Page 15 of The Mistress, the Monster and the Marquess

When he turned around again, he wondered if he should perhaps stay a little longer.

Benedict sat further back on his heels and had wrapped his arms around Lina’s waist as she straddled him.

They were aroused again.

Antony could smell them both and it heated his own blood.

Lina stroked her new pet’s face while she spoke. “You cannot hurt me, Benedict. Tell me what you saw.”

Antony couldn’t wait to hear this. He had never truly believed in blood mates, before. Not the sort the Originals talked about, at least.

Benedict flushed and looked back at him.

Antony felt that look down to his belly, kicking him into awareness. Something very dangerous was about to be said.

Benedict turned his attention to Lina. “I saw you having sex with the old man in the robes.”

Antony blinked, shocked. Perhaps some of the stories were true?

“Then when Antony bit me, I saw him having sex with another human male. He had orange-red hair and blue eyes.”

Antony hissed and fell back a step. “You lie!” Shock and anger hit him hard and unexpectedly. He jumped closer to the pallet of pillows and stared at the entwined couple. There was no way Benedict could be telling the truth. There’s no way he could have known! Lina must have said something. He forced himself to calm down just a little before he cleared his throat and asked for clarification. “What did you say?”

Hands fisted on each side, Antony struggled to rein his temper in. How dare Lina share that sort of private information? He had lost his intended mate more than a hundred years ago and he had barely spoken of him since.

Benedict looked up at Lina with pleading eyes.

Antony knew that look wasn’t faked. Benedict was afraid. What the hell is going on?

Lina turned to look at him calmly. “I just wanted to show you our connection, Antony. Please do not be upset. If you fed on him again, he would not sense your memories. It must have been because we were both in his blood at the same time.”

Antony took a big step forward, wanting to test her theory.

Lina moved to her feet in front of Benedict, acting as a shield and blocking Antony access. “He has been fed on enough tonight. You know that,” she said, her voice firm.

Antony’s fear was beginning to rise, but so was his hope. It was rare to have a triple blood bond and even rarer to have more than one intended mate. But if he had another? he needed to know! “I just want to find out...”

Lina grabbed him by the shoulders and shook him. She was younger than he was, but her maker had been one of the Originals. That alone made her one of the strongest vampires on the planet. He knew he was no true match for her when it came down to it.

“He will not be able to see him, Antony. I know you regret your decision, but Benedict cannot bring him back. I am sorry.”

The words hurt to hear, even worse because Lina did not understand. He knew Malcolm could never be brought back, that wasn’t what hurt so much. He knew that he had lost the one person who was his only intended mate.

But there was something about Benedict, the sweetness of his blood, his scent. All of it fitted together like a neat little puzzle box and Antony needed to find out if there was something more to it. He needed to talk to an elder, to find out if he was going crazy with jealousy and longing, or if it was truly possible—that he, Lina, and Benedict could be blood mates.

“I will be back, Lina.” He ripped out of her hold, picked up his clothes, and flew out of the building.

Chapter Ten.

Lina turned back to the man she knew to be her destined mate and waited for the main door to the dungeon to close. It didn’t. Childish prick. She would not be as foolish as Antony was. She would not let Benedict go.

Benedict stood, his beautiful body rippling as he seemed to want to move. He seemed unsure of her. Wary somehow.

She moved over to him and stroked her nails across one of his tight little nipples. “Let’s lay down again, pet.”

Benedict nodded and sank back to the pillows.

Lina retrieved a blanket and covered them both, lying on her side to face him.

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