Reborn (Princess of the Blood Book 1)

by Jane Ederlyn

  Odin glared at Marie, eyes feral. “Don’t join them.”

  Her mouth quivered. “Never.” She held her hand out to him, but he dismissed it, his ego bruised enough without getting assistance from a woman who was a foot shorter.

  “No respect,” he said.

  “I do believe your color is pink, my lover,” she said when Odin straightened to his full height. “You match my bathroom.”

  “Marie, you made a joke.” Abby sputtered, coughed, and fell into another round of laughter.

  Odin threw his hands into the air. “Now look what you’ve done.”

  Marie blinked innocently.

  He grabbed the towel, rubbed her face then wrapped it around her head, before storming out.

  Abby leaned over the sink, hand on her stomach, as she struggled to catch her breath.

  Marie unwrapped the towel and dropped it on a puddle. “Egon, please excuse us for a moment.”

  “Of course.” He poured himself another cup of coffee and stepped outside.

  They both watched him exit the kitchen and disappear beyond the pool. Despite his perked up posture and slow gait, he moved beyond supernatural hearing. Marie was as surprised by the courtesy as she was pleased. She turned to Abby.

  “Now tell me what happened? You were angry?”

  “I’m sorry if I worried you. I was just being petulant. It was nothing. Really.”

  Marie tucked Abby’s hair behind her ears and studied her expression. She didn’t find any shadows. Even the normal fret lines around her mouth were absent. When was the last time her too serious Abby had laughed that hard and that much? When was the last time she’d laughed that hard?

  Egon was quiet as they left the house. He lowered the passenger window of Odin’s Escalade and sniffed the air, wondering how far he could smell Marie and Abby. When the trail finally ended, he felt empty. He turned to Odin. “Have you noticed that Marie has a really . . .” He paused, searching for the right word. “. . . penetrating stare?”

  Odin smiled. “Yes, I’ve noticed.”

  “It’s like she looks right through you. It’s a little creepy.”

  “A little,” Odin agreed.

  “Doesn’t that raise the hairs on your skin?”

  “Yes, but not in the way you think. She’s beautiful, inside and out, and she tells you what she’s thinking in as few words as possible. There’s no pretense about her. I like that. And I like that she’s not constantly harping about the good old days when we could blame everything on Loki or the gods. I can be myself with her.” Odin paused and took in a huge, reinforcing gulp of air before continuing. “I like her.”

  Egon took a moment to digest that, giving his tone the weight and respect it deserved. “Got it. About Abby.”

  “Sorry about that. She’s had Marie all to herself for most of her life and is having trouble sharing.”

  “Maybe you’re coming on too strong? Give her time to adjust. By the way, she isn’t one of us, but she isn’t completely human either.”

  Odin’s head snapped around. “Explain.”

  “Have you smelled her?”

  “Can’t say I have. I’ve been busy.”

  “She smells good, different.” Egon hoped Odin was too preoccupied to sense his interest in her. “My instincts tell me she’s human, but my nose tells me she’s like Marie.”

  “No, brother, she’s not for you.”

  Odin zoomed in on exactly what Egon hoped to disguise.

  “If she is different, then it might be okay? She can handle me.”

  Odin sighed. “No, let it go.”

  “It was just an observation,” Egon said flatly. Even if it hadn’t been a direct order, he would never disregard Odin’s wishes. “We should stop by your apartment before returning to the compound. You need a shower.”

  “I’ve had both a shower and a bath today.”

  “You smell like flowers.”

  Odin cursed under his breath. Egon was right.

  Chapter XXIII

  Odin pulled into the empty parking space next to Lagmann’s red pick-up. He opened the door. The aromas of food engulfed his senses, and his mouth watered.

  “I stopped at the Big Pink,” Lagmann said. The restaurant with the famous pink awnings and generous heaps of classic diner fare was on Collins Avenue, blocks from Odin’s building. Not only was the food good, the late hours gave them access to food at almost any hour.

  After Odin took a bite, the other two followed, tearing into Pink Daddy Macks, meatball sandwiches, buckets of fries, and corn dogs. They ate in silence, not coming up for air until only crumbs remained.

  “That was good.” Odin was quiet for a moment, but it wasn’t like him to ignore the elephant in the room. He’d brought up his feelings for Marie with Egon, but they both needed to know what was going on.

  “I like Marie. I like the feel of her against my skin. I like the way she looks at me. She accepts me, the way I am, but at the same time she sees the best in me. She’s a kick-ass vampire who can crush a werewolf without scuffing her designer shoes.” He smiled as he remembered their first meeting, but Lagmann’s expression sobered him.

  “She’s also loyal and fearless and a lioness if you mess with Bee, yet her eyes are haunted and it makes me want to protect and take care of her. Take care of both of them. And damn, I love her scent. It drives me insane. I can’t get it out of my head or my nose. I just saw her and I miss her. I want more.” The vehemence in his voice surprised even him.

  “What do you know about her?” Lagmann crossed his arms and leaned back in his chair.

  Odin chuckled. “She’s a princess.”

  Lagmann’s face warped with distaste. “Vampire royalty?”

  Egon glanced between the two. “I just met her.”

  Lagmann shook his head. “Don’t encourage him. Odin, this isn’t wise. If she’s some sort of royalty, we need to make sure we’re not violating the treaty? Have you spoken to Etienne?

  “Apparently they’re old friends.”

  “What else do you know about her?”

  “That I’m crazy about her.”

  “You have to be crazy.”

  “This is a good thing. Can’t you be happy for me? I’ve never felt like this before. I feel alive.”

  Lagmann uncrossed his arms and leaned forward. A nerve pulsed in his throat. “Your father has signed an engagement agreement. If you must, have your vampire on the side, but don’t discount your responsibility.”

  “Marie is not an on the side kind of girl. This is not a responsibility. This is a farce. My father is pushing around chess pieces, forgetting that he is dealing with people’s lives.”

  “It’s still an obligation. Do you want to fuck with the Slovaks and the vampires? Where does that leave the pack? Besides, vampires are cold. How can you find that attractive?” Lagmann peered at Egon. “Help me here.”

  Egon shook his head. “Can’t. I liked her.”

  “At first, I was curious and expected her skin to be cold, more like ice cubes than flesh. Yes, she’s cool but not cold, and she’s soft.” Odin took a deep breath to shake off the longing that was seeping into his bones at the mere thought of her.

  “Stop thinking with your dick.”

  “Enough.” Odin crumbled the carryout bag with discarded containers. “I said I’m not going through with it.”

  “You’re playing with fire. Think about the consequences.”

  “I have. I can’t stop thinking about consequences.”

  “Deena doesn’t love him,” Egon added.

  “It doesn’t matter what she feels or doesn’t feel. It’s about your obligation to the pack,” Lagmann said, his voice low and beseeching.

  “Then you marry her,” Odin said.

&n
bsp; “Hell no, she is the devil incarnate,” Lagmann admitted with a sigh.

  “Yet you want me to shackle myself to her? You want her to be at the side of your Alpha?” Odin pushed his chair back and began pacing.

  “I’m not sure I’m keen on seeing you with a vampire.”

  “I’m not sure I’m keen on spending the rest of my immortal existence with Deena.”

  “When you put it like that . . .” Egon trailed off.

  “Have your fling. She should be honored you entertain her,” Lagmann said.

  Odin laughed at the thought. “If she were a werewolf, she would be an Alpha female. Hell she would be the Alpha. She’s my equal.”

  Lagmann shook his head. “Don’t let your two paths cross again. It won’t end well. I’m warning you.”

  Odin swallowed a surge of anger. Lagmann didn’t deserve to receive the brunt of his frustration. He was only doing his job as counselor and friend. “I’m not going through with it. I spoke to Father again and he finally understood. As far as I’m concerned, it’s over.”

  Lagmann sighed. “You never take my advice.”

  Odin came around the table and touched his shoulder. “It’s good advice, but I can’t. Marie is my mate.”

  Egon left the table and returned with a carton of goat’s milk. “I would love to see Marie kick Deena’s ass. By the way, has she bitten you? Abby was worried about that.”

  “Who is Abby?”

  “Marie’s human.” Egon upended the carton and emptied it in two gulps. “You should meet them.”

  Lagmann shrugged. “I will do whatever Odin requests of me.”

  The pack considered Odin the true leader. Stormda was just a figurehead, past his prime. He was shown respect, honor, and if he gave a direct order, they still had no choice, but obey until Odin finally stepped up to claim his birthright. The only one who could openly disregard the Alpha was another Alpha. It was in Odin’s power to do so, but at what expense to his pack?

  Marie opened her eyes to discover that Odin had come in, crawled into bed with her, and dozed off. She watched him sleep, his breathing even in respite, and traced his cheek with her fingertip. He had a great complexion, smooth and clear above the shadow that he always had by sundown. He kept his facial hair in a closely trimmed beard. She guessed it was a way of looking less unkempt without constantly shaving, but she liked it. She ran her hand across his strong jaw, down his square chin, and slipped past to his neck. In the darkness, the pulsing blood just underneath the surface was like a pendulum, mesmerizing her. She licked her mouth, feeling her fangs hanging low in preparation.

  Her attention was caught by the movement of his Adam’s apple, shifting in the act of swallowing. She glanced up and found him awake. Covering her mouth, she sat up abruptly and scooted toward the edge of the bed.

  He grabbed her arm. “Don’t go. If you want a snack, it’s okay.”

  “You are my lover, not my food source.”

  He kicked off the sheets and rolled on top of her. She fell back, pinned underneath his weight.

  “Beautiful, predators live within us. It is part of who we are. I accept that part of you as much as the human part.” He raised his torso, cracked his neck, and with a pop partially transformed his face into a werewolf, stopping when his teeth jutted out in fangs as sharp as hers. He bit into his wrist until blood oozed out in a slow and steady stream, then offered it to her.

  She didn’t want to take it, but he pushed it at her until a drop fell on her lips. Suddenly, his hand was at her mouth, both hands holding him to her, while she sucked.

  He shifted back into full human and entered her.

  A ripple of exquisite pleasure flowed over her. She gasped, releasing his hand as her head fell back. She rode each wave, pushing and pursuing. Every plunge of his hardness erupting in moans and whimpers that had no start or beginning. She bit down on his hand again. With every lick of her tongue and sucking intake of blood, his penis pulsed heavy and hot. Just when she thought she would shatter if she didn’t come, he climaxed with a burst of liquid heat that shot her into oblivion.

  He looked down at her as his breathing slowed. “Damn you’re sexy.” He traced her lips with the pad of his thumb. “Especially with my blood on your mouth.”

  She smiled and lifted his hand to inspect the bite, but the skin had closed and healed. “How did you do that?”

  “We heal quickly, especially if we shift.”

  “I meant transform just your face.”

  “Alpha’s have more control. It’s still not easy, but I’ve had a millennium to practice.”

  “Hmm.”

  He licked her mouth clean then rolled until she was on top.

  When Marie and Odin went downstairs, Abby was switching her wallet from one handbag to another.

  “I don’t get why you can’t just have one,” Odin said with a wide and wicked grin. As expected, Abby glared up at him.

  “Is John on the way?” Marie asked. “I’m looking forward to our double date.”

  “He should be here soon. I’ll be right back,” Abby said.

  “She looks distracted,” Marie thought aloud, as Abby passed by them, her ponytail swinging.

  As soon as she disappeared into the hallway, Odin reared on Marie. “Why does she smell like you?”

  She had known that it was a matter of time before he became aware of Abby’s uniqueness.

  “She is my child.”

  “What does that mean exactly?”

  “Come, Odin. Let us sit.”

  He followed her to the sunroom and sat in the chair across from her.

  She met his eyes before shifting to the mural on the opposite wall. The wall was painted pale green-blue, the way she remembered the sky. Against the delicate hue, a flowering tree, with a thick and twisting trunk, stretched up and across the wall dropping pink and white blooms. It was a peaceful landscape she never tired of looking at.

  “It was a rainy night in California. We were going to the vineyards to celebrate my birthday.”

  “Your birthday?” he asked, unsure where this was going.

  “Oui. Roxanne, Abigail’s mother, wanted to give me a surprise birthday party and without telling me, left before I woke. She wanted to set things up, you see, decorate before I got there. So she departed during daylight, taking Abby with her, and left me a note to follow. The roads were wet.” She paused as painful images breathed to life and scurried past in nightmarish succession.

  “Go on,” he urged.

  “I like fast cars, but I dawdled to give her time to prepare my surprise. I knew, of course. It’s hard to keep a secret from a vampire. I intended to leave later, but I felt an odd foreboding.” She paused then spat, “Marco Fessier. He was my enemy by his choosing. He was a seer for a small coven of vampires in Nevada. They were disgruntled at my refusal to accept an invitation to join their family. He in particular had designs on me and took my refusal personally. I was never interested in joining them or any other coven for that matter, but he urged them to insist. As incentive, they allowed Fessier to scare Roxanna. They claimed it was meant only as a warning. Nonetheless, he drove a semi into her car.”

  “What happened?” Odin asked.

  “Some immortals forget the fragility of humans. Or they do not care. He pushed her off the road and into a ravine. Both Roxanna and Abby survived the crash, but since the damage was not enough to satisfy Fessier’s bloodlust and what he saw as my undue rejection, he murdered Roxanne. Luckily, I was not far behind. I saw the accident as I was driving by and knew in my heart it was my Roxanne. I did not arrive early enough to help her, but I was at least in time to save Abby.”

  Odin vacated his chair and squeezed into the love seat with her. The contact with his warm limbs comforted. “I disposed of Monsieur Fessier just as he w
as reaching for little Abby. I drank him dry and threw his dismembered body into the flames of the accident.”

  He put his arm around her and drew her into the refuge of his chest.

  “Abby suffered major internal injuries and her little heart was weak. She was just a baby. I couldn’t lose them both. They were all I had.” She pushed off his chest and searched the fathomless blue of his eyes. The gentleness she saw gave her the courage to continue. “I did what I had to do. I fed her my blood. Not enough to turn her, but enough to save her life. It heightened the connection between us. She is not just my keeper, Odin. She is my child. She has my human blood as well as my vampire blood.” A tear fell down her cheek and he wiped it away, leaving a streak of pink on her cheek.

  “I am not one for retribution, but I felt this act so violent and unjust, I destroyed the entire coven of vampires before daylight. When the ambulance took Abby away to the hospital, I waited until every vampire had gone to sleep and I burned the coven house down to ash. When I was sure they were all dead, I buried myself in the ground and slept.”

  “But the sun, you said it was almost dawn.”

  “I was severely burned, but I survived. Anton is ancient and his blood has made me strong. You do understand that I did this to save Abby? I could not worry about them coming after her or worse, sending a human to do their bidding while I slept.”

  Odin nodded. “I understand.”

  “When I recovered, Abby was stable but still in the hospital. I gave her more blood and took her out of the hospital and to our home in New York. We have a modest house in Central Park West and I raised her to be an ordinary human.”

  “Ordinary? Bee is not ordinary.”

  “Do you think I failed?”

  “No. She’s remarkable, but don’t tell her I said so. Was that the only time?”

  Marie nodded. “But it changed her. Despite being mortal, she is strong, stronger than any human. And like any child, she is unaware of her limitations. I will not let anyone or anything harm her or make her unhappy.”