Faerie Godmother: Mythic Series, Book 1 (12 page)

He had heard of such creatures before, but had never actually come across one. Because they had disappeared thousands of years ago, existing now only in myths.

“You are
Faerie
,” he said, his voice filled with awe. “But that is impossible!” He pushed her hair away from her ears; they did not have the pointed tips characteristic of the legendary race. He ran his hands down her back, feeling none of the cartilage serving as an anchor for wings.

She continued to cry softly. “I don’t know what I am.”

Vlane paced back and forth, resisting the overwhelming urge to soothe her; providing comfort to another was something he hadn’t done in centuries. The startling truth consumed him. Ana was Faerie, with enough ancient magic to give her the power to make him mortal, if only for a day.

Because
he
had wished it, not because she had.

“You have what you asked for. You know the truth. Will you release me now?” she asked, her small voice thickened by tears.

“Release you?” he murmured in genuine surprise, even as his body, mind, and soul protested the idea. “You are not a prisoner, Ana. You are my guest.”

“Then I can go?”

Let her go?
Never
. “Alas, no.”

“Why not?”

It was an excellent question; one she had every right to ask. He had been asking quite a few himself, in one form or another, for the past several weeks. They began with, ‘What had happened the night of the after party?’ and eventually became, ‘What bond do I have with this woman?’.  Now, with a single drop of her blood and an ardent wish to know the truth, he had answers to every one of those questions, and they were all centered upon one incontrovertible concept: Fate.

It was Fate that had brought this exquisite, rare creature quite literally to his doorstep. Fate that created this remarkable, rare bond between them.

And she had absolutely no idea.

Carefully schooling his features, he avoided that topic for the time being and focused on another, one no less true. “Because your very existence puts you in great danger beyond these walls.”

“Are you telling me that I am in no danger here?” she sniffed, drawing out the words.

“Yes.” He withdrew a fine linen handkerchief from his pocket and offered it to her. What he really wanted to do was press his lips to her skin and experience that crystal purity again.

She thought about that for a moment as she dabbed at her eyes and her pert little pink nose. “But I wasn’t in any danger out there either,” she countered. “As long as no one knows.” Her eyes widened. “You won’t tell anyone, will you?”

His dormant heart thumped again as she stared at him with those big green eyes. Sympathy was not an emotion he felt often, but it washed over him in a substantial wave. She was far too innocent, far too trusting, if she thought a heartfelt plea would stop one of his kind from taking advantage of her. He was an exception, of course, but she had no way of knowing that. It only served to strengthen his belief that the safest place for her was with him.

“No,” he answered honestly. “But without protection, it is only a matter of time before your secret is discovered.”

“Matt protects me,” she whispered.

Vlane’s ire rose at the mention of the Alpha male’s name from her lips. He set his mouth in a grim smile. “And yet, here we are.”

Her lips parted as if to protest, but then closed again quickly. Her ability to see reason pleased him.

“What I find truly amazing,” he told her, “is how you managed to stay undetected all this time.”

“I’m not in the habit of sharing my... uniqueness,” she explained quietly. “And I move around a lot.” Her eyes brightened with hope. “If you let me go, I can leave town. I don’t even have to go back to the Sanctuary...”

Her voice faded away when she saw him shaking his head. “No, Ana. I cannot allow that. Someone will find you. There are those who would stop at nothing to have you.” Vlane now fell into that category as well, but for entirely different reasons.

Her bottom lip trembled. “Why do you care what happens to me?”

He exhaled, knowing he could put it off no longer. Nothing but the truth would make her understand. “Because, Ana. You are my fated mate.”

Her gasp was audible. “How—how can that be?” she asked, her eyes once again as wide as saucers. “Why would you say something like that?”

Vlane resumed his pacing. If he stared any longer into those beguiling green eyes, he would throw her beneath him and take what his body demanded. Even now, that tiny drop of blood upon his tongue made him desperate for more. With his thoughts in their current state of turmoil, he could not chance another “wish”. Not until he knew he could control it — and her.

His best course was to attempt to explain things to her in a calm and rational manner, which was going to be difficult; he was still struggling to come to grips with it himself. When he and Armand had discussed the various possibilities, he dared not hope. Yet, now that he was with her, now that he had
tasted
her and knew the truth, there was no longer any doubt.

“You can hear my thoughts, yes?”

She nodded, a red tint rushing to her cheeks. No doubt she was remembering their last telepathic exchange and the dream that preceded it. It did absolutely nothing to help him focus.

“The only way that is possible is if some of my venom was unintentionally injected into you while I was feeding.”

She blinked. At least she was no longer crying. Curiosity had crept into her gaze, temporarily pushing away some of the fear. “So? It was just a little bit, right?”

Annoyance flared within him. Why must she question him? Then he recalled the barrage of truths with which he’d been bombarded. His irritation was tempered by the knowledge that Ana was surprisingly naïve, and could not be expected to know such things.

“So,” Vlane explained patiently, “a vampire’s venom is only released in three circumstances, none of which are done commonly or lightly. All result in a permanent blood bond.”

Ana inhaled sharply and wrapped her arms around herself again, as if that might shield her from what he was going to say next. Part of him wanted to snatch her up in his arms and hold her close, ease her fear with his kiss and touch. But another part — the part currently reeling from her nearness, from the scent of her skin and tears, doubted his ability to explain anything rationally with her warm body against his. And it was vitally important for her to understand.

“Two are done with the deliberate consent and intent of both parties. The first involves a ritualistic ceremony binding a human to a vampire until the human’s life ends and its soul is released from its mortal shell. For all intents and purposes, it is a master-slave relationship. The human agrees to serve the vampire in return for care, protection, and feeding. Such bindings were more prevalent in the past, when survival was more difficult, though it has seen a resurgence in recent years with the popularization of vampire lore and the idealized romanticism of such a relationship. Obviously, that did not take place in our situation.”

He paused, letting that sink in. “The second, of course, is when we sire another. That, too, is a conscious choice, for a human soul must willingly ask to be made vampire.”

“A vampire can’t turn another without permission?”

He frowned. “He can, but it is the greatest offense a vampire can commit. If discovered, he or she will be brought to trial. Unless extenuating circumstances dictate otherwise, the offender is sentenced to years of excruciating torture before being publicly and humiliatingly executed. But that is neither here nor there. You did not request to become vampire and I have made no attempt to turn you against your will.”

“And what is the other circumstance?” she asked, her voice barely a whisper.

Vlane pinned her with his gaze. “When a vampire finds his true mate.”

Ana sucked in a breath. Smiling wryly, he said, “Unlike the first two instances, the mating bond is one over which immortals — not just vampires — have no control. I did not even realize I had initiated the bond, but I did, when I sipped from you that night.”

If he had known, he would not have wasted the last several weeks. After waiting half a millennium for a mate, he was more than ready. “When we are faced with the ones the Fates have decreed for us, the choice is taken out of our hands lest we squander it. It is the greatest of gifts.”

“But... that night... how could you possibly have known that I was your...mate?”

“I didn’t. Not until I tasted you. Even then, the memory of the encounter was hidden from me. I suspect that was a natural defense against my ... indulgence. One intrinsic to your kind.” It was brilliant, really. Anyone who unknowingly partook of such a creature’s blood would not remember, thus greatly reducing the chance its secret would be revealed.

He ran his cool fingers over her cheek. “If I had remembered, I would not have waited so long to come for you.”

“Maybe you’re wrong,” she offered hopefully. “Maybe I’m not what you say.”

“There is no doubt, Ana. The bond between us is irrefutable proof.”

Ana looked rather pale, and she was trembling again, but she wasn’t running. All of this had to be a shock to her, and as her mate, he needed to care for her. Now that he had explained things properly, there was no need to delay further.

“Come,” he said suddenly, tugging her to her feet. He pulled her to his chest with one arm, lifting her as if she weighed nothing. His other hand cupped the back of her head and tucked it into his neck. He lifted his wrist to his mouth and allowed his fangs to lengthen. “You must drink my blood to seal the mating covenant.”

She wrinkled her nose and pulled away. “Ew, no. I’m not doing
that
.”

He looked at her as if she’d just sprouted horns. “Of course you are. As I have just explained, we are destined mates.”

“Says you,” she sniffed as she scrambled backward, bumping her legs and falling unceremoniously back onto the chair.

Despite his frustration, he almost grinned. Everything he’d told her had been absolutely true, but she had no way of knowing that. He would have to earn her trust. Beneath the meek and mild-mannered exterior, she was a clever girl.

But then, his mate would have to be.

Vlane decided to work with something a bit more tangible, something she might have an easier time accepting. “You desire me. I know you do. I have seen your dreams.”

Ana’s delicate skin turned a deep shade of crimson as the blood rushed to her face. “So? Maybe I dream about other guys, too.”

His face hardened. “There will be no other male for you. Ever. Only me. I am your mate.”

Ana crossed her arms over her chest stubbornly and looked away.

Vlane gave her a lethal smile. “I can drink from you again and wish you to do the same,” he said. “You do not have a prayer of stopping me, Ana.”

All the color drained from her face, along with her momentary flare of courage as she met his gaze once again. “You...you would do that?”

He looked at her, at the way her eyes grew impossibly big and round, at the way her bottom lip trembled, and suddenly felt every bit the big, bad vampire he was. “I would prefer you choose to do so of your own accord,” he said softly. “I am a patient man. I will do everything in my power to win your heart. But I can never let you go. It is not an option.”

Against his baser instincts, Vlane turned on his heel and forced himself from the room, leaving her to assimilate that.

V
lane nudged the plate closer to her when the tender beef medallions, freshly herbed vegetables, and jasmine rice remained untouched. “Ana, please, eat something.”

“I don’t want to.”

“I know you are hungry, Ana,” he chastised, his voice soft. “I can sense it.”

“I didn’t say I wasn’t hungry. I said I didn’t want to eat.”

Realization dawned. “Nothing was added to the meal. No harm will come to you by my hand.”

She cast a doubtful look at him. He could hear her heartbeat, still a too-quick staccato, but less so than before. Despite being excessively gentle, she still feared him. In most cases, he reveled in such unease. But not now. Not hers.

“I wish you would.”

She gave him a weak smile. “Is that a formal wish?”

He sighed deeply. “It is a heartfelt one.”

She stared at him for a moment, then speared a carrot and brought it to her lips. He tracked the movement, but said nothing, watching as she followed with a bite of potato, a few beans, and a forkful of rice, leaving the meat untouched.

“You are vegetarian?” he guessed.

She nodded.

“My apologies,” he said. “If I had been thinking clearly, I would have remembered the Fae were legendary for being in perfect harmony with the natural world. Taking the life of any sentient creature, for any reason, is probably abhorrent to you.”

“It’s okay,” she sighed in resignation. “You already know more about my nature than I do.”

Despite the power she held within her, she seemed so fragile, so delicate. Any previous suspicions he had of her using her unusual talents to weaken him faded quickly. This gentle creature, he was coming to believe, was incapable of harming anything. The Fates were either certifiably insane or beyond brilliant to place such a being in his hands.

“In my recent brief return to mortality, I found I am quite fond of peanut butter and jelly,” he said thoughtfully.

Ana cast a surprised look his way, a gentle smile tugging at her mouth. The transformation was immediate. She went from simply beautiful to radiant, making him feel as though he was once again bathed in warm sunlight. And, fortunately for him, it was infinitely more pleasurable than actual sunlight.

“Peanut butter and jelly is good,” she agreed, spearing another carrot.

“Thank you,” he said softly when she finished all of the vegetables and nibbled on a crusty roll.

“You’re welcome. It
is
delicious, and I am hungry.” She looked pointedly at the empty space in front of him. “Aren’t you having anything?”

Vlane did something he hadn’t done in a long time. He chuckled. “Are you offering, Ana?”