The Blood Covenant: Book One of The Medici Warrior Series

by Emily Bex

  She starts to stand and feels Luca's strong grip supporting her, so much like Shade's. She walks to the tiny cherub and lays a kiss on his head. “Sleep, my tiny warrior. Sleep knowing how hard I fought for you. Sleep knowing how much your father loved you, how much all of these people loved you.”

  She turns and looks at all of them, this is her family now.

  “Thank you. Thank you for this, for understanding I couldn't let him go. Thank you for understanding that, in my heart, I saw him growing up to be a man, and following in his father's footsteps, and that was not something to be thrown away. I'm ready to go back to the house now.”

  They all walk back to the house, but only Luca follows her upstairs. As she walks to their bedroom, they pass the nursery and she pauses, the room pulls at her, calls to her.

  Luca reaches inside and grabs the door knob, pulling the door closed.

  “No more, Kate, no more.”

  95

  The night is long, but Shade remains inside the Dead House, managing things from the command center. The attacks are less frequent this night, a reprieve of sorts, and that worries him even more. Was Aries hunkering down for a bigger, more aggressive attack to come? He spends some time giving the warriors a few tips on shurikens and sword battle. He wants them to be at the top of their game.

  Heading home, he strolls in through Luca's entrance. He has no need to shower here tonight, he is fine and no telltale signs of a night of ravaging D.C. Shade looks in and finds him painting something, he can’t tell what. How the hell Luca makes shit appear out of that blob of color is beyond him, but he doesn’t question it, the end product always amazes.

  Luca turns and nods, tells him all is well, another quiet night. Shade heads up to the bedroom and quietly opens the door, hoping if she is asleep he doesn’t wake her, but always inside his heart, he hopes she is awake and waiting for him. At least, tonight, he is a bit early. The sun is still a good hour from rising, so, perhaps, that will make her a bit happier. When he enters, he sees the bed is still made, she is dressed, and he gets a smile.

  “Mi amore... I am home.

  ***

  Kate hears him enter the house. He is not as agitated as last night. He comes straight to their bedroom and he is still wearing his leathers, his hair is dry, so he did not need to shower away the blood he hopes she never sees. A part of her sighs with relief. She walks to him, slides her arms around his waist, and lays her head against his chest.

  “I was waiting for you. You are home early. Did you have a good night?”

  Well this is a good sign. She comes to him and cuddles into him.

  “Si. I stayed in the Dead House managing things mostly, boring stuff. I like when my bel is up and waiting for me, makes me feel good.”

  Bending down, he tips up her chin and kisses her on the lips. “Mmmmm, and what was my minx up to this night?”

  “Keeping busy. Missing you, mostly.”

  She slides her arms from his waist and drops them to his hands, holding both of his hands in hers as she looks up at him.

  “I know I have been in a dark place that felt closed off from you, and I can't live like that. I have been fighting to get back to you, just as you fight every night. And I know how you spend your nights, even though you take great measures to protect me from it. I have felt your pain as I have felt my own. But I have something to show you...to share with you... If you think you are ready.”

  His brows furrow. “Something to show me?”

  His mind begins to race, not sure he likes this, but if it has made her come back to him, then he damn sure wants to know what it is.

  “Kate, some things about my work you need not know, not right now. So please leave that to me, si? And I would love to see what you want to share with me, so please, lead the way.”

  Kate doesn't know what his reaction will be. Will he find the same healing she found? Or will this bring more pain and heartbreak? She is torn with her decision. She takes his hand and leads him from their bedroom and down the stairs.

  “The sun is not up yet but the sky is getting light... We have time.”

  They walk through the house, and out through the back-patio door into the early light of dawn. A light fog hangs close to the ground and she turns and looks at him, and wonders again if she is doing the right thing?

  ***

  His mind is totally muddled as to what she wants to show him. “Bel, where the hell are you taking me, the sun will be up soon.”

  She can feel his turmoil, the questioning, and a part of her wants to turn back, to just say "never mind", but something compels her to move forward. Their baby calls to her.

  “The garden, please walk with me to the garden, down this path and here to this bench.”

  She sits down, still holding his hand and pulls at him to sit next to her.

  Shade’s eyes never leave her, and he can’t imagine what there is in the garden she wants to show him. His mind is all over the place when she pulls him to the bench.

  “Please, what is it? I can feel your emotions rolling.”

  She grips his hands in hers, “Our baby, lover. Our baby is here. Gi, Luca, Theresa, and Reynaldo...all of them. They buried our baby here, where he will be with us forever. He is there. The angel marks his grave.”

  Silent tears run down her cheeks as she clings to his hands.

  “The baby is... What?”

  His eyes slide slowly to the angelic statue, and he realizes this is the place where her heart can come, an outlet for her emotional pain. He lets go of her hands and kneels slowly in front of the statue. He closes his eyes, and speaks to his son, “I am so sorry, my son. I sacrificed your life, so I could keep her. Forgive your father.” Laying his hand on top of the statue, he whispers in a tone filled with the pain and sorrow that he has stored inside him, “Sleeping warrior.”

  ***

  Kate drops to her knees beside him, puts her arms around him as she leans her head against his shoulder, and lets the healing tears flow. It is the first time she has felt okay to show him her pain, because she is no longer in the dark.

  ***

  Shade feels her let go of all the pain inside, and he knows she is all right now, this is what he has been waiting for, that break in the dam. He knew she was holding it all inside, and now he can help her. Pulling her into his lap, he lays his head on top of hers as they sit in the middle of this garden, facing the one thing they both had forgotten, they are a family forever, including this little one.

  “Kate, I know this is something we will never forget, or completely get over. But we move forward, for our sleeping warrior. He would not want either of us to be in so much pain. He was part of both of us. We have a place now, to come and visit him, and I promise, as the months go by, the pain will ease. And when you hold our next beautiful bambino in your arms, he, too, will always know his brother rests with him inside his heart, as he does yours and mine. And there will be others, many. I love you. I love him as well. We will be fine, mi amore, it is normal for us to grieve our losses. But I will never lose you or you me.”

  ***

  Kate clings to him like a drowning woman as his words wash over her, and her tears fall like rain, healing her...healing them. They will be okay. She feels all the broken pieces coming back together, slipping into place. She feels whole again, but more importantly, they feel whole again. The sun is starting to rise as the sky turns pink and the fog begins to lift, and she knows they must leave here for now, but grateful, so grateful, for this family, for him.

  ***

  Rising with her in his arms, Shade wills forth a rose and hands it to her and nods toward the angelic marker for their son.

  “It is just a bud, almost bloomed, like our sleeping warrior. The morning dew will settle upon the petals, as if it weeps. Let the rose weep for us now, mi amore. Let it weep and let us be done with our tears of grief. Let us lay it here for him, our sleeping warrior, so he knows we will miss him always. And when the time comes, we will plant here for
him a red rose bush, and we will watch, as the years pass, how it grows, si?”

  Grasping the rose in their hands, they lay it together on his grave marker. He picks her up in his arms and carries her back to the house. A new start, a better start for bel rosso and her savage lover, eternity awaits.

  96

  As Shade arrives with her back inside the house, he carries her upstairs to their bedroom. The sun is breaking through and they hear the whir of the electronic blinds as they lower to block the light, leaving the room in darkness. Kate hears him strip the leathers from his skin as she drops her own clothes to the floor, and they both climb into their bed. She slides against him and feels his arms embrace her, as she lays her head on his chest. She feels his kiss on the top of her head, as he whispers "Ti amo", and she feels his hands gently caress her hair. She is at peace, and she feels his calm. This is how it should be. His words replay in her head, and yes, she knows there will be other babies to hold, to love. She feels the rhythm of his breathing change as he slips into his death slumber, and she falls asleep beside him.

  The day passes into night, and she feels him stirring beside her as he awakes and heads for the shower. She turns on the light by the bed and props her pillows against the headboard and watches him as he returns to the room wearing only a towel, his hair hanging loose and wet around his face. My beautiful vampire.

  He drops the towel and starts to put on fresh leathers. "I can feel you watching me, mi amore."

  “Can you, over? And can you also hear what I am thinking?”

  "Si. And you are too much of a distraction for me right now."

  He walks to the bed and sits down next to her, wearing the leather pants, feet, and chest still bare, and leans in and gives her a kiss.

  "I must go, so no tempting me, please."

  She reaches her hand up and runs it through his damp hair, and lets her fingers caress his neck, before leaning in and licking him in the middle of his chest, running her tongue up to his chin.

  “And what fun would that be? Not tempting you?”

  She watches as he drops his head back and moans, before shouting "Cazzo" and standing quickly, stepping back from the bed with a chuckle.

  "It looks like my little minx is back."

  “Oh, she is back... And she'll be waiting for you.” She watches him as he finishes dressing.

  "Si. I have no doubt. Now behave yourself and kiss your savage lover goodbye."

  She kisses him, and watches as he leaves the room, pausing briefly at the door, their eyes locked on each other.

  “I love you, Shade.”

  "Ti amo, bel."

  She hears him head down the stairs and into the bunker, and she can feel him as he leaves. She slides from the bed and gets dressed. She leaves their bedroom to go downstairs, feeling hungry, and she passes the closed door of the nursery. She stops and stares at the door. Her brain is screaming "don't go in", but her heart... It is pulling at her once more. She reaches for the door knob, grips it in her hand and leans her head against the door.

  She can feel the pull of the darkness, like a hand reaching out, slipping beneath the door, pulling, inviting, and calling to her. Did she hear the baby cry? She is startled by the firm touch of hands on her shoulders, and she looks up to see Luca standing behind her.

  Luca gently pulls her from the door. “Don't, Kate. Let go of the door. Come downstairs.”

  She lets go of the doorknob and steps back, but she knows this is a battle she will fight every day as long as the nursery remains.

  “Luca, I can't walk past this room every day. I can't look at it and not have all the emotions come back, and the dreams of him growing up in this room. It has to go. It all has to go!”

  Luca responds, “Don't worry about that. I will have Gi take care of it. He can have everything returned. It is not a problem.”

  Kate feels her agitation grow.

  “No! No, I can't have another baby use his things. These were his things.” The tears start to flow again. “Don’t you understand? That is his crib. His!”

  Her raised voice draws the attention of Gi and Theresa, and she looks up to see them both coming up the stairs.

  “No... I have to… It has to all be destroyed. It has to be burned, Luca. All of it.”

  Luca knows this is her last hurdle. They watched her healing at the baby's grave yesterday, and they saw her take Shade to visit the baby as soon as he got in. If burning it all to the ground is what it takes, then he will make it happen. He looks at Gi and nods.

  “Are you sure, Kate? Is there anything you want to keep?”

  In a trembling voice, she answers, “The bear... I want the bear. Burn everything else.”

  Luca opens the door and she steps inside, looks around the room one last time and then picks up the stuffed bear that she clung to on the bed.

  “Now leave the room, Kate. Go with Theresa. Theresa, send up Reynaldo. We will empty everything into the back lot, and when it is empty, we will come get you.”

  Kate feels Theresa take her hand as she leads her down the stairs and away from the nursery, she sends Reynaldo upstairs, and continues to lead her out of the house and into her private quarters. Theresa heads back to the main house and returns with a tray of hot tea and buttered toast.

  "Eat, my lady, you need to eat something. They will let us know when they are ready."

  Kate thinks it will be hours, but in a short period of time, Luca is standing at the door, his hand extended, letting her know they are ready. She stands up and takes his hand and lets him lead her to an obscure section of their back property, where they have stacked everything; furniture, toys, books, and clothes, into a huge pile.

  ***

  Luca watches her face as he leads her to the pile of belongings, looking for any signs of remorse, any sign that she wants to turn back, but he sees nothing but determination in her eyes. They all approach the huge pile as he continues to hold her hand.

  “Are you sure, Kate? Are you sure this is what you want?”

  She nods her head once, and softly says the word ‘yes’. He nods at Gi, who pours gasoline onto the items, and then Luca pulls a lighter from his pocket. He holds the lighter out to her and asks, "Me or you?"

  ***

  Kate looks down at his hand and sees the lighter, and answers him, "Me." She takes the lighter from his hand and walks to the pile. She can smell the gasoline. She strikes the lighter and holds it to a pile of books and watches as the flames immediately ignite in a whoosh and spread quickly across the path of the gasoline. She steps back from the flames, feeling the heat on her face as Luca slips his arm around her. It is the same protective way that Shade puts his arm around her shoulder.

  They stand together, Gi, Reynaldo, Theresa, Luca, and Kate, as they watch the flames lick high into the sky, watch the burning embers catch the wind and float away, hear the hiss and crackle of the flames, and the pile of everything that was to be her baby's slowly disappears. There are no tears. She feels the burden being lifted from her, the weight of all that pain being carried away in the flames. They stand together until the pile is reduced to nothing but ash and glowing embers. As they turn to walk back to the house, she walks slowly, holding onto Luca's hand, allowing the others to walk ahead.

  “I need one more thing, Luca.”

  He stops walking and turns to face her. “Whatever you need, Kate.”

  She swallows hard. She knows she is asking too much. She knows she is putting him in a position where if he gives her what she asks for, he will be going against Shade's instruction. But she knows this is what she needs.

  “I want you to teach me to fight, like a warrior.”

  ***

  He drops her hand and takes one step back from her. He didn't see this coming. But there are images flashing through his head, of master, unleashing his own anger on the rogues over the loss of this baby, and he knows she must feel some of that same anger. He saw her as she threw herself at the feeder, with no thought of her own safety.
And he hears her words..."warriors are born, not trained."

  He knows Shade will be angry, hell, more than angry, if... No, not if, when he finds out. He looks down at his feet and shakes his head, because he can't believe the words that are about to come out of his mouth. He takes her hand again and starts walking back toward the house as he answers her.

  “I will teach you to fight.”

  About the Author

  Emily Bex is an avid life-long reader, and a first time writer of the epic six book Medici Warrior Series. As she says, “Why start small?”

  She worked for over twenty years in marketing, developing ad campaigns, catalogs, product launches and promotional literature. She figured if she could write creatively about products, then surely she could write something about these characters that were rattling around inside her brain.

  She currently lives in Virginia, but has used her extensive love of travel, both foreign and domestic, to create the backdrop for her characters to play out their story.

  Sample of Book 2!

  The Turning

  Book Two in the Medici Warrior Series

  Rissa has made an appointment to meet with a competitor at noon. They occasionally worked together on large projects, although technically, she was a rival to her business, taking more middle-class clientele than Rissa did. She had called and wanted to speak with Rissa about a specific florist she used on a regular basis. Rissa didn’t normally share information on her business, but she knows the client and knows they could not possibly afford her services, so she thinks she will throw her competitor a bone. Besides, she is feeling generous. She is still basking in the glow of Alec’s approval of the role she played in Shade and Kate’s loss of that half-breed thing she was carrying around.

  Rissa doesn’t deal with the middle-class if she can help it. She is above that now. Her business has grown leaps and bounds, and she is determined to keep it there as the event planner for the elite. One false move in this town could wreak havoc with her reputation and put her on the blacklist, so every client is screened and chosen to meet her select criteria. Driving up to her friend’s business, she feels a little nervous, the Capital Hill district has some great attractions, like the Eastern Market, but it is not the upscale neighborhood of G-town.