Beautiful Secrets: The Complete Trilogy
Page 41
"Lass," Romulus reached out to her, sorrow on his face. But she shook her head.
"Honestly, I'm amazed I survived," she whispered. "They wanted me to go back. But I couldn't. So I let the power burn through me, hoping that I was strong enough to survive it."
"You, Eleanora Bedivere," Brom's voice shook, "are undoubtedly the most stupid, amazing, strong woman I have ever had the privilege to meet."
"Thank you, I think," she laughed out. God, her laugh. Three days I had feared I'd never hear it again. "Oracle," she called and I realized they'd intended to slip out of the room unnoticed.
"Yes?" They answered, apprehensive.
"You know what I am going to say?" She said, a knowing smile on her lips.
The Oracle winced. "Yes."
"Then I won't say it," she replied. "I will only wish you the best of luck on leading the council."
They bowed to Ella and disappeared out of the door.
"Did you... just make them the leader of the new council?" I asked, in awe. "And they knew you were going to do that?"
"I learned that the Oracle's power and my own come from the same source, albeit we channel it in different ways," she explained before offering a shrug. "They are impartial, like the stars. They'll be the best to guide our world into a new era."
"You're a genius," Romulus said, incredulously.
We slumped there, exhaustion finally catching up to us. I just wanted to gather Ella in my arms and sleep for days.
The door swung open once more, and Hei-Sook bounded in with a grin on her face and a tray in her hands.
"Finally, Ella," she scolded her as she kicked my boot to get me to move. I grumbled, but moved over so the fox-spirit could set the tray over Ella's lap. "I was getting ready to come in and shake you awake. You got to sleep through the crazy shit that went down when you went supernova. I thought these boys were going to go on an even bigger murder spree. Luckily the lycan here needed to heal and I was able to talk some sense into them. Now eat up, it's his aunt's soup. She said you'd prefer it?"
The fox spirit spoke so fast I could hardly keep up.
"Thank you," Ella said and reached for the spoon. Before she'd taken the first bite, Hei-Sook was speaking again.
"So, now that you've gone and taken out the syndicates—sorry, I was definitely ease dropping—what are you going to do now? What are you all going to do now?"
I looked between Romulus and Brom before looking to Ella. With the syndicates being broken apart and restructured, there was no real need for us. Romulus and Brom could probably take spots on the council, but that would be too close to maintaining the old customs and I sure as shit didn't want to lead anyone.
Ella looked between us all, a sly grin on her lips. "I sorta want to run away. Who's with me?"
I laughed, and soon Brom, Romulus and even Hei-Sook were laughing. We laughed hard, needing the release after the days we'd had. I wiped my eyes and nodded.
"Yeah, Ella," I agreed and dipped my head down to kiss her. "Let's run away together."
Epilogue
Eleanora
The sky was a brilliant blue above me, unmarred across the entire horizon—not even a wisp of white cloud. The scent of the sea surrounded me as I lay in the sun, the yacht rocking gently under me. For once in my life, I felt utterly relaxed and my body felt like putty. Beyond leaving the city behind, having three very generous lovers willing to provide massages would do that to a girl.
I could feel the sun’s warmth sinking into my skin and, with a sigh of great effort, I turned myself until I was on my stomach, my head pillowed on my crossed arms. I had enough experience with burns in my life.
The sun disappeared over me, then I felt lips press a kiss against my lower back and I grinned.
“This scrap of fabric you call a bathing suit is officially my favorite of all of your clothes.” Merlin’s breath tickled my skin as he trailed kisses up my spine. I wiggled my hips, teasing him.
“I’m sure my red leather jacket will be upset about that,” I murmured, keeping my eyes closed as I felt his hand trail up my thigh and squeeze my ass.
“You’ll just have to wear them both, then.” He pushed my hair away from my neck and kissed me behind the ear.
I arched my back, lifting my hips against his hand. We couldn’t get enough of each other. We’d been traveling for three months now, seeking out warmer weather as New York succumbed to winter. Australia was lovely in December.
Merlin’s thumb traced over the edge of my swimsuit, teasing me as he dipped lower to where I wanted him. I lifted my head to glare at him, but caught Brom and Romulus stepping onto the deck from the quarters area.
Romulus only wore blue swim shorts despite complaining that his Irish skin couldn’t handle the sun, and I drank him in. Brom stayed under the canopy, but had traded his suits for tailored shorts and linen shirts. Merlin had given him shit, until I’d crawled into the vampire’s lap, unable to resist my attraction.
The next day, Merlin had been sporting a similar white linen shirt, which I teased him about. Until he shut me up by burying his face between my legs.
“Everything still standing back home?” I asked, pushing up onto my forearms. I knew I was giving them a fantastic view of my breasts, I still reveled in how much they worshiped my body.
Romulus flopped onto the soft bench across from me, ignoring the sun he proclaimed to dislike. His eyes trailed over my face and down to my chest, before winking at me. “Well enough at least. Hei-Sook hasn’t killed anyone.”
“Yet,” Brom clarified. He had his back to us as he poured a glass of chilled wine. He brought it to me as he continued. “I still don’t think the fox-spirit has forgiven you for nominating her for a position. Certainly the Orcale hasn’t.”
“Hei-Sook is a valuable asset,” I countered, accepting the glass. “Besides, if she’d been left to her own devices, she’d likely have taken over the city.”
“Fair enough,” Brom agreed and bent down, capturing my lips in a slow, languid kiss. He tasted of fresh mint and crisp fruit. A phone rang, interrupting us and Romulus sighed, dropping his head back.
“Who knew that running away would involve so many calls from home?” He grumbled. “Not it,” he insisted.
Brom rolled his eyes. “You can’t avoid answering phones forever, wolf,” he chided the lycan but disappeared into the quarters once more to answer the phone.
Merlin’s thumb resumed its stroking, and I spread my legs in silent enthusiasm. My forward action was rewarded as he stroked his fingers down over my slit, teasing me through my bathing suit.
I pushed back against him, and a small moan slipped from my lips. That got Romulus’s attention as his head snapped up, his eyes locked onto mine.
I loved how these men made me feel—whole and complete, cherished and adored. Desired and protected. In them, I had found more than my freedom from Jupiter. I’d found my path, my strength, and love. So much love I thought I would burst.
Romulus stood smoothly, taking the two strides across the deck until he crouched in front of me.
“You know those sounds of yours do things to us, lass,” his voice was rough with desire and it made me burn hotter than the sun above us.
Merlin’s fingers slipped underneath my swim suit and made me gasp. Romulus threaded his fingers through my hair tipping my head back to kiss me. His tongue stroked into my mouth as Merlin’s finger slipped into me.
“As loathe as I am to interrupt,” Brom did sound sincere in his regret, “but that was Lord Blackthorn, from England.”
I looked at Brom over my shoulder, unfamiliar with the name, and bit my lip as Merlin continued to stroke me.
“What’s the prat up too?” Merlin asked, as if he wasn’t slowly fingering me.
“Seems like he’s gotten into trouble with the Russian witches,” Brom spoke as he watched me and palmed himself. “Said he’s calling in the favor you owe him.”
“The fucker,” Merlin said and I could hear him rolling his
eyes. “Well, we can’t get there this instant. And I have much more pressing engagements in mind.”
“I’ve always wanted to go to London,” I said even as I reached back and untied the straps to my bikini top. I pulled at the front until I could throw it at Romulus with a grin. “I also suddenly wonder what it’d be like to be fucked on the deck of a yacht.”
The lycan grinned wolfishly and I felt Merlin slide another finger into my pussy as Brom joined us.
“We should help you find out, lass,” Romulus said. “Then we’ll go to London tomorrow.”
I closed my eyes, smiling widely, as Brom, Romulus, and Merlin proceeded to show me exactly what it was like.
THE END
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About the Author
Marie Robinson lives in the Pacific Northwest with her husband Michael, their son Kal, and their two aging-but-young-at-heart pit bulls who love to sleep on the couch. After years of helping out authors as an editor and literary agent, she took the time to write her own book and has never looked back. She loves magic, adventure, and romance—and so that’s exactly what she spends her days writing about.
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