30. Shade
My heart skippeda beat as we materialized in the middle of a rose garden—one I had created a month before I’d bitten Aflora.
I’d promised myself then that I wouldn’t come back here until she was ready.
And I hoped now that I’d made the right choice. Because I couldn’t imagine a better time.
Zakkai frowned as he wandered to the edge of the garden to look over the cliff into the ocean, his white brow arching upward as he glanced back at me. “California?” he guessed.
I nodded.
“Why California?” Kols asked, his eyes on the bright blue sky overhead. “This isn’t Death Blood territory.”
“No. But the future Fortune Fae Alpha of this region is a friend.” Assuming he got his shit in order and followed his right path. Unfortunately, his mother’s death might alter it. In addition to a dozen other obstacles. But I had faith he’d work it out. In time.
“Seif?” Kols guessed, aware of my friendship with the Death Blood who had recently turned into a Fortune Fae Alpha.
“Yes.”
He stared at me for a moment, a question lingering in his mind about how I knew this would eventually be Seif’s territory. But rather than voice it, he just went back to admiring the sky. Does he know about Anrika yet? he asked softly.
Grandfather Kodiak said he was handling it. I would have done it myself, but with everything else going on, there hadn’t been time. He’s making sure Seif receives Anrika’s death message, too. Because she’d cast a charm above her body, the message of it meant for Seif. I didn’t know what it said, nor did I want to know. Some things weren’t my story to tell.
“This is beautiful,” Aflora whispered, her fingers traveling over the rosebushes and causing the flowers to bloom. She knelt to touch the soil, excitement radiating off her as she began studying all the life around her.
This was why I’d chosen this home.
It went on for acres along the cliffs, the expensive property front private and stunning and perfect for a little garden nymph to run around and play.
She seemed to sense that purpose now as she giggled and began to frolic through the garden to the copse of trees beyond. There was a pool somewhere, too. But I doubted that was her intended destination.
Zeph followed her with a predatory grin, something I felt Kols responding physically to through our bond.
Zakkai seemed content to admire the sea, his nostrils flaring as the ocean breeze tousled his thick white hair.
“My mother used to love the ocean,” he told me as Kols followed Zeph in pursuit of Aflora. “I remember her always wanting to make sandcastles with me as a child.” His lips curled with the memories. “Aflora and I used to make them, too. But out of dirt in the Elemental Fae realm. I wonder if she remembers.”
“I’m sure she does,” I said quietly.
He dipped his chin, then sighed. “This is a beautiful home, Shadow. I suppose all those trips through time allowed you to gamble a little with human currency?”
I merely stared at him, not inclined to give anything away.
“Don’t suppose you stopped by a casino in the region? Perhaps one in the Vegas area?”
“Why would I do that?” I countered, neither confirming nor denying the obvious guess.
“Why indeed?” He slid his hands into his black slacks and looked out at the ocean again. “How many times do you think Tadmir has taken all of us back in total?”
“Too many to count,” I answered honestly.
He nodded. “My thoughts exactly.” Then he smiled, the sight a rare expression of enjoyment in his features. Because it lacked mockery. This was just Zakkai… grinning in content. “We owe you both a great deal of gratitude.”
“You more than them,” I half joked.
“Yes, I imagine I was quite difficult.”
“Because you knew.” Not a question, but a statement.
“Because I knew,” he admitted. “Just not the extent or particulars of what you were doing, but I could feel it as a result of my ascension.”
Yeah, I suspected as much. “Why did you go along with it this time?” In previous timelines, he’d always fought me or found a loophole. But in this one… he was almost acquiescent.
“Maybe I was tired.”
“Or maybe you fell in love,” I suggested.
“I absolutely fell in love,” he agreed, his irises flaring as he looked in the direction Kols and Zeph had gone. “We should go after them before they have all the fun.”
“Yes, I imagine Aflora is already naked.” Because I could feel Kols’s amusement and intrigue in the bond.
“She is,” Zakkai replied, grinning. “She’s gone full garden nymph, just like you desired.”
“Poking around in my head?”
“Always.” He glanced at me with an unrepentant look. “Your mind is fascinating, Shadow. So many secrets and hidden agendas. Which reminds me, that meeting with Lucifer that you scheduled on my behalf for next week? You’re coming with me.”
I sighed. “Of course I am.”
Wickedness darkened his features. “It’ll be fun, Shadow.”
“Deals always are,” I muttered, walking with him to find our Aflora.
She was indeed naked.
And dancing through a bed of flowers that definitely hadn’t been there when we’d arrived.
Zeph had taken up a position by a tree, his shoulder braced against the bark. Kols stood with him, both of them aroused and entertained by the sight of our mate spinning with glee.
“Don’t we need to fuck to finish the Earth Fae mating?” Zakkai called to her, his direct manner causing her to stumble and nearly fall.
I shadowed to her side, catching her on instinct. And she giggled against my chest. Her blue eyes met mine, the little nymph drunk on her earth source. “Sex sounds nice,” she said on a sigh. “Shade goes first.”
Then she pulled me down to the flowers and covered us in a canopy of petals.
Zeph and Zakkai both protested, while Kols merely laughed.
My clothes disappeared beneath her power, leaving me as naked as her and on my back in the soil. I arched a brow. “No foreplay?” I teased, already rock hard from her show of strength alone.
“Mmm.” She straddled my hips, her expression radiating pure, unadulterated joy. “We’ve been playing for months.” She seated herself to the hilt, her body moving sensuously against mine. “Now I just want you, Shadow. My Death Blood Prince. And your very impressive cock.”
I chuckled, grabbing her hips to flip her to her back. I settled between her thighs and drove into her again, my lips going to her ear. “You’ve been talking to Zeph too much. He’s dirtied your mouth.”
“Do you prefer willow stump?” she asked on a breath as her hips rose eagerly to meet mine.
“Do I feel like a willow stump to you?”
“I don’t know,” she moaned. “Fuck me harder and I’ll report back later.”
I chuckled against her neck. “You really are a nymph, little rose.”
“Yes,” she agreed. “Now stop talking and take me to oblivion.”
“Anything for you,” I whispered, loving her with my body, my mouth, and my hands. Our Earth Fae bond was very much alive and fully in place, but sex was how Elemental Fae culminated the act.
And I felt it now, that warm energy of her sunbathing me in rightness, claiming me as Aflora’s mate, and ensuring my roots forever twined with hers.
“I love you,” she told me softly, her arms around my neck as our bodies joined together as one.
“I love you, too, little rose.” I kissed her then, unleashing all my gratitude and longing and appreciation into her mouth. All those years of dancing with fate. All those timelines. All those mistakes. All those near ends. I’d almost lost her so many times. But here she was, my sweet, beautiful Aflora, in a bed of her own creation, blossoming with life and happiness.
Finally, I thought, reveling in the dream of the moment. It’s finally… done.
She cupped my cheek, her legs encircling my waist as I slid deeper into her. You can rest now, Shade, she murmured. You can finally enjoy the moment without worrying about what comes next. You can finally… exist.
With you, I replied, my pace increasing. I can finally exist… with you.
Yes. Her teeth skimmed my lower lip. “Bite me,” she breathed. “Bite me like it’s the first time. Claim me as yours the right way.”
I shivered, then did exactly as she’d asked, my teeth sinking into her throat as I pulled her powerful blood into my mouth on a groan that traveled miles and miles.
She moaned in response, her tight sheath squeezing me as she came undone, her orgasm yanking me down with her, our shared pleasure burning through my veins and touching my very soul.
Her blunt teeth caught my pulse and she bit down, drinking from me as I’d done from her.
Our connection only strengthened, our souls already married as one.
But some part of me felt even more complete, even more owned, even more accepted.
I pressed my head to her shoulder, panting from the exertion of our connection.
Then I closed my eyes and did exactly what she’d said.
I existed and didn’t worry about the next moment.
Because, for the first time in my life, I didn’t have to.
I could just… be.