Reveal (The Lamian Wars Book 2) Read online

  Maybe an accident in the lab? Someone broke in? I tossed out some vague options.

  Yes, an accident sounds plausible. I don’t want cops in the lab. We need to either destroy what’s left in there or take it out of there.

  Sounds good to me, just keep it short and vague and we’ll go from there.

  They all started coming in like clockwork. It was about ten minutes after the first employee walked in that all of them were in the lobby. They were looking around curious and a bit nervous, especially since Falcon had suddenly fired two employees very recently.

  Draco clapped his hands once and garnered everyone’s attention toward him. “Okay, now that I have you all here, there was an accident in the private lab this morning and we’re closing the facility for the next few days.”

  “Was anyone hurt?” Henry asked. We could hear all their thoughts, which were running wild with suppositions.

  Oh goodness, I hope no one died.

  It’s what they get for keeping everything in there a secret.

  Glad I wasn’t working in there now.

  Draco answered, “Yes, the future Mrs. Lombardi was injured. She’s at home recovering, but she will be fine. The lab will need to be repaired, and due to flying particles from the repairs, it’s best to have the entire facility closed. You will still be paid for the days off. Think of it as a vacation. Thank you for your time and you may all go home now.”

  “Do you think it will be all week?” I’d love to take a vacation.

  “I’m not sure. It will depend on the builders,” Draco answered.

  Ha. In that case, it’ll be a month. “What day should we come back?”

  “How about we all come back next Monday. Make it a full week.”

  “Sounds good to me. The wife has been asking for some time away,” Henry said.

  They all left without any more questions, and we went back upstairs to meet with Vigo. Draco wanted to get some details from him. There were still things we didn’t know. I couldn’t even say what happened in there. I just knew the basics.

  Vigo was waiting for us, picking up some of the broken beakers and tossing them in the garbage.

  “How did it go?” he asked.

  “Okay, I suppose. They believed the story of an accident in here,” I answered.

  “Yes, but we need to talk to Falcon about what he wants us to do. There could be an attack on the lab again and we can’t have that,” Draco said, running his hands through his thick hair. My pussy twitched when he did that. Even though he did it in frustration, I found it sexy. My emotions were completely out of whack. I wondered if it was because of all the chaos and the heightened adrenaline.

  Vigo dusted off his hands on a towel and said, “I’m about done cleaning. I need to check on my wife. I don’t know how safe it will be for her if they should come after me.”

  Draco nodded. “Yes, well, stay close to her and call if you need us. We’ll talk to Falcon tomorrow about the lab. I think you should be at home, but it all depends on him. Is there anything you can tell us about what happened?”

  “Leonora is a warrior. She managed to fight off death from Falcon’s nephew, and she remembered where I kept the sword and reacted correctly. I’m so proud of her. I would have been done for if I had faced him. I need to work on my fighting skills.”

  “Well, you can always train with the other vampires,” Draco offered.

  “If I knew my wife was safe, I would go right away,” he replied.

  “Maybe we can work something out.” Draco patted him on the shoulder. “We’re going to get this resolved. I just know it.”

  “I know. I feel that your mates are the key to it all, and I hope that Leonora won’t be too afraid to return to the lab. I’ll see you both later.” He slipped off his lab coat, grabbed his satchel, and walked out.

  “Let’s go home now. I spent too much time away from you. I want to make love to you until we have to meet with Falcon with only occasional food breaks.”

  “But we don’t meet until tomorrow.”

  “And I need to feel you close to me for as long as I can.” He took my mouth with his and wrapped his arms around my waist. Then he transported us home.

  Chapter 2

  Falcon

  I sat on the edge of the bed, staring at her broken body. I watched as her wounds slowly healed. They seemed to be open longer than I could have imagined. As a new vampire, she didn’t have our recovering abilities. It took more time, but I was growing impatient. I’d never seen a newly mated vampire wounded. Why the hell did it have to be her? I’d waited many lifetimes for my lovely mate. I continued to stare down at her pale face, then moved my gaze to her wounds.

  Her bandages needed to be changed. I’d replaced them just an hour ago, and now, they were covered in a fresh round of blood. It gutted me to see her injured in any way. The growing need to smash something was building in me. This wasn’t supposed to be happening. She was supposed to be okay and safe in a secure lab. The enemy was in Europe, but they played us.

  The war had been brought to my front door, and after years without any battles, it was time to strike in full force. Building an army would be a difficult task, but I knew this was the beginning of the end for The Lamia. Charlotte and Leonora came into our lives for this. That was something I was certain of. It couldn’t be for naught that we had a seer again, even a mediocre one. I closed my eyes and hoped that Nora would be well. I hoped that we would all be well. Would she hate me? Regret her life now that she’d been put in the devil’s path?

  Nora was so beautiful and kind. From the first time I met the fiery little thing, I saw the genuine innocence and love in her heart. I took her hand in mine and gently caressed my thumb against her skin. She was so soft and warm. I couldn’t wait for her to wake up and heal so I could hold her so damn tight and never let her go. I closed my eyes and thought about our short time together. My life had been empty until that trip to the theatre. I couldn’t lose her now. “I love you. Please don’t leave me, Leonora,” I pleadingly sobbed, ducking my head and pressing my face to her hand.

  “I’m not going anywhere,” she mumbled, her eyes still closed and her voice hoarse from dehydration. Immediately, I was leaning over her, looking down at her lovely face as her eyes fluttered open. Her eyes hadn’t focused on me yet, but with a couple of blinks, she was staring back up at me. My heart felt like it was going to bust out of my chest. The overwhelming feeling of joy owned me.

  “God, Nora, you’re still with me,” I muttered, bending down and peppering kisses all over her face like a fucking nut. My mate was with me and I wasn’t going to let her out of my sight again. I knew that would be a tall order, but I was going to do my damnedest to make sure I had eyes on her at all times.

  “Yes, I am,” she giggled briefly. The look in her eyes was full of happiness. It made my heart lighten. There was a lot to be happy about after all. She was alive and recovering, as slowly as it may be.

  “How are you feeling?” I asked, staring down at her.

  “I’ve felt better. Have I been out a long time?” she asked with brows raised.

  “What feels like an eternity,” I said, turning my head to the clock on the wall. “It’s been four hours.” Her eyes widened and she tried to sit up. “Wait, don’t move. All of your wounds aren’t healed yet,” I cried out, gently pushing her back down onto the pillows. I could see the blood from her chest wound pump out an extra shot of blood as she moved. Seeing that there made me wish I’d slowly dismembered Nero and watched as fear entered his eyes. My brother was gone and my mate was injured by the hands of a foolish follower. My fists clenched in anger, turning my knuckles white and my soul black. Each of Stavros’ minions that dare to challenge me will pay heavily. I will show no mercy.

  “Falcon, come back to me,” she said, touching my cheek. My eyes met hers and I could see her fear for me. “You slipped away, and the look on your face says you went to an unhappy place.”

  “Sorry, I was just…wishing I coul
d destroy Nero again and again,” I growled, pressing my lips against her palm.

  She lifted my face to look at her. “Nonsense. I will be okay thanks to you. He’s gone, so let it go.”

  I shook my head. I had to break the news to her. She’d never met my brother before, but I knew it would upset her. “It’s not that simple, my love. He killed Alessio.”

  “Oh, no,” she gasped, raising her hand to her mouth with her uninjured arm. “Oh, Falcon. I’m so sorry. How about his wife and son? Are they alive?”

  “Yes, they are, but I know that she does not wish to live any longer. If anything, she wishes to avenge Alessio’s death then join him,” I answered, my heart breaking for her, too.

  “I need to change your bandages,” I said, getting up from the bed. Thoughts of her dying on me played through my head. My emotions were gutting me, and I didn’t want her to see it. I went to the dresser and grabbed the extra bandages I placed there earlier. I sat back down on the bed and worked on cleaning and rewrapping her wounds. As I dressed her shoulder injury, she whispered, “I don’t blame her.”

  “Me either, my love…me either,” I muttered, taking her hand and pressing it to my face.

  She rubbed the hair on my face tenderly. I could have stayed like that forever. “How long do I have to stay in bed? Do I need a doctor?”

  “You have a doctor right here,” I teased. “No, you should be fine, and there’s no doctor for us vampires. We don’t get sick and we heal after a short time.” I moved onto her chest wound, and thankfully, the blood had almost completely stopped and the wound was noticeably smaller.

  “Well, it would be awesome if I would heal sooner. I don’t want to be in this bed unless you are lying down with me,” she complained, looking into my eyes.

  “I can fix that easily.” I took off my shoes and climbed onto the other side of the bed. I gently took her into my arms without touching her wounds and rested with her.

  It was nearly midnight when I felt her get up from my side. “What do you think you’re doing?”

  “I’m going to take a tinkle, if you don’t mind. Unless you want me to pee in the bed?”

  “Smartass. I’ll help you,” I said, rushing to her side.

  “I can pee just fine on my own,” she muttered. I knew she was embarrassed to use the bathroom in front of me, but I could hear her when she was in there anyway.

  “I’m sorry, Nora. I just want you to be back to normal,” I admitted.

  She turned around and smiled up at me. “I know, Falcon, but I want to pee in private. You can walk me back to bed when I’m done, okay?”

  “That will have to be enough.”

  I waited outside the bathroom for her. It wasn’t long, but it felt like an eternity. She came out with a placating smile. “Shall we, sir?” she asked, holding her hand out for me. I would have teleported her back into bed, but I didn’t want to test her strength and belly yet. She had barely eaten since she had woken up, and I wanted to make sure she could handle everything before we returned to life as it had been the day before.

  “I’m going to be running around by morning. All of my wounds have disappeared. I’m a little stiff, but with some rest then some exercise,” she winked, “I’ll be as good as new.”

  I shook my head, then walked her back to our bed. She draped her small frame over mine and we fell into a peaceful sleep.

  Chapter 3

  Leonora

  I felt like a new being after the attack. It took almost a full day of rest before Falcon would let me get up from our bed. All my wounds had fully disappeared, but he wasn’t having any of my complaining. I suppose if I was in the same position he was, I would feel the same way. I walked into the bathroom to shower, and there my mate was standing with a towel around his waist. My body was fully back to life and my desire for him was palpable. My pulse amplified as I admired his physique.

  I pressed my face to his strong chiseled back and let the warmth from his hot shower seep through me. “My love, what are you doing?” he asked, setting down his razor. I hated when he shaved his face. I loved his barely-there scruff as it grazed my body, leaving momentary abrasions on my flesh and subtly marking me as his and his alone. My body was instantly ablaze with need and I wasn’t going to be refused. I had to have him and I had to have him now.

  “I want you, Falcon, and I won’t take no for an answer. I can feel how much you want me, too,” I moaned against his skin, feeling it prickle as I slipped my hand around the front and grabbed ahold of his thick length. His body tensed and his heart started beating rapidly. I was on the right track and I wouldn’t be flagged and forced to slow down. I was going down the path at a high rate of speed until we both crashed into a dirty pile-up on the bathroom tiles.

  I pulled the towel from his waist, spinning him around. “My, my, my, Leonora. What do you have in mind?” he asked. I dropped to my knees, staring directly at his hard cock with pre-come dripping from the tip, wetting the head. I licked my lips before sliding my thumb in circles, spreading his wetness. I wrapped my lips around his thickness, sucking him down. He groaned, his hands clutching my hair.

  Moaning around his cock, I felt his body shake and I knew that he wasn't going to let me finish. His need to take control was taking over. "Up," he hissed through gritted teeth. His hands were on my shoulders, and before I knew it, I felt the cold granite on my ass. I'd only been wearing one of his long shirts to bed and a pair of panties, which I tossed on the floor as soon as I stepped into the bathroom.

  “I missed you, Nora.”

  He pushed my hips apart and thrusted his cock deep into my depths. I cried out, feeling full and stunned. He stretched me apart inside and it felt so good. Gripping my hands around his neck, I worked my hips as he pumped into me. No words were uttered; we just stared into each other’s eyes with promise and love. I loved him so deeply that I could barely breathe when we were apart. The counter shook as he fucked me, his lips pressing against my neck. “Bite me,” I begged. I felt his teeth sink into my flesh, connecting us in the most primal way. My orgasm slammed through me like a freight train and I screamed his name.

  “Falcon,” I shouted over and over again, wrapping my legs tighter around his waist. Then I sunk my teeth into his shoulder, taking my needs from him. He emptied his seed deep within me and everything felt right with the world.

  Falcon began to chuckle softly, almost to himself. “What’s so funny?” I asked.

  “Nothing, Nora. I’m just deliriously happy.”

  “I suppose that’s a great answer,” I replied, kissing his chin, then his lips.

  “It’s the only one I have. How are you feeling?” he asked, looking into my eyes for any signs of fatigue. His hands cupped my face; I pressed my face forward, loving his touch.

  “I feel fantastic. Although, I’m sure walking is going to be a bit hard for a moment,” I teased, giving him a wink.

  I hopped into the shower, needing to get nice and clean for our meeting with everyone. I couldn’t look like a sweaty mess. After a long, soothing wash, I was out and dressed and sitting down to eat before they arrived.

  Chapter 4

  Draco

  Vigo, Charlotte, and I gathered at Falcon’s home as he asked. There was so much to discuss, and well, we all wanted to check on Leonora. I was glad we added the extra cameras here, but there needed to be more. It was too easy for someone with teleporting abilities to get into the lab. They could be in here in an instant. Falcon and I didn’t trust sorcerers, so we didn’t have extra magical charms to keep them out. But I had an idea that I wanted to run past Falcon. It came to me as I thought about how we were going to keep the women safe. After all that happened to Leonora and hearing my friend’s distress, I knew that I had to do my job as his guard and step up our measures of security. I would have to talk to Vigo about it, too. He had all sorts of chemical analysis tools to use.

  “Draco, Charlotte, Vigo, it’s so good to see you all,” Leonora said, coming into Falcon’s library. She
ran up to Charlotte and hugged her. I watched as Charlotte froze, but she eased when Leonora embraced her.

  “I’m so sorry, Nora. I’m sorry,” she sobbed in Leonora’s arms. She pulled back to look at Charlotte with her hands holding her upper arms.

  “Charlotte, there’s nothing to be sorry about. You can’t help what happened, and I’m certain that if you could have, you would have.”

  “Thank you, Nora.” I watched Falcon’s expression, and I noticed a sense of disdain on his face. He wasn’t pleased with the choice Charlotte made, and I suppose that if I had been in his position, I would feel the same. But I would not allow him to treat her like she was guilty of a crime.

  “Let’s get this over with. I’d feel better if we started organizing shit,” I said, breaking up the embrace. I was going to have to have a word with Falcon. He pulled Leonora in his arms, like he was protecting her from Charlotte, and that wasn’t good with me. I took Charlotte’s hand and tugged her to my side.

  Calm down, Draco.

  I’m fine, my love.

  No, you’re not. He has reason to be upset.

  “Yes, I want to get this settled and I want Stavros’ head on a fucking platter,” Falcon roared.

  “Same here,” Vigo and I said at the same time. That was something that had to happen. Perhaps we’ll chop his head off without piercing his heart.

  “What are your plans?” I asked Falcon. I may have been his strongest warrior and his guard, but he was the mastermind and the leader. This lab had been his idea from the start.

  “I’ve been thinking that I want to get rid of the special lab. It’s causing a lot of tension lately and attention. I want all the equipment transferred and added to my lab here in my house. We can continue the research here. We need to do so without bringing attention to ourselves.”

  “In the cover of night?” Vigo asked.

  Falcon nodded. “Yes, we need to move all that we can. Draco and I can teleport many things by hand, but I don’t want the women alone at any time while we do it, so we’ll have to take turns.”