more than that in person. They were larger than life and she felt very, very small, kneeling before them.

The Great Father smiled down on Lucien and Alex. There had not been a wedding or cause to celebrate for a very long time. Lucien resisted his destiny, fighting it every step of the way. This female, this tiny, human female had quieted the roaring in the warrior's soul and let it be at peace. "Let it be so."

The Prophet lifted his hands over Alex and Lucien's bent heads to offer the blessing of the Grandmother. "May your hunt always be fruitful. May your harvest always be bountiful. May your fire never go dark. And may the sun always shine on your face."

Alex caught her breath. One last thing to do and then it was official. She'd be his wife. Lucien gently pulled her to her feet and placed his hand over her heart. His voice trembled with each word he spoke. "Ni haw-ku-nah-ga. You are my wife."

Alex lifted her hand, placing it over his warm, bare chest as she whispered, "Ni wahsiu. You are my husband." More shouts of joy from the assembly around them echoed into the night.

"Let them share of our Grandmother's blessings." The Great Father said. He placed the ceremonial cup and a dagger on the roughly hewn stone altar. He quickly drew the blade across his own palm, allowing some of his blood to spill into the cup.

Lucien held his palm up, showing no hint of pain as he did the same. Lucien's blood mixed with his in the cup.

Alex trembled, extending her left palm up, gasping under her breath as the sharp blade cut into her skin. The Great Father was gentle. One quick slice and it was done. But, the edge of the dagger drawn against her skin still hurt. She weaved woozily as she watched her blood roll down her hand to fall into the cup. He held the dagger to his brother, who made quick work of slicing the meat of his palm, dripping blood into the cup to complete the magic.

Lucien wrapped his arm around Alex, steadying her as she weaved slightly on her feet. This was the only part of the ceremony he deeply regretted for her to perform. Once they were alone. He would kiss her hurt away. He closed his eyes, listening to the Great Father pray in the ancient language of his Ancestors. He prayed to their Goddess of creation for blessings over the cup.

Alex watched as the Great Father pray in a language she had never heard before. She stared on as the Great Father took a sip from the cup and passed it to Lucien. She took a deep and tentative breath. The cup was lowered from his mouth and was pressed to her lips. Opening her mouth slightly, she swallowed the mix, the very essence of life, down her throat. She had drank from Lucien before but wasn't prepared for the taste of the stronger blood from the brothers, blended with Lucien's and her own. The cup was coaxed from her lips and passed to the Prophet.

Her tongue was still coated with the sweet, hot, taste of vampire blood tinged with the salty, coppery taste of her own. She exhaled relieved, her stomach hadn't heaved. Thank heavens, she thought. At least, she wasn't going to puke in the middle of her wedding ceremony.

Alex and Lucien were quickly pulled by a pair of hands into the circle of quickly undulating bodies, dancing wildly around a bonfire. Whoops and shouts whirled around her. At first, Alex was fearful of her leg. That in the midst of trying to copy their dance, the limb would give out from under her. But, then realized that since Lucien had given her the first taste of his blood. She hadn't had the slightest twinge of pain. She rarely thought of it now. Her heart soared. He had healed her, heart, body, and soul. She was whole.

After hours of dancing and socializing, Alex stifled an exhausted yawn. Lucien pulled her close, bending low to brush her lips with his. "Lets go home." Alex nodded eager for her bed and for her husband. Husband. Would she ever get tired of that word? Lucien's laughter warmed her heart. Effortlessly, he scooped her up and disappeared with her into the woods.

Alex wrapped her arms tightly around Lucien's neck. She stifled back another yawn. She closed her eyes lulled by the rocking motions of his gait. "Won't they miss us?" she asked, sleepily.

"Nah, they will party like this until dawn," Lucien whispered gently. His breath caressed over her cheeks with the warm stroke of fingers. He carried her through the dark, following the winding trail that led to his wigwa. He eased the door open and laid her down on the bed of soft covers, wrapping the blankets around her tightly. He hummed softly as he lit a small fire in the hearth.

Lucien slid in between the covers, trying not to wake Alex as she slept. He longed to make love to her. But, he understood that she needed her rest. He would spend the rest of his life, worshiping her body getting to know every curve and crevice intimately. He wrapped an arm around her pulling her close.

Alex sleepily opened her eyes, blushing as Lucien stared down at her. She brought up a hand to trace the light lines that adorned the corners of his mouth. "We should consummate our marriage vows," she whispered softly.

"Shh," Lucien said, taking her fingertips to his mouth to kiss them. "You need sleep."

Alex giggled, "Honey, I'm never that tired." She wound her hands through his hair, pulling him closer. Ending all debates, her lips mingled with his.

Chapter 47

Patrick waited for a respectable amount of time after the ceremony to skip out into the cover of darkness. Watching Janine flutter around his brothers like a honeybee, buzzed from flower to flower, gathering nectar; infuriated him. He didn't know why he should care. The woman was an innocuous flirt. For her flirtation was as easy as breathing. She did it without thought. Good thing too, considering there weren't many thoughts going on in that empty airspace she called a brain. She'd made her way to every one of his brothers. Every. One. Except for him. Irked beyond good sense, he disappeared before he picked a fight with one of his brothers.

Shortly before dawn, Patrick arrived in the city and parked Alex's old Honda along a stretch of deserted street. He was still irritated by his response to Janine's flirtations. Still irritated by the fact that he was irritated by her actions in the first place. More than ready for an old fashioned ass kicking session, he slid out into the ocean of concrete and steel in search of something or someone to take out his frustrations on.

***********

Kore slid out from behind the corner of a building and smiled. What perfect timing. She'd gone out for a little hunting. And look what she'd caught. A Son! He was thoroughly distracted by his thoughts and not paying a bit of attention to his surroundings. Although he was acting like one, she got the sense that this was no fledgling. Power rippled in the air. What a lucky catch. She slit the tip of one finger on her fang and let her blood fall to the concrete.

Patrick's head snapped up at the scent of rogue blood, fresh and thick in the air. He could have been jumped right then and there for all the attention he'd been paying to his surroundings. Stupid. DUMB. ASS. Janine had really gotten under his skin. Not her fault. His. Dagger drawn, he followed the trail into the dark cavern between two buildings. Not an optimal place to go, especially alone. But, gauging by the scent, there was only one rogue Easy pickings. And he needed something to pound his fists into before the night was over.

*************

The next morning Alex awoke, opening her sleep filed eyes against the bright sunlight that filtered in through the windows. The promise of warmth and sun lured outside. Taking a deep breath she inhaled the scents of the forest that surrounded her. The sweet smell of fragile blossoms filled her nostrils as she gazed up at the splendor of the trees. Their newly formed leaves adorned gnarled and twisted branches. She was in love. Her new life was unfolding like the waking buds that danced above her head. She stretched out her arms and spun, laughing allowing the waves of her joy to carry her away.