Chapter 40
Icollapsed to my hands and knees, letting the harp lay where I left it, struggling to get air. Fumbling with my T-shirt, I pulled it up, baring my abdomen. All I found was a red line where the blade had driven through my body. I touched it and winced, still tender.
Again, a strange theory floated through my mind. I was Bastian’s mate. And Bastian was some kind of immortal fae supernatural. Did that tie us together in…other ways?
“Rose Kennedy? Elle? Eleanor!” Christian’s voice cut through the chaos. Voices weren’t yelling commands anymore. Several people rushed in around Marsh, cursing when they saw who he was. They put cuffs on him, keeping their guns drawn.
“Christian,” I warned, “it’s Marsh. Marsh Thadur. He’s fae.”
Christian fell to his knees beside me, saw my blood, and cursed under his breath. “You’re okay?” he asked. I nodded. He turned to the others who were lifting Marsh off the ground. “Keep him well guarded. He’s supernatural. Fuck. We need Bastian for this shit—“
“WHERE IS SHE?!” A voice roared, shaking the walls. Bastian. It had worked. He must have transported himself straight here once I’d freed his specter, using a decent portion of whatever magic he’d saved.
I spotted him then, his eyes glued to me, sprinting across the warehouse, pushing people aside to get to me.
Christian stood up, took a step back—smart man.
Bastian fell to his knees, pulling me into his arms, eyes wide as he took in the blood.
His mouth crashed over my lips, kissing me, holding me tight to him.
I whimpered. The tightness fled my muscles and I burst into tears. He was here. He was okay.
We were okay.
“Shh. Shh. Baby girl, it’s okay. Fuck. You were so brave.
So fucking brave.” He held me, rocking me back and forth.
He fumbled with my shirt, pulling it up and checking the wound.
His eyes darted back and forth before settling on my face.
“The mate bond,” he said. “I didn’t realize.
Fuck.” He dragged a hand over his face. “Thank fuck.”
I’d never heard him so relieved.
The supposed bond had saved my life. Whatever connected us had allowed me to heal, had given me his magic. I was too overwhelmed to think about it right now.
“I thought… I thought you were dead.” The words came out choked as more tears fell. “When I found you.”
“Shhh.” He stood, moving me around until I was wrapped around him spider-monkey style.
“Bastian, we need—”
“No, Christian.” His head snapped to the side.
“Have Phillip handle this shit. I’m taking care of my girl.
” Christian’s mouth opened and closed, but Bastian strode off without waiting for him to respond.
I burrowed my face in his shoulder as he walked me to a more secluded area back in the racks.
He set me on one of the shelves, pushing boxes out of the way.
His hands roamed over me, checking every inch of my skin. I shivered against him, pawing my eyes.
“You’ll be expected to give a statement, sugar. But I want your story before you give it to them, hmm?”
I nodded, then told him exactly what had happened. How I’d found him. The slip of paper. I reached into my pocket and fished it out. He took it and simply tossed it away, lifting my hand and kissing my palm.
“Did you mean what you said?”
“What?” My voice was still thick with tears.
“Did you mean what you said earlier, when I was fighting Marsh’s compulsion.” I hesitated. “Say it, Elle. I need to hear it again.”
“I love you, Bastian. It’s only been two weeks and yet, I’ve fallen deeply in love with you.”
He leaned forward, his mouth molding to mine. I groaned, kissing him back, sweeping my tongue along his.
Eventually, I pulled away. “I didn’t know if you’d be able to hear me. Didn’t know if it would work.”
“That fucking—” He stopped himself and took a deep breath. “He tried to make me kill you.”
I felt the tremor that went through him, felt him shudder against me.
“You didn’t,” I whispered. “You fought it. I saw you fighting it.”
His forehead came to rest against mine. “You made all the difference. I don’t fucking deserve you. Elle, baby, I’m so fucking sorry. I should have told you when I realized what we were. I should have—”
I kissed him, locking my hands around his neck and pulling him close. I wanted to talk about these things, but I wanted his body more. I needed to feel him inside me.
“When can you take me home?” I demanded. “Sex now, talking later.”
He chuckled, fussing over me, making sure every inch of my skin was unscathed. “You’ll need to give your statement to Christian or one of the others, then I can get you out of here.”
He brushed a strand of hair from my face as I nodded, doing exactly that.
When we were done, he didn’t fuss with human transportation.
Shadows wrapped around us and that awful falling sensation returned.
I pushed out of his arms as soon as the night air kissed my skin, stepping away.
I bent over and he lifted my hair as I took deep breaths, felt the bile rise, then vomited.
“You’re all right,” he murmured, his hand rubbing my back.
I vomited again, completely emptying my guts.
When I finished, I stood up and wiped my mouth on my arm before looking around. We were outside my apartment building.
I frowned. This wasn’t…
“I thought you might like to get your stuff if you’re going to spend the night.”
“Oh. Yes, I suppose that would be good.”
“And Vivi? She’s probably worried about you?”
“Shit.” I turned on my heel and raced into the building.
I’d recovered my phone when I’d given the WBI my statement.
But things had been too chaotic to call her.
I punched in the code and raced inside. Bastian was close on my heels.
In the elevator, he kept his hand on the back of my neck.
My stomach fluttered at the clear possessiveness in his touch.
He wasn’t going to let me go anytime soon.
The elevator dinged and I strode to the apartment door, banging my fist on it. Rustling and cursing sounded from the other side. And then Vivi flung it open, her wide eyes darting between us.
“Motherfucking fuck!” She threw her arms around me. “If you ever make me worry like that again, I’m going to kill you!”
I hugged her back and breathed her in, the smell of her shampoo comforting me. “I’m okay. I’m okay.”
“You better be.” She pulled back to look at me, then her eyes widened at my disheveled appearance. “Oh my, God!”
“I’m fine. Seriously.”
Her eyes darted to Bastian. “Did you do this?!”
“It’s a long story,” I said before he could answer. “I’ll tell you everything later. Right now, I want my clothes. I’m staying at Bastian’s tonight.”
Her lips pulled downward.
I made a sound and said, “I need to fuck his brains out, Vivi. Unless you want to hear us in my room—”
“Okay! Okay. Fine! No. Get your stuff and go.” She stepped out of the way and I rushed in, dashing around my room, grabbing my things. I made a quick stop in the bathroom and brushed my teeth, getting rid of the vomit taste.
When I came back into the living room, Vivi was staring at Bastian with cautious curiosity.
The room was absolutely silent. He held Teddy in his arms, petting the cat’s head.
I faltered, watching those large hands stroke Teddy’s fur.
Wanting those large hands all over my body. Warmth curled in my core.
“I see you’ve had time to bond,” I said.
“Who?” he snapped, his eyes darting toward Vivi. “Me and the cat? Or your friend who keeps giving me the death glare?”
“Both?” I grinned.
Vivi huffed, rolling her eyes. “You put my best friend in danger, Bastian. Excuse me if I feel inclined to glare.”
Bastian lifted an eyebrow at me, as if saying see? without turning toward her. “She does make a good point.”
“I put myself in danger,” I clarified, adjusting the strap on my shoulder.
“Only because you felt inclined to play hero and rescue me, which, mind you, was very dangerous. We’ll be having a chat about that later, by the way.” And something in the promise of his voice sent shivers over my skin. We’d do more than chat about it, I was certain.
“The harp can’t be used on humans.” Not that I’d known this before setting out. “Far as I’m concerned, I was the best woman for the job.”
“I won’t argue with that.” His eyes heated with the admission. He set Teddy on the floor then came over to me, hooking an arm around my waist. “Now, didn’t you say something about sex?”
A choking sound came from across the room. “Can you please not?!”
I barely had time to shoot Vivi a grin.
“Sorry about this, sugar.” Black shadows wrapped around us again, taking both of us and the duffle bag slung over my shoulder. I was falling…falling…falling. When my feet were on solid ground, I didn’t feel as nauseous as I had before. I took a deep, steadying breath.
“You good?” Bastian studied me and I nodded. “Good.”
He pulled my bag from my shoulder and scooped me up into his arms, carrying me up the porch stairs. At the door, he punched in the code and temporarily disarmed the system, then carried me inside, kicking the door closed behind us.
“Want a drink?” he asked.
“Later,” I breathed.
He carried me to my room, then tossed my bag aside and walked me into the bathroom.
My stomach bottomed out as he lifted my bloodied shirt from my body, then slid my leggings down.
I stood and watched as he stripped away his own clothes, tossing them aside.
Then he lifted me by my buttocks, forcing my legs around him, and carried me into the shower stall.
He turned on the water, shielding me from the cold as it sprayed out and heated.
His lips found mine as he pressed me against the tile, grinding his cock against the apex of my thighs. I groaned, my hands slipping over him, looking for purchase. I pulled his long hair back behind him, then tangled my fingers in it. He growled, pressing his cock more firmly against me.
Sparks erupted at the contact.
“Mate,” he breathed. “Mine.”
Possessive words. The words of a goblin.
The muscles in my core clenched. I tightened my legs around him, rocking my hips. A hand slipped between my legs, fingers toying with me. My breaths came out shaky.
“So wet already, baby girl?” He massaged me, spreading my wetness around, coating me entirely before dipping a finger inside, pushing it deep. My hips bucked against him.
“More,” I whined, needing all of him. One finger became two. My hips continued to rock, desperately needing release.
His hands went to my thighs, and he moved me into position.
The head of his cock was at my opening, then pushing in.
Then he backed out and gave a single thrust, sheathing himself fully.
We both groaned at the feel of it, our mouths meeting, tongues dueling in a mess of lips and teeth.
His body flickered and his glamor fell away.
Pointed teeth nipped at my lower lip. I felt the metal of his piercing against my clit and a shiver wracked me.
“Yes!” I breathed, clenching around him. “Yes. More.”
“So demanding, little female. I would never deny you.” He pulled out, then slammed back in, sending a tremor through my body, a zing from the piercing. My body went molten, erupting with heat as I sucked in a breath. He did it again, and again, until his hips rolled powerfully against mine.
My panting turned to gasps as the ache between my legs built. As I trembled in his arms.
I’d almost lost him—almost lost this. Things could have gone very differently today.
If the authorities hadn’t shown up in time.
If Bastian hadn’t overpowered Marsh’s compulsion.
If the mate bond didn’t have the power to heal me.
So many ifs. But I’d succeeded, and we were here now, and I intended to make the most of it.
There were still things to discuss between us, but for now, here in this moment, our bodies and the primal thing between us was all that mattered.