The plan she'd formulated to prove whether she could safely offer him blood would help determine the answer. But their unexpected kiss had derailed her effort to describe it, or even mention she had one—and it wasn't getting any easier when he cupped one of her breasts through her wet top.
As their lips met again, Isadora let a whimpered gasp into his mouth, heart pounding when he squeezed it, causing the strap to fall from her shoulder. In turn, the vampire stopped kissing her in favor of grasping both straps to pull down, exposing her breasts—and the masculine groan he let at the sight of them evoked a strange sensation.
She'd never been ashamed of her body, and was more comfortable walking around in the nude than wearing clothing. But being bared to Mathias' gaze and witnessing his enjoyment had her shaking with anticipation as he cupped her breasts in his rough hands. Swarming butterflies? Try screeching pterodactyls!
Her heart thundered as he thumbed her straining nipples, but she didn't make a sound until he leaned in and lashed one with his tongue.
“Oh sweet mercy!”
Sucking in a breath, her head fell back, eyes closing against the hot, swirling sensation as his lips closed around the sensitive peak to suck. Her body responded with fervor, wetness gathering between her legs that had nothing to do with her damp clothing, leaving her unable to think, only feel.
And damned if she didn't like where those feelings were going.
Mathias couldn't get enough of where things were going, though some dim part of his mind feared that was actually a problem.
He simply couldn't recall what the problem was when everything felt so damned right.
Instead, his sole focus was on Isadora, unable to resist giving her the kiss she wanted so badly, a kiss he needed to give her—and her reactions were maddening. If it wasn't obvious she'd never received the kind of attention he was giving her before, her surprised gasps and lusty moans certainly brought it to light.
Her fingers dug into his hair as he sucked her nipple, her back arching for more, and he had no intentions of stopping, nor was he content giving just one breast his full attention.
Turning his head to repeat the motions, he laved his tongue over each hard peak, sucking them in turn until she was panting and whimpering his name.
That's when she started fumbling with the buttons of his shirt to remove it, and he stopped long enough to help. As a bonus, the task offered the chance to admire her body again, and saying the lady was lovely didn't do the sight justice.
Her breasts were perky, sitting high on the arch of her ribs curving over her stomach. From there, his gaze trailed downward, stopping at the clasp of her pants with the urge to open them and learn what else she was hiding.
But instead of giving in, he pulled her in for a kiss the moment his shirt was gone, wanting to feel her soft skin pressed to his bare chest.
“Ah!” the fae gasped, eagerly rubbing her sweet body against him, arms snaking around his sides.
It was almost too much to handle without lowering her to the grass to take things much further. But when she started kissing his neck and exploring his body with her fingers, he couldn't move, unwilling to do anything that might break the spell. My curious fae wants to learn, so why stop her?
Indeed, he never wanted this to end. Her attention was so agonizingly sweet it was impossible to think. All he could do was watch her explore his body with clenched teeth, and she seemed to be in the same state of disarray.
“Mathias, you're so … ,” she started, trailing as if words were beyond her. But admiration filled her voice, telling him all he needed to know.
His fae was pleased with what she saw.
The thought was as maddening as her touches, and when her palm found his belt, fingers inching downward to press into the erection his slacks barely contained, he could no longer think. The light touch made him grunt, his cock pulsing to have her fingers wrapped around it, evoking a strength of desire unlike anything he'd ever experienced.
So when she unlatched the buckle of his pants, he was keen to help open them.
Yet something stopped him in his tracks—a scent, growing stronger by the second and so sublime his fangs sharpened instantly.
Isadora.
With his control already tenuous, it was hard to figure out why his lover's scent was suddenly filling the air. But some dim part of his mind recalled her masking potion—Isadora said it didn't last long, meaning it must've worn off.
Not that he was really considering the matter. Instead, as he gazed down at the beautiful fae opening his belt buckle, predatory instincts surfaced, clouding his intentions with a primal urge to feed.
The idea was much too attractive to ignore, and this fae had already admitted her desire for him in return. Yet he'd resisted, denied himself the pleasure of tasting the only lover he'd ever have. If that wasn't bad enough, he'd waited thousands of years just to find her, had actually given up on the prospect. Waited so long to have her … I deserve a taste.
At the thought, he wrapped her long, chestnut hair around a fist, using the hold to tilt her head back until her eyes were peering up into his. The desire in those blue depths was staggering, her heart pounding like a symphony that, combined with her scent, tempted him beyond reason.
Clutching her nape in an unbreakable grip, he forced the fae onto her back, wedging his hips between her legs before canting his head to locate the pulse point in her neck.
The sight of it had his lips drawing back from his fangs, now sharp with longing to pierce that spot and savor the sweet nectar running through it.
And not even his lover's pleading could stop him.
“Oh! Don't,” Isadora rasped, bracing her hands against his chest in a futile attempt to push him back. “Mathias, wait!”
Ignoring her cry, he lunged, fangs meeting her flesh—just as a powerful set of talons wrapped around his torso.
Instantly, he found himself airborne, body hitting a nearby tree trunk before slumping to the ground. With no idea what happened, he glanced up in confusion to find that one of the high griffins had intervened, and both of the beasts were now standing over Isadora protectively, wings flared threateningly.
The sight combined with their adamant intervention broke through his haze of desire, and only one thought emerged. What the fuck was I doing!
Scalded by a sense of shame unlike any he'd ever experienced, he watched as Isadora sat forward to cast a pained, uncertain look in his direction. She was obviously afraid, but even knowing he'd caused her fear, all he could think about was finishing what he'd started.
The urge had him back on his feet and turning away from the fae completely.
It'd finally happened. Before this moment, Mathias had never regretted being blooded. Even after the Grand Priestess disappeared, and he lost faith in all she'd stood for, he was still content with the decision he'd made as a human to prove himself worthy.
But now, he wanted to be anything except a vampire. Draconian, Dok'aal, even a fucking Ferine—as long as it meant having a chance with Isadora.
Yet the truth had never been more painfully clear, and despite knowing it was the only way to ensure her safety, the idea of going into hibernation didn't provide a shred of contentment. In fact, after their time together that evening alone, the thought of abandoning Isadora had his heart murmuring as if to stop beating entirely.
Without a lover, a vampire's heart simply refused to work, and Isadora was already having such an effect on his. But perhaps he'd be better off that way. For as hard as it was to abandon her, enduring the constant heartache of loneliness was worse.
I simply can't do this anymore.
— TWENTY-FIVE —
Mathias' sudden interest in blood seemed strange until Isadora recalled a vital bit of information, realizing in turn that she'd made a mistake.
With everything going on between them, she'd forgotten to renew her masking potion to ensure it didn't wear off before explaining her plan to prove he could safely drink her blood. D
espite her confidence that there was no real danger in the activity, she couldn't let him take a risk and live with the regret if something actually went wrong.
Sadly, her oversight resulted in the vampire being thrown across the grove.
Still, it was a blessing to have been able to stop him at all, and as the high griffins stood over her, she sat forward and gazed at Mathias, hoping her method of interference hadn't pissed him off.
But anger wasn't quite the emotion she spied in his silver eyes. Instead, it was shocked confusion, as if he hadn't realized what was happening until he'd slammed into a tree.
So she parted her lips to apologize for seeking help from the griffins. Yet, before a single word emerged, the vampire stood and turned away, muttering something in a language she didn't quite understand while digging his fingers through his hair in obvious frustration.
Uncertain, she inquired, “What did you say?”
At her question, he abruptly turned and slammed his fist into a boulder, showing a startling amount of strength as the rock crumbled under the blow. Chunks of the material flew away to land harmlessly in the dirt, and though a line of blood now marked his knuckles, Mathias announced as if unfazed, “I said this is impossible.”
“Impossible?” Shaking her head, she started, “Mathias, it's—”
“Return to Terra,” he interrupted on a much calmer tone—calm to the point of being cold. “If you value your life, you'll do so as soon as possible.”
Each word was like a slap to the face, their sting amplified by her lingering arousal in the face of his indifference, and the only thing outmatching it was confusion.
“What are you saying? I only—”
“I said go,” he interrupted more sternly, already disappearing in mist while adding, “There's nothing for you here.”
Stunned, Isadora shouted for him to wait, but it didn't work. Instead, he vanished without looking back, leaving the grove uncomfortably empty and her mind in a stupor for several moments before she realized what happened. He left me!
But why? As a disappointed frown creased her lips, she tried to calm her thoughts enough to reason it through. Sure, he'd nearly bitten her, but she didn't think the incident warranted such a drastic response. Despite his lapse in control, she remained unharmed, and if he'd only waited two minutes, she could've related her plan and proven there was no cause for concern.
The thoughts quickly replaced her disappointment with irritation. He didn't let me explain, just cut me off and hitched the mist train to … the Citadel?
That was the only logical possibility, and the thought redoubled her ire, particularly when she looked down at herself, top still hanging around her torso and body aching from his attention.
But instead of yearning for more, her desire had vanished, replaced by uncertainty, even anger. How could he dismiss her so easily? Had her own attention been lacking? Was she really so inept? No, if that were the case, he never would've lost control from the start … would he?
Frustrated by the questions, she glanced up at her witch kit still sitting on the stump nearby, scowling. The tools needed to put this entire mess to bed were stored inside, and in considering it, her gaze drifted to the distant scenery of the Cardinal Citadel standing tall and proud amidst the mountains.
It was the only place in Sutrelle she'd yet to visit again, and one of the high griffins let a sharp chirp and nuzzled her neck with his beak as if knowing exactly what she was thinking.
I want answers, and that's the only place to get them.
Finally, her lips curled into a smile. Mathias said there was nothing for her here, but he was wrong—and she was going to enjoy proving it.
♦ ♦ ♦
“Mathias!”
Marlese's sharp tone cut through Mathias' thoughts as he traversed the corridor leading to his private apartment, and a glance back revealed the vampiress approaching with an unhappy look on her face—unsurprisingly. She knows about the crypt.
As if he'd spoken the thought aloud, the blonde asked the moment she caught up, “Why are you having your crypt prepared?”
Grumbling, he rolled his eyes, wishing it was possible to avoid this conversation. But he knew even before directing the servants to prepare his crypt for hibernation several hours ago that The Five wouldn't be happy.
Yet the incident in the grove made hibernation necessary, and the memory caused him to snap, “That's my business, Marlese, and I'd thank you to stay out of it.”
“It most certainly is not just your business,” the vampiress growled—and was suddenly standing before him, forcing him to stop.
He sent a glare at her in response, but she ignored it to insist, “What about Sylva? You said yourself Sutrelle's safety might be on the line, and now you want to take a nap?”
Mathias growled, in no mood to argue, particularly not with someone who was right. It simply wasn't the time to leave Sutrelle's defenses to chance, and yet, continuing on knowing what he had to give up was impossible.
Even now, Isadora's fearful plea for him to stop was ringing in his ears, a sound that would haunt him for eternity. The thought alone had him impulsively snapping, “Yes, Sutrelle may be in danger, but I'm in no state to defend it!”
Sadly, those words couldn't be more true. Without a lover, a vampire's heart refused to beat no matter how well they'd fed on blood to sustain it—and leaving Isadora was the same as losing her. So his heart hadn't pumped more than a few beats since his return to the Citadel, a fact Marlese seemed to notice the moment he announced his sorry state because she suddenly frowned.
“Have you eaten?” she asked in concern.
“Not recently. I've only had blood mead, but that's not why you're detecting a slowed pulse.”
His comment had realization dawning in her blue eyes, and she was quick to approach with the question, “Then it's true? Akira and Shiro suspected you'd discovered a lover, but … .”
Trailing, her jaw dropped when she added everything up, whispering, “A fae, Mathias? How is that even possible?”
Unable to deny the question any longer, he muttered, “Believe me, I don't know, but I wish I did.”
Taking what felt like his first breath since departing the grove, Mathias walked over to a window overlooking the mountains and leaned against the pane. A few griffins were flying in the distance, the sight making him wonder if Isadora would actually listen and leave Sutrelle, but deep down, he knew it was unlikely.
Instead, she'd probably follow him to get answers, which made his hasty actions seem completely foolhardy. The last place Isadora needed to visit was The Cardinal Citadel where most of its vampires resided, but he hadn't considered her track record of determination and curiosity before leaving her behind.
The thought made it difficult to focus as Marlese stated, “I'd ask why you aren't with her now, but I'm taking it you fear losing control and killing her if you're preparing your crypt.”
“That's precisely why,” he confirmed, adding more solemnly, “I don't know if being with her is possible, but you and I both lost family during the war, and the thought of losing her as well, particularly at my own hands—”
“Say no more,” Marlese remarked simply, coming to stand at his side and gaze out at the scenery in adding, “I didn't lose as many as you, but those I did were more than enough to explain how you feel.”
A sigh escaped his lips at the thought. All of The Five had lost children, and understood the heartache well. Marlese didn't even ask why he'd kept his newfound blood link from them, likely because she realized it was painful enough to ignore it, let alone tell others and ask them to ignore it as well.
But she did say, “Still, this is quite a … strange occurrence. Does Isadora know of it?”
“She does, and she's found a mate in me as well.”
At that, Marlese stared up at him with wide, disbelieving eyes, and Mathias nodded. She didn't need to explain her incredulity considering he shared it, so he added without prompting, “It doesn't make t
his decision to hibernate any easier. But I could've killed her in the grove, and even if I reigned in my desires, what then? I'd bring her back here? To live amongst other vampires?”
At that, Marlese turned her gaze back to the window and drew out a thoughtful, “Hmm … I can certainly see the problem, though you might consider … .”
Her words trailed at the sound of a distant shriek coming from somewhere over the mountains. It was similar in tone to a griffin's, but more aggressive in pitch, leaving their conversation forgotten as they shared a questioning gaze.
Another shriek soon followed, closer than the first, and Marlese observed in conclusion, “That was a high griffin.”
Mathias knew she was right, and the sound would've seemed strange under normal circumstances—high griffins rarely drew close to any dwelling with a sizable population.
But there was no need to guess why the beasts were now heading toward the Citadel. Isadora.
As suspected, the fae had followed him, and his heart picked up the pace—it was simply questionable whether the cause was excitement, or fear. Perhaps she'd used her potion to mask her scent, but once others realized what she was, they may still fight to get a taste of her blood.
And he'd have to kill every last one of them.
But that wouldn't be necessary if he intercepted the fae first, and judging by the direction of the griffin's cries, she was heading to the courtyard.
Immediately, Mathias turned into mist with the intentions of intercepting them, and Marlese followed suit—she wasn't one to miss a spectacle, which this was likely to be.
Both vampires moved through the window and down the wall of the tower, arriving in the courtyard only a few moments later, though not before Isadora. Instead, the same pair of high griffins resting in the grove earlier now stood by the fountain—and neither of the beasts were taking prisoners.
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