Chapter 129: The Mind is a Strange Place

I woke up alone in Teddy and I’s bed. I was alone though, that was strange, I thought. I stood stretching. My mind felt fuzzy, but my stomach grumbled. Breakfast, that was all I needed. I was already dressed for the day which I found strange, but I smelled clean. The black dress was fitted and nicely cut, I thought.

I felt like I should maybe change, but another thought pushed through, “Go eat, see my friends” I heard myself internally say. So, I did. Nothing felt too amiss. I walked through the halls of Astor Hall. It felt so much like home here, now. Paris had been miserable, but thinking about it made me feel like I should focus on getting breakfast. That is more important, my mind forced me to think.

So, I shook the feeling and focused on keeping my mind vacant except to go to the table and eat. I pushed the two doors of the dining room open and found everyone sitting, Leia gave me a smile as did Baron. Aiden was seated but he didn’t smile, nor did he even look at me. Teddy sat at the table and gave me the most reassuring look out of everyone. I took my seat next to him. “Sorry if I was late.” I said as I sat down.

“That is perfectly alright.” Teddy assured me and he clapped, in walked the vein bound. I noticed the terror in them was alarming, but suddenly they relaxed. It was strange, I thought. We all drank; Teddy and I shared as we always did. I was so thirsty and drank but a felt a big tug back and stopped feeding. Another Vein bound replaced the one I had been feeding from and then another and another.

I felt my mind saying, “You are full” So I pulled back. “Well, I wonder what Malachar will have me do today?” I made an off-handed comment. “I have to go” Aiden said and stood he left the dining room quickly. “I will let you two have your space, come along Leia” Baron said. That was strange, I thought, but my mind wanted to drop the subject, so I did, and I turned to Teddy. I smiled at him, and he returned it. “Beatrix, Malachar has granted you time off.” He told me.

I found that strange. Why would the psycho king himself be so giving. “Why?” I asked. Ease filled me then and I heard Teddy speak again. “I told him we are trying to start a family, so for the next several months, you will not be learning.” That made no sense. Relief filled me smoothly.

I knew Malachar thought having families was one of the most important tasks a female could have. Teddy Spoke again distracting me from my thoughts. “We are going to stay at home and Aiden, is going to retrieve the relics, you will destroy them close to Astor Hall, don’t worry I told him not to touch them, so no need to worry about him being hurt. In the meantime, we will relax and Baron is working on getting Ava and even Wes out.” He said smoothly.

“What?” I asked, the hunt for those dammed relics was my thing, it was my task, I wanted to end that fucking insane monster. Calmness seemed to overcome me, and I stilled, and my mind went blank. “You still want Malachar gone, correct?” Teddy asked.

“Of course, I want him gone, it really is the only thing I want.” I said truthfully. It wasn’t a lie. I was happy with Teddy, I liked our life, but I couldn’t live with myself if I didn’t end him. He was evil incarnate. It was funny, I thought. I had so many things, choice taken from me, but this one, ending the evilest most vile thing to walk the earth, would be my choice and legacy. That was what I wanted more than anything. Teddy nodded, taking my hand in his. His thumb stoked my skin, and it felt nice.

“And you will, I will make sure of it.” I flushed and smiled. “In my mind again, aren’t you?” I said, slightly flirting with him. He strained only for a moment; it caught me off guard, but his handsome smile replaced the very brief grimace. “You know me too well.” He said, giving me a playful smirk, I asked “So if Aiden is retrieving the dark relics, what are we going to be doing? Because Teddy I refuse to have a child with you while that monster is alive, I won’t subject a baby to living with Malachar as the supreme ruler.”

Teddy nodded “I know, I figured as much. We will just relax, have fun, do things you and I like, and when Aiden gets back, I will take you to the mass grave not far from here and you can do the ritual again, and hopefully it will all be over soon.” I smiled at that. “So, even though we aren’t actually making a new little vampire, I don’t think that means we can’t practice.” Teddy snorted at my comment.

“Are you little wife trying to seduce me?” I shrugged but flashed him a smirk. “Maybe in a bit, maybe just today we should spend it in the library, reading a novel, that sounds nice. Maybe even if you're a good girl, I will read one to you.” I laughed and it did sound like a nice time. How long had it been since I did nothing but read a novel or had one read to me while I did nothing but relax.”

I quickly stood up. “I will race you” I said but the urge left me quickly. “No I think a little stroll sounds nice, a nice easy pace with my beautiful wife leaning into me and then a nice relaxing read” I didn’t know why I didn’t want to run anymore, but I couldn’t deny that it sounded nice leaning into Teddy and strolling through Astor Hall. “Alright, then but I think you may not like the book I have in mind.” I said and he stood offering me his arm which I gladly took. “Let me guess, Jane Eyre.” I snorted. “That is no fair, you can look into mind” I said but he shrugged as we began our walk to the library at a casual pace.