Chapter 12
Chapter Twelve
As Joseph held Meadow in his lap, with Laurie sitting behind them on the sofa and engulfing them both in his arms, a sense of peace and longing shot through him.
Even if Meadow was still clothed, and neither of them had tasted her sweet blood or thrust inside her, he wanted more of this.
The three of them sharing and giving and taking, and afterward, holding each other and being surrounded by love.
Well, he hoped he and Laurie could win over Meadow’s love. Because Joseph, at least, was falling for the sweet, damaged female who had more fire inside her than she probably realized.
And not just because she was their fated one, either. He believed in her, and once she realized she was finally free of her father and learned how to control her magic, she would be magnificent.
And she should be theirs.
He tightened his hold on her, and Meadow snuggled closer against him. One of Laurie’s hands stroked Joseph’s cheek as the other stroked Meadow’s side, and he murmured, “She’s starting to trust us a little.”
“Hmm.” He leaned his head back on Laurie’s shoulder before replying, “I wish we could help with her magic lessons as well, even though I know we can’t.”
Laurie chuckled. “You’re one of the cleverest people I know, Joseph, but I think becoming a magic-less magic teacher would be a bit difficult.
But there’s no need to worry—Yesenia and River will ensure she’s taught well and learns to embrace her powers.
They’re both fierce in their own ways, and given how they managed to win over Leo and Nora, that alone makes them extraordinary. ”
He grunted. “I know, but I like to be in charge of things.”
Laurie leaned his cheek against the top of Joseph’s head. “You do, and yet, you learned to trust me to handle half of the business. You’ll come to trust her, too, and that will take time.”
“And to think, I’m usually the patient one.”
“Well, everyone can’t be as perfect as me.”
Joseph smiled as he gently elbowed Laurie behind him. “Don’t start. Once you get going with your cheekiness, it can get out of control and you might wake her up.”
Laurie sighed. “And that would be a bad thing?”
“She needs some sleep. Plus, I’m a bit selfish and want to hold her a little longer.”
Laurie moved his hand to caress the side of Joseph’s neck, up and down, sending a rush of heat through him. Laurie whispered, “I can’t wait until we’re both able to hold her in bed, naked, every night for the rest of our lives.”
Laurie always fell in love fast. Sometimes it hurt him, and yet, Joseph was glad his lover was feeling the same about Meadow. Because the one time Laurie had fallen for their shared female but Joseph hadn’t, it had been rocky.
But Joseph didn’t think that would be a problem this time. Especially since Meadow leaned into his touch and asked for kisses. Unlike the female in their past, who’d tolerated him for Laurie’s sake.
Pushing thoughts of the past to the side, he replied, “I hope for that, too, Laurie.”
For the next few minutes, they remained silent. Joseph merely reveled in the warm, solidness of Laurie behind him and Meadow’s softness in his lap. He wished they could sit like this for hours.
Except it would have to end, eventually. Meadow was nowhere near ready to stay the night with them.
After moving one hand to Laurie’s thigh, Joseph asked, “Do you think Dark Lord Khan would allow us to take her to the Autumn celebration in the fae witch territory next month?”
The fae witches, at least in the UK, celebrated the changing seasons with big gatherings full of stalls and shows and even dances. Since the former vampire Dark Lord, Laurie’s father, had been at war most of the time with the fae witches, Joseph had never attended a seasonal gathering before.
However, ten years ago, the fae witches, vampires, and shifters in London had formed a truce and signed a treaty. The fae witches were still wary, though, around the vampires. After all, Laurie’s father had kidnapped and imprisoned and even tortured many of them decades before.
Hatred and fear were hard things to overcome in the best of times.
Laurie grunted. “Maybe, provided Leo and Yesenia, as well as River and Nora, accompany us. The fae witches have grown fond of River already, given his medical practice. And Yesenia has helped some of them with easy requests to find lost items, like treasured heirlooms or mementos. Maybe having them with us will keep some of the fae witches from thinking we’ll instantly kill or kidnap them. ”
He rubbed Laurie’s thigh, which had tensed. Laurie’s father had made all of his children’s lives hell, in their own way, on top of what he’d done to the fae witches. Laurie often carried guilt for not only being unable to help their former allies but also for not being able to rescue his sister.
With his huge heart, Laurie would try to save the world if he could.
It was one of the many things he loved about him.
Joseph said, “Well, then we’ll ask your siblings if they’d like to go to the festival.
I’m sure they’ll say yes since Leo wants to mend things with the fae witches, given his wife.
We’ll just need to be on our guard if Khan says we can attend, in case the French vampires try something.
We’ll either need permission to take some of our own guards, or ask Dark Lord Khan for some extra eyes. ”
Meadow sighed and leaned more heavily against Joseph. He leaned up and kissed her forehead before resting back against Laurie again. He added, “We’ll ask Meadow first to see if she wants to go before we plan anything. After so many years in hiding, maybe she doesn’t want to face the crowds.”
Joseph might’ve fended for himself on the streets of London, but he’d been used to living among massive amounts of people. The future sounded a bit more isolating, and maybe it wasn’t what Meadow wanted.
Laurie replied, “We’ll ask, but I think she isn’t a recluse by nature, only by necessity.”
“I get that sense as well.”
“Then let’s make sure to ask her about it before we take her home.”
Joseph grunted, and they fell quiet again. Soon he heard Laurie softly snoring behind him. Joseph stayed awake, though, and made plans on how to convince Meadow to go to the fae witch festival with them, as well as dreaming of a day when Laurie wouldn’t carry guilt for his father’s sins any longer.