She takes it, and he pulls her forward, clasping her shoulder with his other hand in the grip reserved for brothers.
“You’re not a member, can’t be, club rules, but you’re family.My sister.A King in everything but the patch.”His eyes are fierce.“You’re under our protection.Permanently.Anyone fucks with you, they fuck with all of us.And you know what we say about that.”
“Nobody fucks with the Kings,” she says quietly.
“Damn right.”He releases her shoulder but doesn’t step back.“You want a house?We build you one.Want a job at the club businesses?Pick one.Want to keep slinging coffee at the diner?That’s fine too.Whatever you need, whatever you want, you’re one of ours now.”
The brothers erupt in agreement, fists pounding on tables, voices raised in solidarity.
Tessa’s eyes are bright with tears.“I’m honored.”
“The honor is ours.”Blade pulls her into a brief, fierce hug, then steps back.
“I want—” She pauses, swallows hard.“I want to help protect this place.The territory.The seal.I want to be more than just the woman who got marked.I want to be useful.”
“You already are.”Prophet’s voice is gentle.“The seal needs you.Both of you.Your presence here strengthens it.Your bond maintains it.You’re the most useful people in this entire territory.”
“He’s right,” I say, moving to stand beside her.“We’re guardians now.Wardens in the truest sense.Our job is to watch, to wait, to make sure what we bound stays bound.”
“Sounds boring as hell,” Fury mutters, then grins.“Perfect for you two lovebirds.”
The tension breaks with laughter.
Tessa is family now, officially and irrevocably.
“Practical matters,” Blade says, steering the conversation.“Prophet, explain what having living anchors means for the club.”
Prophet stands, and I notice he’s got notes, actual written notes, which means heaven has been thorough in their briefing.“The seal is now tied to Vex and Tessa’s life forces.As long as they live and remain bonded, the Khorvath stays trapped.”
“And if they die?”Chrome asks the question everyone’s thinking.
“If Vex dies, the seal weakens significantly but doesn’t break immediately.Tessa would need to find another anchor, another vampire or supernatural being powerful enough to maintain the binding, within a lunar cycle or the creature breaks free.”
“And if I die?”Tessa’s voice is steady, but through the bond I feel her fear.
“The same applies, but worse.The warden bloodline is the key.Without you, the seal begins to fray immediately.Vex would have—” Prophet checks his notes.“Three days, maybe four, to find another warden of your bloodline or the binding collapses entirely.”
Silence greets this information.
“So, we protect them,” Blade says flatly.“Both of them.They become the club’s highest priority.”
“We’re not children,” Tessa protests.“We can protect ourselves.”
“Against normal threats?Sure.”Blade’s eyes are hard.“But you’re now targets for anything that wants the Khorvath free.Other primordial entities.Rival supernatural factions.Hell, even some branches of heaven might decide the seal is better broken and reformed ‘properly.’”He looks at Prophet.“No offense.”
“None taken.You’re not wrong.”
“So, we protect them,” Blade repeats.“And they train.Seriously train.No more dabbling in self-defense.Full combat training, weapons, tactics, everything.”
“Agreed,” I say before Tessa can argue.Through the bond, I feel her wanting to protest being coddled, but this isn’t about coddling.It’s about survival.
“There’s one more thing.”Prophet’s expression grows serious.“The warden bloodline.Tessa, you need to consider having children.”
The words drop into the room like stones.
“Excuse me?”Tessa’s voice is dangerously quiet.
“The binding is tied to your bloodline.If your line ends, if you die without heirs, the seal has no anchor point to return to.The magic would need to find another warden family, which could take decades or centuries.During that time, the Khorvath would be free.”
