Suddenly, another thought occurred to her. Pure vampires were born of a male vampire and female human. He needed an heir and an heir alone, and giving birth to the child might kill her.

"What happens if it isn't a boy?" She asked, not knowing if there was some magical way they only produced male heirs. Clearly a girl would be of very little use to them, and they couldn't just have a dozen more children in hopes of eventually spawning a boy. It would literally kill her. So was she doomed to death if she didn't have an heir? Or if she survived, would they expect her to try again and risk death once more? Or would they just let her die so he could have another shot without having to explain why his wife could no longer bear children?

Marcello wasn't sure how to answer, choking on the words he didn't know how to speak. How could he possibly tell her that in the event of a girl she only had two options: try again and again until she either died or had a son, or choose to be turned after the first and not be the mother of the heir? That some other woman would have to be impregnated at a later point in secret, and she would essentially pass her plight to another girl while also knowing the line wouldn't be continued by her.

He couldn't force that upon her. It wasn't fair. This was precisely why it would've been easier if he had no feelings for her. "If it's a girl... Then we have a beautiful baby girl. No one will ask any more of you after. I'll make sure of it. You have my word." He neglected to point out that at some point he would have to have an heir, but right now this was all about damage control and keeping her from becoming hysterical.

"We will help you through this. I know it's hard to trust me, but I want to keep you alive and healthy just as much as you do." He could see it in her teary eyes. She was looking at him completely differently, conflicted between the prince she had fallen in love with and the demon inside that was emerging in her mind. No one had ever looked at him like that before, like he was something to be feared or despised.

"Please stop looking at me like that, Nat..." he begged, some sadness surfacing into his voice.

"I'm... I'm sorry..." she stammered, then buried her head in his chest. She wasn't sure if she was capable of not looking at him like that, but she was capable of not looking at all. Despite how afraid she still was of him, there was still some comfort in being against him. The tears were still falling, soaking his shirt. But she couldn't help herself. She was terrified. It was so much to process.

As her mind played back his words, the one thing that stood out above it all was that he said everything with such compassion, like he truly loved her. Had that not been a lie?

Her training had not prepared her for this, but it had taught her that her husband and his wishes came before her own. No matter what they were. And these... these were his wishes. It wouldn't be a normal pregnancy, but it was still a child. It was still their child.

"Alright..." she said finally, lifting her head and looking into his eyes. The fear was still there, but it wasn't a fear of him. It was a fear of this, but there was a determination there too. "I will do whatever it takes. I will carry our child. I will survive." She wasn't sure if 'survive' meant until the child was born, and she could be turned; or to live on past that. That was a bridge they would cross later.

Even though he could see she was hurting and afraid, he couldn't contain his excitement. His father had told him horror stories of his grandfather having to compel his wife to stay in one room and never resist out of fear. He ruined her by forcing control, and she did not survive after childbirth. It had been his greatest fear that he would have to do the same.

Marcello hugged her to him, pulling her into his lap, wrapping his arms around her, cradling her to his chest. "You are truly wonderful. The bravest woman I have ever met, and I love you so much." He stayed, clutching her, stroking her back as she let it all out. They could stay there as long as she needed, and he would stay by her side as long as she wanted.

There was, of course, a lot to consider now that she was on board with the whole idea. How soon she would start showing? When would the little angel begin kicking and bouncing inside her? She would still suffer some of the normal afflictions that human pregnant women had: bouts of nausea, impulsive cravings, and mood swings, but even those would be more extreme for her. The documented swings were everything from wild rage, quiet sobbing, motherly happiness, and he had heard of some rare cases of sudden arousal (but documentation had always been scarce on that). They would just have to take every challenge as it came, but he was glad they would take this on together.

Eventually he could feel the wet patch on his shirt no longer growing. He lifted her head to look at her once more and smiled, trying to be comforting and sympathetic. "Is there anything I can do to help you? Your family or friends coming to visit? Or would you rather be alone?" He just wanted to know what she wanted. His life would be all about keeping her comfortable and healthy now.

She shook her head, thinking of her family. They wouldn't understand. It was too soon for her to be pregnant, and they would think somehow she had given her maiden head before their wedding night. "I don't want them to know." she said, definitely. "They won't—they'll think I wasn't pure if they knew." Pregnancies didn't just happen overnight in normal circumstances. She didn't want her mother's eyes boring into her with disappointment.

"Will it all go... this fast?" She asked, thinking about how most women weren't aware for weeks or even months. It seemed so sudden. "How do...how do they keep people from wondering?" From a young age, purity for her wedding bed had been drilled into her. Were she to appear pregnant in a short time, there would surely be whispers. She shouldn't care about others' opinions, but she did. Gossip would circulate that he didn't want the bedding ceremony because he knew she wasn't a virgin.

"We usually keep it secret. As you say, it's hard to keep it unnoticed and quiet, particularly as it progresses quite fast. Even after the child is born, there will be some time before we announce their presence to the world. We have to maintain appearances and such. However, if you wanted some comforting faces to visit—we can always make them forget what they see." They would have to stay inside the palace, maybe spread a rumour they had gone abroad for a post marriage trip. Anything that would excuse them from being in the public eye.

"You can make them forget? How?" Her brows knitted together again.

"We can control minds, but we use it sparingly. It can have negative effects. However, your comfort is my priority. Once or twice won't have those sorts of consequences."

Her head was still spinning with all of it, but he looked so happy. She wanted to keep that happiness in his eyes forever, but she had so many questions. So many concerns. Still, anytime she looked into those gray eyes she felt... Like he was going to make it ok. She reached up to his face and gently stroked it. "How did you make me fall in love with you so fast? Did you use that?" She asked, a small smile on her lips. She didn't truly believe he'd done anything. Somehow he held her heart in his hands, and she would do whatever it took to keep that adoration for her in his eyes.

He chucked slightly. She still seemed to be bursting with questions. "I could say the same to you. I was never supposed to fall for you the way I have, but you are special, Natalia." He paused as he looked into her big green eyes, a little reddened from all the crying, but still vibrant with life. Her body had become steady and when she smiled, it was infectious. "Did you have other questions? Not just about the baby, but about anything? I don't want you to feel as if you can't ask."

It was uncommon for princes to take such good care of their carriers. In fact, at one time, vampires attempting a pure breed would simply impregnate as many women as they could until one survived the process, and they had their offspring. The Venezia line had always had to do things a little differently because of the royal status and publicity. Most births were still unloving ones, though, simply performing a duty and aiming to survive. Marcello realised no matter how this pregnancy went, their relationship would be listed as a special anomaly in the history books. A genuine love, or what felt like it, between the two of them.

It was all so unbelievable, and wrapping her mind around it made her feel like her head would explode. "I... I'm sure I have more, but..." she sighed. "I need to process this for a while... I think..." she fell silent for a few minutes just letting the information wash over her. Her lower lip was still twitching, but the rest of her stilled.

"Can I make one request?" She asked, waiting for a nod of approval before continuing. "Could we just... go back to our room for a little while? Can we just lay there and pretend this is normal for a little while?" There were tears in her eyes again. "Just hold me and pretend like I will not have to drink blood and potentially die?" She wanted to be happy about her marriage. She wanted to be happy about her child, but she wasn't sure she knew how with everything else swirling around in her head.

He hesitated. It was an unusual request, but who was he to deny her what she wanted? He gently wiped off her tears with the cuff of his shirt and kissed her forehead. "Come on, my love. We should rest in bed before this evening dinner. Perhaps once we've eaten, we can walk the gardens until it is time for bed." He wasn't really sure what he was saying. Just trying his hardest to emulate a normal prince, the kind she had probably dreamed of marrying.

He took her hand and led her, walking at a human pace through the palace and back to his bedroom—their bedroom. Opening the door, he hoisted her up into his arms and carried her to the bed. He laid her down on top of the covers, not wanting her to get too hot, as she was still in her day dress. He then took his place beside her, taking off his shirt and shoes before putting a hand in her hair to stroke its softness.

"Moments like this, they'll always be the same." He didn't say exactly what he wanted to. That vampire, human, baby or no baby, cuddling like this wouldn't change. He wanted to maintain the illusion that she seemed to need. Gently caressing her with the slow warmth passing through the curtains and into the room. He wanted so badly to kiss her, not just a peck, but slow and affectionate. However, she still seemed a little on edge, and he didn't want to push any boundaries.

As he cradled her to him, she felt safe in his arms, and as he stroked her hair, she closed her eyes and soaked it in. She opened them once again, looking into his eyes, and smiled.

"Thank you..." she said, touching his face gently. "I... think I'm better. Thank you..." she kissed him gently, a few of the tears still on her lashes, brushing against his face. Her mouth moved against his, parting his lips and deepening the kiss, as if trying to convey her emotions through it. They were innumerable, but she poured herself into him, pressing herself against him.

He could feel all her emotions spill out in that kiss. It was slow and warm. It wasn't one of lust; it was through love. They might just make it through this.