Corrupt Cravings (31 page)

A knock had everyone facing the door. Marcella had planned this. She knew it was going to be Nayla who led the angels in. Now, it was time for her to get control of what she could feel was best.

“Enter.”

Sure enough, Nayla opened the door and led Nemmy and Caspius inside. Nemmy looked amazing. Marcella hadn’t quite gotten a good look at him in the dark, but in the light, he positively glowed. Angel, just what he looked like. As for the other guy, Caspius looked more like an assassin. He was dressed from the neck down in leather, all the way to his big combat boots.

“Very nice to see you both again.” Marcella stepped forward and kissed both of their cheeks. Their eyes immediately went to scanning their surroundings. Mainly, her men.

“Thank you for having us.” Nemmy’s voice sounded calm as she led them to an empty couch in the front of the room. The last thing she wanted to do was sit them in the middle where they’d feel surrounded.

“So.” Nemmy sat forward as she took a seat at the small sofa facing his. “Tell me how much you remember about your past life. If I know, then I won’t make the mistake of telling you something I shouldn’t.”

Marcella took a deep breath and signaled for Samael to join her. The dark angel’s smile was one she took as approval. It felt right to have him at her side. She wasn’t sure why, since she had two mates, Ambrose, and another half. Maybe it was because he knew the most of what happened, and she trusted him. Then again, maybe not.

The moment he sat down, Nemmy’s smile fell slightly.

“Let me see. Well, I remember my men. Then, of course, you have my death. I remember some of the actual event. How it came about is a bit of a mess. I’m not really sure of the details on that. I know I was to have a child, and my guess is that played a part.”

Turning, she looked at Samael. “I remember my love for him. He was my best friend.” She gazed into his eyes, remembering the heat they shared the previous night. Quickly, she looked back at Nemmy. “As for you two, I just know that we’ve met. Our dealings or what we shared is a mystery to me.”

Nemmy nodded. “Give it time. I’m sure if I come around enough, it’ll trigger memories for you.”

“About that.” Marcella watched him shift. Was he nervous? “I don’t mind your visits, I actually encourage them, but I must let you know that my presence here at the fortress isn’t going to be that frequent. I plan to be out gathering followers. My collector is in need. I can feel it. I think since I held so many in the past, that for some reason my new collector is going a bit mad not having what it’s used to.” Marcella paused. “You do understand, right?”

“Oh, yes, of course.” Nemmy nodded. She couldn’t tell what he was thinking, but she knew she needed to try harder to get him to think she wasn’t trying to intentionally ditch him. Leaning forward, she placed her hands out to him. He smiled as he placed his on top. Giving them a tight squeeze, she flashed him a bright smile.

“I can’t wait to remember more about you. The feeling I have about us is very good. You will try to come and see me as much as possible when I’m here, right?” She stuck out her bottom lip the tiniest bit, so he thought she was frowning, but trying to hold it in.

“Oh, yes. I would love nothing more. You just tell me when and I’m here.” The excitement in his words was exactly what she was looking for. Pleased, Marcella broke their contact and made her cell phone appear.

“What’s your number?”

“My what?” Nemmy looked confused while he stared at what was in her hand.

“Your phone number? You mean you don’t have a phone?”

“Oh, right. Uh, no, I don’t. Should I have one?”

Marcella laughed at his puzzled expression. “Why, of course. How do you expect me to get a hold of you when I want you to come over?

“I guess I didn’t think of that.”

“Here.” She made another appear and handed it to him. “When I’m in town, I’ll call you. Tonight we’re leaving, but I shouldn’t be gone for more than a few weeks. I promise to drop a line the moment I get back into town.”

“Drop a line? You mean call?”

“Yes.” She laughed again and stood. “I should really be getting things in order here at the house. Shall I walk you out?”

“I would like that.” He held his arm out to her, and she linked hers around the lean muscle, placing her body closer than what etiquette required. The heat that rolled off of his skin told her she’d done her job very well.

As they came to the door and he opened it, she stopped and stared up at him. “I’m so glad you came by. Until we meet again, my dear friend.” She gave him a bow of her head. The quick kiss he placed on her cheek left her surprised.

“I’ll wait for your call.” He stepped outside, and Caspius followed. She bowed her head to the other angel, and he mirrored her actions. At the same time, the two angels disappeared.

Marcella shut the door and headed back to the sitting room. The men were all smiling as she entered.

“You’re too good at being bad. You can’t imagine all the lies I could smell coming off of you.” Donavon laughed.

“You were great. Fucking great.” Jason came up and spun her around in his arms. It was odd how easily the men took to her story about wanting to get rid of the angels. She thought they were all going to want to pair up with the good guys since their ultimate goal had nothing but good intentions, but she was glad she wasn’t the only one who thought those two angels were up to something.

The moment she was placed on the ground, Marcella walked over to Samael. He shook his head while smiling. “I can’t believe you did it. A part of me thought you wouldn’t be able to turn them away. Hell, if your visit hadn’t been so quick, I would have been convinced you were actually telling the truth. Your lying was phenomenal!”

“What I said last night stands. All of it.” She winked, and he stiffened considerably. Marcella wanted to laugh as she headed over to the group her men had made by the small bar. Ambrose handed her two glasses of dark liquid, and she took the other back to Samael. Marcy was so happy, she didn’t care what it was. More than likely it was going to be strong as hell, and she welcomed every bit of the heat that would accompany the drink.

“Cheers.”

Samael paused for a moment before he toasted his glass with hers. “Cheers, my queen.”

Tossing the dark liquid back, Marcella took it all down in one drink. The delicious burn worked its way down, and she closed her eyes, savoring the warmth that started to pool in her stomach.

“So what’s the big news? You’re up to something, I can feel it.”

Marcella let her eyes grow wide, innocently. “Who, me? Surely you’re mistaken.”

A laugh came from the dark angel as he placed his empty glass on the small coffee table. Her men got closer, all of them anxious to tell Samael about the plans. “Don’t play coy with me, my queen. You may be a good liar, but I can feel your excitement. You’re up to no good.”

“Am I? Does that bother you?”

Samael’s blue eyes shot to the other men. Marcella wasn’t sure what made him so nervous. Yes, she was teasing him about being intimate, but it wasn’t overly obvious. He shifted and brought his attention back to her.

“No, you’re made up of both good and bad. Just because your bad side seems to be coming out by the handful lately doesn’t mean it’s something to worry about. You’ll get bored and find something else to entertain you.”

“What in the hell are you going on about, Samael?” Dominic started laughing and shaking his head. “Marcella, just tell him. He’s clueless as to what you are talking about.”

No, he’s not. He thinks I’ll grow bored chasing after him. He is so wrong.
She narrowed her eyes at the dark angel. “I don’t get bored when I’m determined. Anyway, I was referring to the first stage of my new plan. Everyone in the fortress is leaving tonight. Except you, of course.”

“I beg your pardon? Why am I being left out? And what is this plan you’ve constructed?”

Marcella walked over and refilled her glass. She took her time and walked between her two mates. Dominic wrapped his arm around her shoulder while Donavon settled for her waist.

“Donavon is going to be the leader for the shifter community. He fights Luis tonight. We’re all going because the fight will be far from fair. That’s not Luis’s style. The gun power they have is crippling, not to mention the amount of wolves who are now residing at the location. You see, when Luis found out we left, he called in a lot of people. They’re searching for us even as we speak.”

“How do you know this?” Samael whispered.

“I have my ways,” Donavon answered, cutting off what she was about to say.

“And I can’t go because?” The annoyance on Samael’s face made Marcella’s heart leap. Hell yes, she wanted him to go. Shit, they needed him, and badly, but he wouldn’t have come happily if he thought she was ordering him.

“Don’t be ridiculous,” Marcella said, narrowing her eyes intentionally. “Masters don’t fight. They’re the ones who give the orders.”

Samael looked at her, astounded. “Of course they do. Ambrose is a master, and I bet you’re going to let him fight.”

Shrugging, she dropped her arms from her mates and walked over to Ambrose. He held her close while she looked up into his pale face.

“This master enjoys the blood that’s associated with the kill. Don’t you?”

“More than you’ll ever know.” His lips brushed against hers, and she turned back to Samael. The look on the dark angel’s face was enough to stop her heart. He was angry, and not just a little. He was pissed.

“I like to fight, too. You think just because I give out the orders that I don’t know what to do in the field? I assure you you’re wrong.”

Walking toward him, she kept her eyes averted. “Well, I mean if you
want
to go…”

“You know I do,” he snapped.

“Well, I guess it would be okay. I mean, if you think you can handle it, that is. I can’t be out there watching over you or anything.” Only then did she raise her eyes to his.

A gasp passed his lips. “You baited me.” He let out a laugh and shook his head. “You fucking tricked me, and I didn’t even realize it. Goddamn it. Why didn’t you just ask?” He paused, the smile falling. “Never mind. Don’t answer that.”

“Yeah, my thoughts exactly. You would have said something smart ass. So, why don’t you look over my plans and see what you think? I know you’ll give me an honest opinion. Since there are houses not too far away, the majority of our powers are pretty much useless. The police would be there in minutes.”

Marcella headed for the door and looked over her shoulder, noticing they were all following. “Of course, with all the firepower they have, that might happen anyway. Just in case, Ambrose will be by me at all times. Donavon is to not leave Dominic’s side, and Aaron is not to leave Jason.”

Walking into the great hall, Marcella only noticed a few vampires walking around. Spying Nayla heading for the stairs, she quickly ran forward to catch up with her.

“Can you do me a huge favor, Nayla?”

“Sure.” A smile came to the vampire’s face as her green eyes looked up and down Marcy’s body.

“I was wondering if you could get everyone together and have them meet us in my headquarters. There are a few last minute details I want to go over about tonight.”

“You bet.”

Nayla bounced up the stairs, giving off no sound to her footsteps. Turning, Marcella proceeded to the room where she had all the pictures on the walls. The vampires’ coming along wasn’t something she really wanted to happen, but it was imperative that they stick together. Only problem was, she wasn’t sure exactly how many were coming. She’d be damned if they were going to fight before she had their souls. It was way too risky. If she lost anyone whose soul wasn’t protected, she didn’t think she’d be able to live with herself.