Seduced and Enchanted

by Stephanie Julian

  But now, with only himself between Rosie’s three injured godmothers and a nightmare creature that couldn’t be killed in any of the regular ways, he sent out a silent prayer to the gods. The weight of finding a cure for the woman he loved was squarely on his shoulders and by Uni, he would live up to the challenge.

  The beast took advantage of his momentary pause to attack again. It swiped for his head, a move that Rio parried with the sword, but it followed up with a punch to his gut. He twisted away but it still caught him just below the ribs, not hard enough to be fatal but it hurt like a bitch. And really pissed him off.

  They fought, the bergoia testing him, trying to wear him down. Though the beast had been a human strega upon death, it had made a deal with Charun, the Etruscan God of Death. It had given the god a blood sacrifice and Charun had allowed it to return to the living world as a bergoia.

  But the god had a bitter sense of humor.

  Though the bergoia retained its human intelligence, it was mostly animal now. It thought like a human, with cunning shining in its eyes, but it fought like an animal—straightforward and with no forethought other than to win.

  Rio fought with every trick his dad and Cam had taught him but he hadn’t gotten close enough to the bergoia to even think about laying his hands on the thing and reading its mind. Without Cam, he needed to come up with another plan. He couldn’t count on Rosie’s godmothers to help. From the corner of his eye, he saw Vivian and Fanny trying to revive Lora. But he couldn’t help them now. He needed his entire concentration focused on the beast.

  If he could only get it close to the wall then maybe he could shove his sword through it and pin it there. The iron blade should keep the bergoia from magically transporting away. Right now it thought it had a winning chance so it wasn’t about to leave.

  And that, Rio decided, was the creature’s failing. It didn’t even consider that it could lose. That was how he’d beat it.

  Rio let himself get a little slower with each parry. Falling back into a defensive position, he took a step backward then another. The bergoia’s mouth curled in a snarl. It got ready to come in for the kill. But when it pounced, Rio was prepared.

  The bergoia aimed high, expecting Rio to block so that it could try for his stomach. Rio took a calculated risk. He ducked, lowered the sword and stabbed straight through the beast. The bergoia caught him in the head with the back of its fist, making his ears ring, but Rio continued to force it backward.

  It was hissing and screeching as it hit the wall. Its arms flailed wildly, its claws only millimeters from his skin. Its head thrashed from side to side. Still Rio kept pushing the sword through its body until the tip hit the solid oak paneling on the wall, holding it in place like a bug on a pin.

  As soon as it was stuck there securely, Rio reached out and grabbed both of the beast’s arms, pinning them to the wall. Then he held on.

  Rage hit him like a two-ton truck. Black and bitter and all consuming. The bergoia lived in an eternal well of hatred. All the wrongs—real or imagined—that had ever been done to it during its life ran on a constant loop in its mind. It fed the beast’s anger, kept it in a constant state of fury. The fact that Rio could read its thoughts pissed it off even more.

  Single-minded in its determination to get away, it fought with the strength of two men. Rio held on. Bits and pieces of its human life filtered through—spell-casting, rituals under the moon, running through dark alleys with someone close on her heels.

  Terror, anger, despair—a mess of emotion that made it so fucking hard for him to find what he needed. The cure for Rosie.

  But he wouldn’t give up, his determination lending strength to his arms.

  Deeper, he had to go deeper into its mind. With a steadying breath, he pushed all his fear and anxiety back, closed his eyes and fell into the beast’s mind.

  The bergoia went wild. It fought with everything, its fear making it stronger. Rio felt blood drip down his face from a scalp wound and from the gash in his side where the beast had caught him with its sword. And still he held on.

  Because he saw something, something the bergoia didn’t want him to see, something the bergoia had hidden, maybe even from itself. It made Rio laugh in pure relief.

  With a motion faster than any he would have believed himself capable of yesterday, he released the creature, grabbed the sword and pulled it free.

  Before the beast had time to take even a few steps, Rio swung the sword through its neck, watching with a detached sense of awe as the head separated and fell to the floor.

  He took one deep breath.

  And passed out.

  * * * * *

  Rio regained consciousness in stages. First was his sense of feeling—and with it, mind-numbing pain. His entire body ached as if the flesh had been stripped off the bones. He really hoped that wasn’t the case.

  He must have passed out again, because the next time he woke he could hear as well as feel. That wasn’t much better, because Rosie’s godmothers were taking him to task.

  “What if you’d gotten yourself killed?” Lora asked. “What would our Rosie have done then?”

  “Foolish boy,” Fanny tsked. “Brave but foolish. Lucky for you, Vivian is a decent healer or you’d have bled out all over our floor.”

  Finally he got his eyes to cooperate and focused them enough to see Vivian’s ageless face above his.

  “Now leave him alone, you two, or I’m going to banish you.” Vivian smiled down at him. “I think you were very brave, Rio. And more than a match for our Rosie. How are you feeling?”

  Before he could answer, Cam spoke from somewhere out of his sight range. “He better be feeling awful, because if you’re not, you’re going to wish you were. Goddamn it, Rio. I’m going to kick your ass for being so reckless. I was stuck outside because of the damn wards. Apparently they’re designed to only let Rosie’s soul mate through.” Cam shot a quick glance in Vivian’s direction then continued, “If anything had happened to you, Mom would have never—”

  “Christ, Cam, give me a break.” Rio wanted to lift his hand to brush away his brother’s anger but decided against it. Just thinking about moving his muscles hurt. “You would have done the same damn thing.”

  Cam took several seconds to digest that. “Yeah, I would have. Shit, Rio, you could have been killed.”

  Rio blinked a few more times, getting his eyesight back to normal so he could locate Cam. His brother stood next to a pile of ashes. That must be what was left of the bergoia. Cam must have burned the body with a spell. “Thanks for cleaning up after me, dude.”

  Cam just shook his head as he walked over to Rio. “You better have what you needed from that thing, because the only place it’s going is the landfill.”

  Carefully, with Vivian’s arm around his shoulders, he sat up, anxious to get back to Rosie.

  “I got what I needed. No one can help Rosie but me. Now transport me back.”

  Vivian nodded as if she understood but Cam’s gaze narrowed. “Are you su—”

  “I’m sure. Just do it.” Rio stood, already feeling better. Vivian’s healing magic had obviously taken care of the worst of his wounds. Sure, he’d be sore for a while but those tiny aches and pains couldn’t compare to the one in his heart. He had to get back to Rosie. Right now.

  Cam’s lips curved up in a brief imitation of a smile. His brother didn’t say anything. He just reached out, laid his hand on Rio’s shoulder and took them back to his house.

  His dad was the first to notice them. He crossed the space from the couch at a flat run.

  “Rio, son…” Lucumo’s worried expression told Rio he still didn’t look too good, but he didn’t care. He needed to see Rosie.

  “I’m fine, Dad. Is she okay?”

  “Oh Rio.” His mother emerged from the back bedroom. “Are you hurt?” She ran her hands over his shoulders and down his arms. “Camillus, is he okay? What happened?”

  Rio gave his mom a quick peck on the cheek but didn’t stop on his
way to the bedroom.

  “Rosie’s godmothers are probably going to be here in a few seconds, Mom. Keep them company please. But don’t let them into the room. Actually it’d probably be better if you all leave. We’re going to need some privacy to break the spell.”

  He didn’t wait for his mom to answer. He had to see Rosie. He vaguely heard Cam say something to their mother but he couldn’t make out the words.

  Teo stood in the doorway, his gaze assessing. “No change. Hope the bergoia looks worse than you do, bro.”

  “If by worse you mean a pile of ashes then, yeah, it does.”

  He moved into the back bedroom, past Nino who had his own sword in one hand.

  Stella and Ellie sat next to the bed. Both got up to give him a quick hug.

  “Guys, I can’t thank you enough for watching over her.” He turned around for a brief second to acknowledge his family then he focused on Rosie, and her alone. “But for what I need to do, I don’t think Rosie’s going to want an audience.”

  Nino’s eyebrows lifted but Ellie smiled and began to drag her mate out of the room. Before she closed the door behind all of them, she said, “Don’t worry, Rio. I’ll make sure no one disturbs you. But you’re going to need to bring your girl to dinner. Perhaps in the next couple of days? I don’t think Stella and I can keep your mom at bay any longer than that.”

  He spared another glance back at Ellie and smiled. “Thanks, Ellie. You know you’re a goddess, right?” Well, actually she was the daughter of a god, but Rio wasn’t a stickler when it came to rank and standing.

  Her lips twisted into a cute little grin. “Yeah, yeah. You always were a sweet talker.” Then her expression sobered and she looked straight into his eyes. “You sure you’ll be okay?”

  He nodded, needing to believe it himself. “We both will. Thanks.”

  She smiled, stepped out of the room and closed the door behind her.

  Steadying himself, Rio took a deep breath and leaned his head and hands against the door, listening to his family talk quietly to Rosie’s godmothers, who’d just arrived. The solid wood door muffled their voices but their tones were concerned and a little frightened.

  In just a few minutes, Ellie made good on her word and got Teo to leave with her and Antonin. A minute after that, Cam and Stella left with his parents and Rosie’s godmothers. He had no idea where they’d go. Didn’t care.

  Silence fell over everything like a wet wool blanket.

  Turning from the door, Rio walked to the bed. Rosie would have looked so peaceful lying there if her skin hadn’t been so pale. It was the only outward sign that there was something wrong. What if she’d slipped too far into the twilight sleep? She’d be caught between life and death for all eternity. Just thinking about it made his chest tighten to the point of pain.

  But I can save her. If what he’d seen in the bergoia’s mind was true then he could bring her back. The logistics went against his nature, but he’d do it and not give it a second thought.

  He started by removing the t-shirt Ellie or Stella must have dressed Rosie in. He ignored her unresponsiveness. Soon enough she’d be wrapping her arms around his shoulders and kissing him back. Now if he could just imagine her being asleep…

  With a flick of his hand, he pulled the shades and turned off the overhead light, plunging the room into intimate darkness. Another flick had him naked on the bed.

  Rio slid under the covers next to her and gently removed the rest of her clothes. He was careful not to twist her arms or legs or pull her hair. All the while he kept talking to Rosie, telling her how much he loved her and how they would spend the rest of their lives together. When he had her naked, he tenderly rolled her on her side and curled up behind her. He needed to hold her, needed to feel her warm skin next to his.

  And he needed to get into the mood. Fast.

  But his brain wouldn’t stop working. What if he’d read the bergoia wrong? What if—

  “No,” he chided himself, “I’ll never know if I don’t try.”

  Closing his eyes, he molded their bodies together, her warm back to his chest, his arms wrapped around her. After a few seconds of absorbing the feel of her, he believed he felt her chest rise and fall in a slightly faster rhythm.

  Did she feel him? Damn, he hoped so.

  His hips nestled against her smooth ass and when he inhaled her sweet scent, he felt lust stir his cock. He rubbed his hardening shaft between her ass cheeks until he had a rock-hard erection. All the time, he kept thinking of Rosie, heard her laugh in his mind, breathed in her rose smell.

  As his own breathing deepened, he could have sworn he felt hers quicken as well. It gave him the push he needed to slide his hand between her legs—

  Her pussy was drenched! He groaned aloud when his fingers slipped through the slick folds.

  She was responding to him. Even through the spell, she sensed him, wanted him. Their souls were connected no matter where they were. Not even death could—

  But Rio wouldn’t think about that. Rosie was not dead. In fact, she was very much alive. His finger found her clit and rolled the little nub. He was awarded by another burst of moisture. Her sweet juices trickled down her thighs.

  It was time to bring his sleeping beauty back to life.

  With one last prayer to the Great Goddess Uni, Rio guided his cock to her slit and thrust inside.

  * * * * *

  Rosie opened her eyes to darkness. Heat surrounded her, inside and out. Desire made her entire body heavy. She sensed Rio’s presence. It was all around her. He whispered to her, words of love, words of comfort, but he was too far away for her to clearly hear them. Warmth caressed her pussy and she knew it was him—her body knew it was him. She wanted to touch him, feel his cock, but she couldn’t pinpoint where he was.

  Then Rio shifted and thrust inside her. She gasped, heat rushing through her body as light and color seeped back into the world.

  And suddenly he was there—behind her, his cock deeply embedded inside her pussy.

  She sighed as her muscles tightened around him, causing him to groan and wrap his arms even more tightly around her waist.

  His mouth opened on the back of her neck, biting lightly, and she gasped again at the pleasure.

  “Rosie,” he whispered, almost as if he didn’t think she could hear him, “Rosie, honey, I love you so much.”

  His hips thrust again, the angle of penetration rubbing against that perfect inner spot that made her shudder.

  “Oh Rio. Do that again.”

  He froze behind her—so not what she wanted him to do.

  “Gods, Rosie. Oh Rosie… I love you. Are you okay?”

  The intensity in his voice made her frown. Of course she was okay, even more so if he would just start moving again. She could barely think over the lust pounding in her blood. “I need you, Rio. Make me come.”

  Wiggling back against him, she tried to encourage him to get back with the program. She heard Rio’s harsh breathing, felt the trembling in his chest, even felt a drop of moisture on her shoulder. Was he crying? Why—

  His cock surged back into her, making all other thoughts disappear. Her head falling back against his shoulder, she reached for his hand, sliding it down into the curls on her mound.

  Rio didn’t need any more encouragement. His fingers honed straight to her clit, his touch immediately increasing the fire in her blood. Her impassioned moan made him thrust even harder.

  Heat sparked from her clit through her sheath to her womb. Her whole body came alive with sensation.

  She reached back for his hips, pulling him closer, deeper. He gave in to her without a fight and fucked her so hard the bed groaned in protest.

  Rosie loved every second of it. She loved the feel of his hand on her clit. Loved the feel of his cock shuttling in and out of her. Loved his control over her. Loved him.

  “I love you, Rio.” The words burst out of her. Arching her back, she settled her hips against his and felt her orgasm detonate. It burned her to cin
ders and took Rio with her.

  * * * * *

  “So the bergoia is really gone?”

  Rosie’s words brushed across his chest, as light as a feather, sending a shiver up his spine. A very good shiver.

  The memories had come back slowly after they’d made love. She’d been rattled when he’d explained what had happened—which had meant of course that he’d had to calm her down with more sex. Now, lying across his chest in Cam’s extra bedroom, she had her arms wrapped tightly around him, as if she were afraid he might disappear.

  His arms were wrapped just as tightly around her. He wasn’t going anywhere without her.

  “Gone and never coming back.”

  “And you found that out because you read its mind…”

  He heard the unasked question in her voice. “Yeah. But don’t worry. I can’t read yours. I’m pretty sure it has something to do with being soul mates.”

  She laughed, just a short puff of air. “Well, I’m glad to hear that. And my godmothers are okay?”

  “You just talked to them a few minutes ago. They’re fine.” She’d called them as soon as they’d caught their breath. There’d been lots of crying on the other end of the line and a few tears on Rosie’s cheeks. Happy tears, he could handle.

  “And you’re really okay?” she asked.

  Even though it was probably the fourth or fifth time she asked, he only smiled and said, “I’m fine.”

  “And…you love me.” Rosie sounded smug and more than a little satisfied.

  Wrapping one hand in her hair, he gave it a gentle tug so she looked up at him. When he was staring straight into those beautiful purple eyes, he nodded. “More than my own life.”

  Her smile warmed his heart for several seconds. “Then you’d better take care of yourself, Rio. No more going off on your own to fight monsters,” she paused, “because I love you too…”

  The sweetest of kisses followed that announcement and desire again pounded in his blood. Gods, the woman would wear him out… Never!