Broken (The Captive #5.5)(53)

Genny's eyes slid over the room. "Thank you for this."

"Don't thank me, you deserve this and better." He leaned over and kissed her cheek before rising. "There are some things that I have to take care of though, like feeding." He'd been supplying her with his blood since she'd been wounded, but he hadn't had the time to feed himself or the willingness to leave her alone for as long it would take him to feed. He'd reached the point where he had to feed or he would become a threat. "I won't be gone for long."

She squeezed his hands. "I'll be here."

Leaning over he inhaled her fragrant scent as he clasped hold of her chin and kissed her tenderly. He hated to leave her here but he couldn't bring a woman into the club. "Soon," he whispered and reluctantly released her.

Merle was waiting in the front room of the small manor house when he walked down the stairs. Arturo, the vampire he'd appointed to stand guard over Genny and Camille while he was away, stood by the front door. Arturo had known him since he was a baby and though Atticus wouldn't consider the man a friend, he took his position as a guard in Atticus's employ seriously. Protecting the aristocrats was what his family line, The House of Champon, had been born, raised, and trained to do. Failing to do so was considered a great shame to their family members, and themselves. Their lives were considered forfeit if they failed.

The Champon's loyalties were bound to the one they were contracted to. There was nothing that could tear them away from their contract, not even if more coin was offered to them by another. Their loyalty remained with their original agreement and their secrets were always kept, even if they were dismissed from the service of the one they were guarding.

This was understood and appreciated by every aristocrat so much that The House of Champon were never allowed to be called to testify for, or against someone, even if they knew something of great importance. All the nobles knew that it was best to have their secrets kept by those that protected their lives.

"Make sure she stays safe," he commanded Arturo briskly.

Arturo bowed his head in acquiescence and opened the door for him. Merle hurried down the stairs at his side and to the small stable in back where their horses were already saddled and waiting for them. They rode through the small vampire town together, past the tiny hut that had been Camille and Genny's home until today. He'd left another member of Champon at the hut to alert him when Marie returned. He planned to speak with the woman and make sure she stayed out of her daughter's lives from now on. He had a feeling that once she heard that her daughter's had been moved into a much finer home, by a nobleman, Marie would not stop until she found them.

They rode out of the town and toward the club designated for nobles a few miles down the road. "Do you really think your father will allow you to get out of this engagement?" Merle inquired.

"No," Atticus responded without any hesitation. "But it doesn't matter because I will not be marrying Anna."

"That could get ugly Atticus."

He turned to look at Merle. "It will get ugly but I have the inheritance I received after my mother's death and her properties. He won't be able to keep me under his control."

"And what of Anna's family? This will be an insult to them, especially since Genny isn't even an aristocrat."

Atticus pondered his cousin's words. "Genny won't agree to be my mistress."

He wasn't about to tell his cousin that the mere thought of having to sleep with Anna was enough to make his skin crawl. Merle was standing by him through this, but even he wouldn't be able to understand what he was going through. No vampire, man or woman ever remained faithful, but Genny was the only woman he ever wanted to be with again.

"If you talk with her, I'm sure she'll understand that we have no say over these decisions."

"She understands that but I'm not going to ask her to be my mistress. She deserves better and I plan to make sure she has it."

"I hope you know what you're doing."

"I don't," he admitted.

Merle turned in his saddle to face him. "I know my mother's bloodline isn't as strong as yours but our fathers' are from a powerful line too. If it will make things easier, and if they will accept it, I will agree to marry Anna. It would be beneficial to me and she is a fine woman, as the youngest daughter I'm sure Jane would also appreciate the reprieve."

Atticus reined his horse in; he sat and stared at his cousin as Merle turned his horse to face him. His mind spun at this bit of information and the possibility of freedom that Merle was offering to him. "I don't know if they would agree to that," he murmured.

"I'm sure they'll be resentful of the change, reluctant to it, but perhaps you can sweeten the pot somehow. Maybe even offer up your first born son for marriage to Jane or even to Anna if they refuse her to me. They will have to wait years for the alliance that they're seeking with your line, but they would eventually have the link they are looking for to you."

Atticus rubbed at his jawline as he thought over Merle's words. Genny's breeding would be a hindrance, one that they might be firmly set against, but if Silas was determined to tie his line to Atticus's he might be willing to overlook it. "That could work."

"It could and it won't hurt to try."