Seamus's Mate

by Elyzabeth M. VaLey

  She touched her arm. Wet. Her head swam. Perhaps it had bit into her harder than she’d suspected. She ran her fingers over her limb, searching for the damage. Her throat felt dry and her tongue pasty. The creature bellowed. It was coming. Kaila lifted her arm to fight and crumpled to the floor.

  Chapter Seven

  Seamus cradled Kaila in his arms. She was fast asleep, her body occasionally jerking and her eyelids fluttering as she dreamed. Her breathing was regular, but worry gnawed at his gut regardless.

  The Tenebri-Serp was a lethal creature. The snaked beast had grazed her right forearm with its fangs. Seamus had cleaned and dressed the wound with the supplies he found in her bag, but he didn’t know if it would be enough to keep the poison at bay. If it had succeeded in biting her, Kaila would already be dead.

  Seamus had seen the brightness at the end of the chamber of darkness at the same time Kaila had collapsed. The Tenebris abhorred the light, so without wasting a minute, he’d taken her and fled in that direction, only stopping when he sensed they were safe.

  He studied their surroundings. They sat on the floor, halfway through a spiraling tunnel painted in metallic white. An unknown source of light made the walls shimmer brightly and created a dizzying effect. Luckily, the place was deserted. The only sound came from Kaila’s intermittent whimpers and the occasional movement of Seamus’s wings.

  Kaila moaned. Her skin glistened with a thin sheen of sweat. Her nipples hardened so they were visible beneath her tank top.

  “Kaila, Kaila.” Seamus shook her gently. “Damn it, Kaila, wake up.”

  No response. Fear clawed at his chest so every breath he took was as if someone was squeezing the air out of him. Could it be the poison had set her on a path of eternal sleep?

  “Seamus, I need you. I need you,” Kaila sobbed in her sleep. Abruptly, her back arched and she began to lift her hips in a rhythmic pattern. The scent of her arousal hit him like the blow of a hammer. She had to be having an erotic dream.

  “I’m here babe. I’m here,” Seamus whispered, rocking her slightly.

  All he could do was wait. Sweat rolled down his back and he chewed his inner cheek until the metallic taste of blood filled his mouth.

  His body always reacted to hers. He dragged his gaze over her. Exquisite. She had a light dusting of freckles on her nose. Her bottom lip was fuller than her top bow, and when he kissed her, he’d nip at it and she’d respond by pressing herself against him. Several inches shorter than him at five-feet-seven, her body was curvy and toned from exercise. Her breasts the perfect size to fit against his palms.

  His gaze drew lower, over her flat stomach and to the apex between her thighs. Now, there was something he hadn’t tasted. His mouth watered. He could only imagine what it would be like. The few times he’d been with Kaila, their lovemaking had been wild. They had been encounters out of desperate necessity, where all that mattered was getting the edge off.

  She drove him to madness, to a reckless abandonment unlike him. Seamus closed his eyes.

  From day one, there had been an unspoken understanding between them that pushed them to find joy in each other’s company. They thought it was mere friendship, but it was much more and it only became apparent on that day atop the hill.

  Kaila was eighteen and he had just turned twenty. The school year was coming to a close. Pleasant weather allowed them to be outside, sitting beneath their favorite sycamore tree, chatting about inconsequential things.

  Suddenly, Kaila burst out laughing. It was a carefree, breathless giggle, almost throaty. Her brown eyes shone with mirth. She touched his arm playfully, and tilted her head. Her brown hair caught the light and the strands glistened as if a fairy had sprinkled magic dust on her. Seamus’s gaze dipped to her lips and the rosy color of the soft flesh beckoned to him like a Siren’s mythical song. Without thinking, he kissed her.

  He smiled, recalling the moment. She’d pulled back and gazed at him with wonder before leaning forward and pressing her mouth against his again. Their kisses turned heated and the passion they had been unaware of withholding, liberated.

  Then he ruined everything.

  He should have known better, but clumsy teenage bastard he’d been, he’d immediately gone to the prize between her legs. To his delight, she allowed him to touch her. He’d fondled her slick folds, thrilled to find her so wet. Excitement had zinged through him when he realized she wanted him as badly. His cock ached, and all he could think about was how she would feel around him. He’d pushed a finger into her. One. Only one. She’d rocked against him and he’d thrust harder.

  Her cry of pain jolted them back into reality. Seamus looked at her, then at the sliver of blood on his finger. He hadn’t taken his supernatural force and her humanity into account. Kaila fled, clearly embarrassed. He remained rooted to the spot, processing what had just happened.

  He never pursued her. He pretended nothing had occurred, that they were still just friends. Slowly, she began to withdraw from him. He assumed it was natural. Friendships didn’t last forever. She was two years younger. Partially human. He kept coming up with excuses. He ignored his endless yearning for her. His father, the only person who knew what had transpired, suggested they were mates. He made light of it and continued with his life. Three years later, he saw her at the Academy. That was the moment he could no longer deny the truth.

  His chest ached at the memory.

  He had been passing through when he spotted her from afar. His heart had summersaulted at the sight. Every inch of his body tingled with a craving that made it difficult to breathe. He whispered her name, and as if she had heard him, her gaze found his. Warmth radiated throughout his body, centering on his heart, which drummed ecstatically. He grinned. Everything became clear at that moment. She was his mate. His Kaila. He wanted to swoop her into his arms and celebrate, but she had other ideas.

  Seamus shook his head.

  He understood her anger. He had been an ignorant fool, but they were mates, they belonged together. He tried to make it up to her, but she dismissed all his advances. Eventually, he pulled back. He took to keeping watch over her in the shadows and hoping one day she would change her mind and give in to the natural mating call. It had been almost twenty years, and she still kept them apart.

  He ran his fingers through his hair. His feelings for Kaila would never change. He was an idiot desperately in love. It was why he didn’t walk away or stop her from going inside Sloth’s lair. He leaned his cheek against hers and inhaled. Her familiar fragrance wrapped around him. He would go to the end of the Earth for her.

  Kaila groaned. Seamus brushed back Kaila’s hair from her sweaty brow as she languidly stretched. A smile played on her lips. The dream must be over. Her eyelids fluttered. She was coming to. He blinked back tears of relief. She’d be all right. If she woke up, then everything would be okay.

  Chapter Eight

  Kaila’s eyes opened a sliver.

  “Hey,” Seamus said.

  He brushed his lips over her forehead, trying to hide the tremble in his voice. She would be all right. He held onto her tightly, resting his cheek on the top of her head.

  She snuggled into his embrace, one of her hands resting on his shoulder, the other over his heart where he had no doubt she could feel the frantic beat.

  “Seamus,” she said.

  His eyes drifted shut as she ran her fingertips over his shoulder, to the nape of his neck, tangling with his hair. She pulled back a bit. He glanced at her. His breath caught. Her gaze was hazy, her pupils dilated.

  He bit the inside of his cheek. He couldn’t kiss her. It wouldn’t be right. She was still drowsy. She wasn’t fully conscious of what was happening, or she wouldn’t be looking at him in that way. The hand she had on his pec flexed. Her nails flicked his hardened nipple.

  “Kaila,” he groaned.

  She responded by splaying her palm low over his abdomen. Seamus’s nerve endings stirred.

  “Kiss me,” she whispered.

&nb
sp; He couldn’t deny her any longer. He captured her mouth. Kaila opened up to him, moaning. He growled and deepened the kiss, boldly sliding his tongue against hers, tasting her deeply, hungrily. She responded to him. This was his mate. Kaila. His woman. She belonged with him. Always had and always would. His cock lengthened. He pulled Kaila over his lap, reveling in her whimper. She drew back, panting. His breathing was as labored as hers.

  “I need you,” she said.

  He let out a long breath. Something within him twanged painfully. How many times had he dreamed of her saying those exact words? He studied Kaila’s face. Her lips were rosy, her cheeks flushed, but something in her gaze was off. She was not herself. As much as he wanted to bury himself deep within her, he couldn’t do it. Not here. Not now. He had already kissed her when he shouldn’t have. Going further than that would be inadmissible.

  “I know, babe, but we can’t do it here,” he said.

  “Why?”

  “Because it’s not a good place.”

  “Where are we?” she asked.

  “In Sloth’s halls.”

  “In Sloth’s halls? Why are we here?” Her eyebrows knitted and a crease appeared between them as she looked from him to their surroundings. She had forgotten what brought her here, the memories probably erased by her body’s reaction to the snake poison.

  Seamus pondered the question. Maybe if he didn’t tell her, they could get out of here quickly. He sighed. She’d never forgive him for leaving Mel behind. He wouldn’t forgive himself either. He reached over and touched the silver necklace around Kaila’s neck.

  “We’re in Sloth’s lair to rescue your sister, Melisa. Sloth has trapped us here.”

  Her mouth opened in silent horror. She shuddered. Seamus drew her close. She tensed.

  “No, no, release me. I need a minute.”

  She struggled out of his arms. Reluctantly, he let her go. She scrambled a few feet away from him and hugged her knees to her chest, eyes closed. He waited for her to regain her bearings.

  “I think I remember now.” She looked at him. Her features were pinched, her mouth set in a firm line. Her pupils had returned to their normal size, her gaze was clearing, their dreamy hue slowly fading.

  “There were monsters in the darkness. Two of them. Did they hurt you?” she asked.

  “No, I’m all right. Just a few scratches. You got grazed.”

  “I-yes.” Kaila twisted her arm to look at the bandages. “It doesn’t hurt, though. Thank you.” She paused. “I’m not sure what happened. One moment we were fighting, and the next, we’re here.”

  “After defeating one of the snakes, I found you close to turning into the second one’s meal. I grabbed you and ran. As soon as the Tenebris saw the light, they dispersed.”

  “Do you know where we are?”

  “I have no idea,” he admitted. “I guess in the second level of Sloth’s lair. You know how dramatic these Sin Lords are. They all like to go for the seven levels of hell sort of shit.”

  Kaila grimaced and rubbed her temples. “I’m not feeling very well.”

  “There might still be poison in you.”

  “I think I’m going to stand,” she announced.

  “Go ahead.”

  She moved further away from him and got on her knees. Almost immediately, she toppled to the side and curled up.

  “Kaila?” He jumped to his feet.

  “Mmmm?”

  “What’s wrong? Are you okay?”

  He rushed to her side, peering at her face. She kept her eyes firmly shut.

  “Yes. I’m sleeping,” she replied.

  “No, no, no, no, no sleeping. You already did that.”

  “But, babe,” she bawled exaggeratedly, “sleeping is so nice. Much nicer than reality.” She covered her face with her hands. “Mel, you, death, Sins, Inferum, all of it vanishes when I’m asleep. I’m so tired, Seamus.”

  He cursed. Kaila’s voice quivered with suppressed emotion. This wasn’t normal. She never cried, so it had to be some lasting effect from the Tenebri poison or Sloth’s magic.

  “It’s all so nice when I’m asleep,” she said.

  “I know, babe, but you need to stay focused. You can’t sleep forever.”

  He reached for her, but she slapped his hand and rolled away.

  “Why not?” she whined. “Hide under the covers and have nice dreams.”

  “Because that’s not life, Kaila. Dreams aren’t reality, and one day Sloth will wake you up and you’ll realize none of your dreams came true and your reality has turned out to be much worse than what it was earlier.”

  “No,” she insisted.

  “Yes,” he said while wrapping his fingers around her wrist and pulling. She didn’t budge. “Kaila, up now,” he growled.

  She twisted from his grasp.

  “Fuck. Don’t make me pick you up and carry you out of here,” he threatened.

  She laughed derisively. “You wouldn’t dare,” she said.

  “Like hell I wouldn’t.” Bending over, he looped one arm beneath her knees and another at her waist. She screamed as he lifted her and slung her over his shoulder.

  “Let me down, Seamus. Stop being an asshole and let me down,” she bellowed while thumping him on the back with her fists.

  “No.”

  He started to walk in the opposite direction from which they’d come. Kaila’s booted foot made contact with his hip bone and he grunted in pain.

  “Stop kicking me, Kaila.”

  He slapped her ass and she shrieked, but didn’t cease in her efforts. He hauled her higher so he could grip her legs.

  “Stop it,” he grumbled. She pummeled his ass and attempted to yank his wings. He laughed and swatted her several more times.

  “Fine, suit yourself. Carry me around like a sack of potatoes.” She stopped fighting him. “That way I can sleep.”

  “Kaila?” He ran his hand over her derrière and squeezed the supple flesh. She twitched.

  “Leave me alone,” she murmured.

  “No-can-do, babe. Wake up, Kaila.”

  “Uh-oh. Don’t think so, babe,” she mocked him.

  Though he was concerned for her state of mind, he couldn’t help grinning. He pinched her leg.

  “Why don’t you tell me about Mel?” he suggested. “Why do you want to save her so badly, Kaila?”

  “Because she’s my sister.”

  “And?”

  “I don’t know, Seamus. I’m so sleepy. I really don’t want to talk anymore.”

  “Talk, dammit,” he said, giving her another hard spank.

  She yelped and began speaking. “Mel is my sister on my mother’s side. She’s human.” Kaila yawned loudly.

  “And what’s so special about her? Is she supposed to save the world or something and I haven’t gotten the memo?”

  “She’s fully human. Her dad, Dixon, and my mom, are also human.”

  “Like you,” he baited her.

  “I’m not human,” she snapped.

  He laughed. The fact that she was getting annoyed at him was a good sign. Nothing like irking her to get her to wake up.

  “You’re human,” he repeated.

  “No, I’m part human and part Guardian.”

  “Part Guardian? And what’s that supposed to mean?” He taunted her.

  “It means I have to defend people like Mel. Humans.”

  “Why must you protect humans?”

  “Because they’re precious,” she said.

  He snorted. “And what’s so precious about them?”

  “Their minds.”

  “Minds? I thought you were going to say hearts,” Seamus said.

  “That too. It’s the whole melee, heart, mind, soul.”

  She yawned again. Seamus jumped, jolting her. “Stay with me, Kaila. Awake now, baby girl.”

  “Seamus,” she whined. “Just let me sleep a little. I was dreaming of you, you know?”

  “Were you? And what were you dreaming?”

  She sti
ffened in his arms.

  “What’s wrong, baby? Anything you don’t want to tell me?”

  “No,” she replied, too quickly.

  “You know,” he said. “I think I know what you were dreaming.”

  “What?” Her high-pitched question echoed in the hall.

  He chuckled, dragged her down his body, and set her on her feet. He wrapped his arms around her waist, keeping her close. “I know what you were dreaming.”

  “You do?” She blinked and averted her gaze while trying to disengage from his hold. Her cheeks were turning a delightful pink.

  Seamus smirked. Oh, but torturing her was fun.

  “Yeah.” He cupped her cheek and lowered his head until their lips were almost touching. Their gazes locked. He ignored the tightening in his chest. He wanted to tell her he loved her, but instead, he teased, “You were dreaming about killing me.”

  Kaila exploded into gales of laughter. Seamus let her go and plastered a smile onto his face. He snubbed the slicing pain echoing within him. Why did she insist on concealing what she felt?

  “You can dream about it all you want, but it’s not gonna happen, babe,” he forced himself to say. “You know I’m the better fighter. Now, help me find a way out of here. I feel like we’ve been walking for hours.”

  “Do you? I feel I’ve only taken a short nap.”

  He dragged his fingers over his short hair, massaging his scalp in the process. They continued walking.

  “No. You’ve been trying to doze off for hours.” He frowned. “I think.”

  He blinked and stared at Kaila. She was so beautiful, wasn’t she? He wanted to loosen her hair from her ponytail and sink his hands in her lush strands. He ached to pull her close and feel her warmth envelope him like a blanket.

  “Seamus, you’re rambling.”

  “Huh?”

  He shook his head. His vision swam.

  “You were saying something, and all of a sudden you started mumbling incoherently. I couldn’t understand what it was,” she explained.

  He swallowed. His tongue was thick in his mouth. When was the last time he’d drank anything? He surveyed their surroundings. “What are we doing here?” he asked.