by Viola Grace
Matthias spoke in an ancient language, and he hooked a finger under the centre of her bra, slicing through it. He did the same with the panties until it fell away from her skin.
He bent his head to her breast and rubbed his lips over her skin. She moaned and held his head with one hand. His fingers moved from the point on her skin and slid inside her. The ease with which he had sliced through her clothes made her a little wary of having those digits inside her, but she moaned and moved her hips against him, trusting that no harm would come to her.
Her breath sawed in and out of her lungs, and her mind clung to reality with a desperate intensity. Reality, at this moment, was fucking amazing.
He moved and pushed her back, peeling off her panties and shoving her bra down her arms, pinning them against her sides.
She watched him as he rubbed his body across hers and the heat from her skin welcomed his cool, silken caress. Leo looked up as he pressed her to the stone, and she whispered, “I would really like you inside me right now.”
His eyes glowed and illuminated the world around them. She held him as he set himself in her opening and slowly forged inside.
The difference in their body temperatures was yet another stimulus to throw onto the fire.
He moved into her, and she raised her hips. He thrust, she rose to meet him, and soon, they were rocking together with a specific goal in mind. Leo kept her gaze fixed on his as she realized that he was seeking her pleasure only.
She fell into his gaze, her mind lost to what was going on inside her. She saw stars burn in the night sky and fade while she watched. Cities rose and fell, and entire civilizations were wiped off the Earth while she watched.
Leo screamed and Matthias caught it in his mouth, swallowing her shrieks and cries as she was overwhelmed through all her senses.
Fire raged through her nerves, and it was when she felt the throbbing of her cock that she came to grips with the symbiosis of the senses that had taken place. The release of his-her cock into his-her body was a riot of sexual finality that confirmed one thing for Leo’s conscious mind. She would never have another lover like this. It was probably a good thing. She might just go insane with the one she had now.
Leo relaxed in his embrace as her body went limp. His kiss went from capturing her sounds to a gentle stroking of his lips against hers.
He started to whisper against her lips and cheeks, ancient words from long-dead civilizations. She closed her eyes and let the words spark images in her mind of places she could never visit, races that had long passed. Other lovers’ faces passed in her thoughts—men, women, groups of both. They gave willingly.
When he parted their bodies, she gasped at being alone in her mind again. She opened her eyes, and he was smiling down at her.
“Hello, Leonora.”
“Hello, Matthias.”
He lifted his hand in the air and made a peculiar gesture. A light and glowing sheet descended in his grip. He wrapped it around her with the utmost of care.
“Where did you learn how to do that?”
“One does not live as long as I have and not pick up some magic.”
When she was covered, he lifted her in his arms and walked back to the house with his own assets completely on display.
He took her to his rooms and not hers. A large tub was already nearly full with steaming and scented water.
“Don’t you have a meeting tonight?” Putting work in the midst of their current intimacy seemed safe.
“I rearranged it.” He set her on her feet, stripped off the silken sheet and held her hand, gesturing for her to get in the tub.
Leo stepped in, he followed suit, settling behind her, and then, after a kiss to her buttocks, he tugged her down in his lap.
His cool skin soon took on the heat of the water around them, and she picked up that this was a fairly good way not to freak out your lovers.
Things had gone a little differently with her. She remembered every inch of his cool skin inside her moving with savage enjoyment of her body.
“So, are we going to discuss what just happened?” It was easy to ask him that question while her back was to his chest and he was slowly running his hands over her breasts.
“I wanted you; you wanted me. We met in the middle with enthusiasm.” He pressed a kiss to her neck.
“You didn’t bite me.”
“You are not food.” He stroked his hands over her slowly, as if memorizing her skin.
He wasn’t wrong. She certainly didn’t think of herself as edible.
“Oh, you now own the home next door, complete with gated grounds and maintenance personnel.”
She turned in his arms, splashing as the water moved around her. She put her hands on his shoulders and held him still. “You are kidding me.”
His smile was smug. “I am not. It would ease your mind to have your family closer, and the neighbours were interested in the offer I gave them. Minuet, the baby and her guards will all be moved over within the next few days. It will be easier to protect them if they are nearby.”
She bowed her head. “I am going to be working for you for eternity.”
Matthias lifted her chin on two fingers. “Would that be so bad?”
She stared at him and answered honestly. “I don’t really know.”
She leaned in and kissed him, just a simple kiss, but it seemed like she was sealing a silent contract.
When she turned again and settled against him, Leo couldn’t think of another place she wanted to be in that moment.
He pressed another kiss to her neck, and his hands wandered again. It was quite entertaining considering that her original plan for the evening had been a glass of white wine in the gardens. This was much more fun.
Chapter Fifteen
Leo sat in her room and tried to decide what to do with the rest of the night. Some emissary or something had hauled Matthias away from their idyll. Leo had returned to her room to ponder the change in their connection.
He was definitely handsome, but she wasn’t used to anyone pursuing her, let alone catching her. She was conflicted.
Her phone chirped, and she went to check the message. The XIA were calling in representatives. There was an event in the park.
Leo checked her face in the mirror and sighed at the silvery-grey cast to her skin. She would have it until she ate or the sun came up, whichever came first.
Well, she was already up for the night. She may as well go and represent the mayor’s office. If the XIA was coming through on her phone, it must be important.
She didn’t think about it. She pinned back her hair and got dressed. She had too much energy to try and stay in the manor.
She called for Nathaniel and gave him the address. She settled in silence while she waited for their arrival.
“You are quiet tonight, Ms. Wicks.”
“You are formal. Sorry. My mind is a thousand miles away.”
“You look a little...”
“I am grey. I know it. It will be fine. Just one of the side effects of being his apprentice, or so Matthias tells me.”
“Ah. It is a good look for you. The colour suits you.”
She fought a grin. The sick feeling in the pit of her stomach warned her that tonight wasn’t going to be a good night.
When they approached the park, it was obvious where they needed to be. Light flooded one corner of the park and that was where Nathaniel took her.
He parked next to the XIA vehicles, and he looked at her in the mirror. “I am coming with you, to keep anyone from interfering.”
“Thank you, Nathaniel.”
He got out and opened her door. He walked next to her, staving off the agents and officers who were trying to slow her down.
She headed to the centre of the light, as if pulled there by something. She sniffed the air and smelled something acrid.
To her surprise, she saw the group of XIA agents and the woman who had been at the taco truck.
; Before she knew what she was saying, Leo asked, “Who are you?”
The woman swallowed and showed her badge. “I am a special observer with the XIA.”
B. Ganger. Leo made a mental note.
Leo inhaled again, this time focusing on the woman in front of her. “You smell like blood.”
“There was a car accident earlier. I am sure that my jeans and shoes are covered in it.”
Leo observed, “There is none on your shirt.”
“I changed my shirt, but I had three XIA agents rifling through my living room, so I left it at that. Tomorrow, I will bring a full change of clothing, though I have no idea where I would change.”
Leo could definitely understand strange men rummaging through her personal space. She smiled brightly, and the young lady stared at her in shock, jerking back slightly.
Leo inclined her head and went to seek out the body and the coroner for details on what had happened. The coroner was checking the temperature, and Leo and Nathaniel stood nearby until the time of death could be estimated.
Leo couldn’t shake the acrid scent in her nostrils. “How long has she been dead?”
The coroner looked at her in surprise. The zombie hadn’t heard her approach. “I am guessing she has been dead for three hours. Magic has skewed the exact timeline. It could have been earlier or later.”
Leo could feel Matthias watching from behind her eyes. “I see. I will keep the mayor informed.”
“Thank you, Miss...”
“Wicks. Leonora Wicks. I am the mayor’s assistant and his apprentice. I will be attending any of these events as they occur.”
Nathaniel whispered the names of the folks she was about to return to. Agent Argyle was a vampire under Matthias’s control. Beneficia Ganger was descended from the greatest vampire hunter ever known.
Leo walked up to them and inclined her head. “It was pleasant meeting you, Beneficia Ganger. Agent Argyle, there will be a mage team going over this place with seers. Make sure that it isn’t compromised.”
She could see the surprise in his eyes as he nodded and muttered. “Yes, Miss Wicks.”
Leo grimaced and stuck her tongue out at him.
Benny chuckled. “It was nice to meet you, Miss Wicks.”
Leo winked “Call me Leo. It is short for Leonora. I am sure I will see you again, Miss Ganger.”
She turned and walked away with Nathaniel ahead of her, opening the car door as she approached. She settled in the car and tried to forget what she had seen.
The young woman looked a lot like Beneficia. She had been magically tortured and a brand had scorched the skin at the back of her neck.
Leo breathed slowly and controlled herself as much as she could. She picked up her phone and used her thumbs to tap in a report, letting Matthias know that there was a fresh demon kill in the park and the XIA were investigating.
She knew he would head out to confirm it, but that was his business. The dead woman had done what hours of sex with Matthias had been unable to accomplish. She was exhausted.
Her sister texted her and asked her to come by as soon as she could.
Matthias texted and told her he would look into the death as soon as he finished with the emissary.
Leo really needed something positive, so she whispered, “Nathaniel, take me to Minny’s place, please.”
“Of course. On our way.”
It was three in the morning, but with the hours Leo was keeping, she didn’t think that it was that peculiar.
Nathaniel pulled up to the house, but there weren’t any lights on.
Leo whispered, “I really wish I had my bat right now.”
Antony came out of the darkness, and he asked, “What is it?”
“I got a text from Minny. She told me to come over right away.”
A harsh laugh sounded from the street. “You always were gullible, Leo.”
Robert stood there, and he waggled a phone in his hand. The scent of fresh blood wafted toward them, and Leo looked toward the house.
Antony shook his head. “They are fine, Leo. No one has touched them.”
Leo walked down the drive toward the road. “What do you want, Robert?”
“You know what I want. I want that baby dead so that I can claim my rightful place with my queen and rule this territory at her side.”
Leo cocked her head. “A queen in charge of the territory? Really? How interesting. I thought that the vampire king was firmly in charge.”
“That is what he thinks. She is massing an army, and soon, he will be a bloody pulp beneath her feet.” He jerked his chin up.
“With you by her side if you can kill a helpless baby.” Leo nodded. “Brave of you.”
“You don’t know how powerful I have already become while you whore yourself for protection.”
“How many lives did your power cost, Bobbie?” She knew he hated the nickname, and she waited for a response.
He grinned, bloody teeth and fangs showing. “Not enough.”
Leo stepped off the property, and he rushed at her. She struck him with an uppercut, elbowed him in the ribs and kneed him in the jaw when he knelt at her feet. He vomited blood across the asphalt, and she struck at him over and over, her rage at the death of the woman earlier in the night riding her. She beat at him until she heard the crunching of bone under her shoes and Nathaniel pried her away.
“Easy, Ms. Wicks. He is down and the property is protected. I will take you home.”
“Okay. Home sounds good.” She let Nathaniel put his arm around her and lead her to the car.
She sat numbly on the drive home. If only she had a weapon, she would have taken his head off.
Matthias met her car when they arrived at the manor. She was covered in blood and white as a sheet, but he lifted her bloody knuckles to his lips and kissed her. “Welcome home, Leonora.”
She looked at him, but her mind was numb. “I need a shower.”
“You do. Allow me to take some photos and remove your clothing.”
“Okay.” She was shut down inside. She followed him inside and stood where he asked, letting Dorn take pictures of her before she went to her room and handed Matthias her clothing. She heard him say something about gene typing the blood, but she wanted a shower.
She stood in the centre of the shower blasts and watched the water go from red to pink as she got clean. She scrubbed herself from head to toe and then started over again.
Wrapped in her fluffy and comfortable robe, she walked into her bedroom, unsurprised to see Matthias waiting for her. He opened his arms, and she walked up to him, cuddling against him as her night caught up with her.
One tear turned to fifty, and she sobbed at the waves of frustration at coming too late and arriving unable to act. She didn’t know her place in the world, and it scared her.
“I think I smelled demon tonight.” She sniffled and rubbed her cheek on his chest.
“You did. You did very well. The power that you sensed, the energy coming off the area around the body, those are things that can be used to confirm the diagnosis of demon interference. I have told the XIA.”
She nodded. “Good. Robert stole Minny’s phone and lured me to the house. I don’t know what he thought he would get out of it.”
“What did he say?”
“That the queen is massing an army to destroy you.”
He snorted. “She can try. She will fail.”
He stroked her shoulder. “Nathaniel said that the entire battle took less than three seconds. By the time he got to you, it was over.”
She lifted her head and frowned. “It took much longer than that.”
“No. It didn’t. Your time awareness shifted to match his. Do not worry about it. Rest now. I will be here when you wake up.” He pressed a kiss to her forehead, and a wave of fatigue washed over her.
She lay back as he settled her on her bed. “Cheater.”
He laughed and stroked her cheek. �
��Only when I need to win. Rest.”
She snuggled into the sheets, and another wave of exhaustion washed over her. She decided to rest.
* * * *
Matthias felt Leonora slip into unconsciousness, and his encouraging smile faded. He fought the rage that was ripping through him, and he returned to his guest with all speed.
“Please excuse my departure, Shaline. I had to attend to one of my staff.”
The nest queen winced. “It is fine, my king. Was your staffer badly injured?”
He looked over the woman who had turned into a translucent creature over time, in the shadows with nothing but blood to sustain her.
He waved at her to sit across from him on the couch.
Dorn brought in a decanter of wine and served two glasses.
Matthias offered one to Shaline. “Would you care for one?”
She politely declined. “No. Thank you.”
He shrugged and sipped at the dry red wine. “You are missing out. Speaking of staff, how is that new consort of yours doing?”
Shaline looked nervous. He could see her throat swallow convulsively. “He is well. It was kind of you to give him a dispensation for his offspring.”
“It was the simplest solution. After all, holding to tradition can get you into all kinds of trouble.” He sipped at the wine. It was a prop, but it was something the nest queen couldn’t enjoy, so he made a show of being fascinated by it.
“My king, I hear that you have a new apprentice.”
He smiled slightly. “Have you heard such a thing? Interesting.”
“Are the rumours true?”
“Of course. It was time.”
She brushed her black and silver hair over her shoulder. “What will you do if your human suffers an accident?”
Matthias leaned forward and offered her a deadly grin. “I would remove the entire line of those responsible from this earth and pave my garden path with their bones.”
Shaline swallowed again. “I see. Well, my king, it has been wonderful to confirm the truce once again. May I be dismissed? The sun is coming up.”
He nodded. “Of course. I always forget that the taken do not enjoy the caress of the sun. Yes, you may go. Oh and Shaline?”