Blood Enchantment

by Tamara Rose Blodgett

  Julia smooths her hands over her dress then hugs Cyn tightly, but she pulls away. “I don't want to wreck your dress with all my blubbering.”

  Julia smiles through her own tears. “Blubber away.”

  Cyn nods, biting her lip to keep from outright bawling. Cyn leans forward and whispers in her ear, “He'd want this, Jules.”

  Cyn doesn't have to tell her who, but Julia asks quietly, “What?”

  “Your happiness.”

  Julia steps away, still holding Cyn's hands, and they smile through their tears. Julia nods quickly.

  Scott asks from her elbow. “Are you ready?”

  Julia feels Jason's grave behind her, in the past. That life is dead, along with her husband. Julia realizes she's been grieving bit by bit for Jason since long before he died.

  She gives a decisive nod. “Yes.”

  Scott smiles, running his knuckles in a light caress over her jaw.

  They move toward where Victor stands, a ribbon of ivory draped over his hands.

  *

  Victor carefully and securely ties their right hands together.

  The silk cloth is wide and strong, with a slight shimmer. The colors of the sky have washed the grounds in tones of sherbet, raspberry, and deep blue, and the soft murmur of her people is a dim noise inside her head. For once, she doesn't keep them out, only quiets them.

  Julia wants to feel their joy as though it's her own.

  Scott looks into Julia's eyes. His are shadows in his face, but inside the dark gaze is warmth, love, and something deeper than any human male has the capacity to feel.

  Victor's words flow over them. With each one, she feels their bond tighten.

  Julia can still refuse, deny Scott—and crawl back into the hole of her grief or hang onto the past that's a wisp of vibrant memory that makes her at once happy and sad.

  But she won't.

  Julia lets everything she feels for Scott fill her expression and what she's committed to being with him.

  He nods, his gaze capturing Victor's, who studies them as he gives the final word of the ceremony.

  “Agape.”

  He describes a special form of love that transcends this realm. The heavenly love is a perfect word for those with angelic blood.

  Victor unties the binding and gives two rings to Scott. They glow in polished white gold from years of wear.

  Julia holds her breath as Scott slips one ring on her finger. The metal is cold and way too big.

  She glances at him sharply, her lips quirking.

  “Just wait,” Scott whispers.

  Julia feels the metal begin to heat and looks down at the ring changing on the left ring finger of her hand. It slims, moving like a molten circle of fire, narrowing and growing smaller until it fits perfectly.

  Julia's head jerks up, and Scott holds his hand high, palm facing her. He flutters his fingers while his ring grows larger. The circle of gold matches hers in every way, but his is stuck at his middle knuckle.

  As she watches, the narrow band appears to shimmer, enlarging until it slips over the knuckle then growing smaller again until it is seated perfectly between his first and middle knuckles.

  She gasps in a happy little breath.

  After all Julia has witnessed, she's so pleased to see a small miracle like this—one that doesn't maim, kill, or cause grief.

  “A simple magic,” Victor comments, after watching her expression.

  Julia looks at her hand, stretching her fingers out to admire the simple slim band.

  Scott pulls her into his strong embrace, drawing her close enough to kiss.

  Then he does kiss her, deeply and thoroughly. His lips are soft and tender against her mouth.

  The crowd applauds, and Scott turns her to face them.

  She leans against his hardness, and he places his forearm against her chest.

  The Singers come: Truman, Cyn, Jen, and Michael.

  Julia finds herself missing a few people who have not been found or have been killed. Brendan.

  William.

  Reagan. Jacqueline—once so intent on killing Julia, and now finding a new life within the sithen and maybe her full sanity along with it.

  Julia's palm moves to her stomach, where the spore still lingers.

  Everything is finally right in her life, though not by any means she would have wanted. However, her future is uncertain. But that's the one thing in life she can count on: uncertainty.

  As people come to receive them and she stands underneath an altar of softly lit twigs, Julia gazes into Scott's face. His expression is cautiously hopeful.

  For now, that's enough.

  *

  After

  Julia

  “This is too much, Scott!”

  “No—after all we've been through, it's barely enough.”

  He smirks, and she gives him a light slap on his bicep, but he catches her against him, wrapping her in his arms.

  “It's customary on the night of handfasting to use this bed—this room.”

  Julia scans the large room, formerly Marcusʼs, and heaves a sigh. His bed was replaced by a carved one made of wood. Clearly medieval and gothic, it stands out in a room many years newer.

  “Lots of mixed architecture here,” Julia comments.

  Scott presses a soft kiss to her lips. “I am not here to discuss furniture.”

  Julia smiles, holding her face away. “I know that.”

  Scott motions toward the en suite bathroom, where he just turned off the hot water tap. Julia can't see inside, but she moves toward the doorway, peeking inside.

  “Oh!” she says more loudly than she intended. “It's beautiful.”

  She turns to Scott, and he is smugly pleased. “Did you plan all this?”

  Scott lifts a shoulder. “I'd love to take credit, but the Singers who take care of the royal line had this arranged after Father's death.”

  Scott looks down, running a finger along the edge of a tub so huge it could easily fit two.

  The thought makes Julia blush. Though they've already crossed that bridge, she finds room for shyness.

  “You miss him,” she states.

  He nods. “This isn't about Father, though.” Scott holds out his hand, and she slides hers inside.

  Their connection tightens like a gasp of air, winding them tightly together.

  “I never get tired of the way that feels,” he says, a little out of breath.

  Me, either.

  He smiles at her telepathic comment.

  His finger dips in the water. He saunters closer, reaching behind her hair and unhooking the top latch of her dress. He slowly unzips it to the small of her back, and Julia steps out of the circle of creamy material.

  Scott's eyes catch on her breasts. There was no room for a bra in the tight bodice. She sees in his face that he approves.

  Julia moves to the edge of the tub, giving him a look of invitation.

  Scott follows.

  *

  Scott

  Scott stands before her, naked, wrapping a towel around her body and blotting the streaming water from her heated, fragrant flesh.

  Julia admires the muscles as they dance with his deliberate movements. Each stroke and caress of the towel has her closer to wanting him.

  She's wound so tightly with desire, standing is an effort.

  Julia places her hands on his shoulders, and he looks up, his eyes level with her sex.

  Heat rises to the surface of her skin from the look he gives her.

  Scott leans forward, his tongue licking a lone drop, and Julia hisses in a breath, tipping her head back and clutching his shoulders.

  “Scott,” she breathes.

  “Yes.” He moves his tongue a little lower, delving between her slit.

  Julia cries out softly.

  Her chin lowers, her eyes meeting his.

  “More?” he asks, his breath hot against the most tender part of her.

  Julia doesn't speak, nodding.

  Strong ha
nds grasp her hips and open her to him.

  Julia's legs tremble as his tongue moves deeper, digging between her folds.

  She moistens at his touch, at the residual emotional sensations they share through the meld.

  When her knees weaken, he pulls away, holding her so she won't fall, and swoops her easily into his arms. His erection rests between them.

  Somehow, he finds his way to the bed, hair still damp from their bath of mutual exploration. A drop of water trails like melted ice from his hairline and falls between her breasts.

  Julia shivers.

  Scott lowers her to the bed and spreads her legs with his palms, visually feasting on her nakedness.

  When Julia moves to close her thighs, he pins them open with his large hands. “Don't. You're beautiful—and finally mine. Let me take you in.”

  And like a sponge soaked in love and lust, Julia relaxes her knees.

  Scott bends over her, lapping the drop of water that lingers between her breasts and then presses them together, first laving one nipple and the next. He goes back and forth, always allowing his breath to warm her in a path of fire that ends in the wet torture of her nipples.

  They harden inside his mouth, and Julia makes a small aching sound, arching her back. He captures her against him, plunging a finger deep inside as he gives an insistent pull with the smallest bit of teeth at her nipple.

  Julia sighs as pain and intense pleasure mix, opening her eyes to see his.

  Scott silently gazes down at her.

  “I feel you—how hard you are, how much you want this,” Julia whispers.

  “You have a small idea.” He places Julia's hand on his length.

  I can't take all that. She gives him a sly grin.

  He smiles back. You seemed to do pretty good last time.

  Julia's face flames to life, and she laughs softly, giving him a squeeze.

  Scott gasps, his stomach muscles clenching and releasing with the sensation of her hand on him. “I'll go if you keep up your handiwork.”

  “Nice pun, husband.”

  “My king,” he corrects, the corners of his lips twitching.

  Julia pouts a little. She squeezes him again then rolls to her knees. They face each other on the bed, though he's so much taller, she's really eye level with his chest.

  Julia runs her free hand down the smooth muscles of his chest, trailing her fingers back and forth between the discs of his nipples. They harden, and she lays her head against his heart.

  He rolls his hand down her damp hair. “I love you, Julia.”

  She does something she hasn't tried before, pushing the brunt of her feelings in a tight knot toward him, through Scott. His eyes widen, and his hands slide from her upper back to the lower, convulsively tightening.

  “Ah,” he says in soft wonder. “That's how you feel?”

  Julia nods, biting her lip. Her feelings are so profound and intense, it's easier to just think them through the connection. Words are insufficient.

  When Scott reciprocates, her core pools with moisture. His arousal and want of her is so acute, it incites the reaction of desire from her even more strongly.

  His eyes darken. “Lie down.”

  Julia does without hesitation. They're not in a bunker and desperate to survive. It's a new chapter, and Julia feels a fresh boldness.

  Scott parts her thighs with two strong hands. His fingertips softly brush her entrance, and Julia pants, wanting more and remembering what's already happened.

  Julia doesn't tell Scott what she wants. Her emotions swarm through them, and they both tense and relax with the sensation of their connection.

  He folds over her body, fingers digging into her thighs, and Julia softly shouts, “Yes!”

  Her fingers grab his head as Scott dips into her folds, gently pulling apart the slick skin of her arousal.

  Julia sits up as Scott jerks her hips forward. “Ah!” she yells, hanging onto his shoulders as he licks first one fold then the next.

  When his thumb presses on her clit and begins to slowly churn the tiny bundle of nerves, Julia's orgasm crashes into her like a river of pleasure, chased by Scott's arousal and happiness over her reaction.

  “Please,” Julia whimpers as he looks up. She latches onto the muscular globes of his butt, gathering him closer.

  Her channel pulses for him. To be filled. To be owned.

  Scott seats himself between her legs and rocks slowly inside, stretching her.

  Julia squirms beneath him, loving the sensation of him inside. He's large, and she tries to adjust her hips.

  Scott stills. “Am I hurting you?”

  She smiles.

  “So I'm sort of a full meal deal?”

  Julia pops her hips forward, and the smirk becomes a slack-jawed look of surprise. “Don't do that, Julia. I won't last.” His voice is part chastisement and part pleasure

  Julia laughs softly, dancing her hips under his slow, precise thrusting. Finally, he bottoms out inside her and groans, pressing his forehead against hers. Their bodies lock together as though they were made for each other.

  They are.

  “I don't want this to end,” Julia says, gasping as he moves inside her.

  “Me, either, but you keep moving like that—and there's no way.” Scott feathers a trail of kisses along her throat then moves inside her again and again.

  “Julia,” his voice tight.

  But she already knows. His orgasm shivers through them, his last thrust buried inside her so deeply it's as if they're one body. One mind.

  One soul.

  Scott's release brings hers, and Julia calls out his name. Their mutual pleasure mingles until neither know where it began and where it ends. They hold each other for a long time, heartbeats slowing to a synced rhythm.

  “Will it be like that every time?” Julia asks softly, stroking his back. He plays with a lock of her hair, the tips dry inside his fingertips.

  Scott's jaw jerks back, and he grins. “Wanna see?”

  She does. Her answer flows through their meld.

  Scott gathers her close.

  EPILOGUE

  One month later

  “Ready?” Scott asks, and Julia nods, letting out a protracted exhale. “Hey. Come ʼere.” He pulls Julia against him, shielding her with his much larger body.

  He leans away slightly, thumb lightly stroking the wetness on her cheekbone. “You know I won't let anything happen to you.”

  She nods.

  “So why the tears?”

  Scott delves deep. Her psyche's an open book to him. After four weeks of living with her as her husband, Scott is even more pleased that destiny gifted Julia to him. He doesn't deserve her.

  Yet she's his.

  “I don't want to leave,” she admits.

  “I feel that.” He gathers her small hand against his chest then leans down so they’re looking into each other's eyes. “We have to address the spore. I've already told you, my Combatant side is uneasy about the thing being inside you. I can't relax until it's outta there.”

  Julia nods slowly.

  He feels her emotions through their bond.

  “We can't start a family until that little piece of evil is gone.”

  “I know,” she leans her forehead against his chest.

  “Besides, you know we have to go to faerie anyway. You made the promise to Tharell. Ultimately, you made it to faerie.”

  Julia shakes her head. “I don't know what Singers, if any, are going to want to possibly align in arranged marriages with the fey. They're very different from us.”

  He tips her chin up. “But compatible.”

  “True.” She gnaws on her delectable lips, giving Scott ideas. She giggles. “Quit that, sex demon.”

  “Speaking of…” Scott raises his eyebrows, the standing question between them.

  “Yes!” Julia says, trying to pull away, but Scott holds her close.

  “Repeat after me. Praile can't find me as easily without the spore.”

&
nbsp; She frowns. “Stop.”

  Scott scowls, letting his displeasure flow through their bond. Normally, he shields Julia. It's his role. But right now, he can't rest easy until that thing's out of her. And Victor said the fey would have the answer.

  He's never wished more for his father's advice than he does now. Marcus would have known just what to do.

  But fucking Praile put an end to a lot of the wisdom of their race through his lackey, Tony. Now it's up to Scott to close this loop. This tiny possibility that while Julia holds the spore, she's somehow made more vulnerable; he can't let that potential exist.

  The evil seed only remains dormant because of their meld. But that doesn't satisfy Scott. He wants it gone.

  “The fey have powerful magic.”

  “And you're sure there's no Singers that can expunge it?”

  Scott exhales harshly. “No. All our talents are more about manipulating environment. Except Healers. And they're not equipped to address problems from other realms. The origin of this fucking thing isn't even from here.”

  He steps away, hands trailing from her hips, and paces in front of the mansion.

  “I'll go,” Julia says quietly.

  Scott turns. “You know I wouldn't press this if I didn't think it was important.”

  “I do know that.”

  He walks back to Julia, takes her hand, and raises it to his lips. Scott kisses her knuckles then lays the side of his face against the back of her hand. “I understand how much you like how things have settled here. How unsettled your life's been these past three years until now.”

  “Almost four,” she corrects.

  His eyes move to her features, taking in the gorgeous glow on her skin, eyes like whiskey fire, and a body that rocks his world.

  “What remains of the Combatant, Region One, and all of Two will stay behind. We know what to look for. One is fortified. Vic's got it.”

  “But where's Praile?” Julia asks.

  Scott feels the fear inside her words.

  “If he was going to come back, he would have. That's part of why I want to get this out of you fast.” He moves his palm to approximately where the sword pierced her during the battle at Two. “Let's not make it easy for that fire dick.”