by Brenda Trim
All I Want For Christmas Is My Mating Stone
Dark Warrior Alliance Novella
Brenda Trim
Tami Julka
Contents
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
EXCERPT FROM Sentinel of Khoth BOOK #21
Authors’ Note
Other Works By Trim And Julka
Copyright © November 2019 by Brenda Trim and Tami Julka
eISBN: 9781634525978
Editor: Chris Cain
Cover Art by Carrie (Cheeky Covers)
This book is a work of fiction. The names, characters, places, and incidents are products of the writers’ imagination or have been used fictitiously and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, actual events, locales or organizations is entirely coincidental.
WARNING: The unauthorized reproduction of this work is illegal. Criminal copyright infringement is investigated by the FBI and is punishable by up to 5 years in federal prison and a fine of $250,000.
All rights reserved. With the exception of quotes used in reviews, this book may not be reproduced or used in whole or in part by any means existing without written permission from the authors.
Created with Vellum
A man’s most precious jewel is the woman who walks by his side. ~Author unknown
Merry Christmas from T&J! May your holiday be filled with love and laughter. xo
1
Kyran stood back, admiring Mack’s firm backside as she placed a glittery star atop the Christmas tree. Honestly, he had no use for the human holiday, but his mate turned into a giddy female every December, and insisted they decorate their suite. The place looked like something out of a Hallmark movie (which she also forced him to watch with her) but it made Mack happy, so he indulged her inclination. After all, everyone had a weakness. He was ogling his right now.
“Is it straight?” Mack queried from her perch on the ladder as she fidgeted with the star.
Kyran’s eyes were glued to her ass, not the fucking plastic tree topper. He could care less if it was straight. All he wanted was to strip her bare and fuck his mate where she stood.
After all these years, he still couldn’t believe the feisty female was his. She continued to amaze him at every turn. Mack was brave, courageous, loyal to her core, not to mention, the sexiest creature alive.
“Yo, bloodsucker!” Mack blurted and turned to meet his gaze, her hand on her hip. Her whiskey eyes blazed hot, and he smirked at her annoyance. “I asked you if the star is straight. Why are you just standing there like a buffoon?”
“Doona make me come over there and spank that arse,” he growled low and crossed his arms over his chest. “Better yet. Keep it up, Firecracker. I’ll enjoy every minute of your punishment,” he quickly added as his deviant mind wandered to the dark side.
His hands itched to grab a whip and show her who was master. Kyran’s sordid past was no secret, and it was a constant effort to keep his twisted demons at bay.
Mack’s mouth lifted at one corner. “What did you have in mind?” she purred seductively.
Luckily, his mate was agreeable to his perverseness. To a degree. Mackendra Callahan didn’t have a submissive bone in her body and would never agree to bow down to him. She did, however, enjoy various sexcapades, which was good enough for Kyran.
“Well, I was thinking you could slip oot of those sweatpants and we could celebrate the holidays early. Ho-ho-ho, or whatever that fat fuck says,” he suggested as he tugged at his beard.
Mack laughed, and climbed down from the ladder. When she turned, Kyran’s gaze landed on her top and he smirked. Must be the latest design from her ‘Made with Sass’ collection because he hadn’t seen this one until now. Her tight black t-shirt had a candy cane in red glitter and the caption read ‘It’s Not Going to Lick Itself’ in bold white letters. Oh, he was ready to lick many things, but not a peppermint candy.
“His name is Santa, and you kinda remind me of the jolly fella with that beard of yours,” she confessed as she swayed toward him, her hips moving to and fro like a pendulum trying to hypnotize him with temptation. And, fuck if it wasn’t working.
Kyran hissed as his fangs shot from his gums painfully, reminding him that he needed to feed. He craved her blood as much as he craved her body. Mack’s eyes widened in appreciation, and a smile spread across her face. She thoroughly enjoyed the pleasure she received from his bite, and he was ready to satisfy his need, and hers.
He wrapped his arms around her waist when she reached his side. “Do you like it?” he asked as he leaned down and nuzzled her neck.
“I love it. Much softer than I expected,” she murmured as she reached up and played with the long whiskers. “It tickles, too,” she added with a smirk, and Kyran recalled his beard nestled between her legs.
His arousal intensified, causing his eyes to glow. “You know? If you’re verra good, Santa will tickle you all night long,” he husked then leaned down to claim her lips.
The kiss quickly heated when he delved inside her mouth. Her tongue swiped across his fangs and her orange-vanilla fragrance attacked his senses. Kyran palmed Mack’s ass, and tugged her against his straining erection. Fuck, he needed to get inside her.
“Mmm,” she moaned. “Bloodsucker, I’m so good, Santa will come twice,” she whispered and Kyran felt her hand slide between his legs. His cock jerked when she pressed against his groin.
With that, Kyran lifted her off her feet and stalked toward the sofa. He tossed her to the overstuffed cushions then reached for the drawstring at her waist.
“Hold your horses, leech,” she panted and sat up. “I need to put in my diaphragm before we get carried away.”
“Screw that thing. Let’s make a bairn,” he countered and tugged the cord of her sweatpants.
“Seriously, Kyran. I’ll be right back. My luck, I’d get pregnant the first time we didn’t use it,” she admitted as she stopped him from yanking down her pants.
“Would that be so terrible? Doona you want a bairn?” he countered with a deep sigh. It was a question he’d asked too many times lately, and he was tired of hearing the same answer.
Mack let out a huff and curled her legs under her bottom. So much for getting laid, he thought as tension instantly filled the air. “You know how I feel about this, Kyran. Why do you continue to push the issue?”
“Because I’m sick and fucking tired of seeing all the pregnant females in this house. We’ve been mated for years. One of the first couples, to be exact. I’ve watched bairn after bairn being born, yet no’ one of them is mine. I want a family, Mack. Canna you understand that?” he yelled as he hovered above her.
“Of course, I understand. But can you understand my position?” she shouted back.
He knew her next words before they left her mouth. He was tempted to recite them along with her, but bit his tongue instead. “I’m a Dark Warrior, and my place is on the battlefi
eld. By your side.” Okay, the by your side was new, he amended. He’d give her points for that added touch.
“I’m no’ asking you to quit. Why canna you do both? Better yet, focus on your clothing line. You said yourself you can barely keep up with the orders coming in.”
“I’m busy meeting the demand for the holiday season, but it will slow down after that. I can handle the business,” she countered defensively.
“Then I’m sure we can also manage the responsibility a bairn brings,” Kyran suggested.
“Really? We? And, who is going to stay home with our baby when it’s time to patrol, or go to war? You?” Mack scoffed and stood up, taking a stance in front of him. Her spiky, black hair stood high, like a porcupine under duress, and anger flashed in her beautiful eyes.
“Nay. ‘Tis far more important for me to battle our enemies,” he barked.
“Ha!” she immediately replied. “Who’s at the top of the kill board, Vamp? Not you,” she quipped without hesitation.
“Gerrick is,” he chuckled sarcastically. The male was ruthless when it came to slaughtering their enemies, and Kyran imagined Gerrick would always be at the top of the kill board.
“Okay, I’ll give you that, but I’m a close second. I’m needed, Kyran, and you know it,” Mack professed then stalked toward their bedroom.
He waited for a hard slam, and when that didn’t happen, he followed her into the bedroom. She was opening the dresser drawer. Maybe he still had a shot at getting laid, after all.
“Is that where you keep your diaphragm?”
“No, dumbass,” Mack snapped and shook her head. Men, she thought to herself. Did he really think they were going to have sex in the middle of an argument?
She needed to remind Kyran of her worth to the Dark Warriors. She recalled their mating ceremony, and when the Goddess Morrigan’s presence entered her mind. The powerful deity didn’t say much, but one aspect was engraved into Mack’s brain. Your mating stone protects your sword arm. Your aim will always be true, my warrior.
And, the goddess was right. She was a warrior to her core. In the prime of her life, in Mack’s opinion. She’d be damned if she was going to ruin it with a pregnancy. Gain thirty pounds and be out of commission for nine months? Hell no. Not when she was so close to topping Gerrick on the kill board. Kyran could say all he wanted, but Mack was irreplaceable to the warriors.
However, the last thing Mack wanted was to hurt her mate. She could see how much Kyran wanted a child, and part of her wanted to give that to him. But, to do that, she had to sacrifice her purpose in life. She wasn’t ready to do that. At least, not right now.
She ransacked the drawer until she found her most prized possession. Her mating stone. She wanted Kyran to hold it and remember her calling, according to the Goddess Morrigan. Mack grabbed the gray velvet bag, and gasped when she realized the small satchel was empty.
Surely, she was mistaken. Hastily, she untied the string, and peered inside the velvet case. Her heart stopped beating as she stared into the empty bag.
Her mating stone was gone.
Mack clutched her chest as her breath caught in her throat. Dizziness assailed her and she thought she might pass out.
“Babe, what’s wrong? You’re white as a sheet,” Kyran’s deep voice intruded.
“It-it-it’s gone,” she managed to reply as she stared blankly into the empty bag.
“What’s gone?”
Mack quickly returned to the drawer and yanked it out of the dresser in her haste. She emptied the contents onto the floor and crouched on the carpet. Her mating stone must’ve slipped from the bag. It had to be hidden somewhere amongst the garments. There was no other explanation.
She tossed aside socks and panties as she dug through the various items of clothing. When she didn’t see the treasured gem, Mack’s mind scattered as she tried to think of another possibility. Where the hell could it be?
A large palm cupped her face and forced her to look up. Kyran’s warm, gray eyes were filled with confusion. “What’s going on?”
Unable to fight the building emotion, tears sprang forth in a rush and trailed down her cheeks. “My mating stone is gone!” she exclaimed then fell against Kyran’s chest.
She was not a weeper and hated women that were. But right now, Mack was on the verge of a breakdown. She wanted to lay on the carpet and pound her fists like a toddler having a tantrum until her mommy gave her what she wanted.
She buried her face in the crook of his neck, trying to compose herself. Kyran rubbed circles on her back and held her tight. “‘Tis okay. I’m sure we’ll find it.”
“How?” she asked and met his gaze. “Kyran, I’ve never taken my stone out of this room. Ever! Occasionally, I’ll take it out and look at it because it reminds me of our special day, but I always put it back in its pouch. Where could it possibly be?”
She panicked when a thought crossed her mind. “You don’t think the Goddess took it back, do you? I mean, why would she? Is it because I don’t want a baby? Is she punishing me?” Mack rambled without thought.
If the goddess was disappointed in her, what did that mean? Would it affect her and Kyran? Would the mating compulsion go away? Would he not love her the same? There was no way the goddess could take back Mack’s immortality, was there? Shit, this couldn’t be happening.
Kyran grabbed her face and held it between his hands. “You need to calm doon. I doona think this has anything to do with the Goddess. There is probably a simple explanation. Doona panic,” he informed her.
“What then? What possible explanation could there be?” she croaked as her heart beat uncontrollably. Her body trembled with fear as she imagined the worst-case scenario. Her world would crumble if Kyran’s feelings changed toward her. She couldn’t imagine life without her Fated Mate.
“I doona know. Let’s go and talk to Zander,” he offered and helped her to her feet.
Mack nodded, and prayed Kyran’s brother would have an answer. After all, he was the Vampire King. If he couldn’t offer an explanation, she didn’t know who could.
They left their suite of rooms and walked down the hallway to Zander and Elsie’s living quarters. Zeum was a grand estate inhabited by the Dark Warriors and their mates. Outsiders might find their living arrangement odd, but it worked for them. Their group was a mixture of humans, vampires, shifters, sorcerers, and everything in between. There was even a mated couple comprised of an angel and a cambion.
Mack acknowledged she found it weird at first, but she couldn’t imagine being anywhere else. They were one big happy family, most days, and she wouldn’t have it any other way.
Kyran knocked on his brother’s door and moments later, Elsie answered. She was eating an ice cream cone, and her pregnant belly stretched her sweater to its breaking point. Her due date was approaching, and the Vampire Queen’s stomach looked like it would burst if it got any bigger.
“Hey, what’s up?” Elsie asked as she held the door open for them to enter.
“Is my brathair here?” Kyran asked as they walked toward the living room.
“Aye,” answered a deep voice, and Mack turned to see Zander exit their bedroom. He walked to a black leather recliner and took a seat, while Elsie sat on the adjacent leather sofa as she munched on her frozen treat.
“We need to talk to you,” Mack blurted before Kyran could say anything.
“Okay, talk.” Zander answered with a tilt of his head. His Sapphire-blue eyes narrowed a
s he warily glanced from Mack to Kyran.
“I don’t know how, when, or why, but my mating stone is gone,” Mack relayed and hated the way her voice cracked. It made her feel weak, and she didn’t do weak.
“What?” Elsie interjected, and froze. “When did this happen?”
“I’m not sure. I went to show it to Kyran just now, and it’s not where I normally keep it. I have no idea where it could be,” she informed them. Elsie rushed from the room in the next blink, and Mack had no doubt she was checking for her mating stone.
The significance of the stones was monumental. Each mating stone started as a simple granite rock that was given to a supernatural early in life. When they were eventually blessed with their Fated Mate, a ceremony followed, uniting the couple for eternity. During the ceremony, not only did the stone transform to reflect their never-ending bond, but the Goddess’s presence entered the mind of the female and explained what her mating stone represented.
Mack recalled her mating ceremony. They were trapped in the dragon realm, Khoth, and Kyran’s stone wasn’t available to them, so a blacksmith created one for them. It was a large diamond, and a gray flame burned within. It reminded her of the beautiful realm where they fell in love, as well as, the color of Kyran’s eyes. It was magical, and something to be cherished and protected always.
Moments later, a scream echoed from the room Elsie had run into. In the next breath, the Vampire Queen was standing in the doorway of their bedroom. “Mine’s gone, too!”
Zander popped up from the recliner and rushed to Elsie’s side. “What? Are you certain, a ghra?”
