“No, but your face is very expressive.” Her hand traced my brow, soothing the beast within, then her eyes shut again.
“Come, I have had dinner prepared for you both.” Jenna glided forward, leaving us with nothing to do but follow. The comfortable room disappeared. A large estate resembling a modern-day castle appeared.
“You have a thing for kingdoms or what?” The sweet invitation grated on my nerves, making me want to lash out. I only wanted to take my Chosen home where I could ensure her safety, but instead, I was in some fairy land with a being I didn’t completely trust.
“Be at ease, Demon. If I wanted to kill either of you, I would have already. Your mate needs blood, and I have no wish to seeeither of you harmed. I am still not sure how you came to my lands, but in the waiting area, you were approved for entrance. Otherwise, you both would have been sent back to where you came from.”
I reeled from her words. “Meaning we’d both have gone back to Hell? How secure is this place, and exactly where are we?” My tone brooked no argument.
Jenna reached out and touched my arm. “Meaning you’d have gone back to your home, and she’d have gone to hers. I do no harm, unless provoked. Do not provoke me, Creed, Son of Satan.”
In that moment, I came to understand the façade the woman showed wasn’t truly who she was. The laughing, joking woman hid a core of steel. We definitely had some things to work out, and it wasn’t going to be easy. I wasn’t used to taking orders, except from Satan, and that was only when I had to. Although Jenna may be older, and this was her home, I wasn’t a boy, and I had a mate to protect.
I needed to make sure the home was secure. My own fortress was safe from my father and all his beings, but this place wasn’t mine. The feel of wards blanketing the perimeter grew stronger as we approached the structure.
Without a doubt, there were several things I knew for a fact. One of them was that my father was going to want to kill me. The other...I would kill for my mate. Not that I blamed the old man—hell, my father wanted to kill me on a daily basis, as did most who met me. If they had the power to do so, they’d try, but most lacked the skill or balls. However, this time Satan had a real reason. I had never truly done anything to warrant his wrath before. Not like I’d done this day, taking his consort.
“Your wards will keep out most, but will they keep out my father and his demons?” The hairs on the back of my neck rose,a clear indication we were being watched. “You should tell your people to stand down. I don’t want to hurt anyone.”
Tilting her head to the side, Jenna seemed to be mulling over my words, then nodded. “Follow me.”
I kept my laugh contained. “Absolutely. This is your home after all.”
Jenna raised her middle finger, but didn’t look back, making me laugh. Maybe we’d get along after all.
Raina stirred. Her gorgeous dark eyes blinked open. “Where are we?”
I looked around the grand entryway and had to admit it was pretty opulent, from the huge entrance with its white marble floor to the double staircases on either side. I could imagine Christmas with garland and lights draped around the banisters, and a huge tree right in the middle. Why the hell was I getting all sentimental? I had no clue, but I immediately put the brakes on that train of thought. My home was just as magnificent, though a bit darker. Halloween in human terms looked more appropriate in my home.
“Welcome to my home, Alecia Raina.” I heard Jenna say, but didn’t acknowledge her words, waiting for Raina to say something. Anything. Finally, after a few minutes, she blinked up at me, then looked at Jenna. I held my breath, unsure what I’d do if she demanded they take her to the home she’d lived in with her parents.
“You can put me down now.” Her whispered words held more strength than before, but through the thin material, I still felt the small shiver she tried to hide.
“You need nourishment, Mon Eros.” My casual use of the word love made Raina blush, but that was exactly what she was to me. I could feel it in my very being. Already, my heart was trying to reach out to hers. For hundreds of years, I’d thought to die without ever knowing love, of ever finding the being meantfor me. If my in-laws were hybrids, I’d figure out how to make it work...or else. The yawning years without her didn’t appeal. Living in my father’s world, knowing she was out there would be a death sentence to me. No. I would move any obstacle to make Raina love me.
“I’ve never needed blood the way full-bloods do.” Raina looked at Jenna, then the floor. Her tone belied the fact that she felt ashamed to admit the truth of her statement.
I let her legs drop, keeping her face at eye level with mine. “Do not feel guilty for a natural need, Eros. We all have certain things we need, yet I won’t apologize for mine, and neither should you. Everything about you is special and beautiful.” I kept my eyes locked with Raina’s.
She sucked in a deep breath, making her breasts brush against my chest. “When I have need, my father usually has a supply brought in. It’s all very civilized.”
I kept my thoughts to myself, but deep inside, I wished her father were near so I could shake the living fuck out of him. Civilized and I had never been said in the same sentence. Well, unless you said I had just destroyed a civilization, but that was just semantics. “I can help you with the feeding, make you think it is like it was at your father’s home, if you will allow me to,” I offered.
“Hold up. We don’t know how she’d react to your blood. I will provide proper nutrition here, and then we will see if you two are compatible.” Jenna glanced between us.
Keeping my calm, I stared over Raina’s shoulder. “I am aware of this. I’m also aware of the effects I have on vampires. This is not my first rodeo, Fey.”
“Hey, be nice. She’s just looking out for us.” The heat that licked up my insides had nothing to do with the little fist she’d punched me with. Damn, I could just imagine her sucking me, and it wasn’t my blood she was after.
Blue eyes that flashed to red squinted up at me. “You are thinking dirty thoughts, aren’t you?”
I tried to look innocent. “What makes you think that?”
Raina glanced down between us, then back up. “I’m pretty sure if I could see below our waists, I’d be seeing you sporting a hard-on. As it is, I’d wager my Mercedes on the fact you were totally picturing me sucking you, and not your neck.”
Unable to stop myself, I laughed and hugged her tighter, letting her feel exactly how she affected me. Bringing her closer so I could whisper in her ear, even though I knew the other woman would hear. “You would win that bet.” I then licked the shell and nibbled on her lobe. The full body shiver it elicited made me groan as I could scent her arousal spike the very air.
“Hello, you are in the presence of others. Haven’t you heard the saying about no PDA?” Jenna rolled her eyes.
