“Some honor.” Miguel sneered. “Those priestesses were virgins before they shut themselves away in a cave, praying and fasting. By the time this so-called god came calling they were high on incense and weak from hunger. Of course they couldn’t resist--”
“Resist? You think they wanted to resist?” Mars laughed. “Son, if one of them bore my child, they were considered the most blessed of all. If your mother was one of my women, then she lived the rest of her life in luxury, honored and showered with gifts as the favored of Kukulcan.” He grunted when Miguel screamed some words in a language I sure didn’t recognize then threw himself at Mars. “What the hell?” With little effort he tossed Miguel to the floor and froze him in place.
“Dad, I think Miguel needs to tell you something.” I got up to kneel next to Miguel. “Would you let him talk? You can keep him pinned to the floor if that makes you feel safer.”
“Watch your mouth, Daughter.” Mars paced the floor. “As if a mere vampire is any danger to me. I am Mars, god of war!” He slapped his chest with one hand. Yes, he had on the full regalia, the breastplate and short toga. At least he’d left off the helmet. “Talk!” He pointed to Miguel.
“Yes, you left my mother pregnant. But she loved another man before she went into her cave. That man would not accept me or the fact that my mother had willingly given herself to you. All the gold and honor my mother’s pregnancy brought her did nothing to heal her broken heart. After I was born, my mother threw herself into a volcano. That left me without a mother or father. I was raised by the other priestesses. Yes, I was a son of Kukulcan, but so what?” Miguel was clearly frustrated that he couldn’t move. “There were at least a dozen of us and I had no obvious powers at first. Eventually I discovered that I could freeze people in place and read minds, but I was growing older. I knew I was not immortal.”
“How was I to know all this?” Mars paced the small living room. “I visited hundreds of priestesses. Kukulcan is just one of my guises. I am Loa to some and I could name other places where the god of war is worshipped by different names. It is impossible to keep track of--”
“Your children?” Miguel was suddenly free and on his feet. I didn’t know if Mars had released him or if he was just that strong. “Stupid me, wanting to know my father. I should have known it would be a waste of time when that man is so careless about his own flesh and blood.”
“Now who is foolish? I am a god, boy. Gods make their own rules.” Mars watched Miguel carefully. “So when you realized you were not immortal, you took matters into your own hands.”
“Yes. By seeking out a vampire and becoming one. I had a mission, you see. To discover if the stories were true. If Kukulcan was really my father. If the Mayans were right.”
“Not right about everything. The world didn’t end, did it?” Jerry had to get in on this.
“That wasn’t the meaning of the calendar.” Mars looked impatient. “I’m not about to explain such deep thinking to vampires. But take a close look at it sometime. I am telling you, that’s my likeness in the center of it.”
“What now? Are you saying Miguel is your son?” I looked from Mars to Miguel. “Is he my brother?”
“We could do DNA to verify it but I don’t think that’s necessary.” Miguel looked at me. “Smell him, Glory, his blood. Then smell me. Compare it to yours. Even to Charis. It should be obvious.”
“Vampire mumbo jumbo?” Mars sat down and glanced at Jerry. “What next? One of you want to drink at my vein? Do a little taste test?” He leaned forward, elbows on his knees, and raked me, Jerry and Miguel with a hard stare. “You even so much as show me a fang and I’ll burn this place down around your ears.” He nodded. “I see you understand me. Now I admit, I’ve been careless. I like women and they offer themselves to me. But it’s no treat when they lie there like they’re making a big sacrifice.” He paused when Miguel growled. “No, I don’t remember your mother. In a cast of thousands, and that’s no exaggeration, it would be impossible. And you must be ancient yourself. What name do you go by?”
“Miguel Cisneros now but I was first named Ahkal.” He sat on the couch on my other side. “I’m eighteen hundred years old. Not that you give a damn.”
Charis leaned forward. She’d been quiet through all this. “A new brother. Cool. I wondered why I wasn’t getting the sex vibe off of you. Thought maybe you were gay. Now I know you just weren’t into me. Thank God.”
“Glory, you are claiming this female as a sister?” Miguel rolled his eyes.
“She’s a pain, but, remember, I was desperate for family.” I laughed but reached out to squeeze Miguel’s hand.
“Obviously.” Miguel glanced at Charis. “I am not gay.”
“You want to come up to Olympus? Look around.” Mars had apparently decided to accept Miguel. He knew a macho man when he saw one and wouldn’t mind showing this son off to the other Neanderthal gods up there.
“No, thanks. Glory just got back and it took her almost a year to make it.” Miguel smiled at me. “I just needed to know. But if you want to visit here and tell me what skills I might have, I’d appreciate that. I’m pissed at you. But I can see that you do what you do without thinking about consequences. That’s pretty much the way I’ve lived my life too, until now. If you don’t have anyone that you care about, that’s okay.” He stood. “A while back I decided I’ve been alone too long. So I came to Austin, looking for answers. Now that I’ve got them, I need to think about what to do with them.”
“Miguel, we’re family now.” I stood and followed him to the door.
“Here we go.”
I ignored Jerry’s remark. “I’m here if you need to talk. To help you figure things out. And you’ll come to my, our wedding.” I looked back at Jer, hoping he’d say something encouraging. He just raised an eyebrow. Okay, so he’d need some work. “I’ll send you an invitation when we get the date and details set.”
“Not necessary, Glory.” He had also seen and heard Jerry’s reaction. “But I appreciate it.”
“Hey, you have two sisters. Or hundreds.” Charis stood and sauntered over. She patted Mars on his shoulder. “Daddy’s been a busy boy. If Mom wasn’t already in the cells for the insane, this would push her right over the edge.” She leaned against me. “Glory, don’t you want to come into my room and watch some Bride Wars? It’s this great movie. I think we can get it on Netflix.” The girl had learned fast.
“Not now, Charis. Go ahead. Maybe Alesha will watch with you when she gets back.” I punched in the code and let Miguel out. I didn’t bother to cover my hand and knew he’d seen the code. “Do you mind watching for Alesha out there? I don’t want her to get lost on the street.”
“My pleasure.” He grinned.
“I thought so.” I watched him walk down the stairs.
“He has an edge to him, Gloriana.” Mars was right behind me. “A dark side.”
“Yes, he’s done some very bad things. To survive, to hear him tell it.” I sat beside Jerry again. “He was right. It was irresponsible to just scatter your seed everywhere. You probably have bastards all over the world.”
“I’m sure I do. But that was mostly in ancient times. As the world grew more sophisticated, the practice of worshipping gods like me became rare.” Mars grimaced. “It’s tough now to find an available priestess, though there are some voodoo women who will do anything for Loa.”
“Haven’t you learned your lesson?” I admit his attitude appalled me.
“What? That I make great children?” He came over to pull me up and into his arms. “I’m sorry that you were left to become vampires to find your immortality. Yes, for that I am truly ashamed. If I had followed my children as I should have, I might have been able to give them immortality another way.” He gave me a hard hug. “No guarantees though. I’m a god, not a magician. Or a sorcerer.”
“Well, it’s done now. I hope you and Miguel can work out a decent relationship. He is a strong man, maybe not a good one, but he’s trying.”
“I hope you�
�re right, since you’re determined to drag him into our lives.” Jerry got up and walked to the door. “I’m setting the alarm now. Mars, I assume you’re leaving through the ceiling. Sorry we can’t offer you a dead horse or a chariot race, but that’s the way it goes.”
“Happy fête day anyway, whatever that is.” I hugged Mars one more time. “I hope Mother hasn’t been listening in. All this talk about doing priestesses wouldn’t go over too well.”
“Hush, Gloriana. Even speaking her name will put her on alert. As to my fête day? It’s sort of like a birthday. Not that we have them.” Mars smiled. “Call if you need me.” Then he disappeared.
“About my family.” I turned to Jerry but he’d disappeared. I found him in my closet, rummaging through my skirts.
“Don’t you have any that are really short?” He turned when he felt my arms go around his waist.
“You really are a mind reader. Yes, I have one. Give me five minutes. Lock the bedroom door then I’m coming out.” I kissed his smile then swatted his bottom in his snug jeans when he almost ran to take care of that lock. We’d discuss my family later. Much later. I looked at the ceiling. My mother knew she was on probation with me so showing up in my bedroom would be a very bad idea. I threw off my clothes, slipped on the tiny black skirt, no panties and a low cut white blouse, no bra. Then I found my highest heels. If this were Halloween, I’d be perfect as a hooker on the corner. I slapped on a smile and strutted out to meet my lover. His groan of appreciation told me I had met expectations.
Chapter 16
Wedding plans were coming along thanks to Richard. He was a demon when it came to organization. We had the venue and we had the date. But I needed a dress. My father had miraculously produced a credit card for me and for Charis, no limit. We were to go to New York City and pick out a fabulous dress, on him. Just like that show Charis loved. He also arranged plane tickets and hotel reservations for us and for Flo. I wasn’t sure Charis could take the excitement. She might not be a real teenager, but she was sure acting like one.
“He does know vampires have to fly at night, doesn’t he?” Jerry wasn’t happy with my trip. He wanted me to stay close. I didn’t blame him. After I’d disappeared for months, he was right to be leery of my Olympus connections.
“He did it right. We take off after dark and land before sunrise.” I was leaving on Friday. This was Monday and the shop was closed. Good thing because I needed to go down there and take a hard look at the books. I trusted Lacy but couldn’t believe all had gone as smoothly as she claimed without me around to supervise.
“What about the stores you want to visit? Are they open at night?” Jerry had the TV on mute and was mindlessly flipping through channels. Once he’d moved in, he’d had a satellite dish installed on the roof. Now we got channels I’d never heard of before, most of them showing sports. I didn’t think he was really watching the TV until he stopped on a UK soccer match. Scotland versus somebody. Good. That would keep him occupied while I went downstairs.
“Charis called them and hinted we had a big budget. They’ll stay open for us. She has three appointments lined up.” I’d also done my own research. Charis would be surprised by some of the stops we made. Now I sat in Jerry’s lap and ran my hands through his soft hair. “Will you relax? We’ll be fine. Or you could come with us. I won’t let you go to the actual appointments though. Bad luck to see me in my dress before the wedding. But I’d love to have you in New York.”
“No, I can see you’re excited for this girls’ weekend.” He ran his hand up and down my back. “Just be careful. You know your mother is going to be there. Your father has made it clear he wants her involved. I don’t trust her, Gloriana. I wouldn’t put it past her to take you back up to Olympus.” Jerry hadn’t agreed she could come to the wedding yet. Which was a worry. I leaned against his chest.
“Mars won’t let her do that again.” I hoped not anyway. “But refusing to let her come to the wedding? I’ll just have to try to keep it our secret for now and hope she doesn’t read my mind.” I touched his lips when I saw he was about to argue. “I know. It’s reasonable for you to ask her to give us our wedding in peace. She knows I’ll never forgive her either.” I kissed his cheek. “She almost got you killed, Jer.” No, that was wrong. She had gotten him killed. We’d just been lucky enough to bring him back.
“I wish you didn’t have to deal with her at all.” He squeezed my bottom. “If you’re going downstairs, run along. This game is getting good and I know you don’t want to watch it with me.”
“You were paying attention to the TV instead of me?” I tried for indignation but couldn’t pull it off. Hey, we were a couple who’d been together a long while. I was glad we were this comfortable.
“I can focus on two things at the same time. Later, when you hit the bedroom with me, I promise to give you my undivided attention.” His smile was wicked and his hands even more so when they traveled under my skirt. “Is it a date?”
“Always.” I gave him a kiss as a down payment then slid out of his lap and headed for the door. “Oh. I have an idea that I want to run by you. Lacy says she’s living at Rafe’s now. That means her apartment upstairs is empty. What do you think about letting Alesha have it?”
“Rent free, I suppose.” Jerry actually looked away from the TV. I glanced at it. Commercial of course.
“Yes. It would be a perk. And Alesha does need a place to live. She’s been sleeping on the living room couch.” I sighed. “The poor girl has no place to call her own. She’s keeping her clothes on a shelf in our kitchen pantry.”
“There’s certainly plenty of space in there.” Jerry grinned. “You own the building, my love. If you can do without the extra rent, have at it. You should put a pencil to it though. To make sure you can still pay for utilities, taxes and insurance on this place. They aren’t cheap.”
“Oh. I forgot you gave it to me.” Which was ridiculous since it was the most extravagant engagement gift ever. “No wonder we were showing a profit while I was gone. Lacy didn’t have to pay rent for the shop.” I really wasn’t crazy about all the math and figuring that I’d have to do to get to my bottom line. Numbers started whirling through my brain—overhead, inventory, maintenance. I closed my eyes but statistics kept multiplying and dividing, adding and subtracting, until I wanted to scream.
Jerry jumped to his feet and grabbed my shoulders. “Okay, calm down. I can see you’re about to freak out. You need an accountant.”
“Someone I’d have to pay?” Now I was hyperventilating. “When did I get to be such a big deal entrepreneur that I needed that?”
“When you agreed to marry me, love. Relax. I’ll find someone who is cheap and honest. I actually know a guy. The shifter who does the books for your pal Valdez. How does that sound?”
“Perfect.” I kissed his chin.
“Is that all I get?” He tipped up my chin and gave me the right kind of kiss. “Now I’m going to call him and see if he can meet you downstairs tonight.”
“I knew I was right to agree to marry you.” I pulled his head down for another kiss. “But I have a confession to make.”
“What?” He pushed me back. “You look guilty. What now, Gloriana?”
“No biggie. Just that when we marry I want to keep my last name.” I braced myself. How would my stubborn Scot take that?
“You’d still be Gloriana St. Clair?” He stepped away and fell back on the couch. “Not Blade or Campbell?”
“You see the problem, don’t you?” I realized I was wringing my hands and forced myself to stop it. “We change names all the time. It would be easier…”
“You change names too, Gloriana. I’ve known you by at least a dozen.” He stared at the TV but I knew he wasn’t seeing the game. He was thinking, running the pros and cons through his mind.
“Yes, that’s true.” I sat beside him again and picked up his hand. “The whole name thing for us is complicated. I guess I’m staking a claim to mine for now. As a symbol of my independe
nce. You know how I feel about that, Jerry.”
“God, yes. You’re close to paranoid about it.” He gripped my hand. “I do not want to take away your individuality, sweetheart. I love the fact that you’ve found yourself these past few years. That you’ve grown into a strong, assertive female who knows who she is.” He stared directly into my eyes, willing me to believe him. “I couldn’t be prouder of what you’ve accomplished with your business and the powers you’ve discovered in yourself. Even better is that you’re no longer afraid to use them.” He pulled my hand to his lips and brushed it gently with his fangs. “I feel that our marriage will be a partnership now. Two vampires who will promise to take on the world together, come what may. Do you agree?”
I blinked at the rush of tears blinding me for a moment. “Yes! God, yes, Jerry! You said it perfectly. I want that for us. To be side by side, facing everything that comes at us together.” I jerked his hand to me and bit into his wrist, his blood flooding my mouth. I drew hard, relishing the way his taste seeped into my very soul. After I swallowed, I licked the punctures closed then leaned in to offer him my own wrist,
“Gloriana.” He groaned and bit into it, pulling so that he had a good taste of me as well. When that wound was also sealed, we crashed together, devouring each other with our mouths, teeth, and tongues.
Before I knew it we were tearing at our clothes, desperate to be closer. He dragged aside my panties under my long wool skirt. I shoved down his zipper and pulled him free so he could plunge inside me. He hauled my legs up around his waist and rode me, muffling my screams of pleasure with his mouth. We knocked over the heavy brass and wood coffee table and rolled off the couch to hit the floor. I ended up on top, pushing up his shirt so I could rake his chest with my fangs while he opened my blouse and held onto my breasts through my bra.
“Jerry!” I couldn’t hold back a sob as an orgasm shook me before I could lick away the traces of his blood. “Now!” He knew what I meant and pulled my head down to sink his fangs into my jugular. The suction was too much and I seized again, digging my nails into his biceps. I almost tore my own skin from his fangs, my reaction was so strong, so wild and out of control. I was coming apart. Could I hold onto even one piece of myself? Why bother? Not when Jerry released me, growled my name, and offered his own vein. I took it, drinking deep. This man was my mate. My forever lover.
(Glory St Clair 11) Real Vampires Say Read My Hips Page 28