Talon

by Alice Wade

  “Absolutely not.” His fingers tilted her face for his kiss, capturing her mouth in a very soft caress that nearly had her knees buckling with the emotion that went along with it. The velvet softness of his tongue probed her hot mouth was enough to send her blood simmering instantly.

  Once he lifted his face, she gave up completely and said, “Talon.”

  He moved her over to the chaise before the open wall that presented the valley and meadow before them. There wasn’t another living soul in sight and gave the feeling of absolutely privacy in that majestic view. Bright rays of light fell onto the lounge chair as he stretched her out, curling alongside her naked body.

  “Look Kai, really look,” he urged using one finger to trail down her rib cage towards her hip, and again along her navel, up the center of her torso between the swells of her breasts. Where his finger went, a trail of sensual fire blazed in his wake.

  “I can’t accept this damage to my body yet, Talon. I will in time, but not yet,” her voice was trembling and vulnerable, so he squinted down at her.

  “Try. Look. Each one represents nothing more than how amazing you are, Kailani. Each scar represents how strong you ended up being; not Deandra. I don’t care that you brandish these now; on the contrary. I’m proud you do, because you are still alive, with me,” Talon emphasized the last phrase, his voice thickening with emotion.

  Kailani closed her eyes, relishing the sensation of his hand on her skin. He was massaging her breast and kneading her mound in a gentle grip. Whenever his thumb grazed her nipple, it sent a violent quake through her body and an explosion of heat to her core.

  “I love you,” he whispered as his attentions became more intense, more desperate.

  In response she arched her back pushing her chest directly into his firm hand. Talon made an animalistic sound as his mouth found its way to replace his hand, rolling her peak under his tongue. His free hand held her close by laying flat along her ribs, while his other wound its way through her hair at the base of her neck, tugging her head farther back and exposing her neck.

  Talon wasted no time and traveled higher. His mouth kissed the skin along her jugular, feeling her strong pulse flow beneath his lips. Involuntarily, his fangs lengthened and his sharp points dragged along her taunt skin. Sniffing loudly, he inhaled her scent that was so uniquely Kailani and was the most erotic aphrodisiac to his soul. He then bit deep at the same moment his incisors dropped to their full length to cut through her tender skin and into the vein that carried the most succulent blood, because it belonged to her.

  He drank just a little, not a lot, for he wasn’t actually hungry or in need of any nourishment. This was an act of affection only, but it was over all too soon. By the time he removed his fangs, she was falling hard into the orgasm he had intended her to have much later and regretted bringing her here too soon. Immediately his mental walls slammed up in defense of the images, yet…nothing came.

  Nothing. No Kaen, no torment and no pain. Nothing. Just Kailani moaning and experiencing little twitches while her body experienced the pleasure he released in her. Nothing battled against his mind and nothing threatened to tear his sanity apart. He hoped he would never ever have to see them again. He only felt and saw Kailani. His lovely, dark haired mate who was his everything.

  Staring in amazement, he just watched her and he dropped his walls. Talon allowed himself a moment of shock before he lowered his face to hers and kissed her deeply, drawing the air from her lungs in one passionate embrace.

  “What was that for?” she finally whispered.

  “We’re free,” Talon replied.

  “Free?” Kailani’s face molded into one of confusion, then it dawned on her, “Oh.”

  “Free,” He said again just before he kissed her soundly once more.

  Talon took his time when he next made love to Kai. He wanted to remember each moment and sensation her body generated and screamed out her name when he felt their mutual discharge of passion. He paid close attention to each sound, each moan and each shudder while she fell apart in his arms. He didn’t need to hide anymore. He had his love back, completely and without compromise. Kailani was his once more.

  When they were lying in a mass of tangled body parts and covered in a thin layer of sweat, Kailani found the energy to roll her head sideways, “Talon, Dace is waiting for you. He probably thinks you are denying him.”

  That got a groan, “Uh,” he grunted just before he rolled away to stand, locating his clothing quickly, “I almost forgot.”

  “I know. Do you mind if I come along?” she asked as she too found her clothing and slowly dressed. The physical activity of the afternoon was taking a toll on her healing body, even with the elven blood Daerwen just provided.

  “Kai,” he hissed then flew to her side to help her as she wobbled while she put on her boots, “You should really be resting.”

  “You should have thought of that before you stole my remaining strength Talon. I was fine before you attacked me,” she teased.

  He scoffed at her, “Attacked? Hmm,” But he smiled at her brightly and winked, “I’d do it again in a heartbeat.”

  “I bet you would. After you convert Dace. That man has been waiting long enough,” he felt her tiny hands push him towards the door with her half walking half leaning on his back for support. “He is probably frantic wondering what has taken us so long!”

  Talon chuckled knowing she was right, but strangely he didn’t care. He was able to love his mate freely for the first time in ages without assault and he’d gladly make the world wait while he experienced that again.

  At Lainey’s door, they found her pacing in agitation wringing her hands. When her head flew up, she sent a mop of black curls flying in all direction and she flashed a brilliant green stare in the direction of their approach, “Oh,” then she wilted, “I really hoped you’d change your mind.”

  Talon draped his arm over Kai while they approached, “She’d kill me herself before I could back out of this.” When he stood before her, Talon couldn’t resist pulling her into a hug, mostly because she looked like she needed it, “Lainey, it will be all right. I knew he’d do this eventually, just not now.”

  She sniffed a few times to control her tears, then mumbled, “I did too, but hoped he’d wait. Just for a little.”

  “He loves you, honey. He just wants to be able to protect you. The urges to do are strong, so imagine how helpless he feels not being able to do so properly? Think how he feels at potentially losing you? Accept what is to be, honey, he’s your mate.”

  “I know, but I’d hoped he’d wait regardless, Talon,” she said very softly.

  Instinctively his arms tightened, “Lainey, are you stalling because you fear the process?” Talon felt a warning in his mind from Kai to proceed carefully, but she didn’t stop him. This was a conversation that needed to take place.

  Talon felt Lainey shudder in his arms and felt her head move against his chest in agreement.

  “We need to talk. First though, can I get Kailani inside please? She’s about to fall over,” that earned him a hiss from his mate as she pushed past him and through the door without his help. “I see she is just fine on her own,” his voice was filled with amusement as he blocked Kai’s mental beating for treating her like an invalid.

  Lainey had moved to follow Kailani into the house but Talon halted her with a mental touch. With one last look of longing towards the building, she turned to rejoin Talon in the garden.

  Talon said nothing for a few moments as he gathered his thoughts. This wasn’t a conversation he wanted to have because frankly, he never wanted to convert Dace to begin with. But Kailani was right. He couldn’t stop him if he was asking and if Talon didn’t do it himself, Kai would. Lainey looked up when Talon took a deep breath then began, “I wanted a word in private before we did this today. Kailani is angry that I didn�
�t tell you the process of conversion earlier to ease your heart.”

  Lainey’s face paled to a sickly white as she looked down at her fingers that were braided and nodded, “I know the process, Talon. Kaen informed me when he had me,” she felt a burning lump in her stomach that was making her ill and swallowed to control the need to vomit. “So does Dace. I just can’t believe he’d do this,” she moaned, “After all we’ve been through, he’d do this act just to complete this,” Lainey hung her head, “We’ve been through enough pain.”

  Talon just watched her for a moment in silence before he answered, “He only informed you of a few methods, honey. Conversion can happen in so many different ways that each of us chooses the method that we enjoy best. I personally only wanted Kailani and have ever only done it through sex, but today I’ll try a different approach,” he paused tilting his head to the side, “one which does not involve too much suffering.”

  Her head shot up and hope was searing in her eyes, “What?”

  “No torture.”

  She was stunned silent. As this sank in, her head slowly shook from side to side, “No, no, no. This can’t be right. Kaen said only two ways! I sacrificed myself needlessly? All the hurt and pain we went through was for nothing?” The horror of this information scorched her soul as the anger flashed through her. Kaen lied. The bastard lied!

  Talon’s heart bled at hearing the depth of regret in her voice, “Lainey, honey, it wasn’t needless. You did it for Dace, to save his life, remember? Kaen only told you the two ways he uses because he was cruel. He conveniently left out that there are others, because he enjoyed the suffering.”

  “For all I know, he could have mentioned it, but all he gave me were those two options—sex or torture.”

  Talon snorted then covered her hands in his and looked into her eyes, “No torture. I thought you’d want to hear that.”

  One lone tear broke free and slide down her cheek, “I did,” as she sniffed to stem the flow of more, she wanted to know what he’d be doing, “Talon? How are you going to do it then?”

  With a proud nod that she was recovering quickly he answered, “One single bite, flooded with venom. There is pain involved this way, but still not torture. With the increased capacity of venom in the blood, he will feel like he’s burning from the inside out. But it will not last long before he passes out and the change will take place without his knowledge.”

  Lainey was in shock and just kept rolling her head from side to side, “One bite. I could have been converted that way and not…and not done what I was forced to do?” Lainey was having hard time moving past this. The firm squeeze on her hands that were still covered with his, calmed her agitation and reassured her.

  “You had no choice and did what you needed to do, Lainey. I’m not Kaen and I won’t stoop to those levels. I have more integrity than that.”

  She nodded in agreement again, “You do.” With a sad smile, she looked up at him with acceptance and trust, “So, when will you do it?”

  “Right now, then you can stay with him while he emerges in the next day or so.”

  “No torture,” she whispered again. The more she said it the more it felt real, thus allowing the weight of her fear to melt off. Dace would go through this without much discomfort and that meant more to her than this bonding. “Talon?”

  “Hmm?” He had been watching her closely to make sure she was all right before he released her.

  “I was trying to stall him and using that guilt to make him wait. If you tell me he won’t be tortured, won’t be horrendously hurt, that is enough for me. I was mostly trying to get him to wait so he’d not have to experience that. I just panicked when you agreed to convert him. In reality, I don’t need to wait any longer. I suppose I’ll forgive you now.” She threw in a smirk to be cute.

  “Are you sure?” He doubted this logic, especially after seeing the panic burn in her eyes when he’d agreed.

  “I’m positive.”

  “Do you think Dace understands that? Does he know why you fear this and that he’s not making some rash decision and forcing you into this?” Talon unconsciously looked towards the room where Dace probably paced anxiously.

  “He only wants what you and Kai have. He’ll get that right?” Talon nodded in agreement. “Then I can do this.”

  He sighed, “All right. Ready to get this over with so you can start your life with your mate?”

  With an exaggerated shrug, Lainey agreed. Then using his hands that still gripped hers tight he helped her to stand and together they walked into the room, They found Dace pacing frantically around like a caged animal.

  He rushed to her side, “Everything all right?” Dace searched her face for any tell of her discomfort. What he saw had him falter, for all he read in her shining green eyes was acceptance.

  “Everything is fine. I’ve just been having a conversation that changed a few things for me. I honestly thought you’d be tortured to convert and that thought alone was destroying me. So…” she gave him a guilty smirk, “ I’ve been trying to stall. Talon cleared that up and I see no reason to wait any longer. ” He smiled at her.

  “I don’t want to wait any longer,” she added more firmly.

  His strong arms wrapped around her tiny body and pulled her tight to his chest. Dace buried his face in her hair and whispered, “Are you sure?”

  Lainey’s small arms held him tight, using her hug as her answer.

  When Dace felt secure, he leaned back, “All right, but, baby, are you fine with what I’m about to do?” He rested his forehead to hers, “Will you forgive me?”

  “I never was terribly angry. I was terrified, Dace. Talon removed that fear so, yes, I’m fine.”

  His relief was visible as it flooded his body. Tight muscles relaxed and his shoulders lowered. All the tension lifted from his frame in that one statement—she accepted what he was about to do and held no anger. None.

  “Dace? You won’t be tortured, but this is still going to hurt, are you sure you want to do this?” she asked one last time.

  “And miss my chance to bond with you so deeply? I was willing to accept the torture, Lainey. This means that much to me. What’s a little pain to spend eternity with you?” With that he slanted his head and kissed her deeply, sharing with her the passion he was feeling at finally being able to complete his heart’s desire. He wanted this more than anything.

  They both needed air after a moment, and Lainey rested her head to his once more. “I just didn’t want you to be tortured.”

  “It appears I won’t be, so can we please get this over with?”

  “Do I have a choice?”

  “Not really.”

  Lainey searched out Talon and pinned him with her eyes, “Please be careful, I want him back.” That earned her an annoyed grimace before Talon stalked into the bedroom and waited for Dace to follow.

  “Time to go, love.” His soft kiss transmitted his love before he stepped away. He entered the room, closing the door behind him.

  Kailani held her arm open from her seat on the couch. Lainey noticed she still looked tired and wasted, but there was new glow to her cheeks that she’d have to ask about later. For now, all she did was slip into that embrace and rest her head on her guardian’s shoulder while she waited.

  * * * *

  Talon was sitting in a chair when Dace entered. One long fingered hand was resting on his forehead as if that were the only thing holding his head up, “Where do you need me?”

  The vampire’s head lifted. “I don’t care. I’m obligated to tell you, I’ve never done this before. I vowed never to do it after Kailani.”

  “I know that, but I trust you Talon.”

  Talon laughed, “Not really sure why, but let’s get this over with. Lie on the bed. Once I bite, this is going to burn and you will lose consciousness. I would rat
her you already be lying down and I don’t have to catch you.”

  Dace snickered and laid on the bed, stretching his feet out and placing his arms at his side in a severe formation. He looked like he laid out for his burial and the irony of the situation didn’t escape Talon.

  “Just relax,” was all Talon said before he kneeled down next to the bed and bared Dace’s jugular. Years of practice allowed Talon to see immediately where he would bite and he leaned down asking, “Ready?”

  Dace’s jaw muscles were so tight that he could barely talk, “Mm.”

  Talon let his four fangs drop to their full length and pushed as much venom into his sacks as possible. He wanted to flood Dace with so much that one bite would be enough. The smell of his blood was tickling the back of his throat once he allowed his incisors to drop, because this triggered some base hunger. Without further delay, Talon bit deep, releasing his toxin fast in one flood, which raced through Dace’s system like a tidal wave.

  While Talon did so, he drank, pulling a few deep mouthfuls of Dace’s rich blood into his body, but didn’t take more. Dace’s grimace said it all. He tried to hold back the scream that finally broke free, and his body rose from the bed in a stiff jerk. The pain was intense. It burned through him as fast as his blood traveled and once it reached his heart, it felt like someone had stabbed him through with a sword. Another gut wrenching scream was ripped from him as the pain started down his body towards his extremities, searing away all rational thought as it picked up speed.

  Talon closed the wounds and sat back to evaluate Dace before he went to get Lainey. The rest would be up to Dace and nothing any of them could do would help. Guilt ate at him as he watched his friend writhe in pain from his doing. Sorrow then was replaced with a wake of the guilt as he knew he’d be in this pain for at least a day.

  Lainey couldn’t hold out. She was standing in the back of the room and broke free at the first anguished scream. So when Talon finally leaned back, she was on the bed pressing her body to Dace.