Cory watched her closely, trying to gage her reaction. She at least believed in some paranormal things. Maybe that would help her accept the reality of what they all were. His heart cracked a little then, because he didn’t know how he’d ever explain this to her. He proceeded cautiously. "Vampires and their legends have been around for a very long time, so who knows. I find it interesting. You never know, we discover things all the time, maybe it’s real. Maybe, someday, you could meet a vampire, not even know it’s a vampire."
She laughed. "True. I mean, all legends are based on something, so who knows. I'm sure I don't have all the answers. And I like to think, as an artist, I keep an open mind to alternative viewpoints."
Cory sat forward on the sofa. "See, that’s the whole point, keeping an open mind." Cory felt a bit of relief. At least she was open to the concept. He had to use the bathroom and excused himself. “Excuse me, but all that green tea you are constantly giving me has finished processing.”
Madison laughed. “It’s good for you. Flushes out the toxins. Is it all right if I go downstairs to the kitchen and get us some drinks? I think I remember where it is." She stood up and headed for the door to the stairs.
Walking into the bathroom, Cory looked back at her over his shoulder. "Sure, grab some snacks too. If you need help, Gi can help you. Someone’s almost always in the kitchen."
Madison hurried down the first flight of stairs and could hear the voice of an angel singing a lullaby to Lorenzo. She wondered if that was Kate's voice. She headed down the second flight of stairs and stood in the hallway, disoriented now that she was here. Was the kitchen to the left or the right?
***
Shade sat in the office having a meeting with his top warriors. The meeting had gone well, for the most part. Mateo had filled him in on what was going down on the campaign trail with Alec and Rissa. No surprises there. Marcello and Aislynn had things under control at camp. There had been a few glitches here and there with some of the new recruits, but nothing out of the ordinary. Schedules were being met and the warriors were coming along as expected.
What he didn’t expect was to see Theo nervous as hell, looking the worse for wear. Shade knew something had happened late last night, right before dawn. "So, now we come to the Dead House, and rumor has it, there was an incident. I don’t do well with rumors, Theo. It’s not good when word gets to me that you are out there in broad daylight still roaming around D.C. looking for something. What’s going on?”
Shade lit up a smoke and waited for the details. Theo told him there was a group of rogues close to a busy tourist spot in D.C. He’d taken some warriors in, did what they could to discreetly kill and dispose of the rogues without being noticed, but one had gotten loose, and they’d lost the bastard.
Shade felt the beast sit up and take notice. This could not be happening, not now with Alec’s campaign in full speed. He lowered his eyes at Theo, his blood beginning to boil. The other warriors felt the tension rise and kept their traps shut.
Theo told him they spent the entire day scouring every grid in search of the bastard and came up emptyhanded. Shade had heard enough and slammed his fist down on the desk. "Theo, I gave you a hell of a lot of responsibility running the Dead House, cazzo! Alec and Rissa are in the middle of this campaign and you hand me a random fucking rogue roaming around! You spend all day with my warriors looking and can’t find one rogue. What the hell is going on?"
Standing up, he paced across his office, running his hands through his hair. His temper flared the more he thought about it. His fangs punched and his eyes blazed red as he spun on Theo, his voice deep and threatening. “We are Medici, we don’t make fucking mistakes. My ass is on the line with Alec, and now, your ass is on the line with me. If you want to go back to Florence, this is the way to do it. Now, get your ass back into D.C. and find that bastard tonight! Don’t come back until this is handled. If I have to come out and do it myself, it will get real ugly and you, Theo, will pay the price. Move out, all of you. Go now!"
Madison thought the kitchen was to the left and headed down the hallway when she heard loud voices coming from the office. She knew immediately she’d made a wrong turn and was about to head back in the other direction when the door flew open and three very large men dressed in form-fitting leathers stalked out of the room, brushing past her. She stepped back in surprise as a woman emerged, her hair in a long braid down her back, but wearing the same leathers as the men. The woman barely took notice of her as she hurried after the men.
Madison looked into the open door to see an imposing figure of a man who stood taller than six feet, his dark hair falling around his face, his hands fisted at his side and his eyes casting a red glow in the room. She stumbled backward as he locked eyes with her.
Fangs! He had fangs! She knew instinctively who this was. This was Shade. This was Cory's father. She turned to run, heading for the front door, her heart hammering in her chest. She saw the ancient butler hurrying to stop her as she pulled the door open and ran outside. Standing on the lawn, she wasn’t sure what direction to take when she saw two wolves on the perimeter of the grounds, the moonlight reflecting in their eyes, as they slowly started to approach her. She wanted to scream for help, scream for Cory, but she opened her mouth, and nothing came out.
Shade saw the panicked mortal in the hallway outside the office as she turned and ran. He realized this was Cory’s female, but he couldn’t let her leave the property. Not now. He teleported outside and found her standing dead still in a panic of indecision. He landed in front of her and she took off again, but this time, she found herself surrounded as Aegis and Night-Stalker bounded toward her.
He scooped her up in his arms as she kicked and clawed at him, and he felt her terror. Pulling her into his body, he whispered into her ear. "Stop, relax, I am not going to hurt you. I am taking you back inside. There is no danger."
Teleporting back inside the living room, he didn’t let her go, knowing she’d bolt again in her panic. He heard feet pounding toward them, the whole damn house was on alert and this wasn’t what he needed right now.
Madison felt her feet touch the floor as he set her down, his hands still gripping her shoulders. She stared into those impossibly blue eyes. She could hear the chaos around her, as both Kate and Cory came stampeding down the stairs and into the living room. It was Cory's voice that broke through her fear first.
“Dad! Don't! It's Madison!"
Cory ran to her and slid his arms around her, calming her as his father released her and stepped back, but continued to hold her in his gaze, never looking away. Madison could tell it was his gaze that was keeping her immobile. She heard Kate, and then saw as she went to the man, watching as she reached for him, speaking to him in a soft voice. "Lover, release her. It's okay." Kate knew the animals had surrounded the house and Madison's fate was sealed. She’d either accept who and what they were, or she’d never live to see daylight.
Shade didn’t let her go, he kept her locked down. His beast was still in charge, and he could hear Kate trying to calm him, bringing him back to her, speaking in her soft voice, reaching inside him. Shade continued to hold Madison in his locked gaze as he spoke to Kate. "Do you know what this means? I can’t let her leave here, mi amore, not like this. This involves my entire familia, my warriors, my coven."