Epilogue
Epilogue
Emerson
“ U h-oh,” Ember says, waking me out of a dead sleep. “I gotta pee.”
“I've got this.” Laithe plucks the very naked, now human, Ember off my chest and zips into the bathroom before I've even fully woken up.
I carefully shove Dread's giant arm off my middle and roll over my sleeping hellhound. I make my way to the en suite bathroom, but Laithe is already coming out with a wiggly Ember in his outstretched arms.
“What are you doing?” I ask, snorting a laugh.
“We have trust issues,” Laithe says, sidestepping me and carrying Ember into the attached nursery. “Mainly that I don't trust this little delinquent not to pee on me.”
I laugh, shaking my head. “She just went. Here. I'll get her dressed.”
“Tell Mommy we got this,” Laithe says, grinning at Ember.
“We got dis,” Ember says as he places her on her feet near her dresser.
He digs through the drawers and tosses her a pull-up. I watch in awe as he stretches out a hand, and she grabs it, steadying herself before putting herself right into it.
My hand flies to cover my mouth, because I'm really not sure I'm mentally prepared for stuff like her dressing herself. Yes, I know that sounds insane since I was a human yesterday, and I'm—I guess—a vampire today. But I don't give a shit.
She's growing up way too fast. I'm used to doing all this for her.
Laithe grabs a dress out of the drawer. His pointer finger aims at her and points to the ceiling. “Arms up.”
The adorable little traitor tosses her arms in the air and lets him pull it on for her.
“You really weren't joking,” I say, squatting down at Ember's side. The last few weeks, when I asked her who got her dressed, she always says she did it. “You got yourself dressed, didn't you?”
Ember nods, pointing a finger at her chest. “Me do it.”
“You did good, pup,” Laithe says, holding out a hand for a high five. “She really could have been potty trained ages ago. I think the little heathen just likes marking her territory.”
I laugh.
She's turning two in a week, but due to her shifter blood, she's much closer to a three-year-old.
Everything has been so different since we got here.
She's mostly potty trained now. She only wears the pull-up in case she gets too busy to remember to go to the restroom.
Sometimes, she just wears panties with her dress. ..
She's growing up so damn fast.
Ryktus comes in and grins when he spots Ember. “Would you like to get some breakfast?”
“Yes,” she agrees, running straight into his shins.
“You handle feeding our mate breakfast,” Ryktus says to Laithe as he dips down to pick her up. Once she's settled in his hold, they head out.
I frown at his back as his bony wings flutter behind him.
“What does he mean by feed me breakfast? Can't I eat with Ember in the kitchen?”
Laithe prowls closer. Long blond hair falls around his face as he bites his lip, looking like sex personified. “You fed from Dread, and you had an extreme amount of my blood last night, but I wish to claim you as my beloved, and that might get a bit...messy.”
“Okay.” I laugh as his hands land on my hips.
“How about a quick shower?” he asks. Without waiting for my reply, he tosses me over his shoulder and rushes us into the attached bathroom.
Laithe is efficient as he starts the water and strips us both nude.
“How do you claim a beloved? Is that a mate bond for vampires?” I tilt my head, studying his handsome face as he backs me into the scalding shower spray.
“It's a very simple claiming,” he murmurs, pulling my mouth to his. Our tongues tangle together as his bare skin presses against mine.
Dread's shower is huge, but somehow, while I'm lost to the kiss, Laithe backs me up against the cool tile wall.
“Are you going to bite me in return?” Laithe asks.
He slides his arms under my thighs and lifts me.
I wrap my legs around his ass and groan as he licks over my neck.
“I don't want to be pushy about you feeding. My maker was a true monster. He tormented and controlled every second of my existence until I grew strong enough to end him.”
I frown. “Shit, Lai. I'm so sorry.”
“No, none of that, lovely. We'll be good to each other. That's all I want from you and for you to wear my bite like you wear Dread's. It will always be visible like his mark.” Laithe's wet hair falls around my face as he stares into my eyes.
“That's okay,” I assure him. The idea of being claimed by him sends a spike of arousal through my system. “Will you wear my mark too?” I frown, because that was extremely difficult to say with a straight face. I’m not used to having fangs.
Not at all. It’s kind of crazy that I can now claim someone.
“ Fuck , yes,” he growls. “Gods, Em. Your fangs are so damn sexy.”
My tongue runs over my teeth, and I'm surprised to realize I can feel them.
“They'll automatically show themselves when you're aroused or angry. Or maybe they won't...” My infuriating vampire shrugs. “Everything is a bit of a mystery with you.”
Laithe slams my back against the wall and tilts his pelvis so his cock brushes my core as he grinds into me.
“I need you to feed regularly,” he says, staring straight into my eyes. “And you're going to be exceptionally fucking pissed when I say this, but I'm willing to accept your wrath if I need to. You shouldn't be alone with Ember until we know for sure how you’ll handle the cravings.”
I hear what he's saying, and I totally agree with the sentiment behind keeping Ember safe. However, the hissing sound I release and the fact I lunge for Laithe's throat tells a very different story from how I feel internally.
“Oh, yeah.” He chuckles. “Your monster doesn't like being challenged. Not one little bit.” He pins my arms to the wall above my head and slams his cock into me in one savage thrust.
“Fuck you,” I snarl. “I wouldn't hurt Ember under any circumstances!”
“I know you wouldn't,” Laithe says, tenderly rubbing his cheek against mine.
I'm still fighting against his hold. He's ridiculously strong. His eyes meet mine, and they're pure milky white.
“Fight me all you like, lovely,” he growls. “I'm still going to fuck my cum into you while I make you mine.” His fangs descend, and then he's kissing me senseless. He's been buried to the hilt inside me, but he begins to roll his stomach muscles as he pulls out and slams back in.
The tantalizing feeling of my nipples brushing against his chest is more intense than ever before. He slaps his hips into mine over and over until all I can do is beg. My head thrashes around the shower wall as he holds me pinned in place.
“Laithe,” I growl, digging my feet into his ass and trying to gain some traction. I don't even know what I'm struggling against anymore.
Laithe pins both my wrist in one of his huge hands and cradles my chin in his other. His thumb tenderly brushes over my cheek.
Those white eyes of his meet mine as he smirks.
“Say you'll feed regularly and indulge my need to protect our pup against all threats,” he taunts, running his tongue over his fangs. “Give me this small concession, as it's in all of our best interests, please?”
“Fine,” I grumble. “Now make me come!”
“Mmm, yes, ma'am.” He shoves his tongue in my mouth. It’s a totally different experience with both of our fangs out, and the kiss quickly turns bloody. “Gods, Em. You're fucking delectable.”
He continues to grind against my clit as his cock slams into me, and I whine.
“That’s it, lovely. Come all over my cock,” Laithe snarls. He uses the hand on my chin to tilt my face to the side, and as I'm about to explode, he strikes. His fangs dig into the flesh of my throat.
“Shh,” Dread says, appearing on my other side. “I'm a bit afraid the pup might be able to hear your begging moans from all the way downstairs.”
He slaps a hand over my mouth. I lick his palm as I tighten around Laithe's thickening shaft.
“Fuck, lovely. It's your turn to bite, and I don't mean the hound,” Laithe groans.
Dread pulls his hand away and helpfully moves Laithe's hair to the side. I'm not sure how I know where to strike, but I'll chalk it up to instinct, because Laithe's blood instantly coats my mouth.
“Damn,” Laithe whispers. “Grind your hips just like that. Fuck me...” He erupts inside me as a warm fuzzy feeling invades my chest.
It's so unexpected that I moan, pulling back and licking over the bite. The wound instantly closes, but two fang marks decorate the column of his neck.
Laithe pulls both hands to my face and kisses me. I'm still suspended in the air as he grinds through the last few kicks of his cock.
“You feel it, don't you? That's my love for you.” The look of sincerity on his face takes my breath away. He pecks a small kiss on my lips, reverently running his fingers over my cheek, and helps me to stand.
“I believe your hellhound would quite like to fuck you now,” Laithe says, chuckling.
“Abso-fucking-lutely,” Dread growls. And that's what he does. He turns me to face the wall and fucks me into oblivion while Laithe provides backup.