Fae (36 page)

“No!” Kiernan stood up, and even as big a guy as he was, Eltera still stood half a head taller. That didn’t seem to phase him though as he looked her in the eyes, and started shouting. “This can’t happen! She’s supposed to be
free
! She’s supposed to be -”

“
Yours
.” Eltera arched a delicate eyebrow at him, and tapped a finger on the exposed sword mark on his chest, zapping him slightly to make a point that he had no chance to fight her, and that respect was still required.

“
Mine
?” Kiernan looked confused, and Eltera reached down and took Neala’s hand, placing it in his again.

“Yes, Kiernan, yours. You just claimed Neala for yourself.” Eltera smiled, looking quite proud of herself. “Just as my mark, and your pledge, has made you mine.”

“But, I wanted her free…” Kiernan mumbled as he gripped Neala’s hand tighter, helping her as she stood. Eltera closed her eyes for a moment, the bands becoming more solid by the minute, and Neala knew there had to be pain. The manacles on Eltera’s wrists were glowing vibrantly, but the goddess took a slow breath and then looked at them again.

“None of my Faoeihn, not even Neala, can be free. For they are bound to me, and I am not free.” Eltera tilted her head slightly. “But you will keep her safe, will you not? You will love her? You will take care of my daughter and protect her while still allowing her as much freedom as possible? You will make her happy?”

“I would do anything for her. I love her.” Kiernan gripped Neala’s hand and she felt like she was glowing, her chest was full to bursting with how happy she was, and for once the sight of the bands on her wrists made her feel
good
. She belonged with Kiernan, Eltera had said it. His eyes met hers. “I need to know, are you okay with this?”

“Don’t order me to clean your house, and I think we’ll be just fine.” Neala laughed and he smiled and kissed her.

“We both know I’m the neat one, if you had your way the house would be a mess.” He grinned and touched his forehead to hers, squeezing her hand as she kissed him again, not wanting to admit the truth of
that
out loud.

“Just remember, Kiernan, if you ever
did
hurt her, you do belong to me of your own volition. And while Gormahn’s power is still inside you - and it will continue to keep you immortal and heal you –
mine
is the power keeping his poison from killing you.” Eltera’s smile remained calm and serene, which almost made the threat a little more frightening. With a snap of her fingers his ruined shirt and jacket disappeared leaving him shirtless and suddenly clean of blood. Gormahn’s vines were pushed back below his elbow, and Neala’s eyes widened with the incredible power it must have taken Eltera to do that.

“Yes, Goddess.” Kiernan bowed his head, and Eltera nodded to him. But as Neala watched, she saw the goddess go pale, a tremble rushing through her, and the bands pulsed a vicious golden light.

“I wish I could stay, my daughter.” Eltera moved forward, cradling Neala’s cheek before she placed a single, soft kiss to her forehead. “Yet, I am bound by my own pledge, and it has taken a great deal of energy for me to come here. I know you will do what I need you to. I know that together, both of you will.”

She stepped back shakily, and Neala spoke up fast, “Thank you, Eltera. Thank you for this, but what do you need us to do? What can we do to repay you?” Neala gripped Kiernan’s hand tighter in hers.

Eltera looked impossibly sad for a moment, her features still beautiful but so full of sorrow that Neala’s heart almost broke for her. Then she spoke softly, “You can save your sisters.”

Then there was a rumble of thunder, and a flash of golden light, and she was gone.

Epilogue

1 Month Later

Seattle, Washington

“No. I already said no, and I mean it, Neala.” Kiernan had his head in his hands, his elbows propped up on his new desk.

“You’re so stubborn, what happened to us having an equal partnership? You not abusing your power and all that?” She sat down on the edge of Kiernan’s new desk and smiled down at him, running a hand through his hair. He looked up at her through his fingers and grumbled quietly. “Come on, let’s try it.”

“No.” His answer was muffled against his palms and she sighed in frustration. Neala pushed his chair back and knelt in front of him, grabbing his hands to pull them away from his face. His gorgeous green eyes settled on the bright bands of light circling her wrists and he tried to turn away from her again.

“I know you hate them, I hate them too, so can we please at least
try
to get rid of them?” Neala was on the verge of begging; it had been a rough few weeks. After Eltera had disappeared, Kiernan had tested whether he could take her with him if he popped somewhere else. Once he knew it worked they had reappeared on top of the house. There they had watched as the Ontario Provincial Police had arrived and swarmed the premises. Several vans had appeared to take the girls away, and Neala had watched Lena climb into one of the vans as well. The guards had been stripped of their weapons and carted into various police cars. Coroner vans had arrived for the dead.

Ráj Manor was being shut down.

Once they were sure everyone she cared for was safe, they had returned home. The first few days had been blissful, and they’d spent ninety percent of that time in
bed
. Kiernan had refused to leave even to go shopping, and they had enjoyed every form of deliverable food the mortals had. It had been perfection.

Everything had been perfect, but the bands were always there. Bright and shining, even though their dull buzz against her skin had faded into the background of her life with him. They never hurt, but she couldn’t go
anywhere
. If the mortals saw them it would bring too many questions, draw too much attention, and attention could bring the other Laochra. So they were at home.
All the time
. And Kiernan hated himself for being the cause of it, hated that she was still bound by Gormahn’s curse, and lately any time his eyes landed on the golden light of the bands they seemed to sap him of any joy he had.

Neala was over it. It was time to see if he could order them to disappear.

“
Mo ghaol
, I couldn’t stand it if I hurt you. I’ve seen what they can do to you, and I – I just can’t be the one that causes that.” His thumbs brushed through the light, cradling her wrists.

Neala brought her eyebrows together as she asked, “Shouldn’t that be my choice?” That caught him, and she knew it. He groaned and looked up at her, and she knew he was tortured by the idea he would hurt her, but being trapped in his house dealing with his guilt was torture for
her
.

“Okay.” Kiernan sounded so defeated, but Neala bounced up with renewed energy.
Finally
. A chance to get rid of them. He spoke again, “What do I need to do?”

Neala held her arms out in front of her, so used to the bands on her wrists that she wondered how it would feel for them to fade again. “Just demand that they don’t show. Make it a command.”

He leaned back in his office chair, looking miserable. “I don’t want to do this.”

“I know you don’t, but you have to. Come on.” Neala grinned at him, but he didn’t return the smile. He took a steadying breath and blew it out, and looked somewhere near her sternum, unable to meet her eyes.

“Don’t let the bands show, Neala.” His voice shook as he spoke, and lilted up at the end as if he were asking a question. Nothing happened.

“It has to be a
command
, Kiernan. You have to mean it. Talk to me like you do when I make a mistake in a sparring session!” Neala stomped her foot on the ground and he finally looked her in the eye. She continued, “Don’t you want to be able to go out? To the community garden? Meet with the contractors
together
? Let Elsie come over? She’s going to break down the damn door the next time you try to turn her away!”

“Yes, I do. Yes to all of it.” Kiernan was resigned, but the guilt he was feeling came out in his voice.

“Then don’t do it for us, do it for
me
, because I want to go see the cottage they’re building in the daylight, not in the middle of the night, alone. I want to be able to walk down the street and hold your hand, and let everyone see us together. I want to go on another date.” Neala smiled and leaned back against the wall, stretching so that the shirt she was wearing pulled up to reveal some of her stomach. Kiernan’s eyes followed the edge of the fabric and a hunger quickly replaced the guilt there. “I want everyone to know who
I
chose.”

“Neala?” Kiernan’s voice had an edge to it, his eyes moving over her curves. She smiled and answered with a questioning sound. His voice was dark and intense, the kind of voice that made heat coil between her thighs. “I never want to see those bands again. Ever. Do you understand?” The bands hummed. “Make them disappear.”

Neala gasped as a sharp pain rocked up her arms, and Kiernan was in front of her holding her arms before she’d opened her eyes again. She looked down just in time to see the bright bands wink out. The pain faded instantly, and the relief and the joy made her grin. “Do you see?!” She screamed, bouncing with excitement. Kiernan shouted a cheer and picked her up against him, swinging her around.

“By the gods, you’re beautiful.” Kiernan said just before he pressed his lips against hers, and then they were wrapped in each other. Her back hit the wall and she wrapped her legs around his hips to hold herself there.

The darkness and the guilt between them was gone, and all that was left was the brightness of hope and the heat that flushed her every time he touched her. Neala reached for the bottom of her shirt, but he got to it first, shoving it up her ribs to get his hands on her skin. His lips trailed down her neck, grazing her skin with his teeth as he groaned, “I want you, please tell me -”

“Yes, yes, yes, I want you too.” Neala grinned, and pressed herself harder against him. His guttural growl made her shiver as he turned and laid her out on his brand new wooden desk. Papers crinkled underneath her, but she ignored them as he grabbed the top of the yoga pants she wore and ripped them off, with her underwear, in a single sweep. Kiernan groaned as he pushed her thighs apart, his eyes feasting on her spread out before him.

“So. Fucking. Perfect.” He trailed his mouth up the inside of her thigh, and her hips lifted unconsciously, seeking the contact she knew would bring her delirious pleasure. Kiernan paused, hovering over her mound, the warmth of his breath sending a shiver over her. She propped herself up on her elbows to look down at him, and he locked eyes with her just as he dipped down and trailed his warm tongue between the lips of her pussy. Neala moaned and arched against his mouth, but he pulled back before he made contact with her clit.

“Kiernan!” She complained, but he stood up and reached for her, yanking her up to a sitting position so he could kiss her. She tasted herself on his lips and felt the hard steel of his erection rubbing against her.
Would she ever get tired of his incredible body, or his unreal skill at turning her into a warm puddle version of herself?

There was no way.

“You’re so damn impatient.” He grinned at her, ripping her shirt over her head, and then sliding his hands around to her back to flick the clasp of her bra so she was suddenly, wonderfully, naked in front of him.

“I waited two thousand
years
for you, and you’re calling me impatient?” Neala arched an eyebrow and he laughed and spanked her ass lightly.

“Shouldn’t you be speaking to me respectfully or something? Isn’t that in the curse somewhere?” Kiernan was teasing her, taunting her to get her wound up, but the way his eyes moved down her body felt like an electric tingle and it was deliciously distracting.

“You’re the stalker, you should know better than anyone that respect has never been a strong suit of mine…” Neala reached between the two of them, stroking him through his pants, and she delighted in the way his breath caught and his jaw clenched as he fought to maintain control. “What I really think you should do, is take off all these clothes.”

“No respect, and now you’re giving me orders?” Kiernan’s voice was unfocused as she continued to stroke him, his hips moving in time with her movements. Then, she pulled her hand back and his eyes snapped open on her. “Neala!”

“Now who’s being impatient?” She grinned and he flipped her over, face down on the desk. Immediately pressing himself against her, grinding as he leaned over her.

“Such a feisty Faeoihn…” he nipped across her ribs, brushing kisses across her back that had her squirming. He pressed a hand between her shoulder blades to keep her still and she loved it, loved that it was him, loved that she had teased him into taking action – and
gods
she wanted him inside her
.
“Stay absolutely still, please.” He was careful with his words, ensuring they weren’t an actual command, but she still grinned.

“Such a bossy Laochra.” She barely got the words out before he brought a hand across one of the globes of her ass, and she jumped, then he repeated the same stinging spank on the other cheek.

“I asked you to stay still, Neala.” His voice was a rumble from behind her, and she almost responded, but then he traced his fingers through the ample wetness that had been gathering between her thighs and all she could do was moan. “So, you want to go on another date with me?”

“Yes…” she mumbled, rocking her hips against the desktop as he found her clit and began to roll it slowly, sending jerking waves of pleasure through her. The warmth of his bare skin pressed against her as he leaned forward.

“And you want to have dinner with Elsie again, even though she’s going to do
nothing
but brag about how she knew we were meant to be together?” There was laughter in his voice, but it held the edge of his restrained passion as he dragged it out. He suddenly thrust two fingers inside her and she cried out, trying to keep her focus through the pulse that he was drumming between her thighs.

“She was right, she deserves to know that, Kiernan.” Neala moaned as he found that bundle of nerves inside her and stroked it, his fingers curving over her pubic bone to bring her right to the edge.

“True. What about the contractors? You really want to meet with them? Help with planning our home?” He continued the devious movements, and her pussy was so wet that she wanted to beg him to stop tormenting her, but his words woke up something even better inside her than the pending orgasm.

“I want all of it, Kiernan, I want all of it. I want to plan our home, I want to plan our future – I want
you
.” Neala said it through shaking breaths, and he removed his fingers and she felt his cock press against her.
Finally
.

“I love you, Neala, and trust me – I want to plan our future too, because you don’t have to want me, you
have
me. Forever.” Then he thrust inside her, filling her and stretching her to make her moan and grab onto the other side of the desk. His hands landed on her hips as he started to move, and each hard slap of his body against hers was punctuated with a wave of pleasure that crashed through her.

Neala let go, letting herself ride the incredible intensity of his body moving against hers, that liquid heat building into an overwhelming need to break through to the other side. Her legs shivered, her body tensed, and he kissed her ribs, moaning against her skin as she tightened down on his hard cock. Then the tension inside her snapped and sent her sparkling into the kind of orgasm that left her nerves shimmering. He moaned her name, and a moment later she felt him come, his body weight pressing her harder into the desk under him.

She couldn’t wipe the happy grin off her face. Post-orgasmic bliss, and the kind of wholesome joy that came from being loved completely by another person. He pressed kisses to her skin, murmuring about how beautiful she was, how lucky he was, and how much he loved her. The words filled her up and she wanted to turn over and wrap herself around him, she wanted to lock her heels behind his thighs and hold him to her. She wanted to be with her perfectly imperfect warrior, her lover who walked between the light and the dark, the man who could kill without flinching and the man who gave scholarships to boys he didn’t know just to make their mother happy. He was complicated, but so was she – and they had each other.

“I love you so much, Kiernan.” She breathed it against the wood under her cheek, and she felt the satisfied rumble in his chest. Just as she was about to open her mouth again to elaborate on the myriad ways he was perfect for her, Kiernan’s phone went off. It was an irritating, loud song that blasted some choice words into the air.

“Dammit, really?” he groaned, and she laughed.

“Cole is calling again.” Neala turned her head to look at him and he slid from her, helping her to stand up so he could kiss her again.