The Blood Covenant

by Emily Bex

  Shade left him lying there, the Senator’s mind filled with failure and the impending, overwhelming victory of Senator Canton. Shade understood the allure of the addiction and had no doubt the Senator’s fall from sobriety would be full-blown before he knew what hit him. Combined with the nightmares that would rob him of his sleep and the return of his alcohol addiction, the good Senator would become a bumbling, blithering idiot on the hill. He’d need no help from Shade or Alec to lose it all. A week or two was all it would take to land the Senator right where he wanted him. But until then, the never-ending hell of that nightmare would replay over and over in his head and no amount of alcohol would diminish it.

  Shade kept up his routine of checking on Ralston every other night and found him progressively turning to the bottle for relief. He knew the Senator was weak, but it only took a few weeks for the man to unravel. Shade had seen the man’s eyes become more bloodshot and had viewed several Fox News and CNN clips where the Senator was seen at a few campaign fundraising events and in every single one, a drink graced his hand, his face was reddened, and he looked completely unsteady on his feet. The press was starting to make subtle comments about his drinking.

  Tonight, he found the Senator awake in his bedroom. Wrapping himself in shadows, Shade walked in to see him sitting as his desk, his face in his hands, a half-empty bottle of vodka sitting beside him. Watching this man slowly disintegrate was a sorry sight. Shade watched as Ralston slid right off his chair and plopped limp on the floor, passing out. Shade walked to him, lifted him in his arms, and laid him out on the bed.

  Walking back to the desk, he looked through the Senator’s itinerary for the week. Ralston had an exclusive interview about his Presidential campaign bid scheduled with Anderson Cooper that would be shot live and seen nationwide. Well, isn’t this just the perfect ticket for the old boy? Shade grinned and walked to the bedside of the passed-out Senator as he lay in his drunken stupor, and placed his hand upon his forehead, projecting an image of a nervous and fidgeting Senator responding in terror at the questions being fired at him. Shade left him with the distinct impression in his mind that with enough drink right before the televised interview, his nerves would be calmed, and he’d appear in control. Shade let the dreams repeat over and over, adding how important it was for the Senator to nail this interview to keep public opinion on his side. Shade exited the room, leaving the Senator tossing in a restless sleep, waking constantly in a cold sweat. That should give him a head start on looking worse for wear at his interview.

  The following night, in the Dead House, Shade gathered the warriors together for a briefing, letting them share what they were seeing out on the streets, hearing suggestions before he barked out grid assignments and instructions, and sent them into D.C. for the night. Tomas was on patrol as well tonight, as Shade stayed at the command center. Checking his watch, it was almost time for the live interview. Shade flipped the widescreen monitor from the surveillance feed over to TV and watched the Senator unravel on national television.

  The Senator’s face was blotchy and red, his speech was slightly slurred. He spoke in that slow, controlled, deliberate manner of so many drunks, trying to maintain control. Anderson asked him about his history with alcohol, and the Senator admitted he’d had a problem in the past, but he had been sober for years. When Anderson moved on to the specific issues of the Senator’s campaign, Ralston stumbled over his answers, forgetting key points, performing badly. And then Anderson asked him about the rumors of the boating accident that had occurred years ago. In a panic, the Senator pulled the microphone from his lapel, mumbling that he wouldn’t be subjected to this, and stormed off the set.

  Shade flipped the monitor back to surveillance mode and smiled to himself. He was pretty sure Alec would have been watching this performance as well. He smiled down at the list of Medici weaponry that he was ordering to be hand made in Florence and shipped here for their use. Alec’s bill was beside it and that made him grin. There was something deeply satisfying about emptying Alec’s coffers. Hell, Shade didn’t need money, but he did need the vamps of his coven to be employed and making a fair living to take care of their families.

  Teleporting out, he made his rounds over the Canton residence. He was making sure the area was safe when he heard Tomas in his head.

  Two of his warriors had come upon a small group of rogues inside a club. They were preparing to move out onto the streets and were within a few miles of the Canton residence. Tomas and the others were gathering to take them out as they left the club and Shade knew he had to be there. It would take several of them if the rogues split up, and between him and his crew, they’d follow them until they could take them out. He much preferred killing rogues to dream-walking any day.

  At sunrise, he was teleporting home to Bel Rosso, and landed in the bathroom, stripping away the bloodied leathers before stepping in the shower. He could hear Kate in the bedroom. As he walked to her, wearing only a towel, his hair still damp, his beast calmed by the night of kills, he told her there was something he needed to check before he came to bed. He headed downstairs to his office and turned on the TV for the morning news. The talking heads were all in a buzz over last night’s interview with Senator Ralston, and his early morning announcement that he was pulling himself from the campaign race.

  42

  It had been several days since the dream-walking assignment, and Shade was back into his routine at the Dead house. As day approached, he teleported home, and his sweet bel teased him. He felt the beast push to the surface, and he pulled away from her, watching the disappointment in her face.

  It was the discussion that never went away, the one hurdle they couldn’t get past, and the wedge that remained between them--the beast. Shade still hid his true nature from her, still warned her about the beast that resided in him and pushed her away. She played him the song by Kelly Clarkson, "Dark Side.”

  He listened but feared she didn’t understand the depths of the darkness. “Can you say that, mi amore, can you truly say that? You have not seen the darkest of me and I am not sure you will stay afterward. But si, this makes me fear that once you see the beast you will never love me again and I will lose you. I will lose all if that happens, for I cannot go on without you.”

  She ran her hand over his chest. “Shade, there’s no way back for me. I’m committed to you, heart and soul. Your darkness is the first thing I saw, and it’s what drew me to you. I do understand that you’ve shielded and protected me, but I promise you, the only thing that can break this mortal girl is for you to leave me, stop loving me. I can bare all else. How can I ever convince you? Until I do, I won’t fully have your heart. You won’t be able to love without reservation if you still have doubt, and I want all of you, lover. All of you, including the dark side.”

  It had become their eternal struggle. What he hid from her. He feared she’d leave him once she saw the beast and understood his true nature. He feared the beast would hurt her or kill her and pushed her away when the beast was too close to the surface. He felt frustration and anger, she felt hurt and rejection. There was no resolution and she fell asleep beside him as he slipped into his death slumber.

  He woke at sunset, getting dressed and leaving their bed before bel awoke. The night was slowly creeping in and he was restless as hell. This divide between them was eating him alive, the fucking reality of what he was, and the struggle to keep the beast under control never left him. Slipping out quietly onto the patio, he leaned against the side of the house, lit up a smoke and inhaled deeply, his mind screaming. She was his, she loved him. But she hadn’t seen the beast and that thought made his heart go dark and black. She said she’d stay, but she couldn’t possibly know, neither of them would until the beast was exposed.

  The beast ruled his soul and she’d never understand that until they faced each other head-on. Would the beast walk away the winner? He could love her with everything he had, but she didn’t know how twisted and sick he was inside when the beast took over,
and it was getting harder to hold him back. She tempted him, lured him with her body, her words, and the way she loved him. She saw Shade the man, but she had yet to see Shade the beast. And her strength to tackle the beast was not near enough at this point, but Shade was losing control and the devil laughed every time she pushed him further to the brink.

  He teleported back to D.C., into a crowded part of the district. He stalked and paced inside the alleyway. He had no intention of hunting or killing, but his restless heart refused to let him stay still for long. The night called to him and he felt better out here under the moon, the cold air clearing his head. This was where he could release the beast without hurting her. Maybe he did need a fight, someone to rip apart, someone to hunt.

  Suddenly, he felt the air change and he picked up a scent...vampire. Crouching down, his senses went into overdrive as the sounds got closer. That scent, it was familiar, and it was definitely a warrior. His blood began to rush. This wasn’t a vampire from the D.C. territory and it wasn’t one of his Medici. Whoever it was, they were deadly and meant business. The scent was strong, and it was getting closer.

  Female! Slowly pulling out a blade from the sheath at his waist, his whole body was tense and warrior mode kicked in. He saw her as she strolled toward him like a fucking member of the devil’s own brigade. Her raven black hair cut short from the last time he’d seen her. Her eyes shone, the stars above reflected in their beauty. She stood tall, sleek, and trim, just as he remembered her. She filled out that leather with her every honed, hard-muscled curve. Her boots were noiseless. She was all warrior. The moon graced her moves like a halo. She walked without fear...Sabine.

  Standing tall, his legs were spread as he asserted his alpha male position over her. He could feel her and knew she meant him no harm, but his mind began to wonder what in the hell she was doing here. “Sabine.”

  He never took his eyes off of her as she stood like a hellcat only inches in front of him. Her height almost equaled his as his eyes locked with hers and her voice was like pure fire burning through his veins.

  She purred out her greeting. “Shade, did you think you could defend yourself with that weapon? You’re losing your touch. Tell me you miss your pussy-cat.”

  Same smart mouth, nothing had changed about Sabine. Sheathing his knife, he stepped back away from her and tilted his head. “Well, you haven’t changed, except your locks, you cut them. What in the hell are you doing here, Sabine? This is far from your territory.”

  She moved in fast and slid her hand down his cheek, her lips close to his. “Shade, my deviant lover…what is that stench? Mated?”

  He watched as the look of shock flashed across her face. She quickly pulled her hand away from him. She stepped back, looking at him as if he was some creature from another planet and heard her begin to laugh and pace around him.

  “Shade, you have mated? Well, well, well, haven’t we come a long way? I’d heard rumors you had mated but dismissed them. When I heard your sweet ass was based in D.C., I thought maybe you’d want a little company. But mated? Who is she? I can’t imagine she quenches your beast better than me?”

  Growling, he stalked toward her, his beast angered and fired up from her words. “You damn hellcat, she is my mate! And it is none of your business who I mate or why I am here. You and I go back a long way Sabine, but you no longer have rein over me or my soul. You do not tempt me, and I am no longer interested. What we shared is in the past. You dragged me to the depths of hell. You found the darkest parts of me. I discovered more evil in myself than I even care to acknowledge, then or now. I finally found the strength to break free, and you moved on to other warriors to tend to your unending appetite for depravity. It took me a long time to climb out of that dark hole. So, do not come here and judge where my heart has gone. This is none of your business, Sabine. Go home and tell all the covens in Europe all is well in D.C., report back to whoever has sent you.”

  Turning his back on her, he strolled angrily from the alley, her words ringing through him.

  “Shade, wait.” He stopped and stood still, waiting to hear whatever was coming, when he felt her lay her head against his back.

  “You love her deeply, she’s given you something, changed you inside. Something I couldn’t. But there’s turmoil. I feel it rolling off you. Talk to me Shade, as a warrior, not a lover. I didn’t come here on anyone’s order, but for my peace of mind, to find you, check on you.”

  Turning, he looked at her. He no longer found her attractive, he knew her darkness. She had no damn heart for him, nor did she care, she only wanted to play with him, as she had from day one. Looking at Sabine, she was now just a bad memory of a female who never cared nor understood him. The darkness consumed her as it once had him, but his eternal love had given him light and that was something Sabine would never understand.

  “You know Sabine, my mate is mortal, and you could never understand the love she has shown me. I will love her until my dying day. She is mine for all eternity and you, just a speck in a dark and tortured part of my past.”

  As she slowly backed away from him, Sabine’s eyes were filled with jealousy and hatred. He doubted Sabine would ever touch her, she knew his strength was much greater than hers, and he’d kill her without provocation if she started any trouble.

  “Go, Sabine! And take a message with you. She is mine! You and yours come anywhere near her, I will kill you where you stand. I taught you all you know hellcat, and I know where you are weakest. I will take you down, without a backward fucking glance, and let you burn in the sun. Never let me see you again!”

  Watching as she teleported from the alley, he saw her crouched above him on the tower across the street. She shouted to him, her words rang clear in his head.

  “She will never tame your beast as I did, she is a mere mortal and she’ll be terrified of the beast. She’ll run from you Shade, if the beast doesn’t kill her first.”

  As she teleported away, he stood stock-still, his worst fear spoken out loud from his former immortal lover. She knew him too well, for she could feel the fear that still lingered inside him, his greatest weakness. He fell to his knees and covered his face with his hands. You are my strength Kate, and my greatest weakness.

  He had no idea how long he knelt there before he finally came to his senses, still struggling with all that had happened so fast with bel, and teleported back home. It had been a night of self-revelation, cleansing of the old, and fear of the future. He only knew he loved bel, and he was nothing without her and somehow, he must trust that her love for him was enough for her to stay.

  ***

  Kate woke with a start and knew the bed is empty. She could feel his absence. “Lover?” He didn’t respond, and the house was still and dark. “Shade?”

  There was still no answer as she slipped from their bed and wandered from room to room, making sure the house was empty. She checked outside on the rear patio for that tell-tail glow of his cigarette, but she saw nothing. She walked back upstairs to their bedroom and stood in the middle of the floor as panic rushed through her. This wasn’t like him, to leave her with no explanation. They’d argued again this evening, him pushing her away. What was their last conversation before she fell asleep?

  The song, she played him the song about loving his dark side. But he had doubts that she’d stay once she saw the full extent of his darkness. What if he’d left for good? What if his doubts about her were so strong, he felt like the pain of ending their relationship now would be easier than waiting until they were even closer? Oh please, lover! Please give me the chance to show you. How do I reach you? You said you’d always be here! Tears flowed down her cheeks as sobs wracked her body. I’m losing him.

  She wiped the tears from her face and took a deep breath. How do I fight for him? How do I get through? She stood still and cleared her head, allowed herself to reach out to him as he’d instructed her, tap into him, feel him, and find him. When she was able to quiet her mind, she could sense him. He was troubled. But he
wasn’t alone. She heard him talking to someone, but she couldn’t hear their words. Vampire. He was talking to another vampire, she was about to sigh with relief when she was hit with another image. Female! He was with another female. Is that what he wanted? How did she compete with an immortal, when his biggest fear was to show her that side of himself? How did she reach him?

  She moved from fear to anger in sixty seconds. Beast? You want to see a beast?

  ***

  Teleporting back to the house, Shade was hit full force with her pain, and he wanted to rip something to pieces knowing he’d hurt her. This was his fault, she could feel him, and then his heart felt her jealousy and anger. Damn it, Sabine! He was shocked that she could feel things so clearly. It was a reminder to him that she’d taken his blood more than he realized, and her strength was quickly coming to her.

  Going inside, he quietly walked upstairs to her, letting her feel him there, knowing she was working through a lot, and it was overwhelming to her. She turned as he entered their bedroom, and it just about broke him to see the look on her face, one that he never wanted to put there. He knew they were about to go ten rounds and he only prayed when it was done, they were still together.

  “Bel rosso, I am here.”

  She jerked around to see him standing there and charged at him, slamming both fists into his chest. “Who is she? You leave our bed in the middle of the night? You leave our bed for her?”

  He slid his hands around her slender waist, holding her in place. “Stop it, Kate! Stop this damn nonsense.”

  Slowly releasing his grip on her, he tried to get his emotions under control. He took deep breaths as he shook his head. “Please, give me a chance to explain, I did not seek her out. Do you doubt my love? What have I ever done to make you doubt me? What do I need to do to make you trust me? Damn it woman, tell me!”