Raven and the Rose

by Knight, Charisma

  return to the banks to deal with the narcissistic vampire, Niall. While dressing in her robes, the hair on the back of her neck stood on end, alerting her to Niall’s presence. Sucking in a breath to deal with the fiend, she turned.

  “Do you always bathe in the Falls at midnight,” Niall asked with a cocky grin. He ran his

  hands through the blond mass of shoulder length hair.

  Anger rushed through her veins at the sight of him. It pissed her off even more when she

  recalled what Louis had told them at the police station.

  Icy blue eyes peered at her through the darkness.

  “This is my ancestral home, I bathe wherever I please, vampire. Has Tobias explained to you

  our situation?”

  “Yes, Rose. Tobias has told me everything.”

  “Have you shared your blood with outsiders, allowing them entry into Raven’s Falls?”

  The vampire’s face wrinkled in confusion. “That would violate the pact between our

  families, I’d never do that.”

  “Well, someone has. A vampire has shared blood with the werewolf, Louis Rosseau.”

  He smiled. “You don’t say? Glad it wasn’t me. Since I’m able to sense your fear, it proves

  how quickly your power is fading, Rose. But don’t worry, your secret’s safe with me.” He

  leisurely walked toward her until he stood within arm’s length of Rose.

  “If it wasn’t you, Niall, then who?”

  “I have no reason to lie to you, but I must be honest in saying I could care less and see this as an opportunity to gain what has been taken from me.”

  “What do you want?” Her mind sought answers and terror struck fear in her heart. If there

  were more vampires in Raven’s falls, where were they hiding?

  “To walk in the daylight.”

  His tone sounded low and gravely, sending a chill down her spine. “You know I cannot do

  that.”

  “Can’t? Or won’t?”

  She didn’t answer.

  “You’re getting ready to piss on a centuries old agreement between your family and mine,”

  he warned her. “You know the cost of that, Rose.”

  “Raven’s Falls will not be your feeding grounds,” she reminded him.

  “Rose, I hunt, taking only what I need. The time is approaching when our families must join

  forces once again.”

  “That was centuries ago, Niall. Times have changed.”

  “Yet, you’ve called upon me to help you out with your little wolf dilemma.” He chuckled.

  “How ironic. You need me to pull forth the memories from the wolves’ blood.”

  She did hate having to ask for help, but what could she do? She couldn’t allow pride to put

  the lives of others in any further danger. “Yes, Niall, I do need your help. We need your help.”

  “For a price.” He grinned. “I want to walk the daylight or no deal.”

  “All right,” she caved. “But first, we’ll go to the police station and find out who’s behind all of this.”

  “Bossy, little witch, aren’t you? I don’t like to be bossed around. Even your niece knows

  this.”

  His fierce expression felt unnerving. “I told you to stay away from Dehlia,” she muttered. “I

  swear, if you lay a hand on her, I’ll—”

  Niall gripped her by the throat, lifting her until her feet were several inches off the soil. “Or, you’ll do what?”

  Summoning her powers, Rose looked the beast in the eye. His hand grew hot as his pale skin

  turned reddish blue. Immediately, his grip loosened and he released her with a tormented cry in the night.

  He backed away, but she followed. “Do you know I could kill you right now? Don’t you

  ever put your hands on me again, Niall! Our families have agreements, yes. But, I will not allow you to think you can push me around. I’m not so young and naïve like Dehlia.” She released her

  power over him, and he fell to the ground.

  Immediately, he healed and rose to his feet. Niall grinned, cocking his head to the side.

  “Foolish mistake, witch. Dehlia works at my company, and I have unlimited access to her. Don’t

  think I won’t coerce that young, sweet, innocent witch into doing anything I please.” His facial expression changed and a sly smile slid across his face. “But wait, she simply adores me, so I

  don’t have to place her under the power of Coercion. She’ll fall to her knees in front of me if I ask her to.”

  “You common bastard.” She balled her fists in anger.

  Niall nodded and smiled. “Your niece wants me, there’s no denying that. Whenever she’s

  around me, I can smell that intoxicating fragrance of her needy cunt.” He inhaled deeply. “Her

  flesh calls to me, begging me to sully her.” He grinned before licking the tips of his fangs. “I wonder what McQueen blood and pussy tastes like.”

  Disgusted, Rose sucked in a heavy breath, averting her gaze in another direction. Because of

  how he spoke of Dehlia, she could kill Niall with her bare hands if she chose to do so. “You’ll never know. Just for the record, I think I’ll keep you bound to the darkness,” Rose grated out.

  Nothing would please her more than to wipe that smug look from his face.

  “And you’ll change that if you want my assistance,” he angrily assured her. “If you don’t

  bless several charms to allow me and a few others to walk in the daylight, you’ll get no help from me.”

  Rose smirked. “I don’t take kindly to your threats, Niall. As for my niece, I’m going to have

  a talk with her tomorrow. I’ll provide you with a potion you’ll have to ingest because you’re not getting any charms.”

  Niall’s smile turned to a cruel curve. His eyes became soulless and black. “You’re going to

  regret this.”

  “Potion…” Rose gambled he’d take her up on the offer.

  The vampire snarled. “Fine. We have a deal. Tomorrow, during the day I’ll question the

  wolves.”

  “Niall.”

  He looked her over. “Mmm, I don’t think you’re hiding any potions beneath that robe of

  yours. I suggest you start making it tonight and deliver it at first light. Potion first, then I’ll do as you’ve asked. Oh, and just for the record, I will seize the opportunity of tasting your niece and there’s nothing you or anyone else can do about it. Think on that, witch.” With that, he quickly turned and walked away.

  Rose released a breath and closed her eyes. Her chest tightened. She hated confrontations

  with vampires and loathed Niall even more. They were unpredictable and totally untrustworthy.

  But, Clara Rose had benefited from their union long ago. Rose hoped she wouldn’t have to do the same. She smiled when another familiar, more comforting presence made itself known . “Storm,”

  she whispered.

  The raven circled above several times before squawking and landing directly in front of her.

  Immediately, he shifted and stood naked in front of her. His smooth tan skin glowed beneath the light of the moon, and his powerful muscles bunched with every step he took in her direction. His thick black windswept hair rained past his collarbone, giving him a regal, yet mystical

  appearance.

  God, the man is always such a sight for sore eyes. He almost made her forget the

  confrontation with Niall as she struggled between being woman and her duties as a witch.

  “Storm.” Her heart fluttered and her voice cracked with emotion as her eyes misted over in tears at the sight of her powerful mate. “Is Seneca’s spirit safe in the Higher Realm?”

  Whenever a McQueen witch died, without passing along their magic in the way of The

  Heightening, they were vulnerable to warlocks and other beings seeking to lay claim to the
ir

  powers. The job of the raven was to protect and escort the spirit on their journey to the Higher Realm.

  “Yes, and she’s adjusting well. Fear not, my sweet Rose, for she now walks among the

  family of McQueen witches past.” He smiled, pulled her into his arms and kissed her.

  “Thank you, Storm,” she whispered to his lips and squeezed him tight.

  When she gazed up at him again, he frowned. His brown eyes darkening with anger. “I heard

  what Niall said about Dehlia. I should have killed him on the spot.”

  “And that would have violated Clara Rose’s pact with his family,” she reminded him.

  He grasped her in his strong arms, ensuring she wasn’t hurt. Storm rested his chin on top of

  her head and squeezed her tight. “If he ever hurts you, I swear I’ll incinerate him with the sun.”

  “I know.” Rose leaned in, pressing a finger to his lips before kissing them. She felt the

  vibration of his groan against her lips and broke the connection. With a seductive smile, she

  swept her hands over his broad chest, then leaned against him. The wild pounding of his heart

  drummed against her skull, and suddenly her heart matched the beat of his.

  “Woman, I heard everything. Although, I do not agree with any of this, I trust your

  judgment.” He tilted her chin back to meet his gaze, brushing his lips sensually against hers. He slipped his tongue between her lips, lightly stroking hers.

  While they kissed, she whimpered and melted against his strong physique. Inhaling his scent

  of fresh rainwater and woods, she kept sight of the problem at hand. Was it wrong for them to

  indulge in such a moment? With a groan, she placed a palm on his chest, breaking their

  connection. “Thank you, Storm. Are you coming to the council meeting tomorrow night?”

  “Yes, of course,” he answered as his gaze brushed over her and made her weak in the knees.

  “I’ll go with you when you take the potion to Niall.” Storm’s voice became gruff.

  “I don’t want you two at each other’s throats,” she admitted, as they turned and walked up

  the cobblestone trail leading to the back entrance of McQueen Manor.

  “I’ve never liked that man,” Storm seethed. “I’ve stolen glimpses into his mind and I do not

  approve of how he thinks of Dehlia. That combined with his words infuriates me.”

  Rose’s chest tightened. “My niece needs to cap her feelings toward him. I’ve told that girl so

  many times about the consequences of bedding that insidious vampire. But, she has ignored me.”

  Storm snaked an arm around her waist. “Dehlia hasn’t allowed him into her bed yet, but

  unfortunately, she’ll eventually do what she wants. At this point, she’s not thinking with her head, but with her body. She’s a grown woman Rose, but she’ll make her share of mistakes.”

  Rose sighed as they climbed the stone stairs the banister encircled in roses to the terrace of

  their chambers. “I know, but Niall is aware of what will happen if he takes her blood. He

  constantly dangles that threat whenever he wants to piss me off.”

  He chuckled softly. “And you allow him to do so.”

  She lifted a brow and challenged Storm. “And you don’t?”

  He simply laughed and squeezed her plush ass. Once inside her chambers, she pulled the

  double doors closed. With a wave of her hand, soft light lit the room as she sat on the purple

  velvet comforter of her bed to slip off her shoes.

  Storm sat next to her. He propped her feet onto his lap and began massaging her ankles. “If

  Clara trusted him, what makes you think we can’t?” he asked with curiosity.

  “Clara only used him and his family to defeat the warlocks after the massacre of the McKay

  Plantation. Their family retaliated against one of our ancestors. We would have lost many

  McQueen witches if we hadn’t joined forces with Niall’s clan. Unfortunately, we sometimes must

  work with vampires.”

  “Does anyone know who that ancestor was?” he asked.

  “No. Viola does, but she’s never shared that info with any of us.”

  “What does The Book of Whispers say?” Storm worked his way from her ankles to her feet

  his fingertips kneading between the tendons of her feet.

  She groaned and reveled at the attention her man was gifting her with. “There’s nothing

  embedded in the book regarding that incident.”

  “Okay, what is the book saying about our current problems in Raven’s Falls?”

  “With the exception of a few swirls of the glyphs, absolutely nothing. I’m at a complete loss.

  Tobias and I went to the police station tonight.” Rose filled Storm in on everything that happened in his absence.

  Lifting a dark brow, Storm ceased his actions. “Vampires sharing blood? Rose, we need to

  find them quickly. I’ve made my rounds once returning to Raven’s Falls, but I haven’t seen a

  vampire around for miles. The only vamp I’m sensing is Niall.”

  “That’s not good. Do you think something else is impersonating a vampire?”

  Storm nodded in agreement. “It wouldn’t be the first time.”

  “Uncle Corey has doubled up on police activity and declared a curfew for the protection of

  citizens until we reach the bottom of this. I’m scared—Storm. A family of dragon shifters were

  harassed in their home last night. We must reinforce the safety of everyone while regaining their trust. Has anything strange happened in Queensville? I sent Kezzie out to see what she could

  find.”

  He shrugged. “Everything is fine there, but there’s an imbalance in the spirit world.” He

  shook his head. “Spirits have been tight lipped to me. My powers wane when I’m there. I don’t

  know how outsiders are getting into Raven’s Falls, Rose. It makes no sense.”

  “It makes a lot of sense,” she grumbled. “We have traitors within the city…sharing their

  blood with vampires.”

  “How are they slipping between the veils of both waterfalls without being detected?”

  Rose’s jaw tightened. Only McQueen witches could pass through the falls, because of the

  powerful magic in our blood. “That’s what we’ll be discussing at the council meeting. My mother and father are attending, but I don’t know why. Mother has always dodged McQueen power and

  my father never approved of any of this. But, they ordained him and allowed him to attend

  council meetings.”

  Storm moved up next to her and wrapped his arms around her. “Give them credit, Rose. At

  least, they’re trying to be somewhat supportive of you. And your mom belongs at those meetings

  just as much as anyone.”

  An uneasy feeling glided over her. “I suppose you’re right.”

  “How are you getting along with them?”

  She snuggled against him. “Just casual conversation in passing, that’s it.”

  “You know you need to change that, right? After all, they are your parents,” he chastised and

  kissed her on the cheek.

  “I’ve made a huge sacrifice tonight just by invoking Niall’s help. Right now, my parents are

  the last thing on my mind.”

  Storm visibly cringed. “Just don’t push them out, that’s all I ask.”

  “I’ll try . Now…about Niall . Only a vampire can pull the memories from the blood of someone who’s experienced mind coercion at the hands of another vampire.”

  Storm smiled and squeezed her tight. “I trust in your decision, Rose.”

  “Which reminds me, I’ll need to make the potion soon. Daylight is only a few hours away. I

  must keep my
word to him.”

  “Do you need any help?”

  She squeezed his hand. “No, Storm. You should rest while I prepare the potion. We’ll need

  to have our strength for the council meeting.”

  He smiled and kissed her on the cheek as she rose from the bed. “You need to conserve your

  energy just as much as I do,” he reminded her. “Rose, why do you feel the need to take on the

  weight of the world on your shoulders?”

  “It is my duty, Storm.” Sensing the direction the conversation was going, she tried moving

  off the bed, but he held her hand tight.

  “Is it the witch or the woman telling me this?”

  “Both.”

  “I think the witch smothers the woman. We both know there should be a balance between

  the two.” He twirled the coils of her hair as he swept his gaze over her.

  “Storm, let’s not discuss this now.”

  “We should discuss it. You’re always putting it off.”

  “This isn’t open for conversation.” She told him firmly.

  “That’s exactly what I’m speaking of,” he challenged.

  “There’s no rest for the wicked.”

  “Ah, but you’re far from wicked. Unless, you count the bedroom.” His eyes narrowed and a

  serious look crossed his face. “I’ve missed you, and I’ll dismiss this conversation…for now,” he promised in that familiar husky tone, letting her know he had plans for them once the potion was completed.

  “You’ll have to wait,” she warned in a firm voice, reminding them both of the tasks at hand.

  “Then, we’ll play.” She stood from the bed and moved away.

  “Oh, but I want to play now.” Storm rolled off the bed and slowly strode over to where she

  stood.

  Rose’s breath hitched as the candlelight illuminated every inch of his tanned skin. The tribal

  tattoo encased a raven and a rose, and seemed to move with every move he made. She licked her

  lips at her mate’s naked body. She hated it when he teased her at the most crucial times. “Storm.”

  “What?” he shrugged innocently. “I’m getting ready to shower.” He kissed her on the cheek,

  then headed to the large bathroom.

  Rose grinned before chuckling softly to herself. At the altar, she grabbed a few herbs, poured

  them into a porcelain vial, then added purified water from the stream. “I’ve got a pleasant