The Eternal Choice (The Eternal Mafia #3)

CHAPTER ONE

– LILLIANA –

I stride into the ballroom where the men are wearing tuxedos and women prance around in floor-length gowns. All of them quickly move to get out of my way. Frustration causes me to pick up my pace. I don’t want to be here, and it shows because I’m still wearing my go-to clothes, black cargo pants, a tight black tank, along with my favorite pair of combat boots.

One glance at me and you’d think I’m ready for battle instead of attending a formal gathering. My family organizes these gatherings every other year so mafia heads from all over the world can gather to find a good match, an arranged marriage, for their children.

Supernaturals grab this chance to see if they will run into their eternal mate the way my parents, and also brother has. Well, my parents didn’t even make it inside one of these gatherings and ran into one another outside. Clearly, they have a high success rate when it comes to finding a mate.

Not something I’m thinking about at this point in my life. All I’ve ever done is focus on work and training my body into a weapon. My body might be considered a lethal weapon already since I’m a vampire with special abilities.

No one really knows the extent of the special abilities due to the fact that I’m not a normal vampire. My father is one of the first vampires while my mother has the angelic touch. It’s a one-of-a-kind combination where even my brother and I have unique abilities instead of sharing the same ones.

Over the past few decades, I’ve managed to tap into the magic inside me and have developed some neat tricks I rarely show anyone else. It’s not just the magic inside me that I’ve developed, I also learned how to simply use magic. For instance, I have a huge bag filled with lots of stuff no one can see.

Learning things is what I love to do, and it’s why I’ve read lots of books about almost every supernatural out there. Something I also don’t share with anyone, and why should I? Knowledge is power, it’s as simple as that. The only things I like to show off are my knife skills. I might be a little obsessed when it comes to knives and enjoy an audience to taunt and shock.

A quick scan of the ballroom gives me the knowledge my parents are not present. Figures. I knew they were leaving for Paris today. Though, I thought they would hop on a plane after the gathering.

A young woman wrinkles her nose when she sees my outfit and I roll my eyes. No way, no how will I ever wear a floor-length, puffy pink dress with heels with my hair flowing down my back. I’m not a girly girl. I like to be ready for anything and the long fabric would get in my way if I’d need to fight, let alone my long thick hair, it’s why I always have it pulled back into a tight bun.

Good thing my parents aren’t here, my mother would be seriously pissed off if she saw me here dressed for battle. Then again, she should know better, ’cause I stopped wearing dresses at the age of six.

I notice Fiero, my brother, along with his wife, Maze, talking to someone.

My brother rumbles, “Ernestino Belfinata, what a pleasure to welcome you here.”

The name snags my attention. What the hell is Ernestino Belfinata, the leader of Birchmagma, a large dragon shifter clan, doing here tonight? I saw the invites going out for this event a few months ago, but I didn’t think they would accept and show because dragons only arrange marriages either within their clan or with other clans to gain fresh bloodlines and keep them pure dragons.

Out of all the supernaturals I’ve read about, dragons intrigued me the most. Mainly due to the lack of research and books available. Dragons don’t reveal their secrets and are extremely rare. Whatever, not my business.

My brother wants to say something else to the man, but my patience is running thin, and I’d like to get out of here within the next few seconds.

It’s for this reason I step forward and ask Fiero, “Where’s Mom? Don’t tell me she demanded my presence here only to ditch the party herself. Ugh. Figures. Well, just so you know? I’m out of here.”

I don’t even acknowledge Maze but spin on my heel and storm away. Only, I’m prevented from doing so when someone grabs my elbow. Automatically, I try to break free and glance back, only to let my gaze collide with Ernestino, the dragon shifter.

A full-frontal collision of emotions hit me hard. Pleasure rocks through me, and my body is pumping adrenaline through my system, heightening every single cell in my body. I’ve never experienced anything like this and yet I can pinpoint exactly what this experience is; I’ve found my fated mate.

“No,” I whisper, trying to let my brain catch up with what I deep down already know.

A slow grin slides across the dragon shifter’s face. “Why yes, I must insist we have a taste to make sure what we both just became aware of.”

His hand suddenly cups the back of my neck and his mouth covers mine. The kiss is short, fierce, and completely lights up my body with the need to feel this man inside me. Right. Freaking. Now.

Ernestino pulls back with a determined look on his face, along with a load of pride and satisfaction. I’m sure I’m sporting a dazed look, completely blown away from the life altering change which just took place.

“Oh, fuck,” I mutter, because that’s all I have to say at, and about, this very moment.

“I guess congratulations are in order,” Maze says, followed by an awkward chuckle. “Can you two hold it together or do we need to lock you up in separate rooms? How does this thing between dragons work?”

Double fuck. Feeling out of my depth sucks. I might have toned it down a bit when I mentioned I was intrigued by dragons. It’s more like my obsession with knives. The lack of information is overly frustrating, especially now.

Ernestino doesn’t take his eyes off me when he states, “When a dragon finds a compatible mate he can hold off until they have their woman in a safe environment to fully put the claim in place.”

I notice a hint of relief in my brother’s face until Ernestino adds, “But since my dragon just tasted her, I know this woman is my fated mate which sometimes triggers a claiming frenzy. This just happened. I will not be able to hold off and need to claim her right now.” He’s still staring right at me when he asks through clenched teeth, “I hope you’re willing to accept my claim otherwise my two brothers will need to restrain me, and you’ll have to run. I won’t guarantee you’ll get far.”

The parts of information I read about dragons contained the eternal commitment. Dragons are loyal and will only claim one mate. Unless their mate dies, and even then, some stay loyal to their first mate by staying single. Monogamous. Fiercely against cheating. It’s probably the loyalty angle that has intrigued me.

My mind still boggles with the fact that this fierce, tall, rugged, and muscled dragon shifter is my eternal mate. A clan leader.

Willing to accept his claim? Is he for real? The man standing before me might as well be a jackpot when it comes to fated mates. Though, it’s not like me to simply roll over and show my belly in defeat.

One thing I also know about dragons is the fact their ego is bigger than any other supernatural, and one should never challenge a dragon. Basically, because they always need to accept a challenge and…huge ego and all…need to win.

A snort leaves me along with the words, “As if you could handle me.”

I get a predatory grin in return. “Challenging a dragon isn’t a smart thing to do, sweetheart. Challenging a mate is either brilliant or plain insanity.”

Mischief fills me, along with a stream of excitement, at the sound of his words. Challenge. Engaged. To make it obvious for everyone around us, especially my brother, so he knows I’m okay and can handle it, I add a little more fuel to the challenge-fire.

Punching Ernestino in the chest I snap, “Tag, you’re it,” and dash out of the room.

I hear him growl, “Motherfucker,” through my vampire hearing, along with his following footsteps, and made abundantly sure he’s going to follow me.

I know this place like the back of my hand because I’ve been a part of the security detail to make sure everything is secure and safe due to all the high-ranking people present this evening. This is why I also know the left wing is off-limits to everyone and has a master bedroom at the end.

My heart is racing while my body is quite capable of long endurance, being an immortal vampire with a dose of extra special abilities and all. It’s a mixture of emotions, the joy and unexpected pleasure of the knowledge I’ve just found my fated mate.

Someone who is a perfect match to create offspring and live for an eternity with. It’s something not every supernatural gets to find because you have to run into one another, or at least be close enough to feel the connection. You can live for an eternity at different ends of the world and never connect.

All while I just found mine…to think I didn’t even want to show up here tonight, almost didn’t, and was set to leave. What if Ernestino talked to my brother a mere minute later? Then I would have been gone.

Shoving the thought from my mind, because I can practically feel the heat of my mate’s dragon breath on my neck, I spin my body around as I enter the master bedroom. Ernestino’s massive body enters, and I make sure to kick the door shut and lock it before I face him.

The green glow in his eyes is intriguing. We stare at one another for a few breaths and then I notice his eyes flash to vertical slits and back to normal pupils. My heart jumps, knowing his dragon is close to the surface.

A dragon shifter is basically two beings sharing one shape. There is not one without the other and they are a constant presence in each other’s mind. Shit. When thinking about it like that you might say I get a two-in-one package deal.

Hot damn, I’m one lucky girl. Though, the fierce look of fire swirling in his eyes tells me what’s about to happen isn’t going to be making love, or anything remotely soft or endearing. Nope. More like a special round of rough, hard, dominating claiming.

“Nowhere to run, little one,” his dark voice rumbles with a small echo, as if there are two voices molded into one.

I slightly bend my knees and brace myself when I tell him in a challenging tone, “Who said I was running from you?”

A low growl vibrates through his chest.

“Are you always a bit slow?” I raise an eyebrow in question. “Because I meant to trap you in here and it took you at least a minute or two to catch up to me.”

“Nosferatu,” he hisses under his breath in slight disdain.

Anger flows through me and my fingers turn into fists so tight it turns my knuckles white. “Are you seriously throwing an old synonym for vampire at me, you fire breathing rat? Screw you and your walnut-sized brain. Wait. Does this mean your dick is pinky sized as well? Or are you hung like a donkey because you lack brain cells? Gotta make up for being dumb someway, eh? I mean, if your mouth and brain won’t get you laid, a big cock might make a woman forgive your stupid mouth.”

“Silence.” The single word bounces off the wall.

I tilt my head and wonder out loud, “Or what?”

He takes a step forward and it makes the floor shake underneath me. Holy fuck. He’s still a man standing in front of me, but the weight of that step he just took? It’s as if he’s representing a six-foot dragon. Okay, he basically is, but all I see is a man standing before me.

A grin slides across his face and it’s not a sexy one. It’s more of a look of enjoyment a killer would have right before ripping off an immortal’s head.

His voice is harsh and menacing when he says, “Or I won’t hold my dragon back and let him fuck you. I simply called you Nosferatu because it’s what my brother has been calling your kind all day because he was against this gathering. Now, are you going to keep challenging me, or can we move this along and set our bond in place?”

What an asshole , is the first thing that comes to mind. Second? Why do I feel like our bond is only a speedbump in the road ahead of him ’cause he has more pressing matters to deal with?

I slowly take a step to the side, his eyes follow my movement closely, as I ask, “Do you have somewhere else you need to be? Any urgent matters to handle? Here I thought we recognized one another as fated mates. You did mention a mating frenzy, doesn’t that entail fucking for days until you’ve managed to impregnate your mate?”

The annoying bastard throws his nose in the air and inhales deep. His glowing eyes land on mine and they turn to slits and back before he rumbles, “You’re ovulating. Tonight is the perfect timing. I’m going to fill your belly full of my cum, making sure I will impregnate you instantly.”

I can’t help but snort. “Anyone ever tell you your ego shows when you’re talking?”

“When I’m fucking too,” he snarls and moves fast, but I’m faster.

He curses loudly and stomps his foot, making the walls shake. Dammit, that shit won’t go unnoticed by the guests downstairs.

“Stop throwing a temper tantrum,” I grit and move away from his arm that’s partly shifting, showing scales, a claw instead of his hand, and very sharp talons.

Anger is simmering under my skin, and I lunge for him, kicking him against the chest with force. He’s not expecting my move and slightly stumbles back. I have a knife pressing at the soft spot under his chin within the next heartbeat.

“What the fuck are you going to do with those talons? Finger me bloody?” I snarl. “Are you into that shit? Because I’m not the bloodplay type of girl.”

My throat is harshly grabbed and his nose is suddenly pressing against mine. I have to blink twice to realize he shifted our positions. I’m pressed against the wall with Ernestino blocking every attempt to escape him. Well, unless I show him what I’m capable of, and yet I’m not ready to show the man chemistry says is my best shot at a happy and successful eternity.

Especially when he’s been an asshole the first few minutes in my presence. Okay, I’m not farting sunshine and rainbows either, but come the fuck on. Was this a hit and miss or something? His lower body rubs against me, and I gasp from the electrifying pleasure shooting through my veins.

His mouth slams over mine and when his tongue pushes inside my mouth, gracing me with his excitingly dangerous taste? My mind simply gives up thinking and all that’s left is a raw craving to have this man fill me completely.

Clothes are being ripped apart. I don’t know how or when my hair was released from the tight bun, but it’s flowing over my naked back while his fingers run through it. I growl at the tender move until I feel a hard slap on my ass.

His large frame is covering my body, making me feel feminine for a change. Another wave of pleasure shoots through me when I feel his touch against my slick, bare folds. My breathing picks up and I let my nails travel over his inked chest. I don’t even care how fast we got naked or if we were fighting mere seconds ago.

All we both care about is fucking. Right here, right now, and preferably as hard and raw as it can get. I hook my leg around his and grab him by the neck. Using the energy inside me I channel it through a small burst, allowing me to catch the huge dragon man by surprise, long enough to make him land on his ass.

I reach down, fist his cock and impale myself in one smooth move. His large hands are gripping my waist to keep me in place, and I can feel him pulse hot jets deep inside me. His semen triggers my orgasm, and I scream in pleasure while Ernestine growls.

He buries his head into the crook of my neck and bites down. I can feel the pull against my skin as he drinks my blood. I’m still gasping for air to process the escalation of devirginizing myself on his cock followed by an instant orgasm for the both of us.

Ernestino pulls back and there’s a drop of blood slowly sliding down his chin when he rumbles, “Again.”

He pulls me off his cock, throws me down on my hands and knees and is instantly filling me back up. Holy shit, thank fuck for my vampire healing ability because the man is set to fuck me raw. Didn’t he mention it would only take one round to fill my belly with cum to impregnate me?

Double shit. Not only was getting an eternal mate not on my agenda, getting pregnant and becoming a mother wasn’t even a dot in my freaking future. My life literally turned upside-down in a heartbeat.

A slap followed by a sting turning to heat assaults my ass, bringing me back to the pleasure this man is giving me, and I decide to put a pin in my problems for now. My parents found their eternal mate, as did my brother, and a few of our friends did too. Many examples and every single one had their own issues.

It’s for this reason I lean back and grab his head, turn and manage to sink my teeth into his neck, solidifying our bond that yet again triggers a simultaneous orgasm. The taste of his blood on my tongue is unique.

Maybe the description of a dark, rich chocolate mixed with a hint of lime, raspberry, and chili. Damn, they are all flavors I love and can’t get enough of. I’m consumed with pleasure and am barely aware of shifting positions once more when he takes me roughly against the wall. All I want is another taste, giving me the bliss my body craves and the power my body vibrates with.