by Katie Reus
He only stopped when he felt Victoria’s soft hand on his forearm. “We need to close it and you’re the only one who can do it.” The trust in her expression filled him with warmth despite that they were standing in front of a Hell Gate with more demons ready to escape at any moment.
The black viscous-looking hole was halfway open, gray smoke spilling out faster each second that ticked by. It was starting to coat the altar, floor and Nevin’s body. Though Drake hated to do this, he knelt down in front of the altar and coated his hands in Keelin’s spilled blood. It was fresh enough that he could use it to reverse what a monster had started. He began smearing it along the edges of the gate. Before he could tell them to stop, Victoria and Gabriel started doing the same on the opposite side of the gate.
When a rush of smoke shoved through the hole as if it was tangible, shoving into all three of them and making them stumble back, all the hair on Drake’s body stood on end.
No.
Diving for Victoria, he wrapped his arms around her and tackled her, throwing them behind a huge stalagmite. “Take cover,” he shouted at Gabriel.
The other male jumped with them, using the natural formation as a shield. “What’s happening?”
Ignoring him, he looked at Victoria, his focus laser sharp on her sooty face. “Demons are coming. At least fifty of them. I can scent them. I’m only going to have one shot at this. There are too many for all of us to take in hand to hand combat but I can incinerate them. I need you to trust me. This isn’t about not wanting your help.” He looked at Gabriel then. “Pack trusts each other, right?”
Gabriel muttered a curse but nodded.
“Good. Stay here and let me handle this. Do not move away from Victoria, her essence will protect you.” He gritted his teeth at the newest rumble, knowing what was happening, and looked back at Victoria. “I’ll never say this again, but…wrap your arms around Gabriel, keep him close.” At that he jumped up to see a mix of demons, mainly Akkadians. He didn’t care what type they were.
They were all going to die.
Over twenty were in the huge cavern with more spilling out. They all turned to look at him at the same time, their creepy yellow eyes glowing brightly.
“Dragos,” one hissed angrily.
That’s right, stupid fucker. His most primal side relished that the demon knew who he was. Taking a deep breath, he let free the same energy he’d felt while killing the Veles dragons. The energy inside him burned so brightly, the need to protect his mate an all-consuming thing with a life of its own.
Unable to stop himself even if he’d wanted to, that bright supernova flame tore free from his throat, the burn liberating as he ashed every single demon, swinging his head back and forth, cutting them down like they had no more substance than paper. He kept his focus tight, directing his energy only to the demons. Even if Victoria was protected, he wasn’t risking Gabriel either.
Screams filled the air and some demons raced for the Hell Gate, desperate to return to their prison, but none escaped his wrath.
For long seconds he felt like that beast he’d become in Hell. As the demons burned and screamed around him he relished their deaths and his darkest side dreamed of bathing in their blood. Until Victoria’s sweet image flooded his mind and all that rage and anger dissipated as if it had never existed.
The demons were dead. His mate was safe. That was all that mattered.
Silence reined as his fire dimmed, pieces of ash floating aimlessly in the damp cave. He turned toward his mate, adrenaline jagging through him as intense as his fire had been. Before he could take a step in her direction, Victoria popped up from behind the stalagmite, Gabriel next to her in a defensive stance, weapons drawn.
Her eyes widened as she took in the ash floating everywhere, but she didn’t say anything other than to ask if he was okay. When he nodded, she just rounded the barrier with Gabriel and hurried to the altar. There was no time to waste, something he was glad she realized because he still wasn’t thinking clearly. He just wanted to pull her into his arms, but there would be time for that once the gate was closed.
Working together the three of them finished coating the edges of the circle in blood and Drake chanted the same ritual he’d done in New Orleans. He hadn’t remembered four months ago but he now knew exactly why the Hell Gate spell was imprinted in his memory. When that witch and his treacherous cousin sacrificed him, he’d memorized the spell she’d chanted, determined to eventually escape and get his revenge.
The ground rumbled beneath them, as though the demons and other creatures sensed what he was doing and were furious, but he continued. The faster he spoke, the faster the gate closed.
Smoke billowed out, the sulfuric scent intensified and faint screams of terror all too familiar to Drake drifted out until it slammed closed. The black circle still hovered, however. He didn’t bother telling Victoria to stand back this time. His essence protected her, would never harm her.
He breathed out a long stream of flames, covering the black hole until it completely disappeared from sight, vanishing as if it had never existed. He’d fill in the cave later, but for now this would do. After he was finished with the gate, heart pounding out of control, he turned to look at Victoria and went to pull her into his arms but stopped. Blood covered his hands and he never wanted to taint her. Taking away his choice, she threw her arms around him, plastering herself to him.
Drake was vaguely aware of Gabriel leaving them, but he didn’t care. All his focus was on his brave mate.
Crushing his mouth to hers he forgot everything, the blood and their surroundings, as her tongue fervently danced with his. She pressed so tightly against him it was like she wanted to climb inside him. He couldn’t wait to slide into her and claim her fully. On a broken sob she pulled back. “It’s really over?”
Throat raw and tight, he nodded. “It’s over. And I remember…everything.” After that initial memory back at Conall’s house, he’d thought the rest of his memories would come back slower. But in his rage-filled haze searching for Victoria and Keelin over miles and miles of terrain, everything else had all come crashing back, like watching a film about someone else’s life. He’d learned a hell of a lot about his past and who he’d been. Young, innocent, naïve and full of life. But he’d tell her about everything else later. Now, all that mattered was that his psychotic cousin was dead. “Nevin was working with a human witch but that was so long ago the female would be dead by now.”
“Oh, Drake. I’m so sorry your own family member betrayed you.” She tightened her grip around him, her eyes glittering with tears as her fingers dug into his back.
He wanted to swipe them away but didn’t want to get blood on her face. “I’m not. Everything that happened led me to you.” And he’d endure Hell again to be with her.
When she buried her face against his chest he swung her into his arms and strode from the cave. Away from his past and into the future. Growling softly, he tucked his face against the top of her hair. Her sweet scent overrode everything around them. “You’re mine,” he murmured quietly.
She shivered in his arms and burrowed deeper. As soon as they were alone, he was going to officially claim her. He’d almost lost her today. It wasn’t going to happen ever again.
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Drake took the interior stairs of the guest house two at a time, hurrying to get back to Victoria, as he balanced the covered tray of food in his hands. They’d already showered—separately since he’d insisted, much to her annoyance. Even though she said she was completely healed from the gunshot wounds, he hadn’t wanted to risk inadvertently hurting her. Before he’d let her shower though, he’d run his hands over her skin, checking everywhere to make sure she wasn’t hurt and just not telling him. He only wished he could rip that bastard Nevin limb from limb for daring to hurt Victoria like that.
After she’d gotten out of the shower she’d sent him downstairs to grab food and hot chocolate for her. But he was under the impression she’d been
trying to get rid of him. He wasn’t sure why.
After they’d found Victoria and Keelin, Drake had brought her and Keelin back to the village. Many of the dragons were still out searching but Greer was with Keelin, who was going to be fine, and Conall was out rounding everyone up and letting the clan know the females had been found. Drake knew he should probably be out with his brother helping, but to hell with that.
He needed to take care of Victoria, to make sure she was truly okay. He was going to make sure she rested.
Then he was finally claiming her for all eternity.
As he reached their room, he nudged the cracked door open with his foot. Two steps inside, he nearly dropped the tray.
On her knees at the foot of the bed, Victoria was completely naked, her perfect body on display for only him. Long black hair fell in soft waves over both breasts, her pale pink nipples already tight and waiting for him to tease. His gaze trailed down the pale column of her elegant neck, over her full breasts and down to the juncture between her legs where a small triangle of dark hair covered her mound.
All thoughts of waiting dissipated. He was finally going to sink deep inside his mate and fully claim her.
Without taking his eyes off her, he kicked the door shut then set the tray on the floor, letting it go without paying attention to where he set it. The silverware and tray rattled loudly but he ignored it as he stalked toward Victoria. His heart was an erratic tattoo against his chest and it was all he could do to drag in a full breath.
Tearing his T-shirt over his head, he tossed it away as he approached her. When he reached her she held out a hand, placing it against his chest, her green eyes startlingly bright against her face. Just the feel of her touching him made him shudder. He’d almost lost her.
“Are you ever going to try to send me away again?” A soft, demanding question.
“I’d rather cut off a limb.” She’d never listen anyway. “We’re a team.”
She nodded once, her dark hair swishing seductively around her face, her expression softening. “Always.”
“Forever,” he growled.
Her eyes heated at that and her fingers dug into his chest. With her free hand she reached out and cupped his hard length over his pants. He rolled his hips against her hold. Soon there would be nothing between them.
Though he wanted to devour her, he managed some semblance of control as he slowly lowered his head toward hers.
Victoria had other ideas, sliding her hand up his chest and around the back of his head, tugging him down so their mouths meshed in a frenzied mating.
Instinct took over. He grabbed her hips, flipping her onto her back, his chest covering hers as she moaned into his mouth. His entire body was pulled taut as she wrapped her legs around him, arching into his body.
On his darkest nights he’d never imagined that someone as sweet and giving as Victoria was out there for him. It had simply never occurred to him that there could be anyone for him. And definitely not someone like her. Until that day in the graveyard when he’d caught her scent and it had been over for him.
Now that crisp mountain scent of hers intensified as she reached between them to unbutton his pants. Tearing his mouth from hers, he placed his hands over hers. Holding her wrists, he gently guided her arms above her head.
“This first time…don’t touch me yet.” His words were a harsh growl. He couldn’t have her hands on him without completely losing it. He needed her to climax first, needed her to experience pleasure before he did. Because he had a feeling his first time in Victoria’s tight heat, he wasn’t going to last long.
Her eyes darkened with lust as she nodded.
With shaking hands he finished what she’d started and shoved his pants off until he was standing completely bared to her.
She pushed up on her elbows, her eyes shining with the same bright love he felt for her. “I love you, Drake. Every part of you. And I want to be your mate.”
His chest was tight as he looked down at the female who’d completely stolen his heart. He tried to speak but his fucking voice just wouldn’t work. Not now. Over a thousand years of emotions were rushing up all at once, making it impossible.
But he could show her how he felt.
Lowering himself on top of her, he savored the way she let out a soft sigh of pleasure and plastered herself to him. She wrapped her arms and legs around him, sliding one hand through his hair and the other down to his ass. “I know you said no touching but…” Smiling wickedly she gripped him hard and rolled herself against him, her unspoken demand clearer than anything she could have said.
Though every primal part of him demanded he thrust deep into her and claim everything, he was going to make sure she came first. He’d read enough on sex to know that it could hurt females the first time and he’d die before doing that to her.
As their lips melded again, he teased his tongue against hers and reached between their bodies. He wished he had more hands so he could touch her everywhere at once. Cupping her mound, he shuddered as he slid his middle finger over her slit.
He could scent her need, but she was so damn wet. All for him. That knowledge made his cock pulse even harder. He dipped one finger, then two inside her, moving in and out of her in a slow, torturous rhythm he’d learned she liked. Her breathing grew more erratic and she bit down on his bottom lip impatiently.
Always so impatient.
Part of him wanted to drag this out, to bury his face between her legs and taste her again on his tongue, but he couldn’t tear his body from hers. The skin on skin contact was too perfect.
He pulled his fingers out and she groaned in protest until he guided his hard length between her wet lips. First he stroked himself against her teasingly. Never before had he let his cock get so close to her like this. Because he’d known he would have no restraint.
His balls pulled up even tighter as he nudged against her entrance, barely pushing inside her slick body. The friction was already driving him insane but he didn’t slide any deeper. If he did, he was going to lose it. Instead he bent down to one ripe breast and sucked her tight nipple into his mouth.
“Drake.” She grabbed on to his head, holding him tight. As if he planned to go anywhere. No way in hell.
Swiping his tongue over the tight bud, he simultaneously tweaked her clit with his thumb and forefinger.
She made a garbled moaning sound as he gently started rubbing her sensitive bundle of nerves in a tight circular motion. The faster he rubbed, the more erratic her breathing and heartbeat grew.
“I’m close,” she rasped out, starting to writhe against him.
He switched breasts, giving equal attention to the other tight nipple as he pushed deeper inside her. He hadn’t moved far but her inner walls clenched around him, the convulsing sensation letting him know just how close to coming she was.
Pressing down on her nipple with his teeth, adding an extra bite to his teasing, he growled victoriously against her breast when she arched up and shoved it into his mouth as if she couldn’t get enough. She cried out his name like a prayer. “Now,” she demanded.
He hesitated for a moment but she rolled her hips and impaled herself on him. There was a slight giving sensation before he buried himself to the hilt inside her. Pure pleasure shot down his spine at the erotic feel of her inner walls gripping him tight but he didn’t thrust even though every instinct demanded he do so.
He continued rubbing her clit and pulled back so he could look at her. Every breath he dragged in was unsteady as he grasped onto the last shred of his control.
Her eyes were heavy-lidded as she watched him and stroked her fingers down his chest and over his forearms as if she couldn’t get enough of touching him. As her inner walls began to convulse tighter and tighter around his cock her head fell back and she completely closed her eyes.
Her mouth parted and she came on a silent cry, her body bowing tight as her orgasm crashed through her.
Seeing the pure ecstasy on her face, knowing he’d c
aused it, set something free inside him. Burying his face against her neck he began thrusting in long, hard strokes, her slick sheath squeezing him tight, her erotic scent making him crazy.
His canines descended the harder he thrust. It felt so good to be inside her. He knew Hell existed and this was true Heaven. With Victoria.
When he scraped his teeth against the sensitive place where her neck and shoulder met she groaned out his name and squeezed even tighter around his cock.
He could stay here forever. Wanted to be lost inside her sweet body as long as she let him.
As her orgasm started to ebb, he let go, allowing himself to completely relinquish control. His climax built and built, the sensation shoving out to all his nerve endings as her sheath gripped him tight.
Shouting her name he released himself inside her in long, fierce strokes, marking her with his seed. Letting instinct rule him, he bit down on the skin between her shoulder and neck, sinking deep into her flesh as he claimed the female he couldn’t live without.
Her fingers dug into his back and for a moment he tensed, worried he’d hurt her, but the sounds of pleasure emanating from her immediately released that fear before it took root inside him.
After riding out his orgasm he licked away the blood from where he’d bitten her, not surprised when the small wounds immediately started healing. Feeling lightheaded, he nuzzled her neck, wanting to stay locked inside her for the rest of the day. Week. Months. Forever.
“That was amazing,” Victoria murmured, her voice thick with pleasure.
He grunted because that was all he could do. He’d finally claimed Victoria. His female. For always.
Though he didn’t want to separate their bodies, he leaned back and slowly pulled out of her. She winced slightly but tried to hide it.
He stretched out beside her, placing a hand on her flat abdomen. His mate was so soft and delicate, yet strong in ways that continued to amaze him. “Did I hurt you?”