Vindication (Hybrids Liberation Book 1)

by R. Spain

  I slip from the silk bed, moving on my tiptoes into the bathroom. I decided on a shower, hoping that it would settle my hectic thoughts. I knew I couldn't run away from Malin forever, but I just didn't understand. He was meant to be married by now, his precious alpha female who lost her own Moon Blessed. It's been two years since I last saw his face, I often found myself wondering about him. I just never thought he'd actually care about me, he fooled me once before and I promised myself I'd never make that mistake again.

  The warm water cascades down my body. I release a sigh of relaxation, and instead of Malin when I close my eyes, I meet the red of Aiden. Shivers rack my body, looking at his dark hair. Aiden's shoulders were the biggest part about him, they moved down into a more toned but sleek frame. I wanted nothing more than to see what he was hiding under those clothes. Would he be fit? Would he have tattoos? My mind practically screamed the questions.

  "On my back, My Queen."

  My brows pinch together, am I really imaging my mates voice in my head right now?

  "No, love. However, if you could stop projecting so loudly, I'd be forever in your debt," Aiden chuckles in my head. The reality of what's happening takes a moment to set in, but when it does, I feel like I'm going to puke. I don't know if I should be exhilarated by the fact Aiden can hear my thoughts or leave the shower and find him just to slap the crap out of his perfect face.

  Nothing.

  I growl, turning the water off and quickly throwing on a tank top and shorts that were left for me. The tank top is red, which has me snorting, the shorts are plain blue jean ones. I search for shoes, I thankfully, find some plain black vans next to the door of my room. I make a mental note to thank Aiden for that.

  "You're welcome, My Queen."

  Right, I'll thank him after I fucking slap him.

  "Aiden!" I bang on his door, right across from mine. He doesn't open, but I decide to try the knob. It's unlocked, and I hear the water running in a different room. I pause for a moment, wanting to think through the possible outcomes from my idea. I take less than a minute, throw my shoulders back and walk into the bathroom ready to scream at my Blood Bonded. Jokes on me though, I stop dead in my tracks, any thoughts of slapping Aiden gone before I could conjure more.

  Aiden's back is an entire canvas of tattoos. It's so intricate and looks like tribal. His shoulder blades and other pieces of his back are completely blacked out, two strips of jagged edges. It's so intricate and detailed. The tip of it goes up to right under his hairline. I'm not sure if I want to force him to turn around so I can see how far it goes past his shoulders. Aiden chuckles, breaking me from my inspection of his backside.

  "You should make up your mind in the next ten seconds, My Queen." I gulp, closing my eyes and turning to leave the bathroom. I want this man, so fucking much, but right now I'm not in the right headspace. Aiden deserves for me to give myself to him without taking it back afterward. I must be sure before I ruin something that could be amazing.

  "Take your time, Ralee. I am yours, for eternity," Aiden's presence leaves my mind after those words. My heart fills, and I want to swoon. I find myself sitting on Aiden's bed as I wait for him to finish his shower. For once though, I found myself feeling okay with my circumstances. I'd never met Aiden without them, and I don't think he is someone I'll be able to live without.

  11.

  Ralee

  The next week went by smoothly, Aiden was teaching me how to be a vampire. We've found out that I don't need blood to survive, however, without blood my vampire abilities haven't shown. We believe it's related to the blood; it is also possible my vampire side is dormant. I don't tell Aiden, but I'm sure he knows how worried I am that I'll be null. The idea of letting down my father has become a constant worry. It's silly really, how can I disappoint a man I barely know? Well, simple. If I don't show any signs of being a vampire hybrid, he will be forced to cut ties with me. Even Aiden isn't safe, a Blood Bond doesn't matter if I am not a vampire. Malin will have the right to take me from them, and there would be nothing they could do.

  "He won't ever get you away from me, My Queen." Aiden's promise to me causes shivers. It only intensifies when I realize how close my vampire mate is to me. His chest against my back while his fingers softly slide down my shoulder. My breathing hitches, and my insides turn. Aiden and I have been playing a game this last week. I'm so close to saying fuck my emotional dumbness and using his body for my pleasure. He has become a master of my body, and he hasn't even seen me completely naked yet.

  Aiden kisses the junction between my neck and shoulder, and I release a small moan. I turn in his arms.

  "I want you to bite me," I whisper to my vampire mate. His eyebrows pull together, but he pursues his lips. I watch as Aiden tries to decide, I'm disappointed when I find him shaking his head. I pout, but Aiden's thumb slides down my lip, pulling me from my thoughts, I met his amber eyes.

  "This time, My Queen, you should do the biting." Aiden purrs. I hesitate, but his amber eyes stay certain. I nod slowly, my pulse thrumming at the thought of biting Aiden, of tasing his blood. While the tiny seed of fear that it won't work plagues me.

  "Don't think Ralee, just bite. I want you to feel for my pulse when you do let the beat of it guide you. Feel how you make me feel," Aiden's voice is calm, but laced with all the desire he has been holding back this last week. A slice of pain meets my gums, and I want to cry out, but I can't stop my heads decent on Aiden's neck. I kiss the juncture, it's so warm, and when I feel how sporadic the blood beneath his skin is, I open my mouth and the pain in my gum disappears as I puncture his skin. Blood fills my mouth as I moan uncontrollably. The taste of his blood is like nothing I've ever experienced before.

  It's sex, but so much better. It's power, but still more than even that. This taste couldn't be described by any words I could create. I swallow the fluid; my hands dig into Aiden's short hair as I pull him closer. I refuse to end this moment until the burning in my throat is gone. I close my eyes while Aiden's arms wrap around my waist.

  "That's it, My Queen. Take me, use me, I belong to you." Aiden's words were everything I needed to release the last of my reservations. This was pure bliss, even if words escaped me. I took another suck at his neck before I inhaled through my nose. I felt my fangs retract, and blood began filling my mouth. I allowed it to linger, before gulping it down. I used my tongue afterward to lick the puncture marks, closing the wound and lifting my head to look into Aiden's eyes.

  Aiden's arm came up, and without looking away his thumb wiped at my lips. I lower my head, nipping slightly at his finger, tasting the blood that he had gotten off of me.

  "Beautiful," Aiden whispers. I almost gasp from the tension wrapped at this moment. I lean forward, kissing Aiden's chin, and am rewarded with a hiss of pleasure from my mate. My pulse speeds up, the thought of me starting our little game makes me feel empowered. The idea that for the first time I am the hunter, and he is my prey makes me wetter than I've ever been. I clench my thighs together and capture my vampire's mouth.

  I whimper but it's swallowed by Aiden's mouth. He breaks apart for a moment, the lust in his eyes combined with how wet I am having me nodding. I want this, I want him. Aiden doesn't ask again, most likely just as done by our back and forth as I am. I feel as his hands move from my waist, grabbing my shirt and pulling it up my body. He throws it on the floor next to us, as I begin to lead him backward onto the bed. I'm not giving up full control tonight, I need to feel like I'm in control.

  Aiden must sense my need through our bond because he nods slowly before he surrenders and lays down underneath me.

  "My body is yours, My Queen," Aiden's voice is husky. I watch him as I stand back to my feet, slowly unbuttoning my jeans and sliding them seductively off my body. The power burns within me, and the feeling is addictive. It takes every bit of strength to keep my pace slow. I know though, that we have built so much anticipation, but I can't say that this last week hasn't opened something in me. Aiden has been my rock; he ha
s been a strong presence that has made the fears and neglect I am so used to almost disappear.

  When my jeans drop to the floor, Aiden sucks in a breath, he noticed that I am free of any underwear. I won't tell him that it's because I ran out of panties two days ago. I want him to feel like I knew this was coming. I move forward again, straddling his thighs. Aiden's pants are still on, I slowly slide his shirt up, his muscles curl as he lifts only enough to free himself from the fabric.

  "I want this," my voice is hoarse from the need, it's almost suffocating. " I want you, Aiden." Aiden hisses again when I place a chaste kiss on his collarbone.

  I lay my hand on his chest, my kisses sliding down his slender frame. I make sure to nip every third kiss until I find my lips stopping at his slacks. My tongue darts out, tasing his salty flesh before my hands reach for his button. The pop followed by the sound of the zipper is the only sound in the room. The anticipation is palpable, and something shifts inside of me when I see his cock jerk free from its restraints.

  I can't be slow any longer; I find my body climbing Aiden's. My hands make their way to his neck, and I pull him up to my mouth, I capture them. My tongue forces its way past his lips, and Aiden groans as I lift my hips. I rub my juices over his cock before I force myself down on top of him. We both release sounds of ecstasy.

  I can feel every inch of him, the pain of his length and girth have me full. It's like nothing I've ever felt before, yes, I've had sex before, exactly once. It was two outcasts just trying to feel better, but Malin found out and his wolf ripped the guy apart. It's safe to say, I've never tried to get close to another person in that way.

  "Please, My Queen," Aiden hisses when my hips move only slightly. I give in to his plead and push my hips forward and backward. I swivel my hips to the beat of his heart, enjoying how my clit glides across his stomach from our positioning. The friction in itself on my swollen nub has me going faster. I'm chasing my first orgasm when Aiden throws his head back, before quickly bringing himself to my breast. I scream when his fangs meet my body and break open my skin. My fists find his hair once more, and I am lost to Aiden's bite as my hips continue their assault.

  Aiden's head pops back up as the coil inside me rips apart, and I'm riding out my release. My eyes meet his as my blood drips from his sweet lips, I can't help the clench in my pussy as my mouth waters. I want to taste myself on him. I find myself leaning in, unable to resist. When our lips meet and Aiden's body begins to pump underneath me, I'm riding an entirely new wave. Aiden's hips don't have a rhythm as he searches for his own end, but our tongues battle with a need for more. Three pumps later, and we are both falling over ourselves, I release Aiden's lips as my eyes close and I release a moan from my second orgasm. Aiden grunts his own release as his seed spills into me, both of us out of breath as my body goes limp in Aiden's arms.

  "Sleep, My Queen," Aiden whispers to me as he slowly lays me next to him. "I'll clean you up." That's the last thing I hear before my eyes close and I'm asleep.

  12.

  Ralee

  I wake up to a kiss down my spine, I hum as my eyes open. Aiden is the first thing I see, and I smile up to my vampire lover. Aiden moves to say something, but he must see how my face goes from a smile to confusion. I'm no longer looking at the man I've begun to fall for, instead, I find myself looking at me. Well, the version of me that Aiden is currently seeing. My panic begins to set in as I slam my eyes close, and hope when I open them back up my vision is once more mine.

  “Your eyes,” I whispers as I clench my eyes closed. How do you tell someone that you’re seeing through their eyes? It’s weird enough that this is happening, but explaining it just makes it worse. Aiden chuckles, and the happiness that is untangled in it has my eyes parting to glare at him. Thankfully, I’m not looking at myself this time, but still my confusion towards my mate only grows when he begins wiping blooded tears from his eyes.

  “You’re not a null, Ralee. You’re powerful.” Shock absorbs me but followed closely after is pure joy. I did it! I am a hybrid after all, and Malin can’t take Aiden away from me! I jump on my mate, kissing him for all he is worth.

  "Thank you!" I whisper to him as my body slides down his front, Aiden smiles at me his eyes twinkling like I'm his world. His nose brushes mine, as he gives me an Eskimo kiss.

  "I didn't do anything, My Queen." Aiden's arms release me and my heart fills full. "We do have things to do today besides lay in bed," Aiden gives me a lustful look before he sighs and turns to put clothes on. I watch him for only a second before I move to the bathroom. As much as I want to bask in this feeling, I know he is right. I need to spend more time with Josiah today. I seem to have questions that only he could answer.

  I get dressed quickly and when I return to the bedroom Aiden is already waiting. He holds his hand out for me, and I take it. I won't allow Aiden to lead me today, I move my body quickly through the tunneled hallways. I feel the pride through the bond from Aiden as I come to stand in front of Josiah's office space. Two vampires stand outside, and their eyes roam over me before they snap back at Aiden's hiss.

  The vampires move aside, and the doors open, Josiah looks up from his desk as I enter. I pause to look back at my mate, who doesn't take his eyes off of my father. A growl releases from my lips, but Aiden still waits for my father to either invite him inside or not. My father smirks then waves his hand, Aiden bows his head stepping back slightly.

  "Your mate can join us when we have finished our conversation, daughter." I bristle, but my wolf slowly relaxes to the presence of our father. My confusion at Aiden's actions must be evident because my father chuckles.

  "Your bond isn't strong enough yet to allow my protegee to disobey me. It will grow though, and as it does mine will weaken. Eventually, he will belong to you completely." Josiah looks saddened. That knowledge hits me in the stomach, and while I am happy that my bond will be first, I feel guilty that I would rob my father of yet another child he would have to give up.

  "I suppose you have questions for me," Josiah says after clearing his throat. He stands from his chair, moving in front of his desk before leaning against it. I hold my stance, a bit awkward as if I'm unsure. Honestly, I am unsure. I don't have questions, but I need answers.

  "I want to know everything," I whisper. Josiah is quiet a moment as we fall into a comfortable silence. I lose my awkward posture and eventually end up leaning against a wall.

  "I don't really know where to start. I wasn't bitten, I was born the way I am. I didn't have parents but was raised in Rome. It was so long ago I don't even think I could recall the names of the nuns or the priests that tried to save my 'damned' soul. It was my life, eventually, I found out that I wasn't the only one of my kind, but by then I had already become bitter. The sunlight was uncomfortable, yet somehow, I could withstand the sun, and when others like me began to flock to my side, I welcomed them. I was so starved for companionship that I allowed myself to be used. It wasn't until I was a bit older that I began to see the havoc I was allowing to be wreaked under the guise of protection. I finally set myself free of the sins I had been responsible for when I moved to America. Years passed, and the loneliness began to plague me once more. Surrounded by vampires, around my own kind, and I felt completely alone once again. It was driving me crazy, I found Aiden, and eventually, the loneliness waned. Still, something felt incomplete in my existence. Then, I met your mother." Josiah has a sad smile when he speaks of my mother.

  "Did you love her?" I ask before he can continue. I want to know if I was a child born of, at least, love.

  "More than I have ever loved another creature in my pitifully long life," Josiah deflates once more while a look of longing sets in. "Your mother was everything I could have ever dreamed of. Juliet had no idea of beauty compared to your mother. She was so young though, so I waited for my time. She walked into my club, and I knew she would be the woman I'd wait what seemed like a millennium for. We danced, talked and eventually, she called it a night. I asked if I could
see her again, and the next year was spent was the best of my entire life. She told me that she was an omega, and I repaid her trust with my own. She even helped with Aiden when he was younger, we became a family. Things were perfect until she told me that she had to provide for her pack. She was of childbearing age, and without a mate. I went mad with the thought of a mutt touching what my soul knew was mine. I promised war if anyone touched her, but she just gave me a sad smile and said she had to do this for her pack. I pleaded with her, but she had made her mind up. Your mother left me the next day, after a night of pure love, she picked the pack over me," Josiah's chest is rising and falling with emotions as he finishes his story.

  "My mother must have been pregnant with me from that night. She never told you about me." It isn't a question, but a firm statement. Josiah nods anyways, and I can feel the lump in my throat. "Do you love Aiden?" I question.

  "I love Aiden as much as I can. He has been my pride and joy. He will always be like a son to me. I couldn't have asked for a better Blood Bonded to my daughter," Josiah replies. I move forward, not caring as I cross the distance and hug my father. I cling to his frame as I release the tears that have built inside me. I had always thought my father didn't care about me. My mom never spoke about him, and it has always felt like something was missing. That missing piece doesn't feel so lost anymore. My heart fills with joy as Josiah wraps his arms around me, and I don't miss the strangled sound that leaves his throat. He is affected by this just as much as I am.

  After a few moments, I compose myself. I step back and look at the man that was responsible for so many answers.

  "I don't want to lose you." The words tumble out before I can stop them. My fear of rejection despite his words hoover over my heart. Josiah smiles at me before he is wiping a stray tear from my face.

  "Oh child, you're stuck with me.” I smile at my father as he straightens himself, clearing his throat once more. "Now, runoff, I hear you have more to learn about yourself. Sadly, I must keep my word with the packs. Malin will still receive you and Aiden in three weeks." I nod to Josiah, moving towards the door with a weight lifted from my shoulders. I can do this; I will do this.