Vlad fell to his knees, feeling the searing pain of his wounds, his scorched skin, and his body exhausted from the effort of containing the agony. The ritual consumed both magic and blood, and he, a creature born of both, felt weak, slow. The magic he had invoked was draining his energy, as if the very essence of his were being absorbed by the fire. Daenerys knelt beside him, her expression filled with concern.
—You're hurt —she said, her voice trembling. She had never seen him injured before.
He let out a hoarse laugh, revealing bloodstained fangs.
—I'll heal… with a little blood —he replied with a smile that failed to reassure her.
The newborn dragons crept closer, their small, steaming bodies climbing over the remains of the pyre, nuzzling their parents with their snouts as they nestled around Vlad.
Vlad turned his gaze toward his bloodriders.
—Bring me Alyssa and Mera —he ordered, referring to the former slaves he usually fed from. Normally, they also served as Daenerys' handmaidens.
But Daenerys stopped him. With an expression full of worry, she extended her wrist to him, her hand trembling slightly.
—There's no time, you're still bleeding —she said, voice breaking, her eyes filled with anguish. Her hand shook as she brought her wrist to his mouth.
—That's not necessary, my dear —Vlad said, trying to stop her, but she cut him off with a pleading tone.
—Drink, please —she begged, tears rolling down her cheeks. —You did this for me, so please… you already have my heart. A little blood is nothing.
Vlad looked at her, seeing the pain reflected on her face. He didn't have the strength to refuse her. Without another word, he kissed her gently, then bit into her neck with practiced precision.
Daenerys let out a soft moan of pleasure, a sound that clashed with the gravity of the situation, but it held not a trace of pain. At that moment, her body experienced the ecstasy of the bite —an ecstasy that, for a vampire, could be as intimate as sex when shared between lovers. Daenerys felt it firsthand, completely intoxicated by the experience.
Vlad was also overwhelmed by it. He had drunk a great deal of blood in his life, but he had never tasted anything as exquisite as Daenerys' blood. It was intoxicating, like drinking after years lost in the desert.
Fortunately, Vlad maintained control and drank only enough to stabilize without harming her.
When he pulled away, he looked deeply into her eyes, and saw no pain—only love.
—I love you —he whispered.
Two words. His voice was barely a whisper, yet to Daenerys they echoed like a thunderclap. She hadn't realized how much she had longed to hear them until that moment. She wanted to answer, but the knot in her throat left her speechless. Instead, she held him tightly, embracing him and their newborn dragons. And in that instant, she knew with absolute certainty that when Vlad swore eternal love, it was a true promise.
The next day, Vlad found himself curled up in bed beside Daenerys and the four dragonlings. Rhaegal, named in honor of Daenerys' mother, Rhaella Targaryen, was a deep emerald green dragon. Balerion, named after the Black Dread in hopes of earning similar reverence, was the black dragon who, in another life, would have been Drogon. Vladion, named in honor of his father, was a coppery red dragon, as both shared the same flesh and blood. Lastly, Drakul, who took his father's surname as a name to immortalize it, was a black dragon with blood-red shimmering scales.
From the moment they were born, the dragons were quite spoiled, chirping and demanding attention at all hours. No matter which way Vlad turned, he'd find them climbing up his legs, demanding his full attention. He couldn't deny it —he found them absolutely adorable.
Daenerys was overjoyed to see them and have them by her side. She radiated happiness, caressing and showering the newborn dragons with affection. They weren't just pets; they were family.
Even so, she insisted that Vlad remain in bed for a few days, drinking regularly to recover. She made sure Alyssa and Mera donated blood whenever they could, though Vlad still felt somewhat weak.
He explained that the ritual had been harder on him because he had to draw the magic from his own body—something deeply unpleasant, but a few days of feeding would fix it.
He also explained that if she ever wished to become one of his kind, she would have to undergo a similar process. It wasn't exactly a ritual, but making a partner was different from creating a spawn. He could sire as many spawn as he wanted; they were little more than followers, slaves if he willed it. But a partner was an equal. To create one, he had to give her his blood essence—the very core of what defined him—allowing her to be reborn as his own blood. As a consequence, he would be left weakened for months while she adapted to her new nature.
Needless to say, Daenerys found the idea incredibly romantic.
Vlad figured it was time to have "the talk," so he explained the full extent of his powers. He told her how they would live eternal lives, about their strength and speed, how they could change form, become mist, and even influence others' minds—but also about how they would watch every human friend and family member die. Daenerys was heartbroken, her thoughts immediately turning to her future children, nearly deciding to reject immortality.
However, Vlad calmed her. He explained that for their kind, conceiving natural children between equals was extremely rare, but thanks to the enchanted pendant he had created, they could have as many children as they wanted. They would be strong and inherit only the best of both parents, living long lives like their mother and father.
Then, he confessed his plan: he intended to grant her the gift of eternity once they had conquered the Slaver's Bay, so that when they finally reached Westeros, nothing could harm her.
He also revealed the true threat looming over the world: the Night King. He told her how, little by little, this enemy was gaining ground beyond the Wall, and how every fallen soul became one of his soldiers—mindless, tireless, and immune to pain.
In that moment, Daenerys understood why Vlad was so determined to unite Westeros. After all, if humanity did not unite… humanity would fall.