Chapter 20
“He’s right,” Casteel said softly, his gaze searching mine.
“I don’t know why Alastir would’ve lied about your mother being a Handmaiden.
If he was telling the truth, your mother was never a Lady in Wait, destined to Ascend.
That could also mean your father wasn’t a merchant’s son.
” He paused. “It could also mean that only one—or neither of them—was your parent by blood.”
And if neither of them was? Then Ian…he may not be like me at all if he Ascended. He may be like any other vampry.
Leaning against the cold tile, I tipped my head back.
I started to respond and then stopped as my toes curled against the floor.
“I was young. My memories of before that night are spotty at best. I just know what I was told about them, and although Ian was older, it wouldn’t be like he knew any differently.
” I shook my head, overwhelmed. “But I look like my mother, so maybe my father was an Atlantian, and my mother a mortal descendant of Malec and his mistress. Would that explain my abilities being so strong?”
“That would be one hell of a coincidence,” Kieran noted, and he was right.
Casteel and Kieran exchanged a look. “I don’t know,” Casteel answered. “That’s a complicated bloodline to sort through, but that’s also working off the assumption that you are related to Malec. You may not be. Alastir could be wrong, even if he truly believed that.”
I wondered if his mother would know somehow.
Casteel’s gaze met mine. “We’ll figure this out.”
Other than his mother, as unlikely as that may be, only one other person may know.
Queen Ileana.
Casteel turned to Kieran. “I think there’s an old robe in there. Can you grab it for me?”
Kieran handed him a long piece of black clothing as he said, “There’s something I need to do real quick. I’ll be right back.”
Watching me, Casteel nodded curtly as he hung the robe from a hook by the door. “We’ll be here.” He waited until Kieran disappeared. “Let’s get you out of that shirt so I can burn it.”
A wry grin tugged at my lips. “I guess this shirt isn’t salvageable?”
“Unlikely.” He came to me, curling his fingers around the hem. “You know the drill.”
I did.
I lifted my arms. “I think you like taking my clothes off.”
“I do.” Casteel tugged the shirt up and over my head.
Cool air washed over all the newly exposed skin.
He dropped the tunic to the floor as he stared down at me, his lips parting just enough that I could see a hint of his fangs as his gaze swept over me in a slow, lingering perusal.
Muscles tightened low in my stomach. He placed his hand on the side of my ribs and under my breast. The contact sent a sharp pulse through me.
His other hand did the same on the other side of my body.
“However, I do not like undressing you, only to cover you immediately.”
I looked down, my toes curling even more against the tile floor at what I saw beyond the puckered, rosy-pink tips of my breasts. His golden-bronze skin was such a striking contrast to mine, and his hands were so large and strong.
“What Kieran asked of you tonight? Don’t hold it against him.
He cares for you. And his concern?” he said.
“I have to fight my instincts when it comes to you rushing out there to battle everything and anything, too. It’s not because I don’t think you’re capable.
It’s just that I fear losing you.” He lowered his head, and his warm breath coasted over my chest and to the swell of a breast. “But your need to defend yourself is greater than my fear. That’s the only reason I don’t stop you. It will be the same for Kieran.”
“I know—” I gasped as his mouth closed over my breast. My eyes widened as I stared down at the dark, damp curls of his hair.
His tongue swirled over my nipple, eliciting another strangled sound from me.
He looked up at me, eyes burning as he arched a brow, waiting for me to continue. “I…I won’t hold it against Kieran.”
A brief, pleased smile crossed his face, and then he caught the sensitive skin between the edges of his teeth and then his lips. “You know what helps me get over my fear?”
I shook my head.
“This.” The pink tip of his tongue flicked over the throbbing, tightened skin. “This helps. So does your bravery, and you know what else? I get to reward you for your bravery.”
My pulse had already been pounding, but now it thundered through me. “I…I get a reward?”
“You do, but I also get a reward for looking past my fear,” he said, his thick lashes lifting once more. Gold churned restlessly in his eyes. “It’s a good thing this reward will be mutually beneficial.”
“It will be?”
He nodded, and then his mouth closed over my breast again.
I felt the wet slide of his tongue and then the wicked scrape of his fangs.
My breath caught at the forbidden sensation, and then he struck, sinking his sharp teeth into the flesh above my nipple.
I cried out, threading my hands into his hair as my entire body jerked.
The razor-sharp pain was intense, shooting through my entire body.
There was a second where I wanted to pull away when the pleasure-pain was almost too much, but it was gone in a heartbeat.
He sealed his lips over the tingling skin of my breast and sucked deep, drawing the sensitive peak into his mouth, taking my blood into himself.
A fire erupted inside me, heating my blood and every part of my body.
My head spun, and I shuddered as his growl rumbled against my skin.
I held onto his hair, shamelessly holding him there as damp heat flooded my entire being.
An aching spike of pleasure darted through me.
My hips twitched as he tugged at my skin.
“Cas,” I breathed.
He made that sound again, that sensual, rough sound, and then he moved, pressing my back against the wall, the hard line of his thigh between my legs.
I gasped at the contact of the cold tile against my bare skin and the feel of his breeches-clad thigh against my core.
He dropped a hand to my hip, and as he pulled harder on my breast, he tugged my hip down and forward, rocking me against his leg.
Tense, tight waves of pleasure rippled out from between my thighs and from my breasts as I stood on tiptoe, my weight mostly supported by him.
The drag and pull of his mouth on my breast seemed to be connected to the intense throb at my core.
My hips moved against his thigh. There was nothing slow about it.
I rocked hard against him, driven by the dual sensations of him feeding from my breast and the soft friction of his leg against my swollen, tightened flesh.
Tension curled and whirled, spinning tighter and faster.
He feasted, and I became frenzied, tugging at his hair, sinking my nails into his skin.
My legs clamped down on his thigh, and all the tension inside me erupted, lashing through me in the most delicious and stunning way.
I shook, calling out his name as my release rolled through me.
I was still trembling, twitching when his tongue soothed over his bite, and he straightened, holding me tightly against his chest. His mouth closed over mine in a slow, languid, iron-rich, and musky kiss. The taste of my blood on his lips sent another wave of pleasure through me.
“You,” he drawled, his voice thick. “You really liked that reward.”
My forehead rested against his as I struggled to gain control of my breathing. “A little.”
“A little?” His laugh was like smoke. “You came so hard, I could feel you through my pants.”
“Oh, my gods.” I choked on a laugh. “That is so…”
“What?” His lips dragged across mine. “Inappropriate?”
“ Yes .”
“But it’s true.” He kissed me as he eased me to my feet. “You can stand? Or have I blown your mind and your muscles?”
“Your ego is ridiculous. I can stand.” Barely. “And in case you’re wondering, I would like more of those rewards, please and thank you.”
A devastating smile appeared, and those two dimples winked to life. “Although I love hearing the word please spill from your lips, you never have to say it.”
I grinned as he pulled away. While he turned to grab the robe, I glanced down. My cheeks heated at the sight of the two reddish-pink puncture wounds and the swollen skin around them. Goodness. The mark he left behind was indecent.
I loved it.
He held the robe for me, and I turned, slipping my arms through the sleeves. The material was unbelievably soft and yet lightweight enough that I didn’t think I’d grow heated. The length was a little long, completely hiding my toes, but it smelled like him—like pine and spice.
He stepped in front of me, quickly buttoning the two sides and then tightening the sash. “This looks far better on you than it ever did on me.”
“I can’t even picture you wearing this.” I looked at the long, flowing sleeves and flapped my arms.
“I’d rather be naked.” He winked when I raised a brow. “I’d rather you were naked, too.”
“Shocker,” I murmured.
While Casteel went to the wardrobe to pull out fresh clothing, I quickly wrangled my hair into a braid. The pleasant haze of his wicked reward sadly faded by the time I sat on the couch in the living area and Kieran returned, a large book in his hands and his father with him.
Jasper’s piercing gaze found mine, and he started to lower. I stiffened, but he seemed to stop himself before bowing. The curse he muttered garnered a small grin from me. “You are well?” he asked.
I nodded. “I am. You?”
“Peachy,” he muttered, dropping into one of the chairs. “Where is—?”
“Right here.” Casteel sauntered into the room as he dragged a hand over his head, brushing the still-damp strands off his face. He went to a credenza against the wall. “Drink?” he offered. Only Jasper nodded. Casteel poured two glasses as Kieran sat beside me. “So, the Unseen…?”