Catch Me: Time After Time

by Reese Rivers

  Finn chuckles and kneels beside us taking my chin between his fingers so I will look into his deep cobalt blue eyes. “Lass, Eden, there will be no other women for either of us now that we have you.” He says it so seriously that I feel that pull in my chest again and I can’t help but drop my lips to his. After a few moments, Cade pulls me away from Finn and turns me to face him.

  “You’re part of our pack now, Eden. You’re ours and I know you said in your time that you choose who you mate with but it would devastate us if you chose to mate with someone outside of our pack. The bond goes both ways, love.”

  My heart surges in my chest at these beautiful men’s words. They only want to be with me and they only want me to be with them. It’s only been four days since I landed at their feet but I can already feel myself sliding into a love I’ve never felt before. I’m so fucked.

  Sebastian

  “Stop!” I command as I see her eyes begin to blank. “Breathe, focus, control.” When Eden exhales and nods, I bark, “Again!”

  I block the strike she launches at me as we continue sparring with the staves we’ve been using for the last week. As we move through the moves I keep my face blank even though inside I’m impressed and even a little proud of how quickly she’s progressed. I haven’t needed to compel her at all in the last few days as she’s been able to bring herself back from losing control with just a word. I would like to be able to take all the credit due to our daily training but I know it’s a combination of it and the time she spends with the others. The long walks through the gardens and conversations she shares with Luca and the passions she shares with the wolves as well as my thaw and training with her have brought about a change in her. If I was poetic at all I would say it was like seeing a flower bloom. When she first arrived there was a constant tension riding her body at all times even when she seemed to be relaxed and joking. The shadows in her eyes spoke of pain, anxiety, and deep sadness. She held herself stiffly as if always waiting for a blow. Over the last week she has truly relaxed and brightened and while I still catch the shadows in her eyes occasionally it’s not constant as it was before.

  “Umph…” escapes me when her staff makes it through my guard in my distraction and lands solidly against my left hip. The noise I make has her lips twitching in a smug grin so I speed up my movements to keep her focused. I swing a fast swipe towards her thighs and she surprises me by diving over the staff into a roll that has her coming up onto her knees behind me and spinning around to face my back. I’ve only managed to turn halfway towards her when she strikes out and sweeps my legs from under me causing me to land flat on my back on the rug. Quick as a cat, she has the end of her staff at my throat and a giddy laugh trills out from between her lips, eyes dancing with happiness.

  “I believe your life is mine, your Grace!” She teases and it takes all my control not to knock the staff from her hand and yank her down onto my chest so that I may ravish her smiling mouth. Instead, I arch an eyebrow. While I don’t want to take this small victory from her, I also don’t want her to be overconfident.

  “It would appear so, wouldn’t it?” I tell her before using my supernatural speed to roll out from under the staff and launch myself to my feet, moving behind her to grip her throat.

  My movements are too fast for a mortal eye to see so it appears as though I disappeared in front of her eyes. My chest is tight against her back with my arm resting in between her breasts so that my hand can lightly grip her entire throat.

  I whisper into her ear, “Appearances can be deceiving as now it’s your life that is mine.”

  Pressed so close to her I feel the shudder that runs through her body as my hot breath washes over her sensitive flesh. I curse myself for causing her fear but before I can move away she surprises me by relaxing against me and letting her head fall back against my shoulder so she can look up at me. I feel her swallow against my hand as she looks up at me with hooded eyes. Her tiny pink tongue darts out to lick her pouty lower lip causing my eyes to drop to a mouth I want to possess more than I’ve ever wanted anything in my long life.

  Her voice is low and thick when she asks, “And what would you do with it if it was yours?”

  A low growl rumbles in my chest at the loaded question and I’m seconds away from dragging her down to the rug to cover her body with mine when a throat clears from across the room. My eyes flash red and I force down a snarl at the interruption when I spot Luca standing at the edge of the rug with a perfectly blank expression except for the pointed look in his eyes. I quickly release the witch and step away from her, schooling my features into their customary cold state.

  “Luca, what is it?” I ask as I busy myself gathering our fallen staves to return them to their place on the wall. Training is over as I will need space from her to regain my control.

  “A runner has arrived from the palace with a missive from Pierre.” He tells me before turning to Eden. “As well, the seamstress has arrived to take your measurements, Eden.”

  She glances between the two of us briefly before beaming a smile at him. “Oh, Luca, you’ve already given me so many gowns. I don’t need anymore!”

  He smiles indulgently at her. “It is my pleasure to offer you the finest gowns but this is for something I think you will enjoy much more. While you look enchanting wearing the gowns in the evenings I’ve noticed you choose to be more casual in your dress during the day. It’s not right that you must wear the same leg coverings repeatedly and one of Cade or Finn’s shirts so I have instructed her to create a more casual wardrobe for you to wear during the days. She will make you anything you wish so that you may be more comfortable.”

  I turn away as she claps her hands in delight and rushes towards him but checks herself before she actually touches him when he pulls back slightly.

  I had also noticed that she chose to wear the tight black leg coverings she arrived in daily but hadn’t thought to hire anyone to replicate them so she had more options in what she wore. As for the wolves’ shirts she wears every day, I try hard not to notice how appealing they look on her. When I turn back the two are walking side by side toward the doors. I watch them go with a slight frown, sad to see her go, even though I need the space and distance from her right now. When she looks back at me over her shoulder with a questioning look in her eyes I turn away once again so she won’t see the regret that we were interrupted there. The witch belongs to the wolves in that way and I will do nothing to jeopardize the relationship I have with them. They and Luca are my only family, my pack as they call it, and I can’t imagine living out the long years without them. The witch must remain off-limits for me.

  I leave the training room and locate the runner in the entrance hall, bid him wait for any reply I wish to send back, and take the wax-sealed message to my desk in the library to read. My fingers almost shred the delicate parchment as I read of more bloodless, headless bodies found and missing villagers. Pierre writes that it’s all concentrate in the woodlands that border the Marquis du Corbeil’s estate southeast of the palace. This is not the work of a passing fiend as I hoped. The Marquis is well known for his deviance and debauchery. The King turns a blind eye to the rumors and gossip of the scoundrel’s reputation due to the man’s high contacts in the King’s military but it is well known that there is no love or respect between them.

  I toss the missive down and clench my fists. He is just such a man who would welcome one of my kind of lesser repute to dine at his table or on his vassals, either for entertainment or to further any nefarious schemes he might have in play. I quickly scratch out a reply on fresh parchment to tell Pierre that I will deal with the issue and for him to gather information on all of the Marquis dealings, fold it before sealing it with melted wax stamped with my crest symbol then return it to the runner to be on his way. This cannot stand. If there is a rogue vampire or even a nest preying on the innocents in our territory we will wipe them out, invited or not. Their carelessness of leaving victims to be so easily discovered puts all of my ki
nd at risk and goes directly against the compact we have with the Monarchy. I send a footman to find the rest of my pack and wait for them in the library where I unroll a large map of the region to study. Once they’ve all joined me and read the missive for themselves, Cade throws it down with a growl.

  “Fucking eejits, yeah? They had to know we wouldn’t stand for such and I dinnae believe for a moment that they’re unaware this is our territory. How do you want to handle it, then?”

  I nod. “Indeed, my concern is the missing villagers. Either their bodies have yet to be discovered or someone is creating new vampires. You all know that a newly turned vampire is close to feral in their insatiable bloodlust. If they aren’t under a strong-willed sire they are capable of draining an entire village in one night and will still want more. If there is a nest, we must find it and eradicate it. We will travel to the woods where the bodies have been discovered and try to find their scent. We will also speak to the villagers and see if we can find any information that ties these disappearances and deaths to the Marquis. Finn, Cade, gather the silvered weapons. Luca and I will have the horses made ready and the kitchen prepare food to take as we may need to stay in the woods overnight.”

  Cade and Finn exchange a loaded look with each other instead of leaving to gather the weapons we will need.

  “What? What is the problem?” I ask in annoyance.

  They both cross their arms over their chests in a stubborn stance with Cade answering.

  “It’s Eden. We’re not comfortable leaving her here alone unprotected for so long.”

  I can’t help but scoff at how ridiculous that sounds. “I’m positive your cocks won’t fall off from a mere day of want.”

  The shock I get to Finn’s reaction has me taking a step back as his eyes flare gold and he bares his teeth at me and snaps out, “Mind yourself!”

  Not since the very beginning of our journey together has either one of the wolves challenged me in such a way and it dawns on me for the first time that the witch isn’t just a plaything to them and that there’s something deeper between them. The realization has an ache of envy filling my chest that I ignore and instead give a sharp nod of apology to them.

  “What is it that has you worried? She will hardly be alone in our home with so many servants and it’s not like she isn’t capable of defending herself.” I ask in a more neutral tone.

  Cade lifts his chin in defiance. “We aren’t leaving her alone for that long especially now that we know there are vampires in our area.” He glances at Finn again and frowns. “It’s not just that, yeah? We still don’t know how she traveled here in the first place from her own time. We…we worry that she may go back as suddenly as she came. We just don’t want her to be alone in case we can stop it somehow. One of us will need to stay here with her.”

  I rake my fingers through my hair in frustration. “I understand your concern but we need both of you. Luca and I can’t track scent the way you two can in your wolf forms. If only one of you comes, we could be in that forest for days searching.”

  “I will stay with her,” Luca says softly causing all of us to turn his way with surprised looks. He shrugs one shoulder. “Sebastian is correct. It would take too long with just one of you trying to find the scent.” He tells the wolves before turning to me. “I’m sure the three of you will be able to handle taking out anything you find. If it is a nest of newly turned, they won’t be much of a threat to you. I will stay and keep Eden safe.”

  Finn and Cade share a look as if they are having a silent conversation before they both nod in agreement. Cade crosses his arms like he doesn’t like it but will go along. “Fine. Let’s get going then. It’s early enough that if we get lucky we can be back just after dark if we get moving right away.”

  I nod as well keeping my face blank so they don’t see the concern coursing through me. Now that the two wolves have invested emotion into the situation with the witch, things will become much more complicated.

  Eden

  The seamstress and her assistants can barely speak English but between them all we manage to convey what I would like to have made. I stripped off my leggings, tank top, and underwear leaving me naked under my robe so she could create a pattern for them to replicate but I’m pretty sure without elastic and other modern materials it’s going to fall pretty short. I don’t care. I’m just happy I will have a few more options to wear that aren’t ball gowns. Luca must have given the woman an idea of what I like wearing because she came with three pairs of pants. At first I thought they were skirts because of how much fabric there was but when I tried the first pair on I realized that they were more like palazzo pants just with much wider legs so that they looked like a skirt. As well as the pants she had brought three blouses similar to the dress shirts the guys all wear but more fitted to flatter my size. A few wide leather belts with decorative markings tooled into the leather gave me three new casual outfits. Now if only I could explain to her how to make an oversized, slouchy hoodie, I grumble under my breath as they start packing up to leave.

  Finn and Cade come into my room with grim expressions immediately making me nervous. They wait for the seamstress and her team to leave before shutting the door behind them and then turn to face me. I chew on my bottom lip waiting for whatever bomb they need to drop on me as Finn clears his throat.

  “Something’s come up, lass and we’re truly sorry but we have to leave you.”

  He says it so solemnly and Cade’s jaw twitches as he holds it so tightly that I feel tears spring up into my eyes. I’m such an idiot. Of course they’re leaving. They had their fun with me and now it’s time to move on. I mean, what did I think was going to happen? Just because I fell down the rabbit hole doesn’t mean fairy tales are fucking true. After all the shit that’s been handed to me in my life, I should know that better than most. I spin my back to them so they won’t see how much it hurts and try to keep the little bit of pride that I have left. I have to swallow twice to be sure my voice doesn’t betray me before I can speak.

  “I understand. I’ll gather my things and go.” I say, wincing at the tremble in my voice. I don’t know where I can go but I’ll figure it out somehow.

  “Go? Go where?” Cade asks in confusion.

  I square my shoulders and take a steadying breath before turning back to them but keep my gaze averted. “I…I don’t know. Maybe there’s a tavern or Inn I could find a job at. Don’t worry about it. It’s not your problem.” I say, blinking back my tears.

  I catch them exchanging looks out of the corner of my eye and flinch back when Finn reaches for me. He’s quick to pull his hand back when he sees my reaction though.

  “Eden, what the hell are you talking about? Why would you want to go?” He asks in a shocked tone, causing me to look up at him just as his expression changes to frustration. “Luca will be here to take care of you. You don’t need to go anywhere or worry about getting a job!”

  My mouth drops open as anger floods my stomach. “Are you for real?” I yell. “You think you can just play with me like a toy and then pass me on to your buddy once you’re done with me? Fuck you! Fuck you both!”

  My voice breaks on the last word and I’m forced to swipe away at the hot tears that spill over.

  “Oh, no, no mo ghràdh. We aren’t done with you! We are only just getting started.” Cade says as he yanks me against him. I look up into his heated eyes as another tear spills down my cheek.

  “I don’t understand. You said you were leaving me.” I ask in a choked voice. My brow furrows when a grin forms on his lips.

  “For the day, possibly overnight. Bas, Finn, and I have some business to take care of but Luca will be here if you need anything.” He tells me, amusement thick in his tone.

  I push away from him and glare at both of them as I feel my face going red in embarrassment.

  “Oh my God! You assholes! Why didn’t you just say that? The way Finn said you were leaving and the expressions on your face?” I shove a hand through my hair so
I don’t punch them. “You jerks made it sound like you were leaving me for good!”

  Both Finn and Cade move at the same time until they have me sandwiched between them. Finn is behind me and his mouth drops to my neck as Cade captures my mouth in a searing kiss that has me forgetting why I’m mad at them in an instant. Finn’s clever fingers find the gap in my robe so he can trace circles against my skin slowly lowering them until I want to force them down the rest of the way where heat and wetness have bloomed. My hips rock forward against his fingers to try and get them to lower causing him to chuckle against my neck and then nip my skin lightly. I don’t mean to whimper when they both lift their lips from me but it comes out anyway. Finn cups my cheek and all amusement is gone from his eyes when he tells me,

  “Eden, a day away from you will feel like an eternity to us. You never have to doubt our intentions towards you. We will never leave you.”

  “Ever,” Cade whispers in my ear before pulling away and moving towards the door with Finn right behind him. He looks back at me and my breath catches in my throat at the depth of the feelings I see in his eyes before he nods and disappears. Finn turns to look at me over his shoulder and his eyes smolder with desire.

  “We would never toy with you and then pass you on to Luca but if you were open to it, we would share you with him.”

  My pussy clenches hard when his words hit me and an image of the three of them on me at once flashes through my brain. I’m stunned stupid and can’t get words to form but he’s already gone so it doesn’t matter. My knees feel weak at the up and downs of the last ten minutes so I climb up on the bed and flop down onto it in a heap and try and ignore the ache between my legs as I process that bomb.