by Deja Black
It was a struggle to get in air, but he fought desperately to speak, to fight back. “Appreciate? Grateful? You. Fucking. Bastard.” His gasp was harsh, his coughs labored as Keith all but sat on his chest, pressing his legs apart. “I would rather die than be yours ever again.”
The roar that came out of that hideous maw was amazing in its rage. “Then die!”
Reaching high into the air, Keith’s intent was clear. He was going to kill him. Dan had to accept it was over. True, this was the dream world, but Dan knew that dying here would be just as terrible as dying out there. He would be gone no matter what. He couldn’t move, could do nothing as he watched Keith’s talons separate in slow motion as they came closer and closer, curved to shred him apart. This was it. He was going to die here, die without his family, die alone. Where was Aiden? Goddess, please. Don’t let him see this. Don’t let him blame himself. The repetition in his mind was like a broken record.
Just as he felt the sharp tip of the first talon, the world exploded. Light, intense and staggering, leaked first, then poured from Keith’s body. Behind his eyes, he grew brighter and brighter until the sockets were filled with nothing but white hot flame. Opening his mouth in a silent scream, beams shot forth from within, too much for the beast to contain. He was burning from the inside out, the fire searing him, leaving behind more points of light in its wake. The pain had to be horrible, the look of surprise and shock warring with agony from the glimpses Dan was able to see, the mouth—or what was left of it—open in a terrible grimace.
When he felt safe enough to open his eyes, to see the light that had finally destroyed Keith, Aiden stood before him, magnificent in his power, gossamer wings aloft, brilliant and shimmering, his body illuminated and fiery.
And his.
EPILOGUE
THE CEREMONY was over, the flowers shared, and the guests had all gone away. It was just Aiden and Dan now, Aiden at Dan’s back, holding him in his arms. They stood at the window, looking over the gardens that his mother had enjoyed, where he had only dreamed of moments to share with someone to love before, but now those dreams were reality, the monster who hovered over them slayed and gone.
“I never said I was sorry.”
“You didn’t have to.” Dan understood. He had to put himself in Aiden’s place. While he loved Jeremiah and his brother with all of his heart, he had often longed for his biological father’s love. It didn’t mean he loved the family that had claimed him any less. It just would have been nice for the man who helped to give him life to feel Dan was important enough to keep.
Aiden had felt that. He had wanted so badly for a family, his biological one, to love him, but it wasn’t to be. Keith had to be put down like the rabid dog he was. Dan was strong enough to realize it and strong enough to do it. Still, he couldn’t do it alone. It took Aiden to help him banish Keith to whatever hell existed.
“Maybe I should be the one apologizing, but I won’t. My mate needed me, and as your keeper, I did what had to be done. I am thankful I did.” He felt Aiden’s hardness swell against his bottom. “Ready again so soon?”
“Always for you, baby.”
So much had happened in just a few days, for the better.
Darren was doing okay. He had nightmares, but after being controlled and made to do things that would have made a vegetable out of a lesser person, it was understandable that he would have at least a few nights without sleep. Since he couldn’t see a therapist in the human world, it was only natural that Dan and Aiden would serve to help him regain his footing from the horror he experienced. Besides, there was the fact that he was a coimeádaí, and someday his mate would come to find him. At least he would know what to do. Living in the compound with his grandmother, who knew a lot more about their world than Dan realized, was nice, since Maya Bledsoe and Branna Dunham got along wonderfully.
There were surprises at every turn, especially when instead of releasing doves, what seemed to be billions of butterflies, in a rainbow of colors, rose at the end of the ceremony, fluttering and dancing, with Shelly as the choreographer. Her smile was radiant, as were the wings that lifted her. Her laugh tickled Dan’s ears, her happiness there for all to witness. Her coral-red hair moved sensuously around her body, her skin luminescent. Tiny leaves spotted her flesh, flashing like sumptuous jewels.
A sprite. All this time, and Dan had never known. When she had taken him aside, sharing with him the need to keep her true identity a secret, he didn’t hesitate to promise her that he would love her no matter what. He wouldn’t forget the ones who fought with him, loved him, and gave him the strength to survive another day. So, sprite or not, descendent of royalty or not, Shelly was his best friend. He would always remember that, no matter what obstacles lay ahead.
“Well, we have a few things to do before that happens,” Dan said as he turned to face Aiden.
“Like?”
Dan kissed him gently, moving his lips slowly until he reached his nipple. “Like finish getting you all moved in.” Sighing, he traced the outside of Aiden’s new tattoo, the initials DTK filigreed across his breast. “Do you like it?” he asked as he circled his fingers around his nipple, teasing it hard.
“I love it, love being marked by you.” Aiden sighed, his body grinding hungrily against Dan’s. Holding Dan tighter, he kissed him long and deep.
“Welcome home, watcher.”
“Home.” And there it was, just what Dan wanted to hear.
About the Author
DEJA BLACK had fantasies of men loving men, men who felt strongly, loved hard, and needed a hero. Then one great day she came across a book and discovered the world of m/m writing, encountered others who shared her obsession as much as she did, and found a world where she could not only be accepted for the lives and loves she envisioned, but she could create them too. So why not? Why not take the stories she would write and throw away as a teenager, grow them, dream them, and make them a reality where she could know her own characters, let them live their story, and make them real for someone else? And she did. Now, with the support of her hubby and some intense time management, she is learning to balance her family of two children at home and the many others she teaches each and every day with her passion of writing what she loves to read.
Deja is always interested in connecting to new people who also share her love, so please feel free to contact her at:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/deja.black.96
Blog: http://dejablack77.blogspot.com/
Goodreads: Deja Black
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Table of Contents
Title page
Copyright
CHAPTER 1
CHAPTER 2
CHAPTER 3
CHAPTER 4
CHAPTER 5
CHAPTER 6
CHAPTER 7
CHAPTER 8
CHAPTER 9
CHAPTER 10
CHAPTER 11
CHAPTER 12
CHAPTER 13
CHAPTER 14
CHAPTER 15
CHAPTER 16
CHAPTER 17
CHAPTER 18
CHAPTER 19
CHAPTER 20
EPILOGUE
About the Author
Also from DSP Publications
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