The Medici Queen

by Emily Bex

  Kate sat upright. "No! I have no regrets. There are things I still struggle to understand, some amuse me, like why these animals follow me around, and some confuse me...like why my children will feed from someone other than me. When I think it out, reason it out, it all makes sense. It’s just different, and it takes some adjusting. I love you. I’m crazy in love with you. And I’ll do whatever I have to do to make this work."

  He let his fingers wander through her hair, the silky soft crimson always relaxing him. Standing up, he paced the floor in thought. "I just want what is best for all of us. I want you to be happy, enjoy our bambinos, enjoy raising them without worries."

  "Lover, I can't feed you if I feed the babies, and my first obligation is always to you. Even as a new immortal, my body feels that. I know, as a mother, my job is to help our children learn and survive in this culture. It’s what they must do. They’ll spend their entire lives looking for a food source until they find a mate. They’re not mortal children. I do get it. Our job is to protect them and teach them until they can survive on their own, and that includes providing them with a food source until they are old enough to hunt. You’ve already given me the one request I asked for, to not lie in the arms of another feeder. I’ll learn to cope with everything else. Please, don't worry about me. I’ll adjust."

  Shade stopped his pacing and looked at her, their eyes locked and their hearts beat as one. "Mi amore, asking me to not worry about you is like asking me to stop breathing. I live to take care of you, cherish you and make your world perfect. Unfortunately, we live in an imperfect world, and you have a very imperfect mate. We will both have to figure this out as we go. It is a system that has been perfected through the centuries, that is why it still works, because we have had to make it work. We can tweak it to our own personal design, but the resources are here, si? I want you to go over the list with Theresa, narrow down the wet feeders, the both of you. Once you have done that, bring the top three here, then we can go from there. Agreed?"

  She felt his love wash over her like a warm blanket. She knew he’d do anything for her. He’d attempt the impossible for her.

  "Agreed, I’ll take care of it. Theresa can help me narrow down the selection and then we can choose together, what is best for our son." Kate paused, touching her hand to the growing swell of her belly. "Our son. I love the very sound of it."

  Shade walked to her, laying his hand over top of hers, snuggling into her neck. "So do I, mi amore, so do I. Luca is about, should we talk to him now? You know we need to reassure him we will be available to him, if necessary, when he tells Shannon. Have you thought about that?"

  Kate’s eyes opened wide. "Shannon! No, it never occurred to me. He hadn’t even met her when I was pregnant before. What does this mean? That he can’t have you feed from him? Shannon hasn’t fed from him yet. No one else feeds from him."

  Grabbing her into his arms, he rocked her softly. "Shh, settle down. He feels love for her, as I did for you. If she is to be mated to him, she needs to understand this world. Our bodies make no distinction when we feed, and the sexual desire is the same. Neither Luca nor I can ignore that for long. Let’s talk to him together, si?"

  Kate looked down, "I...yes...If you think I need to. I’m aware of what you feel. What you both feel. And it’s only fair Shannon is aware as well."

  Shade called out to him, "Luca! Come join us please.”

  Luca appeared at the door and Shade indicated he wanted him to take a seat.

  "Luca, come in, we need to have a family meeting here. This concerns you, so get comfortable. You want a Midnight?"

  Luca took him up on the offer and poured himself a glass. He knew the doctor had been here earlier, so he had an idea this conversation might be related. He was hoping there wouldn’t be any problems with this pregnancy. He didn’t think either of them could survive that again. As he took his seat, he knocked back a large gulp of the wine before setting his glass down. "What is it, master?"

  Shade stood and paced. "I am going to ask you some personal questions, just be honest and give me your opinion. First of all, I know you feed from Shannon exclusively. How is your relationship going, and is this serious for both of you? Where do you see it going?"

  Luca creased his brow. "Well, I’d say it’s serious, especially after Florence. We talked about feeders, because I had planned to visit my old feeder and she asked me not to. I told her I’d been going to feeders here, even though I fed from her, I hadn’t been seeing her frequently enough to make it exclusive. She asked what we needed to do to make that happen, since she wanted me to feed from her only. Since we’ve been back, I have honored that. I teleport there anytime I need to feed. She asked about feeding from me. I told her we weren’t ready for that step yet. But I believe she’s the one, master. I want to move slowly. I want to make sure she’s ready, but at some point, I do see her as my mate."

  Shade picked up Luca's glass and refilled it with Midnight and handed it to him. "Dr. Bonutti left a bit ago, and Kate and I have been talking a great deal. The doctor wants me to stop feeding from her within the next two weeks."

  Shade looked up at bel before returning his gaze to Luca. Shade knew this was a subject that needed to be discussed among the three of them. "Shannon needs to know, Luca, she needs to understand what is going on with you, Kate and me. Because you feed from her exclusively, you are going to have to do so more often because I am going to be feeding from you. Although I am home more often now, I need you to still be strong for Kate. I will be doing a lot in the camp, tired and overworked. I will be relying on you, heavily. She is your chosen female, so tell me how she is going to handle this and how we need to go about it."

  Luca ran his hands through his hair. He honestly had never thought about it. He’d talked to Shannon about feeders, and she understood. But he’d never told her, or anyone, that Shade fed from him during Kate's last pregnancy. He had no idea how Shannon would react.

  "I honestly don't know. Kate had already lost the baby when I met Shannon. It was not a subject that ever came up, and she’d have had no knowledge of our culture to even inquire. But I agree. It’s not something I wish to keep from her. It’s a discussion I think I must have with her alone. But master, you understand my commitment to you. I’ll make her understand."

  Kate listened to him speak. She was trying to put herself in Shannon’s shoes. Would she understand? Shannon knew now first-hand the power of the sexual desire that came with feeding. This choice for Shade to go to Luca was hers because she couldn’t bear the thought of sharing him with another female. But would Shannon see it the same way? Or would she just feel betrayed? Kate knew she couldn’t shift her own agony onto Shannon. If Shannon rejected this, she couldn’t ask Luca to do something that would put their relationship in jeopardy. Kate knew it all hinged on Shannon now.

  "You need to talk to her, Luca. I need to know if this is going to pull you apart, because if it is, then it’s not the answer for any of us."

  Shade slid his hand through his hair. "Kate, I will not feed from anyone but Luca. It is that simple." Shade turned to Luca. "I have no doubt about your commitment. We need to make her understand. And if it takes all three of us to do it, then we will. At least, if you need us for backup, we are all here together. Do this for me, si?"

  Kate buried her face in her hands. She couldn’t force her friend to do this if she didn’t accept it willingly. She looked back up at both of them.

  "Luca, please talk to her...alone. It’s not our issue, Shade. I’ll not ask Luca to put his relationship at risk. Explain it to her. If she says no, if it compromises what you two have together, then I’ll deal with the consequences. Please, don't look at me that way. You made this decision for me, to put me at ease. But Luca was unattached then. It’s not the path I want...if she rejects the idea, but I’ll cope. Shannon has to come to this freely, willingly, or not at all."

  Shade stood up, addressing her firmly, "This is our issue, Kate. Ours! We are familia, and she is not even ma
ted to him yet. I am doing this for us. All of us. I could command him, but I will not do that. I could easily demand he no longer see her, don’t push this issue with me. Luca is who I choose, Kate, who I trust. What the hell do you wish for me to do? Find a feeder from a coven? You would honestly give up your own damn sanity because of Shannon? No, I am feeding from Luca and that is final. Final!"

  Kate was caught off guard by his outburst and her own temper flared. "It’s my hope, Shade. It’s my preference. But I won’t force her, and neither will you! If she loves him as I love you, then I can't be the reason they’re torn apart. If you care for Luca, and I know you do, you must think of his future as well. Please, I’m begging you. Let him talk to her. I don’t want you with a feeder, but I’ll find a way to deal with it. They don’t need to live here in this house. Maybe the staff quarters or maybe you go to them. Shade...we may be arguing over nothing. Give Luca time to talk to her, and I’ll talk to her as well if he asks me to. But it’s between them, and only them."

  Shade just stared at her and kept silent. He poured another Midnight, downing it quickly and pouring another. He turned his back to both Kate and Luca and downed the second glass. "Then take care of it, Luca. I am going to camp. I have a lot to think about and even more to do." Shade walked out of the room and headed for the camp.

  Luca stood to follow him, and Kate reached out and grabbed his arm. "Let him go. I’m frustrated as well but give him time. He needs time. I’ve learned that, if nothing else."

  Luca looked at her, feeling torn between her request and his master's turmoil. Kate stared him down. "I know you, Luca. I’m not blind to just how loyal you are to him. I know if he demanded it, you’d comply, and willingly, even if it cost you your relationship with Shannon. I can't ask that of you."

  Luca pulled away, pacing the floor before turning to her to respond. "But that’s my decision to make, Kate."

  Kate shook her head. "No, Luca. If you love Shannon, if you think she’s your mate, then it’s her decision to make. You sacrifice enough of your life for us. If he has to go to a feeder, it’s temporary, and I’ll find a way to deal with it. But if you lose Shannon over this, that’s permanent, and my conscience won’t bear it. My happiness can’t come at the expense of yours. Please. Just talk to Shannon, and let me deal with him, whatever the outcome."

  Luca sighed and started back to his own suite. As he exited the door, he heard her say, "I thought it would get easier."

  He turned and looked back at her. "What do you mean?"

  She smiled a sad smile, and answered, "When I was turned, I thought the decisions would be easier."

  He looked at her a moment before he responded, “Our hearts get broken the same, mortal or immortal. I'm afraid it doesn’t get easier, Kate."

  49

  Shade stood outside the house, taking deep breaths, calming his inner turmoil. He needed Luca, he needed bel and he wanted to make both of them happy. They wanted Shannon to make all the decisions! Shade shook his head. Shannon was a loose cannon, and still mortal. One false move on Luca's part and she’d blow the lid off everything, including exposing them all to the mortal world.

  He walked to the camp, his mind in chaos. He was leery of feeding from Luca for an extended period of time. He’d only fed from him twice when bel was pregnant before, and resisting the sexual pull had been a challenge. He knew it would become even more difficult with each feeding, but he knew he had no choice. Even if bel felt she could endure letting him be with a feeder, it wouldn’t be the same for him now. Being with another female now, seemed as much of a betrayal to him as it did to her. He wanted Kate, no one else. He knew that wasn’t possible, he had to protect his son and heir, and keep them both strong and well fed, which meant he must go elsewhere for his own nutrition.

  He walked past the stables and stopped in his tracks. He could hear Impavido. "Cazzo!" Only one thing to do to free his mind and that was to ride. It didn’t take him long to saddle up and head out. He could saddle that horse blindfolded in his sleep. He trotted out into the open field then leaned down over the stallion’s head, grabbing the reins and snapping them down twice, his signal they were about to go full out. "Come on, boy, it’s time we both let off some steam!"

  Impavido reared back on his two hind legs and then took off like a bolt of lightning. Both of them free in the night air, the horse charging through the countryside of Bel Rosso.

  ***

  Kate gave him time to blow off steam. She’d learned he had a short fuse, and he needed time and space after an argument, to think things through and calm down, and then they could talk. Not to mention, she had her own tendencies to fly off the handle. After about an hour, she decided to follow him to the camp. She walked the path through the garden, fragrant with roses and fresh lavender, and the scent calmed her. As she approached the camp, she could sense he wasn’t there, so she stood still and focused in on him. Riding, he’s riding Impavido.

  Kate turned in the direction of the stables and had Angelo saddle up Bravado. She mounted the red mare. The horse’s coat was brushed to a high sheen and led her out into the fields. Shade wasn’t hard to spot in the moonlight. She set Bravado on a course that would allow her to intersect with him. As the two horses approached each other, Kate reined in Bravado, and waited for him to stop.

  "May I ride alongside you? Can you slow that giant stallion down now and let him walk alongside me?"

  Shade could feel her long before he saw her, and knew she was riding nearby. He slowed Impavido down to half pace, allowing Bravado to catch up. He saw her approach as he pulled the reins back and brought Impavido to a stop. Shade reached down, patting the stallion’s side.

  "Si, we can slow down." He didn’t speak again, just kept his head straight forward as they rode slowly side by side in the moonlight.

  Kate looked over at him, sitting tall in the saddle, silhouetted in the moonlight. "Shade, I don’t want us to fight. Can we talk calmly about this? If you’re not ready, I’ll go back to the house, give you more time. Tell me what you're thinking."

  Shade kept Impavido at a steady pace as he turned and looked at Kate. She looked amazing on a horse, her red hair flowing behind her in the night breeze. He almost choked from the worry he had for all things concerning her.

  "I don’t wish for us to fight either, sometimes that’s why I leave, so I can calm down. My temper can sometimes make me say things that hurt you, and I cannot take back the words or the pain they cause."

  Kate looked at him in the moonlight. "I know. I understand that now. I feel the beast rise up in me as well. I want us to give Luca time to talk to Shannon. We may be arguing over nothing. We don't know how she’ll react to this. I don't want this to become an issue between us and cause hard feelings when it may be nothing at all. I feel your conflict, lover. Believe me, I have my own conflict to deal with. But we can't ask Luca to sacrifice his own happiness, if it comes to that. And he would. He loves you and is so loyal to you. He’ll do whatever you ask. I understand you’re his master, and I’m his queen. I understand we can demand it of him. But that doesn’t mean we should. I know you love him too. And if you love him, then his happiness has to be important to you as well. I love you enough to endure anything. And I believe you love me enough to endure as well. We’ll face whatever the future throws at us, and we’ll face it together."

  Shade pulled the reins on Impavido, making the horse turn his head and snort, the stallion balking at the slow pace, just like his master. He grabbed Bravado’s reins and stopped him as well. Leaning over, he lifted Kate with ease from her saddle and plopped her in front of him. Her hair flew back into his face and he had an urge to just ride like the wind with her.

  He released Bravado's reins and gave the horse a slap on his flanks, sending him back to the stables. With one arm around Bel, he took control of Impavido’s reins in his free hand and dug his heels into the horses’ side, as they took off at a fast gallop. They flew through the fields, bel’s hair flung back by the wind around his
face. This was what he’d dreamed of for a long time, riding together in the moonlight. He felt their hearts synchronize into one beat. He pushed Impavido hard and they rode close to the base of the mountain range and then began to climb a trail, Shade handling the stallion with ease.

  Shade led the horse to an outcrop of rocks that formed a shallow cave into the side of the mountain and he pulled back on the reins, stopping the massive animal. He dismounted and held his arms up to her as she slid into him. He kissed her hard and deep. "I don’t want to feed from anyone but you, ever, and right now, I just want to make love to you here.”

  She laid her head against his chest. "It’s what we both want."

  His arms encircled her as he towered over her. She loved the protection of his arms and how safe he made her feel. She allowed him to lead her to a bed of moss that grew thick on the forest floor, and he pulled her down beside him. The sky was clear, and the moon was bright, but the thick trees blocked much of the natural light. She could hear the crickets and the tree frogs, as they filled the night air with their song. She unbuttoned his shirt, sliding her hands across the smooth hard skin of his chest, exploring as if touching him for the first time. His warmth, his scent, the sound of his breathing as it became more ragged, called out to her as she slipped the shirt off his shoulders.

  He tried to go slow, let her lead them, but his heart was pounding and his cock ached to break free. He unbuttoned his jeans, never taking his eyes off her.

  He wiggled from his jeans as they fell to his ankles. He bent down, unlacing his boots with speed, kicking his jeans and boots to the side. He stood over her, naked as the day he was born into a world never designed to accommodate him. His eyes locked onto hers as a moonbeam broke through the trees like a spotlight from heaven straight down on her. Shade watched as she undressed, slowly and provocatively, just for him.

  Impavido snorted and whinnied, shaking his head up and down as if in acknowledgement of what his master was thinking, and then wandered off along the trail, nibbling at the grass. Shade stared at her, his love for her making his heart feel as if it would explode, and he knew that whatever he had to do, he’d do it for her, always for her.