by Desiree Holt
Petraeus.
Long, white-blond locks fell across his stormy eyes, and he didn’t bother to brush them aside. He marched forward, his intense stare fixed on her. How had he remembered? Blast it. The how’s didn’t matter.
Why, oh why, had he done this? Once again, galloping to her rescue when she hadn’t requested him to.
Only this time, it would spell his doom.
What her enemies requested of her, she could never perform. Not even if they tortured Petraeus.
Her stomach churned, but she sighed in resignation of the agony to come.
Petraeus grinned smugly and cast an exaggerated bow to the King and Queen. “Philaeus, it is not a pleasure to see you once again. I always thought Thereus a fool for not hacking you to pieces when he had the chance.”
A sneer curved Philaeus’s lip, but his beady eyes gleamed in triumph. “Apparently, the trait runs in your family. You must realize you won’t leave here…alive.”
The centaur didn’t flinch. That was either bravery, or lunacy. Perhaps, the nymph Antiope hadn’t been successful in removing the bonding and the lyssa had claimed him.
“This is rather fortunate, isn’t it,” Philaeus hummed to Ekho, ignoring Petraeus now.
She straightened her spine and refused to even glimpse at Petraeus. “It changes nothing. I will not do as you ask.”
“Then you will watch your lover suffer.” Lavra’s voice carried no hint of pity. Of the three, her heart was the coldest. Her decrees were even more severe than those of the two monsters ruling alongside her. She plucked a vial of Ekho’s essence from the group of crystal cylinders on the table beside her, drank it, and whispered to Petraeus.
Ekho stiffened, fighting tears, her heart freezing in her chest. What had she made him do?
He twitched and stepped forward, straight to Lavra, then seized the back of her neck, slanting his mouth across hers.
Ekho slapped a hand across her mouth, unwilling to look yet unable to cast her attention aside. He writhed like a fish flung onto hot coals, as though Lavra’s skin scorched him, yet he pulled her closer, diving into the forge.
He’s still bonded to me. She couldn’t fathom how, but his reaction was proof. As a bonded male, the kiss cost him.
Oh, gods. Lavra might kill him like this.
However, her cruelty and perverse nature ran deeper. She snapped her fingers and Petraeus released her, stumbling to his knees before the thrones.
Sweat beaded his forehead and he wretched as though he might be ill.
Unconcerned for him, Lavra’s feline glare gleamed at Ekho. “This could be more amusing than I’d anticipated. I’d wager he’s a ferocious lover.”
Ekho fought to control her ire, to maintain her composure. She rolled the tiny, glowing breeze between her palms. Her last resort and perhaps, her only choice.
They would not break her, not like this. Petraeus should never have come.
She couldn’t save him.
* * *
Lavra’s taste coated Petraeus’s mouth like ashes, thick and charred. It was the foulest thing he’d ever put his lips upon. He heaved, but thankfully, his stomach calmed.
Despite the torment, he couldn’t quit now. He’d known exactly what he was walking into.
Ekho would be worth every moment of suffering, yet she hadn’t even deigned to gaze upon him. He hoped it was because she didn’t wish him harmed. Not because she didn’t care if he was.
The potions he’d consumed before venturing here were performing exceptionally well. Lavra might have a cruel heart, but she didn’t have any useful experience with nymph powers, or she would have realized.
She hadn’t compelled him at all.
He’d only made her presume she had, though the torment of her kiss had been real.
“No? Hmm, how about this, then.” Lavra uncorked yet another vial and consumed the shimmering blue liquid, whispering into her open hand and blowing the command to him.
“Take the knife.” She pointed to a low marble pedestal. “Cut off your finger and bring it to me.”
Perfect. Exactly what he’d been hoping for. Nothing like limbs and lives at stake to prove his love was true.
He seized the dagger, its weight heavy in his palm. Well, this was going to bloody hurt. Yet, he’d committed to this course and he refused to stop until he’d gotten what he came for.
As he placed his hand on the empty pedestal, he swung a glimpse toward Ekho. Her lower lip trembled, one pearly tear sliding down her cheek.
It wasn’t enough, though. That was the lesson he’d been meant to learn, as hard as it was.
The bonding wasn’t about being destined for one person. It was about choosing that person as one’s destiny.
Ekho had to choose him.
If she didn’t… He sighed at his hand, palm spread atop the smooth marble, the blade braced above his forefinger.
His eyes closed in resignation, the blade in his hand bearing down.
“No.”
The command whirled through him. Compelled, he flung the blade across the chamber. The clinking of it striking the stone floors resonated through his very bones. He jerked his eyes open, as much in relief as surprise. That’s my Ekho. Pride flooded his veins while their enemies sputtered and then roared, preparing to counter.
But he’d come prepared for that.
Whirling to face them, he blew a frigid blast from an ice nymph’s powers. They froze in their seats, but their eyes continued blinking.
Despite his yearning to end them, they belonged to the god Apollo, and his brothers had ordered him to leave them be. Soon enough, they’d face each other again—in the coming War. Petraeus switched his focus to Ekho. “Can you puff us out of this place?”
She nodded, and they blended into the breeze, re-emerging in a forest.
“Centaur lands?” He staggered to his feet, thankful his stomach didn’t roll this time.
“Yes, of course.” She huffed and then gaped at him. “You freed me. How?”
He lifted and dropped a shoulder. “While you may have questioned my abilities to rescue you, I assure you, I am quite adept.”
“Is that what this is, a rescue?” Sudden mistrust crossed her features, darkening them into a frown. She lowered her lashes, staring at her hands. “How did I compel you? My powers were gone.”
“Nay, not gone.” He took one cautious step forward, bracing. This was the part where he’d wrench out his heart and offer it to her, and if she refused… “How can you not see it, nymph? The only one I’ll ever submit to is you.”
Her gaze whipped to his. “Sweet gods, you were never under any persuasion. You’re a brute.”
He quirked his lips. “Actually, that would be my brother Oreius.”
Her nose wrinkled and he was torn between kissing it and defending himself against a well-deserved slap. Instead, she shook her head at him. “That doesn’t explain—”
“Surely, it does. You’re my mate, Ekho. Antiope never reversed our bonding. She only made you believe she did, so that one day, you could choose the bonding for yourself.” He’d had the rather selfless notion of setting his love free to the winds; only, the winds hadn’t returned to him. At least, not in time. “See, the thing about mates is, ah,” he rubbed the back of his neck, “my love makes you strong.”
The blush drained from her cheeks and she dropped to her knees. “Oh, Petraeus.” Fresh tears pooled in her eyes. “Forgive me, I cannot…” She swung her head and the tears spilled like shining crystals. “You don’t understand. I compelled myself to never love anyone. If I could, you would be the one to claim my heart, but it’s no use. I can’t break the spell.”
He kneeled in front of her, cupping her chin in his hand. “Aye, true, lass. But I can.” He tipped her mouth to his, but instead of kissing her, blew through her parted lips, a rose-hued mist, courtesy of a vial donated by the white-haired mystery female.
Ekho inhaled sharply and drew back, touching her fingers to her lips. “It’s gone.” Her smile sparkled a
t him, full of wonder and hope. “How can that be?”
“I wish I knew. Right now, there’s just one thing I’m suffering an absolutely pressing urgency to do.”
“Oh, indeed?” She arched one finely shaped brow.
“Aye, if you’ll but say you love me.”
Her smile softened and she traced her fingertips down his cheek. He slipped his hand atop hers. “I do, Petraeus. I love you, deeply and madly, with my every breath.”
Epilogue
“Ready?” Ekho’s voice came out airy, well, far more airy than usual. By the tremor in her hand gripping the hilt of the blade, he’d conclude she was the one about to be cut.
Not the other way around. Nymphs.
Petraeus couldn’t suppress his grin as he placed his hand atop hers and gave a gentle squeeze. “I’ve been ready ever since I first heard your whisper in my ear, love.”
She scrunched her nose in that enchanting manner of hers and sucked in a deep breath, expelling it in a forceful exhale.
Beams of the setting sun squeezed through the fine slits between the draperies of their chamber at Austere Pass, as though desperate to partake of this ceremony with them.
He braced behind Ekho, their nude bodies cast in the dazzling, soft glow of the evening. It welcomed them with warmth and love, much like their future together.
“You’re forgetting the best part.”
She blinked, a furrow forming between her slender brows. “What’s the best—”
He thrust inside her, his hips slamming into hers from behind.
“Oh,” she moaned while he rolled his hips.
He rocked against her, sheltering her within his embrace. Her slender, curvy form melted against him, trust and affection in her surrender.
“After this, we’ll never be parted again.” A contented sigh passed her lips.
“Just try and hide from me, lass. There isn’t anywhere I wouldn’t search for you, or any torment I wouldn’t undergo to be with you.” He nuzzled behind her ear, the rightness of this moment making him wish it could last forever.
“You’re certain—”
He growled against her ear, seating himself deeper. “One thing you never have to question, Aura, is my will. I never believed in mates or being tied to a female, but you are no mere female. You’re as wild and untamed as I, your whims float away on the breezes. Together, we’ll be as turbulent or a calm as we wish.” He pressed a firm kiss to her neck and steadied his grasp on her hand. “Trust me, nymph. You and I were always meant to be.”
“I do trust you.” She twisted to claim his lips, once, softly and with tenderness. “And I trust my heart, my body, my soul. They are yours, as I am yours.”
“Then cut me, Ekho, and make me yours.”
Her eyes flashed at his cocksure demand, but her fingers pressed down on the hilt and sliced across his upper left bicep, at last freeing his bonding mark. He howled into the darkening room, pounding into her while purest rapture coursed through his veins. An untamed centaur no longer, now, he was a steed galloping the final mile.
Straight, strong, and sure.
Home.
About the Author
Rachael Slate resides on the West Coast of Canada with her husband and two children—or as she likes to call them, her own little blended world. One of the best parts about sharing in her husband’s Chinese-Malaysian culture is definitely the food—and the awesome celebrations!
Rachael writes stories that blend the lines between mythology, reality, and fantasy. In her worlds, you’ll encounter strong, sexy alpha males and the capable women who challenge them. And always, scorching hot romance.
She would love to hear from you. You can contact her on social media or by email at [email protected].
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Wolf Protector
Lila Felix
A mother can bear almost anything to make sure that her children are safe—especially a shifter mother.
After witnessing a murder and being stalked, Lilith takes her son Elijah and runs to the last place on earth she wants to go, but the only place she knows will protect them. Distance. The home she'd been banished from as a teen. Somethings haven't changed. Some have.
Like Casten, her brother's best friend, now her probationary minder. And maybe more. Casten knows he is Lilith's true mate, but he doesn't want to force her into the realization, even though he's known for years. He just needs time and space to convince her, if the pack and danger would just back off for a minute.
Lilith
The last place I wanted to be returning to was Distance. After all, my grandfather had named our tucked away shifter haven the repelling name for a reason—so that all who shouldn't be there would stay away.
Not that they listened, humans never listened to plain reason.
I glanced into the rear-view mirror and saw nothing on my tail for the first time in days. Maybe I'd finally lost them and the trip to the place I had been told to leave as a teen wasn't necessary at all.
“Almost to Distance, buddy,” I called to the back seat, looking at my boy in the rearview mirror.
“You said we’re not a-pposed to go there, Mama. I can protect you. I won't let anything hurt you.” I smiled down at the boy who had blue eyes so clear they were almost white in the glimmer of the sun filtering through the windshield. He had his father’s eyes. Eyes that could tell the most beautiful lies and anybody would fall for them in an instant.
I sighed and made myself look forward. Explaining these things to a four-year old wasn't what I had planned for the trip, then again, nothing I'd ever done had ever gone to plan so I shouldn't be surprised. “I know, sweet boy. But they will help us. They may not like it, but they will protect me and you. And there are other boys like you there.”
He flexed his tiny arms and showed his developing biceps, already leaner than the rest of the human boys his age. “They have arms like this? They got claws?”
“They have claws. Yes. And you can run in the swamps for miles and miles.”
He perked up at that. I'd always had to quell his natural urge to run the long distances we wolves longed for but in Distance, he could run until his little claws broke.
We passed a sign that read ‘Jericho 30 miles’ and my stomach flipped and leapt into my throat. Jericho was where I would turn to get to Distance. This wasn't what I wanted for Elijah or myself. But mostly, I didn't want my son, who looked at me as though the rising sun was my doing, to know why and how I'd been thrown, at such a tender age, from the only home I'd ever known.
We didn't even get to the gate before we were accosted by Casten, now a man, when all I remembered of him were boyish stares and football games from our past. But as much as he was different, he was the same. His deep green eyes matched the last of the green on the trees before it turned in the Fall.
“You are banned,” He said with a firm nod, grinding his jaw. His fists balled as he spoke to me—they all must be like this—pissed off at me for things I did.
“My banishment ended. Three months ago. I need help. There are people—I'm in danger of humans.”
I knew from shifter gossip circles that my brother Davis was now Alpha. My father and grandfather were still alive but had retired from their stations instead of letting death choose their successor. My brother would let me in. He had to. I was willing to beg at that point—for me and for my son.
Casten was my brother’s best friend and though I saw a hint of empathy as he bent down and saw my son through the open window, it was short lived. “I'll have to call. I can't let you in without permission. You know the rules, Lil.”
I interjected with a smile, “Aren't you the Beta now?”
His hand covered what I thought might’ve been his fa
mous grin. “I am. But for this matter, I have to consult Davis.”
I nodded and watched him walk away into the tiny security booth, hidden in the camouflage of a tree trunk. Casten had always been a little skinnier than the rest of the boys, but the few years I’d been away had been good to him. His shirt was stretched thin over pecs that were no stranger to working out and the rest of him was just as built.
He had called me Lil instead of Lilith and the tiny favor calmed me as I watched him talk to someone, nodding every once in a while. He looked over at me several times and held his hand over the receiver while answering whatever interrogation I was under from far away.
I knew it would be like this—even at the gate.
They knew who I was regardless of my past transgressions and I hoped against hope that my previous reputation and the hope of redemption was enough to get me in. I could take anything they could dish out as long as Elijah was safe inside the walls of Distance.
A mother will take anything to make sure that her children are safe—especially a shifter mother.
After too long of a conversation, Casten came back to the car and bent forward, resting his crossed arms on the open window frame. “Davis, um, The Alpha, gave permission. You can go in now. And, Lil?” His eyes shifted around and then landed back on me. My neck flushed with excited heat as the memories of the boy, now man, in front of me, flooded back.
“Yeah?” My answer came out too breathy—too desperate.
“They aren't going to take it easy on you. But I promise I'll do what I can to—I'll try to… Just go in. I'm sorry.”
He shifted right there outside of my beat up Jeep Cherokee and sprang into the trees that led to Distance.
The way he was warning me scared me more than what I was running from in the first place and for a split second I considered making a u-turn right there and taking my chances with the humans.
