Chapter 27

 

 

All the jealousy had evaporated while Brent watched Amelia deal with Eamon, then deal with Tyrone. He planned to do everything he could to put a smile on her face when they got home.

Someone gripped his shoulder. “Told you,” Toryn whispered.

“She did it.”

“You helped her.”

Brent nodded. “I need to tell her a few things.”

“Like the fact you have kids older than her?”

Brent nodded. “Yeah. That’s a big one.”

“You two are going to be fine. No matter what comes your way, she’ll stick by your side.”

Amelia stood up and started toward him, but Delilah and Christian stepped into her path, and Delilah picked her up in a crushing hug.

Christian murmured something to them.

Zoe bumped Brent’s shoulder. “Kellan will be happy you’re back in charge at In Other News. He’s tired of my late nights.”

“Thanks for holding down the fort and coming to help.”

“Wasn’t much to do besides get people out. Good idea with leaving the portal open.”

He nodded. “I’ve seen that house transform. People have been trapped in the walls when that happens. It’s not pretty.”

Zoe’s face scrunched up. “Weird. I’m going to get home. Tell Amelia I’m proud of her.”

“Will do.” He squeezed her hand.

She smiled back and left. Brent dropped down onto a seat.

Preston joined him. Robert walked over.

“Didn’t go how you expected, huh?” Brent asked.

Robert shook his head. “Not in the slightest. But I have to ask, do we need to worry about Gina and what’s inside her?”

Brent glanced at the werewolf who stood in another werewolf’s embrace. He knew the man’s name was Mark, and that he’d mated her some months before, but didn’t know much else.

“I think we’re safe. Badb wants to keep entities like Crom Cruach out. Besides, this particular entity was a very powerful Fae until her body was destroyed by a similar entity.” Brent looked at Preston. “Next time you see Morrigan, ask her about Badb. She can explain far better than me.”

Preston shook his head. “Does Da—Toryn know?”

“Believe so. Maybe ask him.”

“Ask me what?” Toryn asked as he walked back over.

“About Badb?”

Toryn’s brow cocked. “Is that what helped Gina?”

Brent nodded.

“We should be fine. I’ll have Morrigan watch her, but Badb gave her physical form up to save the world once. I don’t believe she wants to change our world at all.”

“Hope you’re right.” Robert looked around the room. “Another late night, but we’re safe.”

Preston nodded. “Yeah, let’s see if we can get some of these people to go home or find a place for them.”

Robert walked away.

Preston turned to Brent. “Take care of Amelia.”

“Always,” he promised.

 

* * * *

 

Mike pulled Jordan to the far corner of the room and gripped his shoulders. “Leanan didn’t make it. She died protecting other people.”

A strangled sound escaped Jordan. “No, she can’t be. I need her. I can’t do this without her.”

“Jordan, you knew all along she said she couldn’t stay forever. She wasn’t your everything. She just helped you prepare for her.”

“No, I don’t know how to do this without her.”

Gwen took his hand. “Sometimes you have to learn to stand on your own two feet before you find your person. We have your back.”

“You know I’ll be there for you, no matter what,” Mike vowed.

“You’re going to have to kick my ass and drag me out of the house to find women.”

“You got it,” Mike promised.

Gwen nodded. “Any night.”

“What will happen to her body?” Jordan whispered.

Gwen took a breath and let it out. “It burned to ash. I guess that’s what happens to succubus?”

Mike placed a necklace in his hand. “This was with her clothes. Thought you might want it.” He flipped it over. Runes were carved on a flat silver rectangle. He’d seen it a million times but still didn’t have a clue what it was.

“Thank you,” he whispered.

“Can you help these people? Or should I get you home?” Mike asked.

Jordan wiped at his face and looked around. “I’ll stay. I need to get my mind off everything. Doing something useful should help.”

 

* * * *

 

The second Christian stepped through the portal, Delilah wrapped her arms around him. “You’re a lucky fool,” she growled.

He squeezed her back hard. “Would you believe me if I told you that you would have gotten us all killed if you came?”

“Yes.” Sighing, she leaned back. “Which is why you’re forgiven. You’re in one piece. Amelia is safe. And Tyrone doesn’t have a scratch on him.”

“Oh, he almost had a lot worse than that. He was bitten once. But some crazy vampire wanted to use him against Amelia, then got sidetracked trying to summon something I can’t even comprehend.”

“Yeah, Amelia mentioned that. But you stopped it?”

“No. Amelia and Gina did. Your sister is one powerful sorceress.”

“She’s what?” Delilah blurted out.

“A sorceress. Ask her. I have no idea other than the spirits did everything she thought of without being asked. She is the only reason Crom Cruach is gone for good.”

“For good?” Delilah asked.

He nodded. “That’s what Badb said.”

“Another Irish god? What the hell?” She shook her head, closing her eyes. “Do I dare ask?”

Christian sighed. “I plan to ask Ceridwen when we go back.”

“Okay,” she answered. “Why does it look like she lost someone?” She nodded to Amelia, who was taking blood from Tyrone. “And tell me she’s fixing him.”

Christian nodded. “She is. And she did. Though I think he was from another life?” He rubbed at his face. “Look, I don’t know all of that. I just know it was upsetting, and that if you want better answers, you’re going to have to ask her.”

She pushed him back and took a good look at him. “Any of those bastards still alive?”

He lifted a shoulder. “Not the bad ones. Why?”

“Who bit you?”

“Oh, those are dead.” He covered his throat with his hand and healed the wounds with a thought. “Only left the evidence to discourage others.”

“Always thinking. You okay, really?”

“Now that I’m with you, yes.”

She blew out a breath. “Guess I can’t stay mad when you saved everyone.”

Christian nodded to Amelia, who was headed back to Brent.

Delilah rushed over and gave her a bear hug.

 

* * * *

 

“What are you?” Delilah blurted out, catching Amelia off guard.

“Me,” she threw back.

“Sorceress?”

She nodded.

“An impressive one,” Christian added.

“Whatever,” Amelia groaned.

“Delilah, set her down,” Christian murmured.

“Why are you crying?” Delilah demanded.

“Not tonight, Delilah. I’m a mess. I just want to curl up with Brent and focus on the future, instead of the past for the rest of my life. But tomorrow night I’ll come over and give you all the answers you want and need. Give me tonight.”

Her eyes narrowed. “Promise?”

“Yeah, tomorrow.”

“Fine. You got Christian back to me and helped our friend, so I’ll leave you alone. For now.”

Amelia squeezed Delilah’s arms. “I know you, you want to go home and make sure he’s all right. Let me do the same with Brent. It’s been a long crazy ride, and I just need him.”

Brent slipped his arm around her waist, and she leaned her head on his shoulder. “Ready to go home?” Brent asked.

She nodded.

He waved Robert over.

“Home?” he asked.

Amelia blinked, then looked around. “You don’t need me?”

“No, we’ll handle the rest. Tomorrow, I want you to talk to some of the vampires. The ones who would remember you from before.”

“Sure.”

Robert reached out to touch her and Brent, then they were in his home. “Are you okay, Amelia?”

She nodded.

“I’m sorry I doubted you. I should have known you could handle yourself, but I remember the first time I met you.” He offered a sheepish smile. “Those wide eyes staring at me, trying to sort out how much trouble you were in for writing about Others.”

“But I didn’t freak out then.”

“No, you didn’t. You listened and walked into In Other News with me, and I immediately wondered if I made the right decision. I’m happy to say I did.”

She hugged Robert. “You put me in the right place. Thanks for not pulling me off this story.”

“Tomorrow, you can see what vampires are left and help us decide what to do with the ones who didn’t leave.”

“I’m not sure I’m the best choice. I killed their god, as far as they’re concerned.”

“Really think they were all worshipping him?”

“I don’t know. Guess we’ll see.”

“Good night.” Robert disappeared.

Amelia turned to Brent. “Help me clean up?”

Taking her hand, he followed her to the bathroom, then drew her close to pull her shirt over her head. He looked into her eyes as he opened her pants.

She did the same for him, pushing his underwear and pants down his legs, then pushing his shirt up his torso and pulling it off his arms.

Her bra fell to the floor before she kicked off her shoes and pants while he got rid of his. Brent crushed her to his chest and held her tight. “I need to tell you something.”

“What’s that?” she asked.

“Probably should have mentioned this sooner. I have two daughters, both more than twice your age. And I had a son who died about twenty years ago. He had a girl, she’s about your age.”

Her lips curved into a smile. “So, you’re not disappointed I can’t give you a child?”

He shook his head. “All I want is you.”

“She was one of the human women? Their mother?”

“Two different women, and I loved them, but it was never everything, like what I feel with you.”

“Think they’ll like me?”

He lifted a shoulder. “Yeah, I do. I don’t see my girls often. I’ve never even laid eyes on my granddaughter. It’s a long story for another night.”

“Good, because I’m far more concerned with you,” she admitted.

He lifted her off her feet and carried her into the shower, turning it on. Pressing her against the wall, he kissed her again, letting his hand roam up her ribs and around to her breast. She loved the way he squeezed.

“Brent, I need you.” She gripped his length, pumping slowly.

He kissed down her throat, across her collarbone. Then he dipped lower, capturing one tight peak between his lips.

She moaned as he sucked and licked, squeezing the other nipple between his fingers.

“I ache for you,” she pleaded.

He took his time, then spun her, letting her be under the water while he took the soap and lathered his hands. “You wanted to be clean.”

Amelia took the bar from him, lathering her hands, then cleaning the smudges of blood on his arms. As soon as that was done, she dragged her hand back to his rigid length. “I don’t care about being clean.”

His eyes lit up. “I like the water.”

“Then take me against the wall,” she murmured.

He gripped her hips and lifted her up as he pressed her to the wall. Her arms and legs wrapped around Brent. He entered her slowly while staring into her eyes.

“Drink from me, Amelia. I want your teeth in my throat.”

She opened her mouth, letting her fangs drop down, then struck. Brent thrust harder, rocking her against the wall. Water cascaded over them, washing away the suds.

He gave her his feelings, his emotions, his love. She poured hers back, making sure he sensed her emotions every bit as much as she felt his.

“Amelia,” he groaned, taking his speed faster.

She gripped his head and his shoulder as she pulled on his vein. She’d never tire of his taste on her tongue, or his body against hers while he moved deep inside.

One of his hands slapped the wall beside her and he drove her harder. She lapped at the wound and threw her head back with a cry of pleasure. Climax hit. He came deep inside her and the pleasure reverberated between the two, his sensations rocking through her as he kissed her neck, her jaw, then her mouth. He sucked her tongue, holding her against the wall, still inside her.

“My love is yours. Anything you want, I’ll give it to you. I only want you happy, Amelia.”

“I am happy. You’re all I want. Now take me to bed.”