by Santos, Anna
“I’m saying that you will become the strongest angel on Earth.”
“I’m not sure if I want to become that,” she whispered, sitting on the bed and staring at me with brooding eyes. “I don’t want to kill anyone.”
“You won’t need to kill anyone. As my queen, you will just need to rule by my side and put fear into the beasts’ hearts. We leave the killing for the warriors,” I said, hoping that it would make her feel better.
I was not going to tell her that the angel would probably take over and change her personality after she was turned. I wasn’t going to scare her even more. Her new powers would bring her personality a confidence and a certainty that Aria didn’t have as a human. She was a kind soul, an innocent girl. She was thinking like a human. However, after the transformation, she wouldn’t be human anymore. She would be superior, have the instincts of an angel, and the coldness required to take a life for the survival of our species and humanity.
“You need to sleep,” I said, caressing her face. “It’s late, and you are tired. The danger has passed. Tomorrow will be a new day, and we will visit my home in the skies. What do you say? Do you feel like going to my realm, seeing my palace, and meeting my royal subjects?”
“I guess,” she faintly replied.
I smiled to encourage her to chase the fear away. “I’m going to sleep now,” I said, kissing her forehead.
“Cedric,” she called, holding on to my jacket, so I couldn’t leave.
“Are you still afraid? I can promise you that Philippe will never lay a hand on you, and he will pay for what he has done.”
“It’s not that,” she whispered, sad eyes staring back at me. “I want you to promise me that you won’t go and kill anyone because of me. I don’t want to have that on my conscience.”
“You are aware that you are asking me to save your former mate’s life, aren’t you? The guy who tried to kill you.”
“He also was responsible for us meeting each other. If he hadn’t rejected me, we wouldn’t be mates now,” she claimed.
I couldn’t refute her deductions. “I’ll talk to him. I’ll sort this all out. But if he tries anything to take you away from me, I won’t let him get away with it. I will hunt him down and cut his head off.”
“Cedric...” She shivered at my words, and I softened my eyes. I shouldn’t talk like that in front of her. She wouldn’t understand. She was too innocent to understand my reasons for hating the vampires. She would eventually comprehend when she became one of us.
“It’s just that I love you so much, and I don’t want anything to happen to you,” I said, leaning and kissing her on her lips to chase her sad thoughts away. “You are mine, Aria. I don’t want anyone else to harm you. I don’t want anyone else to touch you, either.”
“You can’t possibly love me, yet. It’s too soon.”
“It isn’t too soon. I waited for you for a long time. Now that I’ve found you, I’ll love you with all my heart, and I’ll do anything you want, baby,” I whispered, taking her face in my hands, so I could kiss her better and deeper. Lust was rising, burning my skin and wanting to mold her petite and curvy body against mine. I was starving to kiss her everywhere. I was not feeling tired anymore. Our lips together and her presence had the power to re-energize me and fully awake my desire for her.
“Wait,” she gasped, against my mouth, pulling me slightly away. I’m losing control. “You aren’t letting me breathe,” she complained, inhaling deeply before opening her eyes to stare at my face. “Your eyes are shining. Is that normal?” She curled back in the bed, to get away from me.
I smiled at her, and she blinked several times. “You are also shining,” I explained to her, so she wouldn’t be frightened. “It’s our souls. You can see my aura, and I can see yours. It’s nothing to be afraid of. It happens when we are experiencing intense feelings. Like when we are aroused by kissing and touching each other.”
“It’s a bit scary.”
“Come back to my arms,” I pleaded, feeling my body ache because it was apart from hers. “I want you, Aria. I want to kiss you until I can’t feel my lips. I can’t be away from you,” I said, moving closer to her. She recoiled a bit. “Nothing bad will happen. You can trust me,” I whispered huskily near her face, kissing the tip of her nose. “Now more than ever, my love, you need to be near me and let me show you how we are meant to be together. You need to trust my touch so that when we mate…” I stopped talking, aroused by her cleavage that I was staring at passionately. I was able to see her perky nipples molded against the fabric of her pajamas top, and my mouth was watering.
“When we mate, what?” she asked, pushing me away. I stared at her face, dizzy and breathless. “I don’t want to have sex with you. It’s too soon.”
“I know. I wasn’t implying that. I’m just saying that the more you trust me to touch you, the less scared you will be when we mate. I’m not...really… Aria, I’m not saying we need to mate now. We can even mate after you pass the trial.”
“What trial?”
“After the thirty-one days, when the sun comes up again, you need to be by my side, holding hands and reciting a sacred oath. If the sun rises and I’m not turned to stone, then it is because you love me enough to break my curse.”
“So, why did you say that we had to mate before that?”
“I didn’t say we had to, but that we should since we will experience heat and we are going to have a lot of raw desire for one another. It will be tough to resist each other in the coming weeks. And mates become crazy in the final days of the curse. The only thing that can ease the pain is mating.”
“Why do you only tell me these things when you want? Why didn’t you tell me everything right from the start?” she asked, pouting.
“It’s easier for you to accept all this now that you have accepted me, and we’ve kissed. Don’t you want to kiss me anymore? Don’t I please you, Aria? Or is this happening because you saw your former mate? Is knowing about him being alive enough to make you want to go back to him?”
“If I wanted to go back to him, I wouldn’t have stayed here waiting for you. I just needed to let him take me away and let him kiss me!”
“I’m sorry,” I mumbled, hugging her. “I’m upset. I shouldn’t say these things to you. I’m not usually this possessive. I don’t know what is happening to me. But you need to be patient with me until I can learn how to control this.”
“I’m just scared, Cedric. I am afraid of what will happen tomorrow. He said he would start a war if you didn’t give me back to him. And you are saying that he has the power to do that. That he’s really important among the vampires.”
“He can start whatever he wants. I won’t give you back. You are mine!”
Aria didn’t recoil this time. She didn’t try to run from my arms. And then, she just laughed and laughed until she was lying against my chest. “What?”
“I don’t know, but I think that this is funny. You sound like a spoiled brat and, at the same time, it’s flattering that you feel that strongly about me. I could never imagine that anyone would be this possessive of me.”
“But I am,” I said, smiling as she calmed her laughter. “I am, Aria. I’m damn serious about you.”
“Good,” she whispered, kissing me and making me forget about everything else but the pleasure of her lips the softness and the warmth of her body against mine.
Chapter TWENTY-FIVE
ARIA
I woke up with my head hurting slightly, my mouth dry, and my body sore. I was curled up against Cedric’s body as sunlight shone on my face. When I opened my eyes, I noticed that he was watching me sleep. I was startled for a moment under his limpid blue eyes. Then, I calmed down and watched his hand brushing a lock of hair from my cheek as his lips came closer. Cedric kissed me on my cheek. I shivered, remembering all the kisses we had shared the previous night. It had been confusing, sensual, and breathtaking.
“Hungry?” he asked me with a hoarse voice and a beaming smile.
I nodded, turning to face him and staring at his bare chest. He was shirtless. How did that happen? Did I want to know? His gleaming torso was a pleasant sight, which made me blush and swallow hard. Cedric was handsome, strong, and athletic. He was the type of boy who would have all the girls at my school, sighing and begging for his attention. On top of that, he was kind, romantic, and sweet to me. I was truly lucky in finding him.
“Is everything okay?” he questioned.
I stared at him, nodding once again.
It was the first time I had woken up with a boy in my bed. The previous night’s kiss had been another first. I was feeling nervous and excited, all at the same time. I didn’t know how to act, though. What should I say? Should I kiss him and make him wrap his arms tightly around me, so I wouldn’t feel like a helpless little baby? Because I was feeling gloomy, and I should be feeling thrilled about being in Cedric’s arms and sharing a bed with him. My entire body tingled and shivered with desire. His kisses were perfect and sweet. I had a lot of practice during the night. I was getting good at it. I hoped!
“It’s a beautiful sunny day. What do you think about having a nice breakfast outside, next to the pool? We are leaving this afternoon, but we can enjoy the rest of the morning here. Do you like my idea?”
“I love your idea,” I answered. He smiled widely, hugged me tightly, and kissed my neck, then one cheek and my other cheek, until he finally kissed my mouth.
“I need to brush my teeth,” I complained, pushing him back and killing the mood. Everybody knows that morning breath was the worst thing, and this was not a movie or a weird book where people don’t have physical needs. I was still human, sort of. I was hungry and needed to go to the bathroom, brush my teeth, and comb my hair, among other things.
“I need a bath,” he whispered, rubbing his nose on my neck and making me ticklish. “Care to join me?”
“What?” I asked, choking on my giggle and shoving him back.
“I’m joking.” He laughed.
I took my hand away and rolled my eyes. Sometimes, he could be annoying like that. I wasn’t sure if he was testing me or was just trying to make me blush.
“It would be nice, though,” he added.
I threw the pillow at his face. “Dream on,” I said, leaving the bed. “Go back to your room. This one’s mine,” I said, showing him my tongue before I closed my bathroom door.
“I’ll get breakfast ready. After you get dressed, come and join me outside,” he said next to the door.
“Okay!” I replied, taking my clothes off and deciding that maybe it was not such a bad idea to have a bath. The warm water would make me feel better. I liked how a warm bath would always purge my thoughts.
By the time I got out of my bedroom, there was a frenzied mood around the house. Angels were walking around, looking busy and packing things. Maids gathered clothes and personal items. Werewolves made plans about the place they would go to next. Among all that, I found Camille in the hall, staring at the door with a blank stare.
“What’s wrong?” I asked, startling her out of her thoughts.
“Jacob is out. He hasn’t returned since last night.”
“Have you asked Cedric about him?”
“He said Jacob was at William’s house, helping with the sick vampires.”
“So, why are you worried?”
“I have a strange feeling. I know it’s stupid. I don’t like knowing he’s around vampires. Maybe that’s it. Anyhow, I wanted to join him, but I have all my things to pack, so we can move. Cedric has just alerted us about that.”
“I’m sorry. It’s my fault,” I said, feeling embarrassed.
“It’s not your fault that your former lunatic mate tried to kidnap and harm you.”
“He didn’t harm me, not this time. And…I…didn’t let him take me away.”
“Why didn’t you call for help after he was gone? I know we all failed to notice his presence in the house and that the rooms are soundproofed, but still. You could have looked for me after he was gone. We could have warned the guards to chase him.”
Blushing, I apologized, “I’m sorry Camille. But I was scared. I didn’t know what to do and how to tell Cedric that my former mate wanted me back. I’m still troubled by that. I don’t want anyone to start a war because of me. I don’t want Cedric to get hurt. This is all getting extremely confusing.”
Camille patted my shoulder. “Don’t worry about it. I understand you. For all it’s worth, I’m delighted that you decided to stay with Cedric. He deserves you, and you deserve him. Don’t let that vampire cloud your judgment with his lies.”
“I won’t,” I nodded.
My attention was drawn to the sound of a motorcycle, and I looked at the entrance. Someone was coming our way, entering the gate. My senses were sharper. I was curious as to know who it was, so I ran to the entryway and glanced out the door.
The motorcycle stopped far from the garage. The person parked it next to the path that led to the pool. It was a girl who was driving it in a leather suit. When she took off the helmet, her raven hair fell to her shoulders, and I was able to see her pretty face with green eyes. She was gorgeous. She didn’t come my way, though. The girl put the helmet down and ran to the pool. It was then that I heard someone else coming her way. I recognized that it was Cedric when the girl jumped into his arms and hugged him tightly. I could listen to what they were saying as if they were next to me.
“Cedric, Cedric, I’ve missed you so much!” The girl was squealing out of breath because of the excitement of seeing my boyfriend.
“Charlotte, you’ve grown so much! It’s been what, two years since we’ve last seen each other?”
“Yes! I was so sad, Cedric. I had to come here and see with my own two eyes,” the girl said in a sexy voice.
I had no idea what she could be talking about, but I was getting upset by the amount of time she was spending in his arms and by the pouting faces she was giving him. She was clearly flirting with Cedric, and he didn’t seem to mind.
“Sad for what, silly girl?”
“I was the one who should be your bride. In less than a month, I’ll be eighteen, and I could kiss you and see if we were a match. So why didn’t you wait? You told me that you would wait for me,” she complained.
I became pale with her words.
“Oh Charlotte, don’t be silly, honey. You know that we can’t choose.”
“Girls can!”
“Baby, I had to want you, too. We needed to be compatible. It would not have worked. You are not the first to try, you know?”
“Yes, I know. But I wanted to try!” she whined. “Now, I can’t!”
“Don’t pout, Charlie. You will find your mate, and you will be happy.”
“But I wanted you. Mom and Dad were rooting for us.”
“Don’t be silly. Come inside. I want you to meet my mate. You’ll like Aria.”
“I will not,” she said, sure of herself. Well, the feelings were mutual after hearing her conversation with my boyfriend. “And I’ll not go inside. I want to talk to you a lot more before I have to share you with some stupid human.”
“Aria is not stupid. You are going to like her. I promise you that.”
“How can I like her if she stole you from me?” she asked.
I wanted to smack her face. It wasn’t something I usually did, but I was having violent thoughts because of her. She sounded just like the other mean girls at my school. It was maddening.
“Silly girl.” He kissed her forehead and let her go. “I’m happy you came to visit me. But we are moving from this house. So, where are you staying?”
“I want to stay with you. Mom and Dad will join us next week. Do you have a spare room for me?”
“There will be plenty of rooms where we are going. Just ask Camille to find you one,” Cedric said, giving her his hand and walking with her to the pool.
I got upset by his intentions of having that girl move in with us. Isn’t he listening to a
ny of the words that are coming out of her mouth?
I lost sight of them and went back inside, noticing I had my hands in a fist as I clenched my jaw. I was mentally growling like a beast. Camille was behind me, so I asked her. “Who the hell is that?”
“Charlotte,” she said, shrugging with indifference. “She’s annoying and spoiled. Her parents are the rulers of the London’s angels, so that makes her a princess.”
“Why did she tell Cedric that she wanted to be his mate? And how could she be his mate if it is supposed to be the rejected souls who are chosen by the angels to mate gargoyles.”
“She is a gargoyle princess. She can choose her mate. Of course, Cedric would have to be as much in love with her as she is with him for that to happen. Besides, it could only happen when Charlotte turned eighteen years old. She isn’t there yet, so her curse hasn’t been triggered. Therefore, no reason to go for the kiss.”
I arched an eyebrow. “The kiss?”
“Well...” Camille seemed a bit uncomfortable. “Cedric’s the prince, and he’ll be the future king.”
“So?”
“All the girls want him to be their mate. He wanted a mate too. Therefore, he had some gargoyle girls dating him and kissing him to see if they were the ones. No luck there, though. Charlotte would be the next one in line. I guess you arrived before she could have her try.” She smirked evilly.
I frowned at her. I didn’t know if I should be angry or confused about everything she was telling me.
Camille added, “I don’t like her. It would be a nightmare if she were Cedric’s mate. I’m so glad it was you!”
“I think Cedric has a lot of explaining to do,” I muttered, wrapped up in my thoughts and staring at the French doors that gave access to the pool.
“Aria,” Camille called me, grabbing my arm before I could leave her side.
I glared at her, and she sighed, making me lose the hard stare. It wasn’t her fault.