“I love you, Ezra, and the depth of that love is beyond measure.” His voice possessed the same desperation as his kiss. “You are not leaving my arms until she is found and destroyed.” He declared as they entered the Palace through the terrace doors. “I cannot lose you. I cannot live without you.”
Ezra raised his hand and cupped Louis’ cheek in the palm of his hand and ran his thumb back and forth over the prominent cheekbone. His features were stark, sharp cut edges indicating that his beast was barely contained. “I’m okay. I survived. I was able to defend myself against the worst of what she intended. We are together and we stand strong together.”
The doors were shut, and the guards stood watch inside and out as Louis carried his lover to the plush sofa on the opposite side of the room and laid him down. He then knelt on the floor in front of him and held his hand. Bringing it to his lips, he kissed it repeatedly before laying his head upon Ezra’s lap needing the assurance, the touch and the scent of his beloved surrounding him.
Ezra dropped his head to lay it against Louis and embraced him pulling him closer and speaking softly into his ear. Louis felt the sound of Ezra’s calm, sweet voice penetrate his haze of panicked aggression and bellicosity. He killed Guillaume, but that wasn’t enough; his hunger for retribution was not yet sated. They stayed like that for several minutes drawing strength and grounding from one another.
Louis pulled back and stood, extending his hand to Ezra who took it and stood in front of him. Louis ate him up with his gaze and Ezra felt whole again, renewed and settled. His beloved was his life and he would never give him up. He would fight to the death to stay by his side.
“As it was yesterday, as it is today and as it will be tomorrow, you are mine, and I am yours.” Louis marked that declaration with a kiss so all-consuming and so adoring that Ezra felt his knees go weak as he clutched at his beloved for the support he knew would always be there.
Their attention was drawn to the main doors when Ismael burst in, dragging Aldessa by the upper arm and forced her to her knees in front of Louis. She made to look up at him but Ismael pressed her head down forcing her to stare at the floor.
“Her amulets, talismans, and charms have been destroyed. As a precaution, I’m having all of her belongings incinerated apart from the dressing gown she is wearing.” Ezra looked at the weak form kneeling there and knew there was more than met the eye. Aldessa’s power came from external sources through the aid of spells and chants and without them, she should be powerless, but something remained. He knew Louis felt it too.
He made to step in front of Louis for fear she was planning yet another assault, perhaps a parting gesture of her darkness. Louis countered his move and prevented him from stepping forward just as Aldessa looked up with a devilish grin and spoke. Louis backhanded her, but the words were spoken.
Ezra had expected it and raised his hand, blocking the impact of her spell with a burst of energy that threw her across the room and slammed her against the large wall mirror shattering it and finalizing her own horrible fate.
She was shocked as she tried to rise but fell to the floor over and over, unable to control her own body. Her eyes sealed shut as if they never existed as did her mouth and ears. She was alive but unresponsive and sealed within the prison of her own spell.
“She used that mirror to draw enough magic to cast one last spell,” Ezra explained as the men grabbed Aldessa and drug her from the room. Louis had him back in his arms ready to carry him off once again. “She meant that fate for me, but when she shattered the mirror, it became her prison rather than mine.” Ezra wrapped his arms around Louis and kissed him.
“We’re all safe now,” Ezra announced with a smile that melted Louis’ heart and fed his soul. Louis kept him cradled once again in his arms as he carried him to the staircase and up to their room. He needed his beloved alone in the privacy of their bedroom. He left the cleanup for Ismael and Silas to organize and carry out because for the rest of today and all of tomorrow, he and Ezra were not leaving their room and maybe they would stay sequestered until Christmas. He had a lot to make up for and he intended to do it with style.
EPILOGUE
It was the morning of the second day following the incident with Aldessa and her guard, and they still had not left the bedroom. Ezra was in seventh heaven having all of Louis’ constant attention and care for so long. He rolled to his left and pressed a kiss to Louis’ chest while wrapping his arms around his waist. “Good morning, my love.” He said as Louis turned and blanketed him with his body.
“Good morning,” Louis said with a smile and a kiss that soon turned into a gentle bite to the sensitive area on his neck. Louis took several sips sizzling Ezra’s nerves and curling his toes before licking it closed and looking down into Ezra, blissful expression.
Ezra reached between them and encircled Louis’ hard cock with his soft hand and began teasing him in a way that always got him the reaction he wanted. Louis quickly spread Ezra’s legs and hiked up his bottom to present for Louis’ needy cock.
Ezra did not need preparation; after all he had been well and truly fucked over the past two days. They slept and fucked, showered and fucked, ate and fucked, and then just fucked. It should have been exhausting but it was energizing, and it brought them both the assurances they needed. They were alive and they were together forever.
Louis thrust inside, going to the hilt in one and then paused as Ezra moaned and pleaded for more. He loved to tease, and he loved to satisfy. Holding Ezra tight, he slammed inside over and over sensitizing and invigorating Ezra’s nerves all over again. He kissed and caressed as his hard cock stretched and filled Ezra’s tender channel. Ezra dug his fingers into the muscles on Louis’ back, reveling in the firm softness of the muscles there. Louis pounded out his love and devotion in a way they both enjoyed. Ezra could feel himself building to a climax as Louis went deep and came filling him and marking him inside while sinking his teeth back into the bonding scar and drinking deeply of his lover’s sweet taste.
As soon as he struck, he felt Ezra explode, filling the space between them with his hot sticky seed. He’d made love to Ezra numerous times over the past two days and each time it is as exciting and fulfilling as the very first time they touched. He pulled his teeth free and licked the scar sealing their bond once again.
He felt Ezra’s hand gliding down his back to cup and massage his ass, pulling him up closer signaling that he was not finished. Louis pumped a few more times driving the sensations Ezra was seeking to the lengths of their combined desire. Ezra stiffened and came again adding to the warmth that was already pooling between them. Ezra relaxed on the bed with a full, satisfying sigh and stared up at Louis with nothing but pure love in his eyes. His beloved was a treasure, a gift he didn’t deserve, a gift he would level the world to keep.
“I love you, Ezra.”
“I love you too, Louis.”
As it approached noon, they got up and showered and just after finishing a light lunch, Louis made his first move. “Merry Christmas, Ezra.” He said and pulled a small box from his pocket. Ezra turned in his seat and looked up at Louis as he knelt in front of him and opened the box.
Ezra was stunned not that Louis would do it but that he thought it necessary and wanted to seal their union completely. Inside the box was a gold insignia ring with the DuCane family crest embossed on it, very similar to the one Louis always wore. He took it from the box and held Ezra’s hand, slipping the ring on the third finger of his left hand.
“Will you marry me, Ezra Bentley, and will you take my name as your own? Will you be Ezra DuCane?” He said with a seriousness that was firm yet warm.
Ezra stared at the ring and then at Louis and then back at the ring. “Yes, I will marry you, and I would be proud to become Ezra DuCane.” Ezra leaned forward and captured Louis’ face in his hands and kissed him full and hard on the lips.
…
The wedding had been planned to coincide with the Christmas celebration. Even with
the disruption that they had endured, Louis’ Coven had pulled together the finest most lavish Christmas wedding and celebration Louis could have imagined. His husband was the finest man in the land, and now he was Louis’ not just by bond but by all manner possible. He wore Louis’ ring, his name, and his mark. Ezra was claimed and no one would ever dare try to come between them again. Louis has lived a long life, he’s been everywhere, and done all manner of things. But this man, his Ezra, is the only person he’s ever loved, and this is his one and only marriage.
As the notes of the orchestra rang out through the Great Hall, decorated and gilded with red and gold, softly snow began to fall outside the window, blanketing the world and making it new.
“This is more than I could have even envisioned,” Ezra told Louis as they danced. “I had no idea you were planning this surprise.”
“I had a lot of help, and thankfully they managed to keep the secret. You’re all I ever want Ezra don’t ever think that you aren’t the most important person in my life.” He needed to drive home once again the clarity of their relationship.
“I never doubted you, and that was my strength when Aldessa came at me with her lies and salacious innuendoes,” Ezra responded and laid his head against Louis’ chest. “I never knew that my lowly herbal magics would turn into something so powerful. What was it that happened out there in the woods? How did I defeat Guillaume?”
“It was earth magic and the spirit of the woods that gave you your boost.” He explained softly as they swayed to the music. “The ancient ones called to you in your panic, and you responded. I planted those trees over three hundred years ago in hopes of luring earth’s magic to my door. But it seems that it was all Fate’s doing in preparing me and this land for my beloved. It was written centuries ago that you would be here with me today.” He bent and kissed him softly.
“What happened with Aldessa?” Ezra was curious but not concerned she got off easy as far as he was concerned.
“She was sent home.” He said, his words sharp and clipped.
“To her family?”
“No, to the Coven, to Yuri. He will deal with her. She is no longer of any consequence. The guard Antoine is bringing her back to her Master, in chains.” Louis remarked. Ezra thought it was a quite suitable sendoff.
“Thank you for loving me, Louis DuCane.” Ezra was done discussing Aldessa. This was his time and their life together and there was no room for anyone else.
“I will always love you, Ezra DuCane, till the end of time.”
THE END
Thank you for reading! I hope you enjoyed this story. Please rate and review! -B.A. Stretke
About the Author
B.A. Stretke is a Gay Romance and fiction author who publishes through Dreamspinner Press, LLC, and Amazon.com.
B.A Stretke began writing as a hobby. He read his first Jane Austen novel as a teen and was instantly hooked. The age-old dream of being a novelist took hold. Now long into adulthood, and a few years as an editor under his belt, B.A. is a full-time writer.
B.A. spends his days reading, engaging in sarcasm, and plotting the next storyline, often leaving little head space for much else. He loves hiking through the Northern Michigan woods he calls home, often finding inspiration for his books. Writing and finding that perfect cup of coffee occupy the rest of his time.
B.A. Stretke lives in Northern Michigan with one royally spoiled cat and his dear friends and family.
You can connect with B.A. Stretke on his website: www.bastretke.com
Follow him on Twitter @BAStretkeWriter
Like him on Facebook! B.A. Stretke
More Books from B.A. Stretke:
Vampires of Blood and Bones
Blood and Bones
Stone and Steel
Die Pretty
Pittsburgh Vampires
Meant To Be
Bad Reputation
Blond and Broken
Master DuCane
Love Is Danger
Surrender To Me
Eyes of Darkness
The Vampire and the Witch
The Vampire Next Door
Never Let Me Go
Dragon’s Blood M.C.:
Apex: The Dragon’s Mate
The Dragon’s Heart
Loving The Hellhound
Runaway
The Bad Boy
The Call of the Dragon
Finding Forever
The Dragon Twins
King of the Dragons
Rafe: The Dragon Knight
Suffer The Knight
Crimson Vampire Coven:
● Crimson Love
● Trusting Fate
● For Now and Forever
● My Vampire Lover
● The Vampire Code
● The Crimson Sorcerer
● The Crimson Omega
● The Crimson Alpha
● The Crimson Beta
● The Dragon King
● The Demon Lord
● The Dragon Knight – The Crimson War
● The Crimson Redemption
● Crimson Christmas
● Come Back To Me
● Love and Magic
Pack Rules – Rue Pack Wolves:
● Mine
● Alpha Mate
● The Enforcer’s Mate
● Forever Mine – The Beta’s Mate
● Lost and Found
● The Omega’s Mate
● The Doctor’s Mate
● Finding Home
● Owen’s Mate
● Saving Jeremiah
● Jackson’s Journey
● Jesse’s Love
● The Master’s Beloved
● The Vampire’s Chosen
The Wolves of Belle Fourche:
● The Wolves of Belle Fourche – The Alpha’s Claim
● Surprised by Forever
● Healing Scars
Lonepine Wolf Shifters:
● Lonepine Wolf Shifters
● Reluctant Mate
● Jamie’s Mate
Superiorland Wolf Pack:
● The Werewolf’s Mate
The Dark Side:
● The Dark Side - Vampire Romance
Sparrow Ridge Wolf Pack:
Omega Mine
The Omega’s Love
Other Stories:
● Risk and Reward: A Gay Love Story
● Bound By the Gods
● Signed and Sealed
● The Art of the Deal
● Save Me - A Supernatural Romance
Ezra's Awakening Page 7
