36. The Slayer
The Slayer
When we arrive back at the apartment, Iris is downstairs in her brewing area. Her gaze is hyper focused and I just watch her work.
It takes several minutes before she realizes Scarlett and I are back home.
“You’re back. Good. I need another set of hands. Come here,” she orders, and I’m eager to please as she puts me in front of a cauldron.
“The second this turns pink, you tell me.”
She’s slightly frantic as she works, far from the calm witch I’ve seen in this room before.
“Is something bothering you, Iris?”
“Yes. That we weren’t prepared before. We went into that place with nothing, no plan, no defenses. We won’t do that again.”
I glance down at Scarlett, and she gives me a nudge to keep asking Iris questions.
“What do these potions do?”
“The one you’re waiting to turn pink. Keep your eyes on it,” she scolds, and I look away from her to stare at the potion. “It’s quick sleep. I’ll mix it with sand so it isn’t liquid. You blow that in someone's face it should knock them right out. Then we have fire blood.”
I glance over at her and she glares at me. Right, watch the potion.
“This one is liquid, so you have to be really careful tossing it at someone. It makes you feel like your blood is on fire. The effects only last a few moments, but it would be enough time in a pinch.”
“The potion is pink,” I tell her, watching as it changes.
“Lift it off the heat, now.”
I do as my witch says, removing the potion from the heat easily, though the cauldron is ridiculously heavy.
“Place it here,” she directs and I do, watching as she pours sand into the mixture. Instead of absorbing like it would on a beach, it’s like the sand is sucking the potion into its very particles.
“You should work on some stakes,” she says, not looking at me.
“Iris,” I say her name softly and she shakes her head.
“We need to be prepared this time. We can’t just stroll into the fucking Texas desert and act like this isn’t a big deal. Please make some stakes. There are some pallets out back.”
How would I like to be comforted right now?
Without asking, I grab Iris, pushing her into my chest and squeezing her into a tight hug. She smells amazing, and it’s giving me naughty thoughts, but those can wait.
“We will prepare. This time will be different. There’s nothing in this world that will stop me from having the most monumental cycle with you.”
I expect her to push me away, but she doesn’t, her body going pliant in mine.
“I’m so sick of being afraid.” The words are a light whisper, and I kiss the top of her head, still hugging her.
My Iris has a hard exterior, one that shows strength and efficiency, but beneath that she’s soft, and she’s letting me see that part of her.
“I’ll make my stakes and we’ll have a better plan this time. Together we will defeat them. This I promise.”
She nuzzles against my chest and somehow this feels even more intimate than my tongue deep inside of her warm—
“Dude. Place and fucking time,” Adam scolds me and I will myself to not think about how amazing last night was.
“Is there anything else you need?”
“Just this. It’s nice,” Iris says.
I hold her for a long time, loving the way her cheek rests on my chest as she seeks strength and comfort from me. I’m going to bleed those motherfuckers for ever making my sweet Iris ever feel afraid.
Eventually, we part and I start making different stakes. I sit on the couch with Scarlett; she told me I was ready to watch more risque movies and I’ve got to say, I’m learning quite a bit as each movie goes on.
I’ve fashioned a utility-like belt, so that I can hold as many stakes as possible; the more weapons, the better. Runes won’t help me regarding a slayer. They only help with vampires, at least the ones I know.
Iris’ friends have come and gone, the plan is set for tomorrow. It’s not too far of a distance. I believe I should be able to teleport there and back as long as nothing goes wrong. We have a back-up plan in place, yet this sinking feeling in my stomach plagues me.
There are moments I can’t stop thinking about the way he grabbed her and dragged her through the tunnel, or the way her tear-filled eyes looked at me in fear.
Iris shouldn’t be coated in blood and fear, she should be covered in gold and sparkles.
When my witch comes back into the apartment, she looks worried and I wave a hand at her for her to come and sit with Scarlett and I. There isn’t any hesitancy in her features as she approaches and I grab her waist, planting her on my lap.
I can’t get enough of all the small touches I’m now blessed with. Scarlett scampers on top of her mistress and my two favorite girls are seeking comfort from me.
I hold Iris tight as she strokes Scarlett’s fur. She clearly already knows the right way, because she does it perfectly.
She glances at the coffee table, looking at my plethora of stakes, and she nibbles on her lip.
“Should we bring some stronger weapons?” she asks and my brow furrows.
What weapon could possibly be stronger than a stake being hurled at ninety miles per hour into someone’s heart?
“Like a gun?” She interrupts my thoughts and I scoff.
“No slayer worth his salt would ever use a human weapon like that. They’re worthless with vampires, the bullets too small to truly pierce their heart. Crossbows with stakes work, but it’s counterproductive since I can throw faster anyway,” I tell her with a shrug.
“But he’s not a vampire,” she corrects, and I nod.
“Stakes are what I know. I’ll protect you, Iris.”
I don’t want her thinking she isn’t safe with me. I hate that she’s so worried, and even if I have my own fears, I’ll be the strong one for both of us.
“We know what we’re getting into now. We’re not going empty-handed and we’re more alert. I promise I won’t ever let anything happen to you.”
I hug her and Scarlett so tight that I think the fox might bite me, but she blessedly doesn’t. I kiss the side of Iris’ head and she smells of different herbs and plants she used for her potions today.
“Tell her we’re all in this together,” Adam says.
With a heavy sigh, I relay his message and it just makes Iris melt into me further. I can’t deny that the man has some good advice sometimes.
Especially when it comes to tasting my sweet Iris’ cunt.
“Do not tell her that part,” Adam scolds, and I groan.
I think Iris would like to be reminded of how great she tastes, but I suppose right now is not the time or place. We have a big day tomorrow and we need rest. With no strain, I pick Iris and Scarlett up, carrying them over to the bed.
Gently, I place her against the sheets and look down at her.
“Can I sleep on the bed?”
She nods, and I remove my shirt and pants, leaving on my underwear as I climb into the bed with her.
Scarlett is too excited to contain her little body as she wiggles and zips around the bed. I take my place at Iris’ back and curl around her smaller frame. The fox finally settles down, circling a few times before finding the perfect spot next to Iris.
My whole world is on this bed, and it feels like a heavy responsibility. In all my cycles, I ached and yearned to find my mate, but I didn’t truly understand the weight of it. To love someone is to wear your heart outside your body along with learning selflessness.
I hold her tightly, wishing I could express every emotion I’m trying to navigate; instead I press a kiss against her shoulder.
“Sleep well, my Iris.”
She squeezes my arm, and I wait and watch as she falls into a deep sleep.
We will kill the slayers and destroy any chance of them coming back. I must protect my mate at any cost.
Iris wears the most militant clothes I’ve ever seen her in, and it does nothing but make my cock hard as I adjust my utility belt with stakes.
Her pierced navel shows under the body clinging top, meanwhile her dark green pants have endless pockets holding different potions and back-up materials needed.
This slayer is the one from the alley that one night and thinking about it quickly erases all feelings of arousal.
“Alright. We have members of the Luxe coven ready in Texas, just in case. Slayer, do you remember the house coordinates they gave?” Violet asks, and I give her a sharp nod.
“Are you sure you don’t want us to come?” Ember asks and Iris gives her a quick smile.
“I promise we’ll be careful. If we need anything, I’ll let you know.”
“Are you sure you don’t want to involve your grandmother?” Violet questions Iris and I look at my witch. Is there a reason she hasn’t properly introduced me to her family, and am I the reason she isn’t involving her?
“She’s done so much to protect me and it’s my turn to do the same,” Iris replies, and Violet takes her answer for what it is.
“I do think you should update her, though. I ran into her yesterday and she said she was giving you space with your house guest but wanted to know how you were doing.”
“I’ll talk to her,” Iris assures Violet.
I place an assuring hand on Iris’ shoulder, the touch comfortable and gentle as she leans into my palm.
“We’ll have our wands and phones on us. Any sign of that slayer? You get out of there,” Ember repeats.
I don’t reply, because I can’t promise that. If I’m given the opportunity to kill him, I’ll take it.
“I’ll check in as soon as we get to the safe house.”
Her friends do the same thing as they did last time, imbuing safety on her. What shocks me is when Ember stands in front of me.
“May I?” she asks.
She wishes to use her magic to give me safety? Internally I groan, because now I’m truly forced to like the witch, no matter who she loves. I give her a sharp nod and feel a tingle as her magic waves over me. Violet does the same thing as they step away from us.
When I look down at Iris, she looks nervous, but happy.
I wrap my arms around her and teleport us to the middle-of-fucking- nowhere Texas, with a shovel in hand.