“I agree.” He offered his leader a quick nod.
A small amount of guilt at the deception ate at him, but Celine had enough to worry about. Her whole world was about to get flipped upside down all because of her connection with him.
“From what Anassa has passed on, she claims this is some sort of ancient evil god that is trying to access this world through the Vestals.”
“Do you believe that?”
Rem shrugged. “It doesn’t matter if it’s a god or not. It’s real, and it’s dangerous. That’s all I care about.”
Atticus thought that over for a moment. It’s the same conclusion he’d already reached. It didn’t matter what labels they used. They had allies, and they had enemies, and that’s all they needed to know.
"Thrax said he was looking for his mate,” Atticus said. “He was certain that Celine knew where she was.”
Rem sighed and rubbed the bridge of his nose. "I've sent Vitus to help with that," he said. “She’ll need her mate to protect her.”
It seemed like ages ago now, but Atticus remembered the other hybrid taking off when Anassa mentioned their women being in danger.
Vestals. Meaning Celine and whoever Vitus was meant for.
“Could Thrax take a Vestal? He seemed so certain.”
Rem shrugged. “I think anything is possible right now,” he said. “His DNA is more similar to our own, but he is not in command of his own emotions. Agatha is playing with fire, and things will not end well.”
Atticus nodded. He couldn’t imagine that things would turn out well for the woman if things kept as they were. The power of the stone seemed to corrupt whatever it touched, and he doubted she would be any different, especially since she already seemed to have only a tenuous connection to sanity.
"The stone’s power is getting stronger,” Rem said. “Its reaching out farther and pulling in any Vestals from the nearby areas. Almost like a magnet. It is building off their power, and in doing so, is making them far more powerful as well," Rem said. "Erebus, or the Shadow Man as your woman called him, is using it as a catalyst to break through the barrier between the two worlds. He is using our women as a way to siphon power for himself so he can be free in our world."
Atticus looked down at the woman next to him. Worry set into his heart. Thinking about that creature free in their world made him shiver inside. "Will it hurt them?"
Rem nodded. "Anassa fears that this is only the start," he said. “It will keep feeding until it has finally broken through. At that point, it will be virtually unstoppable.” He shook his head and sighed loudly.
“What if we left?” Atticus said. He’d kept such thoughts to himself, but he wanted to see what his leader said.
“We left before, and we still ended up deep in shit. Maybe that’s how it’ll always be.”
“What? Like fate?”
“Who knows? We can’t run from this. The enemy is coming, and we have to take him out. If we don’t do it, who will?” Rem shrugged. "For now, we need to get back that stone," he said. “It’s our only chance to win the battles that are still to come.”
Atticus nodded slowly. "So we stand our ground and take this head on," he said. “We will come through. It is what we do. It may even be what we were made for.”
Rem nodded and gave a small smile. Atticus was glad to know their leader had no problem taking on whatever enemy lay ahead.
Celine stirred in his arms.
Rem smiled down at them. "I'm glad you found your Vestal," he said. “Something to fight for.”
Atticus nodded and stared down at the beautiful woman. She certainly was something to fight for.
"Get some rest,” Rem said as he headed toward the door. “I’m counting on you to keep our people safe here when I can’t.”
Atticus nodded and watched Rem slip out the door. He gently stroked the back of Celine’s head as she slept.
If a battle was coming, he would do whatever was needed to keep her safe.
Chapter Nineteen
Celine yawned as she heard the door close to the room but knew it must be someone checking on them again. She could still feel Atticus’s warmth behind her on the bed.
It was going to take some time to get used to the sounds of the odd Azilian compound. Even after several days, she really wasn’t quite sure what to think.
The other Vestals that lived there were strange to say the least. Although brainwashed might be the better term. She still wasn’t sure they were the good guys, but at the moment, they didn’t appear to be the bad guys.
Rem had tried to explain the situation to her, but she was still having trouble just wrapping her mind around the small things.
Plus, she’d spent days worried that Atticus might never wake up.
Celine chuckled a little at the memory of telling off the compound’s doctor. She wouldn’t have been surprised if he slept with one eye open for a while. Apparently she could be very scary when there was incentive.
“What are you laughing at?” a deep voice rumbled behind her.
Celine’s eyes shot open at the sound of the sweet voice she had longed to hear these past three days.
She flipped over in the bed and was met by a pair of very blue eyes. She reached out and wrapped her arms around him. Tears streamed down her face as she buried her nose against his neck. A steady pulse thumped there.
Atticus soothed her. His gentle hand swept along her back, rubbing in circular motions.
“I got you baby,” he whispered.
His words only made her cry more.
Celine had been strong during all of this, making sure that every little thing was taken care of. Now that he was awake, she could let out all the worry she had been holding in.
“I thought you weren’t going to make it,” she hiccupped loudly.
Atticus pulled back and stared into her eyes. “I will never leave you,” he said firmly.
Slowly the tears dried, and she was able to smile at him. Her heart was finally able to rest easy now that he was there with her.
Things would be better now. He was awake, and they could figure out just what to do.
A knot formed in her stomach. The thing she had been holding off thinking about was now at hand. There was no hiding from it. Rem and Anassa would need an answer.
“What?” Atticus asked, likely able to sense the change that had swept over her.
“I have to stay here now,” Celine said, unsure of just how to phrase it.
They had barely known one another a month and had only spoken this past week. How in the hell could she ask him to move into the strange building with her? To share in the strange new life she would have to make there?
Atticus nodded. “That was the impression Rem gave as well,” he said, and shrugged. “But as long as we’re together, I really don’t care where we live. We could live in that cave for all I care.”
Tears prickled her eyes. He said with ease the very thing she had been worried about.
Celine leaned forward and pressed a hot kiss to his mouth. When she pulled back, his blue eyes glowed brightly.
“I love you,” she whispered.
The light faded some, but a warmth passed over his face. “And I love you,” he breathed.
Atticus leaned in for another kiss. This one started slow, building before she pulled away, desperate for air.
“I’m sorry this isn’t the sort of freedom you were hoping for,” Celine said, glancing around.
Atticus sighed and leaned back against the bed, pulling her up so she rested her head against his chest.
“I don’t think I ever had a hope for something better in life,” he said softly. “You have shown me what I have been missing. If giving up a part of my freedom will keep you safe, I gladly give it.”
Celine sighed and lay her head against his chest, her fingers sliding over the ridges she could feel through his shirt. “Time in here might be a little more boring than you’re used to.”
Atticus placed a hand over hers and br
ought it to his lips. “Well then, I guess we’ll just have to make our own entertainment.”
Celine gasped when he flipped her and settled his massive body over her own. “We shouldn’t,” she whispered. “The doctor will be mad.”
Atticus raised a brow. “Pretty sure that doctor isn’t going to risk crossing you,” he mumbled.
She smirked. That was likely true. In truth, since his recovery yesterday, Atticus’s healing had been beyond anything she’d ever heard of. He was likely fully recovered, as if nothing had ever been wrong to begin with. Even the other hybrids seemed impressed.
Atticus wasted no time. Before she could even think, they were naked together, his body wedged between her thighs, spreading her wide as his cock nudged her opening.
Celine reached down and guided him inside her. There were about a million reasons why they shouldn’t, but one very good reason why they should.
Because sometimes there was only the moment to grab, and she’d be damned if she didn’t take all the moments she could.
Atticus slipped deep inside her, filling her.
They moved slowly together, taking their time as he pushed into her, drawing her climax in the sweetest way possible.
When Celine came finally, her muscles clenched hard around him, bringing his climax as well.
Atticus rolled off of her, pulling her with him as they lay together just enjoying the after moment.
“You are my family,” he said softly.
Celine tilted her head to stare into his eyes.
“Where you are will always feel like home,” he said. “No matter what, I will always be with you.”
Celine placed a soft kiss on the blue tattoo near her face. “Family,” she whispered.
It had a nice sound. It was the sort of bond that could weather a storm. That was what she wanted with Atticus.
They were family, and together they would find freedom in their own way. Their love would give it to them.
A Note from Madison
Thank you for reading Atticus. If you enjoyed this book, please consider reviewing it. We authors live and die by reviews.
Please keep an eye out for the next book in the series, Vitus.
You can join my mailing list at http://eepurl.com/OX9r5
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Author Bio
Madison currently lives with her husband and two children in the Valley of the Sun in Arizona. After leaving the frozen tundra of the north, she was more surprised than anyone with how much she has enjoyed living in the desert. Seeing as she stated on more than one occasion before moving to Arizona how much she hated heat, it was an odd move, but it seems her hatred for sub-zero temperatures and ice has won out in the end.
When she’s not writing, she’s enjoying time with her family. Madison and her family frequent festivals in the area, as well as local cultural events, and spend time with family in the area. In the summer, she is most likely to be found in the pool with the family and in the winter by the fireplace. Since both her children are autistic, days can be a little chaotic, but with her husband beside her, there’s nothing she can’t handle.
Her webpage is http://madisonstevensauthor.com/
She can be contacted at [email protected]
Atticus: #8 (Luna Lodge: Hunters of Atlas) Page 10
