by Aline Hunter
She threw her head back, basking in the soft glow of the moon. Bridon rolled his hips and created a new rhythm, one that caused his cock to brush against a sensitive place inside her.
“Oh, gods,” she rasped.
“Not the gods, love.” He bent over her back and nibbled her ear. “Only me.”
He placed his fingers against her clit, rubbing hard and fast. Her body became hot, making it difficult to gasp for breath. Climax was so close; she could feel it in the pit of her belly. The night air whispered against her skin, causing the sweat all over her body to cool. She reached for the fire that built in her belly, her body tingling all over. It was nothing like the times she’d fought off the heat with her fingers; the thickness of his cock created a friction inside her that she wouldn’t have believed possible. At the last possible moment Bridon shifted his hips and pressed against the spot that sent stars spinning before her eyes.
She couldn’t speak as the orgasm claimed her. It was impossible to breathe, impossible to think when her body erupted into miniature electrical charges that traveled from her pussy to the rest of her body. Shuddering, she allowed the wisps of heat to surge through her. She collapsed on her arms, unable to support her weight.
The grass against her face became the chilled night air as Bridon lifted her right leg and flipped her over, making sure his cock remained deep inside her pussy. He was so hard, thick, and long, she could feel every inch of him stretching her. The intensity of his stare was almost too much, but she didn’t look away.
“That’s right,” he said as if reading her thoughts. “I want to see every expression you make. I want to hear every sound.”
When he moved, the sensation was different. He took his time, sliding in and out, studying her as he did. She gasped and placed her arms on his sides, feeling his rib cage and the toned flesh beneath her fingers. He lowered his head and kissed her, again gentle and loving, no longer the alpha at her back demanding submission and surrender.
When he pulled away and she saw his fangs, she knew what he wanted. She turned her head to the side and shivered as his lips brushed her throat. He licked her skin, bathing the area with his tongue, no longer hindered by the collar.
“It will always be like this,” he said hoarsely. “Nothing will come between us.”
His teeth sank deeply, sending her into another dizzying climax. She clung to him as her body was swept into another wave of heat, spreading outward through her torso and limbs. Just when she thought the fiery intensity was ebbing, he drank again, allowing the sensation to continue. His hips moved faster, until he forced her to arch her back to accommodate his thrusts.
He pulled away suddenly and licked at the wounds on her throat. Rising onto his knees, he wrapped his arms under her legs. He started to move again, watching her with each thrust. The lust in his gaze was unmistakable, as if she was the most beautiful thing he’d ever seen, and she met his stare without turning away. His eyes became silver, the color luminous in the dark. He tossed his head back, shouted to the sky, and she felt his cock jerk as warmth flooded her womb. The moon glowed behind him, and she felt the intensity of the beams. They coursed through her, sinking beneath her skin, until the desire to mate was no longer so intense.
Until the moon rose again the following night, the mating was completed.
For several seconds, he remained as he was above her. His chest was heaving, the arms holding her legs flexing so she could see the outline of his muscles. Finally he lowered his head and looked down at her. He released her legs and stretched over her body. Euphoria blanketed her, satiation and peace blocking out everything but the man whose skin pressed against her. She lifted her head to meet him halfway as his mouth descended, wanting to taste him again.
A thundering noise broke them apart midkiss.
Bridon moved from Willow, stood, and blocked her from view. She rose as well and stopped behind him. They stared into the forest. The sounds were closer now, becoming more distinct. Whoever was coming their way wasn’t attempting to hide it. A nightmare broke through the foliage, coming at them at a dead run, with another horse tethered behind it.
Bridon relaxed as the rider became visible, and Willow peered over his shoulder. The rider wore layers of black, as all Draigen did. Willow didn’t know which brother he was, though she had a good idea. Everyone knew Bridon trusted only one person aside from his own kindred.
“Trace,” Bridon said with obvious relief in his voice. “You came at a bad time.”
The Draigen stopped several yards away, took one good look at them, and grinned. “You were the one who told me to hurry.”
Chapter Thirteen
Confusion. It was the only word Willow could find to describe how it felt after she, Bridon, and Trace sought shelter in a hidden cave and the moon slid below the horizon. What had started as pride for being with her mate had quickly turned to shame. She couldn’t reconcile her feelings that continued to war with each other. She had done exactly as the oracles had said she would. She was now mated to her Chosen, the man Fated to her by the gods, and the enemy of her pack.
Worse, Bridon knew something had changed. When the moon was still in the sky, she was unable to stop touching him, needing the contact. After she dressed, she missed the brush of his skin, the way he felt against her. Although she still longed for that very thing now, her guilt prevented her from being anywhere near him. He didn’t argue or ask questions. Instead he retreated to a far corner of the cavern with Trace to discuss everything that had transpired.
Glancing down at the pill in her palm, she wondered if she would still be able to do as her father had instructed. It seemed so harmless, a small capsule in the center of her hand. All she had to do was place it in her mouth and wait. Even as she considered doing so, she felt that terrible rending in her chest, as if something was pressing down on her heart.
No, she couldn’t do it. Not now. Not when she knew what would happen to the man she’d accepted into her body, heart, and soul the night before. When he’d told her about his life, his parents, and the War of Souls, she’d felt his loneliness, his sadness. The knowledge that she would add to his sorrow tormented her. Even if her father demanded it, she would not force him to endure another day alone.
She shifted on the stump she’d occupied just outside the cave and returned the pill to her pocket. Her body ached in certain places, reminding her of what had transpired under the power of the moon.
“Want some company?” Trace strode from the cave, a friendly smile on his face.
“Not really.” Working out the details in her mind was one thing. She didn’t want to share them with a stranger.
Despite her response, he crouched beside her. “You’re being incredibly unfair. You know that, right?”
“I’m being unfair?” she replied bitterly. “I don’t recall having a choice in the matter. Forgive me if I’m not happy with that.”
“You’re behaving like a child.”
“I’m not in the mood for a lecture.”
She started to stand, and Trace wrapped his fingers around her forearm. “That’s tough shit, because you’re in for one.” He waited until she sat down before he let go. “Do you know why I was already in Arcadia when the shit hit the fan? No? It’s because a member of your pack paid me a visit.”
She looked at him, confused as to why any of her people would approach Trace—a known friend to Bridon. “You’re lying.”
He smirked. “Does Dominic Ward ring a bell?”
Alarm made her edgy. She’d nearly killed Amber and her child. Dom was probably furious with her. “I know him.”
“He had a lot of interesting things to say.”
She cleared her throat, staring straight ahead. “Such as?”
“About your plan to end your life, for starters.” Her heart dropped into her stomach. She was glad she wasn’t facing the Draigen to show him how confused she’d become, how torn.
When she didn’t comment, he continued. “You know that’
s not an option now. You’re mated to your Chosen. Things have changed.”
“Tell me something I don’t know,” she muttered.
“Your brother wanted to take you with him when he left the pack.”
She tore her gaze from the trees in the distance, staring in bewilderment at Trace. “My brother abandoned the safety of the pack when he left with Savannah. He knew of the danger. That’s what got him killed. There is no way he would have placed me in the same situation. I’m not sure what information you’ve been given, but you’ve been seriously misinformed.”
“Have you ever considered that you’ve been misinformed?”
Instead of slapping him as she wanted, she formed her hands into tight fists. “You’re trying to tell me something, so say it. I don’t like games, and I don’t appreciate being fucked with.”
“What if everything you’ve been told about your brother was a lie? What if everything you’ve been raised to believe wasn’t true at all?”
“You’re answering me with questions,” she snapped.
His eyes shifted from jade green to jeweled emerald. “Out of respect for Bridon and what he’s told me today, I won’t reveal what I’ve been asked to keep secret. But I am going to tell you this—your brother was more of a threat to your pack than he ever was to the vampires. His mating threatened them in ways you can’t even begin to understand.”
“Bullshit. The pack accepted his mating. It was mine that threatened the balance.”
“Do you know that for certain? Or is that something you’ve been told?”
Her chest heaved in fury. “Everyone knows of the fall of Aislynn McKendry. I was warned of what would happen if I followed in her footsteps. That isn’t something I’ve been told. It’s history inked in blood.”
Trace studied her for a moment. “Aislynn’s dying wish was that the vampire and the Lycae would stop fighting each other.”
“What does that have to do with anything?”
“Bridon has honored that request.”
She placed her face in her hands, torn in ways she couldn’t understand. “None of this makes any sense. The Fates are going to kill people with their games.”
Trace’s response caught her off guard. “I agree.”
“Can you repeat that?” She lifted her head and peered over at him. “I could have sworn you actually agreed with me.”
He met her gaze for a moment before looking forward. “You’re not the only person Fated to a species not of your own. My brother, Eric, recently met his Chosen. She’s not only born of a race we detest, she’s also mortal. Unlike other immortal beings who can survive without their Fateds, our kind mate for life. When she dies, Eric will soon follow.”
No snarky comeback or hateful reply surfaced. Losing a sibling was something no one should have to experience. “Why would he consider such a thing?”
“They are twin souls. It’s impossible to deny the other half of yourself. You couldn’t if you wanted to. Hatred holds no power when love overwhelms it.”
“More drivel from the gods.” She kicked at the rocks beneath her feet. “You fall in love. You don’t experience the emotion the moment you meet someone.”
“I thought the same thing until we learned the truth about our brother. Eric hasn’t denied what he feels for Runa, despite our advice that he stay away from her. He’s currently searching for some way to keep her alive as long as possible. Her well-being is his greatest concern. He doesn’t care about anything else. Even if it means his own life will be cut short.”
Lies formed on her tongue, vehement denials that it wasn’t true, but she didn’t dare speak them. From the moment she’d met Bridon, everything had changed. She wanted to deny the way she felt about him, the way she ached for his nearness, even as a small voice in her mind screamed that it was wrong. His actions when she was in danger only confused her more. He’d reacted without hesitation, more daunting that the most powerful alpha of her pack. He was stunning in his violence—precise, lethal, and magnificent. When he’d presented his kill to her prior to their mating, placing the body of the man who dared to touch her at her feet, it revealed more about her Fated than anything else could have.
Was it love she was feeling? Or was it a natural reaction to the side of him that called to the wild and untamed animal within her? She wasn’t certain. All she did know was that she would do anything to keep him safe. She thought about the lethal pill in her pocket. She’d been so determined to end her life and ensure he never had his Fated again. But when that time actually came, would she have been able to do it?
The thought made her sick, and it must have shown in her expression.
“It’s not wrong to love him,” Trace said softly. “Bridon has been my closest friend for centuries for a reason. He’s loyal to those under his care, and he never does anything without sound justification. In the years since Aislynn’s passing, he has waited patiently for you. Instead of fighting your people when he learned of your rebirth, he waited to claim you. Not many men would be so patient. As a Lycae, you should understand that.”
Alpha males of a pack always took what they wanted regardless of the consequence. Yes, it was something she understood. Her brother had taken on a vampire mate and had died for it. Other alphas had challenged her father for the throne following Micah’s passing and died as a result of their foolish lust for power.
“I’m nothing like her, you know.” She didn’t dare look at him as she spoke. “The soul may be the same, but Aislynn and I are not.”
“That’s not a bad thing.”
“Ian doesn’t think so.” She felt her face grow hot at the admission.
“I’m not surprised.” He chuckled. “Ian has a certain idea of how a woman should be. He was a warrior before he was changed. It’s only natural he would gravitate toward his instincts as a man versus a vampire.”
“So you don’t agree?”
Trace looked at her and smiled. “Aislynn was a beautiful woman. She was kind, nurturing, and impossible to dislike.” His smile waned, becoming somber. “But she wasn’t an ideal mate for a king. Bridon needs someone at his side who can make difficult decisions when necessary. He needs an equal.”
“His people are not mine.”
“None of them care about that.”
“I find that difficult to believe.”
“I imagine you do.” When she frowned at him, he shrugged. “You’ve been raised in a pack that doesn’t hold the same ideals when it comes to loyalty, and Bridon has had five hundred years to convince his people of how important you are to the kingdom.”
“How would you possibly know anything about my pack?” The anger she’d almost forgotten returned.
“I’ve been around a long time.” He sounded exhausted as he made the confession. “It’s my duty to keep abreast of things in the Otherworld.”
Trace stood before she could say anything and looked down at her. “We’ll make the portal by the new dawn. Since I’ve joined you, Bridon has decided it’s best to travel in a direct path instead of the one he took for safety. Before we arrive I would suggest you think long and hard about how things were between your brother and father. If you ask yourself the right questions, you might uncover more than you think.” He sighed, and his tone became gentle. “You’re not stupid, Willow. You’re just a woman who was groomed to believe something that isn’t true.”
With that he turned on his heel and walked to the cave, leaving her staring at his back.
* * *
Bridon waited for Willow to come to him. She’d remained outside the duration of the day, staying in an area he could not venture. He reached out to listen to her thoughts a couple of times but found her misery was simply too much for him to bear. Especially when he learned what Trace said was true.
Willow had planned to take her own life.
He knew how proud his Fated was, but he never imagined to what lengths she’d go for her pack. For the first time, he truly hated her father. The Lycae was so power hungry,
he’d do whatever it took to remain on top. His children didn’t matter to him. All the bastard knew was that to maintain control, he had to make big sacrifices—so long as it didn’t involve harming himself or endangering his standing with the pack.
The first time Bridon listened in to Willow’s chaotic thoughts, he almost instructed Trace to bring her to him. She was in pain, and she was confused. After her discussion with his friend, she’d begun questioning everything she knew. It wasn’t easy. All of her life she’d had a purpose. Now, she didn’t know what she would do or of what importance she was. Her newfound mating prevented her from delving too deeply into what she couldn’t change, but he knew she felt as if she’d failed. He knew if she came to him that his presence would ease her worries, but it wasn’t his place to force the issue.
The moon would do that soon enough.
“I’m going to take these out to the nightmares.” Trace hoisted satchels over his shoulder.
“How was she when you saw her?”
“She’s confused, which is understandable. She’s having a difficult time coming to terms with her feelings and your claiming. I told her I was going back in to get the rest of our things and I’d give you time alone. It won’t be long until she joins you.”
“I wish I could tell her everything,” he said quietly. “She deserves to know.”
Shuffling footsteps ended the conversation. Willow appeared, obviously in the grips of the mating heat. Her eyes shone brightly, and she’d wrapped her arms tightly around her waist. He was amazed she’d held out as long as she had.
“I’ll be waiting outside.” Trace nodded at Bridon and walked past Willow.
She remained where she was—aroused yet perplexed. He crossed the distance to her, taking his time. As tense as she was, she was liable to lash out if she felt threatened. When he reached her, he ran his fingers along the side of her cheek. To his relief, she leaned into the touch instead of pulling away.
