When his fangs pierced through my birthmarks, it felt as though my body was jolted with a surge of electricity. Immeasurable pain and pleasure mixed, and I gripped the bonds attaching my wrist restraints to the bed for support while my atoms reconfigured themselves, taking me from human to immortal. When only the sensual bliss remained, he licked over his brand on my neck, sending a shockwave of pleasure I felt all the way to my core. Then he freed my hands before guiding my mouth to his muscular chest and pressed my lips directly over his heart. “I have waited so long for you, my love. Drink from me and seal our bond forever.”
I nuzzled against his hot skin, jerking back a little when I felt a strange sensation against my gums. Kieran had warned me about the changes my body would experience as his claimed consort, but the extension of my new fangs still surprised me. I slid the tip of my tongue over one of the sharp points, and my breath caught in my throat. Drawing his scent into my lungs, I was struck by a fierce need to taste him. Winding my arms around his neck, I pulled him closer and sank my fangs into his skin. Blood spilled into my mouth, and the spicy taste was nothing like what I expected. It was like my own personal ambrosia instead of being something unpleasant I needed to endure to cement my bond with Kieran.
My eyelids were heavy, but I forced them to remain open so I could tilt my head back and look up at my sexy vampire’s face when I withdrew my fangs from his chest. When our gazes locked, our bond snapped fully into place and another wave of pleasure crashed over us both. My pussy clamped down hard, milking more come from his cock until it spilled down my thighs.
We collapsed against the mattress, cuddled close. “You are my heart and soul. My destined consort. My everything.”
He was wide open to me through our bond, and I easily sensed how deep his feelings for me went. The connection between us was irrefutable, not that I had any desire to deny it. “I love you, Kieran.”
“Love doesn’t begin to describe the depth of my emotions for you”—he brushed a kiss across my lips—“but maybe I’ll come up with a better word for it sometime in the next millennium.”
Epilogue
Kieran
“You look gorgeous, baby,” I murmured as I dragged Thana’s long, silky curls over one shoulder. Bending to kiss the back of her neck, I licked my claiming mark. She shivered as she always did when my mouth caressed the place that proclaimed her as mine. Her arousal flooded my mind, and I nearly lost all control.
“Thank you,” she said breathlessly as she ran her hands down her ice-blue dress, smoothing out invisible wrinkles. I’d picked out the gauzy, strapless ball gown because it reminded me of the night we met and I found my eternal love. One year ago today.
“Just what would it take to talk you out of this dress?” I inquired as I dragged my lips up to nibble on her ear.
Thana giggled and whirled around, placing her palms flat on my chest and pushing me back a step. But only because I let her. Despite her increased vampiric strength, I was still bigger than her, but it made her smile with delight when I pretended. I’d sworn to see her smile as often as possible, so unless it concerned her safety or we were in bed, I let her make-believe that she could overpower me just a little.
“This party was your idea, husband. I think all of the guests downstairs might miss the host and hostess.”
I grunted noncommittally, but dutifully held out my arm for her to take. Knowing exactly what I was thinking, she laughed, curling her arms around my bicep and resting her hand on my forearm. As I escorted her out of our bedroom, I was kicking myself for inviting a houseful of people here when all I wanted to do was spend the night alone with my wife.
The main floor in the right wing of the house held a ballroom that had gathered dust for decades until I married Thana in it. Now, it held another celebration, and when we walked inside the resplendent room, and the crowd shouted, “Happy Birthday,” some of my party spirit returned. We were honoring the day the world was graced with my incredible consort.
Thana beamed as she looked around, then she stopped and gasped when she saw a young woman with long brown hair streaked with gold hurrying forward with a matching smile. She was wearing an amethyst ball gown that billowed out behind her, and the color reminded me of the ring Athan wore on his left pinky. He’d found it around a century ago in a vintage jewelry store and had been oddly drawn to it. He’d purchased it on the spot, and I’d rarely seen him without it since.
“Selene!” Thana squealed as she ran to meet her friend.
Thana had reminisced about her childhood companion and how much she’d missed her since they’d last seen each other. Apparently, Selene’s parents had shipped her off to boarding school in Switzerland shortly before Thana’s parents died. They’d kept in close touch but hadn’t laid eyes on each other since. I’d made it a mission to give Thana her friend back for her birthday. Seeing her expression, feeling her joy through our connection, and watching them hug tightly, I knew it had been the perfect present.
They laughed and talked over each other as I approached, but when Thana saw me, she stopped and threw herself into my arms. “Thank you, Kieran!”
“Anything for you, baby,” I told her earnestly as I held her tight for a moment. When she wiggled to get out of my embrace, I dropped one arm and used the other to tuck her into my side.
“Kieran, this is my best friend, Selene,” Thana introduced us excitedly. “Selene, this is my husband.”
Selene stepped close and held out her hand. When I looked at her face, I was struck by the unusual color of her eyes. They matched the purple stone in Athan’s ring almost perfectly. “Welcome,” I said with a friendly smile as I took her hand.
“Hands to yourself, brother.” Athan had appeared at my side and was staring at my hand clasping Selene’s. His voice was pure steel, and his jaw was clenched tight. I released her hand, and Athan’s eyes flew up to her face, his expression wild. Selene snatched her hand back, and her widened eyes watched Athan with shock and a swirl of other emotions.
She retreated a step, and Athan prowled after her, closing the space between them. He reached for her left hand, and the moment they touched, I understood. This was an interesting turn of events. It seemed Selene was Athan’s fated consort. I wasn’t sure how he’d figured it out before touching, but that wasn’t my biggest concern at the moment.
Thana tried to step forward, but I held her back, silently asking her to let me handle it while I kept my attention on my brother. Athan brought Selene’s wrist up to his nose and inhaled deeply. Somehow, I knew what was coming, but I wasn’t fast enough to stop it. Athan muttered, “Mine,” right before he let the tip of one fang knick a vein and licked up the droplets of blood that beaded on her skin.
Selene gasped and yanked her hand out of his grasp. “What?” she gasped. “Did you just…What are you…?”
Athan made a grab for her and growled, “Mine.”
In response, Selene lifted her skirts and took off running.
Shit. Athan started after her, but I grabbed his arm and brought him to a halt. “You need to get ahold of yourself, brother,” I stated in a voice filled with authority. I couldn’t use compulsion on him, but I was still older and stronger, so my magic was able to hold him, though it wouldn’t last long. “You scared the fuck out of her. You think chasing after her like this is going to help your cause?”
Athan took a deep breath, and I thought I’d gotten through to him until he turned his head, and I saw the wildness in his eyes was still there. Only now it was mixed with the desire I recognized all too well.
I immediately removed my hand, and he was gone an instant later.
Thana’s jaw had dropped, and she looked shell-shocked as she stared after her friend and brother.
“Shouldn’t we—?”
I shook my head.
“I need to help—”
Gathering her in my arms, I shook my head again before giving her a deep kiss. “She’s his consort,” I explained after our lips separated. “Anyone
who tries to get involved is likely to end up with a stake in their heart. It won’t kill us, but it hurts like a son of a bitch.”
Thana looked after her friend one more time, then sighed and let me tuck her into my side once more.
Stephan came bounding up then and stole my girl, swinging her around as he sang, “Happy Birthday.” Thana threw her head back and laughed while Stephan grinned at my low growl.
He put her on her feet, and I tugged her back into my arms, ready for this shit to be over with so I could get her alone. Her eyes flared with desire as she felt my thoughts, and I gave her a wicked, completely unrepentant smile.
The joke was on me because it was several hours before the party began to die down.
I’d given Thana her presents this morning over breakfast in bed, and she was waiting to open her gifts from everyone else tomorrow. For tonight, I was going to dance with her a little longer, then take her back to our bedroom and give her additional birthday orgasms.
“Happy Birthday, my love,” I whispered as I twirled her around and back into my arms. “This has been the most wonderful year of my life.”
“I think we can top it.” She beamed up at me with a gorgeous smile. I was often stunned speechless by her beauty, but tonight she had a glow that seemed to be coming from inside her. “You know, it’s pretty darn hard to keep a secret from your husband when you share a mind,” she teased.
I frowned and narrowed my eyes. “You shouldn’t be keeping secrets from your man, baby.”
Thana giggled, and her smile got wider. “I have a birthday present for you.”
I raised an eyebrow at her cat that ate the canary expression. It was adorable. “It’s not my birthday.”
Thana’s eyes sparkled, and she bounced a shoulder. “It’s really for both of us.”
She stared up into my eyes, and her mind opened completely. My knees went weak as the picture of a sonogram swam before my eyes.
“You’re pregnant?”
She stuck one of her hands in the folds of her skirt, and it reappeared, clutching a piece of paper. It trembled as she lifted her hand up. I took the picture, and a smile began to split my face.
“You’re pregnant?” I shouted, my smile so wide it actually hurt my face.
Thana glanced around and giggled. “Shhhh.”
I straightened and swung Thana around in a circle, the sound of her laughter breathing life into me. “WE’RE PREGNANT!”
Once we’d made a full rotation, I gently set her over my shoulder and shouted one more time, “Party is over! Get out!”
Then I stalked out of the ballroom and down the candlelit hallway. “That was so rude!” Thana said, hitting me on the derriere.
I growled, “Keep it up, wife, and I’m going to remind you what a spanking really feels like.”
Thana gasped, and I groaned when I felt her desire through our connection. When we reached the bedroom, I slid her halfway down my body and cupped her bottom to hold her so that her legs went around my waist. “Are you happy?” I asked softly.
“You can’t feel it?”
I shook my head. “I want you to tell me.”
Thana kissed one corner of my mouth. “So.” She kissed the other side. “Very.” Her lips brushed my right eye. “Very.” Then the left eye. “Happy.”
When her mouth gently met mine, I lost it and kissed her deeply. It was carnal and full of love wrapped in desperate passion.
Hours later, as we lay in bed, naked and sated, she cuddled into me and sighed. “I love you.”
I tightened my arms around her and kissed the top of her head. “I love you, too. Forever.”
Epilogue
Thana
“Ronan, you come back here right this instant!” I yelled at the top of my lungs, uncertain where my five-year-old had disappeared to.
Something Kieran had neglected to warn me about when it came to raising daywalker children was how young some of them were when they gained the ability to teleport. Our son was only three when he shocked the heck out of me by pulling a disappearing act while I was in the middle of explaining why he couldn’t have another cookie. He’d popped up in front of me again about a minute later—with crumbs on his shirt, a smudge of chocolate on his chin, and an innocent smile. I’d asked Kieran to have a stern talk with him afterward, where he’d told our son that his gift should only be used in the case of an emergency. What he hadn’t taken into consideration was that Ronan’s definition of a crisis covered a whole lot more scenarios than ours did.
There was a popping sound behind me, and I whirled around to find Ronan sitting cross-legged on the floor, grinning. “I wasn’t bweaking the rules. It was an emewgency, Mommy.”
“Oh, really?” I drawled, tapping my foot and biting my cheek so I didn’t start laughing because of how adorable he was. Scanning his face and clothes, I didn’t spot any sign that he’d been in the kitchen pilfering a treat. His emergencies often involved him desperately needing a second dessert since he had quite the sweet tooth. “What were you doing?”
He slow-blinked his bright blue eyes—the same shade as his father, uncles, sister, and cousins. “Sheridan was cold. I helped her with her bwankie.”
“Your sister is napping in the nursery.” I crouched down so I was closer to his eye level. “How did you know she was cold?”
“I heawd her.” He tapped his ear.
I dropped down on my butt, shocked by his answer. Neither of the kids had spoken telepathically to Kieran or me yet. I kind of figured the first time one of them used that particular gift, it would be to reach out to us. “Have you heard Sheridan say something when she isn’t near you before?”
“Uh-huh.” His little forehead scrunched while he nodded. “I heawd her ask to go higher on the swing set.”
We’d added a playset to the back lawn just beyond the patio, but it was within earshot of the kitchen. “Did that happen yesterday when you went inside to get a drink?”
“Yup.” Rowan made a popping sound at the end of the P as he nodded his head.
That wasn’t what I’d meant, but figuring out how to explain telepathy to a kindergartener wasn’t exactly easy. “The nursery is all the way upstairs, and you were down here with me. Has she ever talked to you when she was in a totally different part of the house like that?”
He shook his head. “Nuh-uh.”
“Okay, sweetie.” I heaved a deep sigh, my shoulders slumping. “If you hear your sister inside your head again, you need to tell Mommy or Daddy what she needs. No more popping away to get it for her.”
“Fine,” he huffed before getting up to stomp across the room to the stack of toys he’d been playing with earlier.
Get your butt in here, husband. I need to see your gorgeous face when I tell you what our little angels have been up to while you’ve been outside puttering around in the garden.
I felt Kieran’s shock through our bond. What do you mean? I haven’t heard a peep from Sheridan on the baby monitor.
After finding a monitor that had a range of one thousand feet, he had laid claim to the parental unit and rarely handed it over to me. Apparently, daywalker babies have other ways of communicating when they need something.
My husband popped up in front of me, his jaw slack and eyes wide. “Sheridan called to Rowan?”
I nodded, stepping close to twine my arms around his neck. “Yeah, he was playing while I was reading one of those romance novels that give me all sorts of ideas”—I gave him a saucy wink—“and then he went poof. He said it was because Sheridan was cold, so he covered her with her blanket.”
Kieran chuckled, shaking his head. “At least that’s closer to an emergency than wanting an extra slice of pie.”
He made an excellent point, but I still had a bone to pick with him. Narrowing my eyes, I grumbled, “It would’ve been nice to know that daywalker babies can use telepathy. You know how much I dislike being surprised by stuff like this.”
Brushing his lips over mine, he murmured, “I promise t
o make it up to you.”
“I know you will.” I shivered in anticipation and wagged my brows. “Repeatedly.”
“If that’s what my beloved consort wants, that’s what she’ll get,” he vowed.
Dropping my hands to pat his chest, I wished Rowan hadn’t outgrown the need for naps so I didn’t have to wait until after bedtime. “Right now, I’ll settle for you having another talk with our son about his powers. And one with our darling two-year-old when she wakes up.”
“Sorry, you were surprised again, baby.” He flashed me a sheepish grin. “But in my defense, it’s been more than six hundred years since I was around a daywalker baby for more than a short period. I guess I’ve forgotten some of the finer details.”
“Teleportation and telepathy were the vampire gifts I had the hardest time wrapping my head around, so at least I shouldn’t be shocked anymore when it comes to them using their abilities.”
“Probably not.” His choice of words didn’t inspire confidence, but that was fair since he was one-hundred-percent correct when he added, “I’m sure they’ll find other ways to keep us on our toes.”
Thanks to my anti-hero husband, I had an eternity to enjoy all the ways they’d surprise us...and I wouldn’t have it any other way.
Athan and Selene’s story is up next in With the Sunrise!
If you’re still in a paranormal mood and haven’t read our Shifted Love series yet, start with Her Wolf!
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About the Author
The writing duo of Elle Christensen and Rochelle Paige team up under the Fiona Davenport pen name to bring you sexy, insta-love stories filled with alpha males. If you want a quick & dirty read with a guaranteed happily ever after, then give Fiona Davenport a try!
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