Now it wasn’t just his happiness at stake, but Madison’s life was very much on the line. She was in so much danger and not just from the birth. Caroline was a vindictive bitch as well as a collector. She hadn’t taken rejection well all those years ago and his obvious affection for Madison just threw more gas onto the fire. She would not stop now until she had Madison and his son under her thumb.

He couldn’t allow that. Madison was everything good in this world. She deserved a long happy life. She wasn’t going to pay for his mistakes or suffer alone for their love. He had to fix this now.

She might hate him after this and he couldn't blame her. There was a very good possibility that she would never talk to him again. It would hurt like hell, but at least she would be safe. She would be alive and well. That’s all that mattered. She could go on with her life and find another man, live her life and do whatever she wanted. It would hurt every second of every day, but he would find peace in her happiness.

He loved her too much not do this. One day she would understand. She would understand that he did this not only for her, but for their child as well. Their son would need her and he couldn’t think of a better mother than Madison. There was no choice, he decided as he brought his wrist to his mouth and sunk his fangs in.

*******

Soft lips moved against Madison’s. She opened her eyes and smiled. Ephraim was kneeling in front of her half na**d and healed. Not a bad way to wake up, she thought. He pulled his head back and looked into her eyes. He looked so serious, too serious.

“Baby, what’s wrong?” she asked, moving into a sitting position.

“Do you know how much I love you?” he asked softly.

“Yes.” She ran her fingers along his jaw. “I love you, too,” she finally said the words. Instead of the reaction she expected, him taking her into his arms and making love to her until morning, he nodded stiffly.

“You do know that I would never do anything to willingly hurt you or put you in danger, don’t you?”

He felt guilty over her abduction. She should have known he would. “Ephraim, it’s okay. We’re fine.” She took his hand and pressed it to her abdomen. “We’re all fine.”

His hand gently caressed her still flat stomach while he spoke. “Madison, I have to do something for you. I need you to understand that I’ve been planning on doing this for a long time now. I should have done it long before this happened. If I had you would have been fine. Do you understand what I’m telling you?”

She didn’t. “No, what’s this all about, Ephraim?”

“You may hate me after this and I want you to know that’s okay I just need you and our son to be okay. Just understand that please,” he choked on the words.

“Son?” Her eyes watered as she gave him the sweetest smile. She leaned in to kiss him, but he turned his face away.

“Please, Madison, don’t make this harder for me than it has to be. I’ll already be in hell after I do it.”

Things he was saying started to click. “You’re leaving me, aren’t you? You think if you stay she’ll be after me so you’re going to leave?”

“No, baby, I would never leave you. Besides, leaving you would only clear the way for her. Caroline is coming back for you there’s no doubt in my mind. She’s more determined than ever now.”

She laid her hand over his. “So, we’ll sit down and figure something out. We’ll figure it out together.”

His eyes met hers. His brilliant baby blue eyes darkened into the fiery red she’d come accustomed to during their love making. “I’ve already figured it out. I should have done it months ago.” He kissed her nose. “Remember I love you, Madison. I love you enough to risk losing you.”

“Ephraim-“

“Shhh, all that matters is you and the baby will be safe.” She didn’t notice when his left hand gripped her left arm or even when his forearm pressed across her chest. She did notice when he pushed her against the back of the couch and she couldn’t move her arms or upper body. He had her pinned.

“Ephraim, what are you doing?” she demanded.

His expression was pained. “I’m so sorry, baby. I never planned on doing it this way, but now there’s no choice. I am so sorry.”

Something very wrong was happening. She tried to move, he gave her no quarter. It wasn’t until he raised his right hand that had been hanging by his side up to this point that she realized that something very bad was about to happen. Blood was streaming down his arm from a bite.

“I’m sorry,” he said again as he brought his arm towards her mouth.

“No! Ephraim, please no!” she screamed. The arm kept coming. “Baby, please, your blood kills people! Please stop! Ephraim, no!”

“You’ll be fine I swear,” he murmured. She started kicking him and pushing at him with her feet, but he was like a boulder, he didn’t give under her assault.

She opened her mouth to scream one last time when he took advantage and placed his wrist against her mouth. She fought to close her mouth but his wrist was firmly in place.

Sweet salty liquid poured into her mouth. She closed her eyes and forced herself not to swallow. Her nose wasn’t covered so she could breathe easily. The blood would collect in her mouth and when he pulled away she would spit the blood out and deck him. All she had to do was allow the blood to pool in her mouth and she would be fine, she told herself.

She tried to scream when she felt his fangs slice through her neck, causing the blood to pour down her throat until she was practically choking. Tears burned in her eyes as his mouth pulled harder on her neck. Still the blood didn’t stop. She was forced to swallow or choke.

He had to force himself to slow down. Her blood was so delicious it sent his body into overdrive. It wanted more, demanded more and he had to force himself to relax. If he drank too fast he would drain her and the baby. He needed to do it slowly until he tasted his blood mixed with hers and then she would forever be safe from even him.

Madison felt Ephraim’s teeth pull away long before his wrist left her mouth. He licked his lips and looked oddly relieved. “It’s okay, baby, just a little more.”

She tried to tell him to go f**k himself, but his wrist made that impossible so instead she settled for loud incoherent mumbles.

“Shh, it’s okay, baby, you can yell at me later.”

More mumbling.

“If it makes you feel better you’ll be able to kick my ass up and down the street after this.”

Oddly enough that did make her feel better. He had a good ass kicking coming for his high-handed behavior. He chuckled lightly. “From the look on your face I’m guessing the idea pleases you.” He pulled his wrist away and quickly replaced it with his mouth.

She could taste her own blood on his tongue. It made her stomach roll over. She pushed him away. “Why?” she demanded hazily. God she felt so tired, didn’t she just sleep? She looked past him at the clock. Yes she had, for a good four hours it seemed so why was she suddenly tired now?

Strong arms picked her up. She opened her eyes. When did she close them? “Shh, baby, you’re going to sleep for a while now. When you wake up everything will be different. You’ll be safe. That’s all that matters.” He pressed a kiss to her forehead.