He couldn't contain his groan as memories of that night flooded his mind. He had to close his eyes just to contain his emotions.
Her hand reached his face, and his eyes flickered open again. "I have been so blind, Thorn," she said as she stroked his cheek. Her smile widened. She even gave a little chuckle. "Of course I will be standing at your side, because you will be standing at mine."
Thorn's mouth came down on hers in a fierce kiss. She returned it, delighting in the taste of him. He left her lips and pulled her into a bone-crushing embrace, his face buried in her neck. "I have never loved or wanted anything as much as I do you. I swear with everything I am, I will never let you go."
She felt as though a great weight had been lifted from her shoulders. She finally belonged and she finally had something of her very own. With her face squashed against Thorn's chest, she started to smile. "You know, you'll have to let me go at some point, Thorn; I can't breathe here." She laughed.
Chapter 34
Kaden stopped pacing long enough to pour himself a whiskey. The beer just wasn't doing the job. He felt so on edge, his muscles tightly wound, his heart beating double time, so much so that he didn't know what to do with himself. The only true cure for his distemper would be a visit to Soraya; she always calmed him. But, as he eyed the fist-shaped hole in the wall in the plasterwork, he knew he couldn't inflict such a foul mood on someone so delicate.
He zeroed in on Ryver, seriously wondering whether it was a good idea to send the young Guardian up to Lena's room to listen in on what the hell was going on. Ryver's head snapped up, his sharp, hazel eyes widening as he met Kaden's heavy stare. The guy gave a shake of his head and mouthed "no way," at him.
Shit.
Kaden reinforced his mental shields. Seventy-four times table this time. Ryver stuck his middle finger up at him. Kaden smirked, knowing full-well how much his constant multiplication did Ryver's brain in.
When he first started saying his tables in his head, Kaden didn't even know that he knew his seventy-fours, but as Ryver's gift got stronger, so did Kaden's ability to compartmentalise his mind. He had far too much going on up there to let a youngling like Ryver listen in. He made a mental note to start mental quadratic equations soon.
He downed his shot. The harshness of the liquor made him shudder, but it did serve its purpose. The warm liquid acted like a cosy blanket, soothing his aching muscles, relaxing his bunched shoulders.
He went over to the bar and caught sight of the clock on the wall. Thorn and Lena had been gone for ages and there was still no sign of either of them. He grabbed the bottle of whiskey to pour himself another and focussed on Soraya's last words to him; everything is as it should be.
It had better be.
This was a dream. It had to be.
Even as he laid Lena down on the bed, Thorn still expected to wake up. He still expected Lena to change her mind, say she'd made a terrible mistake. She looked up at him, a small smile on her lips, a beautiful sparkle in her midnight-blue eyes, and Thorn started to pray to God's long since forgotten. He prayed that he could look at this woman and call her his for the rest of his nights.
She reached for him, her small hand piercing the curls at the nape of his neck as she pulled him down. His lips found hers, her mouth warm and inviting as she kissed him back. Gentle, light kisses became deeper, hotter, needier. It left them both breathless.
Thorn broke away and lowered himself down beside her on the bed. He watched her lean into his hand as he cupped her face. She moved to kiss the palm of his hand sending an unexpected shiver through him.
Thorn's reaction excited her. She made her way from his palm and kissed the inside of his wrist. The instant her lips made contact with his skin, two things happened: Thorn shuddered again, and her fangs punched down hard as an almost painful hunger assaulted her.
Lena knew all about her need for Thorn, she had felt it most of her life, but this hunger, this was something new. She tried to pull away, but found she couldn't. A rich, masculine musk infused the air, enticing her back to his skin. Lena inhaled, taking that beautiful scent deep within her and before she could stop herself, she laid another kiss on Thorn's wrist. A jolt of electricity fizzled through her as she felt Thorn's heartbeat beneath her lips.
Her mouth hovering just millimetres from Thorn's radial artery, she glanced up to see his fiery eyes looking back at her. With his heartbeat echoing in her ears, Lena ran her tongue along the artery. Thorn's eyes widened and he hissed as his fangs extended. His heartbeat quickened under her lips and her hunger for him rumbled deep in her soul.
She had never thought about taking possession of another's soul. But this was different. Very different. Thorn's life force called to her, his heartbeat singing the most beautiful song she had ever heard.
Lena's razor-sharp fangs pierced Thorn's skin, and the King's precious blood raced to the surface as she clamped her mouth around the puncture marks. The delicious claret was the most potent thing she'd ever tasted, yet it felt oddly familiar. The thought was quickly gone as she felt Thorn's soul within her.
With every draw, she could feel his strength coursing through her veins, feel his love caressing her, feel his need for her deep at her core. She took another look at Thorn's face and the pure rapture she saw there took her breath away.
A molten heat raced through her as Thorn's soul touched hers and it completely overwhelmed her. She released his arm and fell back on the bed.
Lena had never looked more beautiful. She lay there, breath coming in harsh gasps, eyes glowing a fantastic turquoise. Thorn felt almost consumed with love and need for her.
He had given his blood to very few people, but never like this. The exchange had never been so intimate. His soul had never touched another, never felt their spirit. His soul had connected with Lena's and now he wanted nothing more than to take her soul within his. Where it belonged.
She looked up at him with those glowing eyes and a hunger roared within him. He leant down and claimed her lips in a deep kiss. The coppery taste of his own blood in her mouth only fired his passion for her. His hands caressed her lithe body as she returned the kiss. She clawed at his clothes and that rich, cinnamon scent of hers bloomed in his nostrils.
He broke the kiss long enough to tear off his shirt. Lena discarded hers as well and set about helping him out of his jeans. Once he was free of the constriction of denim, he tore Lena's trousers from her. She reached for him again, taking his lips with hers as her hand snaked around his shoulder. She shifted position so that when he lowered himself down, he nestled perfectly against her core. She rolled her hips beneath him and her devilish tongue caressed the tip of his fang. The shudder that went through him was so violent that he nearly came off the bed as he bucked against her.
He pulled away. Looking down at her, he saw that coy smile. She knew exactly what she was doing. And Holy Mother help him, he loved it.
She rolled her hips again, her slick core caressing his hard length and he was undone. He hissed as he gripped her hip. "I can't wait, Lena."
"Then don't," she replied as she wound her hand over the small of his back.
They both called out as he slid into her. She was wet, and slick, and just as fucking tight as he remembered.
Thorn let his head drop as he slid back and then thrust again. He kissed her jaw and made his way down her neck, her heartbeat guiding him to her carotid. He licked her delicate skin, delighting in the way she turned her head to give him better access.
Her nails dug into his back as he drove himself deep inside her, her body tightening around him. The closer Lena got to the edge, the louder her heartbeat became, until it was all Thorn could hear. He couldn't hold on any longer.
With a growl, his fangs bit into her neck. Lena screamed out and for one terrifying moment he thought she'd changed her mind, but seconds later, she rocked against him as her body milked his hard cock. He slowed his pace, helping her ride out the orgasm.
Thorn's concentration faltered as t
he first drops of her blood hit his taste buds. Holy Mother of Fae, he'd never tasted anything like it. He felt her soul next to his, felt her love for him, felt her body's reaction to him as if it were his own. The sensory overload was too much.
As he continued to draw her in with his mouth, he came long and hard. He wrenched his mouth away from her neck and screamed her name as she toppled over the abyss with him.
Their bodies shook as the orgasm kept going. Wave after wave of pleasure crashed through them both. Their connection made everything more intense, each of them lighting a fire within the other, until Thorn could no longer tell where he ended and Lena began.
When it came, the shock-wave knocked Kaden's feet from under him. He crashed to the floor and just had enough time to protect his head as the crystal on the bar exploded, sending the shattered shards of glass flying through the air.
A blinding flash of gold shot across the room just before everything started to go black. Kaden could feel himself falling into unconsciousness as he stared at the crystal stopper to a ship's decanter that had landed in front of him. He tried to focus on the dying embers of light refracted in the facets of the decoration, but still the blackness advanced, tunnelling his vision from the outside in. He clung on with everything he had, but it wasn't enough. The darkness claimed him anyway.
Lena laid snuggled in the crook of Thorn's arm, her head resting on his chest as she ran her fingers through the fine dusting of hair that covered his pectorals. Thorn stroked her hair, stopping now and then to lay a delicate kiss atop her head.
Her body languid, her hunger sated, she could lie like this forever. Which was why she let out such a deep-felt groan when Thorn suggested they go and find the others.
"But why?" she asked, aware that she sounded like a petulant child.
Thorn kissed her head again. "Because it is the right thing to do, my love."
She knew he was right, but still… "They can wait a bit longer," she said as she snuggled closer.
Thorn sighed as he held her close. "If we wait any longer, I have no doubt in my mind that Kaden will be knocking that door down." He rolled her onto her back and hooked his leg up over her thighs. A shimmer of heat glowed in her eyes as he ran his gaze down her body. He swallowed hard and kissed her on the mouth, but before she could respond, he tore himself away, a serious look in his eyes as he looked down at her. "In here, it's just us. Just me and you. I am not having the Keeper of the Watch spoiling that, not for anything. No matter how deep his concern for you."
Lena frowned. "His concern for me?"
"He's your big brother in all but name, Lena. Let's just say, he's worried about my intentions towards you."
Lena stifled a laugh in a very unladylike snort, but her amusement died the instant she looked up at Thorn's deathly serious face. "You're joking. Right?"
"Think about the last time he saw you."
Lena cast her mind back. When she and Thorn had returned to House Blackwood, she'd been so exhausted, she could hardly recall her own name, but she did remember telling Kaden she was fine. She felt so safe in Thorn's arms, she couldn't understand Kaden's concern… "Oh!"
"See my point?"
Yes she did. Kaden had never seen her admit weakness. Ever. He'd certainly never seen her allow someone to carry her. Shit, Kaden's mind must be in overdrive.
Chapter 35
Kaden came awake with a start, rolling out from under what had once been the bar and jumping to his feet. He shook away the last remnants of power that had sent him into that dark abyss and his hands automatically went to his hips for Megan and Kate. He was in the House; the girls were safely locked up in the armoury. Shit. Instead, he dropped to a crouch and retrieved his knife from his boot.
Still hunkered down, he surveyed the scene. For a moment he could hear nothing but silence. It didn't last long.
Mercury and Skylar clambered out from under the remnants of a pool table. Phoenix and Ryver pulled themselves out of what had been the sofa. Though none of them had their weapons, they were all ready to fight. Each of them searched the room, waiting for whatever it was to strike again.
Nothing happened.
Kaden let his muscles relax, just a little, as he stood up. "Everyone okay?"
Sky, Mercury and Phoenix nodded. Ryver on the other hand just stood there.
"Ryver, you okay?" Kaden called out. When the guy didn't answer. Kaden strode over to him. "Ryver?" The young Guardian's hazel eyes were impossibly wide as he stared into space. Kaden clicked his fingers in front of his face. "Ryver, you hear me?"
Mercury came up behind Kaden. "Boss, what's goin' on?"
"I have no idea," Kaden replied, still eyeing their youngest brother. He reached out a hand and gave Ryver's shoulder a squeeze.
As soon as he made contact, a tingling sensation swept up his arm. Kaden snatched his hand back and the feeling stopped. All at once, everyone with whom he shared a blood bond appeared in his mind. All at the same time. Kaden hissed. That had never happened before. The only way he could track people at the same time was if they happened to be in the same place.
Which Thorn and Lena were.
"Ah, Christ." There were a lot of things Kaden wished he could unsee. Not many of them made him want to take some sort of industrial cleaner to his eyeballs. He shook the visions away and swallowed hard.
"Will someone please tell me what the hell is 'appening?" Mercury shouted as the scene of devastation slid firmly into place.
"I don't fucking know," Kaden shouted back. But I've got a pretty good idea.
Kaden watched Ryver blink a few times and take a sharp intake of breath as he looked up at his Keeper. Kaden redoubled his mental multiplication efforts. He had a sneaky suspicion that the already powerful telepath just experienced a similar surge in power to the one Kaden had just felt.
"You okay, Ryver?" Kaden asked again.
The young Guardian frowned before giving a slow nod of his head. "Yeah, I'm okay," he replied, his voice hoarse.
"Something really fucking weird is going on here," Skylar said as he made his way over.
"You got that right," Mercury replied.
Kaden held up his hands. "Let's all just calm down a second."
Mercury stood there, arms folded, eyes narrowed at Kaden. Mercury opened his crooked mouth to say something, but Kaden stopped him. He knew Soraya was on her way down and he would not have the Princess subjected to whatever thunderous diatribe Mercury was about to let loose.
Kaden felt his muscles relax the moment Soraya entered the room. Her golden eyes sparkled with joy as she skipped over the debris without a care in the world. "Did you feel it?" she asked.
"For the love of Fae, please tell me you have the slightest fuckin' clue what the hell is happening 'ere," Mercury said, prompting a growl from Kaden.
"Watch your tone, Guardian."
Mercury winced. "I apologise, My Lady. It's just that, well, look at this place!" he continued, gesturing to the surrounding devastation.
Soraya beamed. "It's alright, Mercury. There is no need to apologise."
Kaden disagreed, but the Princess was so happy, he didn't say anything. She grabbed both of Kaden's hands in hers. "Did you feel it?" she asked again.
Kaden could sense the eyes of his brethren boring into the back of his head, as he held Soraya's delicate hands in his. He wasn't the touchy-feely type, so he could easily picture Sky's bug eyed face behind him. "We felt it, Princess," he replied as she smiled up at him.
"Isn't it wonderful? And you doubted me," she gave him a playful nudge. "I told you everything was as it should be, and so it is!"
Kaden couldn't help but smile back at her; her happiness was infectious. His smile dropped as his sense kicked in again.
"What is it, Kaden?" Soraya asked.
Still holding her hands, he turned to Mercury and said, "Everything is about to become clear."
"Huh?" Mercury replied.
Kaden turned towards the door. Here we go.
If she
were walking into battle, Lena would burst through that door, all guns blazing. If the Fallen lay on the other side of that door, she would relish the challenge, already be inventing new and exciting ways to kill them. Slowly. Painfully.
Except the Fallen weren't lurking in that room. Far worse, her brethren were waiting there. She'd heard Mercury's booming voice demanding answers… Though to what, she wasn't really sure. She did know that all eyes would be on her and Thorn as they walked in. Jesus.
Thorn squeezed her hand. "We need to do this, Lena. They deserve to know."
Lena sighed. "Couldn't we just tell them tomorrow?" Or next week?
Thorn flashed her a broad smile as he shook his head at her. "You are such an enigma."
Lena's brow knitted. "What do you mean?"
He kissed her forehead, ironing out the creases. "I have no doubt you'd already be in there if there was some sort of fight to the death going on."
Damn it.
"Come on. No time like the present, Steward of the Watch."
Lena bobbed a curtsey and smiled. "As you wish, My Lord."
Thorn growled. "Damn it woman, I'm gonna have to talk to you about that," he said as he laid a quick kiss on her lips.
"Talk to me about what?"
He kissed her again, and she leaned into him, running her palms over his chest. He took her hands in his and forced them down again as he broke the kiss. His eyes flashed platinum as he looked at her sending a shudder through her.
"Do we have to?" she whispered.
Thorn gulped and just nodded.
"You sure?" she asked as she trailed her fingers up his chest again.
He grabbed her hand. "Kaden was right about you," he said with a laugh.
"Huh?" What the hell did Kaden have to do with anything?
Thorn kissed her hand. "He said you were nothing but trouble."
Bound to Blackwood Page 33