Love Of A Lifetime

by Murphy, Riley

  Cyrus pinned a lethal glare on him. “I told you. I needed you.” He swooped sideways and took hold of him. “You agreed.”

  Jesse looked up at Cyrus, then down at the strangling grip he held on his arm before he shot a look over at Steven. That man broadly smiling with excitement alight in his eyes had Jesse panicking. “Why am I here?” he asked again. As a reporter, he knew it was best to get the tough questions out of the way first. It was like ripping a band-aide off in one quick jerk. “You know that I only agreed because I had no choice. What do you want from me?”

  “This.”

  Blackness descended and Jesse felt that familiar floating sensation and then suddenly he could see again. To his horror, he was now in Steven’s pathetic shell of a body. “Oh God,” he cried and hunched over. “This can’t be happening.” He heard a snicker and too late, he realized that Steven was enjoying his new body. “No.”

  “What? Did you think I always looked like that?” Jesse stared at the index finger the man pointed toward him and shook his head in disbelief. He looked down at the skeletal arms he was encased in and shuddered.

  “Don’t worry, when you’ve learned to behave and quit asking questions, Cyrus will find you a better vessel.”

  “Not with him,” Cyrus barked.

  Jesse staggered back. His legs felt like tiny poles beneath him. The skin on his face burned and itched. “What–what do you mean? We had a deal.”

  “Ah, yes, the story.” The monster of a man rasped and shot forward to grab Jesse by the neck. “For a reporter, you lack the finesse of ferreting out the important facts. You were so focused in the ‘vampire’ aspect of the tale, that you never once asked the most important question.” Jesse tried to swallow, but it was hard with those hands clenching his throat. “The why?” The maniac shook him almost playfully. “Why were the Midlands, and others like them, here at all? That’s the real story.”

  “Why?” Jesse croaked. He was trying to buy time and they all knew it.

  Cyrus looked amused again. “Why?” he repeated and laughed like there was some private joke. “I’m afraid there’s nothing earth-shattering to tell. Even in another world, the concepts of unrequited love, betrayal, and greed are enough incentives to start wars. I,” his eyes gleamed as he began to squeeze Jesse’s throat, “decimated a whole culture of woman and children in my fury. It cost me much, but I intend to get it all back. Especially now that I know he found her. You were smart with that much of your research, but your one mistake? Jack isn’t just a Vampine. He is their king. Their precious king,” he said this like he forgot he was speaking to anyone in particular. “Feeding on royalty, instead of siphoning mere mortal souls, will speed things up dramatically for me.” He blinked and refocused. His expression didn’t change when he crushed his hand around the skinny throat he held, until the Adam’s apple met spine.

  This time when the blackness came to Jesse, he knew it was going to be permanent. He didn’t fight the instinct he had to give up. He’d rather be dead than at the mercy of this madman.

  Where am I? Darkness surrounded him. An emptiness that felt endless. Am I dead?

  No, Cyrus’s voice echoed through his conscious state. You are soulless. Welcome to my world...

  “You killed him,” Steven whispered in amazement.

  “I collected. I needed to replenish.” Cyrus turned around and faced the lone mirror on the wall. He opened his mouth and was pleased to see that his teeth were no longer jagged. Bringing his lips together, he turned this way and that to take in his rejuvenated appearance. Satisfied with what he saw, he stepped over the body on the floor and quipped, “The girl’s father has already agreed. Now that you look more,” he paused, and gave Steven a cursory once over, “presentable, I’m sure she will be less likely to cause any problems.”

  “But how are you going to feed on a Vampine’s soul? I thought you said that doing that was impossible for you?”

  “For me to directly kill one, yes. But the prospect of feasting on a royal male, one whose soul was born in this world and one that dies in this world not by my hands, but in my presence, is not impossible.”

  Steven smiled excitedly. “Ceil again?”

  “Not immediately. We’ll do as I have planned. Patience. Did you spend your time wisely while I was gone?”

  “Yes, I did as you told me. I studied.”

  “Good.” Cyrus turned away but then swung back around. “What about the book from the ministry? Do you understand their creed well enough to cull the father to our side?”

  “Yes.”

  Cyrus smiled. It was rare that he did this out of sheer pleasure, but he was fond of this human. Steven was always eager to please and when Cyrus was at his top form, as he was now having just replenished, he knew the man idolized him. And why wouldn’t he? In human terms, when he replenished himself with a mortal soul, he looked like one of their Norwegian Gods.

  “You’ve done well, Steven.” The young man rushed forward and dropped to his knees in front of him. Cyrus reached down and put a hand on his head to squelch his pet’s carnal intent. He understood too well what it was like to idolize someone. To want that being more than the essentials one needs to survive. But any chance he’d had at eternal happiness died the day that Fruien took her life. “Save your affections for the girl. For the chosen one’s mate. We need her to cooperate.” Steven looked up and vigorously nodded, even though disappointment shone in his eyes. Cyrus understood that disappointment well. “Don’t worry, my pet, the plans may have changed but it’s all for the better.”

  “We’re still going to kill that Vampine’s chosen mate?”

  “Yes, but I need Bernadette Feye corralled so Payden can’t get to her, until the time is right. It’s a fine line, so you will need to pay attention. I won’t accept failure on this. With her father in agreement, it should be simple enough. I will wait to claim her soul when it’s at its most potent. Close to the eve of her claiming.” He shivered with the thought. “Imagine the mated soul of a chosen one like Payden ripe for my taking. This will work out perfectly. With that powerful force I’ll be strong enough to conquer them in this world, before I return to Skarka victorious with a legendary king as my slave.”

  *****

  Jo-Quinn didn’t know how long he’d stayed there on the floor. Clutching his mate’s lifeless form. It could have been minutes, hours or days, not that it mattered.

  He looked around. The bed was the same. The drapes and wallpaper were as they’d always had been and yet everything was nothing like it was. The very life of the house was gone. Its spirit diminished on the wake of her last breath.

  “My brother.”

  Jo-Quinn refused to look up, sure that his mind was playing tricks on him.

  “Mia esteu gudin.” My grief is yours.

  “Selig?” he whispered. When he looked up and his gaze collided with the familiar stormy hazel eyes of his warrior brother, his heart squeezed in his chest. It had been too long since he’d seen him. Far too long. “How?”

  “It’s not important. Only know I heard your welcome at a time when I needed it most. You saved me, Jo-Quinn. What little there is left of me, that is.”

  “She’s gone.”

  “I know. That’s why I’ve come. I’m going to gift my blessing to her. To you both.”

  Jo-Quinn shook his head. “You can’t do that. Your mate. You’d abandon her here with no chance of ever finding her.”

  “She’s not here, my brother. I have wandered this world and others. She’s gone and it’s time for me to accept it. It’s time for me go home. I can think of no better way to leave this world than with you being joyous again.”

  Jo-Quinn’s heart hammered at the possibility, but at what cost? “There’s still a chance for you and—”

  “No.” Selig sighed and dropped to his haunches. There was sadness in his eyes but something else. The same resignation he’d seen in his mate’s gaze at the cavern. “There was something I never told you about—when our women we
re—when it happened. My mate was carrying our child.”

  Jo-Quinn closed his eyes and held his own mate tighter as he thought about Selig’s grief. He’d had no idea until this moment that his brother-in-arms had lost two hearts that day.

  “I think this is why she’s gone. I don’t know for certain, but maybe she was given a choice to return to me or go to the afterworld with our child. I prefer to think she chose wisely.”

  Before Jo-Quinn could stop him, Selig placed his hands on Finley’s cheeks and whispered the ancient words of surrender. “Mia tu lesateu. Diata et spuak.”

  It was done. Selig had given her his gifted blessing of being on earth so Finley could live in this lifetime. The rush of relief, combined with the headiness of hope, washed over him. And when Selig withdrew his hands and his mate’s cheeks instantly bloomed with color, Jack nearly cried out. His heart skipped a beat as he held his breath. Watching as her chest lifted when she drew in air. One rise then fall and then another.

  He was astounded. Shocked. So happy he could barely contain himself. Shooting a look up, he was ready to tell his friend that she lived. To share his joy—God, what joy— but Selig was gone.

  And suddenly the joy of the moment was bittersweet as he acknowledged he’d still lost something precious. Selig. He gave silent thanks to his brother. Assuring him, that if ever a time arose when he could return the favor, he would. Then he turned all his attention to Finley because now that he’d been given another chance he wasn’t going to squander it.

  “I never would have believed it. He told me he could do it. He promised me that it would be done, but I never believed him.”

  Jack turned to see Wooly in the doorway. Without a word he waved him in. “Get me her robe. Hurry.” When Wooly brought it to him he began to peel the damp layers off his mate in record time. “Get some brandy from the study. When she wakes up…” He didn’t finish because Wooly was gone.

  With quick precision, Jack had her out of her clothes and wrapped in the thick terry. He still wasn’t sure this had happened, but if it was dream he was going to live it. As gently as he could he got up and went to the bed, but before he got there, Wooly was back by his side, pulling down the covers so that Jack could tuck her into them. When he was done and stood straight, Wooly stepped forward.

  “Here’s some brandy.”

  Jack looked down at the snifter and shook his head. “She’s still unconscious.”

  Wooly pushed the glass his way. “It’s for you.”

  “You know I stopped drinking after the night with Ceil.”

  “Aye, but after what we just saw I think it’s a good time to start again.”

  Jack nodded and didn’t say a word when Wooly took a large pull of the fiery liquid right out of the decanter.

  His old friend’s voice was deep as though he was speaking from the back of his throat when he said, “I feel bad that I was blaming Selig for all those shenanigans.”

  Shenanigans? Jack scowled. He was going to correct him, but first he checked Finley’s cheek. Warm. Blessedly warm. Then he downed the brandy in one shot. “Did the guys get Alt to St. Francis?”

  “Yeah.” Wooly splashed more liquid in Jack’s empty glass and sighed. “But there’s been a glitch.”

  Jack put the snifter on the nightstand for when Finley woke up. “I don’t doubt it.” He thought about his mate speaking those ancient words to him and frowned. “There’s something happening here and some of it’s dangerous. I don’t think Alt’s going to make it.”

  Wooly nodded and held up a finger as he took another swig of brandy. Once he swallowed, he said, “About that. You may be wrong, but I’ll let Payden explain it to you.”

  Finley sighed and both men turned to watch her.

  “Do you think she’s going to be okay?” Wooly whispered.

  “I hope so,” Jack whispered back.

  “How long will she sleep, do ya think?”

  “Not very long with the two of you hovering over me.”

  Jack grinned like a fool. “Welcome back, babe.”

  “Back?” Her eyes snapped open and she stared up at him. “Where have I been?”

  Jack was going to tell her, but then he noticed how her eyes darkened. How she licked her lips and stretched in that slinky way he loved and when she tried to push the blankets off herself, he growled to Wooly, “Best you go. Now.”

  The poor guy didn’t need to be told again. He swore under his breath and took off like the hounds of hell were chasing him. When the door was firmly closed Jack turned back to her.

  And when she opened her arms and whispered, “Tu me manques.” He knew what heaven was. Where it was now that he wasn’t missing from her.

  Chapter Fifteen

  Finley waited and when her mate didn’t move fast enough for her as her desire built, she said, “I’m sorry. Sorry that I ran away. Sorry that I didn’t believe in you and there’s so much I have to tell you, but right now I need you. I crave you. I just…” How could she explain to him this raw hunger that ripped her apart on the inside only to stich her back together again in a more perfect way until she felt as if she were shining on the outside. “Please.”

  When he took off his leathers and came to her she reveled in the hot cinnamon scent as she pressed her face against his neck. She was on fire for him. She was desperate to feel right now. To experience taste, touch and to celebrate being alive. With him. Only him.

  Jack found the tie of her robe and undid it. “I crave you too,” he whispered, “my beautiful little wreck.”

  “Yes,” she sighed and pushed her hands through his hair to pull him in for a kiss. Leaning up, she murmured against his lips, “Mei Jiuquan.”

  The language—their language—rolling so easily off her tongue sent a thrill straight through her. This poignant ecstasy reminded her of their first joining and now she wanted to relive that moment. As if, in some strange way, she needed to recommit to him in body and soul. “Mei lei.” She spread her robe and let his gaze devour every inch of her as she promised him, “Tue seong dia miat.” Your life is mine, my life is yours.

  He bent and kissed her shoulder, her cheek, and temple. Rubbing his stubble-roughened chin against the line of her jaw. The scratchy feel sent shivers scattering over her flesh as she flexed her hips into him.

  “Easy, babe. We’re going to take this real easy.”

  Those shivers wickedly danced. Only this time it was on account of his voice. Husky. Deep and commanding. She moaned and placed her palms on either sides of his cheeks searching his eyes. “I’ll try. I will but I’m not going to lie. I want you inside me so badly I actually feel like biting you for a change.”

  He wasn’t looking her in the eyes. He was staring at her lips. “Go ahead.”

  She didn’t need more of an invitation than that, when shifted down and sank her teeth into his shoulder.

  “Fuck me.” He snapped back.

  “That’s the plan.”

  “You bit me.”

  He sounded so outraged she put her revving libido aside for a moment and grinned. “You told me to.”

  He rubbed the spot with his jaw. “But I didn’t think you’d do it.”

  “Well, that was silly of you.”

  His chin came up. Now it was his turn to grin before he dropped his forehead to hers and said, “I know what you’re doing and it won’t work. We’re going to do this slowly. No rough play. I mean it.”

  She made sure to give him her best kick-the-can expression when she grumbled, “How did you know I was trying to goad you into being bad?”

  He kissed her forehead. “Bad is your favorite thing. Besides, I know everything about you.”

  That was a sobering thought. “No you don’t. I have secrets.” She wasn’t going to let him think she was a pushover even though she totally was. Right now she was melting under his rapt attention.

  “I know…them all.”

  “No you don’t.”

  He stared right into her eyes as his hand slipped b
etween her legs. “I know this one.”

  She gasped because he did something with the heel of his palm against her clit that caused delicious shock waves of lust to roil through her.

  “And I know this one.”

  She moaned when he slipped two fingers right inside her, finding her G-spot to drive her crazy.

  “And I know this one,” he whispered against her ear as his thumb found a spot that nearly made her pass out.

  Between pants she cried, “It’s not secret if I don’t even know about it. I’ve never felt—”

  “It’s my secret. The secrets I keep for you. Only you.”

  This time, when they made love, true to his word, it was slow and easy. Exhilarating and frustrating all at once and no matter how much she begged for it, he didn’t sink his teeth into her. He did let her explore though, when he rolled over and gave her free access. She was the aggressor, just like their first joining when she slid herself down on his length. Gauging how much of him she wanted and how fast they would go.

  A slow drag up and a deep plunge down. She moaned and slid faster, repeating the heady process over and over. Closing her eyes as he trailed scorching nip-like kisses over her breasts, shoulders, and neck until he growled and ran out of patience. With one powerful jerk, she was fully beneath him. She barely had time to acknowledge the shift of positions, when he pushed himself fully into her. God, it was heaven. Him filling her. Being enveloped in his strong embrace as he loved her without words, until the only world she craved was the one he created. The pace may not have been the fast or furious one she’d been hoping for, but when he brought her to the edge it was the sweetest torture falling over it, as she came in a rush of hot liquid spilling over him. Tumbling into a thousand pieces in his arms as he caught them and held them together, flexing one last time when he found his own release.

  Jack rolled off her and stared at the ceiling. With heart pounding, he still had a hard time believing that she was here. That he hadn’t lost her too early a second time.