The Medici Queen

by Emily Bex

  Marcello’s list included details on each warrior’s background, including their gifts, marking a star by every warrior with the gift of day-walking. It was vital in today’s environment to have as many day-walkers as possible. They were needed within the ranks to provide the twenty-four hour protection to the masters, and a warrior who was a day-walker was lethal against a vampire who could only rise at night, as Shade well knew. He liked knowing the smallest of details about each recruit. These details could be valuable if he was on the fence about who made the cut. The recruit’s gift could sway the decision to keep him or cut him loose. Shade memorized at a glance as much as he could about each recruit and then had them all gather outside on the training field.

  Shade raised his hand in the air and everyone settled down. Marcello and Fiamma flanked his sides, and the rest of his Medici warriors lined up behind him as the new recruits stood before him. It felt good to be back at what he did best, training Medici warriors for the future.

  "Listen up! I am Master Shade Medici. Welcome to the most elite, most strenuous warrior camp in the world. You have already met Marcello, my Second-In-Command and Fiamma, my Lieutenant. I expect your full cooperation. If you are given a direct order by anyone standing in front of you, I suggest your ass finds a way to make it happen. That is how I roll, no excuses. I tolerate no bullshit from anyone, not even those flanking my side. If you cannot deal with that, I suggest you leave right now and one of my warriors will promptly escort you out of here."

  Shade paused to give them time to absorb his message, his eyes roamed across the crowd of would-be hopefuls and he noticed something odd. Most of the females had red hair. What in the fucking hell? Two male recruits stepped forward and Shade could already smell the attitude dripping off them. He nodded to Marcello who directed two Medici warriors to remove them from the property and make sure they were escorted far away.

  Shade shouted out to the throng of recruits before him. "You have each been given a packet of instructions, schedules for the next two nights. We will easily be eliminating a third of you after tomorrow night’s exercises. So, look to your left, look to your right, one of you is not going to make it. Sleep and rest when you can, we will provide feeders for you tomorrow, the schedule is inside the packet. The females will be separated from the males. Anything goes on that is disrespectful, you are gone. My brother and sisterhood are tight, we work as a team. This is about survival, protection, honor, and respect. We live by a strict code as warriors, you will learn it soon enough. If there are any serious injuries, Marcello and Fee will inform me, and we will deal with it as they come. And they will come. This is about showing me, and my warriors, you belong within our ranks. I suggest you give me one hundred percent, because I tolerate nothing less. Some of the tasks we will ask of you may seem simple, but I have done this a very long time, and I know exactly what I am looking for.

  “For those of you who make it, the intense hard work is just beginning. Everyone here is vying for a position. All of you are freelance, so I expect loyalty and dedication to Medici if you are chosen. You must be willing to take the blood oath, bonding you to my coven. I will be watching and will be informed about each of you and your progress over the next few nights, so I suggest you give it all you have, because if you are not serious, this is no place for you.

  “Marcello will be taking charge of the males, and all females will report to Fee, but you will work with both of them throughout your training. Remember one thing, all warriors ultimately report to me." Shade turned to Marcello. "Go for it. Show me you can be my SIC!"

  Shade walked over to the stone wall that surrounded the camp and watched as Marcello and Fee went to work. Fiamma took a third of the group and began working with them on their sword skills. Shade was impressed when Skelk took another third and began working on their skills with a bow and arrow. Marcello stepped it up and led the rest in shuriken skills. Shade stood back and watched closely, making mental notes of each recruit, their skills, and their level of expertise with each weapon. He strolled among the groups and was impressed with his own warriors and their teaching skills. They’d not only learned how to be excellent warriors, but how to lead as well.

  Shade made his way around to Skelk's group and watched for a while. A young female with flaming red hair was demonstrating some good skills with her bow, but her stance was not correct. He watched her closely and her body was well defined, muscular yet feminine, clad in form fitting leather. Her aim would be dead on if she could fix her stance. Skelk approached her and Shade intervened.

  "I got this, Skelk. Continue on."

  Shade eyed her. "Name?" He watched as her big brown eyes rolled up to his and she wasn’t intimated by him as she answered, "Britt."

  "Well, Britt, first of all, you need to fix your stance. It is throwing off your aim. I think you can hit that target dead on if you fix it. Let me show you what I mean."

  As she smiled and nodded, Shade stepped behind her and put his hands on her waist and straightened her hips. He put his feet inside hers and used his heavy boots to move her feet further apart. "Now see the target, imagine the arrow hitting it. Tighten your core, and do not move your core. Feel the difference?" Shade stepped back away from her. "Lift your bow without moving your core, pull back, aim and let it go."

  She did exactly as he told her and let the arrow fly dead center to the target. She quickly turned and flashed him a huge smile.

  "See what I mean, keep your core straight, concentrate on that arrow going right where you want it to go. You have good bow skills." He put his hand on her shoulder. "Keep practicing and remember what I told you."

  Shade moved on to a male whose shot was dead-on time after time. His speed at shooting the arrows was great. "Hold! Load your bow. Now close your eyes. See your target in your mind. You have shot enough arrows to be able to see it in your mind’s eye. Let me see what you can do with the target without seeing it. Show me."

  Shade stood tall and crossed his arms over his chest. He could feel someone watching him. His eyes slid to Britt and he caught her staring at him. He chuckled to himself. You will hate me in the next two nights if I have anything to do with it.

  Shade heard the arrow whistle from the male’s bow and watched it hit the target almost dead on. "Again!"

  The male repeated it over and over at Shade's command until the arrows hit dead center. "Perfect! Liking what I see here."

  The male nodded and then Marcello gave a whistle and the groups changed weapon stations.

  Shade spent most of the night walking among the recruits, giving tips and making mental notes of what he witnessed. There were already a few he could see with potential as Medici warriors. He let Marcello know he was heading back to the house and shared with him his observations. As Shade strolled back home, they still had a few hours before the sun would rise and the camp would settle down, all of the recruits housed inside the new barracks. His chest was puffed out and his boots dusty from the nights work, but it felt good to him. He had begun his journey to the future, and the expansion of his legacy to be passed on to his bambinos.

  He admired the moon and cool night air as he looked out over the fields. You are home, old man. You traveled the world, but this is where your happiness lies, where your heart is content. His eyes strayed to the vineyards, and his fortune would grow even bigger here.

  He remembered he had to give bel his decision about the California house, in turning it into an inn and having Reynaldo move there to oversee the operation. Shade had done some research on his own and found it was a popular location in California for the mortals to take wine tours. He’d decided to let her do this, even though he’d never opened any of his properties to mortals before. Kate had a gift for making every house look like a home, creating a sense of warmth and coziness, even in a grand space. He had no doubt the California house would make a popular tourist stop. Smiling, he headed into the house, knowing she was waiting for him to come home.

  Kate could hear the new recruit
s in the camp, as the metallic sound of sword against sword carried across the night air. She smiled to herself, thinking this wouldn’t take long to get used to. The sound was music to her ears because it meant he was here, and safe, and not on the streets. She wasn’t expecting him to return until sunrise but felt him when he entered the house with still a few hours till daybreak. She had been researching information online about the Paris house, but realized she’d have to go there and get measurements and a feel for the floor plan in person before she could get much done. Putting the laptop aside, she stood to greet Shade as he entered their bedroom, wearing leathers and a layer of dust.

  "Lover, I wasn't expecting you this early. How’s it going out there?"

  "Marcello and Fee have things well in hand. I won’t always be home this early, mi amore. There will be nights I am there until the sun peeps over the horizon. Once we really get moving, I will be heavily involved. What are you up to?"

  "I was trying to see if I could get started on the Paris house, but it’s difficult trying to plan anything from the pictures online. I’ll need to go there. Will you have time? Or should I plan something with Luca?"

  Shade sat down in the chair by the window and began unlacing his boots. Pushing back his hair with his hand, he raised his head and looked at her.

  "We need to talk about this, don’t we? Bel, I don’t expect you to keep to my death slumber schedule. You are a day-walker, so is Luca, so you can do things in the daylight. You do not have to keep to my schedule. I won’t like it so damn much, but I know there are things you have to do in daylight hours. As for travel, you can take the private jet or teleport, but you go nowhere without Luca or myself. If you want to go to Paris, you can have Luca teleport with you. Do you feel comfortable with that? Because I am telling you now, traveling alone is not an option. You get much bigger carrying our son, teleporting is out totally. So, talk to me, si?"

  "I wouldn’t go anywhere without you or Luca. I wouldn't even think of it. And I can take the jet if you prefer. I know I have a small window here because of the pregnancy. That’s why I was thinking I should get the Paris house done now. As for day-walking, while I’m in Paris, I’ll go out during the day. But as long as I’m home with you, I’ll always try to keep my schedule aligned with yours. I love sleeping next to you, and I have no plans to give that up. So, which do you prefer, you or Luca? Jet or teleporting. I’ll do whichever you prefer."

  Shade stopped what he was doing and sat back and looked at her. "Bel, are you asking my permission?"

  "Of course. Well, not permission as much as your thoughts, your preference. I'm not going to go if you think it isn't wise, or if you feel strongly about accompanying me yourself, and this isn’t a good time for you."

  "Come sit with me, please."

  Kate grinned as she climbed into his lap. He curled her into his chest and snuggled into her hair, inhaling her intoxicating scent. "Mi amore, I want you to make these judgment calls yourself. Just let me know where and when. I’m sorry I have no time right now to help with these things. I trust your choices. You took this place and made it a palace and I love how I feel at home here. I have no doubts you will do the same with the Paris home. Spend my money, will you? Get whatever you want or need. Luca can go with you. I trust him completely. I do thank you for asking me, but I do not want you to be bottled up here so much. That will come soon enough as you advance in your pregnancy. The bambino will tire you, mi amore. Understood, si?"

  Kate laid her head on his shoulder. "I’ll always ask, because I want to know what you think. I want your opinion before I decide. But I do feel rushed to get some things done before I get too far along in this pregnancy. You said my pregnancy is only six months, and I must be a month in, so that doesn't give us a lot of time. That means this baby will be born in late November or early December. Is there a doctor I should be seeing?"

  Shade slid his hand across her tummy. “Si, we have a doctor who has served our familia for centuries. I wanted to contact him while in Florence, but things did not work out, time wise, for me. So, I have asked Gi to contact Dr. Bonutti. I did not contact him with your previous pregnancy because you were mortal, he works only with immortals. Now, I have no reservations about having him be our family doctor. He too is immortal. He is very good, mi amore, I trust him. He resides in Florence, but I wish for him to come here for his first visit with you, so we can both be relaxed. Gi will let me know when he can be here. It won’t be long, trust me, he has always been loyal to Medici and he will respond as quickly as possible. This is our son, Medici heir, and Dr. Bonutti will understand the importance of that. Will you be all right with that, Kate?"

  "Yes, I feel better that this doctor is someone you know and trust. This pregnancy feels completely different from the last. I’m not sick, and I feel strong, but still, we didn’t have the best experience with the doctors Rissa referred us to, so I prefer this, actually. And while I have your attention, did you have time to think about the California house? I haven’t spoken to Reynaldo, but he’s had nothing to do since we’ve returned. I know it bothers him not to be of service when everyone around him is so busy."

  Shade chuckled. "Si, I have done a little research, and I like this idea. I think it will be beneficial to all of us. But I have said nothing to Reynaldo.” He slid her hair back from her face. "I want you to talk to him, make sure he wants to do this. The staff loves you, bel, and you have a way with them. Take charge of that. I want you to have things to do. I do not want you to feel bored just sitting around this house. I want you to thrive in our life. This is something you can oversee and manage that is completely separate from what I do. Just keep track of everything you spend, make sure you leave the receipts on my desk in the study. I will handle the accountants."

  Kate kissed his neck, as she ran her hands through his long hair. "I’ll be happy to talk with Reynaldo, and work with him to get things started there, if he’s interested. So, I’ll be busy then, with the Paris house and the California house. And I’ll need to get Lorenzo's room ready. Just let me know your schedule, so I can work around anything you have planned. I want to be here when you’re here, and work on these things while you’re busy in the camp."

  "Si, maybe we need a secretary." Picking her up, he laid her on the bed, sitting down beside her. "I love you. I know I ask much of you. If it becomes too much, you need to tell me. But I know you enjoy the houses and it seems to be your talent. Things are going to get hectic with me and the camp. We will have to make time to be together. Please sleep with me if you can, I do not rest as well if you do not. Asking you to give up the daylight kills me, but I am selfish when it comes to you and I want that time to be ours alone."

  "You don't even have to ask. Our time is as special to me as it is to you. I’ll always lie beside you, lover. When you come home, I want to be here waiting for you."

  "Then lay with me now, make me forget what is outside and remind me what is in my heart. I want to lay here, go to my death slumber with you on my chest."

  Kate helped him undress, removing the leathers, kissing his skin, and tasting the salt of his sweat. He returned the favor by helping her slip from her clothes as they climbed beneath the covers.

  36

  Raven sat at the command center of the Dead House. He was SIC now and he took this seriously. Master was letting him make some changes and he was sitting at the computer, rearranging the grid. The warriors were covering a lot of ground and he’d re-designed the grid to what he felt would provide a more efficient use of their time. His fingers were flying as he rearranged the grid, playing with different options, combining territories. Although all of D.C. was densely populated, some areas needed more attention than others. He wanted to make the warriors’ more effective.

  Flopping back in the leather chair, he was staring at the screen when he heard Theo come in behind him. Theo was a great warrior and he’d started his camp days in Florence a while before Raven, but he was still young, and he loved being on the streets. He never
bothered anyone, but he was social enough and he was doing a lot to help Raven in the Dead House. Theo had come over in the original group with Raven and Marcello and he had no intentions of going back. Like Raven, he loved the freedom of living in the States, and their home at Bel Rosso.

  Raven looked up at him. "Any luck with getting everyone acquainted with the area?"

  Theo stepped up behind him and stared at the screen. "Raven, if you just combine grids seven and eight, then split section nine and add it to section ten, you’d solve half the overlap. Last night, we crossed over grid seven two damn times. So far, it’s been easy enough to get the brothers familiar with the city. Nothing is happening out there. But I’m seeing some shady vampires. They’re not causing any shit, but damn, we should just scatter their asses out of town, in my opinion."

  Raven took the cigarette tucked behind his ear and lit it up. Theo flopped down in the chair opposite him. Raven shook his head in the negative. "If they’re not rogue and not causing any problems, not a good idea to stir them up. Keep your eyes peeled and watch them. If they become a problem, then we can move. I think they’re just coming into the clubs. I watched a few the other night, they didn’t even hunt or feed."

  Raven focused his eyes to the screen again. He took Theo’s suggestion and let his fingers work the keys, liking what he saw. "I think that idea worked. Let’s try it out tonight. A few changes though. I want you to be in the Kennedy Center grid, something going on there tonight, bro. Hyde tells me Miss fancy pants has a big event going down in grid four, so send your guys over there. I’m taking up grid ten. But I’ll make my usual rounds of all the grids."