by Maya Daniels
Reduced to a whimpering mess, I moan and grind against his fingers while trying to escape his hold on my other arm. Giving me a reprieve, he guides my arm to the side before pressing my palm on the door and covering it with his own hand. When I try to move it, he nips on my shoulder hard enough to sting, but not hard enough to break the skin.
“Keep it there, love.”
My lips part to say something, but I can’t even remember what when he yanks my pants and panties down to my knees. All I manage is a gasp before he is there, grinding his erection and the buttons of his own pants against me. I writhe and moan like a possessed female. His fingers never stop moving, infuriatingly missing the place where I need him most.
“Zoltan.” Growling his name through clenched teeth, I chase his fingers, which elicits a chuckle from him.
“What do you need, love?” One thick finger slides inside me, but it’s gone before I have a chance to enjoy it.
Pressing my lips together, I refuse to play this game of him. I guess I still have a bit of sanity left. If he wants to wait for me to say it, he’ll be waiting a very long time. A second finger joins the first, and my eyes roll back in my head as I forget why I was upset or why it is such a bad idea to just tell him whatever he wants to hear. Luckily, only moans and gasps pass my lips.
Zoltan keeps torturing me for what feels like an eternity, turning me into a puddle of need. Inarticulate sounds are coming from my parted lips, and my quivering knees can barely hold my weight, yet he won’t end my misery. Just when I’m about to start begging him for anything he is willing to give, I hear the rustle of fabric from behind me. That is enough to hurl me into an intense orgasm with bright lights blinding me from behind my closed eyelids. A satisfied male chuckle that would’ve pissed me off if I wasn’t riding the high surrounds me from all sides. When the jerking and trembling stops, I sag in his hold while panting for breath.
“So stubborn.” The amused drawl is my only warning.
Zoltan steps back, taking my lower body with him. The buckle of his belt thumps on the floor before both his hands wrap tightly around my hips and he enters me in one hard thrust.
I scream.
The entire building can probably hear me, but at the moment I couldn’t care less. Zoltan releases the control on our bond, blasting me with the crippling hunger he was hiding, and I drown in it. There is nothing left of the arrogant tease from a moment ago. The bruising hold on my hips stays while he pounds in me for all he is worth, and I have no other choice but to press my hands on the door so I don’t end up pummeled into it. Magic swirls in the center of my chest and colors start dancing around us when I open my eyes.
“Let go.” Zoltan’s voice sounds much deeper, a warning that he is releasing his true form even while his shaft swells inside me, the intensity bordering on a pleasure-pain.
I know he is asking me to release my own control, but I hesitate. I don’t hold back because of fear for myself. At the moment I can barely think. I’m worried the magic might burst out of me again and bring the entire building down on our heads. Then the damn vampire changes his angle and all thoughts float away on a cloud of pleasure and need.
“Let go, love,” he growls again, and I do.
Claws sprout from my fingertips and sink into the wooden door like butter, and my lips twist in a snarl that bares my fangs. Zoltan’s cock pounds inside me, and the tightness of the coil in my stomach builds to unbearable levels. My moans turn into crazed hisses and snarls as I give as much as I get, pushing back toward him, the sound of our skin slapping together echoing through the wide room. Grunts and growls coming from Zoltan join them, his tempo getting faster until he lifts my body to hold it a few inches off the floor. It prevents me from moving, though it doesn’t stops me from trying.
I arch and snake my back until my feet hit the ground with the intention of turning around. One of Zoltan’s hands disappears for a second before it wraps my hair around his wrist, keeping me pinned in front of him. He yanks my upper body up, bringing his mouth to my neck. My heart jumps in excitement and pummels my ribcage in expectation of his bite. His second hand, which is on my hip, disappears too.
My blood turns to ice when I feel the slice of a dagger on my neck.
Jerking my head around, I see the glint of a golden dagger, the jewel-crusted hilt firmly held in Zoltan’s hand. Panic wars with pleasure until my thoughts are muddied. My mouth opens and closes a few times, but I can’t get a single word to come out.
“Soren’s dagger for forming the bond.” Zoltan grunts, but he somehow keeps the fast temp of his thrusts.
“How?” That’s all I’m capable of saying.
I watch in fascination as he pulls out of me and turns me around to face him. Lifting the dagger, he makes the same cut on his own neck before dropping it on the ground. My greedy eyes rove over his muscled thighs and his bobbing erection, which is glistening with my juices. The shirt has ridden up and is sticking to his torso above his laser-cut abs. Blinking stupidly, I force myself to look at his face.
“I know you, Francesca.” Lifting a hand, he moves the hair sticking to my sweaty forehead. “Soren would’ve wanted to witness the bond and that is not what you want. Things that are private to you are things you want to keep close to your heart. Not for all to see.” A sheepish smile tilts his lips. “He was so occupied with making preparations for the human realm that it was too easy to swipe it without him noticing.”
My gaze drops to the rivulet of blood trickling from the cut down his neck. He growls but doesn’t move, waiting to see my reaction to this. Warmth spreads through my entire being when he bares his neck in offering. Soren made a decision for me when I was born that I had no say in, and so did my father right alongside Fenrir. No matter how well-meaning their intentions were, those choices weren’t mine.
Zoltan is giving me a real choice, and I can feel how much it costs him to hold back in this moment.
Scrambling fast, I struggle out of my boots and pants, kicking them to the side. My hand reaches for him, and the next thing I know my back hits the door and my legs are wrapped around his narrow hips. One large hand grabs a hold of my ass, and he lifts me as he sinks inside me. It’s a perfect fit, like my body was made just for him. Shifting to look at my face, he delivers the biggest shock of my life.
“I love you, my mate.” Tears prickle my eyes. “Your blood is my blood. Your body is my body. Your death is my death. From this day until our souls are no more.”
Like I’m in a daze, I feel my lips moving and my voice repeats the same words to him. His fangs sink into the cut in my neck and mine follow suit. Zoltan keeps thrusting, this time his movements slower, more leisured, building the tension in me back to the same level as before. Potent, powerful blood fills my mouth and slides down my throat until my body ignites into a raging inferno.
I’m burning.
My body feels like I will disintegrate to ashes, yet everywhere we touch our skin is as cold as ice. My back bows when Zoltan increases his speed, holding one hand under my ass to protect me from hitting the door. The coil tightens inside me and I bite into his neck harder, which has him snarling even as he does the same. On his last thrust, his pelvic bone slams mine from the strength hurling me into an oblivion. Ripping my mouth away from his neck, I let out a scream that’s not actually a scream or my voice, though it rattles the walls in this room.
A roar with ancient power rains plaster around us.
When Zoltan joins me in orgasm, one more thrust hits me hard, and it has dark spots dancing at the corners of my eyes. Despite that I force my eyes to stay open as I watch him, completely mesmerized. With his head thrown back and the muscles of his shoulders, arms, and neck straining, Zoltan is the most beautiful thing I have ever seen in my life. Gasping and sucking gulps of air, I can’t help but grin when he looks at me and gives me a simple smile. The fire in my blood is still moving through my veins and goosebumps cover me from head to toe.
“Do you feel it, too? The heat?” Ra
sping through my raw throat, I try to slow my breathing.
“Yes.” The smile turns into a smirk and I narrow my eyes on him.
“Why do I have a feeling there was some fine print I didn’t read?”
“No, love.” Chuckling, he shakes his head, a lock of dark hair falling over his forehead. “No fine print. I swear it on my life.”
“What then?”
“I think we better get dressed.” Lowering me gently on the ground, he holds onto me until I can lock my knees. “I have a feeling Soren heard that.”
“Ah, fuck!” I elbow Zoltan because he laughs, though I can’t stop my own snort when I think about the ancient Fae losing his shit for missing this.
Chapter Sixteen
“Why do I need to wear this … this abomination?” Soren tilts his head back so he can glare at me through the football helmet I shoved on his head.
“Because it’s been centuries since you’ve walked through the portal.” Keeping a straight face has never been this difficult. “A decade ago they discovered it protects your powers, so if you are attacked when you exit on the other side, you won’t be blindsided and powerless like a newborn babe.”
The ancient Fae narrows his eyes on me, but he doesn’t argue. He was all about me dressing him in a pink tutu with glitter, his dragon perking up about shiny things. In a million years, though, he never expected this. Neither did I if I’m being honest, but I thought of it the last second when he started raving about not being the one to seal the bond between Zoltan and me.
“I have never heard of such a thing.” He scoffs, but he doesn’t remove it. Fates forbid he doesn’t have access to his powers.
Zoltan and Leo sound like they are coughing out a lung, and both pound on their chests to cover their laughter. Even Daren, as pale as he is while leaning heavily on Astara, snorts, chokes, and ducks his head. Zoltan’s sister is my only ally, and her serious expression and confident nod supports my claims.
Turning to the portal, tremors whisper up and down my spine until goosebumps pop all over my skin like some kind of premonition. Shoving it down, I square my shoulders because I’m unwilling to show everyone gathered here that I’m still dreading nearing the swirling magic, that I’m imagining all sorts of crazy scenarios playing out the second we get near it.
Tenebris rubs his head on my hip- what’s a gentle nudge to the shifter, is a hard shove for me,- pushing me to stumble to the side. Snickering nervously, I place my hand between his shoulder blades, comforted by his presence. Zoltan moves closer, too, the heat of his body warming my back and adding more reassurance. I’m not sure what I’m expecting to happen, but whatever it is, there is a feeling in my gut that it’ll be the mother of all clusterfucks. Remembering the shadow writhing around my old boss like a menace brings acid roof of my mouth, and it burns.
“Did anyone let Fenrir and Myst know that we are going?” Keeping my voice low so only those close to me can hear, I look from one person to the other.
“I sent word.” Leo frowns as he rubs his jaw. “I didn’t hear anything back. They know where we are headed, so I’m sure if they can get away, they’ll meet us there. The two of you were otherwise occupied when I was coming to tell you.” His mouth kicks up to the side in a cocky grin, but it doesn’t reach his eyes. “I didn’t want Zoltan to feel inadequate, so I didn’t join the party.”
My hand shoots out snatching Zoltan back when he snarls and surges toward the Alpha. Leo dances back a few steps while chortling with both arms lifted to the sides with his palms up. Shaking my head at his silliness, I laugh myself. Leo being Leo has managed to lighten my mood, even if his own laughter is a bit forced. Pulling my eyes away from him, I look behind us.
Around fifty of the most skillful fighters wait impatiently a couple of yards away talking quietly among each other. When any of them make eye contact with me, their fist thumps the center of their chest and they offer a slight nod. One I return while making sure my fear for their lives doesn’t show on my face.
“They know we have no idea what we are up against apart from that asshole Andrius, right?” The question is a murmur to Zoltan, who is staring daggers at Leo. I jab him in the ribs to get his attention. “Yes?”
“They know, love.” Wrapping a possessive arm across my chest, he tugs me to him while keeping his slanted gaze on the Alpha. Leo’s grin grows and he wiggles his eyebrows. “All of them volunteered to join the mission.” The last word ends in a growl and I shake my head again.
“Hold on to that anger, and when we go across, unleash your cute ass on the hunters. Deal?” Zoltan’s head snaps in my direction so fast that I have no idea how he doesn’t break his neck. “What?”
“You think my ass is cute?” The way a smile slowly blooms on his scowling face is art in the making.
I glare at him.
“Seriously? That’s all you got from what I just said?” Scoffing, I shrug him off, but it doesn’t wipe off the stupid grin.
Cracking my neck, I inch closer to Tenebris. Like the amazing creature that he is, he slinks between us and hisses at Zoltan. Amusement blasts me through our bond that apparently stays wide open now, and that means I can’t hide shit from the Daywalker. Of course he is ecstatic about that fact. Though that is probably the main reason he is on edge, too. He feels my trepidation and anxiety about facing Roberti. Not, per se, about the demigod himself. I have enough anger to beat him to a pulp if the chance presents itself. It’s more about whatever poisons and monstrosities he has created while we were busy playing defense. He has kept us chasing our tail or looking over our shoulder so much we haven’t had time to find him and end this once and for all.
That game of cat and mouse stops now.
“I shall remove this thing when I cross to the other side,” Soren announces, as if that is the most important thing right now. Of course the Fae is more concerned with the damn helmet than the lives of those coming with us.
“If your brain is intact then you can remove it, yes,” I tell him absentmindedly.
I may have laughed at the gasp that follows my words, but I’m wound up too tight for that.
Without too much fanfare, all of us head for the portal. The spinning of the colors intensifies. I see the guards standing to the sides watching us leave, all their faces solemn. The alert eyes of the shifters in their animal forms are also locked on us, and my heart is kicking like a wild horse against my ribs. I clench my hands so no one will see them trembling.
I’m the first to reach the portal, and Tenebris and I both step through it at the same time with Zoltan on our heels. The hard tug at the center of my chest as I’m propelled through the magic and spat out on the other side is barely noticeable now. Landing on my feet, my knees buckle but I hurriedly move to the side to make space for those coming behind me.
The three of us watch Leo pop up next, followed by Astara and Daren. The mage doesn’t look worse than before he passed the portal, so it gives me some piece of mind. What frustrates me to no end, however, is Soren coming through surrounded by four other people with him in the center. The moment he steps through he yanks the helmet off, holding it away from him with a thumb and forefinger like it’s a dirty diaper.
“My magic is intact,” the ancient Fae informs us formally, as if all of us were worried about his stupid powers.
Astara gives me a quick glance, biting the inside of her lips to hide a smile.
“Perfect.” Striding down the alley that is surprisingly missing the stench of urine and decay, I turn my back on him. “Keep it close for when we go back, just in case.”
When I turn to peer at him over my shoulder, he frowns before tucking the helmet under his arm. Astara’s soft giggle makes me smile as well. Soren might be an ass, but he is very entertaining.
We time the crossing to make sure it’s nighttime in the human realm, figuring it’ll be easier for Soren to wave his illusion and hide us from prying eyes, which is something we shouldn’t have worried about judging by the magic washing over me l
ike a soft summer breeze as if whispering over my skin. All of us move in a progression of two or three people, making it possible to pass the few humans still lingering on the streets.
Horns blare and sirens wail in the distance, and Soren jerks his head left and right to search for whatever is making the noise. I guess I looked the same the first time I came here, although I’d like to think I did it less obviously. The hoots and shouts reach my ears before I see them.
From around the corner, a half a dozen or so humans dressed in dark clothing with chains hanging from their belts and the smell of gunpower on their skin come right at us. The couple in the front swagger with more confidence than Soren in front of the old Order of the Academy. It says a lot since the damn Fae is still not wearing a shirt.
The humans spread out, their eyes darting around to look for the threat they can feel but can’t see. I watch Zoltan from the corner of my eye slide to my right, and surprisingly Daren straightens, pushing off of Astara. Tenebris glides away from me to circle them from the side when the humans stop, their hands going to whatever weapons they carry.
“They can’t see us,” Zoltan says under his breath, just loud enough for me to hear him. “When you live a life like theirs, you sense danger before it finds you. It’s what keeps them alive.” I could be wrong, but I think I hear him mumble until now.
Magic spits and crackles from Daren’s fingertips, while the mage shakes his hands like he is trying to loosen his stiff muscles. My own body angles itself in preparation of an attack, but then understanding hits me like an anvil across the head. The damn initiation is going to force us all to remove the threat to us and the humans. I wish I realized faster how wrong I was. It has nothing to do with the initiation.
The fighters that followed us here stand to the side with confusion twisting their features.
“Leo, can’t you stop this shit?” My voice rings out louder than I intended, and a gun goes off, the bullet whizzing a hairsbreadth away from my face.