He held up his hands. “I’ve come to talk, ainsicht.”
She sprung from the bed, landing with incredible dexterity on her feet, her fangs flashing only inches from his face. “The time to talk is over.”
“You don’t wish to hear what I have to say?”
“I can’t bear to look at you, let alone listen to you.” Despite her effort to shield her emotions, he felt her pain. Not only was he a powerful empath, he was her mate. There could be no lies between them.
“Annalise,” he rasped, reaching for her. When he touched her skin, the full force of her emotions hit him and his knees buckled, the wind knocking out of him
She jerked her arm away and hissed at him. “Don’t touch me.” Her shield slid back into place, cutting him off from her emotions once more. Her control over such new abilities impressed him.
“I’m not proud of the things I’ve done, the things I said.” Her pain was his own, and he struggled under its unbearable weight to get through to her. “You felt betrayed, but I only ever wanted to do what was right by you. I thought you would want Cain, after his blood saved you.”
She scoffed. “That’s where we’re different. Science is different. It’s absolute. When humans are saved by someone else’s blood, we only thank medical intervention. There’s no new obligation to the donor.”
His gaze lowered. “Our kind is different. The bonding of mates is sacred. There’s no precedent for what happened last night. I only know what I’ve been taught.”
She glared at him. “If this was a true partnership you would have asked how I felt.”
“You’re right. I’m asking now. I love you, Anna. I want to spend eternity proving my love and loyalty to you and only you. Will you give me that privilege? Will you be my partner?”
Tears wavered in her eyes. She closed her arms protectively over her front and turned to the broken window. A light breeze feathered through her hair, and she lifted her chin.
“Your brother’s in the wind.”
He stepped closer, broken glass crunching under his feet. He felt the wind but could not sense Cain nearby. “You sense him?”
“I feel him. He’s powerful.” She laced her fingers with his, sharing her emotions, which translated Cain’s.
She was right. Cain was there, but only communicating with her. “How…”
She shrugged. “He brings the rain. And when he’s sad the sky moans. When he’s angry lightning flickers. I always found him after the rain in my dreams. I felt his pain and fear and last night he felt mine.”
Adam understood that their connection might last forever, and it was a connection that should not include him. “Do you feel me, Anna?
“Yes, but in a different way. With you, the emotions are so complete I have to think to decipher what is yours and what is mine.”
“Ours.” They were now one.
Cain, to his knowledge, did not possess gifts like he and Gracie claimed. But last night, when he’d nearly lost her, the storm had demanded their attention. Gracie had said something similar, claiming Cain was calling to her.
With his gifts for empathy and Grace’s gifts for telepathy, it wasn’t a surprise that Cain would also have a similar gift. Empathetic-meteor kinesis was a very rare gift indeed, the gift of manipulating the weather with emotion. Cain would likely need some time and space to learn to control his talents, much like Adam had needed as a boy.
“It’s funny how we realize our strength in times of crisis,” she said. “We can either let our fear conquer and control us, or we can rise up and use our strength to fight back.”
Adam dropped his gaze to the windowsill. “I never wanted to fight you, Annalise. I only ever wanted to give you opportunities.”
“Yet, this morning, when I first awoke in a world I didn’t recognize, in the arms of a man I didn’t love, you took my choice away and decided for me.” Her gaze sliced to him. “You don’t have to fight me, Adam. But you do need to fight for me.” Her anger singed him as she narrowed her glare on him. “I should have given you what you asked of me. I should have gone to him just to punish you.”
The inescapable tightness crushing his chest cinched until he could no longer breathe. “I’m sorry. I was wrong, Annalise. The mere thought of you with another man would have ended me. Despite my words, I now know I will never be strong enough to let you go. But if you want to leave—”
“Don’t you dare finish that sentence! Since we’ve met it’s been eternity this and destiny that. Well, here you are, married to the woman of your dreams. But rather than be happy and celebrate the fact that you’re alive, you keep searching for reasons to let me go.” Her fists shoved into his chest with immortal strength. “You said you loved me!”
“I do love you.” He caught her arms and pulled her to him, refusing to let her go as a sob ripped from her throat. “You’re all I know in this world that means anything to me. Without you, I have nothing. I am nothing. I’m a fool, Annalise. I’m so used to following the rules and doing everything that’s asked of me. But when it comes to love, there are no rules and I’m lost. My only compass is you, my love, and the fear that I might not be enough, or that I will somehow let you down, destroys me on a continuous basis.”
“Then how could you have given me to someone else?” The walls rattled under her rage.
He shut his eyes, allowing her fury to wash over him like brush fire. “All I’ve known is this place and its rules. My life, up until meeting you, followed the simple formula of our order. We are taught to never put pride before the needs of our brethren. To live a life of simplicity and discipline we do not question the rules of our fate, but forgive those who wrong us. When I couldn’t save you, it felt like my life ended. I would have bargained with Satan himself if it could have saved you. And while it eviscerated me to let you go, if it were ever the price of your survival, I’d do it again. I love you, Annalise. That means putting your safety and happiness before mine—no matter what.”
Her lashes flicked low and she angled her face out of view. “Keep going.”
“You’re far more courageous than me. You’re reckless and determined. I don’t expect you to darn my socks or mend my buttons, but I do expect you to show me what a modern marriage looks like. We come from two different places, my love. Your experiences are far beyond mine. When I first started my quest, I had no idea who you would be. I underestimated you, and that is a crime. Now, I see the real you. I realize your sacrifice far outweighs mine and that’s why I live in fear that I may never be enough for such a woman.”
She blinked up at him, tears once again filling her eyes. “I’m no one.”
“No, my love. You’re my only one, my ainsicht. If I lose you, I lose everything. There is no life left in your absence. Last night, in an act of fear, I ordered the Bishop to marry us. I know that isn’t what you wanted, but I needed to tie my life to yours, because if I lost you, I would not be far behind. I would have followed you to heaven or hell, my love, so long as we could be together.”
“Ewichkeit.”
“Yes. Eternity.” He took her hands in his. “I’m learning as we go.”
“You know that marriage doesn’t count.”
He smiled. “I’ll marry you every day for the rest of our immortal lives until the vows stick.”
She laughed and he felt the coldness around her heart thaw. “I think one more ceremony, performed when the bride is conscious and can speak for herself, should do the trick.”
“What are your plans tomorrow?”
She laughed. “I guess to marry you.”
“Thank goodness. Otherwise I would have to find another purpose for our house.”
Her brow knit with confusion. “What house?”
He gently cupped her shoulders and turned her, pointing over the distant field. “I showed you when we first arrived. The community’s been working tirelessly. The women have sewed all the draperies and the men have supplied the furniture. The cupboards are full, and the linens are pressed. All
that’s missing is us.”
Her lips parted and a wave of awe washed over him. “You built us a house?”
“A home,” he corrected. “A place where we will always belong. A haven for our family.” His hand lowered to her stomach. “A shelter from the storms.” He kissed the side of her throat. “A place for love to bloom and grow.”
Her head lowered, her hand feathering over his. Tears chased down her cheek. “I wasn’t prepared for…” She sniffed. “My emotions are so heightened. I’m angry with you, but more than anything…” She pivoted in his arms and cupped her hands around his jaw. “When you let me walk away this morning, I wanted to keep walking and never look back. But I couldn’t. The further I went, the more I felt a connection to this place, to you. I was furious, because no matter how angry I was, I couldn’t leave you. You knew that would happen.”
“I told you, the bond between mates is powerful.”
Her gaze locked with his. “And yet, when Cain left this morning, I felt him go, but suffered no need to follow. My place is here, Adam. With you.”
His chest swelled. He bowed his head to hers, his eyes closing with relief. “And my place is with you.”
Their fingers laced over her stomach. “This is us, Adam. For better or worse, this is where I’m meant to be—where I choose to be.”
His mouth found hers. “My beautiful wife…”
“About that…” She turned her cheek and his lips smiled against her skin. “We’ll be writing our own vows when we have our real wedding, tonight. And I veto the word obey.”
He caught her chin, bringing her mouth back to his, and whispered, “I think I prefer your disobedience. It keeps me on my toes.”
She giggled as he reached for her. “Well, I can be very naughty. And I have all these new powers to try out. You might want to start taking a multivitamin, because I plan to utterly exhaust you over the next few centuries.”
He stalked her across the room, corralling her closer to the bed like a predator cornering its prey. “Don’t underestimate me, ainsicht. I haven’t been at my full strength. But my pluck’s returning.”
“Pluck? Is that what you call that?” Her gaze dropped to his erection. “Looks more like a prick to me.”
He toppled her to the bed, pinning her arms over her head. Her eyes flashed and she flipped him to his back.
“Careful, dear. According to the literature I’ve read, newborns have impressive strength.”
He growled, tossing her onto her back and straddling her body with his. “And what literature is this?”
“I’ve read all the notable texts, Twilight, Sookie Stackhouse, Interview. Consider me well versed.”
“Really?”
She lifted a brow. “Yep.”
He drew in a breath and pushed into her mind, not finding the shield as strong as before. The walls surrounding them peeled away, leaving a romantic jungle scape around them.
Annalise gasped as the sky opened and the sun warmed their skin. Birds chirped and the scent of flowers perfumed the air. He sensed her disorientation and pulled her close.
“Where are we?”
“I thought you were an expert,” He teased.
She sat up, pulling the sheet to her bare breasts and turning slowly in the golden rays of the sun. “I’ve been here before.”
“I know. We both have.”
He watched as she carefully placed a toe on the floor, landing her feet in lush, green grass where the floorboards had been moments before. She walked to a curtain of vines and lifted the stems. “This is from our dreams.”
He grinned. “We can escape here any time we want, ainsicht. Our minds are always open to each other now.”
“Are we dreaming?”
“No, just resting to the outside world. But our souls are very much awake.”
She let go of the sheet, spreading her arms outward and turning in the open air. He was, once again, reminded that her body had changed in subtle ways. Her scars were gone. A sheen of vivid color threaded her hair. And her skin had the vitality of an immortal.
He should have been with her during these earlier hours of her transition. “Have you eaten?”
She stopped spinning and smiled. “No. I’m very hungry.”
He held out a hand and she came to him, climbing onto his lap and wreathing her arms around his neck. He kissed her throat, awakening her pulse and she moaned.
“When immortal mates make love, their pleasure is heightened. I want to prepare you for that.”
She began to rock her weight over him, her keening moans awaking his desires. Her nose nestled closer to his pulse and her tongue licked over him. “I want you,” she whispered.
“Not so fast, my love.”
She frowned at him. “Why? Is something wrong?”
“I only want to prepare you. From here on, I will provide everything you need. I will feed from the animals and you will use my blood to nourish your body and our children. But when we feed from each other it will be unlike other feedings. The intimacy… It’s a potent mix of need and hunger, lust and drugging satisfaction.”
Her smile stretched and her fangs extended. “I want that. Now, Adam. Don’t make me wait.”
He slid out of his clothes and pulled her more on top of him, her body arching and purring as his blood thrummed through his veins, calling to hers. Her fingers scored his shoulders as she rocked over him. He cupped her breasts and kissed his mouth to each nipple.
“I’m here to meet your every need.” His fingers trailed up her spine. “Your every desire.”
“Adam,” she begged. “Please. I need you.”
“Take me inside of you.” She fit his cock between her folds, and sucked in a sharp breath as he filled her. Her pleasure melded with his own. He kissed her passionately, possessively, and whispered against her swollen lips, “Take what you need. I offer myself to you.”
Her head tipped back, and her fangs sank into him, impaling her body over his. Her nails lengthened, pressing into his skin and muscle as she greedily took what he offered. Her unguarded emotions unraveled before him, her hunger feeding his own.
Insatiable need rose up like tidal waves crashing in a boundless ocean. He drank from her. Their passion swirled and carried them deeper and deeper, until the world fell away and all that existed was their love, swept along with the tide, left gasping in the end.
Savoring the last sweet swallow of her blood, he reached for her hand, lacing his fingers with hers and toppled her to the bed beneath them. Now that she was like him there was no worry of hurting her.
He drove into her body with a claiming stroke of hard flesh. He marked her with his scent and gloried in the way her soft curves welcomed his strength.
“More,” she pleaded, locking her ankles at the base of his spine and rising to meet him. “Don’t hold back. I want to feel everything.”
Thrilling at the challenge, he gave over to his darkest desires and showed her how deeply his need traveled. They made love for hours, clawing each other’s skin only to watch it heal. When they tired, they fed. And after they rested, they made love again.
By the time the following dawn arrived, they were rumpled and well satisfied. But he’d never stop wanting her.
“My sweet, Anna.” He ran his hand over her hair, stroking the silken strands. They lay side by side, each on their backs, each sated and warm.
“Adam,” she asked, the scent of her lingering desire rich in the air.
“Yes?”
“I love you.”
Though he felt her care and devotion flowing from her like waves, he’d yet to hear her say those words. She claimed to have loved him when she thought she lost him. To hear her speak such words now nearly brought him to his knees. The fantasy of their surroundings, fell away to reveal the true setting of his annihilated bedroom. He blinked at her, a swirl of emotion choking him.
He’d waited so long to hear those words from her. To her, it might only seem like a few weeks since he’d come into her l
ife. But for him… He’d waited a lifetime.
“I love you, too, Annalise. More than words can say.”
Her smile was gentle when she turned to look at him. Her fingers tightened around his. “Will you show me our house?”
“I’d love nothing more than to take you home.”
Her eyes creased and happiness washed over him. “Home,” she whispered. “I love the sound of that.”
Without her, it was only a house. But with her, his heart, his love, his ewichkeit, his ainsicht, it would forever be a happy home.
Epilogue
Annalise waited in the field just behind her home. Her bare toes pressed into the cool grass and she closed her eyes and listened for the wind. He never went longer than a week without visiting her, and it had been six days.
The softest breeze whispered over her lips and she smiled, sensing him near. A strand of unruly hair slipped from her kapp, fluttering like a kite tail as the wind picked up. The hem of her skirt rippled, dangerously close to flapping over her knees.
She smirked and batted down the fabric. Incorrigible.
Smiling, she opened her eyes and searched the distance. A flicker of light shuttered near the stone wall, sketching his form into thin air.
“I see you,” she called, and Cain laughed, approaching at a slow saunter, his hands buried in the pockets of his street clothes. “You cut your hair.”
He tipped his head, showing off the shorn blond strands. “Do you like it? Perhaps you’re regretting your choice, maybe you married the wrong twin?”
She tossed a pebble at his pant leg. “You’re hideous.”
Crossing his ankles, he pressed a kiss to her cheek and dropped to sit in the grass beside her. “Must you tease me so? You know I’m sensitive.” He glanced at her waist, only slightly hidden by her apron. “Gracie’s sure it’s not twins?”
She shoved him. “Rude!”
He laughed. “I’m only teasing. You’re well? No sickness?”
Original Sin (The Order of Vampires Book 1) Page 42
