Bitten (Book 1 - Book 4)

“So much for peace and quiet,” Uri said. “But she sounds wonderful.”

Natalia chuckled.

"So good to be home.”

She walked slow up the stairs. By the time, she reached the nursery, Victoria was quiet. Mag was sitting in the rocking chair holding her.

“Go ahead and lie down,” Zena said, taking her arm and directing her out. “Let her sleep. She's getting used to things.”

“Thanks, Zena.”

Zena let go of her arm, then left, shutting the bedroom door.

Natalia went to the bathroom. While she washed her hands, she checked herself out. Her belly was noticeably smaller, but she still thought she looked rather fat. Her breasts were almost as big as a Viperians.

"What did Sophie say? Don't worry about your figure until a year after giving birth. Ugh. I just want my feet to not swell.”

She crawled into bed, relishing in the comfort and smells of home.

“Nattie?”

Natalia couldn't identify the voice since she had been sleeping so deep.

“What?”

“Nursing time,” Uri said, sitting beside her. “You don't have to get up. Just roll over a little.” Victoria was fussing. She unbuttoned her top and Uri positioned Victoria. She latched on and sucked hard.

"Yep, she’s hungry,” she said.

“You can eat when she’s done. Zena has a snack ready.”

"Okay."

The window was open. Warm air blew in.

“It looks nice out.” she said

“Very nice out. We have quite a few windows open since it's going to be nice all night, too.”

Uri sat watching Victoria. Natalia felt her eyes close, but she woke when Uri plucked Victoria off her breast. While he returned her to the nursery, she rose and used the bathroom again.

He met her when she reached the bedroom door to go downstairs.

“All I'm doing is peeing.”

"Getting rid of all your water weight will help your feet.”

She nodded. He took her arm to go down stairs.

"Yeah, my feet feel better already,” she said.

In the living room, there was iced tea and cookies.

“No sanguine tea?"

“Later tonight. You don't need so much now.”

“Can I have a swig of the other stuff?”

“No,” he said, taking a cookie.

She frowned, but finding herself hungry, she focused on eating cookies and washing them down with iced tea.

“Ah. That was good. I feel a lot better.”

“Good. Let's walk around the house,” he said.

“Why?”

“Because you need to. Walk with me.”

He took her arm and guided her toward the garage door.

“That's to the garage... You mean walk around outside the house?”

“Yes, let's go outside. It's nice out.”

“The only walking we've ever done outside was to the patio and back,” she said.

“You've hardly seen the yard. About time you have.”

He led her through the garage and out the back door. This led them to one of the gardens.

“I've never been this way,” she said.

There was no path. They crossed the grass. He led her around the guest house that was attached to the garage.

"See the neighbor's house?” he said.

There was one other house on their block.

“Yeah. Mr. Parsons lives there.”

"His son just put him in a retirement home.”

“Oh. He loved his house. He won't like that.”

“So I bought it.”

"What?" she said, looking at him. “That house isn't bigger than the one we have.”

“No, it's smaller, but the lot is larger. We now own the whole block.”

“What are you planning?”

“I'm going to connect the two houses and combining the yards.”

“You're making a bigger house out of two?”

“Sort of. We'll build a tunnel from basement to basement. Then tear down the guest house and build an extension from our garage to his garage. We'll triple garage space which will allow more parking for our staff. This will give the staff more room since the neighbors house is bigger than the guest house.”

"Wow. I know Kate has to park on the street or in the laneway.”

"We'll create a circular laneway and add a gate. Then we'll dig out the backyard, put in a new basement or sunken room for grubbies, but put on a flat roof and cover it with sod. You'll never know it's there.”

“Wow. When's this happening?”

“Tunneling starts tomorrow.”

“Tomorrow? When did you do this? I mean buy it?”

"Closed two days ago. I've been negotiating with the son for sometime now. We got a good deal on it. Of course, having Bonnie and Mag roam the neighborhood and terrorize everyone seems to be driving prices down.”

“Uri. Shame on you.”

"We have two new Viperian families moving in the area because of the lower prices.”

“Still.”

“That family no one liked moved.”

“Okay. I guess that's good.”

They reached the fence that was between the two houses.

“This is really going to be a big yard,” she said.

"Kids need a yard,” he said. “Kate's kids are grown, but Mag has a daughter and Zena would like to have children. I told them they could set themselves up in the new house.”

“That would be nice.”

“In between baby care, they'll be sprucing up the other place. It needs a few updates and some paint. As soon as the tunnel is done, they need to move so the guest house can be torn down.” “This is a big project,” she said.

“Since I'll be home on paternity leave, I can keep an eye on things,” he said. “I've got contractors lined up.”

“Maybe I need to pay more attention to what you're doing in your office.”

He chuckled and turned her around.

“That's enough walking for the day,” he said, leading her back into the house and upstairs. “Rest until the next feeding, whether it's Victoria or dinner.”

“It'll be Victoria.”

She sat on the bed, and he left. As soon as she knew he was down the stairs, she rose and stepped over into the nursery.

Victoria was sleeping. She was swaddled in blankets with just her face showing. Natalia watched her in awe for a long time before sitting in the rocking chair.

She knew she napped, but she snapped awake when Victoria fussed. Victoria was hungry again. “You are a hungry girl.”

She was just finishing when Mag appeared.

“Wondered why she was quiet for so long. Let me do a diaper check.”

Natalia watched as Mag changed Victoria's diaper.

“Mag. I am so spoiled with you around.”

“I don't know how Undents do it alone. We always help out with newborns. No one has to go it alone. And with five of us on watch, this baby will hardly know a wet diaper.”

Mag started to hand her back.

“Keep her or put her in the crib. I'm going to walk a little. Maybe step outside. I'll grab Uri.”

Mag nodded.

Natalia slowly went downstairs. She had only gone a few steps toward the kitchen before she stopped, not wanting to go the whole way to his office.

“Uri?”

He was out in an instant.

“Let's go out for another walk.”

He smiled and led her out.

They walked in the other direction. On one patio, there were five garbage bins.

“What's in there? Or more importantly, why are they there instead of by the garage?”

"Yard waste. Grass clippings and such for the grubbies. That patio is easy to access to take a pail full for feedings.”

"Grubbies can not be fed totally on grass clippings. Even with the extra yard, how are we going to feed another room of grubbies? Or is our basement not going to be used?”

“No, we'll use both areas. Tia and Grazie are just starting up so we're giving them starter stock. It will be a while before they can harvest so they're buying some of our excess grubbies to process.” “We're charging them?”

“Family rate,” he said. “Plus the new neighbors are interested in some. Some of these grass clippings are from them. Our pricing is just under what the farms charge. That is for the neighbors. I charge about half that for Tia or maybe a little less.”

“You need a better resource for feeding grubbies,” she said.

“Well, since we discovered the blood meal company, we're doing just fine,” he said.

"Yeah, until they figure out you're stealing from them.”

"When that happens, Moralis and 1 will buy the company from them and get it cheap since their profits seem to be dropping.”

“Wonder how that's happening?” she said with a roll of her eyes.

They completed one loop around the yard.

“I'm good,” she said.

“Do you want to sit up in your balcony off your office?”

“Yeah, that will be nice.”

“I'll send some iced tea up.”

Natalia paused at the top of the stairs to rest. Her bed looked more inviting than the balcony. She decided to lie down just for a short while.

“Feeding time,” Uri said, waking her. “Do you want some dinner, too?”

“Yeah. Boy. I lie down and time flies.”

“You just had a baby,” he said. “You need to rest.”

They both stared at Victoria while she suckled.

“I'm just a food source,” she said.

He chuckled.

“You're a little more then that.”

He rubbed his cheek on hers.

When she went down for dinner, she was glad to see it was a raw dinner. She snarfed it down, feeling extra hungry.

“I hope this is normal.”

“Mag will make sure you're not overeating,” he said. “Go rest. I'll wake you for the next feeding.” "Sleep, eat, pee, feed Victoria,” she said rising.

“That will be your life for a while,” he said.

"Are you going to bed early?”

"Yes. I haven't been napping like you. I've been doing a little work in between checking on you two. Design work for the house project.”

“I could use a snuggle,” she said.

“I'll be right up.”

She had hardly laid down when Uri joined her.

“You're warm,” she said. “Feels good. I don’t have my heater any more.”

“Victoria?”

"Yeah."

With all the sleep she had had throughout the day, she didn't think she would sleep, but she did. “Strangers. Strangers.’

Natalia bolted upright. Uri was sleeping next to her.

"What?" Uri said, looking a little confused from being woken from a deep sleep.

"Someone is outside in the yard,” she said, glancing at the clock. It wasn't quite midnight.

“You heard something?”

"Outside Victoria's room,” she said rising.

Uri rose and threw on a robe. He trotted down the stairs.

Natalia went to Victoria's room and peered out between the curtains. She caught shadows going over the fence, then she saw Uri moving swiftly across the yard aiming for the same area. It was a few minutes before she saw him return to the house.

She stepped back. Victoria was awake.

“Hungry?'

Victoria smacked her lips.

Natalia picked her up and sat in the rocking chair while she nursed. She heard Uri come up the stairs.

"Someone was out there,” he said. “They're gone now. I didn't see anything wrong or disturbed.” “I saw shadows through the window. They went over the fence.”

“I can't believe you heard that,” he said.

“I didn't. Victoria did.”

Uri sat in a chair beside her.

“Victoria?”

“Yes. She told me there were strangers outside.”

Uri stared at her.

“Nattie, Victoria is a baby. She can only tell us how she feels and what she wants. She's not aware of anymore than that.”

“She told me there were strangers.”

“You must have imagined. You might have heard it through our open window.”

“No. It was just like before she was born. She was screaming “Out’ at me. Then the contractions started.”

Uri still stared at her as if he didn’t believe her.

“I heard her sounding pained, but I never heard her say “Out’,” he said.

“But I thought you responded to her?”

“I was responding to you in pain,” he said. “I can barely hear her Viperian voice. Even Mag is having problems.”

“I can hear her loud and clear,” Natalia said.

“That mother-daughter bound.”

“Is this normal? Is she less Viperian? So no fangs and her voice is less?"

Uri shrugged.

“She's only half Viperian,” Natalia said

“Mirren, technically speaking, is only half Viperian, but he has all the traits. I'm technically only three quarters.”

Natalia felt at odds.

“Nattie, it doesn't matter if she has fangs or not. She's our daughter.”

“I... 1 just want her to be accepted.”

“Our friends and family accept her. Not everyone likes everyone. I'm not exactly the most popular Viperian. Everyone may know me, but not for the best of reasons.”

“I see. Not everyone was happy with my election to the Council.”

“The first Undent on the Council. Caused quite a reaction.”

“Now the first Undent Viperian.”

He chuckled.

“She's Viperian,” he said. “I know she is. The hospital proved my paternity. No one can say you were pregnant before I had you.”

They both looked down at Victoria. She was sleeping, but still firmly latched on to a teat.

“She's beautiful,” she said.

"Yes. Let's go back to bed. We both need rest.”

“Let me check her diaper. I have yet to change her. Everyone beats me to it."

“Do you even know how?"

She set Victoria on the changing table and then smacked his arm

"Of course, I do.”

She changed the diaper and settled Victoria back in the crib.

“So serene,” she said, staring at her.

He took her hand and led her back to bed. It felt as if she had only settled in, cuddling against Uri, when he woke her.

"Victoria is fussing,” he said.

She rose.

"Hungry again?”

She settled in the rocking chair to let her nurse, rocking gently. The motion put her to sleep. She woke two hours later when Mag gently took Victoria from her arms.

“It's early, go back to bed and get some sleep,” Mag said.

Natalia returned to the bedroom. Uri was still sleeping. She settled in beside him. The next time she woke, he was gone. She felt unsettled. There were voices downstairs. She threw on her robe and went to the top of the stairs.

"We'll paint over it,” Uri said, looking pissed when he disappeared into his office.

“What happened?” she said to Mag.

"Someone vandalized the garage doors. Go get dressed and come down for some breakfast,” Mag said, and she disappeared into the kitchen.

Natalia checked Victoria who fussed as soon as she entered the room.

“You want breakfast? You first, then I'm taking a nice long shower.”

She used a finger to neaten Victoria's hair, but the hairs soon moved out of place as if they had a mind of their own. Some stood straight up.

“Your hair seems to be an issue, child. So fine.”

She settled Victoria back in her crib after nursing, then went to take her long needed shower. “Just what I needed. I'm feeling so much better,” she said to herself while she dressed.

Her favorite dress was long and loose with snaps that opened up the front.

"Comfy and easy to nurse someone.”

She stepped out to find Mag changing Victoria.

“Here's a wrap for carrying her around,” Mag said.

She finished with Victoria, then pulled out what looked like a long shawl.

"Wrap this around like this, then we put Victoria here and wrap this way.”

“Nice,” Natalia said. “Comfy and she’s always there.”

“Easy to just adjust her and you can nurse on demand.”

“Thanks.”

"Come down. Breakfast is waiting for you.”

“I still feel like I'm pregnant,” she said to Mag.

Mag smiled.

“Technically the definition of pregnant is to be with child, and you are with a child. So, yes, you are pregnant.”

Natalia chuckled.

“Funny, Mag.”

She caught sight of Uri going through the door to the garage. She aimed that way.

“You don’t need to see that,” Mag said with concern.

"I want to see.”

One garage door was up. Uri and Bonnie were examining the other doors. She joined them to see that someone had spray painted a black U with a vertical line through the bottom of the U on the two garage doors she could see.

“What does it mean?” she said.

“It's an anti-Undent mark,” Uri said.

He didn't look happy.

“I already checked security cameras. The people covered themselves enough so they couldn’t be recognized,” he said.

“I thought we had alarms when someone comes to the house?”

“Not if you come through the back along a certain path.”

She recalled the one time they had come through the back.

"We'll be changing some things. They were definitely Viperian who are familiar with the typical security arrangement.”

She watched him move his eyes from the garage doors to Victoria.

“I didn't even realize she was there.”

He reached over to touch her cheek. She only moved her lips.

He smiled

“You're both so beautiful.”

She smiled when he leaned in and kissed her cheek.

“I'm going in for breakfast,” she said.

He nodded, then turned his attention back to the doors. Natalia saw him frown. The idea of vandals didn't sit well with her. She went back in with her stomach feeling tight.