Chapter 27 #3
Elliot smiled, looking more reassured. His earpiece crackled, and, although I didn’t have one, I heard the voice clearly.
“Visitors for the Count are on their way in. It’s the woman and the wolf,” a disembodied voice stated.
I gave Elliot a small smile. “Speak of the devils and they shall appear.”
Elliot grinned. “Yep, seems that way. Shall I let them in?”
I chuckled. “If they are here, something tells me you won’t be able to stop them.”
Elliot’s brows twitched up, but he didn’t ask.
My stomach tightened as he stepped out to greet Shane and Sorcha, closing the door behind him.
I released a deep breath. Being nervous wasn’t something I was accustomed to, nor was the anticipation of seeing them.
It was ridiculous how much they affected me.
The door slammed open, no knock, no gentle movement.
Shane marched in, Sorcha behind, looking at me apologetically.
It was clear she was trying to diffuse the situation before it even started.
I wondered what had gotten my wolf so riled up.
No doubt I’d find out very quickly. I folded my hands on the leather of the desk, my cock filling as I thought about the last time we were in this room together.
Maybe bending Shane over this desk again would calm his fury.
Perhaps that was the problem. I hadn’t fucked him or Sorcha since that night, and the Gods only knew I burned with the need to sink into both of them.
Not only was I achingly hard, but Shane’s attitude always made me want to trounce him.
To make him beg and moan my name. Blood pulsed through my veins.
I wanted him helpless under me, to completely surrender to mine and Sorcha’s touch. Just like I knew he craved.
I’d learnt a lot about my wolf in the past months, and though it made me a bastard of the highest order, I knew it would be easy to ruin him.
Shane craved to trust someone. That someone was me because he knew I could protect him from all the bad shit life had thrown his way.
When he gave me his submission, it was a gift, one I wouldn’t refuse.
Especially when all he wanted was to stop thinking and surrender to my dominance, mainly because we both knew I was the only one who could subdue him.
My wolf was complicated and messed up and so godsdamned sexy, and I loved that he challenged me.
I glanced at Sorcha, then tilted my head and smiled. “Hello, beautiful witch.” Her big, beautiful eyes widened, and her mouth dropped open. I didn’t bother to hide my grin. She pressed her lips together, a twinkle in her eyes as we connected without words. “Hi.”
I sat back, still smiling. It was nice to connect with someone as genuine as Sorcha Solomon.
Usually, I didn’t trust anyone enough to even bother trying, but Sor was different.
Shane might ignite a fire in my blood, but Sorcha was the calm, the ice that cooled it to a manageable level.
She soothed my frayed edges in ways no one ever had.
It was disconcerting and wonderful at the same time, and I already hated myself for what I was going to do to her.
Unwilling to consider that hateful future, I turned my attention fully to my wolf.
Shane stood right in front of the desk, big arms folded over his chest in such a way that it made his considerable muscles pop. His eyes flashed with a ruby red that betrayed his hunger, and it only deepened when he glanced at the leather desk top.
I shifted back a little, opening my legs enough that my arousal was obvious, but kept my composed exterior.
Shane’s irritation only increased at my suggestive position but distant attitude.
It was so fucking satisfying, riling the beast. He was getting angrier, and an irate Shane was so fucking hot.
I loved that he wasn’t cowed by me, that he always gave me attitude or fought back.
No one had ever dared before him, and it did something to me.
Made me want to kiss the hell out of him, while I fucked him senseless.
I curved my lips into the kind of half-smirk that always got a reaction from him.
It used to be confusion and even a little embarrassment; now it was defiance and lust. Damn, I’d fallen hard for him.
My only saving grace was that he didn’t know how much power he held over me.
“Yes, Fledgling? Did you want something?”
“Damn right I do. Or rather, we do. You are being a complete and utter dick. And I don’t care who the fuck you are.
You need to stop treating us like we are nothing more than the shit on your shoes.
You fucked us and then ghosted us. And when we nearly die, you save us and then disappear without a word—again.
Not only that, you drop a massive fucking bombshell about Sor being a witch, then ignore it.
Has it even crossed your mind how scary that is for her?
What the fuck is going on? Because I know I don’t understand, and neither does Sor.
She's just too nice to say anything. So tell us, Count, or we walk.”
I kept my cool as he slammed both palms down on the desk, though my cock twitched at the challenge in his eyes.
My attention drifted to Sorcha before moving back to his furious face.
I wanted to be inside them both at the same time.
The fact that it was impossible didn’t make that desire any less true.
My emotions and my heart were all over the place with these two.
The urge to pull them closer and tell them what they were to me constantly warred with the knowledge that I had to freeze them out of my life.
It was the sacrifice the witch had warned me about.
She said destiny didn’t mean happiness. Would we be happy together eventually?
Pain lanced my heart at the thought of letting my fire and ice go.
I breathed deep, forcing calm. Maybe I could keep them for a bit longer. My smile was almost gentle. “You’re right. I’m…sorry.” And I was. For everything that I’d done, and everything I would do to hurt them.
Shane’s look of surprise made me chuckle. Sor stepped up behind him and wrapped her arms around his middle, peering at me from behind his bicep. He visibly relaxed as she slipped her small hands under his top, her skin connecting to his. His eyes closed, and he took a deep breath.
“Sor…”
“He’s apologised, Shane. Let’s give him a chance to explain.”
Part of me wanted to act on the lust that heated my body just because they were near, but he was right, they deserved more. Even if I couldn’t tell them everything, I could still give Sor some clues about her heritage.
I pushed my chair back further and held Shane’s gaze. “We’ll discuss my failings and Sorcha’s heritage, fledgling. First, we should return to Dundean.”
His strong throat bobbed. He wanted to push, but I could also scent his burgeoning desire as Sor’s fingers brushed across his skin. His gaze dropped to where my hardness pushed against my trousers.
“Aren’t you going to try and distract us first?” He sounded almost disappointed. He was right, normally I would use sex to deflect their questions. Not this time. I needed to give them something—more.
“As much as I’d love to, it’s more important that you both understand the risks of being with me.”
He gave a bitter laugh. “Oh, I think we already understand that.”
“No, Shane, you don’t, or you would both have left already.” Not that I’d let them, but they didn’t need to know that.
His nostrils flared, the scent of his desire fading.
“Then fucking tell us, Count. Why did you keep Sor’s heritage from her?
You never do anything without an agenda of some fucking kind.
And those mages knew about her. They said you had the knowledge to save me.
And you did, didn’t you? You knew Sor’s blood would neutralise the poison. ”
I sighed. Clearly he wasn’t going to let me get them to Dundean before discussing this.
“Yes. I knew.” I slid my fingers around Sor’s wrist and urged her to move from behind Shane, pulling her into me.
“I’m sorry, little witch. I should have told you, but you are so innocent in some ways.
I wanted to protect you from more suffering. ”
“What suffering?” A frown line creased her brow, and I smoothed it away with a soft brush of my fingers.
“From the way your life will change once you understand what being a witch means. They are so very rare now, that you will be hunted. Especially by mages.”
“Why? They were the ones who saved her.”
I glanced at Shane’s tight face. “Because mages can only reproduce with witches, and to keep their race going they hunt witches and coerce, or force, them into a life of breeding and slavery.” That wasn’t entirely true, but if that’s what Sor believed, it would make her more wary. That mistrust might keep her safe.
“If that’s the case, Bal, why didn’t you tell me before?”
“Because I believed I could keep you safe. That you didn’t need to know. Besides, I didn’t think anyone else knew about you.”
Her smile was gentle but her words held an edge of steel that surprised me. “But you didn’t keep me safe, and if we’d both understood the risks, then I could have been more aware and Shane more vigilant.”
“No, you couldn’t. How would you have spotted that woman? She didn’t look any different to any other customer.”
“Maybe not, but I’ve been living under your roof for months. If you’d told me earlier about what I am, and what the risks are, I could have been learning how to be a witch. I might even have learnt a way to protect myself from those who wish me harm.”
I didn’t react, but that was precisely why I hadn’t told her.
If she had learnt that kind of spell, she would have known weeks ago that I was the one about to harm her.
Instead, I leant down and brushed her lips with mine, lacing my fingers through hers.
It was a relief when she didn’t pull away.
“I know. So let me apologise properly, and then we’ll go home and I’ll show you all the books I own on witchcraft. ”
“Apologise how?” Her breathy question made me smile, though her eyes still held a glint of steel.
I kissed her gently, swallowing her sigh. “Let me worship you.”
She smiled and looked up at Shane, who had moved behind her.
There was lust burning in his gaze, but it was clearly warring with the need to ask more questions.
I waited. This would be their choice. They needed to feel in control of what happened between us.
Especially now that they’d caught me in a lie.
Sor wrapped her arms around my neck, the softness of her breasts pushing against my chest as she rose on her tiptoes and placed a chaste kiss on my lips.
“I accept. On one condition.”
My brow rose. “Which is?”
“You help me find out everything you can about being a witch, and how to tap into any spells or magic I have.”
It would only help us all if she could. Ultimately, the only thing that could unlock her power was an emotional break so painful, it shattered her. But that knowledge was mine alone.
“I give you my word.”
“Fine. I will allow you to apologise. But not here. Let’s go home.”
My heart flipped. Home. She thought of my home as hers. Jesus, the way that made me happy told me how truly fucked I was. “Shane?” There was no disguising the deep, possessive note in my voice. I wanted him with us.
His wolf flashed in his gaze. “Oh, so I’m included in this apology, too?”
I grinned, my fangs showing. “Of course. Is that what you want? For me to worship you, too, fledgling?” I couldn’t help but ruffle his feathers. His annoyance was always so delicious.
“Too right, Count. You owe us both.”
Part of me wanted to disagree, just to ignite the irritation I found so hot. Except he was right. Besides, it was no hardship. I’d enjoy my apology just as much as they would. “Then let’s go. Unless you don’t want to wait?”
Sor smirked and stepped into Shane’s arms, kissing him deeply. She pulled back and shot me a sly look. “Oh, we’re not going to wait. You are. I’m going to ride Shane in the luxury of your helicopter. And you aren’t going to touch us or yourself until we’re home.”
Shane’s grin was wide as he chuckled. “Wow, Sor, you really want him to suffer, don’t you?”
She shrugged, her eyes twinkling with a wicked light as she shot me another smile. “Maybe a little.”
I released a heavy sigh, then grinned back. It was fucking wonderful to see her so confident. “Well played, sweet witch. But remember that once I’ve apologised, payback will be a bitch.”
“I’m pretty sure that’s not the way an apology is supposed to work,” Shane said dryly.
My lips ticked into a smirk, as I indicated the door.
“Mine do. Let’s go.” My grin only got wider as they exchanged a worried look.
They should know by now that I spin every situation to my advantage.
And apologies weren’t any different. Not that I’d apologised to anyone in recent memory—or ever. They didn’t need to know that though.