by Stacy Lee
Chapter Eleven
After practically raping Dare in front of his brothers I have nothing left to lose and sit at the table with my head held high. I had already embarrassed and humiliated myself with the display, not much left after that. Archer insisted we enjoy the meal before he would explain what was happening to me. I sat quietly while they talked, tensely at first till everyone calmed down then the conversation turned fairly pleasant.
Archer’s words as he insisted I eat still bother me for reasons as of yet unknown. ‘We are going to sit here and eat this meal she cooked for us and enjoy it before I explain anything and start pissing people off.’ He then looked to me, when he saw my empty plate his eyes softened with pity. ‘Please, Marnie. Eat something while you can enjoy it.’ The words stuck in my head and wouldn’t leave me as I listen to them chat.
“Did you ask Marnie where we are going next? I am meeting with Tink tonight and need to give her a location and any changes in the compound.” Dare’s deep strained chuckle draws my attention to his tightly restrained features. He wasn’t enjoying this meal but he was trying. His eyes said he was worried, his even more rigid than normal body said he was stressed, and his death grip on the fork said he was barely holding it together. I don’t know what is going on but it had him scared and if it was enough to scare Dare it has to be bad.
“One of these days Chasity is going to de-man you for calling her that.” Tight chuckles come from around the table. “No, we hadn’t had a chance to discuss the move yet.” His eyes flit to me before he quickly looks away. He hasn’t looked me in the eye since he pulled me away from him. I can’t remember half of what happened and nothing before he sat me in his lap. After he told me to sit I remember knowing I needed him more than I needed my next breath but not much else. Only the look in his alarmed eyes when he pulled me away from him told me something was horribly wrong.
“Marnie?” I start and look to Dare. I hadn’t heard him speaking to me.
“I’m sorry. What did you ask?” I stutter out.
“I said we have to move the compound. Is there somewhere you would like to live?” His voice is too soft and he still wasn’t meeting my gaze.
“Where are we now?” I ask quietly. A few hisses come from his brothers, the loudest from Cash who sat next to me.
“Texas.” He states blandly. I twirl my fork in my uneaten spaghetti remembering what Angie said about beaches.
“I thought you wanted to go to California next?” His head snaps up to look towards me with surprise. “Angie.” I answer the unspoken question. He nods and returns to playing with his own food.
“I thought you may want to go somewhere else. Any suggestions?” Sure, I had suggestions but I didn’t feel the need to express them. I felt like I needed to do exactly what he commanded. I wanted to say if he liked beaches how about Florida but I couldn’t get it to come out of my mouth and it had nothing to do with fear. It literally would not come out. I fight for a minute then shake my head slinking down in my chair.
“Marnie. Look at me please. I would like to try something if you don’t mind.” Archer was always kind when he spoke to me, his voice never changing from gentle and soothing. Tentatively I meet his eyes. “Tell me where you want to live.” His voice is powerful making my body shiver.
“Florida.” It pops out on its own. I throw my hand over my mouth and look to Dare who is staring at his plate in silence. Everything in me said I had disobeyed him. I tremble.
“Marnie, look at me, not him.” My head turns without me commanding it. “Why Florida?” More power swirls through my veins.
“Dare likes beaches. I like the mountains of Colorado but it is too cold in the winter. Florida is the only other place I have wanted to live.” My eyes flit to Dare, my insides clinch. I look back to Archer who is watching me closely. “But California is the same. It is still beaches and sand and warm. California is fine.” A fork rattles beside me as it’s dropped. I know it’s Dare but I don’t move, I can’t look away from Archer as more power rolls through me.
Suddenly I feel hungry. I hadn’t been hungry all day, I had actually felt nauseas for most of it, my constant aggravation not allowing it to settle. I pick up my fork and begin eating silently. No one makes a sound around the table for several minutes and I keep my eyes averted just listening to them till my plate is empty.
“Interesting.” Archer mutters under his breath breaking the silence. “So Dare, where to this time?” He asks, scrapping his fork nonchalantly over his plate.
“Florida.” I can hear the warring emotions in his voice, regret, uneasiness, sadness. He wasn’t happy with my choice but I keep my mouth full and don’t acknowledge them.
“Good choice.” Cash bites out beside me. He had seemed rather angry since we set down and I wasn’t sure what I had done to cause it. He kept shooting daggers at Dare but wouldn’t look at me. Actually, Archer had been the only one to honestly meet my eyes.
“I’ll tell Tink and get it set up. When we spoke on the phone she said they could have the safe houses ready by midnight tonight and the complex would be done in two days but not sooner. You can start to evacuate the women and children in a few hours. Any changes to your home you want to make before the transfer happens?” Emmitt asks in a tight but conversational tone.
“Yes. Add one more room. Same sizes as the others. It needs to be black inside, walls, floor, ceiling, everything.” Fin lets out a snicker but I have no idea why.
“Black? That’s new for you.” I sense Dare’s shift in body language but don’t indulge my curiosity and keep eating. “Oh. Okay then. Anyone else?” No’s resound and the conversation wanes.
I sit my fork as quietly as I can in my plate and study the sauce left there. The taste had been off though I couldn’t figure out why. It had been fine earlier when I was cooking it but now it was rather bland. I hope they couldn’t tell. No one had complained all though I didn’t think they would, not since the dynamic had changed when I bit Dare in front of them. Were they disgusted by the display?
In our room, alone, I don’t think the way I acted would have bothered me but knowing I mauled him in front of his brothers disgusted even me. I shouldn’t have touched him like that to begin with. Uncle told me no man would want my touch. I thought Dare was different but maybe I’m wrong, maybe I embarrass him. I shouldn’t have touched him in front of them, I only gave him a reason to be angry with me. I sigh silently then rise to remove my plate. I stop beside Dare.
“Are you finished?” He nods prompting me to hold out my hand for his plate. He hesitates then lifts it to me. I glance to the others empty plates and begin my rounds. A few argue they can do it so I reach around them removing their choice. I had been waitressing for almost three years, I could clear a table with the best of them. Entering the kitchen I place the dirty dishes in the sink and begin to fill it with water. Dare comes in behind me bringing the empty bowls and dressing bottles.
“Leave those for later. Come to the front room.” He didn’t ask. I didn’t refuse. I don’t think I could if I wanted to.
Once everyone is settled around the room all attention turns to Archer. I notice for the first time his skin is paler than it was when he first talked to me, his ruby lips look to be painted with whore red lipstick against the white of his skin. His gaze scans the room to land on me.
“I know this is going to be embarrassing for you and I am sorry for that, Marnie. I need to know the exact words used when you verbally surrendered to Dare.”
“Why?” Dare’s growl beside me has my body cowering. His arm snakes around my shoulders pulling me into him, reassuring me. It didn’t. With his reaction I know he doesn’t want me to tell them, that is between us in a private moment. My insides curdle with the idea of making him angry. The feeling is different from normal. It is fear of disappointing him, disobeying him, breaking his trust, and then comes the fear of consequences. That last one had always been first with me. Something has changed.
“Because to know e
xactly what is happening to her I need to know what she said.” Dare shakes his head.
“Explain first. What the hell did I do, Archer? And why do you seem to be the only one who knows about it?” Archer searches the faces of his confused brothers. This much of what Dare said was true. No one seems to know what is going on but Archer. At least whatever he did he did it without knowing it could happen. I try to remember that thought as I listen to Archer tear my world apart.
“Fine. I don’t like forcing you to do things, like tell me personal details about your sex lives, but when I get to where I need the information I will take it if you leave me no other choice.” His warning sends a chill through me. It is the first time he has spoken in any other tone than friendly, this wasn’t friendly. It was a threat, plain and simple. Dare’s arm tightens on me. “We all know the rules of The Claiming, however, I will state them now for Marnie’s benefit because I have a feeling they weren’t explained completely to her.” His narrowed eyes don’t leave Dare’s. They keep the battle going for a few minutes before Dare is the first to look away.
“I guess I could have done it a little better. It’s not like any of us really understand them to begin with.” He mutters.
“You understood the choice between the two ways. You could have told her that much instead of taking both.” He sounds like a father scolding his teenage son.
“Wait, two ways? I don’t understand?” I Ping-Pong between all the men who are glaring at Dare.
“I know, that’s why I will explain what your mate should have. Again, I apologize for any embarrassment this is going to cause. It isn’t meant to be a public conversation.” With one last hard glare at Dare he focuses on me.
“The Claiming has two parts to it. The basic description is this. Over the course of forty-eight hours, a number we didn’t know till you chose, sex must be completed five times. Blood must be exchanged from him to you at the same time he takes yours. The first four are done by cutting the wrist and offering it to your intended mate. For the last her fangs drop and it is removed from the necks of both. The blood that enters your body is what causes The Change that transforms you from human to immortal Patronus Mate. The blood, the semen and your surrender must be present for it to begin. It gives you the ability to grow fangs, speed, heal rapidly, strength, hearing, immortality and the ability to carry his child.” I sputter at the last. He never mentioned children.
I haven’t even decided if I want children. With losing my mother early in life and then being left with Uncle, I didn’t want to bring a child into this world and not be able to be there for him/her during their life. I had no one, no family, no real friends, who would I leave a child with if I died? No, I didn’t want children.
I never asked if he could get me pregnant and he never mentioned protection. I didn’t think he could have children. He wasn’t normal. However, now that I am thinking about it, he is one of six children by a mate like me, of course he can have children. I shove the worry to the back of my mind to examine after this crisis is dealt with. One crisis at a time, please.
Archer gives me a minute with another hard look to Dare then continues. “For thousands of years the Royal Bloodline of Patronus have had predestined mates. Human women with star birthmarks marking them ours, the star being the sign of our lineage. Each woman meant for a particular male. As you were meant for Dare. Not all women have been accepting to this change of lifestyle. Therefore there is two ways to bring on The Change I described. The way it is stated is that the woman must completely surrender for this to happen. When a mate who accepts her destiny willingly drinks the blood of her chosen for the first time she completely surrenders herself to her fate and to her mate. She dismisses her humanity and welcomes immortality. She has willingly chosen to take her mate and finish The Claiming causing The Change to begin in her system immediately. The fangs won’t drop till the final moment when they are needed.” He pauses to let his implications sink in.
I surrendered the moment I held his arm to my mouth. I had already sealed my fate when I tied him to that chair and demanded if I had to submit so did he.
And he knew it.
He let me think I had to verbally tell him I surrender. He played me and he won.
I can feel his eyes boring into me as I work this out in my head. I turn my gaze slowly to meet his, enraged sapphires to apologetic emeralds. Oh no. He didn’t get to feel sorry now. He had tortured me to get those words from me. Words he didn’t have to have.
Unable to look at him any longer I turn back to Archer. My need to obey him was waning by the minute and right now I wanted to slap him. Archer clears his throat, I believe to keep from laughing at Dare’s uncomfortableness, his face is crimson. He resumes speaking through his humor.
“The second way is with a woman who is less than agreeable to The Mating. Just because we know the woman is ours doesn’t mean she knows. Obviously with you, you felt the same pull Dare had which made things easier for you. As I understand it some women feel nothing for their mate till after The Claiming is completed and with a few of those they never developed the deep emotions most do. For this instance you have the option of forcing The Change. It isn’t a pretty occasion and takes a hard male to accomplish it. When we heard the voice announce you would die if The Claiming had not been completed by the time forty-eight hours was up I understood this methods need for being there but I do not agree with it. If the woman would rather die than be mated it should be her choice.” He was stalling, rambling just as his brother does when he doesn’t want to say something.
“Stop stalling Archer. I get the point.” He nods sharply.
“The sex and the blood exchange are forced four times. On the fifth in order for the fangs to drop when they are needed the female must verbally surrender to the male. It is not said what words must be spoken so I imagine her stating the obvious would work. ‘I surrender’. I don’t know if she has to mean to The Change, to the man, or if it would work only if she is begging for the forced sex and blood to stop. A change has not been forced in more than one thousand years. So for our purposes we are just going to say she says the right thing. Her fangs drop and by force or not she is to drink from his neck in which time the rest of The Changes begin to happen. Once the final time is complete in either scenario your body takes forty-eight more hours to alter completely to Patronus Mate. The fastest to show evidence is healing which began the first time you drank willingly from him. The rest takes longer to develop. By 12:05 tomorrow night your transformation will be complete.” I acknowledge this new information with a nod. Dare had not told me it took two days only that it happened.
“Now with that being said there is one other catch to The Claiming that isn’t known by many still left alive. It is a secret passed through the years to the eldest living son in the Royal Family, me. If I should die then the knowledge is on a flash drive in my safe for Bane or whoever is the next eldest surviving male.” He looks each brother in the eye before continuing.
“I will share it now with all of you because of this situation only. We all need to know in order to protect Marnie. However it is not to go any further than this room. Marnie, you cannot tell Angie about this. No one else can know. If our enemies find out this little tidbit of information it can put both Marnie and Dare’s life in jeopardy. They will come for her.” His ominous words echo around the deathly silent room.
“Also, one more thing. I have faith in each of you but I find myself needing to state the obvious. No one is to try to reproduce this situation. This is the reason it is only told to the eldest. At one time it was given to each son to warn them against it but as happens in the nature of all creatures one man couldn’t resist doing exactly what he had been told not to and almost destroyed the human race with his malicious intent before he was stopped. As we are the only six left subjected to The Claiming I have no fear that any of my brothers will do this out of ill will.” Once more he scans the room. His point made he takes a deep breath then focus back on Dare and I
.
“By doing both methods of surrender you changed the dynamic between the two of you. There are a few things that have to line up completely in order for this method to work. One, it has to be on a full moon, which normally has very little effect on our race except in three instances, this is one of them. It was a full last night, by the way. Two, Marnie was pure when The Claiming began.” His eyes stay on Dare as he says this letting me blush without his scrutiny. My sex life, or lack thereof, being discussed in front of these hardened men was not my idea of a good time.
“Three, some force must be used. Meaning at some point you made her bleed and it wasn’t for drinking.” His eyes flick to me with concern, did he think Dare hurt me? My hand unconsciously circles my wrist, the rope burns had bled. Archer’s eyes flick to my wrists with too much understanding before he continues. How did he know? “Four, the final bite must be done at midnight and beings your time was up at 12:05 I’m guessing it was. Five, this is the one I have never quite understood, magic must be present. It doesn’t say ‘magic is used’ just that it ‘must be present’.”
“Magic? Then you’re wrong because there wasn’t any magic.” But there was, I think to myself. Archer’s gaze penetrates through my skull but I don’t look up from my hands. I drove myself crazy for the better part of an hour this morning trying to figure out how he removed the ropes so quickly and at the same time. I never felt him untie them, he never leaned forward, they were just gone. That’s when I remembered how he unlocked the door and him telling me about the small magic they all could use. Unconsciously my hand slides back to my wrist to rub the now healed rope burns. I bite my lip nervously debating on whether to mention this or not. His brothers were listening and I really didn’t want them knowing he tied me to the bed.