by Anna Santos
“You are killing me,” he whispered with a sleepy, sexy voice that made her moan and caress his hair.
It was then that Jessica suddenly noticed the strange length of his hair. Since when did he have long hair? She remembered he’d cut it. When his hand touched between her legs, she opened her eyes and saw a strange young man beneath her.
The witch screamed and grabbed the sheet. Then shot out of bed as if it was on fire.
“Who the hell are you?” she asked, breathing heavily.
* * *
THE KING
Jessica’s scream startled Marcus, who sat up in alarm, searching the room to find what had frightened her. But she was staring at him, although no longer screaming.
“Not again,” Marcus sighed deeply. “Did you lose your memory all over again?” His voice was filled with concern.
He scratched his chin and noticed the full beard. Then he sighed, feeling defeated. It would be a challenge to make Jessica fall in love with him every day if she kept losing her memory like that. His eyes softened when he stared at her blue ones, he loved her so much that it was even hard to breathe when he thought he could lose her, because of her constant memory loss.
“Honey,” he pleaded, showing her his hand and inviting her closer.
“Marcus?” she asked, squeezing her eyes as she looked carefully at his face. “What the hell?”
“What's wrong?” he asked.
She knew his name. She seemed to be recognizing him. Maybe she was just disorientated by what had happened the previous night between them. Maybe she hadn't lost her memory or maybe it was Isobel inside her again. He could just lose his own mind by how crazy all his assumptions were making him sound. Isobel or Jessica, whatever would be her name that day, was looking at him like she was seeing a ghost.
“You.” She pointed a finger at him and he frowned.
“What's wrong?” Eric shouted, slamming their bedroom door open and then stopping to stare at them—both virtually naked on the bed. Jessica’s scream had probably alerted him.
“Wow!” he exclaimed, looking directly at his dad. “What the hell happened, dad?”
“How is this possible?” Jessica asked. She inhaled deeply as she sat on the corner of the bed and stared at the king with puzzled eyes.
“What...? I shouldn't be here!” Eric mumbled. “Dad, please put some clothes on.” Then he stared at Jessica. “What happened to you?” He gently touched the bruises on her arms and neck. “He bit you! God damn it, Dad! Couldn't you be more gentle with her? She is just a human!”
“What are you talking about?” Marcus asked, annoyed. “And could you get out of our bedroom? Your parents are...busy.”
“Look what you did to Mom!”
“This is nothing,” Jessica assured Eric as she withdrew her arm and then blushed a bit. They had played a bit rough the previous night, but nothing she hadn't agreed with. “It's not your dad's fault. Don't be so shocked, Eric. This type of stuff happens when—two people mate.”
“God damn it, Mom! Stop talking about it!”
“Don't be such a prude! You are old enough to know how babies are made.”
Marcus chuckled, and Eric rolled his eyes and folded his arms. “Yes, I know how babies are made. I just don't know how Dad got this way. What sort of spell have you cast on him?”
Jessica shrugged and scratched her temple as if trying to remember what they had done. Marcus noticed how she blushed harder at the memory of their wild night. She smirked at Marcus, who was staring at her with a lopsided grin that made her bite her lip. The king had no clue what was going on and why the two of them were looking at him like he had a huge blemish on his forehead.
She kneeled on the bed and touched his face, pushing the skin as if to see it was real.
“Hey,” he complained.
“You look younger,” she mumbled, caressing his face. “Much younger than the night before. Mid-twenties, not forty, honey. Your hair is longer and your beard grew back. You look hot, damn hot.” Jessica explained with observing eyes.
Marcus furrowed his eyebrows and folded his arms across his chest, making her stare at his muscles. He smirked at her and heard Eric clear his throat, reminding them he was still there.
He looked at his son. “You also think I look younger?” he asked and the prince nodded. “How much younger? I don't look like a teen, do I?”
“No. You are still an adult, but…You...How could this be?” Jessica wondered out loud.
“Maybe because he fed on you,” Eric said, grazing the visible puncture marks on her neck. “You need to feed her your blood to heal her and then explain to us why you look like that.”
“I want to see how I look now,” the king said, getting up to look for a mirror. “Wow,” he exclaimed from the bathroom as Eric and Jessica peeked in after him. “How did this happen?”
“I don't know. When you fell asleep, you looked normal. I'm guessing that it was the blood like Eric said. It was the only thing we did that was different. You drank from me, and I marked you. I can only assume that my blood has the power of rejuvenation. But nothing like this has ever happened before, so maybe this ability is just with my mate. I don't really know for sure. I must research about it in my grimoire.”
“Incredible,” Marcus mumbled as he touched his face. “At least I don't look too young to be a king.”
“You look like you did when Mom died,” Eric said, putting his hands on Jessica's shoulders. “You need to get dressed and then I'll give you some of my blood. We don't know what Dad's blood will do to you. I don't want you to lose ten years, too.”
“I hope you are joking,” Jessica said, staring at him with a serious face.
“No, I'm not.”
“It's just my blood that is magical.”
“Then you probably shouldn't let him drink any more of it,” Eric suggested. “We don't want a Benjamin Button in the house.” Jessie laughed at his joke, but Marcus didn't get it. “Never mind, Dad. It's a reference to a book that became a movie.”
“I'm glad you are both finding this amusing,” he said.
“I'm finding it incredible,” Eric replied and then with a half shrug he added, “But it's not the end of the world.” As he stepped into the bathroom, he blinked several times, before questioning, “What the hell happened to the shower?”
“I don't think you want to know.” Marcus smirked and crossed his arms, flexing his muscles. Jessica stared at his chest and narrowed her eyes with desire. He noticed it and cleared his throat. “Son, could you leave your mom and me alone for a moment? I promise we will be down for breakfast in a bit and then we can talk more about what has happened to me. Okay?”
Eric clasped his hands behind his back with a grim face. “Well, I'm afraid breakfast has already been served, and we have a bigger problem than you getting younger.”
“What's wrong?” the king asked, turning to face him with concern.
“King Francesco arrived in town this morning, and he asked for a meeting on neutral ground. He wants to see you at the crossroads at two o'clock.”
Marcus arched an eyebrow before asking, “What time is it now?”
“Almost midday.”
“We have plenty of time,” he mumbled mildly as he turned around to the mirror and touched his beard. “I need to shave.”
Eric’s face didn’t relax, though. “Dad, do you have any idea why he didn't answer your calls for days and now he is here?”
“He came to get his guards and assess our lands and fighters.”
“Do you think he wants to kidnap Mom?”
“Over my dead body,” the king growled, punching the marble countertop sink and sending it crashing to the floor in pieces. He stared at the debris with pensive eyes. “I need to control my strength now that I’m a vampire again.”
“So, I guess I better ask for a new bathroom in this room, too,” Eric said with a sigh. Jessica giggled at this joke and his eyes lit up when he spoke to her, “You haven't told me what desig
n you liked the most for your new bedroom.”
“I totally forgot. I saw the designs yesterday in the kitchen with Dulce. Could you let me take a better look later on? And since you are going downstairs, could you be a dear and ask Rose to make me breakfast? I'm starving!”
“If you promise you won't scream again and give me a heart attack.”
“I won't! Just prepare the others for your dad's new appearance. Somehow I don't think anyone will be expecting it.”
“Well, it's just one more strange thing to add to whatever else is going on lately. I'll get your breakfast ready. But please, get yourselves out of the room and get ready to face King Francesco. Oh, by the way, Anna and Shane are back, so they can join us in the meeting. But I have no idea where Kevin is.”
“Oh, right, about Kevin. I have important...” Jessica didn't finish her sentence because Marcus interrupted her.
“Eric, I'll meet you downstairs in an hour. Prepare the prisoners, and choose our best men to accompany us to the crossroads,” Marcus said, approaching Jessica.
“Okay. We'll talk later, mom,” Eric said on his way out, closing the door behind him.
“Does it hurt much?” the king asked as he held Jessica's arm and inspected her bruises. “I'm so sorry, honey.”
“It doesn't hurt. I really don't mind. This is nothing a bit of your blood won't heal.”
“Are you sure? I didn't want to hurt you. Sometimes I forget you are really delicate. I promise I'll be more careful next time,” he mumbled, kissing her hand and taking it to his chest.
He looked into Jessica's eyes but she did not let him read her thoughts. “You are blocking me. Do I look so bad?”
“No,” she answered promptly. “It's just odd how many years you lost.”
“It's still me, honey. I just became a bit younger.”
“I know. I liked the way you looked before. You are handsome either way. It's just that now—I can picture you so much better in my dreams, I mean past memories. You were just like this, this age and—” She swallowed her words when he smiled, grasped her arms, and kissed her hard. “Are you upset?” she tried to ask between kisses.
“With what?”
“With losing years on your appearance.”
“No. It's just unusual, but I'll get used to it. Besides, you think I'm sexy, do you not?” he teased. “Just try not to make me look like a little boy next time I drink from you. I really need to rule a kingdom, and somehow I don't think they would take a child seriously as their king.”
Jessica grabbed his face between her hands. “It's not my fault. I didn't know that drinking my blood would have side effects.”
“I know, honey. We need to get ready for the meeting. I hope you aren’t scared. I won't let anything happen to you. I don't know what he came here for, but he is not going to get it. I hope this is just a social visit. Anyhow, he will be thrown out of kilter with my appearance, as well as my gorgeous, blonde new mate,” he whispered, leaning down to continue kissing her lips as he molded her body against his.
“I'm not your new mate, I'm—” She couldn't finish her sentence because he took her in his arms and lay her on the bed.
“Please indulge me on this. You won't say a word to him about being Isobel. Let's see what he wants and just invite him to our wedding. That is. if he still has his head on his neck at the end of the day.”
“What wedding?” she asked.
Marcus remembered that she was completely in the dark about such an event. “Ours.”
“We were going to marry? When? Where?”
“This Sunday, in our garden. Eric is taking care of that.”
“But...”
He put his finger over her lips while trying to unwrap her from the sheet. “Let's continue what we were doing before you screamed and ran away from me.”
“Marcus, I'm all sore and…bruised,” she reminded him with a girly voice. “I’m just human.”
“Yes, we need to fix that.” He bit his wrist and put his blood in her mouth then waited for it to work.
Her skin returned to its normal color, and her bruises all disappeared as her lips seemed to get redder. She moved her hips and gasped, suddenly aroused as she pressed her perky breasts to his chest.
“God! You are gorgeous!” he said with pride.
“And after can we eat breakfast?” she asked, trying to remove his towel, apparently as aroused as he was.
“Yes.” Then he took her mouth over, tearing the bed fabrics between them away.
Chapter Twenty-Six—The Meeting At The Crossroads
THE KING
It was a sunny day. The king arrived at the meeting point at two o’clock sharp, but Francesco wasn’t there yet. Jessica and Eric exited the car and followed behind him as he studied the intersection of roads. A gentle breeze made the dust dance in the waves of heat.
Anna and Shane parked just behind the king’s car in his Sheriff’s car as two other vehicles pulled up, one carrying the prisoners and another, Shane’s trusty men charged with protecting the royal family.
Anna stood next to her grandfather, watching the road pensively. “Do you think it is a trap?”
“No, he just has the habit of being late for everything.” The king spoke calmly. The centuries had taught him to be patient. “It would be very hard to lay a trap out here, which is likely why he chose this place. Don’t worry, child,” Marcus said sweetly to his granddaughter, rubbing her shoulder. “No one is going to take Jessica from us.”
Annabel pulled her arms up under her breasts. “I know, but I really don’t like you coming out here and being exposed like this. There are rogues around who will stop at nothing to kill you and then steal Jessica away. This sudden, unexpected arrival of King Francesco is suspicious. After all, he did send his own guards to try to kill Jessie.”
“Yes, but now that Jessie is with us, I’m betting he is not so eager to try and kill her and start a war. Besides, he still ought to explain being in the possession of Jessica’s coven's grimoire.”
Shane approached the two of them. “Perimeter checked, sir. No threats to report within a half-mile radius.”
Marcus nodded as the wind swirled the dust around his feet. “Tell them to circle around and stay hidden. Are there vampires in the forest?”
“Yes. Richard and Nana are in the woods. I told them to stay in the trees and check for hidden enemies,” Shane added.
“Good. Relax, will you?” The king broke into a smile on his serious face and put his arms around Anna, pulling her to his chest. “I’ve missed you.”
“I’ve missed you, too. But it wasn’t like you weren’t busy,” she teased, giggling at his unusual public demonstration of affection.
“Yes, my queen has kept me busy.” He looked at Jessie, who stood quietly alongside Eric as Marcus asked her to do.
Anna said, “I still can’t get over the fact of how young you look now. It is amazing!”
“It’s magic,” Jessie declared, releasing a sigh. “I really don’t like waiting. This is so boring! And it’s freaking hot. Couldn’t he be like everybody else and meet us in a coffee shop or a bar? Anywhere with air conditioning?”
“We need privacy. A public place was too dangerous for us and any innocent bystanders,” Marcus said, kissing the top of Anna’s head. Then he stretched his neck to talk to Jessica. “It will be over soon, honey. Just a bit more patience.”
“She is always like that when she has to wait for something,” Anna said with a smirk as her grandfather released her from his hug.
“Do you hear that?” the king asked, concentrating on far-off sounds.
“What?”
“Cars are approaching,” Shane reported, conveying news from his werewolves via mind-link.
“You can hear them?” Anna asked her grandfather.
“My senses are sharper now.”
“Are they coming?” Jessica asked, sounding anxious.
“Jessie, all will be fine,” Marcus assured after hearing the concern i
n her thoughts. “It is not your fault Francesco is a deceptive bastard.”
“Relax, Jessie,” Anna added, also trying to comfort her. “This will be over soon, and then we can go home. I want to show you what I brought you from New York.”
Jessica’s expression changed rapidly, her eyes opening wide with interest, “What, a gift? What did you bring me? Oh, you know how curious I am!”
She flashed a wicked smile. “Yes, I know.”
“Oh, you are so evil!” Jessica complained, folding her arms. “I hope there is a real gift for me and you’re not just trying to distract me.”
“There is and you will love it.”
The arrival of four limousines made them all stop talking and focus their attention on the dusty road. The king’s men positioned themselves behind the royal family, crossbows in hand and revolvers in their holsters. It was easier to kill a vampire throwing wooden stakes at their hearts than shooting bullets, even if they were silver bullets.
Anna placed her hand over the hilt of the sword hung on her hip while Shane had his revolver next to his Sheriff’s badge. He stood behind Anna, who was next to the king. Jessie was next to Eric, who had given her his hand to hold. He was in charge of keeping his mom safe, should anything bad happen. Marcus needed to focus on killing Francesco, if anything went wrong with the meeting, and certainly didn’t want Francesco to realize that Jessie was his mate. At least, not yet.
The cars took their time pulling up to the meeting spot. Francesco did not appear to be in a hurry. When they finally stopped, two girls wearing black suits and dark glasses stepped out of the second limousine as another two girls exited the first limousine. The rumors were true: King Francesco’s bodyguards were all women. All vampires.
Then the driver of the second limousine opened the back door and King Francesco stepped out, immediately looking across the field in front of him and shadowing his eyes from the sun. Then, with a nod to Marcus’s party, he straightened his clothes and brushed the dust from his suit jacket, stretching his neck as if it was sore. One of his girls gave him a cane, likely with a blade concealed within, since, as a vampire, he did not need a cane to walk.