The Medici Queen

by Emily Bex

  Kate paced and wrung her hands. She felt a pain like a knife being twisted in her gut. She cried out as she grabbed her mid-section and Luca leapt to his feet.

  What the fuck is going on? He felt no physical threat to his master, and yet, Kate was picking up something. As he reached her, she dropped to her knees and screamed, “Noooooo!”

  Luca dropped beside her. "Tell me what you feel, because I feel nothing."

  Kate covered her face with her hands as she felt the heat of his passion rip through her. She felt his beast respond as he took his pleasure from another and tasted the blood across her tongue as he fed from another female. The tears streamed down her face as she cried out. "Stop! Why do you betray me?"

  Luca grabbed her shoulders, shaking her. "Kate! Tell me what you feel! I can't help you otherwise!"

  Kate sobbed, "He’s with another. He lies with another, feeds from her."

  Luca shook his head. "No, I know my master. And you know him as well. He’d never seek another female."

  Kate sobbed inconsolably. Luca wondered if Max had laid a trap of a different nature and knew he must get Kate to push through if he was to help his master.

  "Kate, he went to see Max. Push past your emotional pain and try to see him."

  Kate cried out, "He went to see Max? He didn't tell me!"

  Luca shook his head. "And he made me swear not to tell you. But I need you to focus now. Tune into him."

  Kate closed her eyes, her heart ripped by pain as she pushed past the vile images in her head. She saw Max, laughing, taunting, and taking photos, and heard his mocking voice as he pushed the feeders on the beast, but Shade wasn’t there.

  She shook her head in confusion. Looking at Luca through her tears, she spit out the word through clenched teeth, "Feeders."

  Luca knew immediately what Max had done. He only hoped Kate could get past her pain and anger to understand Shade had been manipulated and trapped.

  "It was an ambush of a different kind, Kate. He was lured to the feeders. Where is he? Where is he now?”

  Kate shook her head. "I don't know. He left. He left the beast behind. I can't feel him. I only feel the beast."

  Luca looked at her. "Don't you see, Kate. Even when he was trapped he wouldn’t betray you. He’s a dream-walker. He used his gift to leave his body. When he couldn’t control the beast, he left his body. It’s the beast that satisfies his desires now. Not Shade. Find Shade, tell me where he is."

  Kate went deep inside herself but felt nothing but a hollowed out shell. He was blocking her completely. She knew he was feeling the same pain of betrayal she felt.

  "Nothing. I feel nothing. I can't see him anywhere. He’s blocking me."

  Luca sat down hard on the floor and ran both hands through his hair. "Fiamma. She has the gift of sight. Maybe she can see him. Remember the night you had the fight with Shade and he left? She was able to see where he was. It’s her gift, which allows her to see through the eyes of another."

  Luca telepathically called to Fiamma in the camp, asking her to join them in the study.

  ***

  Fiamma and Aislynn were in the barracks and everyone was on edge. Fee was using the time to teach some mixed martial arts moves to Aislynn when Luca called her to the main house. She could hear the tension in Luca’s voice.

  "Aislynn, I need to go meet with Luca. Go back to your duties, or you can work out with Marcello, if you like. I won’t be long."

  She teleported directly inside the house and could hear Kate's sobs and immediately walked in to find them both on the floor. "What happened? Where is master?"

  Luca looked at his sister-in-arms, hoping like hell she could help. "Our master was ambushed, but not in the way you might think. I think Max used feeders to lure him. Kate can't feel him now. He’s blocking her. Tune into him, Fee. We need to find him."

  Fee reached down and pushed Kate's hair from her face, gently wrapping her arms around her. "It is okay, Kate, we’ll find him, relax for me. Hold my hand, sometimes it helps with the connection."

  Kate looked at her with pleading eyes and Fiamma knew this wasn’t good. Shade had completely blocked her. Concentrating, she closed her eyes, but she couldn’t feel him at all.

  "Okay, he is blocking heavily, but sometimes when a master has a weak moment, I can see. This might...wait, this isn’t normal what I see."

  Kate squeezed Fiamma's hand, almost choking on her tears. "What? What do you see?”

  "Has he left his body?" She looked to Luca puzzled and astounded.

  Luca nodded. "Kate says he left the beast behind when he could no longer control the beast."

  Fiamma shook her head, knowing the pain and hell they were both going through. "Listen to me, Kate, I’ll explain what I see, but I think it’s already happened. I think I’m seeing a memory. Tell me if you know what this is? It is a gate? A chain link gate? It’s covered in...locks, many of them. He grabbed a specific one, held it in his hands.”

  Kate looked at her confused. "A gate? A locked gate? That doesn't mean anything to me. A gate to a garden?"

  Fiamma shook her head. "No, it looks like a gate, but I can see a river. There’re a lot of locks on the gate. He picked one specific lock from among many. Think Kate, think! I have no idea what this is!"

  Fiamma was confused and frustrated, what she saw had already happened, and she didn’t know how long he’d stay in one place. She was frightened for both her master and Kate.

  Kate gasped. "The Pont des Arts? The Lover's Bridge? In Paris? We went and placed a padlock there. Is that where he is?" She stood, ready to teleport to him.

  Fiamma grabbed her hand and yanked hard. "No, Kate. Listen to me, this has already happened. My vision is affected by how much he’s blocking you. The lock, he crushed it in his hands, it disintegrated. Hold on. I think I’m seeing where he is right now. Please, keep calm, it will come to me."

  Kate felt as if he’d reached inside her chest and crushed her heart. He crushed their lock that would bind their love for all time?

  Fiamma closed her eyes tight and spoke out loud. "Please master, please give me a vision. Let me help you." She stood dead still for minutes, and then her eyes flew open, "No Shade, no!"

  Kate screamed at her, "Tell me! What do you see, Fiamma!”

  Fiamma went to her knees, grasping for Kate. "Listen to me! You must know where this is. His life is in danger. I can see him somewhere up high, the sun is rising, and he’s on a balcony. He’s going to walk into the sun. Where is he, Kate?"

  Kate knew exactly where he was. "The Paris house, he's at the house! Watch Lorenzo!"

  She was gone in a second, leaving Luca and Fee staring at the vacant spot on the floor where she’d been. Kate teleported through the night, uncertain of her bearings. She was trying hard to remember everything he’d taught her, but the scope was much farther than she’d ever traveled alone before. No time. No time. She had to hurry.

  Fiamma and Luca looked at one another, when Fiamma shouted, "Luca, go red, go red! Get Marco and tell him what’s happened. He can take charge in Shade’s absence. We must go red now!"

  They both took off in different directions and Fiamma could only hope Kate made it to Shade in time. She’d never felt such an incredible broken spirit as she had in her master this night, but she dared not tell Kate that.

  124

  He dream-walked to escape the pain, but the pain followed him. Nothing would release him from this hell. He headed for Castello, where he could stay, far from her sight, knowing he’d betrayed her. How could he ever look her in the eye again? He was no different than the likes of all the other mortal men she’d been with. He was worse than the sniveling bastard Ethan he’d killed with such pleasure.

  His beast rejoined him with his physical body in Castello, but he couldn’t face all the people there. He didn’t want to explain his presence. There were too many people to see his shame, his deceit and failure as her master, her lover and eternal mate.

  He could think of one other pl
ace he could go to be alone, the empty house in Paris. He teleported over the Ponts de Arts and stared at their lock. They’d placed it there together and it would rust before their love ever died. He ripped it easily from its spot and held it in his hand, crushing it. He’d killed them both, killed their love. He should’ve been stronger, fought harder. He’d let her down. It was the one thing she’d asked of him from the beginning. Don’t betray her. Don’t break her heart. It was her inner most fear...his infidelity with another immortal.

  He teleported inside the house. She was everywhere he looked, her hand had touched it all, creating this space for them, and his heart wept for the hell he’d put her through. He walked through the rooms and let his hands trail over the things she’d placed there. He was nothing without her.

  His beast had responded to the primal demands when he’d entered the room where Max was already engaged in sex and feeding. He felt stupid for falling into the trap. He could stand against armies of trained warriors, but Max's feeders had been more than his beast could conquer.

  He dropped his shredded clothes and showered, scrubbing his flesh raw to remove the stench of the females, making his stomach lurch as the vivid scenes of the sexual deeds played across his mind. He felt dead inside. Stepping from the shower, he grabbed the blanket from the bed they’d yet to even share and wrapped it around his shoulders. He could feel the sun was about to rise. He walked to the balcony and flung open the doors, Paris was already awake. He’d go to his eternal sleep and join his parents in the spirit realm. Kate would never come to terms with his betrayal, but she’d raise his son, and he’d rule Medici.

  He sat just outside the balcony, the doors opened wide, as he waited for the rays of the sun. His heart was shattered, his soul broken. He saw images of their life together. How they’d slept together, how they’d loved, how they’d fought. All the things he wanted for her, the houses she’d made their home. The son she bore him. The pain he’d caused her. He couldn’t even cry, he was so lost now.

  He sat with his knees to his chest and closed his eyes. He could almost smell her, the scent of roses he loved, her lily white skin and the softness of her touch, her crimson mane that drove him insane with desire. Her lips and how they could make him want to never stop kissing her. How could he ever repair that delicate trust she’d had in him to protect and love her? He’d failed her.

  ***

  Kate teleported blindly, tears streaming down her face, letting his energy and pain pull her. She saw the lights of Paris, their city of love. She found the house and attempted, for the first time, to teleport inside. She landed hard on the marble floor, landing on her hip and went into a slide, slamming against the wall. She stood and got her bearings, looking around to discover she’d landed in the first floor foyer. She rushed up the two flights of stairs, drawn by pain and hurt. She entered the bedroom she’d designed for them and saw his silhouette against the early light of day as he sat outside, waiting for the sun. Her heart pounded in her chest as she walked slowly toward the door, knowing he’d blocked her and didn’t want to be found.

  “Lover," she whispered.

  He heard her voice and he groaned with pain. "Go home, Kate."

  She stepped up to the open door, looking at him wrapped only in a blanket as the sky started to lighten.

  "I am home, lover. I’m with you. You’re my home. Now come inside."

  His voice remained monotone. He couldn’t look at her. "Go back the same way you came. I cannot be your home, I am not worthy of it."

  He felt her hand as she reached out to touch him, and he moved away from her touch. "Do not touch me, you deserve better. Go home, take care of our son."

  Tears flowed down her cheeks. "Did you hear what you said? Our son! Ours! He needs both of us. I need us. I know what happened. I felt it all. And I know you left your body, leaving the beast behind. Now come inside."

  He sat still, staring at the sun as it was about to rise over the horizon and he knew it would bring her more pain if she watched him die in front of her. "He has Medici blood in his veins. All he needs.” Standing, he let the blanket fall to the floor and could feel the heat building. "Go home, Kate."

  Her panic spread but she wouldn’t leave him like this. She screamed at him, "What are you saying? That I'm not worth fighting for? You can walk away from me? You let him win? If you leave me, you have let Max win! And all I will remember is I wasn’t enough. My love wasn’t enough to keep you here. Is that how it ends?"

  He felt his skin heat up, his blood hot as the sun peeped out, its first rays reaching into the sky. His death was calling. His body was lifted and hurled backward into the apartment, as if struck by a bolt of lightning, almost knocking her off her feet in the process. He lay on the floor on his back. His beast was snarling as he emerged and rose up on all fours, refusing to die, or to let Shade take him with him. His growl was deadly as the beast stared at her. "Go home. Leave me alone. Let me deal with my demons!”

  Kate's anger flared as the beast appeared, and her own beast emerged. "You! You did this to him. You betrayed us both."

  Her eyes glared red as her fangs punched through. She snarled, “You wouldn’t fight for him. How could you give in? Max manipulated you, and you let him! I’ll do what you wouldn’t. I’ll fight for him!"

  Kate lashed out at the beast that betrayed her, clawing him across the face. The beast grabbed her off her feet, as she kicked and screamed, beating his chest as he yelled at her.

  “Look at me! Can you say you still love me? Look at me, woman!”

  Kate stopped pounding his chest and stared back at him. She relaxed in his arms, and answered in a soft whisper, her anger gone. "Of course, I still love you. I’ll always love you. How could you even think otherwise?"

  His beast spoke what he could not. The beast held her to his chest and snuggled into her neck. "Time. Give him time. Let him heal. Go home. He is broken but I will take care of him."

  Kate laid her head on his shoulder and sobbed. "Don’t let him die."

  The beast held her. He knew Shade needed to mend his shattered soul before he could go back to her. His growl was deep, but he held her gently. "Luca comes for you now. Go home. I’ll not let him die. I’ll protect him, for you."

  Pushing the hair from her face, he kissed her gently. Sitting her down on her feet, he walked away into another room, leaving her standing alone as the sunbeams stretched across the room from the balcony door, his beast protecting him from its rays.

  ***

  Luca had landed in the Paris house only a few seconds behind her. He ran up the stairs and heard her in conversation with Shade. He leaned against the wall, letting his back slide down until he was seated on the floor. Whatever they had to work out, it would have to take place between them. He’d wait to see the outcome and make sure she was safe. He heard the raised voices between her beast and his, and then he heard his beast call. Take her home. Luca stood and walked into the room to find Kate, her face stained with tears.

  "Come, Kate. Let me take you home. Give him space.”

  Kate reluctantly went to him. She knew Shade wouldn’t return with her tonight. She looked around the empty room, trying to feel him, but he blocked her still. She yelled loudly to the beast. “This isn't over! You tell him! This isn't over!”

  Luca slid his arm around her waist and gently lifted her and teleported them both back to Bel Rosso.

  125

  Raven lay curled into Mica, his mind spinning. Medici was on yellow alert and preparing for battle, which meant he may have to go back to Bel Rosso soon. He had the warriors in place here in California, and they were prepared for whatever might come. He felt like he belonged here, with Mica.

  He’d been a street punk, and Shade had seen something in him, pulled him out of the mass of disenfranchised vamps who wandered, not associated with any coven. Shade had taught him discipline, and refined his skills, but Raven had built a wall around his heart, never allowing himself to commit or get too close. But this relatio
nship with Mica was something new and unexpected. Mica was older, wiser, and his guidance and care of Raven made him wish he’d never spent so damn much time fucking off. He knew Mica cared for him, made him think seriously about so many things. And their time together was something Raven wouldn’t trade for anything.

  Raven looked at Mica as he slept. He was handsome, but it was more than that. Raven’s attraction went beyond the physical. He didn’t want this to end. He knew his assignment was temporary while they all waited to see what Max would do. If they went into battle in Virginia, then he’d have to leave Mica for who knew how long. Boss-man needed him, and so did Bel Rosso, and Raven would be there. It was what he’d trained to do, what he’d pledged his life to.

  Mica felt Raven stir beside him and knew he was awake. They’d had a nice, few days here, despite the reason for the visit. Raven had secured the warriors for the inn and had drilled them on the protocol in the event of an attack. Reynaldo and Mica knew they’d have to get the mortals out of the inn under the pretext of their being some kind of plumbing emergency, or if necessary, they could keep them safe in an underground bunker. No one was expecting the attack to take place here, but it couldn’t be ruled out either. Mica opened his eyes and wondered about the young warrior occupying his bed. He rolled over and pushed that long mop of black hair away from his face.

  "So, tell me young Raven. What are your intentions here? I've been around a bit longer than you, by a few centuries, I'd say, so I can handle your choices. But I'd like to know where we stand. Am I just another notch on your bed post? Or do we have something serious here?”

  Raven looked up at him and smiled, then gave him a quick kiss. "I’m very serious. I’m a warrior. It’s all I know, and all I wanted. I love the freedom, but it’s also a lonely life. I saw others finding mates, but never thought there’d ever be anyone out there for me, who understood me. Someone who could make me never want to be with another. I couldn’t even let myself hope for it. I grew up on the streets. I’m used to disappointment. So, it’s easier to have no expectations. But to find someone who offers a lifetime of knowing and caring, who loves me for just me. Yeah, I’m very serious."