Last in Line

by Sydney Addae

  “You will receive the standard Vemdorian birthing package, all expenses paid, but nothing extra. In addition to not receiving payment for your services, you will reside in a place of the council’s choosing and mate with the Vemdorians we select. That is your punishment.”

  “No. I won’t do it,” Suri snapped.

  Brieloff nodded. “So be it.” He waved to the Sentinels. “Deliver her to the hunters. They are expecting her.” He turned to Baron, ignoring Suri’s screams and yells.

  “Okay, I’ll do it,” Suri agreed after useless struggling. “Just for ten years.”

  Brieloff nodded as he reached into his desk and pulled out a red metallic band.

  “No,” Suri yelled. “I won’t wear a tracker. I’m a Fem, damn you, Brieloff. I refuse to wear that.” She struggled against the Sentinel holding her steady and Baron was certain Brieloff used some type of force shield to keep the Fem in the room while he clamped the band around her arm. He held his palm over the band for a few seconds and then returned to his seat behind his desk. The tracking band merged into Suri’s skin and looked like a red rash. Her eyes flashed red as she rained down curses on Brieloff until he held up his hand.

  Although her lips continued to move, no sound left her mouth. Baron laughed at the horrified expression on the Fem’s face. If Brieloff got tough like this with all the Fems, perhaps they could grow as a race.

  “Take her to the breeders’ mansion,” Brieloff told the Sentinels. They nodded and disappeared. Brieloff met Baron’s gaze. “How is the child? Simone and her friend, Camilla?”

  Ready to move forward with the discussion, Baron stated everyone was fine.

  “You killed a Fem. In my office, no less. You ripped off her head like it was tissue and tossed it out the window while she was still talking.” His voice held no condemnation or anger, he could have been discussing the weather.

  Baron nodded, slowly examining his feelings. As much as he detested violence, he’d engaged in more violent acts in the past 48 hours than in his lifetime. Terminating Anika didn’t bother him. Her threats were real and he couldn’t allow her to touch Simone. He would do it again if the situation arose. “Yes, she threatened me and mine.” He glanced at Lukian, who sat in the chair next to him.

  “Is this what we can expect from you from now on?” Brieloff asked without releasing his gaze.

  “Honestly? I don’t know. When Anika threatened my Blood-mate, my children, we lost it. My entire line demanded her destruction.” He shrugged. “I don’t know what else to say.”

  Brieloff’s gaze slid to Lukian and back to Baron. “Rugger?”

  “He’s with Orton,” Baron said, and then explained to them what happened during the fight with Rugger.

  “I wonder if he wanted to die?” Lukian said, drawing Baron’s gaze. “Maybe. I just can’t imagine him without Orton.”

  Brieloff nodded slowly. “Perhaps.” He continued to stare at Baron. “Your entire line demanded her death? Even Cull? Marias?”

  “Everyone,” Baron said.

  Brieloff nodded. “How would they suggest I handle the murder of a Fem?”

  “According to Vemdorian law, when the life of a Vemdorian issue is targeted, the Vemdorian is within his or her rights to do whatever necessary to protect their issue. To protect their line.” Baron had no idea if that was true or not, one of his linemen passed on that bit of knowledge.

  “True. Yes, you’re right. She threatened any issue you would have.” Brieloff smiled. “I was so caught up on the human part I forgot about that.” He looked at Baron. “I’ll write the report, Lukian will sign as a witness and that will be the end of it. Oh yeah, Bacas and Strates are alive and bear you no ill will. They appreciate and respect your fighting skills. Don’t be surprised if they show up sometime.”

  Baron nodded.

  “Is Simone really your Blood-mate? How do you know for certain?” Brieloff held up his hands. “I don’t mean disrespect, but there haven’t been any Blood-mate relationships in centuries. The term has become something of a myth.”

  “Yes, she is. I can’t explain how I know, but we all agree she’s the one. It matters not that she’s human, or that it hasn’t been done in a long time. She is the choice of my heart.” Humans and vampires could accept this or not. Since his line accepted Simone as Blood-mate, he could live in peace. No one else mattered.

  “Can she... does she understand what it means to birth Vampires? How will she feed them? Can she carry to term?” Brieloff asked, watching Baron.

  Warmth brushed against his cheeks and he cleared his throat. “Is there anything else we need to discuss? I don’t know where Rugger’s followers are and don’t want to leave Simone and Marissa alone too long.” Nor was he about to discuss his personal relationship with anyone other than Simone. They had a lot of things to work out, but they would work them out. He refused to let Simone go.

  Brieloff pushed back in his chair and sighed. “No, not at this moment. I’ll reach out if I need anything else. It’s important for you to protect your heart. I’m sure she’s waiting for you.” He stood along with Baron. The two nodded at each other and Baron left.

  Chapter 28

  When Baron returned to the hotel room, Simone and Camilla sat on the sofa watching as he and Lukian walked in. Simone stood, grabbed her purse, and walked toward him. “You and I need to have an important conversation, alone.” She looked over her shoulder at her best friend, who stared at the two of them before tilting her head and staring at Baron.

  “She does?” Baron pulled Simone into his arms and brushed a kiss against her lips. “Okay, let’s go for a walk.” He nodded at Lukian, who lifted Camilla onto his lap and kissed her neck. Perhaps the big man was over Rauff for good.

  “Lock up behind us,” Baron told Lukian.

  Taking Simone’s hand, they got on the elevator and took the ride down in silence. Baron watched her keep her head down and tried to read her thoughts. On the first floor, he escorted her outside and they walked down the street to a park he’d seen yesterday.

  “What are you, Baron? You’re not fully human, even though you look like one. Camilla won’t tell me and she’s right, you should’ve told me upfront.” Simone stopped, turned, and faced him.

  Baron met her gaze and enclosed them in a small bubble so their conversation wouldn’t be overheard. “I’m Vemdorian. My planet exploded and we landed here.” He stopped, placed his finger beneath her jaw and pressed it up. “Some people call us Vampires.”

  She took a step back and looked up. “Sunlight?”

  Pleased she wasn’t screaming and calling him names, he shrugged. “Some of what you’ve heard isn’t true. We aren’t all the same. Some can walk in the sun, some can’t.”

  Her gaze ran from his head to his feet and then back to his eyes. “Why didn’t you tell me?” She turned away and wrapped her arms around her waist.

  Baron stepped forward.

  She threw up her hand, stopping him. “No. Answer me. Why didn’t you tell me what you were when we first met? Why’d you wait until now?”

  “First, we’re prohibited against telling anyone about our race. It’s illegal and can lead to death.”

  She swung around, mouth agape as she met his gaze. “Really?”

  Baron’s heart slammed in his chest as he stuffed his hands in his pockets to keep from reaching out. “Yeah, we’re a big secret.”

  Simone watched him for a few moments. “Are you going to get in trouble now? For telling me? Will I be in trouble for knowing about you and Lukian?”

  “No. No, you won’t be in trouble.”

  “How do you know that? You can’t be sure. I have responsibilities, Baron. Marissa depends on me. I need to know for sure that we’re safe, that nothing’s going to happen because I know things.” She waved her arms around as she moved in a tight circle.

  “Nothing’s going to happen to you or Marissa,” Baron said. “I promise.”

  “You can’t promise that,” she yelled.


  “Yes, I can,” he said removing his hands from his pockets. “When I said you were my kryptonite, it wasn’t a joke or something to make you feel good. In my culture we have Blood-mates.”

  Her eyes widened. “What?”

  He held up his hands. “Listen, I’m explaining how I can promise nothing will happen to you. It’s a part of our culture. Blood-mates bond for life. Being claimed as Blood-mate tells everyone in our world you’re taken by a Vemdorian, no one will touch you because I’ll be able to find them if they did. A bonded Blood-mate receives protection from all Vemdorians and is recognized as one of our own. Since I’ve claimed you as my Blood-mate I can say nothing will happen to you.”

  She stared at him for a few seconds and then sighed. “If Camilla hadn’t told me years ago other beings walked among us, I’d be running and screaming right now. I thought you were a wolf or some kind of animal, not a... vampire.” She bit her lip. “You didn’t drink my blood or anything like that, did you?”

  “No.” He remained steady in the face of her insult.

  “Do you drink blood?”

  “Yes, and food as well.” He reminded her.

  She nodded. “Right. That’s right. Sooooo... a vampire huh? I didn’t expect that. I ... I don’t know how to process the fact you drink blood and, what? Died and aren’t alive?”

  “I’m alive. When you touched me did I feel dead to you?” He understood she’d be hesitant, have questions, but he wasn’t sure how much of the Hollywood misinformation he could take with a smile.

  Her cheeks pinked. “No, nothing about you is dead or lines up with the little I know about... well, you know. Camilla said not to believe everything I’d heard before and judge you by what I know. But now I’m wondering if I know anything at all.”

  “You doubt your love for me?” Their gazes clashed. In his mind, that was the heart of the matter. If she loved him they could work through all of their differences.

  Simone opened and closed her mouth. An hour ago she would have walked on burning coals for this man. He’d stepped up and did everything necessary to help her find her niece. Camilla was really clear about Baron not having anything to do with the kidnapping. But the man was a vampire, she’d had no idea they were real. Plus, he’d given her the best sex of her life, and she’d never felt as safe and protected as she had with him. Could she give that up? Was love enough? She wasn’t sure, but she was sure she loved Baron. They’d start there.

  “No.”

  His face fell.

  She held out her hand. “No, I don’t doubt my love for you. Loving you is absolute and probably the easiest part of this whole conversation.” His smile brushed against her heart. “It’s the whole different species thing that’s got my mind going in circles. How does that even work? What does that mean for us?” She slapped her forehead. “I can’t believe we’re having this conversation. Camilla does this kind of stuff, not me. I’m too ... I don’t know, what, but the idea of dating a vampire blows my mind.” She inhaled. “But the idea of you not being in my life hurts too much to think about.” Watching his shoulders relax, she knew she’d said the right thing. “Blood-mate? Does that mean you can’t be with anyone else?”

  “Bonded Blood-mates cannot.”

  Simone didn’t like the idea of Baron being with anyone else. “You’ve claimed me?”

  “Yes.”

  “Do I need to claim you?”

  He nodded slowly. “Yes.”

  Simone tilted her head to the side. “Were you ever going to tell me about all of this?”

  “Yes, of course. Just not for the next 20 or 30 years.” He smiled and took her hands. “Whatever you want to know, I’ll share with you. All I ask is that you give me a fair chance. This is just as new to me as it is for you. I’ve spent most of my life in a laboratory creating things to make the lives of my people easier. I can count the number of dates I’ve had in my life on two hands with no serious relationships. And then I met you and my life has changed for the better, everyone who knew me says I smile now and seem at peace. In all honesty, I don’t know what they see, but I know the joy and calm I feel when we’re together and the discomfort and uncertainty when we’re separated. I need to know you’re safe and have everything you need and are happy.”

  Simone swallowed hard and touched his lips.

  “Making you happy drives me and gives me sustenance at the same time, Simone. That’s what being Blood-mate means. So when I tell you that nothing will happen to you and Rissa because of me, it’s from the point that I’d exchange my life for yours in a heartbeat to keep you safe.”

  Unable to take much more without crying all over the place, she wrapped her arms around his neck and held him close. “I love you, God, I love you.” He squeezed her tight and they stood in the middle of the park in an embrace. “There’s probably a lot more you need to tell me.”

  “Yes, there’s more.”

  “Can we discuss it later? Maybe tomorrow when we get home? I need to process this without being overwhelmed.”

  “Whatever you want.” He brushed a kiss on her forehead, sending tingles through her.

  “What I want right now is to take you to bed, reconnect.”

  “Mmmm, sounds like a plan. Maybe Camilla and Lukian can take Marissa to a movie and dinner?” he said, nibbling on her ear.

  “Excellent, I’ll call her.” A few minutes later Simone stuffed her phone back into her bag, grabbed his hand and smiled up at him. “In ten minutes the room will be clear.”

  “We’ll walk slow,” he said.

  When they returned to the room it was quiet. Camilla and Lukian had taken Marissa and left. As long as Lukian was with them Baron wouldn’t worry. Seeing the seductive promise in Simone’s eyes stole his focus. In the middle of the living room, she stopped and pulled off her blouse.

  Baron watched as she shimmied out of her pants. Now dressed only in bra and panty, he leaned against the doorframe, totally engrossed with the movements of her hands as they played around the edges of her bra strap. Unfamiliar with this playful side of her personality, Baron wondered what brought it on and how could he get her to repeat it again at another time.

  “Want me to take it off?” Her voice sounded the way he’d imagined rich milk chocolate would sound.

  Unable to speak around the ball of lust in his throat, he nodded like a lap dog asking for more treats.

  She grinned and peeled the bra down her shoulders so slow he was certain he’d go insane with desire for her.

  “Please.” Had that pitiful sound fallen from his lips? Yes. His Blood-mate had him begging. Her grin morphed into deep throated laughter that sent shivers down his spine. She enjoyed this seduction as much as him.

  “Please what?” She held the cups of the bra over her nipples, depriving him of their view.

  “Please touch me.” He moved toward her, but stopped when she held up her hand.

  “No. You’ve always been in control in the bedroom. This time, I want to be in charge.” The look she gave him said she really wanted to do this and despite having no experience, the idea of her telling him how to please her make his cock hard.

  “Okay. What do you want me to do?” He relaxed his arms by his side and waited.

  Her smile brightened as she walked past him and stopped. “Don’t move.”

  “Okay.”

  She wrapped something around his arms and then patted his bicep. “Even though you can break out of this, don’t. Not until I tell you. If you do, I’ll stop and we’re done, is that understood.”

  “Yes, I won’t touch it.” His heart raced at the command in her tone. Bossy Simone was sexy.

  “Good.” She walked in front of him and he almost swallowed his tongue. Naked to her panties, his eyes latched onto the stiff peaks of her breasts. She moved closer until her nipples brushed against his chest.

  “Umm, this is torture,” he moaned as she rubbed against him.

  “Not yet.” She grabbed his hair and pulled him down for a kiss. Except
this wasn’t a kiss like anything they’d ever done before. With his arms locked behind him, she took total and complete control of his mouth, nibbling, sucking, licking and biting before releasing him.

  Baron’s knees buckled. “More,” he whispered. She kissed him again and again until he leaned forward to slow his heartbeat and ease the strain against his zipper. “I love you, my heart.”

  She brushed her lips against his and then turned and walked to the bedroom. It took him a moment to realize she’d moved, his gaze had been glued to the sexy motion of her hips.

  “Come with me,” she said the words slow and husky. His balls ached and he swore he’d come right that moment. Moving with haste, he reached the door and stood in front of the bed waiting to see what she’d do next.

  Her fingertips brushed against his stomach. He shivered as the heat from her palms rested against his belly and moved up his chest taking his shirt with them.

  “Is it normal for vampires to be this hot?”

  Baron hissed as she pinched his nipples. “Yesssss, I think so.”

  “So that whole die and come back to life thing, it’s not true?” She rubbed his abused nipples and pulled the shirt over his neck.

  “When we die we don’t rise again.” His shirt assisted in keeping his hands behind his back, not that he would move them and stop this delicious torture.

  She ran her fingernail down the center of his chest, stopping at the waistband of his pants.

  Heat raced up and down his back as she unsnapped his jeans and unzipped them. Unhampered, his dick sprung forward to greet her.

  Her brow rose as she rolled his pants down his legs, ignoring his leaking cock when her nose and mouth were level with it. She exhaled, his dick jumped as the air-brushed across it.

  “Please, stop teasing me,” he murmured, struggling to hold himself in check. His body shuddered as he fought to maintain control and not explode before sheathing her. Never had he wanted anyone so badly.

  “Patience. What is it you called me?” She fell to her knees in front of him, grabbed his cock and peered up with a naughty grin that would forever be imprinted on his mind.