Corrupt Cravings (32 page)

“You’re worried.”

Samael’s voice sounded right behind her. Coming into the room, she just nodded while she went to the end. The look that came across the dark angel’s face as he took in all the pictures made her pride soar.

“You did all of this?” Samael turned to her.

“Sure did.”

“Why?”

The smile fell at his question. “What do you mean, why? I needed to be able to show everyone the layout.”

“But…you’ve never done anything like this before. I’m just a little surprised. In the past, you would have just given the orders to your men. You wouldn’t even be going, Marcella. But this.” He gestured to the map of Luis’s land and also to the other maps she’d made for future trips. She had circled all the places Dominic had reported that paranormal creatures were known to live.

Taken aback, she couldn’t believe what he was saying. “You mean I didn’t help fight or find followers?”

“Recruiting is something you and I do together. As for the fighting, fuck no! You’re queen. Why do you think you have knights? This isn’t your job. It’s theirs. Do you think I’d be going if you weren’t? I thought this issue with Luis might be something personal, but obviously that’s not why you want to fight.”

“You’re right, it’s not. I should be fighting with my men.”

“Is that so?” Samael turned to all four of them but paused as the vampires began to file in. Once everyone was filling the large area, he continued. “I want all of you who agree to raise your hands. Now, who here feels comfortable letting the queen fight?”

Marcella looked around. Not a single hand rose. Furious, she walked toward Samael. “That is not the point. I’m responsible for this. I took him without taking care of the problem before we left. I fight.”

“Marcella, this is a long time coming. This is my fight. Not yours,” Donavon said softly.

She started to argue with him, but Samael’s gaze shot to Dominic and then Jason, making her pause. They both walked over and waited for what he had to say. When his eyes connected to hers, she knew it wasn’t good.

“There are more problems than this fight. Have you and Jason come to terms with your issue?”

Confused, she shook her head. “What does that have to do with anything? That can be resolved later.”

“Why, when I have the perfect solution?” Samael looked at Dominic. Somehow she knew he was speaking to Dom in his head. When her mate’s eyes shot to hers, panic flared.

“I’m sorry, Marcy, but this is for the best.”

“What do you mean, Dom?”

Samael grabbed her arm, and Dominic grabbed Jason’s. Her and her other half were thrown in one of the dungeon’s cells before she could even process how fast they’d disappeared from her headquarters.

The sound of the iron door locking had her and Jason both pulling against the bars of the cell. Marcella tried to grab at the dark angel by manipulating the energy, but her powers were utterly useless. “Don’t you fucking do this, Samael. Let us out right now! I need to fight with my men!”

Jason’s yelling was just as loud as hers. “Dominic! Let me out. You’ve seen my fucking dragon! You fucking get me out of here right now. I’ll hurt her. You know I will.”

Dom shook his head. “You love her too much to hurt her, Jason. You can control your dragon. I know you can. A part of me has had trouble facing the reality of your situation with our queen, but I have to trust in her judgment, and she thinks she can control you.” He turned to Marcella with a sad look. “I’m sorry, but Samael is right. I don’t want you fighting, and this is the best thing for you and Jason.”

All Marcella could do was think of her new mate and her potential followers. “You can’t let Donavon, Aaron, or the vampires go. Please! I meant to do a ceremony before I left for those who wanted to follow. Their souls will be lost if they die!”

Samael lifted his hand, a gesture she took as him trying to calm her. “We’ll bring the ones who want to follow and fight down here. You’ll have to do the ceremony through these bars. It’s the only way. You’re not getting out until we get back, and that could take a few days. I want to scope out the area myself. Oh, and don’t bother trying to use your gifts here. There’s a spell forbidding anything like that from happening.”

Marcella sunk to the ground, still holding onto the bars. How did this just happen? The ceremony was something to celebrate, something beautiful. The memories they would have when they thought of their special day would revolve around her being in the dungeon. Great. Not to mention, she wouldn’t be there to protect or watch over her men as they fought. That just made everything worse.

“Dominic, go tell everyone what is going on. Let them decide. Bring down the ones who want Marcella as their queen.”

Her mate nodded and disappeared. Jason yelled as he began pulling on the bars again. “Samael. I never had a problem with you until this very moment. What you’re doing crosses the line. You have to let me out of here. You saw what I did to her the last time. Without her having her powers to at least fight back, it’ll be even worse. Don’t make either of us go through that again.”

“I also saw you submit at the end, Jason. You stopped. There was a small window where you could have gobbled her up, and you didn’t. Trust me. You’ll be fine. Hell, I bet by the time we get back, you’ll be thanking me.”

“Or putting my blade through your chest because that’s exactly what I’m going to do if I hurt her again.”

Samael waved off the threat with his hand. “Marcella.” The dark angel lowered himself until his face was level with hers. “Look at me.” Tears clouded her vision as she met his eyes. “I promise I won’t let anything happen to your men or followers.”

“What followers, Samael? I haven’t had a chance to spend nearly as much time with them as I would have liked. My life is a fucking mess. Every spare moment I have is usually complicated by one of my creatures.”

“You mean your succubus, don’t you? She comes a lot?”

“All the time.” A sob passed her lips as she looked down. Samael’s fingers came through the bar and eased under her chin, bringing her gaze back up to his.

“What if I told you there was a way you could satisfy your demon for weeks at a time? What would you say?”

“I’d say you were probably planning an orgy, and I’m not interested in sleeping with fifty million men.”

“And if it were only one man who could sate your demon’s cravings? What then?”

Marcella rose to her knees, gripping the iron tighter. Samael moved up to stay level with her. “Impossible. No one person is capable of holding that much energy.”

A smile came to Samael’s face. “I know one person who is.”

“Who?” The word barely left her lips as her heart accelerated.

“The devil himself,” Jason spat from across the room. “Who do you think, Marcy? No one is that strong. Dom, Ambrose, and I are damn near drained by the time you get done with us. For someone to hold that much power is like you said, impossible.”

Samael rolled his eyes at Jason and turned back to her. “Next time she comes, summon me. I’ll take you to him. That is, if you’re interested.”

“She’d be gone for weeks.”

“Well, it’s not guaranteed, but I do know this person was perfectly made to take a succubus of your strength, so you won’t drain him. I’m betting you don’t even make him break a sweat.”

“Really? What’s his name? Have I met him in either of my lives?”

Samael laughed. “Of course. I wouldn’t take you to someone I didn’t approve of, especially for this. I guess you could say he’s the only person I trust with you.”

“Then I’ll meet him. Whether or not I can go through with it is something entirely different.”

Samael stood, and so did she. “My queen, I’m betting once you see him you won’t have any objections.”

One man. Weeks succubus free. She’d be damned if this wasn’t the next best thing to winning the lottery.

Footsteps in the distance had her pressing her face against the bars to try to see the entrance, but it was impossible from her angle. “Samael, who’s coming?”

“Almost everyone, my queen.” A laugh came from his throat as he stepped away from the bars. “Of course, we both know the new vampires need more time, but it seems the ones who have been here the longest are all here. Oh, wait, I take that back, the twins are here. Lovely. Nayla really took a liking to you, it seems.”

Lavender immediately filled the air, and Marcella ignored Samael as she fought the tears that once again tried to escape. As the vampires all came to stand before the cell, she had to tighten her grip on the iron just so she wouldn’t fall because of her weakened knees.

The door opened, and she was immediately pulled out and shackled to the outside of the cell by Samael. Jason ran for the door, but it was locked before he could make out. Walking forward, Marcella noticed she had a good twenty feet to move.

“I’m cruel, but I’m not that cruel. I couldn’t make you do it behind bars. Now, start the ceremony, my queen. We don’t have that much time.”

Cutting her eyes to the dark angel, she swallowed hard and began to walk as far away from the cell as she could. “This will not be rushed. My followers deserve respect, and I will give it to them. The ceremony is not something I can just fly through.”

Samael remained quiet, so she proceeded to go through the steps in her head. Knowing her vampire symbol needed to show, Marcella made a white gown appear to cover her body. One shoulder was covered by lace while the other was sleeveless. The low-cut top exposed the cross over her heart perfectly. Imagining her hair piled on her head, she could feel as it fixed itself the exact way she saw in her mind. The softness of a few loose curls hung down her back. Once her crown, dagger, and necklace were in place, her outfit was complete.

“I can’t tell you all how surprised I am that you’re entrusting me with something so precious. You have my word that I will do everything within my power to keep your souls safe and to make sure they go where they’re intended. Donavon, I’m going to need to start with you because of your rank. Afterward, the vampires can go and then Aaron.”

Donavon stepped forward until he was but a foot in front of her body. Already smelling the lavender, Marcella cut out the lights, making enough candles appear to give the area a soft glow. As if Donavon sensed what to do, she watched him kneel before her.

Feeling heat rush through her body, she knew her collector was aware of what was about to take place. Fire ignited her eyes, and she knew they were glowing. A hollow circle like the moon began to glow brightly from her left arm, and with it, gold scripture projected out as if lying against an invisible screen.

“Do not fear, my wolf mate. I shall make my vows to you, and if you feel the same for me, you can either repeat them or give me your word. I’ll shed my blood, and depending upon the way you feel, you can repeat the act. Are you okay with this?”

“Yes, my queen.”

“Look at me, Donavon.”

His blue eyes widened as his head came up. When he turned, she noticed he stared at the shimmering gold words for her to read. Samael cleared his throat, making both her and Donavon turn in his direction. If she wouldn’t have already started the ceremony, Marcella would have chewed into his ass. As it was, she turned back to Donavon.

This was it. Finding him made her whole, but something about carrying all the men’s souls really completed the act. It was time for the most important part.

Chapter 13

Donavon could feel his wolf practically purr deep down inside his stomach. Something monumental was about to happen, and it had nothing to do with the ceremony and everything to do with his connection to the one woman in front of him. After this moment, Marcella would be his queen, and he, her knight. The tingling that kept coursing through his skin ignited his senses until he could practically feel his skin vibrate.