Bite Mark

by Lily Harlem

  “Elfrida is right, Aimery. It is most complicated to have a woman join us who already has a family.” He paused. “However, given your long abstinence and need for, how shall we say?” He tipped his head and a small smile tugged his lips. “Nourishment of the soul, then I think we can give you some leeway. She can stay for now but we will discuss it again tomorrow. I suggest you make haste with finding her friend.”

  “Thank you, sir,” Aimery said.

  “Thank you, sir,” Ryle echoed.

  “Now, Miss Benton, please hold up your right hand.”

  I did as he asked, trying to control the shake. This was all very strange.

  “Please repeat after me,” the Master said. “I solemnly declare that I will be good and true to the Worshipful Company of the Ancient Order.”

  I cleared my throat. “I solemnly declare that I will be good and true to the Worshipful Company of the Ancient Order.”

  “And that as a guest in the Sacred Chamber and a house belonging to the company I will be obedient, respectful and above all keep information confidential.”

  “And that as a guest in the Sacred Chamber and a house belonging to the company…” I hesitated.

  “I will be obedient,” Ryle prompted.

  “I will be obedient, respectful and above all keep information confidential.”

  “Very good,” the Master said, reaching once more for his torch. “Please be seated.”

  I sat with a bump.

  Ryle reached for my hand.

  “Well done,” Aimery whispered. “That is the worst over now.”

  I wasn’t completely sure what I’d agreed to. It seemed a lot of pomp to ask me to have basic manners and keep information confidential when I was hardly likely to go and shout to the world that there were vampires living in London—gorgeous, sexy vampires who knew how to take a woman to planet ecstasy and back. No, I was quite determined to keep that to myself and for myself.

  “To other business,” the Master said. “We have an affirmation.” He gestured behind me. “Gaspare, would you like to come forward with your chosen one?”

  “What’s an affirmation?” I asked Aimery.

  “It’s our version of marriage. When two or three people choose to live the rest of the mortal’s life together. It is a very special occasion.” He leaned closer. “You must be very quiet, though, Bea. We do not want to draw any further attention to ourselves.”

  “Yes, of course I will be, but why—” My words halted in my mouth and the air in my lungs froze. Walking down the stone steps, between the rows of seats was Denny.

  “Oh my God, it’s…”

  “Shh,” Aimery said, pressing his fingertips over my mouth. “You must not disturb this moment. It would be hugely disrespectful.”

  “But it’s Denny,” I whispered, twisting in my seat to see him more clearly.

  “Yes. And he is quite well and very happy,” Aimery whispered firmly.

  “But—?”

  “Shh, baby,” Ryle said, squeezing my hand. “Talk later.”

  Talk later.

  What the hell? I’d been looking for Denny for weeks, worrying myself sick about his safety and his whereabouts, and all the time he’d been here. Just a few streets away. And I’d been right when I’d thought I’d seen him through the window. It had been him receiving head. I recognized Gaspare’s profile.

  Gaspare was walking next to him, slightly taller and wider than Denny, with short hair and a strong jawline. He was fabulously handsome and just the type of bloke my best friend would go for.

  I bit on my lip and frowned. Sitting still and quiet was the last thing I wanted to do. My instinct was to rush to Denny, hug the breath from him then shake him until his teeth rattled.

  Aimery rested his hand on my leg and stroked my skirt with his thumb in a soothing manner.

  But I wasn’t soothed. I was relieved, angry, confused. What was all this about affirmation and chosen mate?

  As Denny passed the end of our row he turned to face me, his gaze capturing mine and holding steady.

  I opened my mouth, words stockpiling on my tongue.

  He shook his head, just a fraction. No.

  I willed myself silent, held Ryle’s hand tighter and placed my other one over Aimery’s.

  Denny didn’t want me to speak. Why? Was he here against his will? Surely not. He’d looked like he was having a damn good time with Gaspare when I’d seen them cranking up the temperature.

  He looked away and carried on walking toward the torch burning in the center of the chamber.

  I had to admit he looked good. He’d put on a little weight, judging by the way the smart black suit he wore stretched across his shoulders, plus his cheeks had filled out a fraction and his hair was cut super-neat in a style that really suited him, slightly off center and just tracing the nape of his neck.

  “Welcome, dear new friend,” the Master said, raising his hands high. “Denny McDougal, by committing your mortal self to Gaspare you are the newest member of our Order. Is this what your heart truly desires?”

  “Yes, Master,” Denny replied, his voice sure and confident.

  “Gaspare Dupont, Denny will be your sixth mate, is that correct?”

  “Yes, Master, that is correct,” Gaspare said with a strong Italian accent. He looked at Denny and smiled gently.

  Sixth mate?

  The Master reached for the torch. “Please warm your hands against Benedict’s eternal flame.”

  Denny and Gaspare held their palms a few inches from the torch.

  “I declare as Supreme Master of this Ancient Order that your souls are now duty bound to remain connected, and may the light and heat of this charmed flame forever feed your passion and your love for each other.” He turned to Denny. “Do you, Denny McDougal, promise to cherish and care for Gaspare Dupont for as long as you live?”

  “Yes, Master.”

  “Do you promise to nurture him with your life force?”

  “Yes, Master.”

  The Master rested his own palm over the flame for a brief moment and then placed it on top of Denny’s head as though transferring the heat. He turned to Gaspare. “Do you, Gaspare Dupont, promise to protect and care for Denny McDougal for as long as he lives?”

  “Yes, Master.”

  “Do you promise to satisfy his every need and repay his ultimate gift with pleasure and adoration?”

  “Yes, Master.”

  The Master repeated the process of warming his palm and placing it on Gaspare’s head.

  “You are now affirmed as connected souls. May every member of the Order respect your unity and may you sustain each other for many happy years.”

  There was a roof-lifting burst of applause. It made me jump, it was so sudden after the atmosphere had been so solemn.

  Aimery and Ryle clapped too.

  I joined in.

  Had I really just watched my best friend get married to a man he hadn’t even introduced me to?

  With my mind spinning, I watched as Gaspare took Denny into his arms and kissed him. Hotly, passionately, slotting his hands into Denny’s hair as he took complete possession. Someone wolf-whistled behind me and Ryle paused in his clapping to turn to me.

  “You okay?” he asked.

  “Yes, fine. It’s just all a bit sudden.”

  “That’s how love hits sometimes.”

  “Yes. I guess so.”

  Denny and Gaspare took a seat on the front bench. I could just see the tops of their heads, bowed together as though unable to bear any distance apart.

  “Final matter of the day concerns the whereabouts of the Carlton Pack,” the Master said, replacing the torch in its stand and folding his arms. “We have reason to believe the majority have fled Canada for the winter, though this hasn’t been confirmed.”

  “Who are the Carlton Pack?” I asked Ryle.

  “Allies of the wounded men on the tapestry,” Aimery answered.

  “But I thought that was a fable.”

  “A
ll fables come from some truth,” Ryle replied.

  “Oh.” I shuddered. The picture was gruesome. “Wasn’t that ages ago, though, like centuries?”

  “Yes, but they still bear a grudge,” Aimery said, then lifted his finger to his mouth. “Shh now.”

  “I would just like to reiterate that if anyone becomes privy to definite information about the pack’s whereabouts it is essential you come to my office immediately,” the Master said. “The Carlton Pack’s movements are top priority and it may be necessary to implement action without delay if they head to the United Kingdom, which, as you will remember, they did several years ago.” He spun to the other caped members of the order, sitting on their throne-like seats. “Is there anything to add?”

  They shook their heads. Elfrida stared up at us, looked as though she was going to speak but then pursed her lips and gave a stiff shake of her head.

  “In that case, session dismissed,” the Master said. He then strode across the chamber and through an arched wooden door in the sidewall.

  Immediately the buzz of conversation picked up. People shuffled and rose, some edged their way to the main door and some stood talking.

  “I need to speak to Denny,” I said. Panic was welling within me that he might disappear again.

  “Of course,” Aimery said. “We will wait in the lobby for him. He needs to sign the affirmation register first.”

  Chapter Eleven

  Aimery, Ryle and I waited in the lobby, next to the statue of Benedict, for Denny and Gaspare.

  Order members flocked past, some stared at me, some stopped to say hello. Each one raised their nose as though trying to catch my scent.

  Ryle and Aimery flanked me. Ryle had his hand pressed into the small of my back and Aimery’s fingers twined with mine. I was glad my men were there. All these vampires in one place and knowing what a delicacy my Bombay blood was had given me an increased sense of vulnerability. I was also grateful for the lily of the valley spray Aimery had been so liberal with. I sensed it did exactly what he’d said, masked the scent of my rare blood.

  “You’re quite safe,” Ryle said. “They will not disrespect the fact that we have claimed you.”

  “But what about Elfrida?” I asked as the lobby became quiet and empty. “She seemed particularly unhappy about me being here.”

  “It’s not you being here that she’s unhappy about,” Ryle said.

  “So what is it?” The door to the chamber shut with a heavy bang and I realized we were now alone. “And what did she mean about Asia?”

  Aimery glanced over his shoulder and then looked down at me with a slight frown. “Ryle and I were in Calcutta, traveling, ninety years ago.”

  “Ninety-five,” Ryle said.

  Aimery rubbed his bottom lip. “Mmm, yes you’re right.” He paused. “Ninety-five. We’d been conducting Order business regarding the pack when we met Natifa.”

  “Natifa, the woman Elfrida mentioned you’d shared.” My jaw tensed. It wasn’t that I was jealous, just curious that this was something they’d done before. It certainly was new to me, having two lovers.

  “Yes, the very same, except it was so much more than that.” Aimery paused. “She was our wife.”

  “Our wife. What, like you both married her?” I couldn’t keep the surprise from my voice.

  “She was very special,” Ryle said. “Like you.”

  “And as with you we were both drawn to her; we both had to have her,” Aimery said. “Apart from anything else she needed saving from an abusive teacher who, because she was an orphan, was exploiting his power when he was supposed to be caring for her.”

  “Mmm, he didn’t last long,” Ryle said, with a menacing glint in his eye.

  I could just imagine the end this man would have come to and shook my head to rid the image. “A teacher?” I asked. “How old was she then, when you met her?”

  “Fifteen,” Ryle said.

  “But of course we respected that, nothing happened between us sexually until she was of age,” Aimery added.

  “In fact we waited until our wedding night,” Ryle said, licking his lips. “Before we all took pleasure from one another and consummated our union.”

  A tremble of desire snaked up my spine. I was glad I hadn’t had to wait years for Ryle and Aimery to give me pleasure. I would have surely died of impatience. “So what happened to her?” I asked. As I spoke I wondered if I really wanted to know the answer. Had they drained her blood? Had she been killed by another vampire?

  “She died, aged eighty and in our bed,” Aimery said. “She was still beautiful, even then.”

  I could almost picture an old lady, wrinkled and worn with age, lying between these two perfect specimens of men who adored and protected her. A sadness settled in me but also admiration for the bonds that had obviously been formed. “I’m sorry.”

  “It is the tragedy of living with eternity,” Aimery said. “Mortals come and go; sometimes they take a chunk of our hearts with them.”

  He looked so sad, like it was a grief of only weeks ago, not decades ago. I reached out and pressed my hand to his chest. “I wish I could make the pain go away.” They were the same words I’d said to my father when my mother had died in a car crash ten years previously.

  “I don’t,” Aimery said, pressing his palm over my hand. “Because if it went it would mean that I didn’t miss her, and I do.” He dropped his head and a hint of a smile tugged at his lips. “But of course now you’re here, Beatrice, and I’m looking forward to making memories with you. Happy memories.”

  Ryle stepped in close behind me, sandwiching me between them. His breath was cool on my neck and his chest touched through my blouse to my shoulders.

  A sizzle of sensation zapped through me. They were so big, so damn strong and I felt small and delicate between them. They also made me feel safe and sexy, like there was nowhere in the world I needed or wanted to be other than with them. I could see why Natifa had spent sixty-five years, most of her life, right here.

  “And do you want to know the other thing about Natifa?” Ryle asked quietly.

  “Yes.”

  He licked the patch of skin behind my ear then nipped at my lobe. “She was a Bombay.” He stroked his fingertips over the bite marks just below my hairline, pressing a little on the tender bumps. “She tasted like heaven.”

  Oh my God, was that what Elfrida had meant about the rumors? Had she been suspicious that I was a Bombay too? Once again I couldn’t help but wonder if that was the only reason Ryle and Aimery liked me.

  “Please, you mustn’t think that we only wanted her for her taste,” Ryle murmured.

  “No, it was so much more than her Bombay blood,” Aimery said, “Her virtuous, pure soul made us feel alive. We admired her human traits and loyalty, her wisdom and bravery,” He cupped my face in his palms. “Alive, that’s the feeling we crave and you, Bea, like Natifa, make us feel that way.”

  “I don’t think I’m very virtuous.” I thought of some of the backhand dealings I’d been unable to resist at the market.

  “You are a giving and honest woman with a fierce sense of faith to your family and friends,” Aimery said firmly.

  “Yes, Bea, you’re everything to us and we hope you’ll stay with us for a long time.” Ryle was smoothing his hands over my waist and hips, exploring the new shapes the pencil skirt had highlighted. Every stroke of his palms and cup of my arse had heat growing in my pussy. I leaned a little closer to Aimery; the damn fine bulge that had been evident through his suit trousers while Ryle had fucked me was back.

  “Yes,” I managed to say. “I want to stay with you, just please, don’t drink all of my blood.”

  “Do you think we’re crazy? How would that benefit us?” Aimery asked, staring at my mouth as though he might feast on it at any moment.

  “It’s just in movies and—”

  “This is no movie,” Ryle said, his lips against my ear again. “Push every thought you’ve ever had about fictional vampires from y
our mind and wake up to the reality of the world you’re living in.”

  “You mean a world where vampires marry women whose blood they like the taste of?”

  “Yes, and live happily, giving and receiving pleasure,” Aimery said. “We’re the good guys, not the bad.”

  “And this will be a symbiotic relationship.” Ryle pressed closer into my back. A damn fine erection slotted between my bum cheeks. “Everyone gives something; everyone receives something.”

  That made sense to me. “I’m kind of looking forward to a little more giving and receiving tonight,” I said, touching my lips to Aimery’s.

  “We must be careful,” he said. “You are small and delicate and so very precious to us. The last thing we want is to make you ill. Our aim is to keep you strong and healthy.”

  I huffed and poked my finger into his chest. “Hey, I might be little but I’m tough.”

  “And feisty,” Ryle said with a chuckle. “If you think you can argue with Aimery and win.”

  “Bea, oh, fuck, I can’t believe you’re here.”

  I turned at the sound of Denny’s frantic shout. “Denny.”

  He was rushing across the lobby. Gaspare was walking casually behind him.

  I shimmied from between Aimery and Ryle and raced to him.

  He caught me in a hug so tight I thought he’d break my bones. He was stronger, much stronger than I’d ever known him, and thicker too, more muscled.

  “Bloody hell, Denny,” I said, bashing my fist against his back. “I’ve been so worried about you. Like sick with worry, I’ve been going out of my mind trying to track you down.”

  “I’m sorry, really I am. I just kinda got distracted.” He pulled back but kept hold of my hand. “And you can see why. Bea, meet Gaspare.”

  Gaspare stood tall and confident next to Denny. He was handsome in a square-jawed, Marvel-hero way. “Miss Benton,” he said with a curt nod.

  “Hi, and you know, congratulations on the affirmation thing in there.”

  “Thank you.”

  Denny grinned. “That was so cool, now me and Gaspare are a couple forever.” He slipped his arm around Gaspare’s waist and tugged him close. “I never thought that would happen to me. If I hadn’t followed Aimery through the market that day I would never have bumped into Gaspare on Smokehouse Yard.”