Microsoft Word - Blood and Sex from CE.rtf (34 page)

“I love you too, Princess.” And he did.

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Blane pulled Christiana into the large conference room. Michael, as always, was seated at the head of the table. On his right, Jonas sat with his arm around Elena, their chairs pressed as close together as they would go. Tori, Michael’s human, paced the floor behind his chair. Khalil sat to his left, leaning back in the chair with his hands folded across his waist.

“Good evening,” Michael said. “Glad to see you haven’t died from spontaneous combustion.”

“Ha ha.” Blane smirked, pulling a chair out next to Khalil. When he motioned toward it, Christiana slid into the chair. He took the seat next to her. “Why are we here?”

“We have a few private matters to discuss.” Michael leaned forward, his elbows propped on the edge of the table. “This
cosca
is about to become the focus of the Bureau’s attention. Too many agents have died around your members. It is time to prepare for the worst.”

Blane groaned. Coming from Khalil, that probably meant the shit was going to hit the fan.

“This new breed”—Khalil motioned toward them—“poses a new threat to both our species. Your loyalties are obvious, but you had your bond to see you through the change.

Weaker vampires will not remain so loyal. We must all be prepared for this change. Michael has a few ideas.”

“I have decided you will be my new head of security,” Michael told Blane. “I want every building wired with the best, top surveillance, trackers on all the cars.” He smiled. “Everything you’ve wanted to do for a while.”

Blane smiled, too. “Just give me some plastic, and I’ll take care of it.”

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“I thought you’d say that.” Michael held out his hand and Tori stopped pacing. She walked forward and took his hand. “My next problem is one I need your opinions on. Tori believes it is unfair that I refuse to change her. She feels that she is too well known among us to remain safely human. I say it is too big of a risk to change her. I would like your opinions—

especially yours, Elena.”

Elena smiled up at Tori. “It’s not easy.”

“I know that.”

“You’ll have to give up your entire life.”

Tori nodded. “I already have. The force is all I have left, and things haven’t been the same since Castillo disappeared. They think I murdered the serial killer. Know how much they trust a detective they think is a murderer?” She held up her hand to make a zero with her fingers.

Jonas smiled up at her. “You’re practically one of us already. Have been for years. All you need is the fangs.”

Khalil laughed.

“I wonder what her ability will be,” Elena said.

Michael started to rub his forehead with his free hand. “I don’t relish the idea of making her give up her life for this.”

Christiana spoke then. “I don’t think she requires you to ask her. It sounds as though she has already given up that life.”

Khalil nodded. “By forcing her to remain human, you ask her to take a greater risk. There are rumors of action to move against her because she is your weakness.” He leaned forward, closer to Michael. “I understand your reluctance, but I am ordering her change. If you cannot bring yourself to do it, I will do this for her.” He smiled up at Tori.

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She beamed back, even as Michael seemed more torn.

He practically glared at Khalil. Then he shook it off and changed the subject. “Blane, who should take your place?”

He flipped through the faces in his mind. Gregory wouldn’t want to take over the smuggling. He would consider it beneath him. Then he smiled. “Arracado.”

Michael nodded. “Good choice. I’d considered it myself. He will take over your position immediately. I’ll call him in after you leave. “

“Thank you.”

He nodded again. “If you will all excuse me, Tori and I have things to discuss.”

No one waited to be told twice.

In the hallway, Khalil motioned Blane and Christiana toward the kitchen. He pulled a key on a small silver key ring from his pocket. “I have something for you. Your first gift together.”

“What is it?” Blane said, watching Christiana hold out her hand.

“I thought that perhaps with your new needs, you might prefer a more stable home.”

“You bought us a house?” The air felt like it had been sucked out of his lungs. Leave it to Khalil to feel an appropriate gift was a house.

“An estate, actually,” Khalil clarified. “The house is being renovated. It will be made almost entirely of noncombustible materials.”

He laughed. “Not much faith in our self control, huh?”

“Let’s just say I know how hard it will be in the beginning.” He gave Blane a wink.

Maybe he was trying to help the best way he knew how.

“I have to return to Europe. But I will be returning soon.” Khalil took Blane’s hand and gave it a strong shake. “I expect to see a formal ceremony arranged. You will still receive the

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mansion in Ravenna, and I will pay for the ceremony, of course. But I have a request.”

“Anything,” Christiana said with a bright smile.

“I would like to see it done at Christmas. I love those little white lights.”

Blane laughed.

Christiana threw her arms around Khalil’s neck. “Thank you.”

When she moved, Blane held his hand out.

“Thank you for everything.”
Including the secrets
.

Khalil’s voice came back, answering him in his own mind.
You are family, Blane. And I
am glad to have you watching over her
.

He nodded.

The leader kissed Christiana’s forehead. “Don’t let him blow up the new house.”

She laughed, then gave him one more hug before he walked away.

It was heartwarming to watch them together. If Blane hadn’t seen them with his own eyes, he would never have believed their relationship was so human. Especially with their king.

Power usually always brought a death of the humanity in the
vampiro
.

“Ready to go?” Christiana slid up to Blane, pressing their bodies together. “I think we have a new house to explore.”

And there was that new and dangerous sex he’d promised her.

Looking down at her, the determination in her eyes made it clear that it was going to be sooner than later.
Better to try it in a fireproof house
, he supposed. “Where is it?”

She glanced back down at the key ring, pulling out the little label to read it clearly. “Just down the road.”

“All right. Let’s go.”

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* * * *

“This place is in the middle of nowhere.” Blane steered the black SUV they’d borrowed from Michael’s garage onto a road next to a plain black mailbox.

A few moments down the tree-lined road, and the view opened to include a huge white house that looked like
the
White House without the dome.

“Damn,” Blane whispered.

“I know.”

“He doesn’t believe in small gifts, does he?”

“No.”
Not Khalil
.

The car pulled around the circle drive in front and stopped. Blane was at her door, opening it before she could touch the handle. “Wonder if it has a theater.”

Christiana laughed, taking his hand. “If it doesn’t, we’ll put one in.”

With her other hand, she put the key in the lock and turned. With a soft push, the door swung open to reveal a large, high foyer. Inside, it was decorated with tasteful modern art and furniture. A double staircase led upstairs, and through the back windows of the main floor, a large swimming pool was visible out back.

Blane swept her up into his arms.

“What are you doing?”

“I’m supposed to carry you over the threshold,” he said, walking inside. He kicked the

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door shut and didn’t put her down. Instead, he started up the stairs.

Christiana’s stomach twisted in knots. “Straight to it, then?”

His eyes darkened a little with a need that matched her own. “I can’t wait any longer.”