“Do you love her?” Marcus locked eyes with Samuel’s.
“I think I fell in love with Martina the first time I saw her.”
“Then you’ll do great.” Marcus’s mouth curved in a small smile.
They both turned their heads when a soft moan came from the bed.
Samuel stood then kneeled close to Martina, who was just opening her eyes. “How do you feel?” He angled his body so that his wings would give them privacy. The soft click of the door told him Marcus had left them alone.
Martina looked up, at first her expression betrayed disorientation, then her eyes focused on him and a smile tucked at her lips. “Samuel…”
He bent for a peck on her forehead. “I’m here.”
“I love you.”
“I love you too.” He took both her hands in his and brought them to his heart. “How do you feel?”
“Like hell.” She grimaced and Samuel’s heart sunk.
“I’m sorry. There’s nothing I can do to lessen your pain. Your body is going through a big change—” He saw the puzzled look on her face. “Do you know what’s happening to you?”
****
“I’m not sure.” Martina tried to sit, but piercing pain engulfed her and she gasped.
He circled her with his arms and steadied her against him. “Your body is rebuilding itself from the inside out. You sustained fatal injuries—”
“A man did this to me. He said his name was Claudius.” The pain was excruciating, like fire running through her veins. “Ophelia came, then Ravenna, and another woman… Diana?” She thought she could taste coppery metal on her tongue. “She’s Marcus’s wife, right?”
Samuel nodded.
“She is the vampire.”
Samuel nodded again.
Disjointed memories came back to her. The feeling of being bitten and drained was followed by utter blackness. Ophelia’s cries. Diana’s words. Maybe not in that order.
Pain hit her in waves and she screamed. Samuel caressed her and whispered soothing words. Several minutes passed before she was able to string two thoughts together. “Did Diana…?”
Samuel kissed her lips. “It was the only way to save you.”
“Am I a vampire?” It sounded so strange to say it out loud.
“Not yet. You’re a vampling for now.” He left a trail of pecks all over her face.
“What does it mean?”
“You are a newborn vampire. You’ll transform into a full-grown vampire at your own pace.” Samuel brushed her nose with his. “I remember that Diana changed in a matter of days, but I’ve heard of vamplings who took months and even years to complete the transformation. But I’ll be by your side and together we’ll face whatever happens.”
A knock on the door interrupted Samuel, who moved his wings to cover her before answering, “Come in.”
The door opened slightly, and she saw Alexander from behind the dark feathers.
“I apologize.” He hesitated on the threshold. “We didn’t want to disturb you, but Ravenna, Ophelia, and I are leaving and we wanted to know how Martina is faring.”
“She’s healing,” Samuel answered as she tried to raise her head and once again searing pain forced her down to the mattress.
“We’ll come back later with some food and anything else Martina might need.” Alexander waved his hand and closed the door.
Martina heard him reassuring Ravenna and Ophelia, then their steps resonated softer and softer, only to be replaced by someone else’s.
Marcus peeked inside next. “I’ll go take a nap with Diana and the baby, but wake me if you need anything.”
Samuel told him not to worry.
“A baby? What baby?” Martina had a vague recollection of having thought there was a baby earlier in the house, but she couldn’t be sure of what was real and what wasn’t.
“Daniel. Diana’s and Marcus’s kid.”
She smiled. Kids always made her smile. A different wave of pain ravaged her body and erased the smile. She went through several bouts of pain so strong she could barely breathe. The whole time, Samuel stood by her side, rocking her, caressing her, telling her how much he loved her. Once or twice he answered his cell phone, but kept his conversations short. The bedroom was bathed in a golden light when she emerged from one of the most painful waves. She could swear her bones had been knitting back together before her eyes.
By the time she managed to raise one hand without passing out, Samuel lit the lamp on the nightstand. When she reemerged an hour or two later from yet another episode, he was looking at her with such worry in his eyes, she wished she could fake she was fine.
“May we come in?” a feminine voice asked after a soft knock on the door.
“Of course.” Samuel helped Martina to a more comfortable position against the headboard.
The door opened and the small woman Martina had only had glimpses of earlier walked in, accompanied by Marcus holding a small child with black, curly hair and the most intelligent dark eyes. Although short and on the thinner side, Diana looked majestic.
“Hi, Martina. I’m Diana. I apologize for having to introduce myself after the deed, but we were in a pinch.”
At first, Martina was taken aback by the woman’s demeanor, but then Diana walked closer to the bed and reached for Martina’s hand in a maternal gesture and gave her a smile. “Thank you for saving my life, Diana.”
Diana shook her head softly. “There’s so much we should talk about, but for now the only thing you need to know is just rest and feed—” She gave Samuel a questioning look.
“I’ll take care of that.” Samuel caressed Martina’s arm.
Diana approved with a big smile she directed to both Samuel and Martina. “Good. That makes everything simpler.” She then gently squeezed Martina’s hand before releasing her hold and addressing Marcus with a nod of her head. “Time to go.” The child cooed at his mom, and she promptly took him from her husband’s arms.
Samuel left the bed to walk by Diana’s side. “Thank you.” He leaned to encircle both mother and baby in a gentle embrace.
“Thank Ophelia,” she whispered to him before turning to her husband. Hand in hand, Diana and Marcus walked to the door. On the threshold, Marcus looked at Samuel. “Don’t forget, we’re just a phone call away.”
Once they were out, Samuel sat back on the edge of the bed, facing her. Martina noticed his mood had changed. He was tense.
His eyes locked on hers, his hands grabbing a cushion, his wings trailing to the floor, he seemed to hesitate before talking. “Giulio won’t hurt you again.”
She felt laughter building up inside of her. “I’m not afraid of him anymore.” Not after the ordeal she had had gone through and survived.
A dark veil obscured his expression. “No, of course not. He should be afraid of you now. In any case, I was informed that his family has sent him away to a rehab facility, and if they want to keep doing business with Quintilius, they will never let him back.”
“I wouldn’t have bothered with him, but it’s good to know. And later, you’ll explain this Quintilius guy to me.”
Samuel nodded. “The vampire who attacked you has been on the most wanted list for a while now. Hopefully, we’ll get him behind bars soon.”
Martina hated the distance between them; she felt cold without his constant touch on her skin. “Now, what’s wrong?”
He cocked his head and gave her a pensive smile. “I hope you won’t hate me for being selfish.”
“What are you talking about? Why would I hate you?” She tried to push herself up and sit, but she couldn’t and fell sideways.
Samuel was at her side in the blink of an eye. His strong arms supporting her, his body warming her better than any blanket, his wings shielding her in a safe haven. “You don’t mind that you’ll be a vampire because of me?” He nuzzled her nose.
“What happened is not your fault.” She managed to tilt her head up for a kiss without fainting. “I’ll be with you and that’s the
only thing that matters.” Suddenly, despite all the pain still wreaking havoc through her body, she felt a surge of hunger mixed with the need to kiss him. “Is there a manual on how to deal with a vampling handy?”
He softly laughed against her forehead. “I’m afraid not.”
One of the veins on the hollow of his neck throbbed with a steady rhythm, and Martina found herself licking her bottom lip. Then fatigue and pain once again demanded her full attention. She was glad when she could breathe once more and she slowly drifted into sleep, shielded from nightmares by Samuel’s wings guarding her.
****
Samuel felt her body shift on his lap and hugged her close. A whole night and a whole day had passed as Martina’s body had gone through the transformation. More than once, he had wished he could take her pain and suffering and make it his. Unable to do nothing else but talk to her, he thought he would go insane with worry if she didn’t feel better soon. Eventually, she had, and her body had felt whole under his hands. They had spent several hours talking about what had happened and what would happen to her. She had surprised him with her levelheadedness and how easily she had accepted her new circumstances.
Martina lowered her head and kissed the spot between his throat and shoulder. Her wet lips brushed his skin and made him shiver. She moaned softly and he pressed her down on him. “I think nature is taking its course.”
“Hmmm.” She passed her teeth over that same spot, then she gasped when something sharp came down from of her mouth. She brought her hands to her lips and passed a finger over the protruding fangs that had just popped out of her gums. “That’s so… strange.”
Once again, he was relieved to see she wasn’t scared or horrified. “They look cute on you.”
She looked up at him, eyes wide, fingers still probing her elongated new teeth. “Really?”
“Really. Even horns would look pretty on you.” He removed her hands and leaned to brush her mouth, passing the point of his tongue over her fangs. They both shivered at the contact. “Do you want to try to feed?” He was looking forward to it. With Martina, it felt natural.
She nodded and leaned back over the spot that had become so sensitized when her fangs scraped at it, and he moaned out loud. He opened the blanket and reached for her naked body—somehow, after a long shower they had taken together, they had gone straight back to bed and forgot about clothes and the rest of the world. She positioned her mouth over his vein. The moment her teeth penetrated his throat, he felt pleasure as he had never experienced before. She suckled from him and moved over him in a frenzy that matched his own, the pleasure from her feeding growing in intensity as she gulped his blood.
“Now.” Her voice was hoarse and barely a whisper.
He grabbed her waist with both hands, raised her, then lowered her onto him until they were one. He caressed her and whispered sweet words to her while she rocked him to oblivion. They moved in perfect harmony and Samuel could have sworn he heard celestial choirs singing toward the end. She cried her pleasure a moment before him, then they shattered in bliss, hugged to each other, their bodies melted together.
“I love you,” they uttered the words at the same and laughed at the same moment.
Martina licked his wound clean and watched as it cauterized before her eyes, then she looked up at him. “Is this forever?”
He kissed her mouth and felt his blood coating her lips. He liked it. “And ever.”
Dear Reader, if you liked this book, please consider writing a review. As an indie author, I rely solely on word of mouth to promote my stories. Just a few words from you will ensure my work is discovered by other readers.
Thank you very much,
Monica
Coming soon, the fourth title in The Immortals series: The Hidden Demon
Once an angel, now a demon, Peter is cursed with the power of inducing lust with the simple touch of his naked hand. No woman can resist him. Then one day he meets Ophelia...
Acknowledgments
As usual, I must thank my kids and my dad for just being the wonderful people they are.
Claudia, because she is the beta reader any author dreams of.
Ava, because she kindly helped me find a better ending for this story.
Amy, because she is one fantastic editor.
Katie, Kory, and Angela from my critique group, for their keen eyes in catching typos and their insightful comments.
All my friends, who are always very supportive and don't complain when I disappear for days.
Roberto, because he is the true inspiration behind my heroes.
Persons of Interest
I wrote the book and created the cover with the help of Roberto Ruggeri
Amy Eye edited it
Roberto Ruggeri formatted it
You, the reader, hopefully had a good time reading it
Bio
Monica La Porta is an Italian who landed in Seattle several years ago. Despite popular feelings about the Northwest weather, she finds the mist and the rain the perfect conditions to write. Being a strong advocate of universal acceptance and against violence in any form and shape, she is also glad to have landed precisely in Washington State. She is the author of The Ginecean Chronicles, a dystopian/science fiction series set on the planet Ginecea where women rule over a race of enslaved men and heterosexual love is considered a sin. She also published two other series: the futuristic love story across the universe, Elios & Gaia, narrated in two books; and the paranormal romance/urban fantasy series The Immortals set in Rome. Stop by her blog to read about her miniatures, sculptures, paintings, and her beloved beagle, Nero. Sometimes, she also posts about her writing.
Monica La Porta’s blog: www.monicalaporta.com
Monica La Porta’s author page of Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/monicalaportaauthor
Goodreads Author page: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5757332.Monica_La_Porta
Twitter: https://twitter.com/momilp
Other Books by Monica La Porta
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Coming soon, the fourth title in The Immortals series: The Hidden Demon
Once an angel, now a demon, Peter is cursed with the power of inducing lust with the simple touch of his naked hand. No woman can resist him. Then one day, he meets Ophelia...
The Lost Centurion – Book One of The Immortals
Marcus has sworn to avenge his wife's death—even if it takes an eternity to hunt down the vampire who murdered her. Once a Roman Centurion, Marcus is now immortal and, for the past two thousand years, impervious to human emotions. Until the night he rescues Diana… Diana knew nothing of the paranormal world until her transformation into a vampling, a newborn vampire entirely reliant for survival upon the distant and seemingly emotionless Centurion, who found her in the throes of changing. Her protector turned her without her consent, but at his untimely death, she becomes the distant and cold immortal’s responsibility. The entire vampire community is determined to kill Marcus as he protects one of their own. While Marcus and Diana travel the Italian countryside, being chased by their enemies, Marcus must choose between avenging his dead wife or saving Diana from the same vampire who ruined his life. Will the power of love win over his desire for revenge? Bewitched by the Amalfi moon, he soon discovers life might still surprise him.
The Immortal Greek – Book Two of The Immortals
Alexander Drako: handsome, famous, rich, and on the cover of every tabloid in Europe. He has done it all and seen it all. Born a Greek in the times of the Roman Empire, he was chosen by a capricious goddess as one of her immortal followers. With his surfer good looks and a playboy disposition, Alexander has been living the life every man dreams of, at least for the last two thousand years. Tall, elegant, and unapproachable, Ravenna Del Sarto is the perfect example of a modern career woman. An enforcer for the Immortal Council, she brings the bad guys of the paranormal world to just
ice. She doesn’t have time for fun and has zero tolerance for playboys. During the highly anticipated End of Summer party, a young immortal commits suicide by jumping from Alexander’s balcony and Ravenna is called to investigate the death. Alexander quickly learns that not only Ravenna’s walls are impenetrable to his easy smile, but she is also bringing him up on charges. Will she detain him? Or will his legendary charms help him out of this one?
The Priest – Book One of the Ginecean Chronicles
Mauricio is a slave. Like any man born on Ginecea, he is but a number to the pure breed women who rule over him with cruel hands. Imprisoned inside the Temple since birth, Mauricio has never been outside, never felt the warmth of the sun on his skin. He lives a life devoid of hopes and desires. Then one day, he hears Rosie sing. He risks everything for one look at her and his life is changed forever. An impossible friendship blossoms into affection deemed sinful and perverted in a society where the only rightful union is between women. Love is born where only hate has roots and leads Mauricio to uncover a truth that could destroy Ginecea.
Marie's Journey – Book Two of the Ginecean Chronicles
Marie just turned fifteen and can’t wait to leave the Institute where she has been raised with thirty girls, all unwanted like herself. As a fathered woman, she is set to make the best she can with what she was given and dreams of when she will start training as a nurse at Redfarm, her new home. But Redfarm is far from the nurturing environment Marie had envisioned. She meets Grant and, through him, is exposed to the race of men—the workers whose lives are worth even less than hers—and discovers they aren’t as despicable as she had been taught to believe. Before she can understand her own feelings, the longing for hugs she can’t share with Grant takes hold in her heart and she soon wishes they could be anywhere else but there. Her desire is granted, but once again, reality is harsher than her dreams. Marie’s Journey is a companion book in The Ginecean Chronicles, a series set in the dystopian world of Ginecea, where women rule over enslaved men and heterosexual love is the ultimate sin. Although the story is chronologically set between The Priest and Pax in the Land of Women, Marie’s Journey can be read alone.
The Broken Angel Page 20
