“Why’s that?”
He tried to picture Sarah’s face, hear the voice of his long-dead love. “Back then it was expected women did what they were told. Strong-willed women were frequently labeled witches.”
“Why wasn’t she?”
“Her family was well connected, and she was very smart. She had three brothers. Since her family was rich, they could afford private tutors. She learned along with them.”
“She was already ahead of the bell curve.”
He nodded. “She could get her hands dirty if necessary, like any peasant. She didn’t tolerate injustice. Her parents were very well-liked, fair people. They had money but treated others justly.”
“Because of that she was given more leeway?”
“Exactly.”
“Where did you meet?”
“I was hunting with another cousin. We came across her while she was riding, and she challenged us to a race.”
“Really?”
“I chased her for a year before she finally said yes.”
“Love at first bite?”
He started to continue, realized what she meant, and laughed. “My story to tell.”
“Sorry.”
“I married her when I was seventeen. She was sixteen.”
“You were babies!”
“Not back then. Remember, it was a long time ago. We were nearly middle aged by then.”
“True.”
“I didn’t know about my family history. My father was waiting to tell me. He was away visiting family. We married while he was gone.”
“Oh, naughty!”
He sighed. “I was seventeen, a horny teenager.”
“Let me guess, she was more than willing to let you ravish her?”
“Father was very upset when he returned, but what was done couldn’t be undone. Not that we would have annulled the marriage even if we could. Needless to say, I didn’t believe him at first.” He paused to collect his thoughts. “Then he gave me a demonstration that convinced me.”
“If it was anything like the demonstration you gave me with the waitress at Gardiner, I bet it was a doozy.”
He nodded. “I am my father’s son. Let’s just say Sarah wasn’t hurt, and he got his point across.” Boy, did he.
“Did she know? About you being a vampire?”
“We did tell her. She was willing to keep my secret. She loved me.”
She didn’t want to ask about the children, but she didn’t have to. He willingly continued. “Michael was our firstborn. He lived one month. I suppose now it would be called a SIDS death, but it’s difficult to say. Mary, our second child, lived two days, was very weak at birth.” He grew quiet. “Sarah died during childbirth with Thomas, our third. He was a breech birth and she hemorrhaged very badly. A lot of women died during childbirth back then. Even more children never made it to their first birthday.”
“I’m so sorry, Matthias.”
He hugged her. “It was a long time ago. Over five hundred and fifty years ago. I went to live with Father’s parents for a while. My grandfather, Tobias, especially, kept me going. He helped me develop and hone my skills. Eventually, I found my will to live. And here I am.”
“And here you are,” Taz whispered.
She dozed in his arms, and now that those memories had been stirred, he couldn’t help revisiting them.
Yes, he truly was his father’s son.
Livid didn’t begin to describe Michael Hawthorne’s mood when he returned and found his only child had married in his absence. At first, Matthias thought it was because his father didn’t like Sarah.
“You are a bloody idiot! How could you be so irresponsible?”
“You never told me when you were returning, Father. I didn’t know if you’d be gone a month or a year or ten. You left me in charge, and if you trusted me with our land and holdings, how can you deny me this?”
“Because—” Michael Hawthorne dropped his voice when he realized he was screaming. “Because, Matthias, we are not like other people. We cannot go randomly marrying whomever we choose.”
“What are you talking about?”
“We have a unique bloodline in our veins. We are not like other people.”
Matthias didn’t like the look in his father’s blue eyes. “What are you saying?”
Michael moved in close, his face inches from his son. “We are vampires,” he whispered. “Did you not think it odd on your wedding night that you bit your bride?”
Matthias’ face registered shock and disbelief. How could he have known? “What?”
Michael nodded. “You need a demonstration? Fine.” He hooked his hand around his son’s arm and dragged him through the door to the dining room where Sarah sat at the table waiting for them. She’d been crying, and the sight nearly broke Matthias’ heart.
“Son, you sit there and don’t you move.”
His father’s eyes blazed. Matthias felt compelled to obey.
Michael turned to Sarah and fixed his vivid blue eyes on her. “Stand, girl.”
Her full attention was on her father-in-law. As if dreaming, she slowly rose to her feet.
Michael held out his hand. “Come here to me.”
Matthias wanted to stand, his heart pounding, but found he was unable to move from his chair. Michael looked at his son.
“I am about to show you why I am so upset. To prove to you what I am saying so you understand. I was going to tell you upon my return, but unfortunately you have complicated our lives.” He returned his attention to Sarah, who now stood before him. “Do you love Matthias?” he asked.
“Yes, Father.”
“Would you do anything for him?”
“Yes, Father.”
“Would you hold secrets that could mean your death if you didn’t reveal them?”
“Anything.”
He nodded. “Kneel before me.”
Matthias struggled to stand when his father fixed his eyes on him again. “You stay right there, Matthias. You will learn what your lack of self-control might have cost us all. Perhaps in the future you will remember this lesson and it won’t bear repeating.” He looked at Sarah, who was now on her knees before him. “Have you lain with any man besides my son? Tell me the truth.”
She blushed but shook her head. “No.”
“What you learn in this household, you must never repeat to anyone, not even your own blood kin. To do so will cost us our lives. Are you prepared to bear that burden?”
“Yes.”
“Stay where you are, girl.” He walked around her to stand behind Matthias. Sarah’s back was to them. “Matthias, we are vampires. Whether you wish to believe it or not, it’s what and who we are. Fortunately we do not feed on blood to live, but as you yourself experienced on your wedding night, sometimes there is a desire we cannot slake except through our true love. You have powers you’ve never dreamed of, boy, and with those powers come great responsibility, to protect those around us, those we love, and to never abuse others beneath us.”
“You’re mad!”
“Then why not stand and prove me wrong?”
Matthias struggled to stand and couldn’t. “What have you done to me?”
Michael’s eyes narrowed. “I am demonstrating to you just a small fraction of what we are capable of.”
“Is she going to turn into a hideous creature because of what I did?”
Michael’s smile was sad. “No, son. The legends are just that. We are born the way we are. Sunlight does not harm us, as you yourself are proof. Those like you and I are very strong and can chain people to our will. Some of your children, should you have any, might be born with some of the traits.”
Reality tried to reassert itself, and Matthias struggled against the chair but still could not stand. “I don’t believe you! You’re insane!”
“Am I?” He leaned in close. “Do you think your wife would ever willingly approach another man?”