Page 112 of Theoden

I punished him with a silver tongue and with the silver rod that had once been used on me, but still he rebelled against me. Finally, I unleashed him on a small village as I had done with Michael, and that nearly broke him. But to my surprise, Donovan, my fourth son, was being ridiculously tenacious in his attempt to defy me.

I had to have him chained in the basement of O’Connor’s castle, where he had spent the last five days starving. Good god, it had only taken one time with the silver rod for me to learn my lesson at the hands of my Father and brothers. I was beginning to wonder if Donovan was just obstinate or truly stupid. He angered me to no end, and I believed it was giving him some sense of satisfaction. He would give in eventually. As much as he tried to pretend that he did not enjoy killing, feeding, and fucking, I knew it was a lie. Soon, the truth would lead him to the right path… and I knew just how to make that happen.

The idea came to me one night Michael and I fucked for hours. I fed on my son, giving him glorious pleasure as he came in my hand. His fluid slicked my fingers as I stroked him. My own cock erupted inside of him even as I drank his blood.

I released him finally and pulled away, laying on my back beside him. We were both panting, completely sated sexually. Michael rolled over, wrapping his arm around my waist.

“Michael?”

“Yes, Father?”

“I want you to speak to Donovan tomorrow night. He has closed himself off to me, and I would have to deal out more cruelty in order to force him to see reason. I’d rather not do that. You are my second youngest and have experienced a lot of what he is going through. I believe he may take to your wisdom since you are his brother.”

Michael sat up so he could look at me. “Oh, but Father, I know you can break him. He is not stronger than you,” he said, as if giving me a rallying speech.

I chuckled softly as I wiped sweat from my forehead and eyebrows. “I do not doubt that I can break Donovan. It’s only a question of how. I could use physical punishments, or I could use a more merciful approach. You have to know your child and what would be the best way to break them. Is it pain? Or pleasure? Or fear? Or is it sympathy? All are methods that I will use, and by having you speak to him, he will respond. It is time, as he is on the brink of giving in. Now, let us give him that final push.”

Michael smiled and nodded. “You never cease to amaze me, Father.”

I smiled and kissed him. That night, my three sons slept in the bed with me. But the following night, my four sons slept in the bed with me. After nearly two months of refusing to submit, Michael had spoken the right words to Donovan to get him to see reason. To appreciate the gift he’d been given. To see that he loved being a vampire and all that his new life offered.