Crimson Ties

by V L Moon

  Ever since their arrival in South America, she’d stuck to his side like she was chained to him. He’d been surprised until he observed the somewhat chaste greeting between her and Roman. The last time he’d seen them together, they’d both reeked of sex. His confusion quickly melted away when he’d seen the Elder with Tobias. The connection between the vampire and wolf was unmistakable and apparently, she’d recognized it as well.

  “I don’t like this,” Saul grumbled. The Captain of the Guard shifted his weight to the balls of his feet and bounced. Malachi flicked his gaze to the male. He knew the guard had been through the meeting area with a fine-tooth comb. Not even the slightest crack in the paint had gone unnoticed. He shrugged one elegantly clad shoulder.

  “It’s a necessary part of being King, but yeah. Fucking hate this shit,” he agreed. “Rather be out decimating a few Nephilim. Maybe we can bail early and go hunt.” Saul’s ready agreement earned a glare from Ms. Stroner.

  “You two have been antsy since we left Rome. You’ll last another night. No fighting; this is business.” Her light rebuke drew Saul’s attention to her. Malachi noticed a slight softening in the male’s expression. They exchanged amused grins when she studiously ignored them both. But, she was right. He understood his duty even if it rankled.

  They had arrived in Brazil the night before for the signing of the new treaty that would ally the vampires and the wolf shifters. After a lavish party, he’d attended a tour to view the repairs made to the vast enclave and paid his respects to the dead and their survivors. Everything that was expected of him.

  However, he awaited the upcoming formality for one reason, and it wasn’t the treaty or the repairs. The entire Council was required to be present by vampire law and by his command. In particular, one elusive Elder would be in attendance or risk losing his seat of power. Ms. Stroner may not want him fighting, but she hadn’t said anything about killing.

  In the room beyond, Darklon sat with the Council. Ten minutes prior, Arial had confirmed the male’s arrival and presently stood at the Elder’s back. He promised to make sure the bastard didn’t leave before Malachi finished his duties. How, Malachi didn’t know or care. Adrenaline spiked through his system. His palms itched to hold the male’s throat in their grip. It took every ounce of training and self-discipline he possessed to retain his seat. The fact Laziel’s life depended on his actions tilted the scales to patience.

  The announcement of the Were leader and his entourage came through the doors. The tightness Malachi’s shoulders increased. His body tensed for battle. He heard the wolves take their places. A door to his right opened, and Roman walked through looking slightly disheveled and smelling strongly of musk.

  “Your shirt’s buttoned wrong,” Malachi said dryly. “And, you might want to check your hair.” Roman flushed and set to work on the buttons. It appeared the reinstatement of the treaty would be a welcome breakthrough for his newest Elder and the Wolves’ envoy.

  With the requisite pomp and circumstance, he heard his name announced. He rose from his chair and straightened his jacket. His thigh protested his weight, but he crossed the room with an even stride. At the door, he waited for Saul to take Laziel’s usual place and Roman the other side. The door swung open and Arial’s large frame immediately caught his eye. His gaze flicked down. Rage, both icy and fiery, spiraled skyward. The Elder sat relaxed and unconcerned chatting with his friends. A challenging growl vibrated in Malachi’s throat.

  “Not now, Denali. Game face,” Ms. Stroner said placing a hand against his back. “Make Laziel proud of you.” The words alone snapped his focus into place. For the angel, he would perform his kingly duties and get the treaty signed. Afterward, Darklon had better be praying for mercy.

  Taking his place opposite Jorn Chamberlin, he sat while Roman joined Tobias at the podium. The treaty in its entirety was read out before the assembled crowd. Malachi watched both factions. From both sides, emotions ebbed and flowed. Some were happy with the restoration of the alliance; others were resentful and angry. One particular wolf caught his eye.

  “Who is the dark one next to Jorn?” he asked Saul.

  “Khurn Arin. He’s mated to Jorn’s niece and serves as Alpha to a band of displaced Alphas,” Saul immediately responded.

  “I don’t like him,” Malachi said. “I want him watched the entire time he’s in this enclave, and he’s not permitted entry to any other without my express consent.”

  “Noted, and he’s already being watched.” Saul’s gaze followed Malachi’s across the room. “Roman’s not so impressed with him either. Bad vibe he said.”

  Malachi’s eyes locked on his new Elder. The male had damned good instincts. Laziel’s words just after Roman was introduced resurfaced. What was he supposed to sense in the younger De Sangue? Laziel implied Malachi should recognize him, but he didn’t. Worse, the angel hadn’t been any more forthcoming before he’d been taken. His thoughts were interrupted as thunderous applause erupted.

  He rose to take his place alongside the Summus wolf. The male signed with a bold stroke above his typed name and passed the pen to Malachi. A few flicks of the wrist and the deed was done.

  “If I may, Sire,” Roman said and reached for the pen. After his signature, Tobias repeated and the rest of the wolf contingent and vampire council lined up behind them. A savage smile tugged at Malachi’s lips. At last, his opportunity to corner his enemy arose. He stood beside the podium and waited for his prey to come to him.

  When Darklon reached the dais, Malachi closed his fingers around the male’s bicep with enough pressure to snap bones. He refused to let go of the male but gave no reason for keeping the Elder at his side. The others were forced to step around him. Trapped in a roomful of watchful vampires, Darklon had no choice but to smile and step to his King’s side.

  When the last signature was in place, bells pealed above them. Laughter and conversation sprang up around them. Darklon jerked his arm, but his strength was no match for Malachi’s fury. He practically dragged the Elder off the podium and back into Roman’s office. With the door closed to the party on the other side, he bared his fangs and went eye to eye with the bastard.

  “You have something of mine and I want it back,” he growled. The fucker had the audacity to smirk.

  “I’m afraid I have no idea what you are talking about, milord,” he purred. Malachi slammed him against the wall so hard dust drifted down from the ceiling.

  “Don’t play games with me, Loni.” His voice shook with barely concealed anger. “You so don’t want to fuck with me right now.”

  “Actually I don’t, I have a nice little piece tucked away. She’s an aggressive little thing, requires lots of discipline, but then I hear she likes that.” The male attempted a shrug. Malachi’s gaze flipped to crimson, but years of training kept him in control of the savagery. Barely. A malicious smirk curved his lips.

  “Okay then, we’ll do this my way,” he said. His fist slammed into Darklon’s jaw, sending the Elder careening across the room. Malachi followed, toying with the Elder like a cat with a mouse. He kept the bastard just off center enough he couldn’t think long enough to port away. When he crashed into the back wall, Malachi lunged pinning him there.

  “I can do this all night, Loni. Tell me where she is,” he growled.

  “She’s tucked away with your first lover,” Darklon snarled and lashed out with boot and fist. Malachi took the blows in his gut and the upper thigh. His already aching leg nearly gave out on him, but he managed to keep his feet. His masochistic side drank in the pain as his healing femur protested loudly. His chest tightened at the Elder’s words. Had he figured out Laziel was Lorenza?

  “You’re fucking crazy, vampire,” he snapped. “I’ve never been in love with anyone.” His arm snaked out and another crushing blow sent Darklon spinning away. But, not before Malachi saw a flash of fear quickly followed by intense fury. The Elder whirled around.

  “I am not crazy,” he bellowed and took the offensive. He lunge
d at Malachi, fingers curved into talons. Fangs dripped spittle. A vicious hand to hand battle raged across the sparsely furnished office. Deadly intent on his prey, Malachi barely managed to rein in the savage. He desperately wanted to kill the bastard, but Darklon was the only fuckhead that knew where Lorenza was being held. An arrow of sanity speared through the violence in his mind. With a curse, he flung Darklon against the far wall and pinned him there.

  Locking the Elder’s muscles with his mind, he burrowed into Darklon’s psyche. The bastard didn’t have to tell him where she was, he’d take the information he needed. Instead of hammering against the usual wall, he fell headlong into madness. It sucked him in fast and deep. While he struggled to protect his own sanity from the maelstrom of Darklon’s madness, he caught glimpses of Vischeral, himself, Laz, Roman, a female he didn’t know and then Loz’s battered face. A roar of hatred and pain erupted from him.

  Viciously, Malachi ripped through the winding vines of insanity, searching for the part of the vampire that housed his secrets. There was no caution in his approach, no finesse. He didn’t give two fucks if the Elder was a blithering idiot as long as he had Laziel back beside him in the end.

  The walls he’d been expecting finally brought his headlong dive to a screeching halt. He slammed against the barrier and roared his fury. Again and again, he pounded at the barricade until rough hands caught his shoulders and dragged him back. His fingers locked around Darklon’s throat while voices droned like bees.

  “Sire, you have to let him go. Think of our guests,” Kimberly pleaded urgently.

  “Fuck, he’s strong.” Tobias grunted as he yanked at a wrist.

  “Where the fuck is Laziel when we need him?” Roman muttered, trying desperately to loosen his fingers from their death grip around Darklon’s throat.

  The fist came from his blind side and sent him reeling drunkenly. Darklon went down even as his hold broke on the bastard. He crashed into a hard body and Saul’s grunt gave it an identity. Strong arms righted him. Several feet away, Arial shook his fist and cursed.

  “Fucking vampires, always forgetting their damn manners.” The big Fallen reached down and hauled Darklon to his feet, and kept a thick fist wrapped around the male’s arm. Behind them, a crater in the shape of Darklon’s body marred the sheet rock. While his mind had been beating against the Elder, Malachi had apparently been pounding the bastard into the wall. As he straightened his clothes and worked his jaw, everyone stood frozen with eyes locked on the ground.

  “I do believe I needed that, Arial. Much better than flashing that hairy ass at me,” he deadpanned, struggling to contain the beast snarling and writhing just beneath his skin. Tobias laughed and received an elbow in the ribs from Roman. “Darklon and I were having a…discussion.”

  “And here I thought you’d grown fond of each other and were stealing kisses,” Arial said, his eyebrow quirked. Further conversation was stopped by a knock on the door. Everyone’s gazes whipped to him. It took him a second to understand why. “What? It’s Roman’s office.” And, he was in no fucking condition to play nice with whoever dared interrupt them.

  “Right. Umm…let me get that.” Roman crossed to the door and swung it open. Jorn stood outside holding the hand of a stunning female. Intelligent eyes scanned the assembled group. Not by a flicker of an eyelash did he acknowledge Malachi’s disarray, the body shaped hole in the wall, or the scent of intense emotions, but he sure as hell didn’t miss any of it.

  “We were looking for Tobias, but maybe another time would be better.” And yet, the shifter stepped into the room, shoulders tense.” A father’s eyes landed on his son, assessing his safety.

  “No, come in. We were just finishing up,” Malachi said and stepped forward, knowing the others would take his lead. “I’m sure Roman will want to show you where Tobias will be spending at least half of his time. Maybe more since the two of them can’t seem to keep their hands to themselves.” He laughed and clapped the young wolf on the back. The sound blasted like a shotgun into the silent room.

  Beneath his palm, Tobias’s body heat spiked as blood rushed to his face. In front of the Alpha and his mate, Roman went statue still. It didn’t take a genius to figure out the parents hadn’t known about the couple. Malachi cursed his wayward tongue. Darklon’s presence was wreaking havoc on his self-discipline. Apprehension and fear leaked from the young wolf. Malachi sighed in aggravation and resignation. The least he could do was show his support. He cast the wolf couple a practiced smile.

  “I was honored to be the first to congratulate them. They make a fine pair, and their relationship will strengthen the ties of the treaty.” Reaching back, he grabbed Darklon by the wrist. He’d deal with the fallout, if there was any, later. At the moment, Darklon held his full attention. “But, if you’ll excuse us, we have urgent Council business to discuss.”

  The male knew his life hung in the balance. As they passed the younger vampire, he slung an arm around Roman’s shoulders. “Your Majesty, I’m sure you’ll grant me leave to congratulate my son. It’s an honor to add such an esteemed individual to our family.” Sugar wasn’t as sweet as Darklon’s tone, but Malachi saw the fury in his eyes. The vampire was far too old school to readily except another species into his bloodline.

  “I’ll be with you in a matter of minutes. Arial’s here, he’ll bring me right to your side,” Darklon finished, but the smile he tried never reached his eyes. The Fallen moved to Darklon’s side at the mention of his name. Malachi didn’t miss the elbow digging into Arial’s ribs, or the way the Fallen’s eyes narrowed.

  He bared his teeth in a semblance of a smile. No fucking way, he was letting the bastard out of his sight. Before he could respond, Arial spoke up.

  “I won’t leave his side.” Arial grasped the Elder’s elbow.

  “You should see to the guests, Malachi,” Ms. Stroner spoke up. Her gaze darted between him and the wolves.

  Pissed and cornered by his supposed staff, Malachi narrowed his gaze on Arial. “I’ll be right outside.” Arial nodded imperceptibly. Saul followed Malachi out into the brightly decorated gallery. Malachi refused to take a step further away from the closed door. They stood silent, watching the gathered wolves and vampires celebrate and make merry.

  “He has Lorenza.” Saul’s quiet statement earned him a nod.

  “Yup, saw it in his head before you fuckers interrupted us. I’d have her location now, if you’d stayed away.” He tried but couldn’t keep the pissed off out of his voice.

  “Well, seeing as how you damn near scared the hair off the wolves with that lion’s roar of yours, we had to see what the fuck was doing.” Unapologetic as always, Saul surveyed the crowd and eased a little closer to him as several feminine eyes turned their way. Malachi scowled at them, but they edged still closer.

  “I’ll head them off,” ” Saul said. While he ended the dreams of the two females, curses erupted in the room behind him. Malachi spun and jacked the door open to find Arial stalking toward him, shaking a large hand and uttering curses unbefitting an angel.

  “Darklon’s gone. Ported right out of my grip and somehow took Roman with him. Tobias is fit to be tied; the musk of his anger is so strong I’m not sure even the Alpha will be able to calm him.” The Fallen’s stance remained unbowed despite losing the male Malachi wanted above all others. “Are you going to try killing me, or are we skipping straight to finding the bastard?”

  Malachi cast a glance to the wolves huddled across the room. Fury boiled the blood in his veins. He wanted to pound the Fallen into the floor for losing Darklon, but he knew the Elder was wily. His ability to slip through cracks was the reason Malachi hadn’t wanted to leave him. The savage howled for vengeance. Fuck, he needed Laziel to calm the storm. He felt a pulse of celestial light and stiffened.

  Arial cocked a brow. “Tell me you didn’t need it and I might apologize.”

  “Laziel will kill you,” Malachi warned. “If I don’t first. Keep your angel shit to yourself. I’m only for him.
”

  “Yeah, you’re fucking welcome vampire,” Arial groused. “Laziel might kill me, but at least you’d be alive. He’d appreciate that a lot more than he’d hate me for the brief share. Don’t you think?”

  Malachi hated to admit it, but the brief pulse of light helped calm the savage. His mind eased a fraction. The turmoil died down, allowing him to think clearly. “I have to stay here and be the fucking King. Get your ass back to Rome and see if they went there. Report as soon as you know something.” As Arial strode from the room, Malachi schooled his features to hide the bitter disappointment. He approached Jorn and his mate. Tobias’s distemper stained the air in the office.

  “Let’s return to the party shall we? The enclave has outdone themselves to prepare a feast fit for Kings and Alphas. I hate to disappoint them.” The smile was forced and the civil veneer a thin cover over the beast that raged for blood. Jorn must have recognized the violent need to hunt. His nose rose as he scented the air, but he kept his own counsel and matched Malachi smile for smile.

  “Indeed, they have provided an extraordinary gala,” he agreed. “Come Clarice darling; let’s find some food and wine. Tobias won’t you join us until the…until your mate returns?” Malachi detected the slight hesitation in the wolf’s voice. Misery covered Tobias’s features and Malachi kicked himself for his insensitivity to the situation. Deliberately, he stepped to the male’s side.

  “I look forward to having you join my staff if you decide to move here with Roman. If not, I will make sure he has time to visit. I understand a wolf’s bonding is vital to their mental health and well-being. I don’t want to ruin the treaty in its infancy.” Tobias cast him a grateful look. “Roman will be fine. Darklon will not harm his son.” He sent the thought directly into the wolf’s mind. Used to pack telepathic communication, Tobias barely flinched at the unexpected contact. Resolutely, the wolf squared his shoulders and stepped forward to take his mother’s arm.

  “Food, drink and a party, sounds like a dream to this wolf.” The forced gaiety in his voice didn’t escape anyone’s notice, but they all chose to ignore it. Clarice Chamberlin wrapped a slender arm around her son’s waist. Her head found his shoulder as the three exited the office. Ms. Stroner accompanied them. Saul hesitated, but finally moved to the door. Malachi hung back as the darkness swam in again to claim his soul. He pushed against the barrier between him and his angel.