by Emily Bex
"Lover, you’re asking a lot of me."
"Si, I ask much from you. And si, they will reside here. You are my queen, there are some things you will have to comply with even though you do not like them, mi amore. I need you to be behind me, support me in all things. I could easily do this without telling you. But that is not how I want us to be. Padre would have just done it, never told Madre and be damned. But I want you involved."
Standing, he paced, sliding his hands through his hair. "If you have any other suggestions for a better system, please share it with me. But this is how I think it will work the most efficiently for our warriors and the feeders."
Kate could feel him pacing behind her. She leaned her forehead against the cool glass of the window pane. She was still coming to grips with the idea of wet-feeders for her children. Shade described them as asexual, but she’d never seen a wet-feeder. This was her world now. There was no escaping it. But he was asking her to accept a house full of feeders on their property?
"Help me understand. When the feeder came to our house...the one Rissa brought here, she had a power over you and Luca. Her appeal was almost hypnotic, unavoidable. Your response to her was not even voluntary but primal. How will you...avoid them?"
Shade stopped his pacing and stared at her. He could feel all the worry that rolled through her, her thoughts like a living entity in the room. He’d known this wouldn’t be easy for her and he was asking a lot. Walking to her, he wrapped his arms around her waist, pulling her back into his chest, rubbing the mound of his unborn son as if to comfort them both.
"That is the reason for the tunnel. I won’t see or hear them. Yes, the feeders exert a very strong sexual draw on any vampire, power that is difficult to fight. Their blood is pure, never tainted. They release a scent that stimulates desire. Mi amore, I love you, I know you can feel that inside you. And your experience with feeders has been an extremely bad one but a reality check of their power. Marcello will be in charge of the feeder compound, he will inform me of any problems, but he will handle everything with the Matron. I want you to know, I will never go there, never step foot inside the house. This is why I need you to assist me. If it makes you feel better, I can have Fiamma oversee the design of the compound. She can come to you instead of me if there are needs or concerns. I have no intentions of ever seeing the inside, but it is my duty to care for my warriors, bel. This provides a controlled environment. Feeders have been a staple in our community for as long as I can remember, it is how we have survived all these years. It limits our interaction with mortals. Si, they are highly sexual creatures, but as you know, sex and feeding in our world goes hand in hand. Please try to understand. This is not about me. It is about those I care for in my coven."
She was immortal now and understood even more the power of the sexual attraction that came with feeding, and she also knew the hunger that gnawed at her when she needed to feed, and the weakness that quickly followed if she didn’t. She understood it was survival. He’d never given her a reason not to trust him, not ever. He’d made every effort from the very beginning to assure her of his fidelity, and she had no doubt about his commitment. But what if they sought him out? Like Britt?
"I believe what you’re saying, Shade. I do. But what if they come to you?"
Spinning her in his arms, he pushed the beautiful stray crimson locks behind her ears, letting his hand slide gently across her cheek, his thumb rolling slowly over her lips. His blue eyes looked, with love, into her amber ones.
"Mi amore, feeders are bred to serve. They know nothing else. It is their role in our society. They do not seek a specific partner. Their life is devoted to serve and feed. Vampires seek them out, not the other way around. They are carefully bred and trained for this specific task, and they would be lost if let loose in our world. They are carefully housed and taken care of, groomed to be alluring, sexual and irresistible, it is their only job in life. So, a vampire must seek them out. They do not wander in our immortal world. I have no need for them. I have all that I will ever need in my arms. But it is a master’s duty to provide such for his warriors, either in leading the warriors to a feeder coven or bringing the feeders to the warriors. It is my duty, do you understand?"
Kate laid her head against his chest. "I do understand, Shade. And I’ll do as you ask. I’ll help design the house, so it blends in, and connect it to the underground tunnels. All I ask of you is to let me coordinate it. I’ll work with the Matron and set the rules. I’d like to have Fiamma assist me, help me with the parts I don't understand. I’ll feel more comfortable if I can control it. Is that okay?"
Shade smiled as he kissed the top of her head. "Si, mi amore. Thank you for understanding. I hate putting you under more stress and piling on more things for you to do."
This wasn’t a project Kate was looking forward to, unlike the nursery and the Paris house, or her plans for the inn, but she’d add it to her list. At least she’d have some control, and that made her feel better. Not much, but a little.
Shade led her to the bed, sat her down and crouched between her legs, kissing his unborn son. "One more thing. I have asked Cory to stay here in the house tonight. I do not want him at the camp until I can have a general meeting with everyone, letting them know Cory's status as my son. I plan on having that meeting tomorrow night, will you join me?"
"Of course. Now that his mother has left, he can use the guest room until I have his suite completed upstairs. And I’d love to be with you when you share the news.”
"That’s my bel! While I am in the camp tonight please talk to Cory. He never had a room for himself. Can you let him help with choosing the things in his room? I would like him to feel as if this room was not just given to him, but something he had a hand in choosing. I want him to be comfortable here, not just a place to rest, si?"
"Lover, I’ll be happy to have his input. I’m adding a bedroom, living room and bath for him upstairs. He’ll have his own private suite."
Shade chuckled. "As always, you spoil them all. No wonder they never want to go back to Florence. Thank you, mi amore, this means much to me.” He kissed her tummy, sliding his hands over her baby bump. "Ti amo, mio figlio. I must get to the camp and make sure everything is running smoothly. It is never ending."
Kate ran her hand through his hair. "Then go. I’ll send a message for Cory to come to the house. Gi can get his room ready for him tonight. Cory can see the floor plans the contractor has drawn up and we can talk about what he likes. Get going, the sooner you go, the sooner you come back to me."
65
Shade was pacing in his office, he’d told Marcello to make sure the warriors were assembled, new recruits included. No one was to go out tonight until he held this important meeting, mandatory for all. He wasn’t nervous for himself or bel, but for Cory. He knew they’d look at Cory differently once they knew the truth, and Cory would probably be subjected to some good ribbing. But it was vital Cory be known as his son and that he was accepted by Shade and Kate. Shade expected the same from his coven and warriors. Luca left earlier to make sure all was prepared. Even he didn’t know this news. As bel walked into the office, Cory was close behind. Shade stopped his pacing and smiled at them. "We ready to walk over?"
Kate went over to Shade, sliding her arms around his waist. "I'm ready when you are."
Cory looked around the office, feeling nervous. "Yeah, I think I’m ready."
“Then let’s go.” Taking Kate’s hand, they all strolled to the warrior camp. The weather was beautiful, and the gardens were in full bloom, Shade enjoyed the outdoors. He got to spend little time with bel in the waning hours of daylight. Entering the camp, the noise level was out of control, as the warriors were letting off a little steam before taking to the training fields.
Entering the large lounge room, they were completely ignored, as the warriors were rough-housing with each other.
Shade issued a loud whistle that brought every head turning in his direction. "Get your asses in the other room and
settle the hell down! We have business."
The room suddenly went quiet when they all realized his presence here. The warriors and new recruits filed out of the room into the meeting hall, where Shade, Kate and Cory followed.
Shade led bel to the three chairs that had been placed for them at one end of the meeting room. He waited until the entire crowd filed in and got seated and he nodded for Cory to sit with bel. Once everyone was settled, he could see their curiosity as to why Cory had been singled out to sit in one of the three seats designated for their king and queen.
Shade held up his hand, "Let’s settle down, I have two important announcements to make. First, I wish to address our feeding issue. We now house a great number of warriors with our newest recruits, so shuffling warriors and feeders about is more time-consuming, and unsafe all around. I have come up with a workable plan. We are building a feeder compound. It will sit near the barracks and look like the rest of the buildings here on Bel Rosso. There will be a connecting tunnel underground, no warriors or feeders will ever be exposed to the outside world. This tunnel will have a security code like all the other tunnels. Marcello will be in charge of overseeing the feeder compound, and Fee is also going to be working closely with your queen in the management. Once we have completed the building, I have arranged for American and European feeders to be available. You will still attend to your feeding on a scheduled basis, but for all concerned, you will not be leaving Bel Rosso to feed. That is important for everyone's safety and protection. I will be bringing in a matron who will run the compound and you will follow her rules or you answer to me, or worse, to my queen. So, I suggest if you do not want to end up like Cuerpo, you behave yourselves." As he turned, he took bel’s hand and brought her to stand beside him. "My queen, do have anything you wish to say to your legion of warriors?"
Kate was caught off-guard as he invited her to speak. She never felt prepared to address the crowd. "Uh...just to be clear, as Shade stated, there will be a connecting tunnel to the feeder compound. Like all the tunnels, it will require fingerprint ID to enter. The tunnel is designed for one-way traffic. You may enter the feeder compound, but the feeders may not leave the compound and come into the camp. The feeder compound will be well appointed, designed for your comfort as well as for the feeders that live there. I’m fully aware that you could use your fingerprint ID when exiting the feeder compound to bring one of the feeders out with you. This is against regulation, and I will demand your removal from this camp immediately should this ever occur. There will be no first warning...this is your first and only warning. Your rank, your skill level, your tenure here, none of it will account for anything in granting you leniency if you break this rule. Am I clear?"
Shade was impressed, but he knew when he put her in charge, she’d rule this bunch of wild beasts with a firm hand. He looked out to see if anyone had any questions and saw Marcello stand to be addressed.
Leaning into bel he whispered to her, "When one of them stands, they are showing you respect and asking to speak, you have to acknowledge and let them ask their question, and more than likely Marcello is asking on behalf of the entire group."
Kate nodded at him. “Is there something you wish to add Marcello?"
Marcello bowed his head to her. "Grazie my queen, I do have a question. Does this rule apply to our master as well? I am sure we’d all like to be clear on that point, especially if I am in charge of the proper security within this camp."
Marcello tried to hide his smirk as the warrior’s lean forward, waiting to hear their queen’s response. Shade crossed his arms over his chest and went to speak when Kate quickly laid her hand on his arm and he shut his trap immediately.
Kate was aware she was being teased by Marcello and put on the spot in front of his warriors. "Good point Marcello. Your master will not have security clearance to the feeder compound, and if any warrior is discovered trying to sneak him in, you will find both yourself and your master banned from this camp." Kate glanced at Shade. "Any more questions?"
As the smirks and cat calls rose from the warriors, Shade turned to his queen and bowed. "I assure you, my queen, there are no questions. You have made your point quite clear.” As he leaned in, he kissed her soundly and the wolf whistles began. Leading her back to her chair, kissing her hand, and winking he turned back to his warriors.
Marcello returned to his seat and he could see that Kate was more than able to handle the warriors, her king and anything else they could throw at her. He liked that she was cordial, could joke with them and took them all in stride.
Shade held up his hand to settle them down. "Now that we have that cleared up, it is time for us all to get serious. As most of you know, Cory's madre came to visit us. While she was visiting, some information was revealed. Many years ago, I was visiting the States on business, California as a matter of fact. When I went back to California years later, I visited the clubs and came across a young half-breed with whom I felt a distinct connection, never knowing the reason why. This past year, I saw his potential, his skills, and took him off the streets and invited him into my coven. That young half-breed is Cory. I have recently found out that Cory is my son."
Shade saw the mixture of disbelief, bewilderment, and shock on their faces. "Cory has already been established through Council as my legitimate son. He is my firstborn, but because he is a half-breed, he cannot inherit my legacy. That obligation still lies with my immortal son your queen now carries. I make no other distinction as to how or where Cory was born. He is my flesh and blood, welcomed into my heart as my own. Your queen has the same feelings and you will as well." Shade let what he said sink in and turned to Cory nodding for him to step forward.
Cory tried to hold his head up, but the more Shade talked the more he tucked his head. By the time his speech was done, Cory’s head was hanging low. He felt Shade reach his hand under his chin as Cory lifted his eyes slowly and took his hand. Walking to face the warriors, who only yesterday he considered his brothers and sisters, he wasn’t sure how they’d respond to him. He looked out at their faces, and they were looking back at him in awe. He felt his stomach doing flips and he hoped he didn’t hurl where he stood.
Shade embraced his shoulder, pulling him close. "It's okay, hold your head up, you’re my son and everyone here needs to know.”
Shade reached back and took bel’s hand, pulling her forward to stand with them. "This is the Medici family, your queen, your king, and their son Cory Medici. You will honor, respect, and protect each of us with your lives. This only adds to the legacy that is Medici. Rise and bow before the son of Medici. Honor him as you have honored all of the Medici's that proceeded."
Cory gulped and squeezed Shade’s hand tight as he watched every warrior in the room stand and drop down on one knee. In unison, they pledged, "Per sempre Medici."
As the warriors arose, they remained on their feet. "I will not tolerate Cory being treated any differently. He is still your leather artisan and your brother. I expect him to be treated with dignity and respect. He will now reside in the main house of Bel Rosso and not the barracks. You are dismissed."
As the room thinned out, Raven approached Cory with a huge grin. "Coming up in the world, bro!" Taking a deep bow, he did a quick hand flourish in the air and laughed. "You’re still a runt brat to me, no matter what the hell your last name is."
Cory laughed, and they fist bumped and hugged. A few warriors surrounded Cory and the noise level rose through the roof once again.
Fee approached Shade and Kate as they stood talking to each other. "Congratulations on your newly discovered son. Might I beg a word with the queen?"
Shade looked at Fiamma. "Reluctantly, Fee, because I never get enough time with her as it is." He kissed Kate before leaving. "I will go talk to my warriors, when you are ready to go back to the house, let me know. I will take you back and then I need to get back to work, si?"
Walking out into the crowd, there was much ribbing and fist bumping as Shade walked among his warriors.
Kate grabbed hold of Fee's hands, smiling at her. "So, it looks like I’m mother to a son approaching adulthood. Never saw that coming. What's on your mind, Fee?"
"Well we all adore Cory. He has some wicked skills with leather. I just wanted to say, way to handle this bunch of crazy males. They take you at your word, they’ll listen to you, and they admire and respect you. I want you to know that.” Fee looked at Kate’s baby bump. “You’re beginning to really show. You make him happy Kate, like never before."
Kate smiled at her, "He makes me happy...like never before. I can't wait to put this baby in his arms."
Fee grinned. "On another note, I know you aren’t fond of feeders. I know this can’t be a comfortable position for you, handling the feeder compound. But in our culture, the feeders are looked upon with great respect, and the warriors learn to care for them in their own way. They understand the value of the feeders to their very existence. I don’t think we’ll have any problems. Do you know who the matron is yet? Is it someone from here or Florence?"
Kate shrugged. "No, I haven't met anyone yet. Shade said the compound would house some feeders from Florence and some from the States. He said Gi was selecting the matron, so I’d assume she’ll be from Florence. I’d really appreciate your help in overseeing the compound. I want them to be comfortable and safe of course. But there’s also a reason why all the feeder covens are isolated. I understand Shade's logic, in placing a compound here, but it’s not without its challenges."
Fee smiled. "I’m honored to help in any way, you know that. Shade gave me a chance to move up in a world where females are still looked down upon. He understands our value and knows in order to have enough warriors to carry us into the future he must train and integrate the females and males. I think you had a great deal to do with that."
Kate shook her head. "I doubt that. He’s so protective of me. I think his view of female warriors was already well established in his head. He knows he has to mold the vampire culture into the 21st Century and modifying the roles of women is a part of that."