Honeymoon Bite (Golden Vampire Legacy) (22 page)

The room was silent, except for the vampire on the end who snored.

“I want to ask you about Marcus,” One of the council asked her, leveling a bony finger in her direction. His voice was irritatingly shrill.

“Yes. I love Marcus. He has told me about the fating that goes on between golden vampires mates. I do feel we are meant for each other.”

“But I understand you are still married.”

“No, not legally. We had a wedding performed, but I am severing all my ties with him. He has never honored our bed. I cannot live a life where I have to worry about where he is, and with whom he is sleeping.”

They were nodding again, so Anne added, “He does not honor me. Why should I continue to honor him?”

“Do you want him eliminated? Have you asked Marcus to do this?”

Anne’s stomach clenched up. She gripped the arms of her chair, indignant at the insinuation she could ask Marcus to kill off her no-good husband. And how could they think Marcus was capable of such cruelty?

“What?” She squinted her eyes in anger. Had Marcus told them that? “As cruel as Roberts is to me, I would never wish my ex-husband harm. Never.” She was shaking. She hoped the fervor of her feelings didn’t interfere with their decision.

“One more question, if you please.” A new visitor came into the room. Handsome, tall, though not as tall as Marcus. He appeared to be the younger vampire. The whole room deferred to him, seemed to center around him.

“Praetor. We are honored with your presence.” Most of the council bowed in deference.

With a swagger that told Anne he was used to bedding any woman he wanted and could get away with it, he looked her up and down, resting his eyes on her breasts, then lower to the place between her legs. He licked his lips and sighed. She instantly didn’t trust such a powerful, sexy man.

I hope you can do whatever they ask of you.
She remembered Marcus’s words. What if he asked for . . .?

“I understand you bleed now.” His expression was serious.

“Yes, I am bleeding now.”

“When was the last time you bled before now?”

“It was before my wedding day, about two months ago.”

He smiled and nodded his head, turning to the council. He shrugged.

“Fine.” The middle robe stood up. “I have no further questions. I am satisfied. Let’s get on with the inspection.”

Oh, God, an inspection? With these creeps and this gorgeous male?

Now the reason for her black lacey things with the slit up the middle made sense. Marcus had known.
Damn the man!

The leader rang a silver bell. Two young girls dressed in harem costumes came into the room to stand by Anne’s side. They eased her up from the chair, one on each arm. Anne saw Mr. Handsome peruse all three of them, hand under his chin, stroking his lips like he was studying something. She didn’t like being on display. The council members who could, stood up and watched as she was escorted out of the room.

She was taken down a tiled corridor to an exam room. After undressing and putting on the familiar paper dress, she had to suffer through a gynecological exam performed by an elderly doctor as Praetor stood in the room, observing.

Remember that I love you.
Marcus had told her to do anything they asked her to do. God damn him. He didn’t tell her because he knew she would never agree to it.

The doctor excused himself with the swab, now tinged red at the tip. She sat up and snarled at Praetor. “I find this whole process revolting, sickening. Barbaric, even.”

He bowed slightly. Anne could see he perhaps agreed, but did not say anything.

“So, what happens now?”

“He is confirming it is menstrual blood. If that is verified, I’d say you and Marcus could have
a little party.
”

There was something about how he said the last part that made her suddenly catch her breath.
Could we be that close?

“They’ve accepted me?”

“They believed your story.”

“That’s because it’s true. All of it.”

The doctor returned. “It’s confirmed, and now Praetor, you have witnessed it. It is menstrual blood. I will go inform the council.” He was almost to the door when he turned. “She is not to be left alone. Bring her back to the chambers once she has dressed.”

“Of course.”

The physician left. Anne slid off the table, being careful with the placement of the paper wrap and skirt. She glared at Praetor, raising her chin in defiance, aware that although covered, she was naked from the waist down. He broke the silence.

“I see what Marcus has found in you. I only wish I could have seen you first.”

“You don’t believe in the fate, then?”

He smiled. “It’s difficult to believe in something that hasn’t happened yet. I, like Marcus, have waited a long time. Let’s say I have faith, but I do not believe yet, no.” He abruptly turned around to let her finish dressing.

Anne, donned her skirt, muttering to herself about the ridiculous panties. She straightened her hair, making a fuss, harrumphing and gasping, hoping she showed her indignation at the ordeal.

“I have a question,” she said.

“Ask me anything.”

“What’s with the old council members? I thought all vampires are immortal.”

“We are not immune to all disease, contrary to folklore. And sometimes there is an errant ancestor of questionable parentage. Some of us age, but age slowly.”

“Will this happen to me? Because I started out human?”

“No way to know, my dear. Not a question of your humanity. It’s a question of bloodline and breeding.”

“The children . . .”

“Can die of normal childhood diseases. Very sad. Very sad indeed.”

She stopped. She understood why the children were so important. They were rare. And they were fragile. It was sad.

Anne continued to dress, fiddling with the buttons at the back of her blouse so that she didn’t have to ask Praetor’s help. It was something she knew he would gladly assist her with.

“Okay. I’m done.”

He turned around and looked her up and down, drinking in every curve, every valley. Unashamed to let her see how tantalizing he found her.

“Stop that.”

“Stop what?”

“That. That thing you are doing. I don’t belong to you.”

“My dear, you don’t belong to Marcus, either. I don’t think you ever will.”

He brought her back to the chamber room.

A brief statement was read into the record, verifying all the facts. And then it was over. The directors filed out, including the two sick ones in their wheelchairs. All but Mr. Handsome. Praetor had an expression that was hard to read. She couldn’t mistake the tease in his eyes, the invitation to show him some affection if she chose.

She wanted to set him on fire.

He extended his elbow in her direction. “Come, Anne. There is someone dying to see you.”

“Where are you taking me?” she asked.

He put his finger to his lips. “It’s a surprise.”

He waited for her to put her arm through his. She didn’t want to do it, so he grabbed it and put it there himself. He patted her hand that rested on his forearm, leaving his hand in place over hers. “Don’t worry. Everything will be alright.” He hesitated, then turned to face her. His large brown eyes were as beautiful as any woman’s eyes Anne had ever seen. And he clearly knew it. “I know my place here, my dear. But, if you ever tire of Marcus the Magnificent, I have some skills that would make your soul tremble. The door to my bedroom is always open to one such as you.”

“I’ll have to ask Marcus if he thinks that would be such a good idea. He doesn’t seem to think I need much instruction. But if I did, Marcus is an excellent teacher.”

He was surprised with her boldness, Anne could tell. But she was careful he didn’t take it as a slight. That would be a mistake.

They walked through a door to an anteroom, an auxiliary soundproof chamber. Marcus instantly sprang up, hesitating to come over to her. Stress was written all over his face. And when his eyes fell over Praetor and Anne locked arm in arm, he frowned. She couldn’t remember when she had seen his hair so disheveled. The room was littered with chewing gum wrappers and cans of Red Bull. He looked miserable.

“Praetor. How nice to see you.” Marcus’s speech was measured.

“Marcus, I’m afraid I have some news . . .” Praetor started.

Suddenly Anne was overwhelmed. She disengaged from Praetor and ran to Marcus, burying her head in his chest.

“I passed.”

Marcus picked her up with ease, holding her sideways. He nodded to Praetor, then tore off down the hallway, headed to the outside. Anne clung to him, her arms wrapped around his neck, looking over one broad shoulder at the handsome vampire who stood behind them, watching them leave.

Praetor raised his hand up and waved with a couple of his fingers, as if to say,
I’ll still be here if you change your mind
.

Chapter 21

Robert picked himself up off the floor as soon as he came to. He was covered in blood. His cell phone was shattered. Little pieces of the blue plastic and silver parts littered the bottom of the tub where Maya had thrown it. God, that woman had a temper. For the first time in his life, perhaps he had misjudged a female. Maybe that wasn’t quite right. Maybe it was the first time a female
scared
him, like the bullies at school had scared him, like the gangbangers who walked past his job sites scared him.

He’d passed out after she bit him, and, damn, yes, she’d actually drawn blood there. He looked at himself in the half-broken mirror. Sure enough, two puncture wounds stewed out on his neck, just like the ones on his dick two days before. No question about it. This one was an animal.

And she was so interested in Anne. Why? Anne had never hurt a fly. All she ever did was work at the women’s shelter, helping those ladies get their lives back together. Everyone loved Anne. She was like a mother lion with her cubs. Hard to figure one of her clients would be this angry. No, it must be something else.

He wondered how Anne could meet a woman like Maya. He doubted Anne had ever stepped foot inside the Double Eights. The whole thing just didn’t make sense.

He placed the pieces of his phone in the trash and removed his clothing. His dick had healed. Thank God for small miracles. Well, now maybe Monika would take pity on him. He jumped into the shower. The wounds on his neck really hurt.

Afterward, he wet down his shirt and used it to clean up some of the blood on the wall and bathroom floor. He tossed his clothes, including his socks, into the washer, added extra bleach and detergent, then turned it on.

With fresh clothes and a shower, he sure didn’t look as bad as he felt. He hurt all over.
All
over. Like he’d been beat up when he was unconscious. Like how he felt the day he had woken up after having his wisdom teeth pulled. That day his cheeks had been so swollen that he could have sworn the dentist had taken aim and punched him just for fun.

First, he would try to call Anne and tell her about this crazy lady, and then he would see about having Monika help him with his stuff. If she’d have him back, that is. And if all else failed, well, he could always promise Gary a night of drinks and a free dinner. Hell, Gary owed him at least a place to stay, after all the trouble he had caused him. If it wasn’t for Gary, this bitch wouldn’t be stalking Anne, he’d have a cell phone, and he wouldn’t feel so tired and drained of energy. He just hoped there wasn’t some medical condition that would spring up at an inopportune time. Like that time he and Gary went down to Mexico. That would really suck.

Robert picked up the landline and dialed Anne’s phone. All he got was voicemail. Again. He left a message asking her to call him on the house phone, then he called Monica. Monica sounded annoyed, and when he asked where Anne was, she called him a dipshit and hung up. He called Elena and told her he wouldn’t be in, then sat down to wait. Surely Anne would call sometime today.

About an hour later, he got a call from Anne.

“God, you sound far away,” he said. “Where are you?”

“Umm the connection just isn’t very good here. I’m at a friend’s house. They live in Healdsburg.”

There was a lot of background noise. He could hear someone talking and the peel of church bells. He didn’t remember hearing bells before in Healdsburg.

“Well, I’ve missed you.”

“Umm.”

Robert knew she wasn’t listening to him, or she would have protested his sentiment. There was the sound of something rustling in the background.

“Are you okay, Anne?”

“I’m perfect.” More rustling. “Ah, Robert, I need to ask you a very important question.”

“Shoot. I’m all ears.”

“Will you renounce your marriage vows?”

This was not what he expected. Anne was going to go through with this.

“Please, Robert.” She sighed one of her very best, long, sighs. “If you have ever loved me, please say you will fully release me.”

Should he set her free? Should he say no? “Could we talk about it? I’m real sorry about everything.”

“No, it’s over. Let’s face it, you love Monika. Go be happy with her. I want you to be . . . happy.” She gasped. “Please, please, just tell me you agree to end our marriage. Release me, Robert.”

“But in my own way, I love you Anne. I know if we went to counseling, we could revive our marriage. I’ve learned my lesson.”

“Please, Robert.”

“I can take anger management classes. I think I’m a sex addict, Anne. There are twelve-step meetings for this. I’m willing to become a changed man.”

“I don’t want to change you,” Anne said. “I want you to let me go. I’ve released you with my full heart. Please do the same for me. Please, Robert.”

It was against his better judgment, but it was the right thing for Anne. He’d messed up things enough, put her through enough. He could do this.

“Okay,” he whispered, surprised the word came out of his mouth.

There was a pause. It sounded like she was whispering to someone.

“Okay, what?” Anne said breathlessly.

Had she been running? “Okay I release you! Jeez, that sounds funny. But I still love you.”