He stared at my hand for a long moment before slowly reaching to touch my fingers. “Thank you, Ceyla. I’m sorry for the things I’ve said to you. I’m also sorry for asking to be part of your coven. It wasn’t within my right to do so.”
I took his hand in mine. “I told you that I wanted loyalty, yet I wasn’t willing to pledge my loyalty to you in return. I saw you as a thing instead of a person. If I want to revive my coven, I need to be better than the Mielcareks, better than my parents were.” Seeing the wounds on his body made me realize that covens needed to care for their people, not abuse them to achieve their goals.
His eyes lit up as I spoke. “Does this mean that you’ve changed your opinion of the Bitten?”
I slowly nodded. “Yes, though it might make it more difficult to convince the purebreds to join my suicide mission.”
He smiled and squeezed my hand. “Having the support of the Bitten is a powerful thing. None of the covens have ever understood our value beyond being their slave labor. If you are truly willing to accept us into the fold, we will be loyal until our deaths.”
I stepped closer and put my hand on his smooth cheek. He sighed and pressed his face into my palm. “I promise to do what I can to help you and the others, though I can barely get through the day without being beaten myself.”
He turned his head and kissed my palm. “I would fall upon my knees and swear my loyalty just to know that you cared about me.”
My knees were weak as I looked at his expectant face. It was then that I realized what he was trying to tell me. “You were never human; you were an incubus before you were turned. That’s why I can’t stop thinking about you and why I can’t name the color blue of your eyes. You entrance me whenever I look at you. No wonder Wesling can’t get enough of you.”
He smiled and ran his fingers along my jaw. “I can entrance you?”
I smacked his hand away. “Not enough to fall into your lap.”
His smile fell. “Sorry. I shouldn’t have said that. Old habits are hard to break. While I am still attractive and can capture the attention of others, I can’t persuade them to do what I want and I can’t derive power from sex. The one who turned me did it as a punishment for seducing his wife, but after his death, I was given to Wesling. She doesn’t fully believe that I’ve lost my abilities, so she punishes me if I enjoy any sexual act or sensual touch.”
I knew Wesling was cruel, but seeing the result of her cruelty was too much to take. “If you’re serious about pledging your loyalty to me, I accept it freely without asking for anything in return.”
His eyes lit up and his lips parted. Without a word, he sank to his knees and offered me his wrist. “I swear my life and loyalty to you, Ceyla Sabourin.”
Licking his flesh, I drove my fangs deep enough to hit the bone and make my mark. Though I had witnessed many pledging ceremonies, I had never accepted the loyalty of anyone. I knew I would feel something when I drank Kayden’s blood, but I wasn’t expecting the rush of power that surged through me.
Kayden shivered when I released his wrist. He gently took my offered wrist and placed his lips against my pulsing vein. Licking across my skin, he sent chills through me. He nicked my vein with his fang and slowly drank my blood. Feeling his mouth and tongue on my skin sent waves of heat through my thighs. I had never wanted anyone more than I wanted Kayden.
“You are now part of the Sabourin Coven.” My voice was raspy as I stared down at his beautiful face. “I swear that we will make Wesling pay for what she has done to you.”
He opened his eyes and smiled. I saw a twinkle of power that hadn’t been there before. I wanted to claim him just as I had Landon, but I didn’t want him to fear that I was using him for his body.
Turning his head, he exposed his neck to me. “Claim me as your own so I never have to return to her and I swear to love you forever.” Pausing, he glanced at me from the corner of his eye. “Even if you don’t claim me, I will always love you.”
I frowned and looked away. “I have already claimed Landon. Besides, you shouldn’t want to be sexually beholden to yet another person.”
His eyes trailed down my body and his wicked smirk made my nipples tighten. “If I never left your bed, I would be more than fulfilled for the rest of my life.”
Desire swept through me, making it difficult to say no to him, though I held firm. “I thought my tits were too small.”
Chuckling, he ripped open my new shirt and used his claws to shred my bra. His mouth claimed my right breast, while his fingers grazed my other nipple. “No one believes you have small tits, my love, not even Silas. As for Landon, I will need to sleep at some point, so he can take over once I’m exhausted from pleasing you.”
Unable to contain my desire, I grabbed his chin and forced him to look at me. “All kidding aside, Kayden, I want you more than I can express, but I need to know that you’re serious.”
Staring into my eyes, he slowly licked his lips. “Please, Ceyla, make me whole again.”
Hearing his plea made my teeth ache and my heart soar. I drove my fangs into his neck and once more tasted his sweet blood.
Kayden groaned and whimpered as his body trembled beneath my mouth. Licking up the side of his throat, I whispered, “Lay down on your back.”
Complying with my command, there was a small spark of fear in his eyes as he went to the ground. I smiled to put him at ease as I removed my newly torn clothing. “You said that you were punished for feeling pleasure. I swear that I will never hurt you, unless you want me to.” I went to my knees and freed him from his trousers. Swirling my tongue around the tip of his cock, I watched his expression to see if he was allowing himself to enjoy my mouth on him. “Tell me how that feels.”
His mouth fell open and he had trouble controlling his breathing. “Glorious.”
I repeated the motion, but this time, I caressed his balls. “How does that feel?”
He gulped and had trouble forming words. “Miraculous. No one has touched me like that in years.”
Crawling up his body, I slowly took his hard length into my body. I watched his eyes flutter and his mouth go slack as he groaned. “If you pass out on me, I can’t unleash the desire buried deep inside you.”
“I’m simply memorizing the way your slick body feels on mine.” He chuckled. “Every time you smile at me, it melts away the pain a little more.” He quickly sat up and gripped my hips tightly. “Let me show you the passion you have awakened in me.”
His hips surged forward, driving his cock deep inside me. His lips trailed over my collarbone, my neck and my ear before capturing my mouth and kissing me deeply.
I accidentally dug my claws into his upper back to ground myself as my body quickly ignited into a storm of sensations that overwhelmed all my thoughts.
He tensed up and moaned loudly. My incoherent thoughts suddenly focused on something I’d heard about incubi. “Incubi like pain during sex despite their love of taking women in their sleep, right? That’s why Wesling bit you so much. She wanted to punish you.”
He nodded. “You’d be amazed by how many women enjoy sleep sex and act out their darkest fantasies.”
I clenched my core around his cock and pulled the hair at the back of his head. He groaned so deeply, I nearly came. I lightly dragged the point of my fang over his upper chest, eliciting gasps of ecstasy that fueled my own rising pleasure.
Feeling Kayden about to climax, I drove my fangs into his neck. He wrapped his arms around me and pulled me close as his shaft thrust into me faster and harder, throwing me over the edge. He yelled so loudly that I was afraid someone would find us.
He looked into my eyes and kissed the tip of my nose. “I don’t know how, but you taught an incubus that there is more to life than sex. I have never loved anyone, Ceyla, so I will make mistakes but I will strive to make you happy.”
I leaned my forehead against his and gazed into his eyes. “In return, I promise to make you happy.”
Nuzzling my cheek, he sighed. “A
re you ready to fight for what you want?”
I tilted my head and nodded. “Yes, that’s what I’ve been trying to do, but I keep failing.”
He winked at me and held up something shiny in his hand. “That’s because you didn’t have me.”
Staring at him, my mouth fell open. Dangling from his finger was a key labeled, “Weapon Room.”
I snatched the keys and laughed. “Why didn’t you show me these sooner?”
“You distracted me with your half naked body.” He shrugged unapologetically and gave me a quick peck on the lips.
I shook my head and laughed. “Next time, start with the important news.”
Chapter Seven
Strolling into Ethics class as if I belonged there and hadn’t just been bound to a torture table, I dropped down into my seat.
Professor Behlan stopped midsentence to watch me take my seat. He blinked a few times and looked expectantly at the doors, waiting to see if Adriel’s goons would chase me into the room.
The rest of the class turned in their chairs to stare at me. Word had definitely spread about my trip to the torture room.
I smiled and waved to everyone. “Miss me?” I blew a kiss to Declan who was smiling broadly at me.
Behlan cleared his throat to get everyone’s attention, but no one was interested in what he had to say.
I took the opportunity to stand up and take a bow. “While rumors of my torture via wood shards is almost true, I did manage to escape, so I’m fine. Thank you for your concern. I will tell you that the Mielcarek’s have been plotting to break my spirit so that they could indoctrinate me into their coven; well me, and the remaining heirs to the other covens. They had hoped to stamp out any future rebellions and show us off as proud members who finally saw reason and joined them. Sadly for them, I’m not about to bow to anyone. I am accepting applications for those who want to join the Sabourin Coven. The line forms here.” I pointed to the spot next to my desk and smiled broadly. “Oh, I forgot. I will be accepting the Bitten into my coven and you will not be discriminated against or abused.”
Stunned silence met my bold decree.
Behlan stepped forward, but three of the Bitten in the class looked to each other and stood up in unison.
“Are you serious about accepting us?” Adjoren pointed to Yan and Paavo.
“All are welcome. It’s time for things to change within the coven. I want to be a leader for all instead of the elite snobs.” I watched Behlan grab his stun baton from under his desk and head up the aisle. I stood up on my desk and pulled up my skirt to reveal the armor piercing stakes strapped to my thighs—wooden stakes with metal cores and arrow heads capable of tearing through armor, ribs and hearts. “Who here wants to join me?”
More than half the class stood up, blocking Behlan from getting close to me. All throughout the room, there were shouts of, “we’re with you.” “Long live the Sabourin Coven.” “I pledge myself to you, Ceyla.”
Smiling proudly, I pulled the stakes from the tape holding them to my legs and tossed them to the people I knew were capable of using them. “Secure the room! Anyone not interested in joining me, prepare to fight!”
My new allies quickly assessed who was now part of Sabourin Coven and who needed to die. I let out a battle cry, which started our war.
Turning to Declan, I tossed him a stake. “I have a feeling you’re more inclined to join me with a weapon in your hand.”
He caught the stake and balanced it on his finger. His stern face lit up as he slid off his chair to stand in front of me. “You’re gorgeous when you’re starting a war.”
Blushing, I stared into his chocolate eyes and ran my hand over his firm arm muscle. “Tell me why you’re here, Declan.”
He wet his lips and let out a sigh. “I was one of the top assassins for the Mielcarek Coven until I failed to kill my target. I threaten any who tried to acquire my target and hunted those who ignored my warning. Once everyone declined to take the job for fear that I would make their death a spectacle for all to see, the coven leaders decided they would convert the target.”
A chill went through me as I listened to his story. “Who was your target?” I held my breath, waiting for his answer.
“You, Ceyla. You were my target. It’s hard to kill someone when you observe them long enough to realize that they’re innocent and completely mesmerizing.” He took my hand and kissed the back of my knuckles.
I smacked his arm. “Why didn’t you tell me this earlier? Hell, why didn’t you talk to me sooner?”
He snickered and shook his head. “You weren’t ready to see yourself the way I see you. You needed to find the motivation and the confidence to be smart like your mother, bold like your father and fearless like the vampires who pledged their lives to your family.”
Surprised by his wisdom, I wanted more than anything to be the person he spoke of.
Embarrassed by his perception of me, I shrugged. “You could’ve a least helped me fight.”
“I could have, but you needed to fight your own battles to earn their respect; otherwise, no one would follow you. Besides, you’re extremely sexy when you’re punching people in the balls and it turns me on like nothing else can.” He ran his knuckles down my chest between my breasts. “I’m not the guy who will tell you how amazing you are, Ceyla. I’m the guy who will kill your enemies to prove how much I love you.”
Heat slithered through my stomach and down my thighs. Staring into his intense eyes, I saw the future of the Sabourin Coven unfolding before me with Declan leading the charge.
Running my finger down his muscled chest, I smiled. “That’s the sexiest thing anyone has ever said to me.”
He smirked and motioned towards the door. “Shall I prove myself to you once Adriel makes his grand entrance?”
I licked my lips and let out a breathy sigh. “Bring me Adriel’s head and I will make you my general.”
He leaned in to lick my lower lip and sighed. “As you wish.”
The door broke free of its hinges and Declan leapt into the air. He ran across the desks, jumping over battling vampires until he reached the first goon. He let out a battle cry that almost made me come.
He drove his stake into the first goon and ran through the embers and ash of his victim to stake the second goon. Watching him move was poetic. His strength was equal to his grace and speed. I had never seen a warrior like him before.
Flipping through the air, he was careful to stake only those who worked for the school or had proven themselves to be firmly in the Mielcarek Coven.
I shook my head and reminded myself that the fight was just getting started.
Grabbing the last stake from my leg, I turned and slammed it into Grigori, a Mielcarek loyalist to my right, before heading for the front of the room. I jumped onto a desk and ran to stop Behlan from hitting Declan with a stun baton.
I kicked out my foot and caught Behlan in the side of the head, sending him to the ground. He dropped the baton, which I quickly picked up. “You have one chance to convince me not to kill you.” I held the baton an inch from his leg.
Behlan held up his hands. “If you don’t kill me, my coven will. Think this through, Ceyla. You’ll never get past Adriel.”
I smiled. “I don’t plan on getting past him. I plan on going through him.” I hit him with the stun baton to subdue him before driving my stake into his heart and dusting him.
He was right about one thing. The Mielcareks would never stop coming after me if I escaped.
Hearing someone shouting behind me, I dashed into the hallway to see Landon sliding under Declan’s stake. Landon’s wide eyes implored me to help him. I couldn’t tell Declan not to hurt him or leave Landon unscathed; otherwise, someone would figure out that we were on the same side. He would be of no use as a spy.
I watched Declan spin around, ready to stake Landon through his back. Throwing the baton at Landon, I mouthed the word, “Sorry.” Thankfully, the baton hit Landon and he fell before Declan could stake h
im.
Declan looked up at me, confused.
“Landon is the least of our problems. We need to neutralize the other teachers and Adriel’s men. There’s also Silas to worry about.” I motioned for Declan to follow me.
Declan glanced at Landon for a second before he nodded and ran to catch up with me.
“Adriel wasn’t with the guards I killed. He’s probably in hiding. Do you have an actual plan of escape, Ceyla?” He appeared amused by my impromptu rebellion.
“Kill everyone we don’t like, find the keys and run.” I stated my plan with a straight face, though I knew it sounded insane.
He took a second to consider the plan and finally shrugged. “Works for me.” He suddenly took off and sprinted ahead to jump into a fight near the men’s dorm.
Hearing footsteps behind me, I turned and swung at whoever was sneaking up on me.
“Ceyla! It’s me.” Kayden jumped back, dodging my stake.
“Sorry. It’s too chaotic to figure out who I’m killing. Is everything ready?” I held his hand as I watched Declan tear through a group of loyalists attacking my Bitten.
“Yes. I’ve used my charm to convince the Bitten and anyone else who hates the Mielcareks to follow you. Fights are breaking out all over the school.” He reached over to stick his hand inside my bra to leave me a little present. “I see that your hunch about Declan paid off.”
“Oh, it paid off. Declan was sent to kill me and fell in love with me from afar. Now, he’s taking out his aggression on my enemies.”
Declan cartwheeled between two people and staked the vamp in front of him, then thrust the stake under his arm to kill the vamp behind him.
Kayden frowned. “That’s just not fair. No one should be able to move like that. I can do a lot of things, but I can’t do that.” He pointed to Declan, who jumped into the air, kicked a vamp in the chest with both feet, then fell on his back and popped back up to finish off the vamp.
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