Nope, not romantic at all. What did I expect? I really have no idea.
“We’re going to try something,” he mutters as he slides out of me and lifts his leg over mine. Before I understand what’s happening, he uses his huge hands and flips me to my stomach. I’m gaining my knees when he slides inside me from behind.
“Hell,” I moan.
His hands come down on mine and hold them to the bed. His body rocks into me with increasing drive. The energy builds, but this time it’s different. I can feel an electric force coming from him. His body is hot and I don’t mean hot looking, though it is that, too. No, his body temperature rises. The power rises. His bear is claiming mine. How in my befuddled mind did I not realize this? The great texts talk about it. A witch cannot be claimed. It’s what sets us apart from the bear clan.
I don’t realize he has released my hand until he pulls my hair and jerks my head back. “Stop thinking and feel, you stubborn woman.” His growl is low and feral. His heat flows into my body. I try to catch my breath, but it’s impossible. He keeps ahold of my hair as he drives into me. I can no longer control my response even though I know it’s wrong.
This time, the white light is a combustion of energy that ignites the room. The heat is everywhere. I scream in pain—the burn so intense my flesh seems to melt. Tyboll’s roar is no less painful. He falls against my back and holds me to his burning flesh as his shouts continue. We are dying. The Goddess is punishing us.
Chapter Thirteen
Tyboll
I think we are dead.
It figures.
After facing enemy cats and vampires, I’m taken down by a witch. My entire body hurts. My eyes are closed and I feel Veda still beneath me. Damn, but we’re going to be stuck in the afterlife together. I don’t think I even like her.
The pounding on the door clears the smoke from my brain and I think we are in my room at Dmitri’s club. The smoke is real, though; the entire room is filled with it. I jump up because I realize the entire place must be burning down.
My damned pants are still in the way and all I can do is hop. I throw the dresser away from the door then toss the door against the side wall.
The hallway is filled with my clan but no smoke. They watch me in stunned fascination. The smoke from my room begins leaking out into the hall.
What the hell is going on? I glance over my shoulder.
“You’ve claimed a witch, you dumb-ass bear. You can’t claim a witch.” She’s up on her knees shouting. She’s incredible. She’s glorious. She’s mine!
I turn back to our audience. “You heard her. I’ve done the impossible. Go about your business so I can do it again.” I pick up the door and cover the opening.
This time when I peer at her, she looks stunned. My shoes are still on and my pants hang at my ankles. I look ridiculous. I bend over to remove my shoes when a pillow hits me in the ass.
Veda is now standing on the bed. “Do you have any idea what you’ve done?”
I kick my shoes aside and step out of my pants. I take a step closer to the bed so she’s looking down at me. I grab her hips and pull them toward me. I smell her. I smell us. It’s as it should be. I may not like her very much, but our combined scent is perfect. And even more perfect, she stops talking for a minute.
“Tyboll, the Goddess will punish us.” She pants the words.
I sink my nose farther against her skin and she inhales sharply. “Will it always be so painful to take a witch or just the first time?” I ask against her flesh.
“I have no idea?”
I hear fear in her voice and look up. “Explain the why to me later.” I pull her down and push her back. I follow her to the bed pulling her knees over my shoulders. No matter the pain I will suffer for another chance to claim her body. She likes my tongue on her here. She focuses on what I do to her not on the other foolishness that’s always going through her crazy head. I want her mouth on me, too. Later… I will demand it later.
She doesn’t fight me and her breathing goes ragged. I glance up and see her head thrown back, her red hair splayed around her face. She has red hair down here, too. Somehow red isn’t so bad anymore. I think I might even like it. I tease her flesh with my tongue and feel her body respond. This time she will not find her release until I am buried inside her, but I want her ready.
Her head twists from side to side and her muscles tighten. “No,” she cries out when I remove my mouth and travel up her body. I bite her flesh. Small nips really, because she tastes so good. She tries to twist away, but I have a good hold on her.
Nipples stop my journey—pink, soft nipples. My hand engulfs one breast and my mouth takes the other. She likes it. She writhes against me, pushing her breasts up. I like this part of her, too. She’s close to her release again. I will not allow it. I arch my hips and drive deeply into her warmth. This is where I belong. I don’t control her hands this time and they sink into my hair. She pulls the short crop and even that feels good.
We stare at each other as I take her—neither fast nor slow. She quickens beneath me thrusting her hips up, trying to control me. It won’t happen. I will control her… always. She will do my bidding. In bed, out of bed… she is mine.
“Tyboll, please.”
“Yes, mate, beg for it and if I wish, I will grant you release.”
I don’t expect her scream or the sharp tear to my ears. I swear she’s ripped the things off. I’m now holding myself above her with one arm supporting me. My hand comes away with blood. Why has she stopped our mating?
“You stupid bear get off me.”
I’m so stunned, I roll away. I watch in bewilderment as she stands beside the bed. Her hands go to her hips and she looks at me like I’m the problem. I rub my ear. “Is there a reason for this, woman?” I show her the blood.
She slaps my hand away. “I will make a list of rules. You will follow them,” she spits out.
She can’t be serious. “I will follow nothing, woman,” I shout with all the baffled anger I feel.
She continues as if what I say means nothing. “One…you will not call me woman. Two… you will not call on the power of your bear when we mate. Three…”
I’ve had enough. “You are my mate and I will do whatever it takes to put you in line.”
I’m too slow to stop her fist strike to my groin. I curl up on the bed as agony rips through me. She is crazy.
“Too bad I have no spells handy, so you can use your wiener again someday.”
The damned woman called the greatest piece of manhood on the planet a wiener and I’m in too much pain to care. Worse yet, she continues her tirade.
“I was on number three. When I want your services between my legs, I will call you. Stay away from me until I do.”
The pain is fading. I watch through watery eyes as she puts on her clothes. She tosses the door to the side and storms out without looking back at me. I hold myself, the residue of pain still locked in my brain.
Crazy woman. What the hell did I do?
Chapter Fourteen
Veda
Infuriating monster.
I’m aware of how the bears have treated their women for centuries. I’m also aware that Mandy has made great strides in righting the wrongs. At least until it comes to her father. And that’s only the beginning of my problems. He claimed me. He can’t do that. He shouldn’t have been able to do it. Now, my power is tied to his. I can feel the pull. Does he know? I don’t think so. He’s not the brightest man alive. How can he possibly think calling me woman is romantic? It’s degrading… I think. I’ve been called witch and Veda in my life. Oh, and Becky calls me sugar. Stupid bear. I prefer Veda.
I stop a foot from the bear standing at the end of the hallway. He’s young and doesn’t appear as self-assured as most bears. “Where is your vampire?”
“Umm, Dmitri. He’s not here.”
“Tell him I no longer need his protection, but his bear might.” It’s very unsatisfying to see the young man’s fear. I know
he won’t pass on my message.
To hell with the bears and their vampire. I storm past him and head to the front door. No one stops me as I make my way back to the diner.
***
Tyboll
I’m back at my cabin in bear territory with a gallon of moonshine. I lift the jug and slosh it into my mouth. Honey’s voice pops into my befuddled brain.
“May I enter?”
Since when did a fellow brother bear need to ask? “Get your ass in here,” I growl.
Honey stalks inside and slams the door behind him. “Damn wolf.” He holds up his hand before I can say anything. “I know she’s your daughter, but I need to let off steam. And what the hell happened to your beard and hair?”
“Your damn she-wolf,” I say with a hiccup. “If you think you have problems, you’re wrong. I have problems. I’m mated to a witch who leaves me every chance she gets.” I hand Honey the jug and watch him swallow a healthy dose. It’s about time the pussy-whipped bear grew a set. “I don’t understand that woman.”
Honey chugs more of the moonshine. “For once we agree on something. I don’t understand any woman.”
Before I know it the entire story is pouring out of me. From the minute I touched Veda and discovered we were mates to the reason I’m here drinking my gut raw. By the time I finish my story, Honey’s as drunk as I am.
“So wha’d’ yathink?” I slur.
“You donwannahearit,” is his sloppy reply.
“YeahIdo.”
Honey sits up from his reclined position. I ignore his stumble when he stands because I know I can’t walk at this point. He weaves to the front door, walks outside, and pisses off the porch. Now that’s a real man. I just wonder when it happened. My daughter’s had him twisted around her finger since she kidnapped him. He walks back inside and takes his seat on the couch.
“If we’re gonna solvesanyfing weneed t’ stop drinkin.”
He has a point and I don’t feel so good. I let out a loud belch and close my eyes when the room spins more.
“I’ll make coffee,” Honey says.
Our beastkind blood will absorb the alcohol quickly. That’s why when I need to get drunk, I do it by the gallon. The next thing I know, Honey’s hitting my shoulder.
“Wake up, old man. Here’s some coffee.” He places the cup in my hand. I sit up and take a small sip of the black tar.
“I prefer moonshine,” I say as the liquid burns my tongue.
He sits down and clasps his mug between his hands. We remain quiet as we absorb the coffee into our bloodstream.
“Do you like sex?” Honey finally asks.
I spew my coffee. “What kind of question is that?” I demand.
He gives me a look I can’t decipher. “I like sex. I like when Mandy likes sex. She goes all soft and cuddly and it’s the only time she’s not scheming some mad shenanigan. I know she’s safe when she’s in my arms. I know you think I’m weak. Maybe I am. But. I. Like. Sex.”
“Humph. So I need to be pussy-whipped to have sex with my mate? I don’t think so.” I’m shouting by the time I snap out the last syllable.
Honey shouts back. “You call it pussy-whipped, I call it lucky.” He lowers his voice. “It took me a long time to figure out that my mother has the iron fist when it comes to my father. He is alpha, but he doesn’t control my mother. He loves her. He wants her happy. I want the same for my mate. It’s called love.”
I fight rolling my eyes at the stupid bear. “That’s the difference. The Goddess threw Veda at my feet without giving me a choice. I. Don’t. Love. Her.”
“That’s the dumbest thing you’ve said tonight. Veda didn’t land at your feet. She stands beside you. If you keep thinking that way she’ll never love you. And you love her, you dumb-ass. You wouldn’t be drinking yourself silly if you didn’t. I don’t know why love happens so suddenly when you discover you’re mated, but it does. Your problem is that Veda doesn’t have the same reaction. And before you ask how I know that, it’s because she wouldn’t be able to walk away from you if she did.”
“I don’t want that crazy woman to love me,” I growl petulantly. Even I hear the lie in my voice.
Honey walks to the kitchen and refills our cups. He speaks again when he returns. “Tell me those rules once more and let’s discuss them now that my head isn’t spinning so badly.”
Oh, those damned rules. “I can’t call her woman.” It comes out as a whine.
Honey shakes his head. “For sex! You aren’t willing to give up calling her woman?”
It sounds stupid when he says it. “Of course I’m willing,” I mutter. “What about number two? Calling the power?”
Honey scratches his head. “You claimed her. The power is always highest during the claiming. It happens only once. She’s a bear as well as a witch and the same rules apply. Tell her you won’t claim her again. She doesn’t need to know you can’t. This should pacify her.”
Why did Honey sound so smart all of a sudden?
He stares intently into my eyes. “I remember the third rule. And that’s a hell no. You need to go and get her. She can’t be a true mate and live in the city. Pick your battles, old man. This one’s worth fighting for.”
He’s right. She belongs here with me. I will find her and bring her home.
Chapter Fifteen
Veda
Why is the pull to a mate so strong? I pour over the great texts expecting the answer it usually offers. Nothing. I’ve read sections about mating, but they don’t offer a solution to the problem.
Mating is a bond that only death can sever. A witch’s power is not stronger than the bond and a witch shall not interfere with a mated pair.
Blah, blah, blah. My mother told me not to mess with a mated pair. I understand this. But now I’m part of a mated pair. I need answers about a witch mating and there is nothing.
A witch will take a human male into her body. A female child will form from this union. You will know the time to search out your human. Do not call the power of your beast when in the human’s arms. Control your beast or bear the consequences.
It’s too late for that. Tyboll and I allowed our bears to rise when we mated. Now I feel Tyboll pulling my power from me. Can he feel it? He must. The texts are written for a human and witch. Not a beastkind and witch. I flip through the pages until I find the other passage that worries me.
Our power is a gift. Females harness the power, males destroy.
Just great! Maybe I can take back the power if we don’t mate again.
I get ready for work and make my way downstairs to begin my day. Most people don’t think much of this job. To me it’s a lifesaver. I lived for so long with no human contact and very little beastkind interaction. No more. Being here and working has brought my needs up front and center. With or without Tyboll, I will no longer be a solitary witch.
Becky shouts from behind the kitchen half-wall. “Hey, stranger, did you enjoy your day off?”
I don’t wish to lie, but there’s little else I can do. “Yes, it was quite relaxing.”
She takes a closer look at me. “You don’t look relaxed. Is some guy giving you problems?”
Most definitely yes. “No, I’m fine. Just a bit tired.”
“Well then I hope your exhaustion comes from a hot date.” She winks and goes back to cooking.
It’s slow, so I fill salt and pepper shakers, prepping for the rush. The diner begins to fill up an hour later. The great thing about this work is that we’re usually busy and I can forget about my troubles. The nagging thread pulling on my power takes a backward seat to orders, spilled drinks, and continuous coffee refills.
I’ve just finished delivering food to a young couple and pick up a fresh pot of coffee. Everything inside me tenses. I don’t need to turn to know Tyboll has just entered the diner. I feel him. The pull on my power is no longer an irritating tug. It ripples from me to him. I turn slowly and see shock on my mate’s face.
“What the hell?” The words snap
into my mind, though Tyboll’s lips don’t move.
I can hear telepathic communication for the first time in my life and I almost drop the scalding coffee I hold.
“What are you doing to me, witch?” Tyboll stumbles. He’s absorbing my energy and I don’t know how to stop it.
I walk quickly to him and he steps back with a look of distrust in his eyes. “Sit,” I whisper. Being so close to him lightens the pull. There’s an open table and Tyboll manages to pull out the chair and plop down before he falls. He’s acting like I did when my mother transferred her power to me at her death. Is Tyboll stealing my power?
This cannot be happening.
“More coffee, please,” requests a customer a few tables away.
I give Tyboll a stern look then I realize I can communicate with more than my eyes. “I’ll be back. Stay where you are.” I need him calm while I handle the morning rush. His eyes bore into mine. He’s not happy and there’s nothing I can do about it. I go back to work and it’s forty-five minutes before things quiet down enough for me to request a break from Becky.
“Yeah, sugar, take all the time you need. Is that your man out there scowling?”
“Something like that,” I mutter as I remove my apron and head back to Tyboll’s table. “Follow me,” I tell him telepathically as I head out the door. I go straight to the outside stairs and climb. I turn and look. Tyboll is walking sluggishly up the stairs behind me, his hand gripping tightly to the rail. I can speak aloud now, but I like the ability to communicate into his mind. “I can help you.”
“Don’t touch me, woman.”
I roll my eyes. I hadn’t expected him to accept my help. I unlock the door and open it. Stepping inside, I move to the side so he can pass. “Sit down before you fall down, you idiot.”
“Humph,” he says as he makes his way to the couch. “You are using your witchy ways on me. Am I dying? Is this how you plan to sever the mating bond?”
Fang Chronicles: Tyboll Page 6