Jude Stephens (25 page)

We sat down while the two continued in their native
tongue. The conversation became heated and I heard Annika say bitch
and I turned my head towards her.

Now speaking in English Alex said,
“You will not call Wren that ever again or so help me
God…”

Both Mark and Cheve stood up, but I waved them down
“There’s no need to defend me. I owe Annika an apology.”

I looked her straight in the eye “I apologize for my
involvement with your mate. I didn’t know he belonged to another
and as soon as I found out I ended things. I have no other excuse,
and I want you to know I love your brother. I won’t hurt him I
promise.”

Everyone was quiet for a minute.
She seemed to be taking my measure. Then she spoke, “I know they
say you are a Sensay,
the
Sensay. The prophesized one, but I am telling you
that you will not harm my family. I will kill you before I allow
you to hurt them.”

Alex growled, “Annika. You will sop threatening my
woman right now or I swear that I will throttle you right here and
now.”

I looked around the room. Janel was watching Annika
through narrowed eyes. Mark and Cheve were barely holding
themselves back and Alex looked like he was ready to strike
someone. Bullet on the other hand just sat back on his haunches
watching us all, bored from the look of it. Shit. This wasn’t going
so good. I had to take control of the situation.

“
Will everyone calm down? Annika,
I understand you perfectly and you can rest assured that I don’t
want to harm you or your family.”

Annika’s eyes lit with triumph before I continued,
“But, you will not interfere in my business or with your brother
and me. I will not tolerate any threats against my friends or bad
behavior from you. As you protect your family, I protect mine and
any who bring harm or hurt to them will pay the price.”

At Annika’s smirk I added, “I may not look like
much, but Cheve will vouch that I’m as fast as you, as strong as
you and I can move without making a sound. You will never get close
enough to touch me let alone kill me.”

Annika was silent for a minute, but then nodded her
head in a truce.

I smiled. “Well now that that’s out of the way, why
don’t you tell Roberto to come out? I know he’s here. I smell
him.”

Chapter 25

A door opened upstairs and I heard someone
approaching. I took a deep breath trying to steady my rapidly
beating heart. Alex came close and put his arm around me for which
I was grateful. We all turned towards the stairs as he began his
descent. I wasn’t sure why I was so nervous to see him and maybe it
wasn’t nervousness it was more likely awkwardness.

After all a few months ago we were supposedly in
love and now here we were. Roberto was with his mate Annika and I
was with my bonded Alex. It was all too much like a soap opera.

“
No more drama in my
life…”

Everyone turned to stare at me as I sang out loud.
Annika was looking at me in horror, Mark and Cheve were both
smirking and Alex, he was looking at me like he wanted to eat me
up. I’d have to remember singing equals lust for Alex.

From the top of the stairs I heard, “What the hell
was that noise?”

In a state of shock I turned, so I could watch
Roberto’s brother Cristoforo descend the stairs.

“
What are you doing here?” I
blurted out.

“
I’m doing the same thing you are
though with a lot less back up dancers.” He said looking at the
guys behind me.

“
I’m looking for my brother. You
remember the guy you were sleeping with a few months
ago.”

Alex took a step forward, and Annika and I said at
the same time, “Alex, no!”

Cristoforo laughed. “Man, I’d hate to be you. Not
one, but two harpies ordering you around.”

I had forgotten how much I disliked Roberto’s
brother. He was insensitive, rude and obnoxious.

Annika gave Cristoforo a dirty look, but just then a
child cried. All heads turned toward Annika.

“
Okay, yes, that is my child,” She
said.

Alex said, “Anni why? Why would you run away like
that? Moder and Fader have been so worried. I don’t
understand.”

Annika’s face softened for the first time. “I know
you don’t, my dear Broder. I wish that I can tell you, but I need
to keep Gjord’s existence hidden for now.”

Alex’s eyes were bright with unshed tears. “Gjord?”
Alex bowed his head. “Peace from God.”

I looked quizzically at Alex. Regaining his emotions
he said, “I’m sorry. Gjord is my nephew, and his name means Peace
from God. It’s very fitting.” He turned to Annika. “May I go see
him?”

“
Of course. I need to go change
him. Why don’t you come help me, Broder?”

Alex asked me, “Do you want to come along?”

I didn’t want to interrupt a family reunion, so I
said, “No, you go along and meet your nephew. I’ll catch up with
Cristoforo.” Though that was the last thing on earth I wanted to
do.

After they went upstairs, I turned to Cristoforo.
“Do you have any idea where Roberto is?’

Cristoforo stared at me as if I was wearing a large
dunce cap. “Yeah, sure I know where my bro is. I’m just here to
tell him he’s got some important mail at home. His subscription to
Fangs of Fury is about to expire.”

“
Okay, you don’t have to be so
sarcastic. I’m just worried about him.”

Cristoforo moved close to me, and looking in my eyes
said, “Why? You moved on quick enough. It looks like you’ve got a
bed full of men satisfying your insatiable Sensay needs.”

Cheve and Mark and even the usual docile Bullet
sprung. They had Cristoforo pinned against the wall when Annika and
Alex came racing down the stairs and stopped when they saw me. I
stood a few feet in front of Cristoforo and was trying really hard
to get my anger under control.

I wasn’t sure what was happening, but as I stood
there I could feel the blood racing through my veins like it was on
fire. I knew my body was throwing off heat. I could feel it
surrounding me. I felt powerful. I felt larger than life.

Alex slowly walked up to me and said, “Baby…I know
he can be an ass, but don’t hurt him. You will be upset afterwards
with yourself if you hurt him.”

He reached up a hand to touch my cheek and Cheve
yelled, “Don’t touch her. She is in the throes of
transference.”

Everyone looked confused and Cheve
explained, “Wren is a Sensay. She is a powerful Sensay. Her powers
come from her unique evolution over millions of years. Even though
she has not learned how to wield these powers as of yet, when
pushed too far or with emotions running high, they can manifest on
their own.”

Cheve shook his head. “We haven’t
had time yet to begin to test her DNA to see what genetic
attributes she can manifest, but my guess is right now, you
probably wouldn’t want to mess with whatever is driving her at this
moment.”

Janel, who had been unusually quiet until now,
stepped close to me and through the haze I heard her say, “Okay
missy, that’s enough of these shenanigans. Stop acting all Zena. I
know it’s hard to ignore a jackass like Cristoforo, who still owes
me a Prada handbag.”

She turned to Cristoforo who was still pinned to the
wall “Oh yeah, Mr. Italiano. Don’t think that I forgot about your
promise to buy me my Prada purse if I shut up on the plane ride
home last spring!”

I felt the fire slow down a bit. Cristoforo looked
more scared now than he had when he thought I was going to kill
him. You couldn’t blame him. He’d had a taste of Janel last spring
when Roberto had sent her to him in Italy to keep her safe. He
hadn’t been able to keep her long because he brought her back in a
few days.

The fire inside me was beginning to fade, and I
almost felt sorry for Cristoforo who had to deal with Janel’s
venom.

I looked around at everyone, “I apologize. As Cheve
said my abilities are not always under my control yet, and
sometimes I am pushed beyond my limits.”

Alex glared at Cristoforo. “What did you say to
her?”

“
Nothing, Alex. Don’t worry about
it,” I said putting my hand on his arm.

Then Mark of all people opened his mouth, “He said
Wren’s been sleeping with all three of us just to satisfy her
needs.”

“
Mark!” I exclaimed at the same
time that Alex roared and grabbed Cristoforo by his shirt and began
to drag him outside. “I am going to beat the living shit out of you
for even uttering such a vile thing about Wren.”

“
You can try,” Cristoforo replied
as he squared off against Alex.

I looked at Annika. “Can’t you stop them?”

Annika shook her head in disgust, “There is no
stopping two vampires who are determined to fight it out.”
Surprisingly she gave me a sympathetic look “Besides, after what
Cristoforo said about you, he deserves it. As your bonded he has
also insulted Alex, and Alex must defend the both of you.”

“
Oh, brother! This is archaic, all
this talk of defend and honor, it’s like the freaking middle ages.
Well, I’m not going to stand here and watch. I’m going back
inside.” I walked up the porch stairs and into the house. Janel and
Annika followed along with Bullet making up the rear.

“
Would you girls like something to
drink?” Annika asked.

“
Can I have a beer?” I
asked.

Janel piped in, “Make that two.”

Annika came back carrying two beers. “I wish I could
have one with you, but with breast feeding and all.” She
shrugged.

Even though I didn’t want to, I forced myself to
think about the baby lying upstairs, Roberto and Annika’s son. I
had never given thought to children while I was with Roberto. I
wasn’t sure if it even was possible with our being different
species.

As I thought about it now I wondered if I should be
worried about getting pregnant with Alex’s child. Not that the
thought of having a child with Alex wasn’t wonderful, but now was
not the best time to start a family with not one, but two groups of
crazies after me. I couldn’t help asking Annika, “Can I see your
son?”

Annika said proudly, “Sure. He is so handsome and I
love him so much.”

Janel grabbed my arm as we walked up the stairs, “I
don’t think this is such a good idea. It’s just going to hurt
you.”

“
No, it won’t hurt me. I don’t
love Roberto anymore. He has a beautiful family and is happy. I’m
glad for him.”

Janel muttered under breath, “Yeah, just keep
telling yourself that.”

I laughed at her. “Janel, I’m a Sensay, for God’s
sake. I heard that.”

She had the good grace to at least look
chastised.

We tiptoed into the sleeping baby’s room. I went
over to peer into the crib. My loud gasp woke him, and he began to
cry.

“
I’m sorry, Annika. May I hold
him?” I said.

She looked a little worried, but then nodded her
head yes. I picked the crying baby up in my arms. I held back
another gasp as he opened his eyes and looked at me. He looked just
like Roberto. He stopped crying instantly and stared at me. He then
settled his head into the crook of my neck.

I stood there rocking him back and
forth for a little when I heard a noise at the door. I turned to
see Alex staring at us. His face, which had a few small bruises on
it, was a mask of granite.

I faltered in my rocking stride, and Annika took the
baby from my arms. I went over to Alex and traced the bruises. He
grabbed my hand as if he didn’t want me touching him. He said to
Annika, “Do you have somewhere private where Wren and I can
go?”

Annika took one look at Alex’s face, “Um, sure,
Broder, use the guest room down the hall.”

Alex still holding on to my hand pulled me down the
hall.

“
Alex?” I began.

“
Shhh…not now.” He
said.

He pulled me into the room and shut the door behind
us. He stared at me long and hard, and I began to worry he was
jealous over me holding Roberto’s baby. I opened my mouth to tell
him he had no reason to worry, when he said, “I want to mate with
you.”

“
Huh?’

“
I want to mate with you, Wren. My
desire to do so is strong. Feel.” He took my hand and placed it on
the thick erection straining his jeans. Not only was he rock hard
but his cock felt like it was vibrating. What the hell?

“
Alex, what’s going on?” I was
beginning to feel the flames of desire sweep up my
spine.

“
When a vampire is called to mate,
it’s extremely intense. Seeing you hold Gjord called to something
primitive that lives in all vampires, a call to mate. It is the
only time our sperm is fertile enough to produce offspring. It’s
unknown why it’s not every time we have sex. It may be nature’s way
of not overpopulating the earth with vampires.”

That made sense. Knowing first hand how many times a
vampire can come in one single night, it would only take one randy
vampire to make a whole lot of little vampire babies. It also
explained why though I’ve had sex, a lot of sex with two virile
vampires, that I had not gotten pregnant.

Alex stared at me like he wanted to eat me up. “I
know that mating with you at this time is not a good idea, but I
wanted to show you what it’s like for a vampire when they’re called
to mate.”

He began to breathe fast as his
arousal increased. “It’s very erotic but also a very loving act
between two people. It’s even more meaningful than the bonding
which I took from you without asking. I will never forgive myself
for that. The mating though will be in your hands. I will not take
the choice from you again and you should know that when we mate it
is for life with that one person. The mating call can never be
given to another.”