by N P Hector
Sinking to her knees, she watched as the cottage was fully engulfed in flames.
Oh my god. I love him. And now it’s too late. I’ve wasted so much time.
She felt like sobbing but found that she was immobile. She just felt unbearable pain at the thought of losing Rom. A great emptiness in the pit of her stomach. She had come to the precious realization too late.
Dougall had given up with the hose and was now pounding at the window. “Romulus! Romulus! Can you hear me?”
In a great blast of sparks and embers, a dark figure kicked the door down from the inside of the cottage and bent at the waist. The figure shuffled soot covered children and teens out of the building.
Selene felt a surreal disbelief that this could be Rom. This man, this beast who emerged from the fire worked tirelessly. And where Rom’s hair had been soft silver, this man’s hair was dark black and his face fierce as he worked to evacuate the house and to keep the fire under control.
Gaining the ability to move her legs again, Selene sprinted for the house. A very shocked Joan followed closely behind her. Together, they ushered the survivors through the portal to the medical wing in the manor.
When the last teen was cleared Selene moved to get Rom. Just as he stepped out of the doorway, he gave a great roar and the building’s flames were extinguished. Unable to bear the weight of the fallen walls, the cottage collapsed within itself.
Rom’s massive chest heaved; his muscular abdomen looked as if it had been etched in marble. Soot covered marble. His body and face were covered in ash, and his eyes were still fully silver when he zeroed in on her figure.
He said nothing and strode towards her with a predatory gait. Without any care for their filthy clothing, he grasped her by the back of the head. His hands tangled in her hair as he pulled her waist towards him and captured her mouth in a scorching kiss with so much heat it could have rivalled the fire.
She had felt Rom’s passion before. But this. This was different. He was almost animalistic in his instinctual need to ensure that she was well and away from the danger. He groaned in the back of his throat and suddenly they were teleported to the great glass shower in his wing.
He pressed her up against the glass and tore at her shirt. The buttons of her blouse popped off as he rent the fabric.
Selene felt the same level of urgency to revel in his survival. She had been convinced that he was lost to her. Gone forever because of her arrogance and stubbornness.
She kissed his chest as the twin shower heads were turned on, their blasting water washing away evidence of the ordeal. She took off his belt and threw it to the shower floor. Tangling her fingers in his long hair, she pressed herself against his hard chest and tore away from the kiss.
“I thought you were dead.” He reclaimed her mouth and framed her chin with both hands, deepening the kiss. She spoke again, “I thought you were--” she found it hard to get the words out, but she pushed back the knot in her throat. “I thought you were dead when you ran into that building. What were you thinking?” No answer, just a caress of her now exposed belly and a firm grip on her hips.
He growled in answer and kissed her more deeply, pressing against her until she was flush with the glass of the shower wall. “I couldn’t bear the thought that I could lose you when I haven’t had the chance to tell you that...I love you. I’m done fighting my feelings. We are what we are. And I love you. Even if we are all just stardust in the end.”
One bulging arm reached above her head and rested against the glass shower wall as he breathed harshly. Lifting her chin with his finger, he tilted her head up until her eyes met his. His jaw was clenched and his nostrils flared as he ground out, “that’s the truth?”
Her eyes watered with the magnanimity of the moment. Tears mingled with the shower water as she blurted out, “I tried not to. But you’re so difficult to not love.” Throwing her arms around him she clutched him close and whispered fervently in his ear. “You almost gave me a heart attack. Never do something like that again-- do you hear me? No more running into burning buildings. I don’t care how powerful you are.”
They tore at each other’s clothes. She couldn’t seem to touch him fast enough, to hold him tight enough. There was an instinctual need to hold him close and to assure herself that he was alive and unharmed. To revel in their beating hearts and health.
He felt a primal instinct rise to life when she shuddered against him, shivering in anticipation. It drove him absolutely wild. He took her arms and pulled them above her head and pressed her against the glass shower wall. Her wrists were small, and he encircled them in one wrist. She moaned when he slipped his tongue over her. His blood was roaring with a primal need to be with her.
With his other hand he pulled her leg around his waist. She kissed him deeply and he plundered her hot, wet mouth. He pulled his head back to admire the picture of her, wet, naked and before him. He had to ask. “Are you sure?”
When she nipped at the juncture of his neck playfully and said “yes” he drove into the velvet heat of her. He groaned and his eyes nearly rolled to the back of his head as he drove all the way. Selene moaned and gripped his hips. He was everywhere. Surrounding her completely. His strong hands splayed at her hips and she felt impossibly connected to him. Although their movements were hard and fast there was a tenderness to it all. His face was buried in her hair and his body rose powerfully before her.
She hissed out a breath as he surged impossibly deep. He stopped at the sound and asked if she was alright. She was too overcome to use words, so she merely shifted a bit so she wasn’t so stretched. He lifted her other leg so she’d be more comfortable and nuzzled her neck. The tempo built slowly again as he concentrated on pleasuring her.
She was beginning to turn her head from one side to the other and her nails bit into the skin of his back and leg as she tried to gain purchase amidst the frenzy. She shouted as the rapture over took her. He followed shortly after and she slid boneless down his body. Her legs were shaking from the fury of their attraction. He steadied her gently on her feet and turned off the shower. Reaching of the shower he took a fluffy towel and wrapped her in it.
She gave him a slow, satisfactory smile. “Do you think we’ll ever make it to the bed?”
While she was bundled in the large tower he was just standing on the bath mat. With a roguish grin he scooped her up and carried her to the bedroom. She let out a peal of laughter and wrapped her arms around his neck. He gave her a sheepish look. “I was in a bit of a rush there. Let’s see if we can make it to the bed this time, hm?”
She kissed him soundly and rested her head against his chest. She felt treasured and loved. More importantly, she felt that they belonged.
Hours later Romulus crept out of bed and left Selene resting peacefully. They had been drawn to each other more than once and now that she slept he wanted to ensure that her healing sleep wouldn’t be disturbed.
He pulled on his clothes quickly, looking back to the bed to ensure that he hadn’t woken her. When she didn’t stir he flashed out of the wing and to the council room. He had sent a mental note to Joan to gather everyone for an impromptu meeting to discuss the events that had transpired that day.
The voices quieted when he flashed into the Council room. His hair was still disheveled and it was clear that he’d just come from the bedroom, but he couldn’t give a damn. He had more important matters to focus on today.
Joan called the room to attention and everyone’s backs snapped straight as they sat in their chairs.
Romulus strode to the table and opted to stand instead of taking the seat. He looked at the faces around the table and spoke very lowly. “There is a traitor among us. Right here in this room.”
He scanned their responses for clues about the mole but nothing was revealed. It seemed that the entire lot of them was genuinely surprised. Of the 15, 14 were genuinely surprised. One was surprised that he knew that there was a traitor. The difficulty would be in separating that one from th
e others.
Joan too studied the people around the table. When she didn’t identify any immediate tells she gave a subtle shake of her head. Rom acknowledged and proceeded.
“Someone has been working from the inside to evade our surveillance of Dr. Ashford’s estate. Selene and Joan confirmed after the fire that Selene had spotted a strange man with the band of Kem’s minions tattooed around his upper arm. He was seen leaving the cottage before the blast.”
There were murmurs around the table and he spoke firmly. “A blast that managed to kill two petition children. There are two Order families that I need to inform after this meeting. We had hoped that they would pull through but their wounds were too severe.”
Roger put an arm around Katrina when she let out a gasp and covered her mouth. He knew that Katrina had lived in the cottage as well and had been there when the fire happened. She had tried to free the inhabitants and had witnessed the devastation firsthand.
She tried to stifle her cries and made an effort to pull herself together. Roger gave her shoulder another quick squeeze as she sniffed and drew her shoulders back, determined to continue the meeting.
Dr. Lauren, a petite dark-haired woman at the table, nodded and spoke gravelly. “We lost them thirty minutes ago. Their burns were too severe and they were too young for regeneration.” Her words echoed throughout the silent room. Children were rare treasures in the Order. The loss of any young was an anguish that was felt by all members.
Realistically, Dr. Lauren could inform the families. But as leader of his sect he felt that it was his duty and responsibility to explain to the families how two wards under his protection had been murdered on an Order Estate.
Roger broke the silence. “So, you think that the two incidents are connected?”
Dougall looked puzzled. “The fire and the break in at Selene’s house?”
Lenore spoke up. “If they care so much for the Ashford chit then why wouldn’t they just take her from the Estate? Why set fire to the cottage?”
Joan put her hand up for silence and spoke before anyone could interrupt. “Dr. Ashford was close to the cottage. It’s possible that they intended to create a diversion to take her but she ran towards the fire and not from it.”
Lenore was skeptical and her nose crinkled. The smoothness of her face became wrinkled as she brushed back her greying hair. “All of this for one mortal? Seems unlikely to me.” Lenore had been part of the Order’s council for decades. Her family had been pivotal to the Order’s efforts and she was close to Order nobility. But even the more senior members of the council gave her surprised glances. Michael spoke next, “there’s something about that girl. We’ve known that she’s unusual for some time. Now that she and Romulus have grown closer we haven’t seen efforts to take her slow. If anything, they’ve become more desperate.”
Most of the heads around the table nodded as they digested the information. Romulus scanned the group, “be aware that we are now investigating all Order members. The traitor is in this room, I’m sure of it. So, comply, or leave.”
All eyes turned to Lenore and Michael. Lenore being the most outspoken against Selene, and Michael who had been the most reticent in the beginning. Unease filled the room like a thick fog. Romulus looked each and every one of them in the eye before dismissing them, “take this time to prepare for the ball. But be alert.”
Chapter Fifteen
A bond between souls is ancient – older than the planet.
– Dianna Hardy
Selene awoke to a faint ticklish sensation on her shoulder. Firm lips kissed her collarbone, and the whiskers of a day’s growth tickled her neck. Squirming away, she turned over on her side and was met with a very disheveled, devilish looking Rom.
For the first time ever, she saw his hair down fully. Reaching out, she tugged playfully at a silken strand. “Was your hair always this grey?” She stretched lazily and was suddenly caged in thick arms and rolled from her side to her back.
He was careful to not crush her with his weight.“It’s been like this for as long as I can remember.”
She kissed his square jaw slowly and sighed happily. “And here I was just thinking you were being trendy.”
He hooked her leg around his back and began to kiss her neck. “All natural. I promise.”
She recognized where this type of play would leave and resolved to get out of bed and start the day – no matter how good it felt to stay in bed all day with him. She tried to squirm away but stopped when she realized that her movement under him was igniting his passion further instead of quenching it.
“We slept in. We should wake up and start the day.”
The small nibbles at her jaw had turned into full on kissing and caressing.
What the hell, we’re late anyways.
Just as things were getting intense there was an urgent knock at the door. Rom’s face whipped up and his eyes flashed silver. With a clenched jaw he growled out, “I’m going to kill whomever decided to interrupt our morning.”
He willed a plush chair in the corner to bar the already locked door. It skidded across the floor and crashed loudly into the door.
He continued to trace the line of his body with his hands and lips. She responded by lifted her other leg around his waist until she could feel the heat of him. He groaned and jerked her hips upwards.
The knock at the door came again, and was accompanied by a yell from Dougall, “Rom! Get yer arse outta there. You have a visitor.”
Rom growled and rested his forehead against hers. She tried to coax a smile out of him. “Rain check?”
“Let me just kill Dougall first.”
She playfully shoved his shoulder and slapped his butt as he rolled off her and out of bed. The strong muscles of his back and butt flexed as he strode towards the door. The knock came again.
Rom slapped his hand against the tall wooden door, yanked it open, and roared, “what?”
Dougall took in a very naked, very angry Rom and let out a laugh. When he tried to peek around Rom to get a look at the bed, Rom moved to block his view and slammed his chest to push the other man into the hallway.
Rom braced both hands on each side of the doorframe. “Someone better be dying. If you interrupted my morning with Selene and someone’s not dying, I’ll find someone to fit the bill. And that someone will be you.”
Dougall clucked his tongue and rubbed at the spot Romulus had hit. “I just thought you’d want to know that we heard from Gideon. He’ll be here tonight. And he’s bringing a few friends.” He was sure to really annunciate that last part.
Romulus was surprised. “Gideon has friends?”
“A couple hundred. That’s why I’m bothering you. He’s coming tonight and can only grant you this one audience. And he wants a ball in his honor. Hence the invites.”
“Christ.” Romulus looked back at Selene, beautiful and splayed across his bed. Their bed. “We don’t need Gideon anymore. We’re content together and are focusing on this life, not the last.” Besides, he wasn’t about to entertain Gideon and organize a self-appointed ball.
Dougall shook his head. For once he was very serious. He gave Romulus a thoughtful look and leaned in to whisper. “You really want to spite Gideon? He’d never allow it.”
Romulus bit off an oath. He was powerful in his own right, but Gideon was a singularly powerful Fae who cross cut across all the Fae lines. To summon him and then spurn his appearance would be to publicly waste Gideon’s time.
Romulus personally didn’t give a hell if it was rude, but as leader of his sect he had to think politically. “Wait here”, he commanded. As Romulus slammed the door Dougall yelled, “you’re not gonna invite me in?” Romulus willed a vase to slam against the door. It hit the wood and shattered into hundreds of delightful pieces and Dougall stopped knocking.
Romulus found his discarded slacks on the floor and yanked them on. Selene looked at him and appreciated the beauty of his upper body. Clutching a pillow to her chest, she sat up and pushed h
er hair out of her face. Her body was still languid with relaxation and her muscles protested at any movement.
I could definitely get used to mornings like this.
Romulus walked forward and took her face in his hands. He gave her a passionate kiss and stroked her cheek. “Something came up. I have to go.”
Selene pushed to the edge of the bed, not wanting to be left out of any excitement. She felt partnered with Rom and wanted them to tackle problems as a team. “Can I help?”
“Do you remember that Fae I told you about earlier? The one who could confirm your soul?” He pulled a shirt over his head and tied his hair back.
She thought back to the early days of their meeting and of her demand that he summon the Fae. Her memory of that time was hazy, but she could remember some parts of the conversation. “Gideon?”
He nodded and brushed his hands through his hair. “Well, he’s here. And if he was anyone else, I’d boot him out on his arse. But he is a very dangerous Fae.” He looked back to the door where Dougall was waiting. Selene had certainly complicated his life in a delightful way. For the first time he was torn between duty and his own personal interests.
Selene was non-plussed. “So? Just invite him in.” She wrapped the blanket around her and stood, handing Rom his shoes. He took them and thanked her.
He tucked his customary dagger into his boot and one at the small of his back. “Well, it’s not just him. He travels with a full court, and he wants a party.” Selene raised a brow. “I know.”
She and Jamie had partied a good deal during their university days so she wasn’t concerned about being a wilting wall flower. She could hold her own in a crowd. Besides, it would be interesting to meet more of the Fae folk. To her, knowledge was power. So the more she knew about Rom’s world the more self-sufficient she could be. “It’ll be fine. Host him for a night and throw a fun party.”
When his jaw clenched she realized that his apprehension didn’t stem from host duties. Something deeper and more intense was bothering him. It hit her as she recalled why she had asked for Gideon. “Rom, I know that we love each other. I don’t care if he says if I’m Sorcha or not. You still love me for me, and I love you, right?”
