“Can’t think of any better time.” I tried to laugh but even I heard how flat the joke landed. I trailed my fingers over his chest, scratching my nails carefully through the hair. A part of me thought about how Romulus had the perfect amount of chest hair. I dragged my fingers down the line of hair towards his crotch, where he was definitely hard. “I just really, really don’t want to think right now. Or, really think about anything that’s not you.”
The man smiled, but there was a touch of sadness in the creases at his eyes. I looked away and my eyes landed on his bandaged wrists. I grabbed his arm, tugging insistently even as he sighed, relenting. He swatted my hand away after I struggled to remove it. He brought it up to his mouth, his teeth sharp enough to cut through the medical tape.
Tears threatened to fall once more when I saw the burns on his wrist. They were in the shape of my hand. And I knew a twin of the burn was on his other wrist.
“I am so, so sorry,” I whispered. I knew what it felt like to carry scars like that, and now I had done it to a man I loved.
“Nope, none of that, Ella.” He buried his hands in my hair, forcing me to look at him. “Darling”—my heart raced at his soft tone—“these scars do not represent pain to me.”
“But I burned you,” I protested weakly.
“You needed me,” he countered. “Bearing the scars of being there when you needed me fills me with pride. These scars are from love… and yes, your phoenix flames. But you could have killed us both, and you didn’t. You needed an anchor, and I was able to be that for you. I will hold you, even through hell, if it means you will be safe on the other side.” Romulus’s face went from endearing to salacious and my body responded to him, my desire flaring up once more. “Besides, now I always get to have your hands on me.”
It was so unexpected I had to laugh. I laughed as I leaned forward and kissed him. My laughter turned to soft sighs as he rolled me onto my back, his lips kissing their way down my neck as he began to undress me.
He stripped me out of my jeans, and I lay before him, only clad in the panties that Brom had bought me. The lycan danced his fingers across the waistband and I squirmed, wanting him to hurry up.
“The vampire does have good taste.” He hooked his thumbs under them and dragged them down my legs, forcing me to lift them awkwardly to get them off. But he didn’t seem to care as he pulled a condom out from his back pocket.
“You planned for this?” I asked, bemused and not offended in the least.
Romulus winked at me as he tossed the condom onto my stomach. “I had hoped. There’s a difference. You could have said no and I’d have stayed curled around you for as long as you wanted.”
I brought the condom up to my mouth, tearing it open, “Get your pants off, wolf.”
“Wolf now, is it?” Romulus shucked his pants and underwear off before launching himself over me. He dragged his scruffy face against my neck. “Should I bark and howl while I fuck you?”
I giggled and pushed him back enough that I could work the condom onto him; his shallow thrusts didn’t help. “I don’t think you’d like me laughing at you,” I said as I guided him to my entrance. I let out a soft sigh as he slid home, filling me. I ran my hands over his back, pulling him close to me, needing to be drowned in him.
He nuzzled my ear, nipping it between his lips, and then... he let out a comical howl as he thrust into me again. I dissolved into laughter, unable to help it. The laughter felt like a miniature release valve had been opened and we both clung to each other as we teased one another. Our caresses were intimate but, at the same time, it tickled. We squirmed together as much as we writhed, our pleasure mixing with pure joy and silliness. And when we finally found our climaxes, our hands were laced together and we were both smiling, letting ourselves be happy.
Chapter 21
Eleanora
Romulus was curled around me, our legs entwined together, with his steel arm around my waist. His head was tucked against mine, the even puffs of his hot breath tickling my neck as he dozed. I’d fallen asleep tucked against him, but it hadn’t been long before I woke back up, my mind jumbled and conflicted as I thought about everything that I’d learned.
All I knew was that I needed to learn to control my powers as a phoenix. The rage and pain I felt from Madam Jupiter’s mistreatment over the years was still inside me, just as I hated the way our society pandered to the wealthy and powerful while neglecting those who needed help. The phoenix fueled that rage, giving me the power to change the world. But it felt like a lie. Because when I had let the phoenix take over, it didn’t care about the people I loved or delivering justice. The anger of the phoenix was centuries old and directed at the entire world.
I wanted change, I would bring change, but I didn’t want to bring death to the world. And if I wanted to learn to control it, I would need to reach out to a woman who’d long since abandoned me.
What type of mother would leave her child behind?
It was at that moment I decided I would learn to control my power on my own. Not because she left me behind, at least not in full. I had very few memories of my mother, but the ones I had were filled with happiness. What if I met her and she hadn’t struggled to leave without me? My memories were precious and if I could protect what happy ones I had, I would.
The door opened, slowly to make no noise, but Romulus shot up from behind me, his hands mid-change into claws as a savage snarl tore from his throat.
“Down, boy.” Merlin held his hands up, showing he wasn’t a threat. He stepped into the room, closing the door behind him.
“I won’t apologize.” Romulus flopped back down beside me, his claws shrinking back into the hands which had teased me into bliss earlier.
“Wasn’t going to suggest it,” Merlin said as he leaned over me and stole a kiss. “Came to check on you. Seems the wolf here is taking care of you.”
My face burned brightly and I pulled the sheet up around me as I sat up. I had been thoroughly ravished recently, and yet with Merlin tossing himself into the chair the lycan matriarch had used, slouched as if he didn’t give a damn, I found myself wanting to crawl over to him, purring.
“How is it out there?” I asked instead.
The sharp intake of breath the warlock took told me much of what I needed to know.
“What about the staff? Bonnie? Hei-Sook?” Damn, if I had even hurt them, let alone killed them, I didn’t know what I would do. They’d been innocent.
“Safe.” The single word cut through my fear and I covered my mouth, trying to block out the sob of relief. “Hei-Sook isn’t defenseless as a fox spirit. She’s a master of illusions and she seemed to have crafted something intimidating enough to buy them enough time to get the staff out before you went flame up.”
Silence stretched between us as I thought about everything. Damn, they probably had their own opinions on what I should do.
“The house?” I avoided the impending discussion of the future.
“Not an entire loss,” the warlock said. I didn’t know how to feel about that, honestly. The estate had been my entire life. Losing it should’ve felt like losing myself, but really it just felt like a burden was being lifted. “It’ll take some renovations, especially for the back. And you’re not going to have a garden next spring unless you bribe some fae. But it’ll be there for you if you go back.”
If I go back. That was the crux of the matter.
“I think we need to figure out a plan,” I admitted out loud. It really wasn’t a true admission; we all knew it. We’d spoken of it, but it had always been farther off in the future. Not tomorrow. Not right now.
“Brom is downstairs with Lady Genevieve.” Merlin stood, slapping Romulus’s leg with the back of his hand. “Get dressed and meet us down there? It’s past dinner but she’s promised us something to eat.”
As promised there was food waiting for us in the parlor where we found Brom, Merlin, and Genevieve. This room was infinitely more comfortable than the one which Madam Jupi
ter received her guests. The walls were a cream color, the floors a warm red hardwood, and the furniture had all been clearly chosen for comfort over fashion.
The food too was comfortable. Thick ham slices, mashed potatoes with rich brown gravy, still-warm biscuits with slabs of butter, and a bowl of sautéed green beans and bacon. I smiled as the rich smell of home-cooked food wafted around me as I loaded up my plate greedily. This was the type of food I preferred, and the same style of food Jupiter and Titania would never be caught eating lest they ruin their figures by gaining a pound or two.
I made my way to the couch, which had plush cushions and what looked to be a handsewn quilt over it. I hesitated, not wanting to risk spilling, but then Romulus flopped down carelessly and I followed suit. Brom walked over, setting a full glass of iced tea on a crocheted coaster, and ran his hand over my hair before taking a seat on the recliner across from me.
I looked towards the older woman, but she stood at the window, looking out over the city. I noticed I could see the soft colors of trees and realized that we must be close to Central Park. It was another stark reminder that Romulus came from wealth, for all that he didn’t act it.
I let myself eat, appreciating the hearty food that I rarely got to indulge in.
Merlin and Brom spoke, but over inane things. Romulus would randomly speak up and, dammit, it felt good to just exist in a normal setting with them. I concentrated on my food, letting their voices wash over me. I’d look up every now and then and smile. They were so open with one another, their friendship so clear. In a setting like this, they were comfortable with their positions. I realized that when we’d been at the masquerade, they’d been themselves—but the version that our society expected. They were the powerful and dangerous heirs, and everyone respected them.
Here, there were no sycophants to please. There was just each other, a friendship that had withstood all politics and schemes. A friendship that’d only grown stronger by a shared love of a single woman.
I sighed and set my plate to the side. A single woman who needed to master her power else risk destroying the men she loved.
“Little bird?” Brom’s voice made me look up and I smiled softly at him. Dammit, I loved them fiercely. I realized I hadn’t even bothered with a veil, not for this meeting, and I couldn’t remember ever having the courage to go without even among the servants.
“You’ve been thinking,” he continued.
“How do you know that?” I rested my head on my hand, my elbow propped up on the couch.
“Because you get a line just here”—he tapped the area between his eyebrows—“when you’re thinking hard.”
“You know me so well already,” I mused with a playful roll of my eyes.
“Not nearly as much as I want to.”
His reply made me smile shyly, especially with the look in his eyes. I knew exactly what he meant and I tried not to squirm as my desire began to uncoil inside me under his masterful manipulation.
“Gentlemen.” Genevieve’s sharp tone reprimanded us and my desire disappeared immediately. She turned to us, her face lined with age but her posture full of strength. “Eleanora. The Syndicates move against you, headed by your stepmother. You must choose your path and quickly. I can only protect you for a short amount of time.”
“Well, at least you don’t beat around the bush.” I let out a rushed sigh. I was glad for the filling food, my energy returning to me more solidly than with the soup.
“You don’t have the time, child.” She moved towards the chair Merlin had his foot propped up on. A single look was all it took for him to snap his leg away and sit up properly. I wanted to grin at him but my thoughts were thrown into chaos. “The Oracle is the one who declared you the one to destroy our world, so many years ago. You must know that I was among those who called for the death of your mother. I told my nephew, the last evening of the masquerade ball, that he may find himself in the position of needing to kill you. I care about this world, girl, and my nephew. But if you truly are a threat to this world, I will move against you.”
My stomach heaved with each calculated word she spoke. I could feel Romulus shifting at my side, and both Merlin and Brom raised their heads, staring at the woman—assessing her. I realized they were preparing to attack her, or defend me, if it came to it. It couldn’t come to that.
“Then why help me as much as you have?” I hadn’t meant to ask that. But as soon as I did, I knew I needed the answer.
“Because I do not believe you are evil.” She said it as if that explained everything. “I believe, given the opportunity, instead of a life-ending force, you could be a controlled forest fire. One that this world severely needs.”
“But to do that I need to learn how to control the phoenix side of me.” I twisted my hand in the way that would bring the Bediver signet ring into view. “And the warlock power.”
“And where do we find a teacher?” Brom spoke up derisively. “It is not as if there are a plethora of phoenixes in the entire world. For all we know, all we suspect, she is the only one.”
“In this world,” Genevieve replied, and the vampire frowned.
Merlin looked perplexed, his eyes moving between me and the old woman. I tried to distract myself by twisting the ring on my finger, the dark band catching the light.
“I don’t suspect you’re talking about space travel,” Merlin began, and I stared harder at my ring. They waited and I closed my eyes. I had hoped she would explain.
“There is a chance my mother still lives,” I whispered. “Specifically, in Tír na nÓg.”
Merlin snorted in disbelief and Brom scowled.
“I do not see how that is an option,” Brom said, dismissing the idea. “Mortals, even powerful ones, do not fare well in the land of the fae.”
“If she’s there, she may be able to come out,” I said, and explained how Genevieve had the contacts to search for my mother.
“And what if she can’t?” Brom came to kneel before me, holding my hands in his. His eyes looked at me beseechingly. “I’m sorry, Ella, but we must consider this. What if your mother never made it? What if she is dead? What then? How do we help you?”
If my mother couldn’t help me, and I lost control like I did at home? Or worse? I remember how hard it was to look down at Merlin as I stood on the ship, him bowed before me, and how the flames wanted to burn him. I remembered struggling for control as Romulus approached me, trusting me to hold back the flames from devouring him. Each time I used my powers, it was harder to control. One day I wouldn’t be able to. I’d become that which the Oracle had predicted. I would bring death to the world.
I moved until I held Brom’s hands instead, and met his dark eyes. “I must learn how to control my power. And until I find someone to teach me, I cannot use it. I need your protection.”
“Done.” Brom’s promise followed on the heel of my words and I shook my head, not finished.
“And if I can’t, you must promise to kill me.”
I waited for his response, for any of them really to respond. I looked to Romulus and then to Merlin and finally to Genevieve before back to the vampire.
“I care less about destroying the world than I care about potentially killing you three,” I tried to explain. I begged Brom silently, hoping he would understand. I had to protect them before the world.
“No,” he replied softly. I frowned and he kept speaking. “That is a vow none of us shall ever make because we could not keep it.”
“I could kill you,” I protested, anger rising up within me. He arched his eyebrow skeptically.
“And we could just as easily kill you, or one another,” he said.
“Ella.” Merlin moved to crouch beside Brom. The soft smell of oil and clove cigarettes held faintly to him. “Brom’s right. You’ll never persuade us to agree to something like this. I’d rather say fuck the world and go out fighting than even consider harming you.”
“But—”
“No buts, lass,” Romulus said, reac
hing out and cupping the back of my neck. “I’d rip out a thousand throats for you, but never your own.”
My throat closed up with the tumultuous emotions clawing their way through me.
“I’m not sure what to say—”
“How about ‘thank you for not promising to kill me?’ ” Merlin laughed after he said it, lightening the mood.
“Then we find you someone who can help,” he continued, nodding and rising to look at Genevieve. “Talk to your people. But we can’t wait for a message from across the pond. I’ve got a contact who may help.”
The woman stood with a nod to us and left the room briskly, leaving us alone.
“Who?” Brom stared at the warlock.
“They’re not too friendly to vamps.” Merlin ran his hand through his hair. “Or many people connected with the Syndicates. But Wild Crow.” Brom recoiled, and I couldn’t tell if it was in shock or fear. Merlin shook his head, as if he couldn’t believe he was suggesting it himself. “I know, but he’s a Thunderbird—closest thing I can think of to a phoenix. If he’s still around, he might help.”
“Might?” Romulus didn’t sound hopeful.
Merlin tilted his head back and forth, as if weighing his response. “He might help,” he said, shrugging, “or he might strike us down with lightning.”
I wanted to say something but Genevieve marched back into the room, a familiar and distraught woman at her side.
“Beatrice?” I hurried to my feet.
Beatrice flinched at my face, and I buried the stab of pain her reaction caused.
“Ella, it’s my mother,” she croaked out, her face lined with fear. “You’ve got to run. She’s coming, now.”
Chapter 22
Merlin
I closed Romulus’s trunk, having tossed the couple of bags we’d packed for Ella, Romulus, and me. Brom was standing beside Ella, who was wearing one of the masquerade masks instead of a veil.
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