Declan:
Cursing and moaning and groaning all the way, Declan got up. “Stay here,” he said, as he pulled the t-shirt over his head.
“Think again.” She rolled off the bed, cocking her head at him, daring him to argue with her.
“Aster I--”he stopped, changed course, --“you’re right. You can look after yourself just fine.”
“Damn straight I can.”
He grinned. “Let’s go.”
“You don’t have a weapon,” she said, as she ran up the stairs behind him.
“Don’t worry, I’ll find one.”
They ran into the lobby to find their clan standing on the one side and a mixed group of unknown vampires and humans on the other.
“What’s going on?” Declan asked the vampire closest to him.
“I don’t know,” she said, “they just came stumbling in from outside.”
Aster: Aster sat on the edge of the bed, holding her head. The last thing she remembered was blasting a vampire with a hate wave, as she liked to call it, and then nothing. She woke up all alone in a strange room with an aching head, and the worst thirst she ever felt. Finally, after sitting like that for more than an hour, the pounding in her head eased enough so that she could drag herself to the shower. The vampire blood that splattered on her last night as Matthew decapitated one after the other dried during the day, and the smell alone was slowly driving her insane. As she stood under the warm spray of the shower, she heard the door to the bedroom open and close, but assuming it was Declan didn’t think anything of it. She finished her shower, wrapping a fluffy towel around herself and returned to the beautiful room. It was clearly meant for tourists: from the expensive handmade furniture, to the abstract paintings on the wall. Everything
Aster – Part two: Aster held her breath as her stomach flipped over and they soared ever higher, until the air was so thin that she thought she wouldn’t be able to breath. Declan suddenly stopped, and bopping mid-air started kissing her. High up, away from prying eyes and ears, he spun her around so she was with her back to him. Holding her against his chest, he shoved his hand inside her jeans, pushing her panties aside, and slipping his fingers inside her. With his other hand, he gripped her breast, squeezing and pinching her nipple through the fabric. “I’m boring, huh?” he whispered, his breath rasping over his lips. “I never said you’re boring.” She moaned softly as he started to massage her clit. She grabbed his hand between her legs, urging him on, lying with her head back against his shoulder, as he very slowly pumped his fingers in and out of her, bringing her just to the edge, keeping her there. Declan slipped his han
Declan: “Are you done defiling my elemental?” A dark, calm voice asked from the darkness. Declan’s blood ran cold. He knew that voice. He hadn’t heard it for many years, but as long as he lived, he’d never forget it. “Cyrus,” he said and jumped up, buttoning his trousers at the same time. He was unarmed, but it didn’t matter, Cyrus was far too powerful a vampire for him to fight on his own. Aster very calmly got to her feet, while doing up her jeans. “Actually, your elemental would like to be defiled a few more times before sunrise. Why don’t you show yourself?” “Aster,” he hissed, but she just shrugged and smiled at him. Putting a finger to her mouth, she shook her head. The white-haired vampire stepped into the little clearing where Declan touched down just over an hour ago. “Oh don’t be so worried. I’ve been watching you all this time, and you weren’t aware of my presence. I could have killed you a hundred times over, yet h
Aster: Aster stood rooted to the spot, trembling wildly. It was like the first night she saw a ghost. The dread, the fear, was overwhelming and she couldn’t think clearly. She forgot everything she knew about ghosts, because the witch aimed all her negative emotions right at her, making sure Aster felt nothing else. “Can you send her away?” Declan asked. The witch glided towards her. She looked just like Aster remembered her: dressed in the old fur dress, white, braided hair, winkled old face. “Send them away, child.” “No,” she finally answered Declan. “But she wants you to leave.” He watched her intently for a while. “Last time a pissed off ghost showed up, you almost fucking killed me…I don’t know if it’s a good idea for me to go.” “It’s fine. Last time I thought I was hallucinating and back in the dream…I know this time.” “Leave her to it,” Rowan said. “Aster, we’ll be in my study when you’re done. Ask one of the fa
Aster - part two: Declan led her through the mansion. She was crying so much now that she could barely see. It wasn’t just because of Armand – she barely knew him – it was that and everything else. It felt like it would never end. The constant fear. The fighting. The never-ending sorrow. All because of one mad man. “It’s almost over now,” Aster said, more to encourage herself than anything else, but Declan heard and looked down on her with a frown. Luckily, he said nothing. He stopped in front of a wooden door, knocking and entering before anyone answered. The young vampire that showed up as Cyrus stood off to the side, looking miserable and shit scared. “Could you get anything out of him?” Declan asked. Rowan shook his head. “You don’t have to keep interrogating him,” Aster said. “I know enough. You probably shouldn’t let this one go…he’ll run straight to Cyrus, and our position is precarious as it is.” She knew what would ha
Declan: “I should have known,” Matthew seethed. “That miserable cunt.” “I’m sorry man.” “I was so sure she wouldn’t…how did I miss it?” “You were busy with your eleven other brides,” Samuel said. “Oh, fuck off.” “Now is not the time you two,” Declan said. “Where is she?” “In the restaurant.” “Let’s go--” he looked over his shoulder --“you too, Aster.” “Uh…I’ll just wait here.” Declan took her by the elbow. “I know you don’t want to see this, but you have to come with me. I can’t leave you by yourself.” They joined the brothers in the hallway. Declan wasn’t sure Matthew would be able to do what needed to be done – nor would he expect it of him. Even though he didn’t love Katelynn, the bond was absolute, and killing her would be like driving the sword into his own heart. “How did she even do it?” Aster asked. “I thought the bond ensured loyalty.” Declan nodded. “Usually, b
Aster: All the women in the room turned and looked at her. “What?” Aster asked nervously, her eyes darting around. “Get to work,” Matthew barked. Samuel had already left to fetch Elizabeth and the blood. “I’m sorry…they just don’t really know you yet. You never had a chance--” “I know, Lucy explained.” “Are you two getting along?” “Yes,” Aster said with a smile. “I really like her.” Matthew looked pleased. “Good…she is a first bride, like you. First brides need each other.” For a moment, they worked in silence. Aster went into the kitchen with Matthew, ripping the heavy stainless steel prep tables out of the floor, piling them up on one side to carry into the restaurant later. “That thing you did yesterday? Reading the Russians’ minds or whatever….How did you do it?” Aster smiled. “I didn’t really do anything. One of my ancestors showed up to warn me, and she pointed them out to me. That whole b
Declan:“Declan!”“What?” he croaked, grabbing his pounding head.Matthew stood over him, a look of concern on his face. “Where is Aster?”Declan was suddenly wide awake. He bolted upright and looked at the spot where his bride was supposed to be. “I should ask you that. Weren’t you standing guard? How did she get past you?”“Well, obviously we fell asleep.”“For fuck’s sake, Matthew,” Declan said and grabbed his sword.“Is she in danger?” Lucy asked.“Not that I can tell, but she doesn’t always have the common sense to know when she’s in danger.”“Let me go get her,” Matthew offered, “I can handle the daylight better than you.”“No,” Declan said. “She’s not far. I can feel her. Stay in here, look after the others.”&ld
Dear readers, I would like to thank you for taking the time to read Declan and Aster's story. I hope you enjoyed reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it! Thank you for your support and love. It means the world to me, and I hope to see you all soon with the next one. Please feel free to leave a comment if you liked this story. I always love hearing from my readers. Remember: All writers love their readers, we would be nothing without you -- you are the engine that makes a writer's world go 'round. Much love, Celice
The old man sat on his balcony, looking at the beach bathed in the soft blue moonlight. It was a beautiful night, but a full moon, which meant all manner of creatures were about. Ever since that blasted vampire war fifty years ago, all sorts had been crawling out of the darkness, wouldn’t you know? It didn’t matter how many times that vampire, Rowan Watchamacallit, went on the news and every talk show known to man, just to keep telling the humans that they had nothing to fear, he knew better. He was old enough to remember that war, remembered the roving vampires that came through his town and tore his wife’s throat out. He didn’t forget and forgive that easily. The humans hadn’t been idle. They had been developing weapons that were strong enough to kill vampires. He had one. A gun that could take a vampire’s head off with one shot. It wasn’t technically speaking legal to kill vampires, but their bodies evaporated fairly quickly once the sun hit it, and no body, no ev
Declan:He kissed her until the tension left her body, and the doubts she felt earlier released her. It was like that first time, when the world outside faded to dull insignificance, and all that mattered were the two of them, wrapped in each other’s arms, safe in their bubble.Declan didn’t understand what it was he felt the first time they had sex, but he understood it now. It was the completion of the bond. He could feel it as he pushed inside her. The way the bond united them, how it knitted them together, tying her soul to his and his to hers. The two halves becoming one. And it was stronger now than before. Much stronger.As she opened up under him, giving herself to him so completely that he didn’t even know where she began and he ended, he knew that this was forever. He would never, could never, break their bond. When her eyes filled with tears, and he felt the burden she had been carrying around lift from her shoulders
Aster:Aster sat up, her head pounding and bladder throbbing. The last thing she remembered was sitting on the floor in the lobby with Declan, trying not to scream as her injuries healed. After that, nothing.Declan sat on the armchair, naked from the waist up, watching her with an amused smirk. It had been days since he was there when she woke. “Don’t you need to work?”“Don’t you need to pee?” he retorted.Shooting nasty glances his way, she went to the bathroom, taking a quick shower while she was there, and hoping that he would be gone by the time she was done. She was embarrassed by her actions the previous night, and she didn’t know how to look him in the eye.Wrapping a towel around herself, she went back to the bedroom, just to find that she wasn’t that lucky. Declan still sat where she had left him. “Blood’s on the bed,” he said a mischievous glint in
Declan: Declan gasped, and dropped his pen. Aster very quickly cycled from jealous to angry to a soul-crushing sadness that threatened to eat her alive. Their connection was growing stronger – it would probably have been completely restored by now if they could spend some time together, but the logistics of Maximillian’s estate and the vampire council occupied him non-stop. She wasn’t in any danger, and she didn’t call out to him. Sighing, he blocked her out and pulled more paperwork towards him. There were hundreds of requests from sheriffs and smaller families in need of help, and Lucas wanted to help all of them. Saw it as his sacred duty as the new head of the most powerful family in the region. Declan had to keep reminding his cousin that the only reason they became the most powerful family, was because Maximillian knew when to say yes and when to say no. Lucas needed a lot of mentoring, and with no elders around to guide him, Declan did
Aster:Aster strolled through the hotel, greeting the other vampires that not three weeks ago were so scared of her that they could barely look at her, but now finally treated her like family. Most of their allies had left, leaving the hotel mostly open, but the place was destroyed, because there had been simply too many people living in it.When they arrived in Slovakia, Declan asked her to take care of the humans, help as many of them get back home as she could, but a lot of them didn’t want to leave. Their homes weren’t destroyed; it wasn’t a war that was fought with bombs and guns, but many lost their families in vampire attacks. Others came to love their vampires masters, and simply refused to leave, even after their familiar oaths were broken.She walked from room to room, looking at the progress of the renovations and clean-up process. With a lot of the vampires gone, and because most of the humans were injured and traum
Declan: Declan stood in the dark, overgrown garden, leaning against a tree, watching Aster where she lay flat on her back next to the stream, her hand dangling in the water. It had been two nights since the witch helped them reform their bond, but their connection wasn’t very strong yet. It was like a weak battery, waiting to be recharged, and he had no idea how long that would take. Still, all he could think about was her, which he took as a good sign. After a few minutes, he stepped out of the darkness and walked up to her, squatting by her side. “Hello, beautiful.” Her eyes lit up when she saw him, and she gave him a dazzling smile. That smile soothed his aching heart more than she’d ever know. He leaned over and kissed her, feeling the spark trying to ignite the fire in his heart, but not quite getting there. “You still hate it inside the castle, huh?” “Yes,” she answered. “Too many ghosts.” “Don’t they just follow you?”
Aster: Aster only had one thought running through her mind as she drifted off to sleep. I want him back. Even in her sleep, it was all she could think about, and as she slipped deeper into the darkness, she dreamed about Declan calling to her, telling her to come back to him. ** She hears him calling out to her. He’s somewhere out there in the darkness. “Come to me,” he pleads, “find me.” “Where are you?” she calls back. “I can’t see.” The place is too dark. The kind of darkness that grabs you and won’t let go. The kind of darkness she only experienced once before: in the in-between. “Aster!” Declan screams. “Find me. Come to me.” “I can’t see anything,” she sobs into the darkness. “Why can’t you come to me?” “I’m stuck. Please. Find me.” He sounds so desperately afraid. So lonely. In turn, Aster’s heart cries out to him. She wants to feel his strong, comforting arms around her.
Declan: This wasn’t Declan’s first war, and it wouldn’t be his last. Every once in a while vampires would get in a strop and start killing each other. Maybe it was nature’s way of keeping their numbers down. This was the first war that easily killed half his family though, and he wasn’t quite sure how to deal with it. He lay on his side, staring at Aster, tracing the outline of her face with his fingers. Neither of them spoke, there was nothing to say. Words of comfort rang hollow, discussing the war so soon after it ended was too raw and excruciating, and he didn’t want to talk about his feelings. “I wish I could feel you,” he whispered. “Me too.” He gave her a tight smile and sighed. He didn’t know what hurt worse – the death of his family members, his mother and brother, or the broken bond. It all just blended together into one, big, brutal, open wound. For no reason, and without any conscious thought that he was about to d