by Eve Newton
“Again, Vincentius,” he commanded.
He held up his own sword and they clashed and parried. Constantinus was quicker, stronger, and more experienced than him and again he found himself on the ground.
“You would be dead a thousand times over by now, Vincentius,” he mocked, to more giggles from the crowd. “Perhaps you should rethink your choices.”
Vincentius knew he was only goading him. He was his friend, his best friend. They had been inseparable since his father had sent him here to Rome to live with a human family six years ago. He did resent him though, deep down.
“I would only be dead if I were fighting you, Constantinus,” he said back to him. “Unless you switch sides, I am fairly certain that there is no other warrior out there who can best me.”
Constantinus laughed and it was a beautiful sound. He came over and held his hand out to help him up. He accepted it and they were finished with practice for today. His eyes found Isebella again, he wanted to go and speak to her, but he was tongue-tied and shy.
Constantinus followed his eyes to where he was looking. “Like what you see there, amicus?” he asked.
He knew he was blushing, but replied using the same endearment, meaning “friend.” “Yes, amicus. I think I am in love with her.”
“Then go and speak with her. You won’t get her into your bed by standing around here talking to me.” He slapped him on the shoulder and sauntered off.
“That’s what you think,” he muttered with more than a bit of bitterness. “She only knows I exist because I am friends with you.”
A trail of people followed in his wake, as was usual custom and Vincentius steeled himself to go over and talk to her. She ignored him and swung her long chestnut brown hair over her shoulder and followed his best friend instead.
A few weeks later, he was summoned to the Aquila Villa on the outskirts of the city. It was not uncommon for him to meet his friend there, so he thought nothing of it. He waited in the atrium, but no one came for him. It was considered extremely rude to wander around someone else’s home unattended, but he was becoming impatient. He drifted into the peristylium and admired the gardens here. He heard a noise coming from one of the rooms situated off the peristylium and went to investigate. When he saw what was in front of him, he quickly hid behind a big plant. He was heartbroken as he watched his friend engaging in intercourse with Isebella. He wanted to leave, but he was rooted to the spot in his sorrow. She cried out as she finished and he pulled out of her, ejaculating over her so there was no chance of a child between them.
Constantinus looked over at him. He knew he was there. Constantinus had summoned him here for the purpose of him seeing them together, so that Vincentius would know he was better than him at everything. As she noticed his presence, she hastily got dressed and with flushed cheeks and downcast eyes, she ran from the room.
“Why?” Vincentius asked him, unable to keep the sadness out of his voice. “You knew that I liked her.”
Constantinus shrugged, not really caring. “I thought I would give you a chance. No privileged man will have her now,” he said, almost in disgust. “Her father will be disgraced, and you can offer for her hand and be accepted.”
He stared at the callous attitude, struggling to believe that his friend could be so heartless.
“Don’t look so shocked, Vincentius. I did this for you,” he said as he came closer and regarded him with interest. “Don’t you want her now?”
He did still want her, even though she had been defiled by his best friend, that didn’t matter. He nodded and Constantinus slapped his hand on his shoulder.
“Think of it as quid pro quo. One day, I will want something in return. But for now, go and enjoy your spoils. Word will be out soon enough about her dishonor.” Constantinus left Vincentius staring after him as he walked away. He wanted to believe that his friend did this for him, but he saw his face. He had enjoyed it; he had enjoyed her. This was just his way of getting what he wanted and keeping their friendship intact. He knew that. Of course, he knew that, but he couldn’t hate him. Deep down Vincentius loved him and he would always be his friend no matter what. Constantinus would always get what he wanted, it was the way of the world and he would be happy to ride on his success in the shadows. He turned back to the atrium and he caught a glimpse of a woman watching. A tall, beautiful woman with the longest black hair, curled to her feet, but it was her eyes that held him captive. They were a mesmerizing color of green that he had never seen before. She vanished before his eyes, and he hoped he would see her again.
Even though Isebella eventually became Sebastian’s wife after he turned her, he still resents the fact that Constantine took her from him, knowing how he felt about her. It wasn’t the last time either. He has lost count the number of women he has lost to his sire or been second best because Constantine either couldn’t be bothered with them or he used them and discarded them. But with Liv, he is different. He is obsessed with getting her to be with him. Sebastian doesn’t blame him. If he honestly thought that he had a chance with her, he would fight to the death as well. Do anything and everything to get her. This baby is his only way. Constantine won’t put up with it and he thinks it will be the only thing that will make him leave her. He knows her husband will leave her as well. He would probably leave her if he knew about them now anyway, if his actions before the time shift are anything to go off. But Sebastian isn’t concerned about him. He looks back at her sleeping, and he is determined to do this. The prophecy being changed is just ridiculous. It is probably just his father trying to ensure that this child happens one way or another. But it will happen only one way and that is with him. No one else will get near enough to her to try, he can guarantee that.
Sebastian thinks back to that woman that he saw in Constantine’s Villa that day. She certainly hadn’t been there looking for him. Her face had haunted him for years, those eyes. He wanted to see her again and he knows now that he did see her again. He saw her last week in Liv’s hotel suite and again at Ponte a few days ago. It was Liv’s mother, Tiamat. She must have been there spying on Constantine because She planned on changing him. It was several months after that event that he disappeared, thought to be killed in a battle. He came back to find Sebastian not long after that, to ask for his returned favor, and here he is: his first charge.
Liv stirs as she senses him watching her and her eyes pop open. She finds his and smiles sleepily. “Go back to sleep,” he whispers to her. “We still have a few hours before the feast.”
“Hungry,” she mumbles, and runs her hands through her hair.
“I know you are, my love,” he says as he crawls up the bed to her. Her eyes widen at his endearment, but she says nothing. He offers her his wrist, but she shakes her head and holds her hands up. He holds his up to hers and she grips his fingers tightly, pulling herself upright. The sheet drops from her and he can’t stop himself from staring at her. She smiles slowly, knowing his thoughts and gets to her knees in front of him. He has no need to ask her if she has truly forgiven him for what he did, as she leans forward to kiss him, pulling on his energy as she does so. He gets hard instantly and pulls her closer to him. She slides onto his lap and grinds down on him with a soft “mmm” noise that, in a flash of speed, makes him put her on her back, kissing her with a passion he has never, ever felt before. He wants to take her, but she draws back and shakes her head again. “Don’t be a tease,” he growls at her, and she puts her hand on his chest.
“I’m sorry. I want you, Sebastian, but we can’t.” She sighs and increases the pressure on his chest.
“No,” he says to her, forcefully removing her hand. “Don’t push me away. We can do this. There are ways in which we can do this. I need you.” He will let her believe that he doesn’t want this baby as much as she doesn’t, but he has every intention of seeing this through now. He knows she won’t stop him at the last second if he can just get the timing right. She looks at him warily.
“I know I don’t have to
explain it to you, Liv,” Sebastian says with a slight smile, which she hesitantly returns.
“It’s too risky,” she says. “But I do want you. You can go anywhere but there,” she adds with a fire in her eyes and he goes weak at her words.
“Oh, I will go there,” he says to her as he pushes her back and opens her legs wide, dipping his head to press his mouth against her. She chuckles and runs her hands into his hair to keep him close.
“Not going to argue with that,” she murmurs, and he sets about seeing to her every need. Soon she is clawing at him to take her, as he knew she would be. He turns her over and pulls her to her hands and knees.
“I need to feel you first and then I’ll pull out,” he says to her as he slides his cock into her wet haven.
“Oh, Seb,” she cries out as he hits her g-spot. He slides in and out a few more times and she is close, really, really close. He is about ready to burst, holding back. He is breaking out into a sweat holding onto his orgasm until she is ready. “Come for me, baby. I want to feel you,” he whispers to her and it is her undoing. She lets go and so does he with two quick thrusts, biting his lip painfully to not make a sound as he makes sure he released into her before he pulls out and lets the rest of his orgasm spurt out onto her back with a loud moan. He knows she’s not stupid and will realize what he has done, so, panting heavily, he doesn’t give her much chance to think about it as he flips her back over and plunges his fingers into her before he lowers his mouth to her again to lap up any evidence of his deceit. It will have to be enough for now. But with the prophecy on his side, it hopefully won’t take too long because this is going to be hard work if he has to do this every time. But if this is the only way, then so be it. She will be none the wiser when she gets pregnant because he has already come inside her with her knowledge, and no one has any idea of how this pregnancy will go or how long it will take. It will just be assumed that it was consensual on her part and then she will be his. Forever.
“Fuck,” she cries out, interrupting his thoughts as she comes again. “Seb, you are amazing,” she adds, panting as she pulls his head up to kiss him. She rolls them over and whispers, “Let me repay the favor.” She does this and it has him spurting into her hot mouth within seconds.
Sebastian’s eyes scan the crowded banquet hall for Liv. He has lost sight of her and that has him in a panic. Drake took her off to meet and greet and he had every intention of staying with her, until Aelfric came and distracted him. He finds her eventually and his stomach drops. She is with Thrace and Anders. Anders is younger than Thrace by six years and the only other brother that Sebastian knows. Anders is staring at Liv like she just fell from the moon and Sebastian wants to punch his lights out. Thrace takes her hand as Sebastian marches over to them and he brings it to his lips to kiss, lingering for just a bit too long before he links his fingers with hers and drops his hand. Sebastian sees exactly what is going on now. Dear old Dad split them up so that the other brother could have a crack at her. He will kill him if he tries it. He makes it to her side, and she smiles up at him. “Your brothers!” she exclaims. “This is so weird, meeting your family.”
“Ditto,” he mutters back to her, his furious gaze on Thrace.
“Kalen,” Thrace says. “Returned to the fold to do your duty, I hear? I always wondered if one day you’d be back to claim back the throne.”
“I am here to protect Liv. You are to stay the Hell away from her,” he hisses at his brother and he can sense Liv’s startled gaze on him. “And you,” he adds to Anders, who is still drooling over her like a lovesick teenager.
“Seb,” she says with a hand on his arm. “What is going on?”
He turns to her with a smile. “Nothing, my love. Come, it is time to take our seats.” He ushers her away and Anders’s face falls, but he trails in their wake along with Thrace, who is glaring at him. He can see the wheels working and he knows that Thrace is plotting something, but what he doesn’t know. He cannot let her out of his sight again. The woman can look after herself, of that he has no doubt, out in their world, but this place runs on pure magick. Even he can reel off a dozen spells that will incapacitate her and he hasn’t practiced real Faerie magick in forever. Queen of the Underworld, yes; a Dragon, yes, but she is not strong enough to fight off a Faerie nearly three times her age with twice as much power and three thousand years’ worth of experience. Or worse, if his father decides to stick his oar in. Gross, that thought makes him shudder and she feels it and frowns at him. “Seb, I know you are hiding something, what is it?”
“I am just worried about you. You are somewhat of a novelty around here and it has the Light Fae Princes in a bit of a tizz. Please just be careful and don’t be alone with any of them.” He tries to make it sound less than it is, and she accepts it and nods. She takes her seat next to Drake, who beams adoringly at her before he catches his features and returns them to his usual sneer. Now that Sebastian finds incredibly interesting, especially as he watches her reaction and she smiles a small secret smile at Drake and rolls her eyes. She leans forward to whisper something to him and he throws his head back in laughter and replies to her with a hushed comment. Drake's wife, Maurelle, is looking none-too-pleased with this exchange and that is another one he will have to add to his “to watch” list. The feast goes by pleasantly and loudly and Liv is celebrated, as she should be. She hates every minute of it, though. Her smile is forced, and her shoulders are tense. Sebastian takes her hand and she says, “I need a few minutes. This is all a bit much.”
“I’ll go with you,” he says as she starts to stand.
She shakes her head and leans down to put her hand on Drake’s shoulder and whispers to him she’ll be right back. Drake narrows his eyes at her and turns to the guard at the door and gestures him to follow her. He knows she is in danger here and he is protecting her. Now he sees it is because her father cares about her, not because of what she can give him. But he is not letting her go alone. Sebastian stands but she pushes him back down. “I’ll be two minutes. If I’m not back you can come for me,” she says with a look that makes him sit back down.
“Two minutes,” he growls at her and watches her every move as she leaves the hall followed closely by the guard. He keeps his eye on the door and after two minutes are up, he stands to go and find her. She is a way down the corridor leaning against the wall, laughing with Thrace, who has his arm on the wall, leaning casually into her as he drops his mouth to kiss her. She pulls her head back, but he follows her, keeping their lips together. How the Hell did he get out here? He was watching the door the whole time. No one left. Unless Thrace was already out of the room. If he saw her stand, he could have slipped out first. Damn his brother. Damn himself. The guard is nowhere in sight and he hastily makes his way over to them. Thrace pulls back and leans to whisper something in her ear, and she stares at him greedily. She has her fangs down and grabs him by the shirtfront before Sebastian can reach her. “Liv,” he snaps at her and she glares at him.
“He offered,” she says.
He looks at Thrace who nods. “Come on, brother. I have heard it is an experience worthy of note. I want her to bite me.” He says the last two words back to her and she growls hungrily. Sebastian knows she is still hungry. She needs human blood, but she’ll take anything that is offered to her now. Thrace tilts his head to the side and before Sebastian can pull him away, she has her fangs in his neck and is drinking from him. He pushes her back against the wall, his body pressing against her as she feeds from him. “Enough,” Sebastian says to her quietly, as he pulls Thrace gently away from her. She retracts her fangs and lets him go. Thrace is breathing heavily and is highly aroused, which is bad news, but she looks more alive than he has seen her since she got here. Her cheeks are flushed, and her eyes are sparkling. The power of Thrace’s blood is coursing through her and it is affecting her like nothing he has ever seen before. That is also not good news. It would be a disaster if she started craving it.
“Well,” Thrace says, clea
ring his throat. “If you ever want to do that again, I am happy to help.”
“Leave her alone,” Sebastian says to him and Thrace just shrugs.
“I will if she wants me to,” he says.
“Liv,” Sebastian snaps at her again and she draws in a deep breath to steady her racing heart. He can hear it from here. He can also tell she is highly aroused, and no way is he letting Thrace get his hands, never mind his lips, on her again. Sebastian drags her away and she titters and waves back to Thrace as she stumbles behind him. Geez, it's like she is drunk! He has never drunk pure Faerie blood before and now he never will if this is the side effect. His own must be heavily diluted, as she doesn’t get giddy around him when she drinks. Thrace grins and waves at her and her cheeks flush and then she puts her hand up to her mouth to hide it as Drake comes storming out of the banquet hall.
“Aeval!” he calls to her and she gulps.
“Uh-oh, I’m in trouble now,” she snickers at Sebastian. He stares at her in disbelief as she launches herself at Drake, throwing her arms around his neck. He looks taken aback for a moment, before he hesitantly puts his arms around her and then hugs her fiercely, a look of awe on his face as she whispers, “I love you, Daddy,” to him. Sebastian steps forward to take her back with an apologetic look at Drake, but Drake ignores him and holds onto her tightly. Sebastian is dumbfounded. He knows he hasn’t been around here in the last dozen centuries, but he remembers Drake, King of the Dark Fae, to be a fearsome warrior that scared the pants off anyone who had the unfortunate luck of being in the same vicinity as him. Even those in his family were terrified of him and, well, to be fair, he hasn’t seen much of a change there – except with her. How does she do it? She can make any man turn into a pile of goo to please her no matter what the relationship, or lack of relationship, as the case may be. He is still staring at them as Drake clears his throat and puts her down.
