Ripper(129)
“She’s extraordinarily strong,” Marcus said and I heard the satisfaction in his voice. “Don’t feel bad, Henri. She almost managed to shove me out the first time I tried. With training, she will be able to.”
“Fine,” the king said, gritting his teeth. His Texas drawl got worse when he was angry. “Marcus, if you get her to take back the accusation, I’ll let you train her.”
“And she would never trust me again,” the Italian replied, letting his arm wind around my shoulders. “I won’t bend her to my will. I will, however, give her something to think about. You’re good at invoking rights tonight, Your Highness. Perhaps I should invoke one of my own. I am the oldest vampire walking the Earth plane. You have placed her under the protection of the Council. I invoke my right to be Kelsey’s patron.”
The queen’s jaw dropped. “Marcus, no.”
The king let his head drop back and a groan came out of his mouth before he looked back at us. “This fucking night is never going to end. Hell, if you think it’ll work, I’m willing to give it a try. I’m out of options. You’re betting a lot on her, Marcus.”
I pulled away from the vampire who, it seemed, claimed some right over me. “What does he mean?”
Marcus flashed a secret little smile. He reached out and gently touched my cheek. “He means I do not wish to live in a world that would grind you into dust, cara mia.”
“He’s your patron, Kelsey.” The queen’s perfect pale skin seemed whiter than before. “If you’re killed, the alpha will demand Marcus’s head and Daniel will be forced to give it to him.”
“My fate is tied to yours,” Marcus put succinctly.
“Motherfucker.” I was going to have to kill another damn wolf.
Chapter Seventeen
“Take it back,” I growled, standing on my toes to try to look the vampire straight in the eyes.
“No.” Marcus smiled infuriatingly. He was enjoying this. I tried to remember that the first time I’d seen him I felt his terrible sorrow. Now, there seemed nothing but amusement and a willingness to see what happened next.
“I don’t want you to be my patron,” I swore.
“I don’t want you to die in the arena.”
“I am not taking it back, Marcus.” That decision had been made in Helen Taylor’s backyard when she’d asked me for justice. I’d promised. I had nothing left but my word.
He lifted a shoulder, elegantly showing me his lack of concern. “Then you will fight, but you will fight for my life as well as yours.”
The door opened and we stopped the argument we’d been having for the last fifteen minutes. Once I’d started yelling at Marcus, the king and queen had taken it as their cue to leave. Now the king was at the door again.
“It’s time,” he said grimly.
I stared up into Marcus’s beautiful, serene face. He didn’t look like a man terrified of dying. He seemed like he would accept anything fate offered him. He’d tied himself to me in a fundamental way, and I knew I couldn’t let him down.
“Maybe I’ll decide two thousand years is plenty of time to live,” I warned him, though I knew I was only talking tough.
“Not quite two thousand,” he corrected with that mysterious smile.
He held out his hand for me. I wanted to reject it. I wanted to tell him to fuck himself, but I wanted his warmth even more than that. I’d listened to everything he said about trainers and Hunters, and while the idea of having Marcus be my personal Cesar Millan rankled, I also found it tempting. What if I could feel love without the presence of a love spell? What I’d had with Gray had been the best feeling of my life. It had been like seeing the sun after a lifetime of rain. I still felt it. I didn’t know how long the spell would last, but I didn’t want it to go away. Even if the pain was heartbreaking, it was better than the dull fog my life had been before it.
“The arena is covered in sand,” Donovan explained as he walked us toward the elevator. “It’s best you go in barefoot if you aren’t used to fighting in it.”
“Is Castle used to fighting in it?” I asked.
Donovan’s blue eyes were hooded with concern or maybe plain irritation. I couldn’t tell. Things hadn’t gone according to plan, and I had the feeling not many things had the nerve to go against Daniel Donovan’s plans. “No. The arena is where we train new vampires. Castle wanted the fight to take place in the wolf compound in Denton, but technically you belong to Vampire according to ancient laws concerning Hunters. Lone wolves aren’t popular in the wolf world. It was easy for the previous councils to claim ownership of them. I have the right to determine where you will fight since he chose the weapons.”