by Tara Sampson
Shelby nodded; Leo felt the movement against his chest.
“I’ll call her.”
She wasn’t sure how her friend figured into all of this but she would call her and find out. If someone was after her, then Leo was right. It was better that they knew ahead of time and that they were prepared.
“Good.”
Leo pulled his head back and hooked his finger under her chin, lifting her head so that he could see her face. Bending down he pressed a kiss to her lips.
With their lips connected, Leo flicked his hand and transported them both back to his chambers. Candles instantly came to life around them, illuminating the room with bright white light.
He lifted his head from her delectable mouth and a grin tugged at the corner of his lips. She batted her eyelashes rapidly, taking a second to realize what he’d done.
Narrowing her eyes on him, she balled up her fist and without any hesitation she smacked him hard in the chest.
“I told you that I didn’t like that,” she fumed and began to pound on his chest in earnest. “It makes me dizzy.”
Covering up his amusement, Leo grabbed her hands and held them still at her side.
“You are just too cute when you’re angry like this.”
Once again, unable to hold himself back, he bent down and stole another sweet kiss from her lips. She tasted so good. So incredibly delicious that he would have been happy to live off just her kisses alone. He skillfully teased her mouth open and delved inside, taking what it was that he so badly wanted.
When their tongues began to duel, it was as if all the fight had left her. She needed him like she needed air to breathe. When they were together, she felt whole, complete. Wrapping her arms around his neck, she drew herself closer to him, enjoying how strong and masculine he felt against her. She sipped at his mouth, tasted his essence and savored his breath until she felt drunk off of him.
All too soon though, Leo pulled away. She instantly felt bereft from the loss of his mouth and struggled to hold back her whimper of protest.
“I need to go see Ric,” he said gruffly.
What he really wanted to do was pull his bride into bed and finish what she had so innocently started. His groin was full and aching and he wanted nothing more than to bury himself into the haven of her warm caverns.
But there was one thing that held him back--her safety. Her safety meant more to him than the satisfaction of his lusty desire. They had an eternity to indulge in those pleasures but right now, they had to deal with the problem at hand.
Shelby struggled to gain control of her body. Again, this man had confused her. One moment it was like he couldn’t get enough of her and the next, he left her feeling cold and empty inside.
Leo opened his hand and held it out to her, revealing a slim black phone.
“Here,” he bit out between clenched teeth, “Call Anissa and see if she can meet us somewhere to talk.”
With trembling fingers, Shelby reached out and took the phone from his hand. His tone brokered no arguments.
What did I do wrong? She wondered. Why is he acting like this?
With the phone in her hand, Leo stared at his bride for a long moment. The urge to take her to his bed and ravage her properly was nearly overwhelming. He knew that if he didn’t leave then, that he would never leave and Shelby was too important to him to let his desire override his competence.
Steeling himself, he told her shortly, “I’ll be back.”
Before Shelby could answer him, he was gone. There was nothing left in his place but air and dust.
“Argh!” she screamed out in pure frustration. “Why me?”
The candle’s flickering lights were her only answer and they weren’t saying very much.
Chapter 17
Ric sat down on a woolen couch in the parlor and waited for his master. Sitting alone in the dark, he was plagued with the whole dining room scene re-playing over and over in his head. All he kept seeing was his precious Tatiana flying across the room and the despondent look on her face when Leo told her to leave his home.
The very fact that he had told her to leave, one of his own kind over that feeble pet of his was humiliating to say the least. How could he choose her over a true born? Ric couldn’t even begin to fathom the logic there.
While he waited with nothing but the darkness of the room for company, Ric’s thoughts turned to the frail looking human that Leo was so taken with. She was nothing more than a pint size pig squeak. That being the case, Ric had to wonder how in the hell did she survive a shifter attack?
It had to be luck—that or a guardian angel. There was simply no other explanation. It wouldn’t happen a second time though. Ric was going to be sure of that; even if he had to do the damn job himself.
The problem was that it should have been that simple. They were to go in, get rid of her and then that would be it. Leo would have had no choice but to turn to Tatiana for comfort. Then, when things eventually settled down and the time was right, they could have disposed of him as well; inheriting the Risso titles and fortune in the process.
The plan had been so easy that a four year old should have been able to follow through with it. But when you leave it in the hands of mangy coyotes, nothing is that easy. It surprised him how the dumb animals managed to get dressed in the morning. They were useless.
Nevertheless, the past was the past. None of it really mattered anymore. That little human scum would get her just reward. He would make sure of that and afterward, the chips would fall into their rightful place just as he and Tatiana had previously planned.
Revenge was better saved for dessert anyway. It was much sweeter that way.
Heavy footsteps clomped down the hall and Ric knew instantly that it was his master. Standing up, he moved into the shadow by the wall, waiting for his arrival.
“Ric,” Leo bellowed upon entering the room. “Where are you?”
Ric stepped out of the shadow and stared obediently up at his master. “I’m here, sir.”
Leo whirled around to face his servant. Not wasting any time with frivolous matters, he got straight to the point.
“First of all, I want to know why shifters were in my bride’s apartment back in Paris.”
His eyes flashed a dangerous black glint and for the briefest of seconds, Ric felt a wave of fear wash over him.
Turning meek and making sure to keep his head bowed in submission, Ric slowly took a step back and feigned surprise.
“I have no idea, Master but you can be sure that I’ll do my best to find out.”
Leo narrowed his gaze on his servant, searching his face for any signs of fabrication. After a long minute of stiff silence, he grunted a purely barbaric sound.
“See that you do that. I want to know who sent them and why because when I find out who dared to threaten my bride, they will pay. They will pay with their own blood as I drain them dry.”
Ric visibly swallowed and took another step back.
“Yes, sir, I’ll do my best to get the answers that you seek.”
“I don’t want your best dammit,” Leo growled and brought down a hammering fist on the side table to further punctuate his point. “I want answers and if you know what’s good for you, then you will get me the information. Do I make myself clear?”
Ric quickly nodded his head.
“Yes, Master…crystal clear. I will find out what is going on.” His legs began to tremble and he inwardly cursed his weak servant blood. Struggling to hide the tremor in his voice he went on to ask, “Is that all, Master?”
Leo turned his back on him and glided over to the window. Pulling the curtain aside, he peered out into the depths of the night and tried to think about who would even have the gall to attack his bride. Were they out there right now? Were they watching him? Would they make the same mistake twice and try to come at her again?
It was all so irritating; especially all of the not knowing. He needed to talk to Shelby’s friend Anissa. Maybe she could shed some light
on what was going on.
Letting out a loud sigh, Leo waved his hand in dismissal.
“You can go but I want a report in twenty-four hours.”
“Yes, Master,” Ric replied and was already back-stepping to the exit. Reaching the door, he turned around and right as he placed his hand on the handle, Leo stopped him.
“Wait a minute,” he drawled, staring at him over his shoulder.
This time it was Ric’s turn to close his eyes and sigh. He should have known that it wouldn’t be that easy. Turing around, he linked his fingers in front of him and put on his best smile.
“Yes, Master? Is there something else that you needed?”
His master turned himself so that he was facing Ric.
“As a matter of fact, there is,” he said poignantly. “What exactly did I walk in on with you and Tatiana back in the dining room?”
Ric had been thinking about the best way to answer this. The best that he could come up with was to play the dumb card.
“She asked me to teach her how to please you, Master.” He held out his hands in front of him, “So I did.”
It was a hard pill for Leo to swallow but then again, it was Ric they were talking about. His education was mediocre. It’s not all that much of a stretch to believe that Tatiana was screwing with his servants head. Actually, that sounded just like something she would do.
In the past, she had always proven to be rather resourceful; so if she wanted to get to him then why not use his servant. Squeezing his temples with his forefingers, he inclined his head.
“Alright then; you may go.”
Not waiting another second, Ric slipped out the door and closed it behind him; relaxing his back up against the wall.
“Asshole,” he muttered under his breath and scowled. The day that he would finally be able to plunge a silver dagger through his master’s black heart and watch the light in his eyes go out just couldn’t get there soon enough.
Resigned to having to hold on to his patience a little while longer, he pushed himself off of the wall and started for the office. He had work to do.
“Hello.”
“Anissa,” Shelby whispered uncertainly into the mouth piece while glancing back at the door.
“Shelby? Is that you?”
“Yes,” she said curtly into the phone. “It’s me.”
“Where are you?” Anissa asked, surprise filling her voice.
Shelby sank onto the edge of the bed, dropping her forehead into her hand.
“You wouldn’t believe me if I told you.”
Anissa let out a melodic laugh that rang clear to the heavens.
“Girl, I’ve seen a lot of things in my time. Try me,” she urged over the line.
She blew out a slow breath.
“What would you say if I told you I was with vampires?” she asked cautiously.
Anissa chuckled.
“Vampires, huh? So he finally revealed himself to you, did he?”
Shelby stiffened. Her grip tightened on the phone in her hand. A sense of foreboding came over her.
“What exactly do you mean by revealing himself, Anissa?”
Her friend audibly lamented.
“There’s a whole lot that you don’t know about me Shelby. I can see things…things that will make a difference in the way that our world is shaped. I knew that Leo was coming for you but I wasn’t sure about when.”
She shook her head back and forth trying to understand what Anissa was telling her.
“What the hell are you talking about Anissa?”
“Look, I’m just going to tell you straight out. I’m a witch; a powerful witch that comes from a very strong bloodline. I’ve known about you and Leo getting together for over forty years now. It was written in the stars per se.”
“Witch? Stars? Forty years? Exactly how old are you Anissa?”
“Old enough,” she snipped, “but more importantly, we need to talk and not over the phone. I need to see you in person.”
“Yeah, and I have this insane need to get out of here but I have a particular overbearing vampire that thinks I should be kept like a porcelain doll until he’s ready to play with me.”
Anissa snorted.
“No doubt. Leo is one of the oldest of his kind and he’s set in his ways. Do this for me. Wrap your hand around the consecration pendant and repeat after me.”
“Come again?” Shelby said, snapping her head up at the sound of heavy footsteps coming down the hall. “What is that and this better be fast because Mr. Set-In-His-Ways is going to be here in oh…about sixty seconds?”
“The necklace that I gave you,” Anissa replied, clearly exasperated. “The one with the rose pendant…it’s charmed. Wrap your hand around it and repeat after me.”
“Okay! Okay!” she exclaimed, doing just as Anissa had directed her to do. “Now what?’
“To see the truth, to know the way...”
“To see the truth, to know the way.”
“I cast a spell in every day…”
“I cast a spell in every day.” The doorknob started to turn and Shelby began to panic. “Can we hurry this up a little bit Anissa?”
“By the power of three, I conjure thee to take me to a place of paramount safety.”
Shelby repeated the last few words and suddenly felt her body tighten. For the briefest of seconds, the lights went out in front of her eyes and her breath audibly hitched. When the lights came back on, it took her a minute to gain her bearings. One minute she was staring wide-eyed at the opening door in Leo’s bed chamber and the next, she was staring up at a stunningly beautiful Anissa.
“Well hello there,” her friend said brightly.
Shelby covered her eyes with her hands, feeling like her heart was about to beat right out of her chest.
“This is just way too much,” she grumbled and sank unceremoniously to the floor. “Way. Too. Much.”
Dropping her hands to her lap, she lifted her head and stared up at the ceiling. “Calgon, please take me away.”
Chapter 18
After his failed conversation with Ric, Leo wasn’t in the most formidable of moods. He had wanted answers and he had yet to get any. All he could think about was his bride’s safety. There were so many unanswered questions surrounding the shifters attack, the pendant that Shelby wore and the mere fact that he was just now finding out that it made the monster in him scream in frustration.
He berated himself over and over for missing something as important as a consecration pendant.
I should have sensed it, he thought to himself as he made his way back up the stairs, heading towards his bedroom chambers.
He had marked her as his, taking in her very essence from the base of her neck. The damn pendant was right there and he missed it; all because he was so enthralled with his blonde-haired beauty.
“I was so stupid,” he mumbled to himself as he continued to walk down the hollow corridor towards his room. “I should have known.” But he had been so wrapped up in attending to Shelby’s re-birth that the little things he would have normally paid attention to went to the wayside.
Lifting his hand to the knob on the door, Leo stilled when feminine words drifted on the wind to his ears. Zoning in, it didn’t take him but a second to realize that Shelby was chanting an escape spell and since she had that damn necklace, there would be nothing that he could do about it.
Anxious, he shoved open the door with brute force, sending it flying across the room, splintering against the wall.
“Wait!” he screamed, holding out his hand to the diminishing figure of his bride.
At first, he could only stand there, staring at the empty space where Shelby stood only seconds ago. As the initial shock of what had just happened sank in, the anger and the fear began to grow like twining vines from his toes upward, wrapping around him, gripping him in a nightmare that he wasn’t quite sure how to escape.
“Damn!” he shouted to the empty walls in the room. The candles that lined the expansive s
pace flickered with intensity. He had no idea where his bride had taken off to and that only added to his list of growing problems.
Breathing heavily, he could feel his eyes sharpen into tiny slits as the beast in him began to take over. All that he could process was the need to have his bride, his life partner by his side and she wasn’t there.
His eyes swept over the room as he tried to use his bonded connection to hone in on Shelby. Sweat beaded at his brow as he forced his senses to stretch further and further in his attempts. When the strain became too much, his knees buckled under the pressure.
Leaning over, his hands braced against his legs, he panted for breath. It wasn’t supposed to be like this. Shelby was supposed to be with him for all of eternity; not traipsing off, doing God only knew what. Too many things could happen to a young fledging like her; even with the consecration necklace wrapped around her neck; bad things that he didn’t even want to imagine; things that could ultimately take her away from him—forever.
That wasn’t going to happen. Feeling his fury mount, Leo reached for the first thing that he could get his hands on. It was a wooden chair; one that his father had carved himself more than a century ago. Feeling the need to destroy something; he held that chair over his head and in one swift movement, he sent it flying across the room; fracturing it into hundreds of pieces.
A surprised feminine gasp at his door caught his attention.
Whirling around, his mother stood there staring at the destroyed chair.
Her head snapped in Leo’s direction.
“What is going on?” she demanded. “What did you do?”
Leo was too far gone to manage a tangible answer. His eyes were glowing crimson red as desperate anger radiated from him in waves. His burning stare penetrated his mother like molten lava.
Unruffled by her son’s aggressive state, Isabella Risso walked into the room just as pretty as she pleased. She had lived with the most temperamental of vampires, namely her husband and this little temper tantrum that he was pulling was nothing in comparison.