CHAPTER ELEVEN
Vivi stared at the tiny sprite who was seated on a stack of coasters in front of a thick book at the end of the table where Magnus usually sat. Sebastian served him very carefully with small plates and cutlery as Ryuu and Hal served the others.
"Where did you get the serving pieces for him?" Etain asked.
Sebastian took his time in gently placing the tiny platters heaped up with sprite sized food around Felix. "One of the families had a small doll house that was no longer being used. They brought it down to donate to the shifter children, so I was able to secure some things for our hero here." Felix kept his face down looking entirely uncomfortable at the attention.
"He's my kind of hero, no spandex," Meryn shot Felix a thumbs up. The tiny sprite brightened and shyly began to eat from the huge selection Sebastian prepared for him.
Aiden turned to his mate. "What do you have against spandex?"
"Ball sweat," Meryn replied.
Everyone turned to face the small human.
Rex shook his head. "I'm sorry, did you say ball sweat?"
Meryn nodded. "I don't know why superheroes have an obsession with spandex costumes. That shit doesn't breathe. I bet Batman smells like that kid from gym class who went through a 'natural' phase and always smelled like funk and onions. Then in their movie the writers have the ditzy heroine smiling and willing to get down for sexy time after a huge battle scene," she shook her head. "Would not be me. He'd have to bathe in antiseptic first. No way that shit going near my face with..." Aiden clapped a hand over her mouth looking mortified.
There was silence then Kendrick lost his composure. He rested his forehead on his folded arms on the table gasping for breath. Anne had her face buried in his back.
Meryn pushed Aiden's hand away. "What?"
Kendrick sat up. "I am so glad you're back to normal. I would have missed this if you had stayed a mini Daphne Bowers."
Meryn pointed to her sweats. "Definitely more comfortable this way."
Gavriel turned to Felix. "How did your sword work for you?" Felix gave him a thumbs up.
"Is that the sword from the vault?" Vivi asked still dabbing at her eyes with a napkin from laughing too hard.
Meryn nodded. "When I saw it, it was this huge fucking claymore. Magnus was trying to keep me away from it. I think he was scared I would cut myself in half." She grinned. "He tried to chase me away from it a few times, but I wore him down. Anyway, the second I touched it, it shrunk down to my size, and I was able to lift it. Then I wondered if Felix touched it, if it would shrink again, and it did. The scabbard changed in size when the sword did, so we attached it to his belt."
"I heard you kept a necklace," Beth commented. Meryn lifted a small simple locket from under her hoodie. Beth gave her a strange look. "The Gown of Éire Danu can compliment each outfit with rare jewelry pieces, why did you choose something so plain as your reward from Magnus?"
Meryn shrugged. "I kinda felt sorry for it. It was all by itself looking out of place next to these fancy crowns and tiaras. Besides I like it." She stuffed it back under her hoodie.
Aiden looked down at his mate adoration in his eyes. "I think it suits you perfectly."
She smiled up at him. "Yeah?"
"Yes. I think you made a wonderful choice," he kissed the top of her head.
"Meryn you are an enigma," Law complimented.
Vivi picked up her wine glass and took a sip. When she set it down she noticed Rex's knuckles, which were still red. She grinned at him. "How did DeLaFontaine's interrogation go?"
Rex rubbed his knuckles with his other hand as Declan chuckled. Rex turned to her. "So far he has been very reticent concerning any information regarding the virus." He gave her a roguish smile. "But we're just getting started."
Meryn turned to Rex her eyes sparkling. "Can I watch tomorrow?"
Aiden pulled Meryn onto his lap. "You can spend the day resting and away from the Elder," he grumbled.
"I was just gonna watch. I bet Rex pounding on DeLaFontaine would be super hot!" Meryn exclaimed. "I mean look at those arms!"
Aiden nipped Meryn on the neck while trying to cover her eyes with his hand. Giggling she kept turning her head back and forth to avoid his hand.
Rex was sitting straighter in his chair. "She is a woman of impeccable tastes."
Law rested his arm over the back of Rex's chair. "When she's right, she's right."
Vivi watched the entire scene and brought up her napkin to hide her smile. Law was smirking. Rex was nodding. Declan was watching the pair his eyes narrowed and Kari was shaking her head. Law was most definitely fucking with Declan.
Vivi decided she needed to help stir the pot. She turned to Law. "You know, the two of you sitting together make a striking picture. There's an electricity about you that is enthralling. You should do couples modeling."
Declan's head snapped around. "Couples?"
Vivi nodded. "You know a couple of guys."
Rex smiled at her. "Modeling? Really?"
"Oh absolutely."
"Definitely shirtless," Meryn added.
Declan seemed slightly mollified as he continued to eat dinner a frown on his face. Law winked at her, and Vivi gave him a small salute.
Rheia leaned back to make eye contact with Vivi. "We administered a second dose of the first trial using the warrior blood. The results between the older warrior blood and the younger vendor blood was like night and day. I honestly feel we have a chance at beating this thing tomorrow using the collected blood from the older vendors. We specifically asked for anyone who was over three thousand years old."
Vivi felt a spurt of hope. "I should be able to start Magnus' treatment tomorrow as well."
Beth looked between them. "Wouldn't it be amazing if Uncle and the children recovered at the same time. He would be delighted to hear that, while he was taking his nap, the children were cured."
Gavriel wrapped an arm around his mate. "Let us not get ahead of ourselves."
Beth sighed. "I know I am being optimistic, but I feel like something should go our way after everything we've been through in the past few weeks."
"I bet you're right Beth," Anne said encouragingly.
Rex raised a glass. "To the health of our loved ones."
Around the table, glasses were raised in toast. Vivi ate quietly as the dinner progressed fueled by everyone's excitement. She refused to get her hopes up. She knew that sometimes it took months to formulate a proper treatment, but she wasn't about to rain on everyone's parade. They looked like they needed the good news, especially considering how they kept referring to Magnus' state as him taking a nap.
When Meryn yawned for the fourth time, Aiden put his hand to her forehead. "Are you feeling well?"
Meryn went to answer and yawned again. "Just tired."
Aiden shot a look to Rheia, who gave a one shoulder shrug. "We've all been through so much in the past few days. It's understandable that she would be worn down."
Aiden stood and scooped Meryn up in his arms. Instead of protesting Meryn simply rested her head on his chest looking sleepy. Aiden turned back to Rheia and Ellie. "Anything I should do?" Both women shook their heads looking amused.
Vivi put on a serious face. "You shouldn't feed her after midnight."
Aiden nodded. "Anything else?"
"Try not to get her wet," she advised fighting to keep her expression professional.
He blinked. "No sex?"
Vivi cracked up at his tragic expression. Meryn thumped in on the chest and glared at her. "No, she's calling me a gremlin, the heifer!"
"Meryn, she's a princess now," Beth admonished gently.
Meryn blinked her eyes innocently. "I'm sorry... Princess Heifer!"
Vivi just wiggled her fingers at her. "Night, night Gizmo."
Before she could respond Aiden carted her off toward their bedroom. Vivi couldn't help grinning. "I adore that little midget."
"I'm not a midget!" they heard Meryn yell from the hallway. Everyone cracked up.
Beth turned to Vivi. "Why do you agitate her?"
"Besides it being so easy? I don't know. It's weird. I feel like we're bonding over insults."
"I think Vivi found the quickest way to get Meryn to accept you," Kendrick mused. "It's kinda of sad, but considering Meryn's background, she is apt to distrust you if you're too nice. But Vivi's teasing makes her feel accepted, not bullied."
Law growled low in his throat. "Do we know for a fact that anyone that abused her is dead?" Kendrick just stared at him until Law held up his hands. "Just checking."
"As if I wouldn't follow up on something like that? I take a twisted delight in rationing out punishment to bullies." Kendrick admitted. Anne patted his arm. "At least you're honest about it."
Gavriel, Beth, Adriel and Eva also stood. Gavriel gave a half bow. "We will take our leave as well. It will be the first night we spend in the Ambrosios quarters, and Beth and Eva still have much to show us about our new home."
Law stretched in his chair before turning to Rex. "Come on, I will look at that hand for you in your quarters."
Rex's face brightened. "That would be appreciated. I'm pretty sure I broke something, it's taking forever to heal."
Law leaned in. "Don't worry, I'll take care of you."
Declan's eyes were practically bugging out of his head, but his lips remained sealed. Vivi felt bad for a moment for teasing him. He obviously cared for his brother and wouldn't interfere if he thought that it would hurt Rex. But that moment quickly passed as she realized that he was just too perfect of a target. No wonder Law loved teasing him. Declan's facial expressions broadcasted exactly what he was thinking.
"You might want to give him a full body scan. A floating bone fragment can wreck havoc if left unattended," Vivi suggested.
"What!" Declan exclaimed standing.
Law nodded with a serious expression. "Good point."
Rex shrugged. "Whatever you think is best."
Law stood with Rex, his back to the table. He gave her a hidden thumbs up and walked out with the Elder.
"But..." Declan looked around helplessly.
Kari took pity on her mate. "Let us turn in as well. Things will seem better in the morning."
"But..." Declan didn't know which way to turn.
Etain stood and rested a hand on her shoulder. "We will say goodnight too. There is one particular feature of our new home that I am dying to show Vivi."
Vivi sputtered in her wine as she was about to take another sip. She felt her cheeks heat up sure they were now crimson.
Adriel cleared his throat. "I hope you enjoy the first night in your new quarters," he said diplomatically.
Etain gave her shoulder a little squeeze. "Oh, we will." He looked down at her. "Ready darling?"
She rose to her feet and set her napkin beside her plate. She turned to Hal and Ryuu. "Thank you for a wonderful meal."
Hal stepped forward. "Get plenty of rest. Tomorrow will be a long day with the different formulas you'll be mixing."
"I will. Aren't you coming?" she asked.
Hal nodded. "I'll be along in a bit. I am going to help clean up here then go through my kitchen again to see if we need anything."
Vivi had a feeling she would have to pry him out of his kitchen in the future. "Goodnight everyone," she said walking out with her mate and the others.
When they got to their door Etain chuckled as they waved goodnight to Adriel, Eva, Beth and Gavriel from across the large alcove. "It feels like the Unit Level when we go inside our own houses at the end of the day."
When they shut their door behind them the first thing Vivi noticed was the quiet. In the Rioux quarters something was always happening. It's where people had meetings and where they ate their meals. To go from being surrounded by so many people to being alone with her mate felt strange.
"It's almost too quiet," Etain whispered.
"Why are you whispering?"
He shook his head ruefully. "No idea."
Vivi studied the room. "I really love it, what you've done to our home."
Etain walked over to a wooden side table and lifted square looking box. Gently he lowered a small arm and moved it over. Soft jazz began playing in the room.
"Is that a record player?"
He nodded. "They produce the best quality of music." He held out his hand. "May I have the pleasure of this dance?"
She placed her hand in his, and he swept her up in his arms. They swayed together to the bluesy music of the past, letting the entire day drain from them.
"I had so much fun during Prohibition," Vivi murmured into his formal fae robe.
"Did you cause trouble? Were you a bootlegger?"
"Of course not. I was a singer at the Vamp Lounge."
He pulled back to gauge her expression carefully. "Are you joking?"
"No. I was stuck on a project and decided to head out among the humans for some fun. It had been awhile since I'd last gone out by myself. I was astounded by the clothes and music. Gods, the music! Since I was sensitive to sunlight, I usually went out after dark, which during that time meant I was just showing up as things were getting interesting. At first, I would hum along, but one night the bartender heard me and stuck me up on stage. I stammered and said I wasn't a singer, but no one cared. They said to give it my best shot, and the rest was history. I put my project on hold and delved into the nightlife of the Roaring Twenties."
Vivi smiled when a tune she was familiar with came on, so she began to sing for her mate. She stepped out of his arms and sashayed to the record player. She turned back to him and moved her hands down her dress. With her eyes, she told him how much she wanted him while she breathed the music. She felt exaltation race through her. She had forgotten how heady it was to sing for someone.
With every note, her mate's eyes grew darker until they were almost brown in color. He watched her every move. His breath subconsciously syncing up with hers. Through her, he lived each note. The song allowed her to weave the tale of a young man coming home from the war and the joy of being with his true love again, and how all the pain and suffering had been worth it because he had protected her.
When the song was over, he had tears in his eyes. "You have quite undone me, my love. Will you leave me in such a state or will you bring us both the pleasure we want in fitting our broken pieces together to make a single joyous whole?"
She walked over, simply took his hand and led him toward their bedroom. When she reached their door, she unlocked it with her hand and walked into the newly decorated master suite.
Still moving to the rhythm of the song in her heart, she began to strip out of her clothes. There was only one type of music she wanted to be making right now, the kind that involved low moans, breathy gasps and passionate shouts.
When she was naked, she turned to see his state of undress and was brought up short, he was still fully clothed. She stared at him confused, then remembered her earlier comment. Giving him a sultry smile she walked up and pressed her body against his.
"Your mate needs you," she said in a husky voice. She rubbed her nipples against the rough fabric of his robe. Each embroidered thread tantalized her body sending shockwaves of pleasure through her.
"Please," she whispered.
"Go get on the bed and wait," he said in a dangerous voice.
The edge in his voice sent shivers down her spine. She could tell he was hanging on by a thread. Making her way to the bed she crawled on slowly taking her time. She positioned herself in the middle and spread her legs wide, letting him see how much she wanted him.
His nostrils flared as he stared at her. With deliberate steps he walked slowly up to the bed unbuttoning his robe, one button at a time. When he was done he simply let the robe fall. As he climbed up onto the bed, she saw that his cock was straining towards his belly button and already glistening with pre-cum. She wondered what part of her show had driven him to this state, so she could do it again later.
"I cannot wait to taste you," he said before dipping his head down to lap at her folds. When he flattened his tongue and ran it from the bottom of her slit to her clit she dug her fingers into the covers.
He devoured her as if she were his new favorite dessert. Her mate was driving her mad with his slow method of love making. He was taking his time learning her, and it was going to cost her her sanity.
He didn't just lick. He sucked, nibbled, teased, and bit every inch of her exposed sex. He didn't stop at her clit. Everything was a feast to him. Her folds, her mound, her inner thighs and even her hip bones. He tasted everything, bringing her to the edge then soothing the tender skin only to start all over again.
"Please my love, I can't take it anymore. Please," she begged, tears streaming down her face from the sheer intensity.
"As I have told you, I will always give you what you need." Etain came up on his knees and eased his hips forward, impaling her slowly. Just when she thought he would plunge deep he stopped and lazily tortured her clit. When he filled her completely, he stopped again, lightly touching her hips before dragging his cock out of her. "If I could spend a lifetime watching the tears fall from your eyes as we made love not even an eternity would be long enough to live," he spoke the words in a low voice.
Vivi reached out and pulled him forward until he was holding himself above her. "More," she gasped snapping her own hips until he was moving in and out of her at the pace she wanted.
He leaned down and brushed his nose with hers. "So impatient," he said smiling.
"I need." She looked up giving him a sassy smile. "Think you're up to it?"
He smiled so congenially that she felt a bit disappointed. He had driven her to the brink, and as much as she loved his slow love making, she wanted to move.
When he shifted his weight and quickly grabbed both of her hands she blinked. She inhaled as he pinned them over her head. His expression never changed. He still looked oh, so pleasant. But his entire demeanor changed.
With his honey brown eyes he stared down at her. "Do you want me to fuck you?"
She shivered at his civil tone. There was something about his politeness that danced on the line between gentle and primal. She was starting to understand what Dimitri meant when he said that there was a haunting quality to her mate's detached savagery, and right now it was solely focused on her. She felt her fangs slip past her lips and he gave her a primitive grin.
"Make me feel it," she challenged.
He took her at her word and began to pound deep inside her. Using her vampiric speed, she met him thrust for thrust, making demands of her own. What may have started out as gentle love making was now an unrestrained, frenzied search for their pleasure.
She felt him hit her cervix and cried out. The pain melded into ecstasy and she threw her head back. "Gods!"
When he loosened one hand and wedged his face close to her neck, she knew what was coming. She knew, but was still unprepared for the sheer intensity of the orgasm that raced through her. She lost moments of time, all she knew was her mate, inside her in every way he could be.
When he moved back she struck sinking her fangs deep into the roped muscle of his neck. He thrust one last time and shouted his pleasure. His frantic cry reverberated through the room as she drank her fill. Satiated she retracted her fangs and licked the holes closed.
Still inside of her, he collapsed as his arms gave out, causing them both to groan when her body reacted by clenching around him. Tiny shockwaves trembled through her.
Ever so slowly he pulled from her and fell to one side as they both fought for breath. "I don't think we'll ever be able to top that," she panted.
He chuckled and turned his head to look at her. "Mating heat between two paranormals only intensifies with time."
She closed her eyes. "We're going to die from fucking I know it." She giggled. "Hal will come in to get us for lunch because we missed breakfast and our corpses will have fiendish, macabre smiles on them and we'll scar him for life."
He tried to push himself up but fell back to the mattress. "As long as it's Hal, I don't think I mind that scenario."
"You're still mad at him for drinking you under the table aren't you?"
"I have no idea what you mean," his words were muffled as he spoke into the mattress.
A thought struck her, and she sat up. Moving carefully she began to pat the sheets. He turned his head to face her. "What are you doing?"
She grinned at him. "The sheets are clean."
His eyebrows rose. "I'll be damned. They actually did it."
"With all the mated couples popping up whoever did this could make a fortune," she said inspecting the fitted sheet.
"It was Lief. His magic works best with anything plant based. He literally spun these sheets from magic and cotton." Etain propped his head up on his hand. "The fae have a magic similar to what he used, that is woven into clothes."
When she went to crawl toward the head of the bed she flinched. Her body was protesting their evening.
Etain sat up and moved to her side. "Did I hurt you?" he asked, his face a mask of worry.
Moving from side to side her body reminded her of their love making. "You did exactly what I wanted. I will be feeling this tomorrow." She pulled up their blankets and slid inside. She crooked her finger at him. "Come here space heater." She patted the spot behind her.
He laughed. "I see why you really want me," he joked as he got in behind her. As usual, he wrapped his arm around her waist and pulled her close to his body.
Vivi couldn't remember a time in her life where she felt as warm and content. It wasn't just that he was her mate. He was also quickly becoming her best friend.
He was someone she could laugh with and turn to. Not all mates found love within their union. For her to find not only love, but friendship as well made her feel doubly blessed.
"Thank you," she whispered.
He kissed the back of her neck. "You're welcome."
She smiled. She had been thanking Fate, but Vivi didn't think she'd mind if she allowed Etain to think she had been thanking him, after all, she was the one that had arranged their mating.