“What?”
“You,” she breathed. “I want you.”
Her words punctured his unbeating heart, melting it into a puddle of goo.
“You got me, Terra,” he swore in soft tones.
She gave another yank on his hair. “All of you.”
“Yes. But first…”
With a slow, wicked smile, he parted her legs and wiggled down the mattress until he was kneeling between them. Instantly, he was surrounded by the sweet scent of her arousal. His mouth watered, though his hunger was no longer for blood.
Gripping her hips, he licked through her slick heat, feeling a smug satisfaction as he wrenched a loud groan from her throat. His nymph liked that. A lot.
Using her soft moans as a guide, he dipped his tongue inside her, driving her desire higher and higher, taking her to the edge before easing away and starting all over again.
“Enough.”
With unexpected strength, Terra reached down to grab his shoulders and hauled him upward.
Javad readily gave in to her impatience.
As much as he enjoyed hearing the sound of her soft pants, his need was spiraling toward the point of no return. He wanted to be deep inside her when that happened.
“I like when you’re bossy,” he teased, kissing the upper curve of her breast before gliding up the slope of her throat.
Her skin was damp with sweat, and the lemony scent of her hair teased his nose.
Delicious.
“Good.” She framed his face in her hands as she wrapped her legs around his waist. “Get in me. Now,” she ordered.
Javad didn’t have to be told twice.
Holding her smoldering gaze, he pressed the tip of his rock-hard cock into her body. They groaned in unison, the pleasure so shocking that it made the world come to a screeching halt.
Time ticked away as Javad simply savored the sensations that battered his body. Anticipation. Ecstasy. And a love so profound that his heart didn’t feel big enough to contain it.
Releasing a shaky sigh, Terra scored her fingernails down his chest, then with a smoldering smile, she lifted her head to lick away the small trail of blood.
Hunger slammed into Javad. With a harsh growl, he plunged his erection deep into her body.
“Yes,” she urged in a husky voice, lowering her hands to cup his ass as he drove into her with enough force to rock the bed.
She met him thrust for thrust, proving that she wasn’t nearly as fragile as she appeared.
Thank the goddess. Javad wrapped her tightly in his arms, savoring her sharp cry as her body shuddered in blissful release.
Javad thrust again, his back arching as his orgasm ripped through him with titanic force.
Damn.
Collapsing onto the mattress next to his mate, Javad pulled her tight against his trembling body.
“My Terra,” he murmured, pressing a kiss to the top of her tangled curls.
She snuggled against his chest, closing her eyes as she drifted to sleep.
“Forever.”
Epilogue
Standing in the living room of their private apartment, Terra brushed her hands down the gown she hadn’t worn for two weeks. It felt…weird. And not in a good way. Still, she’d been waiting for this particular moment since she returned to Vegas. She wasn’t going to miss it because her nerves were tangled into painful knots.
Easily sensing her tension, Javad moved to capture her hands in his cool grip. He was dressed in a pair of loose black slacks and a gold tunic embroidered with rubies.
“Are you sure you’re ready for this?”
She smiled, instantly calmed by his touch. Or maybe she was just distracted. What female wouldn’t be sidetracked by an insanely sexy vampire regarding her with such heart-wrenching concern?
She squared her shoulders. “It’s time.”
Javad frowned. “You’re being very mysterious.”
“I just need to tie up a few loose ends,” she said.
She’d been deliberately vague when she told Javad that she had to return to the temple. As much as she adored this male, he was more than a little protective. If he thought that she was walking into danger, he would be in hyper-vampire-mode. She didn’t want to terrify the Serafs until she could discover the truth.
“You’re sure?” he demanded.
Terra studied Javad’s face. His concern about traveling to the temple was easy to read, but something else was troubling him. Something she could sense through their mating bond.
“What do you mean?”
“It would be understandable if you have…” His gaze lowered to their entwined fingers as if searching for the appropriate word. “Regrets.”
“Regrets about what?”
“Leaving the temple.”
Understanding hit Terra with stunning force. Javad wasn’t just concerned. He was worried that she missed her life as a Seraf.
Stepping forward, she framed his face in her hands and stared into his dark, beautiful eyes.
“Never,” she assured him in a voice that rang through the room with unshakable confidence. “Nothing has made me as happy as being your mate, Javad. You’re stuck with me for the rest of eternity.”
A stiffness drained from his body as he leaned down to press his mouth tenderly against her lips.
“Thank the goddess,” he rasped.
Terra shivered, excitement fluttering through her at the sharp press of his fangs. Less than an hour ago, she’d been in the shower when Javad entered to wrap her in his arms. Before the shower was done, she had her legs wrapped around his waist, and those fangs had been buried deep in her throat.
She swallowed a moan. Just the thought was enough to make her fingers itch to rip off his clothes and tumble him onto the nearby sofa.
“Let’s go before you distract me,” she murmured, stepping back.
His smile was smug. “I like distracting you.”
That was no lie. Over the past two weeks, he’d done just that, several times a day… Her answering smile was more than a little smug as well as she lifted her hand and opened a portal.
As soon as she stepped through, however, her easy expression disappeared.
The familiar smell of wildflowers wrapped around her along with the dazzling morning light that poured through the glass walls of the temple. The sun didn’t concern her. This was a place of magic. Javad wouldn’t be hurt by the sunshine. She did, however, quickly glance around to make sure there weren’t any unexpected visitors that might be dangerous.
Nothing.
Well, nothing beyond the crowd of white-robed Serafs gathered around the tall, gaunt-faced female with dark golden hair that was braided and folded like a crown on the top of her head.
The Matron.
Terra had chosen this particular moment because she knew that it was the traditional day of welcoming for the newest Serafs. It was the one time everyone gathered at the center of the temple.
There was a stir of curiosity as Javad stepped out of the portal, his arm instantly wrapping around her shoulders in a protective motion.
The older female stepped forward, her face hard as she took in Terra with a disapproving gaze. “You.”
Terra offered a stiff nod of her head. “Matron.”
The sound of a gasp could be heard as Cyra stepped from behind the Matron to study Terra in disbelief.
“Terra.” She pressed her hands to her chest. “I feared that you would never return.”
Terra forced her lips into a humorless smile. “Sorry I’m late. I was detained by a savage vampire who intended to kill me.”
Cyra’s gaze flicked toward Javad. “That vampire?”
“No.” Terra pressed closer to her mate. “Javad saved me.”
The Matron stiffened her spine, pressing her hands together. “No matter what he’s done to earn your gratitude, you have no right to desecrate our temple by bringing him here,” she snapped, her eyes blazing with fury. “Yet another example of your lack of respect for the Se
rafs.”
Terra met the Matron’s glare with one of her own. “What exactly should I respect?” She waved a hand. “A fancy temple? Pretty gardens? Your bulging treasure chests?”
“That is enough.”
“Brace yourself. I’m just getting started.”
The Matron frowned. “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
“Did you tell the new recruits that you dole out our gifts to the highest bidder?”
“I take care to choose who can enter our temple,” the Matron informed her in stiff tones. “It is my duty to protect my people.”
Terra snorted. “You barter us for profit.”
A buzz of whispers erupted from the Serafs behind the female. Like the rustle of leaves in a soft breeze.
The Matron’s jaw tightened. “That’s not true. You just admitted that you left the tower and were attacked. Is that what you want for your sisters?”
“Of course, not,” Terra instantly denied. “The temple is important to keep them safe. But there’s no reason we can’t offer our help to everyone who petitions for it. Or even travel through the world with proper guards to ensure that we aren’t hurt.”
The Matron flushed. “Blasphemy.”
It was a word that Terra had heard with monotonous regularity over the past centuries.
“No.” She pointed toward the vast emptiness that surrounded them. “This is blasphemy. This place should be filled with Serafs treating those in need. We should have lines of petitioners out the door. Instead, we huddle here alone, waiting for someone with enough wealth to purchase our blessing. We aren’t angels of mercy, we’re mercenaries.”
More buzzing from the sisters arose as the Matron’s face turned a dark shade of puce.
“I won’t be lectured by you.” She pointed a finger toward the portal that Terra had left open. Better safe than sorry. “Get out.”
“I will.” Terra sucked in a deep, calming breath. Enough. Arguing with the Matron was a frustrating, worthless waste of time. And not the reason Terra had come here. “As soon as I finish what I came here to do.”
The Matron frowned. “What are you talking about?”
“I was kidnapped and held hostage by a vampire named Vynom—”
“Because you left my protection,” the older female interrupted.
Terra shook her head. “I was lured there when someone used my medallion.”
“That’s ridiculous. No one could use it,” the Matron protested.
“No one but another Seraf,” Terra corrected.
“Another Seraf?”
“That’s what I said.”
The female stiffened, a wary expression on her narrow features. “Who?”
“We’re about to find out.” Terra reached into her pocket to pull out the strand of hair that she’d found in the cavern after escaping the cage with Javad. She held it up so everyone could see. “Whoever was working with Vynom left behind a clue.”
Closing her eyes, Terra muttered a simple spell. There was a tingle of magic in the air, and she opened her eyes to watch the hair float off her palm before gliding toward the Matron. Then, bypassing the leader of the Serafs, it twirled and landed on Cyra’s head. Terra’s heart squeezed even as she gave a sad shake of her head. The traitor had been obvious the moment Terra had caught the scent of aloe vera and found the hair.
After all, it was Cyra who’d brought the medallion to her. And promised to hide Terra’s disappearance from the temple. Still, it hurt even more than Terra expected. She’d thought Cyra was her friend. Instead, the female had done everything in her power to destroy Terra.
“I hoped my suspicions were wrong,” she whispered. “How could you?”
Cyra’s eyes darted from side to side as if she were desperately trying to think up a convincing lie. Then, clearly realizing that she’d been caught red-handed, she tilted her chin to a defiant angle.
“You were tearing us apart,” she accused Terra.
“Cyra.” The Matron swiveled her head to stare at the younger female in horrified disbelief. “Did you conspire with a vampire to harm one of your sisters?”
Cyra held out a pleading hand. “I had to get rid of her, Matron.”
“Why?”
“The younger Serafs were becoming restless.” She nodded toward the crowd currently watching them with avid gazes. “More and more of them were questioning your decisions, and some even whispered of finding a new Matron to lead them. A revolt was brewing. The only way to save what you built was to get rid of the source of their discontent.”
“Traitor!” The cry came from somewhere at the back of the room, and the Matron winced.
Glancing toward her flock, the Matron quickly judged the mood that was rapidly tilting from confused to angry. With surprising speed, she reached out to grasp Cyra’s arm and nodded toward Terra.
“Come with me.”
The Matron marched across the floor, dragging Cyra behind her. Terra started to follow, but with a blur of movement, Javad was suddenly blocking the Matron’s path.
“Be very careful, Matron,” he warned, his eyes smoldering with a bronzed glow. “I will destroy you if you so much as look at Terra wrong. Got it?”
The Matron flinched. Smart Seraf. Javad’s fangs were fully extended and ready to do serious damage.
“I’m not going to hurt her. I swear,” the Matron said, waving an unsteady hand toward the nearby opening. “We’ll go in there.”
In a tight group, they entered the small library that smelled of old leather and sandalwood. Terra took a deep breath, savoring the scent. She’d often taken refuge in this place when her frustration threatened to goad her into doing something stupid. There were few things more relaxing than hours spent lost in a good book.
Once inside, Javad shut the door and moved to stand next to the Matron. It was an unspoken threat.
The older female, however, was concentrating on Cyra, who was wiping away her tears.
“Child. What have you done?”
Cyra folded her arms around her waist. “I did it for you,” she told the Matron. “For the temple. You said we had to stop Terra. So I did.”
There was a long stretch of silence as the Matron’s color drained from her face. She looked almost sick.
“For me,” she breathed.
Without warning, Cyra had dropped to her knees, holding her hands out in a silent plea for understanding.
“We can’t let her lead the others astray, Matron.” Cyra’s eyes glittered in a frenzied way. As if she were on the verge of hysteria. Or madness. “Once she’s dead, we can convince the others—”
“Sleep.” The Matron spoke the word, and Cyra tumbled to the floor, her eyes closed, and her body slack.
There was another bit of tense silence as they stared down at the unconscious female. Then Terra turned her attention to her former leader.
“Cyra plotted to kill me, but the blame lies on your shoulders, Matron,” she said in harsh tones.
Expecting more excuses, or even accusations to turn the blame away from her, Terra was caught off guard when the Matron slowly nodded.
“Yes.”
Terra blinked in surprise. “Excuse me?”
“You’re right.” Spinning away, the female paced toward the towering bookcases that lined the walls. The hem of her silken robe brushing the handwoven carpet was the only sound that broke the silence. She seemed lost in thought, her head bowed as if carrying a heavy load. Then slowly, she turned and lifted her head to study Cyra. “I allowed my fear of your power among the younger Serafs to infect Cyra with a toxic desire to protect me.”
Terra’s brows snapped together. Had the Matron been dipping into the nectar? That was the only way she could make that particular accusation.
“I’m just one of the sisters. I have no power.”
The female’s lips pinched in frustration. “You’ve been a disruptive force that has had the temple in chaos since the day you arrived.”
“That’s ridiculous.”
“She’s not wrong,” Javad murmured, his lips twitching. “You’ve been a disruptive force in my life since the night we met.”
The Matron ignored Javad, her exasperated gaze locked on Terra. “Your calls for change continued to ripple through the other Serafs, even after you disappeared. You and your progressive ideals gained in popularity no matter how hard I tried to quash the uprising.”
Terra smiled. “Good.”
“Is it? You weren’t there to watch as we were slaughtered by those we tried to heal. To have your sisters die in your arms. Or to huddle in hidden bunkers while we were being hunted like animals by those who wanted our blood.”
Terra’s smile faded. At times, she allowed her fervent desire to return the Serafs to what they should be to rule and forgot that there’d been genuine reasons for building the temple.
“No.” Her voice was soft with regret. “It must have been terrifying.”
The Matron pressed her hands together. “I made a solemn pledge two thousand years ago to do everything I could to keep my children safe.”
“A worthy goal, but it’s turned us into prisoners.” Terra spread her arms. “We have to be free to share our gifts. And to choose our own paths.”
The Matron parted her lips as if to argue with Terra’s plea, then, glancing back down at Cyra, she heaved a resigned sigh.
“Any change will take time,” she muttered.
Terra’s heart skipped a beat. She wasn’t a fool. It would take decades, maybe centuries for the Matron to give in to the inevitable need to transform the temple. But at least it was a start.
“What will you do with Cyra?” Terra demanded.
She was still deeply hurt by the betrayal of her former friend. It had been as painful as any injury she’d received in Vynom’s less-than-tender care. But she couldn’t bear the thought of Cyra being judged and condemned as a traitor.
The Matron grimaced. “She’ll have to be punished, but I can’t destroy her.”
With a low growl, Javad moved forward. He wasn’t nearly so forgiving. Terra hurriedly stepped in front of him, placing her hands on his chest.
“No, Javad,” she pleaded as she tilted back her head to meet his fierce glare. “Cyra is no longer my concern. Just as Vynom is no longer yours.” She ran her hands up his chest to circle her arms around his neck. “Nothing matters but our future.” She went up on tiptoe to brush her lips across the line of his stubborn jaw. “Together.”
Sacrifice of Darkness: A Guardians of Eternity Novella Page 10
