Chapter 6

When I emerged from my bedroom that evening, Eden was kicked back on the living room couch, a silky black sweater slipping off her shoulder, watching Japanese anime on the big-screen TV mounted in a lacquer cabinet.

"Hey." She turned off the TV and straightened, a smile pinned to her face.

She appeared relaxed, but I knew this woman. I saw the tension tightening the corners of her eyes, felt her apprehension—and knowing I was the source made me want to break something.

I'd wanted Eden back. Hell, I'd visualized her punishment in detail, starting with spanking that round ass of hers red. But now that she was here, completely in my power, I found myself at a loss. This wasn't my Eden—a little sassy, a little jokey. Easy-going but not taking shit from anyone, including me.

That didn't mean I wasn't still angry at her, which left me confused and irritable.

I stopped a few feet from the couch. "Hey," I said stiffly. "You get out today?"

"I did, yes. Nathan took me shopping." She tipped her head at a trio of sleek gray bags next to the couch. "He said you told him to buy me some maternity clothes. We found a secondhand shop with some really pretty things."

A perplexed line formed between my brows. "You didn't want new clothes?"

She shook her head. "These are fine. It was an upscale shop. The clothes were like new, and trust me, they weren't cheap."

She said that like I cared how much she spent. "I can afford it. But I wanted you to have new—"

"I'm good," she insisted. "I did buy new underwear." A corner of her mouth hitched up. "I draw the line at used panties."

And there was my Eden. A hint of her, anyway.

My anger melted around the edges, like her smile was heat applied to the iceberg in my chest. "I fucking hope so," I returned gruffly. "Are you ready?"

"Yes." She rubbed her hands down her thighs. "But…don't make Rio come. Please?"

"I'm not making Rio do anything. He wants to come. We'll pay him triple what he was making bussing tables."

She hunched her shoulders. "I wanted to help him, you know. Not drag him into this."

I hardened my heart against her forlorn expression. Maybe I was using Rio to ensure her good behavior, but I was paying the guy, wasn't I? I could've just kidnapped him. It's not like anyone would notice he was missing.

"He signed a standard service contract. He'll be your companion and personal cook, not a thrall. If he works out, I can use him part-time as my PA, too. As soon as the contract is up, he can leave, or sign another contract. His choice."

"Yeah?" Her eyes moved between mine like she was trying to see into my brain. "I guess that's all right, then."

"Not that it's your business," I added. "Just so we're clear—he's under contract to me. Which means, he answers to me—not you. Now, let's go. Where are your boots?"

She'd gone stiff at my mini-lecture. "I can get them myself," she said, starting to rise. "I'm not that big yet."

"Sit," I said between my teeth. "Sweet Lilith, do you have to fight me about every little thing?"

She sank back down. "Sorry," she said, her glare making it clear she was anything but.

The boots were a soft, slouchy leather. I slipped the first one on and ran a palm beneath her wide-legged pants, caressing her calf.

She sipped a breath. Our gazes snagged. Her pupils were big and dark.

My heart gave a single hard thump. It seemed like a year since I'd last touched her, not a couple of months.

A decade since I'd drawn a lungful of her sweet Eden-scent.

And a fucking century since I'd had her beneath me, crying out my name, begging for more.

She might not like me much right now, but she still wanted me. It was etched on her face, visible in her heavy-lidded eyes.

Gods, I wished we weren't on a schedule. But the primitive part of me itched to get her and my spawn safely back in my own territory.

She dragged her teeth over her lower lip. "Talon?"

"Mm?" I stroked the warm, firm muscles beneath my fingers, my gaze on that soft pink lip she was mauling.

"What do you want from me?"

You. Coming with me willingly. Accepting my blood bond because that's what you want, too.

Now where in Hades had that come from?

Frowning inwardly, I shoved the thought down deep where I wouldn't have to think about it and skated my fingers down to where her calf narrowed above her ankle, chaining it between my thumb and fingers.

"After you fell asleep last night," I said, "I called Brien."

Her leg muscles tautened. "And?"

"He said to make sure you understand this is your last chance."

She nodded rapidly. "I do. And I appreciate that you're giving me a second chance. I promise I won't mess it up."

"I hope not." I released her calf. "There's something you don't know—Brien and Twilight mated. She's his prima now."

"His…mate?"

I nodded. "And his prima. It's official—he wanted it that way."

Her mouth moved in a soundless, "Oh, no."

"Yeah." I amped up the pressure. "Brien's letting me take the lead on this, but I don't know how far his goodwill will extend. Then there's the fact that you're pregnant with my spawn..."

Her hands fisted on her thighs. "And—?"

I moved in for the kill. "You're going to accept my blood bond. Tonight—before we return to the island. It's the only way I can protect you both. You'll answer to me, not Brien or Twilight."

She recoiled like I'd slapped her. Not the response I was looking for, and I had to admit, it pricked my temper.

"I thought that a blood bond can't be forced on a thrall," she said. "That it was my choice."

My back teeth set. "Most thralls don't spy on the syndicate that employs them and expect to live."

"How is this giving me a choice?"

"You do have a choice. But think." I aimed a pointed look at her abdomen. "Do you want to return to Lilith Island under my protection—or not?"

She went white around the lips. "You think Brien would hurt the baby?"

I hesitated, tempted to lie if it got her to agree. But that wasn't fair to Brien.

"No," I admitted. "The child is my spawn—I've made that clear. Brien will welcome them into the syndicate. But after they're born, I can't make any guarantees where you're concerned. My spawn belongs to the syndicate now. But you—?"

I let the implications hang there. Eden was smart; she'd understand. After she gave birth, she'd be expendable. Brien would be justified in locking her in the cell for the next decade…or even expelling her from Maritime Syndicate Territory. Some primuses would even make sure she suffered an "accident."

"He wouldn't," she said hoarsely.

"D'you want to chance it?" I was being the worst sort of bastard, threatening a pregnant woman, but fuck ethics. Being nice had gotten me fuck-all with Eden.

Her throat muscles worked. She glanced at her fisted hands, and then back at me. "Why do you want this so bad? What do you get?"

Did she really not know? "You, Eden. I get you."

Pain ghosted across her fine-boned features. Her mouth twisted. "You know I saw you last night with that woman."

I lifted a brow. "And?"

Eden was a thrall. A warm body, one the syndicate had bought and paid for. She knew better than to expect me to be faithful.

"So is that how it's going to be if I accepted your blood bond? You get to fuck anyone, but I only get you?"

I considered her. I'd regretted putting my dick into Coral almost as soon as I'd removed the condom. I wasn't making Eden any promises. Hell, she was lucky I hadn't made her watch. However…

"I need to feed from other thralls. You know that. But you don't want me to fuck anyone else?" Catching her chin in my hand, I rubbed my thumb over her lower lip. "Then you know what to do."

She drew a slow inhale. Her body inclined subtly toward mine.

"Say yes," I coaxed.

Her eyes squeezed shut. "I—I need to think."

I sat back on my haunches, baffled. "You want me. And you want your baby safe, don't you?"

The gaze she sent me was pure blue fire. "Of course I do."

"Then what's the problem?"

She pressed the heels of her hands to her eyes. "The problem is it's my life—and the baby's. So I just don't know."

The hell with this. I'd all but promised to be exclusive with her. For an unmated vampire that was a major commitment. Before we returned to Lilith Island, I wanted her under my protection.

I shoved her foot into the second boot and stood up.

"I already told Brien you accepted my blood bond. It was the only way. A blood-bonded thrall belongs to her master, not the syndicate. If you want to tell him I lied, that's up to you. So." I held out my hand. "What's your answer? Yes or no?"

She looked from my hand to my face. Her chest rose and fell in a quick, tight inhale. The silence stretched until I actually wondered if she'd refuse—and then what would I do?

But she took it. "All right. Yes."

Thank fuck. Relief shuddered through me, shocking in its strength.

"Now." I drew her to her feet, then released her to text my companions. "Adrian and Nathan can be our witnesses."

While we waited, I retrieved the bracelet from my bedroom and slipped it into my pocket. When I returned, Eden was still standing next to the couch. When she saw me, she ran her fingers through her hair and squared her shoulders.

The two dhampirs arrived, Rio in tow. They must've put the fear of God into him because he didn't challenge me, just pulled Eden into a hug while giving me the side eye over her shoulder.

"Just remember, I got your back," he said, not even trying to lower his voice.

"It's okay." She squeezed him back. "I…want to do this."

It wasn't a lie—her words tasted of truth—but that hesitation said a lot.

I pressed my lips together and extricated her from Rio.

And there in the opulent but impersonal suite of a Kral Syndicate hotel, we spoke the words that bound her permanently to me.

I went first, offering her my protection in return for the bond. Then it was Eden's turn.

"I accept your blood bond, Talon of the Maritime Syndicate," she said, her voice low and a little shaky, "and bind myself to you in return. To be yours, and yours only, for the rest—" she stumbled over the words—"for the rest of my life."

I took out the gold cuff and, pushing up her sweater sleeve, snapped it around her left wrist. It was inlaid with lapis lazuli, five asymmetric pieces the same saturated blue of her eyes.

She fingered it, then glanced up at me, leaking sadness. "It's…pretty."

I gave her a hard kiss, then picked up her suede jacket and held it out for her. She tried to take it from me, but I shook my head at her.

"I'll do it," I said, emphasizing that her independence was something I could grant—or take away—at will.

She understood. She turned and allowed me to help her with it.

When the jacket was on, I remained behind her, my hands on her shoulders, and pressed a kiss to the sensitive spot below her ear. A quiver ran over her.

"Mine," I whispered and closed my teeth around the cord of her neck—not hard, but enough to leave a faint red mark. I wanted her to feel my teeth on her all the way to Lilith Island.

Eden slept for most of the two-hour flight. I eased her out of her seat and onto my lap. She woke up enough to give me a startled blue-eyed look, before curling into me with an incoherent murmur.

I gathered her closer and brushed my lips over her silky temple, taking advantage of the fact that she was too sleepy to fight me.

Rio had roped Adrian and Nathan into playing poker with him. They were gathered around a round table at the other end of the cabin, and from what I could hear Rio was winning. The kid was smart. Bringing him with us had been the right move. For now, I wanted him where I could see him, not making trouble back in New York.

Besides, I remembered what it was to be young and fighting to survive. Not that I was Mother Teresa or anything—I expected Rio to work hard and keep his nose clean—but by the end of his contract, he'd have a nice chunk of cash.

Eden's breath sighed out. She went boneless, deeply asleep.

I slipped a hand beneath her sweater and widened my fingers, taking in the size of her uterus, which extended from the tip of my thumb to my littlest finger. The surface rippled beneath my palm.

An overwhelming protectiveness hijacked my brain. I swallowed over what felt like a pack of razor blades.

A new being was growing in there, a spawn of my bloodline. For a young vampire like me, that was almost unheard of. We often went a century or more before siring our first offspring.

It shouldn't have happened. We'd been careful. No condom, but like all thralls, Eden had received a yearly birth control shot.

I'd thought I didn't want a spawn with human blood, but now I didn't know what to think. I skated my palm over Eden's abdomen, learning the new shape of it. Trying to wrap my mind around the idea that I—we—were going to have a child.

The flight attendant appeared, asking us to buckle up for the descent. Reluctantly, I eased Eden back into her own seat. She woke up, yawning and rubbing her eyes, looking barely older than a teenager herself.

I felt a clench of guilt. But the choice to have the baby was hers; I hadn't forced her into it.

But you did use it to your advantage, my conscience pointed out.

For her own good, I returned.

But was it?

I told my conscience to take a hike and focused on Eden, securing the seatbelt beneath her belly as the attendant had directed.

"Here." I uncapped a bottle of water and handed it to her. "Lopez said you need to drink plenty of fluids."

"Thank you," she said, so politely it set my teeth on edge, and took a drink.

"We're landing in a few minutes," I told her.

Eden slid the bottle into a cupholder and straightened her spine, her predominant emotion resignation. You'd think I was bringing her back for her execution, when instead, I'd bonded her to a syndicate lieutenant.

Still, I supposed it was for the best. I couldn't have her fighting me at every turn—I'd lose face within the syndicate. Vampires didn't respect a man who couldn't control his woman, especially a blood-bonded thrall.

The hierarchy was still in a state of flux after all the changes in the past few months. I'd been a lieutenant less than three months; if someone was planning to challenge me, now would be the time.

"So," said Eden. Her fingers went to her bracelet, toying with the clasp.

I lifted a brow. "I'm the only one who can remove it."

She released the clasp. "I know."

"I won't," I added. "In case you're wondering."

Her shoulder hitched in a jerky little move. "Whatever."

Now what the hell did that mean? But I let it drop. I'd pushed her enough for one night.

Adrian and Nathan retook their seats a little behind us, with Rio in between them. Her gaze flicked in their direction. "How many people know about me, anyway? You said Brien didn't tell anyone."

I lowered my voice so the others wouldn't hear over the vibration of the engines. "All they know is that you ran out on your contract. That's all anyone knows."

She leaned closer, speaking in an undertone as well. "You're wrong. Nathan knows. And if he knows, so does Adrian."

I frowned. "Nathan said something?"

"He just wanted me to know that you were treating me better than I deserved."

Fuck. "I'll talk to him."

"No, don't. He'll know I told you and it will only make things worse."

"It's not his place to reprimand you."

She shook her head and changed the subject. "And the man who made me do it in the first place? What happened to him?"

"Kuro? He's in his final grave."

She stared at me. "For real?"

"Yeah. It happened the night you left."

Her breath leaked out. "Thank God. I… Thank God."

That answered one question. She hadn't planned on taking up where she'd left off; her relief was obvious.

Then I replayed the rest of what she'd said. "What do you mean he made you do it?"

She scraped at the water bottle's label with her thumbnail. "I'm not trying to excuse myself. I took his money to pass a note to Twilight—that was on me. But then he had me." She squeezed her eyes shut. "I was so stupid. He said if I didn't do exactly what he said, then he'd go to the primus and tell him I was a double agent. I'd have been fucked. Maybe even dead. So—"

The hairs on my nape lifted. The former primus, Jules Leclerc, had been going blood-mad. He'd already killed one thrall, maybe more. Eden was right. If they'd turned her over to him, she'd probably be dead now.

"How did you find out about Kuro, anyway?" she asked.

"He was actually Eugene Smith. Matthew's spawn."

"Seriously? I had no idea."

"Yeah. He was the double agent. The bastard was on the Slayers, Inc. Board of Directors. And his sire knew—was behind it, actually." Which was why Matthew Smith was also in his final grave.

"So Matthew's also—?"

"Yeah," I told her.

"Huh." She sat back. "Kuro didn't look anything like Eugene."

"A glamour."

"But he didn't even sound like Eugene. Not that I knew Kuro that well—he mainly communicated with me through notes." She rubbed her upper arms. "Whatever. I'm just glad he's gone. I thought I'd never be free of him. He would've come after me."

Ice sheeted my spine. If Eugene had somehow escaped, what would he have done to Eden?

"He's the one who got you a new ID?" I asked.

"Yeah. I threw it away after I crossed into the States. The store was paying me under the table, but they couldn't do that forever. Sooner or later I would've had to get a new one. I was asking around, actually." She shot me a look. "But why would Brien keep what I did a secret? I mean, no one knew I was carrying your spawn."

"Feeling generous, I guess."

Actually, I suspected Brien had done it for me, not her. He'd wanted to leave my options open.

Moving closer, I curved my fingers lightly around her throat. The pulse at the base of her neck hitched.

I skated my tongue around the shell of her ear, enjoying her shiver of arousal. "That doesn't mean you're off the hook."

She swallowed and squeezed her thighs together.

Gods, I'd missed this. I fucking loved how easily she got hot for me.

"What d'you mean?" she asked thickly.

"It means I'm still deciding what your punishment will be."