“Anytime, old friend.”
She went back into the house and up to their bedroom. Karli was sitting quietly at the side of the bed, and Lothar was still fast asleep.
“Thank you, Karli.”
“Of course. If you need anything just call,” Karli whispered before leaving.
Ceva stripped out of her clothing and curled up close to her mate’s body. One of his muscled arms came around her and tucked her close. Even in his sleep he wanted to be near her, and she took that as a good sign. She knew full well that he’d told her he loved her, but eternity was a long time. Before long, she began to feel her tired body pulling on her and was helpless to fight in her exhausted state. She drifted into a restless sleep.
A warm hand caressed her side and cupped her breast, waking Ceva from her slumber. Lothar. He explored her body in long, sensual glides, his calloused hands sending sparks of pleasure across her overheated body. Soft lips explored her neck and collarbone as he wrapped one muscled leg around her thighs and held her in place as his lips and hands travelled over her shaking body. In the back of her mind she realized that he had control over his body again—and what a gorgeous body it was.
She could feel his swollen, jutting cock against her leg. He rolled her to her back and sucked in one nipple and then the other, sending fire racing from her nipples to her clit and back again. She cried out as he sucked harder. His eyes glowed in the dark room, his wolf near the surface, his gaze smoldering.
“Mine,” he growled.
“Yours.” There was no other answer. She was completely and utterly his.
His leisurely exploration became more urgent, and he slid his body between her legs. His washboard abs rubbed against her stomach and sent pure pleasure flooding through her body. He took her mouth in a possessive kiss, teeth and tongues tangled.
“My mate,” Lothar growled again. She felt the vibration throughout her entire body.
There were no more words, just emotion in every touch. She could tell how much he loved her by the way he caressed her almost reverently. The head of his cock pushed against her wet folds and, in one single thrust, he impaled her. Soft moans and growls filled the room as Lothar increased the pace until he was pounding into her. Everywhere he touched left her aching with need. Their eyes locked and her nails dug into his biceps. She held on as the bed began to shake. Her whole body burned, and she knew it wouldn’t take much more to push her over the edge.
Ceva turned her head and presented her neck to Lothar. A feral growl left his lips as his canines extended. He lowered his head and licked the side of her neck, sending an aching need to her core and causing her hips to jerk. After one more lick, he bit down, giving her his mating bite.
They were one now.
His thrusts increased, pushing her into a mind-stopping orgasm that had her screaming her pleasure to the room and beyond. She didn’t care who heard, and in the next moment, Lothar howled and she felt his warmth fill her.
They lay joined for a while before he rolled to his back, taking her with him and cuddling her to his chest. “I love you, mate.”
“I love you too, mate.” The words felt wonderful when she said them. Lothar was her mate; they belonged to each other now, for all the world to see.
Suddenly her left arm began to burn painfully. She sat up on the bed, cradling it to her body as Lothar sat up at her side. The mating tattoos were coming to the surface. It would show they were a mated pair and reveal some of their future, like how many children they would have. Lines began to form, creating a wooded scene with a large green-eyed wolf side by side with a winged Ceva, sword drawn. They stood over four pups of various sizes and shades of gray, just like their daddy. Ceva was so happy she couldn’t speak. They would have four children.
“Beautiful, why are you crying?”
She looked over at his mating tattoo, identical to her own only bigger due to his muscled arms.
“We’re going to have four children. I’m so happy.”
He gathered her into his arms and held her close. “You mean everything to me, Ceva. I promise to be a great father and mate.”
“I know you will. I love you so much, Wolfie.”
Exhaustion, happiness, and the events of the past few days had sapped them of their strength, and blissfully, they fell asleep wrapped in each other’s arms, safe in the knowledge that their mating was ordained by the gods.
Lothar woke alone in bed. He looked around for his mate and heard the shower running in the en suite. His body had never felt so alive and aware. He could hear conversations happening in other houses and immediately tried to shut them out. His eyesight had never been so clear, and before his change he couldn’t have seen the tiniest of wood grain on the table across the room. The colors of his mating tattoo were so vibrant. He felt stronger than he’d ever felt before and went to jump out of the bed but ended up on the floor instead.
“What are you doing on the floor?” Ceva asked as she walked into the bedroom from the en suite.
“I think my legs are still a little messed up.”
“It will be a little while before everything is completely back to normal. So jumping—no, walking—yes. Your body has gone through a huge transition, and it will take time for you to be back to your new normal.”
Carefully, he stood on wobbly legs. He hoped this didn’t last too long. “We have to go after your parents. We can’t wait until I’m one hundred percent.”
“It will only be a couple days. I’m sorry, Wolfie.” Ceva lowered her head, and he was across the floor to hold her, wobbly legs or not.
“Don’t do that. None of this is your fault. You’re my mate and you saved my life. I’m honored you chose me and I wouldn’t change a thing. I’m the one who should be sorry for casually throwing out that we needed to go after your parents without even thinking what you must be going through. I’m sorry you had to kill your brother. But you must know there wasn’t any other choice. It was you or him.”
A strained expression crossed her face, and Lothar gathered her close. How could he have been so callous about his mate’s feelings? He vowed he would work harder at being a good mate to his white witch. She deserved the best he could be.
“Do you want to crawl back into bed with me, mate?” he asked, hopeful. “We could cuddle for a while and you can explain all the new things that are happening to me.”
“I’d love to, but if you don’t make an appearance, your team is going to break down the bedroom door. Are you able to walk down the stairs?”
“Yes, I’ll have a quick shower and be down as soon as possible, unless you want to join me.”
“We both know what that will lead to, and somebody has to hold them back.” She laughed. “If I went in there with you, it would be hours before anyone saw us.”
“Not entirely a bad thing, but I see your point.” He grinned. His legs had stopped shaking and he felt solid on his feet again, but he still wouldn’t be jumping anytime soon.
Lothar cupped her cheek and kissed her. The slow, sensual glide of her lips tested his resolve not to drag her back to bed. But she was right, his team would be worried and they needed to see he was all right.
“Get in the shower before I change my mind. I’ll meet you downstairs, Wolfie.”
Lothar walked to the bathroom on pretty sturdy legs. It would be no time before he was back to his old self. Or was that his new self?
Ceva stood in their bedroom, bothered that she hadn’t told Lothar how she felt about Penrod’s death. In truth, she had no regrets about killing him; he’d tried to kill her on numerous occasions. More to the point, he was an evil, sadistic wizard who had no remorse about taking lives. Was she a cold person for not feeling guilt about assassinating her twin?
In any other instance she felt remorse about taking a life, just not Penrod’s life. Now she would have to go after her own parents. Even if they were her biological family, in reality they meant nothing to her, and they were cold, heartless murderers. She believed beyo
nd a shadow of a doubt they were involved in setting the ogres against the wolves, and kidnapping hundreds of people. They had to be stopped just as Penrod had been stopped.
Logistically, getting to her parents would require more troops to help take the estate, plus a few more white witches to protect everyone from her parents’ dark magic. She’d have to call King Leonidas to make the arrangements, but first she needed a couple days to help train Lothar in the basics of his many new powers.
Ceva went to the kitchen to make breakfast for herself and Lothar, but when she got there Karli was already at work cooking up a storm for everyone. Bacon, ham, eggs, pancakes, and French toast were piled high on tray after tray.
Joseph and Rowl were busy buttering toast and making coffee. The three worked well together.
“Good morning,” Karli called, and her men did the same.
“Good morning indeed. You’re preparing a feast for us.”
“We’re celebrating the captain’s return to health and your mating.” Karli flashed a wide smile.
“Thank you for all of this.” Ceva blushed. She wasn’t used to having anyone other than Helena make a fuss over her.
Karli came over and gathered Ceva into her arms. “You’re welcome.”
“What do I smell?” Lothar boomed as he entered the room, immediately taking Ceva from Karli and into his arms. His hair was still wet, and his green eyes were shining. Gods he was handsome.
“Karli, Joseph, and Rowl have made us breakfast in celebration of our mating and your return to good health.”
The team must have heard Lothar’s voice; they entered the kitchen as a group and began congratulating Ceva and Lothar on their mating. Her wolf stood there proudly holding her, making her feel like a queen. Once the team had finished their backslapping and teasing, they sat around the large dining room table and began heaping enormous quantities of food on their plates.
Ceva knew once their hunger had been satisfied the questions would begin, so she enjoyed the companionable silence while it lasted, which was all of ten minutes before the first question was lobbed.
“So what kind of powers will Lothar have?”
Smiling, he looked down at her and said, “I believe I’ll have the same powers as Ceva.”
She nodded her head in agreement. “Yes, you will share all my powers.”
He wrapped his left arm around her, which showcased his mating tattoo. It was a complete sleeve from his shoulder to his wrist. Images of the Black Ridge countryside mixed with open sky and flowers. Their future children were sheltered by their images, as it should be. The colors were vibrant and couldn’t be missed by anyone in the room. No doubt, Lothar was showing it off, which filled her with pride.
“Will you get a pair of wings?”
Again he looked down at her, and she answered for him. “No, those are mine alone, but he will have everything from immortality to spell casting.”
“Wow, amazing.” Rowl fist-pumped in the air.
“Amazingly scary,” Haroon groused from the far end of the table. Ceva could feel the waves of animosity coming off him.
“Is there a problem, Haroon?” Lothar growled.
“She’s born to a dark witch and wizard and now she’s infected you,” Haroon spat out.
Lothar was across the room in seconds, holding Haroon up by his throat against the kitchen wall. “You dare insult Ceva?” His growl shook the glasses.
The man struggled to break free, but it was useless. He wasn’t going anywhere until Lothar decided to release him. Ceva had to step in before this escalated any further. “Lothar, it’s okay. I knew some wouldn’t accept me. It’s happened before.”
“You shouldn’t have to put up with it. You fight against evil and have saved so many lives. No one has a right to speak poorly of you.”
“That may be, but someone is always going to find a problem with my family, even if they all die by my own hand. There’s nothing you can do to change their opinion of me.”
Lothar bared his fangs, shook Haroon, and then let him go. “I won’t tolerate one word against Ceva from my own team, do I make myself clear?”
“Yes, sir,” Haroon muttered.
Karli came up behind Ceva and said, “Haroon is alone in his opinion. The rest of us don’t feel that way.”
Ceva touched Karli’s arm. “Thank you.” While she appreciated the support, it didn’t help. She’d always be an outsider, and now she’d doomed Lothar to the same fate. Guilt was a familiar feeling by now, and it was starting to piss her off.
“I’m going to get some fresh air,” she said.
Lothar quickly moved from looming over Haroon to Ceva’s side. “I’ll come with you.”
“No, your team needs you now. Stay and answer their questions. I’m fine,” she said. “I need to take a walk alone. When I come back, we can start your lessons.”
She stood on her tiptoes and kissed Lothar gently before turning toward the kitchen door. She needed a few moments to calm herself and work through all these conflicting emotions. On the one hand, she’d never been happier now that Lothar was her mate, but on the other hand, had she sentenced him to a life filled with people believing him evil because his mate was a white witch born to dark parents?
She was halfway through town before she felt the presence following her. She turned at the corner store and walked about halfway down the alleyway before stopping and turning.
“Are you following me for a reason?”
“Yes, because you need a friend right now,” Karli answered.
“And how did you get away from your men?”
“I told them I needed some time alone.”
“And they just let you wander off with all the ogres skulking around?”
“Well, not really.” She turned and they both looked at Rowl at the entrance to the alleyway.
“Well, if you insist on coming, keep up.” Ceva turned and began walking to the other end of the alley and out onto another street full of shops. She had to give the young woman credit, she didn’t give up. She matched Ceva stride for stride, and Ceva finally decided to slow down to allow the poor girl to breathe. “Want to tell me what you have on your mind?”
“You are on my mind and all that guilt you’re carrying around,” Karli answered.
“The guilt is justified under the circumstances.”
“And what exactly are those circumstances?”
Ceva sighed deeply before walking up to a park bench to take a seat. “I’ll be fine.”
“You know you have friends, and you have a mate who would do anything to make you happy. Tell me what’s wrong. I can’t read your mind, even though it would be a whole lot easier.”
“Oh, I don’t know, maybe…I killed my brother, gave Lothar the mating bite without his consent, and now have doomed him to a life as an outsider because of my family line.”
“First, your brother deserved what he got. Second, you saved Lothar’s life with your bite and he loved you anyway. He’s happy being your mate. Third, you are not an outsider. We want you and Lothar with us, and we don’t give a damn who your parents are.”
“You don’t understand. I’m not a good person, and now he’s stuck with me.”
“Not a good person? You’re a wonderful person with great courage.”
“No, I’m not. I don’t even feel any remorse for killing my brother. I feel sadness over the situation but not his death. I’m supposed to feel something.”
“How many times over your long life has he tried to kill you?”
“Too many times to count since birth.”
“Really, that many times? Wow, and you wonder why you feel nothing. If I had a brother who continually tried to kill me, I doubt I would feel anything but relief over his death.”
Ceva held Karli’s gaze, looking for emotion without sincerity; there was none. Karli was honest and true. Ceva had been worried that her lack of remorse after killing her twin indicated her dark side was coming out. How else would she explain not feel
ing any regret? Perhaps she wasn’t that odd after all. She decided to talk it out with Lothar. He would tell her the truth.
“Perhaps you are correct,” Ceva said to Karli. Rowl remained a respectful distance away.
“You have to know Haroon didn’t speak for the rest of us. We know you’re a good person and an amazing white witch.”
“Not everyone is going to agree with that statement.”
“And not everyone will understand why I chose two warriors and not an Alpha, but I don’t care. Nothing will keep me from having our binding ceremony.”
“You know you’re pretty smart for being so young. Is that part of your power? To calm people back from the ledge? Because I feel a lot better now.”
“You’re welcome.”
Ceva liked the feisty young woman more every day. “Thank you. Now let Rowl take you back to the house and I’ll continue with my walk.”
Karli smiled as Rowl came over and took her hand. They said their good-byes before Ceva continued along the path, her internal struggle a little lightened.
Chapter Seven
“Hold it. Hold the image in your mind,” Ceva told Lothar as he levitated one of the trucks a foot off the ground. “Now slowly lower it.”
But instead of the truck gently floating to the earth, he released the spell and the truck dropped like a stone. Thankfully, it was only a distance of one foot or they might have needed a whole new suspension.
“Damn, I lost my train of thought for a second.” He shook his head.
“That’s fine. That’s why we’ll practice until you get it right. Besides, you’ve already mastered many other skills.” She was proud of him. He’d been working on controlling his new powers for days.
They’d heard from the King that the ogre attacks had gone down since Penrod’s death, but she was sure they’d rise again in no time. The King ordered troops to the south of Ceva’s parents’ estate to meet up with her team to plan an attack.
Haroon had been quiet since the altercation in the kitchen, but Ceva knew he hadn’t had a change of heart. He was simply staying silent. She’d had a long talk with Lothar about her fears, about Penrod’s death and how she didn’t feel any remorse and that it might be a sign of darkness within her. Lothar helped her realize she wasn’t evil for not feeling a certain way, she had no dark side, and that the whole situation had always been out of her control.
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