Not so, then, with the Mhachkay entwining of blood.
“He can steal me?” I demanded.
Hakan sighed and leaned back in the bath. He spread his arms out either side of his body, displaying a whole hell of a lot of naked chest, and stared me in the eye.
“It is frowned upon,” he said. “But I think I’ve established the underhanded way my uncle operates, have I not?”
I nodded my head, feeling strangely numb.
“He seeks his side of the accord. He sees you as that firstborn offering. We need to disabuse him of this knowledge.”
“Disabuse him?” I repeated on a growl. “How about this? We stake his undead hearts and replace him with you.”
“You would wish the mantle of king on me so readily?”
“Are you afraid of the responsibility?” I snapped.
He leaned forward. “I am not afraid, only cautious of the power.”
“I’d keep you in line; stop your head from getting too big.”
“How noble of you, hayatim. But somehow that does not assuage my concerns.”
“What’s the problem? Clearly, the Mhachkay need proper guidance. You’re a prince. Powerful. Entwined. You’ve got a kick-arse Blood Enchanted at your side. They’d accept you in a heartbeat.” Or two simultaneous heartbeats, as the case may be.
He shook his head at me, searching my face. “You are your father’s daughter,” he murmured.
“Thank you?” I said uncertainly.
“Raised by a king. Educated to be a queen. You are not at all offended by the notion of rule.”
I stared back at him nonplussed.
“They are broken, Éliane. They are fractured and corrupted. An illness invades their very souls. I am not even sure if they should be saved. If they could be. It would not be an easy reign. And that does not take into consideration the battle that would ensue in order to depose my uncle.”
He reached out and touched a lock of my hair. The dread was heavy with water; he played with the end of it, twisting it between his long fingers.
“I am not their long-lost prince as you believe. I am considered a dissenter. A deserter. A traitor to my kind. I turned my back on my Kral when he picked up arms against who they believe was an enemy of the Mhachkay crown. They will not accept me.”
I shook my head and in the process pulled my dread from his grasp.
“And that’s reason enough not to try?” I asked.
He sighed. “What would you have of me, hayatim?”
“I would have your hearts!” I growled. “I would have your souls. And, by the goddess, I would have your sword.”
He stared at me for a long time and then said, “They are yours.”
I blinked. “Then we do this?” I asked carefully.
Hakan’s face took on the impassive mask of a powerful vampire. He didn’t want this. He didn’t want to rule. Either because he feared the power that had corrupted his uncle. Or he feared the Mhachkay were not saveable.
He’d have to kill them. Every single one. Or watch them all be imprisoned all over again.
Perhaps even be imprisoned himself as well. And if he were imprisoned, then I would be too.
I am a Mhachkay prince’s Entwined. His kan büyülü.
Hakan wasn’t afraid of ruling; he was afraid of losing everything to that rule.
He would make a good king.
“We can do this,” I said softly. “We can stop your uncle, save your people, and save Luc.”
Hakan looked at me, silver swirling in the depths of his ice-blue eyes. And then he was reaching for me, wrapping me up in his big, strong arms, hauling me through the water that separated us, and crushing my body to his.
His lips slammed against mine. His tongue invaded. Our bodies, slick with the soap he’d used to massage me, slid against each other, making the water wavy. It splashed against the sides of the tub and then spilt over. But I wasn’t thinking about the mess we were making. I was consumed in Hakan’s touch.
His hands glided over my body as if he’d committed every erogenous zone to memory. His lips and tongue followed, and then his teeth and fangs. He bit and drank my blood, all the while bringing me closer and closer to orgasm. I rocked against him, fisted his hair, tugged.
He tugged back, making my body arch, tilting my head, exposing my neck.
He bit again and again and again. I came undone.
He lifted us from the bathtub, the water sluicing off our bodies, droplets landing in quiet little sounds that matched the racing of my heart. His scent surrounded me as he lay me down on the bed. The sheets slid against my wet skin as he slid his face down between my breasts.
He kissed my stomach. He pinched my nipples between fingers and thumbs. He nuzzled his face between the apex of my thighs. I let out a moan when he licked and sucked.
Fangs pierced my femoral artery. A climax stole all thought. Fingers probed and stroked, and a growl sounded out from the back of his throat.
And then he was up and over me, thrusting into me, bringing me closer and closer to the edge. I cried out when I came. He kissed me silent as he rocked ever faster. My body came apart again and again, and then he rose up over me one final time, stilled, and then shuddered. His release scorched me on the inside; his eyes blazed silver and cyan.
And then his lips wrapped around a nipple and his fangs pierced, Sanguis Vitam rising.
The damn vampire was marking me on the tit.
I whacked his shoulder. He grunted and amped his Sanguis Vitam. I blasted him with Light. He laughed.
Power ebbed. He settled between my legs, lifted his head and gazed up my body to look at me. I stared down at my breast, pleased to note I’d won this round; there was no new Sigillum there to greet me.
“Kafinefendi,” he said. “My Queen.”
“That would mean you wish to be King, my Savaşçı,” I pointed out.
He smiled. It was edged in sadness.
“I would face a thousand ordular if you asked it of me. Two hearts. Two souls. And they have chosen.”
“Together we are stronger,” I said, repeating a kindred and Mhachkay saying he’d once told me. “Apart we are weak.”
He cupped my cheeks and leaned in and kissed me. Softly. Reverently. In a way, I had no hope of fighting.
I had thought the entwining weaker than a kindred joining. And there were definitely deficiencies there. The Kral could steal me for one. But I no longer saw those deficiencies as weaknesses. What had Hakan said? A challenge is an opportunity to shine. We would blaze, Hakan and I. We would light up the night sky with our entwining. We were strong together. We would be strong enough to fight.
For Luc. For Alain. For the Mhachkay.
I curled against his body, seeking the warmth and comfort he willingly gave. A warrior who showed such care to his lover. A Mhachkay prince who honoured his Entwined. He held me close, kissed me softly, let me drift while I was sure he stayed awake.
He was not certain this was a path we should take and yet he offered to tread it with me because I asked it of him. I vowed silently to never ask him for anything I did not truly think we needed. Hakan, I was sure, would deliver the world on a platter if I asked it.
It was in their natures, I thought. In the Mhachkay vampires’ blood. When entwined with an Enchanted they were bound in ways a kindred was not. Warriors at heart. Protectors down to their bones. Two sides of a coin with two hearts and two souls. Complex and myriad in their making.
I smiled as I drifted off to sleep. Who needed a kindred when there were Mhachkay to entwine with? Mama was going to be so jealous.
I woke to oregano and mint, a soft breeze off a salty ocean, the scent of sunlight and olive groves. Tulips.
Hakan.
I stretched, and he stroked a finger up my bare stomach, between my breasts, and then cupped one. He leaned forward and licked the nipple, making it pucker, and then he drew it into his mouth and sucked.
I moaned.
His Sanguis Vitam swelled. H
ere we go again.
A bang sounded out on the front door downstairs. Hakan growled.
“Who would knock?” I asked.
“Ignore them. They’ll go away,” Hakan murmured, moving onto the second breast and nipple and laving it with love.
I checked the shutters. No sunlight peeked at the edges. Night had fallen, and we had to find Luc before the Kral did.
Hakan sensed the shift in my mood and withdrew his touch.
The visitor at the door started up a tattoo of sound. Bang. Bang. Bang. Bang-bangbang-bang-bang.
“Is that the Star Wars theme?” I asked.
“The what, hayatim?”
I shook my head, rolled out of bed, and sent out my feelers. Sanguis Vitam of the Dark variety swatted me back.
No, not just Dark, but the Dark Shadow.
“It’s Georgia,” I said, rifling through a drawer I’d commandeered for myself and pulling out underwear. “And someone else,” I added, cocking my head.
“The wards will hold,” Hakan advised me, lying back on the bed in all his beautiful naked vampire glory. “The Nothus cannot get in.”
“She’s my friend.”
He grunted.
But I didn’t know who the Dark vampire was with her. Georgia would not bring someone to my home who would harm me. At least, she wouldn’t if she could help it. The Dark Shadow, on the other hand, might think it amusing to see me fight while she cheered from the sidelines. I shuddered and slammed a drawer shut, turning around and staring down at a still very naked and still very aroused Mhachkay prince.
“Get dressed, Your Majesty,” I told him, slipping new stakes into my empty hip holsters. The Kilij needed cleaning. I donned my Svante instead.
“Kafinefendi,” he said. “Come back to bed.”
“Hakan,” I growled.
He grinned at me, unrepentant. “Ediz will greet your friend.”
Oh, hell no!
I spun on my heel and ran down the stairs; taking them two or three at a time to reach the front door and Georgia before the Erbörü started his hunt again. The rear of the house was quiet, but I noticed the glowing green eyes of the Hyrða guard in the front room. He met my gaze briefly, just enough to make my heart stutter, and then looked away as if ashamed he’d held me for that brief length of time at all.
I shook my head and peered through the peephole on the door; only to see red eyes glaring back at me.
“I can scent you, little one,” the Dark Shadow said.
I couldn’t see the vampire with her, but there really wasn’t any choice in the matter. I could hardly leave Georgia Deverell out on the doorstep.
I swung the door open and peered up at my friend.
“Long time no see, Nothus,” I said.
“You smell of sex.” The Dark Shadow stepped over the threshold and walked into the house.
So much for wards.
I blinked at the vampire behind her who waited for an invitation to enter.
Samson Beauregard, one-third of Georgia’s triumvirate. And the Dark vampire I had sensed.
He held my gaze with deep chocolate brown eyes that bordered on black. Medium height, blond hair tied back, chiselled bones defining a handsome and pale face. A star-shaped Sigillum blazed on his right cheek. My mother’s mark. He was dressed casually in clothes that spoke of money. He smelled nice. Familiar.
I stepped back.
Samson smiled. It was a sad, knowing smile.
He knew he was Dark.
“Invite him in, little one,” the Dark Shadow said.
I turned to look at her. “Where’s Georgia?” I demanded, leaving Dark Samson out on the street.
“She is upset.”
Upset? My friend didn’t get upset. She got even.
Hakan appeared at the top of the stairs and slowly walked down them as if we didn’t have a threat on our porch and a greater threat in the hallway. He was dressed in jeans and a tight-fitting white t-shirt, that displayed his tanned skin and muscles off to perfection. I licked my lips. Silver and ice-blue met my eyes. He smirked.
Then he turned a vampire neutral face to my friend.
“How did you enter, Nothus?” he demanded.
“Èliane opened the door,” the Dark Shadow said.
Hakan took the final step to reach the ground floor and placed himself between the Dark Shadow and me. Goran shifted in the shadows and covered the Nothus’ back.
The Dark Shadow looked over Georgia’s shoulder and snarled. “I thought I smelled fairy.”
“Creature,” the Hyrða said in greeting.
“Green goblin,” the Dark Shadow replied.
That had sounded distinctly like my friend and not her vampire-within.
“Hey, Gigi,” I offered.
The red receded in her eyes and cerulean blue replaced it.
“Nosferatin,” she said.
I let a breath out, which in turn had Hakan and Goran relaxing slightly.
“What are you doing here?” I asked.
Georgia shared a look with Samson.
“Invite him in, El,” she urged.
I looked back over to the Dark vampire. I trusted my friend. And this was Samson. I’d known him my entire life. I’d just clearly not known all there was to know about him.
And neither had my mother.
I sighed and placed my hands on my stakes in a clear message to anyone who wanted to test me right now.
Then said, “Samson Beauregard, please enter our house.”
Samson stepped over the threshold, and the house creaked its disquiet. My eyes connected with Hakan’s. He’d back me however I wanted to handle this. Shame I had no idea how.
I turned and looked at Georgia expectantly.
My friend offered a sly smile and then threw herself in Hakan’s armchair, booted feet hanging over the armrest, glass of raki already in her grip. She downed the drink in one and wiped the back of her hand over her mouth.
“Jesus,” she said on a breath of alcohol-laced air. “That’s worse than Jett’s Sunset Rum.”
Samson walked into the room on silent feet, almost a glide. Georgia looked up at her mate. I saw the moment she sought out his Dark. It had been reflexive.
And it was still there. Still unexplained.
And then she said, “The Ambrosia sent us.”
Well, that accounted for the tension, maybe even the Dark. Because suddenly the room was filled with Hakan’s Sanguis Vitam. And my Light had automatically swelled to back him up.
6
Well, That’s Unfortunate
Fangs descended. Green glowed from the fairy’s eyes. A snarl ripped free from Georgia, but she hadn’t moved from her casual recline on Hakan’s armchair. A hiss sounded out over my shoulder. I turned in time to see Ediz barrelling down the hallway towards his prey.
I opened my mouth to shout something, but Samson shifted into the Erbörü’s path, and Ediz simply skidded to a stop before him; head cocked, tongue lolling, panted breaths slipping through parted lips. He was crouched down like a dog, but he wasn’t in his Erbörü form. It was the strangest thing to witness. A shapeshifter acting like their alter ego when still in human form.
“Good doggie,” Georgia said. “Now, sit!”
Samson turned almost completely black eyes on his mate and muttered, “You’re not helping, babe.”
The Dark had swallowed him.
I reached out a hand to steady myself on the wall beside me, my knees suddenly weak. My eyes met Georgia’s. She held my questioning gaze with an impassive vampire stare. That stare hid so many fucking things.
OK. So, she’d hidden this. They’d hidden this. Did Jett know? Of course, he did. He was part of their triumvirate. A third of their power base came from the Master of Auckland City. They would have no secrets between them.
I looked back at Samson and Ediz. Hakan was vibrating with anger. Goran was on guard, ready to strike if needed, but I saw conflict in his glowing green eyes. He was here for my protection, but the Dökkálfa K
ing’s Hundr required careful handling. Maybe even protection too. Aliath did prize Georgia, so there was that.
I ignored the Hyrða for a moment and concentrated on Samson. Light calls to Light. Dark calls to Dark. Except when you’re a Nosferatin. And then it gets complicated. I am the Light to your Dark. You call to me as I call to you. I will always hold you dear.
I may have been only half Nosferatin, but that half was begging for me to intervene.
I let my Light out cautiously, sending out tendrils to test the water. Samson snarled. Ediz hissed.
“If you do that, the doggie gets free,” Georgia said mildly.
I pulled my Light back reflexively and turned to look at her.
“Explain,” I demanded.
“You ask a lot, Nosferatin.”
“You presume a lot,” I snapped back. “What has Samson done to Ediz?”
“He is a Rüya Dokumacı,” Hakan said from beside me. “A Dream Weaver.”
“A what?” I said, stunned.
“He weaves dreams about his prey, giving them illusions to keep them compliant. It is a Dark talent, and he is powerful.”
“That’s my man,” Georgia said with a sharp-toothed grin.
“Like glazing?” I asked, my question for Hakan; Georgia was in no mood to help me.
“It cannot be countered,” Hakan explained, walking around Samson and Ediz and studying something I couldn’t see. Glazing could be countered but this could not, then. “Your Light would have only disconnected the vampire’s hold. Ediz would have been free. But he will never again wish to hunt the Nothus.”
I stared in horror at what Samson had done to Ediz. He’d altered his reality. Permanently. Samson didn’t meet my eyes. His gaze was all for Hakan. He expected the threat to come from there. He didn’t know me.
I slammed my Light into my mother’s vampire and sent him careening across the room toward the Hyrða. Goran simply stepped to the side and let Samson’s body fly past him. Samson hit the far wall with a crunch and then slid to the floor.
The Dark Shadow loomed over my shoulder; fangs pressed to my neck.
“You did not just blast my mate,” she said.
Blood Enthralled (Blood Enchanted, Book Three): A Vampire Hunter Paranormal Romance Series Page 5
