The Blood Covenant

by Emily Bex

  Before reaching Alec’s neighborhood, Shade picked up the scent of a young vampire, but he was no warrior. Letting his nose lead him, he kept his distance and stayed in the shadows. The vamp was with a mortal female and seemed to be quite cozy with her. Shade knew it was a ruse to lure her and that wouldn’t be a problem if all the young vamp wanted was to feed, erase her memory, and disappear. This one had no such designs. He was hungry, and he intended to take his fill, leaving the mortal drained and lifeless. As the couple walked under a lamppost, Shade saw the mortal’s face and recognized her. No one he knew personally, but someone he’d seen at several of Rissa and Alec’s parties. He didn’t know her name, but she needed to be rid of this hungry young vamp.

  They were near the Canton residence. She probably lived near Alec and Rissa. That’s the last thing Alec needed. Some mortal found dead, raped, and ravaged, with suspicious neck wounds right in his neighborhood.

  Shade stayed in the shadows, slowly getting closer. His plan was to attack the vamp, but in doing so, he knew the mortal would be terrified. She may even recognize him from the parties. Shade waited for the perfect opportunity as the vampire walked her under a row of large trees that lined the walkway, looking like nothing more than young lovers having a close encounter. Shade saw him nuzzle into her neck, his fangs already bared.

  Pulling out his Glock, the silencer already attached, he held the clip in his other hand. His blood raced, his beast ready to rip this little bastard to shreds, but one clean shot was all he needed. Drop him, and let her live. Before he could slam the clip in the gun, the wind shifted, and the vamp picked up Shade’s scent, his head spinning in his direction. Shade took a spread-leg stance, ramming the clip into the Glock, watching as the young vampire’s hands let go of the mortal, just as Shade took aim. Firing one clean shot between his eyes, the vamp dropped straight to the ground and the mortal took flight, screaming like a banshee.

  Rushing forward, he began to see lights switching on in the nearby houses as the mortal ran screaming for her life. Crazy bitch would have the whole of G-town awake soon! He lifted the dead vamp in one arm and teleported after her. She was a mortal female after all, and in those heels, she wasn’t likely to get far, no matter how terrified she was.

  Catching up with her, he swooped down and easily lifted her with his other arm, but damn she was one fucking little hellcat, kicking and clawing.

  “You are safe, relax.”

  Damn bitch bit into his arm and he decided he had to land, and soon. He couldn’t erase her memory with both his hands full. Teleporting into the courtyard behind Alec’s residence, Shade dumped the rogue unceremoniously onto the yard by the pool and quickly managed to lay his hand on the mortal’s forehead, taking out her memory and relaxing her. He gave her a nice, easy drunk feeling, legless, and sleepy with no memory of the recent events. She’d remember going out for the night, but everything else would be gone. Sitting her down in one of the lawn chairs, ready to pull out his cell and dial-up Alec, he saw him coming to the poolside doors.

  Alec walked out and saw Shade standing next to one of his neighbors, slumped in a deck chair, and a lifeless rogue lying on the ground. He gave Shade a ‘what the fuck’ look.

  Shade threw up his hands, “Little present for you, brother. I was making my rounds when I came across the mortal and that rogue snuggling a bit too tight. He was going for the kill.” Shade nodded his head in the woman’s direction. “I recognized her from some of your events. Erased her memory, she is clean and not harmed. No idea what in the hell to do with her now. Where does she belong?”

  Alec stood in the doorway, arms crossed over his chest, looking from the dead vamp to the dazed mortal. And they wonder why I resent being immortal. “Yeah, she’s a client of Rissa’s. I know where she lives, I’ll handle her. I’ll have my driver teleport her to her front door with her keys in her hand. Good job, brother. How are things at the Dead House?”

  Shade joined him at the door, lighting a cigarette. “The warriors are moving forward, making progress, few kills here and there. Things are smooth Alec, no problems. I am taking that piece of shit and disposing of him, and then heading back home. I’ll be in California for the next few days. Tomas will be in charge. He can reach me if anything comes up.”

  Alec nodded as the two bumped fists, and Shade threw the rogue over his shoulder and teleported out. He left the dead vamp in the enclosed courtyard behind the Dead House to sizzle and burn in the morning sun and no one would be the wiser. He teleported back to Bel Rosso. His death slumber called, and when he awoke, he needed to get Kate to California as promised.

  29

  Landing with Kate in his arms in the driveway of the Napa Valley house, he whispered in her ear, “Open your eyes mi amore, welcome to California.”

  He set her down in the driveway as the sun was setting and they still had maybe an hour of dusk before nightfall.

  “This is a beautiful house, Shade. It looks almost new…and…huge! The property looks beautiful. You can see the vineyards from the house, just like Bel Rosso.”

  The house was an expansive, modernized Spanish design, with a reddish-brown tile roof, like the Virginia house, and yet, it had nothing of the old Tuscan feel of their Virginia home. There was a stone foundation, and the exterior, above the stone, was smooth stucco in the palest cream color. The landscape was lush and well-tended.

  “This was part of my payment from Alec, for my security services. I was more interested in the vineyards than the house, but if the property is to maintain its value, then it must all be cared for. I did not plan to live here, but now that I have you, it is someplace we can come to get away, si? Come, take a look. Tell me what you think.”

  They walked together to the front of the house and opened the door. This house was much grander. Vaulted ceilings, floor to ceiling windows, spiral staircases. It would need no renovation, just a decorator’s touch. He sensed Kate was overwhelmed by the size of it as they walked through the rooms. Formal living and dining rooms, a huge kitchen, informal dining and a family room, downstairs powder room, home theater, and a library were all on the first floor. There was a downstairs master suite with a private bath, an arboretum, and another room that looked like it could be used as a home office.

  There were eight bedrooms upstairs. Five of the bedrooms had a fireplace, and all of the bedrooms had a dedicated bathroom. The bedrooms were large enough to include a sitting area within each room. There was another master suite that was bigger than her old condo that included the bedroom, a large sitting area, two large his and hers walk-in closets, and a massive private bath. This didn’t feel like a home. It felt like a small hotel.

  Kate thought the Bel Rosso house was big, but this house made it pale in comparison. The backyard included a large pool and pool house. Kate walked from room to room, making mental notes. She was learning his taste from her work on Bel Rosso. Shade liked traditional, old-world design, he liked antiques. And she got that. He would have more emotional ties to those pieces. This would be a massive project, but in many ways, easier than Bel Rosso since the house itself was move-in ready.

  “I can do this, Shade. Is there anything in particular you want?”

  “No, mi amore. I have only been here a few times since I acquired the property. Luciano and I surveyed the vineyards and the wine cellars, looked at what we needed to do to expand the operations here, changed our labels, and changed the name of the vineyards to Medici. The house has already been fitted with the electronic blinds, but other than that, I have done nothing. The large master suite upstairs, make that ours. Just follow your own vision.”

  “How many homes do you have?”

  He chuckled as he walked up behind her, sliding his arms around her waist.

  “I have my main home in Florence. I have a small villa in the south of France, and another in Santorini, in Greece. They are near the vineyards there, although I do not live in either. I go when Luciano thinks it is important for me to see something there, make de
cisions about the vineyards. Listen to me, Bel Rosso is my home now. I will always have roots in Florence, but my home is with you now, in Virginia. You can come here with me when Luciano needs my input in the business. It is isolated, like the Virginia house, sits on about 4,000 acres, most of which have been converted to vineyards. So, the vineyards are larger here, occupy more of the property. Over half the production of wine from these vineyards will be used for the Midnight brand, the rest, for the brands sold to mortals.”

  She walked through the empty rooms. “This is a beautiful space, lover. I’ll enjoy turning it into a home away from home for us.”

  “Oh si, I have no doubts. Now there is someplace I’d like to take you tonight. There is a club I used to frequent in San Francisco when I was out here. It is a club for vampires, where they can go and be out in the open. There are mortals there too, the followers, or immortal wannabees. I have kept you from much of my world. But it is time, I think, to start exposing you, little by little.”

  “I'm ready...I mean, how different could it be?”

  “Different. You will see vamps feeding openly from each other. The room is surrounded by booths that are recessed, and darkly lit for privacy, but not so dark you will not recognize what is going on. There will be mortals there as well, hoping to be fed upon. The dance floor is lit but still dim. The music is loud, and the alcohol flows, for both vampire and mortals.”

  When he referenced feeding, she knew he didn’t just mean feeding. She got the inference. There would be people having sex in the club. Before her, this was where he would go.

  “Why do you want to take me there?”

  “Our community is worldwide, but very small. Vampires make up only about three to four percent of the population. We rely on this network to get news, spread news, about what is happening among our kind. When a vamp feeds from another vamp, it does not change their scent. If a vamp feeds from a mortal, it is immediately detectable to other vamps. I take you there for one reason. My scent has been altered, and yours as well. Every vamp at the club will know we are mated. And by this time tomorrow, every vamp in every coven will know Shade Medici is mated.”

  Kate processed this information. It was a public claiming, a declaration of sorts. “Lover, the vamps that are there, did you…feed from some of them?”

  Shade paused before he responded. He felt her discomfort, but at some point she needed to understand his world. “Si, mi amore. There will be vamps there that I have fed from, mortals as well. Do not read more into this than there is. I must feed to survive, I have fed from many. And unlike your mortal world, we make no distinction between feeding from male or female. Although every vamp has a preference, the bloodlust and hunger overwhelm, and we will feed from either.”

  Kate paced about the room. “And when you say feed….”

  Shade followed her with his eyes, giving her space, “Si, the sex as well. We seek someone who attracts, we feed, we have sex, we move on. Sometimes there are those we return to, someone we feel more attracted to that we will feed from over a period of time. But the bond is fleeting. It is only when we find our mate that we bond for life.”

  Kate stood at a window, looking out into the night, seeing her reflection in the glass. Although she knew he’d been with many women, it had never been something she’d had to face head-on. She’d been able to push it out of her mind. But now he was saying he’d been with men too? She’d never considered it before, and to see a woman, or man, who he’d been intimate with, stand face to face with her, she felt jealous despite his explanations.

  “So, this appearance, it’s basically to say you’re off the market, so to speak.”

  Shade couldn’t help but smile at her use of the American expression. “Si, off the market. I am permanently off the market.”

  She turned to him. “Well, in that case, let’s go.”

  Shade took her hand and kissed it softly. “I think you will find a dress and shoes, and everything you need in the closet.”

  She went to the closet to find a dress definitely deigned for clubwear; short, barely there, and covered in sequins in varying shades of bronze. The color was perfect with her red hair. There was a pair of strappy bronze metallic heels. She put on the dress and shoes and found all her favorite make-up brands in the bathroom, along with her signature fragrance. She finished her make-up and threw the red lipstick and a few other items into the evening clutch, then met him back in the bedroom. He was in black leather pants that left nothing to the imagination, a black t-shirt, and a black leather jacket. His black boots were laced up over his ankles, his hair hanging long and loose around his face. Seriously? Who wouldn’t want to fuck him?

  He gave her a wicked grin as she realized he’d read her thoughts again, extended his hand to her, and pulled her in close. “Ready?”

  She nodded her head. She was as ready as she’d ever be.

  “Then come dance the night away with me, mi amore.”

  He led her out to a huge garage in the back of the residence, to a red and black sports car. He walked her to the passenger’s side and opened the door for her, where she found a single long stem red rose on the seat.

  “We are going in traditional style tonight.”

  She picked up the rose and slid into the seat. “What is this, a Ferrari?”

  He walked to the driver’s side door and slid behind the wheel. “I have a Ferrari, but this is a Lamborghini. Special edition...and, stick shift.”

  He gave her a sideways glance as she laughed out loud. He’d never let her live down the fact that she drove a sports car with an automatic transmission.

  “I love cars and speed. I have quite a collection.”

  Kate had seen the collection of cars and motorcycles in the garage at Bel Rosso. She had no idea there would be more to the collection here in California and could only imagine what he kept at Castello.

  Shade reached across and grabbed her seat belt, buckling her in, making sure his hands slid across her legs and breasts, taking his sweet time. He pulled on his leather driving gloves and then fired up the engine, ready for action, just like his walking sin.

  “Listen, before we get there, you need to know, if there are females there I have fed from, they may approach me. Female vamps will know I am mated…but to a mortal, so they may challenge you. Mortal females will not pick up my scent. You will just be a new female on my arm. It would not be...unusual...for me to have been with more than one at a time. So, they will not be swayed by your presence with me.”

  Kate was already fuming. So, this wasn’t just walking in the door on his arm, so a few vamps could pick up his scent and know he was off the market. This was staking a claim. This was letting every female in the club know, ‘back-off bitch, he’s mine.’

  Shade could feel her blood boil and her heartbeat rise. He knew she had jealous feelings about his past and she struggled to get past it, but this next step was important. She’d be challenged, and even though he desired no other. He knew there’d be a few alpha females who’d try to intimidate her, convince her she wasn’t worthy. He’d back them down, but she must also learn to stand her ground, to take her place beside him. In his world, it was truly a matter of survival of the fittest, and he was warrior to the warriors. He was master and royal blood. All the more reason his choice of a mortal mate would be challenged. And all the more reason she must stand strong.

  “Bel, this is my culture, I cannot escape it. I must feed, and until a male chooses a mate, there is no bond in the feeding. The sex is part of it, it is what it is. But none of them have ever fed from me. That is held by every vampire as sacred, for their mate alone. I waited for you, I chose you. Tonight, the rest of my community will know I chose you. Stand strong with me bel rosso, show them I belong to you. Don’t back down.”

  Kate got angrier as he spoke. “Are you throwing down the gauntlet? Do you think I’d stand idly by while some bitch slides her tits across your chest?”

  Shade gave her an evil grin, liking how her anger
made his cock sit up and take notice. “Would you stand idly by, mi amore?”

  She shot him a look that could kill. “Don’t count on it, Mr. Medici. I’ll bring new meaning to the phrase, ‘blood on the dance floor.’”

  Shade laughed out loud as he shifted into gear and started flying down Highway 101 toward San Francisco, hitting 120 mph. He felt her fear spike with the increasing speed. “Relax and enjoy the ride. I can rock this road like your savage lover rocks your body.”

  Between the speed, and the challenge that lay ahead of them, his beast was edgy and ready. Her rose scent filled the car and he wanted desperately to get there and claim her to the vampire community. This would bring her one step further into his world, letting her understand their culture more as he prepared her to be turned.

  It was a risk, mating her first, and then giving her exposure to their lifestyle. As a mortal, even mated, she could still walk away from him. His bond was eternal at this point, but hers wasn’t. Until she was turned, she could always choose to leave. The blood bond made it harder, and he was hoping her love and their blood bond would be strong enough to get her through all she must overcome before she was turned.

  He kept glancing over at her as he sped down the highway, aware of her growing sense of unease but captivated by her beauty. “You are such a distraction.”

  “Me? I’m the innocent one here!”

  He chuckled as they crossed the Golden Gate and headed into the bright lights of San Francisco. He headed into the section of the city known as the Tenderloin, to a club that had a long line of people waiting to get inside. A valet rushed to his car, and she realized they knew him here. They were clamoring to be of assistance. He tossed the keys to the valet and opened her car door, reaching in to take her hand.