by Cara E Holt
Towards the end of the evening I am worn out with playing this role. I want to sneak off to my room and curl up in a ball and remind myself why I am doing this. To remember my man’s face and remember his words and the feel of his lips against mine.
ON BORROWED TIME
I awake the next morning and lie there going over the events of the last twenty-four hours. Time was against me. How could I avoid forming the mate bond without raising suspicion? I could not leave when I was so close and nor could I call in the others, as we needed to strike when everyone was present, it would give us the best chance of attack. I pull my grimoire out of my bag and search through the various spells. It was highly unlikely there was one in here to weaken a mating ritual. Fuck, I was screwed in every which way possible and then some. I needed a plan, and I needed one fast.
I pull out the magic book my mum gave to me and I write to her. I tell her I need a spell that will weaken the mate bond and that I need it quick. The ink disappears as I write and when I have finished the message; I use a normal pen to write on the page, writing some notes about herbs.
I dress in a change of clothes I had packed with me, and I head downstairs. Today’s mission was to try to find out where they were keeping Norah. I eventually find my way to the dining room and find my father, Mortiana and Beau already present. There are several other vampires here, including Everett who I learned last night were his commanders and those of his inner circle.
“Ah, here she is. How did you sleep, my sweet?” Adron asks me, looking warmly at me as I sit in the one available seat.
“Good, thank you.” Another lie. I had tossed and turned all night. Thanks to the damn stupid mate bond I had dreamt of Beau and then I had dreamt of how I could not stop the ritual and of Norah dying before me.
I feel an emotion of curiosity brush over me and I look up to see Beau regarding me with inquisitive eyes. Although the bond was weak, I was already picking up on his emotions and thoughts.
“Beau will show you around the grounds today,” my father tells me, giving Beau a brief smile. “Then tonight he has suggested you go on a hunt with him.”
I almost drop my fork. “I’m not sure that is a good idea father. I am wanted remember. They have plastered my face all over the wiccan media.”
Adron frowns and nods. “That is true. You must hunt alone but bring her back a snack.”
I shudder as my father talks about humans like they are nothing more than food.
“I would much rather feast from my mate,” I tell him.
Adron pats his chest as he almost chokes on his food and laughs. “My dear Beau, it looks like my daughter has taken a liking to your blood.”
Beau leans lazily back in his seat and winks at me. “She can drink from me anytime she needs to. I am looking forward to strengthening our bond this evening, vixen.”
“I can’t wait,” I reply and hope that nobody notices the hidden sarcasm.
Beau shows me around the grounds of the lair. Most of the vampires live in the main house but eat in a larger separate dining room. The witches had their own residence situated towards the back of the vast estate; it was a smaller dwelling, the type of house that a dowager would spend her last years of her life in. I try to weasel out of Beau where Norah was being kept, but he reveals nothing, he just winks and says they were being kept somewhere secure.
I am dressed in another elaborate dress tonight. This one is a pale blue and has a sweetheart neckline and is long and fitted with a high split up one leg. This one was much less demure than the one I’d worn last night. This time Eleanor puts my hair up and leaves a few strands curling down around my face.
“How are you feeling about tonight?” she asks me as she dusts blusher on my pale cheeks.
“Which part?”
Eleanor grins. “The mating ritual of course,” she sighs. “I cannot wait to meet my mate. I have heard the bond is a feeling like no other. Like one cannot live without the other. You hunger for their blood and theirs alone.”
“Sounds intense,” I quip with a frown.
Eleanor shakes her head and laughs at me. “I have heard that the sex is like nothing you could have ever imagine.”
“Oh, really?” I pretend to be interested in this information, when I was in fact I feel the opposite. There was no way on this magic earth I would ever have sex with Beau.
“You’re all ready,” she announces, stepping back from me and gesturing to the full-length mirror. I walk over to it and take my reflection in.
“You really are too good at this, Eleanor.” I glance at the clock on the wall. “I don’t have to go down for another twenty minutes. I think I might read for a while.”
“Of course. I shall leave you to it, but if you need me for anything just call.” She gathers up my laundry and leaves the room. As soon as I hear the door click shut behind her, I hurry over to my bed and pull my book from underneath the mattress. I turn to the second page and whisper the spell that will reveal my mother’s words to me.
Elara. There is a spell to weaken a bond, but it comes from dark witchcraft so be careful. You’ll need a piece of his hair, which you need to burn it as you say the spell which is, ‘Dark flame of love and bonds, weaken the chains that bound me to the one I am joined to. Let his link to my soul be weak and poor, let him not into my mind or soul. Protect me from these bonds.’
I whisper the words to make the writing on the page disappear after I have memorised the spell and then I quietly sneak through our adjoining bathroom and into his room. I look all over the place for a hairbrush and find none. Wondering where I can find some of his hair, I eventually check out his pillow and find one strand of hair there. I wasn’t sure this would be enough, but I had to try.
I light a candle and draw a circle around me using talcum powder, yeah I know, not very traditional but a girl had to use what she could. I light the candle using my magic and then hold his hair over the flame and recite the words to the spell that my mother provided. As I say the words, darkness wraps around me and caresses me. It is a heady power that pulls me in and it feels delicious. I could only pray to the mother goddess that it would work and weaken any bonds that formed between us tonight.
Adron escorts me down to the ballroom tonight and I take this opportunity to try to find out more about the ritual.
“I imagine the magic we need for the ritual will be great?”
He nods in response. “It will, but our witches are powerful. They have the dark lord to draw from, plus now they have you and your power to assist them.”
“True. So the power of the nine witches will be used to resurrect my mother’s soul and transfer it into the witches’ body?”
He bobs his head from side to side. “You are not far off. Your mother will not just inhabit the witches’ body though. The power of nine will also help her transform the gifted body to her true likeness.”
“So she won’t just be my mother’s soul, in the body of the sacrificed witch?”
He laughs and affectionately pats my arm. “No, she will very much look like your mother and my mate. I cannot believe in just two days we will all be together again.”
“Me either,” I confess. “Can anything go wrong with the ritual?”
“No. All should go as planned unless the spell is interrupted or the circle broken before the transfer is complete.”
I nod, storing that information for later. Tonight I would need to alert my mum to when the spell will be completed and how many we would need to be able to stand a chance against my father and his vast coven.
I find myself stood before Adron’s people again with them all waiting for myself and Beau to take the next step in our bond. With every bone in my body hoping and praying that the spell I cast works, I bite into Beau’s wrist and the witches begin their chant around us. I’m about to take my second pull on his blood when Mortiana steps forward and commands the witches to halt. Both Beau and I stop mid feed and look at her for explanation.
“Something is
wrong. There is resistance to the spell.”
A coldness creeps down my spine.
“Magic is blocking the bond being strengthened.” She steps up to the circle and instructs her coven on what they must do. “My magic should help the spell break through. Continue,” she tells us and with a heavy heart I begin to drink from Beau again as the witches start their chants again.
I feel the bond slither over my bones and into my blood. I feel him everywhere, in my mind, in my soul and in my heart. This was not good. I knew that tonight it would strengthen, but I was unsure how much. As they complete the spell we withdraw from each other and seal our wounds again. Beau looks at me with such passion and possession and I startle when I feel his thoughts within me. They scream ‘mine.’
Throughout the rest of the evening I can feel his presence wherever he is in this room. I also feel a deep pull, a need to be near him and it terrifies me. My feet are moving before I can rationalise what I am doing in my brain and I find myself walking over to him. He feels me before he sees me and he smiles, a knowing smile. He feels it too. He reaches out for me and taking my hand he pulls me into his side.
“Vixen.” He inhales my scent and I feel it relaxing him, grounding him. “Do you want to take a walk?”
I nod, leaning into him. I was slipping down a path that I might not be able to return from. We walk silently hand in hand into the woods like two lovers. He pulls me under the shade of a tree and presses his body against mine, pushing me into the trunk.
“Hell, I yearn for you, Vixen. Do you feel it too?”
“Hmm,” I nod distracted as he kisses down my neck. My heart flutters at his touch and I ache for him. He cups my face in his hands and kisses me deeply and passionately and I melt into him. I burn for him and him only.
“Drayce, Drayce, Drayce!’ My subconscious screams and I flinch as I remember who really has my heart.
“What’s wrong?” Beau asks breathlessly, realising I have stopped responding.
“Nothing. Sorry, I was just distracted.”
“I have better things to keep your mind occupied vixen,” he growls huskily and his hand strokes up my bare leg.
This was bad. I needed to distance myself from him and from this damn bond that was strengthening. I pull away from him and put my hand to my chest. “I think I need to call it a night. I don’t feel so good.”
Concern is etched on Beau’s face as he cups my face in his hands. “You feel unwell? It could be the effects of the bond strengthening. Let’s get you back to your room.” He offers out his arms to me and I link mine through his and the damn bond purrs like a contented cat. There was no way I could let the third exchange happen. Somehow I had to stop it from happening, but how I would achieve that without raising suspicion was the million dollar question.
Beau leaves me at my door with a chaste kiss on my cheek and I drop down on my bed and release a deep sigh. Pretending to be someone I wasn’t was tiring. Everything would come to a head tomorrow.
I wake in the morning with a feeling of dread, my stomach rolls with nausea. The events of today would likely affect the supernatural community forever. I had to be strong tonight and remember that whatever was required of me, that I did it for the greater good of my world.
I arrive at breakfast, and I am surprised to only find my father and Mortiana present. I take my seat beside Adron.
“Where is everyone?”
Adron looks up from the Wiccan Herald paper in his hands. “They are likely still sleeping, they were out hunting last night and celebrating us being closer to our goal.”
“Ah yes, of course.” I smile as I summon two slices of toast over to my plate.
“How are you today, Elara?” Mortiana asks me.
I look up and find Mortiana’s eyes studying me intently.
“I’m feeling a little under the weather if I’m honest.”
My father places his paper down and looks over my face with concern. He leans over and places his palm on my head. “It is likely just the effects of the bond strengthening.”
Mortiana remains quiet, watching our interaction. “Someone tried to weaken the spell last night. I fear Adron that someone in our coven is conspiring against us.”
I feel her stare burning into me. Does she suspect me?
Adron sighs wearily. “It is possible, of course. Is there any way you can try to trace the spell?”
Mortiana shakes her head. “Whoever did the spell, they knew what they were doing. They hid their trail well.”
I place my hand over my fathers. “I am safe here aren’t I?”
He smiles and squeezes my hand. “My dear, I will protect you with my immortal life. You and your mother mean more than anything to me.”
“I know we do,” I reply, returning his smile.
The bond flickers within me, and I can feel that Beau is sleeping. It was an uneasy sensation, being aware of someone else’s presence and how they were feeling. I finish my breakfast in silence as Mortiana tells Adron she will begin the preparations for the ritual after breakfast. I excuse myself from the table and return to my room.
As I enter, the bond tugs hard on me, pulling me towards Beau’s bedroom and I find my feet crossing our adjoining bathroom to his room. I open the door and stop, still in shock at what I see. Beau is lying naked, passed out, lying on his front and on the bed are two naked women, both are sleeping but there are bite marks all over their skin. Were they still alive?
I tip-toe towards the bed and breathe a sigh of relief when I see the blonde girl’s chest rise and fall. I sniff the air around them to establish their supernatural race. They were human. Beau moans and rolls over and lazily opens his eyes. He smiles like a cunning cat when he sees me standing at the side of his bed.
“Morning mate.” He rises to his feet, confident in his nakedness, and he walks over to a mini bar and pours himself a drink. “What a night.”
I frown at the two sleeping human girls who are oblivious to the monster that is in the room. “Should you have brought them back here?”
Beau turns giving me a full frontal view of his body and I hastily turn away.
He chuckles dryly with amusement. “Don’t worry, they won’t remember a thing. Mortiana will spell them to forget.” He gestures to the two women. “Help yourself if you’re hungry. The brunette is particularly tasty.”
I try not to openly shudder. I would never take blood from anyone who was not willing. It felt wrong on so many levels. I yelp when he speaks in my ear, his naked body pressing against my back. “Next time we’ll hunt together.”
I shudder inside and try to disguise my disgust. “I prefer supes myself. Humans taste a little dull. I like someone with magic flowing through their veins.”
Beau moves my hair away from my neck and runs his nose along my vein there. “I have to agree with you there. You taste divine, my mate.” His tongue licks along the vein in my neck. “Tonight you will be mine in every sense of the word.”
I take a step away from him and gesture to his bed. “I suggest you change the bedding if you expect me in here tonight.”
This brings out another dry chuckle from Beau. He walks back over to the mini-bar to refill his glass. “My mate sounds jealous.”
I walk over to him and slowly run a finger down his naked chest and he trails it with his eyes hungrily. “You’re mine now, Beau. You’ll drink from me and no one else. Now clean out the rubbish,” I order him as I leave the room. Through the bond I can feel slithers of his amusement and lust, like cold ice inside my body.
THE RITUAL
The evening comes round quickly. Eleanor dresses me in another beautiful black dress. The skirt consists of layers of tulle and flares out from my waist, whilst the bodice is made from black velvet and has a sweetheart neckline that shows off my cleavage. My shoes are red stilettos and match the colour of the deep red lipstick on my lips.
Once Eleanor leaves the room, I attach a holster to my upper thigh and store my daggers and two smoke grenades, a
nd the vial of holy water. Taking a deep, steadying breath, I study my reflection in the mirror. I will do everything in my power tonight to succeed.
I make my way downstairs and head to the grand hall. The room is full and a large feast of food and drink is spread over two long tables over to the left side of the room. I felt too anxious to eat but readily accept the glass of pink champagne offered to me by one of the servers. The bond flutters and without looking around the room I know Beau is not far away. I peruse the room and spot Adron stood with Mortiana. I study them from afar, watching how they interact so comfortably together. An arm snakes around my waist and for a second I close my eyes and inhale his scent. Yep, this bond business was scary as shit.
“Mate,” he greets me, with his tone full of possession.
“Beau.” I turn and face him and he pulls me against his body.
“You’re anxious,” he says. He was picking up on my emotions through the damn bond.
“Of course. Tonight is a big night for us and my father.”
His face breaks out in a slow, easy smile. “Eager to become mine vixen?”
I chuckle as his scent surrounds me and soothes me. “You mean when you become mine?”
He smirks. “Dance with me.”
I nod in agreement and he takes my champagne flute from me and places it on the tray of a passing server before guiding me onto the dance floor. The music changes to a slow, sultry song and Beau pulls me tightly against him and I wrap my hands around his neck. The bond hums in pleasure at our closeness. Other dancers leave the dance floor until it is just Beau and I. When the song ends everyone claps and I realise they had all been watching us dance. My father beckons us over.