Ilsen pulled out a folder, giving it to Alaric.

"What's this?" He grumped as he opened the cover.

To say that he was in a bad mood about Ilsen's assessment of our relationship was accurate. We weren't making the charade believable and it was annoying to me too.

"That is the information that Hendrick gathered about Emmeline. As soon as she appeared, he wanted to know every little thing he could."

Alaric pulled out the birth records from the hospital, I'd already seen it because I had to have it for the doctor's clearance.

"So, her parents were government assigned breeders, both of them openly protested about being forced into it. We found many letters from them and file notes about incidents where they complained. It was noted that not only did they despise the process and the compulsory breeding but they also didn't like each other."

"Didn't you say that your mother was heartbroken that your father walked out?"

"Yeah," I said, a little confused. "At least, that's what I was told."

"That's probably someone's take on the situation or perhaps creating a lie to ensure that you didn't delve too deep. After all, the hospital let your mother walk out into the night, not a single care was given. Something that you need to think about, your mother hated the system, that much was obvious. She was very vocal about it and it probably annoyed a few people. I'm not suggesting that it is what happened but it is entirely possible that she was taken out intentionally. The government wants mothers to be pro-war, pro-breeding center. Another thought is that she was hiding something, perhaps they both were. There is a letter in there where your father stated many things that were very anti-war. If he was so opposed to the war, why did he enlist?"

Yes, why indeed.

"What this proves is that nothing about your entry into this world makes sense. Another thing to note, before your parents were forcibly entered into the program, there are no notations of them anywhere. It's like they appeared one day and the government found them."

"Is it possible that they weren't human?" Silas asked. "And that's the reason they were so opposed to the program?"

"They knew the government would find out," Nisha said quietly.

All eyes swung to me like they believed I would have the answer.

"I think that after the efforts in the bathroom, we can all agree that Emmeline is something more than a basic human." Silas offered as he looked up from the document he'd begun to read. "It might be the hormones the government is pumping into the water, it might be something entirely different. Maybe there is a third species of higher mammal on this dead rock."

"Is that possible?"

Silas shrugged.

"Anything is possible. Unless someone raises their hand and says look at me, we will not know."

"What's in that box?"

Nisha bit her lip, glancing at Alaric.

"Our mother's wedding dress. We brought it out because Ilsen said that if you want to convince the leaders that this is legitimate then you should marry."

"I can find a priest, we can have the service done in the afternoon tomorrow. The finer details do not need to be offered, just that the service has happened."

"Can't we just stick a ring on my finger?"

"You cannot legally wear the crown if you are not married legitimately," He offered. "If you want things to pass without issue then you need to do it correctly."

Ilsen sighed as he packed the crowns into the box.

"I understand that this is rather daunting considering that you've known each other for less than a week but it is how it has to be. If Alaric is to ascend to the throne then he has to have a wife. The rules are simple, the leader must ensure that they can produce the next heir so they must be married and have had a child or about to. Merely slapping on a ring and saying it's legitimate will not be sufficient because they will see straight through you. If you think that you can walk into that meeting and fool them then you are gravely mistaken. They are not fools and if you treat them as one then you will meet their wrath."

The box was set aside for the box that contained the dress. Ilsen didn't open it but he did gently rap his fingers on the lid.

"You demanded that I advise you and to do it well. This is my advice and I hope that you don't take it the wrong way but as I said, it's my advice. Listen to me. Marry. Lose the inhibitions about the relationship. Be strong. Be powerful. Be commanding. Be leaders."

"He's right." Silas interrupted. "The reason Hendrick has commanded this posting for the past fifty years was that he was a strong leader. He demanded something and those underneath him did it without question."

"But he was a horrible leader," Nisha grumbled.

"Yes, he was but no one dared to go against him."

"Alaric did."

"It was his birthright."

Ilsen rolled his eyes, huffing softly.

"Hendrick proved that means nothing. He managed to take over without any issues. You're right Nisha, he was a horrible leader and going by the state of the city, the end of his reign hasn't come soon enough. Alaric needs to find a balance between being forceful and being caring."

His eyes swung to Alaric, a little determined in his gaze.

"You will struggle. You're like your father who was a good man but lacked the ability to be cruel. Sometimes it's necessary."

Softly, his fingers tapped on the box again.

"Am I making preparations?"

Alaric turned to look at me, probably wondering if I'd protest. I wasn't exactly talking favorably earlier when I suggested slapping a ring on my finger and pretending it was done. He probably thought that I didn't want this. Which, in a way, I didn't. I was of two minds about the subject, finding a deep curiosity for Alaric, wanting to know more about him. I wanted to delve deep into his life, the thoughts he had, the plans for the future. We'd not done any of that, not really. His goal was to the kill list and to get his family back into power.

He knew that I wanted him to get what he deserved, what he wanted. As for myself? I don't know. My life has always been marked as a breeder and the only thing that I ever thought about was having lots of babies to a man that didn't love me.

Was this any different? Probably not but at least here, there was a chance for love, perhaps in time, we'd become something more than what we were now. We could talk with ease, we were certainly growing an intense passion for each other and he trusted me. It was true, I could see that now. He slept beside me, he handed loaded weapons to me and he gave me a switchblade to pull bullets from his body. Every little instance was an open door to taking him down.

"Sure."

It looked like the weight of the world had just lifted from Alaric. If I'd said no, he'd be left high and dry.

"Why didn't you plan this?" I asked, looking at Silas.

I looked at him because he was the one that had raised Alaric and Nisha, he'd spent the past fifty years preparing them for this day.

Silas stared at me, briefly glancing at Alaric.

"You had someone else lined up?"

He weakly nodded, I could feel the anger bubbling inside of me.

"So, I'm like what, a runner-up? Am I third or fourth down the line of potentials that you've already struck out with? Lucky last? Tell me Alaric, where on the list of possible wives was I?"

"It's not like that," Alaric said moving closer.

"Of course it's not. I was your first choice, wasn't I? You stalked me for a really long time, falling in love with me from afar, right?"

Alaric gulped hard, quietly shaking his head. Pressing my lips tight, I nodded and accepted it. Did I think this would be anything more than a marriage of convenience? Sadly, I did think that he wanted me out of obsession and a little bit of need.

As I stood, he pulled my hand, trying to stop me from leaving. I could see the pain in his eyes, the need to make things right. He didn't want this to turn bad at the last minute, he was out of options.

As sad as it was, I had to accept this situation. I'd agreed to it and there was nothing else that could be said or done. Protesting wouldn't help either of us, it would just make things awkward and we didn't need that. Tomorrow night we would have to walk into that meeting and pretend that we love each other. It was going to be a struggle but I could pretend even if he was breaking me.

"Emmeline,"

"It's okay Alaric, I understand. You've got goals, you've always been clear on that. I agreed to this and you will get what you want."

Pulling my hand free, I stepped back.

"Plan tomorrow night. I don't want to be dead because you've let emotions get in the way."

It was cold but it was the truth. This wedge that had just been driven between us could be our downfall, I didn't want that and I didn't want to be dead.

Avoiding the awkward mood that had descended, I decided that I was leaving this room.

Stalking out of the room, I made my way through the empty corridor and down the stairs. I could hear Alaric calling out for me but I didn't want to deal with him. Quickening my step, I found myself in a part of this large building that I'd never been to before. Well, there were a lot of places that fitted that description so this was just another area to explore.

Opening a door, I reached along the wall to find the light switch. Bright white light flooded the garage and I saw the limo. Hearing my name again, I slipped into the room and quietly closed the door, flicking off the light. My eyes burned for a second, I winced and then opened them, surprised at how much I could see in the dark room. Shadowed shapes, formations and as I turned, beating hearts.

"So that's how he did it," I whispered.

The hearts glowed red, pumping with blood. Alaric was on the move, getting closer. Something that did not make sense to me was how did Hendrick not see our beating hearts next to each other when he lifted the coffin lid? Maybe this was not a vampire trait.

Seeing that he was getting closer, I wanted to test something. I walked to the limo and opened the door, sliding onto the seat. Closing the door as quietly as I could, I slid down out of sight and watched the beating heart moving through the rooms. The door opened, the light flicked on and it was then that I knew that Alaric could see in the dark but he couldn't see me hidden in the limo.

Vampires could not see beating hearts. I really was something different.