The Medici Queen

by Emily Bex

  Max directed her to a sitting room, and she picked up her shopping bag and followed him. He offered her a seat and poured her a Midnight. "This is a very good year, according to your Master."

  Kate accepted the glass, needing both the alcohol and the blood. He sat down across from her as she sipped at the wine.

  "Now tell me, my angel. How can I help you?"

  Kate looked at him over the rim of her glass before setting the glass down on the table in front of her. “Help me to understand."

  He tilted his head at her. "What exactly is it you need to understand, Kate?"

  Kate looked about the room. "Was this the room?"

  He looked at her, puzzled. "What room?"

  She glared at him. "Is this the room where you tricked him? Where you trapped him? Did you honestly think you could break me? That I wouldn’t feel his pain? His conflict?"

  Max laughed. "My angel, from where I was sitting, I promise you, I saw no pain or conflict. I saw a beast unleashed, and enjoying all the delights in front of him, until he lay sated on the floor."

  Kate glared back at him. "Oh you saw the beast, but my dream-walker was long gone." She stood up. "Did you think you could break us? You’ll never have Bel Rosso. Not at any price. So, if it’s a war you seek, then bring your best. The Medici don’t negotiate." Kate stood and headed for the door. "The shopping bag is yours. My parting gift...my angel." Kate teleported out, moving as fast as she could back to Bel Rosso, but not fast enough to escape the sound of his roar.

  Max lifted the hat box from the bag and opened the lid to discover the heads of the two feeders staring back at him with dead, glazed-over eyes, when he released a roar that shattered the glass in every room on the first floor of the mansion.

  “You want a war, bitch! I will show you a war!"

  130

  He had no idea how much time had passed, but the sun had set once again, and his hunger was deepening. He walked the streets of Paris alone, watching the couples strolling past him, their embraces and soft kisses only making him miss her more. He ached for her arms around him, his face buried in that crimson silk. He had continued to block her so she couldn’t feel him, but it also meant he couldn’t feel her.

  He kept walking in the soft rain. A mortal woman walked past him, bumping into him slightly. As he turned, she smiled at him. It was the kind of smile that was an open invitation. He knew he could feed from her and end his hunger, but he couldn’t betray Kate again. He left the sidewalk and entered a garden, but there were lovers there too, and he felt he couldn’t escape the pain.

  He opened himself up. He couldn’t take the loneliness, as it would surely kill him. He wanted to hear her voice, know she was all right. He stood in the park, staring up at the sky and closed his eyes, trying to sense her.

  He felt her anxiety, and her nervousness. He could sense she was with someone, but he couldn’t see who. He almost dropped to his knees, his body shaking. He shut down completely once again. He stood in the rain a long time, his face in his hands. Something deep inside cracked open and he felt as though a fire had ignited inside him, burning out of control. She was his and his alone! He was a fool to think he could ever be away from her and survive. If she loved him as he loved her, she’d forgive him.

  He opened up to her again. She felt weak, exhausted, and barely able to feed their son. He teleported back to the empty house in Paris. He’d win her back and make her see no one could love her like he did. He’d do anything to have her back. He wasn’t ready to return to Bel Rosso, but he wanted to see her, alone.

  He showered in the steaming hot water, his body tired and his hunger gnawing at him, but his need for her giving him strength. He dressed in low slung jeans, a white dress shirt, unbuttoned that hung open off his broad shoulders. He walked through the house, finding every available vase and filling them with red roses. He willed red rose petals across the floors, filling the house with the scent.

  When he was ready, he reached out and called to Luca. “Luca, bring Kate to me in the Paris house. Now.”

  He waited for a response, praying she’d come to him. He wanted time alone with her. They needed to mend, to heal together. He paced, waiting for Luca to answer him.

  ***

  Luca felt her as she teleported back into the house and he stormed up the stairs and threw the door open. She was standing in the middle of the bedroom, dressed in a black dress and heels.

  "Kate! What the fuck do you think you're doing? You left here without me? Without Fiamma? Where have you been?"

  Kate turned to face him, letting his anger wash over her. She was so tired, so very tired. She closed her eyes. "I went to Max."

  Luca stood with his mouth open, unable to immediately respond, letting her words sink in. "You did what?"

  She shook her head, despite her bravado in front of Max, and the challenge she threw in his face, the truth was she couldn’t push much further without him. She kicked off the shoes and walked barefoot across the floor, lying across the bed. "You heard what I said."

  Luca was fighting the urge to strangle her when he heard Shade in his head. He wanted her in Paris...now! Luca ran both hands through his hair. Well, isn't this just perfect fucking timing. He sat on the side of the bed. "Kate. Shade wants me to bring you to him in Paris. Now."

  Kate sat up, looking at Luca's face. He looked as tired as she felt. "Luca. When? Did he call?"

  Luca nodded, saying, "Just now, he spoke to me telepathically. Let's go."

  Kate slid off the bed and grabbed her shoes, slipping them back on. "How did he sound? Was he angry? Or sad? How did he sound, Luca?"

  She looked around for her coat and remembered she’d left it at Max's.

  Luca responded, "I don't know, Kate. Tired? Insistent? He wants you in Paris with him. Isn't that enough?"

  Kate grabbed another coat from the closet, the tears running down her cheeks. "Take me now, please."

  Luca lifted her up, and despite his anger with her these past two days, he knew she was fighting to hold it together. He teleported her to the Paris house, landing in the foyer on the first floor. Setting her down, he looked at her before he left. "Will you call me if you need me?”

  Kate looked at the hurt in his eyes and knew she had dragged him through hell these past few days as well. "Yes. I promise."

  He teleported out, leaving her standing alone in the dimly lit foyer. She climbed the stairs, stopping on the first floor that contained the formal living and dining rooms to find them empty. "Shade?"

  He didn’t answer her as she climbed the stairs to the second floor that contained the bedrooms for Luca and Theresa, and family rooms for all of them to share. She started back up the stairs, catching the scent of roses as she approached the third floor that contained their master bedroom, and the rooms she’d created for their children. How much does he know? Did he feel me feed? Does he know I took off to Bangkok? And Max? Did he feel me when I went to Max? Her heart pounded in her chest as she reached the third floor and stood still at the top of the stairs. “Shade?"

  He felt her come in and took a deep breath. He had to get this right. He had one shot and if he fucked it up, his life was over. He spoke softly to her. “Come, Kate. I am in here."

  He stood as far from the door as possible. He wanted to see her enter the room and see her face when she saw him. He didn’t know what the hell he’d do next. He just needed to see her face. He’d know when he saw her if she was willing to love him again. At least she’d come, and that was a start. He willed on the music and waited to see her come through the door.

  The room was dimly lit and she saw him standing in the shadows. She stepped forward, moving slowly, her motion through the room making the candlelight flicker, keeping him in shadows. His face, she needed to see his face.

  "Shade," she whispered. He had willed the music of Enigma to play, and she heard the refrain of the song, “Do You Love Me?”

  "Until my dying day, lover." She sobbed as she felt all the heartbreak and p
ain of the last few days that she’d pushed down pour forth. "Until my dying day."

  Her voice rolled over him like waves crashing on the shore. She stopped in the soft glow of the candlelight and he’d never in his life wanted anything more, even more than the first time he’d laid with her, or the first time he fed from her. This was his life standing before him. He had to reclaim it, make it solid once again. He slowly walked into the light, standing before her. He said nothing but took her hand in his and placed his other around her waist, dancing them slowly across the floor. The music surrounded them. Touching her was like a soothing balm to his soul. He wanted to be with her, to make her understand, he was nothing without her. He smelled the vampire on her; he didn’t violate her, but he was so close he could have taken her, and he held down his beast and anger as he recognized Max’s scent. He said nothing, just swayed with her, because this was what he needed right now.

  Kate laid her head against his chest, listening to his heartbeat, feeling the rise and fall of his chest with each breath, feeling the warmth of him, and the protection of his arms. How she’d missed him! She let him lead her through the dance, as she gave herself up to him.

  “I love you. Nothing changes that. Nothing will ever change that."

  Shade stopped dancing. Dropping his arms, he stepped around her and unzipped her dress. He slowly lowered the dress past her hips, letting it drop to her ankles. She stepped from the dress as he took her hand, leading her to the bed, pushing her down gently. He knelt down and slid her heels from her feet, rolling the silk stockings down her legs one at a time. Taking her hand, he helped her stand and slowly pushed the bra straps from her shoulders. His lips brushed over the soft mounds of her breasts, kissing them gently. Reaching around her, he unhooked the bra and tossed it. Hooking his thumbs into her panties, he crouched in front of her, sliding them down the lily white skin of her hips.

  She stood naked before him. He nuzzled gently into the soft patch of red curls between her legs and inhaled, his need for her overwhelming. He stood again, removing his shirt before taking her hand and began to sway to the music with her, as he held her to his bare chest. The music played over and over, looping the same song. She was his, and he was hers, her breath soft and warm against his skin. He felt her desire. She wanted him too.

  His tongue sought out the vein in her neck, tasting her skin and feeling the soft beating of her heart. He nipped at her ear, sliding his tongue around the soft shell-like outline. Her hips swayed and brushed softly against his hard cock, still restrained by his jeans.

  He stopped dancing with her and pushed her gently back from him. His eyes locked with hers as he unzipped his jeans and slid them down his hips. His cock was freed, hard and pulsing for her. He kicked the jeans aside and pulled her to his chest. He lifted her up until her legs wrapped around his waist and her arms clung to his neck.

  His hands gripped her ass as he entered her slowly. Her head fell back as he penetrated her deep. His whole body screamed his need for her. She was so soft, and beautiful, and his.

  She laid her head on his shoulder. She hadn’t fed since the minimal feeding she’d taken from Fee, and she’d pushed her body far in these past few days. The nearness of his warm flesh and his male scent was more than she could bear. She licked along the pulsing vein in his neck and heard his moan. She sank her fangs deep, and drew his blood across her tongue, letting the fire spread through her veins, and hitting her at her core.

  His body responded to the feel of her feeding from him, taking long, deep draws. His head spun at the feel of her, that she needed him so desperately. His need for her was the same, but he’d let her feed from him first. He felt her body respond as she swallowed his blood, her hips riding him, her sex gripping him with each passionate stroke.

  He walked them to the wall and pushed her against it for support. His hands tangled in her hair as she fed. The music lifted them together. This was where they were supposed to be…how they were supposed to love.

  "Cum, mi amore, cum for me."

  She unlatched as she threw her head back and cried out with the power of the orgasm that shook her, riding him hard, her hands gripping his back, nails breaking his skin as the last waves of pleasure washed over her.

  Her hands slid into his curls and gripped him hard as she pulled him to her neck. His fangs punched and he moaned. His body was aching to taste her. He’d held back too long and could barely breathe, his need for her so desperate.

  "Feed from me, Lover. Take from me. Heal yourself. Heal us both."

  She barely had the words out of her mouth when his fangs sank deep into her tender flesh, and he drew her sweet, hot blood into his mouth and across his tongue. As he swallowed, he felt it all come together. Her blood fed his very soul, and his cock, still buried inside her, hardened instantly. He walked with her to the bed, his fangs and cock buried deep, the urgency to cum inside her overwhelming.

  Laying her down on the bed, he crawled on top of her, driving deep inside her, claiming her. Her blood ignited a fire in him. He threw back his head, roaring as he came inside her, letting her heal him.

  He slumped over top of her, his weight on his elbows, his body renewed. Pulling her close, he rolled them across the bed onto his back and pulled her across his chest. He let the music roll again with their song, as Van Morrison sang, “Into the Mystic”.

  They lie quietly together, catching their breath as he stroked her hair. He whispered softly. "What have you done, mi amore?"

  Kate lay quietly in the aftermath of their lovemaking, listening to their song. She would keep nothing from him, she only hoped what she revealed didn’t drive him away again. "You must promise me—"

  "Just tell me."

  He needed to know, because his mind was yet to settle, and before everything could be right between them again, they’d need to share it all. He’d love her no matter what. He knew now she never stopped loving him, even though his beast betrayed her.

  She told him everything. How she hid away for days in their bedroom with Lorenzo, and how she’d found the rose and thought he was home. She told him about the envelope Max had sent along with his note, and the photos. She told him how the photos had ripped at her heart. She told him about seeking out Matron and learning where the feeders were, and who they were, and the revenge she planned. She told him she had taken his blood from the vial she wore around her neck, but it hadn’t been enough, and she had fed from Fee. She told him how she’d left for Bangkok, and how she’s killed and beheaded the feeders. She told him her need to take revenge on Max. How she went to his house, telling Max it was because Shade was lost to her, and how she’d left him with the severed heads of the feeders. She told him she had challenged Max, that he couldn’t break them, that he couldn’t take Bel Rosso, and if he wanted a war, then he’d have one. She talked without stopping, knowing if she paused—if she thought about her words—she’d stop. She wouldn’t hide the truth from him. She wanted nothing hidden anymore. She’d love him through anything. Now she needed to know. Would he do the same?

  ***

  He’d asked for details and she gave them to him. He lay there not moving, just listening. He didn’t interrupt her. When she was done, she laid her head on his chest. He laid there a long time, absorbing the details, going over everything she’d told him. He was amazed and proud of her. She was both brazen and careless to go to such lengths without protection, and it only proved one thing to him—she’d fight and kill for Bel Rosso, for his coven, and for him.

  He felt her fear that he’d now be angry and leave her once again. His hand glided along her back, tangling in her hair. He pulled her head up and stared into her eyes, deep and long, before kissing her hard. He kissed her with everything he had, his tongue seeking hers. He left her breathless and kept his grip on her hair as his eyes bored into hers.

  "Then I believe the King and Queen of Medici should get home. We have a battle to win. I have a master to kill. We have a son to protect, and a coven to take care of.”<
br />
  Kate nodded at him, tears in her eyes. “Home. Yes, lover, home."

  He held her tight to his chest, wrapping a blanket around them and teleporting back to Bel Rosso. As they landed in their bedroom, he set her down on her feet, taking her face into his hands. "Get our son."

  As she grabbed a robe and scurried from the room, he called to Luca. “Your master and his queen are home. Let us rest and when the night calls again, we prepare for the fight for Bel Rosso.”

  Kate hurried to the nursery to find Lorenzo was asleep in his crib. Theresa heard her come in and sat up on the sofa-bed. "Is everything all right, my lady?"

  Kate smiled at her. "We’re fine, Theresa. But I’ll take Lorenzo back to our bed tonight."

  Theresa looked at her. "We? Is master home?"

  Kate smiled at her as she lifted Lorenzo from the crib, and he grumbled at being disturbed in his sleep. Kate nodded to Theresa. "He’s home."

  Theresa got up from the bed. "Then if you don't mind, my lady, I’ll return to my own bed. I have a rather grumpy warrior waiting."

  Kate smiled. "Go to him, Theresa. I'm afraid I’ve tried everyone’s patience these last few days."

  Kate returned to their bedroom and slipped into bed beside Shade, laying Lorenzo in his arms.

  Lorenzo cooed and Shade chuckled. "I think that is the most beautiful sound on this earth."

  He pulled Kate close to his chest so they can hold him together. "This chain of love will not be broken, mi amore. I love you. I have never stopped loving you since the day you strolled into my life. All I need is right here in my arms. Always love me."

  "I never stopped loving you, Shade. There’s nothing or no one who can come between us."

  He kissed the top of her head, as well as Lorenzo’s, his arms enfolding them both. "Rest. We are home now."