Inferno

by Bianca D'Arc

  She sent him a shy look as she turned back to the front of the car and it touched him deeply. He could tell from that one guarded look that she was on the same page. She wanted him. She was charmingly shy about it for some reason, but she definitely wanted him.

  He would be more than happy to accommodate her. In fact, he’d be downright thrilled to do so. It was exactly what he wanted too.

  After they got home and Duncan did his test, the waiting would be over. Finally. He would have her. Body, blood, heart and soul. She would be his.

  At Dante’s townhouse, Duncan burned the snake’s carcass with magical flames in Dante’s fireplace. It sparked blue and green as it disappeared, leaving not even an ash behind. They patched up Duncan’s arm in clean bandages. The horrible gashes were nearly closed already.

  “And now for you, my dear.” Duncan motioned for Megan to sit beside him on the couch. He placed a flat glass plate on the coffee table, then produced a gleaming dagger from somewhere near his waist. He hadn’t been wearing it. He had produced it from the same magical plane his armor existed on, waiting for him to call it forth when needed.

  He quickly nicked his own finger and allowed a drop of his blood to fall onto the plate before the wound closed. Duncan beckoned to Dante, and he offered his hand with a raised brow.

  “I chose the steel dagger just for you, my friend,” Duncan teased, showing off the gleaming blade in the soft light. “The silver one remains hidden Underhill.”

  Dante grinned. “I thank you for your discretion.” He placed his hand over the plate as Duncan inflicted a tiny nick that allowed a single drop of his blood to fall to the glass below. Then Duncan turned to her.

  “The reaction of your blood to mine will alert me to the presence of magic—especially that which should not be there. The reaction of your blood to Dante’s will tell us if the poison is, indeed, completely gone.”

  She offered her hand and Duncan took it in gentle fingers.

  “It will not hurt. One of the blessings of my calling is my weaponry. It is charmed to kill—or in this case, injure—with no pain.” He nicked her finger and held it over the plate, allowing a single drop to fall right next to the drop of his blood. He moved her hand quickly, placing a second drop next to Dante’s blood before her wound closed.

  Duncan closed his eyes, and it looked like he was fighting fatigue. He rallied and let her hand go, refocusing his attention on the plate. Using one finger, he made a stirring motion and Megan felt the prickle of magic rise in the air as the two drops of blood—his and hers—began a twining, spinning dance before joining together with an audible tinkling sound.

  Megan shivered as something inside her tingled along. Duncan watched the droplets of blood intently. At length, he stilled his finger and breathed a sigh.

  “So far, so good. I can detect no evil energies. If any remain, the next test will bring them out, even if they are hiding.”

  He raised his hand again, this time above the drops of Dante’s and her blood, stirring counter-clockwise this time, joining the two droplets into one larger pool. Megan felt her entire body flush when the drops joined, followed by an intense arousal. She’d never felt such a thing—and neither man was even touching her.

  She gasped as Dante’s gaze locked with hers across the low coffee table. His dark eyes held intent, promises and desires that made her even more breathless. She looked away redirecting her attention to the plate and Duncan’s test. Their mingled drops of blood were bubbling gently. It didn’t look malevolent. She didn’t know exactly what it meant, but the magic of it was potent.

  Duncan watched carefully and she knew he was using all his senses, both mundane and magical, to assess the reaction. At length, he sat back, a relieved smile lighting his face.

  “The poison is well and truly gone. You are free, my dear.”

  Relief washed over her. She’d been half afraid the death of Poferov hadn’t been enough. It looked like she’d worried for nothing. Poferov was gone and so was his control over her. She felt liberated, free in a way she hadn’t felt since her mother had first introduced her to Poferov years ago.

  “Thank you, Duncan.” She clutched his hands, smiling broadly. “I can never thank you enough.”

  “It is my pleasure to see you so happy, Megan. Ever since we first met, I’ve thought you don’t smile enough. It’s good to see you this way, though I fear this development marks the end of our time together.” He leaned close and kissed her sweetly, though she didn’t understand. He moved back with a wistful smile just as her head began to spin.

  “What do you mean?” she asked, puzzled.

  “Now that you are no longer a danger to our friend here, I doubt he will tolerate my presence in your bed. It was sweet while it lasted, Megan.” Dante watched them with impatient, glowering eyes as Duncan kissed her hand and finally let her go. “Now I need to rest. All the excitement tonight has left me fatigued.” He walked toward the hallway, turning to look at them before he exited. “Be good to each other. From the way your blood reacted…well…it should be an interesting night.” He winked at her. “Leave the plate. I will dispose of the blood properly in the morning. Such things are best done in the full light of day.”

  She didn’t understand what he meant by that. He was the magician here, not her. Not for the first time, she was grateful of that fact.

  Free of the mage’s compulsion with the poison gone from her bloodstream, she was finally whole and healthy again. Ripe for the plucking. And she had no doubt Dante was more than ready to pluck.

  “Alone at last,” Dante said with a trace of humor that made her smile. He claimed the place next to her on the couch and sat, looking at her with those mysterious dark eyes.

  The way he watched her made her want to squirm, but she held her ground. This was an Alpha male at his most intimidating. It didn’t matter that he wasn’t a shifter. He had that dominant, Alpha way about him. It frightened her. At the same time it made her mouth water in anticipation.

  He didn’t move forward. He didn’t come closer. He only watched her. The intensity of his gaze sharpened, and his relaxed stance was only for show. She was certain of it. Beneath the façade of calm urbanity lurked a predator just waiting for an opportunity to strike.

  “Nothing is inevitable, you know,” Dante said at last, breaking the silence. “You’re free of the poison. If you want, you can also be free of me. I don’t hold you under any obligation. If you come to me now, it’s of your own volition. You’re not a spy anymore.”

  “I never wanted to spy on you,” she admitted. “I haven’t had a lot of control over my life in recent years.”

  “I know.” He reached out with one hand to stroke the hair back from her face. His touch was gentle, caring and all too seductive. “What I’m trying to impress upon you here is that you’re free to make your own choices now. The big question is, do you want me the way I hunger for you? Contrary to all my prior experience, I would find it nearly impossible to take you if your answer to that question is no.”

  “Really?” She searched his eyes.

  His intensity didn’t waver. “Yes, Megan. I don’t understand it myself. I’ve never felt this way before.”

  She moved toward him, drawn to him and the honesty in his words. “I haven’t either. I thought it was just me.” She was in his arms, drawing ever closer.

  “It’s not just you. I feel it too.” His words drifted over her as his head lowered and his lips met hers in what felt like their first kiss. Perhaps it was, in a way. The first of many, now that she was free to choose her own path.

  She flowed into him, loving the way he made her feel. His mouth possessed hers, his body so much larger than her own, but she didn’t feel threatened in any way. Instead, she felt protected, cherished and…loved. It was a heady feeling.

  As heady as the feeling he gave her when he lifted her into his arms and rose from the couch. He was incredibly strong, dominantly masculine. He lit her senses on fire. He strode toward his bedroom
, kissing her, drawing back only to shove open doors with the power of his mind.

  He truly was a force to be reckoned with. He had abilities, power and skills beyond any mortal. While she was a shifter, she couldn’t compete with the things he’d learned to do over his centuries of existence. Rather than frighten her, the thought made her feel warm and cosseted. She knew he would never use his power against her. He would never harm her in any way. In fact, he’d done nothing other than protect her, fight on her behalf and free her from the moment she’d first met him.

  He laid her on the bed and came over her, stripping off his shirt as he went. She was already struggling out of her clothing. They’d waited too long to go slow. She was starved for him, and she wanted him now. No more delays.

  “I’ve been dreaming of this for days.” Dante stripped off his pants. He was glorious in the buff, all strong muscles, dips and valleys of masculine perfection. She’d dreamed of him too. Scandalous dreams where he made her come from a simple bite on the neck, or the thigh, or anyplace he damned well pleased. She was up for it all.

  She was wet and wanting already. She didn’t want to wait. She tugged at his shoulders and wrestled him down onto the bed, using her were strength to get him to move, though she suspected nothing would have made him move if he didn’t want to.

  He smiled up at her when she straddled his nude body. She’d done away with her own clothing, and they were skin on skin. Every inch of him was enticing, and she wanted to rub all over him like some kind of cat. But she was a wolf and her baser instincts were telling her to devour him in every way possible.

  She mounted him, preparing to push down so he’d be within her body, just where she wanted him. She made the mistake of looking into his eyes. It wasn’t a mistake really. It was more of a reward, for when she met his gaze, she saw the same vulnerability that hid in her own heart shining out from his.

  “Dante, I…” She poised, the tip of him parting her folds as she held herself above him.

  He laid a finger over her lips, stilling her words.

  “This is a beginning, Megan. A fresh start. It all begins right here, right now, with just us two.”

  “I feel it too.” She felt a wistful smile bloom over her face. “I thought it was just me.”

  “It’s not just you. Now…” He thrust his hips upward in a slow arch, sliding deeper as he held her gaze. She caught on quickly and moved downward to meet him until he was sheathed completely within her. She stilled, holding him firmly within her depths. “Now it begins anew.”

  She moaned as they began to move together in rhythm. They’d learned each other’s bodies over the past days. They knew how to complement each other’s desires, but this felt different. For the first time, they were alone in their pleasure, just the two of them. It felt right. Better than right. It felt good. Perfect, in fact.

  Not that she hadn’t appreciated her time with Duncan. Those wicked threesomes were something she would never forget. But she’d wanted Dante since the first moment she laid eyes on him and it was with a sense of homecoming that she took him. Alone at last as he’d said earlier.

  They moved together, totally in synch. It was as if they were made for one another. She used her thighs to press upward as Dante moved marginally downward. When they came together, he guided her hips, adding his strength as he pushed into her and she spread her legs to their widest angle to take as much of him as possible. All of him. That’s what she wanted. In every way.

  Her fever rose sharply as their rhythm increased. She panted for breath, her climax dangerously close. Dante tossed her beneath him, never leaving her body, using his incredible strength to reverse their places so he could claim her fully.

  His head lowered to hers as he came over her. He held her gaze for a moment, his expression as earnest, hot and open as she’d ever seen it.

  “I’m going to drink of you as we come, Megan. I’ve wanted to taste you, to savor you, to bask in your essence. Will you allow it?”

  “Oh, Dante. Was there ever any doubt?” She stroked his muscular shoulders, smiling up at him. “I would never deny you. I’ve wanted to share this with you for just as long. Bite me, Dante. Make me yours.”

  He growled as he lowered his head, kissing her first, then sweeping his lips to her neck in a warm, wet path of kisses that grew progressively hotter as he neared his target. His hips resumed their pounding cadence as he drew near the source of her lifeblood. She felt the scrape of his fangs against her sensitive skin a moment before he struck.

  She was desperate. Desperate to come and desperate to make him come with her. She felt the sting of his bite a moment before she screamed her pleasure to the stars, experiencing the most intense orgasm of her life.

  She felt her blood flow into him, joining them, coalescing their essences to produce a new, single entity. As she climaxed, she felt Dante join her, reaching with her toward a distant star. She felt more than that, she felt his wants and desires, his needs and hopes, his dreams.

  In a blinding second of clarity, his mind was open to hers. Their blood mingled…as did their minds.

  “We are One.” Dante’s voice sounded through her head, though she knew he could not speak with his mouth. His lips still drew on her neck, drinking her blood, joining them together. No, the words had come directly from his soul to hers.

  Incredibly, she heard his thoughts. A flash of insight followed, and she suddenly understood. They were truly One.

  For each bloodletter, there was One person who could join with them fully. Who could complete them. They searched their whole lives for their One. Many never found their perfect mate. For the few lucky souls who did, the blessing of perfect union—of hearts, minds and souls¾was the ultimate reward.

  They had achieved this rare honor and nothing or no one would ever part them again. She saw the love in his heart, and he saw her love just as she saw his. No words were necessary. Words were, in fact, totally superfluous. They were communicating on a much deeper level.

  They were One.

  Megan smiled blissfully as she came back to Earth from the most intense experience of her life. She was utterly exhausted, but a grateful smile graced her lips as she sank into the oblivion of sleep.

  “I love you, Dante.”

  “I love you, too, my One.”

  Chapter Fifteen

  Megan woke in the late afternoon, wrapped in Dante’s arms. She never felt more safe and secure than when she was with him.

  In a rush, the events of the night before came back to her. While she was alone in her thoughts with Dante asleep, she could feel that place in her mind where they were connected. That magical place that made them One.

  She couldn’t quite believe it. She had once heard the legend about how bloodletters searched through their entire lengthy existence to find one special person created just for them. She’d thought of it as a simple romantic tale. She never really believed it could be true.

  Here she was though, living the fairy tale. It didn’t seem possible that she could be Dante’s perfect mate. The One for whom he had been searching for so long.

  She kissed his cheek before she left the bed, gratified when he smiled even in deep sleep. She felt truly alive for the first time in years. The curse was lifted—both the compulsion placed on her by Poferov and the debt owed to Dante for the tragic death of Erik. She was free, yet not. Her life was tied irrevocably to Dante, for better or worse. They no doubt had many things to work out, but she felt certain with love, many things were possible.

  She dressed quickly and bounced down the hall toward the kitchen to find Duncan there ahead of her. As usual, he was cooking.

  “I don’t think I’ve made one single meal since I’ve known you,” she said by way of greeting.

  Duncan turned from the stove and saluted her with his spatula. It was an action she was quickly becoming familiar with. His smile turned questioning as he met her eyes.

  “Something’s different.” His head tilted, considering her.

/>   Megan felt her face heat under his perusal. She felt different, but she didn’t know if such deep changes would actually show on her face. Then again, this was Duncan. He had a way of seeing to the heart of the matter. If anyone could sense the differences in her, it would be him.

  “Dante and I…” She didn’t quite know how to phrase it. “We…uh…we joined…sort of. Last night.”

  A broad smile broke over Duncan’s face. He leaned back against the counter with a knowing look.

  “It’s as I suspected then. Congratulations are in order. I have long despaired for Dante, hoping he would find the balance to his life. You’re it, Megan. As I’d hoped.”

  She could feel his happiness. “You wanted this to happen?”

  “Oh, I’ve wanted Dante to find his One for a long time. He’s had too much tragedy in his life. I always hoped he’d be one of the lucky ones. I hoped he’d find that perfect someone to share his life and his troubles. After I got to know you, Megan, I started thinking you might be the answer to his prayers. I’m only glad my suspicions were true. You need each other. Both of you have been so alone for so long. I think you’ll make a magnificent team now and into the future.”

  “But for how long?” Her thoughts turned depressing, and she finally allowed herself to think about some of the big questions surrounding their relationship. “It’s just not done for a bloodletter to turn a shifter.”

  She sat at the table, wallowing in her thoughts as Duncan turned off the stove and served up giant hamburgers. He sat with her at the table as they began to eat.

  “There’s another complication, Megan.”

  “Oh?” She looked up at him, pausing as she lifted her burger from the plate.

  “You’re part fey.” His eyes twinkled at her.

  “You know, I still don’t really believe that.”