by Storm Savage
“I was never one of your soldiers,” Von said low and mean. “I’d never run with a pack of pussies like them.”
“Doesn’t matter,” Hatch said with a wry grin. “I fueled your hatred because I knew it would push you that much closer to Flame. You think you fooled me. I knew why you wanted to come back. I was well aware of your lust for the prodigy.”
“No,” Von countered. “You’re the fool. I’m not in lust with her. I’m in love with her.”
“If professing your love eases your conscience, so be it, now hand her over. Now that you’ve mated with her, the time to reproduce hybrids has finally arrived. You will sire her offspring while she reigns at my side.”
A thwarted look traversed Sandra’s face. “Her? What about me?”
Hatch kissed her forehead. “No worries, darling, you’re not going anywhere. You’ll be busy recruiting new men into the fold and rebuilding our army of creepers. I have instilled the art of seduction into your soul.”
A host of mixed emotions flashed across Sandra’s face, yet she held her tongue. Most likely out of fear, Flame mused. Her eyes were drawn to Sandra’s forehead where Hatch had placed his kiss. A crescent shape began to glow—the confirmation of the truth. Sandra is Cassie’s replacement and doesn’t even know it yet! Twilight’s shrewd tactics astounded her.
“Now give me my queen, Von, your job is done until the next mating.” Hatch reached for Flame.
“I don’t think so.” Von’s hand shot out at uncanny speed and blocked Hatch’s touch. “She belongs to me.”
Hatch sighed and laughed sardonically. “Okay, I can appreciate the whole protective hero bit, but the game is over. Time to give her up.”
“I told you, I love her. You can’t stop that.”
He backed off and stared at them curiously. “Love? Love has nothing to do with it. You are cursed. You can’t feel anything but burning lust.”
“Not anymore. She shattered the hold you had over me. I feel everything a real man should feel with a woman. Something you’ll never have. If she does bear offspring, they sure as hell won’t belong to you—another thing you’ll never have.”
“Impossible,” Hatch growled while his gaze shifted between them. “You can’t break the curse unless there is—” He stopped short but continued his open scrutiny.
“Trust?” Von smirked, pulling Flame back a few steps.
“Yeah…that. Only the return of your humanity could enable such a bond.”
“A little glitch in your masterful plan enabled Flame to beat you at your own game.”
Flame didn’t say anything, nor did Sandra. They watched the two men enter a battle of wills.
“We do trust each other,” Von told him.
“You sure about that?” Hatch taunted. “Because from what I see right now, she looks pretty blown away. Unless you’ve won her trust, the curse is not broken.” He turned on her. “What do ya say, baby, do you sincerely trust this fiend who kidnapped you, seduced you, and came back to do it again?”
She felt him trying to force his way into her mind and decided to end this torment once and for all. Without answering right away, she took Von’s knife from his hand and wiped it clean on her pants. Somehow, somewhere from deep inside she instinctively knew what to do.
“Judge for yourself,” she said, then swiped the blade across her left palm, making a deep cut.
Von offered her his hand before she even asked. Their eyes met when she dragged the knife over his left palm. He lifted her bleeding hand to his mouth and sucked the throbbing wound. She did the same to him, never breaking eye contact. Sheer euphoria flooded his gorgeous eyes. He placed his other hand at the back of her head, holding her close. For a moment lost in time, they were the only two standing in the room. Intense arousal for him mounted in her core and she could tell he felt the same by the way he drank from her hand.
I trust you, baby. She willed her thoughts to his.
He closed his eyes gently for a second. Long black lashes touched his high cheekbones. He looked utterly swept away.
You’ve done it, Flame. The soothing voice of her Supreme Lioness came into her mind. You have stolen the Satellite from the evil realm and sealed his blood to yours in trust. He will forever belong to you.
Von opened his eyes. They remained locked in an intense silent exchange of emotion for another few seconds before easing apart. He wrapped her in a protective embrace and turned to face Hatch.
“He belongs to me now,” she told Hatch, who stood seemingly shell-shocked. “Of his own free will, he chose to feel again and come to me. I just sealed his blood to mine.”
“You made a blood-bond with him?”
“Twice…the first was to guide his humanity. This one sealed our trust.” Flame glared at Hatch, channeling all the rage in her soul into that one heated look. She spoke slowly, vehemently. “We could kill you right now but it will be worse for you to watch your empire crumble bit by bit. You threatened to pluck my sisterhood one by one. I am now your worst nightmare come true. Go ahead and use Sandra to build a new hoard of creepers. I’ll enjoy watching you squirm as we kill them all.” She licked Von’s blood from her lips in a deliberate taunt. “You will feel the hell of your own curse every time I make love to my new Satellite as you burn with insatiable lust. I will make sure of it. And when the time comes to deal the final blow…you will know just how powerful I have become.”
For the first time since she’d known him, Hatch appeared visibly shaken. He didn’t move or offer a verbal response. The regret and fear in his eyes was unmistakable. Already more powerful than him, she read his mind—he knew she’d make good on every word.
Von moved her behind him, then clutched Hatch by the throat. “The next time we meet, my woman and I will annihilate you and any army you build. Our combined blood grows stronger every minute.” Using very little effort, he flung Hatch into the far wall with impressive force. “Kiss your hybrid plan goodbye.”
“That goes double for me.” Flame pointed a finger at Sandra, who seemed somewhat dazed and confused. “You’ll be sorry you ever tangled with me, bitch.”
Hatch looked up from the floor. “Nobody expected you to win.” He coughed and wiped blood from his mouth. “I can’t believe you did it, stole my favorite tool and won his loyalty. I didn’t think Von could care about anyone except himself.” He stared in open shock, then added, “This war might be over, but I have something you’ll want much more than my pathetic Satellite.” He smirked then winced in pain before vanishing before their eyes, taking Sandra with him.
“Let’s get outta this place.” She grabbed Von’s hand and led the way out. “What do you think he was talking about?”
“Empty threats maybe, whatever he’s got in mind we’ll be up for it.”
“I love the way you think. What should we do about this bloody mess?”
“Burn it.”
Their eyes met. She smiled. They found a can of gasoline in the garage.
“You had me worried for a few minutes over breakfast,” she confessed as they watched the Kaminski house transform into a raging inferno.
“I wasn’t sure how much time Ian had bought us. I couldn’t risk blowing my cover.”
“I see.”
He draped an arm around her shoulders and leaned into her. “I had a few tense minutes myself when Hatch showed up. Fuck. Whoever thought Hatch was the Twilight’s ruler.”
“Really. I knew he was controlling but never imagined this. It suits him, though.” She let out a light laugh. “Were you worried I might not hold up my end after you helped me slaughter his ancients?”
“Maybe just a little. You blew me away with the surprise blood-bond. That is hotter than hell. I’m still burning for you.”
“Yeah…” She looked up into the eyes that stole her breath with just a glimpse. “The urge seems to come when I need it.”
His gaze never left hers as he raised her hand to his lips. An intense ache welled between her thighs when he swirled his t
ongue over the fading wound.
She shivered. “We need to take off because you’re really turning me on.”
He kissed his way up her arm, over her shoulder, along her neck and across her face to her lips. She welcomed his seeking tongue into her mouth while curling her arms about his neck. A blissful sigh escaped her, relieved to be in his arms with the war behind them.
“I’m taking you home via the immortal way. Since our blood is sealed, you shouldn’t feel travel sickness again. You’re tapping into my power quickly. Besides, I don’t wanna wait three days to have you all to myself again.”
With an easy hop, she leapt into his arms and locked her legs around his waist. “I don’t think I can make it another hour before going crazy on you again.” She bit at his neck, making him groan. “Take me home, baby.”
Von adjusted her weight so that the bulge in his leathers nestled perfectly between her thighs. “Damn, sweet thing, you keep me hard all the time.”
“Would you rather I walk to the bike?”
He drew back just far enough to look at her. “Hell no. I’ll carry you to paradise and back if you promise to keep those sexy legs wrapped around my waist.”
“Mm…you’ve already done that.” She tugged playfully at his bottom lip with her teeth. “But you’ve got a deal.”
His hot gaze moved over her then focused at her neck. “You still wear the necklace.” He lifted it with two gentle fingers.
“Yes, does that bother you? Do you think I am still holding onto Raef?”
“No, the sapphire is stunning just like you and matches your sultry eyes. A gift from the other side should never be taken lightly. I wouldn’t want you to take it off.” His smile radiated confidence, sexy and sincere. “I’m not insecure. You had a past with Raef and I get that. But your future is with me.”
Flame ran her hands over his satiny hair. “Yes…it is…thank you for understanding.”
* * * *
“There has been a startling turn of events,” the Supreme Lioness spoke with unmistakable and grave concern. “A gap opened between worlds that should not have been opened.”
Phoebe sat on bent knees, gazing up at the breathtaking apparition of their high ruler. This was her first time at Sacred Pond, her first meeting with the head Lioness who hovered above the pure crystal waters in all her glory, enveloped by a shimmering mist. Long golden hair flowed around her like a mane of gold silk. Warm green eyes, evident with affection, gazed back at her.
Phoebe bowed her head. “I’m so sorry. I failed to protect Flame’s horse.”
“Rise, young one, you have taken the throne much sooner than we planned. How are you holding up?”
“I’m doing my best, my lady. The damage control over Naami tainting the lab monopolized my time and I did not notice the gap.”
“You are not to blame. Naami took what did not belong to her and broke the trust of our most esteemed warrior.”
“Why didn’t Flame’s victory stop the evil realm from stealing Paloma?”
“Naami’s pregnancy opened the gap while Raef was still trapped in the void between darkness and light. Her timing couldn’t have been worse to pursue Raef. The physical connection enabled Twilight to find us, sneak in, and take the horse.”
Panic gripped Phoebe. “The evil realm knows of our location?”
“They had access to our village for a very brief period. I was forced to take extreme action to prevent disaster. Flame fought hard and overcame nearly impossible trials to steal their Satellite. She has always placed our nation before her own desires. I could not let her down when she’d come so far. I could not risk losing another prodigy because of one selfish act.” The Lioness appeared very upset, shifting back and forth over the pond. “I will not allow Naami’s foolishness to interfere with Flame’s success.”
“What did you do?” Phoebe asked with wide eyes. Her body trembled with anxiety. To her knowledge, the Supreme Lioness rarely exhibited anger and had never taken it upon herself to take action.
“I used Twilight’s trick against them. I had no choice. The gap had to be sealed before the evil fiends stole more than our rarest horse. They would’ve descended upon our women and rained hell upon our village.” She paused. Sadness then fury flashed in those piercing green eyes. “I used the only connection available to steal Raef from the void and close the gap.”
Phoebe clasped one hand over her heart and didn’t move. “You brought Raef back?”
“There was no other way to seal the gap. I had to pull him out of the void.”
“And Naami’s newly conceived offspring was the source you needed.”
“You are sharp, like your mother. Yes, I took Naami’s pregnancy and used it to enable Raef’s return.”
Phoebe couldn’t deny her excitement over Raef’s turn of fate. She’d seen him strolling through the village with Flame. They’d made a magnificent couple and she’d been deeply saddened over his death. “I always thought they belonged together. They looked so right together.” She sighed. “What of Naami?”
“She has suffered a miscarriage. A child cannot be born without a soul. And that soul rightfully belonged to Raef. Balance has been restored in our kingdom. When Naami is released from the medical ward, place her under arrest and into holding until we decide her fate. I do not take betrayal lightly.”
“Yes, my lady.” Phoebe nodded in compliance, then looked up. “Where is Raef?”
“He is in transition. Once his body has acclimated to immortality, he will be returned to the mortal world.”
“This is incredible. Raef is now immortal? Will he still have his humanity?”
“So many questions from my young queen.” The Lioness smiled slightly. “Yes to both questions. Hence, the delay in his return, the process of transition is where I make sure everything is stable in his new form before releasing him from our spiritual realm.”
“Does Flame know?”
“No and do not tell her. Destiny has its own timing. You must contact Flame and request that she come to me at once, though. Her mother’s horse must be rescued from the evil realm. Paloma holds the key to a life-changing gift—a gift meant for Flame and only Flame.”
“I will contact her without delay.”
A glimmer of hope touched the Lioness’s face. “You exhibit strength, obedience, and compassion, true attributes of a queen. I am very pleased with you, young one. We both have matters to attend, if you have no further questions, then our meeting is over for now.”
Phoebe spoke in a humble voice. “I don’t mean to overstep my bounds. I have just one more question, please, if you don’t mind.”
“Never be afraid to ask questions. I understand about matters of the heart, more than you might realize.”
“You mentioned my mother. Nobody has ever spoken of her, ever. This was the first time her presence has been acknowledged.” Phoebe drew a deep breath. “Is Flame my mother?”
About the Author
Storm is a multi-published author with various pen names in many different genres with Extasy and Divine Destinies Books. She dreams big and continues working toward her goals. Her non-erotic books can be found under the names Austina Love and Susan Zoe Bella.
Storm has been building her own worlds since grade school. Always the dreamer, never the realist, she takes life one day at a time while battling the daily challenge of Meniere’s Disease.
As an animal activist, Animal Guardian and Ambassador for the ASPCA, she relates better to animals than people. She never looked back after leaving the farm and prefers indoor activities, especially dancing.
The love of her life was a Bichon named Austin and she believes his spirit is lighting her way. His story and those of several other very special animal friends are featured in her novel, Rainbows Hearts and Puppy Tales.
Her wish for you, the reader, is that she can sweep you away from reality for just a while and that you enjoy the experience she has created for you.
Table of Contents
; Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
