The Immortal Vow

by Juliana Haygert

  Reluctantly, I opened my mouth. Drake squeezed his wound and blood filled my mouth. Bile rose in my throat, but I swallowed the blood before I could throw up.

  “What now?” Drake asked.

  “Just give it some time to work,” Bagatha said.

  Still feeling like I could sleep for a thousand years, I closed my eyes and rested my head on Drake’s shoulder again.

  “Stay awake, Thea,” he whispered. A few seconds passed and he spoke louder, “It isn’t working.”

  “It should,” Bagatha said, sounding sure.

  Well, it wasn’t. I felt the darkness coming, wrapping its thick arms around me, and cradling me, taking me away to its lair.

  Until a jolt of energy cut through me, bringing in an explosion of light.

  I jerked and gasped for air, as if I had been underwater for too long.

  “Thea? Talk to me!” Drake held my shoulders.

  Slowly, I sat up and opened my eyes. I took a moment to analyze how I felt. No darkness, no dizziness, no weakness. I hadn’t felt this energized and strong in months, even before I found out I was pregnant.

  “I feel great.” I lifted my arms and looked down at my hands. My magic tingled under my skin, ready to be called upon. “My magic is back.”

  “Thank goodness.” Drake cupped my hand and glued his lips to mine. With a huge, dazzling smile, he looked at Bagatha. “What was that? How did you find it?”

  I beckoned for Queen Rosilla and she handed my daughter back to me. I cradled my baby, as tight as I could without hurting her, as emotion filled my chest. I was alive. I felt great. And I was holding a perfectly beautiful and healthy daughter.

  Bagatha smiled at us. “After I told you about the Immortal Vow and how there was no way of saving Thea, I started my own research.” I remembered Drake saying he had visited Bagatha a couple of times to check if she had found anything. “But in the past month, I have visited several witch covens in a handful of countries. I talked to their queens and councils, searched their libraries and grimoires, until I found the oldest witch queen I had ever met. Queen Neith from the Blacklotus coven in Egypt is over six thousand years old. She has thousands of grimoires with every kind of spell you can imagine, and most of those spells were invented by her. Queen Neith didn’t have a specific spell to save Thea, so she made up one.”

  Drake’s jaw hit the floor. “Are you saying it could have not worked?”

  “Queen Neith is confident in her abilities,” Bagatha said. “According to her, all of her spells have worked so far.”

  “Thank you,” I said. Tears brimmed in my eyes again. “You went to great lengths to save me, and you didn’t have to.”

  She scoffed. “Of course I had to. You’re the mother of my successor.” She smiled at my daughter. “I know witches aren’t the motherly kind, but I had a feeling you’re about to change that, and I didn’t want to deprive this little girl from having her mother beside her.”

  Drake smiled at her. “Thank you.”

  “Oh, one bit of information before I let you rest,” Bagatha said. “This spell used the magic of the Blood Amulet and the Silverblood’s heart, plus the remainder of my magic imbued to my wand, to link both of your lives.” I frowned. “Which means, it is Drake’s life force that sustains you now, Thea. You’ll live as long as he lives.”

  Drake’s eyes widened. “You’re saying Thea is immortal now?”

  She grinned. “That’s exactly what I’m saying.”

  Drake turned his bright green eyes to me. I knew he had been worried about that since the beginning of our relationship. I had no desire to become a vampire, but that meant I would one day die and he would be alone. But now, I could still be a simple witch and live with him forever. The relief was stamped in his handsome face.

  Queen Sarah cleared her throat. “Did you say you put all of your magic in that wand, Bagatha?”

  The old witch grabbed the wand and snapped it, breaking it in half like a useless little twig. “Yes. And it’s all gone now.”

  “That’s crazy,” Queen Sarah barked.

  Bagatha grabbed the queen’s arm. “Thea and the baby need to rest now. We can talk about this outside.”

  Queen Rosilla followed them to the door. She said, “Call us if you need anything,” before exiting the room and closing the door behind them.

  Drake embraced our daughter and me. “I don’t think I could be happier.”

  “Me neither,” I confessed. I looked down at our baby. “We still haven’t named her.”

  “She’ll be known in the entire supernatural world. We should choose a strong name for her.”

  I stared at the sleeping bug in my arms. I couldn’t believe I had just escaped death and was now destined to live forever with the man I loved and my powerful daughter. Life was too perfect and I had never felt this happy.

  “I have an idea,” I said.

  “Tell me.”

  I smiled. “Her name will be Aurora.”

  25

  Drake

  I knelt in front of Aurora and tightened the bow around her waist. “Are you ready?”

  Aurora blinked at me before smiling and spinning around, showing off her white dress. She tripped on her feet and I put my hand out in case she fell. For a one year old, Aurora had a great balance already. She hadn’t been walking for two months, but now she wanted to run and jump and monkey around.

  Today though she wanted to dance, mostly, and it was all because of the pretty white dress and the flowers weaved into her short hair. Sometimes I stared at her, amazed at the little beautiful miracle she was. She had my black hair, but Thea’s fair complexion, her tiny nose, and her pretty gray eyes. I could see her breaking a lot of hearts when older—and I was not prepared for that.

  Pushing those thoughts away, I stood and tightened my tie. I had no idea why I was suddenly so nervous. It wasn’t as if I hadn’t seen everyone in the next room before.

  When I offered, Aurora slipped her little hand into mine. I opened the door and together, we entered the room.

  In the year since the DuMoir battle, all the races had worked together. The vampires helped rebuild DuMoir Castle. The Silverblood witches returned to their manor on the Silverblood estate. The Blackmarsh and the Bluemoon witches also went back to their covens, but kept in touch often.

  Thea and Aurora lived with me at DuMoir Castle, but since Thea was the witch queen of the Silverblood coven, she stopped there at least once a week to make sure everything was okay. While she wasn’t there, Elisa was in command—a young Silverblood witch who had proven herself to us in the last year.

  Keeran also lived in the castle with us. His real place in our society was still unknown as most of the witches weren’t willing to accept him—but they didn’t dare touch him since he had Thea’s protection.

  Luana had gone back to her pack. Despite the tough front she put up most of time, she had expressed her concern over her power to Thea and me many times. Apparently, most of the male wolves didn’t want a female as their alpha. Thankfully, none had acted against her yet.

  Despite all the tension we still encounter, the reconstructed ballroom was now full with our friends and the most important figures in our society. Queen Rosilla, Queen Sarah, and their councils. Luana and a dozen of her wolves. All of the Silverblood witches. Keeran and Bagatha. We had also invited the faes and other supernaturals, but hadn’t heard back from them.

  Our guests occupied the chairs spread over the floor and turned to look at Aurora and me as we walked down the aisle in the middle of the room.

  My daughter and I stopped at the bottom of the stairs, where Keeran waited for us. He looked regal in black tuxedo, and a dark red tie.

  Aurora hugged his legs and Keeran smiled at her.

  I looked out to the doors at the end of the ballroom and shifted my weight.

  “Are you nervous?” Keeran asked in a low voice. In a room full of supernaturals, I was sure at least a handful had heard him. “Lord Drake is nervous. I didn’t
think I would ever see the day.”

  “Shut the hell up,” I muttered.

  He chuckled.

  A moment later, the doors opened and my breath caught.

  Smiling, Thea walked into the room and I was damn sure I had never seen a more beautiful sight in my entire long life. Her long, blond hair was tied into a thick braid over her shoulder, showing off her perfect face and delicate makeup—except for her blood red lips. Her off-white dress was tight around her chest and waist, but it flared up around her hips, where pieces of off-white lace created a skirt that went down to the floor. Lace covered her collarbone and shoulders. In her hands, she held a bouquet of dark red roses.

  With each passing day, I was convinced I loved her more and more.

  The guests whispered as she walked past them.

  “She’s so beautiful.”

  “Love her dress.”

  “She’s a real queen.”

  “Drake is a lucky man.”

  When Thea was close enough, I took a step toward her and offered her my arm. Smiling at me, she took my arm. My chest constricted with pure love.

  Thea and I faced Keeran. Aurora played around us while Keeran married Thea and me.

  A wedding seemed silly for supernaturals. We didn’t have any specific religion, and we couldn’t register our marriage in any town, but I thought it would be a great way of celebrating all we had accomplished since Thea and I met. After many ups and downs, we had made it. We were together, loving each other, and we had managed to bring the vampires, the witches, and the werewolves together.

  I couldn’t think of any way better to celebrate then to pledge my love to the woman who had robbed my dead heart in front of everyone we knew.

  After the ceremony, the chairs were pulled to the perimeter of the ballroom, where tables awaited with silverware and drinks. Soon, dinner was served, complete with dessert and blood, and then the party started.

  Three songs in, Aurora fell asleep in Luana’s arms.

  Seven songs in, my wife made me a proposition I couldn’t resist. We sneaked out of the ballroom and raced to our chambers.

  Thankfully, no one was here at this time. Once we stepped inside, I locked the door and hovered over Thea.

  With her eyes on mine, she reached for her waist. Then, she unhooked her skirt. It fell to the floor and I stared at her long legs. The bodice of her dress didn’t actually end at her hips. It went down to her thighs, like a shorter dress. Right now, I kind of loved that dress.

  “Kiss me,” she whispered.

  26

  Thea

  “Kiss me,” I whispered, my head in a daze.

  Drake didn’t waste a second. He stepped into me, and pressing me against the door with his palms flat against the wood, caging me in, he kissed me. His lips were warm and soft and made of pure ecstasy. I melted into his kiss, parting my lips for him. His tongue sneaked in, teasing mine and ripping a moan from my throat.

  He groaned, taking my lower lip between his teeth. “Delicious,” he whispered, before taking my mouth again. His hands slid down my waist, down to my thighs, leaving a trail of fire across my body, and all I could do was moan in his mouth.

  He hooked his fingers under the hem of my dress and teased my skin. I gasped, sinking my nails into his shoulders. He groaned again, before splaying his big hands on the back of my thighs and tugging on them. My mind on a cloud of pure delight, I let him pull my legs up, and I was half conscious as I wrapped them around his waist. He thrust his hips against mine, rubbing his hard on against me. I moaned again.

  His lips trailed down my jaw, and paused at my neck. His elaborated breathing was all I could hear as he thrust his hips into mine again. Helpless, I moaned once more.

  “Hell, these little sounds …” He nicked at the tip of my ear, then slid his hands to my hips and pulled me up against him.

  I let out a surprised yelp as he crossed the room and deposited me on a large dining table. Sliding his hot hands over my skin, he pushed my dress up until it bunched at my waist, revealing my lace panties.

  I didn’t have time to be think as Drake pressed his hard on against my center, and I wished my panties would melt away. But then, he let out a hiss and hooked his fingers on the lacy top of my dress. He reached back and undid the buttons, then tugged it down, just enough to give him access to my cleavage.

  Drake dipped his head and ran his tongue over the top arch of my breast. My lips parted, I wrapped my arms around his neck and arched my back. Right now, I would do anything he wanted.

  He kept playing with his tongue, running it around my breast until, finally, he flicked my nipples. I bucked, wishing he was inside me. He closed his mouth around my breast, and I melted some more. By all that was sacred, how could it feel this good? Was he feeling what I was feeling? Did he want me as much as I wanted him?

  One of his hands snaked up, wrapping around my free breast. He pinched my hardened nipples and I bucked again. Pure heat and pleasure swam through me, and I wanted more, more, more.

  Feeling bold and sexy, I slid my hands over his chest and found the hem of his shirt. While savoring each lap of his tongue and suck of his mouth, I explored his stomach and chest, always in awe of the many muscles under his warm skin.

  He pushed his hips against me again—I shivered.

  Biting my lower lip, I undid the button and zipper of his pants, and slipped my hand inside his pants. He hissed, his teeth gently closing around my nipples as I ran my hand over his massive hard on.

  Loving the way he reacted to my touch, I moved my hand up and down, up and down, pushing hard against his shaft. Drake shivered, then he grabbed my wrists, and pulled my hands away.

  Straightening, he looked at me. “Keep that up and I won’t last.”

  He leaned into me and captured my mouth again. I surrendered to the kiss, melting into his arms, being sucked from reality, and loving every second of it. I tightened my legs around him and, with my feet, tugged him to me. He let out a small chuckle against my lips as he obliged and thrust his hips on mine, rubbing his hard on against my center. Breaking the kiss, I threw my head back. Drake’s lips found my neck and he switched between kissing and grazing his fangs at my delicate skin.

  He grabbed hold of my shoulders and pushed me down, until my back was flat on the table. Then he knelt in front of me.

  I sucked in a sharp breath.

  Drake slipped off my panties with ease, then trailed small pecks from my ankle, up my knees, to the inside of my thigh. I tensed in anticipation, and my hands flew to his silky hair.

  He licked my center, and with a loud gasp, my hips bucked and my back arched off the table.

  “Hell, you taste so good,” he whispered, before flicking his tongue over my clit again.

  Then he slipped a finger inside me. Then a second one. I slapped my hands on the table and curled my fingers around the edge, trying to hold on before I lost it. Before I melted away. Before the pleasure took over and I became a useless pile of pure bliss.

  He pumped his fingers inside me, fucking me with his hand, hard and deep. He sucked on my clit, hard, and I was done for. Pleasure exploded inside me, sending me in a spiral of heat and bliss. With a low chuckle, Drake licked my center one more time, then stood straight. My mind was a beautiful haze, but I couldn’t stop looking at him, gawking at the handsome man before me. He was mine, all mine, for all eternity.

  Grabbing my hips, Drake pushed inside me in one quick, fast thrust. I cried as he filled me. Damn, he was too much, too big, too hard, too … everything.

  In a slow rhythm, pulling out and pushing back in in slow, long thrusts, Drake worked me up. The pressure built up again, but it was different this time. Deeper, more powerful.

  “Hell,” Drake hissed. “This is too good.”

  With swift movements, Drake pulled out his shirt, wrapped an arm under my back, and pulled me up, so I was seated up on the table, my breasts pressed tight against his bare chest. He leaned into me and captured my mouth, just as his mo
vements sped and he pushed inside me fast, deep, and hard.

  I gasped against his mouth and that only seemed to entice him more. Holding on to me, Drake pumped into my core, drawing out the hidden fire I had only known with him.

  Breaking the skin, I stretched my neck. Instantly, his fangs elongated and he licked his lips.

  “I know you want it,” I rasped.

  He didn’t hesitate. Drake sank his teeth on my neck and drank my blood. Like magic, the desire inside me increased tenfold, and I couldn’t help but moan. Holding me tight, he groaned, as if he couldn’t get enough—of my blood and me.

  A wave of pure heat rolled through me, and I sank my nails on Drake’s back, stilling for a moment, before the fire burst and I melted away in little quivers.

  Drake groaned and pulled his head back. He returned his lips to mine. He kissed me hard and deep as he pushed into me hard once, twice, three times, then broke out in little trembles.

  “Holy hell,” he whispered, leaning his heavy body over mine.

  I know, I wanted to tell him, but my mouth couldn’t catch up with my dazed brain and numb body.

  After a moment, Drake scooped me up and took me to our bed. He gently laid me down and stared at me, his green eyes full of desire.

  “Someone looks ready for round two,” I teased.

  He lay on top of me, pressing his hard body on mine. “This is our wedding night, my love. We need to break some sort of record.” I chuckled. But instead of going for it, Drake nestled his face on my neck and inhaled deeply. “I’m happy right here, like this.”

  I wound my arms around his neck and held on tight. “Me too.”

  He pulled back a little and stared at me. “I’m proud of us.”

  We had come a long way, hadn’t we? All that we had gone through since we first met … I sometimes looked back and wondered how we did it. If I were to go back in time, I felt like I wouldn’t be able to accomplish the same. I wouldn’t have been strong enough. But then again, maybe I would. After all, I had Drake by my side and I was sure I could face anything, any hardship, as long as he held my hand.