Page 105 of Theoden
Bruce knelt before me, head bowed. “My Lord, please see me worthy of your blood. I pledge my life and loyalty to you for all eternity. You can even have my soul. Please…” He looked up at me. “Please make me yours.”
I looked inside his mind to see his memories, all that he shared with Marco and all that came before. He was a soldier, a deadly and smart one. Ara would be pleased with my choice inembracinghim.
I reached over, grasping his bearded chin in my palm. “You are worthy, Bruce.” I rose from my chair and told them both to follow me as I led them to the bath. There was a pot for Bruce to use after theembracingwas done, then I wanted him to bathe before he climbed into bed.
“While he bathes, I want you to go to the cellar and get a human for him to feed on,” I told Marco.
He nodded. “Yes, Father.”
Bruce was excited, I could see it in how tense his muscles were. “Remove your clothes,” I told him.
He followed orders, stripping naked of his disgusting clothing. They smelled of piss and old vomit, even though none was present. I knew he’d done both while wearing the clothes, though. I took another inspection of his body now that I had the full view. He had scars, some looked recent as he’d been in a war before Marco had found him. He was hairy, but not quite the man bear that Marco was. I did like the look of his muscular form, no doubt he was a terror on the battlefield. A kindred brother in arms for Marco. I was pleased indeed.
“Come to me.”
He walked over to me and exposed his neck. I knew Marco had fed from him at least twice during their long journey and that made Bruce even more excited to become a vampire. The pleasure of Marco’s bite had him enthralled. I had him kneel before me again. It was time for him to take the oath that I had Marco take once everything had settled after the war.
I looked at Marco and he was smirking. The brand of my House was prominent on the right side of his neck and he’d taken the pain admirably, not even crying out. I wondered, would Bruce handle the pain of the silver brand as well as Marco had? I looked down at Bruce, it was time.
“Do you pledge to uphold the rules of our Legion?” I asked.
Bruce nodded. “Yes, my Lord.” His tone was full of excitement as if he’d been waiting his entire life for this moment.
“Do you pledge to serve the Kingdom of Ara, our vampire King?”
“Yes, my Lord, with my life,” Bruce swore.
“Do you pledge to uphold the standards of the House of Théoden?”
“Yes, Father.”
I did like that he saidFather. It proved he really wanted this gift I was about to bestow to him. “Do you pledge to carry out your duties as enforcer of the Kingdom of Ara, and Edict of the House of Théoden?”
“Yes, I swear.”
I looked at Marco. “My child, do you accept Bruce as your brother?”
“Yes, Father,” he said.
“Do you accept him as your fellow soldier and enforcer in the Kingdom of Ara?”
“Yes, Father.”
“You are now equal to Marco, Bruce, and you hold your place in the hierarchy. I am proud to call you the son of my blood.”
“Rise, Bruce.” He did, and I took him in my arms and sank my fangs into the tender skin of his neck. His blood was hot and delicious on my tongue, filled with all of his vibrant spirit, and I savored every drop.
This moment was extremely special to me. I was welcoming another child into my home, creating another son. I knew Bruce wouldn’t be the last, and I was making him because I wanted to, not because of my King’s decree, as I was exempt. This was my choice and it made me feel closer to him.
Once he’d reached the point of death, I withdrew and bit my wrist. I knew what to expect, the pain that was involved in rebirth. I pressed my wrist to Bruce’s mouth and it didn’t take him nearly as long as it took Marco on that faithful night. Bruce began to suck my blood, slowly at first. As he grew stronger, so did his pull, and I growled in pain as my veins were being drained of blood. I let him feed as much as I had let Marco feed, but I made sure I had enough strength to push him away.
When the moment came, I yanked my wrist away and staggered back against the wall, holding my bleeding wrist to my chest. I was already healing, but I needed a moment to get myself together.
Marco stepped in and dragged Bruce to the pot. He held another one in front of his face and it was good thing as Bruce began to purge his body from both ends. I walked away, leaving that to Marco. I needed to feed. I rested on the bed and waited for Marco to come out, which he did five minutes later.
“He is a mess. I warned him about eating so much, but his ass was being stubborn. Kept talking about how he ‘was hungry’. I’m going to get the humans, Father,” Marco said, then left.
I could hear Bruce bathing, probably for the first time in a long while. I was looking forward to sleeping with both of my sons on either side of me. I now saw what Ara meant when he once told me that children fulfilled one’s life. Marco had brought me so much joy over the past century and I knew Bruce would also enrich my life as I have enriched his.
