“Where is the coven based?”
“Italy.”
“Oh ok… Wait. You mean we will have to move to Italy?”
“Yeah. Are you okay with that?”
“Honestly?”
“Yes. Always honestly. We should always be upfront with each other.”
“Okay then I don’t know. Can you give me time to process it?”
“Of course, baby. We have almost a month to discuss it.”
“Thank you.” Not wanting to annoy Odin I said, “I know I have asked a lot of questions in the whole ten minutes we have been in the car, but I have more.”
“Ask away?”
“Okay but only if you promise to tell me to shut up when I start to get on your nerves.”
“You could never get on my nerves.”
That sounded like a challenge I would have to accept later but right now I had a ton of questions. “Why haven’t I met your parents?”
“You have.”
“No, I haven’t.”
“My father was there when you were trying to transform, and he was the one that welcomed the coven to welcome you at our wedding.”
“Okay I have seen your father. But I have never been introduced to him.”
“Fair enough. I’ll make sure to do the proper introductions when we get back.”
“What about your mother?”
“She wasn’t at the wedding.”
“Why? Does she not approve?”
“No, it’s not that.” He hesitated for a moment, “She is sick.”
“What’s wrong with her?”
“I’m not trying to be rude, but can we talk about something else?”
“Sure. What happens to the guys when you return to work for your father?” I said, jumping into another question so the talk of his mother didn’t linger. I could tell it upset him to talk about her.
“They will work under me. They will be a part of my team.”
“What type of work will you do?”
“We are here.”
“Where are we?”
“Plitvice Lake National Park. You ready?”
“Yes.” Odin took my hand and led me down a wooden walkway that lead into the forest which led to a lake. On one side of the walkway was still lined with the forest while the other was lined with turquoise water. It was the most beautiful water I had ever seen. We walked across a wooden bridge that sat just on top of the water. It was surrounded by small waterfalls. The sight was breathtaking. Every few steps was another waterfall that was better than the last.
After spending about two hours walking around the park Odin had a picnic waiting for us right next to one of the waterfalls. “Odin this is perfect. It is so relaxing here,” I said, as I laid back to listen to the splashing water.
“I’m glad you like it.”
“How did you even know about this place?”
“My mom brought me here every Easter when I was a kid. She said it was the only place on earth that seemed to be anything like Heaven. When you took me to your secret spot, the waterfall there reminded me of here. I knew I wanted to bring you here since that day.”
“Your mom was right you know?”
“About what?”
“This does feel close to Heaven.” He leaned over and kissed me softly on the lips. When he pulled back I said, “Hey Odin. When you are ready to talk about her I’m here.”
He didn’t respond. He didn’t need to. I know he was thankful to have someone that would listen. And I would be here for him with anything he needed.
As I was laying on the blanket enjoying the sounds around me I began to smell something delicious. It was the best smell in the world and it made my mouth water. “Do you smell that?” I asked Odin.
“What? I don’t smell anything.”
“It smells so good.” I took in a deep breath and suddenly my fangs appeared. “Oh my Gosh Odin!”
“What’s wrong?” he sat up beside me.
“It smells so good. I have to find it.”
“Lilith, your eyes?”
“What about them? How do you not smell that? It’s getting closer.” I got up and started walking toward the smell.
“Lilith, wait. Don’t.” He got up and started to walk up to me but I took off in super speed. I knew I was moving fast but I was able to see everything like it was in slow motion. When I was close to the smell my instincts kicked in and I hid behind a tree. I waited for whatever that fantastic smell was coming from. My vision went full red and suddenly the smell was in front of me and I was tasting the sweetest flavor I have ever tasted. The hot liquid ran down my throat quenching a thirst I didn’t know I had. I was lost in the rich, beautiful taste. The flavor was orgasmic. As the liquid flowed into me, I felt a rush of adrenaline pump through my body making me feel alive.
Hearing Odin yell my name in the distance caused me to snap out of my euphoric state. I looked down and was holding a young woman in my arms. Blood poured from her neck. I panicked and started screaming. Odin came running over. “Lilith, you have to be quiet. No one can know you did this.”
“Oh God Odin what have I done?” I cried out.
“It’s okay baby. Just let me take care of this. Stay here.” He grabbed the woman in his arms and walked deeper into the forest. I sat on the ground balled up hugging my knees. I was disgusted with myself. But the taste was so delicious. Just thinking about it made me want more.
“Odin,” I called out for him. If he didn’t get me out of here I was going to need more blood. I could smell it again. Someone was walking up the wooden path. This person’s blood smelled even sweeter. It was something I needed to taste. My instincts kicked in again and I took a crouching position. I waited for my prey like a lion waiting for a gazelle. My fangs felt sharp on my tongue. They were ready to sink into the flesh of my next victim.
The smell was so close I knew the person was merely feet away from me. I got lower readying myself to pounce. Odin grabbed my shoulder, “Don’t.”
“It smells so good Odin. Don’t you want to have a taste with me?” I was so transfixed on the smell I was losing myself to the vampire inside of me.
“Lilith. Don’t” Odin demanded.
“I’m so thirsty Odin. It hurts.”
“I know baby. You have to fight this so we can get home. Something has happened we have to get back to Maine.”
Snapping out of it I asked, “What’s wrong? Are the guys okay? Ambi?”
“Yes, everyone is fine. Come on I will explain on the flight home.”
“Odin what happened to me?”
“You fed baby.”
“What was wrong with my eyes?”
“The whites turned completely black and the center that is normally blue turned red.”
“When you feed don’t your eyes change colors?”
“No. No one’s does. I have never seen anything like it in all my life,” he said sounding concerned. “You aren’t even supposed to be feeding yet. It usually takes a newbie at least a month before they need to feed. You have only been transformed for two days.”
“What is wrong with me? Why am I so different?”
“Nothing is wrong with you. Come on let’s get out of here.”
Chapter Thirty-One
We went straight to the villa and grabbed our things. Once we were seated in the jet I asked Odin, “So what happened? Why do we need to rush back?”
“Slaaneth is back?”
“What do you mean he is back? I thought he was in hell and couldn’t get out unless he sacrificed me before I transformed?”
“That is true. He couldn’t get out unless he killed you but...” He trailed off without finishing.
“But what Odin. Tell me.” He turned to look out the window. “You said we always needed to be honest with each other. What is it?”
“Slaaneth has sent an army to kill you.”
“What? Why? I have transformed already. I am of no u
se to him now.”
“I know. But apparently, he is pissed that you not only got away but were able to kill two of his best people before you even transformed. He knows you are powerful and doesn’t want you living on earth. He wants you in hell with him, so he can torture you for eternity.”
“You have got to be kidding me.” I felt anger start to pump through my veins. “He is so fucking dramatic. First, he wants out of hell to take over the earth and he had me kidnapped because he couldn’t do it without me. So, I defended myself from being killed. I had the right to defend myself. And now because I killed his goons, which might I add he used the only family I had left against me, now he wants to kill me anyway. And for what? Because I have all of this power running through me that no one can tell me about or warn me about because there is no other like me. I didn’t ask for this. I didn’t ask to be brought into this world. For all I care Slaaneth can go fuck himself.”
“Baby your eyes are changing. You need to calm down.” Wrong words to say to me.
“Calm down? You want me to calm down? Are you kidding me Odin? Whose side are you on. I have every reason to be upset.”
“Baby that is not how I meant it at all. You know I am on your side. I only meant that your eyes are changing and there is a lot about your powers that we don’t know but we do know that when you are upset or are about to use one of your powers your eyes change colors. Just like they are doing now.”
I didn’t say anything. This flight back would be long and filled with tension. When the captain gave us the okay to remove our seat belts, I walked away from Odin and went over to lay on the couch. I laid facing the back of the couch and pulled a blanket over my head, so he understood not to talk to me. I knew he got the message when I heard him sigh.
Odin didn’t bother me until it was time to get back in my seat belt for landing. Once I was buckled he said, “Lilith I am sorry for telling you to calm down. I know you have every right to be upset. I love you. Your eyes just started changing and…”
“Odin. It’s okay. Just don’t ever tell me to calm down again,” I said cutting him off.
“So, we’re okay?” he asked with uncertainty in his voice.
“Yeah we’re okay,” I said placing a kiss on his cheek.
We had to land at the airport this time since we didn’t have a private landing pad near our house. When we landed everyone was there to welcome us back. “Dude we have missed you,” Tristian said, as he hugged me.
“We were only gone one night,” I said.
“I know,” he said, with a huge smile across his face.
“So how was the honeymoon?” Cal asked wiggling his eyebrows.
I slapped him on the arm, “Wouldn’t you like to know?” I teased.
“Ah it’s like that now?”
“It’s always been like that Cal.” The rest of the guys gave us welcoming hugs. “Where’s Ambi?” I asked.
“I’m here,” she said, running up to us. “Had to run to the bathroom,” she explained as she walked over and hugged me.
“I swear I will never get used to that?” Latham said.
“What?” Ambi and I asked in unison.
“The two of you. You practically killed her and it’s like it made the two of you instant bffs.”
“Yeah you got to admit it is kind of weird,” Brant said.
“It’s not weird. We just have an understanding,” I said.
“What understanding would that be?” Cal asked.
“Look, Lilith is a force to be reckoned with. No one, not even her, knows her powers. She almost killed me with words. Who knows what else she can do. She is someone I want to be on my side, especially with this war coming. And besides once she feeds who knows what her strength will be like. We don’t have the numbers like Slaaneth does. We will need her powers and strength.” Odin and I looked at each other then I looked at the ground. “What? Did I say something wrong?”
“She fed already,” Odin said.
“What?” they all asked at the same time causing me to look up.
“How is that possible? It takes at least a month for the fangs to come in and some training to be able to smell it,” Tristian said.
“Trust me she doesn’t need any training. And her fangs are sharper than any that I have ever seen.” He looked at me and with a silent question I nodded my head. I knew what he wanted to tell them. “When she gets ready to feed her eyes change.”
“Man, what is it with you and your eyes changing?” Cal asked.
“What do they look like?” Gunner asked.
“The whites turn completely black and the blues and the pupils of her eyes turn red. I’ve never seen anything like it.” They all looked at Odin like he was crazy. “I think when things settle down we will need to talk to the Luminaries and see if they know anything about what is going on with her.” Everyone agreed with Odin and we finally left the airport.
****
When we got back home the guys had packed up all of my things from my aunt’s house “Y’all did that in one day?” I said, as I stepped over boxes in Odin’s room.
“Hope you don’t mind. The Luminaries want to sell your aunt’s house as soon as possible. They asked us to pack your things up for you while you were on your honeymoon,” Dex said.
“It wasn’t much of a honeymoon,” I said with disappointment in my voice.
Odin walked over to me and wrapped his arms around my waist, “I will have to make it up to you Lamia Mea.” He placed his lips to mine sending electricity surging through my body. I leaned in closer to him deepening the kiss. He ran his hand under my shirt causing a moan to escape me.
I pulled away from Odin when Dex cleared his throat. “Sorry Dex. We didn’t…”
He held his hand up, “No need to apologize.” He turned to leave the room. “I get it,” he said with a wink.
“Dex,” I called out before he could get to far. “Thank you for packing up my things.” He nodded in response. I couldn’t help but think of how just a short time ago I didn’t have a single friend and now I have ten people I can call my friends but eight of them have turned into my family. I can’t say that I am happy with how my life has turned out, but I truly love the family it has given me.
“What are you thinking about?” Odin asked as he nuzzled his face into my neck.
“Just thinking about how I love everyone.”
“Well I love you,” he said, kissing the crease in my neck.
“Want to show me?” I asked as I ran my fingers down his chest.
“More than ever,” he said, as he lifted me and put me on the bed. He climbed on the bed beside me and sat me up. He pulled my shirt over my head and unclasped my bra. He pushed me back down into the bed and climbed on top of me. He kissed my neck and down my chest until he reached my breast. He kissed each one so tenderly he had me begging for more.
I reached up to pull his shirt off, but he forced my hands back to the bed. He held my arms pinned to the bed while he kissed my body. He kissed me in places I didn’t know would feel good getting kissed. He loosened his grip and I tried again to pull his shirt off. He again shoved my hands back to the bed. “Stop,” he demanded. He sat up to unbutton my pants. He forcefully pulled them and my panties off. He lifted my leg and ran kisses all the way up it until he got to my inner thigh. He shoved my legs open and kissed each inner thigh slowly. The anticipation was killing me. I wanted to feel his lips on my center. I was ready for him to pleasure me.
Finally, the wait was over, and he slowly ran his tongue over my center causing me to moan with pleasure. He picked up his pace swirling his tongue in circles sending me over the edge. I cried out with ecstasy.
Odin sat up on his knees and looked at me with hunger in his eyes. I wasn’t sure how good I would be but I knew I should return the favor. I wanted to. He needed me to. I sat up and pulled his shirt over his head. I threw him onto the bed on his back. Slowly I kissed his neck and chest. I licked a trail dow
n to his navel. With my tongue I traced a circle around his belly button. When the circle was complete I kissed him right below it.
I unbutton his pants and pulled them and his boxers off with one pull. His hardness sprung from his pants standing, ready to be pleased. I took him in my hand squeezing it a little bit. I slowly kissed the tip then let it go. I kissed his inner thighs and dug my nails into his chest. Odin released a deep breath. I took him into my mouth and moved up and down pleasing him. I swirled my tongue around the tip as I sucked in hard. He growled making me moan in response.
He pulled me off of him and threw me down onto the bed. He climbed on top of me and pulled my legs apart and forcefully thrust into me. He moved in and out of me so fast and hard he had me screaming with pleasure. I was becoming so loud I had to place a pillow over my face. Before he was ready to release he flipped me over pulling me onto my knees. He wrapped one of his hand in my hair pulling slightly while the other one gripped onto my hip. I moaned with the welcomed roughness.
He inserted himself inside of me again. He moved slower this time. He moved in and out of me making sure I felt the full length of him. I began to move back and forth on him causing him to speed up. Pleasure filled my body and when I was ready we came together. I fell forward, and Odin fell beside me. While we were both trying to catch our breaths, I ended up falling asleep.
Chapter Thirty-Two
When I woke up I was standing on the bridge again. It was cold and fogged rolled all around me. It was thick, and I could barely see anything. I started walking in the direction of what I thought would be toward the house when I heard the most sinister laugh I have ever heard. It didn’t stop. The laughter continued as if the person were laughing at me. I was confused, and fear started to fill my body.
The laughter suddenly stopped, “You actually think you have won?” I recognized the voice instantly.
“What do you want Slaaneth?” I asked through gritted teeth.
“You know what I want,” he yelled at me.
Corruption of the Heart (The Corruption Series Book 1) Page 20