The Future
HER FISTS IN his hair became insistent.
He felt it, stopped feeding, lashed his tongue along the wound and gave his bride what she wanted.
He tipped his head back and looked at her.
She slid down, filling herself full of him, her eyelids heavy, Christ, so beautiful.
But her focus was all on him.
“This is our eternity,” she whispered and his arms, already wrapped around her, went so tight he felt it as the gentle wind of her breath stroked his face.
All he could see was her beautiful features. All he could feel was her body in his arms, her sex wrapped around his cock, her thighs pressed tight to his hips, her breasts to his chest, her arms curved around his shoulders holding him close. All he could smell was the overpowering scent of her excitement. All he could taste on his tongue was her blood mingled with her skin and her pussy. All he could hear was her heart beating, her excited breaths.
“This is our eternity,” he agreed quietly.
Her lids grew heavier even as she smiled an alluring smile.
“Give me beauty, my vampire,” she demanded.
Instantly, he flipped her to her back and gave in to her demand.
Lucien’s eyes opened, the dream still on him. So real it was like it happened.
The moment his eyes opened, he felt Leah shift against him. His arm around her grew tighter. His other arm moved to circle her. She slid up his body and looked into his eyes.
Hers were wondrous, her lips parted.
Fucking hell, he loved that look.
But he knew.
He knew even before she whispered, “Darling, I just had the best dream.”
“This is our eternity,” he stated, his voice rough with sleep and her eyes got wider.
“You dreamed it too?” she asked.
Lucien nodded.
“Wow. Awesome,” she whispered.
He grinned, thinking, sharing dreams like that with Leah, eternity, already sweet, just became sweeter.
Then his arms grew taut around her, he rolled her and continued living the dream.
Her scream still ringing around the room, Lucien stepped away while watching Katrina’s head drop.
“Now, you burn,” he said softly.
He watched her breathe, the effort visibly taxing, and he did this for some time.
“You tried to teach me,” she whispered, hanging from her wrists pinned to the wall, her body limp, lifeless, nearly bloodless.
“It’s too late to tell me you’ve learned, Rina.” Lucien continued to speak soft.
To his shock, her sagging body slumped deeper.
He gave her time, and as he expected, she again spoke.
“I’m okay with this,” she went on in a whisper. “I couldn’t live without you.”
“I know,” he replied and watched her put extreme effort into lifting her eyes to him.
“Not at all,” she admitted. “Not even for a second.”
“I know,” he repeated.
“You love her?” she asked, the stamp of agony in her face twisting with new pain.
“Yes,” he answered shortly.
She’d endured enough. Now it was time for her pain to end. But just like Rina, she begged for more.
“I wanted you to love me like that,” she told him something he already knew.
Lucien made no reply.
“Why couldn’t you love me like that?” she asked.
“Rina, let Julian take you to the stake,” Lucien replied gently.
“Give me that before I die. Tell me why. Why couldn’t you love me like that?”
Lucien sighed then reminded her, “I’ve told you why.”
She smiled a humorless smile before she whispered, “I’ll listen now.”
He held her eyes as he answered, “Because you wanted it so badly.”
“That’s not good?” she asked, genuinely perplexed.
Lucien shook his head. “The moment I understood Leah’s love for me caused her pain, I knew I had to let her go. Even knowing losing her I would lose everything. I was willing to sacrifice everything to ease her pain. And when I understood I loved her, but if we stayed together our time would be short and end in tragedy, I understood this more completely. I was determined to let her go to prolong her life in hopes, during it, she might find happiness. What you failed to learn is that true love is not selfish, Rina. It’s selfless.”
She gazed at him, even in her state the unhealthy, fevered, obsessive love she had for him burned in her eyes.
Quietly, he finished, “You never understood that.”
“No,” she whispered. “And I still don’t. Today, I die for my love for you, Lucien.”
“If it makes you feel better to believe that, Rina, then I’m pleased you do,” Lucien returned on a whisper.
She continued to gaze at him he knew in order to steal more of his time and attention.
But he was done.
He stepped away and jerked his chin at his son.
Julian moved forward.
Lucien didn’t watch as his son carried his ex-mate over his shoulder out of the room. Instead, he pulled out his phone and made three calls. Two were business. One was to Leah to tell her he’d be home soon.
She told him she was making her fried chicken.
This was something over the past week since they returned that he was growing accustomed to. A new nuance of his soon-to-be bride. She didn’t ask about the unpleasant business, simply waited for him to tell her if he so desired.
But she was attuned to him. Now that he’d opened it to her, both of them could sense each other’s moods with an acuity that had nothing to do with body language, facial expressions, or tone of voice. They tracked each other easily. So she knew when he had them and she made certain she did something, sometimes large, sometimes small, to make his unpleasant days end well.
He finished his call with Leah and moved outside. Bel was there. Stephanie. Rafe. Duncan. And Cristiano was there to represent The Council.
When Lucien arrived, Julian handed him the torch. Without delay, he threw it at the wood and kindling at Katrina’s feet.
He gave her one last thing. Lucien held her eyes as she burned.
When she was no longer of this world, he left, leaving Cristiano to gather the ashes and scatter them to the winds.
Lucien sat back and yanked off the white gloves they’d asked him to wear before he handled the ancient parchments.
It was over a month after he’d found Leah. He was in the ancient city of Speranza in a windowless, air-controlled, intensely secured room in the basement of The Dominion’s international headquarters.
He lifted his head and looked across the table at Avery, Gregor and Rudolf.
“This does not make me happy,” he muttered his understatement.
He’d just seen The Prophesies, or what they would allow him to see. He had no idea what else there was. However, they had shown him some of what referred to Leah and himself.
“That’s understandable,” Rudolf replied.
“Do you now understand why we’ve asked you to refrain from hunting your father?” Avery asked carefully.
“I understand it, but I don’t like it,” Lucien answered tightly.
“As you can see from those documents, he is surely the general of the insurrectionists noted in them. If his death is precipitous, it could tip war and we’re not ready,” Rudolf explained.
“I did read that in the parchments, Rudolf,” Lucien muttered with irritation.
“You will have your time,” Avery assured him quietly.
He fucking well would.
Lucien nodded.
“She’s already exhibiting the abilities,” Gregor stated, looking at him closely.
Lucien briefly weighed the wisdom of answering, glanced at Avery, who already knew, and decided.
“She has exceptional powers of the mind. She can mark me. Track me. Sense my mood, and therefore, when she’s with me, sense danger when I do. She can speak to me with her mind, and as the days go by, this power increases significantly. Indeed, if I wished, I could call to her where she’s sitting at a café across the street and she’d hear me. She could do the same. We also have begun to share dreams, having them separately and, on occasion, simultaneously.” He gestured to the papers on the table before him. “However, she does not demonstrate uncommon speed or strength.”
“You are vampire, she is mortal, Lucien, would you know if she had uncommon speed or strength for a mortal?” Rudolf asked an excellent question.
Before he could answer, Gregor spoke.
“We would like to ask you to speak to her about submitting herself for testing.”
Lucien’s felt his body prepare for battle, his adrenaline releasing, his muscles expanding, and he immediately replied, “Absolutely not.”
“Lucien—” Gregor began but Lucien leaned forward.
“You get near her without my permission, I’ll tear you apart, and then you’ll burn,” Lucien vowed, his voice low and unmistakable.
Gregor gestured to the table. “You can see from what you’ve read that it’s important we understand we’re in the position to combat this threat.”
“My bride is not a mutant warrior in this war to be prodded and researched,” Lucien clipped. “There are yet two other lifemates to unite. We will allow matters to play out, and as they do, she and I will decide how we will proceed.”
“We don’t have a great deal of time. Callum will mate with Sonia before Christmas this very year,” Gregor told him and Lucien held his eyes.
Callum was King of the Werewolves. Lucien knew him. Lucien respected him.
Sonia, he knew, was the name of Gregor’s mortal charge.
“Sonia?” Lucien asked.
“Yes, Sonia,” Gregor answered then clarified, talking quietly, “My Sonia.”
“So this is why you took her into your care,” Lucien surmised.
“That and I held deep regard for her parents prior to their deaths and affection for her prior to her losing them,” Gregor replied.
Lucien nodded but he did not share further words on the topic. The Prophesies were vague as Prophesies tended to be, but it was not vague what would befall Sonia, the woman who would soon be the mortal Queen of the Werewolves. Gregor knew of this. And Gregor was hiding his despair at the knowledge.
Instead, he asked, “Does she know? Callum?”
Gregor shook his head. “No. And they won’t. As this was kept from you and Leah, it will also be kept from the other mates. As you read, it is essential that every immortal demonstrates his ability to make a crucial selfless sacrifice for his mortal lifemate. And it is essential that every mortal demonstrate her generosity to or protection of immortals. To establish an eternity of peace between the species, The Three must personify that we can live together through diversity and in harmony.”
He’d read this in The Prophesies. It was annoying, but it was understandable.
“And the third lifemates?” Lucien asked.
“They have not been located,” Rudolf answered. “We believe the male is living amongst mortals. Their story is vaguer in The Prophesies, but we believe from studying the parchments that he knows who he is, what he’s capable of. He feeds from mortals, he morphs to wolf. But he does not know of the existence of others of his kind. He thinks he’s an anomaly, hides his abilities and lives underground. Therefore, it is difficult to find him.”
“Perhaps he has not yet come into existence,” Lucien suggested.
“No,” Avery whispered, “Sonia’s destiny will play out shortly. The Noble War is nearly upon us. He’s out there, as is she, whoever she may be.”
Lucien tipped up his chin then remarked, “If he thinks he’s an anomaly, he’s correct. Unless I’m mistaken, he would be the only vampire, werewolf hybrid in history.”
“In the years to come, many things will change, Lucien,” Avery replied. “Many. What was impossible will be exceptional, but possible. Then it will become commonplace.”
As it always had been. As, he hoped to Christ, it always would be for a very long time.
Lucien moved on.
“I’ll be telling Leah of The Prophesies,” he announced and the three other men in the room tensed.
“This is unwise,” Gregor muttered.
“Why?” Lucien shot back and Gregor’s eyes slid to Avery. “It isn’t unwise,” Lucien stated and Gregor’s gaze came back. “You’re intent to keep your secrets from being revealed. But I can assure you she won’t speak of them.”
“Can you be certain?” Rudolf asked.
“She is mortal but there are many mortals who are far from stupid, Rudolf,” Lucien returned. “I’ll explain to her the importance of keeping the secret and she’ll understand it. I’ll also explain the consequences of not keeping it and she’ll definitely understand that.”
“Of course, but she is also in the life. Her family is in the life. What is to come, her part in it, she may be moved to warn them,” Rudolf replied.
“She won’t speak of The Prophesies,” Lucien repeated.
“It’s essential she doesn’t,” Gregor pressed,
Lucien looked to Avery then back to Gregor and impatiently reiterated, “She will not speak of them.”
Gregor took in a breath. Then he nodded.
Lucien wanted to get back to Leah so he demanded in the form of a request, “I wish to speak to Avery alone.”
Glances were exchanged but Rudolf and Gregor assented, said their farewells and moved to leave the room.
Gregor, however, stopped at the door.
“The Council wishes you to know that the access provided you to these documents means our debt is paid.”
“Servicing The Dominion by hunting my own and taking them to their deaths for fifty years is hardly paid by providing me access to documents that describe, however vaguely, that myself and my bride face mortal perils in a Noble War,” Lucien returned. “That is surely my due and I regard it as such. Tell The Council I consider that I still hold the marker and I will call it when I need to use it.”
Gregor held his eyes before he sighed, tipped up his chin and left the room.
Lucien didn’t speak until he sensed they were well out of hearing distance. Then his eyes moved through the room. Not finding what he was looking for, he turned his gaze to Avery.
“Is this room monitored?” he asked.
“No,” Avery answered.
“What I wish to discuss, it would be foolish to lie,” Lucien stated quietly.
“As has been explained, very few know of The Prophesies, Lucien. This is a humidity, air and temperature controlled room that holds nothing but The Prophesies. Access to it is strictly limited. Security is state of the art. However, it does not include cameras or microphones. It wouldn’t do for security guards to be able to catch a glimpse of the parchments or hear those allowed in this room discussing them.”
Lucien nodded once.
Then he crossed his arms on his chest and stated quietly, “You’re an Ancient.”
Avery slowly closed his eyes.
He was.
Fucking hell.
“Do you know our origin?” Lucien asked and Avery opened his eyes.
“I vow to you, Lucien, that this is also a mystery to me,” Avery answered.
“Are there others older than you?” Lucien queried.
“I cannot say,” Avery demurred.
“But there are other Ancients,” Lucien went on.
“I cannot say,” Avery repeated.
“How many people know that Ancients still exist?” Lucien pushed.
“One,” Avery answered. “You.”
That was what he was looking for. An indication of trust. And he had it. This secret was more crucial to guard than The Prophesies.
Lucien took a moment before he reminded Avery quietly, “My future bride and I risk much for this world.”
Avery studied him a moment, then whispered, “You do. And therefore I will give you another vow. There will be those who will do everything in their considerable power to keep The Sacred Triumvirate safe. But right now, this is all I can give you.”
“I have children and The Prophesies state that I will have four more. For reasons that, if The Prophesies are true, are no longer accurate, Leah and I do not use protection. If this Noble War means my bride and I will perish and our children will live without parents or worse, die themselves, I need to know what you know and take precautions.”
“You must find out along with me,” Avery replied.
“You know no more?” Lucien pressed.
Avery extended a hand to the papers on the table. “I wrote those parchments. I wrote everything I knew, Lucien, everything that came to me. If I knew more, I would gladly tell you. I don’t. Therefore, you must find out along with me.”
Lucien held his gaze and read nothing. And he knew from this that when Avery gave away the knowledge he was indeed an Ancient, this was his intention.
He tried once more by reminding him, “I lived eight hundred and twenty-two years waiting for the woman who was destined for me.”
“And we’re counting, very much, on your desire to keep hold of that destiny,” Avery returned.
“If that’s true, Avery, then you are very lucky,” Lucien whispered.
At that, Avery smiled.
Lucien didn’t smile back. He lifted his hand in a brief gesture of farewell and left the room to make his way to his mate.
“Okay, seriously, this is awesome!” Leah exclaimed.
She was sitting astride him. Lucien was on his back in their bed in their hotel room in Speranza, Leah straddling his hips. She was wearing a black silk nightie adorned with thick edges of cream lace. They’d just made love and her hair was a wild tumble around her shoulders.
Prior to their making love, he’d given her an emerald cut black diamond engagement ring. After, he told her of The Prophesies.
As was her way, her reaction surprised him.
“My pet, we’re talking about war,” he reminded her quietly.
She leaned in to him, putting her hands to his chest, her face getting close to his. Hers was still excited.
“Yes, and you, me and the other four are going to kick ass,” she declared, lurched back to sitting and cried, “I can’t wait to get superhuman abilities!”
Lucien shook his head, finding he couldn’t stop himself from grinning.
Then he sat up, his grin died, and he wrapped his arms around her loosely.
“My love,” he started to caution, “anything can happen in war.”
She wrapped her arms loosely around his shoulders and tipped her head to the side.
“Darling, are you the Mighty Vampire Lucien?”
His lips twitched but he didn’t answer.
“You are,” she whispered, her arms getting tighter. “You’re unstoppable. And you’re giving me your abilities. So we’ll be unstoppable.” Her expression grew serious as she pressed closer. “Before you get all mature vampire and impart wisdom on me, I’ll tell you, I get it. I’ve never been in a war, but everyone knows wars are to be avoided. And I hate to remind you of something that upsets you, but Edwina and I were attacked by four vampires. I had no power in that situation and I was terrified out of my mind. So it may be that my powers won’t be akin to a vampire’s. But at least I’ll have a fighting chance.”
She was right. She’d reminded him of something that upset him.
Greatly.
Lucien didn’t share this and Leah wasn’t done.
“But I also get something else. And I’ve thought this for a long time even when you told me before that you were mostly like me. There is magic at work. And that magic, I know in my heart, led me to you. And if that’s the kind of magic we’re dealing with then it’s the good kind. And we have that on our side. And we have love on our side. And the other four will have love on their side too. And when you have our kind of love, you can’t be beat because you won’t allow yourself to be beat.”
“I can’t argue with that,” he muttered and was rewarded with her smile.
Her arms left his shoulders so her fingers could wrap around the sides of his neck and she tilted her face close.
“Nothing will take you away from me, darling,” her fingers squeezed, “nothing.”
Lucien stared into her beautiful eyes.
Then his arms tightened around her and he twisted her to her back as his mouth took hers in a searing kiss.
When he lifted his head, she took in an unsteady breath.
She finished their conversation with a whispered, “I get all this,” her limbs gave him a squeeze and her lips gave him a smile, “and kickass superhuman abilities. I . . . can’t . . . wait.”
Lucien grinned down at her, dropped his head and kissed the smile away from her face.
After that, he took his time doing a great many other things.
Things he couldn’t wait to do.
It was after the Ancient Claiming Ceremony. After the celebration following. After Nadia threw her back out breakdancing at the celebration. But before they would board a plane in the morning to travel to Italy for their honeymoon.
Her fists in his hair became insistent.
He felt it, stopped feeding, lashed his tongue along the wound and gave his brand-new bride what she wanted.
He tipped his head back and looked at her.
She slid down on his cock, filling herself full of him, her eyelids heavy.
Christ, she was beautiful.
So fucking beautiful.
Her lids were heavy but her focus was all on him.
“This is our eternity,” she whispered. His arms, already wrapped around her, went so tight he felt it as the gentle wind of her breath stroked his face.
All he could see was her beautiful features. All he could feel was her body in his arms, her sex wrapped around his cock, her thighs pressed tight to his hips, her breasts to his chest, her arms curved around his shoulders holding him close. All he could smell was the overpowering scent of her excitement. All he could taste on his tongue was her blood mingled with her skin and her pussy. All he could hear was her heart beating, her excited breaths.
“This is our eternity,” he agreed quietly.
Her lids grew heavier even as she smiled an alluring smile. A smile for his words. A smile because she, like he, knew they were living a dream.
“Give me beauty, my vampire,” she demanded.
Instantly, he flipped her to her back and gave in to her demand.
Fuck, but he loved it when their dreams came true.
Literally.
~ THE END ~
The Three Series continues with
With Everything I Am,
the story of Callum and Sonia.
One night, Callum is driven into the woods by instinct, an instinct to protect. In the form of wolf, he meets a young human child who he is instantly drawn to in a fierce way he doesn’t quite understand.
Sonia Arlington has lived a lonely life. She has certain abilities that make her strange and she has a rare disease that, if untreated, could kill her. Her father makes her vow that she will never let others discover her abilities. This forces Sonia to stay distant, always guarding against exposure.
Intelligence leaks that Sonia is Callum’s human mate. He is now King of the Werewolves and has war on his hands. He’s forced to claim his mate and integrate Sonia into a world that is strange and frightening.
As Sonia attempts to adjust, Callum attempts to cope with the knowledge that his mate is mortal. He will have her beauty and gentleness only the length of a mortal life making their union unbearably bitter even as Sonia makes it unbelievably sweet.
Continue on to read With Everything I Am now!