by V. A. Dold
She had to wake up soon. He needed her to tell him that she understood his actions. More than that, he needed her to tell him she was okay. Not that he was afraid she would die. He knew she was over that hurdle. He’d given quite a bit of blood, and the ointment had healed everything except the cuts. He just wanted to hear the words from her lips.
“Come on, leannan. Wake for me.” He stroked her cheek, marveling at the healthy glow of new skin that had replaced the burns. He smiled when he brushed a strand of blonde hair from her forehead. Already it had grown a few inches. “Please, Carolyn. Open your eyes.” He leaned over, touching his lips to first one eyelid then the other.
Carolyn’s lips parted, a low groan vibrating in her chest as her face turned instinctively toward him seeking more contact. He brushed his lips over hers. A growl of satisfaction erupted from Darius’s lips when her tongue touched his. He fought to deny his need. His Muierimei came first, and she was in no shape to handle what his body offered. He contented himself with a soft kiss, then drew back to watch her face. Any moment now and he would see her lovely blue eyes.
A soft rap came from the door a moment before it opened. “How’s she doing?” Jacqueline whispered.
“Much better. Your ointment and spell worked wonders. I just wish she would wake up.”
“Prepare yourself for a long night. She may not come around until morning. Even with magical assistance, her body has to do a lot of the work. I know you’ve fed her once or twice. When I’m finished, you might want to feed her again. Her body is burning up the nutrients at an alarming rate as it struggles to heal.”
“I’ll take care of that once you’re finished. Is there anything I can do to help?”
“Why don’t you sit on the other side of the bed, and take her hand. If she wakes, she’ll be confused and won’t know where she is. If she sees you, she won’t panic.”
“I hadn’t thought of that.” Darius did as he was told and took up his position. Watching Jacqueline work was fascinating. The ugly cuts that covered Carolyn disappeared before his eyes.
Jacqueline carefully traced the last cut with the potion and herb mixture. The instant the concoction touched Carolyn’s flesh, the cut evaporated, and all that remained was unblemished skin.
“I’ve never met a witch with the gift of healing as powerful as yours,” Darius whispered as he watched the last cut fade.
“I come from a family of exceptional healers and seers. As a matter of fact, I think Carolyn and I are cousins. My father and his brother have been estranged for decades. Last year, my father passed away, and I started searching for my lost family. If I’m not mistaken, Carolyn’s one of the cousin’s I’ve been looking for.”
“She’s a powerful seer, and I can smell the familial connection in your blood. It seems you have found at least one of your cousins. How many others are there?”
Jacqueline cleaned away the potion and herbs from Carolyn’s tummy and gathered her items together as she answered, “I think there are three, but my information is sketchy.” She gave Darius a smile and walked toward the door as she continued, “When she wakes up, I’ll introduce myself and my sister Janet.”
Darius walked her to the door and held it open. “I’m sure she will be overjoyed to learn she has family with her.”
“I pray you’re right. The animosity between our fathers was unbelievable. There’s no telling how she will feel about my family. Call me if she is uncomfortable when she awakens.”
“Thank you again, Jacqueline. I’ll do that, and I’ll also do my best to convince her to give you a chance.”
She gave him a sad smile that said she was doubtful of his success and walked out the door.
Darius quietly closed it and was about to straighten the room when he heard the sweetest voice.
“Darius?”
He rushed to her side and took her hand. “There are those gorgeous eyes I’ve been waiting to see. How are you feeling?”
“I feel pretty good for someone who should be dead. How am I not dead?”
Darius glanced away, unable to meet her eye. “You were seconds away from leaving me so I did the only thing I could think of that would save you. I took your blood and fed you mine. I completed the third exchange without your consent.”
“And that saved me?”
“Kind of. I gave you the vampiric gift of healing. Then I fed you more blood to enhance that ability. But what really did the trick was an ointment and spell that another witch named Jacqueline used on your burns.”
“Thank you. I wouldn’t have enjoyed being dead.”
His head snapped up, and he searched her face. “I forced the final exchange on you. You’re not angry with me?”
She gave him an incredulous look and then laughed. Which immediately triggered a coughing jag. “To save my life. Why would I be mad about that?”
He scowled. “I didn’t give you the choice.”
She shook her head. “You’re wrong.” Another coughing jag overtook her for a moment. “I had already made my choice when I accepted you.”
“You’re right of course, but I would have preferred it happened another way.”
Her eyes widened, and she shivered. “I would have preferred the majority never happened at all. By the way, why am I naked?”
“You were badly burned and had cuts on your chest and stomach. By the time I got to you, your clothes had burned away, and your skin was in such bad shape I didn’t dare dress you.”
“So, the evil dude who looked like Satan was real?”
“You must mean the Guild president. Aye, that bastard is real.”
Her lips thinned, and brows lowered. “Crap. I was hoping that had been a nightmare.” The cough overtook her again.
“No such luck. But the good news is we healed you before you woke. After I’ve had a little alone time with you, I have a few people I want you to meet. But for now, I don’t like the sound of that cough. Let’s see what we can do about it. Your vampire gifts are healing you, but you’re still weak and could use more blood.”
Carolyn’s shivers vanished as he settled beside her and took her into his arms. The cool temperature of her skin warmed as she absorbed his body heat. He caressed her nape and claimed her lips to kiss her with everything he had.
“Don’t ever scare me like that again. My heart can’t take it,” he whispered against her moist lips.
“There goes my plans for the weekend,” she joked as she pressed her lips to his again.
“Not funny.” He tilted his head and exposed his neck. “Take all you need, leannan.”
“Mmm. I love the way you smell.” Her fangs lightly scraped across the exposed flesh raising goosebumps and then she sank them into Darius’s vein.
Holy. Hell.
When Carolyn locked her mouth over his vein, his entire body went as tight as a guitar string. The soft caress of her lips, the erotic stroke of her tongue, and her taking nourishment from him made his lower region sit up and drool like a dog eyeing a T-bone steak.
There was no reason for his reaction to be so unexpected. She’d taken his vein before, but this was so much more. Maybe it was because they were now fully connected and she was taking of her own accord? All he knew was his reaction was incredibly intense and very intimate.
With each pull, he hardened more. His hips moved in rhythm with her sucking. He held it together—barely. She had him teetering on the edge of an orgasm without touching him sexually. Only the knowledge that she was still recovering from near death kept him in check.
With her power and strength returning, he felt ten feet tall. He’d done that for her, and it was the greatest feeling ever. There was no denying that he wanted to make love to her. God knew he did. His body hummed like a live wire, but she needed time, not sex. She was out of danger, and well on her way to a full recovery. That was the important thing.
Carolyn felt his body harden against her thigh as she drank deeply, filling her mouth with the sweet essence of his gift. The energy sh
e was gaining made her a little frisky. She swirled her tongue sensually around the punctures as she took a breath.
“Drink, my love. We can play later.” His deep voice held no admonishment.
“Spoilsport,” she mumbled without breaking contact with his neck.
She drew more of his nectar into her mouth, swallowing it down in greedy pulls. A tingling of power started in her chest, then spread to her fingers and toes as her strength returned.
“That’s my girl. Don’t stop. I can feel your power growing.”
Carolyn swallowed a few more mouthfuls and then licked the wound closed. She kissed his neck and raised her face to look into his eyes. “Thank you for taking such good care of me.”
He smiled and kissed the tip of her nose. “I love you, Muierimei. It’s my pleasure to take care of you.”
Carolyn pushed herself to a sitting position and glanced around a room she’d never seen before. “Where are we?”
“A safe house Etienne keeps in Savannah. He has them in every major city.”
“You mentioned a woman, Jacqueline I believe you called her. Does she live here?”
“No. No one lives here. The local vampires maintain it and stock it when Etienne is in town if he needs to use it. Jacqueline is one of the witches we were protecting. Actually, all seven of you are here. When the Guild attacked, we had everyone moved from the hotel. This house is the safest place you can be.”
“Why is it so safe?”
“The grounds are protected by wards and curses. If anyone who hasn’t been invited breaches the edge of the property, they won’t live to tell the tale.”
“Since I’m still alive, I assume I was invited?”
“The wards also recognize any of Etienne’s family. He turned me, and I turned you. My blood carries a trace of Etienne, and now yours does as well.”
Carolyn shook her head and chuckled. “I have so much to learn.”
“And I’ll teach it all to you. Now, Speaking of Jacqueline, I would like to introduce you to her and her sister Janet if you feel up to it. She and the others were instrumental in your recovery, but here’s the kicker, Jacqueline and Janet are also your family.”
Carolyn’s brows rose, and her chin cocked back in surprise. “I’m not related to anyone with those names.”
Darius’s narrowed his eyes. “Your father must have kept their existence from you. They’re your cousins. Their father was your uncle. The one your father took exception to.”
Carolyn’s brows crashed down. “My uncle? I had an uncle too?”
Darius swore under his breath. “Your father has much to answer for. Jacqueline is impatient to meet you. She’s been searching for her lost relations since her father passed. Apparently, your uncle and father had a falling out and were estranged. Jacqueline is concerned you will harbor ill will toward her and Janet because of their animosity.”
Carolyn leapt from the bed and made for the door. “I would never do that. Where is she? I want to meet her right now.”
Darius grinned and cleared his throat. “Leannan. You might want to get dressed first.”
“Oh! I forgot I was naked under that sheet. Do I have clothes?”
“Aye. Your belongings were brought here along with the women. They are in the closet and the top drawer of the bureau.”
She went to the bureau first. “Thank you. I swear you think of everything.” She grabbed panties and a matching bra from the neat pile on the right side of the drawer and a T-shirt and pair of shorts from the left. It took only a minute to dress, but she didn’t make a move from in front of the mirror over the bureau. She couldn’t stop staring at her reflection. She reached up and stroked the three inches of hair that had grown back.
“Your hair will be like new by tomorrow. Our hair is a mystery no one understands. Somehow it decides the perfect style for you, and no matter what you do, it returns to that style in twenty-four hours. Believe me, I’ve tried everything from cutting to coloring mine, and I wake up with the style I started with.”
“That’s insane! So you’re telling me, I have no choice in what I end up looking like?”
“Nope. But the good news is the style is always perfect for the person. I’m curious to see if yours returns to the style you had. Personally, I liked your hair.”
She sighed and dropped her hand. “So did I.”
Darius stepped up behind Carolyn and wrapped her in his arms. “Are you ready?”
“Yes. Let’s go.”
They found Jacqueline and the other five witches in the kitchen with Nick and Derick. The lighthearted conversation ceased and worried expressions transformed each face the moment they entered the room. The tension was so thick it could have been cut with a knife.
Darius took the situation in hand and pulled Carolyn forward. “Carolyn, I would like to introduce your cousin Jacqueline.”
Jacqueline’s brow was furrowed, and her eyes tightened. She looked like a person expecting a blow. From the shocked look that widened her eyes, the last thing she had expected was to be pulled into a hug.
The women held each other as if their lives depended on it. Finally, Carolyn took a step back. She had the biggest smile on her face. She could have lit up the room with the happy light shining in her eyes.
“I can’t believe I have cousins. My father never told me anything about your family.”
Jacqueline shook her head. The light visibly faded from her eyes. “My father told me too much about yours. I never believed his nasty stories. There was no way a cousin of mine could be as horrible as he said. The day after his funeral I started my search to find you.” She took a deep breath, and her innate cheerfulness returned. “I’m so glad fate brought us together in the same city. I only wish you hadn’t been tortured in the process. How are you feeling?”
“I’m as good as new.” She glanced around to include every witch in the room. “I can’t thank you all enough for everything you did for me.”
“It was our pleasure,” a striking auburn haired woman with killer curves who looked to be in her thirties said from over by the sink. “I’m Janet, by the way. Your other cousin.”
“Oh my God, come here!”
Carolyn and Janet met in the middle and hugged. As they released one another, a middle-aged woman waved from the island stools “I’m Karen.”
“I’m Tara,” a brunette woman who looked like a college coed raised her hand from over by the sink.
Another woman with brunette hair who also looked to be in her thirties waved from the island stools. “I’m Katie.”
“And I’m Stacy,” An attractive blonde with pretty green eyes sitting beside Katie said.
“It’s so nice to meet all of you. I’ve never met another witch before.”
Janet shrugged her shoulders. “Except for my sister, I hadn’t either.”
Each of the others chimed in with similar responses.
“You don’t have to be singular witches any longer,” Darius suggested. “Actually, you would be much safer if you joined together in a coven. The Guild prefers to target witches who don’t have the protection that a coven provides.”
As if in silent agreement Nick moved to stand close to Jacqueline and Derick took up a position of proprietary claim next to Janet.
The room went quiet for several minutes as the women glanced at one another. It was Stacy who broke the silence, “I’m game. Do we have to live in the same city to do that?”
Darius shook his head. “Not necessarily. You could hold your gatherings by Skype or any other service you choose. Physically being together is best but not required.”
Janet glanced at Derick and smiled. “I’m willing to relocate to New Orleans.”
Jacqueline looked at her sister and nodded. “Me too. I’ll move to NOLA.”
Nick grinned as she agreed.
Carolyn took Darius’s hand and smiled at him lovingly. “We’ve bonded so of course, I will be living with Darius in New Orleans as well.”
The other four
women one by one said they would join the coven and think about making a move but weren’t ready to commit to it.
Derick placed a hand on Janet’s arm and smiled down at her. “Good. You’ll all be safer as a group.”
Darius glanced first at Nick and then Derick. “Now that everyone has met, we’ll leave you to get acquainted. A few of the Guild members escaped our attack, and we need to try to track them down before they attempt another abduction.”
Carolyn rose on tiptoes to kiss him and gave him a reassuring smile. “Go. Do what you have to. We’ll be fine.”
Darius hated what he was about to do, but he’d made a promise to Carolyn while she was healing and he had to honor that. “If you would like to come along and take your vengeance on the Guild, you’re welcome to do so.”
“No. That isn’t necessary. I’ll stay here with my cousin’s.”
“If that’s what you want I’m good with it.” He gave the men a nod and turned to go.
Nick and Derick wore reluctant expressions but followed Darius from the kitchen. The local vampires, Rafe and Sean, glanced at the women and then joined the other men in the hallway.
Once they were out of earshot, Nick pulled Darius to a stop. “I’m sorry to tell you this, but we didn’t get the president. He escaped while we were rescuing Carolyn.”
Darius let out a bellow. His fury erupted like an active volcano. “If it’s the last thing I do, I will make that man suffer unimaginable pain before I allow him to die.”
Nick placed a calming hand on Darius’s shoulder. “We’ll get him. Collect your swords and knives. No guns. We could very well find ourselves confronting them in town. Gunfire would bring the police down on us.”
“Notify Etienne that we are going after those bastards,” Darius growled.
“I’m already on it,” Derick’s voice was edged with fury as he texted the king of the vampires. “You’re not the only one who found his Muierimei. Janet is mine. I have a personal stake in killing the rest of the Guild. Protecting her and the other women has become my number one priority.”
