by Maggie Walsh
Sage’s eyes were wide with fear. Dread filled him from the tone in Slade’s voice. “So what happened? Did you find her?”
Tears built in Slade’s eyes and his jaw clenched. “Yes,” he whispered hoarsely. “One of the troupes they had given her to was a Drow troupe.”
“And who are they?”
“They are the only truly evil of all elves, and they live underground. So you can only imagine what would happen to a sun elf living underground. We need the sun for survival just as much as I need blood because of my vampire half.”
“Oh gods, no. So what happened to your mother? Were you able to rescue her?”
“No,” Slade whispered. “They had held her there in the dark for over two months before she died. As well as keeping her from the sun, they didn’t feed her very often. She actually starved to death. Well, I’m not sure what got her first. The lack of food or sunlight. I found her dead body and I was so enraged that I attacked. I killed every member of that troupe. Then I brought her to where we buried my father’s ashes and laid her to rest at his side. After that, I returned home to the sun elves and I told them what had happened. They all looked horrified, but I knew it was because they knew what would happen to sun elves without the sun, not from what actually happened to my mother.
“Once she’d returned, they treated her as beneath them. They basically used her as a slave as punishment for going against their wishes to begin with. They were all very cruel to both of us. But my mother thought it was the only place we would be safe, so she suffered whatever they did to her, and I did whatever they told me to do to try to make her life easier.
“When I was done telling them about what happened, they told me to get back to the fields. That the crops needed a lot of care after I abandoned my duties for so long. That same rage that filled me when I found my mother, engulfed me again, and I left. I was so angry all I wanted was revenge. So a few months later, I used my vampire abilities and I went back to that cave where I had found my mother and I collapsed all the exits, making it a tomb.
“Then every night I disseminated into the sun elf village and grabbed some of them, dropping them into the cave, then going back for more. It took me a week to grab them all. After three consecutive days of elves disappearing the rest of them were scared and some of them came to find me. They asked me to come back and help protect them, saying that I owed them for giving me and my mother a home when we had nowhere else to go.
“I told them I would come back, but that was all I would do. Watch them. When the week was up and I had every member of the troupe in that cave, I watched them. They begged and pleaded for me to release them. Some even cried how sorry they were for how they treated me and my mother. I told them they made me promise to protect them and that’s what I was doing. I put them in that cave to protect them from the evils of the world, including themselves. Then I disseminated. I went back a few months later and found them all dead. I left them there in that tomb and walked away.
“I felt no regret, no remorse, just a sense of right. As time went by, however, I realized how wrong I had been. As much as I craved my revenge, I took all those lives, and that was wrong. Even though they treated my mother and me so horribly and they were the cause of her death, it was not up to me to judge and punish them. My revenge should have been just walking away and letting them suffer because they no longer had a slave and would have to start taking care of themselves again. The regret and remorse started to sink in until it consumed me. The pain of what I had done became so intense, that I couldn’t function most of the time. So I found a way to push it down and keep it hidden. I stayed away from everyone and lived a life of solitude, only being around others when I had to, or for blood. It was what I deserved after what I had done. I traveled around for years not feeling anything. I just shut down my emotions so that all the pain of what I had done wouldn’t kill me.”
“Oh, love, I am so sorry you had to go through all of that,” Sage whispered and he rubbed Slade’s chest in comfort. “I understand why you did what you did. And under the circumstances I may have done the same thing. Hell, I did do the same thing. I killed the bastard who destroyed my mother. So how did you get past it? How did you fight it and move on?”
“I was lying in this crappy little shithole of a room above a tavern, when suddenly this stunningly beautiful woman appeared before me. She had long golden hair, with a crown of vines on top of her head. She wore a long white robe with a golden sash, and her feet were bare. Her eyes were the most amazing blue I had ever seen and her voice was soft, and sounded like an angel’s. She told me the time had come for me to move on and stop the pity party. That I had punished myself long enough and I needed to find a new meaning in life. One that would make up for what I had done and give me redemption. When I asked her what that was, she just smiled at me and whispered, ‘Dante Calabrese and Micah Angel.’ Then she vanished. I had no idea who these men were and I said that to the empty room, and suddenly I heard her voice again, telling me that they were in Pennsylvania and they were my path to true redemption and happiness.
“So I went to Pennsylvania and I found them. Everything I had heard about them told me these were good, honorable men. I asked them to give me a chance as one of their guards and they did. But I had to tell them everything about me. They said that they would never tell another soul and that anything I told them would be kept between us, but they needed to know in case anyone ever came after me for revenge. When they learned of my gifts and my great tracking skills, they hired me to be their secret weapon. If they ever needed anyone to be found, they called me.”
“Wow. I’m not sure what to say. So many questions are rolling around in my brain. Who was the woman?”
“I have no idea. But she was right. Working for Dante and Micah has given me some peace and has helped me through the pain. The more I help others, the less I felt the weight of my guilt on my shoulders dragging me down.”
“Then I’m glad you found them. You’re a good man, Slade, and you deserve forgiveness and redemption. After what they had done to you and your mother those elves did deserve to be punished.”
Slade looked deeply into his eyes and cupped Sage’s cheek. “And so did your father. We both may have taken that punishment too far, but when the heart is involved, clear heads don’t always prevail. I have found a way to try to make up for my transgressions, but I believe you have, too. With your powers you can use them for good. You can choose to be on the side of light. You are a good person, mate, and I know you will choose right. Look at those men you helped rescue.”
“I didn’t do that, you all did.”
“But it was because of you we were led there. And there are more out there just like them. Suffering at the hands of the Genesis and all his followers. Who knows how many are being controlled by the Rapture? You can use your powers to help them and destroy Francis.”
“Do you really think so?” Sage asked hopefully.
“I know so,” Slade answered with conviction.
“With you saying that and believing in me I feel like I can do it. As long as I have you by my side I believe I can fight against the evil that wants to claim me.”
“You do have me, mate. For always. I am right here by your side, where I belong. Together we can find our redemption,” Slade promised and leaned forward, capturing Sage’s lips with his.
The kiss was soft, gentle, and filled with promises, but it quickly escalated into a burning need. Slade’s hand slid around Sage’s back and pulled him against Slade’s hard chest. Sage’s hips began to move on their own, as he pressed his now hard cock against the ridges of Slade’s six-pack.
Suddenly Slade grabbed the hem of his shirt and ripped the garment in two up his back. Sage pulled back from the kiss with a gasp. “That was so hot,” Sage said in a husky voice.
“Oh yeah?” Slade asked breathlessly as he panted. “How about this?” Slade tore the shirt from Sage’s body, then lifted him up in his arms as Slade stood. He placed Sage
on his feet and let his claws grow.
“And what do you plan on doing with those, mate?” Sage asked with mirth.
“This,” Slade growled and with a few sweeps of his claws Sage’s pants were gone and he stood in the cool room completely naked. Slade lifted his shirt up over his head, then tossed it away. His hands went to his own pants and quickly removed them, then his shoes.
Sage licked his lips as he stared at all of Slade’s bulging muscles. “Fuck, you are so gorgeous. You would look amazing up on a stage stripping. I would go broke from shoving dollars down your G-string,” Sage purred.
Slade gave him a smirk and moved closer, placing his hands on Sage’s hips. “Oh yeah? Dollar bills only?”
“Hell, yes. It would give me more chances to shove my hand against your crotch than a hundred-dollar bill would,” Sage said with a laugh.
“You don’t need any excuse to rub your hand against my crotch, sweetness. Whenever the notion grabs you, whether it be Christmas, a Tuesday, or your hand is bored and looking for something to play with. You want it, it’s yours.”
Sage burst out laughing and stepped closer, pressing his body to Slade’s. “Oh yeah? So how about midnight on the Fourth of July? I’m sitting outside with a thousand people just watching the fireworks, but I think, ‘Hey, do you know what would make this moment perfect? If I had a nice big, thick cock in my hand to stroke.’ Or how about during dinner with Raith and Maddy? I suddenly have the urge to just whip it out right there at the table and start playing.”
Sage could see the smile that Slade was trying desperately to hide. But his gorgeous mate was losing the battle. His lips pressed tightly closed and Sage watched Slade’s tongue moving around inside, poking against the inside of his cheek as his eyes filled with laughter. Then it broke free. Slade’s lips went up in the corners and a beautiful smile spread across his face as he started to laugh. “Life with you is going to be one hell of a roller coaster, and I love roller coasters, baby.”
Slade held him tight and claimed his lips. Sage immediately opened for his mate and their tongues dueled. The kiss was rushed, feral, and sloppy, but Sage loved it. Slade slid his hands down Sage’s back and grabbed his ass, pulling him up. Sage got the hint and lifted his legs, wrapping them around Slade’s waist and his arms around his neck. “I need you now, mate. This is going to be hard and fast,” Slade growled against his lips, then thrust his tongue back in deep.
Sage could hear the need and desperation in Slade’s voice, and he couldn’t agree more. He needed his mate inside him right the fuck now. But then a horrible thought hit him and he pulled back from the kiss. “We don’t have lube,” he said in a panic.
Slade gave him another one of those smirks that he was coming to love so much. It meant the wicked side of his mate was coming out. “We don’t need any,” Slade announced, then began to chant.
Suddenly Sage felt a tingling in his hole and a stretch. It felt like Slade had four fingers buried deep inside him and it was delicious. He grabbed on tight to Slade’s shoulders and threw his head back as he cried out his pleasure. A few moments later the blissful feeling dissipated and Sage lowered his head, opened his eyes, and met Slade’s heated gaze. “Gods, you are fucking beautiful in your passion, mate. I can watch you all day,” Slade said.
“Spending all day in bed with you as we touch, suck, fondle, and fuck sounds great to me.” Sage’s voice came out deep and growly. “How did you do that, mate? And what the hell was that?”
“It’s a nice little spell I can teach you that opens you up quickly, without pain, so that you are ready for my cock,” Slade answered in an equally deep voice, then nipped Sage’s chin. “I wouldn’t always want to use it because I love playing with your ass and getting it ready for me, but in times like this it comes in very handy.”
“True, and think of all the money we could save on lube,” Sage said with a laugh.
Slade chuckled as he shook his head, then leaned in for another kiss. Sage felt them moving, then the cold hardness of concrete touched his back, causing him to gasp and arch away from it. “Damn, that’s cold.”
“Then I’ll have to warm you up,” Slade growled and kissed him again.
The kiss was so hot and all-consuming that Sage couldn’t even think. His body started to move and slide against Slade, his hips thrusting, needing more. Slade’s hard shaft skimmed across his crease and the bulbous head slipped between his cheeks and pressed at his hole. Sage pushed his ass down against the tip just as Slade thrust up and he entered Sage and was fully seated in one quick glide. “Yes!” Sage cried out and tightened his hold on Slade.
“Fuck, you’re so tight, baby. I love the feel of you wrapped around me,” Slade panted.
Slade plunged into him over and over, each thrust harder and faster, taking Sage’s breath away. Sage bucked his hips against Slade, loving the friction of his ripped abs against the underside of his cock. Slade’s fingers dug into the flesh of his ass, holding him tighter. “I need to come, baby. I need to feel you come on my cock, squeezing me and milking my seed into you.”
“Oh fuck, yes. I love it when you talk dirty to me. Fuck me harder, love. Claim me with that massive cock and fill me so that everyone will smell you on me and know that I belong to you,” Sage cried.
Those seemed to be the magic words for his mate. Slade started pounding into him frantically, his cock rubbing Sage’s prostate perfectly. Then Sage felt it. Slade’s fangs bit into his neck, making him dizzy with lust. With each pull of his blood, Sage could feel his cum getting closer, as if Slade were sucking it from his body as well. Slade slammed in one last time and lights exploded behind his eyes as his orgasm erupted between them, coating their stomachs, and Sage screamed his man’s name at the top of his lungs. Then he felt the warmth of Slade’s seed bathe his insides.
Both their bodies stayed taut and locked in the bliss of their joined orgasms for a few moments until Sage relaxed against Slade, going limp in his arms. He felt the last grains of energy leave him as exhaustion took over. Slade licked his mark closed, then kissed the top of his head, and Sage was being moved again. Without opening his eyes, he knew Slade had walked them to the couch and sat. Slade shifted Sage’s legs so that he was sitting comfortably on his lap, his head resting on Slade’s shoulder.
“It’s been a long, emotional day for you, sweetness. Sleep. I’ll be here to protect you.” Sage heard the softly spoken promise right before the darkness claimed him.
* * * *
Slade sat there content as he held his mate in his arms. Their lovemaking was something he was quickly becoming addicted to, as well as his mate’s sweet lips, incredible blood, and beautiful soul. And his mate did have a beautiful soul. He had no doubts about that. But Sage did, and Slade would have to help him to see the truth of his goodness. Slade could feel it to the very core of his being that Sage would never choose the dark side of his bloodline’s power, and he would die proving it to his man.
He only hoped that Sage was done running from him and his family, and would let them help him. His wonderful mate needed to get it into his head that he belonged to Slade now, as Slade belonged to him, and he was never letting him go. In Sage’s arms he felt complete for the first time in his life. His mate filled him with a sense of peace that he hadn’t felt since before his father died.
Sage’s big heart, vibrant personality, and humor only made Slade crave his mate more and always want to be in his presence. Sage filled him with joy and made him laugh. Nobody had been able to make him truly laugh since his mother was alive. And Sage’s laugh, gods, his laugh was so beautiful and made Slade feel light. He always wanted to hear the musical sound of his mate’s laugh.
Slade chuckled lightly when he thought of how Sage’s mind worked. When he came out with that whole Fourth of July cock-stroking thing and whipping it out in front of Raith, Slade could hardly keep the laughter in. He even brought laughter and playfulness to sex. Slade had never laughed or played during sex before, but he found himself lov
ing it. He loved everything about his mate and wanted to be a better man for him.
When he had heard Sage scream out his pain inside his head, the depth of that pain had made his knees buckle, and he’d dropped to the ground. His heart constricted in torment inside his chest as if the suffering were his own. Then the anguish only increased when he’d realized it was coming from his mate. When he’d stepped inside that room and saw the way Sage was crumpled over in despair and the tears rolling down Sage’s cheeks, and the swollen eyes, Slade couldn’t breathe. He just wanted to run to his mate and take all the pain away.
Slade tightened his hold around Sage and kissed the top of his head, then buried his face in Sage’s soft hair and closed his eyes. “I’ll never let you go, sweetness. And I will fight and kill anyone who tries to take you from me. I give you my oath that I live only for you now, my mate. I will not let anything harm you again and I will be right there by your side no matter what the fight. I will not let you fall. I love you, Sage.”
Chapter 9
Sage stepped into his jeans. As he pulled them up over his hips, Slade wrapped an arm around his waist, pulling him close and stealing a quick kiss, then released him and stepped back. Sage giggled and watched as Slade buttoned his jeans and pulled up the zipper. Slade’s gaze met his and Sage loved the happy look in his mate’s eyes. It made him look even more stunning than he already was.
“What?” Slade asked happily as he pulled his shirt over his head and caught Sage still staring at him.
“Nothing,” Sage said with a laugh and bent down to retrieve a shirt from the dresser.
