The Cursed by Blood Saga

by Marianne Morea

  Parr’s face hardened. “Weres need a sharp reminder of the rich and powerful culture we once had. We are completely different from humans. Superior in every way. Eventually, you’ll understand, but don’t be dismayed. Weres have always had a weakness for humans, titillating creatures that you are.” His eyes drifted over Lily’s lush curves.

  “The council may have taken our Alpha from you for the time being, but I’m sure another, more satisfying arrangement can be made.” He hissed out the ‘S’ in satisfying, the lewd tone making Lily’s skin crawl. His snakelike tongue darted out wetting his thin lips, and he sent a mental image of her, naked and submissive, kneeling before him along their common mind path.

  Across the room, a menacing growl pierced the air as a heavy oak chair hurtled past, splintering just inches from where Parr stood. Sean’s gaze seethed, his eyes shifting from blue to yellow, his body crouched, seconds from phasing.

  Deadlocked, Lily’s eyes moved from one man to the other. “He’s baiting you, Sean.” This was exactly the reaction Parr wanted and Sean was playing right into his hand. “Don’t give him what he wants. He’s no threat to me. You know it and he knows it.”

  Sean’s muscles rippled and constricted beneath his skin. If he phased and attacked, everything they hoped to accomplish would be lost. Lily reached out to him with her mind. In his anger, he let the mental wall blocking her crumble and Lily saw the effort it took for him not to kill Parr right then and there. His protective fury raged red and black, and her heart squeezed.

  “Don’t do this, Sean. Can’t you see it’s a trap?” Her voice was feather light as it floated across his churning mind.

  His eyes flashed to hers and his mind calmed. She sent all her love along their shared mind link, leaving the channel open for every telepath in the room to see and feel the depth of their commitment.

  Sean straightened. His eyes were still narrowed and furious, but at least now, they were his normal blue.

  Mitch tossed Lily another lance. She caught it with one hand and stood with her legs shoulder width apart, holding in front of her like a Japanese bo staff. Council members shifted nervously, clearly uneasy at having her armed and close, especially after the obvious show of solidarity with the Alpha and his hunters.

  Lily swung the lance, the sound of the blade a sharp whoosh as it cut the air. Her gaze swept the room. Most expressions were anxious, but Sean’s lips curved upward. The words, that’s my girl, feathered across her mind and she blew him a mental kiss.

  A few of Parr’s men took a step forward, but Lily stood her ground, sliding into a defensive stance and holding the lance across her body with both hands. Sean and Mitch moved in, flanking her sides. “Not everyone’s drinking the Kool-Aid, Lily. Problem is, they’re just too chicken-shit to stand up to Parr,” Mitch offered. “But the rest of us have got your back.”

  Lily pushed the lance out, its bladed edge pointed right at Parr. “I know that Mitch, and I won’t forget it.”

  Taking a step forward, Lily skillfully brought the lance over her head in one graceful motion. Holding it up with both hands, she paused, smiling coldly before sweeping its blade within inches of Parr’s men in a deft downward strike. They jumped back as she caught the shaft with a practiced hand, bringing its blunt end down with a sharp bang. “I’m out gentlemen, and if you’re smart you won’t try to stop me.”

  Fixing Parr with a hard stare, she continued. “And just in case the pack blowhard decides to twist my words when I’m gone, I want to set the record straight. I intend to do whatever I can to help your doctors fight this virus. I will make myself available to them should they need me, but I will do so from a distance. By turning your back on a leader whose loyalty is apparent in everything he does, you’ve done nothing but prove to me how faithless you are.

  “Lily—”

  She ignored Sean’s stunned outburst. Not because she didn’t care what he thought or felt, but because if she looked at him she’d never have the strength to do what needed to be done.

  Clearing her mind of all doubt, she turned a hard gaze to all. “If all it takes is someone to wave nostalgia and fear under your nose for you to turn on each other, then you don’t deserve the leader you have or his allegiance. I have no intention of allowing myself to be turned. EVER. And for anyone who thinks otherwise—” Lily tilted the lance’s blade toward her hand. Without flinching, she slowly ran her thumb over its sharp edge, her eyes never leaving theirs as blood trickled down her wrist. “Well, I think you get the picture.”

  Lily stormed off, feeling dirty. Sean had his hands full with only a select few to help him. She was truly on her own. Was her decision reckless? No. She had made her point and everyone there knew it. Now all she could do was hope common sense would prevail and things would get back to normal—well, as normal as things could be in a community of supernaturals.

  Yesterday, she had been certain it would work out. Now, not so much. But it no longer mattered. This was her line in the sand. Suddenly Rissa’s words hit her hard. Once way or the other, you’ll figure it out. Even if the answer takes a different path than the one you expect. Either way, she was headed home to New York. Problem was, it no longer felt like home.

  ***

  Lily sat up. Bleary eyed, she peered around the darkened room. Outside, the sun crept over the horizon cutting a pink and gold ribbon through the dark landscape. Her mind was silent, except for the dull ache that settled behind her eyes from lack of sleep and the throb in her hand where she had sliced her thumb on the lance.

  Running her fingers over the white gauze, she thought about how bandaged up she was when Sean had first brought her here after Jerard’s attack on the cliffs. A little over twelve weeks, that’s all it had been since her life had changed irrevocably.

  The Council had dispersed after her little display. In all honesty, she was a little surprised they hadn’t tried to stop her. Then again, it was still early. Sean hadn’t returned yet, and she was grateful. If he asked her to change her mind, she didn’t stand a chance.

  Her bags were packed and in the corner near the door. Not that she had much, but whatever she had, it was coming with her, except for the red velvet gown she wore the night of the Wolf Moon Ball. Had it only been weeks since Sean twirled her around the dance floor?

  She exhaled. Her new world had seemed so full of hope and magic. That is until Edward Parr ruined it for them. She had reason to hate him before, but after tonight, the gloves were off.

  Stretching, she tensed and released every muscle in her arms, legs and torso. Opening her senses to their shared mind link, she felt for Sean, but only sensed the wind. She guessed he was in animal form. A soft whoosh always replaced the usual onslaught of thought whenever Sean phased, and he always took to the woods whenever he needed focus.

  A slight tapping against the window broke the silence and Lily turned toward the darkened glass. An owl perched on the sill, its large eyes peering in at her from the purple gloom.

  Sean.

  She shivered getting out of bed and padded across the cold floor to open the window. A blast of icy air gusted in and she crossed her arms in front of her chest in a feeble attempt to ward off the chill.

  “Sean, what are you doing? Are you crazy?”

  The owl hooted low, spreading its wings. The majestic bird launched itself from the sill and did a single lazy pass around the ceiling before setting down on the bed. In a snap of electricity the bird was gone, replaced by a very naked shifter with a teasing grin on his face.

  “And I thought you’d be happy to see me, especially now that you’ve calmed down,” Sean replied, stretching his full six foot, three inch frame out on the bed.

  Still standing with her arms folded, Lily smirked. “Aren’t we a little old to be playing cat and mouse? Sneaking into my room like a horny teenager isn’t exactly your style.”

  Turning, she closed the window and grabbed a throw blanket from the chair in the corner. “And it’s not going to do any good. I’m still l
eaving in the morning,” she added, wrapping the blanket around her shoulders, waiting for him to reply, but the battle was lost before it had even begun.

  “You know,” he said, with his head cocked and a suggestive smile on his lips. “I can do a better job of warming you up than that blanket ever will. And in case you didn’t notice, it’s already morning.”

  “Well then, you can just morph into a sparrow or some other harmless day bird, and fly out the way you came. I guarantee the council had no clue what they were getting themselves into when they gifted you with the power to shift into any form, wolf boy.”

  “They knew exactly what they were doing.”

  “Humph. Like they know what they’re doing now?”

  “Different times, different circumstances. Besides, I’m still in control, remember?”

  “Sean—”

  “Ssh. I am the Alpha Council, Lily. No one is going to question me regarding you. Trust me.”

  “But—”

  “Lily,” he said, pushing himself up and off the bed. “I’m not going to just let you walk out of my life. You’re my mate.” He stood in all his naked glory, purposefully not having manifested any clothes when he phased back to human form.

  Lily couldn’t help it, she licked her lips. He walked toward her, lean muscled and as predatory and graceful as ever, and her heart skipped a beat.

  “I did a lot of thinking out in the woods tonight. I’m done with trying to bend just to be politically correct. If Parr wants things the way they used to be, then so be it. Whether he likes it or not, I’m the Alpha. My will must be obeyed or otherwise challenged, so if it’s a challenge he wants, then bring it. Now, the only bending I plan on doing is bending you over until that gorgeous ass of yours is in the air.”

  With one long stride, he was toe-to-toe with her. Taking Lily’s chin in his hand, he raised her face to his and kissed her. Running his tongue along the edge of her bottom lip, he whispered. “Besides, why should I resist what’s mine for the taking?” He smirked. “That’s right. Old school shifter. MINE.”

  “But—” Lily shivered, but not from the cold. Sean’s hands dropped to her waist. In one swift motion, he separated her from her blanket and nightgown, and left her standing in front of him covered in nothing but gooseflesh. Pulling her to him, he pressed his body against hers, and his heat and desire flooded her, chasing away the cold along with any lingering reluctance.

  His hands skimmed her waist, cupping each breast, grazing his thumbs across her nipples. They hardened under his touch. Stepping back, he lifted her, and Lily’s legs wrapped themselves around his back. With a growl, he had her back against the cold glass, his cock hard enough to cut diamonds as he entered her with one thrust.

  The window rattled in its pane, threatening to splinter as he impaled her over and over. Rough and untamed, Sean ravaged her body, his mouth sucking and biting, reveling in the taste of her like a man starved. His fingers bit into the soft flesh of her hips. The glass cracked in a long, thin sliver running the length of the pane, jerking his attention away from her for a moment. Without missing a beat, he spun them around toward the bed.

  Lily’s feet knocked over the lamp on the nightstand, sending books and an empty teacup crashing to the floor, but neither of them cared. Throwing the rest of the covers back, he lowered her to the edge of the bed. Holding her ankles locked together, he drove into her grinding her down, his hips relentless. Lily screamed as she climaxed, but Sean just grunted, flipping her onto her stomach. Pulling her back by her hips, he drove into her from behind, his inner wolf snarling for him to mark her.

  Baring his teeth, his lips pulled back over his canines as they elongated both top and bottom. With a possessive howl, he bit down on her shoulder. Lily’s back arched in pain and pleasure at the feel of his teeth on her flesh. Her inner walls convulsed, squeezing against Sean’s cock as she came over and over, her fingers between her own legs, working herself even further into a frenzy. Sean’s hips reared back, thrusting hard and fast, his balls high and hard. Throwing his head back, he yelled. He was primal, burying his cock deep within her as he came, his hands locking her hips to his.

  He held her against him as the last spasms rocked his body. Then together they slumped forward on the bed. Four tiny rivulets of blood trickled from the four puncture marks on her shoulder. Pushing himself up on his forearms, he leaned his head down and licked them clean, healing them with his saliva.

  At the raspy feel of his tongue, Lily stiffened. “Sean? What did you do? Please tell me you didn’t just turn me! You know how I feel about the whole against my will thing.”

  Sean chuckled, giving her shoulder another lick. “It didn’t seem as if things were against your will a minute ago, but no, I didn’t turn you. I marked you. There’s a difference.” Still buried deep inside her, he slowly rasped his tongue across the wounds once more. Her breath hitched as heat flooded her body making her lower belly clench in another aftershock of her climax.

  “Jesus, will you stop with the tongue? I need to think!” She jammed her elbow into the middle of his chest, but all she got was quick jolt to her funny bone and his lips curving into a smile against the nape of her neck. “What do you mean you marked me?”

  Rolling her over so she could face him, he answered, running his hand over the curve of her hip. “You’re leaving in a matter of hours, Lily. Did you honestly think I would let you go without marking you as mine? I said it before and I meant it. You’re MINE. To your mind it sounds archaic and makes me something of a Neanderthal, but it’s necessary.” Leaning down, he nipped her bottom lip. “Especially since you’re so stubborn and single-minded.”

  She pulled back, shaking her head. “Necessary? For whom?” she asked a little defensive, and to be honest, shocked he was actually letting her go.

  “Necessary for you, that’s who. You’re going back to Manhattan with a hell of a lot more knowledge about the supernatural than you had before you left. Did you really think I would let you go without giving you even the slightest bit of protection? Marking as mine you lets any Were that comes within five feet of you know you’re under my guard. Trace amount or not, you have Were blood in your veins, and when the moon is at its fullest your blood will call to any male in your vicinity. Your scent will draw them. They won’t be able to help themselves—” He hesitated, meeting Lily’s eyes. “—and regrettably, neither will you.”

  Pushing herself up, Lily sat on the edge of the bed with her knees tucked under. Turning toward Sean, she smirked. “Yeah right, nice tap dance. Now tell me the real reason why you bit me.” But when he didn’t say a word, her mouth went slack. “Wait a minute. Are you saying I’ve become some sort of lunar driven nymphomaniac who sniffs around at the full moon after anything with a pulse and a penis? A monthly Were-magnet, bitch in heat?”

  Grinning, Sean propped himself up on one elbow. “Hey, some women would give their eyeteeth to be that irresistible!”

  “Eyeteeth? Yeah, well, I prefer mine blunt. Or is that part of the package, too? No, wait, don’t tell me. I grow incisors the length of my pinky as soon as the moon crests.”

  “You haven’t become anything like that, although in the future it’s going to make things quite interesting for us when we’re together. But apart, without my mark, males will positively come sniffing around after you, or worse. Now you won’t have to worry about that. My mark mutes your scent and says I’ve claimed you. You’ll be as safe as kittens.”

  “And when were you going to tell me about this little character enhancement? Is there anything else I’ve inherited from Jerard’s bite I should know about, or are you planning to surprise me again? What about a sudden urge to bay at the moon or an uncontrollable craving for dog chow?”

  “No, no surprises. And no self-respecting Were would be caught dead eating dog chow or anything else Purina makes. But I need to tell you, Cochran will be accompanying you back to New York. My orders.”

  “Jack? You’re sending Jack with me? What’s his
deal, Sean? And don’t you dare lie to me. Is he there as pack liaison for when I need to go back and forth to see Dr. Volkmann or have you planned for him shadow me?”

  “Both.”

  Lily stiffened, pulling away. Getting up, she took the top sheet with her, wrapping it around her body like a protective cover. “Like I said to your idiot council, don’t you know me at all? Are you out of your mind, Sean? A babysitter? Haven’t we been through this before? Because I’m getting a dizzying sense of déjà vu.”

  Sean sat up, running a hand through his hair in frustration. “Why do you always have to go to extremes? Jack is not a babysitter. This thing with Parr is not going away. You know that. It goes much deeper than just what we see on the surface, and my hands are tied until I can find out what’s behind it all. Why else would I agree to you leaving?”

  He exhaled hard. “For Christ’s sake, Lily, there are Weres out there who want to harm you. Edward’s political maneuvering would be easier if you were removed from the equation, though, for the life of me, I can’t understand why. But I will. It’s the only reason I’m letting you go. If he thinks you’ve thumbed your nose at me, then maybe he’ll leave you alone, but Cochran is going with you just in case. In the meantime, cooperate for once in your life. I wouldn’t put it past Parr to arrange a little accident for you.”

  Lily threw a hand up. “So what else is new? I think I’ve more than proven I can take care of myself. Christ, Sean, half the Compound still thinks I’m a vigilante with all the supernaturals I’ve killed and that includes a few vampires. Did Jack volunteer for this mission or is this another one of your mandates? The guy has no idea what he’s getting himself into. I work cold case files constantly. Do you know how hard it is for a psychic to gain credibility with the police? They trust me, and I’ve built a business on that trust.”

  She frowned. “That’s if I have a business left, I’ve been gone so long. Besides, my apartment has a strict no pets rule,” she said petulantly, plopping back down on the bed next to Sean. “This is completely unnecessary and utterly unfair.”