ChapterEleven
Luca
We loved Cassie. The way she interacted with Angelina was so easy. She’d explained they’d been friends since they were at primary school. The way she accepted that the three of us were in a relationship was uncanny. Most would have said it was perverted, or that jealousy would tear us all apart. We looked forward to welcoming Jake and her to our home for dinner very soon.
I was surprised when she said Salvatore could drive us back. “I want to see if his driving is any better than yours,” she teased.
As I knew she would, Diane waited at the bottom of the steps for us. As soon as she saw Angelina get out of the car, she gathered her up in her arms, fussing over her like a mother would.
“Boys, can you bring her luggage up, please? I’m taking Angelina for a cuppa in the kitchen.”
It was Diane’s code to check that she was okay after her ordeal. Our housekeeper had been distraught when I called about the fire at the gallery. She was just what Angelina needed. A mother figure who would care for her. Knowing Diane, she’d have ideas about the studio in our private rooms. We’d leave it to the ladies to organise that.
“Do you think we should unpack her clothes, or is it too intrusive?”
“Knock yourself out, guys.”
“We better be careful when it comes to birthdays and Christmases. She’ll know everything we get,” I teased.
“I heard that. Not to worry. There are plenty of pleasurable ways I can get you to talk…”Her teasing laughter and suggestive words caused us to groan collectively.
“This woman is going to be insatiable,” Salvatore declared.
I laughed. “Yeah, but so much fun. Oh, fuck…” I groaned again as I opened one of her bags.
“What?” Salvatore came over to see what I’d found.
“She could have warned us about these.” I waved a pair of very slinky cream lace panties at him.
Sal growled with possession. “She is going to be in so much trouble later when we make her put these on… and then we can tear them off.”
“Can’t wait. Oh, and if you want me walking around without underwear because you’ve ripped them all to shreds… I don’t mind. But don’t blame me if I bend over in a short skirt and bare everything to the world.” Her laughter hit me right in the groin.
“She is so bad. I thought we’d experienced everything, but this torture is hurting my cock so much.”
I agreed with Sal. “Don’t worry, brother. She’ll be made to pay.”
* * *
Angelina
I settled into a routine quickly at the De Laurentis home and had been living there for three weeks. I loved my studio and started painting the day after I arrived. I decided it was the right therapy for coping with what Viktor had done to my other work. There was such inspiration around the house and grounds. I was due to pick up my latest project from the framer’s that day. I couldn’t wait to see Cassie’s face when I gave it to her.
Cassie had popped over for coffee with Diane and me earlier in the week. Diane loved her instantly. We’d arranged for her and Jake to come over for dinner the following Saturday. Michael and Diane would be eating with us too, and I’d be helping our lovely housekeeper with the prep and cooking. They’d also be staying for the night. How much Cassie had told Jake about my relationship with Luca and Salvatore I had no idea. I’d yet to tell her that Gino’s real name was Salvatore. I planned to tease him about it a little longer.
The brothers did have duties, which included patrolling their territory for traces of demons. Since the fire at my gallery, Viktor’s antics had ended. But we were still on high alert. He’d be back and we wanted to be ready for him. When they were away from our home, they kept in touch with me. It was very sweet, although a little frustrating when I didn’t respond right away, resulting in one of them flying back to check on me.
It had been raining, so I couldn’t get out of the house to paint. Michael was busy sorting out a plumbing problem and Diane was cooking. I decided to head to the library. The smell in the room hit my nostrils as soon as I entered. There was nothing quite like the scent of books. Kindles had their place, but nothing could compare to a real book in your hands.
I ran my finger along a row of very old books. My finger paused over one called… The Complete Hybrid History.
Maybe I’d get some answers about their history and the mating ritual in there. It was something I kept meaning to ask about, but that week had been a little crazy. The brothers also seemed a tad hesitant about what this ritual would consist of. I settled down in an overstuffed chair and opened the book.
Since the dawn of time, vampires have been portrayed as evil. Taking peoples’ blood and turning certain humans to swell their numbers. This, though, couldn’t be further from the truth. Here’s how the pact between angels and vampires came in to being and how the Hybrids were created…
Demons were appearing with more frequency on Earth. Even the most powerful witches’ covens could no longer keep them at bay. Other supernatural races weren’t strong enough to defeat them, either. The angels realised they had to intervene, or see the whole world turned into a race of demons and mindless puppets carrying out their every wish. This would leave angels in a dangerous situation with the possibility of their race also being destroyed… along with many other supernatural communities. Each faction had their own skillset. Alone, no one race had the strength to go up against the demons. However, there were two groups of supernaturals, if they were crossbred, who could help at least to keep the demons at bay.
They came up with an idea. It wasn’t a fool-proof concept and would take a lot of planning, but it was the one shot they had. A meeting was set up between the vampire and angel communities. These races had never got along in the past. That was about to change. If an angel’s blood was transferred to a vampire, their mixed DNA would make monumental changes.
And so began the creation of a band of male and female soldiers named, The Hybrids. Any vampire changed would have several physiological differences; grow angel wings which would give preternatural speed, telepathy, mind reading, mind control, the ability to become invisible, and the strength to kill a demon. Simply killing a demon didn’t mean this was the end. Demons could regenerate. Only when a Hybrid joined with their mate could they finally obliterate the demon’s presence completely.
However, there were certain conditions the angels set upon this new race. The Hybrids were also capable of love and great compassion. They would be able to live for centuries and only become truly immortal once more if they discovered their mate, who was always human. If this didn’t transpire, their powers would begin to fade, resulting in their death. When too many died, the angels created more Hybrids to take their place. This would continue until the end of time.
Hybrids could never take their mate by force. Their mate had to understand all they were committing to before the full mating took place. Simply making love alone was not enough. To complete the unbreakable bond, after making love the Hybrid would lengthen their fangs and take blood from the juncture of their mate’s thigh. Once this was complete, the human would need to repeat the process on the Hybrid. The Hybrid would open a vein in their thigh so their mate could take blood from them. Once completed, the human would turn.