Victoria put the phone to her ear and Armand tuned out. Whatever Marchessa had to say to her was for her ears alone, not his. He knew when to butt out.
After a few moments, he cued into Victoria saying, “Yes, that sounds wonderful. If we don’t die, a weekend in the Alps. Shopping. Sure. I’m looking forward to it, too.” She handed Armand his phone back.
“And I thought I could be an Alpha. It was like I couldn’t even say no. I didn’t want to say no.” Victoria shook her head.
“Only the Alphaest bitch for Rommulus Alpha.”
Victoria narrowed her eyes. “Why did you call her a bitch?”
“You’ve really been sheltered from wolf society, haven’t you? That was a compliment. She’ll tell you herself that she’s the Alphaest Bitch and she’ll chew your fucking face off. All without getting any blood on her Prada. She’s a powerhouse. She also saved my life.”
“What happened?”
“I was dying of silver poison and I asked her bite me. She did and made me like her.”
“If only it were so easy. If only your bite would—” she shrugged “—make me like you.” She shook her head. “If only it would erase all the darkness and give me my wolf. But it doesn’t work that way for us, does it.” It wasn’t a question.
“But it will. I swear it will.”
Again, he felt the cold splash of guilt as he lied.
“You don’t have to tell me pretty stories, Armand. I’ve known fairy tales weren’t real for a long time.”
“Fairy tales aren’t pretty stories. Haven’t you been paying attention?”
She looked up at him. “Okay, tell me how happily ever after isn’t a pretty story. I’m listening.”
“Once upon a time, a long time ago, in a land far away… that’s how it starts, right?”
She nodded for him to continue.
“There’s always a child whose world is happy and bright. Then her parents die. Or one parent dies. The very foundation of that child’s world is shattered. And shitty thing after shitty thing happens to them. Slavery, starvation, mutilation, beatings, terrible monsters that look like the people who are supposed to love you.”
“Okay, I’m biting. Give me more.”
“There’s never any relief in sight. But somehow, these kids manage to grow into functioning, loving and hopeful adults. Even in the darkest circumstances, they still have kindness for strangers and gentle hearts. Then they suffer more. They’re given a taste of the one thing they wanted more than their next breath and then it’s taken away. Case in point, Cinderella. Even after she can only have one night, one dance, and it’s all dust and ash, she focuses on what she was given and that makes it all the more painful when it’s taken away. When she’s pushed down lower than she was before the ball.”
“But there’s no such thing as fairy godmothers.”
“There’s no such thing as werewolves, either.” He didn’t know why he was trying so hard to give her hope, because every minute that passed, he was losing his.
“Touché.” She nodded. “But still, they get their happily ever after.”
“Only after they fight for it. Only after they earn it.”
“Who told you these stories? Who nursed this light in you?” She made him sound like he was some rare gem.
“The Brothers Grimm themselves. My father brought them to Roluscany when I was a child. They told the most horrible stories, but I couldn’t get enough. They taught me to count on the happy ending, but only for those who deserve it.” He’d always believed he deserved it. Armand supposed that was the crux of it there. He’d never doubted, not through anything. And not because he felt he was entitled to it, but because it was how he’d been taught the world worked. Sometimes bad things happened to good people, but eventually, so did good things.
“How were fairy tales terrible?”
“This wasn’t the sanitized version that children are fed today. They weren’t stories for children. They were for adults. People died terribly. Birds pecked out people’s eyes, villains were forced to dance until they died in burning shoes…”
“So the bad guys get what’s coming to them?”
“Yes. Every time.”
“I like that idea of the world. I wish I could believe it.”
“Me too.” Because her truth, that she’d never seen such things, it was what had made him start to doubt.
He didn’t feel like much of an Alpha.
He wondered how his father did it. How he survived all of his long years, the destruction of his first pack, all of the weight that rested on his shoulders.
“Maybe I will if you show it to me.” She leaned her head on his shoulder for a moment before climbing into the back of the Escalade that had just pulled up.
He took a look at the small village that was now his home, his pack base of operations. It was vulnerable now, but the only way to shore up its strength was to leave it to seek out that power, that knowledge.
It would be even more vulnerable while he was gone.
He used his magic, and the power he’d taken from the land, he gave back. He infused the shields with his life-force, linked the parameters to his vital systems. No one, witch, werewolf, human or ghost would be getting in or out of Malfleur while he was gone.
Chapter 6
Her life had changed so much in the past few days.
As she neared the end of her Curse, she found things she’d never thought she’d see again. She’d forgotten what it was like to have a healthy, strong Alpha who shared his energy and power freely.
Of course the pack welcomed him. Of course they accepted him. They’d never been as plush as they were now with Armand and his money, his heart… and his hope.
It occurred to her that she’d rather die than see him lose that.
In her mind, it was a reasonable trade.
But that’s because he was her mate.
She wondered how humans navigated such things, not knowing. She couldn’t fathom being so adrift in all things. It made her wonder how they chose mates. If they relied on the rush of blood to their genitals, fancy stories, like fairy tales they painted in their heads.
There was a comfort in knowing, a surety. A sense of belonging, much like recognizing pack.
Home.
Even if it was dark and dirty. Even if it was sick.
Even if it was a lost cause.
It was still hers.
She hoped she didn’t Change on the way. Or worse, while they were there. He was taking a big risk to bring her. But it seemed as if he believed in her.
Victoria had always had to depend on herself for that sort of validation, so she wasn’t quite sure what to do with it now that she had it.
“Can I ask you something?”
“No.”
“What?” She slapped his arm.
His hard mouth broke into a smile. “No.”
“Yes.” She nodded emphatically.
“Then why did you ask if you can ask?”
“This is serious.”
“Okay, but aren’t we ready to take a break from serious? At least for twelve hours until we get to Prague?”
“Just this one more thing. I have to get out now. It’s already built up.”
“Yes, Victoria. I’ll do what you want.”
“You didn’t know what I was going to ask.” She laughed.
“Trust that I do. Trust that our mate bond is strong enough. I do know. I promise.”
She bit her lip. After everything, he was asking for her trust and her submission. Not demanding it, not taking it as an Alpha could.
Asking.
She wanted to ask him, she wanted to hear him speak the words. That before she died, she’d know his bite. If the Curse took her, if he’d give her the bliss of a mate’s bite before it Turned her like him and if he’d give her peace.
The shadows in his eyes told her that he did know.
Did her need to hear him speak the words trump his need for her trust and support? She bit her lip h
arder, as if the jolt of pain would somehow manufacture the right answer.
She’d already asked him to trust her on numerous occasions. Wasn’t it now time to return the gift? To believe in him? Victoria kept telling him she didn’t believe, that she didn’t hope. That was throwing all that made him who he was in his face and he took it without complaint.
She exhaled heavily, a shaking, shuddering breath that echoed what was going on inside of her at that very moment. “Okay. I trust you.”
“Good. Now stop biting your lip, or I’m going to do it for you.”
“Will you really? I think I like that idea.” She grinned up at him.
He nipped at her bottom lip, taking the fullness into his mouth.
And then to her horror, she realized her lip had bled.
He’d be infected with her tainted blood—her tainted wolf.
Oh Goddess, no.
She’d never believed the Goddess was real, it was just part of their culture. Something she said to exclaim. But in this moment, she wished furtively that there was a benevolent mother listening to her words.
She prayed that he would be safe. That her darkness hadn’t destroyed the only chance to save them all.
“It’s all right. It doesn’t matter.”
But it did matter.
It mattered so much it burned her from the inside out.
“No, stop that. It is what it is. Kiss me.”
She couldn’t deny him. She didn’t want to. This might be it for them.
Victoria would never forgive herself.
“That wasn’t something we worried about—me infecting you.”
“So don’t worry about it now.” He claimed her mouth again and she could nothing but surrender.
It felt so good to be in his arms, the heat of him, and his quiet strength.
She’d touched him before to heal him, to offer her energy, but now she needed to feel him and know that at least for the moment, he was still himself. He was still Armand.
The driver couldn’t hear them, the car had been insulated against uncontrolled Change. They could do anything they liked.
Victoria’d had lovers. She was no shy virgin, but something about Armand made her feel so vulnerable and that was its own rush.
He pushed a button and the back of the seat flattened out behind them to form plush leather bedding.
She shoved him back and made quick work of his slacks. When her fingers unclasped the belt at his waist, she felt almost like she were opening a gift. She’d been about to fellate him, but she could do that anywhere, any time.
“Change.”
“What?”
“Change. Warrior form. I can’t, but you can.”
“And you want my beast that way?”
“I want all of you.”
“You’ll have to be careful of the silver.”
“We’re beyond being careful. Give me your warrior.” She eased back from him. “Or better yet, give me to your warrior.”
His warrior form was just as beautiful as she remembered. The way he Changed, oh how she envied that. It was fluid, and lovely, like watching some finely crafted machine roar to life. No breaking of bones, or shattering of limbs. No pain. Only pure, bipedal predator.
She clenched her thighs as her desire cranked higher.
His claws tore through the fine leather in his rush to top her. She squirmed out of her clothes and presented for him, like she would if she had a full wolf form, instead of only beast and human.
Armand blinked his ice blue eyes and they shifted silver, covering even the sclera. He lifted his nose and scented the air—her desire.
A howl was torn from his chest and he covered her, his thick cock sliding deep inside of her silky heat.
Bliss spiraled, making her dizzy and weak with it.
His claws came to grip her middle, but then she realized they were his human hands. He was still being oh so careful with her. As perverse as it was, it made her want to see what it would take to break that control.
She rocked back on his erection, meeting his thrusts, taking him as deep as he could go. He moved her as he wished, his great strength pulling her down onto his cock.
“More,” she cried.
He drove into her mercilessly and she imagined what this would be like if she could Change too.
It would be nothing short of heaven.
She was filled by him, yet consumed by him too. He became the beginning and end of all things. Her bones ached to shift, her throat throbbed awaiting his bite.
His venom dripped onto her collarbone and she moaned.
There were too many sensations assaulting her to focus on one, but they all drove her higher. They all pushed her toward ecstasy. She was fast approaching the ledge where she’d either burst into stars or crash hard. Maybe both.
Her beast surged and purred, wanting to feel all these things too. It wanted to take the driver seat not for violence and death, but to feel something good. She didn’t hate it, that part of herself, as much as she once did. Maybe if it knew sensation was more than pain… but she couldn’t risk it. Not right now.
He trusted her to keep her shit together.
Just as she trusted him not to tear her throat out.
Although, she knew she’d never feel any pain if he chose to. It would be all fireworks and bliss.
How twisted was she that—explosions of pain and pleasure erupted in her skull and radiated through her body, her orgasm rocking the very foundation the vehicle.
He howled and roared, but cut himself short as he sank his long, silver fangs into the plush of the seat instead of her throat.
His body convulsed against her as he spilled inside. These feelings marked her as surely as his bite.
He collapsed beside her, body human again, skin sweat-slicked and muscles bulging.
Victoria let herself feel everything. The bliss, the fear, the release as she found parts of herself unknotting as tension fled with the fluttery wings that seemed to spasm low in her belly. Aftershocks rocked her and she found herself tucked against him.
She didn’t know it could be like this.
But her constantly turning and twisting brain couldn’t leave it alone, couldn’t just let her be in the moment. It forced her to reexamine everything she thought wasn’t possible. She hadn’t thought this was possible, these feelings, but with him they were.
So maybe certain other things were possible with him, too.
Like breaking the Curse.
Like happily ever after.
Like hope.
Her stomach rumbled and he produced a picnic basket with the snap of his fingers. This magic thing, she could get used to it.
“Can you dress me too?”
“What, you don’t want wine and cheese, cold chicken and chocolate strawberries naked?”
She arched a brow. “Maybe.”
Suddenly, she was wearing a bit of lace that she thought was supposed to pass for panties.
“My powers are getting stronger.”
“Good. Then how about you make these comfortable? No thong. No lace.”
“Fine.” He looked so disappointed, but she was wearing sensible cotton.
“Thank you. Do I get a shirt?”
“No. I like the view too much.” His gaze raked over her breasts and the nipples tightened under his gaze.
“I guess I won’t argue with that. Chocolate strawberries first, then. Pay to play.”
He laughed. “Anything you want.”
“You should really watch what you say. A girl might take you seriously.”
Armand was suddenly intent. “Is there something you want that you don’t have because I’ll fix that. “It’s my job.”
Anything she wanted. He was serious. Victoria considered for a moment, but the only thing she wanted was something she didn’t think she could have. To break the Curse. But he knew that. She wouldn’t blurt out the obvious and ruin the moment.
“No. I have everything I want.” She curled her legs
beneath her and leaned against the door. “What about you? Isn’t that my job to make sure you have what you need, too?”
“Yes.” He nodded. “And I do.”
The hope she’d thought was lost to her surged again and she began to believe in something. She began to believe that this could happen, their redemption. They could save the pack and build a life together.
Victoria shook her head, shaking off the thought. Goddess, it wasn’t like his penis was magic and suddenly the whole world was shiny just because she got laid.
Except, it was.
It felt wrong on so many levels to refer to what just happened as “getting laid.” This thing between them was so much more and she knew exactly what she was doing. She was pushing her feelings away, discounting them because good things didn’t happen to Ardennes wolves. She was afraid to be happy.
But she couldn’t let fear suck her dry, she couldn’t let the darkness take everything.
She understood now why he hoped, why he needed it.
And even if it all crashed down, she thought maybe, just maybe, it might be worth it.
“This might actually all be okay,” Victoria dared to whisper.
“Yeah. It will.” He pulled her against him and righted the seat. “Eat your chocolate. You need to keep your strength up.” He winked at her.
A male who thought she should eat more chocolate. Wasn’t he just a unicorn?
No, he wasn’t a unicorn. He was a werewolf, fierce and strong. A badass, Alpha motherfucker who was as dangerous as anything that walked the night. He was her mate. For better or worse.
For cursed.
Or free.
For the first time in a long time, she dared to hope for the free.
Chapter 7
He knew it the moment the darkness entered him.
It was an infection—a virus.
The tang of her blood on his lips had been so sweet.
So deadly.
He couldn’t be permitted to Change now. The boundaries at Malfleur had no hold on him, and there was no way to stop him if he lost control.
But he supposed it didn’t matter. If he didn’t break the curse, he’d be infected soon enough anyway. It was worth it to have that part of her essence.
The Ardennes Curse (The Woolven Secret) Page 5