by Emily Bex
Crushing her to his chest, he let out a deep sigh. "I don’t want to leave you, but I have no damn choice in the matter. I want you to be careful, stay in the bunker. Shade and I have done all we can to make sure Bel Rosso is safe and well protected. The warriors won’t let you down, but I still worry about you. I know you’ll lay down your life to save her and the baby. It is your duty, as it is mine. That does not mean I like it."
"Marco, I fear more for you. I’ll be fine. I’ll be locked below ground in the bunker with Lorenzo. This house will be protected and Luca will remain on the inside. If the war comes to Florence, you’ll be the one in the thick of it, leading the charge, no doubt. It’s you I beg to be careful."
Smiling at her, he knew deep in his heart no other would have his love. "I am warrior, Medici at that. I have seen many battles and I’ll come out on top. I really think the action will be here and not Florence, but there is something I beg you to do for me." He kissed her softly on the lips.
"If it is in my power to grant it, Marco, I will. What do you ask of me?"
He released her, pacing as he turned to look at her. "I know you’ll be with the baby and Kate. Whatever you do, keep her the hell inside this house. She can be as hot-headed and stubborn as he is. We can’t lose them both. If you can keep her calm, do it."
He knew Shade would fight to the death if it came to that, but the coven would need at least one of them to raise Lorenzo and make sure he was ready to assume his rightful place.
"You have healing skills, you know the old ways, Terri. They’ll need you, just tell me you will be careful.”
He lowered his head, locking eyes with her. He reached inside his leathers, removing a blood vial and placing it in her hands.
She felt him slip the vial in her hands. She didn’t need to look at it to know what it was. His blood would sustain her for a while if she was injured, until someone could get to her.
"I understand your concern. My lady always had a temper, even before she was turned. She has as much warrior spirit as he does. My heart tells me she’ll stay with Lorenzo. She understands she and Luca represent the last line of defense for the prince. I can't imagine she’d leave him. She’d lay down her life for Shade, but she also understands Lorenzo is the future of Medici and he must be protected at all cost. Our queen understands her obligations, Marco. But I’ll do as you ask if it comes to that. Luca, Gi, we’ll all work hard to convince her that her place is here.”
Nodding, Marco embraced her, holding her close as he slid his tongue along her neck. "I love you, Terri. I don’t know when I’ll be able to return…when I’ll see you again. This could take weeks, perhaps months, before it all ends and things get back to normal. But Shade promised me, once things settle down we’ll be able to spend time together again. I need to go now."
His heart was heavy, but he was warrior and knew his duty would always come first. Lingering, he couldn’t seem to let go. "I’ll always remember this moment, right here, right now. Tell me what I need to hear. I can’t move until you do."
She laid her head against his chest. "Stay safe for me, Marco. Stay safe for us. I love you. I’ve always loved you."
He laid his head atop hers and for the first time in his life, he felt pain in his heart, torn between duty and love. Never once in the past had he ever thought about what he was leaving behind, he fought for Medici and nothing more. But now, he’d given his heart to someone he must leave a world away, in what would surely be the epicenter of the battle, and he could do nothing to protect her.
Wrapping his hand in her hair, he burrowed deep and inhaled her scent to get him through whatever lay ahead. "Ti amo." Teleporting out, he headed home, leaving their future in the hands of fate.
Theresa stood alone in her bedroom. She walked to the window and looked out over Bel Rosso. It wasn’t actually her bedroom, it was the bedroom given to her by her master. Just as Marco returned to Florence to protect what was master's. Neither of them was truly free to pursue any other path in this life. This was the path they were born to follow. It wasn’t something Theresa allowed herself to think about often. She knew there were many in her position that had masters who were cruel, or uncaring. She knew she had been blessed in many ways to be included in this coven, which functioned as one large family. But still, it was the master's baby she held, not her own. She placed the vial around her neck and slipped it beneath her blouse before returning to the nursery.
134
The night was bitter cold and Shade felt as if it was a foreboding of sorts. He stood to look out the window and found it was snowing. "Fuck, snow. No damn wonder it is cold as a witch’s tit in here tonight!"
The fireplace was blazing, the sound of the fire crackling, and the smell of the burning wood permeating the house. He heard rustling upstairs, and he sighed. Cory was up, and he needed to talk with him about what to expect. He’d been so caught up in the preparations for the war that he’d not taken the time to prepare his son. Plus, Cory had been busy, day and night, making leathers for the pending battle.
Shade made his way up the stairs to Cory’s room and damn near got knocked ass over heels as Cory came barreling down the hall from his room. Shade grabbed his sleeve and whipped Cory around to face him. "Where do you think you are going?"
Cory looked up at his dad, surprised to encounter him here. "I have some things to wrap up in the shop, I won’t be long."
Cory turned to leave, but Shade didn’t let go of his sleeve. Cory sighed and rolled his eyes at him. "What?"
Shade almost laughed out loud at his eye rolling and exasperated sigh. He thought he’d better get used to it; he’d have more teenage attitudes to deal with in the future. "Watch your tongue. We need to talk."
Shade maneuvered him toward the door of his suite and led him inside. He looked around the rooms Kate had carefully designed for him and shook his head. There were clothes strewn everywhere, pizza boxes piled on the table in the living area, and the handsets for his video games on the sofa. Several skateboards were left on the floor and one in a chair.
Shade turned to him and Cory held up his hands in surrender. "Hey, I’ve been busy... I didn’t have time to clean up."
Shade shook his head. "Close the door, son."
Cory closed the door and knew if his dad sought him out something must be wrong. Whatever it was, he hoped he didn’t send his ass packing back to California for safety. He didn’t want to go. He wanted to be here with everyone else.
Shade looked about the room. "I could assign the house staff to clean up after you, but I chose not to. These are your rooms, and your responsibility. So, first things first, get this suite cleaned up. You will have some time on your hands to do so."
Cory flopped down in an empty lounge chair. "Sure, but what do you mean, I’ll have time?"
Shade paced around the room. "Cory, this battle is coming, and it could come at any moment. This is serious. I don’t want you in the camp any longer. You are confined to the house for now. This is not a punishment. Your safety is vital to me, more so than I have words to tell you. You are my first-born son.”
Cory stood up, his anger obvious, his pride injured. "I can defend myself, I’m not some kid. I’m vampire…maybe only a half breed, but you’re my father, which means I’m Medici. I’m not helpless!"
Shade let him blow off steam before he responds. "Of course you are not helpless. But you are not a warrior. You will have a weapon, as will Kate. But you will stay inside with her and Lorenzo. You will listen to me, Cory. This is your life we are talking about! You have no idea what is facing this coven, but I do! I have just found you and I’ll be damned if anyone is going to take you from me!”
Shade pulled him up from the chair and into his chest, hugging his son. "I love you, Cory. I can’t lose you. I’m not banishing you to the bunker with the house staff. Kate and Luca will be inside this house and you will be with them. Lorenzo will be with Gi, Theresa, Nita, and Shannon, locked inside the bunker. But I am letting you stay out here
with Kate and Luca. I know you can shoot. Marcello told me he and Fiamma have been giving you some lessons, and you are doing a great job with it."
Cory knew his dad would protect him, protect them all, but he wanted a chance to show he could be a part of this family too. "I can shoot, but I suck at swords, and shuriken’s aren’t my thing. But I can shoot. I want to help! Everyone here has a role, don’t keep me out. It hurts."
Shade observed his struggle. "Cory, you do have a role, you clothe my warriors for battle. Marcello tells me you have a 50 caliber rifle and a new Glock handgun. Keep the Glock by your bed when you sleep and keep it on you at all times when you are awake. If we are under attack, Kate and Luca will come here to your suite. High ground. Luca can see everything from here, and he has a 360 degree view. My warriors will work hard to keep the battle away from the house, but if any of Max’s warriors break through, it will be up to you and Luca to stop them. The 50 cal is long range. You can take them out long before they get in the house. Can you do that?"
Cory grinned. "Oh hell yeah!"
Shade chuckled. "The Glock is for closer range combat. You would not survive hand to hand combat with another warrior, so take those bastards out before they get to you, son. They’re strong, but they’re not immune to bullets."
Cory picked up the Glock, listening to the sound of the clip as he slid it in place and grinned. "I feel better now."
"Good, that’s what I want. Now, you need to get this place cleaned up. Cazzo, you are worse than I ever was!"
Cory laughed. "I doubt it. I hear Kate mumbling about you leaving your shit everywhere! Wait! I have something for you!"
Cory jogged into his bedroom and pulled out the huge box, buried under his dirty clothes. Returning to the living room, he handed the box to Shade. "This is for you, Dad, for the battle."
Shade took the huge box and looked at him questioningly. He laid the box on the table and opened the lid. It held a full set of battle leathers. He felt the lump in his throat grow as his hand slid over the softest leather, the Medici crest hand-tooled on the chest plate. They were the most intricate and elaborate leathers he’d ever seen. Cory watched him and his pride grew along with the smile on his face. He’d spent every second of his free time crafting them specifically for his dad.
"I made them just for you. They’re unique. No other warrior has anything like them. The leather I used is extremely supple, flexible, for ease of movement. I made you some arm guards as well. There’s also heavier padding along the thigh area. The pants have a lot of places for you to sheath shuriken’s and knives. And these straps are for your swords, so you can strap them to your back. I designed them just for you."
Shade held up the leathers but had no words. Cory went to him, hugging him tight. "It's okay, Dad, just wear them. I worry about you too."
Shade kissed the top of his shaggy head and held him tight. "Thank you, son. I will wear them with great pride. I love you, Cory."
Cory was filled with pride. "Per sempre Medici."
135
It was another bitter cold night. Kate stood at the window of the nursery holding Lorenzo on her shoulder as she swayed gently side to side, singing to him. It had snowed heavily, and the rolling hills shined bright under the full moon, the trees casting shadows against the white snow. She saw Aegis in the distance, anxiously pacing in the tree line. The wolf's behavior seemed odd, as she and Night Stalker had both stayed close to the house since they’d come back from Florence with Lorenzo. Nita had just finished feeding Lorenzo and was preparing to return to the staff quarters when Kate asked her to wait.
“Is everything all right, my lady?"
Kate continued to look out the window as Aegis took off, racing through the woods, and Night Stalker joined her. Kate furrowed her brow. "I'm not sure. Just...hang on a minute."
Theresa entered the nursery with clean sheets for Lorenzo's crib when she looked up, "What is it, my lady?"
Kate shook her head as she felt an anxious knot in her stomach. "Something’s off with Aegis and Night Stalker. They’re reacting to something. I can feel their fear."
As she stood at the window, she heard the mournful howl of the wolves, echoing through the night. She was about to step closer to the window, to see if she could see them when she was startled by a loud bang against the glass. Kate clung to Lorenzo and gasped, stepping back quickly as both Nita and Theresa emitted small cries of surprise. Kate was about to run from the room when she heard an incessant pecking at the glass and looked back to see Poe, frantically pecking and flapping his wings. The howling was far in the distance now but was nonstop. Kate slowly backed away from the window. They were warning her of danger. She saw the falcon swoop in close and land in a tree outside the window, her screech ear-piercingly loud. In a flash, Kate knew what this meant. It was what the warriors had been preparing for.
She screamed loudly, “Shade!”
Shade looked at Luca as they both heard the wolves howling in the distance, even here in the underground bunker. He heard her scream his name and he responded, instantly teleporting to her side with Luca right behind him, his dagger drawn, ready to protect her. Cory barreled into the room in his stocking feet, sliding into Nita as he tried to stop, the Glock raised in the air.
"Cazzo, mi amore, what is it? Tell me what you know!”
Lorenzo could sense their anxiety and began to cry, pulling on Kate’s hair.
"Is it Lorenzo?"
Kate shook her head. "Not Lorenzo. He’s responding to my fear. It’s Max. His warriors. Aegis and Night Stalker have tracked them to the south and east. Danica and Riparo tracked them to the north. His warriors approach from three sides. There are many...lover, there are hundreds."
He wrapped his arms around her and the baby, holding them to his chest. "Luca, get everyone in their positions, now! Cory, get some fucking boots and leathers on. Move!"
He telepathically relayed to Marcello all the information Kate had told him and instructed him to gather the warriors and be ready to roll—the time had come. Shade turned to Theresa. "Give me a second with Kate. You and Nita stay right outside this room. I will want you to take Lorenzo in a moment, but first, I need to speak with Kate alone."
She nodded as the two females scurried outside the room. Shade clung to Kate as she held Lorenzo in her arms. He could feel her body shaking and her fear building.
"Listen to me. Calm down, you can’t be upset, it only upsets Lorenzo. Go to the bunker with him, stay there. I will come for you when this is over. I will know you are safe inside with our son. Luca can stay outside of the bunker, nothing will get past him."
Kate shook her head. “That’s not the plan. Lorenzo will be kept in the bunker, but the animals will give me information that will protect us all. I can’t seal myself off from them. Let Theresa and Nita take Lorenzo, and go with Gi, Emma and Shannon to the bunker. That’s what we planned. I’ll stay here in the house, with Luca and Cory. I need to be able to feel Aegis. She’ll warn me of anything in advance. It’s our best way to protect Lorenzo."
He stared at her, his heart torn. It was what they’d discussed, but he’d never had so much to lose before. His hand slid down her cheek, and reluctantly, he nodded his acceptance.
He called for Theresa, holding Lorenzo against his chest then kissed him. He looked into Lorenzo’s eyes as he handed him over to Theresa. "Ti amo, mio figlio."
He ordered Theresa to the bunker. She knew what to do. She’d been in this position before. Turning to Kate, he took her hand and led her to their bedroom. The leathers Cory had made were lying out across the chair. He dressed in minutes, loading all his weapons. He could feel her eyes boring into him. He sat down in the chair by the window, staring out into the night, the moon lighting the snow covered grounds he must now go out to defend. His voice was strong, as he remained calm when he spoke to her.
"Braid your warrior’s hair. Make it tight and strong, like our love. I do this for us." He held up a strap of red leather. “Entwine this in my ha
ir, I need you with me in spirit."
She took the leather strip from his hand, trying to hide the shaking in her own hands. Stepping behind the chair, she carefully braided his hair, keeping the red leather strip tight as she knotted the end. Leaning over, she kissed his neck, pausing there, inhaling his scent as she slid her hand down his chest. She would keep her worry to herself. With her lips at his ear, she whispered, "Fight for me, warrior. Fight for your son."
As her hand slid across his chest, resting on the Medici crest, he laid his hand over hers. “I know you are frightened, you cannot hide it. Before the sun rises, I will be back, and Bel Rosso will still be ours.”
He felt her hair cascade along his neck as they took one moment to look out over the fields and mountains that were now home. He telepathically contacted Marco and Reynaldo, letting them know the battle was upon them. They both responded that all was calm so far, and in that, he found comfort.
Max was bringing the battle right where Shade wanted it, his own front yard. Marco was prepared to send in waves of warriors from Florence as needed. He’d not let Bel Rosso be taken from them. Pulling bel into his lap, he looked into her eyes. "I love you. I will come home, I promise you. You must remain inside this house, no matter what you feel or see. You are not to leave the house, Kate. Not even for me."
He leaned down and kissed her like it was the last kiss they’d ever share. He could feel what was to come, but he’d fight to his death, if necessary, and no one would stop him. This was what he’d been born to do, fight for his mate, his son, and all that was to come for Medici. It rested on his shoulders.
"How far away are they? Ask them, I need to know, bel."
Kate closed her eyes, honed her senses to find Aegis, then nodded her head. "She said they’re still about five miles from our property line, although some are on the land adjacent to ours we just purchased."
Nodding, he pulled her head to his shoulder and inhaled deeply of her rose scent. "I need to feed from you, mi amore. It is one more weapon that will help me come home to you."
