by Leia King
She shrieked in surprise and brought her hands up to shield her tits from him.
“Please, I’ve seen you naked countless times.”
“It’s different in the shower. I feel more… exposed.”
He laughed. “You’re so damn cute.”
She stepped towards him and held her arms to her sides. “Can you smell anything now?”
He sniffed her. “Nope. Just you.” He pulled her to him and thrust his tongue into her mouth, tasting her. As he felt her responding and getting caught up in it, he pulled back, grinning at her. “We’re all clear.”
“You’re such a tease,” she said, stepping out of the shower.
He snatched a towel off the back of the door and patted her dry before wrapping it tightly around her. “Now tell me I’m not a gentleman.”
He took her hand and led her out of the bathroom. He drew her towards the overturned couch.
“Oh my God. I didn’t notice the state of this place before.”
“Yeah, I was a little upset,” he said as he returned the couch to its rightful position with one hand. He sat down and pulled her onto his lap. “You know, the first time we realized we were mates was on this very couch.”
She leaned her head back against him and murmured peacefully, “Yeah, I know.”
He fell silent as emotion started to well in his eyes. Before he could even attempt to hide it, she craned her neck, looking at him. Dammit.
“Baby?”
“I’m sorry. It’s just, I really thought you were gone, Cora. I couldn’t fucking breathe without you.”
She cupped his face in her hands and told him softly, “I’m here, Ryan. I’m here now.”
He tightened his hold around her and held her close, burying his face in her neck as he let out all the pain he’d been feeling for the last few weeks, all the hurt and agony.
They sat that way for a long time until he felt her shifting around on his lap. Assuming she was just trying to get comfortable, he was shocked when he felt her tight little pussy slide onto his cock.
He grunted in surprise. “Cora?” he asked, shocked that she was taking the lead for the first time.
“We need to restore the bond, to do the ritual again.”
Nathanial’s words rang in Ryan’s head. “I know. But, are you sure? After what I did?”
“Yes. I’m sure.”
“Cora—”
“Ryan, I had weeks of being trapped in death to get over it and to understand it. Do you want to do this? To officially get back together?”
“Yes. More than anything.”
She smiled. “Then relax.”
He studied her closely. Her big, blue eyes were wide and intense as she started to ride him slowly, teasingly. He smiled and pulled her towel off.
“Do you want to…?” she asked, hesitantly.
He knew what she was asking him. Did he want to take control as usual? He shook his head. “It’s all you this time.”
He saw the surprise in her eyes that he was relinquishing control after all their issues with it. And there was something else there also. Excitement. He smirked at her as he lowered his mouth to her tits. He flicked her right nipple with his tongue and she yelped and arched her back, pushing her tits into his waiting hands.
He released them as she reached for his chest, allowing her to take the lead. The sensation of her soft, gentle hands running all over his skin was absolutely mind-blowing. He moaned and cupped her face in his hands as he captured her mouth in a soft kiss.
He took his time with her, relishing the taste of her lips, exploring every inch of her mouth as she parted her lips and granted his tongue access.
He was caught up in the slow, hypnotic rhythm of their lovemaking. He’d never taken it slow with anyone before, but he loved every second of it with her. He could feel her, every part of her. She was giving him everything and he was offering her all of him.
He broke their kiss and saw her eyes were glowing gold for him. He could feel his were too. He could feel the heat there. He held her gaze as he reached between them and dragged his finger through her soaking wet pussy. She bucked against him and let out a tiny cry. He called one of his claws forth and drew it across the top of his chest. And then he gently did the same to her, drawing a scratch across the top of her right tit, just enough to break the skin.
He gripped the back of her head as she leaned into him and lapped at the blood trickling down his chest. As he suckled at hers, he teased her clit with his free hand and she screamed against his chest. As soon as he felt her pussy contracting around him, he was done. He grunted and emptied himself inside her.
A surge of warmth enveloped him and Cora gasped, “Do you feel that?”
He nodded. “The bond is mended.”
She moved to lift herself off his cock, but he gripped her hips, holding her still.
“Not yet,” he breathed. “I need you.”
“Okay, baby,” she said, leaning into him and resting her head against his chest.
He held her against him and stroked her hair.
“You let me take control,” she said after a few moments.
He chuckled. “I know.”
“And?”
“And now I know I was just being a fucking idiot with all my control crap, because that was incredible.”
She kissed him chastely on his forehead. “May I?” she asked, gesturing between her legs.
“If you really must.”
She chuckled and lifted herself off his cock. He grunted at the sudden withdrawal. She grabbed her towel and wrapped it around herself. “There’s something I need to do,” she said as she walked away into the bathroom.
He called over his shoulder to her, “Well, if you’re going anywhere, I’m coming with you.”
“Ryan, I don’t think—”
“Do you really think I’m ready to let you out of my sight right now? I just got you back, my love.”
He heard her mumble her agreement but he didn’t hear exactly what she said because he was preoccupied as he glanced down at his cock and realized what they’d just done. Oh shit! He hurriedly pulled on his boxers and strode into the bathroom.
“I’m sorry, Cora.”
Her hands on the zipper of her leather pants, she froze at his grave tone. “For what?” she asked nervously.
“I… in all our excitement, I didn’t… we didn’t. I mean—”
“Ryan! Spit it out, will you?”
“I fucked you without a damn condom!”
Her eyes went wide with shock. She was speechless.
“Both our eyes were glowing. There’s a good chance I may have just got you pregnant. Again.”
She shook her head. “No way. I said no more excruciating wolf-baby births.”
“I know. I’m sorry, my love. Shit!”
“No, it’s both our faults. Well, maybe now that I’m stronger than I was the first time around, it might not be so bad, right?”
“True. Very true. You could just teleport the baby out.”
She laughed. “Hilarious.”
He crossed to her and pulled her against him. “I want Orion back. I miss him so much.”
“I know. I do too. We’ll get him back, baby.”
“After whatever you have to do tonight, I want to go to Nathanial. He met with this vampire, Kristoff, earlier. He knows how to get our son back, Cora.”
She pulled back and continued getting dressed as she told him. “Even if I have to rip through every realm, I’ll get Orion back, Ryan.”
“I’m so glad you’re back.”
“So am I.”
“Don’t ever leave me again.”
“Never.”
12
“This is where you wanted to go?” Ryan complained as they stopped outside Luca’s mansion.
“You can wait outside if you want.”
Ryan scoffed. “I don’t think so. I’m not allowing you in the same room with him without me there.”
“That’s all ov
er now, Ryan,” she said, cupping his face in her hands. “Just like it is with you and Jada. Do you believe me and trust me?”
He sighed. “Yes. Yes, I do.”
“Okay, then let me do this. It will benefit you as well.”
“What exactly are you planning to do?”
“You’ll see.”
Ryan growled at her cryptic response but let it slide. He’d just got her back. He didn’t want to argue with her.
As they reached the doors to the mansion, he gripped her hand tightly. To his surprise they opened for her, welcoming her inside.
They’d barely made it down the hall when Luca stepped out of a room into the corridor.
“I thought I sensed you,” he said to Cora only.
“Hi,” she said kindly.
“I see the vampire is gone,” he said sadly as he approached them.
She nodded. “It’s the real me now.”
He looked between them. “And you two are back together? I can feel the bond.”
“Yes,” she answered.
He stopped in front of them and folded his arms across his chest. “I see.”
“Thank you,” Cora said.
Ryan watched the surprise dancing in Luca’s eyes. “For what?”
“For taking care of the vampire version of me. I saw how you were with her, how much you loved her.”
“Cora—”
Ryan could see the pain in his eyes. It was the same pain that he’d felt when he’d thought he’d lost Cora. He looked away, released Cora, and stepped back, allowing them to have their moment. He might hate the guy, but how could he deny him that much?
“I have a gift to thank you,” Cora told him.
“A gift? I do not need anything, princess.”
“Yes, you do,” she insisted. She moved closer and whispered, “Aerona.”
Luca looked at her in question. “I don’t understand. A woman’s name?”
“She is yours. The one meant for you.”
What the fuck? Ryan caught Luca’s eye and saw the same look of disbelief all over his face.
“How do you know that?”
“Being dead, you get to see a lot. She’ll come into your life sooner than you think.”
“Why now?”
“Because her father has kept her hidden for decades from you.”
“I must know him then,” Luca said wryly.
“You do.”
She smiled and then turned away.
“Where are you going?”
“To the Dark Realm to figure out how to get our son back,” Ryan answered as he wrapped his arm around Cora.
“I’ll go with you. I’m due to meet with my father.”
“You are?” Ryan asked in surprise.
“He wants me to shadow him, learn the ways of a ruler.”
Ryan raised an eyebrow in surprise.
Cora slapped him across the back of his head. “Ryan.”
“Well, good,” he forced himself to say. “Just keep away from my wife from now on and you and I will be fine.”
“I can work with that.”
As Luca moved to walk beside Cora, Ryan cleared his throat noisily. “My side.”
Luca snarled with agitation but did as he asked.
“You’re so possessive,” Cora whispered in his ear.
“You know it,” Ryan whispered back. “Always, my love.”
13
“You were right. The bond is false. Created by black magic, courtesy of Oriana,” Kristoff reported.
Nathanial stepped forward, nodding. Just as he had originally suspected. “Can you break it?”
“Yes, but it will be painful for her. She will still remember everything I need a sorceress of white light to dull the ache.”
“You mean, to make her forget?”
“Yes. Marella, perhaps? She has enough power.”
“No, she is with my child. Her magic isn’t pure at the moment.”
“Then who?”
“Cora has returned.”
Kristoff choked in surprise. “Amazing. I’d expected that to take a lot longer.”
“Her power is greater than either of us truly realized.”
“Let me know when she is here and I will break the bond,” Kristoff said, turning to go.
Nathanial gripped his arm, stopping him. “You have kept something from me, Kristoff.”
“Excuse me?”
“I saw it when I read you the other night. I had hoped that you would reveal it to me yourself, but you have not. Even after you brought her to the Dark Realm gates.”
“Nathanial—”
“Your daughter is of royal blood. She is not Amelia’s child at all. She is a pureblood, courtesy of your heritage as former ruler of the Dark Realm.”
“Yes, when I was ruler prior to your conquest centuries ago,” Kristoff said bitterly. “Where you took my throne and stripped me of my powers.”
“Which you made up for by turning to black magic. You already took your revenge when you schooled Oriana in the arts of it.”
“Hiding my daughter was not an act of revenge, Nathanial. I was trying to protect her from your son.”
“He has changed, Kristoff. I am sure that you know this. You have your spies, after all.”
“Yes,” Kristoff admitted. “I have seen it.”
“Then you will not keep her from him any longer.”
“Is that a suggestion or a threat?”
Nathanial stepped into him and glowered down at him.
Before he could answer, he sensed a sudden approach. He stepped back quickly and turned to see Cora, Ryan, and Luca walking down the hall towards them.
“Princess, it is a pleasure to meet you,” Kristoff said, smoothly moving around Nathanial and holding his hand out to Cora.
Nathanial watched Ryan tighten his grip on her right hand possessively. She reached out with her left to meet his handshake. As soon as their hands touched, he saw her eyes flash and then she gasped, “Black magic.”
Kristoff smiled proudly. “Yes.”
“You’re stronger than Oriana.”
He chuckled. “I should hope so. I was the one who taught her how to wield it.”
“He can be trusted,” Nathanial said. “I am glad you are here. Kristoff can break the bond between Ryan and Jada. It was falsified. By Oriana.”
Ryan growled.
“Then what do you need me for?” Cora asked.
“To make her forget,” Luca interjected. “When a bond is broken, the memories still remain intact. It will be painful for her.”
As Luca spoke, Nathanial could see the raw pain in his eyes. The subtext of his comment was not lost on him. Luca was referring to him and Cora, more so than Ryan and Jada.
Cora noticed it, too, and told him in that gentle way of hers, “I’m sorry, Luca.”
“As am I,” Luca responded, before breaking away and moving to stand beside Nathanial.
I have something that will raise your spirits, Nathanial told him telepathically.
Luca looked at him in question.
Nathanial smiled and addressed Kristoff. “While the three of you deal with this, I will take Luca to the courtyard. Summon her.”
Kristoff released a heavy sigh and closed his eyes tightly for a moment. “It is done. She will be waiting.”
“She?” Luca asked.
Nathanial wrapped his arm around him. “You will see.”
14
Luca stood with his father on the castle roof, looking down at the courtyard below.
“There she is,” Nathanial told him.
Luca employed his vampiric vision to get a closer look at her.
Chestnut-brown curls framed her face and cascaded down her back all the way to her waist. She had the most striking, hazel eyes he had ever seen. Her cheeks were flush with her obvious haste to get to the courtyard at her father’s request. She wore a red, silk gown that kissed the ground as she sauntered through the courtyard, glancing around shyly. She was magnificent.
“Aerona.”
“How did you know?” Nathanial asked him, clearly surprised.
“Cora told me that was the name of my destined mate.”
“She is Kristoff’s daughter.”
Luca spun around. “What?” he choked. “You know that his wife, Amelia, and I—”
“Yes, I am well aware of your history with her and, no, Aerona is not her daughter. Her mother perished in The War centuries ago.”
Luca was well-educated in the history of The War. It was the war that had led to his father staking his claim to the Dark Realm throne. He had been a fearsome warrior, managing to usurp the king at the time. Kristoff. “Kristoff’s wife while he was King of the Dark Realm? A Queen? So that would make Aerona—”
“Yes. Aerona is of royal blood. A princess. Just like you always wanted, my son.”
Luca watched the young woman closely. “She seems so shy, so unsure of herself. That is not a typical quality for a princess.”
“It is because Kristoff has kept her in the shadows all these years.”
“So I wouldn’t find her.”
“So she would not find you,” Nathanial corrected.
“She knows about me then?”
“Yes. He has told her. I read it in his thoughts.”
Luca breathed a sigh. “If you hadn’t read his thoughts, we may never have known, father. I can’t believe it. All these years.”
“I know, Luca. I am sorry that I did not discover this sooner. I was too preoccupied with my rule over the realm. I neglected my duties to you.”
“I didn’t deserve your attentions back then anyway.”
Nathanial laid his hands on his shoulders. “I am glad we are past our darker days.”
“Me too.” He turned back around and continued to watch her and then something occurred to him. “Is she… has another man taken her?”
“No. She is pure.”
“Good.”
“Go to her then. She is waiting.”
Luca hesitated. “I… what should I say?”
Nathanial chuckled. “Are you not the infamous seducer of women?”
“Normally, but this is different. I—”
“Just introduce yourself. The conversation will progress naturally from that. Besides, she is your mate. The connection is already there. You need not worry.”