by Jaymin Eve
"Two days I was fighting for life?"
I couldn't believe it; it felt like minutes between being encased and freed.
He nodded. "Longest two days of my life, but you never gave up, you never stopped fighting." His thumb scraped along my cheek, caressing it. "My little warrior."
Heat unfurled deep in my body, and it was then I noticed that most of my aches and pains had faded, only to be replaced by another ache, this one cured by just one thing: my mate.
Jacob must have felt that through our bond; heat flared in his eyes. He shook his head. "Baby, you're injured."
I was still in his lap, so I twisted around to straddle him. "This won't hurt me. If anything, you not touching me is going to hurt way worse."
He examined my face, even prying into my mind, searching out my current mental and physical state. I left our bond wide open so he’d see that I was more than ready to be loved by my mate. I almost missed the chance to even do this again, and I would not wait another second.
One hand went under my ass and the other into the hair at the back of my head, closing around the strands as he pulled me closer. Our lips this time met in a kiss of desperation, tasting each other like we’d never get to again. I lifted my ass, rocking my core against him, and he took control of those movements, the hand possessively gripping my hip moving me.
Pulling away, I sucked in deep breaths, all the while trying to tear Jacob’s shirt off. Once I had him naked, my hands traced across his broad shoulders and down the chest that had starred in my fantasies more than once.
His skin was lighter than mine, bronze to my ruby black, and I loved the contrast between us.
"Ruby," he groaned, "I'm going to last five fucking seconds if you keep touching me like that."
A husky laugh left me, and I had to admit, it was a powerful feeling to have him react so strongly to me. "I need to touch you," I whispered, leaning down to press my lips to his skin, kissing and tasting. His muscles were broad and warm under my touch, flexing as I teased him.
When he couldn't handle it any longer, he ripped my shirt from me. Or what was left of the tattered outfit anyway, and I was happy to see fading marks were all that remained of the injuries that had littered my skin. My bra followed soon after, and then his mouth was on my nipples.
He ran his tongue across both until they were aching, the peaks hard and sensitive. Sensations built in me and I wondered if he was going to make me come just from nipple stimulation. I hadn't even known it was a thing, but with each lick and suck against my body, I rocked harder into him.
Okay, maybe a little more than nipple stimulation, but … damn.
He pulled back just before I lost it. "I need your first orgasm today to be when I'm inside you," he whispered, dragging slow kisses from my lips. "As much as I want to love you all day, your family and mine is waiting, so we have one shot."
He was right, it was selfish to leave them all waiting and wondering, so we had to hurry.
When all of our clothing had vanished, I slipped back onto his lap, the head of his cock teasing my entrance as I groaned and bit my lip. Despite how wet I was, when I sank down onto him, my body took a moment to adjust.
Jacob’s hands gripped my hips, and as I started to move against him, his head dropped back, strong neck muscles inviting me to lean forward and lick along them. I moved faster, rocking against him, his hands guiding me as we relished the pleasure of our bodies.
His eyes met mine, holding me in their green depths, and despite not having a ton of room to move—we were locked together in a straddle seated—it was the most intense sex I'd ever had.
"I love you. I fucking love you so much," he whispered against my lips and skin, peppering kisses everywhere he could reach. "I will never let you go again."
My eyes burned. My body burned. The pleasure spiraled higher and I cried out as the orgasm burst to life, shattering like a sex bomb around us. The power was absorbed by the rubies and then it fed right back into us, sending the sensations even higher until I was screaming Jacob's name. He lifted me just so he could surge up harder and harder into my body, before he came too, not slowing his movements as both of us rode out our pleasure.
It seemed to take hours before we were finally sated.
"Well, shit," I huffed. "Maybe it was the near-death experience, but I don't remember sex ever being like that."
Jacob laughed, a rich husky sound, and I shivered at the sight of him.
"I'm not sure I'm ready to let you go yet," he murmured, still buried deep inside of me, his cock pulsing with aftershocks. And of course, that only made me want to slide against him again and continue exactly where we left off.
With a sigh, I leaned forward and kissed him. “As much as I’d love round two, we can’t be selfish.”
With regret in his eyes, Jacob didn’t argue, instead helping me up from his body. As I stood, magic caressed across my skin, and thanks to Jacob I went from blood and sex covered skin to a clean body, new clothing, and a soft pair of over-the-knee leather boots.
"How did you do that?" I gasped.
Jacob shrugged. "There’s new powers between us now. Not just in the bond with our mates, but also between me and my brothers. I’m not sure if they’re getting the same as me, but I can tap into some of their power now."
To prove this point, he clothed himself as well, in his usual attire of faded denim jeans, a Henley style shirt, and perfect tousled blond hair.
"Do you crave blood as Maximus does?" I asked, wanting to know everything about this new facet of my mate.
Jacob shook his head. “No, but I sense that if I consumed it, it would strengthen me. In truth, Max barely even craves it now. He drinks it more out of habit than need."
This was blowing my mind. I didn't even know how to react to the information, but it was enough to know that everyone was okay.
And we had won.
41
Jacob Compass
Her parents cried for an hour. They hadn’t slept for days, and with no word of their daughter, had taken to pacing the front of their house. I felt guilt at keeping them waiting even longer so I could love my mate, but Justice and I had needed that moment. That and so much more. Touching her quelled some of the agony I'd been experiencing as I guarded her, praying she’d be returned to me. Fighting for our bond.
"The rubies accepted you," Jepatie said, as we watched Deloria cry and hug Justice for the hundredth time. "I can feel their power on you now. You've been chosen as a royal."
I shrugged. "I promised them everything to save Justice. If that means I will one day rule here with her, then I will work that out with my family. We can try and fit it all in. I'm not worried as long as I'm wherever Justice is."
Jepati's hand landed on my arm, a warm and comforting gesture. "You won't have to worry about it for a long time. We’re happy to continue ruling for many years, and when the time comes, I'm confident that you two will lead our people to even greater success and happiness."
I nodded, and he lifted his hand. One day I hoped Justice's parents would come to respect me as their daughter's mate, and even if that didn't happen we would still tolerate each other because we all loved Justice.
"Please tell me you're staying here now. At least let me have you for a short time," Deloria begged, sobbing between words. "You took a hundred years off my life."
Justice just wrapped her arms tighter around her mother, turning eyes that were brimming with gut-wrenching emotions on me. She wasn't sure how to deal with this outpouring of grief and love, but at the same time she loved it.
I felt her happiness through our bond.
I adore you, she said with a laugh. But stop psychoanalyzing me. It's not your job to keep me at all times in peak mental health … my mind has a normal ebb and wane of emotions.
Raising my eyebrow, I just crossed my arms. It was my job to ensure her eternal happiness, however unachievable she thought that goal was.
"Mom," Justice said, pulling away to see her moth
er's face. "I promise I'll be back for an extended visit soon, but we have to return to Earth first. Jacob's family hasn't seen us for weeks in their time and are no doubt wondering if we're both dead."
I hadn’t been able to reach any of them through the new bond, and I knew they’d be beside themselves with worry.
"Grace was here," her mother said, “but I didn’t have any information to give her. So, you’re probably right. They’ll be beside themselves with worry.” Her fight disappeared, as she nodded at Justice needing to leave.
My surprise must have showed, because Deloria shot me a lopsided smile. "I'm not the tyrant you have come to expect. Normally I'm pretty free spirited and as far from a clingy parent as one could be. It's just…"
"I understand," I said when she didn't continue. "You've sacrificed and suffered. You deserve these moments with your daughter, and I don't intend to stand in your way. I'm hoping we learn to work together. For Justice."
Deloria nodded, and what did you know, we might have just had a moment.
"I'll be back soon, Mom," Justice said, hugging her one last time before moving to hug her father. Jepati held her for a long time, squeezing her tightly. "I love you, child," he murmured. "Communicate through the gems. You've felt their connection across the ley lines. You can use them to find us."
Justice's smile was brilliant when she stepped away. "I will always find you."
That was the right thing to say to them. They looked relieved and at peace. Justice and I waved goodbye, before turning to make our way back to the center of the lands.
"What's our plan?" she asked as we walked through the town. She looked around like she was seeing the ruby city for the first time, and as fey appeared in the windows and doorways she waved at them. Most cheered when they saw their princess.
"Hopefully Tyson or Louis have made some grounds on that spell to slow the time difference,” I said. “If we can close the gap at all, then moving between them will be much easier."
She stopped waving, turning all of her attention on me. "Do you think something like that might really be a possibility? Ty has been working on it for a while.”
“I don’t know. But if anyone can figure it out, it’s him.”
Her face was thoughtful. “Either way, as long as I can communicate with my parents easily, we’ll make the rest work. My home, at the moment, is in Stratford, so that’s where we’ll be based."
Pulling her to a stop, I shook my head. "You don't have to give up this world for Stratford. We'll find a balance."
She smiled. "I just think that for now while you're still the ruler of Stratford, it makes the most sense to be there. My parents will not be abdicating their throne any time soon. We can just vacation in Faerie."
Not wanting to argue, I just kissed her gently, setting us off again along the path. There was plenty of time to decide; we'd eventually figure it out. Having almost lost her, these minor life decisions seemed almost inconsequential. As long as we were together, nothing else mattered.
When we reached the center point, a few fey were lingering there, chatting to those from the other jeweled courts. "We're having a dance soon," one of them said, noticing us. "All four jeweled lands are invited. We haven't had a night like that in so long."
Their excitement was contagious. "We'll be there," I said, determined that would happen. Justice had already missed out on far too many of the jeweled land customs. "I imagine it's quite the spectacle to see all the gems together."
More bursts of excited chatter and I smiled down at my mate. "I suggest you fill your dance card with me now, because I'm not letting you out of my arms."
She smacked me on the shoulder. "You saw me at the last dance, Jake. The best I have is some jumping around and waving my hands. All co-ordination flees with a fast beat."
"What about line-dancing? I imagine with all the country in your soul, you've found yourself one-two stepping before."
Her lips twitched. "Okay, you've got me there. Line-dancing is my limit, and I will do that even with my crappy dance skills. Everything else though … nope."
I had to kiss her. It was a fucking desperate driving need in my soul, especially when she was as adorable as she was right now.
"I'm not adorable," she said, snarling at me in fake annoyance.
"I can see into your emotions," I reminded her. "You love when I call you adorable."
Her eyes narrowed to join her scowl.
Laughter spilled from me and since I never thought I’d laugh again, I relished in the happiness. "Come on, Ruby. Let's go home."
She shook her head, lifting her hands to call a pathway home. It shimmered to life and we stepped forward, traveling together. Stratford shimmered in the early morning light, frost already burnt away, as the sun burst to life across our land.
“Can we quickly check on the rubies?” Justice asked, her eyes darting in the direction of the shield.
“Absolutely,” I told her. I was curious myself as to what had been done with that gem graveyard.
"I'm not sure my intention was to kill them," Justice confessed as we walked. "I just wanted to stop them. Once the gems escaped my full control though, it was too late to draw them back."
"You didn't do anything wrong," I assured her. "You saved us all, and hopefully the secret of supernaturals has remained intact. We'll find out soon enough."
The repercussions of whatever happened here were not Justice's to bear. She’d saved the fucking worlds and almost paid the ultimate sacrifice. She should be honored.
Shaking her head at me, her lips formed a smirk, but she didn’t say anything.
When we reached the barrier, I paused. "It's much stronger."
The power of myself and my brothers was still infused in it, along with Louis’, but there was another facet now. Justice reached out and ran a hand across the shimmering surface.
“Rubies," she said. “Their energy is in the shield.”
In a rush, she dove through it, leaving me cursing at her inability to not take massive risks. Following right behind her, she had thankfully not moved toward the rubies yet.
“There’s a new barrier,” Justice said, and I noticed it immediately. “Or the original one has been extended.”
The red shield extended over the far side of the ruby-covered humans.
"They're keeping this from being discovered," I noted, “by using the power of the gems.”
Justice shook her head. "It's ingenious, really. The gems are a limitless source of power, and will strengthen the securities here tenfold."
“Explains the ruby feel in the shield, but how the hell did they deal with the loss of the president and half his special forces?"
I mean, the American people were going to notice that. Surely.
"Well, that's a long and interesting story," a familiar voice said from behind us.
Justice spun and let out a happy cry, running to give Louis a hug. "I'm so glad you're okay," she said, voice husky.
He hugged her back, holding her tight. "I'm glad to know you're okay," he replied, equally as emotional. "We spent many days thinking you were both dead, and it's been…"
Justice swallowed roughly, turning back to me. "I'm so sorry. It's my fault—"
I cut her off. "It's not her fault. She was unconscious until a few hours ago, literally on the edge of death for days. We returned as soon as we could."
Justice's cheeks grew pinker, and I knew she was thinking about the fact that we wasted a little time on love making. Time well spent as far as I was concerned.
Love you, mate. Her voice was amused.
I would never get sick of hearing that.
You are my world. There was no truer statement I could give her. She owned my heart, soul, and sanity.
42
Justice Winter
Jacob was the sweetest fey who ever lived. And as much as I was craving hours, day, weeks, and months doing nothing but loving him, there were obligations to complete first.
"Tell us everythin
g that happened since we left," I said to Louis. "We're desperate to know what we missed."
Jacob crossed his arms like he didn't really care, but I knew deep inside that he'd been worried about his family. I'd been his focus, but he loved them more than he'd ever admit.
"During our panic and mourning over the possible loss of you two,” Louis started, “we dealt with the fallout.” His tone was heavy, magic lingering on each syllable. “First was infiltrating the White House, finding the evidence."
He started to walk, leading us back into Stratford; Jacob and I fell in beside him. "We already had some of the Guilds in strategic positions, high within the president's team, and they were able to get enough information to help with our investigation.”
“Caine went rogue, didn’t he?” Jacob asked.
Louis nodded. “Yep, he took off with the special forces, not running the plan by anyone, and only those high up even knew what they were dealing with. It meant that basically everyone that knew what was happening ended up covered in ruby.”
"So what then?" Jacob pressed.
Louis met his gaze. "I magicked someone to look like President Caine, and now we have full control of America."
Jacob blinked a few times. "You spelled a Guild member?"
Louis shook his head. "No, a supe. Another magic user. It's old magic and it only works with the permission of the magic user, but it's possible to cloak someone in that way."
Jacob nodded. "Strong enough to fool a human, but most supes would see through it."
"Yes. Exactly."
Jacob finally cracked a smile. "I suppose it just has to hold out long enough for the rest of his term, and then next election someone else will step in."
Louis’s purple eyes were practically glowing. "We'll take no more chances. Guild members will be running for presidency, and we will ensure their success. No more spells, a legit candidate who is aware and works for us."
