Chapter 2
I felt different. I knew I had died, and Ciyrs brought me back to life. Shit. There were so many mixed feeling inside of me. I wasn’t sure I’d ever feel like me again. How I felt about the man in front of me now was different than it was before that monster attacked me. I couldn’t even remember why I fought against our bond. Now it felt like second nature. The bond with the healer was a different story.
It was a good bond, and I could feel a part of him inside me. It soothed me and made me feel safe, like nothing would ever happen to me again.
‘You’re my sister now’, his voice echoed in my mind and my eyes widened. It was strange hearing voices in my head, but I knew his words were true. It felt like I had known him forever.
Pyra smiled at me, but the worry in his eyes still lingered. I could feel his suffering. He hated himself, blamed himself for the attack. How was he supposed to know there was going to be an attack at that very moment? I didn’t blame him.
I wrapped my arms around his waist and hugged his giant body. I tipped my head back staring at him willing his sadness away. “Stop blaming yourself.”
His eyes watered but he shook his head. “That’s not going to happen, Eden.” Then he brushed my hair away from my face. The touch sent a million sensations through my body.
“Can we go home now?” he asked holding me close.
Home? I didn’t have one really. That cabin was nice, but if I was going to be honest, I was a little afraid to be left alone after what happened. Pyra sensed my fear.
“There is no way I am letting you out of my sight.”
I nodded and a fire tried to come to life. My temper would be back, and when it was, when I didn’t feel so damn serene, I’d kick his ass. I turned and waved at Ciyrs. It was strange, but I almost felt like a little girl looking up to her big brother. I wasn’t sure how I felt about that bond. That feeling of anger kept growing, and I would bide my time and wait patiently. My anger was my crutch. It’s how I survived so long.
He tipped his chin and I was led out of the building. Pyra tensed and his hand tightened on mine.
“Can I just pick you up and run. This is bringing too much back.”
It was the fact that he asked and how vulnerable he sounded that made me agree.
“This one time, but don’t get used to carting me around.” Yes. I was starting to feel slightly normal again. He lifted me in his arms and ran. It felt like the wind was whipping in my face, and before I could ask we were standing on the porch to a different place.
“Welcome home,” he said with a smile and placed me gently on my feet. I raised a brow. There was no more arrogance in his voice. It seemed both of us were going through a change, and I wondered if his normal cockiness would come back like my temper was.
I refrained from saying anything mean because he was seriously upset. I followed behind him and gasped. His home was not what one would expect. Most men, human ones anyways, were known to be slobs. But his home was sparkling clean. I was afraid to walk across the floor.
“Well come on, I’m not going to bite and my house isn’t going to attack you.”
I sighed and kicked my shoes off before setting them nicely against the wall.
Pyra laughed. “You didn’t have to do that.”
“Oh, yes I did. You’re place is super clean.”
He sat on the couch and patted the spot next to him. I eyed the spot and sighed. My head was full of so much and all I wanted to do was rest.
‘Come sit with me, love.’
I reeled back. “What the hell is that?”
“It’s part of our bond, a link was formed and we have the ability to speak through the mind.”
‘Are you fucking kidding me?’
His chuckle reverberated in my mind, and I felt his relief.
‘Your temper is coming back, I was worried.’
“Talk out loud it feels like you’re yelling in my head.”
“Until you get used to it, that’s how it will feel. It’s normal from what I’ve been told.”
“You knew this was going to happen?”
“Yes,” he replied.
Fire burned inside. “You didn’t think that might have been important to mention before we fucked?”
His mouth dropped open, and I saw the hurt in his eyes.
“Is that what you think we did?”
I wanted to scream, to yell, and to say yes, that is what I think it was, but I couldn’t and I lowered my head shaking it. “No.”
He sped towards me and lifted my chin. “We made love Eden, and whether you like it or not things between us changed the moment I came inside of you. You’re mine and I’m yours. I do hope you will love me someday.”
He leaned in and kissed me. All it took was one touch and I was gone, melted into a puddle of growing messy love. He was right.
I moaned and wrapped my arms around him urging him to lift me in the air. I had almost died. Certainly that meant something needed to change. Life was too short to be so pissed off all the time.
His body shook and he carried me to the couch. When he sat down he situated me on his lap and I straddled him without breaking our kiss. I pushed my lower body against him and his hands gripped me tighter as if he was afraid to let go.
When I pulled back his eyes glowed and I was breathless.
“Well, does that mean you’re okay with our bond now?”
I shrugged. “You’re growing on me. I won’t promise not to get mad or freak out, but I’ll try not to be a complete bitch.”
He nodded. “I can live with that, and you’re not a bitch. You’ve had bad things happen to you.”
I tensed and eyed him. “How do you know?”
“Your memories.”
“You’ve seen them?”
“Only a few, but it just happened during the bond. It opened you up to me, allowed me to get to know you on a closer level.”
I went to pull away but he gripped my hips.
“Hey it’s part of the bond, Eden. I didn’t invade your mind on purpose. Your mind opened up to me.”
I sighed not liking that he’d seen some of the darker things in my life. Tears fell from my eyes before I could stop them. I was not a crier, but I guess dying kind of changes a person.
“Oh love, it’s going to be okay. I don’t judge you, and if I ever make a trip to Earth, I’ll hunt him down and kill him.” Pyra was pissed, and somehow that made it better.
It was in that moment I couldn’t ignore how I felt. The growing love was taking over all the hate that I held buried inside of me. He knew of my darkest secrets and still wanted me. And I knew that he wasn’t just throwing out words to make me feel better. If I ever took him back with me, he would hunt my stepfather down and kill him. Should I have been scared? Hell yes. Was I? Not even a little bit.
Chapter 3
Pyra carried Eden to bed when she fell asleep with her head on his shoulder. He saw the moment she decided to stop fighting the bond. After that the silence stretched between them, but it was no longer uncomfortable.
He never thought the day would come that he felt calm and at peace. It wouldn’t last, but it was nice for the time being. Stripping off his clothes he got into bed and pulled Eden next to him. He wouldn’t be able to be away from her, at least not for a while. His brothers already knew he was going to be spending more time away.
As far as he could tell, so far she was fine and functioning well after her attack. She hadn’t really seemed too chatty, but he didn’t think that was really anything new.
She squirmed and her elbow nearly landed in his face but he deftly dodged it. She kicked and cried trying to get away. He let her go and she thrashed around on the bed. Her body broke out in a sweat, and she ripped the blanket from her body. It was then the scent of her arousal hit him and he gritted his teeth. Of course.
“Touch me,” she said and let her legs fall open. He watched her and waited to see if she was going to wake up.
When he touched her ski
n it was a hot as lava, much like his felt when he was over emotional. Her back arched off the bed, and he realized she was actually hurting. He didn’t know if she’d be pissed, but he sat up and leaned over her before he yanked her bottoms off. She didn’t even open her eyes, and when saw how wet she was he nearly lost it. Whatever was going on was real, but she wasn’t aware of what her body was feeling.
She shivered and moaned when the cool air kissed her burning skin. He slid her legs flat and kept them apart. When he slid his hand up her thigh she groaned.
He ran his finger over her slit and her hips jerked and she sobbed. Tears slid down her cheeks. “It hurts, please make it stop.”
He didn’t know what was going on, but she was in a major state of arousal and he couldn’t figure out why it hadn’t woken her up. He rubbed her clit with the tip of his index finger and her mouth fell open on a drawn out moan.
“Wake up love,” he said hoping she’d open her eyes. He felt wrong touching her without her permission, but it seemed to be helping.
She stuck out her lip when he stopped his movements.
“EDEN!”
Her body jerked and her eyes fluttered but still she didn’t wake up. He sat and watched her without touching her. Not even five minutes later she was crying again. Sobbing about the pain, and he’d had enough. She could kick his ass later.
He climbed on top of her bearing all his weight. “Wake up, Eden.” Then he slid inside of her.
Her eyes shot open and she gasped. “What the hell do you think you’re doing?”
“You were hurting love, I tried waking you, but even yelling at you, you didn’t even try to open your eyes. Do you still hurt?” he asked and twisted his hips. He slid in deep hitting her g-spot and she screamed.
When her eyes focused she glared. “Why am I so fucking turned on right now? Did you do this on purpose?”
His eyes flared. “No, I just explained to you what happened. You didn’t wake up until I was buried deep inside of you, love.”
She eyed him but then nodded confused when she realized he was telling the truth.
‘I would never do anything without your permission unless it was an emergency.’
He felt her anger disappear and she kissed him, sliding her tongue into his mouth and pressed her lips against his with a force he wasn’t used to.
When she pulled back he could have sworn he saw orange, but that was impossible, wasn’t it?
“Fuck me,” she said and her voice ended on a growl.
“Shit, you’re so fucking hot.” Then he plowed into her hard. He’d worry about her changes later; right now he needed her more than he needed his breath. She moaned and groaned crying out and scratching his back. She went wild.
When she wrapped her legs tightly around his waist pulling him deeper inside of her he gasped. She felt different and he knew exactly what she felt like. She changed, and it was because Ciyrs saved her. He had to tell him, but now he rode his mate hard. Her whimpers and pleas were driving him into a lust he couldn’t manage, and his eyes glazed over. His inner beast took over fucking her, and she loved every damn minute of it. She met each movement and her breathy pleas drove him over the edge.
The bed creaked and groaned, and she screamed when the mattress collapsed beneath them. He rolled quick and kept her from getting hurt.
“What the hell?”
He grunted when his back landed against the wooden frame, but he smiled so she didn’t notice, but she did.
Why did you do that? You can’t let yourself get hurt.”
“I can and I’ll always do my best to keep you safe no matter what, love.”
“Do you?”
“Hmm?” he asked and grunted when he tried to move. A sharp pain shot up his spine and he mentally cursed. “Do I what?”
She blushed and looked down. “Love me?”
He was shocked by her question. Couldn’t she feel it? Humans were strange. “Of course I do. Do you feel it?”
She shrugged and pulled off of his body and stood holding out her hand to help him up. “No, not really; I mean I know you care for me, but—”
“Eden, I’ve loved you since the first touch. I didn’t think you were ready to hear it. Hell, you just started to be able to tolerate me.”
The tips of her ears turned red and she nibbled her lip. “Oh, well that makes sense.”
He stood slowly and his back cried in protest. He moaned and sucked in a breath. He didn’t want to worry her, but she saw his pain and spun him to look at his back. She gasped and placed her hand on the place where the wood splintered in his back.
Her hand caught fire and he felt magic. It was similar to Ciyrs’s and then the pain in his back started to disappear. He turned his head to the side and watched as her hand glowed green. She was fucking healing him.
He was stunned speechless as he stood still. When she yanked her hand back the glow disappeared, and he felt no pain.
“How—how did I do that?” She stared at her hand holding it away from her. “Did he give me his gift?”
Pyra didn’t know the answer. “Love, I’ve got no fucking clue how you did that. He brought you back; maybe it’s some residual power?” He didn’t believe that for a minute, but he could see she was on the verge of panic. Her eyes were round and wide and she was pale. Her body began to shake, and then she fell to the ground and convulsed.
“Shit,” he yelled and grabbed a large shirt and put it over her head and slid her panties and shorts back on. The shaking got worse and he scooped her into his arms forgetting he was butt ass naked, but at that point he didn’t care. Her body lit up like a human Christmas tree. She turned green. It was dark and all the Denynso gawked at them as he sped by. Most couldn’t make out much because he moved fast, and again he slammed into the infirmary.
Ciyrs froze and his eyes went from sleepy to panic in two seconds flat.
“How do you explain this brother?”
“Why is she glowing, and why is she having a damn seizure?”
“She fucking healed me!”
Thankfully Ciyrs didn’t bother asking why he needed the healing.
“That isn’t possible.” He grabbed her hand and Pyra watched as his brother went from disbelief to calm. As soon as she touched his friend she stopped convulsing and her body laid flat in his arms in a relaxed state. The glow slowly dissipated from her body.
Pyra was stunned. “Can I get some shorts?”
Ciyrs pointed. “You go get them, I can’t leave her right now.”
Pyra’s jealousy reared its ugly head. “SHE’S MINE!”
There was no response from the other man as he brushed hair from Eden’s face. She opened her eyes and groaned. She looked at Ciyrs and smiled. “Hey, you again.”
“Yes, well this time it seems we have a different issue, sweetheart.”
She frowned. “What happened?
“You don’t remember?”
“No the last thing I remember is—” she blushed. “Is waking up to that beast over there. Enough said.”
Ciyrs laughed. “Okay so you and Pyra were intimate, then what?”
“I don’t know.” She narrowed her eyes in concentration, but she really didn’t remember. Pyra could tell.
“We broke the bed, your eyes glowed.”
She shook her head. “I remember hurting and being really aroused.”
“Yes, she was in pain and thrashing around. I tried waking her but she wouldn’t wake up so I decided to make love to her. As soon as I was in her she woke up and boom we were fucking like animals. The bed broke, and I spun us so she wouldn’t get hurt, but I did instead. She panicked, and as soon as she laid her hand on me, she healed me. Then she fell into convulsions.”
Ciyrs smiled when she covered her face with her free hand.
“Hey it’s nothing to be embarrassed about. We’re all sexual creatures and you’ve just bonded. It’s natural. Though it’s concerning about how he explained everything. I want to run tests on you okay?”
/> “Sure, if it’ll help.”
Pyra curbed his anger and watched them interact. He knew it wasn’t anything more than platonic with them, but the way she leaned into him and relied on him when he could tell she was hurting pissed him right the hell off. She was his mate, and Ciyrs wasn’t much help. He was actually babying her. He’d never seen anything like it. Their bond was strange, and he wasn’t sure how well he’d handle it, or if he’d get used to it—anytime soon.
Chapter 4
I sat on the table—again and held my arm still while Ciyrs took another tube of blood. He was as confused as I was about these strange things going on inside of me. I felt strange and my body felt sick. I was weak and tired. I wanted to sleep but he told Pyra to keep me awake. Only Pyra was mad at me. I could feel it. Even as he sat in the chair as far away as I’d allow and talked to me, there was distrust in his voice and my heart clenched.
I didn’t like it and when I tried to hold his hand he pulled away. I didn’t think I had done anything wrong, but I was having memory problems. Maybe I had. He would barely look at me. I tried to catch his eye and when I finally did, I pleaded with him. If I could feel his anger, than he should be able to feel my sorrow.
He sighed and shook his head standing. “Are you okay with her Ciyrs?”
Her new bondee smiled and nodded. “Sure thing man, you go do what you need. She’ll be safe here.”
Her mate spun on his heel and stormed out. He’d finally gotten shorts, but his chest was bare and she watched him go and her heart ached for him.
“He can’t handle the bond sweetie. It will take time.”
“How do you know?”
“The same way you can feel his anger, I can feel your confusion and the hurt by his disregard. I know him though, he’s got a lot of things in his head, and he doesn’t handle strong emotion well.”
“I don’t like that he’s mad at me.”
“Oh baby girl, he isn’t mad at you. He’s mad at himself, and maybe even me, but not you. He doesn’t like sharing you and because of our new special bond you’re attachment here isn’t only to him. We all crave the day we’ll find our mate, and he was no different, no matter how he acted. And imagine he finds you, you complete the bond, and then technically you die. How would you feel?”
Jacob & Phaedra's Story (Uoria Mates IV Book 2) Page 11
