Rowan Sisters' Trilogy

by Brenda Trim

  Once the circles were formed and all had joined hands, the ceremony commenced. Zander cleared his throat and Suvi wondered if he was nervous. He had only performed one other ceremony, for Jace and his mate. “We have gathered here to join these individuals, under the eye of the Sun and the glow of the Moon. Let the circle be blessed and consecrated with Fire and Water.” Zander motioned to her sisters.

  Pema and Isis pointed their wands at the concrete and both chanted, “Dóiteáin.” A blaze encircled them and the fire rose from the earth to the heavens, concealing them from their guests. Through the flames, Suvi watched, as with a flourish, her sisters pointed their wands at the pool and chanted, “Uisge.” A fine mist of water rose from the nearby swimming pool to flow around the outskirts of the fire. With a flick of their wrists, the mist blew inward, extinguishing the fire.

  Zander continued the ceremony. “We call to the Goddess Morrigan, and invoke her to bless this mating.” He paused and raised his hands to the full moon above. Suvi could feel the Goddess’ presence in the air around them, despite her absence. She’d heard that she had made an appearance at Zander’s mating and wondered what that must have been like. Part of her was relieved the Goddess didn’t show up at all the ceremonies because she was nervous as it was, and if she had shown up, Suvi may have passed out from hyperventilating.

  “We call upon the spirits of the East, of Air, Spring and new beginnings. We call upon the spirits of the South and the inner Fire of the Sun, Summer and personal will. We call upon the spirits of the West, of Water, Autumn, and healing and dreaming. We call upon the spirits of the North, of Earth, Winter, and the time of cleansing and renewal. Join us to bless this couple with your guidance and inspiration,” Zander recited. Emotion choked Suvi while magic enveloped her and Caine. She watched love for her swell in Caine’s eyes and she allowed her own feelings to be seen in her brown depths.

  Zander turned to Donovan. “You have the stone, lad?” He ruffled her nephew’s hair.

  Donovan lifted an intricately carved wooden box and held it up. “Yes, sir. It’s in here, safe and sound,” he said proudly.

  Zander opened the lid and removed the ordinary rock. He placed it in her hand then wrapped Caine’s hand around hers, both surrounding the stone. Caine grabbed her left hand and placed it on his chest, over his heart, then placed his left hand over hers.

  “I bless this mating under the Sun and the Moon. This circle of love and honour is open and never broken, so may it be,” Zander’s voice resonated with his blessing.

  Heat built in the stone as she felt both souls leave her body to enter the stone. A brilliant green light flashed between their fingers and her skin tingled with the magic, automatically absorbing some of the energy. The connection she felt to Caine intensified, and she could now see the bond between them. A million golden threads wrapped around her heart and ran to his, entwining them. Their combined souls surged back into her body at that moment and she knew right away that she would carry part of Caine with her for all time. She was aware of his thoughts, every naughty one, as well as, the love he felt for her.

  Her sisters had told her that she would feel complete in a way she’d never been before, but the reality of it was so much more than that, and yet, beyond explanation. What she didn’t expect was the fulfillment of her full magic. She finally understood the prophecy and how it could be believed that she and her sisters would reform the face of witchcraft. The power coursing through her veins was that staggering. It was pure and untainted and so strong that it couldn’t be contained within one being. She glanced briefly to her sisters and knew they had felt the same thing with her being the third and final piece to their puzzle.

  She was prepared for the pain when it hit, but it still took her breath and had her heart racing. Caine had been warned about what would happen with their stone and kept hold of her hand, initiating their mental link. I’m here with you, love. It will pass. She felt him wrap her in his embrace as the light flared, then subsided. The pain subsided, leaving behind all the tender emotions she had come to discover since meeting Caine.

  She heard the Goddess’ voice whisper in her head. “No power, not even death, can ever sever this bond. Mating stones protect and bless different aspects for different couples. Yours blesses and protects your magical power. The time to fulfill your prophecy is near. It will require the power of six to beat your enemy.” Suvi was right about her reaction when she began having difficulty breathing. The Goddess was in her head and she couldn’t form a single thought to reply to her. She heard a tinkling of laughter and the Goddess was once again speaking. “Don’t worry, I know.”

  A sense of calm spread through her body and she knew the Goddess was the reason. Suvi took a deep breath and allowed her curiosity to win out as she raised one, and then all, of her fingers. A beautiful emerald was embedded into her palm. It matched her vampire’s eyes. She looked up and into those emerald depths. Heat was blazing back at her. It was going to be a long party, she thought, as Zander completed the ceremony.

  *****

  Caine gazed at his Fated Mate, unable to believe that he was about to complete the final phase of his mating. It had taken every ounce of his will-power to hold back during the ceremony. He appreciated the need for the blessings, but the dress Suvi wore fit like a second skin and he’d wanted to peel it from her body the second she’d walked out of the backdoor with her father. All he could do was watch the hypnotic sway of her hips as she walked toward him. Desire, hot and hard, exploded throughout his entire body.

  The moment her father had placed her hand in his, the electrical current that passed between them had turned him into a creature made up solely of base needs. His saving grace had been that he had something else to focus on and that was their mating ceremony. Even now, he still felt like he was in a dream. He couldn’t believe that he had found his Fated Mate and was about to complete the blood exchange to fully make her his for eternity.

  He finished unzipping her dress and slid it off her body. It fell to the floor in a pool at her feet. He ran a finger down her spine, enjoying the way she shivered under his touch. She wasn’t wearing a bra and he had her stepping out of her white, lace thong in the next breath. His witch was standing before him naked as the day she was born, but for her remarkable shoes, and she was nothing short of exquisite. He turned her to face him and she looked up at him through her thick, black lashes.

  He reached up and took the silver combs from her hair, letting the long, black tresses cascade in waves down her back. His gaze traveled over her and stopped on her lush breasts which jutted invitingly. He cupped one in his hand and gave it a squeeze.

  “I need you naked, mate,” she murmured as she reached for the buttons on his shirt.

  He let go of her breast and opened his pants while she worked on removing his shirt. The second his zipper was down, his erect cock sprang free, aching and full. Her eyes dipped to his shaft and she licked her lips and groaned aloud. Impatient, she yanked his shirt open, causing buttons to fly in every direction. He let the ruined cloth slide off his arms.

  Her fingers sank into the flesh of his chest as he explored her breasts, tweaking and teasing her nipples. The way she arched into his touch was so uninhibited and raw that it robbed him of breath. She had no problem taking what she wanted from him or letting him know what she liked. It was rare in his experience for a female to be so bold with her desires and it was one more thing he loved about her.

  She pushed his pants down and before he could step out of them, her hands were all over his body. He chuckled and pulled her close, meshing their bodies together.

  “Is there something you want, love?” he asked, teasing her.

  “Yes. I want all of you…inside me,” she hissed. “Don’t you want to taste my blood again?” She knew exactly how to bring him to his proverbial knees. His fangs filled his mouth and he hungered for a taste of her melon-sweet blood.

  “More than anything,” he answered honestly as she twined her arms
around his neck and pulled him down to her mouth.

  He went willingly and at the first touch of their lips, he lost all thought. She traced her tongue along his lower lip and took advantage when he opened at the request. Suvi ran her tongue along his teeth, exploring, learning him. She paused at one of his fangs and ran her tongue along its length. His beast was rising and his groan of pleasure was ripped from him as the sensation went straight to his cock. It felt like she was licking his shaft. She shifted her attention to his other fang and he felt them lengthen with her strokes until they were at fully extended. He had never been so close to orgasm from someone licking his fangs. Of course, he had never experienced half of what she was putting his body through.

  He took command of the kiss and slid his tongue along the rim of her lips, sucking on the bottom lip. Her moan of pleasure echoed his and arousal intensified her melon scent. She was ready for him. He hoped she was always this affected by him after they’d been together for centuries.

  He reached between them and found her moist center. She was so fucking wet and hot and needy. She whimpered as he fingered her bundle of nerves and cupped one breast. Her moans were the sweetest sound, and the knowledge that he was the musician made his cock throb with frantic need. He wanted to savor this experience. After all, they would never have another blood exchange like this one, but when he slid one finger into her wet pussy, the only coherent thought he had was to sink into her tight sheath and take her blood.

  With single minded determination, he guided her toward the bed. Their silhouettes danced across the wall of the candle-lit room. He lowered her onto the soft mattress and followed her down. Leaning on one elbow, he looked down, pausing long enough to appreciate the site before him. He caught a glimpse of her glistening flesh before he plunged home in one fierce stroke.

  “Fuck!” he groaned. She was so tight and hot that he had to grit his teeth or lose control. She writhed under him and he had to grab her hips to still them. “Give me a minute, love. I want this to last longer than a handful of minutes. You feel too good.” He pulled out slowly and thrust back in to her welcoming sheath.

  “You don’t have to worry about lasting that long,” she moaned. “From the moment I saw you tonight, I’ve been aching for you. I won’t last long, either,” she panted. He gave into her demands and slowly pulled out, shoving harder and deeper this time.

  “Damn, baby.” That fast, he felt her muscles clench and ripple around his length. He increased his pace and the power behind his strokes. “We do the blood exchange now. I can’t wait, and after this, I plan to have you all night long,” he said against the pounding pulse in her neck.

  “You have me forever,” she promised.

  His teeth sank into her artery and she detonated around him. His balls drew up tight, ready to explode. Her blunt little teeth ravaged his neck and the sharp pain was eclipsed by the ecstasy of his own orgasm. The sensation of his blood joining hers to make her fully his, set off another release before the first had even waned.

  She took advantage of his bliss and flipped him onto his back. She lifted his hands and muttered, “Go ceangal.” Instantly, his wrists were magically bound to the bed posts. As she took over their love making, he was consumed with the thought that if he died and went to Annwyn at that moment, he would die a happy male.

  CHAPTER ELEVEN

  Caine stood with Braeden and Ronan in a remote section of the woods on the east side of the lake. Suvi and her sisters were bathed in the powerful light of the moon. After having swept the area with a besom, the witches placed several items on the cherry wood table that served as their altar. A trio of white candles carved with runes, along with a ceremonial athame, were precisely positioned. A scattering of colored crystals followed suit. Each of the sisters lit one of the candles and then Pema grabbed the bowl of salt and dried lavender from Suvi. Snakes writhed in Caine’s gut…they were ready to cast the circle. He’d never witnessed the intricacies of doing extensive magic and he had been entranced until he realized they were going to begin.

  He hadn’t agreed with calling Cele to them so soon. He wanted to wait another century. They had only been mated the night before and he found it impossible to remain calm, but there was no backing out now. He silently cursed that he kept allowing his thoughts to go down that particular rabbit hole. He had been lectured that any negative energy would only taint the space and could alter their spell. The last thing he wanted was for them to call the hordes of hell to them. He reminded himself that he appreciated taking the offensive with Cele and they were doing this on their terms. It was the best way of facing her without her archdemon and sorceress cohorts.

  Caine came to attention when Suvi grabbed his hand and moved him south of the altar. “Okay, babe. We are going to cast our circle now and then it will be show time. I need you with me,” Suvi informed him with a smile and the turned to her sisters. “Ready?”

  “It’s now or never,” Isis replied with determination. Each of the sisters took their mates’ hands. Caine could feel the power build and gazed around their circle, noting the sisters were confident and competent which set him more at ease.

  “Now remember, this is how we will be most powerful, so don’t get any ideas about funny business,” Pema teased her mate.

  “Mate, I never stop having naughty thoughts about you. Now will be no different,” Ronan growled. Caine happened to agree with the male. It was going to be difficult to watch Suvi perform this ritual naked and not ravage her. Unfortunately, there was nothing that was going to stop the fantasies.

  Suvi smiled at him knowingly as she removed her green, silk robe. Caine was captivated by his mate as her nudity hit him like a punch in the gut. Suvi had explained that witches performed magic best when sky-clad to draw energy from the moon. She had also told him that they performed strong magic when sexual elements were involved and that she needed him to send that energy her way. He felt like he was throwing off so much sexual energy at the moment that they should be able to bring back that dead chick, Claire.

  He found himself praying that they needed to act out his fantasies to add even more power to this ritual. He had never been an exhibitionist and believed what he and his mate did should stay between them, but he wouldn’t hesitate to take her right there in front of her family.

  He barely noticed the others remove their robes, but once they had all shed their respective robes, Pema began casting the circle. He watched in fascination as she took the salt mixture and walked deosil in a perfect circle. After she had completed her first circuit, white light emanated from the salt. On her second circuit, she began chanting, “I cast this circle to keep us free of all energies that are not of the Light,” she glanced back and winked at Ronan.

  Pema resumed her chant, “I allow within this circle only the energies that are of the Light. So mote it be.” On her third walk around Caine listened as she consecrated the space and marveled at how powerful their witchcraft was. As a vampire, he had powers and abilities that were tied to the blood and the moon whereas his mate’s was tied to the earth and the moon. He thought they complimented one another perfectly.

  Isis proceeded to scribe the pentacle in salt, and invoked the element in each direction as she went. “Hear me, Sentinels of the East, We summon the powers of Air! Hear me, Sentinels of the South, We summon the powers of Fire! Hear me, Sentinels of the West, We summon the powers of Water! Hear me, Sentinels of the North, We summon the powers of Earth! As above, so below. As within, so without. Four stars in this place be, Combined to call the fifth to we! So mote it be.”

  The white light that had begun earlier brightened and was infused with the light bursting from each of the witches palms. The colors of blue, green and golden brown danced around the circle in an intricate pattern and the sudden influx of power within the circle nearly sent Caine to his knees. He glanced to the side and noticed the other males had widened their stance and were standing their ground and he did the same.

  His concern about summoni
ng Cele was melting under the evidence of the power his mate and her sisters wielded. The pride he had in that moment for his mate and her abilities awed him. His mate was bad ass and he knew they could do this. He sent that belief and his love to her through their mental link.

  The females reclaimed their hands and closed their own small circle. Strong winds whipped through the clearing, sending his hair flying into his eyes. Caine felt a connection to each of the other members of the circle through their clasped hands. It amazed him how his spike in adrenaline was turned into energy for his mate and her sisters. He guessed it was the same for the other males who stood there as slack-jawed and wide-eyed as he was. A fine mist filled the circle and a buzzing built in his ears as the witches chanted a summoning spell. The words were lost on him and he closed his eyes as he struggled to keep up with translating what Suvi and her sisters were saying.

  Suddenly the wind stopped and everything went silent.

  Caine blinked his eyes open to see Cele crouching in the middle of the circle and the witches now wore full-leather-battle-gear from head-to-toe. He glanced down and saw that Suvi had on six-inch knee-high black boots. Of course, he smiled. The High Priestess, on the other hand, was bedraggled with her hair loose and tangled about her gaunt face. Her skin was pale and her lips chapped and bleeding. Whatever dark magic she was wielding was killing her from the inside out and he wondered if she had any idea of how bad she looked. “How dare you call me to you!” she spat indignantly.

  Pema lifted her chin and addressed the angry female. “We dare because we cannot allow you to walk free with that demon’s power. You have gone Dark and we will expunge that power from you.”

  “There is not a thing you can do to me. I am the High Priestess and you three are nothing more than lowly peasants!” Cele shrieked and tried to escape the circle. Caine tensed to move, not prepared for her to hit an invisible barrier and bounce off. He looked down and realized the witch was caught in the pentacle Isis had scribed.