Minty (17 page)

Alex stood up on the table next to Rad. They both turned, walked to the end and dropped down with grace. Rad did not turn but Alex looked back. “Lords, I think we have just set a new precedent.”

Finally Radames turned and scowled at the Council with the retinue that still remained at the other end of the table. One servant was helping the nightwalker remove the knife that had his hand pinned to a chair back.

Rad’s voice was low but could be heard by all
—
more important, it was felt in their heads. This was different, this was a strength he knew they had never seen before. “This is the second time we have been betrayed by someone on the Council. This is the board that is to rule, that is protect us. You need to elect another
—
you need to put into effect some checks to make sure this no longer can happen. If you don’t, I and Alex will be glad to act as a monitor for all of you. Consider this not a threat, but a fact.”

He turned and reached for his expanded family. They all left quietly.

Epilogue

Alex entered his home in Rome. It was on the outskirts of the old city where it was cool. Although the villa was old with history, it was new for him, as he had always stayed in the hotel when he was required to attend conference business.

His mate had refused to stay behind in the New York penthouse that she had refurnished. It had a new room outfitted with electronics that he did not intend to ever understand. She simply put her foot down and refused to be away from him for the long periods that he needed to be in Rome.

So, much to the relief of his headaches and everything else, including one night when she actually refused to go to a dark room, he had given in and bought a palazzo to please her. She had set to work remodeling, it including outfitting another computer room.

The twilight was setting in. The lights were on throughout the house, but he could hear the voice of his mate. “I don’t care, you are a bumbling idiot. I want you out of here. I will finish the job myself. Get out, now.” She had a lovely voice, but in anger it could stop traffic.

He smiled as he headed in the direction of her voice. He was passed by several men, carrying boxes of equipment, hurrying to leave. They were accompanied by several servants. One stopped to bow to him.

“May I serve you, sire?”

“No, I am going to my female
—
close up the house and retire. We will need privacy this evening.” Alex went down the hall with long steps.

He found her on her knees, her head under a counter with wires hanging down from above. What he saw was the beautiful shape of her rear, raised up, moving back and forth as she balanced on her knees, her head lower as she tied wires together to a box on the floor.

“That is a position I want you in later tonight.” His voice was husky, his canines were throbbing as they pushed out.

She jerked, then started backing out. She finally got far enough to be able to raise up on her knees, turn around and give him a big smile.

“Alex, my love, these Italian electricians don’t know anything. I am so sorry, I didn’t hear you coming.” She jumped up, threw her arms up around him, kissing him deeply, as if it was still the first time and not a year later.

He laughed inside and kissed her deeply but he felt a need arise as his body reacted to the soft female pushing against him. “Let’s go to the bedroom, I have a present for you.”

He took her hand and they started down the hall, down a stairway to a lower level which finally led to their bedroom. It was one they both had created. It was theirs, but it was beyond description because it was for his dark side and for her dark panic.

He led her to the bed. “As I said, I have a present.” He pulled out a black velvet box that had a small gold crest on it.

“Alex, you spoil me.” But she reached out, taking the box to open it. Inside was what looked like a beautiful necklace. It was gold, almost sixteen inches long, with plain leather attachments that would close like a belt.

The links were each about half an inch long and they were beautifully heart shaped with an engraving. There was scrollwork around the shape of a knife on each heart. But when the item was turned over, there were sharp barbs on the back side, one of the top and one at the bottom of each heart, making a long row of fangs the length of the necklace.

She gently took it out and held it and looked up at him. “It is beautiful, but what is it, exactly?”

He smiled. “It is called a Cilice, they are made by nuns for the use of some devote Catholics who feel they must have pain to pay for their sins and evil thoughts. I requested this one especially made for you. I told them exactly what design had to be put on it as it will replace the knife, but this will let the knife always be with you.”

“What would you have me do, Master?”

“I am going to turn all the lights out. In the dark you will strip and place the Cilice around your upper thigh and pull it tight until it draws blood. We will continue in the darkness.”

She shivered. In her mind he heard
no pain no darkness no pain no darkness.
But before the lights went out he saw her smile.

About the Author

Many would call M. Garnet one of those
Grande Dames
who has led a long and exciting life and must now sit in comfort with a secret smile as those around her are extremely polite and careful with their language and sexual innuendos.

Married thirty-one years to a Soldier of Fortune (oops we were not supposed to tell anyone what he did, but he is dead now, so what the hell), her lovers included a professional golfer, a highly successful nightclub owner, and of course a sports bookie. She has traveled to most countries and still plays poker, but now she prefers it from her small office, surrounded by her Mac, her PC and her flat screen Sony with Cayo, her King Charles Spaniel, begging for attention.

Her long and interesting life, starting as a child on an old fashioned farm in Kentucky, tours through foundries and automobile assembly plants, running a International Engineering Consulting Company, has all given her a wealth of detail to draw from to add to the background of the stories she puts on her ‘puters.

She can be reached at [email protected]