Prima

Chapter Twenty-One

Daedalus held the door as Sugar sat in the passenger seat of his car, her cane still in hand. She obviously didn't need to use it. On those fuck-me-now heels, she moved with a graceful sway of her hips that drew every male's gaze. That would take some getting used to again. He'd forgotten how unaware she was of her own beauty and how males responded to her. The vampirism broadcasted her sensuality even more.

Closing the door, he raced to the driver's side. They had a few hours before dawn, and he had plans for those in the bedroom. It seemed like a good time to show Sugar her new vampire stamina. He never would have taken her like he just had when she'd been human. Not with that amount of feral passion. It would have broken her. They had much to explore as lovers now.

She waved to the valets as they left. He recognized the looks on their faces. They'd be anxious for her return.

He glanced at her from the corner of his eye.

Unaware of her effect on the restaurant staff, she watched the passing scenery through the window with drooping eyelids. She made a small, satisfied moan.

His chest swelled at the noise. He set his hand upon the back of her neck and massaged her loose muscles. “The night isn’t over yet.”

“Can a hot bath be part of our plans?” She rolled her head to meet his gaze. Only a deaf, blind, and dumb male could have missed the ardor in her question.

Leaning forward slightly, he sped toward the mansion. “Anything you want.”

Her husky laugh caressed his ears with promises of more than just washing. “I remember your offer to Nick. How often will I have to feed?”

He sighed and kissed his plans good-bye. The twist of their conversation might darken the mood. Discussing vampire life used to turn into an argument with Sugar. He hoped they were past this hurdle. “Every day for the first few months while your body continues to change. We’ll have to watch your hunger closely as we wean you.”

“How long can you go?”

“Before I lose control? A month.”

Her head jerked from its relaxed pose against the headrest. “You feed more often than that.”

He withdrew from massaging and set his hand back on the steering wheel. “Should I wait until I’m in crisis? It’s not a good idea. Do humans wait until they’re starved to eat their next meal? When I hunger, I feed.” It was best to adjust her expectations now. Her future depended on how she viewed taking sustenance. “How did you like feeding from Nick?”

She twisted away and faced the window once more. “It was fine.”

“I could retract my offer if you didn’t like him. No contracts were signed.” He gripped the wheel, taking a turn too sharply. “I just thought learning to feed from someone like him would be safe for you.”

“I don’t like the idea of keeping a pet.”

“Wow, that’s very vampire of you to call him that.” Nothing he did pleased her. He could buy the space shuttle and capture the moon, yet she’d still blame him for the loss of moonlight.

“What is he then?”

“An employee. He’s not cheap, Sugar. Being a donor is considered a profession among our kind. The government makes laws against feeding from humans against their will, but what keeps a scorned human from calling foul? If you haven’t noticed, humans tend to think us monsters guilty until proven innocent.” He cleared the strain from his voice. “Donors are paid for, contracted, and safe for my people.”

“Our people.” She still didn’t look at him.

He sighed again. The way she spoke those words didn’t encourage his confidence in her staying with him and his nest. She wore his ring on her finger, but what did she truly feel in her heart? That he’d betrayed her deepest wishes, or that he’d saved her from an untimely death? Once she gained control over her hunger, would she return to Chicago and the Vasi?

Silence filled the vehicle until he thought it would burst from the pressure.

“Do sunlamps burn us?” She whispered the question.

Tossing her a quick glance, he shook his head. “Why?”

“I was thinking about my garden in Chicago.” She traced the outline of her face on the window.

“I had the one at the mansion built in case you wanted to live with me one day. All the flowers bloom at night. You can do whatever you want with it.” He gritted his teeth and focused on the road. “I’m trying.”

With slow purpose, she twisted in her seat and set her hand on his leg. “I know. I thought I could make a sunroom or something.”

It wasn’t the flowers she missed, but the sunlight. “You can convert the grand hall into an indoor garden if you’d like.”

She squeezed his thigh. “That could work.” Her voice rose at the idea.

“You can start planning it tomorrow.” Keeping her busy would help with the transition.

“What about your nest? You really should concentrate on finding them.”

He did his best to smile at her, but he feared some of his sorrow bled through. “Don’t worry about them. The call to come home went out. I’m waiting.”

“I thought the sooner this was over, the sooner we could return home.”

All his years of experience couldn’t stop his flinch. She had more power over him than anyone in all his centuries. Could he leave his post? Would the council let him?

“Are you on your way home?” Pallas’s thought daggered through his mind.

He jerked in his seat as if goosed from behind. Bastard. He’d almost pissed his pants. “You know better than to barge into a person’s head. And, yes, we’re close. Why?”

“Good.” Even through their mental link he could sense Pallas chuckling. “Vampires are gathering outside. Clementine tells me not to kill them, but she refuses to go out and greet them by herself.”

“Listen to her.” About time his people showed up. He was beginning to wonder if they had abandoned him.

Maybe the council had sent Pallas to ensure someone of their clan kept control in the area, but the real question was whether he’d been ordered to kill Daedalus if he decided to return to Chicago. They equaled each other’s skill, so he didn’t know who would win in such an altercation.

“Everything all right?” Sugar straightened in her seat, searching the road. “What spooked you?”

“Pallas.” He tapped his head. “I hate it when he does that.”

“Will I be able to speak with my mind?” She relaxed in her seat again.

“I don’t know. Vampirism is different for each person. We’ll explore your gifts together as you grow into your power.” He turned onto his property and drove through the still-smashed gates. He added them to his mental to-do list for tomorrow.

In front of his home gathered a group of ten individuals.

His pride took a nosedive. Only ten?

Sugar leaned forward, undoing her seat belt, her eyes glued to the small group. “What’s going on?”

He took her hand. “They are the remaining loyalists in Pal Robi Inc., the ones who didn’t run when the company was taken over.” He exited the car and motioned for her to follow. Even though he’d trust these people close to his home, he wouldn't turn his back on them and leave Sugar vulnerable. He’d made that mistake once, and she’d paid the price dearly.

The click of her heels hurried toward him before he felt her presence close to his side. Her fingers slid into the crook of his arm in a possessive manner that took him off-guard enough to glance at her. She glared at his people as if daring them to separate her from him.

One of the women came forward. “Master.” She knelt, offering him a sword. He recalled her first name was Mary.

The others fell to their knees behind her.

To see them gathered like this warmed his old heart. Ten was better than none. When he’d left for Chicago a few years ago, he’d left a staff of over fifty to care for their home and financial security. Then those traitors took over, and Daedalus had dispersed his staff to take them out of the line of fire. Unbeknown to him these ten had stayed behind and infiltrated his betrayer’s confidence. Without their quiet help over the last year, he would not have known who to strike.

Those traitorous idiots had scared off the good ones and corrupted the weak. His personal bank accounts would sustain his nest for now, while his company got back on its feet. He pasted on a smile while his heart shattered. He wouldn’t be able to follow Sugar back to Chicago. His people needed him more, and she’d have to choose her own path.

He took the sword. “I can’t express how pleased I am to see you’ve come to my call.” Others of his nest were still too far away to have arrived yet. He assumed as the nights passed they would show up on his doorsteps in scattered groups. He hoped.

“We come for you to judge us.” Mary bowed her head first then the others followed.

He rested the flat of her sword over Mary’s neck and glanced at Sugar.

Her hands were clasped in a white-knuckled grip, her stare following his movements, but she didn’t utter a word.

Rifling through each person’s memories, Daedalus judged them as truly loyal to him. He lifted the sword from Mary’s neck. “Welcome home.”

The group rose, a few with smiles and others with grimmer expressions.

He took his fiancée’s hand. “This is Sugar.” His throat constricted, and he couldn’t speak for the emotion choking his words.

As if sensing his distress, she pressed even closer. “I’ll be your future Prima.” Confidence imbued her presence as she stepped forward. “Daedalus just turned me into a vampire, so you’ll have to give me time to adjust to this new life. I’m not a fighter or businesswoman, but my door is always open to hear your troubles.”

Pressing his hand to his stomach, he took a deep breath. She would stay. He gave the crowd a slow smile and embraced Sugar in a hug. “We all need time to adjust.” He gestured to the opening front door. “Come in. Clementine is here as well and will make room assignments. Tomorrow, we’ll start to rebuild our lives together.

Butterflies rolled in Sugar’s full stomach while she watched the group head toward the mansion and receive a warm welcome from Clementine. Would they accept her as Prima? What the hell did a Prima do?

Daedalus waited next to her in silence.

She turned to face him. “I have so much to learn. I don’t know where to start.”

He gave her a gentle smile. “Isn’t that fantastic?” Caressing her cheek, he moved closer. “And you have so much time to do it.”

“I do, don’t I?” She laughed as the butterflies settled and anxiety’s grip on her chest loosened.

He led her into the house and into the study where he closed the door. Leaning against it, he assessed her. “Are you alright?”

She gripped her cane as if it were her only lifeline. “I—I’m fine.” Taking a few steady steps toward the fireplace, she stared at the broadsword over the mantle and took a deep breath. “I’m fine.”

“You sure?” He strode around her, his fingertips brushing her arm and setting her skin ablaze. “Because I’m not setting you free now that you’ve agreed to stay with me.”

She gave a small laugh. “I wouldn’t ask for that. When will you figure out I couldn’t be chased away if you tried?

A knock on the door interrupted her thoughts. Pallas entered the room. “Is this all you have for a nest?”

“No. The others should be on their way.” Daedalus scowled. “Is there an emergency? We were having a private conversation.”

“I came to say my farewells.”

Daedalus crossed his arms over his chest. “What will you do now?”

“Report to the council that you’re back in control of the Prime seat in this region.” He turned to Sugar and bowed. “And that you’ve obtained a worthy Prima, though I don’t think you deserve her.”

A heaviness settled in her chest. Pallas was rough around the edges, but he came from a different time. Would he survive on his own in the modern world? Daedalus wouldn’t admit it, but she knew he’d mourn the loss of his clan brother.

“What about after that?” She glanced at Daedalus and recognized his calculating expression.

“Pallas will return to us.”

“I will?” Pallas’s eyebrows rose.

“Yes, I have a pet project I can't run now that I’m back in control of Pal Robi Inc. I need a warrior equal to my skill. Think you can handle being in charge of something without bringing the Federal Government down on our asses?”

“Depends on what it is.”

“I need an elite guard.” He nodded toward her. “To protect my Prima and other covert operations. I want you to train the warriors I’ve chosen.”

“Here?” Pallas made a face at the surroundings walls. “You’re not equipped.”

“Not here. Once you’re done making your report, we'll sit down and discuss the details. I think a separate installation would be best.”

The other Nosferatu stood silent as his gaze traveled between them. “You’ll take me into your nest?” For a split second, she glimpsed the young man that Pallas had once been. Had he been abandoned?

She crossed the distance between them and grasped his hand. “Yes, you have a home with us always.” Her pledge came out without thought, but it seemed the right thing to do. She remembered what it was like to be alone before she’d met a pack of misfit shifters.

He kissed the back of her hand. “Then you have my allegiance.”

“Good.” Daedalus clapped his hands. “I’ll contact Robert to gather the shifters he’s been working with and prepare them to move here when you return.”

Pallas’s eyes widened. “You never said shifters.”

“Does it matter? You’ll hate anyone I give you.”

He grinned and slapped Daedalus on the arm. “I have to make arrangements to travel.” As he left the room, he stopped at the door and tossed Sugar a wink.

She turned her attention to Daedalus. “Shifters guarding me?”

“Robert’s been asking for more training for the Vasi omegas. I can’t think of a better teacher.”

“Pallas will eat them alive.” She returned to her place in front of the mantel.

“They’ll be better warriors for it.”

Lifting her cane, she set it over the fireplace with his sword. “I think it’s time we both lay our pasts behind us and look forward to a long, happy future together.” It felt right to set her cane there. Not a traditional weapon, but it had helped her in her time of need.

Scooping her into his arms, Daedalus swung her around. “I’ve dreamed of this day. Never thought it would come true.”

For a time she hadn’t believed it either. Looking back, she could see that all her paths led to this moment, but her fear had kept her away. From now on, she’d keep that in mind when faced with terrifying things in her new life. She would collect her courage and tackle all her problems instead of turning her back.

She pressed a kiss to his lips, chaste and tender, savoring him. “I love you.”

His grin melted away all her doubts. “Babe, I love you right back.” The future lay bright before them, and together they’d bring prosperity back to his nest. Linked with a wolf shifter pack, they would flourish.