Embrace The Shadows (Shadows Ascending Trilogy Book 3)

by Jenn D. Young

  Tears filled her eyes and she blinked rapidly to clear them away. This woman—my mate—was so incredibly strong. She shouldered so much responsibility within her and at such a young age. She experienced so much, felt so much loss and pain, but she still maintained her pride and strength. I was in utter awe of the woman that I was eternally bonded to.

  “I love you too, Vincent,” she replied with a watery smile. She hesitated, her lips moving as if she wasn’t sure what to say next.

  “Why don’t you go take a shower and I’ll touch base with the others and get breakfast started.” I placed a kiss on her forehead. She nodded in approval. I had sensed her hesitation, the indecision about what to do next. I was more than happy to provide her the guidance that she needed, even if it was for something as simple as making it through the morning.

  I climbed to my feet and held my hand out. She accepted it with a small smile of thanks, and I pulled her to her feet. I pushed her in the direction of the bathroom and gave her luscious ass a spank as she passed.

  “Hey!” Lorelei exclaimed and her hand went down to smooth over her rounded cheek before she closed the door to the bathroom with a scowl.

  “You love it and you know it,” I shouted to the closed door and quickly grabbed a pair of shorts and a simple cotton shirt to dress in. My head shook as I laughed and made my way to the kitchen to cook breakfast for my feisty mate.

  23

  Lorelei

  As the scalding hot water cascaded over my body, I contemplated Vincent’s words. Things were going to change. Drastically. We had our few days to explore and relax in our bubble, but that bubble was now gone. I needed to step up and take up my mantle as the daughter of Akakaios and Morgana. This war was only just beginning and I was the key to winning it.

  The alluring aroma of bacon and coffee filled my senses, overpowering the scent of my eucalyptus and mint body wash. Vincent’s way of telling me breakfast was ready—by implanting the smell of two of my favorite things into my brain. “You’re so evil,” I muttered out loud, knowing that he would be able to hear me through our bond.

  “Only informing you that breakfast was ready. No need to rush. Unless you would rather eat your bacon cold that is.”

  Such an evil asshole. I shook my head and a small smile spread across my face. I rinsed the last of the soap from my hair and body before shutting the water off and reaching out to grab a towel from the rack.

  “So, I’m an evil asshole for making you breakfast?” Vincent said as he leaned against the bathroom sink, one elegant blonde brow arched in question. He held a plate piled high with bacon in one hand and a cup of steaming coffee in the other. My mouth instantly watered at the alluring smell of the food and heavenly beverage.

  I wrapped the towel around my body and crossed the room to try to take the mug from his hand, but he pulled it away with a cluck of his tongue. “Apologize for calling me an asshole and maybe I’ll let you have the coffee that I slaved over this morning.”

  My lips twisted into a pout as I placed my hands on my hips. “Really?”

  “Yes, really,” he responded with an evil grin, the cup still held high up in the air where he knew I couldn’t reach it.

  Despite the seriousness of our conversation this morning and the impending battles, the fact that Vincent could still take the time to tease and joke with me—it was priceless. I fell in love with him even more. Something I didn’t even think was possible.

  I rolled my eyes but conceded with a smile on my face. “Oh, great maker of breakfast and coffee, you aren’t an asshole, but a fine upstanding demon and splendiferous mate.”

  We both burst into fits of laughter, Vincent barely containing the coffee in the mug as he shook from the force of his humor. “You little minx.”

  “Is that a good enough apology for you? Can I have my coffee now?” I shot him a saucy grin and made a grabbing motion with my hands toward the coffee.

  “Fine,” he chuckled and handed me the cup filled with my favorite beverage.

  I moaned as I took a sip of the perfect liquid. He mixed it with just enough creamer and vanilla syrup, just the way I liked it. My body wiggled as the second drink flooded my tongue and the caffeine started to enter my system. I didn’t think I would still need something like caffeine after I’d been made immortal, but my body still craved the substance. And it was something that Vincent liked to indulge me in on the rare mornings like this that we had together.

  “Huh,” Vincent said as he brushed a thumb over his bottom lip. His red and black eyes sparkled as he looked at my towel-clad body up and down. “You’re going to give me a complex if you keep moaning into your coffee like that.”

  I snorted and slapped his chest. “A nuclear bomb couldn’t damage your ego.” I laughed and carried my coffee with me back into the bedroom. Setting the cup on the nightstand, I moved into the closet to gather some clothes. “So, did your phone blow up overnight?”

  Not that I wanted to get right down to business, but curiosity was eating away at my resolve. Three days was a long time for them to leave us be. Even if we did need the time, Damius and Leo were not patient beings when it came to important matters like this. Their continued silence was a bit disturbing to say the least.

  Vincent let out a deep exhale and rubbed the back of his neck. “Yes. They would like us to stop by. There are some updates. Kaniul has healed up remarkably well with Damius’ blood and would also like to speak with you. I think he’s concerned about you and the shock of your mother still being alive.”

  Kaniul. My heart ached at the torture I’d overheard while we were imprisoned in The Syndicate facility. A shudder ran down my spine. His body may have healed, but I knew from personal experience that his mind would probably be damaged. Hopefully, he had someone he could talk to.

  Guilt ate away at me once again. I rationally knew that it wasn’t my fault we were captured, but I still took the blame upon myself all the same. Layla, Kaniul, Vincent, Nicolae. They all suffered because of me. Because I was apparently such a special being that needed to be kidnapped and taken all the time.

  “Theera,” Vincent scolded, appearing before me. He took my shoulders in his firm grasp and stared down at me with his penetrating gaze. “We’ve gone over this. You aren’t to blame. Cease that line of thinking. Kaniul doesn’t blame you. I don’t blame you. None of us blame you. So, stop blaming yourself.”

  His lips pressed into my forehead as his arm wrapped around me to bring my body close to his. “I know Vincent. I just can’t help thinking that all of you would be better off without me around.” I don’t know what possessed me to say the words or even have the thoughts, but they spilled out of me. Tears filled my eyes and Vincent’s arms tightened around me.

  “Lorelei, please, you are breaking my heart by saying that. My existence was nothing but an endless sea of gray before you came into my life. Now that you’re here and you’re my mate, I see the world in so many colors my senses are overwhelmed. It’s like a massive fucking Crayola box of crazy named colors now. Just because of you.”

  A snort of laughter bubbled from my lips and my eyes squeezed together tightly at his insane analogy. “A massive Crayola box huh? Like what am I a sixty-four box or a one-twenty-eight box here? I need specific numbers, Flane.”

  He pulled back and flashed me a smile that showed off just a hint of the gleaming fangs I loved so much. “No, Lorelei, you’re worth more than that. You’re the massive two-fifty-six. Or Five-twelve.”

  “Did they even make boxes that big?” I asked through a fit of giggles.

  “No fucking clue, but if they did, that would be the amount of colors that you make me see. You are the light of my life, Theera. I can’t imagine a world without you by my side. I wouldn’t change a thing about my life or my experiences because it led me straight to this moment. Right now, with you.”

  Fresh tears flooded my eyes and I buried my face in his chest. “Such a way with words,” I half laugh and half cry as he embraces me.


  Vincent scoffed, pulling back to look me in the eyes. He shook his head, those two-tone eyes that I loved so much sparkling as he smiled. “Nicolae would probably laugh for weeks if he heard what I just said. Tell me I’m turning soft.” His face turned serious and he cupped my cheeks in his palms. “This is only for you, my love. I’ve never felt this way about anyone. Never spoken this way to anyone before. Only you.”

  The tears that filled my eyes overflowed to run down my face. It was impossible to hold my emotions back after his steadfast statement. His words were a cooling salve on my fractured soul. I don’t know what I’d done to deserve this man as my mate. Yes, he was moody and could be a controlling asshat, but I loved him with everything that I had within me. He was my rock, the foundation that I needed to build upon.

  And I could never see my life without him.

  “Hey,” he whispered as his thumbs traced my cheeks and sweep away my tears. “No crying. Put on your brave face. Drink your coffee. Eat your bacon. Then we go and talk to your uncle and figure out what the fuck is going on.”

  24

  Vincent

  I watched Lorelei closely as she polished off the entire plate of bacon and a second cup of coffee. Color had returned to her face, but there was a lingering sadness still in her eyes. The weight that rested upon her shoulders was tremendous, but she had to realize that I would never let her bare it alone. I would always be there, right by her side as her rightful mate to take on any burdens that she had to carry.

  Only together, would we be able to face this enemy and defeat Adrianna. Then The Syndicate would come crashing down and we would finally have peace for our kind. The thought caused a caustic smile to flitter across my lips. Peace. Could there ever truly be peace that lasted? I doubt it, our world was never peaceful for very long. There would always be another enemy, someone waiting in the shadows around to take their place. Then the battle would begin anew.

  One thing was for certain. Once Adrianna was nothing but ashes underneath my boots, I would be taking Lorelei on a long and relaxing vacation. Someplace far, far away. Her life had been filled with conflict and strife. She never had the chance to just relax and be free, even if it was for a couple of weeks. We could relax and tour Europe and perhaps Egypt. I wouldn’t be able to give her the insight that Kaniul could, but I had known some of the places where Morgana and Kaniul had lived in their youth. Lorelei would enjoy seeing them.

  The grin on my face widened at the direction of my thoughts. Here I was planning a vacation when we hadn’t even defeated the enemy yet. Yet, I knew in my heart that Lorelei would triumph. We would be the victors in this crazy war. We had too much to lose; too much that we were fighting for. Adrianna had nothing but her insanity and lust for power. That stood no chance against us when we sought to protect everything that we loved and cherished.

  “You’re thinking some seriously deep thoughts right now,” Lorelei remarked as she climbed to her feet and set the dirty dishes in the sink. She turned her back and crossed her arms over her chest as she leaned against the counter.

  I rubbed my hand along the back of my neck before looking at her. My heart skipped a beat in my chest at the sight of her beauty. No matter how many years, decades, or centuries passed, I knew I would still feel the same way about her then as I did now. “Lorelei.” The only word I could utter in that moment. Her name was like a plea from my lips as my feet ate up the distance between us and I pressed my lips into hers.

  Then—because of course this was always the way things went for us—my phone rang loudly in my pocket. The all too familiar jingle of Ozzy Osborne’s “Crazy Train” echoed in the kitchen, signaling Nicolae calling. “Hey Nic, what’s up?” I answered, trying to keep the growl out of my voice.

  Nicolae let out a deep sigh on the other end of the phone before speaking. “Leo has some news for us and wants to meet in about twenty. I know you were supposed to meet up with Kaniul, but this is taking the place of that. You and Lore up for it?”

  “What’s with people wanting to call me Lore? I freaking hate that,” Lorelei muttered, speaking just loudly enough for Nicolae to hear her.

  I rolled my eyes and Nicolae laughed. “Someone’s in a feisty mood today.”

  “When is she not in a feisty mood?” I laughed as Lorelei’s blue eyes sparkled with anger. “What?” I asked her and shrugged my shoulders. “I love your feistiness, my mate.” I draped an arm across her shoulders and pulled her against my side.

  “You’re both assholes,” she grumbled in response, her arms still crossed over her breasts. Her eyes were downcast, but I saw the hint of a smile that played over her lips.

  “I know we are. Probably always going to be.”

  Nicolae snorted. “Maybe you are, but I am a perfect gentleman and upstanding citizen in our community.”

  I roared with laughter as Layla’s voice came through the phone clearly. “You’re a bigger asshole than anyone I’ve ever known and that is saying something.”

  “Burn,” Lorelei said on a giggle that had her holding her sides. “Layla, we need to get together to have girl talk. I can already tell that we’re going to be fast friends.”

  “No way. You’re not going to corrupt my mate,” Nicolae half growled followed by a grunt of pain. Layla must have punched him, just as Lorelei would have done to me if I’d said something so stupid.

  “Nic, you know these females have a mind of their own. Might as well just stay out of their way,” I remarked, giving Lorelei a wink.

  “You’ve been corrupted, boss. We have to take back the upper hand here.”

  “I’ll show you who has the upper hand, Nightmare,” Layla growled and then the phone went silent and disconnected.

  “Oh gods, Layla’s going to give him a run for his money. I’m loving it,” Lorelei doubled over as giant fits of laughter overtook her body. “It’s so funny to hear someone giving him shit for once.”

  My lips tilted and warmth radiated out from my chest at seeing her humor. To be able to find even the short reprieve from the heaviness of our current situation was so important.

  “That she is, Theera. Just like you give me a run for mine,” I said thoughtfully, my eyes never leaving her bright face. “Now, you heard Nic. We have a meeting to get to.”

  She sobered and swiped away the tears that lingered on her cheeks from her overwhelming laughter. With a coy smile she stood on her tip toes and placed a kiss on my cheek.

  I drew back with an arched brow. “What was that for?” Not that I didn’t like her small show of affection, it was just a strange thing for her to do.

  Her shoulders lifted and fell before she started to walk away. “No reason, I just felt like it. Now are we going or not?” She asked with a look over her shoulder while sticking her tongue out at me.

  My head shook back and forth, the smile lingering on my face at my beautiful and amazing mate. “You’re so gorgeous.” I snuck up behind her and pulled her back to my front. My arms wrapped around her middle and her round ass collided with my groin, making my cock jerk to attention. “And all mine,” I groaned as I peppered kisses along her arched neck.

  Lorelei moaned and pressed herself back further against me. Her hands rested on my forearms and her nails lightly grazed my flesh as she touched me. “You’re all mine too, mate,” she said on a breathless moan.

  Teeth scraped along the tender skin of her throat and I chuckled at her statement. “Of course, my mate.” I rolled my hips and pressed my rapidly hardening erection into her backside. “Now stop tempting me. We have a meeting we need to get to. Someone always tends to make me forget myself and we keep being late for these things.”

  She whirled around to face me, color rising into her cheeks. Those icy blue eyes glowed as she narrowed them at me. One finger poked into my chest. “You’re the one that’s always groping and assaulting me. We wouldn’t have the issue of being late if you didn’t have your hands all over me every five minutes.”

  A sound of indignation left my throat a
nd I placed a hand over my heart in mock horror. “You wound me, Lorelei. Here I thought you loved the feel of my touch upon your skin.” I ran my fingertips along the exposed skin of her collarbone for emphasis. She shivered beneath my touch and I smiled in triumph.

  “You know I love your touch,” she said on an unsteady exhale. I circled around her and drew her long dark hair away from her neck. She shuddered beneath my light caress, her body betraying her effort to be firm with me. “Vincent. Please.”

  “Please, what Theera?” I breathed into her ear.

  She groaned. A long and throaty sound that made my cock harden even more. Damn it, I wanted to bury myself inside of her. Hmmm…maybe I would torment her and feast on her sweet pussy until she climaxed so many time she couldn’t see straight. Then, I would take her hard and fast, just like she loved.

  “We have to go,” her voice waivered, like she didn’t know if she wanted to say the words. The smell of her arousal coated my nostrils, the intoxicating aroma flooding my senses and making it difficult to think past my baser instincts.

  I growled, my chest vibrating with the sound as I cursed. “I know.” My hand splayed out over her stomach and I pulled her roughly against me. I wanted her to feel how hard I was for her. How much I craved her in this very moment. “Just know, the second we get back, I’ll have you on your knees with those beautiful lips wrapped around my cock.”

  Her body quivered, her head falling back onto my shoulder as her legs wobbled. “Anything.”

  That word from her lips was like pure heaven, making me want everything from her. She would give me anything and I would give her everything in return.

  Clearing my throat roughly, I stepped back. My hands held tightly to her waist, holding her steady so that she didn’t fall or topple over. “You’ll give me anything I want when we get back tonight.” My lips curled into a lupine grin at the thought. “I’ll hold you to that, Theera. But for now, we do need to go before we get the death glare from Leo and Damius.”