Microsoft Word - Blood and Sex from CE.rtf (26 page)

He went into the room and hung the clothes on the coat rack on the wall. If he was going to make this work, there’d have to be changes. Starting with his hair.

* * * *

Christiana stepped out of the bathroom in the long, midnight blue gown the human had delivered to the front desk during the day. It was the one that matched the custom mask, and had a line of matching plumed feathers that went around the side and back of the neck to make a feather collar. The rest of the gown was sheer and flowing with enough beading to make her sparkle. She’d waited months to wear it and couldn’t have been happier with the design.

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Rudolpho really knew how to make a dress.

“Wow.”

She glanced to the bed where Blane sat in his black tux, mask in hand, and more handsome than she’d ever seen him. His hair was pushed back from his face, and the green was gone. “What did you do to your hair?”

“I had the green cut off.”

“That’s where you disappeared to?” She came closer and felt his hands slide up her hips as she stepped between his knees. She slid her hands through his hair. “But why?”

“So it looks like we belong together.”

“Blane, I liked it the way it was.” She caught his face in her hands. “I don’t want you to change.”

“Maybe it’s time I do.”

“Why?”

“I’ve been trying to be something I’m not because of other people.”

“And now you’re changing because of those same people.”

He caught her hand and held it in his. “I’m not going to hide anymore.”

She smiled down at him. She knew exactly what he meant. She’d been hiding, too. Not once had she done the things she’d wanted to do or really relaxed until she’d been with him.

“I’m not going to either. We can’t exactly turn this off, so we’ll make the most of it.
Fuck ’em
all.
”

He laughed at her attempt at Texas slang. “I guess we should go and get it over with.”

“We’ll tell Khalil and Michael first. Then I’ll get rid of Vincenzo.” She fought back a cringe. Now, in the face of something real, the idea of her online romance made her feel pathetic.

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How could she have been so desperate?

Christiana took his hand and led him toward the door. “Well, it should be an exciting night.”

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Chapter Fifteen

Christiana let Blane lead her into the grand ballroom. Masked faces turned toward them as they pushed through the crowded entry. She couldn’t have been happier to have her own mask to hide behind, even if they still knew who she was. Those with the right gifts would know their secret, but the others would gawk and whisper. The thought made her laugh.

Inside the large baroque room, couples twirled and moved in their intricate dances. On the left, seated at a long table, Khalil and Michael chatted. No sooner than she’d spotted them, they both glanced up. Neither face looked particularly happy.

Blane’s hand tightened on hers. He must have noticed them, too, but he walked straight toward them, only stopping when they reached the table. To their left, Jonas stood with Elena.

Even in their elaborate clothes and half-masks, Jonas’s white hair and tattoos made them easy to spot. Jonas offered her a wink and a smile that matched the warm sentiments radiating from him.

It was odd after hearing the conversation Blane had with him. He seemed genuinely glad to see them together. “Good luck,” he whispered.

She nodded, then turned her attention to her
creatore
. “Good evening, Khalil. We would like—”

He stood suddenly, and it made her heart stop. Then Michael stood and followed him toward a side room. Blane pulled her along behind the two men.

Now, facing down the moment of truth, she wasn’t ready. No. She wanted to run screaming from the room instead of having whatever punishment they chose forced upon her.

* * * *

Inside the little side room, Blane held tight to Christiana’s hand while they both took off

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their masks with their free hands. He forced the door shut behind them, but Blane’s use of his power didn’t surprise the other men. Only Christiana jumped at the sound.

Khalil moved to sit on the edge of a table. “I already know what happened.” His jaw clenched, then flexed. “What I want to know is what the
hell
you two were thinking.”

Blane pulled Christiana behind him a little. If this went badly, he might be able to protect her for a little while. Long enough to help her get out.

Christiana spoke up before he could decide what to say. “The same that everyone else thinks when they choose the
vincolo
.”

“Did it ever occur to you that I might have other plans for you?”

Blane started to open his mouth, then closed it again. No one had officially told her. Only Isabella had blabbed it. So she couldn’t get in trouble for knowingly embarrassing him. He fought back a smile.

Christiana pulled away from him, then walked toward Khalil. She reached for his hand and took it without waiting for permission. “I’m sorry. We do want this, but we didn’t actually mean for it to happen when it did. You know I would have asked your permission.”

Khalil glanced from her to Blane. Michael spoke up this time, “I know you have more self control than this.”

“I do.” He sighed. There was no excuse. “And I’ll take whatever punishment is necessary. But I ask that you leave Christiana out of this. She isn’t as experienced as me, and she had little control.”

Michael laughed. “Yes, you will do whatever Khalil decides. I have given him my blessing for whatever he chooses and asked for your actions not to be a reflection on our
cosca
.”

They all turned to watch Khalil. He watched Christiana, then turned his eyes toward

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Blane. “I am furious that you have taken her without my permission.” He took a breath, then continued. “But there is nothing I can do to change it. Killing you would bring her an eternity of mourning. Anything I do to you will also hurt her.”

He sighed. “And she does love you. I saw it before even she did.” Khalil pushed off the desk and walked toward him, pulling Christiana with him. “Since I had promised her to someone else, as you well know, I am forced to make a decision that best protects my own power. Your binding will force my hand.”

He put her hand on Blane’s and held it there. “Isabella was punished for drugging her.”

Christiana gasped.

“She has lost her territory in Ravenna, and all she owns. You will move immediately into her estate on the coast and take control of the
cosca
there. They are, for the most part,
neonato
.”

“Where is Isabella?”

He glared at his child. “Where she will never harm you or anyone else again.” Then his glare turned back to Blane. “If I did not think so highly of you,
fratello
, you would not be standing here. Don’t disappoint me.”

Blane nodded. “I won’t.”

“I expect only the best for my child, and I will accept nothing less.”

“That is all I intend for her.”

Khalil let go of their hands and took a step back, clearing his throat. “There will be an announcement tonight, before sunrise. No one is to know of this as anything but my expressed intent. We are done.”

Christiana leapt at Khalil with a huge hug. He laughed and wrapped his arms around her, but Michael moved around them toward the door.

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Blane caught up with him just as the door opened. “Thank you,” he whispered.

Michael didn’t turn around. “You owe me.”

He watched his padrone—
former padrone
—walk out into the sea of masked faces. Michael was right. He owed him more than he would every possibly be able to repay.

* * * *

Christiana watched Blane walk out behind Michael as she slid on the feathered blue mask. He was feeling grateful, so it didn’t surprise her to see him take off after Michael.

“May I have the first dance with the new bride?” Khalil’s arms came around her shoulders, and he gave her a squeeze.

She smiled. She was the bride, wasn’t she? It was a bond stronger than human marriage, and it would tie them forever. “Of course.”

He came around the side, then took her hand in his. With as much care as he did anything, Khalil led her onto the dance floor. “I had a bit more of a celebration in mind. For when you finally did this.”