The Blood Covenant: Book One of The Medici Warrior Series

by Emily Bex

  “My injury would heal, as I knew it would, completely.” He pulls back the sheets to show her the wound on his thigh, and nothing is there. “ Hell-fire will never keep me away from you.”

  She smacks both hands down flat on the bed in exasperation. “You had lost consciousness on the floor. I didn't even know you were here. I heard your call just before you passed out. What if I had not come to this room? You healed because I found you and you fed from me. But what would have happened had I not?”

  As she goes off like a time bomb, he can’t help but go rock hard at her beauty, cazzo, she is feisty as a lioness. “Do you have any idea of how beautiful you look when you are angry?” He is shaking his head and holds up his hand. “Don’t say it. I know I am agitating you even more.”

  She stands up from the bed with her hands on her hips and that crimson hair flying. “Yes, you are! You asked me to allow you to explain, and I am waiting for that explanation. Shade, I am not going anywhere, I am in this for the long haul. There is nothing you can say that is going to drive me away from you or make me love you less. I just need to understand!”

  He slips from the bed and stands at his full height, nude and powerful as he balls up his fists, puffs out his chest and lowers his eyes to her. “You want an explanation? You shall have it. I am a fucking warrior! I bleed. But above and beyond that simplest of facts, I knew if I made it to you, I would be fine. I told you I would die returning to you. I promised to always come home to you. I did. I could have stayed with Tomas at the Dead House, and would have if not for wanting, more than my life, to be with you, have you to heal me. Your blood will heal me, and it has. My other choice was to feed from one of the other warriors or have someone walk out onto the street and bring me fresh prey inside. I admit, I pushed it too far, but I could think of nothing but getting to you. I wanted you in my arms. I wanted to come home.”

  She shakes her head and takes his hands in hers. “You know my anger is rooted in fear, the fear of losing you. I just found you, and I am bound to you in a way no two mortals can be bound. I can't lose you. I’m struggling to understand. I will not ask you to change who you are. After all, it was the warrior that I fell in love with in the first place. But I would be lying if I said this doesn’t frighten me. You don’t share any details of what you do at night when you go into D.C., and I don’t ask. Meet me half-way. I still don’t understand where I fit in your world. ”

  Gripping her hands, his heart slams against his chest and the pain makes him weak, his soul screams with the memories of another, of how much pain and hell tortured him. Before him is his second chance, the chance to not allow his pride to dictate, and let love rule instead. He pulls her to his chest.

  “I cannot change mi amore, I was born to this life, to this world, and being a warrior is all I know. You have taught me there is much more to life than that. You have humbly shown me I can love, and I am worthy of love. I do not deserve so much from you, I only know I will die for you, and all I ask is you love me through it all. I made a mistake, my pride drove me beyond my limitations, but my love drove me harder to be with you. Because if I am to die, then it will be in your arms, where there is comfort and love. Your arms are my home, for I am a warrior, proud and strong, and only you hold the key to my life. Forgive me? I have…memories, and they drive me…to do right by you.”

  She looks into the depths of those blue eyes. Memories? What memories drive him to risk death to get to her?

  “You don't need to ask forgiveness. I have already forgiven, because I know it is your nature, and I know it was in your heart to get home to me. I am trying so hard to follow your lead. But understand I can’t live without you. You carry my heart, and when your heart ceases to beat, mine will as well. So, if you want to keep me alive, you must keep yourself alive. I plan on an eternity of loving you, and I expect you to deliver. You promised me that.”

  He feels her love, but there is also tension, and unasked questions. He decides to push the envelope.

  “Mi amore, there is something else bothering you, spit it out. I want no dancing around issues between us. I am going outside to have a smoke, think about what you want to ask, and when I return, I am prepared to answer whatever is still churning in that beautiful red head of yours.”

  Sliding on a pair of sweatpants, he walks outside, lights up and knows he has taken a grave chance pushing her, but she needs to know. Looking up at the night sky, his anger rips through him, his careless mouth and stubborn warrior pride.

  He yells into the night sky, “Are you trying to get revenge, Adriana? It’s working. But you won’t win, belleza!” Taking a deep breath, he turns toward the house and decides whatever she wishes to ask, he will answer her this night.

  ***

  Kate looks up at him as he returns to their bedroom.

  “You said you have memories. There is something that haunts you, pushes you to risk your life getting back to me. There is something I wanted to ask, something you have alluded to when we were at Castello.”

  He stands before her, preparing himself for her questions. “My heart is open to you, ask.”

  She looks at the floor as she speaks, “I hesitate to ask because it is in the past, and I have told myself what happened before me is of no concern to me. But a woman's heart wants to know, and if you decide not to answer, I will accept that and never bring it up again.”

  He smiles softly at her. “Bel rosso, believe me, I understand jealousy, that is something mortals and immortals share. And although the past is past, it does mold who we are and how we feel, and that is part of my problem. I perceive that you wish to know of Adriana, si? You have had questions ever since Florence.”

  “Yes, you alluded to her when we were in Florence, and you kept her painting in your bedroom for a very long time. So, I am asking, lover. Who is she to you? What is your story? Come lie with me on our bed. I have a feeling this is a long story, and I may not want to be standing when I hear it.”

  Kate stretches out across the bed and he lies down beside her. “I will begin by telling you, no one truly knows this story, so I am telling it for the first time to you. I wish to get it out of me.” He pulls her close to him. “It is a long story, but I can make it brief.” Taking her hand, he squeezes it and holds it tight.

  She locks eyes with him. “Then tell me what you have told no other.”

  He takes a deep breath before he begins. “Adriana was immortal. She was beautiful, and a brave warrior. She was from another coven, an ally to Medici. I met her perhaps two hundred years ago. I saw her fight, win and walk away as if it was an everyday chore and si, she took my breath away, I will not lie.”

  Kate does not want him to stop talking, she caresses his face, “So she is a warrior, like you.”

  “Si, she was too much like me. She was prideful, brave, scared of nothing and cocky. I had never met nor seen anything like her. Later, much later, we ended up together again, as our two covens were working and training together. We began to talk, get to know one another. I had never seen her outside of warrior mode, as just a woman. That night, around the camp fires, she danced, and she looked like no warrior to me.” Clenching his eyes closed, the vision of her slides across his mind, and he knows she will haunt him until he releases this hell inside him.

  ***

  Kate swallows hard, does he love her still? Is she in competition with Adriana? She knows if she shows her jealousy he will stop talking. “I can understand why you would be drawn to her.”

  ***

  “We knew each other for some time, we battled together, cazzo, she was amazing. I began to care deeply for her. Not like with you, though. It was different, like a friend but something more. I cannot think how to explain it. She was my best friend, we had each other’s back, we travelled together, fought together, and then one night, it became more.”

  Kate runs her hand through his hair, brushing it back from his face. “I did not expect a virgin on my doorstep, and certainly not one with your skills. I know
you have had many women before me.”

  “I just need you to understand, she was not like you, nor do I compare you. She was my lover, I hers. She lived with me for many years at Castello, as you know. We were younger, stupid, we took a lot of chances in battle and we learned together. Did I love her? Si, in my own way. But I knew she wasn’t my mate. Something deep inside held me back, even as she kept luring me on. She wanted us to be mated, to have bambinos, but I knew there was something more for me. I could never commit, there was something missing between us, and I refused to let her feed from me. It became a sore point between us, and we argued often. Making a long story short, our pride got in the way, and it kept getting in the way, a battle of wills for control.”

  Kate rests her head in her hand, “Two head-strong warriors, full of pride, and neither one wants to give in. What could possibly go wrong there? Sorry, tell me your story.”

  “I am sorry, this must be boring to you, and it must seem childish and ridiculous. I apologize.” Sitting up, he swings his legs over the bed, and lays his head in his hands.

  She runs her hand over the bare skin of his back as he sits beside her in the bed. “Let me assure you, Shade Medici, there is nothing boring about you. Now lie back down beside me and let go of this story that is tormenting you. Do you think I can't see that? Your blood is in my veins now as well, remember?”

  Trying to relax, he lays back down and his body chills, his breathing increases. “We had a really big fight, I don’t even remember what it was about, but it was bad, and words were said that should not have been. In short, she was delivering an ultimatum. She wanted to be my mate, feed from me, have a child with me, and I refused. She said if I could not commit to her, then she would leave, that I was wasting her time. If you have ever seen two immortals fight, and I assure you, you will, it is ugly to say the least. But before we could resolve the argument, she was called to battle by her master. At the time, we did not know it was a ruse to flush out some rogue warriors who had infiltrated their ranks. She assumed she would be meeting several of her coven at this location. She asked me to come with her and I refused. I was still angry that she had issued an all or nothing ultimatum. It is a decision I regret immensely to this day.”

  Kate lays her head on his shoulder and places her hand on his chest. “All lovers quarrel, and you turned away in anger. We have all made choices we regret, Shade.”

  Shade closes his eyes as he speaks, letting the memories roll through him. “She left for her assignment from her master. I heard her call once, in my head. I didn’t respond. I blocked her thoughts from me. I thought she was playing games with me, to lure me to come help her, and I was angry and did not want to feel her. I blocked her out of anger. But something kept agitating me deep inside, nagging at me that I was ignoring her, and when I unblocked, she was screaming for me, for her life. She needed help, she was surrounded and being attacked and needed me desperately. She was far from me, and the sun was on the horizon. I could not get to her, and they killed her.”

  His body begins to shake, blood tears well inside his eyes. He slams his fist down on the bed. “She died alone. I never made it to her. I blocked her cries from me. No one was there for her, no one! She died because of me. She died because of my pride. They left her injured body lying for the sunrise to burn her to death. I couldn’t get to her, the sun was rising fast, and I could not go and get her, bring her home. And that tears me apart to know I left her alone. I left her to die alone. She never heard me, or knew if I heard her cries.” As the last vision of her screams through his head, the blood tears stream down his face.

  ***

  Kate strokes his face. “I am so sorry! Lover, I can't believe you have had to live with this.” She covers his face with kisses, wiping away his blood tears. “It sounds like her master set her up, like he used her, knowing full well her fate. And maybe you could have made a difference, or maybe you would have both been killed. That will forever be unknown to you and I understand the pain of not knowing. Oh Shade, I am so sorry.”

  Tears stream down her own cheeks as she weeps for the depth of his pain, and how long he has carried this burden. “There are no words to ease your burden. I understand that now. But as a man, you can't know what is in a woman's heart. Mortal or immortal, women are defined by love, and trust me when I tell you, blocked or not, she knew you loved her. With her dying breath, she knew.”

  As her kisses touch him, he rolls to her and buries his face into her neck and for the first time since Adriana’s death, he weeps like a child, letting it all go with someone who loves him, someone he trusts.

  “So, you see, mi amore, I learned my lesson. I will always come home to you, talk things out, never remaining in anger against one another without finding resolution. I would walk into the flaming sun just to join you. I never wanted to let Adriana down, but she wasn’t the one for me. I miss her, but I know her dying was to teach me. I will not die alone on a battlefield. I will always come to you.”

  She wraps her arms around her vulnerable warrior and absorbs his pain and tears. “I don't want you to die for me, warrior. I want you to live for me. I want you to fight like all the demons from hell are on your back and you will conquer them one by one with a flash of your sword. I want you to fight as if you have everything to lose, because you do. When we are young, we make impetuous decisions, and we think little of the consequences. We make mistakes, and we learn from those mistakes. That's just life, mortal or immortal. Your world is more violent than mine, but the lessons are the same. Thank you for baring your soul to me, and for trusting me with that burden. If you feared I would turn away from you, then know I only love you more, if that is even possible. Now hold me tight and let me ease this pain in your heart.”

  ***

  Laying his head across her heart, there is strength inside him, a future that looks bright. There will be many more fights for land and blood, but he is ready and willing, nothing will stop him with this woman beside him.

  “You have the gentlest caring heart, mi amore. It’s so gentle and yet, so strong. You love me even though I have shown my downfalls, my inability to move past pride. I hope you understand why I returned last night. Five hundred years I roamed, I searched, I craved, and bled for a love like you. I will never leave you alone. I will never hold anger against you. And now, I fight for our love, I fight to return to you. I love you Kate. I will always love you above all others.”

  ***

  She holds him in a gentle embrace, “Yes, it makes sense to me now why you put yourself at risk in that way. I understand now. And I love you above all others as well, but you know that. Deep in your heart, you know that. There can never be anyone else for me. I have placed my fate in your hands, my heart in your hands, so carry me gently, lover.”

  39

  Reviewing his options for the next campaign cycle of Republican Presidential candidates, Alec sees two big obstacles. First, the incumbent President is not sure if he will run again. If he does decide to run, he will be a shoe-in as the parties' nominee. So, Alec needs to figure out how to help him decide running for a second term is not in his best interest, and he has a few things in the back of his mind to tackle that problem.

  His second problem is the very popular senior Senator Ralston. He has a huge backing from the far right, and he has just written a book. He is pre-campaigning, hitting the book tour circuit, getting on talk shows, and taking the temperature of public opinion. If the President doesn't run for a second term, Ralston could be the parties' choice. If Alec can remove Ralston from the picture, then his own chances of becoming the parties’ nominee are a shoe-in. He happens to know Ralston is a reformed alcoholic, and a reformed alcoholic is always a short step away from falling off the wagon. He just needs a way to break his will, and he thinks he has the weapon to do it.

  This doesn't fall under the terms of his contract for protection services he has with Shade, but he thinks Shade will play this game. After all, he got a pretty fucking generous payment
for his services, and now he is shacked up with that redhead. He should be one happy ass vampire and ready to return a few favors.

  Alec pulls out his cell phone and gives Shade a call.

  ***

  Shade is back in the Dead House now that his injuries have healed. He shared much with bel last night. He spoke freely to her of Adriana, and shared what he has never shared before, allowing him to release himself of his guilt over her death and to promise to never make the same mistakes again. He will never let his pride stand between him and his sweet bel rosso. He knows she will be a challenge, as she has her own stubborn pride and fiery temper, but he loves her all the more for it.

  Tomas and the other warriors are watching him closely and he wants to make sure they all understand that nothing has changed around here. Barking orders, shouting out grid assignments, he quickly gets the warriors’ asses out on the streets, when he hears his cell phone buzz. Raffling through the million pieces of paper haphazardly strewn on the table in front of him, he finds the cell and sees Alec on the ID.

  "Cazzo! What in the hell does he want now?" Taking the call, he sighs and flops down on the chair as the warriors begin to roll out to the street. "Shade.”

  "Brother. Streets seem safer with you in town. Tomas has said things are cleaning up nicely. Anything else you need over there? He said the Dead House was working well as a command center, but we can put in some high-end electronic surveillance equipment if you need it. Just let me know."

  Shade lights up a cigarette as he gives Alec a recap. "Look brother, things here are shaping up, but it’s slow. I’m working this crew and they’re progressing slowly. We’ve taken out a few rogues here and there, but that’s the norm. Nothing to worry your ass about. We are adding a security system, but weapons are my main concern at the moment. I need to increase my stock, bring these boneheads up to speed. Is there something you specifically wanted, because I’m kind of busy here?”