Tempest of Vengeance

by Tara Fox Hall

  Lash let out the breath he’d been holding in a rush, and grinned back at me, his dark eyes joyful.

  “Fine, then repeat after me—” Devlin started.

  “Don’t we need a justice of the peace or something?” I interrupted. “Someone to make it legal?”

  “I’m Vampire Ruler of a continent,” Devlin said imperiously. “My word is law. But even if I were only a State Ruler, by law, I have the authority to execute rogue vampires, discipline errant Oathed humans, kill any human I wish, and officiate, when necessary, over both Oathing and mating rituals between any and all supernatural creatures in my domain, along with other rights to—”

  “Enough already!” Lash broke in. “I want to be mated, not talked to death.”

  “Repeat after me, Sar,” Devlin said. “I promise that from this day forward, I shall be the mate of Lash and no other weresnake—”

  I repeated it.

  “—I promise that I shall come to live with you, my Oathed One and my mate, for the rest of my days, or until you both should perish. So I swear, this day of December 26, 2013.”

  As I said the final words aloud, he gave a happy sigh, then nodded once. “I, Devlin Dalcon, accept your Oath, Sarelle O’Connor McGarran, both on behalf of myself and on behalf of my brother, Danial Racklan.” He said the words slowly with pleasure, carefully pronouncing each one. Then he turned to Lash. “Your turn, Tristan.”

  “I, Tristan Valeras, also known as Lash, promise you, Sarelle McGarran, to be your mate,” Lash hissed sincerely, the tone of his emotionally charged words uneven. “I promise to protect you as best that I can, and to be faithful to you, until my life leaves me. Whatever you need, I will do my best to provide you.”

  Lash turned to Devlin. “Time for your promise, Darian,” he hissed with a smirk.

  “It’s my middle name,” Dev said grumpily, before I could comment. “My father loved the letter ‘d’.” He paused, and then began. “I, Devlin Dalcon, promise you, Sarelle O’Connor McGarran to give you my life’s blood whenever you require it, and to be your lover until my life ends. I promise to confine my lovers to women you know of, and give permission for.”

  He can’t bring himself to say only Hillary and Tiffany. But they might die someday, so this is probably better to say. Maybe.

  “I promise to never be with another woman sexually on the grounds of our home, the land called Hayden, without your permission. I promise to let you be with your mate, Lash, as a snake, to be alone with him, to coil with him when the need arises. I promise to protect you, support you, and love you. So I swear, this day of December 26, 2013.”

  “I accept your promises,” I said softly, feeling tears well up in my eyes.

  “It is done,” Devlin said, giving me a smile, though his eyes were troubled. “Come to us, Sar. We’ll consummate it with you now. I will have my lawyer draw up the legal papers in the morning.”

  I came to them with a soft sigh. Lash and Devlin embraced me between them, trailing kisses down my neck. I lost myself in the sheer joy of their touch, and the relief that finally I had made a choice for myself that was my decision, for better or worse.

  * * * *

  I woke up the next morning feeling wasted. Lash and I had drunk almost a bottle of wine each, though Devlin had had a glass too in there somewhere. Devlin was lying on my chest, his arms around me, and Lash was against my back, his arms around my waist under Devlin’s.

  “Good morning, Mate,” Lash hissed softly, as I looked up at him a little bleary eyed. “You look a little worse for wear. Do you feel okay?”

  “I’m okay,” I croaked out. “I just never drink that much...usually.”

  “It was a lot for you,” Lash hissed, laughing. “I probably would be hurting too, but I had a lot more to eat than you did.”

  That and your alcohol limit is probably measured in cases of wine. I gave him a kiss, and he pulled me against him, his hard erection against the middle of my back. He moved his hips against mine suggestively, sliding his hand down from my breasts to caress me intimately.

  “Again?” I asked, and kicked myself mentally for phrasing it like that. Damn Theo.

  Lash scented the air. “What is it? You’re upset.”

  Oh, forget it, Sar. He’s happy with Jenny, and you’re happy here with them. It will take some getting used to for this to become your life, but it’s better this way for everybody. This way, everyone gets a happy ending, including you.

  “Mate?”

  I gave him a loving smile. “Yes, I’m your mate now. You have only to tell me you want me, Lash, and I’m yours.”

  “Then I want you now, Mate,” Lash said eagerly. He kissed me, winding his tongue around mine and stroking me gently. I moved over slightly, letting go of Devlin and turning to Lash. He embraced me, quickly entering me with a sigh. “I love the feel of you,” he hissed in my ear. “Part of me still can’t believe this is real.”

  “Why, when you know how I feel about you?” I said between kisses.

  “Because you aren’t like any of my past lovers,” Lash replied, without missing a stroke. “By the time I knew the difference between a ‘good’ woman and an ‘easy’ one, it was too late. No good woman wanted me near her, even weresnake women.”

  “I was once anyway,” I quipped.

  Lash gripped my face, making me look at him as he loved me. “Hush, Mate. You’re a good woman. You tried to be a good wife to Theo, a good Oathed One to Danial and Devlin. You gave them children, when they told you they wanted them. You’re a good mother. You went through a lot in the last years, but you never gave up trying to do what was right.”

  “You’re being too generous.” And something of a chauvinist, not mentioning my chainsawing ability.

  “You tried to keep your promises to Danial and Theo, and kept most of them. Even when Theo was taken, and Devlin took you, you were faithful to Theo. You protected Devlin, keeping what he did to you secret to keep him safe. And when you knew he was, you told Theo the truth. And you told him the truth about you and I, too. He wouldn’t have found out, otherwise, not from any of us.”

  I put my hands against his chest, stopping him. “How do you know all this?”

  “I’m very intelligent,” Lash said proudly. “And I got a lot of inside info from Brian.”

  I laughed, and Lash took the opportunity to thrust into me deeply, changing my laugh to a low moan. “I feel lucky you wanted me,” he said, kissing me down my neck. “And I’m going to spend the rest of my life showing you how happy it makes me that I’m your mate.”

  “Then stop talking and show me now,” I said lustily.

  “Yes, shut up and stroke her,” I heard a languorous voice say, then Devlin appeared behind Lash, his golden eyes full of desire.

  “You’re awake,” I began, then Lash turned my head and kissed me, cutting off my words.

  “Yes, I’m awake,” Devlin said, moving closer to us. “Get ready for round two, Sar.”

  * * * *

  It was late afternoon before I left the bed. Even then, it was only because Devlin had made reservations for the three of us for dinner and was not about to miss our first foray into the world as a triad.

  “I can’t move,” I said with a long yawn, my entire body aching gently. “I don’t think I can go.”

  “I’ll carry you, then,” Lash said, sliding his arms under me. “You need to eat something.”

  “We all do,” Devlin said, yawning himself. “I’m ravenous.”

  “I could use a few steaks myself,” Lash hissed, as he carried me into the bathroom. Then he helped me in the Jacuzzi, and climbed in himself. “Ahh!” he said as he slid into the water beside me.

  Devlin slid into the water on the other side of me. “We’ve got about an hour,” he said, yawning again. “Then we’ll need to leave for the restaurant.”

  “Where are we going?” I asked playfully.

  “The one by your old house,” Devlin said, as if it were the only restaurant we could have possibly chose
n. “That’s your favorite, so Lash says. I’ve never been there.”

  “You’ll like it,” I said, reaching out to take hold of his hand in mine. “They have a good wine list.”

  “Are you sure, Sar?” Lash said, lifting me slightly and scooting himself under me, so I was sitting on his lap in the water. “You have friends that used to go there with you that knew you and Theo, and your parents sometimes go there, too. You and I ran into them that one time at brunch.”

  I kissed him on his scratchy cheek. “This is my life now. You’re both part of my life. I’m happy to go there with you.”

  “Good,” Lash replied. “I thought you might prefer not to have everyone know that you were with us...um, until your divorce is final.”

  “I’m not hiding what we are now, not from anyone. That would be pretty shitty behavior, if I did that,” I said sharply, grimacing in distaste.

  “Sar’s not like other women you’ve known,” Devlin said, squeezing my hand. “She wouldn’t have agreed to be with you, Lash, if she was ashamed of you.”

  “I know that,” Lash said, still holding me close. “But on some level, I’m still surprised.”

  I thought about reminding him I loved him. But then I’d have to hear his silence, because he couldn’t say it back to me, so I remained silent.

  Chapter Eleven

  We sat in the Jacuzzi for another half hour, just luxuriating in the water and bantering playfully. Even sated as we both were, we were too happy not to want to tease one another and share laughter.

  “Come on you two! We’ve got to go!” Devlin called from the bedroom.

  Reluctantly, Lash helped me out of the tub, and we both walked into the bedroom. Devlin was already dressing, and from the clothes strewn all over the room, it looked like he was having trouble deciding what to wear. “What do you think, Sar?” he said, holding up two shirts. “I’d like us to match. Do you want to wear red or blue?”

  “Wear black, so we can all match,” Lash said in irritation.

  Devlin gave him an annoyed look.

  I cut in, determined to nip this in the bud before it got any farther. “Stop,” I said gently. “Both of you listen to me.”

  Both of them turned to me.

  “I don’t want any jealousy between the two of you,” I said calmly, but with force behind my words. “I want to be with you both, and to not have the endless bickering that Theo and Danial have done since the moment Danial found out I’d let Theo move in with me.”

  “Fine, what should we wear—?” Devlin started.

  “Let me finish!” I interrupted sharply. “It doesn’t matter, if I wear certain clothes to please one of you, or spend more time with one of you on a particular day, or have more sex with one of you than the other—”

  “Well, we all know which of us that would be—-”

  “Shut up, Lash!” I rebuked him. “I gave you both my promise for a reason: there isn’t any need to fight over me now. I want you both to be happy, and I’ll do my best to make sure neither of you feels like you’re less important to me than the other is. But you both need to help me make this work. I can’t do it all on my own. Theo’s jealousy ruined what he, Dev, Danial, and I could’ve had. I don’t want that to be us in a few years. I want what we’ve made to last.”

  Devlin came over to me and hugged me. “As much as I wanted it to work before, and as hard as Danial tried, you’re right, Sar. It wasn’t good for any of us trying to share you three ways, but none of us men wanted to be the one to walk away and lose you. Most nights, the three of us will sleep together here in my bed. But I’ll let you be just with Lash sometimes, and sometimes I’ll want him to leave us alone, too.”

  “I’m okay with that,” Lash interjected, nodding once.

  “—so we’ll make it work,” Devlin finished. “But tell us—both of us—if you’re feeling pressured or overwhelmed like you were before. I don’t share well, I never did. Lash is probably better at it than I am—”

  “Dev,” Lash hissed dangerously.

  “What? You’ve been in similar situations,” Devlin said, shrugging. “And I might need reminding.”

  “Then I’ll remind you with my fist,” Lash hissed meaningfully, though he was smiling. He came over and clasped my hand in his.

  “So, please tell us if you’re unhappy, and we’ll try harder,” Devlin said, brushing his fangs over my neck lightly in a teasing motion. “But now we have to get moving or we’ll lose our reservation. So what color are we wearing?”

  I looked over at Lash, and then back to Devlin, considering. “You wear white, I’ll wear silver gray, and Lash can wear black?” I offered.

  “Sounds good,” Lash said, nodding. “I’ll go get my clothes.”

  “You should move some of them in here, since you are going to be sleeping here,” Devlin called after him as he left. “I’ll make some room, or we’ll get another wardrobe.”

  “Ok,” Lash called back.

  “Is he just going to walk over naked?” I asked.

  “Sure,” Devlin said, smiling widely. “He’s proud of that young body he has now, Sar. Much of it is a were thing. They feel comfortable not wearing clothes.”

  Theo hadn’t been like that, save in bed. I’d chalk it up to experience. But I did have a concern about tonight to voice to Devlin that had nothing to do with Lash. “Dev, if we go to this particular restaurant, you have to behave. I mean it. I’m not embarrassed, but—”

  He nodded. “I’ll act more as your friend, not your date. Nowhere else, Sar, but I understand it will take some time for you to let go of your human morals. So I’ll do this for you and Lash. I will also wait to feed until tomorrow night.”

  “Thanks,” I said softly.

  Lash came back in a few minutes to find us dressed and waiting for him. Devlin had put on a pair of white jeans, and a white sport coat with a golden turtleneck that brought out his eyes. He’d also strapped a gun and shoulder holster on, for extra precaution. I’d put on a long denim skirt and the silver gray chenille sweater that was Devlin’s favorite, over a black turtleneck. Lash was in his trademark black: polar fleece turtleneck, heavy wool sweater, and black jeans.

  “We need to get you into some other colors,” Devlin said mildly, as we three walked down the stairs. “That funeral attire is okay sometimes, but it’s depressing day after day.”

  “Fuck off,” Lash replied just as mildly. “I like black. I’ve always worn black.”

  “I think you’d look handsome in red, or blue, and maybe green,” I said hesitantly. “And especially in white.”

  Lash was quiet, considering my words. It’s a start.

  “Get in the back with me, Sar,” Devlin said, opening the back door for me. “Until Ulysses is caught, I want anyone who may be observing to assume that Lash is just your bodyguard, like he is mine.” He grinned. “One that I allow certain liberties to, though, of course.”

  “He’s right, Sar,” Lash said, nodding. “Even after Ulysses is caught, I will want to keep our being mated under wraps. Otherwise someone may come after you to get to me.”

  The restaurant was a good hour from Hayden, but Lash made it in a little over forty minutes via some backroads shortcuts, and some fast driving. As soon as we walked in, a friend and favorite waitress, Lori, noticed us. She tried not to look too shocked as she led the three of us to our table.

  “Good evening! Good to see you, Sar. Um...what can I get you to drink?”

  Lash looked at me uneasily.

  It’s obvious she remembers him. Devlin’s so eye-catching, she won’t be forgetting him either. “Lori, this is Devlin, and you probably remember the man sitting next to him—”

  “Tristan,” Lash supplied softly, when he saw I wasn’t sure what to call him in front of her. “It’s good to see you again, Lori.”

  “Tristan. That’s pretty,” Lori replied, smiling. Lash tried not to grimace.

  “A bottle of your best Shiraz, with three glasses,” Devlin said winningly. “It’s good
to meet you, Lori. Sar has often said this is her favorite restaurant, and I have wanted to come here with her for years. But better late than never.”

  Lori gaped at him, clearly at a loss for words for what he had implied. I need to excuse myself to explain a little. But what to say? That they were both my lovers?

  “Coming right up,” Lori said, and dashed off to get the wine.

  “I knew we shouldn’t have come here,” Lash grumbled.

  “Hush,” I said, getting up. “I’m going to the ladies room. I’ll be right back.”

  Lash looked worried, like I might decide to slip out the back. It was sad but also comical.

  “Women do this all the time, go to the ladies room when they’ve just arrived,” Devlin said, perusing the menu. “Look at the menu, Lash, and don’t worry about it.”

  Lash hissed at him, then turned his attention to his menu.

  I visited the ladies room, and managed to grab Lori as she was walking past from the bar. “Hey. Wait a minute, Lori.”

  She looked at me, clearly unsure what to say.

  Wing it and try not to sound like a slut. “I’m not sure how to say this, so I’ll just say it. Theo left me for another woman. We’re separated, truthfully, we’ve been separated a year. But we were working on getting back together this past fall, when you saw us.”

  “You guys looked worn out that day,” she said sadly. “I’d heard about your home, being lost in a fire. I didn’t get a chance to tell you that day, but I’m sorry.”

  “We’re getting divorced in a few days,” I continued. “Theo’s getting remarried the very next day.” At least, according to what my mother had told me, he was.

  “I’m sorry,” Lori reiterated, then smiled. “But it looks like you’ve moved on yourself.”

  “Yes,” I said giddily, then blushed. “I’m really happy.”

  Why the hell did I say that? Post-coital bliss, probably.

  “You should have fun with him, Sar, and not rush into anything. Divorce can be painful.”

  “It is,” I agreed, biting my lip.