by Emily Bex
The Blood Covenant
Book One in the Medici Warrior Series
by Emily Bex
“From the power portals of Florence, Italy to Washington, D.C., Emily Bex breathes life into the realm of the undead. Blood Covenant combines the hedonistic jet-setting pleasures of billionaire romance and the dirty little secret thrills of a dead sexy vampire!
“Shade’s a gorgeous billionaire immortal, sex-of-your-dreams-lover, warrior-king who owns a slew of quality vineyards. What more do you want? For centuries, he’s been a vampiric master among masters and carries royal blood from a golden age when the great Medici family ruled Florence. A passionate lover with a dangerous past, he’s since learned patience and knows that what he desires will come to him willingly, and what he desires most is a vivacious redhead. Too bad Shade’s true business and existence cannot be publicized… The language is immediate, and the story fast paced. I loved Kate’s down to earth sensibility and the way she fostered Shade’s protective instincts. This is a slow burn romance that will provide many happy hours of reading.”
– Katalina Leon
USA Today Bestselling Author
Foundations Publishing Company
Brandon, MS 39047
www.foundationsbooks.net
The Blood Covenant
Book One in the Medici Warrior Series
By: Emily Bex
Cover by Dawne Dominique
Edited by Toni Michelle
Copyright 2019© Emily Bex
Published in the United States of America
Worldwide Electronic & Digital Rights
Worldwide English Language Print Rights
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events, and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, scanned or distributed in any form, including digital and electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without the prior written consent of the Publisher, except for brief quotes for use in reviews.
Dedication
The Medici Warrior book series is dedicated to all the dreamers, the hopeless romantics, and to my partner in crime, Johanna Morisette.
Acknowledgements
This book could not have been written without the help of my collaborator, Johanna Morisette. She dragged me reluctantly into a world of vampires and inspired me to write. She had the initial vision for Shade and was instrumental in the development of his character. Throughout the seven years it took to write this series, she remained my sounding board for the development of the storyline. These characters, and this saga, would not exist if not for her constant support and input which kept me motivated to keep pushing forward.
Table of Reference
Prologue
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About the Author
Sample of Book 2: The Turning
More Available from Foundations Publishing
Italian words to know:
Mi amore is my love
Cazzo is shit
Sorgere is rise
Di is of
Bel is beautiful
Rosso is red
Buonasera is good evening
Si is yes
Grazie is thank you
Vorrei un bacio, per favore is
I’d like a kiss, please
Ti amo is I love you
Per sempre is forever
Prologue
He knew when he met her how it would end.
Throughout the years, Shade had often wondered if, given the chance, he could have walked away. He was drawn to her like no other, the light in his darkness. From the moment he laid eyes on her, he knew she was the one, but in binding her to him, he had sealed her fate, and his. Maybe, if he had been stronger, turned his back on her, or let her walk away that first night, he could have spared them both.
He has no regrets for himself. He loves her with a passion that burns with the heat of a thousand suns. For him, the risk was always worth the reward. There was no price he was not willing to pay to be with her. When he asks, she says she would change nothing, but still, he can’t help but wonder.
1
Alec circulates among his guests at the lavish cocktail party. He would call them his friends, but they are not his friends, not really. They know almost nothing about him, at least not the real him. They know his name is Alec Canton, and he is the Senator from the great state of Connecticut. They know he has his eyes on the prize, with intentions of ruling as President. But they don’t know he is a vampire, a master.
He lives among mortals, undetected, which is not an easy feat. There are many that would try to bring him down. He can manage the mortal threats. It is the immortal threats he has to pay attention to. He has a legion of warriors who defend him, or he should say, are supposed to defend him. But their skills are lacking. He didn’t put much effort into hiring his warriors in the past. While he is a master, he is not himself a warrior. He has learned to survive off his wits, not his brawn. He prefers to leave the physical fights to the vampires who were born with those skills.
He easily assimilates into the mortal realm, and as a day-walker, he is able to move among them freely. He has come to recognize his legion of warriors is a rather haphazard bunch who will not serve him well going forward.
Which brings us to tonight, and this soiree that he has asked his mate Rissa to host for him. Larissa, his social high-brow mate, was selected from a pool of mortals for her social standing, her moneyed background, and her connections, all of which will serve him well in his bid for political power. Of cou
rse, her beauty is a given, and the fact that she is equally as ambitious and manipulative as he is, is a plus. So, he has turned her, and thankfully, she inherited his gift as a day-walker. Together, they will rule this town.
Rissa has invited his political cronies, the press, D.C. social climbers, and a few friends, because Shade needs to see them. He needs to see Alec’s world, and the people who populate it, if he is going to re-structure his warriors and find someone to lead them. He sees Shade standing off to the side, observing everyone, taking in everything, missing nothing. Shade Medici. He is another master and a warrior, but not just any warrior. He is the warrior and the whole purpose of this little get together.
He and Shade have known each other for centuries, and he has asked him here from Florence to work with his legion of warriors, check out his lifestyle, and figure out where they go from here. Alec hopes he takes the job. He walks over to Shade as he carefully watches the crowd.
“So, what do think? Did you meet my warriors today?”
***
Shade takes stock of his current surroundings here in the middle of Georgetown. He has never taken a long-term assignment in the States before. He is used to the European way of life; the aristocracy, the money, and the women. He is the Medici, descendent of royalty; the Warrior of Warriors. He is vampire, High Master and King. Not that he goes around with a nametag on his chest. In this line of work, it is best not everyone knows who you are. He sits back and waits for the calls to come rolling in… and roll in they do.
He administers to all the masters of the vampire world and provides them with warriors for protection, fighting battles for territory, or helping them to establish their own legion of warriors, when necessary. He has already conquered Europe and has expansion on his mind. He has a wandering warrior’s heart, and his businesses need to expand into modern times, blending the old European traditions into the new world.
To the mortal world, he is known only for his fine wines and expansive vineyards. More than two thirds of his production are shipped to the mortal world, but he also makes a specific brand exclusively for immortals. They call it Midnight, a secret mixture of blood and wine that takes the edge off until they can feed.
Alec is the master here, and he takes this mortal shit seriously. Shade never understood why a vampire would have the good fortune to be born immortal, and then wish to portray themselves as mortal, but to each his own. Who is he to judge? He is here for money, territory, and expansion of power. Alec is his pathway to achieving all three. Alec is going to need his skills if he thinks that ragtag bunch of punks under his current command are warriors. They are useless, and if he seeks protection, he better figure that out sooner rather than later.
Shade sips the Midnight and watches the roomful of pompous mortal bastards, inflated with their own sense of self-importance, and listens to their gossip and the ball-breaking deals that always go down outside the office. Some things between the two worlds are not very different.
He scopes out the women as well. Hell, he is always up for a good night full of feeding and fucking. But none of these women are to his taste. They all have their noses in the air; thinking he is below their means. Little do they know, he could buy and sell all of them. As for the women, he can drop them to their knees with one look and he never has to chase, they always come to Shade.
Alec works the crowd, the mortals fawning over him, and Shade smiles, bastard always gets what he wants, but tonight, he is going to change that. He watches Alec walk toward him and he knows Alec wants to know his assessment of the mercenaries he hired. Shade doesn’t play games when it comes to his warriors and his fighting skills. Alec is going to hear the truth, his warriors suck.
“I met them, but I wouldn’t call them warriors. A pack of unorganized punks with no skills is more what I would call them, brother.”
Alec creases his brow. “I know they aren't up to the caliber of Medici warriors. I didn't kid myself about that. Can you work with them? Whip them into shape?”
Throwing back the last of the Midnight in his crystal wine glass, Shade gives him a look.
“No one is up to Medici caliber, that’s why I am here. I can work with them. It is going to take me nine months minimum, more like a year, and that is the low side of my estimate, brother. I don’t have much to work with. I can bring in some of my boys, show them how we do it Medici style and then see if they want to run for the rooftops or stay and play.”
***
Alec runs his hand through his hair. Fuck! A year! This is going to cost him a fortune. He knows what Shade wants. He has every freakin’ vineyard in Tuscany now, and a few in France and Greece. A money offer won't be nearly as enticing as property, and property with an established vineyard, even if it does need work, will get his attention.
“Then how about this, your services for one year. In exchange, I deed over the 3,000-acre property I own in Virginia. It has a house, needs some work and has established vineyards on about 800 acres. I think the vineyards also need some work, the plants are established, but have not been well maintained, and you have plenty of room for expansion. The assessed value was coming in around twenty million. That should cover it, and you can live there on the property, so you won't have additional living expenses while you're here, teleport into D.C. What do you think? That's a fair offer, Shade.”
***
Shade chuckles to himself. Fair? Bastard thinks training warriors is easy? Not on your life. He is not going to settle for one little piss-ant piece of land in the middle of bum-fuck Virginia. Medici wants to go coast to coast, and Alec has the means to make it happen.
“I’ve seen it, Alec. It will cost me a fortune to renovate the damn place, get the vineyards in working condition. I will need to hire people to get the vineyards up to par, not to mention renovate that house to make it livable, the whole nine yards and then some. But you have something else I want. So let’s get serious and put your dick back in your pants. I’m done with comparing now.”
***
Alec grimaces, he was afraid he would have to bargain.
“Yes. It will take an investment of time and money, I acknowledge that. But it's twenty million, brother. What's it going to take? I mean, you can turn that property around. Produce Midnight here in the States, save on all the import costs. This could be huge for you.”
“Well, let’s see.”
***
Shade starts pulling on his tie, letting his hand slide casually through his long black curls. He hates wearing suits, he is more comfortable in leathers and boots, but this damn game playing with the mortals is what he has to do.
“First of all, I need good vineyards to produce quality wine. And I do nothing but quality. I need a working winery on the property, and I have to tell you, that doesn’t come cheap. Sure, I can make it work, but you forget one detail. The property sits right in the middle of Maximus’ territory. It’s not a given, Alec. Don’t take me for a fool. Max may not sit idly by while I start expanding my business interests.”
***
Alec flags the butler down to bring them another round. He can tell this is going to be a long negotiation.
“Maximus is an ally, you know that. I have owned the property for years. We have an understanding. I don't tread on his turf, he doesn't tread on mine. If you want, I'm sure he'll endorse the deal. Will that make you happy?”
The butler hands them both another glass of Midnight, and Alec realizes, with every sip he takes, he just makes the bastard richer.
***
Shade takes his time, listens, glances around at the dandies of D.C. and sips his Midnight. With every second he stalls, Alec’s ass gets tighter and his face gets a little darker, and Shade loves every minute of it. Battles between masters over territory take time, and Shade has all of eternity.
“That may be, Alec, but when I take this property, you know as well as I do, I intend to keep it. Maximus and I will have to figure out a deal, fight it out or whatever it comes to. So don’t blo
w it off like it is nothing. Let’s face the facts here, you don’t want this place. I know you, Alec, and what in the hell are you ever going to do with it? Rissa would never step foot in the country, she might break a damn nail. So, I will take it off your hands, mine now. Throw in the Napa Valley property with the vineyards already established and the house that is ready to move into without renovation and I might take your ass seriously.”
***
Alec looks astounded. Is he fucking kidding? He wants the Napa property too? That piece of land is close to 4,000-acres and sitting in Marin County. It has to be close to fifty million.
“Brother, I grant the property in California is in better shape, the vineyards producing, and the house is new. I mean, you'll be here on the east coast, and you still have your coven in Italy to take care of. Spreading yourself a little thin, don't you think?”
Shade slaps him on the back. “It’s called expansion, Alec. I have no desire to stay in one spot for long. Just being here for a year takes me away from a lot of my duties. But I have Marco, my Second-In-Command, taking care of business in Florence. I have a large coven to take care of, a lot of warriors, they collect a paycheck and it comes out of my pocket.”
Shade pauses to take a drink from his glass. “You want me, you want my skills, then decide. I’m looking where you are right now, where you’re going. You will need me and my warriors for a very long time to come, Alec. Your investment in me will take you into the future. You think some mortal secret service idiot is going to protect you like a Medici warrior? Think again, because you know when you hit the big time, the Council is going to bust your ass for it. They don’t like your mingling in the mortal realm as it is. Think about it. That is going to cost you and you know what I want. It is on the table. Your call.”
Alec sighs because he knows there is no way out of this. If he wants Shade, it's going to cost him the Virginia and California properties. If he says no, Shade will be on to the next job before the words are out of his mouth. One thing about the European vampires, they kept with the old traditions. There are no schools for training warriors in the States...and it shows.
