Purebreds and Power

“Care to explain what’s going on?” Eckhard leaned against the closed bedroom door.

“Dad, Han’s my fated mate.” Lilly wrapped her arm around Han’s, gripping his bicep, and Han rubbed Lilly’s hand as he looked down at her.

“Since when? Why didn’t you tell me?”

“We found each other in the forest.” Straightening Han’s white tie, Lilly looked into Han’s eyes. “He tried to send me home. A couple of times, actually.” Then she turned back to her father. “But letting him go was never an option.”

“How did you know your daughter marked me?” Han sat down on the settee and guided Lilly down beside him.

“Our kind has a unique receptor. Something hardwired into our DNA. It allows us to sense those that belong to us. Our family.” Eckhard stepped away from the door. “You smell different than the last time I saw you.” He stuck his nose up and took a long whiff. “You’ve taken a piece of my daughter. A minuscule portion. But you belong now.” Then Eckhard fell into the tufted burgundy armchair. “How could I have missed your connection?”

“I tried to explain, but you never let me. You kept pushing my engagement to Dax.” Lilly grabbed Han’s hand, intertwining it with hers.

“So, all this time, I thought you were with Dax at your cabin?”

“I was here. With Han.”

“Is that why we met here instead of my bringing you?”

“Well, yes.”

“Werewolves and vampires should never be. They’re incompatible.” Eckhard stroked his chin.

“And yet you were set to marry off your daughter to one. Happily.”

“That’s different.” Eckhard looked at Han. “Gideon approached me after Dax found his mate. He promised me a small fortune. But really, you seem like a good match. Someone who could provide for and protect my daughter.”

Lilly began to speak, but Han gently squeezed her leg, silencing her rebut. “I will.”

“I figured children would be an eventuality. Difficult to have but eventual. As is often the case with non-fated matches. But you would be cared for.” Eckhard leaned forward. “But mates? Unheard of. Your children would be… It doesn’t make sense.” Eckhard rubbed his fingertips across the deep wrinkles on his forehead. With furrowed brows, he glared at Han. “Who’s your mother?”

“Isa Clairiron.”

Eckhard’s eyes grew wide. “She… Where is she? I’ve never met her with your father.”

Han’s back stiffened, and Lilly placed a hand on it.“She left this world some time ago.”

“No.” Eckhard stood, dragging his hand through his hair as he began pacing. “She’s supposed to be content. And alive. We agreed!”

Han watched Lilly’s father for a moment before bolting upright. “You!” He grabbed Eckhard’s shoulders, so they stood face to face. “You are my mother's fated mate!”

Eckhard placed his hand on Han’s lapel, then focused on Han’s eyes. “She was beautiful. Isa. Perfect in every way. You have her eyes.” Then Eckhard placed his hands an Han’s shoulders. “But she had your father and you. She said she was content.” Eckhard looked at his daughter, then sat down next to her and picked up her hands. “I was married and mated as well. Nya was finally pregnant…”

“Mom.” Lilly stroked the back of Eckhard’s hands with her thumbs. “We never talk about her.”

“I thought she was the one for me.” Eckhard looked down at Lilly’s hands, then raised them to his lips and kissed them. “She smelled of lilies. Sweet. Virtuous. Unmistakable. We were happy.” Then he sighed. “We met your parents separately at a conference. Most would say it was by mere chance, but I believe it was fate.” Skimming Lilly’s knuckles with his thumb, Eckhard closed his eyes and dropped his head. “Isa was my gardenia. Intoxicating. Warm. With her seductive, flawless, creamy white skin, she instantly dominated my senses.”

“And Mom?”

“Nya knew I had met my soulmate. She said something broke in me that day.” Eckhard lifted his head and wiped his eyes. “Nya slowly pulled away. And when you were born, she left.” He looked up at Han.“She told me to go and be happy. But I knew I could never destroy your family.” Then looked back at Lilly. “That’s why I pushed you so hard to look. So hard to be perfect. Invulnerable. Perhaps this is what was intended all along.”

“Where is she now, Dad?”

“I believe she found her fated match. My mark has faded, and the only way for that to happen is for it to be replaced. Your mother met who she was meant to be with.”

“Can I see her sometime?” Lilly dabbed the corner of her eyes with her fingertips, and Han held out his handkerchief. With a small smile, Lilly took the silk and dried her eyes.

“Oh, Lilly.” Eckhard embraced Lilly. “This is certainly not how I planned this day going!” Standing, Eckhard helped his daughter up, then joined Lilly’s hands with Han’s. “After you marry your soulmate, we will find her and celebrate again.”

Han frowned. “We will not be telling others of our fated match.”

“That’s absurd! It’s something to honor and commemorate!” Eckhard collapsed onto the bed. “Give me one reason why?”

“Lilly’s safety.”

Eckhard tilted his head.

“Finding a fated mated is unheard of with my kind. But with our joining, Lilly has gained my strength and immortality,” Han smirked, “and I have gained a beating heart and the ability to walk in the sun. Amongst others.”

“And these things would pose a threat. Wouldn’t they?” Eckhard got to his feet and stalked to the window. “Your kind are quite petty and possessive, aren’t they?”

“There are those who would try to take Lilly’s place or who would try to take her for their gain or my demise if they knew her true meaning to me.” Han tilted Lilly’s face towards his own. “And I will do nothing to bring her harm. Even if it means hiding our happiness.”

“Did you just say you were happy?” Lilly grinned up at Han.

“Today, I am extremely happy.” Han brushed Lilly’s blushing cheeks and kissed her.

“That’s all fine and good, but my daughter deserves the proper recognition of her union.”

“We will do it here. Now.” Han squeezed Lilly’s hands. “Lilly is all that matters.”

“Really?” Lilly bounced and beamed. Then she turned to her father. “Did you bring the chalice?”

Eckhard smiled and walked to his bag, removing a locked box. Then he brought out an ancient-looking key.

Han grinned, admiring the craftsmanship. “Must be from around the time of the Egyptians.”

Eckhard placed the intricate cup onto the nightstand. “Not quite what I expected. But it’ll do.” Then he brought out a ceremonial knife. “Stand here, join left hands, and turn them palms up.”

Han looked at his beautiful Lilly and couldn’t imagine a more perfect way to celebrate. Her long flowing locks had been swept up onto her head in elegant yet playful curls. The pale yellow dress complimented her coloring and skimmed her curves with its mermaid silhouette. Intricate lace formed the nearly sheer bodice.

She looked amazing, and he would forego the whole facade if he could.

Han took Lilly’s hand, intertwining it with his, and they turned toward Eckhard.

Eckhard held up the knife. “These two have found each other.” Then he sliced Lilly’s wrist, across her palm, down her fourth finger and onto Han’s fourth finger up to his wrist.

The thin cut bled, and Eckhard placed their hands over the two-sided chalice. “Once, you were apart, henceforth never divided.” A small amount of blood dripped into the cup before Han and Lilly healed. Then Eckhard nodded at Lilly.

Lilly picked up the chalice in her right hand and turned it, so the side holding Han’s blood faced her. She smiled, tears welling in her eyes. “Blood of my blood, flesh of my flesh, my heart beats to love and protect you. Now and forever.” Then she drank Han’s blood.

Han leaned forward and kissed Lilly before wiping the corner of her eyes. Then he took the chalice and held it up. “Blood of my blood, flesh of my flesh, my heart beats to love and protect you. Now and forever.” Then he drank Lilly’s blood.

“So our ancestors have blessed, and I do decree, a match made through fate, a bond created through choice.” Eckhard smiled and then sighed. “Treat my daughter well. Better than I ever did.”

“It is my honor to.”

—--

Han and Lilly stood outside the closed ballroom doors. Light music filled the air, drowning out the incessant chatter.

“We’re kind of late.” Lilly smoothed her dress and wiped the inside corners of her eyes.

Han tilted his head and raised a brow.

“Oh, forget it.” Talking Han’s arm in hers, Lilly straightened and held her head up. “Let’s do this.”

Han kissed Lilly’s temple and then opened the doors.

The tune instantly changed. Han pulled on his cuffs and tugged his jacket, then began walking—his beloved at his side.

Candles floated in the air, lighting the couple’s dimmed path. Melodic strums of violins, violas, cellos, and contrabasses danced with spirited notes from flutes, piccolos, clarinets, bassoons and oboes. Tubas, trumpets, and trombones joined, rounding out the processional.

Hushed whispers passed behind covered mouths, but Han didn’t mind.

Once the pair reached the covered table in the middle of the room, Han turned to Lilly.

“Today, I have chosen. This woman has chosen me in return.” Then he plucked the sheet from the table, revealing a separated pair of white bats. “As is custom, these creatures of the night will find each other as we have and, in turn, bring us luck in our union.” Han then bent and put his finger on the opening on top of the cage. He looked up and nodded at Lilly, and she did the same.

Han looked at the creatures—small, silent. He couldn’t help but think about the gravity of the occasion.

A brief meeting.

A silent moment between kindred spirits.

It had not been long ago, yet forever together didn’t seem long enough.

Han closed his eyes, and when he opened them, his Lilly was waiting, smiling.

Always in sync.

Complementing his every flaw.

Perfectly.

And they pulled the levers on the cages.

The bats immediately flew out in different directions. Each one ducked and weaved on the air currents, flitting silently around the room.

No one made a sound.

Then the bats found each other.

In quick succession, they dodged the candles, climbing higher and higher in the ballroom until they found the one opening to their freedom.

And they took it.

The room exploded in laughter and cheering, and Han squeezed Lilly’s hand.

Gideon stood and tapped a utensil on a crystal glass. “Now, for the moment we’ve all been waiting for!” He turned to the united pair. “The ceremonial, public consummation!”