Embrace The Shadows (Shadows Ascending Trilogy Book 3)

by Jenn D. Young

  “Then you need to go,” I stated simply. I needed time to wrap my brain around this, and they needed to get back home or risk my mother. As angry as I was at her, I didn’t want anything to happen to her now that she was back in my life. Although, to what degree, remained the question.

  My mother and father rose to their feet, pausing for a moment to look deep into each other’s eyes. Love radiated from them, surprising me with the intensity of it. They were deeply bonded. Just as Vincent and I were. I couldn’t believe it.

  My mother approached me first, wrapping her arms tightly around me. “I love you, Iah. I hope that you will come to find it in your heart to forgive me for deceiving you.” She placed a gentle kiss on my forehead and stepped away.

  My father wrapped his large arms around me. I returned his embrace and squeezed him tightly around the middle, just below where his wings sprouted from his body. “Thugater, know that we had hoped for a different path for you, but fate is a fickle mistress. We’ve always done the best that we could to protect you without interfering. It would have caused too much of a ripple in the progression of time.”

  Nodding, I pulled back before swallowing my resolve. “I understand. It will take me some time to wrap my head around all of this.” I laughed wryly. “I went from having no family to suddenly, both my parents are alive. Plus, I have a niece and a half-brother. My head is spinning. And I just returned from being held captive and tortured by the mother of my niece. I need time,” I pleaded, hating the sound of desperation that came from my words.

  They nodded, Akakaios returning to my mother to pull her against his solid frame. He kissed the top of her hair. His nostrils flared as he lingered to inhale her scent “Lorelei, we can both understand that. Know that if you have need, call out to us. We’ll do everything that we can to assist you. When you’re ready, we can talk more.” He spoke firmly, but his voice was soft. I loved the tones of his accent, lyrical as they hit my ears, making me want to fall under his spell and charm.

  “Iah, your father and I are nothing more than a thought away. You only have to think about us and utter our names in your mind. I won’t let you go again, baby. I’ll give you time, but I can’t let this be the end of our relationship.”

  “I know, Mom. Just—” I stopped, the sob threatening to bubble out of my throat.

  Vincent stepped into my side and pulled me against him. “I’ll take good care of her. Morgana. Akakaios.” He inclined his head to both my parents.

  With smiles lingering on their faces, they faded away from our sight. I sucked in a harsh breath and leaned back into Vincent. “Please take me home,” I whispered, my voice close to breaking. I couldn’t be around anyone but my mate right now. I was too broken, too emotional to let myself remain strong in their presence.

  He nodded knowingly and the world faded away as we returned home. I didn’t even feel the chill of the shadow realm as he traveled.

  19

  Vincent

  We reappeared in the middle of our living room. A fraction of a second passed before Lorelei broke down in my arms. The sob that wrenched from her throat tore at my core. The last hour had been too much for her. My Lorelei hated to show emotion around others. Couldn’t stand it if people looked upon her with pity.

  The second we were alone, her walls crumbled. Leaving just my vulnerable, loving mate who had felt and experienced too much over her short time alive. I would give my life if it meant that she would stop crying.

  “Theera,” I breathed into her hair. My arms flexed around her tightly. Her face pressed into my chest. Her small hands clutching to the soft cotton fabric of my shirt, clinging for dear life. “That’s it, let it out.”

  I swung her into my arms and carried her into our bedroom. Gently, I placed her on the mattress and helped her undress. She didn’t utter a word. Her blue eyes were unfocused as she starred off into the distance. Tears stained her face as tiny hiccupping sobs escaped her lips.

  “Lorelei,” I said as I climbed into bed and drew her into my arms. “We’ll figure this out. You aren’t in this alone.”

  “I know,” she replied on a hoarse murmur. “It’s a big shock. Everything I thought I had just figured out has now been turned upside down again. I don’t know how many more of these kinds of surprises I can take, Vincent.”

  She sounded absolutely broken. So utterly forlorn that my heart physically ached from the force of her emotional pain. My mate was in so much agony and there wasn’t anything I could do, other than to comfort and provide support for her.

  I rubbed her back up and down, savoring her soft skin under my palm. The tears still fell, but her sobs lessened as I just held her while she cried. I murmured soft words of support, kept her close to me as I ran my fingers through her hair.

  Soon, her body relaxed against me and her breathing evened out. I let out a shaky breath, saying a silent thanks that she had finally fallen asleep. My eyelids fluttered shut and I tightened my arms around my beautiful mate the moment before sleep descended upon me.

  Lorelei stirred in my arms, snapping me awake. I was immediately alert, scanning the room for any threats as her whimpers reached my ears. She was trapped in the thralls of a nightmare. Her body twitched and her eyes flickered behind her closed lids. “Lorelei,” I whispered, shaking her gently and trying to wake her.

  Her blue eyes snapped open, glowing in the dim light of the room. “What?” She asked, sleep making her voice rough. “What happened?”

  “You were having a nightmare.” I smoothed the hair away from her cheek. My fingertips lingered on her soft skin as a shiver of awareness ran through me.

  She shook her head and closed her eyes. “I don’t even remember what it was about now.” Her fingers pressed into her temples and began circling slowly. “My head hurts. I shouldn’t be able to get a headache as an immortal whatever the hell I am.”

  I chuckled, not able to hold back my humor at her random statement. “You’re my mate, that’s what you are. You’re utterly perfect.” I pulled away her fingers and pulled her body against mine. My lips trailed kisses over her eyelids, nose, and temples before finally settling on her mouth. “And you were crying pretty heavily last night. It would make sense if you were exhausted and your head ached from the force of your sobs.”

  She gave me an indignant look before pushing on my chest and rising into a sitting position. “You can be such an ass sometimes.”

  “Who? Me?” I scoffed while laughing. I drew her into me, her back pressing into my front as I held her. My arms wrapped around her middle. “I was just telling you what happened. Sometimes we aren’t immune to little things like headaches. Especially if there is stress or other factors involved.”

  “We all know I’ve had plenty of stress and other insane factors. Enough other factors to fill up the Grand Canyon.” Lorelei groaned as I pressed my fingers into the muscles of her shoulders, massaging and seeking to relieve the tension that radiated throughout her body. “That feels heavenly.”

  “I know, Theera,” I whispered close to her ear. I drew the lobe into my mouth and nibbled. She shuddered under my touch and fell back further against me. Her thighs rubbed together as she squirmed. A smile flittered over my face as I watched her growing arousal unfold while I pressed open mouth kisses along her throat and collarbone.

  “Vincent, stop teasing me,” she groaned. Her fingers reached behind her and fisted in my hair. “As much as I love you massaging my shoulders, I would prefer your hands to be in much more interesting areas of my body.”

  I chuckled and slid my hands around her to cup her breasts. My thumbs brushed over her rapidly hardening nipples. Her head fell back against my shoulder and a moan escaped her lips. Her eyes fluttered shut as I squeezed and caressed her breasts through the thin material of the tank top she wore to bed.

  “Am I still teasing you, Lorelei?” I said in a husky voice as I pinched her taut nipples between my fingers and pulled just enough to extract a gasp from her. “This doesn’t feel like te
asing.” I let my hand drift lower to slide into her panties. As my fingertips grazed her wetness, she thrashed against me before I circled her clit.

  “Answer me Lorelei. Am. I. Teasing. You?” My teeth nibble along the column of her neck. I eased one finger, then two into her tight channel as my fangs pierce her flesh.

  “No, Vincent, you aren’t teasing me,” she gasped and undulated her hips, urging me to move faster and to her rhythm.

  Swallowing one final mouthful of her delectable blood, I extracted my fangs and fingers and swiftly flipped her over on her back. “I strive to never tease you too much. Unless you deserve it.” I urgently tore at her clothes. When she was naked and panting under me, my tongue trailed down her sternum, to her flat stomach before I spread her thighs and pressed my lips to her hot pussy. I settled her legs on my shoulders and grinned up wickedly at her.

  The moment my tongue languidly circled her little bundle of nerves, she went wild. She arched off the bed, pressing herself into my face while trying to guide me. Her small hands fisted in my hair and pressed my face harder into her slick folds.

  I chucked and drew back, despite her frenzied protests. “Vincent, why did you stop?” Her blue eyes were glazed over with lust but glowed brightly as she licked her lips and tugged at my hair. “I need you,” she keened, pressing her heels into my back.

  “You have me, Theera. You just need to be patient,” I taunted her, running my tongue along the soft skin of her inner thighs. My fangs scraped along her flesh just as she started to writhe again. “Hold still or this all stops before we’ve even gotten started.” At my sharp growl she whimpered, and her body trembled as she fought to control her movements

  “Good girl,” I murmured with a smirk. My fingers parted her folds and I drew her clit into my mouth, teasing her with my tongue. Her breathy moans and shaking limbs encouraged me as I worked her faster and harder, using my mouth, fangs, and tongue. Soon, she couldn’t hold to my command, her thighs clenched around my face, and her nails dug painfully into my scalp.

  “Vincent,” she shouted my name as her climax washed over her. I reveled in the feeling, the triumph of watching her come making me groan in pleasure.

  “That was just a taste.” I smirked as I rose onto my knees. Her eyes never left mine as I jerked down my shorts just enough to let my cock spring free. Giving it a couple of firm strokes, I winked at my mate. “Are you ready, my love?”

  “Fuck me. Now,” she growled insistently. Her hands pushed mine out of the way to grab onto my dick. I threw back my head as a moan escaped my lips. “Now, Vincent,” she said again and the sharp nails of one hand dug into my ass cheek.

  “So, demanding today,” I chided. My hands wrapped around her waist and pulled her toward me. She parted her legs and wrapped them around my waist. In one smooth, firm thrust I was seated fully inside her. The walls of her channel pulsed around me, making me shudder in sheer pleasure.

  I planted my hands on either side of her head and aligned our bodies. Her lush breasts pressed into my chest. My lips fused to hers as my hips drew back and started a slow languid rhythm. She wrapped her arms around me and clung to my back as I made love to her.

  Our bodies were perfectly in sync. She met me thrust for thrust. Our mouths never coming apart as our tongues entwined and danced. Her breathing grew ragged as she approached her peak. Her movements frenzied, chasing her climax. I separated our bodies just enough to slip the pad of my thumb between her folds to stroke her clit.

  “Come for me, Theera,” I whispered into her ear, pressing down on the bundle of nerves just as she exploded beneath me. Her release triggered my own. I grunted as I slammed into her tight body, thrusting through our shared release before I collapsed and pressed my forehead into hers.

  “Mmm,” she hummed, her tongue flicking out to moisten her dry lips. “Mmm,” she said again. Her eyes were closed, a look of utter contentment washed over her face.

  “Mmm? That’s all I get?” I asked, still slightly breathless.

  “Brain can’t form real words,” she muttered, eyes still closed as a smile spread across her face.

  I pulled back and brushed a strand of her damp hair away from her forehead. “I guess that is a good compliment.”

  “Mmm hmm.”

  Laughing, I rolled to the side and onto my back. I pulled her into my arms and loved the way she snuggled against my chest.

  Contentment made the smile on my face widen as we both drifted off to sleep again.

  20

  Lorelei

  The next few days Vincent and I stayed in bed, leaving only to eat, drink, or shower. The sensation of reacquainting our bodies—of not having to worry about the outside world for just a short amount of time—was a thing of pure beauty. It wasn’t until night descended over us on the third day that the weight of the previous days settled back in. I turned to Vincent. We moved to the couch in the living room about an hour ago to watch a movie and I had been snuggled in his arms.

  Today was different. I was on edge, my powers surging and short-circuiting. The lightning was becoming difficult to control. Uncertainty and doubt coursed through me, making my body tense as I hugged my knees to my chest.

  His two-tone eyes flickered to my face. “What is it?” he asked, brushing his fingertips along the curve of my cheekbone.

  “When will it end?” I said on a deep exhale. “Adrianna is still out there. I didn’t kill her. I find out that my mom is alive and mated to my father who just so happens to be the most powerful being in the world. We get rescued and now what? Strategize and strike while the iron is hot like my father said?”

  The words spilled out, my thoughts bleeding into words as Vincent watched me speak my peace in silence. “Say we get to Adrianna. Take advantage of the chaos. Does that mean The Syndicate just collapses? Somehow, I don’t think that is just going to magically happen. This war is going to be long and bloody. It’s just the start. Some other enemy will come along and take her place. Just like a fucking hydra, cut one head off and two more will grow in its place.” I buried my face on top of my bent knees. Hot tears burned in my eyes and I fought to keep them contained.

  “Theera,” Vincent murmured, his voice husky with emotion. He wrapped an arm around me and stroked his palm lightly up and down my back. “We’ll figure this all out together. It isn’t all on you. We have the council and a lot of other resources at our disposal. I’m sure that Leo is already working on forming his grand master plan of attack right now.”

  “I know, but my father said I’d be the one that would take down Adrianna. I don’t even know how to use my powers much less kill someone like her.”

  “You’ll learn. Reach out to your father. He may be able to train you. Help you hone your abilities,” Vincent responded thoughtfully. “I’ve felt the electricity bubbling inside of you since we returned home. You keep accidentally shocking me or making the electronics surge. You probably need to let it out.”

  I nodded, fully agreeing with him. My lightning had been itching to be released for the past few hours. Sparks arced between my fingers and I quickly shook my hands to stop the surge of power. “Should I just go outside and shoot it all up into the sky or something?” I joked, sarcasm lacing my voice.

  Vincent cocked his head to the side and gave me a weary glance. “Didn’t your parents say to reach out to them if you needed to? Why don’t you do that and ask rather than just shooting lightning bolts off into the sky?” he replied dryly.

  Sighing, I sank back into the couch cushion and crossed my arms over my chest. Vincent was right. I need to reach out to my father and talk to him about my growing powers and how to contain them. I grumbled under my breath, not wanting him to hear me admit that he was right.

  “What was that?” Vincent asked with a smirk, knowing exactly what I had said, but wanting me to say it all the same.

  “Nothing,” I replied, rolling my eyes. A smirk tilted my lips.

  Vincent leaned forward, his face a breath away from mine. “W
hat did you say, Lorelei?”

  His voice, husky with desire, sent goosebumps slithering down my arms. “Nothing,” I repeated, giving him my best innocent smile. My eyelashes fluttered as I blinked and tried to charm him.

  It didn’t work.

  His expression didn’t change, his face blank with only a twinkling of mirth shining in his red and black eyes. “You sure you’re going to stick with that answer?”

  I nodded, unfolding my legs and placing my feet flat against the carpeted floor. I was ready to run, knowing that Vincent would chase me. It was a game that I’d longed to try. Desire pooled deep in my belly, anticipation fluttering in my veins at the thought of him catching me and fucking me roughly against the wall or on the floor.

  “Theera, your thoughts betray you.”

  “Mmm hmm,” I hummed, my smile broadening across my face. “Do you want to catch me?” I asked, my voice deep with my wanton lust.

  Vincent’s eyes turned molten and his gaze trailed up and down my body. “I will always catch you.”

  And oh, boy did he catch me.

  21

  Lorelei

  Several hours later, after showering and leaving Vincent sleeping in our bed, I made my way out to the living room. Settling on the couch, I let my mind quiet. All thoughts leaving my head until I floated in a state of semi-consciousness. For several minutes, I waited needing to clear my mind and prepare myself.

  Knowing it was finally the right time, I reached out, whispering for them to hear me and aid me. The jolts of electricity sizzled around me.

  Vincent, having woken and seeking me out, stood across the room, away from the errant lightning bolts sparking from my body. His face was pensive as he stood with his back pressed against the wall and his arms crossed in front of his chest. I did my best to ignore him and focus on my goal. To get to my parents and seek their guidance in controlling my overwhelming abilities.