by Emily Bex
"Mi amore..." He left the sentence unfinished as he gathered his thoughts. "Look at me. I am a shell of a man without you. I have conquered all I need. Lein brought much to the table for Max, and you think you brought nothing. But you seem to forget I need no riches, I need no warriors, I need no land. I have all that. What you brought to the table was a love that healed my heart, which makes me stronger. Lein's warriors are loyal to her padre, not her. They lay down their life because they are loyal to Fan Shen. But my warriors, they lay down their life because they love you. They are loyal, but their love for you is like nothing I have ever seen. I know warriors, and I choose them for more than their skill. I see beyond their exterior to their hearts and that’s how I choose them. I have something I never had my whole life ̶ love. It keeps me alive. It gives me light when there was only darkness for so long. You seem to think I had it all, that I had to give it up for you. The only thing I gave up was the aching loneliness that ate me alive. I should be the one asking you, if you would ever get bored with me, and leave me for another who could give you more."
Kate stroked his face and ran her hand through his thick hair, releasing the leather tie that held his dark locks in a loose ponytail at the nape of his neck.
"I don't seek riches or power. There’s only one thing I want, and it’s your love. I could never get tired of us, and the life we built together. So, push any thoughts of that from your mind. I’m yours, Shade Medici, for now and all time." She kissed his forehead.
"Don’t ever leave me, mi amore, don’t take this light from inside me. Do you think I would give up this? You are my world.” Curling up with her, he covered her face in soft kisses. "I will fight for us. I will fight for Bel Rosso. Are you with me?"
"Am I with you?" Kate untied his tie and slowly slid it free from his collar. “Lover...I’m always with you."
113
Kate fell asleep in front of the fire, his arms tucked around her. He could feel his death slumber approaching. They’d spent the night together in front of the fire making love, being in love, and returning to something that was becoming harder for them to find; time alone to just enjoy being together.
He gathered her gently in his arms, careful not to wake her and carried her to their bedroom. He laid her gently on the bed and pulled the blankets around her. He wanted her to sleep. Their life had become hectic with the baby, and he worried about her no matter how much she rested.
Tucking her under the blankets he knew this woman would always be with him. He felt something stir inside him and heard Lorenzo. He teleported into the nursery, getting to Lorenzo before he could wake Kate. Lorenzo was crying softly, his little face scrunched up and his feet flailing about.
"Shh, little warrior, Padre is here."
Shade picked him up and settled him on his shoulder. Immediately, Lorenzo was rooting into his neck, looking for that life-giving vein. "Ahh, that’s my figlio, wake the household for some nourishment."
He settled his large frame into the rocking chair and let Lorenzo feed. Shade remembered Dr. Bonutti’s words that his son would seek him out, and he’d know when it was time. Lorenzo wouldn’t feed from him often, but he’d need the bond of his father’s blood from time to time. Nita and Theresa would keep him nourished, but he and Kate kept him Medici, and there was no blood more vital to him than Shade's own powerful and ancient blood.
Theresa rushed in through the door, her face flushed. "Master, I’m so sorry, I was helping Emma with some laundry and I felt him wake. Please, let me get Nita and you may return to my lady!"
Shade chuckled softly as Lorenzo suckled from him. "Theresa, it is fine. I like feeding him. It is not something I get to do often. I was awake and I did not mind. I need some time with my son all to myself. Go on. I will tuck him in."
Theresa hesitated for a moment, then nodded and left the nursery, closing the door behind her. Lorenzo unlatched and cooed, his fist unclenching from Shade's long curls. Shade pulled him from his shoulder and cradled him in his arms, staring down at this small life he and bel had created. Huge blue eyes stared up at him, his long black lashes dark as coal.
"Well, little warrior, here we sit, the Medici men, all fed, well-loved and waiting for the daylight to take us. But I have a feeling you will walk in the daylight, unlike your old padre. Never take that for granted, son, it is a gift that is useful to all vampires, especially warriors."
He watched as Lorenzo smiled up at him, as if completely understanding every word he’d said. Shade began to rock gently back and forth, admiring the bundle in his arms. He was perfect.
Lorenzo wrapped his fingers around Shade's thumb and his grip was strong. "You will have a good grip on your sword. Always remember to carry a weapon. I will show you how to use them all with precision. You will have so much to defend. Just like me. We will be warriors together. I will fight at your side."
Lorenzo cooed, and it was a sound so soft that Shade’s heart flipped in his chest. He kept rocking and felt a small shiver run through Lorenzo. "You are cold? Padre will fix it, make it better."
Shade pulled the soft blue blanket that hung over the arm of the rocker, shook it open, and swaddled Lorenzo inside it, tucking him back into the crook of his arm.
As he rocked, he heard the sound of the electronic blinds and felt the death slumber closing in. Lorenzo’s eyes fluttered, closing slowly, as he was lulled by the gentle motion of the rocker. "We both need our slumber, si?"
Standing up, he carried the baby to the crib and Lorenzo's eyes flew open as he gripped at Shade’s hair with both hands. Shade looked at him and understood his son wasn’t ready for his father to leave him just yet. "Don’t worry, Lorenzo, I will always protect you."
Shade looked at the sofa-bed used by Theresa and decided he’d stay just a bit longer until Lorenzo fell into his slumber. Lying down on the bed, he turned on his side and curled his son into his chest. Adjusting the blanket around him, Shade watched his son’s eyes close and his heartbeat settle, soothed by Shade's presence.
He pushed a stray curl from the baby’s forehead, his arm protectively around his son as Shade waited for him to sleep, his own slumber now hitting him hard.
He heard the softest sigh escape his son. Closing his eyes, Shade let the death slumber take him.
***
Kate woke to the darkened room and was momentarily confused. She remembered falling asleep in front of the fire with Shade, but she was in their bed now, and without the warmth of his body next to her. She slid her hand across the sheets into the empty space beside her. Sitting up, she flipped on the lamp and looks about the room. "Shade?"
She was nude beneath the sheets and felt the chill in the room. Grabbing a robe as she slid out of the bed, she wrapped it around her. She looked at the clock. Shade would be in his death slumber now, and yet, he wasn’t beside her. "Lover?"
Her heart beat a little faster. She knew he could only push back the pull of the death slumber for so long. She pushed down the panic and closed her eyes, letting herself seek him out. Their bond would draw her to him if she’d only let go. She stood quietly by the bed, feeling the pull and followed it, stepping outside their bedroom door and down the hall to Lorenzo's room, the windows protected from the sun, and lit by a tiny night light.
She saw his big, strong body curled around the tiny frame of his son. Kate smiled at him as she climbed onto the sofa-bed, curling up against his back, and pulling the blankets over both of them.
Shade felt her close and woke enough to feel his son in his arms and his mate at his back. He smiled as three of them in this bed left little room for movement, but he didn’t mind. These were the rare moments he knew he’d cherish for all eternity.
Lorenzo stretched, cooing. Shade pulled him closer to his chest, but Lorenzo had no intentions of being held down as he kicked and squirmed. "What is it, little warrior? Feel your madre, do you? She is hard to resist, si?"
Kate kissed the hard muscles in his back as her arm slipped around him. No one would take thi
s away from her, no one. "I love you more than Jimmy Choo shoes, Shade Medici. Now sleep."
Shade chuckled. "I feel honored, mi amore."
Feeling himself pulled into the death slumber once again, Lorenzo heard his mother’s voice and settled down, his fist playfully pulling on his father's hair as he continued to coo. Shade paid no mind. They were happy, safe, and together. What more could he ask for?
114
Max teleported to Florence, landing outside the Council stronghold. The guards recognized him and confirmed his appointment, opening the massive gates onto the compound. Max looked about, shivering in the cold. He’d been living in Thailand for the past year in tropical heat and wasn’t used to the cold winter weather. He hurried up the stone staircase where guards swung open the doors for him. He walked down the long corridor to the Council chamber. It had been a century or more since he was here, but he remembered the drill. He wouldn’t be allowed to enter the chamber until summoned. He paced restlessly, eager to get this over with. He fumbled in his pocket and withdrew a pack of cigarettes, only to have one of the guards tell him there was no smoking allowed. Max mumbled under his breath as he replaced the pack in his pocket. He heard the echo of footsteps and looked up to see the Medici approaching. Max extended his hand. "Brother."
Shade greeted Max with a handshake. "Maximus, good to see you again. It has been a while since you have been here, si?" He had tucked the deed to Bel Rosso inside his jacket pocket. He knew he’d need proof that he and Alec had a legal transfer of the property. Alec was still on his honeymoon, so he wasn’t sure Council could contact him for verification. If nothing else, Council did their homework long before the issues came before them.
Max nodded. "A century, perhaps. Since when did they ban smoking in here?"
"Quite some time ago. I have no idea why. Not like we are mortal or anything.”
They were called forward and both Max and Shade entered the chamber and were presented to Council.
"The Prince of Shen Dynasty, Master Maximus, and King and High Master Medici."
As they walked to their appointed seats in front of Council, they remained standing until commanded to sit.
Malachi stood in his hooded green robe as the two masters took their seats before the Council. "Brothers, I wish I could say this meeting comes as a shock to me, but unfortunately, we all predicted this outcome. Before we get down to business, first things first, Master Maximus, on behalf of the Council, accept our sincere congratulations on your recent mating to Princess Lein Shen. It was an honor to witness your coronation. Your union with Princess Lein is the first recorded union in our records of a coven from Europe being merged with a coven from the East. I can't remember the last time we met with our brethren in the Eastern Council. This union could be a very positive one in bonding the two sides together. The Council wishes you much happiness, and may you produce a male heir to the dynasty."
Max nodded his head. "Thank you, Malachi. I will share your sentiments with my mate."
Malachi looked from one master to the other. "As we understand it, we are here today to settle a land dispute. Is that the case?"
Both Shade and Max nodded silently.
"Then without further ado, I will turn the proceedings over to Jasperion.”
Malachi sat as Jasperion stood in his orange robe. "Brothers, I have researched the land in question, as a plot of land, 3,000 acres in scope, located in White Hall, Virginia, in the United States. My records indicate this land lies inside the territory of Master Maximus, and the land was deeded over to Master Alec in 1980 following a poker game between both masters, where the land was included as part of the wager. When Master Maximus lost the game, the land was transferred to Master Alec.”
Max cleared his throat, remembering the foolish bet, made on a night when he’d had too much Midnight poured down his gullet. "That’s correct."
Jasperion nodded, "So we are all in agreement then, as of 1980, the land passed free and clear to Master Alec. As we understand it, the land sat dormant and was not used by Master Alec, letting the house and the surrounding vineyards fall into ruin. Then, a year and a half ago, Master Alec assigned the property over to Master Shade as payment in exchange for the security services provided by Master Shade and the Medici warriors. We have recorded that transaction in our records. Master Shade, do you have a copy of your deed?"
Standing, Shade reached into his pocket and retrieved the deed. "Si, this is a copy of the original, and you may keep this. My lawyers have legally attested to this copy and it is signed and notarized."
He laid the copy on the table and an assistant retrieved it, carrying it to Jasperion. Shade took his seat once again and waited for Jasperion to look over the deed and verify its validity.
Jasperion took the deed and read through it, looking puzzled. "Master Shade, this deed has been transferred over to one Katherine Reese. It is no longer in your name."
Shade nodded. "Katherine Reese is now Katherine Medici, my queen. I deeded this property to her before our mating. As the Council can clearly attest, Katherine is my mate and queen now. What is hers is mine and vice versa. We rule Medici together as one."
Jasperion sighed and looked to Florian, in his purple robe. "Florian, can you give us a ruling please, based on our bylaws, given that Miss Reese was a mortal when the deed was transferred?"
Florian flipped open the huge ledger and read silently before standing. "Given that the mortal was subsequently turned and mated to the Medici and is now officially recognized by this Council as his rightful queen, all property owned by either party prior to their union becomes jointly owned property after their union. Therefore, the property deeded to Katherine Reese, the mortal, is now jointly owned property of both King and Queen Medici. The property is legally and rightfully theirs."
Max lifted his hand. "May I speak?"
Malachi nodded and Max stood. "I’m not here to contest ownership. I concede the land was deeded to Master Alec, and I was aware when Master Alec deeded the land to Master Shade. However, at the time, Shade seemed to take little interest in the property. I knew he stayed in the house on occasion and I figured he’d re-establish the vineyards. His presence there offered no threat to my coven. But it has come to my attention that Master Shade has established a warrior camp on the property. We’re all aware of the Medici's history with training warriors, and the size and scope of the camp in Florence. The camp in Virginia is modest by comparison but its presence is a threat to my coven, nonetheless. I have most generously offered Master Shade to name his price. I’ll pay him any price, double, triple the value of the property. Money is no object. He can relocate anywhere in the States, and he has refused the offer. His very refusal represents an act of hostility against my coven. I ask for the intervention of Council to ward off a land battle."
Malachi looked to Shade. "Master Shade, you own the property free and clear. But is it true you have denied his offer to buy you out?"
Shade was careful not to display any hostility toward Council or Max, but he wanted to make his position clear. Standing as Max returned to his seat, he responded to Malachi.
“Master Maximus did offer to buy me out. And yes, I make a part of my living as a warrior, training other warriors. Until recently, I worked exclusively in Europe. But I was hired to provide protection for Master Alec and his territory of Washington, D.C. In the course of providing that protection, my own house and property have come under attack, threatening the life of my mate. It takes many warriors to provide this service and I must have a space that provides privacy from the curious mortals. Alex’s territory in D.C. would not accommodate a warrior camp, and his other territories in New England and California are too far from my work. The Virginia property is the perfect location for them, close yet far from the mortal eye. The farmland and vineyards provide the perfect cover and gives us adequate space to conduct our warrior training, without being discovered, which, as I am sure you will agree, is an issue for all of us. I have explained this to Maste
r Maximus in detail. I am of no threat to Max. His warriors and mine both inhabit Virginia and have encountered each other from time to time. There have been no conflicts, nor do we interfere with each other. Master Maximus has never approached Master Alec or me in all this time. The only thing that brought him to plead for this territory is the establishment of a small camp where I train warriors."
Malachi nodded. "Thank you, Medici. You may be seated. Please give us a second while we confer."
Malachi, Jasperion, and Florian huddled together, talking in a low whisper for several minutes before retaking their seats. Malachi looked out at the two masters.
"The Council has reached a conclusion. Based on our bylaws, we can see no reason to request Master Medici to vacate the property. The land belongs to him free and clear. It is also his option to accept or reject the offer to sell the property back to Master Maximus. With that said, we find the property remains in the hands of the Medici, and the Council sincerely hopes the two of you will find a peaceful settlement. The Council would like to add we have issued warnings in the past about masters owning land that resides within another's territory for this very reason. It inevitably leads to a dispute. If there is no further business before us, we adjourn this session."