by Anna Santos
Marcus remained still as King Francesco stood six foot two in modern, expensive clothes and a golden pinky ring like a wealthy businessman. He had long, dark, slicked-back hair, a triangular face, and deep green eyes. He looked out at the crowd of people waiting for him with a smile on his thin lips that made him seem almost charming and harmless but the king knew that there was nothing innocent about him.
Francesco walked to within three feet of the royal family, his girls directly behind him standing at attention, with shoulders back, hands folded in front of their waists, and blank facial expressions.
“Why the worried faces?” Francesco inquired with a lopsided smile. “This is a friendly visit.”
“Friendly visits take place at my palace,” Marcus replied, displaying no intentions of lowering his guard. “Not on dusty, desolate roads on the outskirts of my territory.”
“Well, there are some misunderstandings that must first be fixed before I venture into your territory. Therefore, the meeting must be here.”
“Very well. Then state your business,” Marcus demanded.
“What? No hello, how do you do? What has happened over these many years since we last met? Is this the way you treat old friends and family?”
“I am in no mood for small talk. I simply want to know what brings you here.”
“I thought that was clear enough. I’ve come to collect my girls and to speak with you about the witch.”
“I could easily have shipped your girls home. You needn’t have to come personally to retrieve them. And any other matters could have been discussed over the phone. What took you so long to come for them? They’ve been here over three weeks.”
“Yes, I had to make arrangements for my travel,” King Francesco replied. “I’m averse to flying. It gives me the creeps.”
Marcus furrowed his brow and folded his hands behind his back. “You own a cruise ship fleet”
“Exactly, so I had to cross the Atlantic and then travel by car to this godforsaken land. How can you live so far from civilization?”
“We enjoy the peace and quiet,” Marcus said, growing impatient.
“Anyhow, I’m here now, and that’s what matters. And since we haven’t seen each other for more than one hundred years, let me just enquire as to what facial cream you use. You look terrific for a vampire nearly one thousand years old. And your skin is glowing! You don’t seem to have aged a year since my sister’s death. What is your secret?”
Marcus knew he was being sarcastic, perhaps even offended by his youthful appearance rather than aged by grief. He countered, “Did you merely come here to see with your own eyes if I was six feet under, yet?”
Francesco lifted his hand and shrugged his shoulders to emphasize his answer. “Well, I have to confess that I was expecting to find an old, dying human at this point. I don’t even know how you were able to live this long. It makes me wonder if you truly loved my sister or you were just a cold bastard like your son Alaric.” Despite his harsh words, he displayed no hint of anger, just a plain expression with brooding eyes.
Marcus didn’t flinch at his insult, however, he heard Jessica snarl in annoyance at Francesco’s teasing. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw that Eric held her back as Francesco seemed to look at her and smile.
“Be careful with that one,” he cautioned his nephew. “She will slit your throat in your sleep.”
“I can handle her just fine, Uncle,” Eric replied.
Marcus felt Jessica’s surprise about Francesco being her brother in a former life resonate in his mind but kept his eyes narrowed on Francesco’s face.
“Now I understand the reluctance of my nephew to give me the witch,” Francesco continued. “He was willing to start a war over her. Did you know that?”
“Yes,” Marcus replied, cracking a lopsided smile. “And she will remain here. She belongs here.” Then he dropped his smile and made a straight face, impressing upon Francesco that that was not open for discussion.
Nevertheless, Francesco continued his teasing game as both hands rested on the handle of the cane. “She is a cunning witch, isn’t she? She looks like an angel, but don’t let yourselves be fooled. She will use her charms to take what she wants and then knock you out cold. But then again, I wouldn’t let her go if she were mine. I can see the allure of holding on to her.”
Marcus grew annoyed at Francesco’s words and the way he kept eyeing his mate. He growled and said between his teeth, “What in the hell did you come here for?”
“I’ve told you. To get my guards and—my daughter back.”
“Daughter?” Marcus asked, oblivious to that key information. “Wouldn’t you need to have a mate to conceive a daughter?”
Francesco’s eyes narrowed when he smirked. “I have a mate. I’ve had a mate for more than two hundred years.”
“Really?” As far as Marcus remembered, Francesco hadn’t found his mate and was not married to anyone, so this reply was completely unexpected.
“She is a witch,” Jessica said, breaking the silence. Francesco nodded with an effortless smile.
“Very good. You are a clever witch. How did you guess that?”
“My powers didn’t work on you. Well, at least not my fire powers.”
“Your mate is a witch?” Marcus asked, even more surprised. That would explain why no one knew he had a mate. Yet, times had changed, why had he kept that secret for so long?
“Now you understand why no one knew I had a mate. It was forbidden. I wasn’t going to kill her as tradition demanded. Besides, I grew attached to her and had no intention of dying of old age because I had no mate beside me to extend my immortality. So I kept her hidden.”
“Who is she? Someone I know?” Marcus inquired. “For ages, covens of witches swore their allegiance to your family.”
“As a matter of fact, you do.” He grinned widely, annoying Marcus. “You will see her today after we sort this mess out, and the witch returns what she stole from my bedroom.”
“What were you doing in his bedroom?” Marcus asked, snapping his head to look at Jessica. She pursed her lips and stepped back into Eric’s chest. He snarled when he heard her answer in his mind.
“She led me on with the excuse of wanting answers about another girl in my coven of witches. But in truth, she wanted to steal my most precious possession.”
“I can’t steal what already belongs to me,” Jessica retorted.
“You were the fool who let yourself be robbed because you couldn’t resist a pretty face,” Anna hissed. Francesco stared back at her. “Besides, if you have a mate, why were you cheating on her? Or are you lying?”
“I’m not lying. I just have an open relationship with my mate. I’m afraid we didn’t have the pleasure of being introduced. I’m your grandmother’s older brother. And you are Anika, aren’t you?”
“Yes, I am.”
“You look so much like her.”
“Yes, everyone tells me that,” Anna said, shrugging, clearly not impressed by their blood ties.
“You have her temper, too. Anyhow, where are my guards and my daughter? Why aren’t they out of the van?” Francesco stretched his neck to look behind the royal family.
“Which one of them is your daughter?” Eric asked. “You could have told us sooner. We could have provided her accommodations at the palace.”
“I’ve sent her here hoping she would catch the witch. She failed, so she deserved your punishment,” he replied coldly. “Anyhow, I was kind of hoping she was your soul-mate. But I see that it was not the case. Was it?” Eric shook his head, and Francesco shrugged. “Oh well, no harm was done.”
“How do you know that hybrids have soul-mates?” Anna asked.
“I know a lot of things. Like I know that the werewolf behind you is your mate.”
“That’s not really a secret,” Anna stated, still unimpressed.
“I’m all in favor of interspecies mating,” he declared, looking at Marcus to attract his attention. “Don’t think I have anyth
ing to do with our psychopath family member, Alaric. I’m not a threat to you. But I am a bit disappointed that you brought only those men to protect yourself against my entourage. I would have thought you found me more threatening.”
“I can handle you,” Marcus declared, stepping forward. He was clearly taller and stronger than Francesco and appeared far more intimidating.
Francesco didn’t flinch, though. “I have to confess, I expected you to look weaker. Have you been working out?”
“Cut the crap,” Jessica said, stepping forward and placing her hands on her hips. “I want to know why you had my mother’s grimoire. Were you or were you not the one who ordered the attack on my coven?”
“My, my, how rude you are, Jessica,” he teased. “Where are your manners? Don’t you know it is impolite to interrupt kings when they are speaking?”
“Just answer the question,” Marcus ordered, giving him a disdainful look.
“So that’s why I’ve received this cold reception? You think I attacked and killed your family?”
Jessica huffed before asking, “Well, didn’t you?”
“Very well, dear, I’ll indulge you. Have I not already told you that my mate is a witch?”
Jessica frowned. “So?”
“She is your relative. Before that book was given to your mother, it belonged to her. The grimoire is as much her legacy as it is yours. So the answer is no. I did not attack your family, because they were my family, too.”
Marcus felt the tension that took over Jessica’s body invade their mind link and realized that his mate was in shock with this unexpected revelation.
Chapter Twenty-Seven—Family Tree
JESSICA
Jessie sighed, thankful for the wind that caressed her body. It was too hot. She didn’t know how the others were weathering the heat without complaint.
Meanwhile, a deadly silence had fallen over both groups on the dusty road. For her part, Jessica was confused by what Francesco had said, particularly as he seemed to imply that some of her family was still alive. She knew that a few coven members had survived, but they weren’t necessarily her direct family, particularly those who had met their mates before the attack and joined new covens.
She knew she had an aunt still living, on her father’s side. The woman had visited her at the boarding school when the tragedy occurred; she had told Jessica what had happened but had made no effort to take her out of that evil, godforsaken place and bring her to a new home, away from the abuse. It had been Jessica’s destiny to be unwanted and rejected by everyone who should have loved her.
A sharp pain clasped around her heart, until a voice softened the cruel memories. She looked over at her king and reminded herself that her mate hadn’t rejected her. He loved her deeply, and that love had made her feel like the happiest person alive. She had been reunited with her real family, the one she had lost when she died in her other life. It didn’t matter what Francesco had to tell her about his mate. Jessica wasn’t impressed by the thought of meeting some two-hundred-year-old relative who hadn’t cared enough about her to find and take care of her when she needed it the most. The only reason that this woman had appeared in her life was because Jessica had stolen her precious book, and whatever gibberish she might spill would not be able to hide the fact that she wanted that book back because it was powerful and, in the wrong hands, could do a lot of damage.
Francesco’s wife might want the book back, but Jessica had no plans to give it to her. That book belonged to her; the other woman wasn’t even a real witch anymore. She had to have become a vampire, in order to have lived so many years, and hence she had no real powers; all she could do was enchantments and potions. She needed to use other witches to have real power and was probably behind the Black Dahlia coven. And as far as Jessica knew, they weren’t averse to using black and forbidden magic.
“Where is your so-called mate?” Jessica asked, shattering the silence, impatient about meeting her relative and discerning her true intention.
“In the limousine. You know her.” He smiled wickedly, and Jessica frowned. “You are her great-great-great niece.”
“That doesn’t still explain how you and she came to be in possession of the book. The coven, under your wife’s orders, could have attacked my mother’s coven and stolen the book. They use black magic openly and aren’t known for protecting or taking care of other covens.”
“My wife had a good relationship with your mother. It’s in her best interest to continue her bloodline. Our children are not witches, so you are perhaps one of the last members of her bloodline. Besides, whoever attacked your coven had no interest in stealing the book. Their intent was to erase your family’s bloodline on your mother’s side. Other witches from your family are also being attacked and killed.”
Jessie pondered this, unaware of these recent events. “But Myra said—” She couldn’t finish the sentence because Francesco interrupted her.
“Myra said what she needed to say in order to make you find us. She knew you were going to follow her tip and spare her life. But this isn’t a subject for discussion right here. We will need to have this conversation in private.”
“You were the one who suggested meeting here,” Marcus pointed out, and Jessica felt his support and concern.
“You thought I was the enemy. I couldn’t risk meeting within your territory before clarifying this misunderstanding. If this wasn’t such an important matter, I wouldn’t have come to speak with you myself,” he replied.
“Why would Myra send me to you? She is working with the enemy. She— I see!” Jessica said, opening her eyes wide as she had an epiphany: Myra must have been working undercover for them. “That still doesn’t explain how you were in possession of my book.”
“After we knew about the attack, my mate left to gather the survivors and bury the dead. She knew where the book was hidden, so she brought it home for safekeeping.”
Jessica fisted her hands as annoyance spread throughout her body. “You don’t need to keep it safe anymore. It belongs to me. It is my legacy.”
“You can have it. We have a copy of it.” He smiled as if amused.
Jessica tilted her head, his words making no sense at all. “So why did you chase me for taking it?”
“We didn’t chase you because of the book. We chased you to bring you home and explain everything to you. And to keep you safe from those looking for you. When I was stalling to keep you in my quarters, my wife was on her way to the palace to speak with you. It was you who tried to kill me when you saw the book.”
Jessica folded her arms and stared at him with annoyed eyes. “Seriously? If you had told me the truth when we first met, none of this would have happened!”
“I wasn’t sure that you were who you claimed to be. You could have been a spy sent to kill my wife. We do have a lot of enemies. So I asked her to confirm your identity and then explain the situation to you.”
“Well, I’m here now. Why doesn’t she come out of the car and make her explanation?” Jessica asked, bothered by the secrecy of everyone’s actions. She wasn’t too fond of secrets.
“I want Marcus’s word that nothing is going to happen to me and my family, especially my wife.” His gaze fell on Marcus’ face. “I know you are a vampire who honors his word—an honorable and reasonable man.”
“You have nothing to fear from me if you are telling the truth,” Marcus declared.
Jessica probed her mate’s mind, looking for comfort and insight about Francesco’s behavior. For Marcus, if Francesco was so desperate to have his word for him and his family’s safety, then something else was going on. He was omitting something important without a doubt. He knew that Marcus wouldn’t attack his visitors, he didn’t approve of those sort of dishonorable behavior to vanquish enemies or punish offenses. There would have to be some important and disturbing secret behind his actions. Something that would infuriate Marcus and make him lose his temper and probably have urges for death and blood. Jessica stared at he
r king, wondering like himself what it could possibly be. Their exchange of thoughts was interrupted by Francesco’s words.
“Well, I prefer to have your guarantee before telling you anything else,” Francesco said. “You now know that there is nothing to fear from me. My mate is a witch. I’ve protected her for more than two hundred years. I have hybrid children. Why would I associate with a psycho vampire who wants to kill me and them? Besides, I would never hurt Jessica.”
“Why not?” she asked, raising an eyebrow. She detected some type of tenderness in his tone that made her look more closely at him.
He smiled and moved forward, raising one hand to touch her. Jessica drew back, intimidated, as Marcus stepped forward and shoved him back.
Growls filled the air. Marcus’ werewolves and Francesco’s vampires woke from their numb trances and hissed at each other, protecting their kings.
Both kings raised their hands to stop their growling.
“Calm down. I have no intention of harming your mate,” he said to Marcus. “I can understand why you want to keep it a secret, but I know perfectly well that Jessica used to be Isobel. And if Jessica remembered me, she would know that I would never harm my sister. I loved her, and I’m glad that Marcus didn’t reject you.” He now looked at Jessica with tender eyes. “When I knew that you were here, I— I have to confess that I was afraid as to what might happen, that her memories could overload your brain. You didn’t recall that I used to be your brother until Eric called me uncle. You believed I was your enemy. But I’m not. I see you as part of my family, and I do not harm family, at least not those that I care about.”
“How in the hell can you possibly know that?” Jessica asked, more annoyed than intrigued.
She began to doubt his intentions once again, even though his voice was sweet and his eyes showed tender emotion. Not many people knew that she remembered her past life. Other than her newfound family and herself, no one knew that she was Isobel, and she had not shared the news around, nor had Marcus or Anna. So how could Francesco possibly know all that?
