The Blood Covenant

by Emily Bex

  Rissa smirked as she slowly opened her eyes to see the show taking place in front of her, and Kate standing in shock.

  “Oh Kate, there you are! I brought along a feeder for Shade. Her name is Desire. Isn’t she perfect? I thought, perhaps, you’d need her. I know it will be such a struggle not letting him feed from you while you’re pregnant. But please don’t worry. I’ve heard she’s the best. She comes highly recommended. I can assure you Shade will want for nothing and will be well fed and pleasured during your pregnancy. I have her things in the car, she can move in tonight.”

  Smiling sweetly at Kate, she continued to maintain her grip on the doorframe, keeping her distance from the feeder. Rissa was putting on the act of her life when she heard a thud and looked over to see Luca on his knees beside Shade, as he too fought his body’s response to the feeder. Oh my, two for one. How lucky is this girl tonight?

  “Oh dear...well, that was unexpected.”

  Shade’s body was trembling, trying to get control, and his beast was on the surface, riled up and wanting to take this feeder. The beast was pushing him beyond his limits of control. “Fuck, Luca!” Shade was aware of Luca dropping to the floor beside him when he stepped in to help, only to succumb to power of the feeder. “Luca, fight! Fuck, help me!”

  Luca heard Shade’s plea for help, but the scent of the feeder’s sex overcame him, and he was helpless to respond. A feeder’s scent was designed to excite the male beast, to make the feeder irresistible, but he’d experienced nothing like this before. She was on top of master before he could even focus. His fangs punched and his eyes turned, and the growl instantly rolled out of him. Luca couldn’t move and all he wanted was to mount her, and gorge himself on her blood.

  Shade continued his struggle, every muscle tensed. His breathing was ragged, and his body trembled with want. He’d never had to resist the pull of a feeder before, and this one arrived ready to service him. His body fought the beast, but the beast was winning this battle, when he screamed out for her, “Bel!”

  Kate looked at Rissa, trying to process Rissa's words. She brought this bitch into my house? She brought him a feeder?

  Kate looked back at the redheaded feeder. She was like an enhanced version of her. More hair, more tits, more ass, and she was glued to Shade as Kate watched him stepping backward to escape her. The feeder matched him step for step, her breasts pressed against his chest, her hips pressed to his and she could hear Shade’s words in her head, and his plea to Luca, as she watched Luca drop to his knees. What the fuck is going on? Luca is under her spell as well?

  Her heart was pounding as her blood began to boil. How dare she? How dare this bitch? Kate launched herself at the feeder and grabbed a handful of those curled red locks and yanked at her with all her strength, screaming at her, “Get off him, you fucking bitch!”

  The feeder was momentarily pulled back, as she turned her head to Kate and bared her fangs and delivered a long hiss. The feeder broke away from Kate and clung to Shade even tighter, climbing his body, wrapping her legs around him as she used her tongue to lick at his neck, his lips. Kate grabbed her by the hair again and pulled with all her strength and reached around her to try to pull her away, clawing at her face, pummeling her hard.

  The feeder hissed and growled at her, snapping at her with her teeth, but was refusing to release her grip on Shade. Kate was no match for the feeder’s physical strength, but she refused to let her have him. Kate reached behind Shade to the blade he kept sheathed in his waistband and removed the knife. This was not a fight she intended to lose. She swung the blade across the feeder’s face, leaving a diagonal gash, and the blood started to pour. The feeder released her grip on Shade as she threw her hands over her face. Kate grabbed her hair again and yanked with all her strength as the feeder let go of the tight grip of her legs around his hips and dropped back to the floor. Kate raised the knife once again, prepared to cut her throat, remove her head if she needed to.

  Shade shouted, “Bel, no!”

  His beast responded, moving faster than the mortal eye could see, and grabbed Kate into his arms, the blade still in her hand held high in the air. She was kicking and screaming in his arms like a wild cat.

  “Kate, Stop!”

  He kept one hand tight around Kate’s waist as he held her back against his chest. He reached up and grabbed her hand that held the knife.

  “Kate, stop fighting! I am okay. The spell is broken. I am free of her. Luca, get up!”

  He heard a growl from Rissa, and although he wanted nothing more than her head mounted on a wall, he warned off Luca as he rose into a crouch, ready to attack her. Alec would seek the ultimate revenge if they harmed her.

  “No, Luca, she belongs to Alec, listen to your master. Stay on guard!”

  Shade heard the clanging of metal on the floor and knew the knife was down and felt Kate turn toward his chest, and he knew she was okay. He snuggled into her neck, never taking his eyes off the scene before him.

  “Shh mi amore, I have you, nothing is going to hurt you.”

  He turned toward Rissa, and his growl was loud and vibrated through Kate. “Get...the...fuck...out...of...my...house! Take that bitch with you.”

  His voice was low and lethal, and Rissa retracted her fangs. Luca moved closer, ready to escort them both out. Rissa stood glaring at him, but she knew she was out of her league against two warriors.

  Shade had no idea what the fucking hell she’d been thinking bringing that bitch into his house. He watched as she started to speak, and Luca growled low.

  “Hold, Luca. Say your piece Rissa, make it quick and get the hell out of my house!”

  Rissa was stunned as things unraveled so quickly and could only watch as all her well laid plans fell apart before her eyes.

  Desire lay on the floor bleeding, holding her face like some whimpering child and Rissa wanted to kick her. Useless bitch! I will take care of you later, thoughts were rolling through her head, why weren’t either of these fucking warriors jumping to lap her blood, and suck her dry? Something was not adding up here. Even Rissa’s blood was singing sweetly to taste her.

  “I’m sorry. I was trying to be a good friend to Kate by providing you with the best feeder I could find. I thought it would ease her mind to know you were well cared for. I wanted to help you both, make this easier for you. I came to help, not to harm. Let us leave you in peace.”

  Rissa looked directly at Kate and cried her false tears, as if she’d waste a second of hell caring about her. “Kate, I’m so, so sorry, please understand.” Shaking her head as the tears streamed down her face. “I only wanted to make your pregnancy easier for you. Remove any worries.”

  Rissa reached down and took Desire’s hand and helped her to stand upright. Desire continued to hold one hand over her face. Luca held the door open wide as Shade stared back at her hard, and Rissa guided Desire from the house. Luca followed her to the car. Rissa acted as though she was upset about this whole incident with Desire. She put the feeder in the back seat and picked up the towels and rammed them into her hands and as she leaned down close to her ear so only she could hear her. “Shut the fuck up with the tears and don’t get blood on my seat, you stupid bitch.”

  Closing the car door, she climbed in, revved up the Bugatti and rolled out. Oh, you will pay for this...all of you!

  Driving back in the direction of D.C. to dump the bitch back at the feeder compound, it was a long silent ride as Rissa was fuming and her blood ran cold with dread. Alec was not going to be pleased with her failure and she took small comfort in knowing the pills would do away with the unwanted half-breed. Driving like a bat out of hell down the highway, she heard the feeder sniveling in the backseat and it disgusted her. “Shut the fuck up! You’ll heal. There won’t be any scars. You’re pathetic, you’ve failed at your assignment, and master won’t be pleased. You’re a feeder! How hard could it be to fuck a vampire, especially one who hasn’t fed?”

  Rissa laughed when she heard the feeder sobbing. Gett
ing close to the compound, Rissa barked her commands at the feeder, “Slide behind me in the seat. Keep that damn towel to your face. The tinted windows will hide your face when the guard lets us back in. Do it now!”

  Watching in the rearview mirror, she could see Desire slide over and compose herself. Rissa pulled up to the gate and rolled down her window, smiling at the guard. He recognized her from the earlier pickup, opened the gate, waved, and smiled. Pulling up in front of the compound that housed the coven of feeders, Rissa turned to her. “Get the hell out! Speak of this to no one. Go!”

  As Desire climbed from the car, she ran into the house, eager to get away from Rissa. Driving back to the gate, Rissa stopped at the security shack and once again, put her window down. Reaching into her purse, she pulled out the thick, crisp stack of one-hundred-dollar bills, held together by a band and waved them at the guard. As he smiled and reached his dirty hand out.

  “Take care of it. I don’t want to ever see her again.”

  The guard grinned an evil grin. He’d been given permission from a master’s mate to be true to his nature, and to get paid for it. “It will be my pleasure, Miss Benneteau.”

  Slamming the gas pedal down, she headed for home, knowing, at least, the fucking bitch would never touch her vampire again.

  74

  Standing in the foyer, blood on the floor, Shade’s head was spinning, as he held bel in his arms. He felt her body begin to shake as the release of adrenaline hit her. Cuddling her into his chest, he stood there rocking her.

  Luca walked in, shaking his head. “They’re gone, master. Rissa drove off with her.”

  “Luca, thank you. I am sorry you had to fight through that hell as well. I am taking her upstairs, and I want you to watch this damn house like a hawk, anything moves, you call me!”

  Luca shook his head in acknowledgement, as Shade turned and took the steps two at a time with Kate in his arms. He took her into their bathroom, turned on the taps and ran a hot bath. Stripping them both down, he slid them deep into the hot, steaming water to soak her muscles. He pulled her into his chest, her back relaxing against him.

  “Cazzo, what the hell just happened? You are a hell cat!”

  Kate was letting the hot water sooth her. “I protect what is mine, lover.”

  “Si, you most certainly do. Please do not be angry with me, I fought her as best I could. And tonight, my bel rosso saved her savage lover. Damn, never saw that coming.”

  “I'm not angry with you. I could see your struggle. I didn't understand the power the feeders have to seduce. But it’s not a mistake I’ll make twice.”

  “I never asked for her, Kate. What in the living hell was Rissa thinking? I told that damn doctor I had it taken care of. Did she tell you when she called she was bringing a feeder into this house?”

  “No, she never mentioned a feeder. Do you think I’d have agreed? You know how I feel about you having a feeder. I had no idea. I felt your turmoil as I came down the stairs.”

  “She was no ordinary feeder. She was pure heroin to a vampire. She was irresistible to the beast. I never want to feel that again. Cazzo .”

  Kate rested her head back against his chest. “I watched as even Luca collapsed to his knees. It took me a second to figure out what was going on. When I came down the stairs and I saw her clinging to you. We won't see another feeder near this house. Like I said, I’ll protect what is mine.”

  He began to softly shampoo her hair, massaging her scalp. “Damn, you were something. I was lucky I had just fed from you, and that gave me strength to resist. The next time I feed from Luca, I want no complaints about the sounds. You now have a first-hand experience of the alternative.”

  She leaned back as his hands worked their magic in her hair, massaging her neck and shoulders.

  “Lover, I hope that didn't sound like a complaint. I do understand your need to feed, and you know how much I hated the idea of you feeding from another woman. I have such gratitude for Luca, and for you. I know you could brush away my concerns and feed as you want. It’s part of your culture, and I’d just have to bear it. So, you’ll hear no complaints from me.”

  “That’s my bel rosso! We both have our own battles to fight for the birth of our son.”

  Gi communicated to him telepathically that he was attending to the mess in the foyer, and all were concerned for the welfare of my lady, inquiring as to whether she’d like a meal or something. They were all awaiting her command. Chuckling, it amused Shade and also made him proud that she had the staff wrapped around her little finger already.

  “Mi amore, Gi would like you to know they are very concerned for you, and they wish to be at your beck and call. Is there some something you wish from the kitchen at this time?”

  “I’m starving! Again. Please just have Reynaldo fix me something, he knows what I like. And tell them all thank you. They’re all dear to me.”

  “Gi, my lady would like a meal, Reynaldo will know what to fix and damn man, bring me a bottle of Midnight, I fucking need it this night!”

  Gi responded, “Si, master. We are most pleased to find both you and her ladyship well.”

  “Now, my little crimson headed minx, let’s get you out of this tub, and into something comfortable and back in the damn bed.”

  75

  Alec was sitting in the study, reading through several bills that were up for vote this coming week. He was passing time until Rissa returned with news of Shade and the feeder when he felt her anger roll through him. He stopped reading and honed his senses, waiting to see if she reached out to him for help, but she wasn’t beckoning him. There was no fear, he didn’t feel any sense of danger from her, but her anger and turmoil were clear. Anger at whom or what wasn’t clear. It might not even be related to the feeder. He was thinking to himself, how could that plan go wrong? There was no way Shade was able to resist that feeder, no fucking way. He’d had instructions from the doctor not to feed once his precious mortal took those pills, and Alec felt certain he’d been holding back for some time. His ability to resist the feeder would be zero. Hell, even if he’d just fed yesterday, the Shade he knew wouldn’t resist her. But for now, he’d have to wait until Rissa arrived to see what had her so fired up.

  Pulling into the drive of their Georgetown home, Rissa turned off the engine and saw a few lights on inside the house. Alec was waiting. Taking a deep breath, she got out of the car, grabbed her bag, and walked inside. The house was so still. Leaning against the wall, she stood there a minute and breathed, trying to get her thoughts together. He was going to drill her like Chinese water torture for every damn detail, and she’d tell him blow by blow. The mortal is still there, going strong, and the feeder didn’t work. He’ll blow up, and you Rissa, you will be denied, once again, of his touch and his attention.

  Looking down, Rissa stared at the floor. Well, at least the pills would take care of the half-breed, and with some careful planning, the mortal may go down as well. Quietly, she made her way to the bar and poured a crystal tumbler full of Midnight and downed it in one shot. She slammed the glass on the counter. It was time to face her vampire.

  He’d heard her enter and could feel her hesitancy to face him. This could only mean bad news. He braced himself for whatever it was she was about to share. He called out to her, “Rissa?”

  She walked in to face him. “Alec...”

  He could read the look in her eyes. “Okay, well, let's hear it. Clearly, it didn't go as planned. The feeder? Did she perform as directed?”

  “She performed to the letter, Alec, perfectly. And Shade responded as well, all was going as planned. Shade fought a good battle, she was all over him and he wanted her. She did exactly what we asked her to do. She almost had him on the floor, fucking and feeding, until…” walking to the table, she lit a smoke and inhaled deeply.

  Alec answered her in an irritated tone. This wasn’t the time for a smoke break. “Until, Rissa? What happened that destroyed our plan?”

  Looking annoyed, she spoke thr
ough gritted teeth, “Don’t raise your voice to me, Alec.”

  He lowered his head as he locked eyes with her, and a low growl built deep in his chest as his eyes turned a deep shade of red. “Don't fuck with me, Rissa. I'm running short of patience here. I asked a simple fucking question, I think I deserve an answer, don't you? Now, what the fuck happened?”

  She could feel his beast and knew she better give him what he wanted.

  “Kate walked in, and the fun began. Desire was climbing all over Shade. Kate went lunatic. She didn’t think twice. She attacked the feeder, pulled a knife from Shade and slashed her across the face. Kate was ready to take the feeder’s head off, but Shade's beast took Kate in hand, got her under control.”

  Alec roared, “The mortal? The mortal foiled our plan? Are you fucking kidding me?”

  He threw his glass across the room, watching it smash into a million pieces as it hit the fireplace and the Midnight ran down the wall. He paced back and forth, hands fisted. He kicked the table in front of him as it splintered into pieces.

  “The mortal, Rissa?”

  He ran both hands through his hair. How could I have misjudged? Shade resisting pussy? When did that ever happen? And the fucking mortal? That sniveling, weak, clinging mortal? “Well, this is just fucking great! If Shade was enamored with her before, I can only imagine what he’ll feel now that she’s come to his fucking rescue. What a fucking nightmare!”