Reign

by Alaska Angelini

  Her head tilted back while she stared up at his face. When their lips connected, I saw true love. One that nearly took my breath away.

  They pulled back at the same time, staring into each other’s eyes lost in world of their own. At my shift, Marko’s eyes rose to me.

  “I feel your heartache as if it were my own. I’m sorry, Hunter. I truly am.”

  All I could do was shrug. What did he expect me to say, that it was okay? It wasn’t. I was undeserving for reasons I didn’t even know. Fate had turned its back on me, making it clear that I would be destined to love a woman who would never return my feelings.

  “Oh, but she does,” Marko whispered, lowering his lids the slightest amount as he seemed to gaze into my very soul. “And this has gone on for far too long. The three of us keep getting pulled together for reasons I cannot contest anymore. It is time we stop fighting each other and come together … as one. As it almost was when Tessa was going to take you as her slave. I accepted it then, but my selfishness wouldn’t allow me let the two of you be more. I have gotten us to this point. While I was entombed, I did nothing but think through these hard times. Isolation does one of two things—it destroys you, or it forces you to face the truth of the demons you’re at war with. I can’t deny what my heart tells me. If I ignore this love the two of you have, it will destroy the three of us. It almost has so many times. Think about it. Look at the pain we’ve all had to suffer. If only we would have come together from the beginning, perhaps our lives would be different now. Maybe not for the better where equality is concerned, but there would have been peace. Happiness. Don’t you think?”

  “I think we’ve all played our role in this path. No one person is at fault for what has happened. But if you mean what you say.” I glanced from him to Tessa, who was now looking at me. “If she will have me as more than a friend. If she can feel more—”

  Tessa pushed to her feet, looking between us. “Marko, do you mean that? Or … are you saying you don’t mind if Hunter and I are together for feeding purposes and friends? Speak clear. I do not think I can bear misunderstanding you. What exactly are you referring to?”

  The rapid pulse that took me over wasn’t my own, but Tessa’s. It had me taking in the smallest emotion etching into her face. I knew she had hinted to feeling something, and I wanted to hope, to speculate, but I just couldn’t allow myself.

  “I have you. You have me. Perhaps there was meant to be more to us than just you and I. What else can I do?” His voice strained. “The two of you are bonded. You love him. He loves you. It was there long before I came. I … will never be able to bond you again, ma minette. I know this and it kills me. But we have our love, and it is stronger than ever. I feel that here,” he said, tapping over his heart. “It has to be this way. It may be the only chance we have at beating Aetas. Together, the three of us may be strong enough.”

  Marko’s expression was full of sadness as his head dropped to look at the ground. Tessa leaned down to bring him back to her.

  “I know how hard this is for you. I’ve tried denying it to myself, too, but you are right. I can’t escape the truth any more than you. I love him. I always have. For you to give us this ...” She paused, confliction, yet eagerness present. “Maybe this was the way it was meant to be. I do not know, but I can’t deny how much I want to see.” She paused. “Thank you.”

  “Do not thank me, ma minette. Not yet. I know our path, but adjusting to it will be the hard part.”

  Tessa nodded and kissed his cheek. When she turned to face me, neither of us moved. I wasn’t sure what to say. All I wanted to do was pull her into my arms. To thank Marko, myself, but I knew it wasn’t the time. Adjust. Yes, they’d have to do that. But I was more than ready. I’d been patient up until this point. I could wait until they were ready. However long that took.

  Chapter 26

  Marko

  Didn’t they say admitting to a problem was the first step? I’d been in denial for so long that it was so easy to try to slip back into, but the truth couldn’t be avoided anymore. What I said to Tessa was the truth. If I didn’t face the fact that her and Hunter were meant to be in each other’s lives, we were destined to fail. And not just against Aetas, but to each other. My vows to Tessa would be for nothing. She’d come to hate me. Her bond to Hunter was only going to grow throughout time and the love she felt now would pale in comparison to the depths it would reach over the years. I couldn’t keep them separate. Not if I wanted to keep her. I loved her too much to do that to either of us.

  Hunter. My stare rose to him. I never thought I’d feel anything for the overprotective bastard. Thanks to Aetas blood, to the bond as his maker, I couldn’t help the softening I had toward the man who had been my enemy for so long. Jealousy was there, but not nearly as much as it had been before. It was the difference between me and Aetas. I thought my greed had been strong, but his was worse. His love for Tessa was purely connection based. Mine was real. I cared about what she wanted—what she needed. And that allowed me to accept Hunter. It wasn’t easy, but my heart told me it would get better over time.

  “Let me help you up.”

  Hunter’s eyes left Tessa and he walked toward me. The vampire in me wanted to snap at him. I wasn’t weak, dammit. But … I was. I hadn’t walked in so long that the muscles in my legs were pretty much useless. They’d heal a lot faster than a human’s, but in the meantime, I was going to have to depend on him for the little things.

  “Thank you.” My arm wrapped around his shoulders while he pulled me to stand. When he started to slowly walk us to the bed, I planted my feet. His eyes met mine and as I held the contact, I pushed deep into his depths. A barrage of emotions hit me—all love and longing. For those moments, his pain was my own.

  I broke away, shaking my head and patting against the heavy muscle covering his chest. “I hate you,” I said, glancing up as he sat me down. There was a pause in his reactions before a smile edged onto his face.

  “I hate you, too. I doubt it will ever go away, but I’ve seen stranger things.”

  Tessa pacing stole my attention. “You’re not going back, ma minette. I may not be able to read your mind, but I know you. That’s all you’re thinking about right now.”

  “If I don’t go back, we will be trying to survive blind. At least this way the two of you have a chance. If I keep Aetas distracted, he will send the enforcers. You can both hide until your powers grow and you strengthen. If I don’t go … he will come, and he will find us. In that case, we’re as good as dead. At least me and Hunter. He can’t kill you, but he can entomb you again.”

  Trembling wracked my body at the thought and there was no way I could control it. “If you go back and you’re there when he discovers the truth, he will torture, rape, and try to beat the information out of you. Let him entomb me if it means keeping you safe. You’re not going.”

  “You can’t stop me,” she yelled. “I’m going, and you’re going to get stronger. I will come to you when I’m able. Get as far away from here as you can.”

  I dove to my feet, stumbling and falling as Hunter tried to lung for her. But it was too late. Tessa was gone, back to the one person I hated more than life itself.

  “Goddammit!” I slammed my fist against the cement, struggling to push myself up. Hunter had me on the bed before I could summon the strength to get my legs to work. “Your bonded is going to be the death of me,” I growled. “Most stubborn women I’ve ever met. She doesn’t listen to orders for shit.”

  “Tell me about it.” Anger was thickly laced in Hunter’s voice. “But she’s right. We don’t stand a chance if Aetas finds you Marko. And we need you alive. This is worse than you can imagine. We have to leave here and find a safe place for you, now.”

  I glared, cocking my head to the side. “It may be bad out there, but you do not know his instability. I feel it deep within. Tessa is going to get hurt if she’s not careful. I feel it within my bones. This will not be good for her.”

  “Tessa
will leave if it gets bad. I know her. She’s not stupid. She’ll escape.

  “And if she can’t?”

  “She will. But we can’t debate on that now. We have to go.”

  I pushed away my fears, trying to convince myself that he was right. Tessa was smart. She’d know if she had to leave, and Hunter would be able to detect if she was in trouble. I had to rely on that. “Let me guess, you’re going to carry me out of here like a child?”

  Hunter shrugged, giving me an apologetic look. “You know a better way?”

  “Fuck me. I hate this. I swear, when I’m better, I’m going to …” I broke off, not sure what the hell I was going to do. Aetas would pay, I’d make sure of it. How, was the mystery. I wanted him to go through more hell than I had. I wanted him to suffer to the extreme.

  “Before we leave, do you have any ideas where we’re going to go, because truthfully, I’m at a loss?”

  My jaw tightened and I gave a hard shake. “No. We’ll need a car though because I am too weak to use powers. We’ll have to decide when we’re on the road.”

  Hunter pulled me into his arms and I had to take deep breaths to calm myself. This wasn’t right. I wasn’t meant to be so dependent on someone. Especially him.

  “We don’t have time for you to try to walk,” he said under his breath. “I know this has to be hard for you, but I promise not to tease you too much when you get better.

  “One word,” I threatened.

  Hunter stayed silent as he eased the door open, poking his head out. The skin on my arms prickled as I tuned into the energy. The inside of the city felt empty, eerie as we broke into the darkness. Complete silence was something I’d never heard within our walls. There was always a hum of voices, or the strings of a musical instrument playing. Now, nothing. Anger made tears burn into my eyes. I had been king. The vampires had trusted me to take care of them, and in their eyes before death, I had failed. Jesus. I couldn’t take the emotions that slammed into me.

  Hunter glanced down and I knew he could feel my aura. The sadness was overwhelming me. I was the strongest vampire besides Aetas and I was no stronger than a human child.

  “It’s not your fault. Everyone will know what happened. I will make sure of it. I know we haven’t gotten along, but that didn’t take away from me noticing what a good leader you were. You’ll get that back. You rule over all of us, and then we’ll be safe.”

  My brow creased as I looked up at him. “Me? Why not you? Don’t you feel the need to take Aetas’ spot?”

  Hunter laughed under his breath, pausing to look around the intersecting tunnel. “Hell no. I just want …”

  “Tessa.” I clenched my jaw and he stayed silent leading us further away from the city. “Of course she’s all you’re thinking about. Your bond is strong. Pure. You were connected before your transitions. Yours will be stronger than mine and hers ever was. That doesn’t mean she’ll love you more than me. Just, differently.”

  “I know my place.” Hunter glanced down at me, keeping his pace fast regardless of my weight and size. “The two of you love each other. You’re her mate. Her husband,” he breathed out. “I’m just happy to have any part of her after what I’ve done.”

  I didn’t respond. I wasn’t sure what to say.

  Light shone from ahead and Hunter slowed, jerking to a stop almost immediately. “There’s humans,” he whispered. “I feel them. I think they’re guarding the exits. We should have went through the house part. I bet they would have given us a car.”

  My head shook. “No. Humans will be there, too. They had to have discovered the door. We’ll just have to take these out and try to get into Austin before we’re discovered. It’s not hard anymore to notice our kind. They have to be able to feel the difference. My energy will definitely stand out. I don’t think I can conceal myself yet. Tessa’s blood is strong and she did wonders, but the amount I need is greater than ever. It’s a double-edged sword.”

  “Alright.” Hunter stayed light on his feet, lowering me to the ground as he stared at the grate above. “Give me little bit. I’ll be back to get you. Don’t run off anywhere.”

  “Bastard.”

  The small laugh that left him had a smile coming to my face. I hated that I couldn’t hide it. Fuck, I was softening more toward him.

  Cautious steps led Hunter up the ladder and I pushed myself to stand as he neared the top. The sudden anxiety for his safety became my primary focus. If anything happened to him, Tessa would suffer as well. And I didn’t want Hunter to get hurt. Not because he was my only savior in the godforsaken mess, but because I was generally concerned for his well-being.

  One more step up. Two. His face was inches from the top when he pushed from the front of his feet and shot up through the grate. Shots were almost immediate and they drove me forward on shaky, weak legs. My hands held to the bars like a lifeline while shouts grew from above. When I heard a scream, I force my unwilling body to react faster. To climb those fucking stairs and see if he was alright.

  Waves of fearful energy rushed over me and I struggled, lifting my leg the next foot between the gaps. Sweat was beginning to coat my skin and a grunt echoed around me as I used the strength from my arms to keep myself from falling completely.

  Tessa’s powers for me were already fading. At this rate, I wasn’t sure how much I’d have to drink to be sated. Whether it would always be like this, I wasn’t sure. Maybe I just needed to sate the vampire within and let him get used to the frequent feedings again.

  “There. Right there!”

  A human voice rang out from above, followed by more screams. Then, more. By the time I neared the top, I wasn’t sure how many more people Hunter had killed. The yells kept coming and he obviously had to be the one evoking them … which meant he was alive.

  “Where did he go? Fuck! Jack?”

  My head lifted, only for my eyes to widen as far as they could go. Men in an array of different uniforms were scattered around the field. Two Army tanks were present, along with multiple police cars. I could see where they’d been parked further down, guarding the other entrance as well. Jesus. We were fucked. Had the war broken out so badly in the last two months I had been trapped away? Yes … my city was dead, and Austin was under lockdown.

  A blur of color raced from the darkness, right into the spotlighted area. One second a crouched man was positioned by the cruiser, the next he was being shredded down the face and chest by Hunter’s claws. More siren’s sounded and I couldn’t stop myself from easing from the tunnel, onto my stomach. Backup would be here any minute. We had to make a run for it. Time was of the essence if we were going to escape.

  With the last of my strength, I projected my status. Hunter was so fluid in his movements that he was doubling back for me as if it were part of his attack. More shots rang out and I held my hand toward the sound, groaning as my muscles and bones literally ached in agony.

  “Let’s get the fuck out of here.” Hunter barely stopped as he swept me into his arms and took off running at full speed. He headed around the cop cars, right for the city. I didn’t question his actions or where he was taking us. For the first time, I put my trust in his decisions. I let him lead.

  Chapter 27

  Aetas

  Even upon waking, Tessa’s breaths were the first thing I was aware of. They were slow. Deep. She was asleep. The picture in my head of her face had my love swelling and growing to heights I never imagined could exist. The warmth engulfing my chest had me blindly reaching to pull her closer.

  As my hand connected, and her scent grew stronger at my pull, I couldn’t resist staying closed off from her for another second. My eyes fluttered open and long, dark waves were suddenly visible. They were scattered above her on the pillow, weaving a tangled web of mass black over the light fabric. The sight was no different than what she was doing to me—standing out in a void of darkness. Although here it was opposite. She was the dark, in a world of light.

  “I missed you.” I wrapped myself around her
and she instantly turned, burying her face in my chest, content to let me hold on.

  “You were only sleeping. Surely, you didn’t miss me so much.”

  “But I did. I miss you more than you know when we’re not together. And we weren’t tonight. I don’t think I dreamed at all. I must have been more tired than I thought.”

  She yawned, snuggling into me more. “You’ve been tired a lot lately. Maybe the good rest is what you needed.”

  I frowned, knowing all too well it wasn’t that. Marko needed to feed again. He was making me weak. Could he go a few more days? Perhaps he could. But did I want him to? That was the question. I didn’t like to feel weak and I had never felt so off since I’d placed the bond on him.

  “Maybe you’re right.” My voice was low as I closed my eyes and tuned into Tessa’s pulse. It was on the fast side, but not enough for concern. I reached down, spinning her to straddle me as I rolled to my back. “Feed, ma minette. I want to feel your fangs in me.”

  There was hesitation as she lowered to my neck. I reached over, pulling back her hair as her nose moved up and down the side of my throat. The grin was immediate and erased everything in my mind. When her fangs finally broke through my skin it pure heaven. My fingers dug into her back and ass while my hard cock slid against the silk nightgown that was wedge between her legs.

  “What did I tell you about wearing these? I want to feel you. These damn things only get in the way.”

  I pulled the gown to her hips as she continued sucking against me. Heat met my cock and wetness came as I rubbed against her. But something was off. She felt tense in my arms. Or was it me, overanalyzing her every move? She’d felt this way before, but she was still responding. She still wanted me.

  The thoughts vanished as she bit down harder, drawing more of my essence free. With every move of my hips, her arousal increased. I shifted, lifting her as I eased my cock into her entrance. A sound vibrated along my skin. Whether it was pleasurable or not, I wasn’t sure. I didn’t care. I locked my arms around her tighter and plunged deep. The act had Tessa’s mouth breaking from my neck. She tried thrashing in my arms but we’d been here before. I’d seen her and Marko’s memories. She liked it rough and I knew that must have been the mood she was in.