Eve took another large sip of her brandy. She had the feeling that he hadn’t told many that. “If you hadn’t killed him I would have slowly, he would have begged for death and I would have willingly kept him waiting.” She told him. She felt the weight lift from his shoulders. He thought she would condemn him? “He did beg and it didn’t come quickly. It took me many years to live with that knowledge and I buried my beast deep along with my power, never wanting to feel that again.” Eve finished off her brandy in silence, she had no rush to leave and wanted to stay with this male who had endured so much. Eventually even she could not hold back the sun, she stood and stretched her neck from side to side. She handed him back her glass. Turned and walked away. Over her shoulder she told him, “you owe me dinner handsome.” She felt him look at her walking away. “Keep looking at my ass and you’ll owe me two.” She heard him chuckle as she entered the house. “Worth the price.” He called out after her.

  ***

  Eve woke knowing her mother was in her room. “You still do not sleep well.” Eve smiled and looked over at her mother. “I do not need to.” “My beautiful child. I am so grateful to have you and yet, saddened by the burden of this life.” Eve threw back the covers. “It is no burden. It is how it is.” Eve strode to the bathroom and took care of business and washed up, cleaning her teeth. Hearing the knock at the door and the smell of coffee she guessed her mother had ordered for her. She slipped on her robe and came back into the bedroom. “Hi Benson, thank you.” “Good morning miss, enjoy your breakfast.” He left as she made her way back across the room to her mother at her breakfast table. Her mother poured her coffee while she took her seat. “We haven’t visited like this since we left the old country.” Eve told her picking up her knife and fork and tucking into her eggs. Her mother finished filling both cups and pushed cream and sugar her way. “That is true. So much has been happening that our regular breakfasts have gone by the way side, I am sorry for that and hope we can put that right.” Her mother told her. Eve frowned as she cut into some toast. “That is hardly your fault.” Her mother shrugged. Eve polished off her eggs and picked up her coffee, closing her eyes to enjoy the aroma before taking a taste. Heaven. “We have demands on us in this life Eve. Things we cannot change. We have to bend with the wind or it will break us.” Eve opened her eyes and focused on her mother. “What happened?” Her mother looked at her sadly and reached out to touch her hand. “We have an alliance Eve with House Arturo.” Eve knew what that meant. “Who?” “James.”

  Her mother talked with her for some time after that, reminiscing on their old life and the concerns of the new, then hugged her with tears in her eyes and eventually left. She would have to go to her father at some point but it could wait. Eve wondered if James knew this before he told her his history last night. If she was being played. That annoyed her. Not that it made any difference. In the end as she had always known, it was not her choice to make. James was damaged, then again, so was she. Maybe that was a perfect partnership? Her parents had less in common when they first met. She liked him. He made her laugh. She admitted he called to her. She looked out the window and frowned. That wasn’t going to be enough, not for the next millennium.

  ***

  The phone ringing woke him. He rolled over and guessed the time to be late afternoon. He’d had another drink after talking with Eve. He’d needed it. He’d not meant to spill his guts on his life. It had just spilled out there for her to pick through. He felt sick at the memories yet again. It never went away, not fully. The phone kept ringing. James pulled himself towards the edge of the bed so he could answer it, “yes.” He croaked. “Is that anyway to speak to your Lord?” Arturo asked him. James rolled back over with the phone to his ear. “I had a late night.” He told him. “Get up we need to talk. We have a problem with Eve.” Arturo put the phone down. James took it from his ear and looked at it. Problem what problem?

  James made it to Arturo’s office 10 minutes later. Showered and dressed. He knocked and walked in, grateful coffee was waiting. Arturo was on the phone. James helped himself to the coffee and waited. Arturo ended his call and looked up at James. “I asked you the other day if you wanted to help or not. Do you?” James already knew his answer. “I couldn’t see any harm come to her Arturo.” James told him honestly. “A request for an alliance is coming. If they refuse it, it will come down to a fight. One her father will not win or one that Eve will have to fight. Unless….. there already is an alliance in place that does not require anyone to fight.” James eyes widened in understanding. “You can’t possibly mean me and Eve join?” Arturo nodded. “That’s exactly what I mean. Your someone she trusts. There are other’s I could go to with this.”

  James growled. Arturo smiled. “Exactly. It’s you. Your beast recognises her for what she is to you. She shows no interest in any other males,” Arturo put his hand up, “yes I know you think she’s gay but her father believes that not to be the case. You will have to bring your power forward and be prepared to show her and her family you can protect them and for that, you will gain a seat on the new North American Council along with Marcus, Alex, Clavius, John, Pierre, Blane, Gia, Valentina and myself. I hope to add to our number as time passes, we govern ourselves.” James frowned and rubbed a hand down his face. “She won’t accept this.” “She will have no choice. We both know she will.” James felt as if he was in a corner. He was being handled. He’s choices and fate taken from him. No. Never again. “We both have a choice in this?” Arturo nodded. “I will speak with her but I’m not saying this is happening.” “Fair enough.”

  ***

  James wasn’t sure how he’d got through his shift without exploding. His emotions were all over the place and his grasp on his power tentative at best, but he had and they were on their way back to the mansion. “Would you just spit it out.” Eve told him clearly pissed. “You’ve been off all night and its wearing thin.” James didn’t know where to start. How do you have this conversation? “I err had a meeting with Arturo earlier today. He errr mentioned that there was an alliance challenge coming to your family.” Eve said nothing. “He errr asked me if I wanted to make my own alliance.” Eve still said nothing. James pulled into the drive. “For fuck sake Eve, give me something here I’m drowning.” “Did you agree?” She asked him quietly. “I asked if we had a choice and he said yes and I said I’d talk to you before any decisions were made.” He stopped the car and parked it. “And that was today?” He nodded. “Actually, it was nearer five, I’d slept in.”

  Eve got out the car, closed the door and walked around it. James got out his side and joined her at the front of it. He wanted to hold her, touch her and offer some comfort. But she stood looking every inch the queen she would have been. “My mother came to see me this morning at just after 9. We sat and chatted as we have many times before, then she tells me that we have to bend with the wind or we break, that an alliance has been agreed with House Arturo.” James took a step back, “what? no. I’ve agreed to nothing.” “And yet, our fate is set.” She told him coldly. James exploded. He lost complete control of his power, it flung far and wide. It radiated across the grounds, ripples being felt for several miles. It pulsed and burned. “Like hell it is no one decides for me and therefore you. I will deal with this. There is no agreement as yet if at all.” He bellowed walking towards the house.

  James had never felt such rage, how dare someone take away their choice. No one including Arturo had that right. Never again would he be at the whim of someone else. Not again would another decide his fate or Eve’s. He stormed into the reception room and stopped short. Eve’s parents, Regin, Arturo, Alex, Luce, Pierre, Bits, and John were in the room. It was evident that they had felt his power. The cat was defiantly out the bag. Eve came rushing in behind him. He felt her heat at his back. He moved to protect her and was jolted back to the room. “Welcome My Lord James.” Arturo told him. “It has been a long time coming.” James pulled back on the power. Trouble was now it was out it didn’t want to go back. He pushed and pulled at it. Only when Eve’s hand landed on his arm did it recede more easily. “Well I guess, the question of strength has clearly been answered.” Alex said dryly. James gave him a stare. Several people grinned and chuckled. James started to relax. “Come meet my parents.” Eve told him quietly and led him over. He bowed to them both. “My Lord, my Lady, it is a pleasure to formally meet you.” The smile that Lady Serenity gave him was so pure. “Should your fighting arm be as strong as your anger, My Lord, our family will be well protected and so will my daughter.” She told him. “Thank you but I am not sure that has been decided.” He looked at Eve with more than a little confusion. A slap on his shoulder brought Eve’s father to his other side. “An honourable male Eve. You have done this house proud.” James looked around him. Had they all gone mad?

  He backed up to get everyone in his eyeline. “I’m sorry but no decision has been made. Eve and I need to talk about this. We are very different people. I want to help. Evangeline is important to me but, I am not willing to join her for any reason other than, it’s what we both want.” “It will bring you Marcus’s house and much prestige and power to this house with Eve at your side.” Arturo told him. James shook his head. “With all due respect, you know that means nothing to me. I will not force a situation for power or prestige. I cannot do that.” Marcus stepped forward and looked at Arturo. “I agree the match. He comes to us honest in his pursuit of what’s right for Eve and therefore this house.” I need to get out of here. James started to back out the room. “I agree the match.” James slowly turned to face Eve and stopped. “You can’t be serious Eve. We need time to consider, to think this through.” “Am I not worthy James?” She asked him.

  James was shocked she would think that. “There is no question of you being worthy Eve, your perfect, beautiful, a skilled warrior any male would be lucky to win, it’s me, I’m. …. I have nothing to offer you.” He told her forcefully, his power rising once again. He was rock hard in need of this woman but he would not give in to temptation for an easy way out. His beast clawing at him to take what is his. Not allow her to be harmed. He could see her hackles rise. “Then I will fight the challenge when it comes.” James’ control slipped his power exploded, “you will not fight,” he boomed, then paused, closed his eyes and swallowed, desperately seeking some calm. He understood then. He could not allow her to put herself in danger, all his protective instincts were raging inside him. He would never be able to stand by and watch her fight for her life and that of her house. “I will.” Passed his lips before he could think anything else. He opened his eyes and nodded to them all. And in a more accepting tone than the joy he was feeling at the knowledge of the women he had gained, he told them, “I will.”

  “Then let us drink to a great union.” Arturo addressed them all. “The House Arturo with the House Marcus. May it live long and be a joyous union.” He raised his glass and everyone present did the same. Eve passed him a glass. He took it partially in a daze. He raised his glass to the salute and drank it down. “I have one condition,” he told them, “its Eve’s house and I will support her.” He turned to look at Marcus. He gave him a nod. “It’s done then.”

  Eve watched James as he made small talk. He was avoiding her. She found that interesting. It was as if he ………..feared her. Or himself in some way. She wondered which it was. She was suddenly tired of the politics. Energy was burning through her needing release. Turning to her parents she bid them goodnight. Acknowledged Regin and Arturo with a nod and left the room. She got half way up the staircase before she felt James presence behind her, a ripple in the air. “Why did you agree to this? We could have talked, worked something out. This seems drastic.” He pleaded to her stopping sharply on the stairs as she did. Eve turned frustrated at his actions and words, he was acting weak and it annoyed her. She looked down at him. “I already told you. In my world, there are no choices.” James frowned and stepped up towards her. “That was no reason to agree to this. We could have worked together. We are very different people Eve from different worlds. We could have found ….. some solution.”

  Eve couldn’t hold in the laugh that burst forth and shook her head, having heard enough, “seriously?” She asked him her anger rising. “After everything I’ve told you you still, have no idea what your talking about. Your not a stupid male James. I live with this every dam day. A challenger could already be infiltrating my home, my people, right now, or on its way, here tonight, tomorrow, the next day, week or month. This is the reality of my life. There are no choices. It’s hard, the path was set the day I was born and I get that, dear god, do I get that but this, is how it has to be if I am to keep what my father has built and protect it. And to protect mine own, there are only two choices,” she bit out. “I fight and kill all challengers as I have had to do time and time again or I make an alliance and even then, I may still have to fight the male of choice so I am not his property, under his boot, my people not under his control but mine. So man the fuck up James, your either in this or out, cos hell is probably on its way and there is nothing, anyone can do about that.” She turned from him and continued up to her room. There are no choices, she told herself with a heavy heart and he needed to understand the world he now lived in.

  Man the fuck up? Had she just told him to do that? Had she no idea of who he was, what he was holding back to protect her? What he had done? Anger burst forth again. Power rippled across the receiving area and up the stairs. Having held his emotions back for centuries he now couldn’t seem to hold on to them for more than a few minutes. He registered he was out of control but couldn’t find a reason to stop. He was fucking man enough, he just didn’t want her forced into something she didn’t want. He was trying to help her dam it. He’d been hard for her for weeks. His nightmares pushed aside by dreams of her. For the first time since his turning. God how he loved that. His beast demanded he dominate. James gripped his fists in desperation to hold on. He tried reasoning with himself. Tried to justify her outburst. His resolved cracked. She wanted a fucking man did she, well, now she’d get it.

  James flew up the stairs and followed her scent to her room. He didn’t knock, he slammed the door open and stormed in, slamming it shut behind him. Eve was over by the window taking off her arms and golden head band. “Man the fuck up?” He raged going over to her his power flowing freely. “How’s this?” James grabbed her hair and yanked her hard towards him, covering her mouth with his own in a hard and demanding kiss. Eve pushed back equally as hard but he gave her no quarter knowing she probably would. He attacked her mouth, pushing his tongue in and duelling with her own, each trying for the dominant thrust. He raised his other hand into her hair and tilted her head as he wanted it and took full advance of the new positon kissing her deeply, consuming her. Eve fought. Her claws digging into his shoulders. It felt so dam good. He knew she would. He held on, stroking her tongue with his own. He noticed the moment she started to cave to the pleasure riding them both.

  He growled. Picked her up he walked her back to the wall and slammed her into it. He held her while he took his time exploring her mouth. Eve moaned into it. James beast soared with content, his mate craved him. The realisation hit James and he took a step back and stared at her. Mate. “Take it off Eve I’m going to fuck you so hard you will know just how much of a man I am.” He demanded on a deadly whisper. The playful James was gone. This was James a master Vampire. He would be what she needed. “Now Eve or I’ll take it off for you and I won’t be gentle.” She smiled at him. “No.” She told him. James stared at her. “No? You don’t get to tell me no Eve. I rule here.” “No one tells me what to do.” She threw back at him. James gave her a cold smile. Eve shivered in delight. “Wrong.” He moved lightning fast grabbed her top and ripped it down the middle breaking the zip, laying her bare before him. At the same time he slashed at her trousers. Hoping to god he did not hurt her. Without a care for her nakedness, Eve flew a right hook at him, James blocked it, she pushed him back hard with an elbow to his stomach. O she wanted to play. James kicked out to take her legs out from under her but she saw it coming and jumped over it.

  He caught her arm and flung her back against the wall. Eve felt that. She grinned. The boy had style she’d give him that. Eve flung out her left fist and tried to knock him out. He dodged as her fist hit the wall and damaged the plaster. He elbowed her in the stomach. He wasn’t holding back. About time. Shit, that hurt. She doubled over as if out of breath. His concern for her came to the fore and he moved in, like she knew he would. She kicked out hard into his stomach. Sending him back. James staggered and roared.

  He’d wanted to sooth her but knew it was the wrong approach. He understood her need. She needed to know he could take her and any aggressor coming their way. He charged her, she punched, left then right, he blocked, she back slapped him as he moved in for his own thrust into her body. They fought on. Tables crashed, chairs broke. Each gaining an upper hand, a split lip, a cracked rib, bruising and bones shaking, then the other taking it from them.

  They eventually circled each other for what must have been the twentieth time. They were both favouring injuries. “Give it up Eve. You pushed now you cave.” He told her aggressively. She grinned back at him and licked the trickle of blood from her lip. James chest clenched. He had not wanted to hurt her but this was the Vampire way for dominance. He wanted that blood. It was his. James fainted left then right then went straight at her taking out her knee. It was a hard blow and the knee already compromised. She crumpled and fell onto her back, she went to strike out as she fell but James not giving her a chance to recover, dived on her and held her down. “Concede.” He told her through gritted teeth. He knew too well that if she went full Dhampir on him he was lost. “No.” She tried to buck him off. James held on and pinned her knees with his own. Her squirming nearly did him in. “Keep that up and I’m gonna come in my pants.”

 

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