by G. Bailey
“The skies will fall with angels, and demons will rise to power. War is coming, and peace will be no more. Death is a promise to all those who treat angels like gods.”
Have angels acted like gods? Is the light above the god who created angels and was once human? So angels come from humans? No book I’ve read or heard of in this academy talks about that. Closing the book, I rest back and close my eyes for a moment, deciding what I should do next. The seconds tick away into minutes, and I only move when I hear someone turn the door handle.
“Only me,” Myles says as he steps into my room, carrying a basket of food. My stomach rumbles as a hello, and Myles grins as he places the basket in front of me until he sees the look in my eye, which must give everything away. “What’s wrong?”
“The angels murdered thousands, if not hundreds of thousands of vampires and masters all for nothing. To stop an angel and a vampire loving each other. How can I defend the angels against that?” I ask him. “How do I know if I’m on the wrong side?”
Myles frowns and kneels down next to me, cupping my hands in his. Somehow Myles holding my hands just relaxes me, and I trust him to help me like no one else can. Thallon will always side with the angels, and Henry will always side with the vampires. Ren...well, I know that answer. Myles doesn’t have a side in this war, and that makes him perfect to ask for advice. “Angels murdered vampires. Vampires murdered angels...there isn’t a good side in this war. Everyone has taken something too far, but angels think they are gods. You haven’t seen the side that prevails in the city above. Some of those angels have been around since the beginning of the world, and in some ways, that makes them gods.”
“Angels are not gods,” I say, feeling a burning need to make that point. “Neither are vampires. There were goddesses in the world, three of them I think, and they are gone. The power of the gods is gone.”
I don’t mention the light above. I don’t even know what he might be and how exactly he spoke to me.
He nods. “Ren wants war...but do you want that?”
“No...” I whisper. “But I don’t want the vampires to suffer either. I don’t think they are evil creatures like the angels taught me. I know Ren isn’t...and if they are evil, then so am I. I’m half vampire, and that means the angels are no longer my only race.”
“Whatever side you’re on, I’m on too,” Myles tells me, then nervously looks down. “I have to tell you something.”
“What is it?” I question him.
“What do you know about wolf shifters?” he asks me. “Like really know about them?”
“Other than from Twilight, I know a...” I drift off when I see the horror in his eyes. “Don’t you like that film?”
“I have no problem with the film personally, but it made a lot of trouble for wolves trying to hide from the world like me. People became obsessed with wolves and followed me around in the woods, hoping I would be a shifters. I constantly had to tell my wolf not to eat the stupid female humans,” he tells me, and I can’t help it, I burst into laughter.
“Poor wolfy, all those beautiful girls chasing you through the woods,” I say between chuckles. He grins and shakes his head before tickling me. I laugh, begging him to stop as I collapse onto the bed next to him.
“Stop, stop, stop,” I pant, and he pauses, looking down at me. I become very aware that half his body is covering mine, and we are so close. We both smile at each other as he leans down and kisses me. The first brush of his lips is like lightning coursing through my body, sparking all of me to life and drowning me in desire. His body moves to fully cover mine, pressing his hard bulge into me as a low grumble vibrates in his chest. I moan into his mouth, and like a switch goes off, Myles jumps off me and slams into the wall by the door, holding his hands up.
“I’m sorry...I can’t. I have to go.” Before I’ve even had a second to process his words, he is out the door. What is it with guys jumping away from me during a kiss? I collapse to the bed in confusion...and so many thoughts. I need Vesnia more than I ever have, because my love life is turning into a confusing mess.
I’ve kissed four guys now...and each one of them feels like they belong to me in some kind of way. If my parents knew I was almost in a relationship with this many guys, they would have a meltdown of some kind, and most people wouldn’t understand even in the slightest way. What feels natural to me is not something normal in the human world I came from.
I don’t even know if Thallon, Henry or Myles would be okay with the fact I’m falling for them all. I refuse to even contemplate Ren in my mind right now, nor how he makes me feel. Ren took what he shouldn’t have, and I don’t know how to forgive him for that. Knowing I need fresh air, I walk to the balcony and pick up my whistle. I call Ayda, and within moments, she lands on the balcony next to me.
“Want to go for a fly, girl?” I ask, and she neighs, brushing her head against mine. As I mount my horse and disappear into the clouds of the academy, I let myself be free for just a moment, because I feel like my world is going to come crashing down on me sooner than I would like.
Chapter 40
I bang my hands on the door three times before stepping back and steeling my back. The vampire Bryne Maddix opens the door, looking down at me like a bug, and I stare right back at him. In the last day, I’ve made my mind up. I am no longer scared of Ren, of the vampires, of anything in this academy, and I want to see my friend. Ren wants me to be his queen, a leader or whatever, so I should be able to see my friend.
Honestly, I was kidding myself if I ever really feared Ren. Even when he turned me…I wasn’t as scared of him as I am of the angel leaders or the angels in general. They murdered angel students right in front of me, like they were nothing more than oddly shaped fruit they didn’t want to eat. Then again vampires have ripped off angel wings in front of me. Jesus, who is the good guy in all this?
I’m suspecting no one.
“I want to see my friend. Now.” I say it plain and simple, and he rests his shoulder against the frame, not saying a word. “I said now, vampire.”
“Causing trouble I see,” Henry says, walking down the corridor. I turn and eye him cautiously as he comes up to us. “Bryne, we can work something else out later. Less publicly. Thanks.” Bryne nods at Henry before stepping away and slamming the door shut.
“Wait, no!” I shout, banging the door, and Henry grabs my arms, spinning us around and pinning me to the wall. I try to ignore how good it feels to have his hard body pressed against mine, how he smells like mint with a masculine undertone. His eyes burn so much brighter now he is better, and the embers seem to flicker to life when he is close to me, just like my heart flickers to life, banging against my chest. I lick my lips as we stare at each other, drawing Henry’s attention to them, and every memory of us kissing bursts into my mind. Closing my eyes, I remember Vesnia. “Let me go, Henry!”
“Listen to me, darlin’. This isn’t the way,” Henry softly warns me, and I sink a little bit on the wall. I knew this was risky and the chances of me getting to see Vesnia were slim, but I had to try. “I know you miss Vesnia, but this is only going to attract attention to her, and it won’t be the good kind. Come with me.”
Henry lets me go and holds his hand out, waiting for my answer. I look at the door one more time, wishing I could tell Vesnia that I will find a way to save her and figure all this out somehow. I’ve never once felt this powerless.
And lost.
Looking back at Henry’s outstretched hand, I slide mine into his, feeling his rough palm brush against mine until his large hand covers mine and links our fingers. Henry takes me around the corner of the corridor and through two double doors onto a balcony that overlooks the back of the academy. “Why don’t you fly with me?”
“Flying isn’t something I’ve mastered,” I say, biting down on my bottom lip. Henry steps closer and wraps his arms around my waist, and I simply let him like he belongs to me. My body and soul warmly accept him, whereas my heart and mind are all kinds of conf
used. His wings stretch out at his sides before he moves them once, twice, and then our feet leave the ground. I instantly dig my fingers into the muscles on his arms as he flies us higher in the air until we are just above the academy. The wind whips around us as he holds me in the air and grins.
“Don’t hate me.” Before I can reply, he pushes me away from him, and I spin as I fall through the air, a scream catching in my throat. Frantically, I move my wings the best I can, and slowly I realise I need to glide. I spread my wings out, and the wind catches me, pushing me up in the air and letting me hover. Henry flies to my side, flying next to me, and I glare at him for a moment until he laughs, and I can’t help but laugh with him. He spins around in the air, and I copy him, staring up at the bright colours spread across the sky as the sun slowly sets.
This is incredible.
I spin back around and look for Henry, who flies out of a cloud and straight for me, stretching out his hand. I take his hand, and he pulls me behind him, down towards the academy gardens near his house, and he lands first before tugging me into his arms until my feet touch the floor. I can’t wipe the biggest smile off my face as we grin at each other, and my breath halts as he reaches closer and tucks a loose strand of my hair off my nose and behind my ear. We stare at each other, both of us knowing if we kiss now, then there is no going back. Henry and I have always felt like two planets about to crash into each other or miss each other entirely. If we crash, it will be life-changing, and we won’t go back. I know it’s too late for me. I knew I loved Henry Ravaric from the second I heard he was sick and it shocked me how I would fall apart if I ever lost him. It shocked me that loving Henry was as natural as breathing…but everything got so complicated, so quickly.
Henry’s lips find mine first, and I openly accept him, wrapping my arms around his neck as he deepens the kiss and his hands tighten on my waist. His lips hungrily explore my own, like he is trying to mark every part of my lips for no one else. And kissing me like this...he might just do that. When we hear a branch crack nearby, Henry pulls away and looks over my shoulder. I turn around to see what he is looking at, but no one is there.
“We should go inside,” Henry suggests, nodding at his house before meeting my eyes. “Only if you want to, that is.”
“I want to,” I whisper, meaning every word. Henry kisses me softly once more before taking my hand and leading me into his house. As usual, there’s a party going on, but nothing like the angel parties I was used to. This one is full of vampires, all teenagers and dancing to the heavy beat of the music, and most don’t even notice us as we pass them for the stairs. I try not to look at the angels in the room, some of them dancing and having fun, some of them being fed on or outright kissing the vampires. This is so messed up, kissing the vampire who has you on a chain. How can that work?
Pushing all of what’s happening downstairs to the back of mind, I follow Henry into his room, and he kisses me the second the door is closed, pressing me against the back of the door as I wrap my legs around his waist. Who needs a bed? Henry kisses me softer this time, like his kisses are trying to settle into my mind and heart forever. His tongue gently explores my own as he turns us around and carries me to the bed, laying me down. His eyes search mine as he leans over me, asking me what exactly I want.
Truthfully, I want to feel alive and connected to something, to someone. To Henry. I want to know if we are addicted to each other because we are mates.
Sleeping together will answer that question for us both...and more importantly...I want him.
“I haven’t before…” I tell him as I reach for the bottom of my top and slowly pull it over my head. His eyes widen as he stares down at me, and I unclip my bra at the front, letting it fall to the side. While Henry watches and I try not to be nervous, I push down my jeans and panties, kicking them off along with my shoes until I’m naked on Henry’s bed, his eyes burning with desire as he takes me in. “But I want you more than I want to breathe, Henry. I love you.”
“I’m in love with you too,” he whispers and smirks at me as he leans back. “Maybe we should be even?”
Henry slowly pulls his shirt over his head with one hand, his eyes never leaving me. After he undoes the buckle on his trousers, I watch as he pushes them down with his boxers, and I get to see his hard length for the first time. Hell, he is perfect. Meeting his gaze, I lean closer and run my hand down his shaft, making him groan and throw his head back. There is something so sexy about one simple touch sending your man crazy. I know I will never forget the throaty groan that escapes his lips. Henry looks back down at me and takes my hand as he leans over me and kisses me. His lips move down my body, spending time swirling around my nipples until I can hardly take it anymore. He drifts down my body, and his large hands hold my thighs, pushing them apart before he dives in and sucks on my clit. I swear I see stars as my back arches, and I moan loud enough for the world to hear me. Embarrassingly quick, I’m crashing into an orgasm, and I can’t help the noises that escape my lips as I come down from the haze, looking up at Henry.
“That was the hottest thing I’ve ever seen,” he murmurs, and just like that, I want him inside me. I need to see what he looks like as he loses control.
“Protection?” I whisper, and he nods, leaning off me to open his side drawer and grabbing a small bottle of tablets. I frown in confusion as he takes one of them and offers me one.
“They are magically made protection. You will be protected for a month with one of these,” he softly explains, and I grin as I stick my tongue out, and he laughs, placing the tablet on my tongue. It tastes like strawberries as he leans over me and I wrap my legs around his waist. Henry kisses me softly as he pushes easily inside of me with one thrust, and it hurts far more than I thought it would do. I gasp, but the pain instantly drifts away as Henry kisses me, and I thank angel healing for that. With Henry inside me, everything feels so perfect and complete that I can’t think of anything but him. He kisses me like he is trying to find my soul, and I give him everything I can, because he had it from the second we met. Even if he was a jerk…I kinda liked him. Slowly pleasure builds up inside me, and every time Henry thrusts into me, it gets stronger.
As I get closer, my moans get louder, and Henry picks up speed. “I fucking love you, Kaitlyn Lightson.”
“Oh god—” I moan as I tighten around him, coming harder than the first time. “Henry!” I all but scream his name as I feel him spill inside me, and his lips cover mine, swallowing my cries. In a happy daze, he softly kisses me one more time, and we grin at each other. The mating bond kicks into life between us, and a white glow covers our bodies for a moment as we stare at each other in shock. Like ivy wrapping around my heart, I sense Henry in my soul in a way I could never explain.
He is mine.
And I will forever be his.
“I fucking love you too.” I repeat his words, and he laughs before kissing me once more and spending the night showing me exactly how much he loves me.
Chapter 41
Warm sunlight beams down my hand on Henry’s chest, and I smile at the simple enjoyment of the moment as I slowly wake up. I move my hand to trace circles on Henry’s chest, and his hand covers mine as I look up, lifting my head from his shoulder.
“Morning, mate,” he gruffly says, clearing his throat once, making me notice the bite marks that are nearly healed. “I think we need—” he starts, but the door banging open, smacking across the floor as it comes off its hinges, distracts us. I tug the blanket over me as I meet Ren’s burning red eyes, seeing how very pissed off he is.
“Outside. Now!” he shouts at me, but I don’t flinch or reply to him as he storms out the room. I’m not scared of Ren anymore...and I doubt I ever will be again. That time has passed between us, and for the first time, I want to stand up to him. I will not be weak, silly little Kaitlyn again. I know who I am now, and I won’t be a fool anymore.
“I will—” Henry starts, but I kiss him. After gently brushing my lips against his, I climb
out the bed with the sheet, leaving Henry lying there naked.
“Ren is my problem, and I will talk with him. He won’t hurt me,” I say, gathering my clothes. I quickly use Henry’s shower and brush my teeth with a spare toothbrush I find under the sink. After brushing my hair and getting dressed, I come back out into the bedroom where Henry is sitting on the edge of the bed in shorts.
“He won’t hurt you, I know that. If I doubted it, I would follow you outside,” he warns, and I have no doubt he means it. I kiss him once more before leaving his room and stepping over the door on my way. “Just remember he has been through a lot, and he is reacting like a jealous mate. He doesn’t mean it.”
God, Henry loves Ren a little too much, and I doubt he will ever see Ren as the bad guy in this.
I used to think the same when he was my ghost friend.
“Sorry about the door!” I shout back to Henry, hearing his laugh behind me as I go down the stairs. The front door is open, and as I walk out, I see Ren right away. He stands under a tree nearby, his arms crossed, his whole body tense. Everything about him screams anger and jealousy...and he has no right to be.
We aren’t together, and he has stolen everything from me without so much as a second thought. I storm right up to him and press my finger into his chest.
“Who I decide to mate with is no one’s business except my own and those close to me. We are not close, I am not yours, and you don’t get to—” He cuts me off, picking me up like a doll and turning me around, pushing my back into the tree behind us. His whole body harshly presses into mine as I glare at him, and he glares right back.