by Lacy LeRoch
Owen leans over and slaps Laron up the back of the head. “Shut up idiot, he will kill you.”
I smile at my brother and nod. He knows me better than anyone. He knows not to push his luck with me, this is why I hate Laron sometimes. He’s good for a laugh, but a pain in the ass when things are meant to be serious he takes everything as a joke. It’s why he doesn’t have a speaker seat on the council. No one thinks he’d be taken seriously. Besides, we never know when he’ll try to pull a prank on us.
Lucy runs her hand innocently down my back. My body sparks alive with her touch. It feels like her touch awakens parts of myself I never knew existed.
I can’t keep my hands to myself any longer. Reaching out, I take hold of her jaw in my hand. I rub my thumb along the silky glide of her bottom lip. I feel as though I’ve won the lottery when she leans into my touch and places a soft kiss to the pad of my thumb. I close my eyes and beg for calm. My body erupts with the need to claim her. Goddess, I don’t think I have ever felt anything so sweet in all my life. Markus clears his throat, snapping me out of my devilish thoughts. Great timing, jackass.
“Rafe,” he growls my name, unimpressed.
Shit, I think he heard my thoughts. I start thinking of rabbits and birds, clearing my mind of all the delicious things I want Lucy’s lips to do to me.
“What is it you want again?” I ask her father with a smirk.
He smiles tight-lipped and points to Lucy. “May I?” He reaches his hand out slowly toward her.
At least, he had the good sense to ask first. I can act this way—her father isn’t a threat. Markus and I have been friends for over five hundred years. He would never do anything to take that friendship away, but it still doesn’t help the mating heat from wanting to take over.
I clench my jaw and take a step back from Lucy. Repeating the chant for control, over and over in my head. I just hope to Goddess Lylian that it’s enough to keep me from hurting my family and friends.
“I know how hard this is, Rafe. Trust me on this, I will be as fast as I can. Okay?”
I nod in quick agreement taking a step further back, just to give myself more space between them. My body is shaking with tension. I grit my teeth harder hearing my jaw creak with the pressure. This is harder than I thought.
Don’t look Rafe. That’s it, that’s the answer. I just won’t look.
I close my eyes tightly and take a deep breath. The first thing I see when my eyelids drop is Lucy being touched. Shit. I growl aloud, my eyes snap open. I see red as soon as I notice Markus with his hand on my Lyian. My brothers can feel the fight I’m having over my body. They close in around me, ready to jump at a moment’s notice.
Shit! I’m meant to be the Watcher, who has control over everything, and here I am unable to control a simple desire. I’m a complete mess.
I reach my hand up to brush my long black hair out of my eyes. I’m sweating profusely. Fan-fucking-tastic. I don’t like looking at Lucy and seeing another man’s hands on her. Father or not, the testosterone in me hates it.
I flit my gaze around looking at my brothers. They have me surrounded, each of them standing tall with a casual air about them. I’m no fool, they’re trying to make me feel at ease. But I know each of these Watchers can strike like a viper at a moment’s notice. The only one who isn’t standing near me is Bevan. He’s standing along the wall with Lacy pressed behind his back, his dark blue wings spread out, hiding her.
“How are you feeling, Lu?” her father asks, reaching out and wrapping his arms around Lucy.
I growl low and loud. Fuck. Since when did I turn into an uncontrollable asshat?
He looks over his shoulder at me. “You okay there, Rafe?”
I can’t speak, I clench my jaw tighter and lower my head.
“Brothers, you all need to step in and be ready. It’s very hard for him to control his urges.”
I can’t believe he would out me the way he just did. I growl and narrow my eyes at him.
“Sorry, I meant no disrespect. I’ve never seen a heat come on so fast in my life. I’m not sure how to handle this. You both have been thrown into this instantly.” He turns his attention back to Lucy, who’s wrapped in his arms.
“Mine.” Shit, I didn’t mean to growl at him again. My brothers close in, ready to protect Markus from my wrath.
Owen, who’s standing at my right, takes hold of my arm and I turn my head and thank him. “Thank you. Whatever you do, don’t let me hurt him.”
Owen lowers his voice and whispers into my ear, “Okay, Rafe. Try to be calm. He’s her father and he won’t take her. God, this must be hell for you, my brother. I wish I could do more.”
I have no idea what to say, so I turn back around to make sure Lucy comes to no harm. Her beautiful blue eyes land on mine. For a minute, I forget to breathe. Her innocence and beauty are enough to bring me to my knees.
“Daddy, would it be all right if Rafe came to sit next to me.” Lucy pulls herself from Markus’ worried embrace. He looks at Lucy confused and concerned all at once. The poor guy is torn between helping me, and looking out for his baby girl’s welfare. Lowering his shoulders in defeat, he turns to face me.
“Get over here, Rafe. It’s what my daughter wants.”
My brothers step away allowing me a free path to Lucy. I don’t know how I missed it before, but Jay never left his crouch position on the floor. It isn’t like a Watcher not to act instinctively to protect another.
“Where would you like me to sit, my love?”
I lower my head toward her. She deserves to have respect and she will always have that from me. I’m freaked out with just how much she’s come to mean to me so fast. I hate to see how it’s going to be after the mating takes place.
Lucy reaches her arm out to the side and indicates for me to sit next to her. Little does she know she offered up her left side. It’s important for a male Watcher. It’s a sign of power and strength, and my beautiful Lucy just offered it up without even knowing the significance of the act.
“Here please.” She taps the sofa on her left side.
I have to smother my shit eating grin, as I move to sit next to her. I glance around the room to gauge my brothers’ reactions. They all know the high I’m feeling, I can see the smiles on their faces. In a way, I wouldn’t be surprised if they envy me. Especially with me taking the mating heat in front of her father.
“I’m here, I will not move away from you unless you wish me too. You have complete control of me and my actions,” I tell her in hushed tones.
Lucy smiles at me causing my heart to flutter, then looks back over to her father.
With all the sweetness she can summon in her body, she turns and says, “I’m fine now, Daddy. For some reason, I feel calmer with Rafe close to me. I don’t like it when you all keep hold of him. It makes me angry.” Her face turns lethal as she raises her head and tells my brothers, “And with no disrespect to Rafe, but if any of you touch him again, or keep him from me, I will rip your throats out. And trust me, I’ll take great pleasure in it. You all understand, hands off my Watcher.”
My brothers lower themselves to their knees, clasp their hands behind their backs and lower their heads toward the ground.
Owen is the last one to lower himself down onto his knees. I feel the brush of him in my mind before his voice echoes in my head, “I like my new little sister.” He chuckles.
Lucy turns to face me, questions shining in her eyes. I don’t think my smile could get any bigger. I rise to my feet and walk to stand in front of her, then bring her hand to my mouth placing a soft kiss on her palm. Afterward, I lower myself into the same position as my brothers.
Lucy turns to her father. “Daddy, what’s going on?”
Markus shakes his head, laughing. “Lu, the men are showing you the highest form of respect. They have submitted to you. You are now to be held in a leader’s role. The brothers have spoken, you showed great strength and courage speaking up the way you did. You have just shown, you
will lead and they will follow. It had been foretold by the Seers a long time ago, but I thought I could hide both you and Lacy from this life but I wasn’t successful.”
Lucy lets out a small gasp, reaches her hand down and runs it through my long hair. I groan at the feeling of her little hand tangling throughout my black curls. I automatically tilt my head into her hand, like a cat wanting attention.
She chuckles softly, reaches down and lifts my chin. “Rafe, you will never kneel at my feet. Never. Please get up and come sit back with me.”
Damn, my girl keeps giving me the highest of honors without even realizing it. As I’m rising to my feet, he father slaps me on the back, smiling. Once I’m seated on Lucy’s left side, my brothers all rise to their feet.
Markus starts talking to Lucy as if nothing happened. “I understand, Lucy. You are fully aware of the fact that under normal circumstances I would never allow this…” he father points between Lucy and me, “…but you’ve just shown that this is meant to be. And as an elder, I need to accept it. I know Rafe will mold you into the perfect, Lyian.”
“I know, Daddy. But if you change your mind and try to take Rafe…” Lucy reaches over and takes hold of my hand completely shocking me, “…I will be forced to hurt people.”
She gives my hand a quick squeeze. I can’t help the huge stupid grin, rising on my face when her father looks like he wants to jump the sofa and kill me. Even though he’s given his blessing, and has accepted this as an elder, it can’t be easy to have your daughter wanting to touch one of your closest friends.
“Rafe, don’t smile at me, moron. This is my daughter. Show me some respect. I still don’t have to be comfortable with this, acceptance and blessing are two totally different things. Laughing at me will make me want to rip your nuts off and smile while doing it.”
“Markus, that moron will be your son-in-law now,” Laron pipes in from across the other side of the room.
The brothers all start laughing, even Jay. It’s rare that you see any reaction from him.
Markus rolls his eyes. “Oh shit, never thought about that. Nope, can’t happen. No way, no how. I can’t have him as a son that’s just plain creepy.”
“Dad,” Lacy chastises with a giggle from the doorway.
He looks over in his daughter’s direction, suddenly all business. “Oh, and don’t you think I haven’t noticed you and Bevan either, young lady. We will talk about you later.”
Oh, snap! That’s what was going on. The two of them have been going through the heat. Lacy hides behind Bevan and wraps her arms around his waist. I don’t think they’ll hide it now, good on them. I wish all my brothers well and want to see them happy.
“Markus, can we move this along. While we were called here to help with the girls, the men have other duties that need to be seen to. And you, for one, know the duties of a Watcher,” McKinley grumbles. Of course, he would have work on the mind. Being the Grand Leader of the Judadic Council, he takes his role seriously. He’s a private man. All we know is that he and Jay don’t get along. No one knows the reasons behind it. We all have secrets and they’re entitled to theirs.
There are four, level one Watchers in the room. Three of us are active. That means we can’t be away from the council for too long. You never know what the other council members will get up to in our absence.
“Right, sorry McKinley. Just let me check her eyes again, you know as well as I do that they’re both unstable at the moment,” Markus mumbles.
My old friend looks completely lost for words and has no direction as to where to go next. Lucy slides closer to me. The bond must be messing with her. So I reach out and wrap my arm around the back of her shoulders and pull her close to my side. Keeping my eyes on her father, I lean in and kiss her quickly on the temple.
“Is this okay, little one? You can always talk to me. Never let me do anything you’re not comfortable with,” I whisper in her ear.
Lucy answers me in the best possible way. She slides up even closer to my side and leans her head against my chest.
I know I’m pushing my luck, but I need her close to me. And this feels so right that I can’t push her away, no matter how much I want to show her father respect. My body vibrates with the need to be closer. I know what needs to happen next. Her father groans and shakes his head at me. Damn, he must know what I want. I’ve been holding out as long as I can, so I’m going to lay it out on the table anyway. But I can respect him enough to hold out a little longer.
“This is going to be the death of me, isn’t it?” Markus shakes his head and looks down at his daughter cuddled up in my arms. “Lu, let me see your eyes. This is important.”
“Okay, Daddy.” She pouts, lifting her head off my chest.
He leans in and takes hold of Lucy’s face, placing both of his hands on either side of her face, he tilts her head from side to side, studying her eyes. “This can’t be happening.” He groans, shaking his head. “McKinley, she’s in control for now. The Phoenix is close, but she definitely has control. It will be Rafe’s actions as a mate that will need to be monitored carefully,” he tells him, as he gets up and walks over to him.
They lower their heads at each other and start whispering.
Shit, this can’t be good.
We all know what needs to happen, if the Phoenix is close to the surface, she’ll need to be moved to Devilice Island. But right now that isn’t in the cards, she’s only nineteen and is still classed as a child on the Island. I’m not worried about me, but I worry that Lucy is too young to handle it.
My body already burns with the need to complete the bond. I need to lay Lucy underneath me and claim every inch of her beautiful innocent body. To mark her and claim her as my own. Just the thought of it makes my blood run hot, and my body start to harden with need.
“Rafe?” Lucy looks up at me.
I don’t think I will ever get sick of seeing her beautiful face. I can’t stop thinking about the mating. I’m dying to know what she sounds like when she comes, what her face will look like when she hits her climax. Goddess Lylian, I’m dying to know what my name sounds like as it rolls off her tongue when Lucy screams it out in the heat of passion. I need to get a hold of myself. I shake my head at my wayward thoughts. As hard as it will be, I need to focus on the here and now.
“Yeah, little one?”
Lucy looks torn as to what to say next. The innocence on her face brings me to my knees and makes me feel guilty for the dirty thoughts I had a second ago. This girl is too sweet for the likes of a man like me.
Lucy looks between her father and me, then down at her hands that are rested in her lap. What has her so nervous? No one is looking at us, they’re all focused on the heated conversation that McKinley and Markus are having. I can’t handle to see her so torn up. I need to hold her. And if I’m brutally honest with myself, I think I need to hold her more for my benefit than hers.
“Come here,” I tell her softly, opening my arms to her.
I reach down and pull her onto my lap. This is where I need her. Safe with me. This is where she belongs.
“Thank you,” Lucy mumbles into my chest. She rubs her nose along my chest, finding a comfortable position. As Lucy snuggles in close, I feel her skin is hot to the touch. Her body heat is rising with every passing second.
“Lucy, baby girl. Can you look at me for a minute, please?” I try to keep the panic out of my voice.
No, it can’t happen now. It’s too soon, she’s too young. Why would the Phoenix be so close to the surface at such a young age?
Because she’s only nineteen, it’s against our laws for me to complete the bonding. If I were able to it would tame the Phoenix, so to speak. No one knows the reasons behind it, but a mated Lyian can handle the Phoenix a lot better, and the Phoenix won’t take over knowing that there’s an alpha male in complete care of its master. Lucy’s gaze finds my own and it confirms my worst fears.
“What’s wrong, Rafe?” Lucy asks me timidly.
I draw
in a deep breath, and try to find the right words. I look over at Markus and McKinley, they both know what needs to happen, but how are they going to take it? We’ve never brought a Lyian back to Devilice so young before. I’ve never known anyone to come on so strong with the heat at such a young age. This is a very sensitive situation for everyone involved.
“All Watchers, leave the room right now. Report back to Devilice, and resume all of your duties,” bellows McKinley.
“You heard him, move it out and make it quick,” Jay pipes in from over in the corner.
You could almost forget the guy is even around half of the time. Once the room is cleared leaving only Markus, Lucy and me, he looks over at me and nods.
“Rafe it’s okay? Make it happen. She’s close to the change. It needs to happen in Devilice. I just need to accept it. I’ll speak to Sarah about moving the family to the Devilice Island.” He father shrugs his shoulders and taps the side of his head softly. “I’m glad it was you, Rafe. Just promise me something,” he says telepathically.
“Anything,” I answer him back.
“Promise me, you’ll always treat her as your everything.” He glances down at the ground, blinking rapidly.
I feel bad for the guy, he lost his mate early and not long ago found love with Sarah. It will never be true love, but he seems happy. Well, that was before I came in and Lucy felt the heat for me.
“I swear I will always love and honor her,” I tell him, honestly.
He nods his head and exits through the door, leaving Lucy and me alone in the room.
Holy shit, did he just give me permission to completely claim his daughter and make her truly mine?
“Love, first before anything else is said, I need to know one thing. Can I kiss you?”
The smile she gives me, lightens my heart and makes all the stress I was feeling melt away.
“Of course, Rafe.”
I don’t need any more prompting as I grasp the back of her neck and angle her head to the side, teasing the seam of her lips with my tongue until she opens to me. Hmm… this is so much better than before. With a hesitant touch, Lucy starts to explore my mouth, her hands come up to touch my jaw in a gentle motion.
