“Are you asking what this means for you?” He didn’t want to misunderstand the question. Eddie nodded while pressed up against his chest. He was taking comfort and strength from Robert's embrace.

  “You are my beloved, and we have bonded, I have claimed you. I left my mark,” Robert touched the scar on Eddie's neck and got a delicious moan in response. “This informs everyone in the paranormal world that you are mine. By that, I mean that you and I are equals as in one heart and one soul.” He rubbed his cheek on the top of Eddie’s head and wrapped him tighter in his arms. Robert was suddenly feeling the uncertainty that was filling Eddie, and he didn’t like it.

  He was trying to go deeper using their connection to understand what Eddie was afraid of and why the Palace intimidated him. Their bond was new and growing but not powerful enough yet for him to get to the bottom of Eddie’s fear. It had nothing to do with the monsters that were trying to kill him and everything to do with Robert, that much was clear. He threaded his fingers through Eddie’s hair and pressed him closer as he pushed for a better grasp on what the basis was for his sudden fear and uncertainty.

  Robert was about to suggest they go back to the bedroom when his phone rang, and with a quick glance, he saw that it was Silas. It was a call that he couldn’t ignore. “Hello.” He answered but kept his left arm securely around Eddie pressing him close.

  “The Master and Ismael will be meeting you at your quarters in thirty minutes. Prepare your beloved for introductions and congratulations, Robert.” He told him and then added. “We thought it would be easier for your beloved to meet in your quarters rather than the Grand Apartment. The place can be intimidating.”

  “Thank you, sir.” Robert closed the call and dropped the phone back in his pocket. He’d been planning to discuss the meeting with Eddie during their walk in the garden. Having the meeting there would make it easier on him. Eddie wasn’t ready for the Grand Apartment in his present state of mind.

  “The Master and his Second are coming here to meet you.” He began and felt Eddie instantly stiffen in his arms.

  “When?” It didn’t take the bond for Robert to sense Eddie’s apprehension.

  “Thirty minutes.”

  “What?” Now he was panicking.

  “Thirty minutes, it will be fine, sweetheart, nothing to worry about. Master DuCane wants to talk to you about the Caen and to welcome you as my beloved. You will be introduced to him and his Second Ismael Patronne. It’s customary. You’ve already met Ismael; this won’t be a difficult meeting.” He kept his tone light while he continued to hold him close and rub his back. Eddie began to relax, and Robert walked him back into the living room and poured him another brandy.

  “This will help.” He said with a smile.

  “Thanks.” Eddie downed it in one and handed the glass back to him, and Robert began to laugh in earnest as he sat down next to him. He naturally draped his arm over his shoulders and pulling him close once again. Maybe it was the newness of the bond or the sheer attraction of his beloved, but Robert felt as if they needed to be touching at all times. Now he fully understood why newly bonded couples were given several weeks off to grow their bond. He couldn’t imagine being away from Eddie for any length of time and not going out of his mind.

  Eddie felt the wave of panic begin to build as he considered the idea of meeting Master Louis DuCane, a nine-hundred-year-old vampire. Holy shit, the man fought in battles during the dark ages, the middle ages, all the ages. He was born into nobility in France during the time when nobility ruled. What the hell could he say to such a man? Would he even be able to talk at all?

  “What if he hates me?” Eddie burst with his first thought and turned his attention on Robert, who simply cocked an eyebrow at him.

  “Hate you, really? A little dramatic, don’t you think?” Robert responded with heavy sarcasm and a half-smile.

  “Am I being dramatic?” Eddie retorted.

  “A little,” Robert answered.

  “What do I say to him? Do I look okay to be meeting him? Should I just let you speak for me?” Eddie’s mind was on rapid overdrive as he struggled to calm down.

  “You will be fine. I’ll be right by your side. There will be introductions and just follow his lead; you will know what to do. Then he will ask you a few questions, so answer him honestly and fully. That’s all there is to it.” Robert assured again and cuddled him close.

  Eddie tried to stay relaxed, but the moment he heard the knock on the door his heart flew back into his throat. Robert assured him again that all was well as he got up and answered the door.

  Eddie stood by the edge of the sofa with his back straight and his hands at his sides and waited. It wasn’t long before Robert entered the room with two men. They both looked dark and formidable. He remembered Ismael Patronne from earlier at his farm, but the other man, the taller one was terrifying and had an air of distinction that indicated a much higher standing. He locked eyes with Eddie the moment he walked into the room, and the grip was unyielding.

  Eddie wanted to shift his attention to Robert, but it was impossible for him to look away from the dark terror in the depth of that gaze. This man was Master DuCane. Eddie had caught glimpses of him before but never had the nerve to really look at him. You never wanted to find yourself on the radar of Louis DuCane, so you never stared or drew attention to yourself when he was around. Eddie had grown up in this town, and it was an unspoken rule that Louis DuCane was a man to avoid.

  Now here he was staring into the man’s eyes desperate to look away but powerless to do so. He’d made a spectacle of himself and somehow had drawn a pack of rabid vampires to the area. This wasn’t going to go well; he felt it in his bones. He felt a wave of relief when Robert walked over to stand beside him and rested his hand on the small of Eddie’s back.

  Formal introductions were made by Robert, and Eddie thought that the hammer was going to drop at any moment. But instead, Master DuCane stepped forward and took Eddie’s hand in his and held it as he looked down into his eyes. He felt as if the man were sifting through his mind skimming his thoughts, and he probably was. DuCane was an ancient and powerful vampire, so basic mind control was a given.

  After a few moments, he spoke. “I thought that my Ezra possessed the purest soul on this earth, but as I look at you, Eddie, I think Robert has found his match.” Eddie didn’t speak; he didn’t think it was necessary. The compliment was unexpected but appreciated. Robert kept his hand on the small of Eddie’s back and the contact really helped with his raging anxiety. Having Master DuCane standing close was so powerful it felt crushing but having Robert at his back made all the difference.

  Master DuCane shifted his gaze to Robert but still held Eddie’s hand. “You’re very lucky, Robert to be blessed with such a man.” Eddie saw Robert nod, and he looked pleased with the Master’s comment.

  He knew the questions were about to begin as Master DuCane turned his attention back to Eddie and continued to hold his hand. Eddie felt the power of the man buzzing through him but kept his focus on Robert’s hand that was now massaging the small of his back.

  “I don’t wish to overwhelm you, but I need to look inside to find the cause of the Caen. They wouldn’t be here pursuing you unless you had something they wanted or knew something you shouldn’t. They haven’t been seen in over five hundred years, and then they appear here in Mt. Pleasant intent on killing you. Let me in so we can help you.” Eddie listened as the hypnotic tone of DuCane’s voice urged him to relax and comply.

  “They were subdued, and their power hobbled centuries ago by a cloistered religious order in Northern France. There was a time when they were one of the world’s greatest enemies due to the extent of their power and their lack of a soul. These vampires are soulless empty shells that are controlled and directed by their leadership.” Master DuCane released Eddie’s hand and ran his fingertips down the length of his cheek and across his jaw. Eddie was mesmerized by his touch and the sound of his voice.

  He then hooked his index finger beneath the beads that hung around Eddie’s neck and pulled them free from under his shirt and held them. “Where did you get these?” He asked.

  “Online shopping,” Eddie answered, and Master DuCane smiled indulgently. “I was afraid after I heard those things in the restaurant and my grandmother swore by these beads. She told me they would protect me if I was ever in danger. I no longer have the set she gave me, my uncle destroyed them years ago, so I found these at an online auction site. I recite the prayer she taught me every morning or when I feel the need.” Eddie couldn’t believe he was saying so much, but he couldn’t stop talking. Master DuCane was a force like none other. Once again, he leaned back into Robert’s embrace for solace and strength.

  “Is it a prayer for protection?” He asked, and Eddie nodded.

  Master DuCane ran the beads through his finger several times and then dropped them back against Eddie’s chest and stepped back. “You were wise to go back to the old ways. The old ways are always the best.” He said and looked over at Ismael, and without further discussion, they left the room, leaving him and Robert alone once again.

  Robert was still rubbing circles on Eddie’s back, and Eddie sunk into the feeling. “Fuck, that was intense.” He erupted and turned to wrap his arms around Robert’s waist. “Do you think he discovered anything?”

  Robert shook his head. “I don’t know. But he called you a pure soul, and there is no higher compliment in Master DuCane’s world than that. You impressed him, Eddie, just as you did me.” He smiled and kissed Eddie softly just a gentle touch of his lips. “It’s getting late, do you still want that walk in the garden or would you rather take me to bed?” Robert trailed his kiss down Eddie’s neck to the claiming scar and started to tease the area with nips and kisses.

  “To bed, it is.” Eddie declared.

  CHAPTER EIGHT

  Robert was impressed at how well Eddie handled himself in front of the Master. Few humans could withstand the power of a Master Vampire bearing down on them, but then Eddie was unlike any human Robert had ever met. He drew strength from their bond through Robert’s touch in order to steady himself and stood tall before the Master.

  Now Eddie lay naked beneath him, his gorgeous body rubbing against him begging for more as Robert stretched him wide with his hard cock. Eddie was a vocal lover, never leaving Robert wondering if he were pleased. He thrust hard burying himself in the sweet embrace of Eddie’s velvety soft channel. They set a steady, hard rhythm with Eddie holding him tight and pulling from Robert everything he needed.

  The past few months had been a lot for Eddie to process, but the last few weeks had to have been terrifying for him, and yet he never lost his innocence or his hope and optimism. He was a treasure, a blessing just as Master DuCane had so aptly defined.

  Robert braced himself on his elbows and pulled his knees up under Eddie’s thighs to lift him higher and plunged deep over and over while he held Eddie’s expressive brown eyes in a loving gaze. “You’re everything to me, Eddie, everything.” He whispered and then began a demanding pace pounding into his beloved as they both reached for their climax.

  Robert went deep, stiffened and held as his release, stream after stream filled his Eddie’s tight channel. Unable to resist, he dropped and sunk his fangs into the mating scar on Eddie’s neck and drank of the sweetness that was his beloved — enthralled by the power and energy that coursed through him as he fed.

  Eddie held his breath and came hard when Robert’s teeth pierced his skin. The sensation engulfed him and left him trembling and holding on, riding out the tremors as they struck in quick succession. Lovemaking had never been like this.

  He’d needed the release and the comfort of his beloved. He was surprised he’d used that word in relation to Robert, but it fit, it felt right. The fear, anxiety, and uncertainty of the past couple of days had reached an apex, and he needed just to let go. Robert held him and whispered lovely things to him as he brought him to a roaring climax.

  Robert licked the area on his neck where he’d bitten him, and once again, sharp sensations shimmered along his spine. He moaned when Robert slipped out of him and stretched out beside him. Robert grabbed few tissues from the bedside table and gave them both a cursory cleanup before settling back down beside him.

  The loss of the fullness he felt at having Robert inside him and the physical connection made Eddie turn and wrap himself around Robert’s hard body. Their closeness had become as necessary as breathing as of late. He was welcomed into Robert’s warm embrace, and within a few minutes, Eddie found himself drifty off to sleep.

  …

  The following morning, Eddie woke to find that he was alone. He got up and walked towards the door and could hear Robert’s voice in the outer room, and there was someone else there as well. Grabbing his clothes, he headed for the bathroom for a quick shower before. If they had company, he didn’t want to go out there smelling like sex. Although he was loath to wash off the intoxicating scent of Robert Alden.

  …

  Robert had gotten up early and was ordering breakfast when Amon stopped by to see him. They sat at the breakfast bar, drinking coffee and talking while Robert waited for breakfast to arrive and for his beloved to awaken. There had been no more sign of the Caen since Robert had brought Eddie to the Palace.

  Few would attempt an attack within a Coven as strong and capable as Coven DuCane, but that didn’t mean the Caen wouldn’t gather their forces and give it a try. Their lives seemed to mean little to them as they repeatedly and willingly threw themselves into the path of destruction.

  “Master DuCane described them as empty shells directed and controlled by an outside force.” He told Amon.

  “They certainly act that way from what I’ve heard.” He responded. “I haven’t come against one yet. It’s been all quiet over at Joe Banks’ residence. They don’t seem to be interested in him.” Amon drank his coffee and then, with a wicked grin, asked the question he seemed most interested in getting an answer to.

  “How does it feel to have found your beloved and bonded with him?” He asked in a low voice obviously making sure Eddie didn’t hear him from the other room. Robert had heard Eddie get up and was waiting for him to emerge from the bedroom. But clearly Amon wanted an answer before Eddie joined them.

  “I heard that he’s adorable, and Quincy refers to him as Bambi because his eyes are so big and brown.” Amon went on with that smile growing broader with every word.

  “He has the innocence of Bambi but a will as strong as anyone I know. He’s a delightful man. He’s in my heart and in my mind, and I feel as if my life has gotten brighter, richer, and more promising with him in it. He brings me joy just by looking at him. It’s not easy to describe but let me tell you this, when you find your beloved, it will change your life, and you will cherish every minute of it.” Robert laughed when he saw the look of rapt expectation on Amon’s face.

  “I may sound maudlin to you, but when the day comes, remember these things I’ve told you. Desire will flood you and love will consume you. There that’s all I’m going to say on the subject.” He finished and took a long sip of his coffee. They both turned towards the bedroom door as it opened, and Eddie stepped out, looking all fresh and bright with a smile that greeted them both.

  “Good morning, sweetheart.” Robert crossed the room to take him into his arms and drop a brief kiss to his upturned lips. “Did you sleep well?” He asked as he led him to the breakfast bar and had him take a seat just as their breakfast arrived.

  “Yes, I did, thank you.” He told him while Robert set up their breakfast.

  He introduced Eddie to Amon, who he invited to have breakfast with them. Robert found that he was enjoying showing off his beloved, and he hoped that Eddie would become comfortable with his friends.

  As breakfast progressed, it was made clear that Eddie and Amon were hitting it off just fine. The conversation was light and enjoyable just what they all needed to start the day. Amon assures Eddie that they were taking good care of Joe. They kept a close eye on him even at work.

  “Have you spoke to Joe since you saw him yesterday?” Robert asked.

  “I texted him last evening and told him I was okay and that I was staying at the Palace until things settled down. He was impressed.” He said and then added. “I didn’t give him any details.” Eddie reached into his pocket and handed Robert his phone. Robert just looked at it not sure what he intended. Then it registered.

  “I believe you,” Robert said and pushed the phone back over to him. “You never have to prove or justify yourself to me.” He asserted.

  “I know the importance of your anonymity, and I would never jeopardize that and the safety of you and everyone here.” Eddie pressed on as if not sure he was making himself clear.

  “I know, sweetheart. I wouldn’t have shared everything that I did if I didn’t already trust that you would keep it secret.” Now that got a smile, and Eddie visibly relaxed.

  “Besides,” Amon pipped in. “If you were lying, he would know, it’s all part of the bond. You can’t lie to each other, too bad, I say.” Amon grinned and finished his breakfast having broken the slight tension in the room.

  After breakfast, Amon excused himself to go and relieve Lance, who was presently guarding Joe. Eddie asked Robert for that walk in the garden he’d been promised the previous evening and together they headed out.

  Eddie wanted the fresh air, and he wanted to talk with Robert. There were still things that hadn’t been clarified regarding their new relationship, and Eddie needed assurances and direction.

  They met quite a few others walking the garden at first, but as Robert led him deeper into the lushness of the flowering trees, there were few and fewer until it felt like they had the entire place to themselves. Robert brought him to a stone bench near a small statuary fountain, and they sat down. Unfortunately, he handled it all wrong and ended up putting Robert on the defensive.