Fae Lord Seduced: Real Fae of Othercross 2

by Maddix, Marina

  She merely shrugged at the accusation. “I gave you the choice. You made it of your own free will. What is done cannot be amended.”

  A towering rage washed over Kellen, and for one breathtaking moment, it seemed possible that he would be able to take the building apart. Stone by stone, if necessary. Then, every bit as quickly, the wave passed. It was as if all the force and pride of his whole life ebbed out through the soles of his feet.

  When he faced this duplicitous witch again, it was as a humble suppliant. If his life and soul were to be absorbed by this powerful coven—and he had no doubt she would be true to her word on that account—he had one final request before offering himself up.

  “Please, may I see her?”

  “I’m under no obligation—”

  “As a Lord of a fae clan, you could grant me this last request. I came through those doors in a gesture of goodwill. It seems only reasonable that you should return it.”

  The resolve in his voice gave the Priestess pause. She studied him for a moment, then gave a simple nod.

  “As a sign of respect for your status and your family, it shall be so. Make your farewells and prepare yourself.”

  She raised her hand with a mild flourish, and a few moments later, a figure stirred in the darkness. Even before she emerged from the shadows, Kellen knew it was Evie. Not only did the bond between them jostle at his heart, but he found he already knew her. Even in so short a time, he knew the pace of her step, the rhythm of her breathing, and the quiet pulse of her heart. At the sight of her, a warming sadness pressed between his ribs.

  Perhaps there was hope.

  “Evie?” His voice hung hollow in the cavernous dim of the cloister and came back to him as a plaintive echo. Her hands were folded loosely in front of her and her eyes remained fixed on the floor midway between them.

  “Evie, would you please look at me?”

  She struggled to raise her chin. Along the shimmering line that ran between them, he could sense her fear. Doing everything in his power, he willed love back to her. If it could just reach her, maybe she would step into his arms, in spite of what the High Priestess had said.

  But when she finally brought her eyes to his, he saw the answer. Not only that, he could read the sorrow that crowded in around it. Maybe she loved him, but there was something bigger to contend with. A faith and vow that was undeniable, because it was her entire way of being. The whole of her life had been pointed toward a single thing—how could she deny it?

  To say Kellen’s heart broke would be too small, too tidy an expression. It was as if he had lost himself and all that remained was smoke. All that was left was to open those same doors and step into oblivion.

  Given the sense of utter hopelessness that tore at every chamber of his heart, death would be a welcome reprieve.

  Chapter Nine

  She couldn’t move.

  Her body was trapped by a maelstrom of contradicting thoughts, and her indecision was like a dagger someone had lodged in her heart. More than anything, she ached for Kellen, to throw herself into his arms and let the real world fade into nothingness. But she couldn’t do that. The thought of leaving the only family she had ever known, the thought of abandoning the future she’d always thought she existed for…no, she couldn’t turn her back on the coven.

  “Kellen,” she whispered softly, willing her hands to stop trembling. “You shouldn’t have come here.”

  It hurt to say it, but she had the right to do so. After all, why was Kellen willing to risk so much for her? Did he have a death wish? Regina’s words from that morning echoed inside her head like a bad omen, and she gritted her teeth. As long as he didn’t try to take her with him, he could still escape unharmed, and that’s all Evie wanted—for him to live a long and happy life, even if that meant never seeing him again.

  “You should go now.”

  Instead of walking away, he took a step toward her. His movements were cautious—almost as if he were afraid of scaring her away—and his expression was pleading. There was a kind of deep-seated desperation in his face that Evie hadn’t expected but that only bolstered her resolve. Kellen needed to go…for his own sake.

  “I don’t even understand what you’re doing here,” she willed herself to say, the words feeling like barbed wire over her tongue. “We spent one fun night together. It’s not like we got married. You don’t really expect me to give up on my entire life because of a one-night stand, do you?”

  Despite her harsh words, she was merely trying to mask the truth. She wasn’t entirely sure of what had happened between them that night, but she was certain their bond cut deep. Their relationship, as hard to comprehend as it was, had deep layers. Still, she wouldn’t let that stop her from doing what was right.

  She belonged in the Inactus Coven, among the witches who had raised her, and she wouldn’t give up on that because of an ill-conceived tryst. Besides, she knew that Regina would make good on her promise—simply by being inside the coven, Kellen was risking everything that he was, and Evie didn’t want that weighing on her conscience. It was better for him to leave before he tried anything stupid.

  “Evie, think about it,” Kellen said. Even though the deep bass of his voice had that Oberon strength to it, Evie could feel an undercurrent of desperation in there. He needed her. “I understand that the coven is important to you, but what we—”

  “I’ve made my choice, Lord Oberon.” Her tone was sharp and clipped, and that made him pause. Straightening her back, she looked straight into his eyes and mustered all the courage that she had. “I’ve made my decision. I’m going to take the blood oath tonight, as is my destiny, and I’m going to become an initiate of the Inactus Coven. There’s nothing you can say that will make me change my mind.” Her heart broke into a million little pieces, but she ordered herself to keep her composure. This was the only way to ensure his safety. “Now please leave.”

  Kellen opened his mouth as if to say something, but no words came out. He just looked away from her, his shoulders sagging as if he had just been defeated by life itself. He met the High Priestess’s gaze and held it for a puzzlingly long moment before slowly turning toward the door. Whatever hope resided in his face faded, and his expression was taken over by something Evie could only describe as abject misery. Her fingers twitched, almost as if her body wanted to rush forward and comfort him, but she held still.

  From the corner of her eye, Evie saw Regina fold both arms over her chest, a triumphant smirk spreading across her lips. What did that mean? For that matter, what had their shared look meant?

  Evie suddenly wondered exactly what was said between them before she was summoned. Certainly Regina wouldn’t go after Kellen now. The High Priestess wasn’t the kind of woman to make hollow threats, but she also wasn’t the type to go back on her word. All of this was happening before the blood oath had even taken place, and Kellen hadn’t tried to force her to leave with him, so he was still in the clear…right?

  Slowly, the doors swung open on their own to let Kellen out.

  Knowing this was the last time she’d ever see him, Evie couldn’t even blink. He hesitated before crossing the threshold. Instead of leaving, he turned on his heels to face her. He took a step toward Evie, his miserable expression giving way to determination.

  “I’ll go if that’s what you really want me to do, Evie,” he started, “but at the very least, you deserve to know why I’ve come.”

  He paused, as if offering her the opportunity to stop him, but she couldn’t muster the strength. Even a few extra seconds with him would be a treasured memory for her in the long, lonely years to come. When she said nothing, he allowed a hint of a smile to twitch his lips and continued.

  “Ever since I first held you in my arms, I’ve known you’re the one for me. My future became tangled with yours the moment I saw you on that dance floor, Evie, and that’s the truth of it. You said what happened between us was just a one-night stand, but I think you also know the truth. We’re fated mates an
d we belong together.”

  And there it was.

  Fated mates.

  Two simple words, but they encapsulated everything Evie felt. How could she have been so damn blind to it? Had her attachment to the coven made it impossible to see the truth, or had she been too naive to see the obvious?

  “Fated mates?” Regina scoffed loudly, and then she walked toward the door. She stopped beside Kellen and tried waving him out. “That’s absolutely ridiculous. A fated mate connection isn’t that easy to find, and I seriously doubt that—”

  She stopped talking as she saw the look on Evie’s face, suddenly realizing what was happening right in front of her eyes.

  Evie hesitated, struggling to reconcile her current life with what Kellen had just told her. Sure, the witches of the coven were her family, but a fated mate connection… She couldn’t simply ignore it because she was afraid of stepping into the unknown. Deep down, she knew that Kellen was right—even if it made her afraid, they belonged together.

  “Enough of this nonsense,” Regina hissed, then waved her arm in a violent gesture. Years of magical training made it easy for Evie to see what the High Priestess was trying to do: she was going to shove Kellen out the door with a focused burst of energy.

  “No!” Evie shouted, and then spun around and threw a quick blocking spell.

  The two magical bursts smashed against each other with a sound that reminded Evie of oil sizzling inside a pan, and the mixed energy bounced right back to Regina. Her High Priestess’s robes whipped behind her body as she was flung against the wall, and Evie’s eyes grew as wide as plates once she realized what she’d done.

  She had just attacked the High Priestess.

  “Regina, I’m so sorry,” she whispered, watching as Regina rose to her feet. Before the elder witch could strike back, Evie flung herself into Kellen’s arms, wrapping them around his torso as tightly as she could. “You’re right, we do belong together. But right now, we need to get out of here.”

  “On it,” Kellen whispered back, flashing her his Oberon smile as he grabbed her hand.

  He dragged her away, over the threshold and out of the coven, just as magical energy seemed to build in the air around them. Evie risked a glance over her shoulder as they ran down the steps. The High Priestess stood in the doorway, both arms raised as she prepared to launch a trapping spell. And then…

  Nothing happened.

  Regina looked into Evie’s eyes one final time, then the tall wooden doors slammed shut. They closed violently, so hard that the wooden boards rattled in place. The sound had a finality to it that was both a relief and something of a death to Evie. Instead of going after them, Regina had chosen to let them go. But she had closed the door with a burst of magical anger, and Evie knew exactly what that meant.

  The future Evie had always thought she’d have…

  It now existed behind a closed door.

  Chapter Ten

  “I can’t believe I’m here with you,” Evie whispered, glancing around Kellen’s room as if she had been transported to an entirely different realm. She looked at the few belongings scattered on the desk, at the suitcase that lay next to the bed, and finally to the man who had captured her heart.

  “But you are, Evie,” he said, closing the distance between them. Gently, he stroked her cheek with the back of his hand, a smile lighting up his face. “And I couldn’t be any happier about you being here. Still, this must be hard for you.”

  She nodded.

  It was true—even though she had never been as happy as she was now, sadness lurked underneath it. After all, she had left her home and family, and they hadn’t exactly parted on good terms. That hurt, even though she now understood the coven wasn’t the right place for her. She had a fated mate, which meant that destiny wanted her beside Kellen forever.

  “I’m going to miss them,” she admitted, and Kellen responded by kissing the tip of her nose.

  It was a sweet gesture, one that told her he’d always do right by her. For the first time since they had left the coven, she felt comforted and secure. Yes, leaving with Kellen had been the right decision. She knew it like she knew the sun would rise tomorrow.

  “I know you will,” he said, “but it’s not like there isn’t a solution for this. We just have to let some time pass. I’m sure there will be an opportunity for reconciliation somewhere down the road. I’ll make sure of it, Evie. I know what the coven meant for you.”

  “It’s just… It feels weird not to have a home anymore.”

  “But you do have a home,” Kellen continued. “Together, in the Ravencut forest, we’re going to lead my clan…or, rather, our clan. You might have lost your old home, Evie, but you’ve gained a new one.”

  “I like the sound of that,” she whispered softly, and then stepped forward to embrace him.

  She rested her head against his chest and closed her eyes, the steady beat of his heart calming her. Yes, she could see it—Kellen was her family now, and his home would be hers. She’d had to make a terrible sacrifice in order to get there, but it had been a worthy one.

  “I love you, Evie,” he whispered into her ear, and she felt a pleasant and warm sensation spread throughout her body. This was the first time he was saying it out loud, and these words…they felt just right. “And now that we’re together, everything will be all right.”

  The certainty in his voice had deep roots, and Evie couldn’t stop herself from wondering if that had anything to do with his visit to the coven. The fact that he had stood up to a coven filled with extraordinarily powerful witches, showing absolutely no fear, had emboldened him. He sounded like a leader, like someone whose fate was to stand at the head of his own clan.

  “I love you too,” she whispered back at him, and then tilted her head to the side.

  Gently, she went up on tiptoes and brushed her lips against his, her heart skipping a beat as she realized just how much she had missed the warmth of his mouth. As their tongues danced around each other, her hands wandered to his chest and she started unbuttoning his shirt, her knuckles brushing against his naked skin as she went.

  Kellen answered in kind, both his hands resting on her waist as he pushed her toward the bed. She tumbled back onto the mattress, a deep sigh escaping her lips as all of her worries and anxiety faded away. In that moment, nothing but the desperate need that burned inside their bodies existed. They were fated mates and they were together. That was all that mattered.

  “You have no idea how much I want you,” Kellen murmured, his hands tugging at the zipper of her dress. The fabric slipped down her shoulders to reveal the contour of her dark bra, and Kellen pulled at the front clasp. The cups slipped aside to reveal Evie’s rosy nipples and, before she could do anything about it, Kellen leaned into her. She arched her back as his tongue danced around her nipple, pleasure whipping at her nerve endings, and surrendered to the moment.

  She pushed his shirt down his shoulders then carried on until all of his clothes were lying in a pile beside the bed. Unable to restrain herself, she hooked her fingers on his boxer briefs and yanked them down, her heart skipping a beat as his hard cock sprang free.

  “I need you so damn much,” she found herself saying, the words slipping past her lips faster than she could process them.

  Shimmying her hips from side to side, she pushed her bunched-up dress down her legs and kicked it aside. Kellen’s gaze darted straight toward her last piece of clothing, a black lace thong, and Evie smiled as flames of lust danced in his eyes.

  Moving fast, he pulled her thong’s elastic band against her outer thigh, tearing her underwear apart. The sound of the fabric coming undone and the slight burning pain only fueled Evie’s lust, leaving her as wet as she had ever been. She reached for him and gripped his cock by the base.

  She flicked her wrist at an almost desperate pace and, once she was ready, she threw her free arm over his neck. He lowered himself until their bodies were glued together, and Evie did the rest, angling his cock so its tip was r
ight against her entrance. There was no hesitation this time. They looked into each other’s eyes and, with one thrust, Kellen was buried inside her.

  They melted into each other, their bodies and souls becoming one, and everything was just as it should be. They kissed deeply, their bodies keeping a steady rhythm as they embraced, and Evie knew that she was where she belonged—in Kellen’s arms. She wrapped her legs around his waist, almost as if afraid he’d let go, and that just made him thrust even harder.

  “I love you, Evie,” he whispered against her lips, rocking his hips in such a way that Evie realized she wouldn't last long. Every time she felt all of his inches inside her, her inner walls struggling to accommodate him, she felt like a woman on the verge of a precipice. She closed her eyes as the pressure started building inside her and then…

  She came undone.

  Arching her back right when his cock started throbbing inside her, she let out a moan so powerful that it seemed to drown out all other sounds. They didn’t move for a long time, relishing the closeness of their spent bodies, and Evie knew she’d die a happy woman if the Reaper himself showed up to take her life right then and there.

  “I never thought I’d find someone like you,” Evie said moments later.

  They were both sprawled on top of the bed, whispering all the things only lovers are allowed to whisper. If only she could, Evie would let that moment stretch into eternity. Then again, wasn’t that what was happening? They were fated mates so their love was eternal. Moments like the one she was experiencing—of pure joy and happiness—were bound to be a part of her existence now.

  “That makes two of us,” Kellen said with a chuckle.

  He peppered her face with kisses, and she returned his enthusiasm by placing her hand between his legs. She was more than ready for another round with him, but fate seemed to have other plans.

  Someone knocked at their door, and Evie quickly wrapped the bed sheet around her naked body. Knitting his eyebrows together, Kellen swung his legs off the bed and approached the door cautiously. When he pulled it open, though, no one stood on the other side.