That's the end of the crossover. Now we see what happens on their way home.
As we begin heading back to the city, I divert our path so I don’t have to pass through King Lance’s lands again. I’m still so angry at the reception that Lily received in Araphyra that it takes hours before I’m ready to stop for the night. Drake gets some firewood and then I build a fire. “Do you want me to catch you some food? I’m not sure how much you eat? Would a rabbit suffice or would you like another deer?” “I can catch my own food, Drake.” “I know you can, but…I like taking care of you. Feeding you is an easy way for me to take care of you and not hurt you in any way.” I look at him, still seeing the guilt from the other night. “What about you? Are you hungry?” He shakes his head. “At the risk of sounding like a blood lusting vampire, your blood was exquisite. I don’t remember a time in my life when I didn’t feel the constant thirst in my throat, at least until now.” I’m not sure if that’s a good thing or a bad thing, but it sounds good. Unless, of course, he wants more
This question and answer conversation, back and forth, is probably the most intimate situation I’ve ever been in. That sounds crazy because unlike my mate, I’m not a virgin. But, I’ve never been this open, this raw, with anyone before. It scares me and it excites me all at the same time. And I love that my mate is being just as open with me. She may have used her food as a reason to collect her thoughts, but she’s being honest, and she hasn’t refused to answer me. However, everything changes when she tells me she wants to feel my tongue on her again. She and I want exactly the same thing. When we finally settle down for the night, I know there is no way I can sleep, so I insist that she sleep while I keep watch. As she sleeps, I realize I’m completely and totally bewitched by this wolf. Besides her incredible beauty, her heart and her goodness make me feel like I’m the luckiest man in the world, just to be near her. I’m sure I’m being a total creeper by watching her sleep, leaning i
I suck in air and arch my back as Drake slides his cold finger over my clit. My body shivers at his touch, aching for more. “Do you masturbate, Leana?” he asks. “I think I get a payment for that question,” I say, my back still arched, my eyes closed, and my voice once again sounding like a woman in the throes of passion. “What payment do you require, my mate?” I love that he doesn’t even flinch at my request. He’s willing to do whatever I ask. I look at him, biting down on my lip. “Strip.” He pulls his fingers from inside me and brings them to his mouth. His tongue snakes out and his eyes flash bright red before he growls, and his fangs come out. He licks and sucks my taste off his fingers before pulling his boxers off. Then, his eyes lock on mine as he begins sliding his cool fingers over my clit again. “Your answer?” he asks. “Yes, I masturbate,” I say. “Show me,” he commands. He slides his hand away and I slide mine down my stomach and then to my clit. His eyes are so inte
Ecstasy. Nirvana. Rapture. There are a million words to describe something that feels incredible, but all of them fall short of the feelings I’ve had tonight. I thought that feeding on someone, feeling their warm blood spread throughout my system while finding my release inside them was the ultimate bliss. Then, I had tasted Leana’s blood and hadn’t even been inside her when I’d found my release, multiple times. The taste of her blood was unlike anything I’d ever tasted before. That is until I tasted her arousal. The taste of something untamed yet beautiful, wild yet floral. The memory and residual taste still teasing my tongue. For the first time since becoming a vampire, my mind hadn’t been thinking about blood at all. I had been overwhelmed with the taste and smell of my mate, more delicious than anything I’d ever tasted, by far. Until I had both tastes together, her arousal and her blood when my fangs had pierced her pussy lips. My body shivers just thinking of it. If you told m
I’ve never been in a situation where I had to take on this many vampires at once. Actually, I've never taken on a vampire before killing Amir. Not only that, but Drake still doesn’t seem to understand that as a Guardian and his mate, it’s my job to protect him. I may not have fought against vampires before, I may not have battled against a foe without a pack or other Guardians there to assist me, but I am a Guardian. I guess it’s time for me to stretch my wings and see what I’m really capable of. I just need to figure out quickly how to kill these vampires. As soon as Giovanni gives the command, the vampires all race forward. Unlike Drake, I can see these vampires, which would be a good thing if they weren’t coming at me from all sides, also attacking Drake and using their faster speed to try and best me in the fight. Unlike with the werewolves, Drake does not know how to fight the vampires and he’s very effective. As he fights, Kella pushes forward but doesn’t shift as her claws ex
My father’s actions make me wonder if he is the one going against the Guardians. Now, not only do I have to find the woman my grandfather asked me about, but I also have figure out if it’s my father that’s going against the werewolves and the Guardians. I’m almost as angry about being attacked as I am about the missed opportunity with my mate. We had one more night, alone in the woods, but now, we’ll make it to the city before it gets dark. I probably should feed again before going into an environment where I’ll be surrounded by humans. Although, I still have no need or desire to feed. It’s incredibly refreshing to be able to focus on something other than my thirst. We slow down and begin to walk as we get close to the city and the possibility of running into someone that shouldn’t see us moving so quickly. “Where will you go now?” Leana asks me. I turn and look at her, frowning. “I’m assuming that you can’t go back to your grandfather’s castle now that you’ve left that message fo
After dinner, we head out, walking to the council building. We stand outside, looking across the street at the building. “So, do we care if any other council members are in attendance and see you or not?” I ask Drake. “I think if we can get in and out without anyone seeing me, that would be ideal,” he says. I pull my cell phone out of my pocket and dial the main number. Because it’s dark and the lights inside the building are on, I can see the woman at the front desk answer the phone. “You have reached the offices of the supernatural council members. My name is Suzie. How may I help you?” the woman asks. “Hi, Suzie. My name is Leah. I know it’s late, but I was wondering if any of the council members are in at the moment?” I say, giving her a fake name. “I’m sorry. They are all gone for the day. Would you like for me to set up an appointment for you?” “That would be great. When is the next Guardian due to be in attendance?” I ask, knowing that I can tell whoever it was to disrega
I can tell that Leana had no idea that vampires had the ability to attach themselves to the ceiling. In truth, you have to be a powerful vampire to do it. I always thought it was a fun trick after I became a vampire. I would practice walking on the ceiling in my grandfather’s castle. Giovanni used to get mad at me, telling me to stop sneaking up on him like a spider, which only made the game more fun for me. Thankfully, Leana stays quiet as the two people enter the room. Her legs are wrapped around me, the documents from my grandfather in between our bodies. She has a straight shot looking down at them, but I have to turn my head. The first person to walk in is the woman from the front desk, and with her is Silas, one of my father’s minions. “Are you sure no one has come in?” he snaps at her. “I’ve been at the front desk this entire time,” she snaps back. Silas looks around the room. I wonder if he is my father’s new second in command. “And the woman said her name was Leana?” he
One hundred and fifty years later I think Lily said it right. She called it a price, a price you have to pay for being mated to an immortal. I have paid more prices than I ever realized I would have to pay when I accepted Drake as my mate. It’s not that I would ever change my decision, even over a century later I still love my mate more than anything. If possible, our love has only increased with time. But saying goodbye to your loved ones is never easy. First there was my mother. She became ill, something only very old werewolves and Guardians do. Because we knew she was dying, all of her children and grandchildren were there when she passed away. My father held her, crying his silent tears as he told her that he loved her, that she had always been the love of his life and that there was never anyone who could have made him happier than she did. She had died in his arms and all of us had cried, holding each other and lamenting our loss. My mate was among those, crying his blood tea
Two Months Later My mate and I have gotten into a routine of working at the castle and managing our vampire clan, then spending time at our home on the outskirts of the city when Leana needs to be in the city for the council. It wasn’t long before Mehira was pregnant and with how often she growls, I wasn’t at all surprised to hear that she’s having a boy. A boy who is obviously an Alpha werewolf male. We have confirmed that Leana is having a boy too and while none of the tests can tell us that our son has the vampire gene, Leana’s need for bloody meat has led everyone to believe that she’s having a vampire hybrid. Because Alpha Leonardo’s pack is closer, his pack doctor has been monitoring Leana during her pregnancy. Honestly, it’s been easier than I expected, possibly due to Lucero’s blessing over Leana and our child. Ennata and Demetrius have joined the witch faction that is working for Holstin Enterprises. While she doesn’t have the ability to work for them full time, being Lea
We didn’t wait too long before going to visit my family. King Reyes and Marlene joined us, as did Demetrius and Ennata. She wanted to meet Maeve. We went to my brother’s pack first, making sure to let the pack know to expect three vampires on the pack lands. It was still tense until mom greeted us at the packhouse and hugged Drake, smiling up at him happily. After that, it was as if the pack relaxed. I didn’t realize that they all still felt such a sense of protectiveness over my mother, but I guess once a wolf is your Luna, they are always your Luna. Or maybe, it’s just my mother. She seems to elicit that response from those around her, my mate included. Maeve and Ennata hit it off right away, both of them having difficult childhoods and both being witches. They talked a long time about Levana and how she has mistreated both of them. I took the time to talk to Xander about everything that had happened between me and Drake, including my own coronation. “You didn’t think to invite
My mate and I quickly get into a routine of ruling over our vampire clan. We begin to make plans to visit the packs and to visit the fae land. Leana doesn’t like it, but she does find a way to eat real food and still feed on me to fulfil her need for blood. I know it’s only temporary, but I love my mate feeding on me, wanting me, needing me, the same way that I want and need her. It took a couple of days until we saw Ennata and Demetrius again. I heard that food was being sent to their bedroom and I definitely heard enough screeching and banging to know that Demetruis was doing his best bond my sister to him. When they finally emerged from the bedroom, Ennata seemed much more calm that she did when she arrived. “Do I take this to mean that you’re staying?” I ask her when she and Demetrius come into the office that Leana and I now share. She looks at Demetrius. “Try to deny me my love, I dare you,” Demetrius says to her. Ennata grits her teeth but pulls her turtleneck away from her
I wake up warm, wrapped in my mate’s arms. However, as I wake, I realize that I’m stiff. I open my eyes and sit up, realizing that Drake has been holding me while I slept all day. “Hello baby,” I say, tilting my neck and feeling the release as it cracks, then stretching my back and feeling the cracks down my spine as well. “How long have I been asleep?” “Most of the day. I was just about to wake you so I can get you fed before we begin to make our way home,” Drake says, smiling at me. “Food, mmmmm,” I say, then I remember and my head whips around to see Ennata sitting with us. “Hey,” I say to her. “Hey,” she says. “Do you sleep?” I ask her. “Not really, it’s more of a deep meditation.” “What about food? Do you eat or do you drink blood.” “Both. I can survive off of either one.” “Preference?” I ask as I stand, feeling every joint in my body cracking from so many hours of being in the same position. “I like blood,” she says. “Well, I need real food and since I’m pregnant and
The moment I caught her scent, I went after her. This time, I’m prepared. I won’t let her get away. “Ennata!” I yell as she runs. In response, she throws a ball of magic my way. I notice that hers is a lighter color than the other witches, not quite white, not quite purple, something in between, almost a lilac color. I duck the magic as I chase her, hearing Leana behind us, trying to catch up. “Ennata, please. I just want to talk to you,” I say. “Yeah, just like everyone else!” she yells, tossing multiple balls of magic at me this time. “I’m done being locked up!” “I have no intention of locking you up.” “Then you want to sink your fangs into me and bleed me dry, no thanks,” she yells, sending more magic over her shoulder. “I have a mate. Believe me when I tell you that no one’s blood tastes better to me than hers,” I say, leaping over fallen trees and branches that magically move into my way as I approach them. “Prove it,” she yells. “I would if you’d stop running. Listen, y
After my coronation, Drake and I sat down with the Alphas and Lunas of the packs, including my two sisters and my brother, and also with Aolis and Lily. King Reyes joined us with his mate, Marlene, and together we formed an alliance unlike any alliance that has ever been created before. “While our new alliance allows vampires onto our lands, I’d prefer to get my people used to it by having the two of you, or even the four of you, come for a visit first,” King Aolis. “I would love to visit the fairy tale lands,” Marlene says. “The fae lands, love,” Reyes gently corrects her. “Are they not the same?” she asks, looking from Reyes to Aolis. “Not exactly. A fairy tale land is a fake world that humans created for books. The fae land has many fae creatures but it is ruled by the elves,” Aolis explains. “But, there are leprechauns, giants, and unicorns, right?” she asks excitedly. “Just one, unicorn, Lucero,” Lily tells her. “There were many prophecies about my mate,” Aolis says, smili
After I wear my mate out, I lay with her for a few hours until I hear the others start to get up. Last night was great, better than I expected, but tonight, it will be even better. My mate will take her place at my side as my Queen. I disengage myself from her, feeling happy and excited in a way that only Leana and Kella can make me feel. When I get downstairs, I check in with Demetrius who tells me that all of our werewolf guests are still sleeping. I make sure there is food available for when they wake up, and for the rest of the morning the clan and I make our preparations for the ceremony and the party afterward. “Do you need some help?” Reyes asks, coming up beside me. I turn and look at him. “Did you do this with your mate? Make her your Queen?” “Not yet, but after this, I’m sure she’ll expect it.” “Because you didn’t already have a plan in place to make her your Queen?” I ask, jokingly. “Actually, I’m trying to convince her not to change. She lets me feed on her, but I ha
The week without Drake goes by quickly. Whether it’s because she knows that it’s hard for me to be away from my mate or because she’s trying to pack months of shopping into a few days, my mother makes sure that I fall into bed exhausted every night. My time in the council is great. I love learning all about how to make our decisions, and Riley, Mehira and I are taking this time to get to know each other better. It’s great because I know in the future, I can invite them to stay with me when they’re in town. Or, if they choose to stay elsewhere, we’ll still be able to spend time together. Riley and Mehira hit it off right away and I invited Mehira to stay with me this week while she’s in town. She declined because Alpha Leonardo came with her this week, wanting to make sure that his new Luna was safe. The second night, I had everyone over for dinner and Alpha Leonardo and dad went around my property. When they returned, Alpha Leonardo looked at Mehira. “We need to find a house like th