26. Vex
26
VEX
I lead Matilda out of the library, my heart thumping with what I’m about to do. The revelation that Anu couldn’t actually tie her life to Tilly’s changes everything, but we need the power of my ancestors, along with Tilly’s power, to kill a goddess.
“Where are we going?” Matilda asks as we hurry down the hallway.
“Somewhere private,” I reply. “I need to try something.”
We end up in an empty classroom. I lock the door behind us and turn to face Tilly. She’s watching me closely.
“Okay, what’s this about?” she asks.
I take a deep breath. “I think I know how to get my ancestors to accept me. But I need your help.”
Her eyebrows raise. “My help? How?”
“The Well family has always been about power. Gaining it, wielding it, protecting it. But they’ve also been about balance.” I step closer to her. “You represent the most powerful magickal force in existence.”
“Okay, so, what? How can I help?”
“With your allegiance.”
She narrows her eyes. “Meaning?”
“To me.” My voice cracks. “I need you to bind your life to me.”
“Didn’t we already do that?” she asks. “With the blood bond thing? Or are you talking about that soul bond?”
“Neither. This is a tie to life bind. It is me and you and no one else. We will be connected through our power, our lives and our love.”
She blinks, sorting through her thoughts.
“Before you say anything, know this. I love you, Matilda. With all my body, soul and heart. I never thought I would find someone who could challenge me and give back as good as I give. You are funny and cute, utterly beautiful and are mine forever. I’m not doing this to gain power. I’m doing this because I know it’s right. It’s what I want. Do you?”
She chews her lip. “What about Draven and Luc? I don’t want to do anything that will leave them out.”
“This is between you and me. What you want to do with them is separate. In fact, I think it’s a great idea that you do something with each of them to show them you love them. They adore you, would lay their lives down for you. We all would.”
“I feel the same way,” she murmurs.
“So, is that a yes? ”
Matilda’s eyes shine with emotion as she looks up at me. “Yes,” she whispers. “I want to bind my life to yours.”
My heart soars at her words. I take her hands in mine, feeling the strength of her power beneath her skin. “Are you sure? This isn’t something we can undo.”
She nods firmly. “I’m sure. I love you, Vex. I want this.”
I pull her close, pressing my forehead to hers. “Then let’s do this.”
I take out the Well medallion. With my other hand, I cup Matilda’s cheek.
“Ancestors of the Well line,” I whisper, “I call upon you to witness this binding. I, Vex Blackwell, pledge my life and power to Matilda, guardian of the Praxian force. Our fates shall be entwined, our magick united in purpose and strength.”
Matilda’s voice joins mine, steady and sure. “I, Matilda, accept this bond with Vex Blackwell. My power is his power, my life force joined with his. Together, we shall keep the magick of this world safe from those who wish to do it harm.”
The medallion glows brightly, and I feel a swell of energy flow through me, connecting with Matilda’s formidable power. The air around us snaps with magick.
Matilda gasps as the power flows between us, her eyes wide with wonder. The medallion grows brighter and brighter until it’s almost blinding. I feel the presence of my ancestors surrounding us, their energy merging with mine.
The magick builds to a crescendo. Centuries of Well power course through my veins, mingling with Matilda’s Praxian force that is whipping up a storm of its own around us.
Suddenly, a voice echoes in my mind, ancient and powerful. “We accept you, Vex Blackwell. You have proven yourself worthy of our legacy.”
The light from the medallion flares one last time before fading. As it dims, I feel the full weight of my ancestral power settle into my bones. It’s unlike anything I’ve ever experienced. Raw, primal magick at my fingertips.
Matilda sways slightly, and I steady her with an arm around her waist. “Are you okay?” I ask, concerned.
She nods, a dazed smile on her face. “Yes. Does this make you my husband now?”
I smirk at her. “It does. Was that not clear?”
“Oh, it was. I just wanted to be completely sure before I did this.” She plants her lips on mine, forcing her tongue into my mouth. I open up eagerly and respond. She pulls back and murmurs against my lips, “Make love to your wife then, Mr Blackwell. Consummate this marriage before something comes along and fucks it all up.”
I snort with amusement as I shove the medallion in my back pocket. “Not even the Devil herself could stop me.”
I slam her against the wall and preserving her modesty in this public place, instead of stripping her, I swap her jeans for a skirt. I could shield us, but I kind of want the danger of someone being able to walk in on us. She gasps as my hand goes under her skirt and cups her pussy, shoving her knickers to the side. I slide to fingers inside her hot cunt and groan as she coats me with her arousal.
“Matilda Blackwell,” I rasp against her lips as I fumble with my other hand to get my cock free. “I fucking like the sound of that.”
“Me too. I hope the other guys do, too.”
“They will get you the same way if you want them,” I murmur, teasing her clit with the head of my cock, thrilling us both.
Matilda moans softly as I tease her, her hips rocking against me. “I want you,” she breathes. “All of you.”
I slide inside her slowly, savouring every inch as her tight heat sheathes me. Matilda moans, her head falling back against the wall as I stretch her pussy wide with my thick cock.
“Gods, you feel amazing,” I groan, stilling for a moment just to feel her.
“So do you,” she pants. “Now move, husband.”
I grin at the new title and thrust hard and deep inside her. Matilda wraps her leg around my waist, pulling me in deeper.
Our combined magick sparks in the air around us, heightening every sensation. I can feel Matilda’s pleasure as if it’s mine. Our new bond is amplifying everything .
“Vex,” she whimpers, her nails digging into my shoulders.
“Come for me, wife. Let me feel you.”
She cries out as her orgasm hits. Her pussy clenches around me. The feeling of her pleasure coursing through our bond pushes me over the edge, and I follow her into bliss, spilling inside her with a guttural groan.
We stay locked together for several long moments, catching our breath. I press soft kisses to Matilda’s neck.
“Well,” she says with a breathless laugh. “That was some consummation.”
I chuckle and carefully set her down, making sure her skirt falls back into place. “It was perfect. Just like you.”
Matilda grins, her cheeks flushed. “As much as I’d like to spend all day in bed with you, we should probably get back to the plan.”
I nod, reluctantly stepping back. “Ugh. The plan. A goddess to kill and a magickal crisis to avert.”
As we straighten our clothes, I can feel the new bond humming between us, a constant awareness of Matilda’s presence. It’s comforting and exhilarating all at once.
I grab her hand and tilt her head back so she can look up at me. “I will protect you with my last breath if it comes to that, Tilly. You have a home with me now, and wherever that ends up after here, know that I will keep you safe.”
She blinks back the tears that spring up. “Thank you, Vex. I needed to hear that, even though I know. I will protect you with everything that I am, and you will always have a home with me, wherever the fuck that will be, seeing as I don’t have one outside of here.” She laughs shyly.
“We will make our own with Luc and Draven. Hopefully not in Hell.”
Her eyes go wide. “Shit. What if that’s where they want to live?”
“Then we will have to compromise,” I chuckle.
“So what now?” Matilda asks as we head for the door. “How do we use this new power to take down Anu?”
“We’ll need to combine our strengths. All of us, together, we might have enough power to overwhelm even a goddess.”
As we step into the hallway, I sense a shift in the air. The Academy’s magickal currents feel different and more volatile.
“We need to hurry. Annabelle is already here.”