The Blood Covenant: Book One of The Medici Warrior Series

by Emily Bex

  “That is good news Gi, very good news!”

  He needs to see her. Pushing past Gi, he rushes up the stairs and bursts in through the door of the bedroom like a man crazed and stops dead in his tracks. She is sitting up, her color is back, but there are still dark circles under her eyes and she still looks weak as hell. But he can tell Theresa has helped her bathe, and her hair is brushed, which means she is moving about.

  He has been riddled with guilt from his decision, but he keeps telling himself he did this for bel, not for him, but he is kidding no one. He is selfish, he will not lose her. Walking to the bed, he gets a weak smile from her and he lies down beside her, taking her into his arms and holding her.

  “Bel, you look better. How are you feeling?”

  ***

  Kate sits in the bed, propped up with pillows, when Shade comes bursting into the room like the house is on fire. She knows he has been by her side, but she felt so far away, trapped in the darkness. It was like she could hear him, but she couldn't find him. And oh, how she has missed him.

  ***

  He lays down beside her, holds her in his arms, and she feels real and solid to him, when before, he felt like he was holding on to a ghost. Doesn't matter now, he is here, she is here, and their baby is here.

  “Lover... I felt like I was away somewhere, lost... And I couldn't find my way back. But now I am home, and with you. How I have missed you. I know you were here, I could sense it, but it felt far away. It feels so good to be held. I am much better.”

  “Cazzo, Kate, you scared the living hell out of me, I never felt so damn lost, and I thought I would lose my mind. I was so scared and helpless. I don’t like those feelings, especially when it comes to you. I am so grateful you came back to me. I wanted you to fight so hard, I could tell you were trying, but just couldn’t make it, but I was here the whole time. Every second I could find, I was here. I wish you would feed. It would make me feel better. Would you do that for me, can you manage it?”

  “Yes. I was starting to crave your blood today, for the first time in… I can't even remember how many days. That is a good sign, don't you think?”

  He moans softly, “Si, very good sign indeed. Now, hold still.”

  Getting up out of the bed, he stands and takes off his black tee. Leaning down, he carefully picks her up in his arms, and cradles her close to his chest. Grabbing a blanket, he wraps it around her and walks to large arm chair by the window, looking down into her eyes, absorbing all of her.

  “I have missed just looking at you, holding you, talking to you, feeling you make me feel alive. This house is so quiet, there is no noise, my bel was gone. Perhaps, now, we are past the worst and things will get much better, now come and feed. Take all you need. ”

  Pulling her up to his neck, he cups her head and supports her back. “I love you so damn much, bel.”

  Her lips graze his neck, and she loves the feel of him, the scent on him. She bites into his skin, but she does not bite hard enough. She does not draw blood.

  "Mi amore, you must try harder. Drink."

  She bites him a second time, harder, breaking through his skin and feeling his warm blood seep into her mouth. She draws his blood into her mouth, and as she swallows, she can feel his energy healing her from the inside out. This is what her body needed. She continues to drink from him, slowly, small swallows, but each swallow brings more healing, and peace. Such comfort, her eyes feel heavy as her body feels restored and she feels sleepy, but this is a natural sleepiness, not that dark hole that held her captive for so long. She drinks her fill, and with the last swallow, she feels herself drift back into a deep natural sleep.

  ***

  He is distraught when her first attempt to feed shows him just how weak she had become that she can’t break through his skin. He fights back the panic, hoping she will not fall back into that abyss, but finally, she feeds. She cannot pull deep from him but he knows she is taking enough and holds her close. After some time, he feels her body relax into a sleep, her head against his shoulder. He sits staring at her body, looking rail thin, but with so much fight. He feels the trickle of his own blood run down his neck from her unfinished feeding, the blood tears run down his cheeks, they are both weeping, both he and the beast.

  “I won’t let you go, bel, I won’t. Forgive me, mi amore.”

  Standing up, he cradles her gently as she sleeps soundly, and carries her back to their bed. He lays her down and then strips naked. Leaning down, he kisses her gently, getting in bed beside her, pulling her to his chest and he knows, he will do all in his power to save her, and this journey is not over.

  86

  Shade lays there as she sleeps. She seems to be in a much better place right now, sleeping more peacefully. Slipping quietly from their bed, his mind is so tormented, he goes outside for a smoke and finds all he can do is pace and worry.

  ***

  Luca can feel his master, feel his turmoil, and looks outside to see him pacing, and watches as he finally sits down. He seems defeated, something Luca has never seen in him before. His head hangs down, the cigarette dangling from his mouth, and Luca wonders if either of them will be able to make it for the duration of this pregnancy. Both of them are so lost without the other, in pain each in their own way. My lady has been so ill, she seemed completely unaware of her surroundings, and sometimes even unaware of master, and it breaks him. This child has become something that could easily take one or both of them out. Luca doesn’t like it, he doesn’t want to lose either of them, and if anything happens to my lady, Shade will surely follow her into that blackness. If anything happens to the child, they will both suffer greatly, and Luca is stuck on how to comfort either of them. Walking outside, Luca joins him, feeling, perhaps, he just needs to talk.

  “Master, got a smoke?”

  Shade’s head snaps up, he had not even heard Luca come out.

  “Sure, help yourself.” Shade throws him the pack of cigarettes and the lighter.

  Luca catches the pack and lights up. “My lady seemed a bit better today, up and moving some. How is she tonight?”

  ***

  Shade looks at him and shakes his head. “Luca, she had a better day, but I fear it is only a small reprieve. She fed from me tonight and was not even strong enough to break my skin. It wasn’t normal, she fell asleep feeding. Fuck! It’s hell without her, the pain and worry are eating me alive. I did this to her! I got her in this situation, put her in jeopardy, and watching her suffer through this illness almost kills me. She seems a little better. I told her this was probably the worst of it, but I have no idea what lies ahead.”

  “Master, there is only so much you can do.”

  “Si, Luca. And in that, lies the hardest part of all, I can do nothing to help her, I cannot fix this, make it right for her, make all of this pain go away. And that pains my heart to the core.” If he only knew the things I have selfishly done to save her. There is hope, she is eating now, and I can only hang onto the smallest of hope that every day she will get better. Those damn pills almost took her away from me, and if I have to lose the bambino to keep her, then that is what I will continue to do. But that deception will die with me and Gi, for I will never confess to her or anyone that I have chosen that path for us.

  “Master, you need something to take your mind off all this, let’s walk out to the garage, maybe we should fire up the bikes and take a spin? Work off some pent-up energy. We both could use it.”

  “I love the idea Luca, but I am not leaving here. I am sticking close to this house in case she needs me. But hell, let’s walk down to the garage and take a look, maybe give them a good detailing and if bel feels better soon, we can take a short spin one night.”

  They walk down to the garage. Shade feels better when he can at least keep his hands busy. As they walk in, he sees his custom Harley and sits astride the machine and lights up a smoke. Yeah, this feels good. Real damn good!

  87

  Kate is feeling so much better, still a little tir
ed and Shade is insisting she remain in bed. At least she is awake, sitting upright, reading a good book, and her appetite is back. She is no longer ravenous for food like she was before she got so sick, but she at least has her normal appetite back. Gi still brings her food and the pills, and she is so glad her body adjusted to those pills. The darkness, the black hole they kept her in, she’s not sure she could have endured that much longer.

  Kate has to laugh, as Theresa finds excuses to "clean" in the bedroom all throughout the day, as if she doesn’t know the real reason she keeps coming in the room is to check on her. Kate puts her hand on the slight rise of her belly. “Little warrior, I know your daddy wants a big, bad warrior, but I think you will be so spoiled by everyone in this family.”

  Gi and Theresa have hovered over her, and if that is any indication of how they will respond to this baby, this infant may never know a crib. And Luca, he will be so protective. And Shade, you are my warrior with the heart of a lion, but you have such passion and love. This baby will know he is loved by so many. This baby, will it be mortal? Or vamp? Or something in between, like Cory? I can’t think of that now.

  She lays her book aside and leans back against the pillows, her hand resting lightly on her belly as she imagines him, when she feels a stirring. Did he move? Did the baby move? She starts to sit upright when she is hit with a cramping sensation, and she freezes in position. What is that? Then it is followed by another... and another. No! No! Not now! Not after all we have been through... Please!

  The cramps become intense and rapid, and then she feels the hot, wet flow of blood between her legs.

  “Shade! Oh God I am losing him. Shade!”

  ***

  As Luca and Shade spend another evening in the garage, they talk, work on the bikes, laugh and joke, and it feels good to relax and get his mind off things. Then it strikes him like a small pain inside his soul, something is wrong with bel and her screams assail his ears like she is dying.

  “Bel! Luca, now!”

  Instantly teleporting inside, Shade lands in their bedroom and hears Luca right behind him. Gi and Theresa run up the stairs and stop at the open door. Shade looks at her. There is fear in her eyes and her body is shaking. He scans the room, looking for any sign of an intruder. Then she cries out again, doubling over in pain and he quickly moves to her side of the bed. It is then he sees the bloody sheets between her legs. He falls to his knees beside the bed, feeling such horrendous pain seer through him. The baby is gone. He has done this to her, to him, to them. He lays his head on the bed and grips the sheets in his fists.

  This is not happening to us. No, not my bambino, no!

  ***

  Kate folds her own body over top of his. She hears his howls of pain, and they mirror what her heart feels. She clings to him as her own tears flow.

  “I am so sorry, lover. I have lost our baby. I did everything, I was so careful.”

  How can she console him when her own heart feels ripped from her? And yet, she feels the depth of his pain, compounding her own. She sees Luca move slowly toward Shade and place his hand on his shoulder. She hears Gi turn to Theresa, giving her some instructions and Theresa runs from the room. But Shade is inconsolable, as is Kate. What could possibly ever take this pain away?

  ***

  Shade feels her body collapse over him, and he fights so hard through the pain to be with her, struggling to keep control and give her the comfort she deserves, but his heart and soul feel broken. There is confusion and talking around him, but he hears nothing but her voice, her depth of sorrow and pain only making his even more intense. He bears the pain for them both. He feels someone touch his shoulder, and without conscious thought, his beast arises, for he will let nothing harm either of them, especially his bel. He instantly swings his arm back, slamming away whatever is behind him and he can hear whoever it was sail through the air and slam back against the wall.

  He feels bel move from him and he lifts his head, his eyes red and he looks around the room to see Luca is against the wall, just staring him down and Gi holds up his hand.

  “Master Shade, you must relax, calm yourself and your breathing, you will frighten her.”

  Shade’s eyes go to bel and he takes her in his arms and holds her as they sit on this death bed together. Suddenly, the world has all gone wrong. His light is no longer there, for she, too, is in the dark with him.

  “Bel, my bel. Oh my sweet Kate, I...” His tears fall and he fights so hard to be the strength she needs, and he holds her close, rocking her in his arms. He feels Gi approaching them.

  “No! No one touches her, no one. Leave us alone. Get the fuck out, now!”

  ***

  Kate is startled when Shade tosses Luca aside with the mere flick of his arm, and she sits upright to respond, but it is Gi who is trying to calm him now. She feels him take her in his arms, rocking her gently, their pain so great it feels like a living, breathing thing that has taken over the room. He screams at the staff to leave them, and she watches as they reluctantly back out of the room and close the door.

  “Lover, I tried so hard... I'm so sorry. The baby... Our baby.”

  His face is covered in his blood tears and she knows his pain is as great as her own. Gi returns to the door.

  "Master, I have a medication, it will stop the bleeding, it is important my lady take this now."

  Kate sees Shade nod at him, giving him permission to re-enter the room, and Gi hands her more pills, different pills, and a glass of juice to swallow them down. As soon as she has taken them, Gi leaves as quietly as he entered. Kate starts to pull back the top sheet. She needs to find him. She needs to see him, this tiny life that grew for such a short while inside her.

  Shade watches bel as she starts pulling at the sheets and then it dawns on him she is looking for the baby.

  “No! Bel, no. Stop it!”

  He sees her frantically trying to find the fetus and it breaks him in two and he has to stop this now. Picking her up in his arms, he carries her out of the room while she cries, fighting to get out of his arms, wanting to see the baby.

  Grabbing her chin hard, he goes nose to nose with her.

  “Bel! Stop! Look in my eyes, look! You cannot see it, no. I will not let you do this to yourself. I love you, relax, I have you. I know you feel pain, so do I, but we will go through this together.”

  She stops struggling and curls into his shoulder and sobs, deep agonizing sobs as he carries her to the bath. Seeing it already filled, he knows Gi is thinking ahead to help them manage this event in their lives. Stripping down, he gets naked and then slips off her bloody gown and tosses her soiled clothes outside the door. Holding her, he sinks deep into the steaming hot water.

  “Now listen to me. The pills will stop the bleeding, they will heal you physically, and together, we will heal, as best we can, our hearts and souls. But we have to be together, let our pain enjoin, to help each other.”

  His voice cracks, the emotional challenge of taking charge harder than he could ever imagine and he knows they need to just get the fuck out of here and be alone together this night. “Gi, clean that damn room. I want nothing there when I return that reminds her of this night. Sheets, blankets, everything, replace them. Have a blanket and gown ready when we emerge from the bath. We are going to the California house for the night. We have to leave here, or we will both go insane with pain.”

  As Gi answers and tells him he will take care of it all, Shade gently washes bel, carefully washing her clean and letting his touch try to calm her, heal her somehow. Lifting her from the tub, he dries her and opens the door to find the things he asked for lying on the freshly stripped bed.

  “Mi amore, let’s get this nightgown on you, we are going to California for the night, teleporting there. We will stay there and be together. I need you as much as you need me.”

  ***

  Kate has retreated inside herself. Shade will protect me. Shade always protects me. He lifts her from the tub and dries her with a towel as she
stands still before him, his love and pain washing over her. He pulls a fresh gown over her head and wraps her in a blanket and starts to tell her they are going to the California house.

  “No, lover... The baby. I have to find the baby...” But they are already gone, he is teleporting them away from this nightmare.

  Teleporting into the California house, straight into the master bedroom, Shade feels he needs to pull them both out of the situation, put some distance between them and the pain, as if that is even possible. He needs this time to be alone with her, just the two of them. Laying her gently on the bed, she reaches for him, as if afraid he would leave her, and he lies down beside her, pulling her into his arms.

  “Shhhh, mi amore, I am right here. Cry, scream, do whatever you have to, but know I love you.”

  She looks up into his eyes, and a tear runs down her cheek. He kisses it away and feels his own begin to fall. She curls onto his chest, and he cannot hold her close enough. He wants to crawl inside her and fill that void the baby has left. Softly caressing her hair and back, he feels her retreat into a deep sleep, and his tears still come.

  ***

  “Madre, why, why? Protect her, help me. This pain I cannot bear, I can bear what I have done and the choice I made, but I need her more than my own life. I just want her back, please!”

  He closes his eyes, exhausted, emotionally spent, and whispers so softly, “Ti amo, mi amore, per sempre.”

  88

  Gi moves about the house, checking and double checking, making sure everything is in order. He knows master will summon him when he is ready to return, but he has no idea when that might be. The house is as quiet as a tomb. Even Luca has remained in his suite. Theresa has cleaned and checked the master bedroom so many times she is wearing a path to the door. Reynaldo has cleaned the kitchen until there is no surface left to shine. No one speaks, and the silence alone says all there is to say. They grieve with master and my lady over the loss of this tiny baby they all secretly hoped, against all odds, would survive. It will be a long road to recovery, and master will expect much from them.