Sighing as she stood up, Violca went to the desk to grab the book Viktor had left for her. It had illustrations of the older dragon ceremonies. Viktor had found a priest, a bear-shifter, who would do the ceremony. The priest seemed to understand her desire to incorporate the human world she grew up with, along with the supernatural world that she was still finding her place in. She was a little surprised to find that a shifter would become a priest. When she’d met him and asked him about it, he simply told her that they were proof of something that science couldn’t explain. Even though he was technically called a priest, he didn’t give sermons in a church. Instead, he considered himself a missionary trying to help heal those who needed help, and give direction in this time and the upcoming war with the hungers that most supernaturals felt was just around the corner.
Before going upstairs, Violca saw Aithne coming out of Viktor’s office. Aithne flashed a smile, but her green eyes looked troubled.
“Everything okay?” Violca asked.
“I just got off the phone with Lazzaro,” Aithne told her. Despite the fact that Aithne agreed with her about what they should do and had volunteered to go with her, Violca felt that she was nervous. Aithne had always felt really bad about being blackmailed into trying to kidnap Chase. They all understood, but Aithne still felt as though she had something to prove to them.
“Oh,” Violca replied, feeling butterflies in her stomach. “Did he agree to the meeting and to come alone?”
“Lazzaro agreed to it all. Said he would keep his men two miles away from the location as long as we did. He also wanted me to tell you he was very happy that you wanted to meet and looked forward to it.”
The last words were stressed. Aithne’s disgusted look told Violca that Lazzaro had somehow stepped out of line. “Do you still think meeting with him is a good idea?”
Aithne’s head snapped and she nodded. “I do. I think he just likes to get under my skin.”
Violca laughed at that last statement. When Aithne pretended to glare at her for finding her irritation amusing, she laughed even harder. “Aithne, from what you told me about him, I think he enjoys getting under everyone’s skin. He hasn’t tried anything since you guys saved your sister, and he’s left your family alone. From what I understand, his father would have killed her before you even brought him Chase.”
“Well, I hope you’re right. We’ll meet with him in three days. He’s flying back from Italy.” Aithne smiled at her as if trying to offer reassurance.
“So are you telling Chase or am I?” Violca asked, smiling innocently.
Aithne chuckled. “You got Chase...I still have to tell Viktor the good news.”
Sharing a look with her friend, Violca excused herself to head upstairs to her room. Chase and Viktor could both be overprotective when it came to them. If Violca and Aithne didn’t love them so much, Violca would find it exhausting. Instead, she found it sweet, especially when Chase sighed loudly and ran his fingers through his hair, exasperated because he knew she wasn’t going to listen anyway.
EIGHT
THAT NIGHT CHASE watched Violca intently during dinner. He noticed the way she kept biting her lip when she didn’t think he was looking, and the way Violca and Aithne kept giving each other looks. He knew Viktor had given her a book earlier, but he doubted anything in there would make her so nervous. Through their connection, he could feel her anxiety and his dragon wasn’t happy about the situation.
When dinner was done, Violca leapt up to help clean the table. Chase grabbed her hand. “Sari and Angel, would you two mind clearing the table?” he asked before Violca could protest.
Violca gave him a look and he got up to lead her from the dining room. “Where…”
“Just to our room, so we can talk alone.” Chase answered before she could finish asking him.
Violca bit her lip and he tried not to chuckle at her discomfort. He knew she would never lie to him, but catching her off guard would be the best way to get a straight answer out of her. Violca had a way of making him agree with her and he had a funny feeling whatever she was worrying about, he would need his wits about him to get it out of her.
Once in the room he noticed Violca biting her lower lip and he chuckled as he wrapped his arms around her and pulling her close. Chase gently kissed her lower lip, sucking it into his mouth before running his tongue along it. “You’ve been biting your lip so much tonight. What has you so nervous?”
Violca smiled and put her hands on his chest. “Not nervous, just a little… anxious.”
Chase chuckled, reaching up and tucking a stray hair behind her ear. “Anxious doesn’t sound any better. What’s on your mind, V?”
Violca drew in a deep breath and looked down. “Aithne called Lazzaro earlier today while everyone was out.”
Chase’s entire body stiffened and he bit back a growl. He knew this was coming. The moment he’d agreed to a location, he knew Aithne would call to set up the meeting. “What did he say?” Chase asked, noticing her small wince at his voice, which was rougher than he’d intended.
Violca bit her lip again before looking up at him. Her violet eyes met his and when he saw that she was nervous, he felt bad for hurting her. He softened his hold on her, forcing his body to relax so they could talk.
“He said he would meet with us in three days. He’s in Italy but will come home to meet with us and promised his guards would stay back as long as you guys did.” Violca spoke softly and Chase knew it was in effort to calm him down.
Chase nodded, releasing her from his hold, and walked over to the dresser where he’d put the pictures of the map from Viktor. Even now he couldn’t find anything strategically wrong with the location. “If you feel at all uneasy…”
“Banish him to hell?”
With that one phrase, she reminded him how she’d saved them from the demon Micah that wanted Violca for himself. “You could, but I think you’re right. Lazzaro would be a powerful ally and if you banish him to hell I’m not sure his second-in-command could keep the vampires from rebelling.”
Violca’s smile him made Chase realize his objections had been stressing her out. She wrapped her arms around his neck and got up on her tippy toes. “You really think it’s a good idea?” she asked, brushing her lips against his.
Chase nodded down at her as he wrapped his arms around her waist, holding her tightly to him. “I do. I’m not comfortable putting you in danger, but I think you’re right.”
Violca smiled her eyes lit up when he said he thought she was right. “I never would have guessed you were uncomfortable with me meeting with Lazzaro.”
Chase chuckled and bent down, kissing her deeply. He could feel her smiling against his lips and when he slid his hand under her ass, he ground against her until she moaned and rocked back against him.
Chase broke the kiss, reaching down to pick her up and carry her to bed. Stretching out next to her on the bed, he looked at her and brushed the hair back from her face. Her flushed cheeks and lips swollen from their kiss caused a surge of masculine pride. He slid his hand under her shirt to tease her naked flesh. “You’re amazing.”
Violca smiled at him, her one arm still wrapped around his neck she pulled him down to her. “I was just thinking the same thing about you.”
Chuckling, he raised an eyebrow. “You were, huh?”
She nodded at him a teasing gleam in her eye. “You admitted I had a good idea and now you plan on making love to me. See? Amazing.”
With a mock growl, he unbuttoned her shirt, nuzzling her neck. “I was going to make love to you, huh?”
She arched under his touch as his hands slid up her body. He heard her mumble “uh huh” and he smiled while nibbling on her ears. “You’re just full of good ideas,” he whispered as he pushed her bra up and over her breasts.
He heard her breath catch as he kissed his way down her throat, his teeth skimming the material of her lace bra. Violca’s back arched, offering him her breast and he growled low as his teeth nipped at her
already hard nipple. Chase felt her hands slide up his arms and into his hair. As she held him to her, he gently sucked on her breast.
Chase loved the sounds Violca made as he teased her breast with his mouth, flicking her hard nipple with his tongue before gently biting it. When her back arched more, he sucked it harder. He bit and licked his way across her chest as he made love to the other one just like the first.
As her breathing picked up, he felt her hips start to move and his hand slid down the taut muscles in her stomach. The sound of him unzipping her jeans filled the room and he released her breast to look down at her. Violca’s black hair fanned the pillow, her violet eyes stood out more, and her pupils dilated in desire. As he pulled back, she sat up so he could help remove her shirt and bra. Hooking his fingers into her shorts, he worked them down her hips, removing them and her thong in one swift move. “Perfection,” he whispered.
Watching a small blush creep across her cheeks, he skimmed his hand down her side. Chase felt his pride grow at how her body responded to his touch. Getting up, he quickly removed his clothes. He watched as her eyes hungrily roamed his body when he joined her a smile playing on her lips. “God, you’re beautiful,” she whispered, pulling him down to kiss her.
Kissing her gently, he settled himself between her parted thighs, loving how her body naturally seemed to arch up against his. Chase felt Violca’s hands sliding up and down his back. When she got to his shoulders, she grabbed hold, her nails digging into his skin, causing him to deepen the kiss.
Chase broke the kiss, then bit and licked along her neck as his hands massaged her breast. Rocking his hips, his cock slipped between her wet folds and he growled when he felt how wet and ready she was for him.
Violca rocked her hips up against him and he felt her nails dig more deeply into his shoulders. Her legs parted more as her hips came up. He grabbed his cock, teasing her before he entered her with one hard thrust.
He heard a soft gasp of pleasure as her body adjusted to his. Chase held himself still for a moment, until he felt her move under him. She moaned as she kissed his jaw. He loved the way her hips came up to meet his every thrust.
Holding his body away from hers, Chase looked down at her and watched the pleasure play on her face, her head turning side to side. She whimpered softly again as she bit her lower lip. The connection between them let him feel her pleasure. Violca’s eyes opened and met Chase’s. She gently cupped his cheek while wrapping her shaky legs around him. As she pulled him closer, she nibbled on his lips and he groaned at her show of need.
“I love you,” she whispered against his lips before kissing him deeply.
Picking up the pace, he swallowed her cries of pleasure as each hard thrust caused her muscles to tighten around him. Meeting each thrust, her body quivered under his and she broke the kiss to bury her face in his neck, all the while holding him tightly.
Grunting softly and kissing along her shoulder, he made his way to the crook of her neck. Her mewling sounds let him know she was close as his mouth found his mark on her skin. When his teeth scraped against it, she shuddered in pleasure, her body tightening. He felt her lips travel along his neck until she found her mark on him.
When his teeth sank into the mark, he heard her scream against his neck as her release hit. Her core spasmed around his hard, thrusting cock as her nails dug deeply into his skin. He continued to thrust into her, trying to prolong her pleasure, when he felt her teeth sink into his flesh, sending him over the edge. He gripped her hips, holding her tightly as he filled her core with his seed.
Violca’s body milked his cock as he breathed heavily against her neck. When he softened and slipped from her, he smiled. She whimpered in return at the loss of their connection. Nuzzling her cheek, he felt her tongue lick him along her bite mark and he did the same to her.
The mating bite marks on their skin were permanent. When he made love to her, Chase always marveled at how they both seemed to naturally find that mark. Every time she bit his mark, the pleasure was always intense, primal. He could hear his dragon howl in pleasure each time her teeth sank into his skin and she marked him as hers.
Catching his breath, he pulled back and looked down at her. “I love you,” he said as he brushed his lips against hers. He couldn’t protect her from everything, but he would love her unconditionally and fight by her side for as long as he could.
NINE
OVER THE NEXT THREE DAYS, Chase made love to Violca with a hunger and need that surprised her. She knew he was worried about putting her in danger, and every time they were alone, he made love to her like it might be the last time. Violca found herself constantly yawning throughout the day. Her body was so satisfied, she couldn’t get herself to mind.
Violca found herself praying that she was right and that Lazzaro would make a good ally. Violca feared that since the hunters were getting more aggressive, more groups would join Dmitri in his quest to capture her and her sisters, forcing them to find the Dragon’s Ruby to unlock its power.
Despite everything that had happened, she knew that Viktor still held hope that his brother’s grief would subside over their dead parents, giving him the strength to put an end to his silly quest. Every supernatural community found themselves under attack, and the reports of the growing number of supernaturals who went missing or were found dead, had started to alarm him. Most of these attacks, by both the hunters and the ones who followed Dmitri, had been reported in the area. Violca could see the struggle in Viktor whenever these reports came in; she noticed his speculation that Dmitri might be to blame or that he was working with the hunters.
Violca heard the door to the living room open, and she tried her best to give Aithne a smile. “Are we ready to go?”
Aithne was dressed in complete black, her hair pulled back into a long braid, and unique wraparound belt. The belt was designed to hold several blades and the handles crossed in the back so Aithne could grab them from behind. Violca knew Aithne had several blades and at least one gun somewhere on her body.
“Chase is still mad that he’s following behind us, but Viktor is riding with him so they can grumble together,” Aithne replied, rolling her eyes in exasperation.
Violca shook her head and followed Aithne out of the living room. She felt short next to her friend, who had several inches on her when they were barefoot. But today Aithne was in a pair of boots that easily put her over six feet tall, making Violca feel even shorter.
Outside, she saw two SUVs awaiting them. Aithne would be driving one and the guys would follow in the other. Violca saw the worry on Chase’s face as she walked up to him and touched his chest, trying to calm the man and the dragon she felt beneath the surface.
Chase’s face instantly softened and she smiled up at him. “Everything’s going to be okay,” Violca whispered to him as she reached up to cup his cheek.
Chase nuzzled her hand and she could almost hear his dragon rumbling in her head. Leaning up, she brushed her lips against his and felt his arms sliding around her waist, holding her close. “I don’t know what I would do if I lost you,” he said his voice rough with emotion.
Violca whispered against his lips, “Than I shall make sure you never do.”
The kiss he gave her was hot and needy as his tongue eagerly sought hers. Violca’s body pressed against his and she kissed him just as hard and as fiercely, expressing her love for him as the rest of the world fell away. Breaking the kiss, she smiled against his lips. “I will always find my way back to you.”
She heard him growl and knew that the sound came more from his dragon than the man when she heard him say, “I will always find you.”
The sound of Viktor clearing his throat near them caused Violca to jump. Blushing, she saw the worry on Chase’s face before Viktor finally spoke. “Chase, it’s time for us to go.”
With a jerk of his head, Chase released her and looked at Aithne, who smiled. “I will protect her with my life.”
Violca saw Viktor tense beside Aithne, and C
hase tilted his head in a sign of respect. By all accounts, Aithne was his queen. Even if she hadn’t had the formal crowning ceremony, she was still Viktor’s mate and received all the respect she was due.
“Thank you,” Chase said to her before walking Violca to the passenger door and giving the two a moment to say good-bye in private.
After kissing Violca one more time, Chase stepped back, looking at her intently. “If anything feels wrong, I want you to promise to get out of there. Go to the quickest exit and one of us will see you and come get you.”
“I promise.” Violca kissed him one more time before whispering, “Don’t be an ass on the drive. This is hard on him too.”
Chase chuckled at her words. The two of them were constantly being teased by the girls for being overprotective. “You two are going to be the death of us,” he mumbled, helping her into the SUV.
“No, my love, not death, but excitement and hope,” Violca declared, giving him a wink before he closed the door.
Aithne got in the driver’s seat, both of them quiet as they started the vehicle and began the long drive to meet with Lazzaro. Violca smiled, shaking her head before she looked at Aithne. “Viktor seemed to take our departure a lot easier than Chase.”
Aithne snorted and gave her a grin. “I think they would both rather fight in a battle than have us go to a simple meeting.”
They both laughed at her statement. The two of them knew this was more than a simple meeting, but lightening the mood on the long drive would help ease the tension.
“Viktor seems to be getting better about letting you help investigate attacks,” Violca said. She smiled, knowing the first time Aithne left to help Kassandra, one of the high-ranking guards and close friend, Viktor was unbearable for the two days she was gone.
Shadows and Stars Page 28
