The Wolf's Mate Book 7: Lindy & The Wulfen

by Butler, R. E.

  She was not necessarily relaxing herself. After all, that tricky she-fairy had almost gotten her sold into sexual slavery just because she was a sore loser. Crimson wouldn’t feel that she was safe until Giwyn was in custody. Lindy was a live-and-let-live sort of gal, but Giwyn was a whack job and needed to be put away.

  Lindy looked at herself in the full-length mirror. Her long hair was curled in ringlets that fell past her shoulders and reminded her of golden curling ribbon. The dress fit her beautifully. Her face practically glowed. Her eyes were bright, and her cheeks were pink. She wore no makeup save for some lip stain made from a dark pink fruit that Yunni gave her.

  Thalia joined Lindy and looked at her in the mirror. “I made a lot of mistakes, Lindy. I’m sorry for my part in your kidnapping and for making you feel inadequate. My son is lucky to have you in his life, and I’m blessed to have you as a daughter.”

  Lindy didn’t blame Thalia for Giwyn being crazy. She couldn’t have known that she would become so obsessed with Crimson. But she knew Thalia carried guilt over what had happened.

  “Forgiven and forgotten,” Lindy promised, squeezing her hand.

  There was a short knock on the door, and Thalia said, “That’s your mate. He’s an impatient thing, isn’t he?”

  Crimson said through the door, “I’m not impatient.”

  Lindy laughed as Thalia opened the door. The room fell silent as Crimson stared at her and she stared at him. He looked amazing. Black leather trousers stretched over his legs, and he wore black knee boots. His wings were out, like twin feathered shields behind his body, and he wore no shirt. Around his forearms were thick leather cuffs, decorated with symbols made of twisted gold wire. A sword hung from his side, the handle glinting with a ruby the size of a silver dollar.

  He dropped to one knee and rested his fist over his heart, bowing his head. “You are so lovely, my mate. I am honored to pledge my life to you and to bind myself to you forever in the ancient ways of my people.”

  She closed the distance and stood before him. He raised his head slowly, his eyes flashing from green to red, the way they did when he was aroused. “I’m honored, Crimson. To have you as my truemate, my friend, my protector, and the only male I’ve ever given my heart to.”

  He stood and pulled her close, wrapping one arm around her waist and resting his fingertips along her jaw. “Mine.”

  She couldn’t help but grin. “I wouldn’t want to be anyone else’s.”

  Veril clapped her hands. “It’s so romantic.”

  Lindy laughed, and Crimson smiled. “It sure is,” Lindy agreed.

  So that her dress didn’t get dirty, Crimson carried her from the house to the waiting carriage. He rode with her and his mom, and the brownies rode behind them in another carriage. Lindy leaned against his shoulder, and he cuddled her closer. “Just a few more hours and we’ll be bonded forever, sweet love.”

  “And then what?” She peeked up at him through the veil of her lashes.

  “Then I’m going to take you back to our home and spend the night reminding you why we’re meant to be together.”

  As if she needed a reminder. No one had ever rocked her world the way Crimson did. Everything about him seemed made just for her.

  The carriage stopped in front of his parents’ home. The sun had set, but candles and lanterns lit the entire outside of the house and the walkway leading to the back where the ceremony was to take place. Thalia told her a traditional fae mating was very similar to a human marriage, with the couple vowing to each other in front of an official and their families, followed by a meal and party. But their old ways mating was going to be different because, although Lindy was going to be vowing herself verbally to Crimson, his vows to her were going to be done through deed and not word alone.

  Their people had stopped using the old ways several generations ago as they modernized. Like most traditional things, some of the current marriage traditions were based on ancient ones, but the actual ceremony she and Crimson were going to go through was nothing like what the fae did now. Lafawnya said their mating would change the realm forever, and Lindy thought she meant that people would see the old ways and it would rekindle a desire to use them again.

  Crimson came around the carriage and held his hands out. She leaned out of the carriage with her hands on his shoulders, and he lifted her easily and set her on the stone path.

  “You look so beautiful, chelle,” he said, twining one of her curls around his finger. “I’m the luckiest male in the realm.”

  Tears stung her eyes, and she blinked them away. “I love you, Crimson.”

  He pressed his lips to her forehead and inhaled. “I love you, sweet mate.”

  Taking her hand, he led her along the torch-lit path around the side of the house and into the backyard. She gasped in surprise to see so many people. Risers had been set up around a stage where the ceremony was going to take place. Hundreds of fae sat in gilded chairs on the risers. One entire riser was filled with men with feathered wings, and she knew they were soldiers in the military like Crimson.

  They walked on the stone path between two risers, and the crowd went silent save for the many feminine gasps of appreciation for her gown and, she was sure, how handsome her mate was. As they drew nearer to the stage, lilting music from stringed instruments filled the air. It wasn’t the traditional wedding march, but it was beautiful. Crimson stopped them at the bottom of four crystal stairs leading up to the stage that appeared to be made of gold marble. Around the stage, tall posts made of white marble were covered with lavender ribbon and tulle and draped with ivy vines and tiny twinkling lights. Above them, the dark sky was filled with stars as if the universe had come out to witness their mating.

  A man that Lindy didn’t know came to stand on the stage at the top of the stairs. He had long, white hair and a beard that reached the top of his trousers. He wore a velvet frock coat of dark red, adorned with garnets and rubies.

  The music ebbed and then disappeared entirely. The man, who looked to be in his eighties, cleared his throat and said, “Enter ye onto this sacred stone to vow yourself to your truemate according to the old ways, Crimson Ta’rek?”

  Crimson bowed at the waist. “I do, Elder Horus.”

  Elder Horus nodded once and moved away from the stairs, and Crimson took Lindy’s elbow again and led her up the crystal stairs. She hadn’t been able to see what the stage really looked like from the ground, but now that she was on top of it, she was amazed at what she saw. The solid slab of marble was several feet thick and bigger than her bedroom. In the center of the stone, a stand made of dark metal held a stone pot over a fire of blue flames. The bottom of the stone pot was red with heat, and smoke rose from the inside. Three metal poles several feet in length stuck out from inside the pot.

  Elder Horus, who had blue wings veined with yellow, stood behind the pot with a large open book in his hands. To the right and left of the pot were Riyad and Merik. They were wearing their military jackets, their wings spread out behind their backs through special slits cut into the fabric.

  There was a rustling sound behind them, and Lindy looked over her shoulder to see a line of people moving up the stairs and parting to walk down either side of the stage. Each person carried something in their hands, and when they stopped moving and faced toward the center of the stage, Lindy was able to see that they were all fae. Their wings were all different colors, which Crimson had explained meant that they had different powers.

  Elder Horus looked at Crimson and Lindy, then cast his gaze around the perimeter of the stage. Then he said with a loud voice, “Be welcome ye delegates of the Fae Guilds. From far have ye traveled to witness the mating of these two.” Turning his attention back to them, Elder Horus said, “Face your intended.”

  Crimson and Lindy turned to face each other, their hands clasped between them. Her heart pounded with excitement and joy as she stared into the beautiful face of her mate.

  “The gifts of the Fae Guilds,” Elder Horus sai
d, “are presented now.”

  A fae with golden wings stepped from the side and stood in front of her and Crimson. In his hand was a strand of delicate, blue flowers on a vine of tiny, purple leaves. He wove the vine around their clasped hands. “The blosomfae bless your union and wish you a beautiful mating, as lovely as the flowers that bind you together.”

  He moved back to the line as another fae joined them, a female with blue wings. She gave them the gift of water in a stone container that she poured out at their feet, so they would never be thirsty. The next fae had pearly wings and gave them the gift of the air, a breeze captured in a glass jar that she set at their feet so they would always feel the wind at their backs. A male fae with orange wings brought them a leather satchel of dirt that they would always have a fertile field to provide for them.

  Elder Horus said, “The final gift from the fae is Melinda’s wedding band, forged in the hottest of fires as only a firefae can control.” A female with blue and yellow wings strode forward and slipped a ring onto Lindy’s left ring finger. It felt warm, and a tingle raced up her arm.

  Elder Horus said, “Melinda Vincent, do you vow yourself to your mate, Crimson Ta’rek, the Fae Realm Wulfen, from this moment until time ends? Do you vow yourself to him alone?”

  As Crimson had coached her, she answered with a voice that only slightly trembled, “I so vow.”

  Crimson smiled at her, and her vision blurred as tears filled her eyes.

  “Crimson Ta’rek, do you vow yourself to your mate, Melinda Vincent, the Mortal Realm she-wolf, from this day until time ends? Do you vow that you will protect her and your offspring with your life? Do you vow that you will keep her in happiness for the rest of her days? Do you vow to love her, and her alone, as no other has ever loved?”

  Crimson’s eyes bled to the red of his beast for only a moment, and then he said, “I so vow.”

  Merik and Riyad came to stand in front of them. Riyad unwound the vine of flowers from their hands and carefully draped it over Lindy’s shoulders. Crimson released her hands after a quick squeeze and took two steps away from her. She’d read the history of the old ways and knew in her mind what was going to happen, but to see it unfold before her was nerve-wracking. As Elder Horus began to read in an ancient language, Riyad and Merik pulled two of the poles out of the pot, and Lindy swallowed hard at seeing the glowing brands on each end.

  She held Crimson’s gaze as Riyad and Merik lifted the brands and brought them down on his biceps. The scent of burning flesh filled the air immediately, but he never flinched or uttered a sound as the brands sizzled. They pulled the brands away, and in their wake were the burned images of the brands, fae language script edged with flames. They were his vows to her, his promise that he would be everything to her because she was everything to him.

  The brands clinked against the pot as they were put back in place, and then Elder Horus handed Crimson a dagger that looked like it had been chiseled from stone. He cut across his left palm, and the thick wound welled with blood that dripped into a chalice Elder Horus held underneath his hand.

  “The blood of the warrior is his life, given freely today to honor his mate,” Elder Horus said, lifting the chalice and speaking a few words in a low tone. The contents blazed and sparked, and the acrid scent of smoke swirled around them.

  The third brand was pulled from the pot, glowing with heat, and the elder held it out over Crimson’s open, bleeding hand.

  “Vow yourself through flesh and blood and iron, young fae. Prove yourself worthy of your mate.”

  “I so vow.” Crimson spoke with strong, sure words, reaching up to grab the brand and wrapping his hand around it. He let out a low growl as he looked at her, his fangs peeking from his parted lips and his eyes flashing from red to green. “I. So. Vow.” He snarled the last word and lifted his head in a joyous howl, releasing the brand and holding his hand up toward the heavens.

  The fae around them cheered. Crimson closed the distance to her and held out his hand, palm up. She gasped in surprise to see the scar on his palm read “Melinda.” She hadn’t realized that the third brand had been prepared with her name.

  She lifted his hand and kissed the healing mark.

  “Mine,” he growled and pulled her close, bending her backward and kissing her hard. The crowd roared again, and she blushed, even though she loved kissing him.

  He righted them both slowly, and her head swam as her heart pounded with joy. Nothing had ever felt as right as her life did at that moment. She’d been unhappy for a long time, but as Crimson had said, the paths they’d chosen over the course of their lives had led them to this place. And there was no place she’d rather be.

  Chapter 20

  What Crimson wanted to do was toss Lindy over his shoulder and race home to ravage her a few dozen times before sunrise. What he had to do, however, was stay right there on the stage with his beautiful mate and greet the dignitaries from the various guilds first.

  Elder Horus led them to the dignitaries and introduced them, and then Crimson and Lindy shook their hands and accepted their blessings. When they had met them all, they were led to the edge of the platform to stand before the gathered fae. Elder Horus lifted his voice. “I present the newly mated Crimson and Melinda Ta’rek of the Fae Realm. What has been witnessed here tonight let no one tear apart.”

  Crimson’s parents waited for them as he walked Lindy down the steps and past the cheering fae. His mom immediately hugged Lindy, and the two sniffled, trying not to cry.

  “I’m so proud of you, son,” his dad said, hugging him.

  “Thanks, Dad,” he said, fighting the urge to cry.

  After hugging his mom, he followed them into the house where a private party was set up for their family and close friends. The rest of the guests would be entertained outside where Crimson and Lindy would make an appearance before they left for the evening. The party would go until dawn, but he had no intention of staying that long.

  “You look like you have wicked things on your mind,” Lindy whispered into his ear.

  He just grinned.

  The meal passed quickly, although it felt to him and his beast like an eternity. When it was done, he carried her back outside to the stage and they waved goodbye to the crowd that was well on the way to being six sheets to the wind. They said goodbye to his family and the brownies, who promised to come visit whenever they were in the realm, before he settled her into the carriage, holding her close for the drive home.

  “Do you feel any different?” he asked, nuzzling her neck.

  She made a little soft, contented sound. “I feel like we can take on the world together, if that makes sense.”

  He chuckled. “It does. I feel that way as well.”

  “Do your brands hurt?”

  He’d never admit it had been much more painful than he’d expected, but it had been worth every ounce of concentration not to make a sound or show that it hurt. Because it had hurt. It was good luck for fae to take the brands and not show any signs of the pain to their mate or the witnesses.

  “They’re well on their way to being healed.”

  “Could you shift and heal them faster?”

  “It’s not honorable.”

  She made a face and then said, “I just realized I’ve never seen what you look like in your shift.”

  “Perhaps we can go hunting after we get settled, unless your pack only hunts on the full moon?” Since he hadn’t grown up in a pack he had no idea what was acceptable.

  “We can hunt in our pack territory anytime we want as long as we go with at least one other person.”

  “Well, you’ll always have me by your side.”

  Her eyes sparkled with joy.

  He said goodbye to the driver and carried her into the house, stopping only long enough to cast the protection spell over the house and lock the front door.

  His wolf was chanting in his head, mine, mine, mine, and it spilled out of his mouth as he laid his mate gently on the bed.

&nbs
p; “Mine.”

  She lifted her arms, beckoning him to her. “Yours.”

  He cracked his neck, feeling his wolf close to the surface. “The gown is beautiful. If you want to pass it down to our children, you might want to take it off yourself.”

  She squeaked in surprise and rolled away. “Don’t shred it, I love it!”

  He bared his teeth. “What do you love?”

  The dress fell from her shoulders, and her breasts were bared to him, the nipples hardening quickly. “You, Crimson. I love you.” And then she muttered, “And the dress.”

  He snarled again, and she giggled, wiggling out of the dress completely and slipping from the bed to drape it over the chair. She wore only white lace panties and the jeweled shoes, standing before him like a goddess.

  “Come here, mate,” he said, trying not to order her around too much.

  She slipped off the shoes and moved to the bed, crawling across it like a cat, nearly purring as she rose to her knees and slipped her fingertips into the waistband of his trousers. If the wolf wasn’t riding him so hard, he might have been able to come up with some flowery words or poetry for her, but all he could manage was to not growl with need and shred his own clothes.

  Her fingers rubbed against his lower abdomen slowly as she watched him, her eyes darkening with whatever wicked thoughts were running through her mind. She loosened the lacings and pushed the trousers down his hips, tipping her face toward his. Forcing his wolf to the back of his mind so he wouldn’t fall on her like an untried youth, he cupped her cheeks and pressed his mouth to hers. The warm scent of her, like flowers and honey mixed together, swirled around them as he teased the seam of her lips with his tongue until she opened them on a sigh. As his tongue delved into her mouth, her hand slipped inside his trousers and stroked his cock. A growl lodged in his throat as she explored him with her delicate hands, and he continued to kiss her, trying not to come just from her light touch and the heady knowledge that they were mates and she was his forever.