The Medici Queen

by Emily Bex

  Theo stood up and laughed. "What the hell are you doing in ten, bro? That’s one seedy part of town, just some odd clubs and nothing much to be concerned with." He lit up a smoke and looked at Raven with a grin on his face. "Something I should know about?"

  Raven flipped back his long black hair. "Don’t worry about what I’m doing, worry about what I tell you to do! I need to check on some things down there, no big deal, brother. Where did you get those leathers? Cory?"

  "Hell yeah, brother can kick some ass when it comes to leather. I’m heading out. I need to get some weapons. I have no idea why there’s nothing out there to fight. And what the hell is with the wolves at Bel Rosso? That black one looks mean as the devil!"

  Raven grinned. "They belong to our queen, so I’d not be going around busting their asses or your head is going to end up on a silver platter. Boss-man said they’re her warriors. She has the gift of talking to the animals. I never heard of it before, but there’s nothing ordinary about my lady."

  Raven shut down the computer and walked out with Theo. It was time to start the night and he was ready to head into grid ten and find a few specific night spots for his feeding. Nothing was going on, and he was going to check out a few clubs before making his rounds and making sure this town still belonged to Medici.

  37

  As the sun set, Kate felt Shade stir in the bed beside her. She waited for him to open his eyes and lock her in that gaze of ice blue. She raked her hand through his tangled curls, pushing his hair back from his face before kissing him. "Sleep well, lover?"

  Shade gave her a squeeze and a knowing smile, memories of their love-making flooding his mind. "Si, quite well, mi amore."

  He slipped from the bed and pulled on a pair of jeans and laced up his boots. "I will be busy in the camp all night tonight, reviewing the new recruits. We must decide quickly who will make the cut. Why don't you join me, bel?"

  Kate watched him dress from the bed. "Actually, I wanted to talk to Reynaldo, and then I was planning to find Luca and have him take me to the Cali house. Have Reynaldo join us. Reynaldo has never seen the house, and we can talk about what we need to do to get things ready. I can be back before sunrise. But I’d love to stop in on the camp. I’ll check in with you before I leave. Is that okay?"

  "Si, that is fine. Just be sure you go nowhere without Luca and let me know when you leave." He leaned over the bed, placing his hands on the mattress on either side of her face, bending down to kiss her. He peered into her eyes, more amber now than brown. "Ti amo."

  Kate was lost in his gaze as she responded, "I love you more." She watched his broad back as he left the room. She reluctantly left the warm comfort of their bed, took a hot shower, dressed, and went in search of Luca. She found him leaning in the doorjamb of the door onto the rear patio, wrapping up a conversation with Marcello. He turned when he heard her enter.

  "Kate? Do you need me?"

  Kate nodded at him. "As a matter of fact, I do. I want to talk to Reynaldo a bit and then, if all goes well, you could teleport me to the Cali house. Can you be ready in about thirty minutes?"

  Luca nodded and said, "No problem," as Kate headed for the kitchen to find a bored Reynaldo. Kate slid onto the bar stool at the kitchen counter.

  "Miss me?"

  Reynaldo laughed. "I miss cooking for you, my lady."

  Kate gave him a huge smile. "Well, I think I have a solution for that, if you're interested. We have this huge house in California, much bigger than this one, and it’s just sitting there. Shade has agreed to let me turn it into a bed and breakfast, or a small inn. It has seven bedrooms that could be rented out. We want to keep our own bedroom locked and unavailable to guests, but all the rest of the house would be open. I originally designed a suite for Luca on the main floor, but given the circumstances, that could easily be your living quarters. If you’re interested, I’d love for you to become our chef there. In the beginning, while we’re getting started, you’d need to manage the inn. As the business grows, we could hire a full-time manager, so you can focus on cooking for the guests. I’ll talk with Gi and see if there’s a housemaid from Florence he can recommend, and we can have her transferred there as well. What do you think?"

  Reynaldo was momentarily silent. He’d been wondering if he’d be sent back to Florence once my lady was turned, or even if he might be released from Medici. He hadn’t cooked in Florence in years and was happy to have my lady to prepare meals for. But now there were no duties for him here and he had worried he’d be let go.

  "My lady, that’s the best news I’ve heard in centuries. I’d be delighted to work again as a chef, prepare meals for the guests. If I could suggest, if you are open to the idea, I’d love to make it an inn, and serve three meals a day, not just breakfast."

  Kate smiled back at him. "I like the way you think. Yes, absolutely. I’d like to teleport out there today. With the pregnancy, Shade will put a stop to my traveling soon, so I’d like to get it started as soon as possible. Luca will teleport me and you could follow?"

  Reynaldo nodded enthusiastically. "Yes, perfect, anytime you’re ready!"

  Kate slipped from the stool. "Okay then, just give me a few minutes to walk to the camp, let Shade know I’m leaving and when I get back, we'll leave."

  Kate headed out the back door of the house and walked to the camp. There were warriors stationed at the gates who nodded at her and let her in. She walked past the barracks, which looked like a large Tuscan villa and past the bunker, disguised as a large garage, to the open training fields. The new recruits had been broken out into smaller groups, each practicing different skill sets, being trained and supervised by the warriors from Florence. She scanned the field but didn’t see Shade. She did see Fiamma with her flaming red hair and red leathers to match, surrounded by about fifteen female recruits, and all except one of them with red hair. Kate stopped in her tracks and stared as the group of female warrior wannabes suddenly took notice of her. Fiamma looked over her shoulder at Kate, flashed a big smile, and said something to the females before walking in Kate's direction.

  Kate greeted Fiamma with a warm hug as she kept glancing at the women, all tall, toned, and beautiful.

  Fiamma returned her hug but could feel Kate's resistance to the women in the camp when she told her, "Before you blow a gasket, I can answer the question in your head."

  Kate's eyes never left the group of women gathered in a tight circle on the field, all of them staring back at her. Fiamma laughed. "Not one natural redhead in the bunch. They heard about your speech at the coronation. All of the female warriors have heard it now. And those that want to be Medici want to be a part of that sisterhood of which you spoke and have dyed their hair to honor you."

  Kate scrunched up her face. "To honor me?"

  Fee nodded her head. "They want to have the skills of a Medici, and the reputation that goes with it. But most of all, they want respect as women. To be seen as equals to their brothers."

  Kate looked at Fee. "You do see the irony of this, right?"

  Fee laughed loudly as her laughter carried across the practice field. "It’s not lost on me, sister."

  Kate joined in her laughter, shaking her head. "Seriously? I’m now the Pied Piper of Redheads, drawing a parade of women, all of whom want to impress upon my mate they are worthy of staying here? This was really not what I had in mind!"

  Fee smiled and took her hands. "You have nothing to worry about. Master only has eyes for you. Now come, meet them. You’re the reason they’re here."

  Kate allowed Fee to lead her across the field where she stood before the women, all except one of the female recruits nodded their head to her in a bow, even though they were not yet Medici and she was not yet their queen. There was one who locked eyes with Kate, taking her measure, looking Kate over from head to toe.

  Kate smiled at them. "Welcome to Bel Rosso. I wish you all the best of luck in your trials here and look forward to seeing you wear that Medici crest on your leathers."

 
She shook their hands and gradually moved away, still looking for Shade. She spotted him as he exited the training facility in conversation with the massive warrior they called Skelk. Shade looked up and saw her, immediately stopping in his tracks and holding his arms open to her. Kate rushed to him, being lifted up for a kiss.

  Shade set her back down, nodding at Skelk. "You have met Skelk, si?"

  Kate smiled at the giant of a man, with his scraggly hair and his clear rejection of any custom leathers from Cory. She extended her hand to Skelk who seemed befuddled as he took her hand.

  "We’ve not officially met. Welcome, Skelk. I’ve heard a lot about your skills. It seems we both have a love of the same weapon."

  Skelk wasn’t a social animal and he seemed completely taken aback, as his new queen greeted him. He’d not been part of a coven in a very long time, and never part of a royal coven, so he had no idea of proper protocol and shuffled his feet, as she spoke to him and shook his hand. He could feel his face turning red. He heard her make a reference to the crossbow and he looked up, catching her gaze and her open smile.

  Skelk mumbled, "I heard you like the crossbow. Killed Cuerpo."

  Kate was amused by his awkwardness. All the other warriors reveled in their alpha status and strutted around like proud peacocks. Kate thought there was a gentle giant inside that rough exterior. "Luca trained me, and he did a great job, but crossbow isn’t his weapon of choice. Maybe you could teach me sometime?"

  Skelk glanced quickly at Shade, waiting for a reprimand, wondering if his new master would be offended that Skelk would dare speak to his mate, but Shade seemed to be fighting back a smile of his own.

  Skelk turned back to Kate. "Yeah, sure, uh my ladyship, I'd uh, be happy to." Skelk bowed his head and moved away before she could engage him in any further conversation.

  Shade chuckled. "I think you make him nervous, mi amore."

  Kate shrugged. "Seriously, he looks like a tank with hair. How could I possibly intimidate him?"

  Shade slid his arm around her. "To what do I owe the pleasure of this visit?"

  Kate leaned into him. "I just came to let you know I'm leaving now. Luca will teleport me to Napa Valley, and Reynaldo will follow. We’ll be back before sunrise. This is just a preliminary visit, to get Reynaldo started."

  Shade lifted her up as she slid her legs around his waist and kissed him. "Be careful, mi amore. I know Luca will take care of you, but I will worry until you return."

  Kate laid her head on his shoulder. "Yes, I know all about worry. I'll be careful. And I'll be back by the time you wrap up camp for the night."

  He slapped her ass and set her back down on the ground, kissing her palm before she walked away. He stood and watched her leave the camp.

  ”I can feel you watching me, lover.”

  He smiled. “Si, always watching, mi amore.”

  38

  Fiamma led her team for the night out into the open training field. The other teams were organized, and the test rounds were beginning for skill level assessments. Tonight, they had instructions to really work their warriors and decide who should be included in the first round of cuts, and who had a chance of making it all the way through the training program. Fiamma had a pretty good idea which of her recruits should stay and who should go. She smiled as she saw Kate tackle Shade in a huge hug and he slapped her ass. It felt good to see him so happy and excited about life again, and it all had to do with one small redhead. Fee watched Shade stand with his arms crossed as Kate walked away from him and headed back to the main house.

  Fee approached Shade. "So, our queen is not joining our fun tonight, master?"

  Shade laughed and shook his head. "No, she is heading to California for the night with Luca, preparing our home out there for bigger and better things."

  Breaking away from Fee to check on Marcello’s group, Shade felt someone brush against him as they walked past. He turned to see Britt, the redhead he’d helped with the bow. He nodded to her. "Buonasera, Britt.”

  Britt flipped her red hair and smiled, as Shade continued in the direction of Marcello’s group.

  Fiamma took note as Britt walked past Shade, intentionally brushing against him. She knew Britt was messing in the wrong territory, playing a dangerous game with her master. Fiamma decided to keep an eye on her. She didn’t miss that coy, seductive smile Britt flashed at Shade when he spoke to her.

  As they began to work, Fiamma had the recruits throwing shuriken’s at a moving target. She was helping a male warrior who she thought could make the first cut and spent a good deal of time with him. Her attention was drawn when she heard a group of male recruits laughing and looked over to see Britt had strayed from her group and was entertaining Marcello’s group... and Shade.

  Fiamma stood back and watched a few moments and saw Shade walk away from the group, heading over to observe Skelk's group of recruits. Britt’s eyes followed Shade as he walked away and Fiamma knew she needed to have a word with her as soon as possible. This one had one thing on her mind, and it wasn’t any shuriken, knife, or bow. Fiamma barked at her. "Britt, you belong in my group, not Marcello’s!"

  As Britt begrudgingly walked back to her group, Fiamma saw her look back over her shoulder to keep an eye on Shade’s location. Damn!

  As the night progressed, the recruits were pushing hard and long, without a lot of breaks. Shade wanted to make sure they knew that being a warrior was not just about weapon skills but stamina. Fiamma began to gather her group up and call it a night when she saw Britt, once more, walking with Shade and smiling. She hoped to hell Shade wasn’t giving Britt any false impressions and he could see what this bitch was up to.

  As Britt walked up to her, Fee took her by the arm and led her aside. Fee instructed her group, "Everyone go inside, the training is over for the night and tomorrow, we decide the cut. Rest, some of you will need it for your journey home."

  Britt tried to wrangle her arm free from Fee’s grip, but it only made Fee clamp down harder, holding her in place.

  "Look, Britt. I have my eye on you, and this is a warning. I suggest you take heed. Master Shade is mated. You are here to learn to be a warrior and nothing more. I’m his Lieutenant and in charge of the females. So, I suggest you spend more time working on your skills than trying to put any moves on him. He’s warrior at heart. And he expects all his warriors to be the same. Straighten up. Now, go inside!"

  Britt gave her a look and flipped her long red hair back as she strutted back inside.

  Fee smirked. "Mess with me, bitch, at least I’m a real redhead!" Fee shook her head as she walked back inside the barracks herself. Shade said he treated the warriors the same, but Fee knew he had a soft spot in his heart for the female warriors and had always tried to make a place for them in his ranks. He could bark at the male recruits, but he was a gentleman with the females and sometimes, kinder than necessary. Fee would intervene for Kate and always had her back.

  She had known Shade a long time and had seen many a female wear the mark of Shade Medici on their throat like it was a badge of honor. Fee knew those days were long gone for him, but she also knew Kate was aware of his history and still had reservations about the feeders and the female warriors for that reason. Fee wasn’t about to let Britt mess everything up for the female recruits that were here to learn and could be the new generation of Medici warriors.

  39

  Kate returned to the house to find Luca and Reynaldo waiting for her. She gathered up the California house plans, some information she’d researched on the internet about state license laws for inns, restaurants and B&B's, and her laptop and stuffed it all in a tote bag. She tossed the bag over her shoulder and held onto Luca, her own teleporting skills not well-honed enough yet for such a long trip. He lifted her up and they were quickly on their way. Kate kept her eyes open as they moved skyward into the night and rapidly moved westward across the country, landing in front of the huge Napa Valley estate.

  Reynaldo landed only a few minutes behind and
Luciano came out to greet them. "Shade told me you were on your way, my lady. He said you had big plans for this property. Follow me, I'll unlock the house and turn off the security system. I rarely go in myself. I stay in an apartment I developed for myself over the winery."

  Kate looked at him with surprise. "Really? I assumed you just stayed in the main house."

  Luciano shook his head. "It’s more convenient for me to be near the vineyards. And I’m never in one place for too long, moving between all of master's vineyards. I always make a check of the property when I’m here, but other than that, the house is vacant."

  Kate looked out over the rolling hills of the estate, the rows of grapes visible as they followed the curves of the landscape. Just like the Virginia property, there was still much land that had not been converted to vineyards.

  As Kate looked at the rolling landscape, she addressed Luciano, "Has Shade considered expanding the vineyards? There’s still so much property here."

  Luciano shook his head. "Not that he’s mentioned, my lady."

  Kate surveyed the property, another idea brewing in her head, as Luciano threw open the massive front door and they all entered. Kate gave Reynaldo a tour of the house, with Luca staying close on her heels, before ending the tour in the large, well-equipped, modern kitchen. Luciano joined them there, as they each pulled up a chair around the kitchen table. Kate pulled all the papers from her tote bag and spread them across the table. "So, what do you think, Reynaldo?"

  Reynaldo could barely contain his excitement. It had been so very long since he was able to fully use his skills. "My lady, the layout is perfect, and I can't wait to work in this kitchen. I can start the process of applying for all the state licenses we’ll need to be able to open. I have no concerns about that. And running the kitchen, once we’re busy, I may need a sous chef. But Gi would easily be able to procure one for me from Florence. There was a time when Castello was bustling with activity, but it has been many years now since we’ve been able to prepare meals. You mentioned Gi would select a housemaid?"