#countess!ofc

“How goes your honeymoon?”  Sam asked as he, Julie, and Cole visited Dean and Lisa.  

“Peachy, but I’m not sure how much longer we can hide out in this room,”  Dean answered honestly.  Lisa’s pregnancy was starting to show for those that knew to look, and Julie went to fawn over her.

“You have to stay in here, man,”  Sam impressed on Dean.  “You have to give us more time to figure out how to trap Michael and Crowley.

“Have you got anything figured out yet, hotshot?”  Dean growled at Sam.  “Don’t get me wrong, I could see myself retiring with Lisa, this downtime has been pretty amazing, but I want to go outside eventually,”  Dean said in a hushed voice.  “And once the news of the baby gets out we won’t be able to hide.”  Julie and Cole tensed a little a Dean’s comment but it appeared to go unnoticed.

“It’s not like you can’t go outside,”  Sam said unsympathetically.

“That’s easy for you to say.  How often are you-”  Dean cut off abruptly when Lisa and Julie came over to them.

“I’m hoping it shouldn’t be much longer, I have a plan on how to get the king off our back,”  Julie said firmly.

“Care to share?”  Dean asked, offering his hands out hopefully.

“Not yet,”  Julie said and Dean rolled his eyes.  Dean’s eyes flicked from Cole to Julie as the bodyguard changed his stance, and the hunter seemed to consider something before letting it go and pursuing a different thought.

“What about our friends the vampires?  Do we think they are gonna stay waiting much longer?”  Dean asked.

“We should probably talk with them again,”  Sam offered.

“No!”  Cole interjected then slipped back into his place in the shadows with a stern look from Julie.  Dean considered the man for a moment again.

“Cole’s right, it’s not the time to talk with the Alpha Vampire yet.  I have a feeling that he will be willing to wait to hear from us but his price might go up the longer we wait.”  Julie side-eyed Cole, who seemed satisfied with her response.  “I’m meeting with Bobby tomorrow morning.  We have a way to force King Michael into action,”  Julie explained.  “I can’t say any more than that.  I know there are spies.”

The group chit-chatted, discussing plans for the baby.  Sam and Julie would be the baby’s Godparents, but Dean had reservations about having the Christening in the Northern Kingdom.  Julie shared the sentiment, anything that had to do with Cardinal Crowley made her uneasy.

“We should get back,”  Cole said a while later and put a hand out to help Julie stand.

“I need to speak with you,”  Dean said taking her hand from Cole’s.  The guard gave him a sharp look.  “In private,”  Dean offered looking from Cole to Sam to Julie.

“It’s fine,”  Julie agreed before giving Cole a warning look.  “I’ll meet you back at the apartment.”  Cole looked like he wanted to argue, but Sam took charge and convince him to leave.  Dean kissed Lisa on the cheek.

“I’ll be right out on the balcony,”  Dean told her, and Lisa went to the room and picked up some socks she had been darning.

“You’re worried about this business with Michael aren’t you,”  Julie spoke quietly and calmly as she leaned easily on the banister.

“Yes,”  Dean admitted.  He wasn’t usually the most open person when it came to his feelings, and this put Julie on edge.  If he was open about this what else was he hiding.

“What’s going on?”  Julie asked.

“What’s going on with you?”  Dean turned on her.  There was no anger, but a fire nonetheless.  “Cole stepped out of line back there, but you not only let it go, but you also agreed with him?  Don’t think I haven’t noticed the way he’s been looking at you, watching your every move.”

“He’s my guard, Dean,”  Julie defended stupidly.

“That’s not how he is looking at you and you know it!”  He had raised his voice now, and Julie shielded her body from him as she stepped back in fear.  Dean looked at her, the way her arms crossed her chest to protect herself from his ire.  A tear slipped down her rosy cheek.  “I understand now,”  Dean said quietly, as he turned away from her.

“It’s not what you think,”  Julie said trying savagely to figure out what she was going to say to Dean.

“You’re pregnant,”  He said as quietly as he could.  Julie stared at him in shock.  She hadn’t prepared for him to figure out her secret.  Usually, Sam was the quicker one, but she figured that maybe Sam was too close to the situation.  “And it’s Sam’s.”

“Yes,”  Julie said resigning herself.

“You’ve signed my brother’s death order.”  Dean snarled.

The dark-haired maid Ruby turned away from the apartment door when she had heard all she needed to and headed back to her master.

“Ah, the Winchester knights!”  King Michael said grandly as Sam and Dean walked into his private meeting hall.  “I’m sorry I forbid you from attending your lady’s ceremony, but I needed to see you without distraction.”

“How can we help you, King Michael?”  Sam asked trying to remain polite.

“That Lady of yours is something quite special,”  The king mused.  “First she claims that you are courting,”  He said walking up to Dean.  “Then she wants you married off to her lady in waiting.  How unusual and quite the low blow to you.”  He was standing behind Dean now and let himself touch Dean’s hair.

“Your majesty, sometimes-”  Sam started to try and change the subject.

“Don’t you dare interrupt me!”  Michael roared at the younger knight.  He calmed and seemed to realize that he was touching Dean.  “I’m thinking of taking Lady Julie for my bride.  She is beautiful, and my chancellors have been uneasy that I have been unwed for so long.”  Sam and Dean tensed at his words.

“She’s not a member of your kingdom,”  Sam said through gritted teeth.

“Oh so you don’t want me to marry her,”  Michael laughed unpleasantly.  “Perhaps you should consider my offer, Dean.  Just say yes, I’ll let the Lady Julie marry whoever she wants.”

“No,”  Dean said firmly.  Michael scowled.

“Perhaps we should go,”  Sam said uneasily.  He seemed to only now realize how dangerous it was for them to be here alone with Michael.  All of their plans could be tossed out the window if they said the wrong thing.

“Think about my offer,”  Michael said.  “You have until the end of your honeymoon.  Enjoy your wedding,”  He sneered.

Those months passed far too quickly. Dean and Lisa were married by the end of the next week by Cardinal Crowley.  News had reached King Michael’s kingdom that Sir John Winchester had died while on the hunt.  And they still had no better plans to protect Dean from the king.

It was late in the evening when Cole came and offered to help Julie out of her corset.  Lisa was still gone for her honeymoon, and Julie didn’t trust anyone else.  

“My lady?  Julie?!”  Cole exclaimed as he ran across the room and caught her before she hit the ground.  He carried her to her bed loosening her corset and checking her breathing.  When he was certain she was alive, he went to the door of the apartment and ordered a squire to fetch Sir Robert.

“What happened?”  Bobby asked when he came into the apartment and Cole led him to Julie’s room.

“She fainted out of nowhere after standing up.  You don’t think she’s hexed do you?”  Cole asked.

“I’m not sure, bring me so warm water and a cloth with a twig of sage.”  Bobby sat in the chair of her room and felt her breath and heartbeat.  “Lady Julie?”  He called quietly as he cracked a vial of smelling salts under her nose.  She pulled away quickly reeling from the abruptness of the smell.

“Bobby?”  Julie asked as she took in her surroundings.

“What have you gotten yourself into, girl?”  Bobby asked rubbing his face tiredly.  “You fainted and about killed your guard with fright.”

“Oh God,”  Julie stared wide-eyed at the floor.

“Is there something I should know?”  Bobby asked going and locking the door before Cole had a chance to come back.

“I might be pregnant,”  Julie whispered looking up at Bobby.

“I’m gonna kill that boy.  I didn’t think you’d be such a fool as to use that key when I had it sent to you,”  Bobby scoffed.

“I already had it off by the time I got the note from you,”  Julie blushed hard.  “So at least you can spare yourself any blame.”

“You can’t tell anyone.  Not yet, not Dean, not Lisa, not Cole, not even Sam,”  Bobby said seriously.  “If they know it’ll change what they are going to do about this business with Michael.  We aren’t ready for a change at this level.  So keep quiet and keep yourself in check.”  Julie nodded agreeing with the older man.

“I have one problem with your plan,”  Julie said.  “I have to tell Cole.  He needs to protect me.  He knows all of my secrets.”

“All of them?”  Bobby asked begrudgingly.  “If you think that is best, then that’s fine, but he can’t tell anyone else.”  And with that Bobby left her apartment.

“You’re with child?”  Cole asked trying to hide his hurt as he sat in her room.  “I suppose I should have seen it coming, with how often you see Sam.”

“You can’t tell anyone, not even Sam,”  Julie emphasized.

“I would never betray you like that,”  Cole agreed, reaching out to take her hand.  “Do you love him?”

“Yes,”  Julie said with a soft smile.

“He’s a good man, and loves you,”  Cole said before kneeling in front of Julie.  I’ll keep you and your child safe, Milady.”

“Thank you,”  Julie said standing and holding Cole’s head against her belly like a dotting mother. “I’ll take care of you to the full extent of my power.”  It was a simple agreement but the weight of their words laid heavy on both of them.

“When do you think you’ll have the baby?”  Cole asked standing as Julie sat back down.

“Not for a while I’m sure.  I’ve only missed one cycle,”  Julie said as she tried to remember with all the stress of coming to the northern kingdom.

“Two,”  Cole corrected.  “You’ve missed at least two.”  She looked at him speculatively as he seemed to keep better track of such things than her.

“Go bribe that squire so he doesn’t tell everyone that Sir Singer was here.”  Julie teased as she graced him with a small smile before laying down.

“Milady,”  Lisa’s voice broke through Julie’s sleep and she sat up.  “King Michael has summoned you for an official ceremony.”  Lisa looked concerned as she hand brushed the creases out of the fine dress that Julie did not own.  “The Cardinal had this delivered to you.  I think he might have known what was going on.  He bothers me.”

“Me too,”  Julie said, letting the lady’s maid do her job and wash and primp her for court.  “I shall talk with the king about your wedding to Dean and try to have the arranged for as soon as possible,”  Julie smiled kindly at Lisa and let her pin her hair up and let the curls fall regally.

“Lady Julie, Sir Singer is here to see you,”  Cole said from the other side of her closed door.

“Come in, Cole.  I am decent,”  Her bodyguard entered the room.  

“He would not say what he wanted without your presence,”  Cole said suspiciously.

“Between your paranoia and that old man’s grumpiness, the two of you would rot the legs off tables before coming to an agreement,”  Lisa mused under her breathe.

“Have him come in.  Lisa is still doing my makeup,”  Julie said with a schooled expression.

“Sir Robert,”  Cole announced as Bobby entered her apartment.

“Lady Julie, I have come with information and to offer to escort you to court.  I know for a fact that the King is preparing to increase your title.  I also have it on good authority that it comes with the permission of King Oskar.  I am certain that the King is not intending to marry you,”  Bobby dropped the information like it was a heavy sack.  Lisa’s shoulders loosened visibly at the revelation that the king was not going to try to marry her lady.  Bobby stopped talking and took Julie’s new look.  “Where did you get that dress?”

“Cardinal Crowley had it sent over this morning, with the request the Lady Julie wear it to her official ceremony today,”  Lisa’s voice seemed to drip with venom and hatred as she recalled her encounter this morning.

“That means that the Cardinal knew about your father’s death,”  Bobby said.  His tone of voice confirmed to Julie that it was as dangerous as it sounded.

“I will gladly accept your arm, Bobby.  Do you know where the Winchester’s are?”  Julie asked.  She had enough schooling to not ask for Sam by name.

“They had something they were discussing.  But their presence will be expected at court,”  Bobby said.

“Milady,”  Cole handed Julie a small blade.  “Your father wanted me to give this to you after he died.  He didn’t say why,”  Cole said.  

“Thank you, Cole,”  Julie responded taking the sheathed blade and waiting for Lisa to finish fussing over her hair.

“Sir Robert, I am ready,”  Julie announced as Lisa held a coat and stood behind her.  Cole took a position at the door ready to open it for them as Bobby extended his arm for her.

“Lady Julie Thompson and escort, Sir Robert Singer,”  The herald called as she entered the room.  Julie’s procession walked into the throne room, where the King and his lords stood in formal garb.  The court Secretary stood next to Michael with a parchment that he unfurled and began to read from when she stopped and knelt in front of the king.

“His Majesty King Oskar grants to the Lady Julie Thompson, by proxy of Domain Sovereign King Michael, the title of Countess.  This deed confers the land and purse owed to this position to Lady Julie, in her own right, and her children.”  

Michael came and stood in front of Julie, helping her to her feet before putting a small crown of position on her head.  He walked around her and took the cape from Lisa before draping it over Julie’s shoulders and went back to his thrown.  The Secretary handed her the deed, before taking his position again.

“I shall grant you a single boon, on the behalf of your king,”  Michael said grandly.

“Thank you, King Michael.  I have come to ask that your majesty agrees to the marriage of Sir Dean Winchester and my this lady of high birth, Lisa Brayden.”  Julie said as Lisa stepped up next to her to curtsy.

“I shall grant this favor for you, Countess,”  Michael eyed her thoughtfully, as Julie curtsied and her procession left the great hall.

“Lady Julie,” Garth rushed up to her once they were away from most prying eyes and bowed awkwardly.  “Cardinal Crowley sent men to your apartment when you were gone.  I don’t know what he took but nothing he does ever has a good ending.”

“Thank you, Garth,” Julie said before she saw Cole depart the group with a sour look on his face.

“What could he have been looking for?”  Bobby asked Julie seriously.

“I’m not sure. Perhaps he was looking at proof of something.  Our arrangement with the people we met might have put him in a delicate position.  He might try and return the favor,” Julie said referring to the vampires they had felt with.

“If you can think of anything that might make you vulnerable to an attack you just tell me immediately.  Your request for Dean and Lisa’s marriage has you currently unattached.”  Bobby said, patting her hand.

“Speaking of, where are the Winchester brothers?”  Julie asked looking around briefly.

“I’m sure it was important,”  Lisa assured her from behind.

“So wait, King Oskar transferred the title of Countess to you?”  Dean asked as he paced in Julie's sitting room.

“Yes,”  She answered, confirming exactly what she had already told him.  “Now that I am a lady of my own title, it would make sense that my lady’s maid should be married.”

“What are you suggesting, girl?”  Bobby asked, sounding more cranky than usual.

“I think Dean should marry Lisa, it will get the two of us out of our awkward situation and keep Michael from having any sway over Dean,”  Julie said standing up and walking around to Lisa.

“You - what?”  Dean asked, trying to process the statement.

“We can talk about that more, in private,”  Julie said, dismissing his question.

“We have another problem.  It sounds like King Oskar is giving you to Michael as a peace offering.”  Cole said.

“Wait, you said that the letter was signed by the King’s secretary?”  Sam asked.  His eyes scrunched together as if he was deep in thought.

“Yes, why?”  Julie turned to look at him as he spoke.

“Nickolas has long been after the throne, despite his lack of station.  Our father talked about it a few times.  What if Nickolas is in league with King Michael?”  Sam asked.

“Or has his own agenda,”  Dean offered.

“Do you think he is the reason that the vampires are so strongly centered around Oskar’s kingdom,”  Julie mused.

“That would fit into our speculation that Oskar was too clueless to be part of the scheme,”  Sam mused.

“Oh Oskar’s not the threat in that royal couple,”  Bobby chuckled.

“What?”  Julie and the brothers all echoed.

“It’s the queen who is the threat there,”  Bobby said like it was obvious.

“Queen Rowena?”  Julie asked thinking about all the times the Queen had been polite and kind to her.  “But she’s foreign, I thought that wouldn’t put her in the know?”

“Oh, she’s old blood.  Don’t let her sweet smile mislead you,”  Bobby said.

“Could she be in on it then?”  Dean asked.

“Maybe,”  Julie said, unsure of whether the queen would do that to her.

“Well, we have Dean squared away safe and sound,”  Cole said, drawing attention back to himself.  “What about you, Countess?”  He asked, offering the new title so Julie could be more comfortable when she was addressed with it.  “You won’t be safe until Michael has no way to touch you.”

“I have an idea for that too,”  Julie said.  Her eyes flitted over to Sam, but the action was unnoticed by all but Dean.  Julie couldn’t tell if he was holding back a smile or a snarl, but she knew that he was aware of her thoughts.  “Bobby make our transition back to court tomorrow as easy as possible if you can.”

“Yes, milady,”  He bowed before leaving her chambers.

“Bobby didn’t need to know what else I have been thinking about but this next part concerns everyone here,”  Julie moved to sit in her chair again.  “Dean, you and Lisa can talk in my room if you please.”

“What’s going on with them?”  Cole asked as they shut a door behind them.

“Lisa is pregnant,”  Julie said.  It was information that the bodyguard needed to know to keep them safe, and knowledge that would not be hidden from Sam for long.  “They need to be wed quickly if your brother agrees to it.”

“Agreed,”  Sam said before turning to her.  “Julie, what is your plan to safeguard yourself from the king?”

“If we get married, Sam, our union will protect me and Dean,”  Julie said almost shyly.  A look of pain crossed Sam’s face briefly.

“I’d like that.  I will consult with Dean about it,”  Sam said, taking her hand.  Dean and Lisa came out of the room at that time, the look of shock on Dean’s face told them all that it was not what he was expecting.

“I think you two should go back to your apartment.  You have a lot to discuss and we will regroup tomorrow before court, so we can make announcements if need be.”  The brothers left the room, and Lisa retired for the night.  Cole stayed with Julie to help her out of her corset.

“If Dean and Lisa marry, there will be questions about your relationship with him,”  Cole said as he loosened the knot on the corset.

“It will work out the way it is supposed to, Cole,”  Julie said.  There was a knock at the door and Cole checked it, returning quickly.

“This is for you,”  He said, handing her a letter.  “Who is it from?”  He asked.

“My father,”  Julie said, recognizing the way her father wrote her name.

“Read it, maybe it talks about why Winchester Sir killed him.  What he was doing with the vampires and the likes,”  Cole urged.

“Finish my laces, I’ll read in private if you don’t mind,”  She whispered, barely holding back tears.

“Yes, milady,”  He answered, loosening her so she could finish this work.

Julie changed into her nightclothes then settled in her bed to read the note.  She cried as she read about all the horrible things her father had done and plotted for other people.  She couldn’t believe her eyes as she read the written confession.  He had been working behind King Oskar’s back with Nickolas to take over the kingdom, which Nick believed to be his by some long lost blood relation.

“Julie?”  Hours had passed since she had laid in her bed, and Sam’s quiet voice inside her room almost made her screams.

“Sam?  What are you doing here?”  Julie asked, pulling the blanket up to her chin.  She thought in retrospect that it was a stupid and unnecessary move.

“I,”  He chuckled, and Julie could see him rubbing his head in the cute way he did when he was embarrassed.  “I missed you.  Do you mind if I sleep with you for a time?”

“I’d like that,”  She smiled and made space for him on her bed.  “How is your brother?”  Julie asked as Sam started to strip to his sleep shirt.

“You should have seen the dumb grin on his face when we were in private.  I don’t think he wants to admit that he is happy.  But I do know that he has been very fond of Lisa for some time now.  I would venture to say this would be a good union for them,”  Sam said smiling.

“Yes, I heard briefly of how fond they were of each other.  Not in much detail,”  Julie moved the papers from her father.

“Yes, well be thankful for that.  What are you doing?”  Sam asked as she placed the letter from her father on the bedside table.  Julie hesitated for a moment.

“My father sent this to me.  I think he knew he was going to die,”  She offered him the pages that he father had scribbled.

“It’s not signed, how do you know it was him?”  Sam asked.  His body had gone rigid reading the letter.

“I would recognize the handwriting anywhere,”  She replied simply.

“You had no idea that your father was involved in any of these things?”  Sam asked.

“If it wasn’t for the fact that I am an only child, I don’t think my father would have kept me in the know of any of his affairs,”  Julie shrugged before taking the pages back.  “What do you think I should do with them?”

“Burn them,”  Sam replied seriously.  “If anyone finds them, they could implicate you in your father’s crimes.”  Julie took the pages and held them over the nightstand candle before they caught ablaze.

“Well, that was dark and serious,”  Julie smiled before turning to rest her head on Sam’s arm.  “Make me smile, Mr. Winchester.”

“I was hoping you would say that,”  Sam smirked before slipping beneath the duvet and kissing the insides of her thighs.

“What are you doing?”  Julie sighed quietly.  Sam continued to kiss the insides of her legs, all around her apex.

“I want to try something new,”  Sam stated, before hooking his fingers on her undergarments and pulling them off.  He licked at her core, touching and tasting her, taking his time with her like their first time.

“Still don’t think I can handle you?  Even after last time?”  Julie hummed as she squirmed away from his touch.

“No,”  Sam growled with his lips at her folds.  “I know you can take me, but you taste so sweet.  Besides,”  He slid a thick finger fully inside of her, and Julie inhaled sharply.  “You're still so tight, I see no need to rush.”

“How - ah - Considerate of you”  Julie gasped and threw her head back as Sam worked his finger inside of her and kissed and sucked at her entrance.  “God, Sam, I want you inside of me.”

“Not yet,”  Sam reminded her, and she could tell that he was smiling.  Sam worked her over, stretching her to accommodate his size, waiting for Julie to fall apart on his fingers, and feeling her wetness against his face before finally coming out of the covers.

“Now?”  Julie asked as she felt his cock nudge at her soaked entrance.

“You know, Countess,”  He said as he started to work himself into her tight channel.  “If this is going to be a regular thing, we should wed before something happens,”  Sam groaned the last word as he filled her fully.

“Something, Mister Winchester?  Why whatever could you mean?  I’ll have you know that I am a proper lady,”  Julie teased as she rocked her hips.

“Lady Julie, I’ve heard the ‘proper ladies’ at court talk,”  Sam said.  He met her gaze before withdrawing to the tip and slamming back into her.  Julie bit her lip to keep from screaming his name.  “Does that mean that you are good at getting pregnant?”  Sam looked at her and quirked an eyebrow.  It felt like such a taboo subject since Dean and Lisa were expecting, but Julie was so turned on by having Sam impaling her with his cock, that she couldn’t help herself.

“Well, Sam, let’s just say,”  She moaned as quietly as she could as Sam ducked his head to capture her nipple in his mouth.  “Part of my tutelage included the reasons why a child would be born prematurely.”  Sam chuckled then picked up the pace as he worked them both to orgasm, enjoying the way the candlelight illuminated her face and shown on her hair.

“Did you and Dean discuss marriage with your respective ladies?”  Julie asked as they caught their breath.

“He’s nervous but on board with marrying Lisa.  He thinks it’s the right thing to do, even if the baby isn’t his,”  Sam said the second part quieter.

“He told you?”  Julie asked rolling onto her side and clenching her legs as she felt Sam’s seed run onto her legs.

“Yea, he was pretty riled up about the whole thing, but pretty excited regardless.  Dean’s always wanted to be a dad, even if our own father hasn’t pushed us for that,”  Sam was wistful as he spoke about his father.

“What about you?”  Julie asked, trying to hide the trepidation in her voice.  “I kind of sprung the idea on you without consulting.  Everything that was happening to Lisa.  It was just something that I was afraid would happen to us, and with my new position-”  Julie had started to shake and tears were flowing freely.  Sam wrapped his arms around her and pulled her tight.

“I’m not afraid of marrying you,”  He whispered against her hair.  “I don’t feel like a wedding is being sprung on me.”  He was literally erasing all of her fears one at a time.  “If you were pregnant, like Lisa, I would be over the moon.  Nothing would stop me from climbing to the top tower of Michael’s castle and shouting at the top of my lungs,”  They were both laughing at the absurd image of Sam climbing the tower in nothing but his skin.

“Are you sure?”  She asked.

“Absolutely.  But let’s let Lisa and Dean have their day and a little before we make them work for ours,”  Sam chuckled.  “What about Cole?”  Sam asked thinking of the way that the bodyguard would look at his love.

“Cole won’t be an issue, while I think he hates your brother, I think he approves of us,”  Julie smiled and kissed him.  “What will we do if Michael presses his issue?  He is the king.”

“I think we need to find out from Bobby what the King’s reputation really is before we worry about him making further moves against your virtue,”  Sam said seriously, but Julie couldn’t help but laugh.

“I think my virtue is well and safe,”  He crawled onto Sam’s lap, the wetness from her excited and Sam’s spunk slicked his cock as she rubbed herself atop him.  “Since you took from me after all.”

“Mmmm, woman, you will be the death of me.  And as much as I want to have another go at you,”  He gripped her hips and lifted her easily from his lap.  “You need to be presentable to the King.  I’m afraid,”  He kissed the top of her breast roughly.  “That I want to be a little rougher in keeping your virtue.”

Julie stayed locked in her room late the next morning.  She was reading the note that Bobby had sent to her before her group had gone to the alpha vampire.  She wondered how deep that man’s contacts ran within their home kingdom and this one, that he had been able to intercept a letter from King Oskar’s secretary to King Michael.  She sighed deeply, earning the attention of her bodyguard.

“You only do that when you are stressed about something,”  Cole said, coming to kneel next to her.

“My father was killed,”  She said quietly.  Cole seemed to stop breathing as he looked at his mistress.  “It seems that he was a suspect of Sir Winchester Senior, and my father unwittingly was turned into a vampire.  John killed him on the spot.”

“What are you going to do?”  Cole asked, seeming to find his breath.

“Nothing is changing for now,”  Julie said, rising to her feet and placing a hand on Cole’s shoulder.  Discreetly, she placed the key to her chastity belt back in the letter.  “King Oskar has transferred my father’s station and wealth to me, but wishes me to continue our hunt here.”

“Julie,”  Cole’s tone turned suspicious.  “Nothing your father has ever done was unwitting.”  Julie looked at Cole darkly, before handing him the letter.

“Return this to Sir Singer.  Tell him that I will be ready when it is delivered.  I need Sam and Dean to meet with me as well,”  Julie delegated her checklist.

“Things are changing aren’t they?”  Cole asked.

“I’m afraid, Cole,”  Julie said letting her façade falter with her companion.

“I’m got you, nothing bad will happen to you.  Ever,”  He said, pulling her against his chest for a moment.  “I’ll return with the brothers.”

“Lady Julie?”  Lisa asked as Cole left.  The dark-haired woman to a conspiratorial step toward Julie.  “What will happen to me now that you are Countess?”

“You’ll stay on, and with my new title, I can assign or bless a marriage for you,”  Julie said smiling faintly.

“That’s why you needed to think?  You already knew about that?”  She pointed after Cole.

“Yes, and I think I can keep you safe.  That is if you want me to,”  Julie said, remembering the fact that Lisa had had multiple lovers.

“Safe is good.  I don’t want to be stoned or worse just for being with a man,”  Lisa said wiping at tears.

“I’ll protect you.  Dean is coming back with Cole, why don’t you prepare yourself,”  Julie flicked her wrist away toward Lisa’s room.

“Do you think that the king will try to marry you, now that you're a lady of the station?”  Lisa asked, her voice barely a whisper.  Julie just nodded her head before sighing deeply again.

                                         ∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞

“How could you be such an idiot?”  Dean berated Sam.  “I told you not to get too attached!  And you went and picked the lock on her belt?”  Dean’s voice got very quiet as he said the last part.

“Look who’s talking,”  Sam mumbled, earning a pissed look from Dean.  “Whatever the reason that Dad was suspicious about the Count, doesn’t mean there is anything wrong with Julie.  I mean she is like us.”

“The Count is on the watchlist cause Dad thinks he arranged mom’s murder.  The fire.  Besides, the Count could just use your relationship with Julie to exploit you,”  Dean was grasping at straws as he paced around their apartment.

“Right, even you know that’s thin,”  Sam said standing in the defense of his love.

“Ever since you met her, you’ve been obsessed with her.  What’s going on?”  Dean asked, changing the subject.

“I feel like I know her, man.  I’m not sure how else to explain it.  It’s like we’ve been together forever.  I know she feels it too,”  Sam said.

“How?”  Dean interrupted.

“The way she looks at me,”  Sam said without missing a beat.

“So what do you think you guys are like soulmates or something?  Lovers from a past life?”  Dean jabbed.

“I don’t know, but that’s a possibility.  I mean think about it, we are fighting vampires,”  Sam shrugged.

“Well, why don’t you ask that alpha vampire if he knows anything about it,”  Dean rolled his eyes.

“What about you and Lisa?  I know you were seeing her before,”  Sam said sitting back down.

“I’m not sure.  I could see myself happy with her, though,”  Dean mused the idea of a happy life with a wife of his own.  “Don’t skirt the subject.  What are we going to do now that you’ve got the belt off the Lady?”

“I guess we'll just have to see what she has to say about that.  Hello Cole,”  Sam greeted the bodyguard as he came into the room.

“Lady Julie requires your presence,”  Cole said formally.

“What’s wrong?”  Sam asked quickly.

“King Oskar intends to use the Lady as a peace offering,”  Cole said darkly before the three men headed back to Julie’s apartment.