Deadly Desires (10 page)

An evil expression crossed Zepar’s face and he stood. “Little birdies like to talk, and what they tell me is quite interesting.”

Samael gave him a bored look. It was always drama with his brother. “And what do they say this time?”

“Why don’t you tell me? It’s your secret.”

A long line of men on both sides of the table stared down at him. Samael yawned again. He was not about to let his brother rattle his cage over shit that probably didn’t even warrant a response. “Well, let me see.” Samael leaned forward and rested his arms on the thick table. “I picked up a new hobby.”

Zepar narrowed his eyes. “Does this hobby consist of being on good terms with angels?”

Shit. That sure as hell got Samael’s attention. “Angels? Are you kidding me?”

A pleased expression filled his brother’s smug face. “I hear you’re going to join those cloud pouncers north of the pearly gate.” Zepar burst out laughing. “Can you believe that dumb fuck, Coros, actually told me that? I about died on the spot.”

“Fuck that guy.” Samael laughed. “Can you imagine, me, a good guy? That’ll be the day.”

“Yeah. My thoughts exactly.” The room filled with laughter and Samael could feel his heart in his throat. What the fuck had Nemmy done? That angel was so going to get it the next time he saw him.

Zepar sat down. “Now, down to business.”

Samael tuned out his brother’s voice and let his mind drift back to his woman. Woman. Hell, he still wasn’t sure how to address her. He wanted to call her his wife. Yeah right. That wasn’t going to happen. Not in this lifetime, anyway. There was no way she was gullible enough to make the same mistake twice.

The meeting went on and on. Samael didn’t mind so much, as he replayed their lovemaking over in his mind. Her curves were absolutely sinful. His cock throbbed so bad. On top of that, the next time they were together she wanted him to come in her. God, the thought was enough to make him expire on the spot.

“Samael,” Zepar snapped.

“What?” Samael looked around at the empty room.

“You better start talking right this fucking minute or else I’m calling Dad in here. Something is going on with you, and I can’t take anymore of your secrets. You’ve been sitting there in la-la land for the last half hour. You look like some lovesick puppy.”

Samael groaned. “I am. Heaven help me.”

“Really?” Zepar stood and walked over to him. “Who is she?”

Samael pushed back and kicked his feet to the top of the desk. “You ever been to the donkey show down in Mexico?”

“You sick fuck.” Zepar pushed his feet off the desk and Samael flew forward and started laughing.

“Stop worrying, brother. I’m fine. I was just thinking about the past. Do you think if things would have worked out differently, Marcianna would have loved me? I mean, if I wouldn’t have pushed her away for so long?”

Pain washed over Zepar’s face, and Samael knew he had his brother. If Samael exposed the pain his brother knew he had inside, there was no way Zepar would go snooping around looking for an answer that he felt didn’t exist.

“You’ve never mentioned her since it happened.”

Samael swallowed hard. “Well, it’s not like it’s easy to talk about. I think I’m starting to accept my reality. I just…miss her.” He looked up to Zepar. “I want my wife back. I want a second chance. And not some creation of her that Dad can make. I want the real thing.”

The air got cold at Zepar’s sorrow. His brother had been the only one there for him the years after Marcianna had been killed. He’d been the one to hold Samael back as he tried to kill his father. It was probably the only reason he was still alive.

“We can’t change the past, Samael. For you though, I really wished things would have been different for the both of you.”

Samael nodded. “Can I ask you a question?”

“Absolutely.”

He looked into Zepar’s eyes, trying to read him. “If you were me, and you had a chance to do things over, would you?”

“Wow.” Zepar looked down and took a deep breath. “I know how much you loved her at the end. You endured more than most men would have.” He looked up. “Yes. If I were you and could change the past then I would have gone into my wedding with open arms and embraced Father’s choice instead of defying him.”

Samael nodded. “So you’re all for me changing my past if I could?”

Confusion sparked on his brother’s face. “Yes. What are you up to, Samael?”

“Nothing. I’ve just been battling myself on that question. I’m glad you agree with my choice. Takes away from the guilt.”

Zepar slapped him on the shoulder. “Don’t feel guilty for wanting a second chance with the woman you loved.”

“Oh, I don’t anymore. Thanks, Brother.” Samael gave him one last smile and appeared in his room at the fortress. Screaming brought him racing onto the balcony. Marcella was covered in blood. The beating of his heart nearly stopped at seeing her. Flashes of their past nearly blinded him as he pushed himself to get to her faster.

Marcella spun to face him just as he scooped her into his arms. “What happened?” He ran his hands over her white tank top, pulling it up to check for wounds.

“Samael!” She pulled back from him. “It’s paint. Jason decided he was going to play a prank on Dom, and I was the one who got it this time.”

“Oh God.” Samael collapsed on the balcony, pulling Marcella down on top of him. He hugged her tightly, never wanting to let her go. Damn if he couldn’t catch his breath. “I thought…”

“Oh, Samael.” She wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed his mouth softly. “I’m okay. I promise.”

Jason slid out onto the balcony and Samael felt rage equivalent to the moment his father took his love away from him. Black covered his vision and he slowly rose. The collector in Jason must have stirred, because he froze and got in a defensive position. “Calm down, buddy. It was just a joke.”

“A joke.” Samael’s body became numb from all the adrenaline that rushed through his limbs.

“No.” Marcella put herself between them. “You won’t do this. Calm down, right now.”

“What would have happened if she had gotten hurt from one of your jokes? What then, Jason?” Samael stepped around Marcella.

A laugh came from Jason’s mouth, which was a huge mistake. The last thing Samael could stand to hear in his anger was laughing. There was nothing funny about her getting injured.

“She’s a collector for crying out loud. Marcella isn’t going to get hurt.”

Samael pressed his lips together at the need to rip this kid up by his throat. “She’s about to be a
pregnant
collector, you jackass. No more pranks around her. Period. If something happens to our baby from your negligence, you’re not only going to have to worry about my wrath. There’s a list of people that would hunt your ass down.”

Jason’s face sobered. “Fine. I’ll refrain from doing pranks around Marcella. You’re right. We can’t risk anything happening once she gets pregnant. It’s best to start now.”

Samael threw his hands against the edge of the balcony and tried to calm down. The possessiveness that he felt over the woman he loved was starting to border on obsessive. The black faded from his eyes, and all he wanted to do was go back to his room. He kept his head down and slammed the door behind him. The clothes covering his body vanished and he made his way to the shower. One more night and they’d be leaving. Damn if he couldn’t wait.

Marcella wiped the tear from her cheek and waved good-bye to Donavon. She couldn’t believe he was leaving on his journey without her. But it had to be this way. He had his best men, Aaron and Gabe, to accompany him, so she knew he would be all right.

“And so it begins,” Samael whispered beside her.

“It does.” She stood straighter and watched Donavon’s Mercedes SUV disappear from sight. The heat was extra hot today. Sweat was already beginning to collect between her breasts. It probably wouldn’t have been so bad, except the humidity was through the roof, making it hard to breathe.

Marcella turned and walked toward the projection of the small house that hid her fortress. “We should get ready. I want to leave the moment the sun goes down.”

“As you wish.” Samael followed her inside, and she watched as the wolves and vampires interacted throughout the great hall. Most of them got along and kept their distance, but she loved that groups were beginning to evolve and interact with each other. Ambrose walked forward and she smiled big at her new collector. It was so weird not to think of him as the master vampire anymore.

Power emanated from him as he got closer, and she couldn’t believe how strong he really was. It was amazing.

“My queen.” He bowed his head and smiled as his golden eyes connected with hers. “Samael.” He nodded in the dark angel’s direction.

“How are you feeling today?” Marcella asked while she walked with him to their table in the back of the room.

“Excellent. Really. I’ve never felt better.” They took a seat and Marcella grabbed an apple from a bowl centered in the middle. Now that she knew her body was actually working again, she wanted to get it as healthy as possible. She couldn’t risk losing the child she planned on having. She couldn’t. Everything inside of her burned with the importance of this decision. And it wasn’t just to have a child so she and her men could live. This child was meant for greatness. The role it was going to play in the future was a crucial part of its destiny.

“I’m glad you’re taking well to your collector. It really becomes you.” The tattoos went all the way to Ambrose’s wrists on both arms. He looked completely different, and yet the same.

“I like it.” He smiled. “More than you know. I’ve never felt so alive. And I mean that. Like, living. I can go outside and see without having to squint. My heartbeat’s so powerful. And the food…” He manifested a pear and bit into it. “God, I’ve missed the way food tastes.” He moaned and focused on the fruit.

“Well…good.” Marcella laughed and paid attention to her own appetite. She began to pile everything breakfast related onto her plate. Although collectors didn’t need to eat unless they were pregnant, it was still good to do. Especially when their bodies were going through changes like hers.

“Jeez Louise,” Jason gasped at seeing her plate. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen you eat so much.” He nodded. “I’m glad. It’s about damn time.”

The anger she felt from Samael brought her eyes off the plate. At seeing her notice, he looked down. She sighed. Those two. It was always something. Most of the time they got along, but moments like this just really made things difficult.

“Here.” Samael handed her a small, white bottle. Marcella looked down and narrowed her eyes as she read the label.

“Prenatal vitamins.”

“Yes, I’ve been doing research. Supposedly they will help with your health. It says they’re good to take when trying to get pregnant, too, so…” He shrugged and went back to drinking his coffee. Marcella felt a warming in her heart. She leaned forward and kissed his rough cheek.

“Thank you, Samael.”

“He’s right.” Jason plopped down in the chair. “I called my mom and talked to her about it. She mentioned taking them, too.”

“Your mom?” Marcella looked at him nervously. “What exactly did you tell her, Jason?”

A plate appeared before him, and Marcella noticed that it was stacked just as high as hers. “Not much. Just that I was in Colorado visiting some friends. She’s getting used to me being gone a lot. I told her that I was checking out colleges here so she’d relax a bit.”

“About the pregnancy, Jason.”

“Oh.” He bit into a piece of bacon. “I just told her one of my friends’ girlfriends was pregnant. She asked me if she was taking prenatal pills or had been to a doctor yet. The nurse in her started going on and on.”

“A doctor?” Marcella hadn’t given that much thought. She looked over at Samael, who looked at her, worried. “I guess I do need to try to find one for when it happens. But…how? I mean, they do all types of blood work. Mine is going to throw all kinds of flags whether I change human or not.”

“You’re going into Wiccan territory,” Jason said. “I’m sure one of them is a doctor that might be able to help you. They lead normal lives, too. If not a doctor, at least a midwife. They’re basically the same thing.”

“You’re right.” Marcella nodded and focused back on her food. Samael had told her to come to him once her monthly was over. Well, she should have gone to him this morning, but with Donavon leaving, she didn’t want to miss the opportunity to see him off.

The food disappeared from her plate and Marcella couldn’t believe she’d eaten so much. She felt positively stuffed. The bottle caught her attention and she opened it and popped one of the pink pills in her mouth. The orange juice was cold as she washed it down. Damn, she’d always hated taking medication, and the pill wasn’t the size of a Tylenol, it was damn gigantic.

She looked around the table and noticed that everyone was in their own little world. She rose and looked around the crowded room. Nothing brought her joy like seeing her followers walking around. The majority of their souls fluttered around in her core. Jason had the others. Once word had gotten around within their communities, the outreach to find Marcella had been momentous. Every day it seemed like two or three more people would show up. She hated that she was going to have to tell them good-bye tonight, but she trusted Jason and Ambrose to take over. Plus, now that the two of them were both collectors, they’d need the souls as much as her.