Reign

by Alaska Angelini

  “I haven’t fed. I think your bite was too much.”

  “Of course. I don’t know what I was thinking. You’re trembling. Come,” he said, leading me out to the bed. “Sit on my lap and feed.”

  For the life of me, I didn’t want to. I could have used the excuse his blood was too strong for my upset stomach, but that would mean I would have to feed from Hunter. That was impossible.

  Aetas stopped at the bed and pulled me down to his thigh. I glanced up to Marko’s face and tried to convince myself that it was my husband, the man I loved. It was the only way I was going to keep getting through this.

  “Bite, ma minette. Your shaking is getting worse.”

  My hand rose to the side of his neck. Slowly, I leaned in, easing my fangs into his skin. Blood trickled into my mouth, increasing as I bit down even more. Hands gripped just above my hips, turning me to straddle his lap. My eyes instantly closed. There was going to be no way around this. If I wanted Marko taken somewhere safe, I had to keep Aetas happy and occupied so he wouldn’t go back and check on the real Marko. I had to buy Hunter time. If he could even get in … or out. What if Aetas became aware Hunter was trying? No, I couldn’t think of it. I had to keep our evil leader’s mind far away from anything having to do with Hunter or Marko. It was the only way.

  “That feels so good.”

  Fingers wove in my hair, pushing through until the remaining pins fell loose. When he gripped and pushed me more into him, I bit down harder. I kept my poison as light as I could without him knowing I was intentionally doing it. His hand was on my ass, pulling me closer to his cock and the urge to break down was there again, but I couldn’t. I had a part to play, and I’d be damned if I was going to screw it up. My mens’ safety depended on it.

  My hips rotated and the adrenaline from his power increased my pulse. Aetas met my movements, tearing the black lace panties. With a final jerk, he tossed them, moving in to undo his belt.

  “Better, isn’t it? I bet you feel so good with my blood in you. Wait until I’m filling you with my cum. You like that.”

  I had told him that.

  I breathed in deeply through my nose, willing the nausea away. Aetas leaned back, maneuvering to remove his slacks. When I was lifted, I braced myself.

  Pressure from the head of his cock pressed against my opening and I hated the wetness that was waiting for him. With how strong his blood was, it was a natural aphrodisiac. Whether my mind liked it or not, my body responded.

  “Fuck, I’ve been waiting for this all day. Suck harder for me, ma minette. Show me how much you want me.”

  I obeyed, drinking in more of him as he held to my hips, inching into and stretching me with my mate’s thick length. How would this ever be the same for me and Marko? After Aetas … how was I ever going to look at my mate without remembering what I was doing? How was he going to look at me? I should have known, yet I betrayed him. I was betraying him now.

  “Enough drinking, kiss me. I want to taste me on your tongue. I want to know that I’m the one you’re choosing.”

  The thought of the single intimate act destroyed me worse than having him fuck my body. It was too connected, too loving. I didn’t love Aetas. I knew that now. I didn’t love him the slightest. It was Marko. It was always Marko.

  My jaw extended and I licked over the wounds, leaning back. His kiss was immediate, full of hunger. Full of a lust. It was almost impossible to make myself portray a woman who was in the heat of passion.

  “Tell me you love me,” he said, in between kisses. “Tell me you want only me.”

  “I. I—love you. And you know it is only you I want.”

  If it wouldn’t have been for the increasing thrusts, I wasn’t sure I would have gotten away with my stuttering. Jesus, how many times had I told Aetas those words? How many times had I tried to force myself to believe them? Perhaps deep down I knew it wasn’t Marko. Why hadn’t I listened to that tiny voice that said so? I was going to leave this version of Marko, yes, but even then it was for our kind’s best interest. Not because I ever let myself think that Aetas still lived.

  “Bend over, I want to see your ass as I fuck you.”

  I was spun over so fast it gave me vertigo. My mind wasn’t here, and that was fine with me. Marko’s survival left me making sounds, left me going through the motions, but I was far, far, deep into my mind, searching out my link with Hunter.

  Satin scrunched between my fingers as I gripped to the comforter. I immediately buried the majority of my face in the fabric. Darkness soothed me and I gripped to my tie with my mate, feeling Hunter’s location out. He was still close. Still here somewhere. Fuck.

  “I could look at this all day—the way you’re so tight around me.” He moaned, clutching hard to the sides of my ass.

  “Fuck me, harder. Fuck me.”

  The huskiness of my voice amazed me. How I could fit the role so easily, it made me relieved and sick all at the same time. If this could just be over with.

  Aetas slammed into me, rocking us forward. I gripped tighter to the darkness, covering my face more while my other hand pushed between my legs. When my fingertips brushed against his sac, I let my touch caress over his sensitive skin with ever sway of his thrust.

  “Tessalyn.”

  “You like that?”

  “Yes. Don’t stop.”

  The strain in his tone was a relief. I traced my fingers back and forth, moving toward the back of his sac. Anything to bring on pleasure so he would finish and go to sleep. Luckily, it didn’t take long.

  “Okay, you have to stop.”

  “I thought you wanted to come in me. I want you to. Come in me, Marko.”

  “But you haven’t—”

  A loud groan left him and wave after wave I met his thrust, making sounds. When he pulled out and kissed me, all I felt was relief.

  “I’m taking a shower. You going to wait for me in bed?” I already knew the answer, but I asked, trying to keep things routine.

  “Hurry.”

  He was already climbing under the covers, already yawning.

  I hurried to the bathroom, shutting the door behind me. The moment I turned on the water, I couldn’t wash Aetas from me fast enough. The dress lay on the floor in pieces and I never wanted to see one like it again.

  Soap perfumed the air as I sped through the routine. By the time I dried off, I knew only a few short minutes had gone by, but I heard what I was waiting for—snoring. I left the water running, materializing a dark maroon dress to cover my body.

  And I was gone.

  Chapter 25

  Hunter

  It didn’t matter what I did, I was fucked. Breaking through the shield, materializing inside … I couldn’t do any of it and I couldn’t stand it. Wasn’t I supposed to be this big, powerful vampire? Why were my gifts so hard to strengthen? Compared to Tessa, I was a weakling. She could destroy me if she chose to. What if something happened to her? How was I supposed to protect her? I couldn’t even do the one thing she asked, and that was rescue Marko.

  More I paced, glaring at the door like it was Aetas, himself.

  How did he do it? How did he turn into Marko? And how did we miss it?

  I never suspected. I thought Marko was different, but it never crossed my mind he was my maker. Shouldn’t I have known? And what happened to his plans for me? Aetas suddenly hated me. It was almost as if he was Marko. Or at least turning into him.

  “You didn’t have luck?”

  Tessa was still see-through, rushing toward me, only feet away. Her slippers turned solid as she did and the sound of her footsteps were nearly nonexistent in the surrounding silence.

  “I can’t. I’m so sorry, I’ve tried everything.”

  “Do not be sorry. You will grow stronger. You have to listen to me, Hunter. I’m going to materialize inside of the memorial and then materialize Marko and I over to our underground city. Then I will come back and get you. You have to take Marko somewhere no one will ever find him. He’s weak now. He has
to have time to grow stronger. To fight. I want to come, but I have to stay behind to make sure of Aetas’ moves. When the time is right, I will find you from our link. It will be the same way I came to you when you were with the enforcers. They will be looking for you. You have to stay out of sight as much as possible.”

  Before I could say anything, Tessa was gone. She wanted me to take Marko to safety, but a place didn’t come to mind. I didn’t remember all of my past and from what I could recall, everyone I knew was human … and dead. Fuck! I had to think of something. I failed on getting Marko out, I couldn’t fail at this.

  Seconds stretched out, and then a minute. An eternity seemed to pass as I scanned the grounds, looking for any movement or shadows. When Tessa reappeared, she had my hand before she was completely visible. And then we were gone, in a void of blackness. Within seconds my feet were touching the floor of an all too familiar room. Their old room.

  “He’s so weak.” She was already pulling me toward the bed, but my vision was still blurry. I blinked, bringing Marko’s pale face and beard into focus.

  “Tessa? Tessa?”

  His eyes were rolling and his lips were cracked. His mouth opened only for his teeth to snap shut. The action had Tessa whimpering as she leaned in.

  “Take my blood. Take as much as you need. I’m sorry,” she sobbed. “I didn’t know.”

  Stiff fingers trembled as he put them on the sides of her face. Fear had me moving in closer. I didn’t trust him not to hurt her in his state. His eyes were black—all vampire. There was a darkness radiating from him. One that appeared more killer than loving husband. And his eyes. They were so haunted.

  “I’m going to kill him.”

  His jaw bit down again, clamping shut with a click of his teeth.

  “We’ll talk over that later. First you have to get well. Feed.”

  Marko didn’t need another invitation. He jerked her forward, igniting a scream as he savagely bit into her neck. Tessa’s hand slammed into my stomach as I reared forward. Although she wanted me to stay back, she fisted my shirt through the pain of his bite. The brutality burned its way up my own neck, leave a scorching sensation stinging along my skin. Minutes passed. Then more. When Tessa’s knees gave out, I held her up by the waist, using my palm on the middle of her back to keep up with her pulse.

  “Marko, you have to stop.”

  I didn’t bother to hide my panic as I counted the beats. Her heart was slowing the more he drained her.

  “Marko!”

  A growl echoed through the room as he let go, pulling her more into his arms. Regardless, that he had more strength, I still held around her waist. Tessa could barely move. Her body was limp as she sniffled through the soft cries.

  “How long?”

  I glanced up to Marko’s black eyes. He was still vampire. Still unstable.

  “Over a month and a half. Closer to two, I guess.”

  “It felt like years. Like an eternity of darkness. Three times he fed me. Three. And only then did I see light. I thought I had missed that sweet glow during my first century, but now, I don’t think I’ll ever look at the dark the same again. It’s crazy,” he said, hugging to Tessa tighter. “A vampire who’s afraid of the dark. Never would I have believed such a thing.”

  What was I supposed to say to that? Nothing. I didn’t think it required an answer. I could understand his new fear, even if I couldn’t quite feel the emotion.

  “Let her drink from me. She needs to replenish.”

  Marko’s eyes snapped up, only for him to blink away whatever was in his mind. His features immediately loosened from the tense expression he’d had. The black lightened, turning to brown as he took deep breaths.

  “Feed her here. I don’t want to let go of her. I can’t.”

  Closer, I moved in. When Tessa’s head slid to the middle of Marko’s chest to move in closer to me, I slit my wrist, putting it up to her mouth. The softness of her lips caressed my skin as she sucked. The action had my body reacting and I braved a stare at Marko, knowing all too well he could feel my battle. He was powerful now. So much more than he had ever been. It scared me. We had been enemies for so long that I worried how he was going to take all of this. Especially given me and Tessa’s new bond.

  “I didn’t know what I was doing when I attacked her that night. You probably don’t believe me, but I have to be honest with you. I would never hurt Tessa or force her into something she didn’t want.”

  Emotions left him while he swept back her hair. Still Tessa took in more of my blood. “I know you had no control over yourself that night, Hunter. Aetas’ blood told me the truth. Have you been with my concubine since I was away?”

  The question had Tessa pausing. It rocked me so much that I paused before I shook my head. “No. Not that I didn’t want to be. Aetas … well, you, I thought, wouldn’t allow me. At first he seemed able enough, but things changed after the first night at headquarters.”

  “I don’t have to ask you how Aetas was to my wife. I got to hear firsthand after you left earlier.”

  “After I left?” My brow drew in as I turned my attention to Tessa. She didn’t break away from my wrist as she stared ahead like a zombie.

  “He was going to rape her right there so I could hear. He tried to force the idea of her wanting him into her mind, but Tessa overpowered his control. She left then, but what happened after is a mystery. Concubine, why don’t you tell me what happened?”

  The threat for revenge laced every single word he spoke. Tessa’s lips once again paused. I could feel her fear—her hesitation. Cautiously, she rose to sit, appearing paler than before I gave her my blood. She glanced at me, and then to him. When her voice came out monotone, it turned my stomach even more.

  “I did what I had to do to try to keep you safe. I sent Hunter to rescue you, but he couldn’t get in. I didn’t know that until Aetas fell asleep and I went back. I had to distract him. I …”

  Tessa swallowed hard, appearing as if she were going to be sick. Her hand came to her mouth and she tried to push from Marko, but he held to her, not allowing her to go. With each breath he took, I could see his anger grow.

  “But it wasn’t the first time, was it?”

  Even though Tessa lay back on his chest at his pull, her red-rimmed eyes stayed on me. Her heartache and sickness was my own. Had I of known what she was doing—what was happening …

  “No. I thought he was you until I saw you in the memorial. I didn’t know.”

  “Every day? A handful of times? Did he kiss you and touch you like me?”

  Tessa flew to a sitting position, surprisingly breaking Marko’s hold.

  “Do not ask me those questions. Do you see my devastation? Do you know how I feel? You do not! I mourned your loss every day, whether I knew it was you dead, or not. I mourned,” she cried. “I begged for something I didn’t even know I needed. Aetas—you. Dammit Marko! Look past the surface and into what this means. Aetas has killed our city. Our members and our residents are dead. Marie is dead! She died in my arms, showing me something only now I understand. Darkness. Darkness and being trapped. But I had no idea it was you she was showing me. It matters not, now. The fact is I was too late to save her. Too late because you—Aetas, would not come to give aid to our people. Every major city has been attacked. Our kind is dwindling in numbers and our leader is making it appear that you are the one letting us fall. Marko, he’s not going to stop until all but a selected few live. Then, what? What is going to happen after that?”

  “It’s not going to get that far. He’s dead, he just doesn’t know it yet.”

  “Marko.” I edged closer, not sure how much I should say with the condition he was in. “We have to think rationally. You can’t kill Aetas. The two of you are bonded now. If he dies, so do you. If he gets hurt, so do you.”

  His jaw tightened even more as he pushed to sit up. When he tried to move from the bed, Tessa was reaching to keep him in place.

  “I cannot lie down, ma minette. I can
not be still. I have to walk. I need more light.”

  Her worried gaze came to me as she stood and let him move to the edge of the bed. Her anxiety flared and she bit her bottom lip. Back and forth her eyes scanned the floor, as if she were in deep thought.

  “I have to go. Aetas is stirring, I can feel his energy. Hunter, remember what I told you.”

  Marko’s face shot toward her. “You think I’m letting you go back?”

  “I have to.” Her voice broke as Marko’s towering body stood and loomed over her. “I have to stay until I know how Aetas takes to your disappearance. I have to discover exactly what he plans to do with our kind.”

  Marko was on her before either me or Tessa saw him move. One of his arms was locked around her waist while the other filled the gap under her chin. He held to her as though he was afraid she would disappear at any moment. His expression was half crazed, half terrorized. “You will not go back to him. I will not lose you again.”

  “Let go of her, Marko. You’re scaring her.”

  He backed away, each step a struggle as he used his strength more for his arms, than his legs. His back crashed into the wall and he slid down it at a fast pace, bringing Tessa to the ground with him. Still he stayed wrapped around her.

  “You can’t leave.” His face fitted against the side of hers as his words softened toward the end. “I won’t let you leave. I’m sorry for the questions. I’m sorry. I am not angry for what you have done. I am angry at him.”

  “It won’t be for long. We need this information, Marko. Someone has to keep tabs on Aetas. I’m the only one he trusts.”

  “Loves,” Marko corrected angrily. “You’re the only one he loves, and it’s all my fault. He has taken what I hold for you and twisted it as his own. You don’t know how deep my devotion is to you, ma minette. Never has a heart loved so fierce. Never a beat thrummed so strong. I know you feel my love. You came to me without being bonded. We are meant to be.”