Blood and Magic: A New Adult Paranormal Romance

by R. L. Weeks

  Fear gripped me. “I am a daughter of the Black Lily Coven?”

  He nodded. “We needed you to join us, but the Black Rose Coven knew if they took you for themselves instead of Nicholas, they could wield your strong powers from your line and use them to break the seals and set Lucifer free.”

  “I understand.”

  He looked surprised. “Is that all you have to say?”

  “It’s a lot to process,” I confessed. “I just wish I’d known from the beginning.”

  “I agree.”

  “So what now? What do I do?”

  “I will find a way out of this. I promise.”

  I slumped my shoulders. “I’m tired of fighting. Did you know it’s my birthday today, and I didn’t even get to go home to my mom who had a cake waiting for me? Or how my best friend looks afraid to be around me? How about I just saw the boy I loved sleeping next to the girl I hate.”

  He exhaled slowly. “Shit, I’m sorry. You need to have a day off. We can get back to all of this tomorrow, but for now, you should enjoy the rest of your birthday. What’s left of it anyway.”

  I was too exhausted. Not even the coffee was helping. “I just want to sleep,” I admitted.

  He wrapped his arm around me and pulled me into a side cuddle. “Sleep. We can figure this all out tomorrow. It’s another day.”

  I bit my bottom lip. “Thank you.” I paused for several seconds. “Can I ask you something?”

  He rubbed my arm with his thumb. “Of course.”

  “You said the kiss was physical, but that elixir only lowered your inhibitions. Did you really want me?” I waited anxiously for his reply.

  “I’m not proud of it. I know how Nicholas feels about you.”

  “He also slept with someone else.”

  “He thought he had lost you.”

  I sighed. “It doesn’t matter. He hurt me. I can’t come back from seeing that.”

  “If it’s worth anything, I don’t think he had sex with her. They were up talking.”

  I twisted my mouth in disgust. “That’s worth. They’re emotionally connecting now or what?”

  “I don’t know, but let’s not think on it too much. For now, rest, Kathryn.”

  ***

  I don’t know what time he put me to bed, but when I woke up, it was late morning. 11:11 a.m. to be exact. I gazed out of the window and saw the sun far in the distance. I looked at the yard. The grass had died a long time ago, leaving brown and yellow under the tangled roots and shrubbery. It had been my first dreamless sleep for a while. I felt rested but nervous. It was time to face everything.

  “How are you feeling?” asked Joshua as he brought me my morning coffee and placed it on the nightstand.

  “Still tired somehow.”

  Joshua’s presence had been a ray of sunshine in the storm. Being with Nicholas was this electrifying, all-consuming need. The unspoken love, the anticipation for one another, in a way was completely tangible. But Joshua was different. It wasn’t love or lust at all but a feeling of peace and serenity that could only be found in the darkest of times—when you need it most. He was the angel and I was the devil, and Nicholas was somewhere in between.

  Joshua smiled and sat on the guest bed. “I thought we could celebrate your birthday today with a good old-fashioned Black Lily Coven tradition.”

  My lips twitched. “I’m not a part of the coven though.”

  “That doesn’t matter to me. I arranged everything while you were sleeping. Meet me at the house in the woods in three hours, but for now, go home. Your mom is waiting for you.”

  My heart skipped a beat. I forgot about Mom. “I need to call her.”

  “No need,” he said. “I already spoke to her. I told her you passed out here after feeling sick. She’s just glad you’re okay. She and Vanessa have planned something for you.”

  I half-smiled. “You really think today is the best day to plan all of this? I mean, don’t we have more pressing matters?”

  His smile was genuine and sweet. His expression made my worries disappear. “Trust me, we have plenty of time for that.” He pulled the ring Vanessa had spelled to take away my magic, the one Alec had torn from my finger the day he kidnapped me.

  “How?”

  “Vanessa.” He grinned. “Put it on. It will sever your link for a short time to Alec and anyone else at the Black Rose Coven.” He admired the ring. “It was a good idea, to spell it.”

  “Thanks.” I took it from him and felt relief from the heavy magic inside of me when I slid it on my index finger. “I’ll see you in a couple of hours then.”

  ***

  I curled my hair into loose ringlets. They tumbled down over my chest and to my belly button. I touched up the polish on my nails, coloring in the wear and tear on the pink and blue. For my lips, I chose a rose-pink lip gloss instead of my usual crimson red. On my eyes, I dabbed a dark blue in the corners and silver in the middle. I blended them together and painted my lashes with navy-blue mascara. I looked good today, and anyone knew a girl with great hair, spotless makeup, and a hot outfit was ready to take on the world. I pulled on my black stockings and dark-blue dress. A black strip ran down the front. It cut in at the perfect parts of my body, showing off the parts of my figure I liked. I was ready.

  I walked down the stairs. When I had arrived, Mom shoved me upstairs, not letting me through the living room door or get a peek inside, and just told me to get ready. She was smiling for once. It was nice to see her happy.

  I fiddled with my ring, turning it around and around as I carefully walked to the closed living room door. My heels clicked against the wooden floor. I swung the door open and gasped. The room was decorated with pink and red balloons—my favorite colors—bundled together in the corners, and by the fireplace were several floating helium balloons. The huge dining room table was covered by a red fabric tablecloth, on it our best china, silverware, and long candles in silver candlesticks going down the center. Six places were set for the people in the room. Vanessa, my mom, Maria, and the twins. I was surprised to see the twins. We never hung out, but I liked that they were there. It felt like the good old days.

  “Happy Birthday!” they yelled in unison. My mom pulled me into a hug, and I wanted to cry. The party was beautiful. I only wished Joshua and Nicholas—even though I was still pissed about the Jayde thing—were there.

  My mom hurried to the island in the kitchen and grabbed two small boxes. “Here, sweetheart.” She handed me one. I unwrapped it quickly. I was a sucker for presents.

  It was truly beautiful. Dripping diamonds hung on a silver chain, with hues of pink in the diamonds. “Oh, Mom, it’s amazing.”

  I pulled my hair up, and my mom clasped it around my neck. As it dropped into place, I realized it was all the outfit was missing. I placed my hand over the diamonds and smiled. “Thank you.”

  She handed me the second box. “Now I know you have been avoiding getting your driver’s license, but I hope this will encourage you to get one.”

  I opened the box. Inside it was a set of keys on a keychain with the letter K in pink and black. I covered my mouth with my hand. She’d gotten me a fucking car! She walked me outside. I had seen it when I came back, but I never thought it was mine. It was a dark-blue, brand-new Range Rover with white leather seats inside. “How the hell did you afford this?”

  “Your dad,” she confessed. “His life insurance.”

  “Mom, no,” I chastised. “I don’t need this.”

  Tears were in her eyes. “Your dad had always talked about wanting to get you one. I wanted to honor his wishes and give you a great birthday gift.”

  Tears ran down my cheeks, surely running my makeup, but I didn’t care. “I wish he were here.” I sobbed.

  “Me too, sweetheart.” She pulled me into a hug and sniffed. “Let’s enjoy the party.”

  I turned around and saw my friends admiring the car.

  “It’s beautiful,” Vanessa gushed.

  “I hope my mom gets me one
of these for my eighteenth,” admitted Maria.

  The twins looked jealous as hell. I didn’t mind. It was a gorgeous car. Now I just needed to learn how to drive the thing.

  After way too much cake, jokes about mine, Maria’s, and Vanessa crazy antics over the years, and Vanessa taking my car for a spin after going on and on, it was time for me to go. I really didn’t want to, but I had promised Joshua and he was the reason everything today had gone as well as it had. He had spoken to my mom and Vanessa.

  “I have to go,” I told my mom regretfully. “Thank you for all of this! I love you.”

  “Happy eighteenth, my not-so-little girl anymore.” She kissed my forehead. “Don’t stay out too late.” She waved her hand. “Oh, what the heck. Stay out as long as you want. It’s your birthday. Just let me know you’re safe and be careful.”

  I hugged her. “I will.”

  We saw Maria and the twins out, and Vanessa was the last to leave. “Let me know how tonight goes,” she said with a devilish grin. “Joshua told me everything. Also, don’t be too harsh on Nicholas. I know for a fact that he didn’t do anything with Jayde. They grew closer after Amara died. He was just acting out after Joshua kissed you.”

  I flushed red. He had told her about everything. “I can’t get over it.”

  “He needs you,” she said sweetly. “Trust me, he loves you. He’d die for you. Give yourselves a chance to work. Damned to any prophecy.”

  I smirked. “He came to see you too, didn’t he?”

  She didn’t say a word and walked away.

  Chapter Seventeen

  Nicholas and Joshua were standing in the main room of the old house. Candles were placed on every available surface. “What’s this?” I asked.

  They were both wearing suits. Joshua gave Nicholas a look. “Do it.”

  I looked at Nicholas wide-eyed. He looked more handsome than ever and less tortured. He approached me, took my hand, and got down on one knee. Shock rippled through me. Please tell me this wasn’t happening after all that happened. There was no way.

  “Kate,” he said.

  My knees were weak. I knelt too and looked him in the eyes. He looked sure of himself. Our bond sent shockwaves through me.

  “I know we have an impossible task ahead of us, and I know you must hate me after what you saw. It wasn’t right. The truth was I was afraid, and I wanted someone to talk too, lie with without doing anything. I was hurt by your kiss with Joshua, but I see everything so much more clearly now. After I saw you hurting Jerimiah, I realized that keeping our distance from each other was never going to work. I love you. I have never been so sure of anything in my life. You have been a hurricane in my calm, but you make me feel alive. You have so much pure and beautiful light in your soul. No one understands me like you. Destined or not, you and I, Kate, we are unstoppable together. I never could get close to anyone before you. I found it hard to be with anyone, but you, you have me weak.” He shook his head, smiling. “You make me crazy, but I wouldn’t have it any other way, so I ask you to do one more crazy thing before we fight this thing together.”

  My heart skipped a beat.

  “Kathryn Bathory, will you be mine?”

  My eyes were wild. “Are you asking me to marry you?”

  “Oh.” He cast his eyes downward. “Well, I was actually asking if you would be mine. I don’t need to get married for us to be endgame.”

  A smirk played on my lips. “You scared me.”

  Joshua cleared his throat. “Actually, it’s a ritual binding you. It’s like the supernatural version of marriage.”

  Nicholas and I bumped our foreheads against each other, resting on one another, steadying our breathing. At that moment, we were one. “You are asking me to marry you then?”

  He laughed, shaking us both. “I didn’t see it that way, but I figure, I only want you, now and forever, so what’s the harm in making it final with the ritual?” He paused. “Can you forgive me for all my sins?”

  “Can you forgive me mine?” I asked in return.

  Silence hung between us, but unconditional forgiveness shot through our bond. Of course we could forgive each other. We were meant to be. Fate brought us together, and our souls were connected. “What about us having to kill the other? The curse?”

  He grimaced. “Yes, Joshua did tell me all about that. I believe we can fight that, Kate. Do you?”

  I held his hands tightly in mine. “I have faith in us. Just promise me one thing.”

  “Anything.”

  “Never, ever go near Jayde fucking Merriweather again.”

  He nodded slowly. “God no.”

  We both got to our feet. “Then let’s do this thing.”

  “Always the romantic,” Nicholas joked.

  Joshua lit the ceremonious candle and chanted in Latin under his breath. The smell of sage and citrus filled the air. I noticed incense burning on the table. The flames around us flickered, and the dead witches from inside the house watched from the shadows. I wasn’t afraid of them. They helped me with Jerimiah, and after finding out my true heritage, I was one of them.

  Nicholas pricked his finger. Blood seeped out, and in turn, I pricked mine.

  Joshua spoke. “Press your hands together.”

  We did.

  The candles flickered again. Nicholas gazed into my eyes. Through our bond, I felt his joy, and he felt like the luckiest man alive. I know how it must have looked. Nicholas and I had only got to know each other not long ago, and it had been a rollercoaster ride ever since, but I wasn’t just some young girl in the throes of young love. With Nicholas, it was different. We were destined, and I was certain that no matter what happened, I wanted to be with him.

  Joshua placed a silver chalice between Nicholas and me. Inside of it, a black liquid bubbled. After a few seconds, it turned to gold, then took shape as the moonlight shone through the broken windows. Two rings formed from the liquid, each one with a Latin engraving on the inside. Di immortales in caritate.

  “What does that mean?” I asked Nicholas as he placed the ring on my finger.

  “The literal translation is immortal gods in love, but it actually means immortal in love.”

  My gaze softened. “That’s so beautiful.” I pushed the other ring onto his finger. My hands were shaking as I did so.

  Once the rings were on, the most incredible feeling ran through me. I felt more bonded to Nicholas. The candles flickered, then blew out, casting us in complete darkness. The tattoo on my back burned and vanished, and in its place, the Black Lily tattoo appeared. I could sense it.

  “What the—”

  Joshua spoke from the darkness. “The ritual is done. You are one with him, together for the rest of your lives, mortal and otherwise. As your partner, you took on Nicholas’s coven.”

  I stared at Nicholas’s silhouette. “Did you know?”

  “Yes,” he admitted. “Two birds, one stone. It doesn’t change how much I wanted this.”

  Nothing could bring me down from how high I felt. I leaned closer, finding his lips in the blackness, and we shared our first kiss as bound partners.

  A question lingered in my mind. I pulled away from our kiss and looked him straight in the eyes. “Why didn’t you take on my coven?”

  He bit his lip. “It’s… complicated.”

  I looked from him to Joshua. “Please, no more secrets.”

  Joshua spoke up. “Whoever is the more submissive between partners will take on the more dominant partner’s coven.”

  My eyes widened. “Wow. A little old fashioned.”

  Joshua shrugged. “It worked out in the case though.”

  He had a point. I looked back at Nicholas. “I’m not submissive.”

  Nicholas smirked. “I know. I think it refers to the type of magic. White magic will always be more dominant. It’s natural, from the earth.”

  I nodded in agreement. “Makes sense.”

  “Let’s go home,” he told me.

  I sneaked Nicholas upstairs. “
Shh.” I wondered how I was going to explain to my mom that I was supernaturally married without explaining the witch thing to her. I was sure she wouldn’t believe me anyway.

  Nicholas forced me through my bedroom door. “Lie down,” he said, gazing at me with such affection I couldn’t help but smile. He lay next to me and kissed me. It was sweet and lingering. “I’m sorry for everything.”

  I whispered back, “Don’t be. We both have done things we’re not proud of, but everything’s different now.” I looked at our rings. “I love you so much.”

  “I love you!” he said with absolute conviction. He pressed himself against me. He was rock hard.

  A smirk danced on my lips. “Well, hey there.”

  He grinned. “It’s you. You do something to me.”

  I laughed. “And you don’t to me?” I asked with sarcasm. “I did the witch equivalent of marrying you today! After everything that’s happened, I still said yes. Don’t you see, I’d do anything for you.”

  He kissed me harder, taking the breath out of my mouth. I felt his dick pulsate as he ripped down my dress. He grabbed my breasts and kissed them, softly at first, then with more ferocity.

  He pinched my clit between his lips. “My Kate,” he said between breaths. It turned him on more. “Always mine.” He kissed his way back up to my neck.

  I wrapped my hands around his cock. It was hard and long and throbbing with want. I stroked his length, moaning as I did. Feeling his want for me made me wet as hell. I moaned loudly as he grabbed my legs and pushed himself inside of me. He gazed into my eyes the entire time. I had never felt more vulnerable or more loved. I pushed myself harder against him, wrapping my legs around him.

  “I love you,” he groaned. “My beautiful Kathryn.”

  He came inside of me as I tipped into my own orgasm. Our bond seemed to fuse us together as we did. It was more powerful than any of the other times.