by Emily Bex
She gently ran her fingers down his cheek. “I have no fear. I know I’ll be pulled back to you. I’ll fight through anything to get back to you. Will it change me in other ways? Other than the death slumber and having to avoid the sun, will it change how I feel? Will it change anything for us?”
He smiled down at her. “Oh, si. You will have my skills of shadowing, teleporting, you will remain small because you were born mortal, but you will be much stronger. And you will have a gift. What that gift is, I cannot say. I am a dream-walker, Luca a day-walker. We will not know your gift until you are turned. It will make us true eternal mates and you will feel your emotions much deeper, more intensely. Your vision will be enhanced, and your sense of smell will be greater. The bond between us will be so much more intense in every aspect.”
“More intense? Lover, I can't imagine more intense. And what is your plan for when this should happen? Does some vampire council have to approve me becoming immortal? What if they say no? Could they keep us apart?”
“This choice is mine, I am a master. I choose to whom I mate and call home to me. No one can stop me.”
She laid her head against his chest. “And what do you choose?”
“You are mine. I choose you to be my mate, my immortal lover for all eternity and I choose to be your maker and master.”
“And I choose you, lover.”
He tilted her face up to his. “I think you should kiss me and seal this deal.”
She felt his arms encircle her as they kissed. “You have told me everything except when. Do you have any idea of when?”
“Not yet, but soon. You grow stronger as you continue to feed from me. You will need the strength to survive the turning. Now, I say we lay on this couch and make love all night long in front of this warm fire...hmmmm, what do you say, mi amore?”
“I say yes."
46
It didn’t take long for Luca to realize he was on his own to complete the installation of the security system when Shade disappeared with Kate. He leaped to the red-tiled rooftop and scanned the property. There was only one roadway into the estate, the two-mile-long private drive. All other footpaths and roads on the land were closed loops or dead ends and were confined to the property. He made sure to position cameras on the front entrance to the house, and the three rear entrances that lead onto a wide patio. He positioned another camera so it was pointed at the staff quarters, and the other was pointed at the winery. He teleported to the staff quarters and placed cameras to monitor both entrances and did the same with the winery.
Once off the roof, he teleported down to the fenced entry off the main road and installed a camera there. The entire property was enclosed with a white rail fence, except for the section that led up the side of the mountains. It was a fence that marked boundaries but wouldn’t prevent entry. He noticed the sign near the entrance that read, ‘Bel Rosso Vineyards.’ As vampires living among mortals, they’d learned over the years the best way to hide was in plain sight. Creating a fortress with a high chain-link fence topped with barbed wire, and lots of No Trespassing signs only made mortals curious about what was going on. This vineyard needed to look like all the other scenic vineyards that dotted the Virginia countryside, and the winery and vineyards remained open for tourists as did all the vineyards. It was a risk they must take.
Luca placed a laser beam motion detector at the entrance to the private road, and another motion detector about two hundred feet in. He knew some people would pull in because they were lost, or checking a map, and had no intention of driving all the way up the driveway. The first detector would alert them that someone had pulled into the drive. The second one would let them know the car didn’t turn around and move on. He placed the other motion detectors around the perimeter of the house, staff quarters, and the winery, but far enough out that the staff wouldn’t trigger them in their day to day movement around the property.
When he got back inside, he set up the large screen monitor in Shade’s office, which would project a small image from each camera onto the screen. He mounted a second monitor in his suite. The system allowed for him to zoom in on any image, and automatically enlarge any image to full screen if a motion detector within that camera’s range was triggered. Once everything was wired, he programmed both his and Shade’s cell phones to be able to view any camera and to receive a text message if a motion detector was tripped.
It was almost sunrise and he heard Shade and Kate on the stairs as the soft whir of the electronic blinds started to close. Luca stepped out into the hallway to let Shade know everything was installed and functioning. He knew he wouldn’t see him again now until sunset.
Luca walked to the staff quarters to see Gi and the rest of the staff and found all of their personal items that were flown over from Florence had arrived. Everyone was busy unpacking and getting moved into their rooms. Luca made several trips back and forth to carry his things. Mostly clothes, books, and art supplies, taking the items back to the suite that would be his living space. He got things put away as best as possible until he had more furniture in the room and then decided he too would sleep. He’d used a lot of energy in the teleport from Italy and then completing the security installation. He’d like to feed, but master hadn’t given him the details on the feeders here yet, and he didn’t want to hunt when he wasn’t familiar with the territory.
The electronic blinds darkened his room as well, and for now, he’d leave them on the same schedule as Shade. He dropped his clothes and stepped into the large shower stall that had multiple shower heads, hitting him at different angles, and let the hot water pour over him, massaging his back as the water pounded and pulsated. In Florence, the warriors all showered in a communal bathroom, with a line of showers and low water pressure. Showers were kept short, so you didn’t run out of hot water. He’d never felt a shower like this one, and he took his time. When he stepped out, he grabbed a towel that was thick and fluffy and almost as long as he was tall. He dried off and headed for the big king size bed. In the camp, the warriors slept in bunks, single-width beds that barely fit their large frames. He lay across the large bed, the mattress firm beneath him, and yet, he felt it conform to his shape, cradling him in comfort. The pillows were down-filled, as was the comforter. The sheets were expensive and had a crisp, clean smell. In all his life, he’d never been surrounded by this kind of luxury, living the austere life of a warrior. He didn’t usually sleep during the day, but the travel and hard work, the hot shower, and a bed that he’d decided must be the world’s most comfortable bed, lured him into sleep. He couldn’t believe this was his. He saw the rooms that my lady had prepared in the staff quarters, and he knew she’d make his suite equally luxurious. Hell, he would’ve come here for the bed alone!
***
Gi and Theresa had finished unpacking when Gi told her they had a job waiting for them in the main house. Theresa was delighted to have been chosen to come to the States. In Florence, she’d been one housemaid among many. But here, she’d serve her master’s mate, just as Gi served master. She met my lady briefly during both of her visits to Florence. Gi said she was kind and had a soft heart, like Shade’s madre. Theresa had been with the Medici family for two generations now, and with any luck, she’d be nanny to her master’s children.
She’d watched Shade grow up, losing his parents too soon and taking on the responsibility for the warrior camp, and supporting the coven. His success allowed all of them to be successful as well, and he was a good and fair master who held their loyalty. Theresa had watched him over the years with the women he brought back to Castello. Most of them didn’t last long, much to the relief of the house staff. There were two that had lived at Castello for many years that the staff feared would be his choice for a mate. Adriana could be both a regal lady, and a warrior, but she looked down her nose at the staff, feeling her position placed them all so far beneath her. The idea that she’d be their queen was almost unbearable. Theresa knew her master had loved Adriana, but for whatever re
ason, he never took her as his mate, and when she died, he was inconsolable for many years.
He returned to his bachelorhood ways of courting many women, and then there was Sabine. Sabine could be hard and hateful to the staff, but never in front of master. She made them all wish for Adriana. Sabine’s darkness engulfed their master, pulling him down with her, and they watched as he changed before their eyes; sullen, angry, his beast easily roused. And the activities in the underground chamber were only whispered about by the house staff, knowing if Sabine or master heard their gossip they’d be let go. When master finally broke free of her, there was jubilation at Castello among the staff, but of course, they had to hide their joy at Sabine’s departure.
And now he was mated. Theresa had heard the talk among the staff that she was mortal, and therefore not suitable for the role of their future queen. But never had Theresa seen her master as happy as he was now. She knew how important this would have been to his mother, to find a mate he loved and would make him happy, mortal or not. Theresa was delighted with his choice. The others would come around once she was turned.
She joined Gi in the great room of the staff quarters, ready to tackle whatever project he threw at her. Gi wanted to go over some instructions first and asked her to sit.
He sat across from her. “Theresa, I wish for you to work in the main house during day hours. Master will be in his death slumber, and my lady tries to match her sleep schedule to his. In the evenings, master frequently leaves the house to work for Master Alec, so my lady is up during the night hours as well. She may or may not need assistance during the night. Perhaps more in the beginning, as she is still working on the house. Master has asked that we give her some space as she is not used to having house staff. Their bedroom can be cleaned at night unless master is home. So, try to keep up with his schedule. Reynaldo has said she is very easy to work for. He says she is chatty and friendly and does not treat him as staff. Today, we need to clean their bedroom, but this is going to be a project.”
He stood to lead her to the main house and she followed behind him. “A project? Master Shade was careless with tossing his clothes about, but never left a real mess.”
“Si. But this is a special circumstance. My lady was home alone, and she was attacked by Sabine. Our master was able to respond in time, and it was a battle to the death. I’m afraid there is little left unbroken in that room. We must clear it out and wash away the blood. Even still, it will require new carpet and repainted walls.”
Theresa’s mouth was hanging open. Master slayed Sabine! If she wouldn’t be reprimanded, she would have danced a jig. “So, that explains the sudden decision for a protector, and probably for all of us to move here as well.”
“Si. I think once master made the decision to live here, he would have brought some of us over eventually, but this incident just escalated his timeline. Master asked that there be no evidence of Sabine when my lady returns to their room, so we have our work cut out for us.”
Theresa smiled to herself. The prospect of washing away Sabine’s blood and watching it circle down a drain was bringing her great pleasure. The bitch had it coming.
47
Kate was looking for something to wear in a stack of clothing that had been moved to the guest bedroom. Shade was back at the Dead House for the night, and they’d been sleeping in this guest bedroom since their return from Florence. He’d asked her not to go back in their bedroom until it had been cleared. He’d been going back to their old bedroom and bringing out stacks of clothes for her. She got dressed in a pair of jeans and sweater, and headed down the stairs, joining Reynaldo in the kitchen.
Reynaldo had tried setting a place for her in the dining room, but Kate ate at the kitchen counter, seated on a barstool so she could talk to him. She enjoyed his company, as well as his cooking. As she was wrapping up her breakfast meal, which she ate at an hour most mortals were sitting down to dinner, Theresa entered the kitchen.
“My lady?”
Kate turned to her and smiled. She’d seen very little of Theresa since they’d returned from Florence. Shade was right about the staff being discreet. She never saw them unless she called for them or sought them out, and yet, the house remained immaculate, the laundry done, folded, and put away. Reynaldo’s kitchen was clean enough to eat off the floor.
“Theresa, can I help you?”
“No, my lady. Gi has asked that I inform you your bedroom has been cleaned. We worked with the contractor’s and they have installed the carpet you had selected for all the second-floor bedrooms, and the walls have been freshly painted. I have laundered the clothing in your closet or had them sent for dry cleaning. The clothing that was in the dressers has also been cleaned. Since the furniture hasn’t been replaced, I folded those items and placed them in large laundry baskets. The same for Master Shade. I apologize for the inconvenience, but master was quite clear there was to be…no, uh, evidence.”
“You laundered all of my clothing?”
“Yes, my lady, I hope that’s all right.”
“I...it’s fine, Theresa. I was just thinking about how full my closet is!”
“Think nothing of it, my lady. The room is ready for you to furnish.” Theresa bowed her head slightly and left the kitchen.
Kate slid off the barstool and climbed the stairs to their bedroom, excited to finish up one of the final rooms in the house. She opened the door and stepped into the empty space. The bedroom was already large, and they’d decided, during all the remodeling, to knock out the wall to an adjoining bedroom to create two large walk-in closets, one for her and one for Shade. Unlike Luca’s suite, their bedroom didn’t have a separate sitting room, but the space was large enough to accommodate two large armchairs along with the bedroom furniture she’d selected. The adjoining bathroom had a large tub, designed to accommodate two, and a gas-lit fireplace that was open to both the bedroom and the bathroom, enclosed by a glass panel on both sides. There was a long granite vanity with two sinks, and a separate shower stall with a rain forest showerhead. There was a great window in the bedroom that looked out over their property and had a view of the mountains, and a small balcony ̶ too small to accommodate a chair ̶ beneath the window. Maybe she’d put some plants out there. She’d loved this room when she saw it. Now she had to make it theirs. She needed to make this their sanctuary. The place he wanted to come home to.
She’d already worked with the designers and the antiquities dealers to purchase the items for this space, so it would take no time to wrap this up.
Gi had an army of workers organized as they brought in the furniture pieces, an old Bombay chest for her, a large armoire for him, the large hand-carved headboard for the king-size bed, flanked by nightstands. Two overstuffed armchairs were positioned near the window. One wall in their bedroom was stone, and the other walls were Venetian plaster. Kate had chosen colors in muted earth tones, with furniture that was heavy and substantial, still keeping a Tuscan feel. She was still looking for art pieces, but she was most excited about the fantastic find of the antique hand-stitched wall tapestry.
As the room came together, she had the workers hang the tapestry over the bed. The colors of the threads were now faded in the ancient tapestry, but the view of a Tuscan estate in the early fall, with rolling hills of green, gold, and brown and the ever-present cypress trees was perfectly proportioned to hang over their bed.
The room looked transformed. This room spoke to her heart, and she hoped it would speak to his. This room held no memories of a battle with Sabine.
With this room completed, she sought out Luca and they met with the designers to plan his suite. She hated that he was living so sparsely and wanted his rooms to be a sanctuary for him as well. She picked out pieces that were heavy and masculine, dark wood tables, and a large leather sofa, a softer upholstered armchair. His room had beautiful large windows and French doors, giving the large space beautiful light and an open feel. All the while, Luca was telling her he needed nothing, and she was doing too
much. He feared master wouldn’t approve. Kate laughed softly, reassuring him that Shade wouldn’t object, and somehow, Luca knew it was true. Shade would deny her nothing and would let her do whatever made her happy. And what made her happy was taking care of others.
Luca looked up to see Theresa standing in the doorway, taking in the flurry of activity. He knew she too was overwhelmed with her good fortune, and the beautiful space she now lived in. Luca had already moved his books onto the bookshelves, but his art supplies were stacked in a corner, along with an easel. Kate worked with the designers to create a small art studio in an alcove by the window that would take advantage of the natural light. She had the designers build custom shelving for him to accommodate storing canvases and drawers for storing paints and brushes.
Luca understood, as did all the staff, that Kate made no class distinction. She cringed when they called her my lady, a title she accepted with reluctance. Her familiarity with them, her casual conversation, made it clear she saw them as an extension of her family here with Shade. And even though a coven was a family, in the vampire world, there had always been a hierarchy within the coven. Luca had seen enough of mortals to know they too had a hierarchy, of the rich and the poor, the haves and the have-nots. But that wasn’t Kate’s world. She had her own rules, and in her world, everyone was on a level playing field. She was mate to a master, a king, one of the richest vampires in their global community. It was her prerogative to command them at her will, but he saw already she’d rule with a soft hand, and the coven would love her for it.