45. Seir
Chapter 45
Seir
I was wound tight as I closed the door and locked it behind us, caging her against it.
“Are you alright?” I asked, looking down into her lovely face.
She nodded slowly. “I’m fine. Better now, I think the energy has settled. Don’t let the necklace come off my skin though, it’s how you can all use your powers near me.”
I nodded my understanding, then leaned down, resting my forehead against hers. “You have blood on your face,” I said, close enough to smell the iron in it.
“So do you,” she countered.
“I was worried about you.”
“And I about you.”
“You’re wearing the ring.” My heart thudded rapidly against my ribs as I picked up her hand, admiring how it looked on her finger. I knew what a ring meant in human customs, knew what offering one to her and hiding the one she’d been drawn to in the strongbox implied. I’d lost my breath for a moment when I first saw she was wearing it.
I pulled back, gazing down into her incredible eyes. They were wide and round, her rapid breathing betraying the same lust my body had been pulsing with since she’d begun releasing her rage.
“Yes. It fits. And it helps.”
“You’ve messed up your clothes again,” I said low, reaching my hands under her tunic, pulling it up and over her head, tossing it on the floor.
“So have you,” she repeated, copying my actions.
“You are a wild creature, Hailon. Suited for violence. A goddess of vengeance. You wield a dagger as well as I do. Better. I love seeing one in your hand, particularly mine. You are my perfect mate. I adore you.” Every time I stopped speaking, I kissed a new spot down her neck, along her collarbone. “I’ve been very, very good, beloved, and I am in awe of your beauty. Is this something you want right now? May I have you?”
“You’d better,” she breathed.
I dropped to my knees with a growl, hardly able to focus through the haze that had fallen over me. I tugged at the waist of her trousers, dropping them off her hips and to the floor. She stepped out of them, resting one foot on my shoulder. I traced my hand up her leg, noticing the small trembles her muscles gave, the flush to her cheeks, the gasps she made when I replaced my hand with my tongue.
I buried my face between her thighs, thriving on the way she said my name when I moved my mouth in just the right way. Her eyes never left mine, her gaze fierce as I consumed her. The telltale pulses of her arousal followed quickly on the heels of me pressing two fingers into her wet heat. I suckled the tight bundle of nerves, teasing it gently with my teeth, her hips pushing toward me in response. She moaned, threading her fingers through my hair.
“Horns,” she gasped, eyes slipping closed.
I grinned and released them, as she asked. Her hands wrapped solidly around the sensitive appendages once they were out, tingling under her firm grip and sending a throb directly to my cock. She directed me where she needed me most using them as her guides, her foot simultaneously pushing me away and dragging me closer as her arousal surrounded me. She came roughly and with a shout, pulsing around my fingers, but I kept on. I didn’t stop until she begged.
“Seir, please . I need you.”
I understood. Because I needed her more than I needed my next breath.
She slid limply down the door, and I grabbed her against me, stepping out of my pants as I crossed the room toward the bed. Her eyes were hazy as she looked up at me, her cheeks flushed and the scent of her filling my nose.
“Okay, Moonflower?”
Hailon nodded enthusiastically, reaching for me, but I was still too far back. I leaned over her, pinning her hands above her head with one hand. She arched and wriggled, trying to take what she wanted.
“I love you greedy, Hailon.” I pushed forward, filling her up completely. Both of us inhaled at the sensation. I hoped it would always be like this, always feel this way between us. “Fuck, I’ve missed you.”
I leaned down to kiss her as I started to move my hips, her tiny little moans sending shivers down my spine. Her legs tightened around me as I gave in to the instinctual motion, my tail between us stroking her nub, one hand lifting her hip so I could get even deeper.
Her thighs began to tremble, and I sucked air through my nose to try to resist the impending climax chasing down my spine. It was useless though, because those brilliant eyes were fixed on mine again as she gasped and shuddered, and I was powerless not to fall into the abyss with her. Hailon’s body clamped down on me, my rhythm stilted as thought became impossible. I plunged in as far as I could go, trying to become one entity with my mate as my release powered through my body.
Panting, I sagged over the top of her and claimed her mouth again, gently winding my tongue around hers, seeking, tasting. I let go of her wrists and slid my hands between her back and the sheet, wrapping my arms around her, making us an inseparable tangle of limbs.
I traced along the tiny raised dots of her scars, sucking lightly along the ridge of her shoulder.
“Are you tired, beloved?”
“No. I’m not tired.”
“Good.”
I lifted her with me as I stood and took us to the bath. I ran the water extra hot and took my time washing us both, just so I could touch as much of her as possible.
When we finally made it into bed, I tucked myself behind her, my tail wound firmly around her ankle, and her hair tickling my face.
I’d never slept better.
Hailon and I entered the dining room the next morning to find the round table already well occupied.
“Good morning!” Grace greeted us, her hands full of plates as she crossed from the kitchen to the table. “I’ll be right back, okay?”
“Please, don’t go to any trouble—” Hailon started, but Grace was faster.
“Coffee is in the big decanter, tea in the pot. I’ll be right back with some plates.”
“Thank you!”
“It’s really quite pointless to argue with her,” Rylan smiled. “She’s very dedicated and will do what she thinks is right regardless. Pull up some chairs, Seir.”
Everyone made space for us, and I pulled over two extra seats.
“We’re going to need a bigger family table,” Calla said, and I could see the moment her smile went a little extra wide and her eyes started to shimmer. “Isn’t that wonderful?”
“I do love seeing everyone’s faces,” Vassago agreed. “Even that one.” He gestured to me with a grin.
“Did we miss anything good after we left?” I asked, Grace dropping a plate under my hands as if by magic.
Hailon was reserved but watchful, sipping at her coffee and politely nodding.
Magnus reached across the table, covering Hailon’s hand with his for a brief moment. “We owe you many thanks, Hailon.” Her head popped up. “With some encouragement, Brookes told us a great number of truly disturbing things. We may be able to find many lost souls thanks to you.”
“I didn’t really do anything,” she protested.
“That’s not true at all.” He shook his head. “You helped expose a man who spent nearly a century manipulating his position, exploiting his power. Thank you.”
She nodded softly, a blush in her cheeks. I smiled back proudly, meeting my brothers’ eyes, silently asking their thoughts on my mate. Both nodded gently.
“We’ll get started on your necklace immediately,” Rylan told her. “Imogen returned to the conclave last night and said she planned to work on the dagger. I do think it’s safest for you under more powerful warding for the time being.” He frowned. “Please don’t misunderstand, you are more than welcome here, but until we thoroughly vet the members of both councils, I think it’s safer for you somewhere your power can’t be discovered.”
“Wards won’t be a problem,” I volunteered, glancing up to find Magnus nodding. He had been integral in helping move along my plans, and I was very grateful.
Hailon scooted some of the eggs around her plate. “I can spend time at Ophelia’s. Her invitation was open.”
Grace returned and took a chair next to Magnus. He dipped down to kiss her temple, and she snuck a sausage off his plate.
Greta set a vial of shimmery silver liquid in front of herself, then handed one each to Grace, Calla, and Hailon.
“What’s this?” I asked.
“Elixir of Life,” she said in a hushed tone.
“What does it do?” Hailon asked.
“This specific formula will match one’s lifespan to that of their mate.”
We all quietly absorbed that, my brothers and I looking from one to the other and back to the women we loved.
Grace was the first to speak. “So, if I take it, as a plain old human, what happens to me?”
Greta shrugged. “I’m not sure. Not completely. But I would assume that your human lifespan would be extended by at least several decades, if not centuries. It’s calibrated on both demon and stone kin blood, so it should be a significant extension either way. I suspect it will slow your aging, but not make you any less… fragile… than your body is naturally. If nothing else, it will give me plenty of time to figure out an alternative if it’s not quite what I expect it to be.”
“I…” She looked from the vial to Magnus. “I have to think about this.”
Magnus patted her hand, adoration in his gaze. “It’s not a small decision. Take your time. I’m not going anywhere.”
Meanwhile, Calla had opened hers and, after staring at it a moment, then sniffing it, drank it down. She turned to give Rylan a kiss, a broad smile on both of their faces. Greta eyed Vassago and did as Calla had done—bottoms up, no hesitation.
“One less thing to worry about,” Calla said with a smile.
“I know this is all very new, and quite a lot to take in,” Greta said to Hailon. “But that’s yours. Take it with you. It won’t spoil.”
“Thank you,” Hailon said, one of her hands a claw as it dug into my thigh. My strong, dangerous Moonflower was emotional.
Then breakfast continued as normal—eating, drinking. Talk of torture. Comparing weapons and discussing next steps for righting the wrongs done to our kin.
I loved these people, especially the incredible little creature beside me. And I couldn’t wait to start my forever with her.