Chapter 7
Dulex
I couldn’t find her. I wasn’t even sure what the hell happened. One minute I was bursting to knock the queen off my mate, and the next the whole chambers shook. Everything went to hell after that. The Fae all banded together to figure out how to fight whatever it was that attacked. The chambers filled with the whole platoon of warriors in a matter of minutes.
I took that moment to find my mate and get the hell out of dodge. It was perfect distraction. The room filled with smoke smelling of Vampire magic and then I knew. Ria’s family had arrived. Part of me worried I’d be killed on the spot, but the other part was over joyed with the help. As soon as I knew she’d gotten involved I was willing to do anything to make sure nothing happened to her. It was my responsibility to make sure she was safe. It wasn’t her job to protect me, and the beast inside of me cringed we hadn’t been able to do anything to ensure our mate’s safety. The Fae wanted to come out and play.
Neither could come out. The collar sparked.
“Fuck!”
I had to find her. I narrowed my eyes and saw the male Fae from the dungeon standing over her with a wicked sword. My beast roared and my canine irrupted from my gums so bad I yelled out.
“Stay away from her, you sorry excuse of a Fae.”
That got his attention and he spun towards me with fire in his eyes. I couldn’t combat magic, but brunt force would have to be enough.
“Get out Ria.”
She didn’t move. It was then I realized she wasn’t conscious. Everything froze inside of me watching her to ensure he hadn’t already taken her from me. When I saw her chest moved I sighed in relief. The collar unclicked and fell to the ground meaning the specific magic was from someone who was no longer among the living.
Finally.
Just as the Fae went to slam the sword down into my mate’s heart, essentially shattering me, she rolled out of the way. Her eyes flared when she noticed the change in my scent. The Fae part of my dual nature broke free and I threw a ball of fire from my hand to him. It flew faster than the human eye. It slammed into the Fae’s back and he screamed with eyes full of agony. The sound of his pain and suffering echoed through the room but the warriors didn’t pay him any attention.
I wasn’t going to stick around and watch him burn. The part of me that was Fae and Bear relished in the fact that he was suffering.
He was trying to kill our mate.
I knew it was true. If I hadn’t noticed she would have been slaughtered right before my eyes. My body shuddered with an awareness.
We needed to mate.
It was the only way to make sure something like this didn’t happen again. I strode over to the beautiful Vampire in front of me and before she could speak or fight I cradled her face in my hands as if she were the most delicate butterfly and kissed her. She gasped in shock allowing my tongue access to her mouth. I took advantage and caressed her tongue. She shuddered and wrapped her arms around me. As soon as she touched me, it was now or never.
Lifting her into my arms and ignoring the chaos surrounding us I carried her out of the large chambers.
***
Azaria
I could have died. Right then and there, but for the first time in my life, I had a mate, and he didn’t let me down. He was there to save me from the sword that was inches from my heart, and there wouldn’t have been anything I could do about it.
Then to make everything even more apparent was the kiss, and how he pulled me into his arms. He didn’t ask. He just did. My eyes flared as he carried me from the Fae Council chambers.
It was this moment that changed my life. I could see my need reflected in his hazel eyes. There was such a look of longing that I ached. My heart raced when he smiled at me.
“It’s time, Ria.”
I nodded. There was no arguing with Fate. I didn’t know where he was taking me and I didn’t care. My people had caused enough of a distraction we left without hassle. He didn’t speak as he carried me. I wondered where we were going but there were no words to explain how it felt to be in his arms.
It wasn’t long before he stopped and put me down. My feet hit the soft grass in front of a cute cottage.
“Where are we?”
He didn’t answer at first seeming to be deep in thought. “My mother’s home.”
“Why are we here?”
He raised a brow. “I think you know, sweet mate.”
I blushed and the red tinged my cheeks so bright there was no way I could hide it from him. “Completing the bond?”
“Yes,” he replied.
I didn’t say anything else. Instead I held out my hand. He took it with the same ease he did with my body. I was more than ready to mate. My body was on fire for him. And I finally realized that I had been so angry at him. It was because I was worried I would lose him before I had even had the chance to have him. It wouldn’t have been fair. Fate couldn’t mess with me this way. I’d never survive if I had to bond with Julian. Nothing compared to a mate.
“Let’s go inside,” he said and reached for my hand lacing our fingers together.
***
I wanted so badly to become one. My body shook with a need I’d never felt before. It ran deeper than physical. It was emotional and spiritual as well. “I’m ready.”
He looked at me with wide eyes. “I wasn’t sure if this was the best time considering. But your family is the reason we got free.”
“I don’t want to wait.” I licked my lips and slide my shirt over my head revealing my satin bra. I was glad I decided to always wear sexy under garments. It was times like these when they came in handy. And from the look in his eyes, he appreciated it too.
“Perfect. You’re beautiful, Ria.”
I let out a shaky breath wondering how this was going to work. Would he become someone else; hell, would I?
He stalked towards me like the graceful bear he was. I stood still waiting for him to take the lead. He didn’t disappoint. Before I could say anything else my bra was slid from my arms and I dropped it to the floor revealing my breasts. He lowered his head and bent at the knees to suck one a nipple into his mouth grazing it with his fangs. The bear had come out to play.
“Take me, make me yours, Dulex.” My voice had taken on that throaty quality that happened when I was aroused. But this was so much more.
He growled and stood back to his height, nearly towering over me and grinned. “As my lady wishes.”
Then he scooped me back into his arms and carried me across the room to a room that looked like it hadn’t been lived in for ages. I wrapped my arms around his neck letting him take the lead.
When we were in the room he laid me on the bed and I sighed as he stripped down to nothing. He was big and large everywhere. My mouth watered and I licked my lips.
“Pants off.”
I obliged.
Both nude, he crawled onto the bed and hovered over my naked body. His lips met mine in fiery passion. I kept up and nibbled on his bottom lip. “No more waiting, we don’t have time.”
Sadly, our mating was on a time close. When all I wanted to do was let him love me all night. It wouldn’t happen. Not yet. But for now.
I’d be happy for now.