Out of The Shadows (Shadows Ascending Trilogy Book 2)

by Jenn D. Young

  “My mate.”

  The growl came deep within my head and Vincent let out a small chuckle.

  “And you are mine.” I shivered as his gaze trailed over my body, heat radiating from his eyes.

  “So, does everyone have wings?” I asked, unable to drop my eyes from my mate.

  Damius and Kaniul laughed while Nicolae snorted. Vincent just smiled at me, “They wish.” His voice was deep and layered with power. My fingernails cut into my palms as I struggled to stay where I was standing and not run into his arms.

  Adreon cleared his throat. I was beginning to suspect that was his nervous gesture. “Wings are actually very rare. Only the Nephilim that are the most blood related to the Archangels have them. They typically follow a pattern of their bloodlines. Demons also have wings in their demonic form, but they are more like a bat's wings than what you would think of as an angel’s wings.”

  “I would imagine the crimson is due to your bond with Vincent. The rest is all your father,” Damius added thoughtfully.

  “I met him,” I mused.

  A chair crashed as Damius and Kaniul got to their feet. “What?” Damius’ voice was insistent and slightly panicked.

  “How? Archangels cannot physically travel to this realm without risking serious injury.” Adreon was adamant.

  “He has visited her before,” Vincent said calmly, recalling my earlier vision.

  “He told me my wings would be beautiful.” I smiled. “And he gave me this.” I held out my hand to show them the ring.

  Kaniul grabbed my wrist and examined the ring. “This was Morgana’s. Except it didn’t have the black stones around it.” His brow furrowed as he lifted my hand moving it at different angles to take a closer look at the piece of jewelry. “She never took it off. It was one of her talismans, helping her channel her abilities,” he whispered as his golden eyes met mine.

  “Father said it contained both of their essences. That it would help me in the future.”

  He lifted my hand to his mouth and placed a gentle kiss over the opal. “It will. I know it will.”

  “So, I guess this means her powers aren’t leashed anymore.” Nicolae tipped back in his chair, a spark lighting his aquamarine eyes. From what I picked up from Vincent, he was able to help clear the emotional energy after the vision transfer.

  Vincent slid a hand over my shoulder and gently touched the base of my wing. A moan tore from my throat at the light touch of his fingers. Heat crept up my neck to my face as I realized I had made the noise in a room full of other men.

  “Get out,” Vincent growled as his palms continued their exploration.

  I could barely hear the assorted snickers and laughs from the men as they shuffled out of the room. My body was on fire as I arched my back. My wings were twitching and shuddering under his hands.

  “I can’t think when you do that.”

  “I don’t want you to think.” He nipped at my ear, his fangs drawing a small amount of blood. “I want you to feel.” His eyes locked with mine, conveying the heat and desire that consumed us both.

  I reached up to touch his face, my fingers drawn to the horns on top of his head. A low rumble vibrated in his throat as my palms slid across the smooth surface. They were cool to the touch, not hot like his skin. “I like this form.” My voice was husky, arousal bleeding into my words.

  “Mmm.” He leaned his head into my touch as I ran my fingers through the strands of his hair. “I never take it. It is a reminder of the fact that I am neither fully demon nor Nephilim.” There was anguish behind the heat of his eyes. He was opening himself up to me.

  Vincent lifted me up by the hips and placed me on the nearest table. The tips of my wings extended out as I wrapped my legs around his waist. My head tipped back as his lips brushed across my neck. A moan was ripped from my throat as teeth scraped and nipped.

  “Vincent.” His name echoed in the library.

  “I have to have you right now, Theera.” His eyes glowed as his wings and horns disappeared. I tore at the fabric of his shirt, buttons flying in different directions. His claws slid up my waist to the collar of my top and ripped it right down the middle. Soft lips trailed down my collar bone as I tried to undo his belt with fumbling hands.

  Feathers twitched as I clumsily tried to lean back. My shoulders ached as the heavy appendages expanded and retracted. A groan of frustration echoed out of my throat. “How do I make these damn things go away?”

  Lips turned up in a smile against the flesh at the top of my breast. His head tilted up as the tips of his fangs dragged along the delicate skin, leaving a thin line of red blood. “Just concentrate and will them to return inside you.”

  Trembling, I watched as his tongue followed the same pattern as his fangs. “I can’t concentrate on anything when you do that.” I was rewarded with the same lopsided smile and he trailed his fingers up the skin of my stomach to my bra. With a flick of a clawed finger, he slit the front open and exposed my nipples to his intense gaze.

  “Close your eyes.”

  I did.

  The wet heat of his mouth closed over my nipple, causing me to arch my back and cry out his name. Desire flooded my body, the sensation of his mouth, his tongue, fangs, and hands were almost too much for me to handle. Teeth bit down gently, scraping the small bud and my hands reached up to clutch the back of his head.

  A palm splayed across my back, just above my ass. My legs wrapped around his waist as he dragged me to the edge of the table. With a pop, he released my nipple and pushed my back down onto the cool surface. “Wings are gone now, aren’t they?” He chuckled, the sound reverberating throughout his body.

  Growling in frustration, I tightened my legs and arched my hips up as they dangled from the edge of the long wooden table. Desperately seeking relief as I rubbed myself against his hard cock. He let out a deep groan as he grabbed my wrists and slapped them above my head against the table, securing them tightly beneath one of his palms. Shivering, I bent my head to watch as he ran the other palm from my throat down the center of my body. His light touch made me squirm and buck against his hold.

  His eyes never left mine. “Leave your hands there.” Command laced his voice and I whimpered at his dominance. “If you move them, I won’t let you come.” A smile tilted his lips as his hands reached my waist and roughly pulled my jeans and panties down in one tug.

  From my position on my back, the rough table was cool against my heated skin. I watched as he laid soft kisses along my stomach, hip bones, then lower to my thighs. Red eyes bright with black shards, he nipped at the exposed flesh just below the seam of my thigh. Large hands gripped my knees and pulled my legs open wide to his view.

  A rumble settled in the back of my throat as his eyes drifted over my naked and prone form. “Mmm, you are so wet for me, Theera. I love the way you taste. I think I’m already addicted to you.” Fingers parted my folds as he lightly petted me, spreading the evidence of my arousal. He brought his fingers to his mouth and growled as he tasted my juices.

  I bit my lip as I shifted my hips. “Please, Vincent.”

  He lowered his head again. “Shhh.” The tip of his tongue slid along my entrance and flattened along my clit. Nails curled into legs as he held me steady as I tried to move under his sensual assault. Fangs dragged along my skin as his mouth worked me in long, sensual strokes. One finger entered me and hooked to caress a spot that had me seeing stars. His eyes were closed as he savored me.

  I was lost in a sea of emotions and sensations. Another finger slid easily inside of me as his hand began to pump in a steady rhythm. His tongue worked my clit masterfully and I was sitting on the edge of climax. My voice was raspy and thick as I begged for release.

  Finally, when I could bear it no longer, he growled, “Let go, Lorelei.” The vibrations from his throat that accompanied the words sent me cascading over the edge. My mouth hung open on a silent scream, my vocal cords freezing. His lips moved to the inside of my thigh and his thumb kept a punishing assault
on my clit. Still at the height of my climax, his fangs sank deeply into the vein inside my leg.

  Waves crashed over me as my blood ran down his throat. My hands sought his body and I tangled my fingers in his hair to ground myself. My eyes fluttered closed as the aftershocks racked my body.

  Using slow swipes of his tongue, he sealed the pin pricks on my legs and slowly lifted his head. “You moved your hands.” His voice was even, his eyes narrowed. Those perfect lips tilted up just slightly at the corners, showing his amusement.

  Swallowing tightly, I blinked at him. My mind was blank as I tried to form an answer, my body was still quivering after my harsh release. I watched as he slowly lifted himself up to stand between my spread legs. He jerked my hips against his, but at the last moment, he lifted me and spun me around. My feet hit the solid wooden floor and I was pushed down on the table, my breasts and face pressed against the hard surface.

  He palmed the globes of my ass and leaned over me, his hard cock rubbing against my sensitive core. A strangled sound left me as he gathered my hair in a fist and lifted my head up. “Lorelei, love.” The words sent a shiver down my spine. “Next time I will make sure I tie you up so you obey me.” I gasped as his palm fell down heavily on my backside.

  He nudged my legs apart with his knees and pushed his cock inside me slowly. “Vincent,” I breathed his name. His hand tightened in my hair, the other palm wrapped around my hip to hold me steady. His hips slammed against mine as he began to thrust inside me with a punishing tempo.

  I whimpered and curled my toes as I tried to stay on my feet. “You. Are. Mine.” Each word was growled against my neck, emphasized by a pounding of his hips.

  “Vincent, please.” I begged. Fingernails clawed at the wood of the table so deeply I was sure there would be grooves in the surface.

  “Say it.” Fingers slowly drifted from my hip to between my legs. My release started to build again as he rubbed in steady circles around the engorged nub.

  “Fuck, Vincent. I have always been yours.” I screamed as I came again. A palm wrapped around the back of my neck and lifted my torso off the table. Hot breath washed across my throat as his thrusts grew erratic.

  “Mine.” He whispered the words against my throat as I felt him come deep inside me. I covered his palm with mine and turned my face towards his. Our lips connected as his hips jerked against me. “Always mine.” His lips twitched against mine as I closed my eyes and savored the connection.

  His lips rained kisses along my cheek and down my back as he took a step back. I winced as he slipped from my channel and my legs wobbled when I tried to stand on my own. I felt him laugh as he held tight to my hips until I regained my balance.

  “I think you broke me.” I arched my back and turned in his embrace to look up at my mate. My arms slid around his neck as his palms returned to my waist. Still trembling, I leaned back against the table for support.

  Lips touched mine lightly before he ducked free of my hold to snatch our clothing. “I would say I’m sorry, but I’m not,” he smirked.

  I couldn’t help but laugh. He held up the remains of my shirt and shook his head. The button-down shirt he arrived in was in better shape, just missing a few buttons on the front. The shirt slipped over my arms and he held it together in the front.

  “We’re going to need to go get new clothes.” Smirking, I admired his naked ass as he grabbed the final garments in his hands.

  “Agreed, because we aren’t quite done with everything here.” His gaze looked me over from top to bottom. “You just distracted me temporarily.” Black slacks were pulled up and buttoned, ending my ogling.

  “I’ll be right back, ok?” He lingered as he placed a soft kiss on my lips. “If you come with me, we will never leave.” His thumbs rubbed along my cheekbones as he placed his forehead to mine.

  Nodding, I tangled my fingers in his hair and nipped at his bottom lip. “Go, before I distract you again.”

  His chuckle was the last thing I heard before he faded into blackness before me.

  ******

  I sat back and let out a deep sigh and squeezed my eyes closed. I rubbed my arms, Vincent’s absence chilling me to the bone. He had been gone for less than a minute, why was his absence already affecting me so much? My eyelids fluttered shut and I fought the overwhelming emotions. So much had been happening and I barely knew how to handle it.

  I had fucking wings.

  Like, full on angel fucking wings.

  A migraine was beginning to form in my temples and I brought my fingers up to try and relieve the tension.

  A knock at the door took me away from my thoughts. “It’s Kaniul. Are you decent?” His voice was light, but hesitant.

  “Kinda, but I’m covered.”

  He opened the door but poked his head around the corner before stepping in fully. He arched an eyebrow at my attire and then just shook his head. Noticing Vincent wasn’t present he commented “He go to get clothes?”

  “Yes.” I crossed my arms over my chest.

  He cleared his throat and rubbed his chin. “It has been decades since any of us were around a mated couple on the heels of recognizing their bond.” He smiled wryly. “I’m surprised we are even seeing you right now. Most would be secluded for weeks.”

  Weeks. Now that was a thought. My breath hitched as I imagined it. My cheeks heated at the thought of his hands. His mouth. His cock. My body filled with warmth and my eyelids slid shut again. This was a dangerous line of thought.

  “You are incredibly lucky that you are related to my mate or I would kill you,” Vincent growled and wrapped his arms around me from behind. He made a show of pulling my hair away from my neck and placing a possessive kiss along my throbbing pulse. I could feel his claws dig into my skin through the thin fabric covering my hips.

  Kaniul held up his hands and took a step back. “I was just making sure everything was ok. We couldn’t hear anything and so I was sent to check.” His eyes flicked back and forth between my face and Vincent’s. “They knew you probably wouldn’t kill me.”

  A smile cracked my face and I smothered my laugh with a cough. Kaniul’s lips twitched as his eyes sparkled with mirth at me. Vincent bit at my ear, making me yelp. “What was that for?” I whirled around to ask him.

  “For laughing at me.” I felt him shaking as he tried to contain the laughter that was bubbling up.

  “Give me my clothes. Then get out of here before I smack you.” I turned and pushed at the wall of his chest with my palms.

  “You won’t smack me.” His gaze turned intense and I felt myself being drawn into the lustful spell once again. “Because then I would have to spank that beautiful little ass red. And we would both enjoy that too much. Then we would never be able to finish the tasks that we need to today.” The words, whispered in my mind, sent a wave of desire so strong it almost knocked me off my feet.

  “Woah, woah.” Kaniul waved his arms. “That’s enough of that. We have things that we planned on doing. Plus Adreon has more information about her blood that he would like to share with us. Things got a little—” he paused, “—dicey before.”

  “Go.” I wrenched myself away from him and turned my back before I fell back into his gaze. It felt like he had me wrapped up in his spell and I couldn’t pull free. I needed some space to think.

  “I am just as much under your spell as you are mine.”

  I don’t know how I would ever get used to his deep, accented voice whispering words straight into my head. I straightened my spine and forced myself not to react to his words. Even though they caused my heart to flutter deep within my chest as a pang of longing crept through me. I just needed a moment to myself. Alone. To ease these feelings that were suddenly overwhelming me.

  “Clothes are right here on the table. I will meet you out in the hall.” Vincent said softly, as if sensing my growing unease and need to be alone. I felt them both move, followed by the sound of the door opening and closing behind them.

  Chapter 8
r />   Vincent

  As I pulled the door closed behind me, I let out an irritated sigh. I ran my fingers through my hair, Lorelei’s withdrawal after I had returned running through my mind. The thoughts made me grow even more frustrated. Our bond had deepened, but remained incomplete without the binding words. Until I knew what dangers lie ahead, I could not condemn her to the complete bond. If one of us died…

  Then both of us would die.

  Just like my parents.

  So, I would keep the words to myself. Even if it meant that I felt incomplete and empty. This was enough for now. It had to be enough. This was more than I had ever even thought possible before.

  I just had to keep her from pulling away too far, but at the same time not push her too hard. How I was going to accomplish that was the grand question of the day.

  “She has been alone for far too long and has no idea what it means to express intimacy or affection. Just be patient with her,” Kaniul reflected as he leaned against the wall next to a Roman statue. Damn Egyptian always knowing too much for his own good.

  I was not going to have this conversation with him. I needed to change the subject and fast before I started to have a heart to heart and we ended up hugging it out or some shit.

  “Nicolae, stop sneaking around. I know you are there,” I shouted. I had sensed him around the corner of the hallway the moment we stepped outside the door. He was smart to keep his distance. As Kaniul had told Lorelei, it had been centuries since a mated couple had found each other. Nephilim were so rare that most had either already found their mates or had long ago turned all off all of their emotions.

  “I wasn’t sneaking. I was waiting.” He had his arms crossed above his chest and he leveled a stare at me. An elegant blonde eyebrow was arched and his lips were tilted in his signature smirk.

  “Sure.” I rolled my eyes at him.