Dark heiress, p.29
Dark Heiress, page 29
part #5 of Ema Marx Series
“You mean kill.” Jesu’s tone was cold as steel. “To kill her brother one day.”
My heart faltered and I trembled. “No. She can’t. Her own twin?”
Jesu wrapped both arms around me, holding me close. I wanted to weep into him.
“What if it isn’t the boy?” Jalmari’s voice flowed through the effects of the oddly thick space like a ribbon of lazy smoke drifting to my ears as languidly as the incense filling the room. “What if it’s our father?”
Jesu turned emerald flames toward his brother. “Speak plainly, Jalmari.”
Jalmari pushed away from the wall and took a step toward us. “Your premonition, brother. For the past two-thousand years, you’ve spoken of nothing but a human girl who battles our father. We all know Apollyon is still alive. He grows in the boy like a parasite, and one day he will find a way out again. So, what if this evil she is destined to fight is not her brother, but our father who dwells within him?”
Jesu’s gaze met Dad’s and they seemed to share some unspoken meaning between them.
“What does that matter?” I demanded, letting my temper color my words.
“Taking the throne will give her an army—still a good idea, I might add—but the Brotherhood can give her the skills to defend herself.”
“You can’t honestly be suggesting that this is a good idea?” I said.
“No. It is a worst-case scenario. But if the Brotherhood believes she is the messiah, then we have no reason to think they will treat her with ill. And you—” Jalmari held his brother’s gaze “—will see to that.”
Jesu furrowed his brow. “But how can I protect her on the other side of the world and still be king?”
Jalmari scoffed. “The crown comes with many benefits, little brother. Especially now, in the age of smartphones. Like I said, once you are king, you can appoint me as your Hand. Naamah and I will handle the politics. You reap the rewards.”
Jesu rolled his eyes. “Poster boy.”
“There’s no law that says the king has to live in his kingdom.”
“If I did not know any better, big brother, I would say you pre-destined this as well.”
Jalmari smirked. “You give me too much credit. I am simply trying to right an impossible wrong.”
“That could work.” Dad nodded. “You are her protector, Jesu. And the R.E.D. has no reason to punish you.”
Jesu stiffened beneath me, and his chest puffed. “Very well,” he said slowly. “We have a plan in place.” His gazed lowered to mine, and his expression softened. “Just in case.”
I didn’t like any of this, but I saw no other choice. At least not until the R.E.D. made up their minds. So, I drew a breath and nodded in compliance.
“If that is settled, then I should go,” said Jalmari. “Much to do in very little time.” Jesu nodded at his brother, and the three of us watched as Jalmari left the room.
Dad cleared this throat. “I suppose this means congratulations are in order?”
I winced, realizing my parents knew nothing of the recent developments. “Yeah. Jesu and I are engaged to be married.”
“But we cannot breathe a word of it to anyone,” Jesu added. “Our union might cause the Council to retaliate against Ema ascending the throne. We are to elope in private as soon as possible. Jalmari is making the arrangements with Naamah. He says we need a witness that cannot be accused of favoritism.”
I furrowed my brow. “Who on earth would that be? Without telling anyone the truth?”
Jesu shrugged. “We will find someone.”
“You’re ascending the throne?” Dad sounded as though he didn’t believe it.
I faced my father and nodded. “Jalmari’s abdicating in favor of the mother of his child. Long story. But if everything goes according to plan, I will be crowned Queen Regent.” I faced Jesu and smiled up at him. “And then I will name Jesu my king.”
“Did ... Did you absolve the contract with Brinnon?” Dad inquired.
I looked at him and refused to feel guilty. “No. That is why Jesu will be king.”
Dad chuckled. “Well then ... ‘A king to guard their home.’”
I grimaced. “Hey Dad, can we have a minute?”
My father shifted his weight. “Oh. Sure. I’ll just check on your mother.”
“Not one word about the engagement!” I warned.
Dad arched his brow. “I can keep a secret, pumpkin, but I can’t protect you forever if you omit her from attending your vows.”
I said nothing to that, mostly because I had no idea if there would even be time for vows. After Dad left the room, I looked up at Jesu. He still held me in his strong arms, but defeat seemed to deepen every line of his thin lips and bold brow. “I’m so sorry,” I said, “to leave so much burden in your hands.”
Jesu scoffed. “What burden? I get you. I get a family. And I get the means to take care of you all.”
“Yeah, but this is going to be extra hard, Jesu. Twins? A fractured clan on the brink of war? And you’re going to have to do it alone. Without me.”
“No one said this would be easy, Ema, but the most important things are worth struggling for.” Jesu took my hands in his and then sat on the edge of the bed, leading me to sit beside him. “Originally, thought I would be walking to the role of General, leading the front lines. But now I think Jalmari may be right. The sire command will only grow stronger with the twin’s birth. I won’t be able to leave her side. Not ever. I think even if the R.E.D. were to let you go scot-free, I would still want to take the kids to America. Away from the war front.”
“You have my permission to do that,” I said, and then reached out to stroke his cheek. “Jesu, you have my permission to do whatever you need. I trust you completely. I’d thank your mother if I could. Your curse is my deliverance. It’s how I’m going to get through the Elite; knowing you are with Jordan always. I only wish I knew how to thank you for your sacrifice.”
“It is no sacrifice to me.” Jesu caught my hand in his and touched his lips to each one of my fingertips. “But marrying me is a good start.”
I chuckled. “Well, just don’t get cold feet at the last minute.”
Jesu’s sideways smile rose into his dimple. “Ulcers, maybe. But not cold feet.”
“Shut up,” I giggled and then kissed him, marveling at how lucky I was.
He kissed me back, lifting one hand to snake along my neck and bury itself in my hair.
“Different room,” I murmured.
“Yes,” he said, drawing away with a pinched expression. “I hate the incense in here.”
“Oh my God, same. I can hardly breathe.”
We went to Jesu’s room and got a head start on the Honeymoon.
Jesu
I lay against the mattress with one hand tucked under my head. Sheets shackled my lower limbs, but I paid them no mind, content to bask in the afterglow of lovemaking. Ema’s heavenly form draped against mine. Her head rested peacefully on my chest, one arm over my stomach, our legs comfortably entwined. Her breath feathered the coarse hairs along my sternum, and I pressed a soft kiss to the crown of her midnight-colored hair, wishing we could stay this way forever.
Ema traced small absent circles over my obliques and spoke in a lazy murmur. “Kill for a gallon of blood.”
“In a minute. I am not sure I can walk yet.” An innocent lie.
She made a lovely content sound in her throat. “Mm.”
I smirked in remembrance. “Do you recall the first time we made love? You were so numb.”
“You mean the first dozen times? I thought you were going to break.” She laughed.
“I did not mind the challenge.”
“If you’re wondering if it’s better now, yes. It is.”
My lips tweaked. “I was hope for something a little more enthusiastic than better.”
She rolled onto her stomach and gave me a look. “You feel amazing. You make me feel amazing. I don’t know what to tell you.”
“Hm. The challenge continues.”
She flopped onto her back and giggled. “I mean, I might never admit to being one-hundred-percent satisfied if it encourages you to compete with yourself.”
“Oh, believe me, you will. You won’t be able to help yourself.”
She laughed, and I smiled, happy that she was happy.
“I am sorry this union will not be the wedding of your dreams.”
Ema rolled her eyes. “Are you kidding? I was never that type of girl. Trust me, I’m perfectly fine doing this behind closed doors. Though we might one day have to have a mock ceremony for my mother.” She climbed on top of me so that we were face to face. “I’m happy as long as you’re my husband, Jesu.”
“Very well.” I reached up and tucked a stray lock behind her ear. She looked well spent; her hair flat on one side and frizzy on the other, lips still swollen and lopsided from a torrent of kisses and nibbles. It was sexy.
Something I had wondered about before came to mind, and my gaze lowered to her neck. To the pulse of her jugular vein. If she is thirsty for blood ... I toyed with the idea of flipping her over and starting anew when a knock came at the door.
“It’s Naamah,” said Ema.
“So it is,” I said, having scented his essence through the doorway.
“I’m going to shower.” She rose from the bed, stretched, and then disappeared into the bathroom. Naamah knocked a second time.
“Coming,” I grunted while pushing to my feet. I scooped up a pair of jeans and pulled them over my legs, zipping the fly as I reached the door and then opened it. “Yes?”
“Apologies for the interruption.” Naamah was smartly dressed in a gray button-down and slacks, his curls freshly gelled. It dawned on me that I would be expected to smarten up my own wardrobe as well.
“No interruption,” I said. “We are probably past due for a talk.”
“Your brother brought me up to speed.” He gestured for me to follow, and we strolled across the corridor to the room that used to belong to Maria. All her belongings were still there. Makeup, hairbrush, clothes, and shoes. I ought to offer to pack this all up for him. Jalmari did say we were to return home as soon as Brinnon allowed it.
“Have you procured a viable witness yet?”
“Er ...” No. Been too busy pleasing my bride.
“I have an option for your consideration. Diana Medvedya.”
“The Porcelnikan queen?”
Naamah nodded. “She is removed enough from the situation that it would not cast suspicion, yet I trust she would be sympathetic to your plight.”
Indeed, she would. Diana’s reign had long been stained by the birth of her five sons. If the rumors were true, all five were vampires. “If she agrees, that is good enough for me.”
“Good. I will discuss it with her. In the meantime,” Naamah reached into his pocket and produced a small bronze gimmal ring. “This is for Ema.”
My throat tightened as I eyed the band. It was made of three thin circles of metal that joined to create a fede—two interlocking hands—in the center. “Where did you get that?”
“It was Maria’s.” He extended the ring toward me.
I shook my head. “I cannot accept it.”
“Oh pish, my friend. Take it. I have bought her several over the years, I can part with one. Unless of course you don’t think Ema will like the style.”
“It is not that,” I said quickly, caught between not wanting to insult him and not wanting to bother him with such things. “This one is perfect. She will love it. Thank you.”
“I hope one day you can forgive me for almost getting Ema killed because it would mean that you understand why I had to.” Naamah placed the ring into my palm and closed my fingers over the soft metal. “She must always come first, Jesu. Never forget that.”
I tucked the ring into my pocket and then nodded. Understand, yes. Forgive? No. That didn’t mean I couldn’t trust him to do his duty to the crown. When it came to politics and serving his sovereign, Naamah was the best man for the job. I wouldn’t burn bridges. So, I said nothing.
“I suggest you and Ema tie up any loose ends now. You will be wedded by this time tomorrow.”
“Thank you,” I said, having no idea what he meant by loose ends.
“I will find you when we’re ready.” Naamah nodded once and his chin dipped low, almost like a bow—or perhaps it was a bow—and I startled. Sure, the odd civilian would acknowledge me with a bow occasionally, but it was done out of respect for my brother and never by a vampyre of position. Better get used to it, mate. Still ...
I put a hand on Naamah’s shoulder as he rose. “Do not change how you treat me, Naamah. You and Maria have been father and mother to me far longer than my parents were. You are family.”
Naamah’s gaze went to the side and he chewed his lip as though not sure how to digest this. After a moment, he nodded and exited the room.
I closed my eyes and sighed, waiting for his footfalls to leave the corridor before I crossed the hall and returned to my room. The bathroom door opened, and Ema joined me as I sat on the edge of our disheveled bed. She wore nothing more than a towel swathing her petite form.
“What did Naamah want?” she asked.
I arched my brow and thought about saving the ring for when we signed our marriage license. But gimmal rings were meant to be given in pieces. One piece of the fede was used as the engagement ring. The other two were for the big day. Then again, Jalmari had warned us not to give any indication of what was afoot.
Ema arched her brow, waiting for my answer, and I caved.
“He wanted me to give you this.” I slid from the bed and lowered to one knee for the second time, taking her left hand in mine as I pulled the ring from my pocket. “Ema Marx, will you do me the honor of being my wife?”
Her breath hitched as I unveiled the ring in my palm and then slid one side of the fede over her ring finger. “Of course, you silly vampire! But what’s with this ring being a puzzle? Not that I’m complaining. It’s gorgeous.”
My mouth curved into a smirk as I rose and pressed a kiss to her forehead. “It is called a gimmel ring. They were popular in the seventeenth century. Two of the pieces together make a fede; two hands interlocking. The third is just a band. One side of the fede is used as an engagement ring. The other two are our wedding bands.”
“Oh, I like that idea. Now that I think about it, I believe Shakespeare used one of these in Othello.”
“Well, this one belonged to Maria.”
She startled up at me, her lips caught between a smile and a frown.
“Naamah insisted,” I explained.
“Oh.” She lowered her gaze to look at the bronze band over her finger.
I tipped her chin, turning her jaw to face me, and her gaze followed. Her eyes looked sad. “It is okay if you do not like it. I can get another.”
She scowled. “Don’t you dare. This one is perfect. I just ... miss her. A lot.”
I swallowed and let my hand slide from her chin to the base of her neck. “As do I.”
Ema winced. “She was supposed to be here, Jesu. For this. For them.” She gestured to the twins.
“I know, muru.”
Her gaze glossed as she looked away and pressed her lips together.
I took her jaw into my hands and drew her lips gently against mine, needing to kiss that frown back into a smile. But the kiss ended up being messier and more desperate than I intended. Maybe that is okay. Maybe that is something we both need.
“I love you,” she whispered.
“I love you.”
Chapter 25
I sat cross-legged in the middle of the royal guest room that used to be Jalmari’s but was now temporarily Sara’s. Old bridal catalogs and wedding magazines from the 1980s covered every square inch of the regal floor in glossy images of puffy white tulle and satin lace. Sara lounged on her stomach with a pillow under her elbows as she skimmed the pages. The teddy bear, with its black-and-white checkered bowtie, sat on the bed above us.
“Oh, the beading on this one is divine,” said Sara. “But that bodice won’t do. Too outdated.”
We were searching for inspiration. Or rather, Sara searched for inspiration. She insisted my dress be a one-of-a-kind custom design. The ring Jesu gave me not more than twenty minutes ago rested in my pocket. I didn’t have the heart to tell Sara I wouldn’t need a dress. Or any of the other frilly celebration details. This was the happiest I’d seen her in days. Though I did wish someone would teach the princess about a little thing called online shopping.
“This one!” Sara popped up and sidled over to me with a magazine in hand. “It’s perfect! All we have to do is switch out the lace for the one on page eighty, exchange the sleeves for the ones on that magazine over there, and maybe remove all the rhinestones.” She made a face. “Unless you like rhinestones. Then I guess it’s okay.”
I cracked a smile and chose my words carefully. “You know, I already have a dress I like.”
Her gaze widened to saucers. “You do?”
I shrugged. “Sure. The one I wore to your brother’s coronation.”
Sara instantly scowled and sagged dramatically into her pillow. “You can’t wear that dress.”
“Why not?” I asked.
“Because you already wore it. And because it’s gray.”
“Does anyone really care about the color?” I would have thought white to be, well, human.
Sara rolled onto her back and tapped her lips with a finger. “Traditionally, you would wear your clan colors, but Neo-Draugrian colors are just dreadful for a wedding dress. Red and black? How morbid.”
I arched my brow. A red and black wedding dress sounded pretty awesome to me. I bet Jesu would get a kick out of that. Plus, it would match my eyes. “What about a coronation?” I wondered out loud, thinking of how handsome Brinnon looked in Alpan gray and royal blue.
“Same difference,” said Sara. “Clan colors for everything.”
“Were the Neo-Draugrian colors always red and black?” I asked, thinking of the crests that decorated the dining hall in Jalmari’s castle. The oldest of the relics had been a vibrant forest green with a golden yellow dragon twisted around a Viking sword.
