In his heart.
Slowing his tempo, he reached up to stroke her beautiful face. His thumb swept over her parted lips, his eyes rooted on the pretty white points of her fangs.
“I want to feel your blood inside me, love.”
Her soft, indrawn breath seemed uncertain, as if she still didn’t quite believe that he could mean it. Before she had a chance to voice a single doubt, he lifted her chin and held her burning gaze.
“I’ve never been more sure of anything in my life.” He kissed her, unrushed and meaningful, letting his tongue trace the razor-sharp tips. “Let me taste you, Brynne.”
When she hesitated, he took her hand in his and brought her wrist up to her mouth.
“You’ve given me your love,” he said, still amazed that she had. “Now, give me your bond.”
Brynne swallowed, her eyes never leaving his. She gently bit her wrist, then withdrew her fangs from her tender flesh and turned her wrist toward him.
He closed his mouth around the bleeding punctures, sealing his lips over the wound.
The first sip slammed into his senses, hard and powerful. He wasn’t expecting to feel the need it stirred within him, the deepening thirst for her.
He groaned with pleasure—with amazement—at the erotic taste and staggering force of her blood. He felt it surge into him like a wave of heat and energy, even more invigorating than the light that lived in him as an Atlantean.
His erection turned to granite with each draw from her vein. His desire ignited into a need that shocked him. One that demanded to be fulfilled.
He moaned, his hips flexing on their own, his cock pushing deeper, more urgently inside her. He could hardly hold on to his lust now. Like his love for her, his need was too strong.
It owned him, just as this woman did.
She gently pulled her wrist from his mouth and sealed the wounds with a little swipe of her pink, wet tongue. Her face was resplendent with desire and emotion, and the flush of her escalating release.
“Mine,” Zael growled.
Her answering smile nearly undid him.
“Mine,” she said, drawing him down for her passionate kiss.
He didn’t think his connection to her could be any stronger, but then he began to feel his pleasure mounting, doubling. The love he felt was growing, too, intensifying into something so profound he struggled to hold it all inside him.
It was Brynne.
He could feel her now, in his heart, in his blood.
“Yes,” she whispered, nodding. “Forever, Zael.”
She wrapped her arms and legs around him, holding him close as their bodies fell into an urgent, perfectly matched rhythm. They climaxed together, her cry joined with his hoarse shout. His orgasm would have been explosive enough by itself, but twined with the pleasure of hers it was staggering, the most intense rush of sensation he’d ever known.
And it wasn’t enough to sate him.
Zael rolled her onto her side to start another round of lovemaking.
It was a damned good thing they would have an eternity together, because the love and thirst he felt for this woman—his blood-bonded mate—knew no end.
CHAPTER 38
At dawn that next day, Brynne and Zael awoke to find the four colony elders on the doorstep of the cottage. They had arrived with a special request—and a gift for the newly mated couple.
They brought them down to the beach, to where the sailboat she and Zael had arrived on was moored and waiting at the end of the island’s stone dock.
“You agreed to live at the colony,” Baramael announced. “However, we have decided to amend the terms of our agreement.”
“What do you mean?” Zael asked, sounding as surprised as Brynne felt.
“The four of us met again last night to discuss the proposed alliance with the Order. This morning, we met with the rest of the colony and explained everything that happened these past couple of days—including the role you and Brynne played in protecting our crystal.” Baramael put his hand on Zael’s shoulder. “The colony agrees unanimously that you and Brynne should have the freedom to stay here with us and to return to the outside as you choose.”
Brynne swallowed, looking to Zael in shock and confusion. She felt the same reaction in him, through their bond.
“Come and go as we choose?” Zael asked cautiously. “This is…most unexpected.”
“Consider it our gift to you,” Anaphiel said, smiling warmly at both of them.
Haroth nodded. “With our trust. You’ve both earned it.”
“You have the trust of the whole colony,” Nethiri added, the female elder’s silver eyes shining with kindness.
“The freedom doesn’t come entirely without some responsibility,” Baramael said, his bicolored gaze moving between Brynne and Zael. “To be specific, the council would like you both to be emissaries of the colony in our new alliance with the Order.”
Brynne could hardly contain her gasp. As prepared as she was to remain on the island with Zael for the rest of her life, there had been a part of her that yearned to see her sister again, if only to say goodbye. But what the elders were offering was something far better. A chance to keep Tavia and the rest of the Order in her life as partners in the alliance.
“Yes, of course,” Zael accepted, bringing Brynne under his arm.
“It would be our honor,” she told the elders. “Thank you for this very welcome gift.”
“It’s well-earned,” Baramael said. He smiled, and it was a revelation to see the stern Atlantean’s face soften with his warm regard.
“You also mentioned a special request,” Zael prompted the dark-haired elder.
“Yes. There is the matter of Tamisia.”
Brynne hoped the council had also softened toward their colleague’s fall from grace. “Have you reconsidered your position with her as well?”
“No,” Baramael replied soberly. “That we cannot do. Her banishment still stands. However, as she’s never been away from the colony to see where to teleport, she will need help leaving.”
He indicated the waiting sailboat.
“Of course,” Zael said, understanding at once. “Brynne and I can take her to the mainland.”
Baramael nodded. “She will be pleased to hear that. We will inform her to prepare for the journey as soon as you and Brynne are ready to depart.”
“As for her banishment,” Zael said, “adjusting to life on the outside may not be easy for her. Will the council allow us to ensure Tamisia has somewhere to go once she’s away from the colony? Someone to help look out for her, if she needs assistance?”
They all agreed, and not long afterward, Brynne and Zael found themselves on the sailboat with Tamisia, heading back for Athens.
The blonde Atlantean remained in the cabin below for most of their journey. But by nightfall, as the craggy shoreline of the mainland drew nearer, Tamisia emerged to join them on the deck.
Her lovely face was still miserable with contrition. “You didn’t have to do this for me. Neither one of you.”
“We wanted to,” Brynne assured her, feeling no animosity for the woman, only sympathy. “Lazaro Archer will see that you have somewhere safe to stay in Rome until you’re settled. We didn’t want you to be all alone.”
Zael had made the arrangements after telepathically connecting with Jordana to explain the situation. As the Order’s command center in Rome was the closest, Lazaro and his Breedmate, Melena, now waited to meet the boat personally in Athens when they arrived at the docks.
On shore, the black-haired Gen One Breed male stepped out of a large SUV with the curvaceous redhead who shared his bond. There was another Breed male with them. Massive, intimidating, there was no question the scowling male with the shaved head and glyph-covered arms was a warrior.
Lazaro and Melena introduced themselves, both of them pleased to hear that the alliance with the colony had been accepted. If Jordana had told them the circumstances of Tamisia’s ousting from the colony, neither of them
gave any indication to make her feel uneasy.
Unfortunately, the same could not be said for the behemoth who stood behind them. Unfriendly didn’t even begin to describe his forbidding demeanor. But Lazaro and his Breedmate seemed to trust the male implicitly.
“Trygg will see you to the car, Tamisia,” Lazaro informed her. “Melena and I will be along momentarily.”
“Thank you,” she said, then turned to Zael and Brynne, remorse glistening in her sky-blue eyes. “I don’t know how to repay you.”
Zael touched her shoulder and gently shook his head. “There is no need. Take care of yourself, and maybe one day the three of us will meet again.”
“I would like that very much.” She smiled at Brynne. “I wish you both every happiness.”
Brynne clutched her hand and gave it a tender squeeze. “The same to you, Sia.”
She headed off, looking more than a little anxious as she followed the big warrior back to the waiting vehicle.
Lazaro ran a hand through his ebony hair. “I hope your friend doesn’t scare easily. I would’ve brought one of my other men along, but I’ve lost one of my team to family obligations and a new Breedmate, and another is gearing up for a covert mission. Trygg’s not much of a people person.”
Zael grunted. “Don’t worry about Sia. She’s never met a male she couldn’t charm.”
“She’s never met Trygg,” Melena said, smiling wryly. She glanced at Brynne. “Congratulations to you and Zael on your mating. I’m sorry—I’m trying not to stare, but it’s difficult. It’s not every day that Lazaro and I get a chance to meet a daywalker or an Atlantean.”
The Rome commander’s mouth quirked. “Not to mention how rare it is to meet the diplomatic envoys for the Atlantean colony.”
“Thank you for the well wishes,” Brynne replied. “As for our diplomatic role, I imagine Zael and I will be seeing much more of you both.”
“And the Order in general,” Zael added. “This alliance is a partnership between our people, but I hope you and the rest of the warriors understand that beyond any formal agreement, you also have my friendship. And my service, should you need it—whether that’s in battle against Selene or any other threat we have to contend with.”
“That is most appreciated,” Lazaro answered. “Unfortunately, it seems Opus Nostrum isn’t about to give us any rest. It will be a damned good day when we finally take the bastards out.”
“Let’s hope it’s soon,” Brynne said. “If there’s anything Zael and I can do to help make that happen, the Order needs only to ask.”
“You honor us well,” Lazaro replied with a formal bow of his head.
The phrase was tradition within the Order, one of the highest praises bestowed on its brethren. That he said it now, to Brynne and her Atlantean mate, was a compliment they both would aspire to be worthy of from this day forward.
The Rome commander gestured toward the vehicle Tamisia had entered. “And you have our word that we’ll make sure your friend gets whatever she requires while she’s with us.”
“Thank you both,” Zael said as the two men shook hands.
Melena pulled Brynne into a brief hug. “I so enjoyed meeting you.”
“The pleasure is mine,” she replied, smiling as she drew back from Lazaro’s mate. “May I ask you a personal favor?”
“Of course, anything.”
“When you speak with the Order again, please tell my sister I am well, and that I hope to see her soon.”
“But not too soon,” Zael interjected, a grin tugging at his mouth. “Brynne and I have a blood bond to celebrate. I plan to keep her all to myself for as long as I possibly can.”
They said their goodbyes, watching as the SUV rolled away into the gathering night.
Zael’s eyes glimmered as he took Brynne’s hand and led her back onto the sailboat. She couldn’t wait to be back on the island. Back in her Atlantean mate’s arms, and back in his bed.
Their bed.
In the home they would make together.
And, if they were so blessed, in the home where they would one day start a family of their own. The wish took root so firmly, it swept her breath away.
Because it wasn’t only her wish, she realized.
She felt that same hope shining in Zael’s heart too.
It was in his blood, in the bond that now connected their hearts and their futures.
He pulled her into his embrace, his mouth coming down on hers in a kiss so passionate and filled with emotion that it shook her to her marrow.
“Yes, I want it, too,” he murmured against her lips. “I want it all with you, Brynne. Forever.”
And when he pressed her down onto the deck with him to lie beneath the blanket of stars, she knew to the depths of her soul that she was already holding the future in her arms.
She was for the first time in her life—and forever—right where she belonged.
~ * ~
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About the Author
LARA ADRIAN is a New York Times and #1 internationally best-selling author, with nearly 4 million books in print worldwide and translations licensed to more than 20 countries. Her books regularly appear in the top spots of all the major bestseller lists including the New York Times, USA Today, Publishers Weekly, Indiebound, Amazon.com, Barnes & Noble, etc. Reviewers have called Lara’s books “addictively readable” (Chicago Tribune), “extraordinary” (Fresh Fiction), and “one of the best on the market” (Romantic Times).
Writing as TINA ST. JOHN, her historical romances have won numerous awards including the National Readers Choice; Romantic Times Magazine Reviewer’s Choice; Booksellers Best; and many others. She was twice named a Finalist in Romance Writers of America’s RITA Awards, for Best Historical Romance (White Lion’s Lady) and Best Paranormal Romance (Heart of the Hunter). More recently, the German translation of Heart of the Hunter debuted on Der Spiegel bestseller list.
With an ancestry stretching back to the Mayflower and the court of King Henry VIII, the author lives with her husband in New England.
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