by K. G. Reuss
I’d spent every night we’d been home in his arms. It was quickly becoming my favorite place to be. Everything about him made me smile or tingle. And as much I enjoyed rocking against him before bed, I was ready for more. I was ready for everything with him. But I wasn’t sure how to broach the subject though since Raiden seemed intent on making everything about me. I was ready to accept whatever destiny had to throw at me, starting with the hot as fire shifter prince who held me every night.
When Christmas Eve rolled around, I sneaked down to Raiden’s room after my mom went to bed and found him sitting on his bed, waiting for me. He looked up from his phone and cast me a beautiful smile as he got to his feet.
“Hey, I thought you’d be a bit longer,” he said, taking me into his arms.
“Guess I couldn’t wait.” I gave him a tender kiss.
He smiled against my lips and pulled me to the bed. I sat beside him, my hand in his. He was unusually quiet.
“What’s wrong?”
He released my hand and raked his fingers through his hair before blowing out a long breath.
“I got you a gift.”
“You did? You didn’t have to—”
“I know that.” He offered me a quick smile. “But this is. . . important.”
I crinkled my brows at him as he got to his feet and paced the length of the room several times. Finally, he stopped and turned to face me.
“I love you, Ever. I’ve spent my whole life loving you. Even when I was confused. Even when I was angry. There’s nothing in this world I wouldn’t do for you. I’d even follow you into the pits of Hell. You’re it for me. The thought of losing you guts me. I don’t ever want to lose you. I want this. I want us. Forever.” He swallowed hard. With trembling fingers, he pulled something out of his pocket and knelt before me. “I don’t deserve you, but damn do I want you. And I hope you want me back just as much. Will you consider marrying me?” His voice became soft as he stared up at me, the ring box open.
My eyes widened as I stared down at the intricately woven, black infinity band with a large, red ruby in the center surrounded by tiny, black diamonds.
He licked his lips when I didn’t answer. “This ring is part of a set. The other is a band which will match mine should you say yes to me. I’ll give you that band on our wedding day. I know this is a big move, but I know what I want. We don’t need to get married now or next week or even next year. I have time before I need to take a wife. I want that wife to be you, baby. Would you consider—”
I silenced him with a kiss, my heart thundering in my ears. He fell into the kiss, his arms circling around me, his tongue sliding against mine.
“You didn’t answer me,” he said as he slowed the kiss and breathed out.
“I don’t need to consider it, Shadow,” I said softly. “My answer is yes. As long as you promise we’ll have some time before we walk down the aisle—”
“I’ll give you anything you want, baby.” He dragged me with him as he stood, this time, sweeping me up into his arms as he twirled me.
I let out a laugh as he grinned at me. “Promise we don’t have to get married any time soon?” I felt it was important to repeat that.
“I swear it. A long engagement sounds perfect.” He pressed his lips to mine and held me tight. "I don't want you to feel rushed or have to answer questions about the ring or our plan, so I've charmed it so only we can see it. When you're ready to announce our engagement, simply whisper the words undi hidea, and that will unspell it."
He trailed his fingers up my waist before taking my hand and sliding the ring onto my left ring finger. It was a perfect fit. Almost like it was made for me.
“Do you like it?” he asked softly.
“I love it. It’s beautiful.” The large ruby glinted in the dim lamplight.
“Rubies are my favorite.” He admired the ring on my finger, a sad smile on his face. “My mother loved them too. I remember when Father was having a new crown made for her, she asked for rubies.”
“Did she get them?”
He shook his head woefully. “Father wouldn’t let her have them. He told her they were a symbol of blood and power in our world. And they are. But they’ve always just felt. . . right. I can’t describe it.”
“You like the gemstone of the vampires?” I mused, admiring the ring with him.
“Ironic, isn’t it?”
“It’s perfect, Raiden. I love it, and I love you.”
“And I love you, my princess.” He pressed his lips to mine gently before pulling away. “We’re engaged. I can’t believe it.”
“Me either,” I admitted. “It seems fast.”
“It’s been a lifetime in the making, baby.” And with that, he drew me into his arms again and kissed me deeply.
“When we get home to Conexus house, you’ll be in my bed,” he murmured against my lips. “And in my arms always.”
“What about…more?” I asked shyly.
“I’ll give you whatever you want, Everly. If you want more, it’s yours.”
“What if I want more now?” I mumbled around his kisses.
He let out a growl, vibrating my lips. “Don’t tempt me. I don’t want to disrespect your mother’s home or you by doing it that way.”
“How do you always know the perfect thing to say?”
He chuckled softly and rested his forehead against mine. “A gift I guess. I’m so happy, Ever. I love you. I never thought I could be this happy.”
My chest clenched at his words, and for a moment, all the Dyre stuff came racing back to my mind. I shoved it away, telling myself Raiden promised he’d follow me wherever I had to go. This was me taking my destiny into my own hands. I’d rule it. Control it. And I’d do it with Raiden at my side.
Forty-Seven
Raiden
I was on cloud nine, whatever the hell that meant. It took all my willpower to not haul Ever into my bed and bury myself deep inside her. Instead, I forced myself to be content holding her until she fell asleep in my arms. I lifted her and carried her back to her room.
“Stay,” she murmured sleepily, reaching for me.
I paused and blew out a breath. My girl knew how to test my resolve. I made sure my spell was still in place on her room and lay beside her, pulling her into my arms.
When we awoke in the morning, we were a tangle of arms and legs. It was the first time I’d held her all night long. It was heaven.
“Morning,” I said as she cracked a lid open at me.
She smiled bashfully and ducked her face. I immediately tilted her chin up to kiss her, but she pulled away.
“What?” I asked.
“I-I have morning breath—”
“I don’t care about that.” I hauled her back to me, pressing my mouth to hers.
She giggled against my lips before I nuzzled her neck and breathed her in.
“Mm,” she purred. “Guess what?”
“What?”
“It’s Christmas.”
I chuckled softly. “It is.”
“Mhm. You know what that means?”
“What’s that?”
“Presents.”
I laughed as she shot out of bed in her pajamas, her black hair a wild mess. She disappeared into the bathroom for a moment before returning. I sat up in her bed as she inched to the door.
“Where are you going?”
“Presents?” she asked innocently.
I hadn’t opened a Christmas gift since I was a kid, so seeing the joy on her face took hold of me. I grinned and moved to reach for her, but she darted away, giggling.
“Catch me if you can!”
She rushed through her bedroom, and I melded to my room, feeling lighter than I’d ever felt before. I grabbed a gift for her out of my bag and left my room still in my sleepwear to find her in front of the tree, her green eyes shining brightly. Her mom was beside her, and they were going through gifts.
I lurked in the doorway for a moment and snapped a photo on my phone before movi
ng to sit on the couch to watch them. It warmed my heart to see Ever so happy. Her life had been good after her dad had left. After I’d left.
My heart skipped at the thought. I only hoped I brought her more light than darkness.
“What’s wrong?” Ever turned her attention to me as my mood darkened. And it shouldn’t have been dark.
I’d finally landed the girl I loved and was going to make her my wife someday. But sometimes those dark thoughts crept in.
“Nothing, sweetheart,” I said, sitting forward and offering her a smile.
She cocked her head at me, and I swore she was looking through me, dissecting all the parts I tried to keep hidden from the world. Finally, she moved to me with a gift in her hands.
“Looks like someone was a good boy this year. Santa brought you a present.”
“What?” I stared at her in surprise.
She gave me a wink and a gift, her and her mom both grinning.
“You guys got me something?” I stared in disbelief at them.
“Santa,” they said in unison, grinning.
I shook my head and opened the gift. My lips lifted as I peered down at the heavy, dark sweater inside.
“I love it. Thank you,” I said, fingering the soft material.
“Santa thought you might.” Ever grinned and moved back to the tree where she proceeded to open a slew of gifts from new books to earrings to clothes.
I watched as her and Elena opened gifts to each other. Ever had made her a scrapbook. Elena handed me another gift. Leather driving gloves were nestled inside.
“Wow. Thank you,” I said, pulling them on. They were perfect.
“I thought they suited you,” Elena chirped happily as she moved to sit in her chair.
I looked up as Ever stood over me, holding out a gift.
“I tried,” she said softly, her cheeks flushing.
Eagerly, I took it from her and ripped off the paper to find the photo of us kissing at the Dementon house in a frame with an infinity symbol at the bottom in gold. The words, Shadow and Everly Forever greeted me.
“Ever,” I said, smiling down at the photo. “I love it. Thank you, sweetheart.”
“Really? There’s another gift in there just in case. I know guys aren’t big on cheesy gifts like that—”
I pulled her down to my side and hushed her with a gentle kiss. “I love it. Truly.”
She smiled and nodded to the last gift. I opened it quickly to find a leather bracelet inside with bats stamped into the material. She offered me a sheepish smile. “They impressed me.”
I let out a laugh and hugged her to me before handing her the gift I’d gotten her. When she removed the wrapping, she was staring at the photo I’d snagged of her, her mom, and her grandma ages ago. The frame had been busted in the fight that occurred in Ever’s room one night. I’d taken the photo with me to keep by my side, but I knew it belonged to her more than to me, so I’d gotten a new frame for it.
“I thought you might want it back,” I said softly.
She nodded, her eyes watering, before she threw her arms around me and hugged me tightly. “Thank you.”
When we broke apart, Elena was beaming at us from her seat. “Breakfast?”
I nodded, grinning. This was one of the best holidays I’d had in a long time.
Later that night, I sat up with a jolt and squinted at the clock. It was just after two in the morning. Ever was sleeping in her bed, alone. We decided we shouldn’t keep staying together all night because using so much magic to keep the rooms spelled was taxing, and the last thing I wanted to do was drain Ever just so we could sleep, even though not having her in my arms sucked. I’d set the spell so Ever and I could hear any mishaps.
My gaze darted around as I rubbed my chest. Something wasn’t right. Getting to my feet, I grabbed my clothes and pulled them on. I tugged my knife from my bag. A floorboard creaked overhead, and I frowned.
Ever’s room.
Her loud scream tore through the house, and immediately I shadow melded and popped up in the center of her room to find her struggling beneath a rake.
How the hell?
I sprang into action and sliced through the creature’s neck at the base of its skull. It let out a shriek before falling dead on top of her. I ripped its body away to find Ever breathing hard beneath it, her eyes wild.
“There are more,” she choked out as I drew her to my side and ran my gaze over her, making sure she wasn’t injured. “Outside. Three more.”
She scrambled away from me as I whipped out a spell to ward Elena’s room. I wasn’t even sure how the creatures managed to get past my other wards on the house, but I strengthened Elena’s anyway, hoping for the best as Ever stared around her bedroom. Because of the silence charm I put up, Elena wouldn’t know about this incident.
I quickly went to Ever’s window. Outside were the three rakes she spoke of, staring up at the house.
“Shit,” I hissed. “Call Eric and Damien.”
Ever moved quickly as a crash sounded downstairs. I stalked to her bedroom door, wishing I had my damn sword as she spoked hurriedly into the phone before dropping it on her bed.
I tossed her my knife.
“What about you?” she asked.
“I have claws,” I growled before shifting into a panther.
She stared wide-eyed at me as I crouched down.
“Wait here. I’ve spelled the room. It’ll buy time until Eric and Damien get here. No matter what, don’t come down. Understand?”
“No, I’m going with you—"
“Everly, please listen. I need you here in case they break the barrier and get to your mom.”
She nodded tightly and gripped her knife. Confident she’d listen for once, I padded outside the room in panther form and slinked downstairs. I checked the living room and kitchen and even my room. I came up with nothing, but I did find a broken vase on the table in the hallway. It couldn’t be her dad. He was still in jail as far as I knew.
“Let us in,” Damien’s deep voice plowed through my mind. “We’re at the edge of the woods. You guys have rakes in the front yard. We can get in through the window in the corner of the east side of the house.”
That was my room. I rushed to it and shifted back to myself before thrusting the window open to let Eric and Damien clamor inside, both of them holding swords and dressed in their hunting leathers.
“Nice,” I growled, shifting back to my panther form.
“You’d think you’d have a damn sword,” Damien grunted as we moved silently through the house.
“Like Ever’s mom wouldn’t question him showing up with a sword,” Eric said, his blue eyes taking in the living room as we moved to it.
I let out a snarl and pounced forward as a rotwraith shot out from the kitchen. I sank my teeth into the tender flesh of its neck as its claws raked over my ribs. I released it with a snarl of pain as two more rotwraiths and a wraith crashed through the bay window in the living room.
Thank God I’d silenced Elena from being able to hear this shit. It would be hard to explain.
The rotwraith I fought moments ago bit me hard on the shoulder, prompting me to lash out with my claws and gut it, spewing blood and innards all over the polished hardwood.
Swiftly, I moved across the living room and took down the wraith Eric was fighting before helping Damien with the two rotwraiths on him.
Eric wiped his brow as I shifted to myself and fell against the doorway in the kitchen, clutching the wound on my ribs, the poison from the rotwraith making its way through my body.
“You good?” Damien called out.
I winced, my breathing ragged, and lifted my hand to spell the window. The glass knit itself back together to block the outside where I could see the rakes approaching.
“Shit.” I pulled my hand away to examine at the blood. “Forgot how much this hurts.” I pushed my healing abilities out, my head swimming as I dampened the poison in my body, breaking it down until it was nothing more tha
n a mild inconvenience which made me slightly dizzy. I closed the wound enough so I wouldn’t bleed out and then let out a breath.
“I’m good. We need to get rid of those rakes. One already got into Ever’s room. I killed it.”
Damien and Eric followed me upstairs to her room. I smashed into the wall as she gave me a fierce kick, her knife at the ready.
“Easy, baby. It’s me,” I rasped as she loosened her hold on me.
“Sorry,” she whispered, releasing me completely. “Are you OK? What’s going on?”
“Three rakes still outside. We killed the shit that got into the house. Those rakes are going to be a bit tougher though,” I said, moving back to the window and staring out at them.
They simply looked up at the house without moving. A wave of chills swept through me. Something wasn’t right. The fact they decided to attack left nothing but worry within me. How they even knew we were here was a whole other issue which made nausea twist in my guts.
Whoever was the rat had to have commanded this. When I got my hands on whoever it was. . .
“What’s the plan?” Damien asked. “We can’t meld Ever out of here.”
“The only thing we can do is fight,” I grunted.
“They don’t look like they’re doing anything,” Eric murmured, peering out the window with me.
I nodded tightly, watching them. A moment later, they turned and disappeared into the woods as if they’d been called off.
“What the hell?” Eric shot me a questioning look.
I ground my teeth and turned to Damien and Ever. “I’m sorry. I think we need to cut this vacation short and get back to Dementon.”
“What about my mom—"
“She’ll be fine. Brighton can send Ceres to watch.”
“What? How will Ceres be able to tell if something is happening to my mom?” Ever glanced at us.
“Ceres and Brighton are connected it would seem. Word will get to us fast. I’m not concerned about that. If it’ll make you feel better, I’ll order guards out here to watch over her.”
