“I need to come inside you,” he growled and moved to my breasts. His teeth, his lips and his tongue on my nipples were making me see Jesus. He was relentless, scraping my breasts with his fangs and driving me to a whimpering mess.
I cried out as he pierced my left breast. My back arched, my body jerked, and I screamed as I raked my nails down his back. A fiery orgasm shot violently through me as I kept screaming. As he drank from me, mini orgasms wracked my body. I shook like I was naked in a snowstorm, but the opposite was true. My skin and my insides blazed with a heat I’d never felt. This man could kill me with sex without even fucking me.
He moved down my body, leaving my swollen and sensitive breasts. His tongue made tight circles along my stomach and he moved lower. I was unable to move or speak. I felt limp and weak and fragile after the mind-blowing orgasm I’d just had, but he was nowhere near done. He laughed at my moans of protest and went after what he wanted.
To own me completely.
His tongue manipulated me with expertise and deadly precision. My hips rocked. I lifted my body closer to his mouth, begging for more. I gasped and moaned as he licked and nipped. Tears streamed from my eyes as he took my sex into his mouth and bit down.
The roaring in my ears was deafening. I jerked and convulsed as he held my body open to his hunger. I couldn’t take much more.
He rode out my orgasm with his head buried between my legs and his fingers teasing me mercilessly, taking every bit of me into his mouth. Claiming me like no one ever had or ever would.
“I love you, Angel,” he said, studying my face.
“I love you too,” I whispered, still shaking with aftershocks.
“I need to hear you scream again, Angel,” he said with an evil, sexy smile. “I’m going to fuck you now until we accomplish that.”
Oh. My. God. My limp rag of a body woke up immediately. The way he spoke to me was obscene and I loved it. He placed my hands on the evidence of his desire and positioned himself to reach his goal. He slowly entered me, making me feel complete. I closed my eyes and let myself feel.
“Watch me when I fuck you,” Ethan demanded.
So I did. Riding a roller coaster of emotions, I watched his face while he entered my body. I didn’t think anything could be more intimate than our bodies joining. I couldn’t have been more incorrect. I felt open, vulnerable and near tears. His eyes blazed with need as he impaled my body with his. It was perfect.
With a forceful thrust he buried himself completely inside of me. My body tightened around his and I gasped. The sheer girth of him stretched me to my limits. He rocked into me slow and steady, but my writhing beneath him invited a much rougher pace. He accepted my invitation and pounded into me with a force and speed that would have killed a mortal woman. I wasn’t mortal and I met every thrust with joyful abandon.
He growled his approval and I felt my world start to unravel. The spiral of my orgasm swallowed me like a volcano. I gripped him with my body and bit into his neck at the same time he pierced mine. As our essences mixed, shockwaves raced through my body and shudders rocked his.
I could feel my Magic and his power intertwining to become something entirely and uniquely its own. At the most basic level, intimacy with Ethan was changing who I was. This man made me better, stronger, sexier, happier. Our joining wasn’t just sex—it was life changing and something I could no longer live without. He was necessary. He was right. I was his.
I rode the crest of multiple orgasms as we continued make love to each other with inhuman speed.
“Mine,” he ground out.
“Yes, yours,” I gasped. I gripped his shoulders as I felt him grow larger inside of me.
“Again,” he growled.
“I’m yours.”
My world detonated around me in breathtaking color. His body tensed and he roared as he came.
He was right. I was his, and he was mine.
Forever.
Chapter 37
“You’ve ruined me,” I giggled, lightly running my fingertips along his collarbone.
“Back at ya, Angel,” Ethan chuckled, pulling my exhausted, happy, naked body closer to his. He smoothed my hair from my face and looked deeply into my eyes. “I need you to understand something.” He was very serious.
“Yes,” I said slowly, gearing up to get pissed off.
“There’s a bounty on your head,” he said in a flat disgusted voice.
Oookay, not even close to what I expected him to say. I was expecting some kind of ‘I’m the man and you’re the woman. You have to stay put when I say so’ garbage, not ‘Somebody put up some money so a whole bunch of people will want to kill you.’
I tried to sit up, but he pulled me closer and held me still.
“The Rogues have put a bounty on you. They want retribution for you killing a large number of them in the caves. They want you alive, but as long as they physically have your head, they could bring you back as a full Demon.”
“How much?”
“Ten million.”
I was stunned. At least I wasn’t cheap. “That is the most fucked up thing I have ever heard. You can make a Demon from someone’s head?” My queasiness was back full throttle.
“Not just anyone’s head,” Ethan said, gently rubbing my back, “the head of someone who has Demon blood.”
“That’s just fantastic,” I muttered, pressing on the bridge of my nose. The migraine that had been toying with me for two weeks was about to make good on its threat.
Ethan put his big hand under my chin and raised my face so our eyes met. God, he was pretty. “That is why I was so upset you left without telling anyone. I’ve almost lost you entirely too many times this week.” He ran his hands through his hair and pressed his lips to my forehead. “I don’t want you leaving the compound until we get to the bottom of who placed the bounty.”
“Oh my God.” I sat up. “My mother’s memorial is tomorrow night. I have to be there.” My hands were now in my hair. “What if I take Guards and . . . wear my shield and . . . blow any Rogues I see into pieces . . . ” My brain was racing. “My big blonde klepto Vampyre sister will be there and I want you to meet her. I have no idea how to get hold of her and you have to thank her for turning me into a Vampyre. I promise I’ll just kill anybody who causes problems.”
“Angel,” Ethan laughed and shook his head, “that would make you very conspicuous in front of the mortals.” He closed his eyes for a moment. “This would require an extraordinary amount of trancing on our part if anything were to go wrong. Not to mention you could end up headless.” He shook his head. “Can we postpone it?” he asked.
“Again?” I shrieked. “Nothing will go wrong. Please, I need to get this done. I want it over. I need to be there. Please.”
As Ethan thought, he absentmindedly ran his thumbs over my knuckles. “Is the memorial in a contained building?” he asked. I nodded. “I suppose if we surround the place. I’ll send a number of us in as guests and the Elite Guard will stand watch outside.” I hugged him hard. “But Astrid, that’s it. You have to promise me that apart from the memorial, you will stay on the compound until we have this under control.”
“I promise.” I curled into him, loving the way his skin felt against mine. “Ethan?”
“Yes?” he was wary.
“About Pam . . . ” I started.
“No,” he cut me off and tried to get out of the bed.
I quickly straddled him and pinned his arms over his head. He could get away if he wanted, but he was very happy with this position. Quite honestly, I was too.
“What if I guess?” I asked, pushing my breasts to his lips.
“Have you ever heard of fighting fair?” he laughed, freeing himself from my grip and cupping my bottom with both hands.
“Nope,” I grinned. “Can I guess? I love guessing. Will you tell me if I’m right?”
I wiggled my bottom and he squeezed me tighter.
“Try,” he challenged.
Alrighty then, how
did Ethan know Pam? I knew it wasn’t sexual, but she did say she loved him. Was she a former girlfriend? No . . . that didn’t feel right. She threatened to beat his butt raw. That was just weird and rude, even for Pam. She swore at him the way she would with someone she cared a great deal about. She was thrown the first time she saw the pink diamond on my finger.
Holy hell . . . no way. The King had been wandering around the palace like a zombie looking for someone. He sensed her presence. Nana was the only other Angel I knew and she was connected to the Vampyres in a former life. Did that mean my Angel, Pam was connected to the Vampyres in a former life also? I believe it did.
“She’s the Queen,” I told him. I saw surprise flash across his face and he started to grin. I grew more confident. I knew it, I was right! “She’s Queen Paloma, the woman who raised you. The woman your father has been waiting on for centuries.” Damn, my entire life was one big jigsaw puzzle. Everyone was somehow connected to everyone. “Do you think she’s come back to stay?”
“I don’t know,” Ethan sighed. “That’s why I’m avoiding my father. I don’t think I have the strength to keep this from him, but he knows she was here and it’s killing him. He’s just not functioning well and everyone is confused and worried.”
I laid my head on his chest. “Do you want me to tell him the truth?”
“No, Pam made me promise,” he reminded me, clearly frustrated.
“Yes,” I agreed, “but she didn’t make me promise . . . ”
Ethan’s body tensed. He rolled me over onto my back and loomed over me. His grin grew wide. “She didn’t, did she?”
***
It was good to tell him. He had a right to know and I had a strong feeling Pam approved. I just wish I knew where the hell she and The Kev and Gemma were.
“Thank you,” the King whispered, his beautiful eyes glittered with tears. “I knew she was here.”
“Your Majesty.”
“Father,” he corrected me.
“Father,” I said shyly. “I don’t know if she’s staying.”
“Oh my child.” He was so serene. “She is back. She’ll come to me when she is able.” He held my hands and glowed with joy. “Her work is not done, but it will be soon.”
“How do you know?”
“I feel it here.” He touched his heart and smiled. “She is the love of my life and you, my child, my Chosen One, have brought her back to me. You have saved me.”
Oh my God, maybe that was it. Maybe my purpose was to reunite the King with his Queen. Was that how I was to save him? It seemed too simple. I was positive I’d have to take out a few Vamps and Demons. This would certainly have been a hell of a lot easier. Having a bounty on my head was not my idea of a good time, but if all I had to do to save the King was go find Pam’s sorry ass, things were looking up.
Being alone with the King was lovely. His suite was beautiful. Very colorful, eclectic and comfortable, just like him. Ethan didn’t want to be anywhere near this conversation. That way his promise to Pam would remain unbroken.
“Astrid, I will be with you at the memorial tomorrow night. Venus, Paris, Cathy, Sir James, Samuel and I will be your guests and twenty of the Elite Guard, including Ethan will be outside surrounding the building.”
“Are you sure you’ll be safe?”
“Yes, my child,” the King chuckled. “I’m probably safer with you than I am with anyone else.”
I was shocked. “Sire . . . um, I mean . . . Father, I fear you give me too much credit.”
“You really have no idea how powerful you are, do you?” He began to pace the room. “Astrid, you are the Chosen One. Your Magic and skills far outweigh the most gifted Vampyre and the most evil Demon.” He stopped and I could swear he peered into my soul. “You may not have control of it yet, but it’s all there. I can feel it.”
Shit, he was serious. I certainly hoped whoever was in charge knew what they were doing when they saddled me with this Chosen One crap, because I would have chosen someone else. Anyone else.
“Ah, Sir James,” the King acknowledged his dear friend, “come in and join us.” I looked at my de facto father and grandfather and giggled. They looked like they could be my brothers. My mate was older than my grandpa. I had entered a whole new world of strange.
“Astrid,” Sir James smiled and led me to a lovely chocolate brown velvet couch, “there are several things I think you should know.” He looked pointedly at the King. The King nodded gravely and took a seat next to me.
Sir James took my hand. “Astrid, the Chosen One has been blessed with many gifts, physically and magically.” He paused. I waited. “There is one gift we cannot comprehend.” He just stared at me.
“Well, if you guys don’t understand it, I’m sure I’d have no clue,” I laughed uncomfortably.
“How have you been feeling, child?” the King asked. I noticed a book in his hands.
“Okay, I suppose. I’ve been a bit headachy and nauseous.”
The two men exchanged a smile.
“That makes you happy?” I was confused.
“Oh yes, Vampyres never get sick.” The King clasped his hands together like a child. “Yes, so very happy.”
“This is wonderful,” Sir James muttered, paging quickly through the book that the King had been holding.
I held these men in high esteem and had grown to love them in a very short period of time, but I was starting to question their sanity. Their glee over my headaches and nausea was a bit upsetting. The King was practically doing a jig and Sir James was becoming frantic as he paged through his book.
“Got it,” Sir James yelled. He slammed the page against his chest, hiding it from my view while the King knelt at my feet.
I knew their excitement should alarm me, but they were behaving like two little boys on Christmas morning. I started laughing. “What is going on?” The King was bouncing and Sir James was biting his nails. I’d never seen Vampyres act so human.
“What we are going to show you mustn’t leave this room,” Sir James whispered.
“You can’t tell Ethan yet, though you will want to,” the King said, trying to contain himself. “If you tell him, he will lock you in a room and throw away the key.” Sir James nodded in agreement. “You must put what we are about to tell you into your mind and then shield it completely, so even Ethan can’t see it. Not yet.”
“What are you talking about?”
“Most of the information we have on the Chosen One is through pictures, not text,” Sir James explained. “Some of it was drawn before written language existed.”
“How long have Vampyres been around?” This was all news to me.
“Since the dawn of time,” he said. “There is a picture we want to show you.” His eyes were twinkling. “Not many of our kind have seen this. It’s been held back so we would be able to very accurately recognize the true Chosen One.”
“It may scare you,” the King chimed in, still bouncing, “but we do think you’ll be happy.”
“Well, you guys certainly seem to be,” I muttered, beginning to get nervous.
“Many things that seem impossible are not,” Sir James said. “Until recently you had no knowledge of Vampyres or Demons or Angels or Fairies. Correct?”
“Correct,” I answered.
“You, my child, are the Light in our Darkness. Your Vampyre and Demon heritage is your Darkness and your blood and compatibility with Angels and Fairies is your Light. You are very different from us. You embody impossibility becoming reality.” He seemed about to burst. I felt a bizarre wave of dizziness come over me.
“Sir James, Your Majesty,” I said.
“Call me Father.”
“Call me Grandpa.” They spoke simultaneously.
“Oookay, Father and Grandpa.” I did like the way that sounded. “No disrespect, but could you please get to your point? You’re freaking me out and I’m feeling dizzy and nauseous.”
“That’s fantastic,” the King shouted, jumping to his feet and hugging S
ir James.
I gave him the eyeball and he quickly reigned himself in. Good God, you’d think they were about to reveal the Second Coming.
“Wait,” I stopped them. They looked at me expectantly. “I don’t want to keep anything from Ethan. It’s wrong.”
“If you want to attend the memorial, then wait until afterward to tell him,” Sir James said.
Finally I nodded.
Slowly Sir James turned the book around and showed me a picture. A beautiful picture. A picture that would change my life. Forever. I gasped and my eyes filled with tears. I looked at both of these men who watched me with adoring eyes.
“Is that true?” I whispered.
“Yes, my darling child, it’s very true,” the King said.
It was too much. The room began to spin and I grabbed the hands of my father and grandfather. They both held me lovingly as my world faded to black.
Chapter 38
“If you’re going to strap daggers to your thigh, I would recommend a dress with a full skirt.” Venus dropped the pile of clothes she was carrying onto my bed.
“But if I need to fight, pants would make more sense,” I countered.
“True . . . but where would you put your knives?”
I considered my options. “If I wear ankle boots, I could carry two there, and if I wear some kind of jacket, I can strap a smaller sword and a gun to my back.” That could work. “I could also carry some throwing stars in my pocket.”
“Just don’t hug anyone,” Venus laughed.
“Or go through a metal detector,” Gemma added, appearing from out of nowhere in a gust of Fairy Glitter.
“Gemma,” I shouted, tackling her in a hug. “Where have you been?”
“I’ve been close by,” she grinned and hugged me hard.
Did she just run her hands over my stomach? I quickly glanced at her to see if she knew, but she was busy hugging Venus.
“Is Pam or The Kev with you?” I asked, grabbing her hand and pulling her down on the bed.
“No, I haven’t seen Pam in several days. The Kev and I have been to the Fairy Royal Court. I’ve been presented,” she giggled.
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