Saint Or Sinner

by Cynthia Eden

Even Merius stopped his pounding.

  “Are we talking about Josephine Saint? The assassin?” Valerie asked in an absolutely icy tone.

  Luke swallowed. Tried to tread very carefully. “We are.”

  Her smile was positively bewitching. “I like Josephine. She’s my kind of woman.”

  Luke’s gaze tore from Valerie’s spell-binding smile to…the mirror. The big mirror that was smeared with Merius’s blood. The mirror had just gone totally and completely black.

  “What happened?” Dorrin asked as he crept closer to the glass.

  “She made a scrying mirror,” Stefan answered, as if it were the most obvious thing in the word. “Man, with your history, you should really know more about this kind of thing.”

  Dorrin growled at him.

  Stefan hissed back.

  But Valerie and her king stepped closer to the mirror. “How about we see what’s happening beyond the Veil…” Valerie murmured. “Before we open any doors that can’t be shut…?”

  ***

  “I didn’t mean to take so much!”

  Malik glared at Celeste.

  “I couldn’t control myself.” Her hand went to her throat. The skin there was still red and tender. Healing. “I drank blood,” she whispered. “I actually—”

  Malik rolled his eyes. “You’re a vampire. It’s what you do. But get control of your shit because if you ever do that to her again…”

  “Malik, stop.” Josephine’s voice. Josephine’s sweet, beautiful, perfect, frog croak of a voice.

  He bounded to her side. “Baby?”

  She smiled. Her eyes were still closed. She was far too pale. But he’d given her his blood. Given her everything that she would take. And now she was stirring for him.

  “Stop scaring my sister.” Her eyes cracked open.

  He smiled at her. “Thought it was fair. I shouldn’t be the only one scared.”

  Her lashes fluttered. “Why…were you scared?”

  “Because you collapsed.” Obviously, that one act would be enough to stop his heart.

  “You…knew I’d be okay. Just needed…” With each word, her voice smoothed out more. “Little pick-me-up.”

  He slid onto the bed beside her. Put his hands on either side of her head. “I need you. I need you safe and whole and strong. When you’re hurt…” He shook his head, unable to give voice to the clawing fear that seemed to shred him.

  Her hand rose and pressed to his jaw. “It’s because you love me.”

  Celeste cleared her throat.

  “Yes,” Malik said, not taking his eyes off Josephine. “Because I love you.”

  Her smile spread.

  Again, Celeste cleared her throat. “I am so sorry,” she loudly announced. “I-I had no idea Jason wasn’t who he claimed to be. He was…he was using powerful magic in this realm.”

  Malik’s lips thinned. “Magic he got from killing angels.” That magic had let Finlay use a compulsion power on many of the other Fey. Luckily, the compulsions had ended with the guy’s death. The freed Fey had been horrified by what happened to them. And by what they’d done.

  “He—he controlled us. Outside magic shouldn’t have worked in this realm.”

  The Fey world wasn’t used to power from an angel. Josephine didn’t think these same old rules applied with angels.

  Softly, Celeste said, “I can see it now. He twisted reality. Made everything hazy, and I—I’m so sorry.”

  Josephine slowly glanced over at her sister. She seemed to mull things over for a moment, then Josephine mused, “What you’re saying…is that I saved the whole Fey kingdom.”

  Celeste’s hands twisted in front of her. “Yes, you did.”

  “Awesome. Am I still queen?”

  Malik glanced at the crown that waited on the bedside table. “You are.”

  “Good.” She released a long sigh. “Then my first request…I want to be alone with my consort. So, Celeste, super glad you’re alive, but…get lost, would you? I need some Malik time. I need it really, really badly.”

  “Oh, um, okay.” Celeste backed toward the door. But she didn’t leave. She lingered. “The, um, vampire you mentioned, the one you said I bit…was that all true? I mean, is there a man out there—”

  Malik glanced at her. “He was an angel. Now, Merius is a fallen vamp. He’s going to find you. Better prepare yourself for that.”

  Instead of appearing upset, Celeste looked almost hopeful. “Good.” Then Celeste was gone. The door closed behind her with a soft click. And Malik focused on his world again.

  ***

  Celeste pressed her back to the door.

  She’d bitten an angel. Transformed him into a vampire.

  He was going to come for her.

  And her only thought was…

  Good…because I’m tired of waiting.

  Ridiculous, of course. She didn’t even remember the vampire. Or angel. Or whatever he was.

  She hurried down the corridor.

  And it wasn’t like he could ever get through the Veil.

  Could he?

  ***

  Happiness filled Josephine as she gazed at her fallen. “You followed me through the Veil—”

  “To protect you. To keep you safe.”

  “Because you love me.”

  His gaze held hers. “You own my heart, Josephine. You always have, and I know you always will.” Sadness darkened his stare.

  Sadness? He wasn’t supposed to be sad. They’d defeated the bad guy. They’d won. And they were together.

  “What are we going to do now?” Malik asked her carefully.

  She pulled his head toward her. Kissed him tenderly on the mouth. Tenderly and a lot hotly. “I thought we’d start by making love. Then we’d eventually get around to having some awesome hybrid kids. You know, those vampire-slash-Fey-slash-fallen hellions who will probably one day take over the universe.”

  His eyes widened. “You would want children with me?”

  “Malik, I want the world with you.”

  He swallowed. “But outside of the Veil, I-I don’t have control. I’m dangerous.”

  Sweet fallen. “Then we stay in the Veil until you get control. We go back through when you want to test your limits. You learn control. With me at your side. Because you never hurt me. You never have, and you never will.” Another tender kiss to his lips. “It’s just like being a new vamp. Merius had to learn control, and you’ll learn it, too.” She’d help him to learn it.

  “You’ll be with me?” Hope came now, flickering in his eyes.

  “Always.”

  “But…in the Fey realm, you’ll forget…”

  “The outside world? Luke and the others? Yes, I might. To be honest, things have gotten a little foggy already.” She searched his gaze. “But I don’t think that is the case for you, is it? You haven’t forgotten anything?”

  “Not a single moment.”

  “Finlay was right on that part, then. Using an angel’s magic helped him to remember. It helped him to get stronger.” She sighed, quite dramatically, Josephine thought. “Well, then I guess I’ll just have to keep drinking your blood. Having sex with you. Living it up.”

  He blinked.

  “That way, your magic can fill me up. And if it works the way I think it will, then I will remember everything happening outside the Veil.” Maybe. She wasn’t one hundred percent sure on that, but, hey, why not give it a try?

  The way she figured it, Finlay had kept his memories by either—

  Using the magic from the angels he’d killed. Or—

  Slipping back and forth across the Veil.

  If she didn’t keep her memories by, ah, sharing Malik’s blood, then she’d just make plenty of quick visits to the mortal realm. Problem solved.

  Only Malik looked worried. “It might not work that way, it might not—”

  “If it doesn’t work, then I still have you. You’re right here. You’re with me. I won’t forget you. As long as we stay together, I will not forget.”
This was the part he needed to understand. “And if I have you, then I have everything I need.” Not like all of her memories about the mortal realm were good ones, anyway. In fact, the best ones had come—with him.

  With an angel who’d seemed so happy and shocked the first time he’d touched her.

  With an angel who’d let glass cut apart his feathers because he’d wanted to protect her.

  With an angel who’d crossed the Veil in order to keep her safe.

  Even if he had been the jerk to shove her across in the first place.

  He was her jerk. Her angel. Her fallen. Her lover. He was hers, just as she belonged completely to him. There would be no going back. Only forward. Together, forever.

  Malik put his forehead against hers. “You are my everything.”

  Then they were good. Just, one more point… “Don’t ever shove me through a mirror again. Not unless your ass is right behind me.”

  A soft laugh rumbled in his chest. “Promise.”

  Good. And now…

  She surged up and tumbled her fallen back onto the bed. She straddled his hips and twined her fingers with his. “I love you.”

  She felt his erection push against her. Long and thick and hard. She was wearing one of those crazy thin pieces of silk that the Fey seemed to love. And maybe she could see why they loved the clothing so much. Definitely provided easy access.

  He smiled up at her.

  But then Malik rolled on the bed. He moved so fast, so agilely, and she found herself beneath him once more. “I have to make sure…” he murmured, “that you’re all right. Better check every inch of you.”

  He did.

  He started at her neck. Kissing her. Carefully, softly. Then he moved down, fingers stroking over her shoulders even as his mouth licked a sensual path down her chest. Her nipples ached for him, and when his lips closed over one, her back arched off the bed. Her hands fisted around the covers as he licked and sucked—first one breast, then the other.

  He shoved the silk out of his way as he slid down her body. She was only too eager to open her legs for him. And when his mouth touched her, when his tongue slid into her, Josephine screamed his name.

  She didn’t care who heard her.

  She didn’t care about anything but the pleasure Malik was giving to her.

  He licked and kissed, and his fingers thrust into her. He played her body perfectly, as if they’d been lovers forever. He knew exactly how to drive her wild. Exactly how to make her come, screaming—and that is exactly what he did.

  But before he could thrust into her…it was Josephine who stopped him. Josephine who slid over his body. “Have to make sure…” she whispered. “That every inch of you is good, too. Know just…” Okay, she was panting a bit. Aftershocks of pleasure still shook her core. “Know just…where I’ll start…”

  She took his cock into her mouth. He hissed out her name, and his fingers sank into her hair. She licked. She sucked. She took him in deep, then teasingly let him go, only to kiss the head of his cock. To blow lightly over the tip. To lick again. Over and over until he wasn’t just hissing her name…

  He was roaring it.

  He dragged her back up his body. Thrust into her with a ravenous need. And she loved it. Loved him. Josephine wrapped her arms and legs around him. She sank her fangs into his throat. And they wrecked the bed. It broke beneath them. They hit the floor. Kept going. Kept fighting for the release that was so close. So very close.

  It hit her first. Pleasure so intense that she thought her heart might stop.

  Then it hit him. She felt the hot surge of his release inside of her as Malik held her even tighter.

  Their heartbeats drummed. Their breaths heaved in and out. Sweat covered them. The scent of sex filled the air.

  Her head lifted. She stared into Malik’s eyes. “An angel has fallen,” Josephine murmured, repeating the words Luke had given her at the very start of this madness. She had to blink away tears as she then added the response she’d given to Luke—gods, that seemed like a lifetime ago, “Good for him.”

  Malik’s lips feathered over hers.

  Good for him, and a dream come true for me.

  Because her fallen had brought heaven to her.

  Epilogue

  “Right. That was all X-rated and saucy,” Valerie murmured as she glanced away from the scrying mirror. “My eyes, my eyes…” she exclaimed in mock shock. Then she winked at her mate. “Oh, Griffin, the things I want to do right now.”

  Luke cleared his throat. “What did you see?”

  Leo stood at his side, and Luke could feel his brother’s worry.

  “Lots of sex,” Valerie announced with an airy wave of her hand.

  Luke and Leo glanced at one another.

  “Oh, right. The vamp-Fey kicked ass. She and her fallen already defeated the bad guy, and they’re doing that happily ever after song and dance.” She huffed out a breath. “So, basically, I was hauled away from my party games for this…this total waste of my time.” She turned away, heading for Griffin. “Darling, let’s get out of—”

  Luke wrapped his hand around her arm. “Not so fast.”

  Griffin growled. And…smoke blew toward Luke.

  Valerie gave a very distinct cackle-like laugh. “Watch out, Luke. Griffin is the jealous sort.” She sounded absolutely delighted by that fact. “Such a turn-on.” She lowered her voice—well, she changed it into a dramatic, easy-to-hear stage whisper. “He knows we were lovers once, Luke. Griffin is not thrilled with you.”

  Luke glanced over at the shifter king.

  The guy’s teeth looked extra sharp.

  “Get your hand off her,” Leo snapped. “We need cooperation for now.”

  Luke knew how Valerie’s games went. Hell, most days, he admired her games. Just not today. But he removed his hand. “Is the fallen a danger to me or my brother?”

  “Of course.” Her immediate reaction. “You piss him off, and he may just be able to kill you both.”

  Fuck.

  She shrugged. “So don’t piss him off. Easy enough solution.” Her head cocked as her gaze slid to Merius.

  A Merius who was…quiet.

  “Guess who stopped foaming at the mouth?” Valerie called. She put her hands on her hips. “You know what that means, right, big guy? When you can feel that she’s in danger? When you know—even across the Veil—that death was coming for her?” Valerie pursed her lips. Her voice became downright gleeful as she added, “Someone has a blood mate.”

  Merius drew in a shuddering breath.

  Dorrin cleared his throat. “Do I want to know what a blood mate is?”

  “No,” Leo responded immediately.

  “Good luck getting through the Veil,” Valerie murmured. “And then, well, she probably won’t know who you are, vamp. But my money is on you. You seem like the fighting type.”

  Griffin took her hand. “Ready to get the hell out of here?”

  Valerie nodded. “Been ready for the last five minutes.”

  Stefan Medusa closed in on her right side. She smiled at him. “Glad you didn’t have to kill any vampires today.”

  He smiled back at her. “You, too.”

  She lifted up her right hand.

  “Stop!” Leo bellowed. “Don’t leave until you tell me…can you permanently shut it? Can you seal the Veil?”

  Her face became hard. Tense. “You know that I don’t—as a general rule—like the Fey. So I get that you thought I’d jump at the chance to imprison them all on the other side.”

  Leo swallowed. He didn’t deny her words.

  “But here’s the thing. I know Josephine. She’s one of my girls. Granted, I didn’t realize she had so much Fey in her, but well, whatever. Bygones. I’m not locking her away. And now that she’s running the show over there, maybe I’ll find a use for those Fey.” A slow wink. “I’ve never turned down more power.”

  No, dammit, Luke knew she hadn’t.

  “It hasn’t been fun.” Her voice was cheery. Ma
ybe a little insane. “And I don’t want to do this again. Bye!”

  Poof.

  She left—with her entourage.

  She also left one hell of a lot of smoke in her wake. Coughing, Leo shoved the smoke out of his face.

  Luke didn’t move at all.

  “What in the hell are we supposed to do now?” Leo asked, sounding ragged. Worried.

  Luke had to force his jaw to unlock. “You heard the lady…” Not much of a plan. And it would be particularly hard considering that Malik wasn’t feeling so kindly toward him or Leo. “We don’t piss them off.”

  “Fuck me.” Leo squeezed his eyes shut. “How the mighty have fallen.”

  “Yes, well, that was the original plan.”

  Leo’s eyes flew open. Suspicion gleamed on his face for a moment. “Wait…hold on…you didn’t plan all of this shit.”

  Luke turned away. He gave a little salute to Dorrin. “Keep up the good work, wolf. Love what you’re doing with the city.”

  Dorrin flashed a little fang.

  “You didn’t plan this,” Leo fumed from behind Luke. “I mean, Malik was out of control—”

  That was the thing about Leo. Sometimes, he had trouble keeping his eyes on the prize. “The real threat was in the Fey kingdom. Someone had to stop the bastard there.” Luke glanced over at Merius. “You don’t look so good.”

  Merius clenched his hands into fists.

  The vamp seemed to be unraveling before his eyes. An unexpected development. “I did send Josephine after the Fey King before. If she’d done the job completely at that time, then a lot of this could have been avoided.”

  Leo spun him around. “The Fey King? What—”

  “Oh, sorry. You didn’t get to see through the scrying mirror, did you? Guess Valerie was just providing that show to me.” He laughed. “She did always like me better.”

  “Luke.”

  “The previous Fey King—Finlay—was a serious prick. He’d been killing angels. If he hadn’t been stopped, who knows what he could have done. Probably something like world destruction. But not to worry, Josephine and Malik took care of him. Valerie showed me all of that when she was scrying. She can see the past and the present. Very impressive. I think she is the only witch who can see beyond the Veil. ”

  Leo’s jaw fell. “You…all along…you…I thought you were worried about Malik going crazy!”