Shadow's Light (37 page)

A small sound had started at the back of his throat which escalated to more of a growl as I removed his shirt and ran my hands over his bare chest. He stayed pulled back enough to give me a chance to take him all in. My fingers touching familiar contours, smooth skin and firm muscles. Revelling in the perfection of his body. But, what I couldn't fail to notice, was the absence of my mark. My
Sigillum
, which had been removed when he had been taken to
Álfheimr.

I didn't hesitate. I didn't give him a second to comprehend what I was doing. I didn't even need to think consciously at all. It just happened. In the blink of an eye my Light had gathered within me and was blasting into his chest. He cried out in alarm and then the shout segued into one of pure lust. If the dancing dragon that had appeared in pride of place on his chest hadn't turned me on, then that sound, that full bodied note of bliss, did.

His hands fumbled at my knickers as mine fumbled with his belt buckle. He had always been better at removing items of clothing than me. He had my underwear removed before I had managed to shift his belt at all and had to come to my aid as I began swearing softly. His mouth covered mine to stop any more words from spilling and while he distracted me successfully with that move, the rest of his clothes were removed without assistance from me.

As I felt his naked body press into mine I moaned and automatically wrapped my legs around his waist. He didn't require further invitation, just lifted his hips until he was in position, grabbing my thigh with one hand and wrapping his other arm behind my shoulders, he rolled himself in. We both gasped at the sensation of joining. Two bodies becoming one.

My heart was in my throat. I could feel every beat as my pulse thundered at my neck. It made it hard to swallow and breathe, but I didn't care. Right then nothing was too much to endure to be with Michel. To feel Michel moving inside me again. To have my Light to mark him as my own, while he thrust himself deep within my body. To be together back in our world, in our realm, alive. Whole. Complete. In that second as his magenta filled eyes held mine, I knew it didn't matter if we never joined as kindred again. It would never change how we felt about each other. It would only be the icing on the cake.

Michel smiled, obviously hearing my thoughts, and started kissing the side of my neck above my rapidly beating pulse. I was surprised it had taken him that long to set his fangs over a decent blood vessel. The small taste he'd had at my breast was just a tease. He growled against me, quickening his pace as he rocked his hips back and forth. A small roll in a circular motion, caused me to cry out as he pressed against my sweet spot, making me beg for more.

He repeated the action, again and again, taking me closer and closer to the edge. His speed getting faster, but his rhythm still steady. He was completely in control. His mouth on my neck, his fangs scraping against my skin and his entire body bringing mine alight with fire. Finally, a few well placed and unexpected shifts of his hips had me tumbling in ecstasy and that's when he bit.

I cried out, no longer a silent participant in our endeavours, he'd broken me of that long ago. And as I cried he growled and sucked harder at my vein. The rush of adrenaline at the sting of his bite in direct contrast to the orgasm still rolling through my body and making me shudder and moan. Bitter-sweet, but so damn good. I never wanted it to end.

I think Michel was of the same mind because he drew out his suckling at my neck longer than he should have, unable to pull away. But, when I was panting with exertion and an overload of  glorious mind-numbing, body-teasing sensations, he finally withdrew his fangs, licking the wound closed and losing himself to his rhythm. Within a few seconds he joined me, pounding me into the couch as he found his own release. A shout of joy escaping his lips as he shuddered above me and before he completely emptied himself inside, his lips found mine again in a bruising kiss. Eating me from the mouth down. Trying to get right through me, right into me. As close as he could possibly get.

After several minutes the kissing eased up, a more languid discovery of my mouth and face followed. His hands running all over my body as he curved himself to my side. Barely enough room on the couch to hold us, but we were glued to each other's side, so managed to stay on the cushions and not tumble to the floor in a tangle of limbs.

God, I had missed him. And he'd obviously missed me, if this reception was anything to go by. I ran my fingers idly over my
Sigillum
on his chest. It was an exact replica of the one that had been removed. A dancing dragon in bright colours, intertwined with ribbons and swirls. Almost a light all on its own. So beautiful and beautifully placed. Above his heart, with the head reaching up to cover his pulse point in his neck. Right where he feeds from me. It would be visible, just, above the collar of his shirts. But, mainly only on show when he was naked with me.

I was immensely glad to see it back where it belonged. I almost wanted to replace the one I had placed on his butt cheek. It had been an imprint of my hand, as though I had spanked him and left a mark behind. I'd given him that
Sigillum
right after he had been acting like an idiot. It had kind of been punishment for that. He had been mortified at the mark and its location and what it had implied. A permanent reminder that I was sometimes the one very much in charge of our relationship. Even if he was a master vampire in charge of a city and line.

He started chuckling beside me, a deep rumble vibrating his chest. “If you would like to replace that mark too,
ma douce
, I will not argue.”

“You just want more of my Light,” I teased, still running a finger over the dragon on his chest.

“I will take every bit of you I can and never let go.” He kissed my forehead and settled his face in the curve of my neck. He would be smelling me again. Reminding himself of my scent.

We lay like that, wrapped up in each other, for ten or so minutes. Neither wanting to move away from the other. But, vampires were waiting on us. James would want to clean up the cabin ready for our departure when we called. The pilots probably hadn't completed their post-flight checks. All of that was irrelevant really, to what waited for us at the Palais. Time was not on our side.

I shifted to see where my clothes had got to and Michel tightened his hold.

“
Ma douce
,” he whispered, although there was no need to talk quietly, no one was here to listen to a word we shared. “Whatever happens tonight, know that you are mine and always will be.”

I stiffened at his words. “What do you think is going to happen, Michel?”

He shrugged as he sat up and finally let me go. An elegant shift of his shoulders that did not hide the tension in his frame.

“We have been invited to dinner with the Champion. The question is not
what
will happen, but what will go
wrong
instead.”

Like me, Michel did not trust the Champion.

And we were about to walk into her den.

Foolish? Or just desperate? I had no idea which.

The sun was peeking over the horizon by the time Michel and I exited the jet. The vampires were already inside an
Iunctio
black limousine, waiting for us to join them. The car was so big, we were able to all fit inside with room to spare. I would have preferred a separate vehicle. I may have got used to verbalising my pleasure when with Michel intimately, but I was not above being highly embarrassed that each vampire in that car knew what we had been up to.

Hell, they could probably smell it on us. But, thankfully, none of them said a word. In fact, M&M were utterly fixated with Michel. It occurred to me, it was the first time they had laid eyes on him since his death. They may have spoken to him on the phone, talked to me about him as though nothing had happened. But, to be face to face with the miracle is something else entirely.

If I had felt uncomfortable with the potential looks I could have received after our slow arrival to the limo, Michel didn't bat an eyelid at the scrutiny he was receiving now. He acted as though nothing was untoward. He simply leaned forward, from the seat he had taken with me and shook each vampire's hands. Lingering longer on Marcus and Matthias, as they were of his line.

“Master,” they both intoned after shaking hands. Sinking to the floor, fisted hand across chest as they bowed.

“It is so good to see you.” Matthias's voice was choked. I had never heard him sound so emotional before. I almost felt like Sergei and I were witnessing something private. That we shouldn't have been there to see the big vampire crack.

But, Michel, sensing my unease, simply took hold of my hand in his casually and began to rub the back of it with his thumb.

“Sit back, both of you.” Michel's words weren't harsh, they were quite soft actually. Caring. “We will reacquaint our bond in due course, should you wish it.”

It was obvious that both Marcus and Matthias wanted that. That they still wanted Michel as their master. I didn't realise until that moment, how worried I was about the possibility that they wouldn't want him to head their line. That they would want to remain independent, or perhaps join with Jett or someone else. I had been worried their rejection would hurt Michel, but I hadn't needed to worry at all. Marcus and Matthias were loyal to their master, even in his 'death'. I hoped the rest of the line was that dedicated too.

Turning to me, Michel went on. “Alain and Daniel are here. I have already brought them back into my line.”

“Even Alain?” I asked. Simply because he was a level one master vampire and if any of Michel's vampires had wanted to branch out on their own, it would be him. He was also the head of Michel's European spy network, so him being back under his wing was monumental. Michel could now converse with him mind to mind and right now, we needed all the help we could get.

Michel smiled indulgently at me. “Yes, even Alain.” Then he turned back to M&M. “I have every intention of bringing you back under the line as soon as possible, maybe even when we return to the
Palais
, but I must be sure I have time to recover. Even having Lucinda here to feed from, it will leave me vulnerable.”

I didn't like the sound of that at all. Marcus and Matthias could just wait until we return to New Zealand, until all of this crap was over and done with. I did not want Michel to be at a disadvantage when faced with the Champion or Keeper.

“
Ma douce
," Michel began, having somehow heard my thoughts. Man I was projecting and I needed to get that under control, before I was anywhere near the Champion who could easily read minds. Michel squeezed my hand at that. “Having a connection to Marcus and Matthias would be beneficial. I would be prepared, given the right circumstances, to attempt it. We need all the backup we can get.”

I bit my lip, but didn't answer. I'd only argue and lose the point. This was Michel's turf, my influence would not be great here.

Your influence is great anywhere. Do not doubt the effect you have over me. Now,
he chided softly in my mind,
start building your shields, ma douce. You are wide open and susceptible to attack.

He leaned over and cupped my face, brushing my lips with his in a precious kiss. He held my gaze for a few minutes as I meticulously worked on my shields. Eventually, he nodded when he could no longer hear my thoughts and then kissed me softly again.

This time he turned his attention to Sergei. “Your sister is being well cared for and I believe she will be released as soon as Lucinda is in the
Palais
. My suggestion,” his eyes flicked to mine briefly for confirmation, “would be to leave Paris immediately and take yourselves both to London. You may use my house. Christopher will be ready to receive you both.”

Christopher was a vampire who looked after Michel's house in London. A dreary, old Victorian building in South Kensington. What I would call a typical vampire haunt. It sounded like Christopher was still very loyal to Michel, although not having had the time to reaffirm their blood bond. Christopher I could imagine remaining steadfast in his devotion to his old master. He just was that kind of guy.

“Thank you,” Sergei answered, “but I will remain to protect my mistress.”

“No,” I turned to the Russian. “You will get Nataliya out of here and make sure she is safe, so I don't have to worry about either of you being used against me.”

Sergei bristled and I knew the time for our first disagreement about my ability to protect myself had arrived. I didn't have to say a thing though. Michel leaned forward and clasped my vampire's hand.

“You have my word, that Lucinda will be protected by me and mine. On my life. On the life of my second, Alain Dupont.”

It didn't surprise me that Michel had made Alain his second in command. The fact that he had only two vampires under his line right now was part of it. But more so, the fact that Alain was more than capable of backing up anything Michel said. What surprised me though, was how quickly Sergei backed down.

“I have met Alain,” Sergei said. The implied there being that he respected the vampire who Michel had named as his second. “I accept your word.”

Michel sat back satisfied and Sergei sat back mollified. I just sat there seething. Of course, Michel had just saved me from a full-on argument with Sergei, one I would probably have had to resort to a Light-command to end. But, and it's a whopping, great, huge “but”,
I
should have been left to handle this on my own. I didn't need Michel to fight my battles. I didn't need Sergei to insist on how to keep me safe. I could handle both of those things quite adequately by myself. I didn't need to be taken care of by anyone else, but me.

Marcus started sniggering in the corner of the car. All eyes turned towards him.

“What?” he asked innocently, but his eyes flicked to me. He didn't need to say anything else, because three pairs of additional eyes turned to look at my face and although I was trying to use my blank mask of indifference, the mask I adopt when facing particularly clever vamps, I was failing miserably.

I was fuming and they could all see it.

Michel sighed, Sergei looked uncomfortable and Matthias simply swung his head quickly to look at his reflection in the blacked out window of the car. Nobody said a word.

Michel pulled me closer against his chest, but didn't try to talk to me aloud or in my head, he simply stroked a hand through my hair and let me calm on my own. His steadily beating heart and breathing in my ears setting a rhythm for me to follow. His loving embrace signal enough to let me know he hadn't intended to hurt my feelings. But, his lack of words told me he'd do it all over again, given half the chance.

Michel had always been over enthusiastic where my safety was concerned. To the point of being smothering. He had improved in the months leading up to his 'death'. I just hoped we hadn't taken a few steps back since then. I loved him more than life itself, but I would not allow myself to lose
me
by being smothered.

Still, nothing is better than make-up sex after a showdown. And Michel and I have had some really doozy showdowns in the past. I smiled and kind of wished he'd been able to hear my thoughts just then.

We crossed over the
Pont Neuf
  bridge without even seeing it, but we all knew when we had reached the
Île de la Cité
, or as the vampires call it,
Lutetia
. The centre of Paris and home to the
Iunctio's
Council and Palais since 52 AD. Their seat of power and government, it is well warded and even Norms know that it is something more than just special when they stand on its banks.

I didn't mind that we couldn't see the sights. As beautiful as the island is, all that mattered was what awaited us at the
Palais
. And I knew from personal experience, that the
Palais
was not beautiful. The buildings of the
Notre Dame
Cathedral, the
Conciergerie
, and the
Palais de la Justice
were all designed to draw you into a false sense of safety. And then you're faced with the
Iunctio Palais
. A big, dark, block of a fort. Utilitarian in design. Practical, unattractive and dire. The only saving grace to the ruthless façade it keeps, is a spectacular wooden door at the front. Carved intricately, from a distance it is exquisite. Up close, it resembles vampires at war.

There was nothing I liked about the
Palais
, but somehow I kept finding myself here despite my abhorrence to its style and what it represents. I was not a vampire, even though I apparently hark from the same ancestors as the Nosferatu. Even though we were once of the same ilk. I am not them and they are not me. But, without Nosferatin power they would be unable to control the Nosferatu as a whole. Part of our power runs the
Iunctio
network. And as has been made abundantly clear, my power is what is needed to close the portals to
Álfheimr
.

I didn't like it, but I had absolutely no say in it. The Champion may not be my leader, but when she says jump, every Nosferatin in hearing distance does. She's just that kind of vamp. Without the
Iunctio
controlling the masses of vampires out there, the Nosferatin would not stand a chance. At their base nature, a vampire will kill to survive. Even just to feed. Humans mean nothing to them, really. It is only recent centuries when living alongside humans has become possible, that more care has been taken. And even then, if it weren't for the
Iunctio's
rules, humans would still have ended up dead.

Now, vampires are accountable. But not to the Nosferatin. No, they are accountable to the
Iunctio
. Sometimes that's OK. Sometimes not. But I will admit, despite my despising the
Iunctio
, I would be disturbed if they no longer existed at all. Hell, I'd probably be run off my feet and quite possibly dead. A vampire without rules is a very dangerous thing.

Our car parked in a covered area, sheltered somewhat from the sun. Which allowed the vampires to flash inside the building and avoid a painful sunburn. The door we entered wasn't the carved one at the main entrance, which I was pleased to discover. One look closely at that baby and you have nightmares for days on end. This door was a side entrance, still well warded and guarded. But obviously designed for daytime arrival of guests.

We were all identified and then led to our accommodation. Nobody said a word about Nataliya or whether the Champion wished to see us straight away. In fact, nobody said a single word at all.

Our rooms were all in the same wing, with six
Iunctio
guards keeping an eye on us. Two at either end of the corridor our rooms were located in, and two right in front of Michel's room. I briefly wondered why he hadn't had guards with him at the airport and then it hit me. He wasn't being guarded, I was. They had let me walk into the
Palais
of my own accord, but once here, there would be no escape.

Had the Champion and the Keeper been that sure that I would come, that they didn't need to fetch me from the airport? The answer was simple. They knew me well. I would not leave Nataliya here without trying to negotiate. All they had to do was hold  my vampire captive and wait for me to arrive. I had done exactly what they knew I would. But, there was no point being upset with my position in this game. It was what it was. Nataliya was mine to protect.

They could have threatened Michel, but my response would have been different and they knew it. Not only could Michel take care of himself, I would have come guns blazing to his rescue. But a vampire of my line, I'd tread more carefully. Nataliya was mine to protect and I take that responsibility seriously. Sometimes I wished I was more unpredictable. That I didn't operate by a set of steadfast morals and rules.

Although we all had separate accommodation on the guarded corridor, everyone came with us into Michel's room. It was similar to what he had stayed in on previous visits. The room decorated to a high standard. This time muted autumnal colours in browns, golds and dark greens. The main room was a well appointed large lounge, with seating, entertainment units and drinks bar. Off the back of the room was a small kitchenette and to the side the bedroom and bathroom. All matching in décor and standard of furnishings. It was beautiful and luxurious. I hated it.