"But you didn't."

"Look at me! Look!" he yelled, unfolding his body. Nearly every inch of his body was covered in blood. "I did this! I bound you, took you like an animal and nearly drained you dry. You..." his voice broke. "You, my sweet Beth. I should be destroyed."

"First of all, I loved being bound and taken like an animal, though that is a very vulgar way of describing one of the most erotic experiences of my life. I enjoyed every second of it. Would I want to do this every night? No, but I will be disappointed if it never happened again," she freely admitted.

He looked up, shocked. "But I hurt you."

"Yes, but in a good way. When you're taking me like that the pain just takes the pleasure to a whole new level, it's intoxicating to the point of addiction. You don't have to be in transition for this to happen again do you?" she asked.

He blinked. "You're serious. You would do this again?"

"Except for the blood loss, yes. But I think we can safely attribute that to your transition. Was it a bit scary? Yes. But that made it all the more delicious. Are you listening to me my mate?" She scooted so that their bodies touched. Both of them shuddered.

"Even now I want to drink from you again." He went to reach out to touch her face but pulled his hand back. She grabbed his hand and placed it against her cheek.

"You're not listening. Did you set out to hurt me?"

"No! Of course not."

"Are you possibly days away from the hardest apex of your life from going through two transitions?"

"Three," he whispered.

"Three? So you are at your five thousandth year. I speculated with Meryn. So you have your natural transition, your fifth millennial and a power increase due to the ferals." She let his hand drop but kept their fingers intertwined. Their combined hands rested on his thigh.

He turned his head to look at her, his eyes filled with exhaustion. "Not my fifth millennial, my Myriad."

Her heart stuttered. "Myriad? Doesn't that mean ..."

He nodded. "Yes. Ten thousand, at least that's as far back as I remember."

Elizabeth sat back covering her mouth with both hands as pieces of the puzzle began to fall into place. The reason why he didn't want power, why he kept his age a secret, why he alone represented the oldest vampiric ruling house and why the version Meryn knew of their legend was different, she had heard it from the man herself.

"Oh sweet Gods above. You're the Dark Prince." She clutched at her chest as the enormity of this reality settled in her mind.

He sighed, closed his eyes and sat back. "I never wanted you to know."

She could only stare. This was the Dark Prince she had fantasized about as a girl, the invincible warrior that every other man was always compared to after her uncle and fathers. And he was her mate. Gone was the golden armor and white plumed helmet. There was no holy sword or fiery steed at his side, just a man. Her man, a man that at the moment believed he had lost everything, including her.

She flicked the side of his leg with her thumb and forefinger.

"Ow!" He looked at her surprised and frowning. "What was that for?"

"I thought you'd be bigger." She made the mistake of glancing down at his groin and giggled.

His mouth dropped.

She leaned against him laughing. He pulled away and righted her before looking into her face. There was disbelief, but also the tiniest ray of light in his eyes. "You thought what would be bigger, zain'ka moya?" He asked, his lips twitching.

She cleared her throat and smiled at him. She climbed over his knee until she sat between his legs and snuggled close to his chest. Automatically his arms circled her.

"Dark Prince, surly warrior, charming gentleman, it doesn't matter. They are just different sides to my mate." She yawned and winced as her neck flexed.

He felt her flinch. "I would take this pain from you if I could," he whispered.

"It's not so bad. Think about it this way, this is the most out of control you'll be for at least another five thousand years; I'm going to enjoy it."

He gathered her against him with one arm and used the other to stand. He walked over to their bed and gently set her down. She didn't feel complete until he slid in next to her.

"You don't see me any differently?" he asked.

"No. I was raised among our ruling houses, as a little girl you were the prince of my dreams. Maybe Fate was preparing me for you even then."

He kissed the top of her head and whispered his prayers of thanks to the one who watched over them.

"Gavriel?"

"Yes my love?"

"You're over ten thousand years old right?"

"Yes darling."

"What exactly is in your other home in storage?" she asked unable to keep the excitement out of her voice.

"Nothing compared to the treasure in my arms," he said, squeezing her tight.

"Gavriel?"

"Yes, love?"

"I want to go through your stuff." She bit down on the muscles of his chest playfully.

His laughter was like a balm on her soul.

"Whatever I have, whatever I am, is yours already, zain'ka moya."

Maybe he had stored her heart away with his other treasures from myth and legend.

Smiling she dreamt of her heart being guarded by her mate in a cavern of gold and silver.

CHAPTER TWELVE

The next day she added a bright teal scarf around her neck to complete her ensemble of a chocolate brown sweater and jeans to hide Gavriel's bite marks. More to keep Gavriel from feeling guilty than anything else. Her neck irritated her every time she turned her head, but it was nothing compared to the on again off again sharp pain from the bite in her thigh. She hadn't lied to him the night before. It had been scary, yes, but one of the most erotic experiences of her life. If she had to give up a little blood to experience Gavriel at his most primal she would gladly do it again. She grabbed the two remaining keystones and stuck them in her jeans pocket. She would have to remember to give Meryn hers today.