Kiss of the Dragon (32 page)

Amisi entered the room then, her eyes finding Gregor's, a small smile tipping the edges of her lush lips up.

"You called?" she said, her light tone so out of odds with the tension in the room.

She realised immediately, that joking was not on the cards, her eyes flicking around the room assessing the threats and landing on Michel. Who simply dominated the space right now.

"What do you need?" she asked, all business.

"Michel and Lucinda need us," Gregor said, taking her hand in his when she made it to his side.

"Whatever they need, they have," Amisi replied without hesitation and Gregor responded with the most heartwarming smile.

"I will be blooded to protect Lucinda," was all Gregor said.

But I knew Amisi had read the entire situation in those few short words. Michel's overprotective and possessive behaviour; his need to make sure I am safe, warring with his need to make sure I am his and no one else's. She'd seen how we'd both been behaving, and I was certain she'd conclude that things had got even worse than before.

Amisi flicked a glance at me and offered a reassuring smile. "Protecting her, I can handle," she said, still smiling, but it had turned a little crooked, letting me know that Gregor was hers in every other way than this. "Besides," she added. "I intend to protect her as well."

Gregor growled his approval, turning her towards him to kiss most deeply - right in front of us all. When I had left them on that last Dream Walk, he'd been about to kiss her on the lips, I was sure. I'd even seen them share the odd peck on the cheek, or neck nuzzle. But this...
this
was something else. I watched stunned, at both the sensual display between my best friend and Gregor, as well as all tension seeping from Michel's frame. As though he recognised what they were feeling, and that acknowledgement gave him some peace in the face of all his possessive concerns right then. Gregor wouldn't be kissing Amisi like this if she wasn't his entire and complete world.

I wondered if that was why he was doing it, they hadn't been this blatantly obvious with their affections in front of us before. Then I dismissed the notion as nonsense. Gregor simply wanted to kiss the living daylights out of her regardless, because she was his and he was turned on.

I could relate to that.

Michel's growl interrupted the display and made me aware that he was in my mind, hearing any turned-on thoughts of my own and responding to them right now. Gregor stepped forward, releasing Amisi, before Michel could act on the hunger in his eyes, and offered his hand. A jagged slice was already weeping blood, no doubt made from his fangs while both Michel and I were distracted.

"Michel," he said, voice still a little husky from his previous entanglements. "I give my blood freely to protect your kindred Nosferatin with my life."

Michel slashed his own fangs over his palm and reached for his old friend's hand. But before
they clasped them together and sealed the blood bound pact, Michel growled, "And only ever seek her safety, desire of her nothing else."

Gregor's lips twitched at Michel's need to confirm my safety from any possible physical pursuit by him, but he wisely didn't feel it necessary to comment. Simply grasped Michel's hand and let the blood do the rest. Gregor Morel had sought more than just friendship with me once, but looking at what he had with Amisi now, I knew Michel had nothing to be concerned with on that front. But like Gregor, I chose not to voice this. Michel's dragon-within didn't quite see it the way we did and for now, he was the one who needed the reassurance, not Michel.

The blood pact complete, the atmosphere shifted in the room. Michel reached for me, immediately upon sealing Gregor's allegiance, resting his forehead against mine in a familiar and much welcomed move. We still had so much ahead of us. Battles to fight. A war to win. The
Palais
needed protection, even if Michel wasn't as focused on that as the other Councillors appeared to be. Avery needed to be dealt with. Not to mention the Councillors on his side, Viktor Davydov and the Parisian ghouls. The night was half way over, but had barely even begun.

And yet Michel seemed as exhausted as me. Whatever ailed me was definitely ailing him too now. I wrapped my arms around his waist and held on tightly, knowing we'd be separated in Paris - not far from each other, but far enough to function without tripping over each other's fervent desire to touch. Again I wondered what this sickness was. Vampires could be compromised in many different ways. Spells. Charms. Talismans that trigger at certain times. Silver poisoning. Blood deprivation. Sunlight. The list could go on. Most are particular and easily recognised and dealt with. For example the sun. Burn from it, so get out of it. Problem solved.

But this illness we faced wasn't recognisable and I wondered whether we should have involved Aliath after all. If it was of Fey origin, he could have solved it by now. Was it something Queen Isoleth, Lutin's mother, had cast on us as revenge for her only son's death? Or was it something Avery had managed to acquire in order to weaken us enough so he'd win this war? He wore a Fey talisman, the
Taufr,
around his neck, how hard would it have been for him to find another and somehow get that to us? I almost said something to Michel then, my hand reaching for the yellow gem in my pocket, in preparation to call Aliath to us and to hell with the payment he'd demand in return.

But a pounding on the door to the house distracted me and all thoughts of Aliath's assistance went out of my head. Because even though I can't communicate with my vampires telepathically, I know them all extremely well. And the loud, persistent and angry banging on the front door could only possibly come from one person.

Samson was here and he was desperate to get inside.

"Where is she?" Samson's voice demanded from the hallway where one of Michel’s guards had let him in. "Is she all right?"

A moment later my vampire stormed in the room, a smell of burnt ozone proceeding him. His blond hair looked dishevelled, several strands loose from the tie at the nape of his neck, standing on end as though electrified. His clothing - tan dress trousers and chocolate button down shirt - actually had several burnt edged holes. A mark appeared on his cheek, intersecting the star-shaped
Sigillum
there. It was blistered, but healing as he stood before us. Taupe flashed in his wider than usual eyes.

All in all, he looked a mess. On edge, frizzy and slightly burnt.

I clutched my stomach in an effort not to be sick. I'd done this to him. Called him to me using our emergency text, made him panic, caused him harm. This was all my fault.

Samson was on his knees before me, at the same moment Michel growled in response to my thoughts. Gregor stepped forward, prepared to intersect, but Samson took one look at Michel, having swept his gaze over me already, and bent his head to the ground at Michel's feet.

"I come only to protect her, Champion," Samson said quickly. "Her safety and wellbeing is all I am." He couldn't have said it better. I watched as Michel's shoulders relaxed, a breath of air escaping his lips as though he hadn't truly breathed freely for days.

Not that vampires need it, but the impression I got was that
finally
Michel's vampire-within was appeased with my security detail. I was sure he trusted Sergei and Natalyia, and his own vampires; Marcus and Matthias. But there was something about having Samson here that allowed the dragon-within to take a step back. And Michel was inordinately relieved.

Michel's hand came out and clasped Samson's shoulder, then quietly he murmured, "We need you, Samson."

Samson raised his head to look Michel in the eye, but his gaze soon shifted to me. There was relief of his own there, as well as his determination to do what needed to be done. Samson had tried to sacrifice himself for me before, offering himself up to the
Dökkálfa
Queen in order to pay my side of a Fey debt. And I knew, by looking at him now, he'd do it all over again.

Not that I'd let him. "Don't get any ideas," I whispered. "Security detail does not mean taking a bullet for me. I am capable of protecting myself."

"If that were the case, Mistress," he answered, straightening his shoulders. "I would not have been called here." I detected a hint of bitterness in his tone, but he stood and turned away too quickly for me to confirm that with a look at his face.

But I was guessing, Samson was still upset about being sent home to New Zealand. Away from me. I frowned and let out a weary sigh out. He wanted to be near the
Nothus
, he was in love with her, I was sure. But he still felt jealousy that Sergei and Natalyia could be with me, and he could not. I wanted to talk to him about it, but now was not the time. An hour had passed and already Michel's guards were preparing for our journey to the airport, and our flight out to Paris.

Several vehicles waited on the roadside in front of Michel's house. The street was silent, the humans all tucked up in their respectable beds at this time of night. The front Range Rover's passenger door stood open, with Sergei at its side. Marcus, Samson and Natalyia had headed to the second vehicle, and it looked like Matthias and Sergei would be riding in the first with us. Several of Michel’s other guards spread out between the cars, as well as Gregor and his. All in all, four vehicles would be used to get us to the runway.

I wasn't sure how long it would take me to get used to the number of guards the Champion had. Michel had always had guards, even as the Master of Auckland City, but most of the time I hadn't seen them, or simply dismissed them, as they hovered innocuously in the background. Now it seemed the number of guards was as much for protection as to make a statement. Letting any one who considered coming against him know, that he would not be easily reached.

Not that Michel needed defending. He was powerful in his own right. More so than any other vampire. But, it seemed our nights of simple solitude were over. We’d always have an entourage with us and I had no idea how to get used to that. Part of me felt a teeny bit of resentment towards the position he now held. I'd never wanted this for us, but here we were.

Hell, I'd never really wanted to be a part of this word at all. But life had other plans.

"You do realise,
ma douce
," Michel said softly from my side in the rear passenger seat of the car, "that they are here for you now too. You are a Councillor of the
Iunctio,
you require obvious guarding as well."

"Is that meant to make me feel better about it?" I snapped, sounding a bit too belligerent.

Michel simply raised an eyebrow at me, but didn't deem it necessary to reply.

I was feeling antsy, there was no two ways about it. Impending battles. Unexplained illnesses. Whatever it was, it was making me snarky and argumentative. When I should have been enjoying a moment with my kindred at my side.

I sighed audibly and felt Michel wrap an arm around my shoulder, pulling me to his side. I curled into him, placing my cheek against his chest and my arm over his stomach, and inhaled deeply. Freshly cut grass and salty sea spray met my nose, and for a moment in time I pretended that we didn't have a care in the world.

"I am so worried about you," Michel admitted in a soft whisper, leaning down and kissing the top of my head. "I can't stand this fear. I do not know what to do to make this better. It is killing me slowly inside."

I felt a hot tear streak down my cheek as I closed my eyes to the pain in his words. I was being so selfish. Michel was beside himself with worry and all I could do was allow my wayward emotions free rein. I took a shattering deep breath in and resolved to do better. To not show fear. To never give an inch. And to always stay on guard.

The Nosferatin mantra may have been written to guide us when faced with a Dark Nosferatu. But I think it worked just as well here. I would not let my emotional state upset Michel. I would not give in to the desire to curl up and cry, or bite back with angry words. And I would always stay on guard and never let Michel see how scared I was too. Because hearing him admit how worried he was, how much my illness and behaviour was slowly killing him inside, hurt too damn much. As though a knife had sliced through my chest and cleaved my heart in two. Anything that hurt Michel, hurt me.

And enough was enough. I was a Nosferatin. I was better than this.

I wiped my wet eyes and sucked in one final fortifying breath. Then pushed up to a sitting position and offered Michel a steady smile.

"Oh, my darling sweet one," he whispered, his hand coming up to cup my cheek gently. "You have no idea how much joy you bring me. With your courage and determination. With your strength of character and enormous capacity to love. You make me better by simply being you. My life would be hollow without you in it. It would have no meaning at all.
You
are
everything
."

And then he leaned forward, bringing his soft lips to mine, and slowly kissed me. It wasn't a heated passionate kiss, but there was passion of some description there. A need and hunger that was barely restrained. But more importantly, a promise that he meant every single word. And I kissed him back with as much conviction. He was my everything too. That's why we'd beat this, whatever the hell it was. Because the thought of losing now, when we had overcome so much, was unacceptable.

I would not let whoever had caused this win.

The jet was fuelled and ready for take-off as soon as we arrived on the brightly lit tarmac. We boarded the plane quickly. Michel, me, my vampires, his vampires, Sophie, Nero, Amisi, Gregor and his vampires too. It was jam-packed. Not a seat to spare, and even then some guards had to stand at the rear of the plane. At least the flight would be brief, and vampires could affect that preternatural calm, making the journey even shorter for themselves.

Michel held my hand the entire way, not even releasing it when James, his cabin steward, tried to coax me with chocolate biscuits and freshly brewed coffee. I didn't want James to feel bad, so I took what was offered and attempted to consume it. I'd made it halfway through one biscuit and grimaced through a sip or two of coffee, before Amisi took pity on me and shared what was left with Sophie. Michel's jaw was rigid the entire time. So much for not letting my illness worry him. I wasn't doing a good job of 'never giving an inch' so far.

By the time we landed in Paris, tension was thick in the cabin of the private jet. Even unflappable Amisi was flapping away at Gregor who she thought was fussing too much at her. I wondered if what I had was contagious. Michel was definitely showing signs of being infected, and now Amisi was snapping at Gregor too. But those thoughts were soon dismissed when I watched Gregor sneak in a swat to Amisi's rear when he thought no one was watching, and she responded with nothing more than a blush and a look on her face that clearly begged for more.

I think I may have blushed a little myself, at having witnessed that, but my spirits were lifted, because I was sure had Michel done that in my current frame of mind, he would
not
have received a come-hither look in return.

The lights of Paris beckoned as we made our way from
Charles De Gaulle Airport
towards the CBD. I had always loved the twinkling lights in this city, their warm glow and bright white called to the part of me that was Nosferatin. Despite my never having enjoyed visiting the
Palais
when the former Champion was in charge, I
did
enjoy visiting the city.

It was decided that I would be dropped off at Yves' Nosferatin house in
Montmartre,
with my entourage in tow, while Michel and his guards scouted out the
Palais
on the
Île de la Cité
. The other Councillors on our side were already strategically placed around the central island, awaiting Michel's orders - or a sudden attack by Avery and his men.

I thought Michel would have difficulty leaving me at Yves' house, but even though his eyes were shining a muted magenta right now, he was very much in his element. The Champion about to face a threat to the
Iunctio
. His vampire-within may have wanted to be near me, but even he understood what was at stake here if Michel was not in control. Perhaps it was the guards he'd secured for me. Gregor would be staying by my side for the duration, as well as my own vampires, M&M and Amisi. Nero and Sophie were ordered to attend Michel. I wasn't sure if that was because he hadn't blooded Nero, as he had Gregor. But whatever reason, I was glad to have the French Nosferatin away from Yves' house.

Seeing her with Nero would only increase Yves' disappointment and anger. For now it was better if they stayed out of his sight. And, I couldn't help feeling relieved, that Michel would have a Nosferatin honour-bound to defend him too. It was all well and good that he wanted me suitably defended, but that didn't mean I wasn't of the same mind regarding him.

Michel offered me a beautiful smile as those thoughts obviously reached him. With a flash he was in front of me, his hand cupping the back of my head, his eyes drilling into mine, causing a heat to wash up my spine and make me shiver beneath his touch.

"We end this tonight," he whispered. His belief that Avery would strike as soon as Michel appeared at the
Palais
, making my heartbeat sky-rocket and Michel's thumb move without conscious thought to stroke tenderly above the frantically beating pulse in my neck. "And when this is done," he continued in a whisper only I would hear, "we begin to build a new
Iunctio
. A new order that is full of Light."

For a moment I was truly stunned. Michel had talked about improving the
Iunctio
, bringing in more Light and banishing its Dark ways had been a topic of conversation on many a night. But his statement right now was something more. Not just the weight of vampire words, but a promise. From him to me. Michel wanted to do more than change the old ways of the
Iunctio
. He wanted to start all over again and this time get it right.

He'd pushed for me as a Councillor. I'd known it was a step towards a goal only he had in sight. But with those softly spoken words I gained insight. Into Michel. Into his plans for the Nosferatu and the Nosferatin. I felt privileged to know him right then. Proud of his intentions and not just a
little scared too. Because it was clear he hadn't discussed this fully with the other Councillors. I just wondered how amenable to change they would be in the end.

Old vampires are notoriously staid. Tradition is something they treasure. But I had hope Michel could do this. If anyone could, it would be him.

I smiled up at him and nodded, letting him know from my look alone that I would be right there, by his side, helping him achieve this.

His face softened, he dipped his head down and gently brushed his lips against mine, then pulled back and whispered, "
Everything
.
"