The Blood Covenant

by Emily Bex

  She moved to sit next to him on the sofa, cradling her head on his shoulder as he dropped his arm around her, placing his hand at her waist, and slowly moving it up her back. As his hand reached her neck, he grasped a handful of her hair as he bent his head to her up-turned face and kissed her, gently, lips barely touching. Then he kissed the corners of her mouth, before he drew her bottom lip into his mouth and gently tugged.

  She raised her hand and placed it on his cheek, allowing her fingers to toy with their joined lips. He tilted his head to bite as one of her fingers slide into his mouth. He teased her finger with his tongue, and she responded in kind, and their kisses deepened and Desire continued to work her magic on his cock.

  His hand was still tangled in Rissa's golden locks as Desire brought him to orgasm, and he clinched both fists as he came, pulling hard on Rissa's hair until he heard her cry out. He pulled her head back, exposing her neck and bit into that soft succulent skin, and sucked hard to draw her blood into his mouth, increasing the intensity of his own orgasm as he felt his cock unload into the feeder’s throat. Rissa's body responded to the bite, going rigid as her hand dropped to his chest, and he listened to her moans mingling with his own. As her body went limp and relaxed into his, he looked down at Desire. Her eyes were locked on his as she used her tongue to lick away the last bits of cum from her lips.

  "Will there be anything else, master?"

  “I think you've done quite enough for one evening, Desire. Just remember everything I told you, and Rissa will be in contact when she’s ready to take you to my warrior's house. Santos will show you out.”

  The feeder stood and smiled at Rissa and made the same slow, hip rolling exit from the room.

  Rissa lay quietly with her head on his shoulder and her hand on his bare chest.

  “You know I love you, Rissa, in my own way, as much as I’m capable. We are kindred spirits, you and me. We take too much pleasure in hurting others. If you're looking for love sonnets and roses and other ridiculous displays of romantic mortal love, well, you won't find it here. But I do love you, my beauty. I love how other men look at you and envy me. I love reading the nasty thoughts in their heads as they try to conjure up an image of all the dirty deeds we perform between the sheets. You are my most prized possession.”

  Rissa soaked in his praise, and his declaration of love. Both of them were too self-absorbed to care much about anything but themselves, and they both know it. She smiled to herself, lucky to have found him.

  66

  Shade was pacing outside the house, chain-smoking one cigarette after another as he waited. The doctor would be here any moment. Trying to get control of his nervousness, he had left bel taking a shower, so he could take a smoke break and try to wrap his head around this situation. She seemed calm, but then she would, not knowing what might be coming. Hell, he wished he didn’t know. As he stubbed out his cigarette, Gi showed up to announce the doctor had arrived and was waiting in the living room. Gi told him he’d informed my lady of the same. Shade teleported into the bedroom where Kate came to him, still wrapped in a towel and hugged him tight.

  “Shade, Gi said the doctor was here? Rissa said he wouldn't need to examine me again since Dr. Cavelli had already done that, so let me just slip on a robe and we can go downstairs.”

  “Si, get your robe and we will see him in the living room. Now, come along, let us get this over with.”

  Kate returned in her robe and took his hands. He looked shaken, worried. “Okay, my territorial warrior, let's go downstairs and get this over with.”

  He walked with her hand in hand down the stairs and into the living room where the doctor stood as they entered.

  "Master Medici, Miss Reese, my name is Dr. Loggia. I was contacted by Senator Canton and told of your special circumstances. I specialize in immortal/mortal pregnancies. We seem to be seeing more and more of them and they do present some unique issues.”

  Shade laid his hand on the small of Kate’s back, directing her to the couch where they sat side by side. “Please continue. Let us know what to expect, and what these unique issues are.”

  The ‘doctor’ remained standing. He’d researched the topic and rehearsed his role carefully, knowing there’d be a big payout if the Canton’s were pleased. "Well, certainly you’re both aware that mortal/immortal pregnancies are not recommended. The mortal mother is usually not strong enough to support the demands the growing baby is going to put on her body. That is why we so strongly suggest pregnancies should be delayed until the mother is immortal. It’s not impossible to carry the child to term, but it will be extremely important you take these nutritional supplements. It’s a special formulation, designed to make up for the deficiencies in what her body won’t be able to provide the growing infant. Without these supplements, well, there’s almost no chance for the baby to survive. He, or she, won’t be able to draw enough nutrients from the mother and the baby dies in the womb."

  Kate felt her heart skip a beat, and she looked at Shade, but his face showed no emotion, and she knew he was trying to be strong for her. She looked at the doctor.

  “But if I take the supplements...it will be all right?”

  "Well, Miss Reese, we can't guarantee anything, but yes, your odds of carrying this baby to term improve dramatically with the supplements. But I must emphasize, you have to take them according to directions, without fail."

  “Of course, of course, I’ll take them.”

  The doctor continued, "The supplements must be taken three times a day, and I have to warn you, they’ll make you ill. The supplements are for the nutritional needs of the immortal infant, but will fight with your own DNA. Your body will reject them. But regardless of how you feel, you must continue to take them."

  Kate could feel Shade’s hand tighten at her waist, as she felt the sweat in her palm against his other hand.

  “That…that's not important. If it will help the baby, we’ll do whatever we need to do, right lover?”

  She turned to look at him and he gave her a weak smile, but it didn’t cover the hurt in his eyes. The doctor turned his attention to Shade and addressed him directly.

  "As for you, Master Medici, it will be extremely important you not feed from her at all. Immortal pregnancies are shorter, and as a rule, we’ve found the mortals pregnant with half-breeds also have shorter pregnancies. The infants grow faster, and therefore demand more from the mother. She’ll need everything she has, and more, to support the growth of the baby, so you’ll need to make arrangements for a feeder. I have many contacts for feeders and I’ve provided a list to Miss Benneteau, so I’m sure she’ll be able to help you with that."

  Shade stiffened next to her. “Not necessary, it has been taken care of."

  The doctor pushed once more. “Master Medici, I can't emphasize the importance of this feeding issue enough.”

  Shade's temper built as he said in a booming voice, "I said it has been taken care of, I understand your instructions, doctor!"

  The doctor's face reddened as he backed down from Shade. “Well then, I don't need to examine you today since Dr. Cavelli was just here. I’ll leave you a month's worth of supplements, and I’ll be back for a follow-up visit next month and will bring your next supply at that time. You should start taking them as soon as possible." He placed the bottles of capsules on the table. "If you have no other questions for me, then, I guess I’ll take my leave.”

  Gi appeared from nowhere and escorted the doctor to the door. Kate sat numb beside Shade, trying to absorb the information the doctor had just delivered. She turned to Shade.

  “I won't let this baby die, Shade. I won't.”

  He closed his eyes and leaned his forehead to hers, and whispered, “Bel rosso.”

  Once the doctor had left the house and they were alone, he turned to her. “Bel, I want you to be okay, if you can’t go through with this, you need to tell me. Whatever you decide, this is your choice, it is your body, and this sickness will be horrible for you. Please tell me what
you wish.”

  She clung to him. “I’m frightened. It was foolish of me to let this happen, but now that it has, I can't let our baby die. Many women feel sick through their pregnancy. I’ll be fine. Unless...unless this is not what you want?”

  His hand slid down her face, softly touching her lips, then kissing her on the forehead and crushing her to his chest. “Kate, there is nothing I want more than to have bambinos with you, but I am worried about this sickness. The pills worry me. If you were immortal, we would not have these problems. This is not your fault, we fell in love and that is that.”

  Kate stroked his back, soothing him. “Let's try not to second guess everything. Neither of us knows the future. Can we just take it a day at a time? I don't know any other alternative. Let's just follow instructions and hope for the best, okay? I know that worrying about it won't be good for the baby, so I’ll just hope for the best.”

  “Si. We will take it one day at a time. I will make sure Alec knows my schedule will need to be flexible. That’s all there is to it! Now, as a special treat, I think before you start all this pill taking, I owe you something, and I am going to pay my debt.”

  He looked down at her and smiled wickedly.

  “You have a debt? To me?”

  “Oh si, to you, bel,” kissing her softly. “I recall a rooftop in Paris, a gorgeous woman with strawberries, roses, and champagne, and not finishing something I started. I promised this woman I would repay that debt. I wonder if she will be free.”

  “When? Now? You want to take me to Paris now? I hope I can change out of this robe first.”

  “Si, there is my bel rosso! Now, we will leave around 3:00 a.m., and we will take my private plane, so run along and pack your things so they can be loaded on the plane. We will have time to get to the hangar before sunrise and we will sleep on the plane. And do not pack so damn much, bel!”

  “I thought you were just going to zip me over there again like last time.”

  “I can teleport you, but taking your luggage is another thing, so we will take my plane this time. Now, run along, I have to find Luca, and give him some instructions. I will meet you in the bedroom when I am done. You lift nothing! You call Gi or Theresa to help you pack. Gi will get all the bags when you are done and get them to the plane.”

  67

  Rissa was to meet Alec at their regular hangout, Old Ebbitt Grill, the place to see and be seen by everyone in D.C. politics. She was immediately escorted to their table. Usually, they arrived together, but tonight, they couldn’t coordinate their busy schedules. Getting out of the cab, she knew she was a little overdressed, but she was coming from a semi-formal event and didn’t have time to change. She hoped Alec wouldn’t be too upset with this dress with its low cut back.

  She was just getting settled at the table when her cell went off and she was sure it was Alec, but found, instead, it was the actor friend she’d sent to Kate’s to play ‘doctor’. Answering quickly, he gave her the rundown of how things had gone with Kate and Shade, and Rissa was ecstatic. Things were going just as planned, and she was well on her way to making a success of breaking up this little happy home.

  Alec was greeted as soon as he entered the restaurant and escorted to their table. He bent down to kiss her when he reached the table and slid his hand down her back, noticing the ravishing red dress was backless. He wasn’t amused. As they finished the kiss, he leaned to her ear and whispered.

  “That dress suits you, my darling, but probably shows more skin than is proper for a Senator's fiancé."

  He took his seat across from her and nodded at several acquaintances and colleagues around the room. He reached across the table and took her hand. Alec would never show his displeasure with her in public, where prying eyes were always on the lookout for some bit of gossip that would show up in the next day’s newspaper, something about a ‘little incident’ in a local eatery between ‘a certain handsome, single Senator and his blonde girlfriend.’

  “I hope you have some good news for me. I haven’t had the best of days on the Senate floor.”

  Rissa beamed at him. “I have some excellent news. Everything went well with the doctor visit. Kate was adamant that she’d take the supplements no matter how ill she became. And we haven’t even introduced the wonderful kicker for Shade.”

  Alec flagged down their waiter and he practically stumbled over his own feet trying to get to the table fast enough.

  "Yes sir, my name is Roger and I’ll be your server tonight."

  “Well Roger, I have some wine here that’s held exclusively for me...” Before Alec could finish speaking, Roger acknowledged him.

  "Yes sir, Senator, The Medici Midnight. The manager makes sure we never run out, and emphasizes it’s only available to you. Would you like me to bring over a bottle now, sir?"

  “Please, Roger. And have the chef prepare us that sushi platter, he knows what I like. That will be all.”

  Turning his attention back to Rissa, he responded, “That’s excellent news. If she starts taking her pills right away, we should have part of this problem behind us within a week. I couldn’t be more pleased, my darling. And the wonderful kicker for Shade?”

  “Well, apparently Shade was quite angry when our doctor mentioned a feeder. He’s clearly agitated with not feeding. I do believe, between Desire and his hunger, he’ll take to Desire quite well. I do hope that has made a better ending to your day?”

  Alec laughed out loud, loud enough to draw the attention of other people seated nearby as they turned to look in his direction. He lifted Rissa's hand to his lips and kissed her palm, letting his tongue gently tease. With a genuine smile on his face, he responded. “My darling, you have no idea. I almost feel sorry for my old friend Shade. Now, what about you? What about your day?”

  “I do apologize for the dress Alec, sincerely. I was held up longer than anticipated. I had the big charity event for the Polo set this afternoon and had no time to return home and change. But the event went off without a hitch, of course.”

  The waiter returned with the wine and food. The sushi platter was placed in the middle of the table for both of them, and he poured the wine into their glasses before he scurried off once more. Alec lifted his glass to Rissa, and she responded by lifting her glass to his.

  “May we get everything in this world we so richly deserve, and may we do it together. I love you, Rissa.” He clinked his glass to hers and watched her face closely.

  Rissa was momentarily taken aback. It wasn’t that she’d never heard those words before, but normally, they were only spoken in private. It was rare for him to speak of love in public. Licking her lips softly, she looked down, not sure how to respond and brought the glass to her lips and lifted her eyes to him. Taking a small sip, she twirled the glass in her hand, her eyes still locked with his.

  “As I love you, Alec. Did something happen today? Anything I can do to help?”

  Alec had watched her face as he delivered those words, and she seemed surprised, unsure. He smirked to himself, withholding from Rissa and keeping her off balance was what he did best.

  “You’ve changed the subject, my darling, and here I was trying to talk about love. But no, unless you can get fifty-two Democrats to vote on my bill, then I don't think you can help me with this problem, but then, that’s what my money and the lobbyists are for. And do you love me, Rissa? You know we’ll never be conventional, but that doesn’t mean I don't see what you do for me, or that I don't see how you care for me. I'm a selfish man, and I make no apologies for it. I want what I want, and I’ll always find a way to get it. But I’m not blind, my darling.”

  Reaching across the table, she slid her fingers up and down the lapel of his jacket and smiled softly, moist between her legs from just his words and the power he had to make her so.

  “I love you, Alec. I’ve always loved you. You keep me on my toes, to say the least. You give me so much, and I want to give that back tenfold. I want us to rise above them all, together. No one else can d
o that with you, I know that, and I intend to keep your attention and your love.”

  He placed his hand over hers. “Rissa, no man in power, mortal or immortal, gets there without climbing over the backs of others. I’ve made many enemies, and I’ll make many more. What I have in you is a partner I can trust to keep my secrets, who won't make judgments about moral or immoral decisions. As I said, I’ll always get what I want. I don't take that lightly, my darling. I can't promise fidelity, but I will promise love, and I’ll be honest with you. I won’t hide things from you. Like I said, we’ll never be conventional.”

  Rissa smiled wickedly at him. “I’ve always understood your terms Alec, and I can live with them quite easily. I have your love, and that’s all that’s important to me.”

  She bit her bottom lip, shifting slightly in her seat, wet and aching for him, crossing her legs under the table, letting her shoe drop to the floor as her toes slid softly up his leg.

  He drained the glass of wine and pushed the sushi around on the platter, so it appeared to have been picked at. He listened to her response, feeling her foot sliding up his leg.