by G. Bailey
"How the hell did you get those guys to listen to you?" Katy asks as we walk out.
"I didn't. I'm just friends with them," I say honestly, well not that honest, but I don’t want to explain the whole situation to her. At the moment, Atti and Dabriel are just friends. They have suggested they like me, but how much of it is the prophecy and how much is how they feel?
"Friends . . . right." Katy laughs. Anna is sliding around the kitchen when we come in, and she stops when she sees me.
"We’ve come to help," I say with a smile. Anna smiles back a little, but it seems forced. I want to tell her that I don’t think she should be cooking a meal for so many people while she is heavily pregnant, but that will just upset her. I can see she is trying to keep herself busy and help in any way she can.
"I'm just making pasta. Light and easy to make. You could help me serve it up," she says, and we all get to work sorting the food out.
When it's all on the table, Anna shouts, "Food’s ready." And, I'm surprised how loud she can be.
"How's the baby?" I ask as we sit down. Anna waits to answer as Jaxson takes the seat to the left of me and Dabriel sits on my other side. Atti grumbles but takes the seat next to Anna in front of me. Katy and Freddy sit on the ends.
"Healthy. I'm trying to stay happy for my child. It's not easy when I miss him," she says and puts down her fork.
"When he’s born, you will have a piece of Fergus, Anna. He would want you to be happy," I tell her, and she nods at me and starts eating. I don’t know how to sympathise with her.
We all eat while everyone chats. Atti seems to like Freddy as he shows him something funny on his phone.
"That's the first time I've seen Anna eat a real meal in a month. Thank you," Jaxson whispers in my ear. His hand slides under the table and rests on my knee.
"No problem," I mutter as I start feeling dizzy as he rubs my thigh. I try to eat the pasta, but it doesn’t taste right. Everything is going blurry, and my hands are shaking. I don’t know what’s happening to me, but as I run my tongue over my teeth as they ache, I feel two small, sharp points. Fucking hell, I’m a vampire. It hasn’t hit home until now, and all I can focus on is how the food in front of me looks terrible. All I can smell is Dabriel next to me, Jaxson and Atti smell good too, but Dabriel smells like a chocolate sundae right now.
"My little wildfire needs to eat," Dabriel whispers in my other ear. Jaxson and Atti hear because they both look at me.
"My room," Jaxson says, he takes my hand and leads me out the room as everything gets blurrier. I hear Atti explaining to the others what we are doing, but everything else drowns out. When we get to the stairs, I stop as everything blurs but the smell of Dabriel and Jaxson. I try to get to Dabriel, but he moves away, and Jaxson steps in front of him. Jaxson lifts me into a hug, not an ounce of fear in his eyes.
My body seems to know what to do as I go to kiss his neck. I don't think, I only feel my teeth painfully screaming at me, and I sink my teeth into his neck. The taste of Jaxson is amazing, the revulsion I expected to feel isn’t there. I feel myself being moved as I drink, and I wrap my legs around his waist as my hands go into his hair. I can't help the loud moan that escapes my lips as I rock my body against Jaxson. I pull my mouth away, and look up at him. Our faces are inches apart, and my body is desperate for him. Jaxson takes my mouth in a passionate kiss. A kiss meant for a dying person, a kiss that is so passionate that I can't comprehend it.
"Winter," he mumbles against my lips, and his lips go down my neck. My neck falls back in pleasure, the need to be with him is ruling every thought.
"Guys, you have an audience," Atti’s voice comes through the haze. Jaxson tenses up but removes his lips from my neck. A little growl fills the air from Jaxson. It’s not so much threatening as it is a warning.
"J, she isn't herself. She’s jacked up on sex hormones. You don't want your first time to be like this,” Atti says, making my mind clear a little, and I know he is right. I glance up at Jaxson, and his eyes are still glowing a threatening green.
“You’ve already swapped enough blood, sex would make you mates forever, and Winter needs to choose that," Dabriel says, coming into the room, and I hear the door slam shut.
"Dab?" I ask. Everything hits me quickly. My hand falls to my now normal teeth.
"Jaxson, I'm so sorry. I don't know what happened. I just," I blurt out quickly, Jaxson stops me with a small kiss.
"Don't overthink this. You’re part vampire now or a full one. Who knows? But if you need blood, I'm here," he says as he kisses my nose. The little gesture makes me smile.
"Me too, if I get that display," Atti says, and it makes me laugh.
Jaxson slides me painfully slowly down his body until my feet touch the floor.
"I feel better, all day I've been tired and a little stressed, but now," I say, and they all smile at me. It must be a regular thing for a vampire.
“Whose room is this?” I look around, there’s a massive sword on the wall over the dresser. The handle is green and brown. As I look closer, I can see the sword has wolves running down the middle of it. It’s so big I would be worried I’d fall over if I tried to pick it up.
“I finally get to see your sword, you weren’t joking when you said it was in your room,” I say.
“He didn’t mean that sword, I’m sure he meant his cock,” Atti says and Dabriel whacks the back of his head, again.
“Stop doing that shit,” Atti says, rubbing his head.
“You’re an idiot,” Dabriel says, and Atti grins as he replies, “Takes one to know one.”
“Make that a child as well,” Jaxson says, and Atti just laughs.
"I’ll go tell Wyatt about your feeding and keep him up to date. I need to visit my mother too, so I'll be a while," Atti says and comes over to me. He gently kisses my cheek and then disappears.
"That's creepy," I say, looking at where he just stood.
"Can I have a word with Winter alone, Jax?" Dabriel asks us both. He’s leaning against the closed door. His purple eyes are watching me carefully.
"Yes." Jaxson nods at Dabriel. "We’ll stay in here tonight," he says to me, and his hand brushes mine as he walks to the door that Dabriel opens.
"I'm going to help Anna clean up and get Freddy to bed. Call me if you need me," Jax says by the door. Dabriel and he stare at each other for a second, and Jaxson nods.
"Good luck with that." I smile at him. He chuckles as he walks out, and Dabriel shuts the door behind him.
"Come here," he says, holding his arms open for me. I don't think as I practically run to him. He holds me tightly to his chest, and we both don't move for a while. I breathe in his scent, he smells like the sweetest thing I've ever smelt, and I feel my teeth getting longer.
"You smell like, well, I guess an angel," I say, and he laughs.
"Well, that’s what I am. I didn’t want you to feed on me first, angel blood is a lot stronger than other kinds. I can’t always be around in the next few weeks, and you will need someone else. Don’t think I don’t want you, never believe that for a second," he says and looks down at me.
“You sure you don’t just like me because of the prophecy?” I ask him.
“I know we haven’t spent much time together, but one of my powers is to see the future. I cannot see yours well, only little things here and there, but the day I met you, I had a big vision.”
“What of?” I ask into his chest.
“All of us. We were at a lake, Jax and Wyatt were in the water playing ball with Freddy. You were lying on my chest, and Atti was cooking some food on a barbecue. I never knew who Freddy was, but he was much older in my vision. He looked around eighteen.”
“And you like me because of that?” I ask a little confused.
“No, for the peace and love I felt. The completion. The way you looked at me and how I felt for you. The vision showed me what I had already guessed. You are my future, Winter.”
“Dab,” I say as I look up, his skin is faintly glow
ing, and the effect is remarkable.
"You are so beautiful, Winter. I could spend the rest of my life staring into your eyes and never wanting to be anywhere else," he whispers. I don't say anything as I feel my heart pounding; from most guys, that would sound cheesy, but not him.
Dabriel is sweet, caring, and to me, he seems too romantic. I lift my head, sighing and press my lips to his.
The first brush of our lips is all me until Dabriel takes over. His mouth widens, and our lips crash together in a strong passion. He moans as he lifts me higher, and I feel him moving us.
We don't break our kiss as he lays me back on the bed and hovers over me as he deepens the kiss.
"Dabriel," I whisper as his body brushes against mine.
"Why do I feel like I'm always missing something?" Atti’s voice says from right next to us. Our lips freeze, and Dab lifts his head to stare at Atti. My eyes widen when I see his massive wings. They are full out behind his head, and I reach one hand up to stroke across his wing.
"It's because you have terrible timing, Atti," Dabriel answers with a shiver. His purple eyes look down at me, and he moves his body off of mine. I sit up, and Dabriel sits firmly next to me, his hand on my lower back.
"Wyatt is a little angry that you lost control, but at least it was Jaxson you decided to make a meal of,” Atti sits on the bed on the other side of me. I feel like I’m in a perfect place, a place a lot of girls would sell everything they own to be in.
“Anyway, Wyatt and I think it’s safer if I spell you now and then see my mother later. I’ll spell you to have brown eyes and hide your scent, but it won't work if you lose control and go all silver-eyed."
I turn to look at him on the bed as he takes my hand. "So, no getting angry?" I ask.
"No, Love," he answers seriously. I don’t like seeing Atti being serious, it’s weird.
"I need to return to my kind. I've been away too much, and my council is getting suspicious," Dabriel says, and I nod in understanding.
"Okay, I will see you soon, right?" I ask.
"Yes, and the next time we meet, I know our kiss won’t be interrupted," he grins and stands up.
"How do you know that?" I ask.
"The same way I told you not to go to the party. You still ignored me," he says with a slight bit of anger in his gaze.
"I paid the price for that," I say, regretting my actions.
"We all did, and I should have been there; I won’t let you fall again, Winter.”
“He is good at the romantic shit,” Atti comments.
I laugh, “You’re right.”
“Atti, I need a lift," he says, and Atti nods.
"Be right back," Atti says and kisses my head. I watch them both disappear before lying back on the very comfy bed.
Twenty-Four
Winter
“She was born in the winter, Winter is her name, oh she brings the time of change, change that’s needed and a change that is planned,” the childlike, female voice sings in the background of the cold room I’m in. What’s with the weird songs? I look around, and I can’t see the person who is singing, the song is just a hum in the background as it fades away. The room is empty of people, it looks like an apothecary with dozens of herbs in little bottles on a bench. There are many shelves all around, all of them are littered with glowing stones and jars of things I don’t recognise.
“Why him?” a man shouts as he slams the door open to the room I’m in. His figure is massive, and large black wings are fluttering behind him. They have white tips making me wonder what kind of angel he is. Elissa walks in after him and shuts the door. The man is tall with long, white hair that touches the floor, his purple eyes are the first thing I see, and I wonder if he is related to Dabriel. He looks so much like him, but this man is older, the grey in his hair coming out. He looks around the empty room with anger. Elissa places a hand on his shoulder, but he steps away, and I can see Elissa for the first time. She looks older than I usually see her, I can tell from one look at her. She looks closer to the age when I saw her die, and with the man Leo. Her black hair is piled in dozens of braids on her head, and she is wearing a green dress. The dress is far too revealing, and the man is just dressed in a black toga skirt. The man’s chest is hard not to look at, he is extremely muscular and tanned like he is out in the sun all day.
“Nicolas, I love him as much as I love you. This was never a competition between us all,” Elissa says sadly.
“No, because he had you first, and he left you. Now he walks back into our lives, and you claim to want us still. He is the king of the demons, and even your sister doesn’t trust him,” he spits out and turns to face her.
“Plenty of women had all of you first, and you don’t see me upset when you hold your children or grandchildren,” she replies. I watch her face carefully, and I feel she regrets saying that.
“That was before I saw you and before I loved you. I love my children and you equally,” he replies, but his words are full of anger.
“Then can you see how I love him equally to you all?” she asks, using his words against him.
“This is a mistake, Elissa, but I won’t leave you for it. Love makes even the goddesses fall, apparently,” he says, and she moves to stand close to him. He kisses her lightly and pulls away.
“No more secrets, Elissa, I mean it,” he says, holding her chin with his fingers.
“No more,” she says carefully, and he lets go. She turns to look at me in the corner of the room, and her face lights up in happiness.
"We need to get up, lass," a deep voice drifts into my tired mind and pulls me out of the dream. I snuggle myself deeper into the warm pillow I’m lying on. I'm comfy as my mind replays everything in that dream. Elissa loved a demon king and an angel, I think. The man I saw her with before, Leo, looked too much like Jaxson not to be related to him, so he must have been a wolf. I don’t get why I’m having these dreams of her, what’s the point of them?
"Winter," the same voice repeats, and a big hand slides down my face. I open my eyes to a golden chest.
I look up to see that I'm lying on top of Jaxson. My body is wrapped around his, and he’s lying on some pillows. A quilt is wrapped around me, and I note quickly that I'm still in my clothes from yesterday. I move a little and feel something very hard pressing into my thigh.
"It's not every day you wake up with a beautiful woman in your arms," Jaxson says as a response, and I look up at him.
"No, I guess not, but I think you must be mistaking me for someone else. I can’t look good with morning hair and bad breath," I mutter, and he laughs. He pulls me up to him and presses his lips to mine. A sweet kiss that starts an inferno and soon I'm on my back, and Jaxson is on top of me. His tongue slips inside my mouth as he presses himself between my jean-covered legs.
His one hand moves slowly down my body, and just before his hand goes up my shirt a knock on the door stops us.
"I want to see Winter before she leaves for the vampire den!" Freddy shouts.
"It's a castle, not a den," Atti shouts down the corridor.
"Whatever! I still want to see Winter, but I'm not stupid enough to walk into that room without knocking," Freddy says with a hint of sarcasm. The little wolf is brave, I'll give him that.
"I can go in," Atti says.
I laugh into Jaxson’s neck as he shouts, "You all need to bugger off."
"Only because you don’t want to leave Winter," Freddy shouts back, and we hear him high-five Atti outside the room. We listen to their footsteps as I’m sure Atti is distracting him for a little bit.
"God, I'm going to kill Atti, he is a bad influence on Freddy," Jaxson says, and I laugh more.
"I think Atti is a bad influence on most people." I smile.
"I can't see you for at least a week because my aunt’s pack is moving here. My aunt and her four mates run the biggest pack in Europe, and it’s in Scotland, so they won’t be long. There are four other packs travelling this way, too," Jaxson says and then kisses me
gently.
“They want you as their alpha?” I ask him.
“Yes,” Jaxson replies quietly. He looks so stressed as he leans over me. I just notice that he must have shaved and showered as his face is smooth. I guess I was exhausted to have missed that. Jaxson’s hair is still longer than usual, he has to brush it out of the way as it falls into his eyes at the front. It makes him look wilder, more like a wolf.
"I’ll miss you, too," I tell him.
"I can't protect you there. I trust Wyatt, but his family is a different matter."
"Wyatt will keep me safe. You can trust me with him at my side. Hopefully, we won’t stay long, anyway."
“I still worry about you; I lost you once, and it shattered me, Winter. This is my second chance from the goddess,” he tells me, and my stomach interrupts him by growling loudly.
"I’ll be right back. I’m going to get you some breakfast before your stomach decides to try and eat me," he says with a wink, and I laugh as my stomach rumbles again. He slides out of bed, and I see that he’s only wearing jeans.
His naked chest looks better than it feels. The dips on the sides that go into a very nice V-shape I want to touch. Unfortunately, Jaxson picks up a shirt off the end of the bed and pulls it on. Damn, it’s like watching a reverse strip tease. Why did I sleep with him pulling that shirt off in the first place? Some things have to come before sleep, like watching Jaxson undress.
Jaxson pulls the door open as I sit up, and Freddy is waiting on the other side. I’m sure Atti couldn’t keep him away any longer.
"Go on then," he waves a hand towards me, and Freddy grins. He jumps onto the bed, making me nearly bounce off.
"Winter, it was my birthday last week, and Anna got me this top. Do you like it?" He shows me his Harry Potter top that has “Expecto Patronum” and a wand lighting up at the end.
"That's wicked." I grin, and he laughs.
"So, you and my uncle? Does that make you my auntie? Auntie Win?" he asks.
"Err, I guess." I smile.
"Cool, I like it. Anyway, Atti is a witch, and that Dabriel is an angel. How cool is that?" he tells me, and I nod with a laugh.
