“I…I can’t let you give up everything for me. Later you’ll come to regret this gesture. You’ll resent me.”
Jarlath cupped her face in his hands and stared. Something brightened and sharpened in his eyes, and she realized she was seeing his other self. Her crow gave a victorious caw and it resounded in her head.
“What if you change your mind?” she whispered.
“No chance of that,” Jarlath said, and his confidence went some way to persuading her. His brow furrowed then cleared. “As far as I’m concerned I won’t change my mind, but it’s understandable you’re skeptical. I’m still handing the crown to my brother, once we can locate him, but you and I can take our relationship at our pace.”
Keira felt herself gaping and snapped her mouth shut. Jarlath grinned, and something in her heart ventricles shifted, tightened.
“We can take things as slow as you want until you’re certain of me.”
“But…but…” Her mind was working at half-pace, not giving her the answers she sought. “I can’t bear your children. We’re different species. You should have children.”
He smiled tenderly and brushed a strand of hair off her cheek. “Silly woman. We have children already. Together we’ve collected Cristop, Ollie and Nasir. They might not be of our blood, but without even discussing the matter, we’ve decided to look after them, make sure they stay out of trouble, give them a home. That’s family, Keira. We’ve already formed a family. My feline has claimed you. We can wait for you to catch up.”
“You sound so certain.”
“I am.” There was a trace of male arrogance now, and it pulled a grin from her.
“I need to finish picking berries.”
“I’ll help.” Jarlath took a container off her trolley and started to pick fruit. His fingers plucked the red berries efficiently and he’d soon filled his container. He started on the last, his focus pushing Keira back to her harvesting.
Jarlath truly intended to give up the crown for her. The idea was overwhelming. Accepting his plan…
“All done?” Jarlath asked.
She glanced down at her half-filled container. “Yes.”
“Good. It’s a gorgeous day. Why don’t we both shift and play together?”
“P-play?”
Jarlath gave one of his wondrous grins, and her insides knotted in appreciation. He was so handsome, and he was offering himself to her, giving up everything. For her.
“You haven’t had a chance to shift at will. I’ll talk you through the change.”
“I-I don’t…” She trailed off, realizing the words forming on her lips were a lie. She would like to shift, the excited caw-caw of her crow confirming her thoughts. “What do I do?”
“From memory, you shifted with your clothes in place.” He glanced her up and down, his lips quirking into a grin. “More’s the pity. Black should be safe enough here and your berries, if you cover them. I’ll take care of that once you’ve shifted. Do you remember what to do?” At her frown, he continued. “Close your eyes. Picture your crow in your mind and focus on nothing else. Imagine flying, the wind beneath your wings, teasing me by fluttering out of reach. Are you doing that?”
“Yes.” She followed his instructions and soon the prickle of magic fizzed through her veins. Once the magic commenced, her shift proceeded rapidly and her heart ventricles soared, pumping extra fast. Her skin absorbed her clothes then feathers sprouted along her limbs and chest. Her bones reshaped, her arms transforming to wings.
A caw-caw forged up her throat and when she glanced down her sight was sharper. A small animal crept through the undergrowth, cautious and wary. She could hear the soft pants it made, the stirrings of panic as it froze.
“You’re beautiful in bird form too.” Jarlath smoothed a finger over her feathers, then moved away to take off his jacket and shirt. “Your black plumage has a faint green tinge.”
She watched him with awe. This beautiful man wanted her. Although she’d thought it before the notion bore repeating. Maybe then she’d come to believe.
His change was quicker than hers and an instant later, he stood in front of her, his sharp white teeth visible through his gaping maw. He was happy, she realized, and the emotion bounced straight to her. She flapped her wings and instinct took over, lifting her off the ground.
Jarlath barked and sped along a forest path. At a corner, he paused to wait for her and she beat her wings harder, the physical exertion leaving her breathless yet exhilarated. She shrieked a caw of triumph, her next caw-caw-caw sounding like a chuckle.
Jarlath flicked his tail and shot in the opposite direction. Keira tried to stop and forgot to flap her wings. She let out a panicked squawk and attempted to slow her fall to the ground by flapping extra fast. Jarlath got there first and broke her fall. Her claws dug into his flanks as she struggled for balance. When her heart ventricles ceased their choppy beat, she hopped off him then sidled closer to him, giving a soft coo. Jarlath rumbled in return.
Keira took off again, reveling in the freedom and the shared experience with Jarlath. They played until her wings ached, and fatigue reduced her to hopping.
Back at the clearing, Jarlath shifted. “Remember how to transform back?”
She caw-cawed and started the process of transforming back to humanoid.
“How was that?” Jarlath asked.
“Exhausting but fun. So much fun. It’s as if I was only half alive before.”
“It’s better when the experience is shared,” Jarlath whispered, and he drew her into his arms. Their lips met, and she was lost, lost in Jarlath. Her arms curled around his neck and she offered herself without reservation.
Busy hands removed her clothing, pushed her tunic top aside. He flicked his tongue over her nipple and took it into his mouth. The rest of their clothes ended up discarded on the ground.
“I love you so much, Keira. I don’t want to imagine my life without you in it.” He kissed her, parting her lips with his tongue and explored the soft recesses of her mouth.
“But you’re giving up so much,” she said when she was able to speak again.
“And gaining much more in return. Come, don’t you love me a little?” He lifted her off her feet and set her on top of a patch of pink grass.
She grinned up at him, brushed her hand over his cheek when he dropped down beside her. In this man she saw all the strength and character any woman wished for in a lover and partner. “Yes.” She felt her lips curl upward, the smile digging into her cheeks. “Yes, I love you, you impossible man. I’m happy when I’m with you and when we’re not together, my mind is with you.”
He rolled on top of her. “It’s the same for me.” Satisfaction glittered in his features and he kissed her again, unhurried and deep, as if he wanted to brand her with his touch. His hands skimmed her curves, tweaked a nipple, and she clung to him, rocking her hips in invitation. Already pleasure and desire roared through her and she needed him filling the emptiness inside her. Craved him. “Put your cock inside me.”
“My pleasure.” The corners of his eyes crinkled as he aligned their bodies and pushed inside her, the gradual stretch feeling perfect.
The surge and retreat created a decadent friction, and he caught her groan of approval with his mouth. He dragged out every sensation until she thought she might explode. When he lifted his head, his smile was one of love and caring and an underlying hunger that had velvet tension coiling in her lower body.
She licked along his jawline, took tiny nibbles from his throat. When she paused at the fleshy part where neck and shoulder met, he groaned, his entire body shuddering.
“Bite me, Keira. Please.” He cupped her head, as if he was afraid she’d retreat.
She licked the spot, kissed it, and another shudder sped through him. He’d stopped stroking into her, instead remaining fully embedded while she kissed and nipped and teased him.
Finally, he voiced a protest. “Keira, please.”
“I don’t want to hurt you.”
“You won’t, sweetheart. Please, I need this.”
The love in his eyes decided her. She lowered her head and licked the spot, pulling a needy groan from him. Emboldened, she gave him a hint of teeth. His cock pulsed inside her while his ridged abs rippled. She licked once and sank her teeth into his flesh until the coppery taste of blood filled her mouth. A moan escaped her while Jarlath cried out. She froze, thinking she was hurting him, but the jerk of his hips and the pulse of his cock said otherwise.
“Ah, Keira. Keira.” He groaned and shuddered.
The warm wash of his semen filled her quim, and she wriggled, her tongue flicking over the place where she’d bitten. His entire body jerked again, his groan one of enjoyment and satisfaction. He withdrew and pushed inside her again while his finger slid between them. The sensations built and built and a hungry little moan squeezed past her lips. Then, he bit her in the same spot he’d bitten her before.
It was delectable agony, and the bite felt so, so good a scream built in her throat. The sensual tension snapped, a spasm of white-hot pleasure searing through her lower belly and streaking to her toes.
“Yes, Jarlath. Yes.”
She was vaguely aware of him licking the spot and with each lave another spasm of delight shot through her. She writhed beneath him, each breath coming fast and choppy.
Jarlath lifted his head and pressed his forehead against hers. “I love you, Keira. Say you’ll marry me.”
“Yes,” she breathed, her mind still floating and full of ecstasy. “Wait, where will we live? I’ll smother if I have to live in the castle.”
“I thought I’d move in with you here at the farm, although we’ll need to spend the odd night at the castle, at least until we track down my brother. Can you cope with one or two nights a week at the castle?”
Keira sucked in a deep breath and idly scratched her cheek. “I can try.”
“Thank you. I know my mother won’t be easy, but the castle is a big place.” He kissed her cheek and pulled from her body.
“Are you sure about this?”
“Yes.” Jarlath climbed to his feet and offered her a hand. “Let’s dress and get those berries home, so we can tell everyone the news.”
Chapter Seventeen
Waking up with Keira wrapped in his arms was the best feeling ever. Jarlath brushed her hair back from her face and bent to kiss her. He froze midway there and stared. Her cheek was a smooth and healthy color with her normal green tinge. The crow tattoo had disappeared overnight.
“Keira.”
She stirred, yawned. “Is it morn?”
“She’s complaining about me keeping her awake already.”
Keira rolled toward him, giving Jarlath a glimpse of her back. Interesting.
He caressed her cheek, right where the tattoo used to sit on her skin. “You know your tattoo?”
“Is the skin irritated? It was very itchy last night.”
“It’s gone,” Jarlath said.
“No! Let me see.” She jumped off the sleep-bed and peered into her looking glass. “It’s vanished. How strange.”
“Not exactly.” Jarlath’s gaze ran down Keira’s bare back and the large crow tattoo now gracing her back.
Keira turned back to him, her gaze shooting to his biceps. “Wait. Where’s your tattoo? It’s not on your arm.”
Surprise hit Jarlath. He stared at his tattoo-free arm. “Check my back.”
“There is a big black leopard covering most of your back. How did you know?” The wonder in her voice brought a smile, and the feel of her fingers running over his skin pushed a tremor through his body.
“Your tattoo is on your back too. You’re sporting a big black crow.”
“No!” She turned back to the mirror and attempted to study her back, giving Jarlath a great view of her front.
“I like it when you flash me,” he said, his grin wicked and a little predatory.
“What does this mean?” Keira asked, a cute wrinkle marring her brow.
“According to the House of the Cat written history, when a couple mate in their human forms and their felines accept each other, the tattoos are a symbol of their bond. Of course, I’ve read of variations to this. There was one instance of a feline shifter mating with a non-shifter and the mating bonds formed and turned the non-shifter into a feline. I think we’re another anomaly—two different shifter races mating. Your crow and my feline accept each other. We love each other, and the tattoos make our match official. No one can argue with this.”
“You think?”
“I know,” Jarlath said firmly.
A tap on the chamber door had them both turning in that direction.
“Yes?” Keira called.
“Hortese said it’s time for you to get up. She said we have an important day before us and need to break our fast together.” Ollie sounded as if he was repeating Hortese word for word.
“We’ll be there in a few mins,” Jarlath said.
“Hortese said to tell you not to make her climb the stairs,” Ollie said.
Keira laughed, humor lighting up her face. “We’d better move. We don’t want Hortese marching up here.”
Jarlath climbed off the sleep-bed and prowled toward her. He twined his fingers with hers and led her to the sanitizer.
When they made it downstairs, Hortese said, “About time.” Her shrewd face took on a pleased grin. “Pleased to see you both so happy. Will you all be home for dinner this eve?”
“Yes,” Jarlath said.
“Ellard too, if he’d like to come and stay,” Keira suggested.
“Perfect,” Hortese said.
“I’ll sneak some bottles of Joyous wine from the castle cellar,” Jarlath said. “We’ll make it a celebration for our mating.” He reached for Keira’s hand, his happiness finding an outlet in a broad smile. He’d never felt like this before, and despite the cost of his love for Keira, he wouldn’t change a thing. He could still serve his House and support his brother, the new king. People in the House would accept Lynx as their king while they’d never truly accept him, not if he stayed with Keira.
The fact didn’t bother him one bit.
* * * * *
Jarlath tied his cravat and surveyed his image in the mirror of his suit at the castle. He turned to Keira. “How do I look?”
“Handsome.”
He closed the distance between them and brushed his lips over hers. “Thank you for being here to support me. And I apologize for my mother’s rudeness.”
“She doesn’t like me. It’s all right,” Keira said. “I thought I’d com my mother now that Razvan is dead. It would be a good idea to learn who takes over as ruler of the House of Cawdor.”
“True.” Jarlath checked the time.
“You’re nervous.”
He laughed, the sound carrying an edge of wryness and self-derision. “Until now my life has been very different. I’ve attended balls and public functions for the upper class. I’ve trained in self-defense with Ellard and his father and learned how to ride. Public speaking hasn’t been on my agenda.” Another sardonic laugh burst from him. “I don’t know what I’m worried about. I doubt anyone will come to listen to my speech.”
“Oh, Jarlath.” Keira wrapped her arms around his waist and pressed her cheek against his chest. “You’re a good man. A natural leader. Of course people will want to listen to you.” She glanced up and the love he saw made him caught his breath.
“I love you.”
“I love you too. It was never like this with Marcus.”
A tap on the door announced Ellard’s arrival. He stepped inside, his chin held high with pride, despite the empty sleeve of his ceremonial jacket.
“Enough of the mushy stuff.” Then he grinned. “I can’t believe the old myths about each of us having a mate is true.”
“You believe us,” Keira said.
“Jarlath showed me his tattoo earlier and said you had a matching one of a crow on your back. I offered to check your tattoo, but Jarla
th didn’t like that idea,” Ellard said, offering his friend a smirk.
“What? He tells a joke,” Keira said.
Ellard sobered. “I was wrong about you, Keira. I don’t care what other people say—you’re good for Jarlath, and for what’s it’s worth, you both have my full support.”
“Thank you.” Keira stood on tiptoes and pressed a kiss against his cheek. “You’re coming to the farm with us tonight? We’re having a celebration dinner.”
Ellard patted her hand. “I’ll be there. King Jarlath, you ready?”
“Just Jarlath, please. Lead the way.” An annoying jump of nerves had him pressing his hand to his stomach.
Keira seemed to sense his anxiety and curled her fingers around his. Her touch soothed both him and his beast, and when he stepped into the balcony room of the castle, he had his nerves under control.
“What is she doing here?” his mother demanded.
“Keira is my mate,” Jarlath said.
“Leave the boy alone, and let us get this ordeal done,” his father said in a tired voice.
“She is of our enemy. I will not have her here. She helped you trick your father into making you king. Now you intend to throw this gift away.” His mother was winding up into another of her tirades.
“I will wait here out of sight with Ellard,” Keira said, offering a silent message of acceptance by squeezing his fingers.
Jarlath sent his mother a stern look, an order to silence her viperous tongue. The firming of her lips told him message received. Jarlath stepped onto the balcony, flanked by his parents.
The castle crier waited on the balcony and straightened when he saw them.
“Hear ye! Hear ye!” His voice boomed through the auto-amplifier. “All stand for King Jarlath.”
Jarlath stared down at the square, packed with the people. He didn’t think he’d ever seen so many Virosian massed together before.
“All hail King Jarlath!”
Their words rippled through the square, taking Jarlath by surprise. He stared at the many faces—those of the upper class seated in a roped-off area and the other citizens crammed in the remaining space.
“Please start, Jarlath. The sooner we end this travesty the better,” his mother said.
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