I ran back to the great hall and into a sea of fur as the new wolves rushed around with excitement, barking and leaping up at me. “Down,” I commanded, and they all lay down in an instant, looking up at me with wide, anxious eyes. “There, there, it's alright. I'm not cross,” I soothed, reaching down to stroke a big head. The others who had no such caresses whined anxiously, and I sighed. I looked up through the room. The air was thick with ash, and I could taste it on my tongue, making my stomach roil. Making my way through the soft grey drifts that carpeted the floor, I found Corvus. Three vampires were on their knees before him, heads bowed as he stood over them.
Our family was massed around him, and I could feel their happiness, the buzz of triumph and awe as they looked upon their Master once again, back where he belonged. All except Lucas. Our eyes met across the room, and I didn't need to feel his emotions, though he had cut them off so hard I could read nothing from him. It was all in his eyes. I felt my heart ache for him as he turned away and left the room. Why did someone always have to get hurt?
But then Corvus turned to look at me and selfishly Lucas left my mind. He was here, he was really here and looking at me like I was the reason he existed. I hauled in a shaky breath, aware that everyone was watching us and that there were still enemies to be dealt with.
“Jéhenne,” he said, managing to put so much feeling into just my name that I wondered how I didn't just burst into tears and fall at his feet. Instead I walked closer and looked around at the three kneeling before him. “It appears these three would like to join us,” he said. “They regret their actions here and are of the unshakable opinion that their kin ...” He nodded at the wolves who were watching me with anxious eyes. “And indeed the entire family, which are of quite significant numbers by all accounts, would also want to be of our blood.”
I raised my eyebrows in shock. Our family was already one of the most powerful in the world, with such an addition we would certainly be the most powerful. Such power would draw attention and enemies. “What do you think the Senate will feel about that?” I asked him, trying hard to keep my mind on the job and not look at the curve of his mouth or notice the heat in his eyes as he looked at me. “You'll be more than a match for them with such numbers. How will they save face if they know they can no longer control you?”
The heat in his eyes grew as a smile stretched that delicious mouth. “My, my, someone has been busy,” he said with admiration in his voice.
I flushed with pleasure, pleased that he realised I had taken my responsibilities with all the seriousness they required. His face grew thoughtful as he considered the question.
“You are right, Jéhenne, such a move will cause us problems, and yet ... I cannot cast aside those who come to me willingly.” He looked down at the three contrite figures in front of him. “I believe these are sincere in all they say. They have done what they could while Ambrogio slept. They have endured too many successions as Masters of equal status fought for control in his absence.
They need a clear leader to shape them, and there are too many of them with too much power and yet not enough to rule and keep control. If I do not take them, they will need to be broken up and divided to avoid further chaos.” He looked back at me and shook his head. “I would not do that to such an ancient bloodline. It would be a crime.”
I nodded at him, smiling. “Then it seems we have just gained a great many children,” I replied, my voice soft.
He just stared at me, such emotion burning in his eyes that I didn't know what to do or say next. I was held in place by the weight of his gaze. A throat cleared behind us.
“Yes, Decimus.” Corvus and I spoke together and Decimus looked from me back to Corvus, a slightly anxious look on his face.
“Masters, forgive me the interruption, but Rodney and Inés, Kai and the others, they're at the gates and kicking up one almighty fuss.”
“They're alright?” I demanded. “They're all safe?”
He nodded and ran his hand over his hair with a nervous gesture. “Oh, they're all safe, and I told them no more of Ambrogio's are to die, they've put themselves in our hands, but that Inés ...” He shook his head. “She's one damned scary woman,” he muttered. “No offence, Master,” he added, quickly, looking up at me.
I laughed. “None taken, she scares me too.”
Corvus gestured to the guard. “Decimus, take as many as you need and secure our new kin until we have time to make things official,” Corvus said as his eyes drifted back to me. “I find I have more pressing matters to deal with at present.”
Decimus grinned broadly. “Yes, sire,” he said, and I watched as he herded everyone out of the room, leaving us alone except for the wolves. Corvus' eyes were still on me, and heat washed over my skin, making me breathless.
“We need to talk,” I managed, though my voice sounded a lot huskier than usual.
He nodded, though his gaze never wavered.
“Yes, we do,” he said. He looked a little more guarded now, though his eyes were still warm. I walked away from him, trying to allow my heart a moment to find an even rhythm. I knew it couldn't manage it when he was so close.
“Stay,” I commanded the wolves who huffed and grumbled, watching as I walked out of the room. I felt Corvus' presence behind me as I walked and tried to get a grip on my emotions that were spiralling too quickly out of control.
I returned to his room, feeling his eyes on my back with every step. It wasn't the room he'd been sleeping in of late but the one we had shared before the fateful journey to the Underworld. I hadn't been able to sleep there since the first days of my return and had kept the room just as he had left it. I knew he'd remembered to have come here earlier, to get the suit he was now wearing. Somehow he looked as sleek as ever despite the battle, and I ran a nervous hand over my hair, feeling ash in the tangles.
“You're more beautiful than ever, my heart,” he said softly.
I turned to look at him, my eyes blurred with tears. “Is this a trick?” I asked. “Are you just using my memories against me.” The fear in my words was only too obvious, and I didn't know what I would do if he was. I wanted it too much to turn him away even if it was all a pretence.
He looked stricken and shook his head. “No,” he said, his voice thick. “I swear it.”
I just stood looking at him, breathing too hard and wanting so badly to trust him, to be absolutely sure.
“What changed?” I demanded.
“Truthfully? I don't know.” He took a hesitant step forward. “After I ...” He closed his eyes, looking as though he was forcing the words out. “After I attacked you, when Sariel...” He looked at me frowning. “I swear I don't know what he did. It was like missing pieces suddenly fell into place, and everything that had been so uncertain was suddenly so clear.” I watched as he shook his head, too scared and uncertain to do anything but breathe. “I cannot explain it and in truth ... there are still things I am unsure of.”
He hesitated and took a breath. He was more nervous than I had ever seen him. “There are still pieces missing but ... I know who I am now.” I watched as he moved a little closer to me, seeing the fear in his eyes, fear that I could never forgive him. Strangely I knew I could forgive him for the attack, but Cyd ... that was harder. “I swear it's true, though I wouldn't blame you if you don't believe me.” I didn't answer him, didn't yet know what the answer was. “Do you think you can ever trust me again?” We stared at each other, and I knew the problem would be forcing myself not to trust him. I shouldn't. But I wanted to so much.
“You remember me?” I asked, hardly daring to believe it could be true after hearing how much he wanted to be free of me.
He gave a choked sounding laugh of disbelief. “I remember you above all things.”
“And you still want me?” I asked, wondering if I really wanted to hear the answer. “You don't want to run away?”
His face darkened. “I beg you to forget those words ever left my lips, though I will never forgive myself for saying them, for lying like that. It was never true. Not even then.”
Something inside of me seemed to ease at that. The part of me that feared he would always regret loving me ... “What else?” I asked, taking a tentative step closer. “What do you remember?”
“That I love you,” he said simply and with such sincerity that I began to tremble. “That I have loved you all my life, since before this one even began, and I will never stop.” He reached into his pocket and withdrew my bracelet. The little ruby eyes glinted as brightly as ever, apparently none the worse for their fiery ordeal.
I felt tears prickle in my eyes and wanted to reach for it, but I couldn't seem to move or speak, my throat too tight. He was watching me closely, fear in his eyes, as though he believed I would reject him, but if I spoke I knew I would crumble.
“Tell me what you want me to say, Jéhenne,” he pleaded, his voice desperate. “I would do anything ... I would endure Tartarus all over ...”
“Stop!” I held my hand out, unwilling for him to even say the words.
He looked stricken, clearly thinking I didn't believe him, but as I went to reassure him he rushed on, sounding frantic. “I will prove it to you, my heart, I swear it. Even if it takes another two thousand years.”
I laughed, looking up at him, hardly able to find enough breath to keep going let alone speak. He was so close now, close enough for me to reach out and touch him. “There's really no point in looking so contrite,” I managed through my tears. “We both know I can't possibly hold out that long.”
I was in his arms before the last word had left my lips, his mouth on mine with desperate, greedy kisses like we were drowning and gasping for air. I pulled him as close as I could, holding on so tightly as my heart felt full enough to burst, overwhelmed with love and pain, hope and regret. I sank my hands into his soft blond hair and cried quietly as his mouth left mine, and he trailed kisses over my face, murmuring soft words. I just clung to him, praying it was for real.
“How can you ever forgive me?” he asked, his voice harsh. “For I will never forgive myself for all I have done to you.”
I wiped my eyes and tried to be honest with myself. At this moment I was overwhelmed with such relief and love for him, but once the initial euphoria was over, there would always be his betrayal. Could I forgive that? “Did it have to be Cyd?” I demanded, feeling pain like broken glass in my heart as I remembered them together.
He gaped at me. “I almost killed you! I nearly tore your throat out and that's what you focus on?”
“Yes!” I shouted, hitting him with fury. “You fucked her, and how many others?” Suddenly all the pent up rage and hurt bubbled up, and flames exploded at my wrists. “How many?” I cried. “How many times do I need to forgive you?”
He grabbed my wrists, holding me off despite the fact the flames were searing his skin. “I didn't!” he shouted, shaking me until I would listen to reason. “I didn't touch her, nor any of the others.”
I stilled, looking at him in shock, too bewildered to comprehend what he was saying.
“But I saw you ...”
He shook his head. “Jéhenne, you must understand I wasn't ... whole,” he said, sounding more mortified than I'd ever known him. “Cyd came to me. She threw herself at me. She was angry with you, she wanted to hurt you, we ... we both did. But in the end ... we couldn't. It wasn't right and we knew it. When it came down to it, we both love you too much. I know Cyd regrets what she did very deeply.” He let me go, and I snatched my wrists away from him, walking away a little. I took a breath and turned back to him, hardly daring to hope. “And the others?” He at least had the grace to look uncomfortable, but he didn't answer. “Well?” I demanded. “Answer the damn question.”
I saw a sudden flash of intense anger in his eyes, it was too reminiscent of the man I had come to know in recent days, and I pushed down a flutter of alarm. He turned away from me, tension in his body, and his voice was full of restrained fury and frustration. “I didn't know who I was, Jéhenne. I was lost and ... so confused. I knew I belonged to you, but there was something about our connection that wasn't right, and I didn't know what. I needed you so badly, longed for you ...” he said, biting the words out. “But that longing, that desperate need frightened me. It was like I didn't exist if you weren't there. I wanted to know that you needed me too, just as badly.” He paused and let out a breath, and I could see he was working this out in his own mind, making sense of the past weeks. “I didn't know how to act around you, what I even wanted from you. I felt more like your slave than your progeny, and I couldn't cope with it.” His voice rose, and I could feel his anger rolling over me. “In the end I tried to prove to myself that I was wrong, that you were just my Master and nothing more. Those girls ...” I felt the resentful wave of embarrassment that rolled over him as he tried to explain. He turned back to me and looked me in the eyes. “I couldn't do it. I didn't know why, but no matter how beautiful the girl, no matter how much I wanted to get you out of my head I just ... couldn't. It made me angry, Jéhenne. It was ... humiliating.”
He was telling the truth. It had cost him to reveal that, had dented his ego. I knew Corvus only too well, and I knew his pride would never allow him to say such a thing if it wasn't true.
“But the girls said ...” I pressed, needing to kill any lingering doubt between us.
“I made them believe it!” he shouted, sounding furious as his anger prickled over my skin. “How do you think it made me feel? When I couldn't ...” He snapped his mouth shut, and I covered mine with my hand to smother a smile. “It isn't funny,” he growled, sounding dangerously angry, but I was beyond relieved and a bubble of laughter escaped me.
“Jéhenne,” he said, a clear warning in his tone, but it was too late.
I laughed and laughed until tears ran down my face, and suddenly I was pressed up against the wall, his body flush against mine and illustrating quite perfectly that he was no longer experiencing the slightest difficulty. I gasped and arched into him.
“Oh, gods,” he murmured. What followed was a blur of ripping fabric and curses, teeth and lips and hands as we snatched at each other. Desperation made us greedy and impatient and less than tender while too many clothes impeded us. He threw me down on the bed and then stood looking down at me, gloriously naked. I drank in the sight of him, my heart attempting to beat its way out of my chest with joy, so full of love I didn't know how my ribs could contain the emotion.
He came to the bed, anticipation burning between us as he lay beside me, one finger touching my skin, trailing from my neck to my navel, slowly now, savouring the moment, his gaze following the path his finger drew before returning to my eyes. He cupped my face, and I knew his awed expression exactly mirrored my own.
“I am perfectly sure that I forbade you to come after me,” he said, his voice low and heavy with emotion.
I smiled, feeling tears spilling over. “But you know how bad I am at following instructions, Corvus.”
“You risked everything, Jéhenne,” he whispered, his voice breaking. “Everything ... for me.”
“And I would do it again and again,” I said fiercely. “That will never change.”
He closed his eyes, and when he opened them again they were glittering just as brightly as I knew my own were. “The man I was when I returned ...”
I shook my head and went to silence him, but he pressed a finger to my lips. “That man ... he is still a part of me. I ... I do not have the control I once did. But I swear I will regain it, and in the meantime I will try and keep him at bay, and you can be assured of one thing. He is still as much your slave as I have ever been.” His hand moved to lay over my chest, and he smiled as he felt the steady thump beneath his palm. “My heart.”