Blood Life Seeker (38 page)

Gregor stood, smoothly, with that otherworldly motion. He showed no fear, only polite interest.

“You have chosen one here to share your
Sigillum
with.”

There was suddenly a tension in the room. My eyes flicked to Michel's, they were neutral, under control, but he did hold my gaze for a moment, before returning his attention to the Champion.

“Lucinda.” The Champion didn't look at me as she said my name, but her voice caressed my arms, making goosebumps rise along the length of them. “Please stand.” She was being polite, but I didn't doubt that was about to change, her
Sanguis Vitam
had already rolled across the table and hit me like a brick wall.

She knew I would have trouble standing, even leaning forward in my seat was taking a tremendous amount of effort. If the Scribe hadn't have taken pity on me, I would have still been sitting there after dessert, but he simply reached out and touched my hand and I could breathe. The Champion let a low growl out between her red lips, but he didn't remove his touch. I stood, a little shakily and then his hand fell away.

If it was tension I felt in the room before, it was now fear. Every vampire around that table, perhaps apart from Pandora, was radiating fear. But fear of what? The Champion or what she might do? Fear for Gregor? Or was it fear of me?

“What say you, Gregor?” she asked coolly.

“I have found a mate, Champion, would you begrudge me that?

What the fuck?

Do not show your surprise, ma douce.

For Michel to risk talking to me in my head I was obviously failing at remaining neutral to an alarming degree. I reschooled my features into my usual mask, the one I reserve for vampires, especially those I find most chilling and don't want them to see my fear.

“You have complicated things.” The Champion did not sound happy. “She now affords your protection and those of yours sworn to you.”

All eyes at the table were now on me. I wasn't sure if I completely understood what was happening, but it was definitely having an effect on the vampires in the room. The Champion glared at me, but she was no longer forcing her
Sanguis Vitam
over me, she was no longer using any vampiric mind control at all. It was as if the entire room had stopped messing with my mind. Why?

Because you are his.
The Champion's words were bitter in my mind.

I shook my head. I couldn't form the words in my mind to say
I don't understand
.

She laughed and even that didn't have an effect over me and answered my question out loud.

“The Enforcer has chosen a mate. It is forbidden for us to tamper with the mate of a council member. With his protection, none of the Council can touch you, without suffering his wrath.” She paused, to smile sweetly at me. “Unless you have broken a law of course, by which all are judged regardless of connections.”

Oh. I got it. No more influence, no more mind control games. The Enforcer was their scary monster, even they didn't want to come up against him.

Exactly.

But what of the Prophesy and the threat the
Iunctio
believes I am to them?

Should you be a threat to the Iunctio you will be judged accordingly. The Enforcer's protection does not cover that. However, should you be found guilty on such charges, he will suffer the same judgement as you.

And then she was gone from my mind.

Wow. Had Gregor planned this? I didn't think so, he would have mentioned it. And somehow the whole,
he will suffer the same judgement as you
didn't sound like the sort of thing a vampire would willing get themselves into. So what did this actually mean? There had to be something in it for him to have opened himself up to such possible danger. Surely he knew the
Iunctio
were not going to rule in my favour.

And why were they so scared of him? It reminded me of the reaction Michel had, when I first mentioned Gregor's interest in me. He had been scared too. Had I missed something here? Gregor just didn't make me scared, well not in that way.

The Champion was still standing, so was Gregor and myself. Gregor flicked his gaze to me, but didn't hold it. Just a glance. I think he wanted to make sure I wasn't mad. I couldn't be mad at something I didn't fully understand, but I was beginning to think I might be, once all was revealed.

The Champion sat then, so we did too and then dinner was served.

A stream of scantily clad humans entered the room. It wasn't enough that they were being served up as dinner, they had to be subjected to displaying as much of their body as was possible, without being actually nude. The bodies all climbed onto the table and proceeded to crawl around the edges of it, like a perverted catwalk show.

Every now and then, one of the council members would reach out and grab a human, pulling them into their laps and proceeding to run their hands over their prize, laying a kiss here, murmuring a word there. I so did not want to watch them playing with their food.

Suddenly, Gregor was at my shoulder, his head bent down to whisper in my ear. It was probably a waste of time, all the vampires here could have heard every word, or maybe because I was his
mate
now they blocked it, out of respect, or some warped vampire mating practice or privilege.

“
As my human
Sigillum
-shared and as my declared mate, it is appropriate for me to feed from you, should I wish to
not
partake of the offerings here.”

I looked up at him. His eyes were still neutral, nothing to give away what he actually felt.

“I do not wish any on this table. I wish for only you.”

Why was he doing this? He obviously didn't need to feed from me, he didn't need to make me feel like food in front of all the council members, so why was he doing this?

I couldn't help it, I had to look at Michel. And just as my eyes met his, so blue, so many flecks of indigo and amethyst dancing in their depths, I watched numbly as he reached forward almost blindly, his eyes still locked with mine, and grabbed a passing human, pulling him into his lap.

What the hell? He wasn't going to stop this? I suddenly did not want to be here, panic rose up my body threatening to cut off my air. Gregor simply pulled me to my feet, up against his body, so I was facing away from the table, and whispered, “Trust me” as he took my seat and pulled me into his lap. I couldn't see what was happening behind me, I could no longer see Michel and his
dinner,
as Gregor had me still facing mainly him, sitting sideways on his lap. And then Gregor's eyes caught mine, a flash of silver washed over them, he simply brushed my hair to the side and pulled my neck towards his mouth.

I didn't see his fangs come down, I didn't have a chance to brace. He made it a swift action, one I couldn't have time to fight. His fangs simply pierced my skin, the sharpness making me gasp, quickly followed by beautiful, longed-for bliss.

The room disappeared around me and all I heard in my mind was,
trust me, ma cherie, please trust me.

I wasn't quite sure if I could.

I don't know how long Gregor fed for. Time had ceased to exist. All I wanted was his lips on my skin, his teeth in my flesh and his hands on my body. Feeding for a vampire is an intimate thing. It doesn't need to be, sometimes it can just be food to stay alive, but given the choice, vampires will usually feed from those they are attracted to.

How far they take that attraction will vary. Before Michel fed regularly from me, he would enjoy it, but I am sure he rarely took it further than the action of the feeding alone. I'm also quite sure, he no doubt
did
take it further when it pleased him on occasion, but that would be more an exception to the rule.

So, it should have surprised me, that Gregor was taking this further, but it didn't, because right then I wanted him to. He wasn't just feeding from me, he was damn near undressing me in front of all the
Iunctio
council members. I couldn't tell if they were paying attention, or too busy undressing their own meals too. All of my attention was on Gregor's hands on my skin, under my short dress, pushing it higher than it should ever go in public and at the back of my neck, up in my hair.

Finally, he finished feeding and withdrew his fangs, licking my skin, but the heat he had sent through my body didn't go away and when his eyes met mine, I felt it build even further. I vaguely realised, he was glazing me to a certain extent and this should have set the alarm bells clanging, but instead I simply shifted my position, so I was now straddling him, my legs either side of his body, his chest against my breasts. And I wrapped my arms around his neck and just leaned in to kiss him.

His mouth met mine in a bruising crush. There was no delicate brush of lips, this was all an almost uncontrolled hunger and need. And I wasn't sure who it belonged to, me or him. But we both fell into it with abandon.

My hands ran through his hair, pulling it loose from the clip. His hands were all over me, pulling me closer and closer, making my body ride up his, the movement sending shockwaves through me, making me shudder against his chest. A sound escaped his lips as I felt him harden between my legs and his tongue started darting in so deeply, so quickly, in my mouth. If it was possible to get inside me through my mouth, I think he would have.

I had no intention of stopping him, of stopping this. He could have laid me out on that low table, stripped me bare and had all of me, right then, in front of all of the
Iunctio
council. I wouldn't have cared, I would have cried for more. I don't know if he would have done that, he was certainly very much enjoying the show we were currently putting on and I could feel just how desperately he wanted to take it further. Whether he had forgotten our audience or not, I didn't know, but he was most definitely caught up in the moment.

If it hadn't have been for the Pull, I wouldn't have lifted from the haze of desire he had created in me. I was damn near drowning it and quite happy to go under too. But my evil-lurks-in-the-city Pull slapped me in the face and then tugged me in various directions, so I pushed away from Gregor with a gasp. His arms stiffened around me as my body arched back, stopping me from falling off his lap altogether. Then the world turned black and I sunk into the nothingness that takes me Dream Walking. But I wasn't Dream Walking this time, I was
seeking
. And what I
saw
made me shudder in fear.

There were so many, so many of them. And they were here. Before I fell out of that black void from fear, I forced myself to feel more, to sense more. Why were they here? What did they want?

It was like asking a question, I simply received an answer. They were here to kill the Champion, they were here to take over the
Iunctio
.

I fell out of the black nothingness into bright lights, loud voices and firm hands on my shoulders shaking me.

“Lucinda. Lucinda.” Gregor's voice was the loudest of them all, but the council members were aware that something had just happened, something big and they were demanding explanations too.

I scrambled off Gregor's lap and spun to look at the Champion. There must have been some look on my face, because the council all fell quiet. She simply held my gaze, standing straight, making her seem so much taller than she actually was. If I hadn't have already known she was my height, I would have thought she towered over me now.

Guards rushed in to stand between us. They thought I was a threat, but the Champion just cocked her head at me and raised her eyebrows.

What is it, Hunter? What do you see?

My voice was low and a little breathless, but I held her gaze. This was for her.

“There's too many of them. Hundreds. They're almost here.”

The vampires in the room stiffened and moved ever so slightly, perhaps readying themselves for battle. Perhaps uncomfortable with this whole scene. I didn't pay them any attention, I just had eyes for the Champion alone.

“They come for you. They come to challenge and to kill.”

Now voices were raised around me and the guards stepped forward with their hands outstretched, no doubt to secure me, to trap me, but it wasn't me they needed to fight. I didn't want the Champion dead, well not right now, but they didn't know that. I had just threatened the Champion though, even if my words were only a warning.

My eyes hadn't left hers. She didn't show fear, but surprise. Was she that sure of herself that no one would ever challenge her?

Before the guards had crossed the distance required to grab me, I said, “These are the rogue vampires who have been plaguing your city. Does the
Iunctio
not wish to defend its honour?”

“Seize her!” It was the Tempest, off to my right.

Gregor pulled me behind him, trying to protect me, but I didn't need protection from the guards. I needed it from the hundreds of rogue vampires who were about to breach the
Palais
and storm this room.

“Champion.” My voice was normal, not raised and to a human they wouldn't have heard it over the voices shouting in the room, but I knew she did. “You need me. Without me you will lose.”

It's not that I think I'm the biggest, baddest vampire hunter out there or anything, I mean as far as I'm concerned, Nero's that, but I knew in that moment, as if Nut was whispering in my ear, that without my help the
Iunctio
would fall tonight. I knew it and because I knew it, so did the Champion. Whether she just read my mind, or whether it was the connection we shared, the one that I now realised Nut had placed there, but the Champion raised her hand, letting her voice carry over all sounds in the hall, flattening them, until it was only her words we could hear.

“
Leave her! Prepare for battle and let the
Sanguis Vitam Cupitor
do her job.”

The Tempest made a sound, but it was squashed by whatever the Champion was doing to the room. And then we heard the outer walls of the
Palais
explode and the sounds of hundreds of vampires swarming the building.

The council members of the
Iunctio
are all old and experienced warriors. They hadn't got to where they were without having won a battle or two, so they were already fanning out, placing themselves in the best position to face the onslaught that was about to come. Somehow working together to cover the ground and surround the Champion. I don't know why I felt the need to be close to her, she had guards, she had the council members all prepared to fight to the death to protect her, she didn't need a little Nosferatin getting in the way, but my inner monologue piped up and shouted through my mind,
Protect her! Protect
her! Protect her!

I ran towards where she was standing, no one stopped me, they were all on full alert facing the approaching battle sounds.
Iunctio
guards and flunkies were fighting it out, on the other side of these walls, but they would fail, I knew this, and I had to protect the Champion.

I slid to a stop in front of her and spun to face the sounds.

You wish to protect me, Nosferatin?
She sounded amused.

Yes.

With what?

She had me there, no stake. Damn. I could do some damage with my bare hands, but kill? I wasn't so sure. Did I really have the strength to rip a vampire's head off it's shoulders? I doubted that, but what other options were available to me? I had to protect her and I think I was prepared to die trying.

I felt her in my mind then, she didn't say anything, but she'd heard my thought and she was surprised. Astounded more like it. Absolutely blown away. She hadn't expected a Nosferatin to throw themselves in front of the leader of the
Iunctio
. She had not expected me, the
Sanguis Vitam Cupitor
, prepared to sacrifice myself for her. Why?

I couldn't explain it, I just knew this was what Nut wanted me to do.

Ma douce
!

My eyes flicked up to Michel. I knew exactly where he was in the room, I didn't need to search, the Bond pulled me to him. He was off to the side, standing with more of the council, ready to do battle. He looked at me and reached inside his jacket, pulling a black felt draw string bag from his inner pocket and throwing it to me, through the air. I caught it, a reflex action, as it was flying with some speed and opened the top to peer inside.

The most beautiful sight awaited, glinting in the lights from the chandeliers: my stake. I let a little laugh out and felt my whole body relax. I slipped my hand in and felt the familiar coolness of silver against my skin. Centring me, grounding me, making me feel like I was connected to all the Nosferatin left in the world. I pulled it out and it sparkled in the room, making nearby vampires turn towards me with fear.
It's all right boys, I'm on your side.

The Champion actually laughed.

I glanced back at Michel and saw it, love. I think it was mine, my love for him, but it may have been his too, I'm not sure. But only Michel would have thought to smuggle my stake into a room full of potentially lethal vampires. Only Michel would have thought to cover my back.

I love you.
I sent the thought to him.

He smiled, the smile he reserves for only me. That smile that takes my breath away, that shows me the little boy he once would have been. He doesn't flash that smile often, it makes him vulnerable, so I really appreciate it when he does. It's just so damn precious.

Je t'aime trop,
ma douce
.

And then they were here.

There's just something about facing evil vampires. Granted, I usually only face one at a time and there were literally hundreds swarming us now, but this was what I was made for. This was what I do. It's as natural as breathing, as essential as water and as basic as existing. It is who I am.

The first wave of vampires were met with the formidable force of the
Iunctio
guards, who were not the closest guards of the Champion without amassing some skills. They were joined by a few of the council. The Scribe was one, who was more than capable of holding his own, which did momentarily surprise me and I recognised the Diviner in amongst the flashes and swirls. And also the vampire who had originally been with the Champion on the first night we arrived. Michel had told me he was the Keeper. Apparently his role was to oversee the
Iunctio's
power, to keep it contained and direct it where it needed to be. I didn't doubt that someone who held that sort of position was important to the
Iunctio
, but it certainly didn't stop him from entering the fray. He was also very powerful and he was loving it, by the look in his sparkling eyes. His striped hair flashing in the lights as he moved, making the blonde stripes look like a tiger's pelt, dancing in the breeze.

Within seconds the sheer number of attacking vampires had breached the first line of defence and had taken to the entire room. None had made it to the Champion, I wasn't the only one landing blows in an effort to protect her. She was well surrounded and lashing out with her own formidable powers as well. Beside me were two of the most powerful and oldest vampires I had ever felt. I knew in an instant who they were, as though they brushed my mind when I noticed their age and power. They knew I had felt them, not just seen them and they both simultaneously whispered in my head.

I am the Ambrosia. I am the giver of eternal life.
The second vampire almost whispering over the first.
I am the Nemesis. I force what is due.

As soon as I heard the Nemesis in my head I slammed my shields down, throwing him out and changed my stance to partially face him. He didn't look at me, just continued to battle several vampires in front of us and smiled. When I say battle, he simply stood there with his hands raised and directed unseen blow after unseen blow on the vampires clambering to get past us. What good Nut thought I could do when vampires simply sent out thoughts as attacks was beyond me. But ours is not to reason why and all of that.

Despite my shields, despite my formidable walls, I still heard his voice inside me. Not in my mind, almost as though he was whispering it over the walls, as though he had found the top of them and wasn't breaching them as such, just standing on the other side and letting his voice carry over them and down to me.