by Evi Asher
He’s a frigging cave man.
“Duh.”
He looked back to ask, “What did you say?”
“Nothing.”
“I thought so.” He turned forward again and led her into the center of the horseshoe of people. “Get this over with, Sarah.”
Colt sounded angry and something else… Something darker was in his tone. It made Angelica shiver.
“But the child needs to know—”
“She doesn’t need to do anything. Get it done before I change my mind.”
“Very well." Sarah looked at Angelica with a pitying look, then started to speak.
“Today, we join these two, in the way of humans and the way of Therin folk.”
Join? Wedding? Oh, hell no, they are trying to marry us. Oh, no, I want nothing to do with this.
Angelica tugged her arm out of Colt’s hold. “No. I’m not being joined with him, not in this lifetime or any other.”
“I’m sorry, child, but you don’t have a choice—no more than Colt has.”
Angelica turned and ran. She had to get away from there. She should have left when Michael had offered.
Colt grabbed her from behind, his arm going around her waist. Angelica did the one thing she could. She let her fire free.
Flames burst from her skin, and Colt must have got a shock because he let her go. She ran for the door, but didn’t get there, Colt grabbed her again, and when she let her inferno burn, it didn’t seem to bother him. He wrapped his arm around her waist and half dragged, half carried her back to the semi-circle of people.
“Don’t waste all your fire on me, Geli-bean. It’s not working.”
What?
She looked down at his arm and he was right. His shirt wasn’t burnt, and his hand covered in healthy skin. The shock made her flames vanish just as she reached the people who were going to tie her to this man for eternity.
He should have burnt to charcoal. She’d never used her ability to burn as a defensive weapon before, but he should have third degree burns, he should be dead. Fire killed eternals, especially phoenix fire.
Maybe she was defective. Angelica felt wetness on her face and realized she was crying. “Please don’t do this.”
Colt pulled her against his chest and clamped his free hand around her mouth. “Do it, Sarah.”
The old woman nodded her head.
“Do you make all the oaths necessary to make this Eternal your female for eternity, as long as you both live?”
“Yes.” Colt sounded like he was choking on the word.
“Mmm mmm mmm,” came out behind Colt's clamped hand, but what Angelica meant was, I don’t make any vows, so let me go.
She was trying to get it out, but Colt clamped down on her mouth harder.
“Say the words, Colt.”
“Wait.” He leaned his head down, put his lips to her ear and spoke in a low voice, “I’m going to let go of you. If you scream or try to run or disagree in any way, I will hunt down every one you’ve ever cared about and take my vengeance bit by bit from them.”
Angelica froze, the menace in his voice was palpable. He radiated pure fury, and she had no doubt that he meant every word he’d said.
“Do you understand, Gelibean.”
She nodded her head.
“Can I let go of you?”
She nodded her head again, and Colt released his grip on her waist and removed his hand from her mouth. He took a step to stand next to her and reached for her shoulder, turning her to face him.
Angelica stood stiff, unable to do anything to stop this atrocity from happening.
With his right hand, he touched her left shoulder, then slid his hand down her arm, entwining his fingers with hers. He raised her arm so that both their limbs were bent at the elbow and their wrists touched.
“I, Colt of the Ice-bears, vow to take you, Angelica, of the Phoenix as my mate, what is mine and what is me is yours. What is yours and what is you, is mine. Do you accept this, Angelica?”
“Answer him child,” Sarah uttered in a soft tone.
“I…”
Sarah prompted her. “The words are, I, Angelica of the Phoenix”
“I, Angelica of the Phoenix.”
“Vow to take you Colt of the Ice-Bears…”
Angelica repeated the words, and before Sarah could prompt her, she finished the vow.
“What is mine and me is yours, what is yours and you is mine.”
She felt a sharp stinging pain where their wrists met, and tried to jerk away.
“Don’t,” Colt ordered, and gripped her fingers tighter.
The sting eased and Colt let go of her hand as if she had plague or something. Angelica lifted her writs so she could see what wound was there.
There was no wound, just a tattoo. Angelica wanted to weep. On her wrist was Colt’s name. Just as the Lycan marked their mates, Colt had marked her.
“I’m branded your slave for eternity.”
He gave a harsh laugh and shoved his wrist in her face. On the smooth skin was the rune that marked her name. “You aren’t the only one marked.”
Angelica gasped in shock. Normally, the female was the one that was marked, but with the ice-bears, both partners wore each other’s name.
She didn’t know why, but that made her feel better.
* * * *
Everyone was huddled as close to the stove as possible. The wind howled and raged outside like a monster of myth looking for prey. Every now and then, an extra hard gust would rattle the whole building, causing Athera to shudder in response.
When would the storm end? No one had slept, and no one seemed to want to. Perhaps they were all worried they’d wake up in the elements with the small building lying in ruin around them.
She wrapped her arms around her and looked up at the others. “Do you think the storm will have passed by morning?”
There was a moment of silence, as if no one wanted to say aloud what they were all thinking.
Then Laz answered. “No, I think this storm is here to stay at least a week.”
“Humph.” Athera stood up and held out a hand to Laz. “Give me that map again.”
He canted his head in question.
“Now, please.”
Laz shrugged and stood, stretching his long legs and his spine before heading to the backpack that held the map. A moment later, he handed it to Ath.
She spread it out on the table and glared at it as if it was going to surrender and start shouting answers to her questions.
“We are here.” Ath put a finger on a spot on the map. “Angelica is here.” She used her left hand to put a finger on that part.
“How many miles is that?”
Laz moved to stand next to her and looked down at the map. “I’m not a cartographer. Hell I never learned to read these things properly, but I think it’s about forty miles.
“We can do it. We can get there. “ Ath looked at the others.
There was a mutter of disagreement.
“What are we? Eternals or humans? Come on. Angelica needs us, and I have this deep feeling that she needs us to rescue her now.”
She got stares in response.
“What would you do if it was Scarlet out there, Archer?”
He didn’t hesitate. “I’d be on my way already.”
“That’s my point. Angelica needs us, and we should be there already.”
“We are Eternals. You have a point, and the cold won’t kill us, but it could sap us into stasis,” Laz pointed out. “What good are we to Angelica if we are a bunch of frozen popsicles, aware, but unable to move until the weather warms up?”
“You said you can handle more cold than we can because you are a Necromancer.”
“Yes, more, but I’d also get sucked into stasis if I got too cold.”
“Then we move fast. We have the snowmobiles.” Angelica glanced from each face to the other.
“Have you ever driven a snowmobile?” Laz asked with a lazy smile, though he already
knew the answer.
“Well…no, but I can learn. It can’t be that difficult. Apply gas and steer.”
Laz laughed and shook his head. “Stubborn female.”
“I’m going. Angelica is worth this risk.”
“I agree with you, and I’d be on board, but I don’t want to put Scarlet in that kind of danger.” Laz shrugged.
“Oh, no you don’t,” Scarlet growled out. “Don’t make me the reason why we can’t go save Angelica. She put herself in more danger to save me.” She turned to face Ath. “If you want to go now, I’m with you.” Scarlet stood and moved away from the fire.
Archer rolled his eyes in Laz’s direction.
“Yes, sigh all you want, but a pair of females are going out there, while you big bad alpha males are sitting here by your nice warm fire.”
“Hey!” Laz frowned. “No need for insults, Ath. I’d already decided to go with you.”
“Scar took my decision from me—where my She goes, I go.” Archer stood.
“Let’s go find the shed, and hope we can see well enough in this white out to go anywhere.”
They gathered up the packs and supplies, and Ath chewed at the tip of her nail. She’d been a big mouth and convinced them, but she wasn’t sure if they could make it to Angelica. What if they got lost in the snow?
All she knew was that she couldn’t sit in this cabin and wait a moment more.
Chapter Four
A gust of icy air flooded the room as the door burst open. Angelica looked up from the rune on Colt’s wrist to see why the door had opened, and saw two people enter the building.
They were so bundled up in fur that she couldn’t make out anything about them other than the fact that one was at least a foot taller than the other.
The tall one stepped forward and pulled the hood of the jacket back—he was a male with blond hair that hung around his face. His sculpted jaw line sported at least two days’ worth of stubble, and his teeth were white, straight, and even. She knew this because he was grinning like the proverbial Cheshire cat.
He threw open his arms and headed straight towards them. Angelica’s eyes widened in shock, but he moved right past her and enveloped Colt in a bear hug.
Pun intended.
Somehow, she knew the male was a Therin ice-bear. She didn’t know how she knew, but she knew.
“Where the hell have you been?” The man slapped Colt on the back, then stepped away from him with his hands still resting on Colt’s shoulders. “I’ve been searching everywhere, and I’ve been worried sick.”
“I’m back, and I’m safe, Jericho. You can stop worrying now.” Colt’s grin was almost as broad as Jericho’s was.
The second person stepped forward, pulled her fur-lined hood back, and shook her head.
Angelica was awestruck. What a beautiful woman. Her hair was as blonde as sunshine and fell down her back in a straight cascade all the way to her hips. She wore it lose, and it framed a face that was pale and heart shaped. Her lips were a cupid’s bow and her eyes were large and deep brown.
“Who is this?” Colt asked, his attention riveted on the woman.
Angelica felt a stab of something deep in her gut.
Am I jealous?
Yes! She was jealous—the man had just put his name on her wrist, and he was staring agog at another woman.
That’s a little harsh—he's not agog.
Angelica almost snorted at that thought. So maybe he didn’t have his mouth hanging open, but the beautiful woman transfixed him and it was pissing Angelica off. After all, her rune was on his wrist, too, and that meant he was hers as much as she was his.
From the look of it, the attraction was mutual. The woman was staring at Colt with a hunger in her eyes that made Angelica want to walk over and slap her.
Jericho half turned, holding a hand out to the woman. She took the last few steps, giving Angelica a look that was hard to decipher, and put her hand in Jericho’s.
“This is Kate.” He pulled her into his side wrapping his arm around her. It was obvious they were a couple.
“She’s been helping me look for you.”
Colt nodded. “Thank you for your help, Kate, but can I ask where you came from? This is a small community, and I don’t recognize you.”
“That is because I’m not from here.”
Her voice was rich and throaty, a voice meant for closed doors and husky whispers. Angelica was learning to dislike Kate in a hurry, especially since the other woman was still looking at Colt as if he was a bit of candy she’d like to suck.
“Where are you from?”
His lips curled in a smile that made Angelica furious. He never looked at her like that. No, he scowled at her, or threatened her with bodily harm.
“Oh, she won’t tell you,” Jericho interrupted. “She won’t even tell me. She says something about it being top secret.”
Colt frowned at Jericho.
Now that was a look Angelica was used to.
“Why are you here?” he asked Kate.
“I’m passing through on my way to somewhere else.”
Colt raised an eyebrow. “Also top secret?”
Kate nodded with a small smile.
Sarah stepped forward and hugged Jericho. Then she looked at Colt. “Don’t you think it might be best to take Angelica back to the cabin while Jericho gives us updates on where he’s been and what he’s been doing these past days?”
Colt nodded and wrapped his hand around Angelica’s wrist and pulled her towards the door.
“Keep me in the loop,” he called over his shoulder. He let go of Angelica’s wrist long enough to wrestle the door open, then clamped down again and dragged her through.
Angelica’s mind was racing. She was married to Colt, so was he going to consummate the marriage now? Would her first time be with this male in that small, warm cottage?
The thought sent such heat through her that she didn’t feel the biting cold of the snow and wind. Her hands warmed up to the point that she was scared she would burst in to flame.
Would she flame while in the throes?
She hoped not, no…She remembered that phoenix didn’t flame while having sex, or they would have many dead males and no offspring.
Offspring—that brought her right back to the act that made them, and she felt her cheeks glowing with warmth. Did she have the guts to admit she wanted to try that sacred act with Colt?
No—yes.
Oh, she didn’t know. She wanted him. She knew that much, but to consummate the marriage would tie him to her forever. Angelica knew enough about a mating to know it was for keeps. There was no divorce in the world of the Eternals. Once bound together they would be together for the rest of their immortal lives.
She was so absorbed in her thoughts that it was only when Colt pushed her into the heated cabin that she realized they’d gotten there.
She spun to watch him close the door, and then he turned to her.
“Go to your room and stay there. I want you out my sight.”
Angelica’s mouth fell open. He was going to dismiss her like a child.
“Aren’t we going to…” She couldn’t bring herself to say the words. Her cheeks felt hotter than ever and she found herself wringing her hands. She forced her hands to her sides and lifted her chin, looking Colt straight in the eye and waiting for his response.
He groaned a harsh sound that seemed filled with need, and then scrubbed his face with his hands.
“You’ve had all the consummation you will ever get from me.”
His words snapped something inside Angelica.
She took two steps forward and slammed her palms into his chest. “How many times to I have to tell you that I didn’t do anything to you.”
His lip curled in one corner a look of pure derision. “So you are a sweet innocent virgin.”
He wasn’t asking her but Angelica wasn’t going to shut up now.
“Yes! Damn you, I am.”
Colt started laughing, and it
sent chills up Angelica’s arms because the sound was harsh and cruel.
“You think I’m lying?” The anger that bubbled up in Angelica was making her shake, tears threatening from pure frustration.
“I know you are a little lying bitch.”
His voice was low, his words, a steel knife in her wind pipe.
“They may have forced me to marry you, Gelibean, but I will never touch you—not one kiss, not one hand on your skin, not one night—nothing.
Her temperature was climbing, her body getting ready for flames. Angelica knew it was seconds away, so she tried to keep her tone cool.
“You’ve already done more than kiss me, Colt.”
He growled and spun, hitting the doorjamb so hard that the door bounced and the latch opened up. The wind did the rest blowing the door wide open.
He ignored it and turned to her. “Well, I can’t be blamed for falling for the charms of such an accomplished whore now, can I?”
It was all Angelica could take. Now, he was calling her a whore? She felt heat explode from her skin. It staggered Colt back as flames burned high in the small room.
She had to do something or she would burn the place down. Angelica reacted instinctually by shifting form. The flame disappeared as Colt collapsed to his knees on the floor, his arm in front of his face as he coughed from the smoke.
She felt her claws settle onto the floor and opened up her wings. She stroked the air with soft white feathers, once, twice gaining precious flight.
“Screw you, Colt.” The words came out as hoots as she took flight and flew out the door.
* * * *
Colt coughed, gasping for oxygen as he watched Geli transform into a snowy white owl. He almost forgot to breathe again because of the beauty of her feathered form, but when she swooped out the door past him, he lunged for her.
His fingertips brushed her feathers, but he didn’t get a grip. Colt considered turning form into his bear, then knew that the size of the creature alone was inappropriate. He’d harm his new wife’s fragile owl form and he didn’t want to risk that, so he rose from his knees and stumbled out the door after her, still trying to breathe in fresh air.
When Angelica had flamed up, the fire had engulfed him for a moment. He glanced down at his body, expecting burns all over, but not even his clothes were damaged, as it had been in the town hall when he'd grabbed her there. He wondered why he was immune to her fire. He shouldn't be.
