by Emily Bex
“Fix this problem, darling, and I'll show you steeled cock.” He slaps her ass hard as he turns to leave and meet his driver.
As he walks out the door, her hand immediately rubs the spot now reddened and still stinging, and she moans softly. Damn Alec, you will torture me to the point of begging soon. Brimming over with happiness, she goes to find her cell phone. You may have screwed up my plan once, doormat, but I will be damned if you will do it twice!
81
Dialing up Kate, Rissa doesn’t even look at the time and doesn’t really care, Kate will take her call, and she will get answers. If she doesn’t, Rissa will be making a house call, like it or not. Shade won’t keep her out of that house, no matter what he tries. Nor will that fucking puppet of his. The phone rings several times, and Rissa starts pacing.
“Damn you, answer!”
Kate awakens, hears her cell phone, and groggily grabs for it on the bedside table. She checks the caller ID to see Rissa.
“Hello? Rissa?”
“Kate, yes, my heavens, I didn’t even realize the time. I hope I did not awaken you, sweetie?”
Kate shakes the sleep from her head, “Oh...no matter. I seem to sleep a lot lately. But Rissa, I have to ask, what were you thinking? The feeder? Why didn't you call me and check?”
“Oh Kate, I wasn’t thinking, I just wanted to do everything I could to help. Having a feeder is such a normal occurrence for male vampires when their mate is pregnant. I just assumed you would need one, and that you certainly would want Shade to be taken care of. I had no idea it would upset you. I am sorry. I forget sometimes you are still mortal, and not accustomed to our ways. I have been just devastated since it happened. Please, please forgive me, won’t you? I want to be there every step of the way to help with your pregnancy, Alec insists, and I so agree with him.”
Sniffing, she pulls out all the stops to get the information she needs.
“No Rissa, I understand. I'm still struggling here, with the whole concept of feeders. I understand you were just trying to help. But God, what a nightmare that was, she attacked him.”
Rissa acts contrite, “Yes, I had no idea she would act so inappropriately, or I would never have brought her. I mean, can you believe the audacity of her? Most feeders are very demure and discreet. This one was acting way above her station, if you ask me, and I do not blame you, one second, for how you responded, Kate. If she would have acted that way with my Alec, I would have most assuredly done the same.
“Kate, I did check in with the doctor I sent over for you, and he told me that he gave you supplements and informed Shade he would need a feeder. I know the doctor is so busy, so I just thought I would help any way I could and arrange to set up the feeder for you. But Shade was able to resist her, and that does concern me. Please tell me, sweetie, he is not feeding from you as you take the supplements, I am told they make you so sick.”
“Of course not, Rissa! Shade knew even before the doctor said anything, he would have to stop feeding from me. Trust me, neither of us is going to do anything that puts this baby in any more jeopardy than it already is.”
“Oh Kate, I am so glad to hear that, so did he hire a feeder on his own? How is he feeding?”
“He... He made some arrangements, Rissa. He knew it was upsetting to me, so it is something he takes care of away from the house. I couldn't bear the thought of her living here. I wish it didn't bother me. I understand in your culture it is common. He has explained all that to me. I have one foot in the mortal world and one in the immortal, and I am still grappling with some aspects of his life. I'm sure you went through the same struggles and look at you. I'll get there with time.”
Rissa almost laughs out loud at the naïve little mouse. You will never be like me, and you have no idea of the struggles I went through.
“Well, if anything happens and you need assistance with another feeder, I promise I can help, and do much better. You should try and find out where he goes to feed, Kate. If Desire was upsetting to you, then you will want to make sure his feeder is not from the same feeder coven. Each feeder coven caters to specific needs and tastes. And then you have to make sure they don’t have tainted blood.”
Rissa grins wickedly, stick that in your romantic dream and deal with it! “Are you sick with the pills already? Does it make you so sick you can’t move from the bed? Oh Kate, tell me everything, I want to know.”
“Rissa, Shade understands bloodlines, and tainted blood. I'm sure he has been very careful in his selection. I wouldn't dare inquire about his choice. He has already made adjustments to accommodate me. And the pills, yes, I've just started them, two days now. Shade wanted us to have the Paris trip, so I delayed a few days. I would like to say I feel fine, but quite honestly, they do make me feel bad. Not unbearable, although, today has been worse than yesterday. Just aching all over, headache, and no appetite, but I am able to eat so I have been forcing myself. I'm sure my body will adjust to it. But don't worry, Shade and Gi are both making sure I take them, they watch over me like a hawk. Not that I wouldn't take them. I’ll do whatever we have to do to keep this baby safe.”
The sneer spreads across Rissa’s face. Damn Paris and this trip, it has delayed the process. Damn mortals and their fucking romance. Taking a deep breath, Rissa composes herself.
“Oh Kate, it sounds horrible, just horrible. I am sure Shade is busy, so if you need me to come by, I would love to sit with you or bring you anything you might need. And I am sure you will take the pills. I know I would do anything to protect my child. Maybe you should think of taking more, just to be on the safe side. They certainly can’t hurt and can only help the baby. I am so excited for you and can’t wait until the baby arrives. I would love to give you a baby shower. Wouldn’t that be so much fun?”
“A shower sounds wonderful, Rissa. I am really more excited about this baby than my voice conveys, I'm just so tired, and I sleep so much.”
“Oh sweetie, I can totally understand. Look, perhaps I will stop by later in the week for a visit, and we can discuss some shower ideas and make some plans. I will call you before I come over. I don’t have my schedule book with me at the moment. Now get some rest, and don’t forget those pills. If you need anything, my sweet friend, I am but a phone call away. I must dash, I have an appointment and if I am late, it makes me late the entire day, working girl, you know.”
“That would be great, Rissa, I look forward to seeing you for some girl talk. I am surrounded by warriors and weapons. I would enjoy a good conversation about shoes for a change.”
***
Kate ends the call and lays on the bed thinking. Since she has been with Shade, she has really cut herself off from her mortal family and friends, making only brief contact by phone, making excuses for why she can’t see them. She does miss having girlfriends, she really misses Shannon, and seeing Rissa would be good for her. Kate’s experience with female vamps has not been the greatest. First, Sabine tried to kill her, then this feeder is climbing Shade like a demon from hell. Rissa has been her only immortal girlfriend, and they were never that close during college. And the pills, Rissa said take more. Kate wonders if she should take more. She tries to calculate how long the supply would last before the next doctor visit, but she is so tired she drifts back into a deep sleep, the cell phone still in her hand.
***
Rissa finishes up her hair and gets dressed, and all she can do is smile. Oh, this is going to be so much fun to watch little naive Kate, and her poor dead baby. You can bet your mousey ass I will be there this week. Your ‘dearest friend’ will come calling, bearing gifts, and more pills, oh yes, more pills. And I will convince you to sneak extra pills because you will want to save that thing inside you, but you won’t be successful, and Daddy will be rewarding his baby girl for that move.
***
Alec has a few minutes between bills being read on the floor, so he slips out to the corridor to give Shade a call. It’s a late-night session in Congress. He’s been pre-occupied with work
lately, but he really needs to understand what's going on if there is a rival coven moving into D.C. The phone rings several times and goes to voicemail.
Are you fucking kidding me? He leaves his angry message on Shade’s phone.
“Shade, let me make one thing clear. When I call, you answer. I don't ever want to hear a fucking voicemail message again. Now call me back so we can set up some time to discuss this coven.”
He ends the call and misses the days of handheld phones where he could slam down the receiver. He’s ready to put his fist through a wall, but there are too many mortals around him, so he swallows his anger, for now.
82
Kate lies in this bed yet another day. Gi brings meal trays, watches her take the pills and then leaves the tray behind. She picks at the food, eating what she can, but continues to throw most of it in the toilet. She sleeps a deep dreamless sleep, and then she sleeps some more. In the evening, she hears Shade enter the room. She feels him, feels his love and concern, the light touch of his hand, tender on her face. His voice is sweet music to her ears, "Ti amo, mi amore." Did she answer? She’s sure she answered, but she is already falling back asleep. She awakens hours later to see a single red rose on the white sheets beside her, and his simple note, ‘Ti amo.’ lover... pull me out of this black hole, I am not sure I can climb out on my own.
***
Shade walks to the closed bedroom door and stands outside, listening. He can hear nothing but dead silence. He hates that sound. She is inside, and he misses his bubbly, chatty bel. Slowly opening the door, he sees her lying in the bed. He can tell she hasn’t moved since the last time he checked on her, and she looks weak. Walking closer, he can barely take the pain that goes through him. She looks exhausted and even paler than before. Gently lifting her hand, she doesn’t move and for one second, he feels panic race through him, and then she moves her head slightly toward him.
“Kate, wake up please. I am worried. You look very...not yourself. What can I do to help?”
***Kate feels him take her hand. She feels him standing next to her. “Shade.” She fights against this dark sleep and forces herself to open her eyes. She smiles at him.
“I don't need anything, Gi has been most attentive. And I did as you asked. I have been in bed all day.”
She starts to sit up in the bed. He needs to see that she is okay. She knows how much he worries.
***
Watching as she sits up, he can tell there is pain and she is trying to hide it from him. Reaching out, he helps her and fluffs up some pillows behind her back.
“Well, you look very pale and weak to me. Did you eat, take your pills?”
“I ate everything. Gi brings my meals here, and my pills. You can ask him. I cleaned my plate. I talked to Rissa on the phone, she was so sorry about the whole thing with the feeder, and just wanted to check on me. She said she might stop by this week. So, be nice, lover, please?”
***
He tries not to show his concern. “Well, that is good you ate everything. You don’t need to lose any weight. You should be gaining now.”
He smirks at the mention of Rissa. “Rissa, huh? Well, not sure I want her ass back in this house so soon, but if you want some company, I suppose I can trust Rissa, but let’s not get too carried away with the girl talk. Her mate is my boss, and the less he knows the better. I rather like controlling what he does and doesn’t know. He already mentioned Rissa informed him of the incident, she is his mate, and she will not hide anything from him. Keep that in mind, please.”
“I never discuss our lives with her. She is trying to figure out who your feeder is. I promise you, what happens between us belongs only to us.”
Shade growls low, “Nosy is what she is! Do not ever mention Luca to her in any capacity. You need to protect him as much as he protects you. She need not know a damn thing about him. Not just the feeding but anything.”
Sighing, he holds her in his arms. “Bel, I don’t want to seem unreasonable or that I don’t like Rissa. I don’t want to come off like a hard ass to you.”
***
She relishes the feel of his arms around her. She has felt so bad today, the pleasure of his arms supporting her feels so delicious, she allows herself to melt against him.
“Luca is my family too. I won't be discussing the personal issues of our family. She wants to plan a baby shower. And I never see you as mean. You are my protective warrior.”
***
Shade can feel her melt into him and knows she is so fucking tired and has no energy.
“Then lay here in your protective warrior’s arms and fall asleep. I won’t be going out tonight, I promise you, and if you wake, I will be right here.”
He lies down next to her, cuddling her onto his chest. He feels her relax into him and fall asleep.
“That’s it, rest. I’m right here with you, sleep.”
He waits until she is sleeping soundly, then he slides her off his chest and onto the bed, pulling the blankets around her. Getting down to his office, he sees his phone blinking and already knows he has to deal with Alec or all hell will break loose. Dialing into his voicemail, the message Alec left is abrupt, and the tone of his voice is deadly... "Shade, let me make one thing clear. When I call, you answer. I don't ever want to hear a fucking voicemail message again. Now, call me back so we can set up some time to discuss this coven."
Shaking his head, his anger rises up. So, Alec is finally worried about a coven after Shade took out two of its slime, and now he wants to talk? Right! Let me get right on that! Slamming his fist down on the desk, he grabs his smokes and walks out onto the patio and paces, lighting up a cigarette. He needs to get his anger under control before he returns the call, knowing he can’t let his anger out on Alec or he will pay the price. He finally calms down and walks back in to return his call.
83
Alec wraps up his interview with the press under the impressive dome of the Capital, and then heads back to his office, checking his cell to see if Shade returned his call. The whole day has passed, and he is ready to get out of here for the night. Fuck! Nothing! Who the fuck does he think he is? As soon as he gets in his office and closes the door, he dials his cell again... And God help him if I don't get an answer this time!
***
Shade hears the phone just as he is returning from outside and grabs the cell off the desk as his ass hits his chair. He doesn’t even have to look to see who it is, Alec is one impatient fucker, and everything happens on his schedule.
“Shade here.”
***
Alec can barely repress his anger, “First of all, Shade, when I call, I expect an immediate pickup, so keep your phone on you at all times, and I mean all times. Don't take a fucking piss without your phone, got it? And second of all, if, by some stroke of dumb luck, you happen to miss a call and I leave a voicemail, I expect an immediate response. Is anything about that message unclear?”
Shade props his feet on the desk and lets him ramble.
“Well, Alec, let me give you a heads up of what has been going on in my life lately. Rissa marches in to my house, bringing the feeder from fucking hell. I’ve got a pregnant mate, who doesn’t need that kind of aggravation going down in my house. My mate is sick as a fucking dog, those pills are horrendous.”
Suppressing his annoyance with him, Alec responds, “Curb that attitude with me, warrior. You know Rissa was just trying to help out, and it's not my fucking problem you got a mortal pregnant, so I don't even want to hear about any fucking issues with your mate. What have you found out about the rogues? Do we have another coven moving in? Or was this an isolated incident? What do your instincts tell you?”
***
It is just as he thought. Alec doesn’t give a fucking thought to anything until it might actually threaten his ass.
“Alec, this looks like some new coven, possibly called Aries. I was able to identify their tattoo. The two rogues I found concern me. What the hell are they after? How many more are there? I h
ave had your warriors scouting every night, but personally keep close tabs in your immediate area. My instincts tell me this won’t be good. I have no other leads, I have never heard of this damn Aries coven before. What the hell do you know about them?”
“Aries... never heard of them. I'll put out some feelers, see if anyone has heard anything. Do you have a feel for the size of this coven?” He paces the floor of his office. This could be nothing.
“No, not at this point, but I’ve got warriors in every hot spot in town. They keep a lid on everything, and we have begun to sniff out some strange blood, but no trouble. It is a bitch moving around this city, Alec. But I’m on it. If they have tattoos, it’s a fucking serious problem, it means they are organized, which is why I can’t understand why I never heard of them before. The rogues I found were damn young, perhaps they are recruiting, and you know as well as I do, young rogue vampires are one dangerous breed.”
Alec continues pacing the floor, “I’m well aware, warrior, well aware. If they blow my cover, expose me... It is all over for all of us. I can't emphasize enough how important it is you get a handle on this, Shade. And listen, I know you have some shit going on. Rissa has kept me informed, but you have to stay in the game here. You can't allow yourself to be distracted. If I go down, we all go down.”
Sighing and letting him hear it, Shade slides his hand through his hair.
“Alec, none of us can be exposed, and you don’t have to remind me. I have one hell of a lot to lose as well. I got this Alec, I will take their lowlife asses out, one by one, and it won’t be pretty. But here is what I will lay on the table. You have a few good warriors, all mercenaries. Most of them know their shit but they lack discipline. If this situation escalates beyond what your boys can handle, I’m bringing in my own warriors and you can bet your ass, this city will rock to its core when I let them loose. We don’t play games, Alec. We are true warriors, you want death, you came to the dealer, brother.”