So, it was a surprise when he paused and cocked his head to the side.
“What is it?” I asked, recognising his expression, the one he normally took on when communicating over a vast distance with his vampires telepathically. The closer they were, the less concentration required.
“Your parents are safe. Erika has found accommodation for those of the line she has with her nearby and our Day Walkers are guarding them for now. They will not know they exist, Erika has cloaked them.” He smiled then, a look of pride coming over his features. “It seems Erika has picked up a few tricks from our Jett, I had not known she could cloak.”
I smiled too, remembering how good Jett was at cloaking us, having had to do that once when we were in Wellington. Erika was certainly picking up a few hidden talents from her liaison with Michel's second. I was relieved with the information she had provided too and couldn't help realise that was why Michel had been so amorous, to help me focus on something other than the wait for news.
“Who are Day Walkers?” It was a term I hadn't heard him use before.
“Human servants, in this case trained as guards.” I had always known Michel had humans in his employ, I had seen them at Sensations, but I hadn't realised he had guards as well.
He pulled back and smiled at me, a lazy amused smile. “I have been forced to take additional precautions, ma douce, since your abduction and it seems it was worthwhile.”
He was right, I couldn't complain, despite part of me wondering how he kept the humans in line, ensuring they didn't divulge any information about his day sleeping location or anything else inherently vampire. I knew the answer he would give though, we are vampyre, Lucinda, it is what we are.
He laughed out loud at my poor imitation of his French accent and mannerisms in my mind. “Do I really sound that bad?”
I smiled, despite the seriousness of our situation, we still hadn't heard back from Jett. “You can be very superior, you know?”
“That is because I am,” he added in mock autocratic tones. “And you would be wise to remember.”
I just laughed at him and he shook his head in exasperation. “You are impossible.” His smile turned genuine, his eyes flashing amethyst and indigo in amongst the blue. “Entirely, impossible.” His head had just bent low to cover my mouth with a warm kiss when the front door crashed open and a whole lot of swearing in a thick Egyptian accent could be heard storming closer to the kitchen.
Michel's lips left mine in a sigh and his head rested against my forehead as we waited for the obvious wrath of Egypt to barge in on our little scene.
“I see our Amisi has picked up a few of your more choice language skills, ma douce.”
Yes, I wasn't too happy about that myself. Amisi had always appeared to be such a lady, a tough, capable, kick-butt lady, but a lady all the same. I may be quite comfortable swearing like a trouper, I am from a farming background, but hearing Amisi cuss the same way was a little embarrassing. Embarrassing that I influenced her in such a bad way. Nero could bring out the perfect warrior in her, I brought out the gutter snipe. Great.
“That fucking no-good, egotistical, self-absorbed, over-confident, arsehole.” She really had managed to pick up colloquial English since moving here, hadn't she? “You know,” she added as she slid into a bench seat in front of us as though we had been awaiting her arrival and the opportunity for her to vent. “He thinks he can just snap his elegant long manicured fingers and I'll come running. He does not know how Egyptian women have been raised. We are nobody's play toy to command. If he thinks, he can just flirt his way into my good books with those damned sexy moves of his, he has a serious mental deficiency. I ought to have staked him where he stood, then see how he tries to grab my butt.”
“He tried to grab your butt?” I couldn't help it, I was dumbfounded Gregor had been so obvious in his pursuit of Amisi, I thought he had more intelligence than that. Amisi was going to need a very gentle hand. As far as she was concerned, he was still evil incarnate.
Michel sighed even louder and pulled away to make himself a coffee, or maybe Amisi one, he was clearly unhappy though that I was entertaining Amisi's little rant and not making a quick escape with him to a more private setting.
“Not just my butt,” she said incredulously. “He practically pawed all of me.”
Oh hell no, I could not picture that. “Why?” I asked.
“What do you mean why? He wants to bed me of course,” she replied angrily, then added with emphasis, “Slut.”
I couldn't help it, I laughed and received a furious glare in return. Still, I just didn't get it. “How did he misread the signals, Amisi? Gregor is not thick.”
Michel just snorted at that, but kept at his task of coffee making.
Amisi shot Michel a look, but he had his back to us both and then she wouldn't meet my eyes.
“Amisi?”
She squirmed for a second or two in her seat, suddenly all anger vanished from her face, replaced, surprisingly, with a bright red flush, tracking up her neck and consuming all of her lovely dark face.
“I might have kissed him,” she whispered. My mouth fell open at her confession, unable to come up with a suitable reply.
But is was Michel's uncontrolled laughter that did it, his shoulders shaking, his hands holding on to the bench to steady himself, as he gave in to the moment and really let loose with delightful peals of laughter.
He glanced over his shoulder at Amisi and tried to say something, only to fall about in laughter all over again.
Finally, I had to put the poor girl out of her misery. “Michel, if you have something to say, then spit it out now.”
He wiped his tear streaked face with the sleeve of his expensive suit jacket, not caring about the mess he may be causing to the delicate material and took a deep breath.
“Amisi, my dear. You have bitten off way more than you can chew.”
She clenched her fists and glared back at him, a retort no doubt already forming in her mind, but he just raised his own elegant hand to stop her and added, “He has tasted you now, my sweet, the predator has been unleashed.”
I didn't think Michel was being overly dramatic, I knew the predator he was referring to, I'd had Gregor's predator after me at one time too and once released, there is no going back. I kind of did feel a little uncomfortable for Amisi then, even I thought she would have held out a little longer before kissing him.
To both Michel and my surprise Amisi smiled slowly, a little wickedly I reluctantly admitted.
“Then he has no idea who he hunts, Michel. I am not an easy prey.”
That's my girl, I thought patting her on the hand that rested on the bench in between us and then grabbing my kindred's hand and squeezing it before he had a chance to answer.
Never show fear. Never give an inch. Always stay on guard.
I think Michel may have needed a little reminding of that.
Chapter 20
Waiting
It wasn't until well into the afternoon that Michel heard from Jett. All of our line and Enrique's, Alessandra's and Gregor's were accounted for. No one was missing at all.
“Well that's at least something,” I said into the the tense air that had followed Michel's report from Jett. He and I were cuddled up on the couch in the lounge, unable to face bed and sleep until we knew what we were up against. Amisi was sitting in an armchair to the side, a book opened in her lap, although I hadn't seen her turn too many pages in the past hour. And a couple of Michel's guards were lounged along the edges of the room, having ventured inside once I had felt sorry for them skulking out in the hall and insisted they join us.
We'd had the TV on, then resorted to the stereo, then finally just been talking quietly amongst ourselves about anything and nothing in an effort to pass the time. I had been bone weary tired, but unable to sleep, instead just falling into a kind of stupor as Michel stroked my back and talked softly to his men and occasionally Amisi. It had been a while since I had said anything at all, but now
with the news report, I was wide awake again.
“Yes,” Michel answered, but he hadn't relaxed since he'd passed on the latest from his second. “Although, one must wonder what exactly they will use against us. If not any of our line, nor your family, then what?”
Amisi gave up all pretence of reading and shut her book, bookmark firmly inside, placing it on the side table next to her. Her legs were curled up underneath her body in the oversized armchair and she looked a little frail and way more petite than her nearly six foot frame. Amisi was all about illusion, sometimes I marvelled at her shifting appearance, one minute she could seem bigger than any vampire she faced, next she could trick them into believing she wasn't a threat at all. I admit, I occasionally felt jealous of her skills. She may not have been the Sanguis Vitam Cupitor and all the rest of the Prophesy as I was, but she was certainly an asset in this war.
“I have also been in touch with Awan and all of my extended family are safe.”
God, I felt awful. I had totally overlooked Amisi's family of Nosferatin and Awan Hamadi's vampires back in Egypt. Amisi didn't speak often of her family left behind, she seemed so entrenched in our world I had forgotten entirely she'd had a life before New Zealand. With Nero and Nafrini gone, it almost felt like Egypt no longer existed. Selfish, selfish bitch, I chided myself, only to feel Michel's arm tighten around me and a kiss softly touch my head.
“He mentioned you had been in touch, Michel. I thank you,” she added, giving Michel a friendly smile, which only made me feel like more of a pathetic excuse for a friend.
“Your thanks are unwarranted, Amisi. Although I did warm Awan, my contact was purely to enquire of his support.” I'm not sure if Michel was admitting this for my benefit, to make me think he hadn't been as noble as it had initially sounded. I wouldn't have thought he would have admitted to such mechanical desires, it would have suited him better to let Amisi think he had shown concern for her family's safety.
Amisi didn't seemed surprised though by his admission, she had been raised around vampires, she would have expected nothing less. Even though she had often said Michel was not a normal vampire, I knew she never entirely lowered her guard around him.
“He never let on,” she answered. “Did he offer allegiance?”
“Alas, no. He has no cause to support us in this. Should it involve the Prophesy, he may be inclined to lend a hand, but as it stands, this is a domestic issue.”
“You don't sound surprised?” I asked, picking up on his tone.
“I would have answered the same, ma douce.”
Amisi frowned, a look of deep concentration on her face. I wondered what she was thinking, but thought it best to not ask. I could only assume she felt a little abandoned by Awan and the Egyptians, whatever happened to New Zealand affected her, yet Awan had made it obvious that he no longer felt compelled to get involved. Had it been Egypt's old Queen Nafrini, with Nero by her side, the offer of support would have been a given.
Things had changed beyond recognition for Amisi. Going home now obviously not as firm an option as it had once been. I untangled myself from Michel and went across the lounge to perch on the arm of her chair. I wrapped my arm around her shoulders and let her lean into me for support. She didn't say anything, nor show any emotion on her face, unlike me, Amisi rarely cries. I had once been that good at hiding my emotions, but no longer. Too much had happened in my life not to wear them close to the surface now. Some people begin to bury themselves deep when faced with so much trauma, others begin to crack. I guess I'm a cracker and Amisi is made of sterner stuff.
You are not weak, ma douce, just caring. I would have you no other way.
I looked up at Michel watching me as I hugged Amisi close, the look of utter wonderment on his face making me catch my breath.
Your compassion is one of your most finest characteristics. You place others before yourself constantly. Is it no wonder that I feel obliged to protect you?
I'd like to be stronger, I replied in my mind.
He shook his head at me and smiled. You are perfect as you are.
Amisi cleared her throat and squeezed my hand. “I think I'll go have a shower and grab some sleep.”
“You are right, Amisi. There is little else we can gain today, we all need our rest,” Michel answered and also stood at the same time as my Nosferatin sister. The vampire guards immediately on alert as their master prepared to leave the room.
Amisi bid everyone good sleep and left, the guards shifting out into the hall to await our departure.
“I don't know if I can sleep,” I admitted to Michel as he took my hand and helped me to my feet. “There's still so much to fear.”
“But little we can do about it right now, ma douce.” He pulled me into an embrace and kissed the top of my head. “I can help you sleep, if needed.”
I pulled back and gave him a sceptical look. “Just what sort of help did you have in mind?”
He chuckled against me. “Do you tempt me, ma petite belle? I had been referring to a little of my influence, but if you have another suggestion to suitably exhaust you, I am all ears.”
How is it that he can make it seem like my mind is the one always in the gutter? He's a bloody vampire, sex is always at the top of his list. He brushed a finger over my cheek where I was sure a slight blush had appeared. “You are incredibly irresistible when embarrassed. I had thought nothing would continue to make you blush, you have seen so much for one so young, yet you hold on to your innocence with such ferocity it makes me breathless. You truly are an angel come to me. An angel full of Light.”
His lips brushed against mine and he lifted me in his arms, making me wrap my legs around him. He always managed to manoeuvre me into whatever position suited his desires, well before I had cottoned on to his goal. With me suitably placed he walked us up to our bedroom and shut us in. No guards, no Amisi, just us.
Despite all the worries still circulating through the minefield that was my mind, I allowed him to strip me naked, slowly, with such care and attention to detail. Taking several minutes to remove each piece of clothing and revelling in what was revealed beneath, before moving on to the next. Once he was satisfied with the final result he started layering kiss after kiss across my body. Starting at his new mark, then moving around to his first on the other side of my neck, then slowly, teasingly, bit by bit to his final mark, on my right breast. Dragging it out as long as he could, until I was begging with my body for him to find that final sweet spot, where I knew his kisses would provide me with what I longed for.
He chuckled against my nipple as my back arched off the bed. “Such impatience, my love, we have all day.”
“I won't last all day, Michel, get a move on.”
“Now, who is in command here, ma douce? It seems to me that I have you exactly where I want you, naked on my bed beneath me. I am in charge, not you.” His kisses moved around my breast, still not giving me what I wanted.
I tried to turn the tide, put myself in the position of boss, I pushed against him in a smooth and swift move that would have caught most men off guard. Of course, Michel is not most men. He simply grabbed my hands, from where they had attempted to push against his chest in order to flip him over and pulled them out above my head, securing them with one big firm hand. His body straddling mine making it impossible to make another move. Within less than a heartbeat he had me trapped.
“As I was saying, I am in charge, non?”
I bit back a retort and shifted against him, trying to rub up against his groin. The angle wasn't quite right, he held himself back just enough to deny me the contact I was seeking. His smile turned wicked.
“I am in charge,” he repeated, moving his kisses lower, completely bypassing the spot I had been calling for.
“You can be a bastard, you know that?”
“You do have a tendency to bring out the worst in me, my dear. And the best.” His lips came back to my breast and even though I had been begging for it moments ago, I had given up all hope o
f his touch right there, that it was such a surprise I called out in shock.
Within seconds he had me writhing beneath him, incoherent words spilling from my lips.
“You are beautiful,” he breathed against me, shifting to my neglected breast to lavish attention there.
He had me well and truly at his mercy, so I wasn't surprised my Light made an appearance, although normally it was at the moment of climaxing that it made its presence known. Not before, when I was just awash with delicious sensations of heat and lust. I had been moving and shifting beneath him, almost thrashing in need for him to be inside me, but I hadn't been anywhere near orgasming, anywhere near where my Light would have normally wrapped us up in its glow. But, now I slowly realised, through the fog of Michel's touch, it had engulfed the entire room, dancing along the walls and ceiling, filling up every corner and crevice, chasing away the shadows and brightening the space, to an almost blinding cadence of light.
Michel had his eyes closed, so involved in what he was tasting, he hadn't picked up on it immediately, but it must have become obvious, even through closed lids and when he registered what was happening he sat back and stared around in disbelief.
“A little premature, aren't you, ma douce? Or am I really that good?”
I had also stopped moving beneath him and was just staring at my glow, beginning to feel a little concerned that it wasn't dimming at all.
“Um, I don't think it's me.”
Michel's eyes shifted to my face, concern now replacing the amusement. “What do you mean?”
I didn't know how to answer that, only that I knew for certain I wasn't in control. I haven't always had perfect mastery of my Light, sometimes it has a mind of its own and especially where the Lux Lucis Tribuo powers are concerned. But this was different and I couldn't have explained how I knew that, but that I just knew it wasn't my Light.
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