by Tara Sampson
Leo stood up and snorted.
“I’ve quickly learned that there’s no managing Shelby. She is her own person.”
Alex grinned.
“So she’s a good match then.”
“In every way,” Leo agreed. “I can hold her for a minute but not much longer. You feed her from your wrist vampire, not by the vein in your neck or the vein above your heart. Just the wrist; are we clear?”
Leo’s eyes glinted dangerously. He was very serious about this.
“Crystal,” Alex remarked, “but you might want to duck again.”
Just as soon as the words were out of his mouth, Leo felt a sharp sting in his forehead. Glancing behind him, he saw the picture frame that his spitfire little bride just lobbed at him.
“Damn it! Where did she get that arm?”
Alex chuckled and watched Leo’s bride. He was surely going to have his arms full with this one.
“I’m waiting,” he reminded Leo.
Leo rubbed his temple and grumbled something that was inaudible. Without saying a word, Leo quickened his resolve and stalked toward his bride. He reached out for her but Shelby saw his intent and flashed away from him.
This time, it was Leo’s growl that filled the room.
“Sweetheart, that wasn’t a very nice thing of you to do to your husband,” His eyes narrowed and started to glow red. His beast finally came out. “I’ve tried to do this the easy way but you’ve left me no choice.”
He stalked forward again and this time, he moved at the speed of light. He grappled with his bride and shackled her with his arms. Her slender, taught body squirmed in his arms and she fought his hold.
“Now Alex! Now!” Leo strained against a fighting Shelby.
Alex was already one step ahead of him. He slit his wrist with one of his talon-like nails and held it over Shelby’s mouth. She stubbornly closed her mouth, refusing his blood.
“Come on, child,” Alex coaxed, “open for me.”
Leo growled at the softness he heard in Alex’s tone. Shelby elbowed him hard in the gut.
“For God’s sake Alex, open her mouth and feed her!”
He grabbed her chin with his thumb and forefinger, forcing her mouth to open.
“I’m sorry, little one but it has to be done.” Alex held his wrist to her lips and turned is so that his dark blood flowed freely into her mouth. Leo pinched her nose giving her no choice but to swallow what was being forced into her.
After a good long minute had passed and Alex was sure she had enough, he took a step back and licked his own wrist.
“Release her, Leo. She should be calming down now.”
Hesitantly, Leo let his arms slowly loosen from around her. She was stiff in his lap but she wasn’t fighting him any longer.
“Shelby?”
“I, I…” Shelby looked around her, confused as to what was happening. There was a strong metallic taste in her mouth and she didn’t know where she was. “Where am I?” she stuttered.
Alex stood in front of her.
“You’re at the Elders’ home. Welcome back, child.” He smiled slightly and bowed his head to her.
“Welcome back? But where did I go?” she asked. She felt Leo’s arms come around her again and she soaked in his comforting embrace. She was suddenly so tired.
“You were in a state of blood lust, my sweet.”
She turned her head so that she could see his face.
“But I don’t understand. How did I go into this state of blood lust as you call it? Better yet, what is this blood lust you’re referring to?”
“It’s a long story, my love. All that matters now is that you’re back here with me. You’re safe now.”
He turned her around in his lap, needing to see her beautiful face. He framed her cheeks with both of his hands and reveled in the silky smoothness of her skin. It was such a direct correlation to the hardened female he had fought with only moments earlier. Unable to resist, he dipped his head to place a soft kiss against her lips.
“Do you know how much I love you?”
“I…” she started and paused, rapidly blinking. Her eyes looked unfocused. “I feel funny,” she blurted. “Something’s not right.”
“What do you mean something’s not right, love? Funny, how?” Leo shot a glance over at Alex who looked as baffled as he was.
Shelby closed her eyes.
“I don’t know. I don’t know how to explain it. It’s really weird.”
Leo was watching her one minute, holding her in his arms and listening to her talk to him and then in the next she was…gone. She just disappeared into thin air for no rhyme or reason.
He looked over at Alex whose eyes had gone wide with surprise and then back to his empty arms. Furious, he jumped up from the floor in one astounding bounce and frantically circled the room.
“Shelby! Shelby!” he screamed out at the top of his lungs. “Where the hell are you woman?” Leo swung around and slammed his heavy fist through the wall. “Answer me, Shelby?” he cried out gutturally.
From a full-blown panic mode, Leo went into a rage. He flipped the bed over and tossed the table across the room. He ripped the closet apart before coming back to the center of the room and falling helplessly to his knees. She was gone. He couldn’t find his Shelby and when he tried to lock onto her mind, it was like he was hitting a brick wall.
He turned to his friend, feeling broken and defeated. For the first time in over a century he felt a strange wetness trail down the side of his cheek.
“Where is she Alex? Where did she go?”
Chapter 30
Tatiana groaned.
“What is taking them so long? How hard can it be to get rid of one measly newborn?”
Ric sighed and patted the cushioned seat beside of him.
“Tatiana, come here and sit down. Isabella said that she had a plan and she would let us know the details when the time was right. Don’t stress yourself, baby. It’s rather unbecoming.”
Dangerously close to her breaking point, Tatiana spun around and glared at Ric. Her whole future depended on whether or not Shelby lived. As long as she was in the picture, Leo wouldn’t bother to give her a second look and that was completely unacceptable. She needed him to secure her position in the supernatural world. When the war started and they ruled over the human race, she intended to be at the top of the totem pole. She was born to lead. She was born to be worshiped and she refused to let that stupid little human stand in her way.
“Shut up!” she screamed out in frustration. “Don’t you see how important this is? She is the one that the Prophecy speaks of. She could already be carrying those good-for- nothing cowards’ precious leader. She could ruin everything if we don’t get rid of her now.”
Ric frowned and leaned back casually on the couch, crossing his legs out in front of him.
“She’s weak,” he reminded her, “too weak to be any sort of formidable threat to us. We will take care of her. It’s going to be like stealing candy from a baby. You’re worrying entirely too much babe.”
Tatiana snorted.
“She’s managed to elude our attempts so far. She not only has Leo acting as her guard dog; she also has a damn consecration pendant. She isn’t that weak.”
“Semantics; you’re talking about semantics. We sent stupid coyotes after her. Any newborn worth a grain of salt could have dealt with them easily.” Ric sat up and leaned forward, spreading his arms out wide in front of him. “Isabella said that she had a plan and any time now, we will know what that plan is. Besides, you know that whatever Isabella Risso wants, Isabella Risso gets. By herself, she is a force to be reckoned with. It’s all just a matter of time until Shelby meets her unfortunate demise and when she does, the world will be ours for the taking.”
“I am surrounded by idiots,” Tatiana mumbled to herself. “You’re crazier than I thought if you think it’s going to be that easy. That damn woman is like a cat with nine lives.”
“Be that the case, even a ca
t eventually runs out of all their lives. Just watch,” he remarked knowingly, “you’ll see. Shelby Tanner’s time is coming to an end. That so called leader you are referring to will never see the light of day.”
Tatiana opened her mouth to tell Ric that he was stupid to think that it would be that simple when a minor disturbance in the air caught her attention.
Ric jumped to his feet when he felt it too. Seconds later the bodily forms of Isabella and Marko appeared in front of them.
Tatiana’s whole demeanor instantly changed. Instead of being irritated like she had been with Ric, she forced herself to appear more refined and cultured.
“Isabella,” she forced a smile on her face, “it’s good to see you again.”
Isabella returned her smile.
“Oh dear sweet child, it’s always such a pleasure to see you. I already see you as my daughter-in-law but I can’t wait until you’re actually bound to my son by blood and the relationship is official. Truth be told, you have always been the daughter that I never had. ”
Tatiana linked her hands in front of her and slightly bowed her head.
“I’m deeply honored. You’re the only mother that I’ve ever known; I will always be thankful for all that you have done for me.”
“Yes, I know you will, dear. You always were such a good girl, just like your father. But,” she paused and turned to Marko, “we have other important issues to deal with at the moment. Shall we get down to business?”
Marko nodded his head.
“As you wish.”
Isabella placed a hand on Marko’s shoulder.
“In case you don’t know, this is Marko Chiaro, one of our senior Council members. He was a friend to my husband therefore a friend to us. He understands our dilemma and is willing to help us out.”
“Really,” Tatiana interrupted. She glanced up at Marko and her eyes flashed red with apprehension and excitement. “I don’t mean to be rude but exactly how is he going to help us?
Marko flashed her a smile that gleamed with pointed teeth.
He’s beautiful, she thought to herself about his dark mahogany eyes and long black obsidian hair. Tatiana had always appreciated a good looking vampire and Marko was no exception.
“That’s the easy part,” Marko said. “You see, your friends are being held as guests at the Council housing.” He pulled out a large ring of keys from his jacket pocket. The council housing is protected from average vampires. Only a select few with the purest of blood can teleport in and out of the premises unless they are a council member and have other means. “Being a council member, I have access to all rooms in the building, including the room where Leo and his precious pet are staying.”
An evil smile started to grow on Tatiana’s face.
“I think I like you. Tell me more.”
Marko winked back at her.
“I like you too, my dear.” He dropped the keys back in his pocket and pulled out a small brown satchel that was tied together with simple twine. “I plan to slip a little something extra into Leo’s evening meal that will help him sleep tonight.”
Tatiana sniffed and stepped closer. She furrowed her brow.
“Is that what I think it is? Is that bloodroot I smell? Bloodroot is supposed to be impossible to get. Only the witches grow it and they usually keep it under lock and key. How did you-”
Marko stopped her by holding up his hand.
“Very good and I have my ways, little one. All you need to know is that I have it and I will use it to knock Leo out so that Ric can get into their chambers and steal away the girl. Now, while Isabella and Ric are dealing with our little problem and getting rid of the evidence, it will be your job to sneak into Leo’s room and finish the blood rites, binding you to him. Once that’s done and the girl is dead, the bond will be broken and you will have bound yourself to him.”
“It can’t be that easy,” Tatiana said shaking her head. “It sounds way too simple.”
“I promise you it can be. With no girl, there will be no child and hence no prophecy. The human world will be ours for the taking and with your marriage bond to Leo, you will be ruling right there with us at the top.”
The satisfaction on Isabella’s face was clear. This was what she wanted. This was what all of them wanted.
“So,” Tatiana asked eagerly, “when do we do this thing?” She was more than ready to get this show on the road.
Marko glanced down at his watch.
“In one hour. The Council serves dinner to all the inhabitants of the house at precisely six every evening. It’s a quarter to five now. We get there fifteen minutes early to add the bloodroot to Leo’s meal and put our plan in action. By this time tomorrow, your problem will be taken care of and we can start the revolution that will finally put those stupid humans in their place once and for all.”
Tatiana’s smile grew into a full blown grin.
“Now, you’re talking my kind of language.”
“No!” Leo screamed at the top of his lungs. He was on the verge of going into a full blown rage. One minute she was here, and then the next she wasn’t. He couldn’t even sense her. He tried to use their bond to locate her but every time he tried to lock in on his sweet bride, a sharp stab of pain struck in his head. It felt like someone was driving a ten inch nail straight through the center of his skull.
“Shelby!” he hollered out desperately again, “Come back! I demand that you return to me right now!”
“What in the world is going on in here?”
Leo turned around and came face to face with Alex.
“You,” he snarled, his tone filled with menace, “you’ve done something, haven’t you? Where is she? What have you done with my Shelby?”
Alex closed the door behind him and rested his hands at his sides in an attempt to look as nonthreatening as possible.
“You need to calm down Leo. Your Shelby is safe, I promise.”
Leo quickly flashed in front of him. His eyes darkened and he felt his fangs descend from his gums. Right now, his beast was in full control. His bride was gone and he couldn’t sense her anywhere. He grabbed Alex firmly by the neck and lifted him three feet in the air. He would find out what they did to his bride or he would kill every last one of them to do it. Shelby was his life, damn the rest of them all to hell.
“Don’t! Don’t you dare tell me to calm down! Tell me where she is! Tell me now!”
Alex held onto Leo’s wrist with both hands gasping for air. After seeing his reaction to the way that they had summoned the girl, he expected the beast to come out and that’s what he was counting on. They needed the beast in order to face what was coming tonight.
“She’s safe,” Alex coughed. “She’s under the protection of Clara’s coven. That’s all…that’s all you need to know for now.”
Leo growled.
“Clara’s coven?” He tightened his grip on Alex’s neck. “Why the hell is she will Clara’s coven?”
Alex opened his mouth to speak but no sound came out. He felt his air supply being cut short.
“She saw something, didn’t she?” Leo glanced up at Alex and as his human thought processes started to kick in, he seemed to really see him for the first time. His face was turning purple and Leo immediately released him, letting him fall in a heap to the floor. He forced himself to take a step back and drew in a breath. The beast was winning control and when the beast was in control, he couldn’t think straight. He had to think. He had to get a hold of himself.
Once he felt he was calm again, he turned to the man that was now sitting up in the middle of the floor, drawing deep breaths of air into his lungs.
“Tell me Alex, she saw something about my Shelby, didn’t she?”
Alex finally found his voice and looked up at Leo. He looked so much like his father. His father was a good man; he just had his priorities mixed up. He had this crazy idea that their race would eventually rule over the human world. Vampires were outnumbered a thousand to one when it came to the humans. It would
never work. In the end it was those same priorities that killed him.
“Yes,” Alex choked out, “she did.”
Alex pushed himself up to a standing position and walked over to the counter where a pitcher of water had been set out earlier for Leo and his bride. He picked up the pitcher and gulped down half of it all at once. Sitting the pitcher back down on the counter, Alex pivoted back around and wiped his mouth with the back of his hand.
Better, he thought to himself. That hadn’t been so bad. Now all he had to do was tell him what Clara saw and hope like hell that Leo didn’t take it out on him again.
Slamming his fist against the wall, Leo snarled louder than before.
“Alex, I’m warning you, I’m quickly losing what little patience I’ve managed to salvage. You need to start talking and you need to start talking fast.”
He exhaled.
“You’re right. She saw something. She saw your bride’s death and a new bond formed between you and Tatiana. She also saw the fall of the Prophecy and a world of chaos like you couldn’t even begin to imagine.”
“Damn it!” Leo picked up the first thing that was in his reach which just so happened to be an antique wooden table that had been crafted back in the fifteenth century. Before Alex could even attempt to stop him, he lifted it above his head and hurled it up against the wall, wood splintering into hundreds of pieces.
He faced Alex again, panting heavily and eyes glowing bright red.
“She saw my Shelby’s death?”
Alex nodded.
“Which is precisely why Clara has her under her coven’s protection; you’ve heard the Prophecy a million times, Leo. You know that Shelby will be the vessel for our new leader. It’s your son that will lead our people into a brighter future; one free of prejudice and hate. He will be the one to finally bring us peace from a war that is already beginning to brew.”
“NO!” Leo shook his head from side to side. “This can’t be happening.”
