by M. D. Grimm
He sighed with great theatrics before doing as he was told. I piled the food on my plate and ate at the counter with him sitting across from me. Instead of unnerving me, his intense focus amused me. Then I thought of Nicole and my playfulness vanished.
Cassius narrowed his eyes. Something must have shown on my face. I scraped the last bit of food from my plate and then set it aside.
“Nicole called me. I’ve mentioned her before, remember?”
He nodded.
“She had some things to say.” I told him, preparing for him to go into protector-slash-defender-slash-avenger mode. He didn’t disappoint.
He jumped to his feet, eyes glowing redder. “If news has spread this fast already then I have to assume Sanchez knows. We can’t take any chances. You need to stay at my place or the manor until he’s found.”
“He’s not the only slayer,” I said. “And I can’t just skip out on my business.”
“This is your life.”
“Exactly. My job is my life.”
His expression was tight, and I knew he wanted to say something more. Then a phone rang.
I frowned. “Is that mine or yours?”
He shrugged and used his superspeed to go and return from the bedroom in the blink of an eye. “Mine.” He shot me a look before he answered. “Your Grace.”
His eyes widened at whatever the duchess said and then let out a growl. He paced away and though I wanted to eavesdrop, I rinsed my plate and pans before putting them in the dishwasher. Cassius wasn’t saying much, merely listening. A few minutes past before he told Her Grace what I’d told him about Nicole. He listened while watching me before saying goodbye and hanging up.
Before I could ask, he said, “The council is convening at the manor tonight. I need to go.”
My eyes widened. “The council? So the heads of all the covens of the world are coming here?”
“Or their representatives, yes. Sanchez has been a busy boy. He’s also trained others and they are some of the deadliest slayers out there. They don’t just go after the vampires themselves but their thralls. They cripple us before staking us.”
My insides quivered as I walked over and touched his arm. Our eyes met and it was on the tip of my tongue to ask him about going feral. My voice failed me. He kissed me deeply before pulling away.
“I want you safe, carissime. Please consider the situation we find ourselves in.”
I nodded. “You be safe too, Marcus. I can’t lose you now.”
A flash of pure misery crossed his features before he kissed me again. Then he used his speed to dress and within five minutes, he was gone. I took a deep breath.
The time for indulgence was over. I had to adult now.
Cassius didn’t return to me that night. He only texted a few times. I suspected there was protocol to observe before real business could be done. I was immensely curious about the coven leaders and at the same time nervous because of the reasons they were here in the first place. Sanchez really must be bad news if he caused vampires to shake in their boots.
Perhaps it wouldn’t be a bad idea to close up shop until the threat was eliminated. There would always be slayers but not of Sanchez’s caliber. I finished up my current commissions and decided that Gustav the Troll’s gold unicorns would be the last project for a while. His package arrived the next night, and I channeled my anxiety into one of my most adorable projects.
It had been two nights since I’d seen Cassius, and I was beginning to itch. I was relieved when he finally called me near daylight of the second night.
“How’s it going?”
“Slow.”
“Protocol?”
“Mostly that and everyone wants their say.”
“Can you tell me anything?”
“There’s nothing much to tell.”
I noted the strain in his voice. “If there was something to tell, could you?”
He sighed. “Probably not.”
“Dammit. Her Grace knows she can trust me.”
“It isn’t just us who are making decisions right now.”
I slouched in the couch and stared at the ceiling. I missed him.
“Believe me, I don’t like keeping secrets from you, carissime. I’d rather be an open book for you.”
The endearment loosened the tension in my shoulders and I sighed. “I get it. Really. Hey, I finally got Gustav’s gold so I think he’ll be my last commission for a while. Once I finish, I think, um, I’ll take you up on your offer. Until the dust settles.”
My heart pounded as Cassius let out a long breath.
“Thank you,” he whispered.
I looked at the time. Sunrise wasn’t far off. “Is there any chance you can get away tomorrow night? Even if it’s just for an hour or something?”
“Yes,” he said instantly. “By the gods, yes.”
I laughed at his desperate tone.
“I’ll come to you this time,” he said.
I smiled. “It’s a date then.”
“I love you.”
My insides went all warm and fuzzy. “Love you too.”
The unicorns gave me eyestrain but at least I got a break from pounding metal. I stretched and groaned before taking a long, relaxing shower. After wrapping the towel around my waist, I opened the bathroom door and immediately felt him.
Vulcan.
My heart leapt to my throat as I ran to the front of the house. I swiftly unlocked the door before yanking it open. There he stood, garbed in black, eyes tinted red, poised like a predator about to pounce.
A low, rumbling growl made the hairs on my neck stand up.
“Cas—”
He leapt through the doorway, locking his steely arms around me. The door slammed shut as he took me to the floor and viciously wrenched away the towel. All thought shattered as he took me over. His mouth, his hands, they owned and possessed, marking me. I clutched him back, digging my nails into his back, and wrapped my legs around his waist. His fangs scraped my lips, drawing blood, which he lapped, growling in need.
The pain shot straight to my cock, hardening it fast. I gasped and gripped his face, pulling it away from mine. I just needed to breathe for a minute. Cassius stared at me, his eyes fully red, growls and snarls bubbling from his chest.
“Lube is in my bedroom. It’s—”
He vanished, nothing but a swirl of air. I managed to take a large deep breath before he returned, naked and armed with lube. He got busy fingering my ass and lowered his mouth to torment my cock. I grabbed fistfuls of his hair, trembling, moaning. I couldn’t get enough air as pleasure whipped through me like a tornado, uncontrollable, destroying any reason and thought.
He claimed my mouth once again and pushed into me. I cried out at the abrupt invasion, but my body knew him, welcomed him. He stretched me, and it burned so good. He braced himself on his knees, held my hips captive, and fucked me mercilessly. He slammed into my prostate every goddamn fucking time.
I could only hold on and take what he gave me. I know I screamed, and he growled ferociously, his thrusts never faltering. My cock slapped against my stomach, leaking, hard as a broom handle.
Despite the violence of our mating, he made it last. I sobbed and begged him to let me come. He finally grabbed my cock and sank his fangs in my neck. He stroked me twice, and I came harder than I ever had before. Lights exploded in my eyes, and I passed out.
I wasn’t out long. He was cleaning my ass with the towel, and the wetness on my neck told me he’d already licked the bite marks. I just breathed in and out. My limbs were heavy and I felt slightly drunk. His face filled my vision, and I smiled. I recognized the concern in his furrowed brow and smiled wider.
“I love you.”
All worry vanished, and he huffed a laugh. “I did not mean to devour you so… inelegantly.”
I snorted, laughing breathlessly. “Hey, no complaints here, buddy. And who says it wasn’t elegant? I should have known your gentlemanly exterior hides a beast.”
He kisse
d my forehead. “It is a beast I try to keep locked up. Then I smelled you, and you opened the door in nothing but a towel.” He shivered. “I lost control. I could have harmed you.”
“You didn’t.”
He pulled back and helped me sit up. I leaned into his arms and snuggled closer, tucking my head under his chin.
“You’ll never harm me,” I said.
“Andrew—”
“Nope, don’t say it. You won’t. I trust you. I feel delightfully used and a little sore but so damn happy to see you.”
He sighed and held me tightly. “I don’t want to ever harm you. I’d rather walk into the sunlight.”
I shivered at the horrifying image his words implanted in my mind. I swallowed hard and lifted my face, calmly meeting his eyes. It was time.
“You’re worried that, should you go feral, you’ll harm me.”
He froze and shock covered his face. I cupped his cheek and rubbed my thumb over his skin.
“Her Grace told me. I’d already suspected something happened to vampires when they grew too old. I’ve never met anyone older than Her Grace until you.”
“Why would she tell you that?” he whispered.
I frowned at his tone and sat up fully, pushing away from his arms. I’d rather not be naked to have this conversation, but beggars couldn’t be choosers. I sat across from him and continued to meet his gaze, showing my trust.
“It was during that last time I was avoiding you, when you confessed how you felt. She worried what might happen to you. She saw your symptoms of going feral and, well, noticed you seemed to improve when you’re around me.” I took a deep breath. “That’s what you meant, isn’t it? I help you keep your mind. I slow down the progression.”
He closed his eyes and bowed his head, visibly shuddering. Nerves danced along my spine as I cautiously reached out and touched his hand. He instantly gripped it, and I knew he was using me as his anchor. My throat tightened and my eyes burned.
“I don’t want to lose you,” I whispered, my voice rough. “I just found you. It’s not fair.”
“No, it is not.” He lifted his head, and it startled me to see his own eyes swimming with tears. “I just found you as well. I can’t let you go. But if you stay, I might hurt you. Attack you.”
I squeezed his hand, and though I was scared and my stomach roiled, I knew what my answer was. What it had always been.
“My choice, Marcus. It’s my choice, and I choose you. I choose us. I won’t live the rest of my life without you in it.”
His tears spilled over, and he squeezed his eyes shut, his breathing labored. I crawled into his lap, wrapping my arms and legs around him, making sure he felt all of me. He clutched me, head pressed against my shoulder. My Roman vampire was crying, and it got my own eyes watering.
I stroked his hair, eventually finding my voice. “Her Grace said there were other ways to slow the progression. Do you know them?”
He nodded.
“If… if you give me a little more time, maybe a year or two, I can, um, join you. I mean, become a vampire and let you drink from me. She said that would work, right?”
My words only made him cry harder, and if he didn’t watch it, he’d squeeze me too tightly. As it was, I was having trouble breathing. I rested my cheek on his head and didn’t say another word. It took time, but he finally got control over his emotions and pulled away enough to look at my face. His eyes were bloodshot, his face drawn, and he appeared much older than when he arrived.
He cupped my face. “There is nothing I want more than to have you by my side. But I won’t let you give up your life for me. You value your independence, as you should. So what of your business? Your clients?”
“Yeah, I thought about that. I won’t be giving that up. Making things, crafting things is in my blood. Part of who I am. I’m definitely keeping this house and the property. But Victoria, you know her, right? She’s bugged me a couple of times to take on her daughter, Olivia, as an apprentice. I’ve seen some of Olivia’s work and she has potential. I’ve been considering it. And Ricardo has a cousin from New Jersey that’s going to relocate here. He has a good hand at weapons as well. If you give me time, I can make sure they can handle things while we figure us out.” I smirked. “You definitely owe me a world tour. We can start in Italy.”
He stared at me with wonder, all barriers gone, his emotions naked. “Did you know, the night we met, was August twenty-third?”
“And?”
“That is Vulcanalia, our day to celebrate the god Vulcan. You are the reason I still believe my gods exist. You have to be a gift from Vulcan or maybe Venus. Or even Cupid.”
I blushed deeply, my stomach fluttering. “Well, it seems only fair since you’re my miracle.”
He kissed me long and deep, not hurried or demanding. It was sweet and strong and exactly what we both needed. After it spiraled out and we pulled away, I stood and grabbed his hand. We took a hot shower and, without a word, touched each other. I slid my hands over his chest, shoulders, and down his arms. He glided his fingers over my spine, lightly stroking my ass. Stolen kisses and light touches, intimacy on a level I’d never fathomed I would experience with someone. I could lose him; I could be left behind again like I was with Dain. But what sort of life would I have without him in it? What was the point in living without his love and acceptance? Now I understood why so many risked loss.
“Her Grace mentioned you hibernated,” I said softly.
He nodded and gently massaged shampoo in my hair. “From time to time, life became too much. I needed to… reset, you might say. Also, when plagues hit, it was easier to survive by going underground. Human blood became toxic and my thralls would die in droves. Sometimes I slept as little as fifty years to as long as a century.”
I blew out a breath and tipped my head back into the spray to wash away the suds. “What was your most recent hibernation period?”
“I slept through most of the twentieth century. I woke up in 1965.”
I eyed him. “Well, you didn’t miss much.”
My sarcasm was thick and he smiled. “Every time I woke up, I was charged with curiosity and new life. Humans are extraordinary in their need to create and invent. And endure.”
After the shower, I ate a large meal and drank plenty of water and Gatorade, trying to even out my electrolytes.
“How long can you stay?”
Cassius sighed. “Not long. We were only allowed a short break before resuming discussions.”
I eyed him and knew he was avoiding my gaze. “Is there anything you can tell me about it?”
He frowned at me, though he wasn’t angry. He was frustrated about something.
I shoved my plate away and leaned across the table. “I promise not to tell anyone you told me.”
He blew out a breath. “Honestly, I fear how you will react. I don’t want you to do anything rash. I can’t lose you.”
It was my turn to frown. “Better start from the beginning.”
“It’s about… Santiago Sanchez.”
My stomach knotted. “All right.”
“The duchess has been trying to track him across Europe, but since he changes his name frequently, she ran into one wall after another. But as soon as he flew into New York, she was able to make the connection and track his new name. With the council’s help we’ve managed to retrace his steps back several years. We discovered that this isn’t the first time Sanchez has been in the States.”
He paused, and I gripped the table in anxiety.
“He was here over two years ago. He worked a few jobs with fellow slayers but mostly remained solo.” He met and held my gaze. “He was in Los Angeles in July.”
I stopped breathing.
“He’s the one who shoved you and Dain into the path of that semi.”
I stared at him, utter silence falling between us. Memories flashed—the impact of the semi against our Mustang, the smell of Dain’s blood, the way it felt on my hands. His dead eyes. His corpse in my arms
as I sobbed.
I shot to my feet, the chair toppling to the floor as I knocked it over. I slapped my hands on the table and bared my teeth.
“Where is he? Where is that murdering bastard? I’m going to gut that fucker and set him on fire.”
“Vulcan—”
“Not only does he kill Dain, but he’s after you. He could be after us. He doesn’t live past tonight. No fucking way.”
I charged out of the kitchen, heading for my workshop and all those sharp, deadly weapons.
“Stop!” Cassius invaded my mind, and I froze involuntarily. Unfortunately, my forward momentum took me to the floor. I grunted on impact, my nose and cheek stinging. I could barely move my arms and legs, and it felt like gravity had increased tenfold. I gritted my teeth.
I put every ounce of strength I had and mentally shouted, Get the fuck out of my head!
“Only when you calm down.”
Damn you! I tried to shove him out of my mind but might as well have tried to shove back a rolling tide. There was nothing solid to grasp. He held me firmly, limbs locked, on the floor. You son of a bitch! Get the fuck out of my head now.
He faded from my mind, and I gulped in air.
I rolled onto my back and sat up, glaring at him. “Never do that again. You have no right to control me.”
“I will not have you going off half-cocked and getting yourself killed!” He glared back at me, fists clenched. “I will not lose you on a mission of vengeance!”
“He killed my friend!”
“And he’s killed many of mine!”
I climbed to my feet. “What the fuck are you talking about?”
“The vampires I knew in Italy. Many of them died at his hands. They were arrogant enough to believe themselves invincible, and he took full advantage of that. He’s relentless and merciless. He’s more a monster than those he hunts. I am sorry for your loss, carissime. I truly am, but you will do no one any good by letting the thirst for vengeance cloud your judgment. Believe me, I have lived many lives, and I have felt the dark seduction of revenge. It never ends well. Killing him will not bring back Dain.”
