The Medici Queen

by Emily Bex

  "Look at him, lover. Is he not the most beautiful baby?"

  Turning his head, he kissed her and winked. "He is the best of us both, mi amore. What more could this padre ask for, si?"

  Picking up Lorenzo, he ruffled his curls and smiled when Lorenzo snuggled into his neck, nestling and calm. As they arrived at the hanger, they quickly got settled inside the plane and were soon airborne for an uneventful flight to Florence.

  Kate slept next to him on the flight, with Lorenzo between them. The baby woke once to feed from her and quickly fell back asleep. Landing in Florence, Dante quickly transferred their luggage to the waiting car and drove them to Castello. Antonio greeted them at the door, sending the staff out to collect their luggage.

  Kate and Shade were barely inside the door before they were surrounded by the staff, all trying to get a look at the baby. Lorenzo was delighted with the attention, as each housekeeper took him briefly, cooing over him, before another one snatched him away. Lorenzo laughed, grabbing at the white caps they wore on their heads.

  Kate could sense Shade's eagerness to get moving, so she apologized when she took Lorenzo away. “I’m so sorry, but we must get him ready for Council. I promise to turn him over to you when we return.”

  Kate turned him over to Theresa to get him changed as she changed into a dress, touched up her make-up, and brushed out her hair. “Okay, lover. Council it is."

  Shade stood ready, having taken little time to prepare. He wondered if every time he came to Castello there’d be this overwhelming response from the staff to see his son. But it made him happy to know they had an heir, a boy they’d all watch grow into a strong male leader, who’d grow into his role of master.

  "Mi amore, I didn’t think about how much longer it would take to get through the staff with Lorenzo. They all want to hold him. For them, it is an honor to work here and be a part of the prince’s life. Come, let us get to Council, si"

  "I think your son rather enjoys the attention. I’m glad he’s not shy around people." She looked at Lorenzo. "Do you like the attention?"

  Lorenzo was blowing spit bubbles and laughed. Kate shook her head. "You are your father's son."

  She clung to Shade as they teleported to Council, Shade holding her tight, as Kate held Lorenzo.

  As they arrived at Council, they were led outside the meeting chamber to wait. Shade paced as he got some seriously intense scowls with Lorenzo in his arms. They better get used to it. His children would always attend Council. He wanted them to all grow up understanding their culture, but also understanding their own power.

  They didn’t wait long before they were bid to enter. Holding Lorenzo in his arms, the baby was wide awake and aware of his surroundings. Shade held Kate’s hand as they made their way to their seats, the announcement of their arrival loud and clear within the chamber.

  "The King and Queen Medici, with Prince Lorenzo."

  Lorenzo realized his voice echoed in the large hall and started shouting out a loud ‘BAH’ sound, then laughing. The Council didn’t look amused and Kate was trying hard to suppress her giggles. She took the baby, shushing him, but Lorenzo continued to shout ‘BAH’, followed by his giggles. Kate looked at Shade as she rocked him back and forth in her arms. She shrugged and whispered, "Better than crying, I guess."

  Shade almost laughed along with Lorenzo, his giggles contagious. But decorum won over and he nodded to Council, hoping they’d just continue.

  Malachi stood. "Medici, you honor us with a visit from the Prince. It is good to see...and hear...that he is doing so well. We have all heard by now of the Battle of Bel Rosso. On behalf of Council, I extend our deepest sympathies on the loss of so many of your coven. We are all now well aware of your queen's power as well. If there was any question about how she could use her gift to help secure the future of Medici, I think it has been answered. Ivor has recorded this incident as well, so we might establish for future generations, the power of the gift of animalism. It is possible one of your children could inherit this gift."

  Shade nodded to him. "Thank you, Malachi. We are, as always, honored to be here. I do hope one of my bambinos inherits Kate’s gift. It saved many of my warriors from their demise. But I am now Master of Virginia. Maximus surrendered the field of battle. He was not killed and his remaining warriors fled with him. I have met with his Virginia Coven, where some have chosen to follow Max and have left the territory. The remainder have pledged their honor and fealty to Medici. I have provided for your benefit the listing of the coven members who have pledged, so they may be recorded as my coven."

  Jasperion stood in his orange robe. "Given that we have witnesses that have attested to Maximus's retreat from the battlefield, in effect, surrendering his position as master of that coven, I will transfer the ownership of that coven, the land, and any properties on that land, to the King and Queen Medici. Virginia will be transferred in its totality. However, Maryland and Delaware still remain under the control of Maximus."

  He passed the document that Shade had presented to them containing the names of the vampires who’d chosen to pledge to Medici, down to Agathian. Agathian pushed back the hood of the blue robe and nodded to the King.

  "We shall transfer the records of these new members of the coven in the census, along with the names of those that perished. It was a high price to pay. There were many lives sacrificed, from both your coven and Max's, but we do understand it could have been much worse had the queen not used her gift."

  Shade nodded and slid his hand across the table to hold Kate’s hand. "Both of us were determined to maintain our home. Maximus refused to accept Council’s judgment, and he dealt the Medici a low blow. We stand before you as victors in that struggle. My mate has now, without doubt, proven she is well deserving of her role as queen of my coven. Her gift saved many lives in the battle, including my own. We work as a team. It makes us powerful and battle strong. We lead a large coven and it takes both of us to rule. My coven now understands her worth, her caring, and her ability to lead without reproach."

  Malachi nodded. "If there was ever a question in anyone's mind about your queen's ability to rule, I think that has been settled once and for all. The word of the battle traveled quickly, as did the tales of the league of animals that responded to your queen's command."

  As he spoke, Lorenzo picked up a wooden gavel that sat on the table before them and immediately put it in his mouth. Kate pushed the gavel away from his mouth, only to have Lorenzo slam the gavel down hard on the table, the sound echoing in the great hall.

  Malachi suppressed a smile. "Well then. It seems the Prince has called this meeting to a close. If there is no further business, Medici?"

  Shade put his hand over his mouth, trying not to laugh out loud, but he saw that Council had accepted his victory, his queen, and his son. "The Prince has spoken. We are done and have no further business."

  Shade and Kate stood to leave, and Lorenzo bellowed once again, reaching for his father. Shade took him in his arms. "You have done well, little warrior, you have the Council in the palm of your hand already."

  148

  Kate woke when she heard Lorenzo crying. Shade was still deep in his death slumber when she slid from their bed and stepped into her slippers. The marble floors of Castello were unbearably cold in the winter. She grabbed her robe from the foot of their bed and slipped it over her shoulders as she walked to the room Theresa shared with Lorenzo. Theresa was already standing beside his crib when she entered.

  Kate stood next to her at the crib, looking at Lorenzo as he continued to fuss. Theresa told her he’d just fed, so she wasn’t sure why was he crying. Kate lifted the baby and placed him over her shoulder, swaying back and forth as she shushed him. "Lay back down, Theresa. I've got this."

  Kate left the nursery, bouncing Lorenzo lightly in her arms. “What has you so stirred up, my beautiful boy? Hmmm?"

  He quieted instantly at the sound of her voice and she chuckled. "You’re so spoiled. What am I going to do with you?"<
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  She walked with him through the long halls of the castle, letting him calm himself. She found herself in the Hall of Ancestors, talking to Lorenzo in a soft voice, pointing out the bust of the Medici's that came before them, both mortal and immortal, teaching him their long history. She stood in front of the massive oil painting of Shade, at age ten, standing with his mother and father. Kate turned Lorenzo so he could see the portrait.

  "Look at this, Lorenzo. That’s your father when he was just a boy, starting in the warrior camps. And that rather imposing looking gentleman is your grandfather. And that beautiful woman beside him is your grandmother. They would both be so proud of you. Goodness, you’d be even more spoiled than you are right now. Can you even imagine that?"

  Portia watched her new daughter with her grandson, Lorenzo. How beautiful he was, his curls and eyes so much like Shade’s. She remembered long ago, walking with Shade in these same halls, comforting him. She stayed in the shadows, watching Kate and how she spoke to him, teaching him the Medici history and she felt an overwhelming sense of pride. She knew Kate would be a great mother. There was never any doubt in her mind.

  "He is a most handsome grandson, and I am already proud of both of you. My fingers itch to touch him, hold him in my arms."

  Kate startled at the sound of Portia's voice, and turned to find her mother-in-law standing behind her. "Can you hold him? I never know if you are real?"

  "I am sorry, daughter, I never meant to scare you, but si, I can most certainly hold him. Will you grant me this privilege?"

  Kate looked at Lorenzo who could clearly see his grandmother. He was staring at her intently and was mesmerized by her voice. Kate smiled at her. "There’s nothing I’d like more. Please, hold your grandson." She shifted Lorenzo into Portia's arms, and listened as Lorenzo cooed, delighted with the attention of one more admirer.

  Portia took Lorenzo into her arms, cuddling him in the crook of her arm, and stared into his sapphire eyes. "He is so handsome, and he will be strong, like his father and grandfather. I knew you would give him a son, and he is perfect. He will be a great warrior figlia, maybe even greater than my own Shade. He looks so much like him." She slid a finger across his cheek and watched as the infant’s eyes closed and then fluttered open. She looked at Kate. "Do you know his gifts yet?"

  Kate shook her head. "No. Shade is hoping he’s a day-walker. He wakes a lot during the day, like now, but Theresa said that’s normal for all babies at this age and doesn’t mean he’ll be a day-walker."

  "She is correct, but he may show you signs in a few years. Shade began having dreams, but he didn’t know what to do with his gift. If you see signs, you must enhance them, never hold them back. The sooner they learn to master their gift the better. Speaking of which, I owe you much gratitude. I know of the battle, how you brought forth the animals to save Shade."

  "Madre, you don't need to thank me. I’ll always do whatever is in my power to protect what is mine...ours. I didn't realize the power of that gift. But you can be sure our children, your grandchildren, will all have the protection of my warriors. I can assure you, Aegis and the others already guard Lorenzo. Luca said after this last battle, it will take a lot for another master to attack. They all know it’s a battle they can't win."

  Portia smiled at Kate. Lorenzo flailed in her arms and she gently raised him to her shoulder, rubbing his back. She inhaled deeply, closing her eyes. "He smells of a rose musk; a little from you, a little from Shade, as it should be. He is Medici, for sure. As are you, my daughter. I have been through many battles, it is never easy. But you have a great advantage over me. Females in my time were housed inside, only to feel everything through our mates. I feared greatly at times. Christofano was such a great warrior. My pride in him got me through. In the end, he died trying to save me, but I would have it no other way. I could not have gone on without him. I wanted to die with him. To this day...I am sorry, I seem to be rattling on and on."

  Kate dearly loved this woman. With every encounter, she saw why Shade held her so close to his heart. She wished Portia and Christofano could both be a part of raising Lorenzo. Kate sighed. "I'm afraid Christofano would find me quite brazen. I’d be much too outspoken for him. I can hear him now, giving Shade advice on how to tame his woman."

  Portia laughed out loud and bumped shoulders with her. "Oh, he will do no such thing! Shade does not like you tame, he likes you just as you are...beautiful in heart and spirit, but as stubborn and headstrong as he is. You have a way of bringing him home, letting him rest from his duties. I know when he is with you, he forgets his burdens. A warrior needs a place to feel at peace. But I love that you have your own warriors. Jealous, as well. The things I could have accomplished."

  Portia laughed and Lorenzo began to kick and make noises. "He is not one to stay still for long, is he? You are so much like your father if you but knew! Do not fret. Your mother is right here."

  Portia handed Lorenzo back to Kate as she stared up at the portrait, looking at her son as a child. Her heart was both sad and yet overjoyed. "He has grown into a man of good heart and soul. He loves you. He loves his life. That is all I ever wanted for him."

  Kate took the baby and turned to look at the portrait on the wall with the picture of young Shade. She saw so much of Lorenzo in his face. "Madre, you have no idea how much I love him. How much I love our life. There’s no life for me now without him."

  She turned to look back at her mother-in-law but found the hall empty, her spirit gone as quickly as it had come. Kate sighed and kissed the top of Lorenzo's head. "My beautiful boy, nothing will ever harm you. I promise you that."

  About the Author

  Emily Bex is an avid life-long reader, and a first time writer of the epic six book Medici Warrior Series. As she says, “Why start small?” She worked for over twenty years in marketing, developing ad campaigns, catalogs, product launches and promotional literature. She figured if she could write creatively about products, then surely she could write something about these characters that were rattling around inside her brain. She currently lives in Virginia, but has used her extensive love of travel, both foreign and domestic, to create the backdrop for her characters to play out their story.

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