Private Tales The Newlywed Game

[Kieran Harrovian]

Kieran used to garden but that had gone by the wayside when he was no longer able to go outside during the day. Yes, he could have planted at night but he preferred to sulk and turn away from the things he once loved. He just never picked it up again. No real reason behind it.

"That's fine," he said softly and reached for the short glass with dark liquid in it. He brought it to his lips for a drink. He really missed being able to get drunk when he did not want to feel things.

Kieran had been in a curious mood today. He had been struggling so much with wanting to tell Brie the truth. He fought the urge everyday and succeeded until he saw her beautiful face every night. They had finally gotten to a point where she didn't look at him with hatred. The truth would ruin that.

"What would you like to do tonight? Or talk about? Anything you want, Brie..."

 

[Polina]

She blinked. That was easy. Too easy?

One boot slipped off and then she worked on the other. "Will Seralynn just take me into town?" She asked casually, fingers working on those knots. Gaze flickered up to his own then back to the laces.

"Hmm and tonight," a slow smile curved its way on her lips. "How about we play a game of cards? I'm not sure what we'd wager but we can make a bet." It was dangerou for her to offer the idea but Brie liked to live dangerously sometimes.

 

[Kieran Harrovian]

"No," Kieran held her gaze until she focus back on her boots. "I will take you whenever that comes." His voice was hard and left no room for argument. He was not going to let her leave without him. Period.

He sat back and matched her smile. "I could think of a good wager. It involves you taking off clothes when you lose..."

Kieran took another drink with that smirk on his face.

 

[Polina]

Gods he was such an ass sometimes.

Still. She was surprised about his first response. She didn't think he'd have time with his work...or that he'd want to be bothered with taking her into town. And she wasn't about to argue with him on that. She didn't care who took her as long as she got to leave.

She was getting a little cabin fever.

She peeled off her second boot and stood. Rising to his challenge, arms crossing beneath her chest as she walked over to him. "And what if I said I'm willing to play this game? What would I get if I won?" The smirk didn't leave her face. She wondered if he could come up with something that was worth it for her to play.

And the same time, she found herself feared for and excited for his response. What if it was really good? WAs she ready to take that chance? Take this wager? Because if she lost....he'd see everything that jumper had failed to hide their first night (which wasn't too much but still).

 

[Kieran Harrovian]

Kieran stood and snaked an arm around her waist, pulling her close to him. "What do you want?" He whispered into her ear quietly.

 

[Polina]

She’d be lying if she said her heart didn’t pick up a little as his arm went around her. One hand went to his shoulder and the other upon his chest as he drew her closer. She swallowed before speaking making sure her voice came out steady.
“ I want answers. When I ask a question I want you to tell me the truth. Do you want to play the game?”
Eyes locked on to his own as she waited for his response. Teeth dragged lightly across her lower lip and she took in a breath and held it.

 

[Kieran Harrovian]

"What if we skip the cards and play a different game. One piece of clothing for one honest answer. I will even throw in a piece of my own clothing to sweeten the pot."

Kieran wanted to be honest with her. He wanted to tell her everything. He wanted her to know the true him. He knew it would just make her hate him even more though.

The struggle he had been having with himself.

He didn't move his arms from around her, he didn't kiss her, he didn't smirk.

Vampire Lord Kieran Harrovian held her eyes with his. He had never looked more serious in his life.

And he has serious.

 

[Polina]

She...blushed.

And blushed furiously beneath her darker skin. Damn him and those eyes of his. And how close he was. And how serious he was.

"Oh I get it, you're just scared I'll beat you," she managed, her smile faltering. Because she knew exactly what he wanted to do to her. And she didn't know if she was ready for allllllllllll that. Playing his way was guaranteeing her answers. But it was also guaranteeing him a win as well.

She had a choice to make here.

How far did she want to go to get answers?

Chin tilted as she looked up at him. "Okay," she finally whispered. "But we are locking that damn door because I don't want any staff just waltzing in on this little game."

 

[Kieran Harrovian]

Kieran smiled now that she had agreed to his game. His game was so much more fun. He leaned down and kissed her softly on the lips. Only a moment before he was gone and walking towards the study door.

"Oberon, go find Seralynn for a treat." He closed the door behind the hound and locked it in a flash before turning back to his wife.

He would let her start the game. The vampire hooked his fingers under the hem of his shirt and pulled it off over his head in an easy motion. Brie hadn't seen her beloved without a shirt on and he could only imagine what she was thinking. His lips just quirked up a little as he walked back and took his seat.

"Ask your first question, my wife..."

 

[Polina]

Fingers fell to her hips as she looked at him.

"Did anyone ever tell you you're too confident? That's not my question," she quickly added. A hand coming to tuck dark curls behind one of her ears. She took a step back and leaned-half-perched on the edge of his desk. She was worried about what being too close to him would do to her. She needed her mind to stay sharp.

To ask good questions.

Lips pressed together then parted.

"Okay husband, what do you really do for work?"

 

[Kieran Harrovian]

A rumbling chuckle came from Kieran, "no, I don't believe anyone has." He smiled when she quickly followed up that that wasn't her question.

She started with a gut punch and he took a deep breath. It was a habit from being around humans since he didn't need to breath.

"I have a massive amount of wealth. I keep my wealth up by running a few trade lines and a few merchant ships." All true. He had a proxy though. A man who went in his place during the day. A man he met with at night. A man he paid handsomely.

"Lose a piece of clothing, beautiful, and ask your next question..."

 

[Polina]

She knew he was rich. From the wedding alone. From the dowry he’d paid. From everything about this place. It made sense that it was around shipping. Still. She couldn’t shake the feeling that he was in something…

Reaching down, she peeled off the wool sock from her right foot. Bare toes twinkled in his direction. A smirk of her own briefly flickering across her face. Clothing was clothing. She had one more sock and then…then things would get interesting.

“Is your trade legal?”

 

[Kieran Harrovian]

Kieran thought about her question as he reached down to take off one boot. Two could play that game. He hadn't kept his boots on for any particular reason but he was glad he had. Poor Brie had already taken hers off before the game started. How tragic.

"It is in a grey area. It is mostly legal but I don't think all of the buyer and sellers are completely legitimate. I am sure there are plenty that are but I don't ask and they don't tell."

His business had been built from nothing. In the eyes of the world, it was a family business passed down through the generations.

"Because I am a loving, caring husband...I will allow you to count your boots as two questions even though you took them off before the game." He smiled at her. Only slightly worried about what the next two questions would bring.

 

[Polina]

“Such a generous husband,” she mused. Her fingers curled against the corner of the desk she leaned upon. She made no move to take off another sock. She had two free questions now.

He was strong and he moved fast.

Too much for any normal human.

“Are you…a wizard? And…were you lying to me when you said I couldn’t leave the property because there were werewolves?”

Her two questions.

 

[Kieran Harrovian]

Kieran thought about this answer longer than the others. They were going down the road that started his undoing.

"No, I am not a wizard. I do not have magic. My abilities are..." He paused, "part of me." That seemed like a poor explanation.

"The not crossing the creek was half true. I didn't want you to leave because I had a feeling you would try to leave. There are werewolves though and they have a bone," he chuckled dryly at his unintentional joke. "To pick with me. We have a truce but there's always one young pup who wants to prove himself. He doesn't live long."

The part was said as an aside. He reached down and removed his other boot. He knew she would have follow ups to those answers.

 

[Polina]

She didn’t know whether to focus on the fact that he’d lied to her. That he would’ve had her shot not ‘just to protect her.’ But to keep her here. Or that he was talking as if werewolves were real. He truly believed they were.

And his….abilities? What the hells did THAT mean?

Before she came up with any more questions she was going to make one thing straight. One hand lifted, a finger pointing in accusation at her husband.

“You will promise me that your shoot orders will be taken away tonight or I am DONE playing this game.” It was clear she was being serious. And if he wanted to lose her for good, he was getting awfully close.

 

[Kieran Harrovian]

That is what she wanted to focus on out of everything else he had said?

Kieran's jaw was rigid perfection as he narrowed his eyes at Brie. He didn't say anything for a good minute. His chest ceased to rise and fall in his habitual breathing. Brie may have seen a flash of red brighten his brown eyes for a second. His fingers dug into the arms of his chair. He was pure predator as he stared at her. If she was smart, she would be afraid right now.

He finally tore his eyes from her and growled out an angry, "fine. I will have it dropped."

He wasn't just mad that this human bested him on multiple occasions, she didn't believe him about the werewolves. She didn't believe that he wanted to protect her. She just wanted to defy him at every single turn.

 

[Polina]

Unfortunately for her husband, she was anything but scared. She was angry. She was…fascinated. She pushed off the desk, the braid she’d had all day becoming more undone with each movement she took.

The hand she’d been pointing with lowered to her side and balancing on one foot, she angrily stripped off the remaining sock. Teetering as she did so and nearly falling. But she didn’t.

Bare feet took a step closer to him, chest heaving. “What are you? What’s going on here?”

Technically two questions.

 

[Kieran Harrovian]

Kieran knew that question was going to be next. He knew that she was going to run from him and never look back. Would he let her? Would he kill her? He had grown to like her and he didn't want to kill her but his secret couldn't get out.

He stood up to his full height and peered down at Brie. The human who controlled him without even trying. How did one say I am a vampire without sounding like a lunatic. Did he just show her his fangs? Perhaps he should turn into a bat.

"Fuckkkk," he growled. Not at Brie. Not out of anger. He was frustrated.

He would start at the beginning as he gazed down at her. Hopefully she would find the truth in his eyes, his words.

"Do not interrupt me until I am done, please. Werewolves, vampires, demons, fae...all of those things exist. They are hidden from humans for the most part. Some better than others. When I was in my twenties, I met a man who promised me wealth, power, and to be young forever. I was young and stupid, I accepted his offer. My one request was that he left my family alone. He didn't...he killed them all. It was his way to make me beholden to him. I couldn't leave because I missed my family if there was none."

Kieran paused then. He didn't need to breath but he suspected that Brie would like a minute to catch up.

"That man turned me into a vampire. I forever walk the night now."

His eyes were sad as he held hers. He was so afraid of what she was going to say. He didn't want her to leave but he understood if she did.

 

[Polina]

She stared up at him. As he spoke, a sane response would probably have been to back away. Maybe to run away. Maybe to laugh at his words, thinking he was a lunatic.

But she did none of these things.

Even though they’d only been together a little over a month or two, she knew him. Knew that he was being serious. It was in his tone. His demeanor. His eyes. The absence of a smirk.

“Show me,”she said quietly. Her bi-colored eyes locking onto his own. Never wavering.

 

[Kieran Harrovian]

Kierans eyes held hers. He couldn't believe what she was saying. Show me. He felt a thrill run through his body as he was faced with the prospect that she wanted to see him. His hand snaked up to hold the back of her head and he pulled her into a kiss. He couldn't help it. If this was the last time he got to kiss her, he would take advantage of it.

When he finally pulled away, he smiled at her. His fangs visible. Nothing else had changed in his appearance. His eyes only changed colors in certain circumstances.

"I wanted to tell you right away but I couldn't," his hand touched the side of her face gently.

 

[Polina]

She’d be lying if she said the kiss didn’t do anything to her. Toes curled into the floor and she felt a raw ache. An ache to be held. One she hadn’t felt for a long time. One she’d been afraid to feel again. And even though her husband provoked her ire more often than not, she felt that need for him.

Eyes dropped from his to look at his fangs. Her own hand rose and gently cupped the side of his cheek. Her thumb stroking dangerously close to one of his teeth.

And she was afraid to wonder what she was to him. He truly was a vampire. He was a wealthy lord. Why had he married? Why had he chosen her? Did it start out as a game? Was she just a game to him now?

She swallowed.

But she’d always had a big heart. And even though she questioned how he truly felt about her. What he would do to her. Whether he’d throw her away when he was done, just like other men had, she found herself focusing on something he’d said earlier.

“Oh Kieran. I’m so sorry you lost your family.” Her other hand would lightly entrap the one he had against her cheek. She wanted him to know she saw him. She truly saw him and his loss. His pain.

Even if it would be her undoing.

 

[Kieran Harrovian]

"It was over 400 years ago, Brie. I have moved past it..." Lie. "That's a lie. I'm sorry, I will never lie to you again. I don't need to lie to you anymore. What else do you want to know?"

He wrapped his arms around her and held her tight against his bare chest. He kissed her forehead and then brought his own down to rest against hers.

"I care about you, Brie. More than I probably should but definitely more than anyone else in my life besides Oberon and Seralynn. I want to spend eternity with you but I understand if that isn't an option for you now or ever. Just know my offer is there. You, me, and Oberon forever.."

 

[Polina]

Her arms slowly wound their way around his torso. Warm fingers trailing across his skin, feeling the power that lay beneath. The side of her face turned, resting against him. A puff of warm breath against him and a quiet laugh.

"I don't blame you for putting Oberon first."

And he was giving her a...choice? He wasn't going to make her turn. Perhaps she was the most surprised, and relieved, at that. Her arms didn't unwind from him but she tipped her chin back up so she could see his warm, dark eyes.

"You mean it? You'll give me a choice and won't...force me?"

Essentially he was trusting her. At least, that's how she saw it. And holy shit, he said he was...400?!

 

[Kieran Harrovian]

"I have been asking Seralynn if she wants to be turned for years. I have grudgingly accepted her no every year. I hope one day she will change her mind but I will never force her."

Kieran paused and smiled at her. Gods, she was beautiful. Seralynn had done good in choosing her. She was truly his equal in attitude and spunk and beauty. He just hoped that one day, they could be a proper husband and wife. One day.

"I promise you that I will never force you to do anything you do not want to do. I will never lie to you. I will do my best to be a good husband."