Caramel: Book 3 of the Lord Emperor Vampire Series

I don't know what's going on. This is only showing the first 10 lines of my Q&A and nothing of the chapter. It is 3:00 est. I have been trying since 2:30 to add in the above titled chappie.

This is a severe pain in the touckass. GRRRRRR

I will continue...shades of epilogue of Cinnamon.
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11:19 p.m. est.
I do believe it was my bad. Do NOT, I repeat DO NOT use the "less than symbol". Nothing after it shows up. I will take back my curses to the computer gods.

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THANK YOU, thank you, thank you, thank you, etc and so on. I am grateful that the Loyal have answered the call for the triplets. It’s kind of odd that there was no vote for 3 boys, and damn, I wanted to use huey, dewey and louie. X’s family seems to pick bad names for their children ie. Sigmund and Lois and Lane. So the winner is:

TWO GIRLS AND ONE BOY. Named Callia, Raissa and unknown. (I just know the boy’s name isn’t going to be Sigmund/X hates it or Edward/Armor hates it.)

Possibilities:
Alexander; Yuri; Viktor, Kaspar, Julian; Zoran
I am leaning towards Alexander but these others were kind of cool as well. Jenna T. tell me WHY there must be a JULIAN! If you can convince me, maybe you’ll get one.

Q: Where’s that hot thing, Bruce?
A: We have not seen the last of Bruce of the Northern Pack.

Mucho gracias mis amigos. Yes, I am butchering every language I can think of. Thanks for the reviews. Faelights (welcome and wow! Nice reading.); miles; Negai; Rainy; bunnicle (hi! Nice to hear from you again); rosemary; Rosei; DemonAkasha; toriew; uke (you are ordered to keep reading); k; poohkie87;Laur;Spirit; Jenna T.; a taste of insanity and Mihara


Chapter 117: 3lbs of Lasagna


Can you say, blind panic? OhmygodohmygodohmygogdOHMYGOD!

Sasha was going to kick my skinny ass when he found out I just added to my harem. The music room was empty. I dived under the red piano onto my big comfy pillow. I don’t know if I really like this added day. I was fucking everything up as twice as fast as normal. I shut my eyes, buried my face into the pillow and screamed.

A hand wrapped around my ankle and I got dragged out from under the piano. I hung onto my pillow with a death grip. I got flipped onto my back like an egg on a spatula. I clung to the pillow and buried my face deeper into it. The pillow got grabbed and I got rattled as someone tried to shake me loose. Somebody. I flopped back on the carpet and looked up at Sasha.

“I didn’t know….”

He tossed the big pillow over his shoulder and looked down at me. His face was unreadable for a moment then his eyes softened. “I know. You can not lie to save your life, Fallen Angel.” He lowered a hand to me. He jerked me off the floor with one pull and I ended up plastered against his chest. Didn’t mind that one bit. “When Vladimir called in, he also informed me that he was now a matebond with Lord Alpha. I knew that it was not intentional. When you came into the meeting, my suspicion was confirmed. You did not know what the hell you were doing.”

“He’s for life.”

“So am I.”

“Yah…but I want you.” My stomach growled as the scent of lasagna hit my nose. I sniffed the air some more.

“You look like a rabbit.”

“Better than road kill.”

Sasha caught me up in a desperate hug. I thought he was going to pop my head off my neck he squeezed so tight. “I could have lost you today. Where were you shot?” My shirt was fluttering in the breeze behind him before I finished pointing to my shoulder. His fingers tested my flesh, pressing gently as if searching for a sign of scarring. As if the Healing Light would leave me scars. Even the ones I had when I was human were gone. I was pale as pale could get and softer than a baby’s butt. That could be why everyone was hopping over head other to get at me. I only wanted my black Russian.

The schwing time from the leather ensemble presentation earlier during the briefing came back with a vengeance. My kitten purred against my shoulder. I rubbed my forehead against the side of his neck. Cloves. Exotic and erotic and oh so warm. My Lover. My Black Death. His fingertips traced my back as his lips tasted my shoulder. He nibbled and sent shivers through my body right to my nipples. Then budded and tightened unbearably so.

“I need to thank you for protecting my little girl. Ping was quiet impressed that you protected, I do believe she called Claudia, your litter bearer even though you were wounded. I have heard this from the rest of the pack and from Vladimir as well.”

“I didn’t think about it. I just did it.”

I got a finger under my chin and it urged my face upwards. I opened my eyes and saw that glacial blue gaze that told me that Father was pissed to the extreme. Not at me. At Orel Wessel. “What are you going to do?”

“Hades is hunting Orel Wessel. I will just stay out of his way. I know that….what he did to you is still fresh in your mind; but, Hades in a rage is something to avoid. The way he is carrying on with William is….cute… but…”

I cut Claudius off. “Cute? They’re screwing each other’s brains out in my closet.”

“But, you have never seen Hades out of control. Nations fall when Hades gets pissed.”

“What about the Warehouse?”

“Hades was just toying with you. You are his Blood Emperor. You are what his William used to be. No matter how much they screw or scream at each other, there is an unique bond between them. A bond that cannot be broken. Hades found William after every reincarnation and in some cases, he raised him to adulthood. Once you are in Hades, heart. You are there forever.”

“Whether you want to be or not.” I whispered lowly.

“Yes, whether you want to be or not. Hades has brought both of us into his heart when he brought us to his bed. I do not consider him a friend…I cannot consider him a friend to either of us, but I do not go out of my way to provoke him. That has to stop, Sex. I know he hurt you. You know he hurt me.”

“How did you forgive him?”

“I have never forgiven him. I will never forgive him, Fallen. But, I learned to work with him because I had someone I needed to protect and be there for.”

“Marcus.”

“You have three little ones on the way who would like to meet you, Sex. Hades is working toward that goal of making sure that you are still in the world when they arrive even if is an old wound he needs to cleanse.”

All the desire and need, Father had drawn up inside me, flitted away. Just thinking of Hades on me, in me killed that. “I’ll try, Father. You never ask for anything from me. I will work on enduring Hades.”

“Just…be yourself, Sex.”

“Can I keep stabbing Liam?” I let a weary smile cross my face.

“Have at it.” I felt his arms tighten around me. “Do not attack Marcus again, Fallen. He cannot or should I say, will not defend himself. His and Azrael’s problems are private. You tell me that you are an individual. I know you are. You need to respect their privacy. Let them work out what has ever broken between them.”

I wanted to get mad over this. I just felt the hurt and abandonment from before when Sasha ran off after Marcus. “Hey…what is wrong?”

I pulled out of his chin hold and pressed my face against his chest. “Fallen…you know you are stronger than Marcus. You have always been stronger. That is why he had Armor come to you. He could not break you. Little did he know Armor could not break you.”

“He fractured us.”

“No, Liam did that…and he did that for more than the allotted year the rest of us have to abide by. He has much to answer for; however, I do not think it will be answered in our lifetime. Liam may have given his oath not to enter into your blood line. He did not say he would not enter into another Blue House. His eternal essence is burning William’s vampiric life like the oil in a hurricane lamp. Liam burns twice as bright, but half as long but the sheer power…you can feel him, even from here.” My stomach gurgled. “Enough. Eat something.”

I got herded to the tray of Italian wedding soup, garden salad and about a pound and a half of lasagna. “I can’t eat all of this. I’ll explode out of these pants.”

Oooff. I was flat on my back on the chaise lounge wrapped in coal black hair and rich black leather. “I can get you out of those pants.”

“I’m sure you could. I’d even help.” My stomach growled again.

Claudius sighed, reached down and laid a hand on my naked torso, sweeping his way down to my stomach and the top button of my pants. He leaned over and kissed around my navel. It tickled. “Noooo….stoooopppp. Sasha!” It’s a strange thing to be laughing with a raging hard on and a growling stomach. I pushed at his head as he shifted and we went tumbling to the floor. His leather clad butt knocked the small table over and my food went crashing to the floor with a pound and a half of tomato, pasta and cheese searing into my bare stomach. I hissed and pulled the burning cheese off me.

That was one way to kill a mood…and leave scars. Oooh, that burns.

Claudius was up at a side table and tossing flowers to the floor to get to the water in the vase. He took my shirt, got it soaked then came back and wiped the lingering tomato, cottage cheese and spinach off me. There was a lovely splotch from just above my navel to the start of my pants. I think I should be damn thankful, they were done up.

“I apologize, Sex.”

“I wasn’t exactly fighting you off, Sasha. Besides, I like it that I can make you think with your small head.”

The towel stopped moving and Claudius leaned back on his heels. “I have a reputation to uphold.”

“I think you could kiss that good bye when you put on the cat ears.”

“Ah, yes the cat ears. There was a mention of a debt.”

“Debt?”

“I said I would ask you for something.”

My stomach was tender. There was no way we were going to do the horizontal piano concerto , or the bend over and touch your toes bop. Claudius pulled me up from the floor and brushed the lingering bits of food off me. He led me to the piano. Piano bench in the pike position might work. I arched an eyebrow. He sat me down at the bench then lifted and folded back the lid. Okay, this didn’t look like fun.

“You are going to learn the piano…the old fashioned way.”

This was not fun.

“But…” I shut my mouth. I said I would do whatever he wanted. Of course, I thought that involved one of us screaming – in ecstasy. “Yes, Father.”

I felt Claudius’ eye on me. What? I said I’d do it.

“I take it you can it you can read music.”

He set sheet music up on the stand. “Musicbox Dancer?”

“I like it. I want you to learn to play it for me. Start. I will get the staff to clean this mess and bring you more food. I doubt that Armor will want take the time to feed your body when his time comes.”

Oh yea.

I got my hair ruffled and a kiss to the nape of my neck. “I want to hear music when I come back, Fallen Angel. As long as it is yours, I will be satisfied.”

Well, I knew what that comment meant. Marcus’ rejection of Azrael kind of brought that home. Don’t fuck around with their music. What had Lanny….ha, Lanny…said? Claudius is music.

I looked down at the keys and brushed my hands over the ebony and ivory. So smooth. I set my thumb at middle c and pressed down. Everyone who called my Father, Black Death and psychopath didn’t know him. Anyone who ever heard him play this mess of keys and strings would know he had emotions. Maybe that’s how he was forced to reach out to others…before I came along. I pressed down on the next key. I was glad Father left my gift to him here. It seemed like it took forever to get this crimson stained concert grand here. It was true, his playing brought me to my knees and tears to my eyes. That’s why I laid on my pillow under the piano. I didn’t want him to see how much his playing affected me. I didn’t want to be a distraction.

Speaking of distraction.

“I know you’re there Vladimir. You might as well come in.”

The blonde hottie Lycan padded into the music room. I turned from the keys, swiveling on the bench. His eyes locked onto me and I saw that feral flash before he hooded his eyes. He had changed out of the dark grey suit he had on during the, ahem, unpleasantness and was now in low rider jeans with a pale blue dress shirt. Buttons were strategically opened flashing tawny firm flesh, especially below the navel. His eyes ran over me like I was a plump little bunny and it was feeding time. Hmmm, me being half naked was probably not the best thing when talking to my latest mistaken conquest.

“You are injured.”

I looked down at my red belly. Cheese burn. “It’s nothing major.”

“Why don’t you use that blue light?”

“Because there is a cost to pay for using that and I’ve used it too much today. I’m tired.”

Can you say devoured? Since Armor’s re-engineering, I’ve been looked at with lustful glances, deviant desires and in some cases, just plain “it’s-time-to-rub-the-bunions-johnny” stares. I have never been devoured before. I brought one leg up and pressed my naked chest against it, making myself a little smaller. I found the Lycan’s attention a little…disturbing. His intense unwavering gaze and the fact that I raped him this morning. Was it only this morning?

“You know that I didn’t intend to matebond with you.”

“But you did.”

“Yeah…”

“Lycan mate for life.”

“So I’ve been told.”

Vladimir came closer then lowered himself beside the piano bench. “You are my Lord Alpha. You are my mate. I will run by your side until I fall in your service.”

What a pretty way to say “I’m yours until I die.” I was a little creeped out. He lowered his blondie locks and pressed his face against my ankle and calf. I made no movement, not to rebuke or to encourage. I just sat there and watched him. He reached out and caught strands of my hair. He brought it up to his nose and inhaled deeply then started to chew on the ends.

“I did not get the chance this morning to bear your scent. Claudius had marked you well.”

“Claudius is first.”

“For now.”

I reached out and grabbed his hair. Mistake. Big Mistake. Oh crap, I just instigated a mating. Vladimir knocked me backwards on the bench, pressing his hard Lycan form down on me. And I mean hard. Vladimir took my one leg and pulled it up wrapping it around his waist. Crap. This was my fault, but I wasn’t going to lay here and let the Alpha Leader return this morning’s favor. I pulled an arm free and he caught it, stretching it above my head then caught my left nipple ring in his teeth.

Oh….fucking push button start. I bucked up with my hips. He was not prepared for that and shifted off sideways enough for me to scramble off the bench and under the piano. Damn it. I didn’t want to hurt him. The pack was supposed to be heading out again tonight. My left nipple was throbbing and it went right to by cock.

Vladimir pushed himself to his hands and knees. His eyes were now glowing that unique feral gold of a Lycan in hunting mode. “You dominate well, Lord Alpha. I can only hope to improve with practice.”

Well you ain’t practicing with me, or on me. I glanced toward the door. “You cannot run. We are mated. Other bloods intermingle mates many of the same sex, this is not an uncommon.”

“It’s not my standard fare. I am mated with Claudius. This was just supposed to be a warning to stay away.”

“You’ve claimed me yours forever.”

“I don’t want you!” I hissed back at him.

I scrambled off my knees and bolted to the door. I think I got about five steps when I got sandbagged from the right and driven hard down on the leather chaise lounge. I scraped my scalded belly on the edge. I didn’t have a chance to move before he was plastered across my back. One paw was on my traitorous bulge in my pants. He bit the back of my neck. I gritted my teeth and tried to shove my way off the lounge. Nothing. He forced a knee between my thighs and pulled my hips back and up so he pressed up against my portal. No fucking way…never again. NEVER AGAIN!

I forced my wings out. Straight back and then flicked them wide. Vladimir went flying. And when I say he went flying…he was off the ground by at least five feet and he hit the back wall which was maybe ten feet away. He slammed into the table that used to have roses before Claudius tried to scald away my manhood. He landed on the carpet surrounded by wooden pieces and broken flowers. I shoved my way off the chaise. I could feel the burning blue in my eyes.

“Don’t you ever fucking try that again, little Vlad.” I spewed out in Russian. I felt a hot trail stream down my back. I reached back and felt my neck. He drew blood.

“Now I have marked you as mine. As long as that scar is there…you are mine.”

I flared into the Healing blue flame. My stomach pain faded. The bleeding wound on the back of my neck healed, scarless. I could see the appreciation in Vladimir’s eyes with my wings and my ability. The Healing light flickered out and I must have fainted. My wings glittered into nothingness. I dropped to my knees hard, then I saw the floor jumping at my face. Too much. I had done too much. Don’t faint…you’ll still get your ass fucked if you faint… I got my arm up and saved my face from bouncing off the floor.

“I told you, you cannot touch him unless you can come through me.” Carnage stood at the door, another tray of food in his hands. “I am his Alpha mate. You have not earned your place in his life, or his bed.” Carnage continued into the room and set the tray on an undamaged table. “Sex? You need to eat. Now.”

“I don’t think I can.”

Carnage moved closer, reached down, set the new tray of food in front of me then propped me up against the chaise. I could feel his gaze gauge my condition. “Fuck the salad. Eat the pasta first.” My hands were shaking so much I couldn’t hold a fork.

Claudius swore then knelt beside me. He cut off a piece of lasagna and lifted it to my mouth. He fed me like a baby. I’ve never felt so weak. Too much…I did way too much today. I kept slipping off to the side.

“If you claim him, get over here and help me help him. Hold him up.” Claudius barked back at Vladimir. “You need to eat, Sex.”

It was embarrassing to be fed like a child. I picked up a spoon but my hands were still shaking badly. At least I could chew on my own. I really didn’t want a true penguin style meal. Vladimir kept me upright and I could feel his hands stroking my hair. I got emotional and started crying. Everything was just spiraling out of my control. I leaned forward and rested my forehead on Claudius’ shoulder.

“He needs blood. Go to the kitchen, get two packs. They do not have to be warm.”

Vladimir hesitated for a moment the pushed me right onto Father and climbed to his feet.

“Learn quickly, Lycan. I do nothing based on jealousy. I warned you off because it is the wishes of my son, my lover and my Blood Emperor. He did not intend to take you as a mate. He does not intent to act on it. I am his proxy and his protector. If you have a burning need to be dominated, I will be the one to do it.” Father wrapped his arms around me, pulling me up into his embrace then lifted me up on the chaise. I still hung onto him. “This will not happen again. Your domination this morning was taxing on him. He does not like to do such things. If Lord Alpha was not so exhausted, you might not even be alive right now.”

“Who are you to say such things to me?” Vladimir returned lowly, almost a growl.

I rested my head on Claudius shoulder and looked at the Lycan. His shirt was ripped and he had a huge bruise on his jaw from where my wing connected. I spoke to Vladimir, clearly in Lycan, “He is my First. In everything. Even if you challenge and defeat him, he will always been my First.”

“I became Alpha Leader for you.”

I really fucking hate that fucking kilt fucking poster. I switched back to human, “You saw a photograph and what, you thought that it was me? That was one instance in time. Whose arm do you think that was down my kilt?”

Vladimir gestured with his head, “His.”

“Yes. Now you know that Claudius is First. He has always been first. He is even in the picture you saw that made you want to come here. What are you going to do, little Vlad?”

“Lycan mate for life. There is nothing I can do, Lord Alpha. I will get your blood.” He turned and padded from the room.”

“You need to eat, Sex.”

I picked up the fork again. My hand was still had a tremor but it wasn’t as bad. Claudius dragged the table to the chaise and set the tray back on it.

“Don’t take this the wrong way, Sasha…but I want this day done.”

“It has been rather action packed.” He wiped the tears from my face. “You did well not to kill him.”

“I didn’t want to hurt him…I didn’t realize what I was doing…now I have to live with the consequences.” Claudius pushed the plate of lasagna at me again. I cut off a chunk and he watched me like a hawk until I more than half of it put away. Okay, my stomach was rock hard now it was so full.

“Will you play for me? I’ll drink the packs. I want to sleep on my pillow under the piano. I want to hear your heart.”

“You never ask for much, lubov moya If you would accept them, I would give you the moon and stars.”

I touched the golden torc at my throat and my locket. “You’ve given me the universe, milla moy. Why would I want something as trivial as the moon?”

Claudius stood up and kissed my forehead. “Finish that. I have never had the pleasure of penguining you and if the truth be known, I would prefer not experiencing that.”

He flashed me a smile then went to get my pillow and toss it back under the piano. I rubbed my belly. Sasha nodded and waited until I crawled under the piano and settled myself on the pillow. I ate too much. I ate too fast. I closed my eyes and leaned on the softness of the pillow. Just resting my eyes.

“Lord Alpha…” I blinked and stared at a floating blood pack. I looked past the pack into the tawny eyes of my Russian Lycan matebond. I must have had a look of panic about me because he dropped his gaze and lowered his head to the floor. Sasha was still playing some sort of haunting melody.

“I do not hear any sucking.” His voice floated down to me.

I think my eyes must have bugged out of my head. Vladimir began laughing his head off. I grabbed the blood pack from his grasp and started laughing as well.

The playing stopped and long strands of black hair hung down and pooled on the floor until Father’s face popped into view. “What is so funny?”

“I’m sucking.” I stuck the pack on my fangs and laid back on my pillow. The piano started up again. I heard a slight whine. Vladimir sat crosslegged out of arms reach and staring sullenly down at the carpet.

/Turn into a wolf and lay down with me./

He started then turned towards me. /I want more from you./

/That’s all I am offering. Take it or leave it. No fur off my nose./

I sucked the first blood bag dry. Vladimir took the crumpled pack and handed me the other one. He pulled off his shirt and wriggled out of his pants. Oh yeah, Haley was a runt. Vladimir turned into a beautiful wolf, with a mix of while, blonde and darker brown/gray coat of fur. I flipped the bag off my fangs and turned on my side. The wolf flopped down beside me and let out a big, big sigh. I held my hand out for a second debating whether or not to, then dropped it across his shoulders. He stiffened for a bit then gave a low groan.

I listened to his breathing. I was wrapped in Sasha’s music. I was safe…I was fed…I had offers of more sex than I knew what to do with. There was a que starting up wanting me dead. Other than that, life was pretty damn good. I let myself relax and drift. I was going to be a daddy. I snapped my eyes open. Triplets….oh my god. I let a big smile cross my face. I was going to have babies. Life was pretty damn good.


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