The Bride He Hates-Chapter 57: What Are We?

The porcelain cup shattered in Lyanna’s hand.

She stared at the fragments scattered on the floor. It was the fifth thing she had broken that morning. Her new vampire strength kept betraying her, turning every simple action into potential destruction.

"How long until I stop breaking everything?" She asked in frustration.

"A few weeks, usually." Azrael replied as he leaned against the wall "Your strength has increased exponentially, but your muscle memory is still used to human limits."

They practiced for hours. She tried picking up objects without crushing them, opening doors without tearing them from their hinges. Every action that had once been normal for her now required extra caution.

But worse than the strength were her enhanced senses. Everything was too loud; she could hear conversations three floors away. Everything was too bright for her; even the candlelight seemed harsh to her new eyes

"You’ll learn to control your senses." Azrael assured her. "Eventually you’ll be able to tune out what you don’t need."

Then suddenly the hunger hit her. She could smell blood everywhere. Her fangs came out involuntarily.

"It’s time for your first feed." Azrael said.

He led her to a private chamber where a young man was waiting, Mark, a human.

"He’s a willing donor." Azrael said. "A servant who volunteers regularly. He is used to this."

Mark bowed, tilting his head to expose his neck. The hunger surged so intensely that Lyanna had to freeze herself from lunging forward.

"I don’t know if I can control it." She whispered.

"You can." Azrael stood behind her, putting his hands on her shoulders. "Approach slowly. You’re the predator, you have to decide when and how to feed."

She stepped forward and stood in front of Mark.

"Where?" She asked.

"The neck." Azrael replied. "Pierce the skin with your fangs, they’ll do the most of the work, they’re designed for this. Don’t bite hard."

Lyanna leaned in. She could hear his heart pounding. Her fangs touched his neck instinctively, but for a moment she hesitated. But then she bit him. Blood flooded her mouth, and the taste was amazing. It was euphoric and perfect. It satisfied her hunger she didn’t know existed. She wanted more.

"Stop." Azrael said. "You’ve had enough for a first feeding."

Lyanna had to forcefully pull back. After Mark left, Lyanna started trembling from the intensity of what she had experienced. The taste of blood was still lingering in her mouth, and power was rushing through her veins.

"That was..." She couldn’t find words to describe it.

"That was overwhelming." Azrael finished for her. "It always is at first. Hunger is one of the strongest drives you’ll experience as a vampire. But you stopped when I told you to. That was important."

"But I didn’t want to."

"Don’t worry. The hunger will get easier to manage with time, but it will never go away completely. You’ll always be a predator. You just have to learn to feed without losing yourself to instinct."

"How often do I’ve to feed?"

"You’ll need to feed every few days at first. Eventually, as your vampire body stabilizes, you can go longer between feedings. I feed once a week, though I can go longer if necessary."

"And what happens if I don’t feed?"

"The hunger will become unbearable. You’ll lose control and become feral. It’s better to feed regularly, and from willing donors."

"Will you teach me?" She asked. "Not just feeding, but everything. How to be a vampire without being a monster."

Azrael smiled.

"That’s exactly what I intend to do. You’re not just any newly turned vampire, Lyanna. You’re my wife, my queen, and my responsibility. I’ll teach you everything."

Her first public appearance as a vampire felt like being on a trial. The throne room was filled with nobles. She walked beside Azrael down the centre aisle. Her new vampire grace made her every movement effortless. As she walked, she felt everyone around her assessing and judging her.

When they reached at their thrones, Adrian approached them.

"Your Majesty." He addressed Lyanna. "You look formidable. The transformation suits you."

"Thank you, Adrian."

"I know you’re still adjusting. But if His Majesty agrees, I’d like to resume your training. Vampire combat techniques are very different from human fighting. Your previous training won’t be very useful to you now."

Before Azrael could respond, Lyanna spoke.

"That’s a generous offer, Adrian. I accept."

Adrian smiled.

"Excellent. We can begin whenever you’re ready."

As he left, she noticed Azrael looking at her.

"Are you sure about the training?" He whispered.

"Yes. I need to learn how to fight as a vampire." She glanced at him. "Unless you’re planning to train me yourself?"

"I can."

"But you won’t have time. You’re running a kingdom, managing the crisis with the Holy Order, and dealing with a dozen other problems."

Before he could respond, Helena came to them.

"Your Majesty, may I request a private audience? There are certain matters I need to discuss regarding your new position."

Lyanna looked at Azrael, and he nodded. She stood up and went with Lady Helena to a quiet corner.

"Have a seat, Your Majesty." Helena said, gesturing to a chair, as she sat on a chair opposite her.

"You’ll need to adjust." Helena started immediately. "You need to learn feeding etiquette like when and where you’ll feed yourself, and from whom. And, as you are newly turned, you’re technically at the bottom of our social structure. Your title says you’re at the top but according to your age, you’re at the bottom. This difference will make some vampires test you."

"And how do I handle all that?"

"By being stronger than they expect. By learning faster, and by showing them that while you may be young, you’re not weak."

They talked for a few minutes more before Helena stood up to leave.

"Don’t worry. I’ll train you. Just don’t try to fumble or embarrass yourself." Helena said and left.

The words hurt her, but she controlled herself. As she walked back towards her throne, she heard whispered conversations in the hall.

"She gained power through marriage."

"She’s still a child in vampire terms."

"Being a queen doesn’t change what she is."

Each comment was a reminder that she had a lot to prove, without making any mistakes.

"Everything alright?" Azrael asked when she sat beside him.

"Yes. Helena was just telling me about vampire social hierarchies. Apparently being a queen doesn’t actually mean I’m at the top."

"In title, yes, but in age..." Azrael shrugged. "Vampire society is complicated. Age and power matter more than titles."

"So I need to prove myself."

"You already are." He gestured towards Adrian. "Accepting his training offer was smart. It shows you don’t want to hide behind me."

"I can’t hide behind you anymore." Lyanna looked at him. "I’m a vampire now, which means I need to be able to stand on my own, fight my own battles, and command my own respect. Otherwise, I’ll always be just a decoration."

"I’m liking this new version of Lyanna Thornfield." Azrael replied with a smile.

As the court ended, and they sat for dinner in their private chambers, the atmosphere felt different.

"So what are we now?" Lyanna asked abruptly.

"What do you mean?"

"You married me for revenge but I’m not your human victim anymore. I won’t endure your punishments for decades and die like you originally planned. So what’s the point of your revenge now?"

Azrael was silent for a long time. Lyanna could see surprise, and discomfort on his face.

"I don’t know. We’re not what we were. The reasons I married you feel irrelevant now."

"But we’re not nothing either. Are we?"

"No. We’re not nothing."

"Then what?"

"I don’t have answers, Lyanna. All I know is we have eternity together, and the relationship we build from this point forward, will be what we choose, not what circumstances force."

Before they could talk more, the door slammed open, like always, disrupting their conversation. Victor stepped inside.

"Your Majesties, forgive the intrusion. The Leader has finally spoken."

Azrael stood up instantly.

"What did she say?"

"She has revealed something disturbing. The Holy Order’s attacks were just the beginning. There’s a larger organization behind them, the Council of Light, and they’re planning a coordinated strike against all vampire courts simultaneously.

And Your Majesties, they have inside help. There are more vampires like Elise, working to bring down vampire society from within."

Silence filled the room.

"We need to warn the other courts immediately." Lyanna said.

"We’re already doing that." Victor replied.

"We have to work together on this, not just as husband and wife, but as king and queen."

"I know. Our personal drama is nothing compared to what’s coming. If the Council of Light succeeds, there won’t be a vampire society left to rule."

"Then we’ll make sure they don’t succeed."

Azrael looked at Lyanna with new respect.

"Are you sure you’re ready for this?"

"To be honest, I don’t know. But I’m a vampire queen. And I’ll do what a queen is required to do; protect her land and her people."