Holier Than Thou

[Emora Deen]

Tenele smiled against him. Don't worry, I'm not pulling away. I'm just curbing the appeal of... Tenele stopped herself. She was afraid to admit that she for a brief moment wanted Atul, because she was afraid of Vlad's reaction to it. After all, it wasn't entirely her that wanted him. It was Vlad's desire for his blood... but if he took it the wrong way it could be like the night Verin kissed her all over again.

I'm not pulling away, she reconfirmed. She pressed kisses against the fabric of his shirt. This is precious to me too... Why does he have to have such rotten timing?

[Soran Nightblade]

Vlad grinned, stroking the back of her neck. Tenele...there's no easy way to say this...but do you find Atul attractive?

[Emora Deen]

Tenele blinked at him. Her lips parted to speak, but her throat closed around her answer. She was literally petrified to answer him. What if he got mad at her? But, she couldn't lie to him. He was inside her head. Just as she thought of the answer the say was the moment he knew it. Tenele swallowed hard. Yes, she replied meekly. But, I also find flowers appealing.

[Soran Nightblade]

Vlad held her a little tighter. He could feel her nervousness, and it pleased him. It was exactly the right reaction in his mind. She was interested, but loyal. "Flowers, huh?" he tried not to laugh. After all, this was a delicate subject that even he hadn't really come to terms with. But he'd seen the two together, when he had been possessed by Verin. He'd sensed a chemistry between them, even if it was different from the one Vlad shared with her. And as jealous as it made him, he could remember thinking, in the back of his desperate mind, how grateful he was that someone would protect her in his place, even if it meant replacing him.

"You say flowers... but could you ever see yourself...sharing a bed with him?" he asked carefully.

[Emora Deen]

Tenele tensed up. She really didn't know how she was supposed to answer any of these questions and it was starting to make her feel stressed. She didn't want to make him angry at her. "There was one time... I almost did. When you were, eh, with Verin and I thought you hated me," she muttered, feeling her throat closing around the words. She shook her head fiercely against him. "But, I wouldn't. I promise. I wouldn't do that to you. I love you. Please don't be angry with me." Tenele was near tears with panic, but she didn't want to lie to him.

She remembered his words, Leave me now and don't bother coming back. She feared hearing them again.

[Soran Nightblade]

Vlad sighed and pulled her a little closer, wrapping both arms around her lovingly. "I'm sorry. I'm upsetting you." As I thought, she can't possibly accept an idea like this. "Tenele, I was gone. You needed someone. I was...relieved that he was with you." He glanced at the door thoughtfully. "Thought I can't say I was truly okay with you moving on, if I had to share you, I would rather it be him."

Tenele, if Atul and I use the spell I uncovered, we would be merged into a single consciousness.

[Emora Deen]

Tenele swallowed, glancing to the door, and then to Vlad. She wasn't sure how to take that in. She tried to imagine what that would be like. Both of them. Jumbled images entered her mind of a version of Vlad that had something similar to a split personality disorder. Or would they merge so completely that the Vlad she knew wouldn't exist, and nor would Atul, just a hybrid of them?

Tenele's brow furrowed. "I..." Tenele swallowed. "I would accept you both." She made that decision, quick and firm. It was the truth. She would love Vlad no matter what form, physical or mental. "He is easier for me to accept than any other choice. I trust him, and I don't normally trust anyone... I feel safe with him, as I feel safe with you."

"And there is no way to stop that? No way to save you both?" Tenele reached up and touched his face. "I don't want either of you to sacrifice so much for me. I'd rather live in fear than lose both of you."

[Soran Nightblade]

Vlad prepared himself to actually propose what he'd learned to his wife. Her words sank through to his very core, warm and loving. Was he asking too much of her? What if she couldn't live with it. What if it changed them? What if he couldn't handle it?

There is a way around it. We could make the joining temporary if it were done through an intermediary. That person would act as conduit, joining our life forces for a limited period. He leaned back and looked into her eyes. It would require you to serve as our conduit.

[Emora Deen]

Tenele nodded. I'm okay with that, she agreed, without really knowing what she was agreeing too. If it helped them, she really didn't care. "What do we do? Dance around in a circle? Say some magic words? Do I have to where a funny headpiece?" She grinned at him, trying to lighten the mood. It felt heavy and important and after what they'd just shared she wanted that pleasure and weightlessness back.

[Soran Nightblade]

Vlad smirked at her. "Psh. Such droll ideas. The actual solution is a bit more colorful. Though I'm not sure you'll accept it." He mentally braced himself. He tried to make himself sure he was okay with this, and his heart answered him by insisting it really wasn't an option at this point. "The bond must be made physically," he said, "Just as we bonded moments ago. It must be made physically, Tenele, with each of us. With both of us. Together.

[Emora Deen]

Tenele swallowed. He'd said it. Spoken it as plainly as he could without being vulgar, and she still wasn't sure she heard him straight. Her mind flashed with a mental image of the the three of them, tangled together, naked and breathless. It wasn't exactly the first time she'd conjured the image into her mind, but now it seemed even more taboo.

"You mean... With the both of you? At the same time? In the same room? Of course in the same room..." Tenele's cheeks flushed crimson. How was she supposed to take this? It made her nervous. Vlad was the only man she'd ever been with, and as far as she'd gone with Atul was passionate kissing, and he was the one that broke that off for fear of her regret.

"What if he won't agree to that?" Tenele's brow furrowed. Her mind was stuck on that mental image, like someone had lodged a sword between the gears. "Are you okay with that?" She knew he could be extremely jealous, even when someone fainted a touch towards her. How was he going to be able to watch or allow another man take her? Was he willing to sacrifice that... to give in that much?

Unless... Maybe... Perhaps... Wait, did Vlad actually trust Atul that much? Trust someone other than herself or the Queen? Trust him enough with his wife?

[Soran Nightblade]

Vlad smirked slightly. "None of us need do anything we don't want to do. Most importantly, I don't want to make you uncomfortable. However, know that I can cope with it." He winked at her. "After all, Atul is a rather attractive man." He glanced at the door. "As for whether Atul would be interested, well... shall we test him a bit?" he smiled evilly.

[Emora Deen]

Tenele swallowed, glancing to the door. For some reason the fact that Vlad found Atul attractive filled her with a rush of heat. There was something... appealing about that. Or maybe, that was Vlad's feelings? She couldn't help but catch the wickedness of Vlad's ideas, and enjoy the thought along with him. Being connected with him made such thoughts more appealing, or maybe they had always been appealing...

"Test him?" Tenele smiled, her green eyes sparkling. "Should I change out of this gown?"

[Soran Nightblade]

Vlad's grin widened. "I believe you're going to give our poor Atul a heart attack. I'll have to help him relax while you change."

[Emora Deen]

Tenele swallowed, reaching behind her for the pearl buttons running down her back. Her green eyes flinted from Vlad to the door. "I'm nervous," she admitted to her husband. She was used to Vlad's gaze, his touch... and Atul was about to see her undress? Her pulse rushed and her cheeks flushed. "I'm also oddly excited... You're rubbing off on me."

Tenele stood up slowly, shifting both her hands behind her and working with the buttons until she managed to loosen the dress. "Eh," she coughed. "I guess... you should call him in? Should we warn him? This is very sudden..." And yet, she honestly wanted to see how he'd react.