Beyond the Darkness

by Katie Reus

  Chapter 21

  Energy rippled through Bran.

  She was so close.

  Wind rushed over him as he rocketed through the air, flying faster than he’d ever gone before. The need to be with her, near her, was making him crazy.

  He knew her clan’s land was protected but he was cloaked and didn’t care that he was there regardless. As he flew over the entrance gates he immediately slowed his pace. His muscles burned at the abrupt shift from full throttle to gliding.

  Minutes later he was hovering over her house. Without caring about propriety or the consequences of an Alpha infiltrating another clan’s land without permission, he landed silently in her front yard. Keelin was his and his dragon couldn’t settle down until he saw her, knew she was okay.

  Immediately he let his invisibility cloak drop and shifted to his human form. His claws and tail left heavy imprints in the snow.

  Unconcerned about his naked state he stalked to her front door. When he tried the handle and it was locked he knocked once. Loudly. Impatient, he broke off the handle and shoved the door open. He was aware that he’d ventured into crazy territory, but yeah, he didn’t give a shit. He’d taken two steps when Keelin and Nyx appeared from down a hallway.

  Nyx immediately turned back around and made herself scarce.

  Good.

  Wearing a pink and black pajama set and her blonde hair pulled up on top of her head in a messy bun, Keelin was the sexiest thing he’d ever seen. It was like years had passed since he’d seen her and not mere hours. Relief like he’d never experienced detonated inside him, all the fear from the past few hours settling now that he could see with his own eyes that she was safe, alive.

  “Bran, what are you—”

  “Are you fucking kidding me? What am I doing here?” He couldn’t even let her finish the question. The fact that she seemed surprised to see him pissed him off almost as much as the fact that she’d left.

  “I left you a note,” she whispered, seeming unsure of herself as her gaze flicked down his naked body before moving back up to his face.

  He stalked forward a few steps and his dragon side cheered when she actually stepped back. She should feel like prey because right now he was all out stalking his mate. He was tired of playing games. “A note,” he rasped out, his animal in his voice. How could she have left him a damn note? As if their relationship meant so little to her that he didn’t deserve a conversation. Or hell, to come with her. How could she not want him to be with her right now when she was in clear danger?

  “I told you I wouldn’t be gone long and that I’d be safe.”

  So that made it all right? He couldn’t even find his voice. He took another step forward when he scented two males.

  All his hackles rose until he realized who it was. Turning around, he took a few more steps backward to Keelin, blocking her from the approaching males with his body. He didn’t care that they were her relatives. Right now all he cared about was claiming her, and making it clear to her brothers and anyone else that Keelin was his to protect.

  Drake and Conall stood just inside the entryway staring at him with equally grim expressions. He knew what he must look like, naked and angry. He felt more than heard Keelin moving closer to him.

  She was the first to speak. “You two need to leave right now.” Her voice was soft and it was a good thing she was talking to her brothers because he wasn’t going anywhere.

  Drake watched him for a long moment before nodding at his sister and stepping back toward the door.

  Conall didn’t move. “You can’t come onto our land without warning.” The dark edge to his voice was unmistakable and Bran understood the other leader’s anger.

  He’d trespassed and if someone had done that to his clan’s land he’d incinerate them. But this wasn’t about moving into someone’s territory and Conall knew it. “This isn’t about our clans. You know why I’m here.” To his surprise he felt Keelin’s hand on his forearm, holding him tight, as if she was afraid he’d attack her brothers.

  Both males watched the action and seemed to relax. He couldn’t be sure though. Every muscle in his body was tense and he could barely think straight.

  “Can you two leave please? And can Nyx stay with you, Drake?” Keelin asked.

  As if on cue, the other female hurried past them, also in pajamas, but not before shooting Keelin a questioning look, clearly making sure she was alright. That just pissed him off. “I’d never hurt her,” he snapped at Nyx who just rolled her eyes at him. “Now everyone get the fuck out!”

  Bran didn’t care how rude he was or that he was practically inviting war between their clans. He needed to be alone with Keelin. Now. He knew he was being irrational. There was no doubt his behavior was insane. His female had left him a note, which made him angry, sure, but something dark inside him had awakened with her leaving him. He figured it had something to do with the mating process but couldn’t be sure. All his dragon was sure of was that he couldn’t be separated from Keelin right now. He needed to touch her, hold her, take care of her.

  Conall took a step forward but Drake grabbed his arm and murmured something too low for Bran to hear.

  Conall finally nodded but continued glaring at him. “We’re talking in the morning.”

  Whatever. He turned his back on them and looked down at Keelin. He was vaguely aware of them shutting the door behind them. There was no lock now but it still shut.

  “I would have come with you,” he gritted out, unable to hide the hurt in his voice. Because more than anything, more than the deep desire to protect her, it killed him that she hadn’t thought enough of him to bring him with her.

  She started to place her hands on his chest but he took a step back. He couldn’t have her touching him now that they were alone. If she did he’d pounce and they’d never talk. Not that talking was particularly high on his priority list now but some things needed to be said.

  Her gray eyes flickered with hurt.

  That pissed him off. “No. You don’t get to be hurt. You fucking left me.” It hurt more than he wanted to admit.

  That nervousness was back in her gaze as she wrapped her arms around herself. “I didn’t leave you. I just didn’t want you to have to deal with my parents.”

  “Are you ashamed of me?” After everything they’d shared she seemed to be more than just attracted to him. He’d thought she respected him.

  “What? No! I just knew my mother would be able to help with the demigod situation, but I also wasn’t sure what their reception of you would be. I figured it would be easier to get all the information we needed instead of dealing with any drama from them over my relationship with you.”

  One word made him pause. “Relationship?” Was she actually admitting they were in one?

  “Well, yeah. And I didn’t want to argue with you over it. I knew it would turn into this big thing.” She bit her bottom lip and he resisted the urge to lean down and do the same.

  His cock throbbed between his legs, heavy and insistent. And his fire had already started to coat the entryway around them, covering the floor and bottom half of the staircase. He was glad she could see his reaction to her, wanted her to know what she did to him. All the time.

  Her eyes widened as she looked around them. Until now he’d only reacted like this when they were kissing but he knew what was happening. They were pushing closer and closer to mating and he was barely in control of his response to her.

  While he was still holding onto the last shred of his sanity he spoke again. “I’d rather argue with you any day of the week than deal with this shit of you running away.” When it looked as if she wanted to interrupt, he continued. “Do I want to protect you from the world? Fuck yeah. But that doesn’t mean I want to wrap you in cotton and keep you from experiencing everything. I’m sorry for the way your parents sheltered you but I’m not them. I want a partner, a mate, an equal. That’s you, Keelin. We’re definitely going to argue and I’m definitely going to be an overprotective ass
hole. If you’d told me you wanted to come here without me we definitely would have fought. And I don’t know if I’d have let you go alone. Now we’ll never know because you didn’t give me the choice. But I trust that you can put me in my place in any situation.” Not to mention the makeup sex with her would be explosive whenever they argued. “Now get naked.” Because he was done talking.

  Her lips parted in clear surprise but he scented her desire and her soft glow lit up the high-ceilinged room. Still, she wasn’t getting undressed so he tried something he hadn’t had a chance to yet.

  Ordering the mating fire to incinerate her clothes, it did just that, eating them up in seconds until ashes fell away and she stood in front of him with wide eyes and oh-so hard nipples. She glanced down at herself in surprise but didn’t make a move to cover her body.

  He hungrily drank in the sight of her soft curves. Letting out a groan, he covered the distance between them, grasping her hips as he reached her. He needed to cover her in his scent, to let her and everyone know she was his. Thankfully she wrapped her legs around him as he lifted her up. She leaned into him, just as hungry for his touch as he was for hers. That soothed some of his edginess.

  His mouth crushed over hers as their bodies met. The feel of her breasts rubbing against his chest set him on fire. When she moaned into his mouth he rolled his hips against hers and started moving toward the closest room. A sitting room or something.

  “I need in you now,” he murmured, nipping her bottom lip between his teeth.

  “Yes. Being away from you…” She trailed off and let her head fall back as he started feathering kisses up her jaw.

  He lightly bit her earlobe. “What?”

  She let out a little sigh as he tugged on it. “It was harder than I thought. Really hard. I felt so bad I called and texted you like a stalker.” The regret in her voice was real.

  He’d left his phone and all his belongings behind before coming after her. He just grunted a non-response and raked his teeth down her neck as he stepped into the room. In his peripheral he scanned the layout of the room. All delicate, feminine furniture that suited her perfectly. The biggest thing in there was a chaise near one of the long windows. Luckily drapes covered it. Not that he cared. He’d give her whole clan a show right now.

  Let everyone know she belonged to him.

  A small lamp in the corner emitted a soft glow, not that either of them needed it to see. Not with both their light and extrasensory abilities. Without asking her what she wanted, mainly because he was beyond words, he headed straight for the chaise. The urge to dominate, to possess, was too strong so he did something he rarely did.

  Still holding her tight against him as they kissed and nipped at each other, he stretched out on the chaise and let her be on top.

  As her knees sank into the upholstery on either side of him, his cock brushed against her slick folds. God, she was already so wet for him. Even though he could scent it, feeling her reaction made him that much crazier.

  The faint scent of surprise rolled off Keelin as she pulled her head back and looked down at him. She splayed her hands over his chest, running her fingers over him in the most deliciously possessive way. A pleased rumble started in his chest. He loved her touching him.

  “You set the pace,” he said, needing her to know that she was in charge right now. Mostly. He’d acted like a complete caveman barging into her home and burning off her clothes that he needed to slow down.

  The answering grin she gave him was pure sex as she lifted up on her knees and slid down onto him. He loved that she didn’t even pause, just took what she wanted.

  On instinct his canines descended. The feel of her tight sex clenching around his cock was enough to push him over the edge.

  Closing her eyes, she placed her hands on his shoulders and let her head fall back. Her breasts pushed up, teasing him. He barely resisted the urge to grab her hips and start thrusting upward, but he had to give her this.

  Cupping both her breasts, he lifted them, pushing them together before burying his face against her softness. He wanted to feast on every inch of her. The female was a true addiction. One he would never tire of.

  Moaning, she threaded her fingers through his hair as he began kissing the underside of her breasts. Her skin was soft, smooth and she was all his. Just touching her had calmed him immensely.

  When she began slowly riding him, letting out breathy little gasps each time he filled her to the hilt, his fire engulfed the room. There was no heat, just gold fire everywhere, competing with her own bright light.

  Tingles already gathered at the base of his spine, his balls pulling up tight as her snug sheath milked him with each stroke. He wanted her for his mate so badly, his canines aching to the point he almost let nature take over and marked her. But he could never do that to her, even in this state. Not without her being a hundred percent willing.

  He teased a path over both her breasts, worshipping her the way she deserved before he settled on one nipple and pressed down with his teeth, not hard but not gentle either.

  “Bran,” she gasped out, arching her back and pushing deeper into his mouth.

  He flicked his tongue over the hardened bud as he cupped the other full mound and teased that nipple with his thumb. Each time he stroked her nipples, she tightened around his cock.

  When she reached between their bodies and started stroking her clit, he growled against her breast. She was so close he could feel it with each thrust.

  “Come for me.” He was practically begging, was so desperate to feel her pleasure and empty himself inside her.

  She began moving faster on top of him, up and down, her movements jerky and uncontrolled, until finally she let go. She dug her fingers into his shoulders, her claws pricking him as she shouted his name.

  He couldn’t hold back any longer either. Grabbing her hips, he let go of his control and began thrusting hard, slamming into her as they both found their pleasure.

  His orgasm overtook him. He kept thrusting into her as she chanted his name, the sound like a prayer, until she grabbed his face and slanted her mouth over his.

  The intensity of her kiss overwhelmed him and another, unexpected orgasm surged through him. He hadn’t thought it possible to climax so hard but as her tongue stroked against his, hungry and demanding, he flipped their positions so that she was under him. The animal inside him growled in a primal feeling of victory at having her beneath him. Something about dominating her, pleasing her, made every part of him come alive.

  After what felt like an eternity, his and her orgasms finally abated and Keelin pulled back from the kiss, her eyes heavy-lidded and her expression completely sated. Her arms were wrapped around his back and she slowly trailed her fingers up and down his spine.

  “I don’t want casual,” Keelin whispered, her eyes sparking bright silver even as her light and his fire had dimmed.

  Her words were exactly what he’d been waiting to hear. Deep down he knew that if he pushed he could get her to mate with him tonight. But he wanted her fully invested in this relationship with no doubts first. Shifting their positions, he rolled them over so that she was stretched out on top of him, her body a perfect fit with his.

  “Me neither.” He gently kissed her forehead, her nose, then claimed her mouth again. “And I’ll never hurt you. My animal side might have claimed you first, but I want to claim you now,” he murmured against her lips. All of him wanted her. Admitting that to her made him feel even more vulnerable than he already did around her, but she was worth the risk.

  “Would your clan accept me?” she asked quietly, the insecurity in her voice taking him off guard.

  But he loved that she was actually asking. It meant she was seriously contemplating mating with him. Hell yeah. “Of course.” And if someone didn’t, he’d deal with them.

  She bit her bottom lip and laid her head against his chest. He stroked up and down her back, loving the feel of just holding her. When she didn’t respond he decided to push.


  “Why would you think my clan wouldn’t accept you? You’re pretty much royalty for your clan. It would be a strong alliance, not that I care about that, something you already know.” Or she should know. While his role as Alpha had been thrust on him, he wasn’t changing who he was or making bullshit political alliances.

  “I’m not a warrior,” she said quietly, tracing a finger over one of his pecs as she remained stretched out on top of him.

  “So?” He didn’t want someone just like him. He simply wanted Keelin. Sweet, compassionate, smart, and oh-so-soft. She was so different from him and he loved it.

  She glanced up at him and arched a perfect eyebrow at him. “Have you ever known an Alpha couple unmatched like that?”

  He started to respond when he realized that all the known Alpha dragon couples were warriors. “I guess you’re right. But who gives a fuck? If my clan doesn’t like it I’ll step down and someone else can take over. Physical strength isn’t the only necessity for a good leader. I’ve seen you in action, especially the way you handle Fia when she gets crazy. You’re very diplomatic, something our people need more of.” And at the end of the day, none of that mattered to him. Just Keelin mattered.

  She pressed her lips together, seeming unconvinced, but he could tell his comment had pleased her. She snuggled up against him, curling into him in a way that warmed his entire body. He couldn’t believe he’d lived most of his life without this female. “I’m not letting you go,” he murmured against the top of her head.

  She didn’t look up, but he felt her smile against his chest. “Good. I’m not letting you go either.”

  That simple statement slammed through him. She might not have said the actual words that she was going to mate with him, but she had in a roundabout way. Just like that he was hard again, ready to take her slow this time. After he’d buried his face between her legs and made her scream his name. He rolled his hips once, nudging his cock against her hip.

  She chuckled lightly against his chest, but remained curled up on top of him. “You’re insatiable.”