by S. I. Hayes
“Keegan, it’s four in the morning. I really don’t need to be awake for this. I’m glad to know you got there in one piece. Now stop avoiding going into the house. Suck it up so I can go back to bed.” With that, Sig hung up on me. I swear I heard someone snoring in the background, hopefully it was Aella, but from his moody ass temperament I’d say the boy got skunked again. I felt bad for him; I wondered what the holdup was, I mean, if they were getting hot enough to rip up my seats what was the problem?
“Keegan.” I turned my head, seeing my father standing on the steps of my childhood home. The mansion sat at the end of a cul de’ sac of a slowly growing mixed community. I had grown up surrounded by my own, and then the Humans had begun to move in. It hadn’t been easy. For a long time, we kept to opposite sides of the street, but now we were all neighbors and even had the occasional mixers.
My father being there was a double edged sword. It would prove to make the announcement of my engagement to Ryane go over more smoothly, but it would also increase the tension in an already darkened home. My mother had died there. She had taken her life when I was seventeen, the voices in her head finally winning out. See, not even Vampires are immune to maladies of the mind. She had suffered from depression and anxiety with schizoid tendencies, lending hallucinations and the voices from time to time. My father didn’t know it when the marriage had been arranged, but after over two hundred years, he came to love her, problems and all.
Her death devastated him and he abandoned that house to live in Arizona. It was only since he had become King of the Vampire Clans that he had to return. It had not done much for his disposition.
“Father.” I faced him as Ryane fidgeted in the Jeep. I hadn’t awoken her yet; it was, after all, very late. “I am sorry for the hour, I know we said tomorrow, but we were in a position to come sooner.”
He nodded, waving his hand and pulling his robe closed as I looked up at the window to his bedroom, seeing the curtain move. Curious. It had been eighteen years since my mother died and he’d never shown an interest in anyone, so who was that? “Get Ryane, I’ll have Jarod and Dodge get your things. Where is Sig and the other, Aella?”
“There have been some developments back at Grigori. I’ll explain once we get inside, if that’s alright by you.”
“Of course.”
He was being awfully agreeable. I was really wondering just what or rather who he was hiding up those stairs. I nodded at him and went around the truck to Ryane.
“Baby, wake up. We’re here.” I nudged her and she opened her eyes, reaching out for me. They rolled up black as the night sky around us for an instant.
“I’m hungry,” she whispered with a groan as I slipped my hands around her to lift her out of the seat.
“I know baby, but you gotta wait.”
“No.” She sounded like an insolent child at that point as she licked my throat.
“Alright, but just a little.” No sooner than I gave her permission than her fangs broke into me. My father’s eyes narrowed as I walked past him and headed into the house with her in my arms.
Once across the threshold I put her down, “Ryane, that’s enough.”
She reluctantly lets me go then kissed me. “Thank you.” She licked my lips and then looked around, her tired eyes adjusting to the dimly lit room.
“Father likes his ambiance. Candles and sconces at night only. He’s old fashioned like that.” I smiled as I heard shuffling above us. At the top of the stair was my cousin Jackie, she looked good, a little wet though. Like she’d taken a shower recently. Come to think on it, so did my father.
I looked back at him as he closed the door behind us and stared at her.
“Really? You do realize she’s my cousin... Right? Technically, your niece?”
“Through marriage, Keegan. We share no kin blood. Not that it matters, we have no intentions of breeding. Or bonding.”
I gritted my teeth as Jackie came down the stairs and kissed my cheek.
“Hey honey, don’t be mad. He deserves to be loved as much as any of us.”
I shook my head. “Yup. I need a drink.” I took Ryane about the waist, leading her into the den.
“Keegan, don’t be like that,” Jackie called after me, but I was tuning her out.
Chapter 62 Ryane
Keegan held me close to him as I groggily walked. I didn’t know why I was so tired, but I couldn’t seem to keep my eyes open. The house was stunning, all natural wood moldings and candles lit in places where lamps should have been, giving it an ethereal feel. I was warm and felt safe here. Keegan sat me down and I sank into the velvety softness of a suede sofa.
“BABY, YOU SIT RIGHT here. I’m gonna take care of you.” He was right next to me, but sounded so far away. I looked at him and nodded. At least I think I did. Then I was grabbed by the face and his father was staring, searching my half-mast eyes for something I couldn’t begin to guess at.
“She’s on a bleed? Oh Keegan, not only did you blood a Legacy, but she’s going to be a breeder.” He looked at Keegan with abject fear. “You need to keep your hands to yourself, unless you want to put her in a delicate way and fast.”
I laughed. “You talk funny; you know that?” I bopped him on the nose and he stared at me sternly.
“Blood drunk on top of it. Oh, to Hell with this insanity.” He turned on Keegan. “You cannot come in here and lecture me on my decisions of bedfellows when your own has such issues. You two share too much, she craves Pureblood over any other and that is why she’s starving so often. It’s her Hunter’s blood screaming to be satiated.
My Hunter’s blood? Yes, I could feel it pulsing in my veins. To hunt, to kill, to stalk and choose my prey, to feed in the most unnatural ways. I watched the vein in his throat as it pumped and I reached out to trace it with my fingertips and he pulled away.
“Son, you need to get her under control.”
“And therein lies the problem, Father. I don’t know how. She damn near went feral this afternoon, it’s why we came so quickly.”
“Then we have much to discuss, but for now take her to bed. I’m sure you remember where that is?”
“I do.” Keegan scooped me up into his arms and I nestled into his chest, taking a deep breath, loving the scent of him.
I craved him like an insomniac craved sleep, and I didn’t care why. I just knew that I needed to have him.
The candle light cast shadows across the long halls as he carried me up a winding flight of stairs to the second floor. By the time we had reached the door, I had already begun to work at him with gentle kisses.
“Ryane,” he moaned out my name and I smiled. It was the way he said it, I knew he was mine.
My feet dangled as he slipped his hands down under me, grabbing ahold of my firm plump ass. I held on to his neck, kissing him, sucking on his tongue, firing him up. My pants were gone in moments and I could feel his cock as it hit my stomach, now it was my turn to moan. He lifted me up, putting my legs up over his hips and put me to the door as he drove deep inside of me.
“Fuck yeah,” I gasped as he ploughed into me, hard and fast. It didn’t take long until I was clenching up all around him, the first time. As I went barreling over the edge, he slammed up inside me and I clamped down on him, holding him where I needed him. My nails dug into his back and I could smell his blood. Feel it as it trickled down over my fingers. I took my hand to my mouth, sucking the fireball infused tangy liquid down. I couldn’t get enough of this man!
He grabbed my hand, pushing it from my mouth, and kissed me ravenously. I opened my eyes, wanting to watch as he pumped into me, and he spun me around. That’s when I realized, this was no ordinary room. It was without any necessities, no furniture except a chair and the bed and no windows that I could make out in the darkness.
“Baby?” I gasped as he carried me to the bed.
“I’m sorry,” he breathed into me, as my hands went above my head and I could feel the restraints click into place.
“What a
re you doing?” I clenched my teeth as he bound my legs.
“What must be done to help you. Remember, I will never lie to you and I love you.” He kissed my forehead, leaving me half-naked and screaming on the bed.
Chapter 63 Keegan
“I HATE LEAVING HER like that father.” I stared at the man as he poured us each a scotch. I looked around the den, it was still the oak paneled room I remembered from childhood, filled with books and his computers. Only now they were glass two-way screens that allowed him access to all sorts of secrets of both Otherkind and Human types. He spent hours in this room when I was young, doing research on the malady that plagued my mother, finding doctors and specialists who in the end failed and died for their lack of success. He never did do well with not getting his way.
“You will do as you must to help her.” He sighed heavily, handing me the drink and motioning for me to sit. I took the thick leather chair opposite the mahogany desk that he leaned against. “Her turning has awakened her Hunter’s blood. She is a Pureblood, but also a Legacy. Keegan, she’s feral. There is no way around it. She must be dried out.”
“That is no easy feat.” I squirmed in my chair, drying her out also meant that I would have to be kept from her and we were bonded. “You know I crave her too.”
He nodded, sighing. “It will be awful for you. Which is why you will need to be locked down as well.”
“Wait...? What?” There were suddenly hands on me! Jarod and Dodge had me by the arms and I could feel a needle as it was shoved into my throat. I felt the burn of the Werewolf venom before it took effect. “Father?”
“It must be done, for all our sakes.” His voice was low and I could barely understand as the world around me began to grow dim.
chapter 64 Sig
I ROLLED OVER TO FIND Aella still in bed next to me. She was snoring softly and I didn’t want to wake her, so I slipped out of bed gently and got dressed for my morning run. I figured she’d sleep till the coffee pot woke her on my return, but no sooner than I’d slipped on my pants than I heard her whimper.
“Where are you off to? The sun isn’t even up yet?”
“I run till dawn, honey.” I smiled, leaning over and kissing her cheek as she stretched, her breasts looked awesome in that position and my dick instantly twitched.
“Mmm, gimmie like five minutes, I’ll come with you.”
“You run?”
“Not at all, but I jog pretty good.”
“What will you wear?”
“I’m sure Ryane has something stretchy I could borrow.”
I laughed. “Umm, alright, her room is the last door on the right.”
I watched as she climbed out of the bed and bounded off and out of the room. I fell back on the bed. It would be nice to have a running partner again. Ryane and I hadn’t been running in a few weeks. I mean, I kept running, she just hadn’t been. Keegan had been monopolizing all of her time. Damn Vampires.
“Okay. I think this will work,” Aella chirped.
I looked down my legs at her, she wore a pair of black Capri running pants that went up to her knee, with a pink side stripe and a black and pink sport midriff top.
“Wow, you have abs almost as good as mine,” I said, admiring them as she flexed.
“I’m pretty shredded.” She giggled, hardening her torso more. “Wanna wrestle?” She jumped me, landing on my chest, sufficiently holding me down.
I licked my lips as she bent down and teased them with her own, keeping my hands tucked under her knees.
“Hmm, I like you prone like this,” she whispered, her breath minty from the toothpaste.
“I like you on top of me.” I lifted my hips playfully, making her slide backward.
She smiled, kissing me, sliding down where I wanted her, freeing my hands, which found her firm ass instantly.
She pulled away with a laugh. “Nope, first we run.” She dashed out of the room.
I lay on the bed for a moment, my hardon keeping me in place. I puffed smoke rings, then she popped her head back in the room.
“Hey Sig? You coming?”
“Almost...” I quipped.
“I got an idea...” her voice was full of mischief.
“Do you, now?” I rolled over, adjusting my aching cock. That blowjob from the night before coming to mind and not helping my situation.
“I’m gonna run, and I’m gonna keep running, but here’s the thing, if you can catch me... You can have me.” Instantly, she was gone from the doorway.
I stared at the empty space for a moment, letting what she said sink in for that time. Then I was up and sprinting for the open front door, but then hesitated. I slammed on the breaks, spinning on my heels, I grabbed a blanket from the bed and my wallet from the drawer. We were gonna need both. If she wanted to play, I was game and I was gonna win.
chapter 65 Aella
WHEN MY FEET HIT THE pavement I nearly lost my nerve, but I’d been thinking of him and his hands all over me for months now. My heart thumped in my chest, in my ears. I took off like a jack rabbit headed Gods only knew where. I didn’t know the area, so I was hit with streets that had no names to me. I spotted the main throughway and headed for that. It was a straightaway, so at least I could pick up some speed and keep him running for a while. Tease him a bit, before letting him catch me. I may have fibbed a wee bit about the running, the wild hunt was all about the run, the hiding and the capturing. I was good at this. I took a deep breath as the wind kicked up, bringing his scent to me and I glanced over my shoulder. There he was, trotting on behind me.
“You’ll never catch me at that pace!” I called back, breathing easy. I wasn’t pushing myself all that hard, even on this concrete.
“I’m biding my time!” He snickered. “Tiring you out!”
“Good luck with that!” I picked up the pace and headed to a stand of trees that looked promising enough to hide inside of for a bit. Nice and thick. Good cover, I could lose him for a while, keep him confused, and flustered.
“Aella?” he called out, hitting the tree line as I turned down the winding paths. “You really wanna play this with me? I can scent you.”
I laughed hard, stopping where he could see me. “And yet you still can’t keep up, babe.”
He growled and smoke ebbed out of his nostrils, which just spurred on my fit of laughter. He barreled down on me and I took off again.
Then I was suddenly off the ground and wrapped up in his arms, pulled against his chest, his grip on me tight.
“I’ve got you now, babe.”
I swear, I could hear the smile on his face.
“Sig? You cheated! Put me down! Oh, my Gods, we’re in the fucking air!” I clung to him as he soared up above the trees, my face buried in his arm as he adjusted me for a better grip, pulling my legs up into his hands so he was cradling me.
“Easy baby, I’ve got you. I won’t drop you. Haven’t you ever flown? Didn’t you ever get to use your wings before they were taken from you?”
I swallowed hard, the fear coming off me in waves as I sniffled. “No.” I looked down and the ground was just so small, the trees specs, but the clouds were these beautiful white puffs of smoke around us. “Aren’t you afraid someone will see us?”
“I’ve cloaked us.”
I looked at him strangely, I didn’t know what he was talking about. “What do you mean? Cloaked?”
“Dragons can bend the light around them to make them seem to disappear. Didn’t you know that, it’s a basic survival skill. Even Half-born Dragons can accomplish this.” He knitted his brows at me, pushing a curl away from my face.
“Keep your hands around me, please. And no, I never knew about that.”
“I have so much to teach you.” He smiled, bending down and kissing me. The taste of him sent a chill through to my toes! “But that is for another time, right now let’s you and I take a little detour.”
He flapped those beautiful huge wings of his and we were on the move, my ears popped instantly and my eyes te
ared, but I could see everything.
The world around us passing by seemed to slow down even as fast as I knew we moved. The clouds cleared to brilliant blue skies and open spaces. I felt the winds as they whipped around us and it felt wonderful.
If this was what it was to fly as a Dragon, I wanted my wings, I wanted this freedom. I clung to him as the city gave way to mountains and trees.
“I thought we could use a bit of nature. Thought you might be missing it,” he shouted over the wild winds.
“You’d be right.” I smiled as we descended. The landing was smoother than any plane and I didn’t feel like I was going to hurl. A definite plus.
He ran his hands up and down my arms slowly, looking into my eyes. I had to look away.
“No pressure, no expectations honey,” he whispered. “I’m not holding you to what you said.”
A wide smile crossed my face. “But I am.” I spied the blanket in his hands. “So, why the blanket then?”
“A man can hope for some foreplay.”
I took the blanket and finding a soft spot of grass, laid it out, then sat down. “Come here, baby.” I held out my hand to Sig and he ran his hands through his hair and did a little pace, left then right.
“Yeah. I’m coming.” He puffed smoke, then plopped down beside me with an excited little laugh.
I grabbed him by the shirt and kissed him, my other hand wrapping around the back of his head, pulling him in deeper. His hands worked their way around me urgently, grabbing at my hips as we lay on our sides.
I could feel my insides as they pulsed, driving my core to flare up just from his kiss.
“Oh, Sig, I’ve been thinking of you and me for so fucking long,” I gasped out, lifting my neck so he could kiss down it. He took little nips at my chin, my ears.
“You feel so good in my arms,” he whispered, kissing down to my breasts, pulling down one of my top’s straps and devouring my hardened nipples. I grabbed his hand and slid it down to my waistband.