by Emily Bex
“I think they already love you, mi amore.”
They waved to the throngs of people, who waved back and shouted up at them. A chant from the crowd was carried on the night breeze. "Kiss, kiss, kiss, kiss, kiss..." And what could they do but oblige them?
As they kissed, the cheers got louder and finally, he held up his hand to quiet them. It took him several minutes to calm the crowd until they were quiet enough that he could shout above them.
“To my coven and those we protect, meet your new Queen, Katherine of Medici. Hail Medici! Do you love her?”
They cheered and screamed, and he watched as Kate smiled and kept waving, her beaming smile was the brightest thing in this night. “Is she not beautiful?”
Pulling her close, he kissed her once more and then picked her up in his arms and carried her back into Castello, the sound of the crowd audible inside these thick walls. “Happy now?”
“Shade, I’ve been happy since the day I first laid eyes on you. You make me happy every day when I sleep next to you, and every night when I make love to you, or when you make me laugh, or cry tears of joy. You make me happy.”
“Si, mi amore. I have loved you since the moment I set eyes on you as well. My beast roared up and slapped me upside my brain box. Come, I do believe there are people waiting for us to celebrate this beautiful night. I promise not to keep you too long, I do have plans for later this night.”
Grabbing her hand, they ran down the hall together, their laughter ringing through the halls and he could almost see his padre shaking his head in disbelief.
3
The reception and gathering of warriors, friends and masters was well underway, when Kate and Shade entered the ballroom, after leaving the crowds they greeted from the balcony. Shade had the live band play a special song for his queen. Taking her hand, he led her to the center of the ballroom and watched as others dispersed and let them have the dance floor to themselves. Kate laid her head on his shoulder and they danced, moving together in a slow sway. This night couldn’t be more perfect for him and he hoped she felt the same, as they listened to the song from Staind, Tangled Up in You.
As one song ended and a faster paced song began, he gave her a kiss and led her off the floor. He saw Marco, his old friend, approaching them with a grin like a fucking Cheshire cat on his face and hugged him, pounding him hard on his back.
Marco greeted him, “About fucking time, you old goat. You almost look like you’re happy.” Turning to his new queen, he nodded his head. “You did well, my queen and I’d be honored if the,” clearing his throat, “king would oblige me a dance with you.”
Shade held up his hand. “Whoa, not yet, old man. She belongs to me this night, you’ve not even danced with your own woman yet, you sure as hell aren’t stealing mine. Where is Theresa?”
Marco shrugged. “She’s fixing her face, and I’ll never understand. If I love looking at her already, what the hell is there to fix?”
Theresa came back to the ballroom that was lit with candlelight and filled with the sounds of the band playing. Couples were making their way to the dance floor and the Midnight was flowing. She saw Marco from the back, he was talking to master and my lady. Theresa walked to them and slid her arm into Marco's, standing close at his side. Despite her decision, it still felt good for the two of them to be able to acknowledge their relationship in public and not hide it. “Here you are! I should have known I’d find you two together.” She gave Marco's arm a squeeze. Theresa bowed her head slightly to Shade. “The coronation was beautiful, master. It was my first, and I can't tell you how honored I am to have been a part of it. A part of Medici history.”
Shade smiled at Theresa as he took her hand and kissed it gently. “We are honored that you could join us. It’s important to have my familia around me, and you are most certainly familia! Although, I’m not sure about this brut you hang around with. At some point, you should be having bambinos and creating a legacy of your own. You two need to get busy on that.” He winked at Marco.
Marco grimaced. “My life doesn’t accommodate bambinos. You should know that. But I don’t mind that we will be practicing a bit more.”
Kissing Terri softly, he saw her look away and could feel something was out of sorts with her.
Emma was nervous as she carried the tray filled with glasses of Midnight to the guests when she saw master and my lady talking with Marco and Theresa. If not for Theresa’s decision, Emma would have been in the ceremony tonight. She would be packing and planning a new life in the States. She walked in their direction and offered drinks to all. “Scusi. Refreshments for anyone?”
Emma balanced the tray carefully as master lifted two glasses from it, one for him and one for their new queen. She turned and offered the tray to Marco. “You must be disappointed, si?”
Marco looked at Emma, wondering what the hell she was blabbering about. “Disappointed in what? You have more than enough drinks for me on that tray.” He felt Theresa tighten up beside him. “Terri, what is it?”
Emma plunged ahead, unaware of the firestorm she was about to set off. “Well, that Theresa will be going back to the States. Of course, it’s a great honor to be the Lady in Waiting, but still, I know you’d planned on her staying.”
Marco felt his beast rise up and he rolled his eyes to Shade. “You did this, didn’t you? You commanded her to return to the States. Is this retribution for the female warriors? ” Grabbing a drink from the tray, he downed it quickly.
Theresa grabbed Marco’s arm. “No! Marco, no! It wasn’t master. Please. Don’t make a scene on their special night. Master gave me the choice...to stay or go. The decision was mine. Please. We’ll speak of it later, in private.”
As she tried to reason with him, Marco stared at her and her words tore him to pieces. She had a choice? She fucking had a choice and she chose to leave? He nodded to her, trying to keep his anger at bay. Turning to Shade and his new queen, he bowed at the waist. "I wish you both health and happiness for all eternity."
He took Theresa by the arm and led her briskly out the open veranda doors and into the gardens. There was much they needed to discuss.
Shade could only observe the roller coaster of emotions play across his oldest friend’s face and saw his turmoil. Shade had no idea Theresa had already made her decision. He turned to bel. She had been very quiet through this whole episode.
“Mi amore, did you know Theresa had made her decision to come back with us?”
“I did, but not until tonight, right before the ceremony when she was helping me get dressed. She said she’d not told him yet. I asked her to talk to him, to make sure. I told her if she changed her mind, I’d understand. I regret he’s hearing it in this way. But something tells me you and Marco have very similar tempers. I think she was putting off this discussion because she knew it would be a difficult one. She does love him, but she said she’d always be second place to him. His first allegiance is to you, to being a warrior... So, go easy on him, even though he spoke harshly to you.”
He pulled her into his arms. “It wouldn’t be the first time Marco and I have fought with words. We do it often. We are warriors second, and brothers first. I have no intention of saying anything to him. Theresa will handle his temper, just as you do mine, si. But I find sometimes being a king brings me unhappiness, in knowing some of those I love the most in my life are suffering because they serve me. I cannot let Marco leave here, it is imperative he stay in Florence. I need to get the camp at home in full swing. I cannot be in two places at once. I gave Theresa the option because it was easier for her to move.” He laid his head atop hers and continued, “I never thought she would want to come back without him. I couldn’t be so strong as to leave you. I can only imagine the pain he feels now.”
“Lover, I can’t imagine it for myself. But I also can’t imagine feeling I was second place in your heart. Theresa seemed very sincere in her wish to come back with us, and to take care of our children.”
As they talked, sh
e saw Luca, still in his ceremonial leathers, approach with Shannon on his arm. The path before them cleared as the vamps stepped back from her, all of them detecting her mortality.
“Master, my lady. Please let me extend my warmest wishes to you both. To you, my lady... For the honor you bestowed upon me. I’m afraid your actions have created a bit of controversy. And to you, master… Thank you for allowing me to bring Shannon. Nothing about your reign will be conventional or boring, that’s for certain. I hear the chatter in the crowd as we pass.”
Kate spoke up, “Luca, I really didn't mean to create a controversy. It just felt like... it just felt natural to me, to have you bound to me, and our children. I'm afraid I still have a lot to learn about what is proper protocol, but I think I’d have made the same choice, maybe not in a public forum if I knew it would be such a big deal. And Shannon being here, well, we knew that would be an issue.”
Shannon didn’t hesitate to weigh in with her thoughts, “Not an issue for me. This has been freakin' awesome! Getting to stay in this castle, going to Luca's home, being at this ceremony, and visiting Florence again. You realize the last time I was here was with you? Right after college, we came here together. Too bad we didn't know these guys then. Oh... I think I have a picture of you on my phone, standing in front of Santa Croce Cathedral. She dug through her evening clutch, pulling out her cell phone and displaying the photo for Kate and Shade to see. “Here it is. Look how young you look.”
Kate looked at the photo. “Oh my god, I look twelve. Put that away!”
Shade grabbed the phone, smiling as he looked at bel. “You look beautiful, but not as beautiful as you do tonight. This night will forever remain a very special and memorable one.”
Turning to Luca, Shade gave him a brotherly hug. “So, you went home, did you? How did you find the homestead?”
“Master, I don't have the words to express what it meant to me.”
Shannon squeezed Luca’s arm and watched him blush. “Yeah,” she laughed, “I don't have the words either.”
Shade threw back his head laughing, picking up on Shannon’s private message to Luca.
Shannon took the phone back from Shade and started flipping through other images. "Wait. You have to see this one. We’ll call this Florence, Part 2, the food fight."
Kate looked at a picture of herself covered in whipped cream and eating a strawberry. “You didn’t take a picture of the food fight. Shannon! You always got me in trouble! Some things never change.”
Shade leaned over her shoulder and looked at the photo. “You look rather edible, mi amore.” He shared with her his wicked grin.
Kate laughed as she looked up to see Malachi approaching them, his face stern. Something told her he wasn’t coming over to congratulate them. “Lover... it's that Council guy...”
Malachi approached, still in his green robe. “Medici, a word please.” He gave Shannon a sideways glance before returning his eyes to Shade.
Shade could see Malachi wasn’t pleased, and he already knew what this was about, but the sooner this was over, the faster Malachi would retreat and leave them alone for the evening. Shade bent to kiss bel lightly. “I’ll return, my queen. I won’t be gone long, nothing to be concerned over, just business.”
Shade nodded to Luca, his signal for him to not leave her side and Luca nodded back. “Come, Malachi, I do believe a refreshing walk in the gardens will make your attitude much more pleasant.”
As they walked out to the veranda, Shade could feel his anger and he handed him a glass of Midnight. “Say whatever you need to say, Malachi.”
Malachi took the drink that was offered. “Medici, the Council was reeling over your choice of a mortal for a royal mate. I think I can quiet things down on that front. And then we hear of plans for a warrior camp in the States in the middle of Maximus's territory, and that has them in a stir. You say you have it handled, but that is yet to be determined. But tonight, you bring a mortal to one of our most sacred ceremonies? There is no possible excuse you can provide that will ever make that all right. And since she is being escorted by your queen's protector, I can only assume you gave your blessing. This is beyond unacceptable. This exposes our entire world, other masters and their mates, our rituals. I would ask, what you were thinking, but clearly, you were not! Your hospitality has always been unparalleled, and the masters looked forward to this occasion, but now, they all feel betrayed, exposed. They have been denied the very right to keep what they are private from the mortal world. How do you answer for this?”
Shade listened to him go on and on, and watched his frustration, and yet, Shade was happy inside. The Council would reproach him, and he’d need to answer for all they had witnessed.
“Malachi, I have chosen my queen. I am sitting in the middle of Maximus’s territory, and I will deal with that issue when the time comes. My word and my honor should stand alone on that matter. For, if nothing else, I am honorable to my core. As for the warrior camp, that is my business, and where I go to build my empire harms no one here or on the Council, and you will benefit from it in more ways than one.”
Taking a sip of Midnight, he let his gaze roam over all that belonged to him here and smiled. “I have worked hard to reach this point in my life. The mortal is of no harm to anyone here. She is under my rule and realm. I take full responsibility for her. She is Luca's future mate, and she will be turned in time and remain with my familia. I am the Medici, Malachi, and you are standing on my ground. We shed the blood of my elders to become even bigger. I dare you to ask even one of the masters here if they object, for we both know they will not express their discontent out loud.
“This is the new age, Malachi. I suggest you and the Council realize my power and money will make a huge difference to their life here, if they choose to start a war on my home grounds. Walk lightly, Malachi, I take neither this nor anything else I do lightly. If my queen wishes the closest person in her life to share in her day, then fucking suck it up and deal.”
Malachi’s anger boiled, but he dared not push him further. He’d share his sentiments with Council, and they wouldn’t be happy, but the Medici provided much funding, so they’d only object so much. He was changed, much changed, since going to the States. The Medici was cast in their old world traditions and upheld them. But then he met her... this one mortal, and he was tossing their traditions aside.
“I will carry your message back to Council, Medici. We have tried to keep up with the changes of the modern world. Our kind has always struggled to find the balance between tradition and safety with the changes in mortal society in which we all must hide. We do our best, to protect the interest of all vampires. That is our role, our function. Your disregard for our rules and bylaws will be noted. I take my leave now, and I thank you for your hospitality.”
Shade shook his head at him and chuckled. “Be on your way, Malachi, with our best regards and wishes. We are honored that you joined us and blessed this union. But I think you need to understand one thing about me before you leave. I believe deeply in the old-world traditions and beliefs, but I have learned we must change as the world and the times change, and I will raise the future of Medici, my legacy, to understand they must hold the old and new together in a much better state than the immortals of the past. If we are not prepared, nor prepare those around us, we will succumb to the mortal world and none of us will survive to tell the rich history of our kind. My padre would not move ahead, Malachi, and he lost his life fighting the hidden. I will not do such. I am king, I have come home, but I have brought with me experiences no one in the Council could ever imagine. I do not wish mortals harm, I wish to co-exist, and I hope for a future where we all can live together, without judgment.”
Spinning on his heels, Shade headed back into the ballroom to find bel and never looked back. This was their night, and nothing would take away the joy he felt inside.
Walking back into the ballroom, the air was cooled by the doors that opened onto the veranda, and the room was packed wit
h important masters, but this night, Shade only had eyes for one, his queen. As he slowly walked to her through the crowd of guests who were enjoying the Midnight that flowed most freely to their lips, he took his time and watched her, the sheer beauty of her and how she moved with grace and ease. She laughed with her best friend, and her face was beaming. He caught her eye as she turned and took his arm.
“My queen, I wish this night to be full of love for the two of us.” Kissing her softly, he knew others are watching.
Luca had seen his return. Shade had been on the veranda with Malachi for some time, and although he appeared calm, Luca knew this discussion with Council was centered on him and his choice of an escort for tonight. “Master, is everything okay? With the Council?”
“Si, Luca, relax. It is just Malachi throwing his weight around.”
Luca stood close to him, speaking in a lowered voice. “I haven't had much time with you here, so I haven't been able to thank you. For letting me bring her. I know it’s gone against all of our traditions, but being able to take her to my home, and have her share that experience with me, I can't tell you what that means to me. And master... my home, it was so much more than I expected. Everything is as it was, and the lemon groves thrive. I’m forever in your service.”
Shade hugged him tight to his chest and beat his fist on his back. “Luca, seriously, I owe you more than that, much more. Just don’t go and walk off on me, I need you now more than ever. You will always be my familia, nothing will ever change that. I’m glad you went home. It belongs to you now, it is yours. So, let’s not get so maudlin about all of this, this night is for celebrating!”
