Rule (16 page)

I may have not needed them when it came down to defending myself, but their presence was exactly what I
did
need. It showed my true status. They were there to prove a point and I’d need the impact if I was going to stake my claim where it belonged. Over the city … over Marko.

Chapter 22

Marko

The cloud of fear perfuming the vicinity around me as I paced a small section of the heart of the city was something I was getting used to when dealing with the vampires under my leadership. Cort and Ronny constantly shifted on their feet as their story poured from them in a gush of stumbling words.

“Slow down,” I bit out. “What do you mean Boyd took the human? And what’s this about drinking blood?”

Cort ran his fingers through his short hair as he tried to catch his breath. “We wanted to come back last night, but it was impossible. It was too close to sunrise for us to make it by the time Boyd, or the man, left.”

“Stop right there.” My hand rose and I glanced at the table of members who were still in the middle of their feeding. Although they were occupied, I knew they were listening to every word that was spoken.

“Hunter. He came through the tunnels under the base like you suspected. He killed Abbot and he was giving us a hell of a fight. Even broke Ronny’s neck. Well, Boyd got to him before I could and out of nowhere, Hunter bit his neck. He was feeding, like one of us. That’s when I noticed something wasn’t right. Boyd’s scent changed and it was like it wasn’t him at all, even if it did look like him. He just stood there, letting Hunter drink his blood. That’s when shit started to get … weird.”

I blinked past the words. I knew Hunter held Sayer’s blood. Of course, he’d crave the substance, even if he wasn’t one of us.

“Hunter started yelling, screaming, like he was in pain. He started to go crazy, throwing himself in the wall with all of his strength. Boyd just started laughing. He was…” Cort swallowed hard. “No disrespect Master, but the power Boyd had, it was like nothing I’ve ever felt before. It … scared me. I…”

Sweat was beginning to bead on my skin.
Aetas
. Had it been him? There wasn’t too many more vampires who was more powerful than I was.

“What happened next?” My hand gripped tighter to the back of my chair.

“Boyd…” Ronny threw a look to Cort, but continued. “He started speaking some sort of language we’ve never heard before. It was as though Hunter understood. Like, he was following orders to whatever he was saying. He stop being aggressive to himself and stood at attention. Like a soldier. Boyd would say something and he’d react with some sort of movement. It was like he was being programmed or something. I don’t know. We kept quiet and in the background until they left.”

“And their leaving!” Cort’s eyes were wide. “They just disappeared into thin air. Just, gone. Humans can’t do that. Not even with a master at their side. It wasn’t right. Nothing about what went down last night was normal.”

“You may go,” I bit out. “Don’t speak of this again or you won’t have a tongue left when I get done with you.”

The vampires went rigid before they nodded and practically ran away. I pulled out my chair, glancing at the worried faces of my members. “Meeting after we finish.” My words were quiet, but I knew they heard. I sat back down, staring ahead in a daze. My mind was running a million miles a minute. Hunter did mention Aetas showing him Tessa. That meant he had his sights set on Hunter, but what were his intentions?

My jaw clenched. I didn’t understand any of this. Aetas had said I had time to take care of Hunter on my own, but he hadn’t given me that. It made me shake my head, pissed. Was he letting Tessa get her revenge? If that was the case, I could be okay with that. She deserved to see him suffer, but damn, I wished I could see it too.

“Master.” Anastasia’s eyes shot up to the ceiling. “We have guests. Unexpected ones.”

My hands pushed against the table as I rose. “Who is it? Do you know?”

“They’re coming through the house. I’m … not sure. Such power,” she said, letting out a deep breath. “Margo.” Even though I knew she couldn’t see what was before her, her eyes jetted back and forth, wildly. “So many. I…” She swallowed hard, blinking rapidly to bring her attention back to me. “It’s a group. Margo for sure, but a few are member worthy. One in particular holds a different sort of power. She’s to be watched very carefully. Her entitlement. It’s great. So much so,” she said, shuddering. “I can’t read her.”

Anastasia didn’t have to say another word. My bond pulled, tugging at me internally. My chair flew out as I jumped to my feet and I couldn’t stop the excitement that surged through. The beat of my heart was positively thrumming in my chest.

“She’s back,” I whispered. “My mate is who you feel, Anastasia. That’s Princess Tessalyn. She’s come home.”

Slowly, the members rose. The shock and fear on their face made my vampire thrive. It made me proud. The need to rush toward the stairs all but killed me. Although I wanted to, I held my place at the head of the table, waiting. Watching. What greeted me wasn’t what I expected.

A mass of men, eight to be exact, poured from the stairs, two at a time. They halted, separating to allow Tessa to get in between them. Black eyes of the enforcers took in everything. They were in their vampire form, never allowed to escape their monsters while they did as instructed. Usually they were meant to take out threats in specific cases, but here, they played more of a role. They were guarding royalty. From what, I wondered? Tessa wasn’t in danger here.

Vampires and slaves cowered as the guards flanked Tessa, Margo, and Gina. Although I was confused by the other members’ arrival, I only had eyes for my beautiful mate. She’d left me here in a white gown. Now she was back wearing another. Could it mean what I hoped it would?

I broke from the table, heading to the center of the room to meet her. A smile came to her face and I could see the impatience. She wanted to run, and fuck if I didn’t want to either. Was she here for good?

“Princess Tessalyn.” I grabbed the hand she extended, bowing the top half of my body as I placed a kiss on her knuckles. The scent of her skin nearly made me moan. I couldn’t stop myself from flipping her hand over and placing my lips against her wrist, too. The pointed end of a dagger pushed into my throat and I stiffened.

“He’s not a threat,” she said, sternly.

The blade disappeared and I rose, glaring at the vampire to her left. His dark skin and darker eyes left him looking more menacing than I had thought when I’d first taken a glimpse. 

“I’m sorry,” she whispered, smiling. “They’re a little overprotective. That’s a good thing.”

“Yes,” I said, reaching for her hand. “Better protective than not enough so.” I glanced at Margo and Gina, feeling the leader in me snap into action. “Please, let us get another table. Had I been expecting you, I would have made it formal. Have you fed?”

“Yes,” Margo said. “We wish to speak with you alone. Then we will go.”

I clenched tighter to Tessa’s hand, going to lead them to the back, when she planted her feet.

“Talking can wait. I do believe we were disturbed during a very special day. If it’s alright with you, I think I’d like to pick up where we left off. I mean, everyone’s already here.”

My smile couldn’t have gotten any bigger. I searched her eyes, nodding through the happiness I felt. “I’d be honored.”

“Margo.” Tessa turned toward her and I didn’t miss the unspoken words they seemed to somehow communicate. It had me looking between them curiously. Had they gotten so close since the last time I saw them? And there was something else.
Power.
Yes, Tessa had soared in strength since we’d been separated. Maybe even surpassing me. It had me looking over her again as if she were a stranger. My eyes stopped at the crown on her head and I felt my fingers break from hers.

“Who gave you that?” I whispered.

The underlining of anger, I couldn’t hide. There was something about the energy that came from her crown I didn’t like.

“No one gave it to me. I chose it. It belongs to me.”

I swallowed past the need to pry or argue. Fuck, I’d just gotten her back. The last thing I needed to do was pick a fight. I just wanted what was best for her. This new entourage, the new crown, it was going to take some getting used to. The crown I might be able to deal with, but the enforcers… Maybe they’d leave once she settled in. Even though I thought it, I wasn’t so sure. Something was different. I tried not to think about it as I blocked it away.

I turned to the room, knowing they felt the call I was emitting. It was one of pride. One of finalization. It was time Tessa and I made it official and nothing was going to stop us this time.

Margo took her place in front of us, grasping Tessa’s hands as she leaned forward, whispering in her ear. As she nodded, Gina moved up to her side. My finger laced with Tessa’s the moment she broke free of the Axis member. She faced me, letting happiness shine through her eyes.

“We gather here tonight in a moment of joining. In a beginning that marks not only a great new era, but an alliance between two people that will undoubtedly go down in history.

“The Black Princess and Master Delacroix share a special kind of love. One that doesn’t happen to our kind often. It is in these times that we see the true depth of devotion. Through pain has emerged a bond so true that I can say without regret that this union is meant to be. With that…” Margo turned to me. “Master Marko Delacroix, do you as leader of Austin, take Princess Tessalyn Kennedy as your concubine? As your one and only mate, for as long as she lives?”

The grin on Tessa’s face wiped away any worry or questions I may have had. She was beautiful. The only one I would ever love or take vows with.

“I do,” I said, squeezing her hands.

The smile grew as she kept her stare locked to mine.

“Princess Tessalyn, do you as the new leader of Austin, take Master Marko Delacroix as your mate for as long as he shall live?

The smile melted from her face and it took me a moment to make sense of Margo’s words. A gasp and whispering filled the room and I couldn’t break from Tessa’s apologetic expression.
New leader?
As in, she’d just taken my throne?

“I do,” she said, lowly.

“Excellent,” Margo said, loudly. “We have a joining. You may kiss your concubine, Master Delacroix.”

My jaw clenched and I had to stop the rage that was screaming in my head. My hands cupped Tessa’s cheeks firmly and I didn’t leave her eyes as I brought my lips down to brush against hers. It wasn’t the kiss I had dreamed about. Or the joining. I had been conned. Duped, right at the altar, in front of every single vampire I had ruled over.

Tessa’s hands locked onto my wrists and she held to them tightly as I drew back. She knew I was pissed. What made it worse was her reaction. She was ready, as if I was going to try to fight her for the position over the city. For her to think me capable after how much I’d confessed to loving her … it blew my mind.

“The meeting room,” I ground out.

I clutched to one of Tessa’s wrists and jerked her toward the tunnel so fast that I left the enforcers racing to catch up. The moment we were inside the room, I spun her around cupping her face one again.

“What is the meaning of this? To turn what was supposed to be the happiest day of our lives into a God damn spectacle of besting me in front of the city…? What were you thinking?”

“I didn’t know,” she rushed out. “I mean, I knew it was going to happen, but I never thought…” Tessa trailed off, jerking her face out of my touch to look at Margo. “Did you have to do that right then and there?”

Margo had barely made it to the room before she was hit with the question. “Yes. It was best to get it into the open as soon as possible. Princess Tessalyn rules this city now. It had to come out with her arrival.”

“You don’t even know if she’s stronger than me,” I burst out. “You can’t just hand her over the city because you feel she deserves the right.”

“It depends how one measures strength. She may not be able to physically outmatch you, but she’s stronger,” Margo said, matter of factly. “This is
her
city. It is your responsibility as her bonded mate and former leader to make sure she learns to rule correctly. Besides, after what you did to the Army Base, you’re lucky you’re not behind bars.”

I stood straighter, shrugging. “No one can prove it was me.”

“Aetas knows,” Margo snapped. “If he wasn’t preoccupied with the one person you failed to kill, you’d be locked away for abusing your powers.”

My mouth turned dry at the thought of Hunter. “He has him, then?”

“Yes,” Margo hissed. “And the outcome will not be good unless your new concubine can somehow put an end to what he plans to do.”

My attention went back to Tessa and I could see the worry on her face. “What does he plan to do?”

Tessa’s hands rose to my face and I watched as her lids closed. I was hit with flashes so hard and fast that it took my breath away. The vivid colors, the walls that rose around me, it placed me in a room I’d only seen once.
Dallas underground.

A musky scent filled my nostrils and if Tessa would have wiped my mind to make me forget who I was, I would have really thought I was standing in the heart of the city with Hunter not feet away. He was poised in the leader’s seat, as if he ruled Dallas. The sight alone surprised me, but what began to play out was even more shocking.

Tessa walked forward, obviously confused. She didn’t appear to know where she was, or even
who
Hunter was as she came to a stop next to him. Their words played out and the moment he mentioned tasting her, I tried to lunge forward, after him. I couldn’t. This was a memory of hers. Or a vision. Either way, I couldn’t interfere. Upon seeing myself with Marie … mated … there were no words. My gut twisted and ached at the scene that was going down. By the time Tessa got to the rape she had to endure at Hunter’s hands, I couldn’t contain myself anymore. My body was spasming with fury, trying my best to escape what was in front of me.