Chapter Nine
Alvis
Moonscale London
I planned to keep kissing Raiel until he agreed with me that the sharing of his location was my second courting gift.
“No, it’s not,” Raiel growled against my lips.
“You’re right. It’s the third,” I said, leaning back just enough to meet his feline gaze.
“What?” he laughed. “Are you making up gifts in your head now, mate?”
“No, the shirt! It was exactly what I needed when we got to your car!” I laughed. “That makes your location the third! So, yes! Yes, I accept your gifts!”
Raiel laughed and kissed me again. His hands slid to my ass as if he realized that if the courting gift period of our relationship was over that meant he could put his hands all over me and all over me was exactly where I wanted his big, warm hands.
At my age, I didn’t feel much like puttering around what we both wanted.
We were both too old to play games. I’d been courted and now it was time for the primal cat to lay his claiming bite.
Raiel’s tongue plunged into my mouth and his fingers kneaded into my ass.
I leaned into him, letting his broad, muscular form take on my weight.
His teeth were sharp and pointy, and the tips of my sharp fangs brushed against his lip.
Between us, this kiss grew coppery, and I couldn’t get enough of him.
“I’m not on the pill or the shot or whatever the young people are doing these days. I’m not much for casual hookups. So, I never bothered with it,” I said between kisses. “So, the true-mate magic won’t have to work too hard on getting it’s way.”
“Do you want more kids?” Raiel asked.
“Yes,” I nodded. “I always thought I’d have more but then.
.. Well, life said fuck you,” I laughed and kissed him again.
I could’ve kissed him forever, but the night was wearing on, and I wanted a few hours of sleep and maybe our claiming vows before the sun came up and I had to convince Nic and Beal to load up their baby and come out to brunch with us.
Anything to get them out of the house and away from the eavesdropper long enough for me to let them in on the details.
“To fuck me in particular?” he teased when the kiss broke again.
“Maybe.”
“Life knew what it was talking about. We have barbs to ensure conception. At least I do when I’m not on the potion.”
“Barbs?” I cocked a brow. “I don’t want to jump to conclusions but…”
“They’re not like what you’re thinking. My cock isn’t wrapped in barbed wire. They’re rather malleable. The last guy I let go down on me while they were out said they were like a built in French tickler.”
I smirked and wondered how long before his potion wore off. It didn’t matter either way. Unless his cock was literally wrapped in barbed wire our claiming vows were happening.
“I think we should head back. It’s not like me to stand in the middle of a street hard and slick and ready to pin someone to the ground and take advantage of them.”
“Can’t take what’s on offer,” he said and squeezed my ass again.
On the way back to Nic and Beal’s house I filled Raiel in on the details of my plan.
If Sharon Claudis was listening in through Annila she’d be taken on a wild ride.
We snuck in through the same back door we left through.
It was dark and neither of us paid much attention until we heard the squeak of the rocking chair.
“Nic?” Raiel said, spinning toward the noise.
“Who’s your friend, Raiel?” A woman’s voice asked.
Looking over my mate’s shoulder I found Annila sitting up in the rocking chair with Baby Antonio against her ample bosom. She rocked him gently. I cocked my head to the side wondering if it was really her or if her captor had figured out a way to wear her body like a glove.
“I’m Alvis,” I said, stepping in front of my mate.
Sure, primal cats were strong but if anyone was going to fight a dragoness possessed by a shebear it was going to be me.
I knew to take no prisoners and to never hesitate when fighting a magic user.
I wasn’t sure what Raiel knew about such fights but I wasn’t about to risk my mate.
I’d only just met him but I’d burn down all Earthside to keep him with me.
“Hi, Alvis. Are you Raiel’s friend?” Annila yawned.
Raiel smelled off for a second. That was my next sign that Annila wasn’t acting like herself. I opened my mouth unsure of what answer I’d give her when Beal tore into the kitchen. The dragoness’s pretty face contorted into a snarl upon seeing her son-in-law.
“I have the baby, Beal. You should go to sleep,” Annila spat out the words, her voice grew more nasally with each syllable.
He and Raiel exchange a look. I had two seconds to react before Raiel shoved me behind him yelling something about the door.
He ran for the kitchen door blocking the path and Beal pounced toward the dragoness holding his baby.
Only as her glamor fell away bit by bit, it was clear that she was not Annila.
The woman dissolved into thin air as Beal pounced against the chair, catching his crying baby.
Beal held the cub in human form against his chest and snarled as he spun in a circle.
“Was that Sharon Claudis?” I asked.
“Fucking bitch,” Beal swore under his breath and his baby hiccupped and let out a tiny laugh.
Neal peeked his head out from between Raiel’s feet, looking very self-satisfied.
“Did Neal tell you it wasn’t her?” I asked, glancing over my shoulder and scanning the dark backyard and street.
“He woke me up to say a ghost was stealing the baby. First thing I did was check the nursery. No baby there,” Beal said, patting his baby’s back.
“Then I checked on Annila. She was there. He knows Raiel and he saw you too. He knows you’re not a ghost and Neal isn’t dumb. Then Annila was in the rocking chair.”
“What are we going to do?” Raiel asked.
“Tonight we all go sleep in the same room,” I sighed, giving up my dreams of having all those pointy teeth sinking into my shoulder tonight. “Tomorrow we go to brunch.”
If Beal questioned my logic, he didn’t say anything. He led the way upstairs, keeping a firm grip on his baby. Raiel and I changed into his pajamas. I had to borrow a pair since my clothes were still in my car and I hadn’t planned on wearing anything while I was alone with my mate.
Lucky for us, Nic was the sort of guy who had a sofa in his room and it was big enough for both of us if Raiel spooned in around me.
He tried to trap me between him and the sofa’s cushy back but I wasn’t having it.
I’d been in more magical fights than anyone in this room.
If Sharon Claudis came through that door I didn’t want anyone between us.
It was harder to project emotions and willpower onto someone’s astral body but that didn’t mean it never worked.
Raiel curled in tight around me and his hard dick pressed against me.
Part of me wanted to drag him off to the bathroom and take care of that issue so we could both get some sleep but I knew he wasn’t about to leave his little cousin.
Neal climbed onto our hips and stretched out across us as if he were the big brave protector.
Maybe he was. He was the one who spotted the ‘ghost’ after all.