Ride: Felicity and Niall: Episodes 1-4 (Puca Mates Collection)

by A. C. James

  The sensation of being connected to her was unlike anything he’d ever experienced in his entire life. Even the mind-link was not as vivid. He recalled the true mate legend. So it is real. He could scarcely fathom being joined to someone so intimately. Humans never took on the supernatural powers of their mates, with the exception of longevity. But he could feel everything she was experiencing as if he were the one it was happening to, and he would wring that bastard’s neck.

  The worker from the pub was kicking her even though she was already down on the ground and far too injured to fight back. He was positive that she’d broken a rib or two. Niall groaned.

  “You all right there, mate?” Fin asked.

  Niall hunched over. He gulped in air, fighting for breath. “Felicity’s in trouble.”

  Tomas was at his side instantly, concern etched into his features. “What is it?”

  “I can see, hear, feel, smell, and taste everything.”

  His childhood friend looked down at him with a confused expression and then held out a hand to help him. “You should sit down and catch your breath.”

  No time. But he couldn’t articulate that at the moment. It was like he couldn’t get enough oxygen.

  “So it’s true…” Tomas said quietly.

  “What’s true?” Finn asked.

  He was always slow to catch on. Niall could hardly breathe. It took tremendous effort to grab onto Tomas’ outstretched hand and pull himself up.

  “The true mate legend,” Tomas continued. “When you meet the one who is the other half of your soul, you become as one.”

  “They’re not even mated!” Finn said.

  “It doesn’t matter whether they’ve said the words or performed the sacred ceremony. Some things are simply meant to be,” Tomas said.

  The pain subsided somewhat, and now Niall felt as if he were floating on a cloud. He was lightheaded. Given Felicity’s current condition, he wasn’t sure whether that was a good thing or a bad thing. He had to find her.

  “No, it doesn’t matter. Follow me…we have to find her,” Niall said, taking charge again.

  He didn’t shift into his stallion form, but he sped through fields and over stone walls with inhuman speed and strength. Finn and Tomas followed on his heels, but he hardly noticed. The only thought racing through his mind was finding Felicity and killing the bastard who’d hurt her.

  Niall traced his way back along the path his sister had shown him. He reached the cottage that he’d seen in her vision, and noted the open door. He bolted up the stone pathway and barged into the dimly lit house.

  “Check all the rooms,” Niall shouted to Tomas and Finn. “Felicity! Felicity…”

  “I’ll stay with Niall. You go around back,” Tomas said, with a nod toward Finn.

  Niall barely heard them. His sole focus was on finding his mate, but he almost couldn’t sense her now.

  Finn hung back and followed Tomas’ directive. We searched the house, moving quickly, and discovered it was completely empty. A panicked shout rang out, turning his blood ice cold.

  “Niall,” Finn screamed.

  He raced back outside and around the side of the house. Finn was already heading toward Felicity’s frail body that was crumpled on the ground. That bastard was still kicking her. Dizziness overwhelmed him. It took everything he had to ignore the spinning sensation. She was passed out, but not dead. That was the only thing he was completely sure of from the true mate connection that bound them together. And then the bastard knelt beside her, a crazed sort of smile twisted his thin lips. He picked up a rock and started smashing her with it, right in the chest. He was going to kill her if he kept it up. Tomas and Finn moved toward them.

  Niall was faster than both of them. His nostrils flared, and the fury burning in his stallion took over. Protect her. He let his beast take over and do what it did best—fiercely protect the one he loved—and let the territorial nature of his stallion be awakened. Although, it was puzzling… it wasn’t even breeding season, and they weren’t mated. He suspected this was what it meant when you met your true mate. His need to chase off the bastard hurting Felicity consumed him.

  He shifted into his stallion form, howling in protest at the painful transition. The man had stopped kicking Felicity now and was staring at him, mouth agape. His stallion charged the man, and with his front hooves, he catapulted the man into the air and off the cliff. Dillon screamed as he fell to his death.

  Tomas rushed to Felicity’s side. “She’s breathing, but just barely.”

  “We need to take her to our healer,” Finn said, as he crouched next to Tomas.

  “Aye,” Tomas agreed.

  Niall’s stallion neighed in unison with Tomas. Even from Niall’s vantage point, he could tell she was having a hard time getting air, and when she breathed in, her chest appeared a little lopsided. His stallion receded to the background as he shifted into his human form. His hooves became hands and feet, his mane tapered into his hairline. He rushed to Felicity.

  “We have to get her to the veil,” he said. “Felicity, can you hear me? Do you understand what this means? Blink twice if you understand.”

  Felicity blinked twice. There was no turning back. Unmated humans were trapped in Realm—only those who’d taken a mate could travel back and forth across the veil. His stallion was overjoyed. This meant she wanted them, although he was pretty sure living was a bigger motivator. He wouldn’t think of that now. She couldn’t say it, but he could sense her emotions and see it in her eyes. She was simply glad to see him one last time and didn’t care where he took her as long as they could be together in the end. He sensed it clearly through the mate bond. It was then Niall realized that she thought she wasn’t going to make it. But their cneasaí would know what to do for her.

  “Felicity, you’re safe. All right, love? Hang on just a little bit longer.”

  Niall gently picked her up and ran as fast as he could to the veil’s threshold. Thankfully, humans would only see a blur moving past instead of a strange man streaking through the village carrying a woman.

  -Stay with me, Felicity. I need you…we need you.-

  She blinked twice.

  Chapter 9

  Felicity knew something was wrong. Her chest was asymmetrical, and she was no doctor, but it damn sure wasn’t supposed to look like that. She knew Niall was worried. She could read it in his face. He’d scooped her into his arms as if she was feather-light. If she’d the strength to tell him not to worry, she would have. But she was glad he’d come for her in the end, and she’d go anywhere with him. It was sweet how he worried about taking her across the veil. She’d have consented to being his mate and spending an entire lifetime with him even without her life being on the line. It didn’t matter where they spent it. Although given her laboured breathing, she doubted she’d get to do that now.

  She curled her body closer to his. He felt warm and fuzzy. Or maybe she was starting to lose consciousness?

  “Hang on, okay?”

  Felicity managed a weak smile. A tower loomed overhead, but she was too dizzy to look at it. She just tucked her head against his chest. They must have crossed the veil. She would have loved to take it all in, if only she wasn’t struggling to breathe and to stay awake.

  “Niall!” someone yelled, and Felicity recognized the feminine voice. It was Maelíosa. Good. At least she was safe and had made it back to the Realm. She tried to tell herself that was all that really mattered, but she wasn’t that noble and couldn’t help feeling bittersweet.

  “What did they do to her?” Maelíosa whispered.

  There were voices clamouring around Niall and faces popped in and out of view as he carried her into what appeared to be a courtyard. He was still stark naked, but no one seemed to mind. He approached someone standing at the top of a set of stairs. Felicity could only see his boots from her vantage point in Niall’s arms.

  “Sire, we need to complete the sacred ceremony. It’ll bond us and make the healer’s job a lot easier.”
>
  “Not so fast,” someone called out. “I have a right to challenge her.”

  “Fiona, close your bloody trap, or I’ll close it for you,” Maelíosa said.

  Felicity smiled again. She really did like her. It would have been grand to get to know her.

  “Unfortunately, according to clan tradition, Fiona is correct. She has the right to challenge anyone you choose to take as a mate.”

  Vaguely she thought that sounded like Fallon, but Felicity couldn’t be one hundred percent sure since she’d only met him once. She couldn’t quite remember if Niall had referred to him as ‘Sire’. Fallon had been formally introduced to her, but she’d been too embarrassed and concerned about leaving a bad impression to pay attention to details. Right—if you could call the encounter in front of the mirror in Niall’s foyer where Fallon had made an impromptu appearance while they were making love a formal introduction.

  “And according to clan tradition, if the mate being challenged is incapacitated, then there can be a second. I’ll gladly stand for her,” Maelíosa said. “Although I’d be very careful about challenging Felicity. She saved my life, and she’s Niall’s true mate.”

  There were murmurs throughout the crowd, followed by a silence in which you could hear a pin drop.

  Fiona cleared her throat and bowed to Maelíosa. “I withdraw my challenge. She saved your life.”

  Fallon stepped forward and took her hand, placing it in Niall’s, and then he joined them together with a crimson ribbon.

  He gestured to Niall. “You may speak the sacred words.”

  “I, Niall, take thee, Felicity, as my wedded wife, till death us do part, and thereto I plight thee my troth. Deo mo ghrá,” Niall said carefully, his eyes never breaking away from hers.

  “She is your mate and a member of our clan. Cherish do maité,” Fallon said. “Kieran, get the healer.”

  “Aye.”

  There was applause, but Felicity hardly noticed. If she didn’t make it, she’d die happy. Mate. She was his for however long or short that might be. The crowd parted for a woman with silver hair, who approached them. She touched Felicity’s ribs.

  “How serious is it?” Niall whispered.

  “She’s broken at least two ribs and punctured a lung,” the healer said. “Lay her down. I have to work quickly.”

  What happened next was nothing short of magical. The healer murmured an incantation that Felicity couldn’t understand. She closed her eyes, waving her hands above Felicity. Something that appeared to Felicity to be a magical tube of light appeared above her. The healer took it and pushed it straight into her chest. Suddenly, she could breathe again. It was the most miraculous thing she’d ever seen in her entire life. She continued to press her hands on Felicity’s ribs, and then moved to the wound on her head. Slowly, her head felt clearer.

  “There now,” the healer said, patting her head gently, almost as if she were a small child. “She needs rest. Your mating must be consummated, but be gentle with the girl.” The healer smiled at Felicity and then left her to contemplate the evening Niall had in store for her.

  “Niall…”

  “Shhh, love, I know what you’re trying to say. I’d go crazy if I lost you too.”

  “Actually, I was going to ask about the consummation part,” Felicity said. “Our mating must be consummated?”

  Niall laughed. “Aye. For all intents and purposes you are my mate, but we’d better make it official tonight. Besides, it’s been far too long since I’ve had you in my bed, and I nearly…” His voice cracked as he trailed off.

  It touched Felicity that he couldn’t bear to say it again and remind himself of what they’d almost lost.

  “I won’t argue with that. There’s no place I’d rather be than in your arms.”

  Niall smiled down at her. “Aye, love, but first I suppose I’d better present you to my sire or I’ll never hear the end of it. After all, the first time he laid eyes on ye was when you were half-naked and the other…”

  “Half-dead,” she said, finishing for him. She’d try to make light of it and not be horrified over meeting Fallon face-to-face.

  Niall pinched her.

  “Owww!”

  “You’ll be lucky if I let you out of my bed, let alone my sight. I swear, when I read that note of yours, I could have throttled you for not waiting for me.”

  He had a point, but she wouldn’t argue with him about what she’d done. If she hadn’t gone, maybe his sister wouldn’t have made it. Why ruin her wedding night?

  Felicity shuffled her feet. “Sorry.”

  His amber eyes flashed at her apology. “You’ll come to me first and always, no matter what.”

  “Yes,” she whispered.

  Niall lowered his head, kissing her, and all the times they’d twisted the sheets came back to her in a rush. This was what it meant to be loved and appreciated exactly as you were. He loved her, curves and all. And without a shadow of a doubt, she loved her sexy stallion mate. His heady scent, his kiss, made her sex clench, and as much as she wanted to meet his sire under better circumstances, she wasn’t sure if now, with her desire damping her thighs, was really a good time either.

  He broke the kiss. She felt breathless and incredibly giddy, but she figured it might have something to do with the fact she’d almost died. Whatever crazy magic the healer worked had given her a second chance at life and love with Niall…with her mate.

  Chapter 10

  Felicity leaned into Niall, who’d wrapped his arm around her shoulders as they made their way over to Fallon. He was standing in the courtyard with Maelíosa and a slightly shorter, darker version of her. She could clearly see the family resemblance in the younger girl, and Felicity guessed it was probably Niall’s other sister, whom he’d spoken of before.

  “Sire,” Niall said. “I’d like ye to meet Felicity. I know, er, I reckon you remember her from before, but introducing her then wasn’t quite as it should have been.”

  Niall’s faltering and semi-embarrassed speech wasn’t helping, but it was rather cute. She’d never seen him flustered. Then again, she’d never really seen him interact with his family apart from his friendly banter with Maelíosa. She was getting to see a whole new side to him, and she loved it. Still, Felicity felt a flush spread across her cheeks.

  “Well, I won’t shame the lass by mentioning how I first met yer mate-to-be, but I’m glad you took me at my word.”

  Felicity wondered about that, but she’d ask Niall about it later.

  “It’s not like ye gave me much choice,” Niall grumbled. “But in this case, I’m glad it led me to her.”

  Maelíosa grinned, clearly enjoying the sight of her sibling fazed by their father.

  Niall glared at her.

  The young girl stood watching them with perceptive amber eyes that matched Niall’s. She turned toward Felicity. “I’m Darcy, Niall’s sister.”

  “It’s very nice to meet you, Darcy.”

  “I’m so glad to see my brother finally settle down. I didn’t think he’d ever take a mate,” Darcy said. “Although Fiona has been trying for years.”

  “He’s not the only one she’s tried to tie into being her mate,” Maelíosa muttered.

  Fallon shot her a stern look, and Maelíosa shrugged her shoulders almost apologetically.

  Niall laughed and squeezed Felicity’s shoulder a little tighter. “I didn’t think I’d take a mate either.”

  “You have to visit the castle tomorrow,” Darcy said, beaming. “I have a present to celebrate your mating my brother.”

  Felicity assumed his little sister was probably much, much older than she looked, but she had an air of innocence and excitement about her that was contagious. She immediately liked Darcy and wanted to get to know her better.

  “Thank you so much,” Felicity said, and extended a hand.

  Darcy hugged her instead, wrapping her arms around her brother in the process. Felicity wobbled on her feet, suddenly feeling bone-tired and more than a little
overwhelmed. Cyn was the closest thing she had to family, so this would definitely be an adjustment, to say the least.

  Niall tightened his grip on her. “Are you all right, love?”

  “I’m fine… Just feeling a bit tired.”

  “She needs her rest, and we should leave you to your duties. Tend to your mate,” Fallon said.

  “Aye,” Niall said. “You may not see us for a few days.”

  Maelíosa snickered as Kieran joined them. He’d been conversing with Niall’s best mate, Tomas, who she didn’t see anywhere now.

  “Hey,” Darcy protested. “You can’t keep her all to yourself, you know. Besides, I have something for her.”

  Niall cocked a half-smile at his little sister, indulging her. “Fine, we’ll see you tomorrow then.”

  It was cute how easily he gave into his youngest sister. And before Felicity could protest, he’d swept her into his arms again and was carrying her off.

  “Don’t forget to come to the castle tomorrow,” Darcy called after them.

  Felicity nodded and waved over Niall’s shoulder, but she wasn’t sure if Darcy even noticed.

  “You don’t have to carry me. I’m not exactly light,” Felicity said.

  Niall kept on walking, quickening his pace. “I need to be inside you. You are mine, Felicity, but I need to make it true. Mark you with my scent after the ceremony so that everyone knows that you are my mate.”

  Her breath caught. She barely noticed when they approached a stone cottage and Niall carried her inside, laying her gently on the bed. Sex with Niall had never been entirely tender, but the way he handled her with care now was almost reverent. She propped herself up on her elbows and swallowed the emotion tightening her throat as he lay next to her.

  He brushed a thumb across her bottom lip. “I imagine you want to get cleaned up. Shall I draw you a bath?”

  Felicity smiled. “That’d be grand.”

  She watched his perfectly shaped rear as he retreated to the bathroom. He’d been naked throughout the ceremony and was still naked now. A smile curved her lips. Felicity could get used to him walking around like this, and she supposed that was one of the perks of being mated to a shifter. How on earth did she get so lucky?