Page 27 of Unholy Gambit: Checkmate in Blood
But he’d claimed her with blood. He’d thought of her as his on that night, and he once again kicked himself for not realizing he’d invoked magic and made his intentions real.
Blood bonding children is proscribed. Forbidden. He had no idea of the long-term ramifications, and he wasn’t certain he trusted anyone enough to act as advisor. She’d clearly grown into an adult, so her aging hadn’t stopped.
When a vampire blood bonds an adult, the human’s aging stops. They live as long as the vampire, powered by the same magic as the undead, but they continue to live as before, eating food and enjoying the sunshine. The bond creates adaytime servant, though modern-day vampires often work hard to override the servant aspects when they are in love with the human they bond.
He didn’t expect Adelle to be waiting at his car. He hadn’t even known she was in Chattanooga. He stood two dozen feet from her, cautious until he understood why she was here.
“It’s been a long time, Adelle. How are you in this century?”
“I’m known as Adelaide now. I understand you’re going by Axel on this continent?”
He nodded, and she said, “I mean you no harm, but I bring a message from my Master.”
“You could be a Master if you chose.”
“As could you.”
He shook his head. “What’s the message?”
“Anson, one of Marco’s children, inquired about you. It seems he has a fling going with your beloved’s best friend.”
Ruby worked fast, and as befitted any young woman with her sights set on one day being either in the U.S. Senate or perhaps governor of Tennessee, she had a network she could reach out to for just about any damned thing she wanted.
“How close are Anson and Marco?”
“Anson is barely three hundred, but he’s been quite useful at recruiting flock, which is how he met Ruby. She didn’t need money and wasn’t interested in becoming food for a coterie of vampires, but getting close to someone with the ear of the Master appealed to her.”
Strong enough to have left for another Master if he wanted. The fact he was still here at three hundred spoke volumes. Marco was reportedly a good Master to oath to, which was convenient, but only if Marco needed another Exsequor — another junkyard dog. He’d known Etta was here, but there’d been no reports of Adelle in Chattanooga. With those two local, Marco might notwant a third person known to strike terror into the hearts of vampirekind.
“What job do you provide for your Master?”
“For years, I was main bodyguard to his personal assistant, and I still step in when needed, but he has another primary bodyguard, so I help with security for Homewood, while another vampire is responsible for overall security of the coterie, citywide.”
“That has to chafe.”
She shrugged. “Josef had the job when Marco arrived, and they knew each other of old.”
“Was there more to the message?”
“Marco would like to meet your Aurélie. Casually, not as Master Vampire. He proposes you take her to one of his establishments, perhaps one of the billiard club locations. Look them both up, see which you prefer. I have your text number. I’ll send the links.”
“She has the option of picking where we go tomorrow night. Will Marco be okay with waiting until the following night? Alternatively, I can let him know where she decides tomorrow, and he can come there.”
“I’ll relay your offer. How are you doing, truly, little brother?”
She’d been turned nearly five hundred years before him, already a formidable presence in their Master’s coterie when Axel was still mastering his bloodlust. From the beginning, they’d recognized each other for what they were: apex predators unbothered by morality or emotions. No guilt. No illusions of goodness. Their minds didn’t cloud with should or shouldn’t, only what was efficient. They weren’t like the others, and neither was interested in pretending.
“I am well. The Cairo coterie is a family as it’s supposed to be. If Marco allows me to move here, to be with my love, I’ll regretsaying goodbye to my family, though of course, nothing is for certain.”
“I would enjoy sharing a Master with you again, and I will tell my Master this.”
“Thank you. I brought a sole shapeshifter with me for sustenance, and I wish I’d been given clearance to bring another so I could offer you refreshment on this night.”
“No need. We’re good. Axel fits you, and I find that I’m happy we still have names beginning with the same letter.”
“I plan to walk the city on this October night, to learn the lay of the land. Any advice?”
She tilted her head. “Werewolf bikers have claimed a portion of the city, but they don’t generally bother vampires. Some areas, a sole white man will not be safe, walking alone, and I know you’ll be fine, but don’t forget the many cameras if you must defend yourself.”
