by Tina Holland
They continued their dance until Tierra’s heat quivered above him, and she cried out.
“Let me taste you.” He needed to sample her essence; something whispered in his mind this might be his last chance.
Her fingers moved between them until she brought them back up to his lips coated in her sweet nectar. He drew her fingers into his mouth, relishing the taste he swore was meant only for him.
“Let me suckle your sweetness.”
Her knees shimmied up his sides, her damp pussy blazing a trail over his skin. He hardened in protest. He regretted he couldn’t both taste and plunge into her at the same time.
*
“Do you want me, Max?” Her voice was teasing against his ear.
“I do, Tierra.” He bucked against her.
She reached her slender hand between them and grasped his shaft. Tierra positioned it against her sweet hole.
He shifted his hips upward and was welcomed into her. Nothing felt as good as her core, the heat enveloping him as the slick walls allowed him movement, as if the gods had fashioned her for him. She was tight, yet unbreakable. He was on the edge.
She began panting in his ear. His little princess was going to come, and he wanted her pleasure almost more than he wanted his own orgasm. She was such a hot little animal. Her muscles clenched around him as she pulled him deeper into her. Tierra finally uttered a guttural moan against his ear.
Z couldn’t hold out any longer. Her orgasm was more than he could bear. She squeezed him until he groaned as his own orgasm burst forth.
They lay quietly for a few moments until sleep took him, but not before she whispered, “I love you, Max.”
Chapter Five
“Nizhoni, you do not understand!” Tierra couldn’t believe she’d been dragged away from Max to get a lecture. She pulled up her pants and tightened the laces--perhaps too tight.
“You don’t understand what he is.” Nizhoni sounded calm.
“I know. I simply don’t care.” Tierra threw her hands up.
“Tierra, he’s a flesh-eater.”
“You better come up with something better, cousin.” Tierra was incredulous. Her own family would deceive her with stories that Max was a zombie.
“I speak the truth. He’s the first.”
“I don’t care. I’m telling you he’s not a zombie.”
“You’ve let him bite you.” Nizhoni nodded toward Tierra’s still bare breasts.
“A mark means nothing!” Tierra was resistant to most viral strains. Ritual fires every few years built up her magic, and she survived the bites of many immortals.
“Not now, but what if he bit you earlier in the moon’s cycle?”
Truthfully, a zombie had never bitten her before. However she wasn’t naive. “I would’ve turned by now, and I was first bitten two days ago.” She arched her neck to reveal the tiny puncture holes before shrugging into her shirt.
“You need to think beyond your own wants and think of the coven.”
“You dare suggest I haven’t. I mean to return home, but my heart cannot be overruled.”
“Hearts can be deceived.” Her cousin lowered her gaze.
“This is nothing like your first marriage, cousin. My heart did not pick a monster.”
Nizhoni’s pearl-colored eyes lifted, and Tierra felt guilty, but only for a moment. She was far more experienced with affairs of the heart, having had relations with men in her first heat. The coven encouraged sex as part of their alliances. Wolves in the coven only remained faithful once they took their life mate.
“Let’s return to the Phoenix Lunar Coven.” Tierra needed to flee the emotions running across Nizhoni’s face. She strode back toward Max’s tent only to have her view blocked.
“You aren’t going in there, princess.” Michael stepped between Tierra and her goal, using his height to its fullest advantage.
“I have to see Max.” Tierra needed to understand fully what was going on and to explain the upcoming ritual to him.
“No, you don’t. We leave today, and if you come near him, well...” Michael revealed a pistol and pulled back the slide emphasizing his point.
“You are so lucky I don’t have my powers.” She bared her fangs at him before stalking away.
*
“Mike,” Z called out.
“What do you want?” Mike looked irritated when he popped his head inside the flap of the tent.
“Why are you pestering my woman?”
“She’s not yours.”
“Is she not my bounty? Was I not hired to retrieve her?” Z asked.
“You had no intentions of bringing her home.” Mike strode into the tent.
“Only after I discovered their antiquated ritual,” Z spat.
“You can’t keep her.” Mike looked solemn, but there was no way the bastard felt remorse for him.
“Why not?” Z’s desire to claim Tierra was strong, though he wasn’t in a position to challenge anyone.
“You’re a zombie, and she’s already been told,” Mike said.
Z didn’t respond. He was numb. Would Tierra abandon him since she knew the truth? Z doubted it, but without confirmation, he was left to wonder.
“Finally, something shut you up.”
“Go away.” Z turned away. He dare not ask Tierra’s response. He was more terrified of losing her than any vengeance the Fifty-One Air Clan would take out on him.
“Oh, no such chance, Z. We’ll be spending lots of time together.” Mike sat down, a menacing smile across his face.
“A werewolf suits your perpetual sardonic grin,” Z huffed.
“You’ll be seeing a lot more of me once we are back at the compound.”
“Fine. I can take it.”
“I have no doubt you can.” Mike crossed his arms and leaned back, settling in to wait.
*
Tierra was exhausted by the time they reached the Phoenix Lunar lands. Not from the trek, but by the hindrance of her every attempt to get a glimpse of Max. She was so vexed she didn’t notice her mother rushing toward her.
“Tierra!” Sierra, high priestess of the Phoenix Lunar Coven, embraced her daughter with enough force the wind was knocked from her. “I was so worried about you, little one.”
“I’m fine, but I need to talk with you.” Tierra looked behind her, trying one last time to view her love, and making sure Nizhoni was not within earshot.
“Come to our lodge.” Her mother guided her along the path.
Tierra was aware every gaze of the coven watched her. The people must be relieved to have their fire wolf home. Her presence meant many more moons of protection from the darkness.
“What is wrong?” Sierra asked immediately upon closing the door to their home.
“I don’t understand why you sent Nizhoni and her mate to retrieve me.” Tierra crossed her arms, a mulish expression settling on her face.
“What choice did I have when I learned I’d sent a flesh-eater to capture you from Limikkin? Tierra, I would not have had to hire anyone if you had not left the safety of our mountain. I waited an entire lunar cycle before I hired Maximilian Z.”
“Mother, I--”
“Don’t!” Her hand held Tierra at bay. “I understand you grow restless and hate confinement to our lands, but your selfishness is no excuse to leave the sacred ground.”
“I didn’t leave the mountain. Limikkin has found a way to enter the mountain through others. He came as Lor of the Valley Fire Clan.”
“Your first mate.” Her mother’s expression changed from one of disbelief to concern.
“Yes. I thought Lor came to mate with me before the ritual. Why would I not go with him? Only when we were too far away did I realize who had truly captured me.”
“I must tell the others.” Sierra turned to leave, lifting her robes to avoid tripping on them in her haste.
“Mother?” Tierra stopped her. “Do not let them take Max from me.”
“I cannot let him stay.”
“You mus
t. He is my mate.”
“Are you certain?” Her mother’s eyes searched her face.
“Yes. My heart has chosen him and his uniqueness.”
Her mother peered deeper into Tierra’s heart. “I see you are different. You are not chaotic as you usually are before the purification. Your spirit is at peace. This is very good.”
“I love him.”
“Your affection for Maximilian is evident. You realize this will only make your magic stronger?”
“Yes.”
“Do you accept the responsibility?”
“I do.”
“Then I will speak with my niece and her mate. The zombie shall stay.”
*
“He is not staying!”
“You have no say in what happens here, wolf.” The high priestess was the spitting image of Tierra.
“Z is the responsibility of the Fifty-One Air Clan. I must return him to the compound.” Mike paced restlessly in the tent like a caged animal.
“Why?” The priestess cocked her head to one side and a haughty brown eyebrow rose in inquiry.
“He is a danger, especially to your daughter.”
“You are aware of what Tierra is?”
Mike nodded.
“Then why do you speak untruths? This man can not harm us.” The priestess placed her hands on her hips.
“You’re wrong. He’s a monster.” Mike crossed his arms over his chest.
“Does anyone care what the monster thinks?” Z had kept his mouth shut long enough.
“No!” Mike responded
“Speak for yourself, wolf.” The priestess walked to the cart where Z was chained. “I will hear you, Maximilian.”
“I want to stay.” Z spoke from his heart. He needed Tierra, and if the priestess was willing to keep him, so be it.
“Absolutely not!” Mike broke in front of the priestess.
“Be gone!” Sierra waved her hand, and Mike disappeared from the tent.
“Where did he go?” Z’s curiosity got the best of him.
“He is in the forest surrounding our camp. Do not worry, he is safe.”
“Too bad.” Z couldn’t suppress his smile.
“Do you recognize who I am, Maximilian?”
“Yes. You are Sierra, high priestess of the Phoenix Lunar Coven and mother of Princess Tierra, my lover.”
“Does my position frighten you?”
“The mother part does.” He winced.
She laughed. Her voice was rich and warm, surrounding him with a sense of familiarity.
“Do not fret, Maximilian, I am undisturbed by your relations with my child. My coven does not impose judgment. We are sexual creatures, and the wolves among us are very primal.” Her eyes held a glint.
“There are those who are not wolves?”
“I am not a wolf.”
“No?”
“As the Fire Coven we were not strong enough, so over four centuries ago we formed a truce by marrying were-wolves from the Lunar Pack. I was one of the first. I was destined for my position as high priestess, so naturally I married their male Alpha, the red wolf.”
“What happened to him?”
“He was bitten by a Flesh-eater and turned ruthless. I put him down.” Her haunted eyes glanced away as she composed herself.
“I’m sorry.” His skin was on fire. Tierra hadn’t spoken to him since they’d left camp. His only conclusion was she must hate him and those he created.
“I understand you are the first flesh-eater.”
“I am.”
“Have you bitten anyone, Maximilian?”
“I confess I’ve nibbled your daughter.”
“She will not turn.”
“I hope not. I’ve not bitten others willingly, priestess.”
She rested her hands on his shoulders, and Z’s mind was taken back to his prison where the scientists were feeding him--humans. His hunger had been insatiable at the compound. The doctors drew his blood and injected subjects with it. The scientists let him bite humans to test them. These are the zombies they know today that infect at will.
“What do you eat now, Z?” the priestess asked
His mind took him to his last kill: a deer in the forest; he’d quartered it and eaten the meat raw.
“You need the blood.” She understood.
He nodded, tired yet strangely calm from sharing his story with another.
She released her hold on him.
“What are your intentions for my daughter?” she asked.
“I intend to make her mine.”
“Good enough.” She walked away, seemingly satisfied.
*
Tierra waited in her mother’s lodge. Her stomach was compressed tight. She was anxious to see what her parent thought of Max. She also needed time to think. Would Max want her if he knew she was a phoenix? In legend the phoenix was a bird rising from its own ashes. The title also applied to witches who survived burning at the stake. Tierra’s own lineage could be traced to the middle ages. Very few survived the trials, let alone being burned at the stake.
The phoenix was powerful but also feared. Fire was hard to control, and if a witch chose a dark path, then there was almost no stopping her. Acceptance of each other was one reason the coven chose to mix with werewolves: both dangled on the dark edge. Heaven help the hunter who killed a witch’s soul mate. Her mother killed most flesh-eaters at will in hopes of finding the one who had slain her love. Revenge was a dish both species enjoyed, but vengeance allowed witches justification to use dark magic.
The Phoenix Lunar Coven was a prevailing force. Not even the powerful vampires of Sin Vegas would tread on their mountain.
The only being the people were still terrified of was Limikkin, who ruled the Vegas Coyotes. If the skin-walker possessed Tierra the night of her burning, then all her magic would go to him. Each burning made the magic stronger, and Tierra stronger as well. How would Max react once he knew she was more than a werewolf or witch? Would he shun the abomination she was?
Her mother finally entered her lodge.
“Mother!”
“Why do you stand here? You need to prepare yourself.”
“I must know.”
“If I will allow you to take the mercenary as your mate?” Her mother’s green eyes scanned over Tierra.
“Yes.”
“I see no issues with this alliance, but we must talk before you take him. Others will not understand the creature he is.”
“Why?” Tierra’s curiosity was piqued.
“We do not have time; we will talk about Maximilian again when you rise.” Her mother effectively cut her off. “Be prepared for the altar!”
Sierra ushered her daughter off to the preparation chambers. Tierra would simply have to wait.
Chapter Six
Z watched as the bonfire got larger, frightened for Tierra. How could she subject herself to this? How could he let her? Z continued to struggle against the chains holding him in place. The silver cut a nice line through his wrist; if he could get it all the way to the bone he might have a chance. He was willing to lose his hand if his princess was spared. At least there was a small chance out here. Once he was confined, there was no possibility to save her.
“Quit that now.” Mike came up behind him and adjusted the chains so they stopped slicing into his skin. “I want you intact when we arrive at the compound.”
“Mike, please. Stop this insanity. I’ll go. Just be sure she’s safe,” Z pleaded with his captor.
“I don’t need you eager. Besides, even if I wanted to stop this, no one dares to cross this coven, not even me.” Fury raced through his body as Z heard a click. The lock was set into place, keeping him a captive spectator.
“Chicken,” he muttered.
“No. I’m smarter than you. You want me to explain this to you?” Mike asked.
Z shook his head.
“I’m going to anyway. The half moon around the fire, those are the wolves. Those on the opposite side are neither w
itch nor wolf; they are humans and serve as guardians against the forest. They are expendable should anything try to stop the ceremony.”
The fire lifted toward the sky as the guardians beat drums. The wolves seemed at the ready to shift. As much as Z wanted to look away, he needed to memorize every face. They would all pay for their roles in hurting his mate.
“The drums signify the arrival of the sacrifice.”
The wolves began to transform and now howled against the moon. Z watched as wolves of every color appeared. He glanced at Mike and noticed he was fighting the change. “Is your bitch down there?” Z couldn’t resist the taunt.
“Shut your mouth.” Mike’s fist to his gut was worth the small discomfort.
Z smiled in the darkness.
“Here they come.”
Z turned to see cloaked figures glide past him with a powerful presence. They wore opaque white robes with flames embroidered on the back. Damned witches! He looked for a familiar walk or gait. A sweetheart butt he’d been following for days. No sign of her. Where was she? He grew restless as he searched among the humans, wolves and witches.
The white-robed figures stopped and raised their hands to the sky. Wolves stepped forward, lifting the cloaks so they fell in white puddles to the dark soil.
Z scanned the nude figures, but no one owned the fire-red hair of Tierra. He didn’t see her. The naked women began to chant and sway, their bodies glowing in firelight. Z was entranced by the beauty of their movements. The women moved faster with the beat of the drums until sweat glistened on their skin. The air grew silent and heavy. The drums ceased, and the women dropped in prayerful poses to the altar of flames.
A howl pierced the air. If he’d possessed hair it would have stood on end. Z turned in the direction of the sound to see a large fire-red wolf bound pass him down the path to the fire. The wolf turned to face him. Her bright emerald eyes stared into his soul.
“Tierra!” he called to her.