by Lexi Blake
Dev arched an eyebrow at the thought. “I’m content to play the minion as long as it suits me. I like variety, and this ménage of ours meets my needs. Daniel is very aggressive. He’s everything one could want from a male. Zoey is a heavenly bit of femininity. I enjoy both, and I’m unwilling to deny myself either. Zoey and Daniel are somewhat liberated in their sexual thinking. I don’t have to hide one from the other.”
“I agree with you. I’m of the same persuasion. I admire males and females equally.” Marini took in the low cut of my dress. “You’re right about Mrs. Donovan, though she pretends to be demure and retiring when I’m around. Do I frighten you? I rather think not. I think you’re behaving yourself, Mrs. Donovan, for your husband’s sake. You can keep your mouth shut all you like, but your eyes tell a different tale. Your eyes flash fire, chère. In different times, you would have been a great courtesan holding court with the kings and nobles of the age.”
“Is that a prostitute?” I was pretty damn sure it was. Dev’s hand tightened slightly, a small warning about my temper.
“I suppose you would think so, cara,” Marcus said with a smile as he reminisced. “But in my day, a great courtesan was practically a queen. When she reached a certain level, she was a maker of fashions, ruling her own salon with an iron fist. She was highly intelligent, beautiful and clever. Her conversation was as important and delightful as her skills in the bedroom. Unlike a wife in those days, one needed her permission to be welcomed to her bed. She chose her lovers with great care.”
“Ahh,” Marini said with great satisfaction, as though he had finally ferreted something out. “She reminds you of Elizabeth. I wondered if that was the fascination. She does have her stubborn will and her lovely body. Females in this age are far too thin. If I want a boy, I’ll take a boy. When I want a woman, I want breasts and hips and curves.”
Marcus’s lips curled up in a chagrined expression. “I suppose she does remind me of her. Certainly she is similar in her demeanor. Elizabeth was a courtesan in Venice during my much younger years. She was also a companion.”
“Your companion?” I knew so little about the Italian’s long history.
“Oh, yes. I’ve had three over the years,” Marcus confided. “Unlike Louis, I don’t keep one at all times.”
“Bah,” Marini said dismissively. “I don’t like the withdrawals. Why should I get sick because I’m immortal and a companion dies? I prefer to stay strong. Marcus simply becomes too attached and must mourn his loves. He’s had several chances over the last hundred years or so to purchase a companion, but they’re never perfect enough for him. He’s far too picky.”
“And you’re not picky enough.” Marcus pointed at the girl cowering on the chaise next to Marini. So young. I knew she was over eighteen or they wouldn’t have taken her out of the Paris stronghold, but she looked younger. She reminded me of a little mouse with her large, frightened eyes. “How is she a companion to you? She can barely speak when you’re around.”
Marini rolled his eyes. “Her blood is good. That’s what matters. It pales in comparison to Mrs. Donovan, but then she’s rare. Of course, Rose also cries when I fuck her, so perhaps you’re right, Marcus, and I should choose them with more care. Mrs. Donovan doesn’t seem to mind a little rough sex.”
Dev reached over and pulled me down to recline on his chest. I was grateful for his strong arms around me. He dropped a kiss on my ear. “I’m right here, sweetheart.”
Without thinking, I brought my lips to his because I needed something sweet. When I looked back, Marini was staring at us.
“Donovan allows the two of you to play when he’s not around?” There was a hard edge to the question. It reminded me that Vampire kind is jealous of what they consider theirs. Technically, Marini could kill Dev for even touching me like this, not to mention what he’d witnessed the two of us doing earlier. Only Daniel’s permission saved us from a righteous kill.
Pulling me now firmly in his lap, Dev chuckled, and I could tell he’d decided to push through brazenly. I wrapped my arms around his neck and let his hand slide onto my knee. “As you said before, Mr. Marini, I’m a royal and a priest. I’m a powerful man in my own right. Daniel and I have an arrangement. I’ve placed my wealth and influence at his disposal, and in return, I have full rights to our lover. I tend to play by the rules at formal occasions. I assumed this was more informal. If I’m offending you by showing my affection, then I can certainly act in a more proper fashion.”
“I believe after what we’ve seen tonight, Prince, that I’m aware of your affection for the girl. I think it would be difficult for you to behave in a proper fashion. Her master doesn’t mind, so why should I? Please feel free to enjoy her. You make a lovely couple,” Marini offered. “I very much enjoyed watching the two of you make love. I’m merely surprised that our Nex Apparatus is practical. He seems obsessed with his wife.”
“I like Dev.” I kept my voice calm, trying to follow Dev’s lead. It was difficult because what I wanted to do was smack that nasty vampire across the face and then shove a stake in his heart. My life had been infinitely easier before Daniel had decided to change the whole freaking supernatural world. “And Danny likes him, too. They get along well. They’re friends.”
Marcus leaned toward his mentor. “She and Daniel were together before Daniel’s turn.”
“Yes, that explains much.” Marini nodded. “Poor sap. The connection is much stronger when there was a human relationship before. It tends to give the companion the upper hand. You wouldn’t find another vampire master so easy to handle.”
“I don’t intend to have another vampire master,” I replied, settling myself in Dev’s arms. “I’m content with the one I have.”
Marini pinned me with his black eyes. “You never can tell when your whole world can change. Don’t worry your lovely head. The Council will always take care of their beautiful companions.” He switched his stare to Dev. “We would also take care of our good friends. You might not mind belonging to a vampire, Prince.”
I felt Dev stiffen behind me, but his voice remained casual. “Oh, I rather like belonging to myself. It’s for the best, really. My brother already doesn’t approve of my lifestyle. He’s indulgent, of course. Just today he had lunch with my darling girl here.”
I nodded, and that was easy because it was true. Marini didn’t have to know that little meeting had eventually ended in a bloodbath. “I found the future king entertaining.”
Especially when Daniel was attempting to kill him.
Dev continued. “He would prefer I settled down and performed my duties, but he is my brother. I’m afraid if he found out I had actually made myself some vampire’s slave, you would be looking at a war with Faery. That might not be such a huge deal if it were just the Seelie, but I’m beloved by the Unseelie as well. I fit in with them better than my brother. I shall do what I’ve always done and seek my pleasure while it lasts and then move on.”
I wish he didn’t say that with such complete conviction. Sometimes Dev’s acting skills scared me. I could never lie as well as he did, and I had to believe he was lying. Despite what Declan said, that necklace he’d given me felt like a commitment, and I was planning on holding him to it. If he tried to get bored with me, I would just have to liven up his life, and if he thought he could hide in some sithein, he would be surprised when I showed up to drag his ass back home.
Marcus stood up and offered me his hand. “Louis, I beg leave to dance with Mrs. Donovan. Daniel is probably close to ready for us and I haven’t gotten my hands on her all evening.”
Louis waved his hand dismissively. “Go. Paw the girl while her husband is gone. I’ll stay here and talk further with the prince. He’s an intriguing gentleman.”
Marcus pulled me up, and Dev gave me an encouraging smile. I found myself on a small dance floor. The music was slower now and had a sultry beat. We were the only ones on the floor and many eyes were on us. Marcus pulled me close.
“I’m sorry for earl
ier, cara,” he whispered against my ear. I could barely make out what he was saying. “I tried to talk Marini out of it, but he was most insistent. To tell you the truth, I believe he wanted to spy. The three of you together was a welcome distraction. I believe if you’d been doing something less entertaining, he might have looked into places we would have regretted.”
“Well, at least it was for a good cause,” I said sarcastically. I didn’t like the thought that Marini was getting suspicious. If he’d spent any time at all in Dev’s office, he would have found the laptop. Dev had it password protected, but that was anything but foolproof. There were also some interesting files in his safe. I was proof positive that his safe was not the most secure of locations. “He won’t be able to try that again. Dev will make sure of it. He’ll be a hell of a lot more careful now. I just wish you had coughed or something to give me a damn heads up.”
Marcus smiled down at me, a devilish little look. “I’m afraid that I’m not a gentleman when it comes to you. I enjoyed the show far too much to allow it to end prematurely. It also pointed out some rather ugly truths to me. Devinshea isn’t some whim on your part. He isn’t a third indulging some perversity. You’re in love with him as you love your husband.”
“I do love him,” I admitted freely. “He’s as important to me as Daniel.”
“I fear I shall have to love you from afar, cara,” Marcus said wistfully. “It’s probably better that way. I’m too much a man of my time.”
“Which time is that, Marcus?” I let my voice get slightly louder. We could talk about this in the open.
“Long ago. I was born in Rome when there was still a senate.”
“Ancient Rome.” Something teased at the surface of my brain. There was something playing around there that I couldn’t quite catch.
“I remember the bread and the circuses, and I certainly remember the coliseum,” he mused with a smile. “Rome was fading somewhat by the time I was born. Its hidden history is fascinating. You wouldn’t believe the wolves who ruled Rome. At one point, it was a werewolf stronghold.”
“The Strong Arm of Remus,” I whispered, figuring it out. I knew from mythology that Romulus and Remus were brothers and wolves. The legend was they had founded Rome. “Have you ever heard of an object called by that name?”
“Of course,” Marcus said as though it should be self-evident. “It’s a great legend.”
“Halfer doesn’t think so.” I briefly gave him an overview of the way I spent my day. “The creature said he wanted me dead before July the fifteenth. I don’t know what any of it means.”
“Nor do I, cara. I’ll think on it.” His face fell as the other Council members began to leave. “Daniel is apparently ready for us. It’s time for me to go. I’ll call on you in the morning and tell you all I know about this object. For tonight, you and your Lancelot should leave. I’ll attempt to make the meeting last as long as possible so Louis doesn’t come looking for you again.”
Marcus kissed my wrist and left the dance floor. I glanced around the parlor but somehow I’d gotten turned around. The vampire club was one of those odd places that seemed larger after a while. It was a type of magic some supernatural species use to confuse humans, and now standing there without Dev or Daniel, I was feeling mighty human. I was lost and I didn’t recognize anyone. I took a deep breath and tried not to panic. It was all just an illusion. I found the bar and walked straight up to the man behind it. I only hoped he was human.
“How can I help you, mistress?” he asked.
“I’m a little turned around, I’m afraid,” I admitted.
He nodded. “Yeah, that will happen to you. You’re new?”
“It’s my first time. My husband doesn’t really like me spending a lot of time around other vamps.”
“Well, ma’am, you should really stay close to a vampire until you’re used to the place. If you have a physical connection to one of the vampires, then the place makes sense. If you’re on your own, it can get confusing.”
What he didn’t have to say was why the place was confusing. If a human happened to find her way in, it would be difficult for her to get back out. She would be an easy meal. The club was a trap.
Someone could have mentioned that to me. It might have been nice for Marcus to deliver me to someone who could have helped me follow that advice of his. I decided to just stay put and sit myself on a barstool until Danny could come and lead me out. I glanced around, a little worried. I hoped the magic didn’t work on faeries. Dev would look for me, and I didn’t want him to get lost.
Suddenly there was a tap on my shoulder. I twisted the stool around to see Stacy Sears looking at me with a frown on her face.
“Mistress,” she acknowledged.
I felt an unwelcome surge of sympathy for the girl. She was in a bad position, and Danny had placed her in an even worse one. He’d always been oblivious when it came to women who were interested in him. Danny had only ever been in love with me, and it apparently hadn’t occurred to him that someone else could fall for him. It was ridiculous because he was gorgeous and kind, but it was just who he was. I didn’t blame her at all for falling for him.
“How can I help you?” I asked politely, hoping we could both forget that I had almost smacked her for looking at my man. I needed to work on my anger issues.
“Marcus asked me to come find you.” Stacy didn’t quite meet my eyes. “He realized he left you. He forgets sometimes that you’re human like the rest of us.” There was the tiniest bitterness in that last statement, but I let it go. I would be bitter, too. “I was the only one without a duty. I can try to find someone else if I displease you.”
I shook my head because that just seemed silly. “Can you take me to Mr. Quinn?”
“Yes, mistress,” she replied. “Those are my orders. If you will follow me, he’s waiting for you. Don’t let your eyes stray too far. Things can fool you in here. The building itself wants you to stay. It will do what it can to trap you.”
Jumping down from the barstool, I began to follow the blonde, not taking my eyes off her back. “How do you manage it?”
She glanced behind at me. “After a while, the magic recognizes you and stops trying to trap you. It’s there for humans who wander in and could cause trouble. If you wander in uninvited, you really should expect to never leave. It’s our way.”
It wasn’t my way. I thought some helpful bouncers might be just as effective, or maybe a well-placed exit sign. Several times a year, some adventurous human found their way down to Ether, but the club certainly didn’t try to catch them and hope a club member needed some dinner. Our bouncers politely told the humans to go away. If they showed up more than once, one of the witches put the whammy on them and they forgot all about the experience. And though some of the plants in the grotto might shoot out from the walls and hold me down, it was always a nice experience. I doubted getting caught up in this strange place would ever end nicely.
It was difficult to keep my eyes straight because things kept happening just out of my peripheral vision. Little flashes of color or movement would try to catch my eye. Little whispers bid me to leave the path. A silky voice in my head promised great pleasure if I just snuck behind one of the doors.
Stacy took my hand and pulled firmly. “Ignore it.”
I held on because I didn’t dare let her leave me behind. I was going to kick some vampire ass when I got out of this place because I really didn’t like being as scared I was in that moment.
Stacy smiled at me, and I didn’t like the way her lips curved up. It looked a little like victory, and I hadn’t realized we were playing a game. It was another mistake on my part. She opened a door and pushed me in.
“Here she is, master,” she said. “Just as you ordered.”
“Excellent.” Louis Marini sat in a wing-backed chair.
The door closed behind me, and I suddenly wasn’t worried about what the house would do to me anymore.
Chapter Thirteen
The problem
with covert operations is the fact that everything is so damn secretive. It can be almost impossible to tell who knows what and how to react properly to a situation. The last thing you want to do is give away valuable information when the mark is really only trying to size you up a little.
There are three ways to handle a situation like the one I found myself in after nasty bitch Stacy led me into the lion’s den. I could cry and beg and hope Marini didn’t really know anything and was just looking for a forbidden snack. I could assume the bastard knew everything and I was about to get my ass drained. That scenario called for me to find the nearest available piece of wood and try to get it really pointy. The third method was to be patient and try to figure out what the hell was going on. While I actually preferred method number two, I settled for a restless patience.
“Mr. Marini, you wanted something from me?” I asked, keeping my voice somewhat steady but letting a little of my fear seep through. Louis Marini struck me as the kind of vampire who liked to be feared. When dealing with a man such as this, it’s always best to provide him with what he wants or he tends to give you something to be afraid of.
Marini sat down on a plush sofa and offered me the seat next to him. I smoothed down the skirt of my dress and tried to sit in as ladylike a fashion as I could while also giving me an opportunity to run should the need arise. I was already thinking of how I could ditch my shoes. Jimmy Choo doesn’t design with speed in mind. One of these days I was going to force the boys to run a mile in my stilettos and see if they still found them sexy.
Marini gave them a glance that told me he approved. “There are many things I would like from you, Mrs. Donovan. I’ll settle for a little conversation.”
“I thought we already had a little conversation this evening.”
Marini regarded me thoughtfully. “No, we had a small exchange in which your lover controlled the dialogue. The men in your life are carefully controlling you around me. I noticed how the prince brought the conversation back to himself whenever you seemed to be ready to show any kind of personality.”
