by Gail Koger
His fingers tightened around my jaw. “I haven’t forgotten.”
“Please don’t do this.”
“You prefer Dominic?”
“God, no, I don’t want to be anyone’s mate, okay?”
“You’re mine and I won’t let you go.”
Testosterone was the bane of my life. He tilted my head back and more blood flowed into my mouth.
Isobel entered the room carrying a glass filled with a thick black fluid. “Good, you’re awake. You need to drink this.”
I shoved McGregor’s arm away and choked down the blood in my mouth. “Isobel, please you have to talk some sense into him.”
“I’m sorry but I agree with him. It’s the only way to keep you safe.” She pushed the glass into my right hand. “Drink all of it.”
One glance at the evil looking brew and I shook my head. “What is it? Eye of Newt? Chopped up bats?”
Her lips tightened and she looked up at McGregor. “May I?”
“Aye.”
Isobel clamped her hands around my head and shoved her way into my mind.
“Get out.” I shoved back and flinched as a barrage of images crashed through my shields. Smoke and flames belched high into the sky. Hundreds of armored knights stormed into a medieval castle. The screams of the dying rang in my head. Through the choking black smoke I could see six men’s desperate fight to push back the horde.
Isobel’s horror and grief became mine as she watched her beloved father and brothers being butchered. I felt her pain, rage and humiliation as her mother and sisters were raped and murdered by Dominic. Then he came for us.
Enough, McGregor growled and broke the connection.
I sagged in his arms, tears streaming down my face. “Oh my God. I’m so sorry Isobel.”
“Me, too, I miss them every day. I would have died if Ian hadn’t changed me. He gave me a new life and allowed me to build my Sanctuary.” She kissed my forehead and wiped away my tears. “You are like a daughter to me. I can’t lose you to Dominic, too.” She pushed the glass into my hand. “Please drink it.”
Emotional blackmail really sucked. I quickly drained the glass and fought to keep from puking it back up. It tasted like tar and dog poop. “Happy, mom?”
Isobel gave me a teary smile. “Yes, daughter. Ian will keep you safe.”
That was debatable.
The nasty vamp nipped my neck. “You prefer Dominic’s gentle touch?”
“No.” A shudder shook me. “God, no. When you touch me I don’t want to hurl.”
“I’m flattered.”
A strange warmth spread through my body and suddenly I felt really good. “Hoo boy! What did you put in that stuff?”
Isobel took the glass from me. “Eye of Newt.”
I giggled hysterically. “With a smidgen of dog poop?”
McGregor scooped me up and carried me into the bathroom. He sat me on the toilet, turned the shower on and stripped down.
“You’ve got a really great butt,” I said, patting it.
He jerked upright with a frown. “What did you give her, Isobel?”
“Valerian root mixed with a little Spring Dragon and some other herbs,” she called from the bedroom.
McGregor tilted my head up and examined my eyes. “Was that necessary?”
“Aye, it will ease her nervousness and anxiety about the witnesses.”
“Once our minds our joined she won’t know or care about the witnesses.”
“Bunny’s very strong willed and she will instinctively fight you.”
Leaning forward I planted a wet one on Ian’s mouth. “You’re so hot.”
“Now, she won’t,” Isobel stated in satisfaction.
“You’ve turned her into a wanton,” McGregor snapped, snagging my hand as it slid down his belly.
“Enjoy it while you can. Once it wears off she’ll do her best to geld you.”
“Aye, that she will.” With a heavy sigh, McGregor picked me up and stepped into the shower.
The water poured down on us. My gaze fell on his pecker and I reached for it.
Ian grabbed my hand. “No.”
“But I want to touch it.”
“You can touch my cock later.”
“Promise?”
“Aye, as much as you want, anytime you want.” He poured shampoo into my hair and worked it into my scalp.
I slid my hands around to his nice firm butt and kneaded it.
Muttering a curse, Ian grabbed my hands and pinned them behind my back. “Not now. We need to get you cleaned up for the ceremony.”
I smiled up at him. “Okey-dokey smokey.” A tiny portion of my brain was screaming blue bloody murder. I knew I’d been drugged into submission but I didn’t give a rat’s ass. I wanted McGregor. Now.
Grinning, I licked and suckled his nipples.
A shudder ran through my hottie. “Isobel!”
“My lord?”
“How much Spring Dragon did you use?”
“I wanted it to be enjoyable, sire.”
“You doubt my skills as a lover?”
“No my lord but basically she’s still a virgin and having all those men watching as you take her will be quite traumatic.”
“The mating must be witnessed.”
“I know that my lord but Bunny won’t like it a bit.”
“Nope, don’t want a bunch of perverts watching while we get it on,” I chimed in, wiggling in pleasure as his large wet hands slid over my body.
McGregor shut the water off and bundled me up in a towel. “We have no choice in the matter. Dominic will contest the mating unless it’s done properly.”
“Just because they did it that way back in the dark ages doesn’t mean we have to follow those rules now.”
“Aye, we do.”
“Says who?”
I do, a stranger’s menacing voice answered in my head.
Who died and made you the boss?
Ian hissed, Shut up Ann.
Isobel gasped in horror. Please forgive her my Lord, she’s been drugged.
McGregor gave a mental bow. Sire, this is Cassandra’s daughter.
I winced as an unbelievable power surged into my head and began investigating every memory, every thought. Hey! Cut it out.
I felt his amusement at my feeble attempts to block him. She is everything you said and more.
Aye, she is a handful.
Shivering in fear, I wrapped my arms tightly around McGregor’s waist and hung on for dear life. Who?
I am your father.
Okay, this was way beyond weird. Maybe he was a Star Wars fanatic with a few screws loose but I was so not Luke Skywalker. My dad was killed six months before I was born.
You are blood of my blood.
Then it hit me. Oh hell. Scary guy was the vamp who gave my mother that life-altering blood transfusion. Kane?
Aye, daughter.
If the most powerful vampire in existence wanted me to be his daughter, who was I to say no? It’s a pleasure to finally meet you, sir.
A dutiful father doesn’t miss his daughter’s mating ceremony.
A hysterical laugh broke from me. Omigod! He was going to watch while we got it on, too. How sick was that?
Ian stroked my back in reassurance. Your presence honors us.
There was a flutter of movement in my head and Kane announced, I have strengthened your shields daughter and we will discuss your Uncle Fester’s talents at a later time.
Oh, swell. Thank you, sir.
Everything is in place?
Almost, sire. We still search for the proper ink.
My euphoric haze was quickly wearing off. Ink!? Ben had already forced his clan mark on me and I wasn’t letting it happen again. No! You aren’t tattooing me.
It is the law, Kane stated, his voice took deadly to a whole new level.
I swallowed hard. Guess not many people said no to him and lived. But…
The brand is for your protection, sweetling, McGregor hastily inserted.
>
I’m not a heifer.
All mated females must be tattooed with their mate’s clan mark, Kane proclaimed every inch the monarch of the vampire clans.
Couldn’t I just wear a wedding ring?
Once you wear my clan mark no vampire may touch you, McGregor added.
Oh.
A white hot heat suddenly streaked around my neck and I could actually feel a design being etched into my flesh. Hey! Stop! That hurts!
Kane’s autocratic voice rang in my head. It is only fitting that my daughter wears my clan mark as well as McGregor’s.
You honor us, sire.
I’m not a freakin’ cow. It’s barbaric.
Ian’s fangs clamped down painfully on my shoulder as he injected his venom into my bloodstream. Enough! It’s a great prize to wear Kane’s mark.
Another wave of euphoria swept over me and my fury vanished along with my ability to think clearly. What had I been so upset about?
Thank your father for his gift.
Thank you father, I parroted obediently.
Finish it. Dominic grows nearer.
Aye, sire.
Dressed like a tenth century princess, Isobel hurried into the bathroom and quickly pulled a silky black nightgown over my head.
I poked my arms into the sleeves. “I don’t get to wear white?”
“No.” McGregor ran a comb through my still wet hair, scooped me up and carried me into Isobel’s bedroom.
Ben, the entire pack and all of McGregor’s lethal warriors lined the walls. Their grim faces were more suitable for a funeral and what was up with all the weapons?
I waved at them merrily. “Hey guys, expecting a fight?”
My Alpha scowled. “What’d you give her?”
“Something to calm her down,” Isobel answered.
Get on with it, Kane instructed.
Isobel began chanting something in an ancient Scottish dialect.
“I’m not Catholic.”
“Doesn’t matter,” Ian growled in my ear.
“Huh. Do we have to say I do?”
“No,” Isobel hissed in English before launching into another spat of gibberish.
Gotta learn the language. Did mom just say you may kiss the bride or off with her head?
Ajax handed McGregor an ornate gold chalice. “Congratulations sire.”
Ian drank from it and pushed it against my mouth. “Drink.”
“Do I hafta?”
“Aye.” His mind slid into mine and I eagerly chugged the contents down. As soon as the last drop was gone I was tossed on the bed and Ian’s nude body suddenly crushed me against the mattress.
Wait a minute! Something was wrong with this picture.
McGregor’s mouth closed over mine and his hands caressed my body, sending a shocking wave of pleasure cascading over me. I fell into a whirlpool of sensations that erased that single note of sanity. Once again I simply didn’t care that I had been drugged I needed, no craved Ian’s touch, his possession.
I met his fierce, hungry kisses, my urgent hands roamed over his body, learning the feel of his skin, the way his thick muscles bunched under my touch.
Pushing aside the nightgown, Ian suckled my sensitive nipples, exploring them with his teeth, tongue and lips.
A moan broke from me as a delicious heat settled in my belly. More.
Finish it, Kane commanded.
Aye, sire.
Talk about a major buzz kill. Butt out, I snapped at my so-called father.
Hissing with displeasure, McGregor ruthlessly drove two fingers into me, thrusting harder and harder until every nerve ending rocketed to life.
My hips jerked and I writhed under him. “Oh God.”
His knee shoved my legs apart and that first hard breach of his flesh stretched me painfully. “Stop!”
His voice was guttural, hoarse, “I cannot.” Ian’s hips bucked again and again until he was buried so deep inside me that we were as one.
“Shit! Goddamnit! That hurts. A lot!”
McGregor’s fangs penetrated my neck and his thumb deftly stroked my clitoris. The burning pain was quickly replaced by mind bending ecstasy. Better?
“Hooboy, way better than chocolate.”
Someone in the room laughed.
Ben growled a warning.
I stiffened and pushed against Ian’s massive chest. Wrong. This was all wrong. “I can’t.”
“You can,” McGregor’s voice was mesmerizing, compelling.
His hot, toe-curling kisses melted away my resistance. I needed him. I needed the taste of his lips, his caresses to live.
That’s it sweetling. Let go. Ian pulled out and pushed back into me slowly, letting my body stretch to accommodate his thick penis. So tight. So slick.
I wrapped my legs around him and pulled him in deeper. More.
Aye, Ian groaned, his hard body pinned me down as he thrust harder, deeper. His hands tormented me as he slid in and out. The pressure built inside me and my hip rose to meet the next plunge of his body as he began to move faster and faster.
Frantic gasps, pants and pleading mewls tore from me as the vortex of dizzying bliss grew and grew until the super nova of orgasms tore through me.
With a triumphant roar McGregor buried himself deep in my mind, fusing us together in a bond that could never be undone. Mine.
Power unfurled deep inside of me and sparks of blue flittered around me as Ian let out a hoarse cry and shuddered in release.
As the final spasms died away I floated in a sensual haze of utter contentment.
It is done, sire.
The mating has been recorded in the great book, Kane responded.
Reality rose up and smacked me in the face. My coital bliss quickly turned to a raging case of P.M.S. Why don’t you just post it to YouTube and be done with it?
There is some merit to that idea, my father replied.
Holy hell, he thought I was serious.
With a loud cracking bang the front doors to the clinic were blown open by a fierce wind.
I giggled like a drunken school girl. “He’s here.”
My skin prickled as Ian’s power flared to match Dominic’s. With the eyes of death itself, he rose up ready to do battle.
I pulled my nightgown down and watched as tentacles of slimy green fog slithered over the floor and made a beeline for me. “Now that something you don’t see everyday.” I reached out to touch it.
“No!” McGregor plucked me from the bed and pushed me behind him.
A glaring red eye erupted from the squirming mass of tentacles.
“Oh Ick!” The mass surged over the bed and swirled around me. I smacked frantically at the foggy tentacles as they slid over my body in an obscene manner. “Knock it off, you sicko pervert.”
McGregor chanted something in Gaelic and the tentacles vanished.
“Thanks, sweetie.” Sweetie? Where’d that come from?