Blood, Body and Mind by Kathi S. Barton Page A

we do a test and see? Aaron, being older, can tell quicker than any test I can run, if it’s all right with your husband. He will just need to take a small taste of you blood and he’ll be able to tell immediately.” Thomas was a great doctor, both for humans and vampires, even if he was a tad pushy.
    “ This will be as good as place as any for you both to pledge your allegiance to me, if you wish for my protection. I’m not requiring anyone to pledge to me just yet. I know the problems and issues that were a part of what you endured before. The blood exchange will leave me with the usual abilities, but I won’t be able to summon you without your pledge.” He wanted to make sure she was well informed before she agreed.
    April looked to her husband. He nodded to her. “Yes. Yes, we’ve talked it over and we will. I’ve never done this before. Will it…could it hurt the babe if I am pregnant?”
    “ No. I would never do that. I only need a drop.”
    She nodded to him.
    Aaron stood, and walked toward April. The allegiance had been around for as long as he had been a vampire. He also had pledged himself to several masters over the centuries. Most, of course, were dead. The few who had survived had released him from their bond long ago. They were still connected by blood; that could never be broken. As he had told April, they could no longer summon him to do their bidding.
    April raised her unsteady wrist up for him to sip. He repeated the words of his vow to her. “I take your blood, April Carlovetti, as your pledge to me, who will become your master. You will be mine. I will, in return, pledge to you to keep you safe and protected for all my reign.”
    Aaron dropped his fangs and gently bit into her proffered wrist. He did not need much, either for the pledge, or to see if she was pregnant. He looked down at the woman at his feet, then glanced over to her husband and said, “It would seem that I’m getting three for the price of two. Congratulations, you’re about to become parents.”
    “ Hot damn!”
    With that, Demetrius picked up his wife and swung her around the room. He stopped suddenly, picked her up in his arms, and cradled her as if she was the most precious thing in the world. Aaron smiled in spite of himself.
    Demetrius set his wife down on the sofa and knelt before his master. With tears in his eyes, he pledged himself to Aaron. He could do nothing but accept his oath as well.
    ~~~
    When Sara awoke the next time, the room was completely dark, save for the moonlight spilling from the slightly opened curtain across the room. As was her habit, she reached out into the room and beyond to locate everyone and any hidden dangers to all within the household. She found the man responsible for her more immediate problems right there in the room with her.
    “ May I leave now?” she asked Aaron.
    He completely ignored her question. “You’ll be happy to know you were right about Mrs. Carlovetti. She is indeed pregnant.”
    She knew that. That’s why she had told him, the pompous ass. Well, screw it. If that was the way that he wanted to be, then she would no longer speak to him. He had not asked her anything, so she was not inclined to fill in the silence. She began to make her way into a sitting position. The plan was to go to the bathroom and get dressed, and then leave.
    After several minutes, he got out of his chair and walked toward her and the bed. She continued to ignore him.
    “ Here, let me help you,” he finally said.
    She looked up at him. Damned man. Did everything out of his mouth need to sound like a flippin’ order? “No. I have it under control. I’m hurt, not dead, thank you very much.”
    “ You are by and far the most stubborn…I’m picking you up, prepare.” And with that, he scooped her up into his arms.
    “ Put me down, you jackass. What are you doing? Do you want to break you back? Stop right now.” Of course he didn’t, not that she really expected him to listen to