Broken Heart 07 Cross Your Heart (26 page)

Without my Family power guiding it, the collar around Tez’s neck shone brightly. I felt the power of it buzzing, and the air went heavy and electric as though lightning were about to strike.

Tawny was openly weeping, and Emma grabbed her by the chains and drew her away. She paused and said, “When this part is over, Tez will be driven by the urge to mate with you. There’s no stopping him, and you must let him take you. It’s the only way to finish the ritual.”

I really should’ve gotten more information about this endeavor before rushing headlong into it.

The collar around Tez’s neck unclasped and rose into the air between us. As it began to spin, it grew brighter and brighter. I was staring at it in awe, so I nearly jumped out of my skin when I felt a male hand caress my hair.

“Princess,” whispered Tez. “You rescued me.”

“Looks like I married you, too.”

“About time.”

I looked down at his virile, naked form, stretched out next to me. If I had grapes, I could’ve plucked them one by one and offered them to his succulent lips. But this was not a Roman fresco. I stood up, and he joined me, taking me into his arms. His hazel eyes were smoky with desire, and an answering need began tapping out a primal rhythm in the pit of my belly.

There was a tinny noise—like two swords clanging against each other in battle. The big spinning light broke into two smaller lights.

Slowly, the sparkles descended, and as they did, they stopped spinning. Now there were two collars. His was larger and dotted with emeralds; mine was far more delicate and feminine, especially with its smaller, twinkling rubies.

The collars slipped around our necks at the same time. I heard a clap of thunder, or maybe it was the roar of approval from the were-cats’ gods, and then the collars snicked into place.

Tez growled.

I looked at him, and saw the diamond shape of his pupils. I gulped. Lust emanated off him in waves. I was so stunned by the sudden change of his demeanor that I stepped out of the circle of his arms.

“It’s okay to run,” yelled Emma from the porch of the bunker. The women had gathered there, and were unabashedly watching the events unfold. “In fact, you might want to start now.”

The other women screamed and hooted, and I, being no fool, took off toward the edge of the woods. I ran by the pyre, skirting the side of the little church, and dove through the trees. I used my vampire speed, too. If Tez wanted me, I thought giddily, then he would have to catch me.

He did.

The chase ended when he took me down with a flying tackle. He held on tight and rolled so that when we landed, I was on top of him.

“Take your pants off,” he gritted out. “Or I’ll shred them.”

I was caught between excitement and fear. I’d never seen him like this, and I knew he wasn’t playing a game. Whatever magick created the collars, it compelled him to complete our binding.

I stood up and quickly wiggled off my pants and underwear.

Tez knelt before me and pressed his face between my thighs. He sniffed me, and a little growl issued from his throat. Then he started to lick me. I was already aroused by our game of chase, and it didn’t take long before my thighs were slick and pleasure was coiling hot and deep within me.

“Hand and knees, Elizabeth.
Now.”

I did exactly as he said. He caressed my buttocks, then I felt him guide his cock inside me. I was wet and ready, or so I thought. He was really big, and I was grateful he tried to be gentle with our first real consummation.

He worked his way inside until he was fully sheathed. For a moment, there was no movement, no breath. It was a second, maybe two, of feeling that wonderful connection. It had been so long since I’d known the physical pleasure of a man’s penetration.

And to think, I would have several lifetimes of making love with Tez.

He began to thrust inside me. His hands gripped my hips, his nails digging into my flesh. I could tell he was holding back, trying not to give in to the wild urges that surged inside him.

But I didn’t want him to control himself. I didn’t want him to think he had to be careful with me or that I was too delicate a thing to handle his true passions. We were partners now, in every way, and I wouldn’t let him hold back. I wanted to fulfill his real needs. I didn’t want protection from his animal side.

I wanted to embrace it.

“Harder,” I said. “As hard as you can. Please, Tez.”

He growled, and that noise of possession thrilled me.

“You turn me on so much,” he whispered in a whiskey voice. One of his hands crept underneath and started stroking my clit. “I can’t get enough of you.”

I wasn’t a prude (Obviously. I was half naked in the woods having sex with a were-jaguar). But still… good manners had been drilled into me since I could talk. I wanted to say earthy things, and be naughty in word and deed, but I just couldn’t manage it.

He increased his pace, and I knew he was still holding back. At least for himself. He was doing quite fine revving my engine. In fact, I was getting very close to orgasm, and I didn’t want to go over before he did.

“Let go, damn it,” I demanded. “I can take you.”

He groaned, his fingers working my clit, and finally—oh, finally—he stopped trying to control his lust. He pounded into me so hard that it was difficult to keep myself pinioned to the ground. I dug in with my fingers and pressed my knees hard against the packed earth.

My senses went into overload.

I flew over the edge into sparkling waves of bliss, and then Tez cried out my name and came with me.

I don’t know how much time passed before Tez slipped out of me and helped me to my feet. The experience had been so intense, and I was shaken by it.

“You okay?” he asked.

I nodded. “You?”

“Best day of my life.” He hesitated. “I know it’s too late to take this all back, Elizabeth, but… you don’t regret it, do you?”

“I love you,” I said simply.

Relief entered his gaze, and then he grinned. “I love you, too.” He picked me up and swung me around. “Just think of the fun we’re going to have, Ellie Bee.”

I realized that he only called me Elizabeth when he was being serious. Otherwise, he used all those pet nicknames. I wasn’t sure I’d ever be too fond of Ellie Bee, but since I was extremely fond of the man uttering it… well, I guess I could live with it.

“We should get back,” I said with some reluctance. “Several people are missing, and we need to give Damian everything we’ve found.”

“Okay,” he said. “I know we’re bound the vampire way because of the sex, but are there other things you’re supposed to do?”

I cupped the back of his neck and said, “I claim you.”

When vampires claimed anyone, which could be their children, their donors, or their mates, their symbol was imprinted onto the person. Other vampires could see it; then they knew the human, or whoever, was protected. My symbol was simple: a heart.

“There’s another part,” I said. “It’s called the word-giving. It’s sorta like saying vows. The most profound sentiment I can offer you is that I love you like I’ve loved no other. And I’m so very glad you’re mine.”

“I’m glad we’re together,” he said. “I’m happiest when I’m near you. You are my heart, Elizabeth, and I love you.”

We kissed, sealing our words and our bond.

“But as soon as we solve this mystery, you and I are locking ourselves in the bedroom and not coming out for a week.”

“Good thing Martha packed you some dessert,” I said.

He grinned.

“Aren’t you supposed to say something romantic, like ‘You’re all the dessert I need,’ ” I pointed out.

“Well, I could,” he admitted. “But we’re talking about Martha. That woman can cook. You know, I’m thinking about becoming a polygamist.”

I socked him in the shoulder, and he laughed. Then he pulled me in close, looked me in the eyes, and murmured, “You’re all the dessert I’ll ever need, Elizabeth.”

He kissed me.

And I melted.

I could get used to a lifetime of this.

He helped me put on my panties and jeans. There was something very sensual about the way he helped me slide on my underwear, and even in the way he tugged up my jeans and buttoned them for me. I never imagined getting dressed was nearly as sexy as getting undressed. But I think Tez was capable of making any mundane act a sensual one.

We were soiled, leaf-strewn, and badly in need of showers, but we were happy.

When we entered the clearing, the women were waiting for us. I was relieved to see that during our tryst, they had managed to shower and dress. I didn’t see Tawny, so I assumed she was locked up somewhere. I hoped it was a basement filled with mold and spiders.

All the women knelt before us and bowed their heads.

“Hail, the new alpha and his only mate,” shouted Emma.

“We pledge our loyalty,” responded the women.

“Aw, crap,” muttered Tez.

Emma clutched a pair of pants in her hands and she moved from her place of supplication to give them to Tez. He slipped them on, and I looked at her gratefully. The were-cats might not mind running around naked, but I did—especially when my husband was the one on display. Frankly, I wanted to be the only woman ever who got to ogle him naked.

“Okay, um… you.” He pointed to Emma. “You’re in charge or whatever until I get back. Wait. Isn’t there another guy around here? Where’s Serri?”

The women looked at each other, and I had a sudden chill. How in the world could I have forgotten poor Serri?

“She was hurt when I talked to her,” I said to Tez. “She’s the one who told me about the upendo challenge. Oh, I feel terrible!”

Guilt flashed across Emma’s features. “We didn’t think to check the house. Tawny told us they had dishonored the pride by leaving to live on their own. We thought they were gone.”

Tez and I strode across the clearing. The pyre was dying down, and the alpha body had finally succumbed to the flames. When we got to the porch of the little house, I smelled something foul.

“Shit,” said Tez. He opened the door and crept inside. I followed him. We found a young man in the living room facedown in a pool of blackened blood. Trak.

“Oh, no!” The man had paid the ultimate price for trying to protect his family, and his pride. We followed a trail of blood spatters down the hallway, and found Serri. She was sitting in a rocker, her arms around a baby boy fast asleep.

She was chalky white, her lips blue. And she was horribly still.

“Tez, is she…”

He pressed two fingers against her neck and shook his head. “Faint pulse. We need to get her to the hospital.”

She’d known her husband was dead when she approached me, and that she might be dying, too. She was protecting her child, waiting for… me? Had she known I would win the challenge, or had she just hoped I would?

“C’mon, baby,” I said, gently scooping out the boy from his mother’s arms. His eyes opened sleepily. The back of his shirt was sticky with blood.

“It’s not his,” said Tez.

The blood had seeped from the wound in Serri’s belly. It soaked her clothes, and her baby’s, too. Horror washed over me.

Dayton stared at me with big brown eyes, and then he yawned and snuggled into my arms. My heart turned over in my chest. He was so precious. I wanted to rip off Tawny’s head for ruining this beautiful family.

“Alpha?” Emma stood in the doorway, the only one brave enough to follow us in. She took in the scene, her expression hardening. “Tawny did this.”

“She’ll be punished,” promised Tez.

“Emma, come with us,” I said. “We’re taking them to the hospital, and I want you to stay and watch over Dayton.”

“Of course,” she said. “What about Trak?”

“Tell the others to prepare his pyre,” said Tez. “But do nothing until we return.” Gently he picked up Serri, and carried her toward the doorway. “And tell everyone to pack their stuff and be ready to move into town. We’re burning this creep-assed place down to the ground.”

“Burning it?” exclaimed Emma. I didn’t know if she sounded excited or upset.

“Yeah,” said Tez. “That’s what I said.” He paused and leveled a look at her. “You got that, kid?”

Emma nodded, wide-eyed.

The alpha had spoken.

And that was that.

“As soon as you’re done expressing the alpha’s wishes,” I said to Emma (and, my, did it sound strange to say that), “then meet me at the Mercedes.”

“I’ll take Serri in my Honda,” said Tez from the hallway. “We’ll meet at the hospital.”

I carried Dayton out of the house, and saw the women lined up outside looking pensive and sorrowful. What a terrible life it was here. It was like a cult. Isolated from others, dependent on a dynamic leader for direction, bound in sexual slavery… Yuck! The whole situation made my skin crawl. Were all prides set up the same, or was it just this one? I hoped this were-cat community was not the standard for all prides.

Tez left before I did. I cradled Dayton, not caring about the blood, and thought about how nice he felt in my arms. It made me wonder if adoption was possible. Maybe not a human baby, but perhaps there were orphaned paranormal children?

Emma was wise enough to grab a diaper bag and the car seat. We strapped it in the back, and settled Dayton into it. Emma slid into the passenger side. Her eyes were as wide as saucers. “This is the nicest car I’ve ever been in,” she said.

“I’ll buy you one,” I said. And I meant it. The lives of the were-cats were going to change. Big-time. I was surprised to be excited about having a hand in shaping the new community.

So much had happened.

I hadn’t quite processed that I was married.

It didn’t feel real, though the collar around my neck certainly did.

When we arrived at the emergency entrance to the hospital, several people awaited us. I realized that Tez had had the presence of mind to call Damian, who probably then in turn called in the troops.

I saw Damian, his brother Drake, Dr. Stan Michaels, and thank God… er, Goddess, Brigid waiting under the portico. Lorcan and Patrick’s grandmother was an actual Celtic goddess who not only had goldsmithing skills; she was an amazing healer. Brigid was at least six feet tall with long red hair, and milky white skin. She had magical tattoos all over her body that changed into healing spells she needed to help the injured and the sick. She always wore a mossy green gown that certainly gave credence to her goddessness.