Bound: A Lamian Wars Novel (The Lamian Wars Book 1)

by C. M. Steele

  “How is Draco handling the change?”

  “Quite well, my lovely mate came with a friend.”

  “Wow, really. That’s insane. Congrats to him. I’m happy for you both. This could only mean good things to come. I am most certain of it.”

  “Thank you. We can only hope for a life free of the violence and turmoil.”

  “And free of The Lamia,” he added. Falcon had mentioned that he had allies, and it seemed like Vigo was definitely one of them.

  “Well, we just came in here to say hello.”

  “It’s really nice to meet you and I truly am ecstatic about you.”

  We walked out of the room and I found a sense of relief in knowing that I was going to be working with him. I could feel the good vibes coming off of him. Whatever his motives were, they were all pure. It was crazy, but I could sense that.

  As we got on to the elevator, he asked, “So what do you think? Are you nervous?”

  “No, actually, I’m looking forward to it.” We stopped next at the HR manager’s office. She was the only one there. They had only about thirty-five employees so there wasn’t a need for a larger HR department.

  Filling out employment paperwork sucks.

  Sorry, I didn’t realize I said that in my head.

  That’s fine, my love. Let me get you set up so that you two can go back to our home.

  Actually, I’m going to stop at my parents and pick up my things.

  I don’t think it’s a good idea. He said mentally while out loud he was introducing me to Tonya Stringer. It was amazing how good he was at doing it.

  I’m going with Charlotte.

  I don’t care. He smiled politely and then left me sitting there with the woman and filling out paperwork. I gave them my mother’s address, but it didn’t matter anyway. It wasn’t like they would send anything there.

  She’ll make sure we’re safe. I bit back, trying to concentrate on what Ms. Stringer was saying.

  Very well, but I wish for you to speak with me whenever I check in.

  I could do that. Now, at a moment like this, it would be great if there was an off switch.

  As soon as I was done, Charlotte met me down in the lobby. When we got there the guard handed us our badges and we said our goodbyes, calling a cab to get to my parents.

  “Falcon wasn’t too happy about me going to my parents, but I need to get some things straight with them and I need to pick up my things.”

  “It’ll be fine,” she said, patting my thigh.

  We got to the front gates, but the guards on duty looked at me with a sad expression and said, “Sorry, Ms. Dulles, but your parents said to not let you in.”

  “What? But I need my things.”

  He nodded and walked around to the booth’s exit that led outside the gate with my large suitcase. “I’m really sorry about this, ma’am.”

  “No, that’s quite alright. It’s all I came for.” I turned to Charlotte with my head held high and said, “Let’s go home.”

  Chapter Twenty—Falcon

  It was only her first day and I was feeling like I needed an excuse to sneak down there. I usually only go down on Mondays and Fridays, so today was out of the question. We had to be inconspicuous, so Leonora was stuck in the lab and I couldn't even go down to see her. She asked me to stop talking to her telepathically because she was trying to concentrate, something I completely understood but didn't like. She was mine and I waited forever for her. I should have been home in bed with her, but changing routine or letting on that we were mated would bring chaos. There was too much at stake to reveal our mates. Once a mate had been discovered they were watched until they gave birth. Some were not even granted that and had been executed by Lamian members. No girl had ever been born to a couple, and it had been three hundred plus years since my mother spoke of the prophecy.

  For the time being, Nero hadn't made his appearance, so I tossed his tantrum to the side but added extra security to the house and kept a close watch on Leonora. The fear of losing her had become a vivid possibility.

  While in my office, I messaged my brother via email.

  Alessio,

  Any news on your end? We've hired a new scientist. We need all the help we can get here. Every day, brother, I'm working hard to find an answer.

  Let me know,

  Falcon

  Two hours later, I received the message from Alessio.

  Falcon,

  No news here. I'm glad you have more help; hopefully, with all the technology these days, you will find a cure. My lovely wife says hello. Maybe one night you can stop by for dinner.

  Alessio

  It bothered me that he had nothing important to say. I had an inkling that it was only a matter of time before trouble broke out again. Our last conversation left me a bit unnerved. If it wasn't for the distraction to finally finding my mate, I would have been working on finding out the information on my own.

  I feel like everything is going to come to a head. There was something Draco and his mate were keeping from me. I didn't know what it was, but maybe with all the excitement they'd forgotten. After all, I only saw them during work, which wasn't the place to discuss it.

  The day seemed to last forever. I wanted to see my sweet mate. As soon as the day ended, I expected her to be ready to go, but she wasn’t.

  I can’t go in there looking for you. What are you doing?

  Working. Sorry, Falcon, I’m excited to work in a professional lab.

  How much longer? I’d been waiting hundreds of years to find her. I needed to hold her and know everything about her day. Not to mention that I wanted to fuck her until we both were exhausted. Soon she would have my stamina and be a bit stronger than a human male, but for the time being, she was still a very fragile vampire. Over the next few years she’d grow into her full abilities.

  Ten more minutes, please.

  Okay, Charlotte will walk out with you and then we’ll meet you two blocks down.

  Perfect, my Falcon.

  Twenty minutes later, we saw them coming towards us. She was smiling brightly, then both of them started giggling. The look on her face was so perfect. I had to make her laugh. I didn’t know how, but she was even more stunning. We got out of the car and helped the ladies in. I hated that we had to save the kisses for when we got home.

  As soon as we started driving, I asked Draco a question. “I know we haven’t had a chance to talk about you two, but there’s something you’re holding back.”

  “Let’s wait until we get back to your house. Okay?”

  “Sure.”

  I wrapped my hand around hers, while Draco drove. What was he hiding? It bothered me, but for the time being, I held onto my love. Bending to the side, I licked the pulse on her neck, making her shiver. She moved her hand from mine and slid it over my length. I growled, loving her touch, but I had to take her hand off and set it to the side.

  Calm down. I’m ready to take you anyway I can get you.

  Me, too. I’ve missed you all day. My pussy aches so bad.

  I rolled my eyes back into my head, trying to control the lust-filled desire that had me about to lift her onto my cock and work her pussy.

  “How was your first day, Nora?”

  “It was good. I actually got to look at slides all day, studying different cells in the human body. There were slides for the liver, the kidneys, and the brain. It was intense and so intriguing. Falcon, do you ever look at your own blood?”

  “In the special lab, yes, but it’s proved nothing for the cause.”

  “And you’ve looked at the cell composition of those who are in the dark?”

  “Yes, we have. There is a difference, but finding a way to fix it doesn’t seem to be happening.”

  We climbed the stairs side by side with Leonora and I in front followed by Draco and Charlotte. Leonora turned to Charlotte and smiled, then began to gush about our home. “I loved this house within the first few hours of being here. I can’t believe this is my home now. It’s
freaking amazing. You’re going to love it.”

  “Wow, your place is really nice, Falcon,” Charlotte said, looking around the grand foyer. It was mostly modern with stylish hardwood floors that were real and expensive. I had a perchance for things that were well made, and so I had to spend more to get better craftsmanship.

  Charlotte stepped into the welcoming living room and did a full three-sixty with a smile etched on her face. “I thought you would have this place all gothic.”

  “Everything here is modern except my bedroom furnishings. If I want gothic, I can just go back to the castle, but I’m more than happy to stay here. Take a seat.” We all sat down. I pulled Nora onto my lap and Draco did the same thing with Charlotte. He was holding her as though he was giving her the strength to say what was on her mind. Whatever it was, she was nervous to tell us.

  She rubbed her fingers roughly together until Draco grabbed them and halted her movement. “Okay, so there is something I need to tell both of you. Well, the thing is, I have a very special gift, one Draco says isn’t reserved for vampires, but he did know of one female vampire with the gift.” I chill raced down my spine as my mind computed the possibility of what she would say next. Did she? Could she? “I have visions.” She did. She could. I gasped, then swallowed hard as my emotions ran the gamut. The hold I had on Leonora got tighter until I heard a little “Eep” from her.

  “I’m sorry, beloved,” I whispered in her ear, loosening my embrace immediately.

  “It’s how she knew we were meant to be together,” Draco remarked, loving that Charlotte’s response to him was never to pull away. “She knew before I did. Are you okay, Falcon?”

  It was a trick question because it was extremely helpful, but it brought back memories of my parents and their sacrifice that hadn’t paid off. “Yes, it’s just the last female vampire to have that gift was my mother.” I was in shock, and well, I knew that it would happen again, after all it was a human gift that benefited us. “Is there anything you can tell me?”

  Leonora was calm and listened on while caressing my hand for support while Charlotte continued, “They started when I was a teenager and it’s come in handy. It’s kept Nora and I out of trouble so many times. It’s the reason I didn’t come with her. I knew she was going to meet you, and if we both came and you both saw us at the same time, you wouldn’t have controlled your rage and the both of you would have shown your true natures in front of a room full of camera ready people.”

  “That makes a lot of sense. I was barely able to restrain Falcon. If we had both been feeling the same, chaos would have ensued without a doubt.” Draco wrapped his arms tighter around Charlotte.

  I was starting to get the feeling that my mother’s prophecy and her letter were on their way to becoming reality. That was why I had to stay close with Draco. Charlotte had the gift and maybe she would be the one to give birth to a girl. Our future was intertwined and I wondered how it would all play out. Could we accidentally change the outcome? Or was everything a fated design orchestrated by the past? I had so many questions that I didn’t have any answers to and I don’t believe anyone else did either. Well, perhaps Charlotte, but she wasn’t going to tell anyone.

  Chapter Twenty-One—Leonora

  It was my turn to switch labs and finally get to work in the special laboratory with Vigo. Working in the other lab was freaking awesome, but this one was the one with so much potential and held a strong place in Falcon’s heart. This was the lab searching for a cure to the darkness and I wanted to help all I could to make it happen.

  “Good morning, Lady Lombardi,” Vigo said cheerfully as I stepped into the lab.

  I missed a step, nearly tripping because I hadn’t thought of that. Technically, that was my title now.

  After the death of the Council, Falcon had kept his title and his brother became the ruler. Alessio Lombardi had hidden for several months after the massive wave of sunlight death had slowed. He eventually took over and started to calm the people and, with the help of Falcon and Draco, reestablished the society of vampires and the laws they lived by.

  I wanted to laugh and tell my mother to see what she thought of that. I was royal and that was her hopes for me from the start. Only, it was on my own terms, and nothing about our relationship was mired in status and wealth. We hadn’t gotten married, but I don’t know how that actually works. We were already bound to each other, but I didn’t know if he planned to make it government official.

  “What? Does being a lady come as a surprise to you?” he chuckled.

  I nodded vigorously. “My mother said I would never be a lady. I was too much of a nerd. Thanks for giving me more to smile about. On that note, good morning, Vigo. How are you?”

  “Very well. It will be wonderful to finally have someone in here who will understand and help with a cure. Falcon does not trust anyone easily, however, you are the exception. I want to take you around the lab and give you a tour before I show you what I’ve been working on.”

  He walked me around the large room about the size of standard college lab. There were eight metal tables that were as pristine and sterile as could be. Each one had some type of testing equipment on it. One had a row of microscopes varying from the tissue culture microscopes to the trinocular compound microscopes. I was in science geek heaven. I wanted to squeal and jump up and down, itching to touch them, but I had to remain dignified. I didn’t want to look like a newbie at this.

  “Come over here, Leonora. This is something I want you to see.” I followed him over to a large refrigerator towards the back of the room. “This is where we keep prepared slides, blood vials, and tissue samples. But there is something also hidden here.” He opened the door a bit more and there was a large blade tucked in the door frame. “Should, for whatever reason, we come under attack by our kind, use this to protect yourself. Have you used a katana before?”

  I shook my head, I was assuming the katana was the blade. He took it out and I was a bit nervous with how fast he moved to retrieve it. He held it up then turned the handle towards me. “Take it by the tang. It’s what we call the handle. I want to see if you can hold it correctly.” I grabbed the sword and it wasn’t as heavy as I expected it to be. Then again, I’d just become a vampire with added strength. It was pretty as blades come, but I didn’t know it’s capabilities.

  “This blade, will it kill the vampire?”

  “Yes, it will kill if used properly. I will not train you because I’m a scientist and not a warrior, but your mate and his guard Draco can assist you with training. If he has not mentioned it, I will. You have gained strength you didn’t know possible and you must learn how to use it.” I nodded my head, but mentally, I was extremely unsure of myself. There was so much I didn’t know and so much I needed to learn. The possibility of war was becoming more and more real with every second that passed. We’d only been with them for a few days and now our lives were in danger and the fate of a species may rest in the palm of our hands. There were things that Charlotte and I needed to discuss. I had to learn more about the past to hopefully learn for the future. Falcon had given me bits and pieces between our lovemaking, but he wasn’t the right person to tell me. Perhaps Draco could inform me later. He wouldn’t be tempted by me and could speak without trying to undress me.

  “This blade is smooth and made of the toughest steel. Your enemies will not stand a chance once you learn to wield your blade like the warrior you will become.”

  “I may not be a warrior. I’ve been a scientist.”

  “You will be a warrior and a scientist. There is something special about you and I can feel it when I stand next to you. I felt hope the day you walked through those doors. I knew answers would come. I don’t know how or when, but I feel it.”

  “Um…thanks. I’m still trying to wrap my head around the fact that my life has changed so dramatically within an hour of meeting Falcon and now I have fangs that I have to hide. It’s plain nuts.”

  “You’ll get used to that. I just recomm
end meditation and not smiling.”

  “Thanks, I read a lot so maybe it will be my way to calm myself. I don’t get mad like most, but then again, I guess I’m in a whole different arena of evil assholes.”

  “Yes, that’s very true. I’m going to back up and I want you to swing it.”

  Okay, I took a deep breath, and took a stance I’d seen in some old movies and swung the blade. It sliced through the air easier than expected. Suddenly I felt invigorated. “Wow, that felt good.”

  “It looked good, too. I told you, you’re a natural.”

  “Yes, but let’s put it away before I get too carried away.”

  “What’s going on here?” Draco said, stepping into the room.

  “I was showing her the secret for protection.”

  “Wow, I saw you swing that blade. Falcon will be proud and frightened at the same time.”

  “Why, do you think that he’s going to be worried he’d piss me off?”

  “No, that you’d jump into battle without thinking. Training is a must and turning into your senses will be essential.”

  “I was telling her that Falcon needs to train her.”

  “Actually, I think it’s best if I do. Falcon will be too concerned with hurting you. He wouldn’t come at you when he needed to.”

  “Whatever. I just want the best chance of making it to old age. As a human, I was hoping for that. Now it feels like danger is around the corner.”

  “Have we made you a bit paranoid? We didn’t mean to, but you’re so important to Falcon that your safety in general is of the greatest importance.”

  “Is the danger imminent?”

  “No, they would need to plan an attack. At the very least we have many that are close to members of The Lamia and spy for us. If there was talk about you, we’d know.”

  “What brings you down here, Draco?” Vigo asked, locking up the sword.

  “I came to see how you are getting along. Falcon has a meeting and will be out of the office for the next few hours. Per his request, I came in to check on Leonora.”