Inferno (30 page)

His head lowered to hers as he came over her. He held her gaze for a moment, his expression as earnest, hot and open as she’d ever seen it.

“I’m going to drink of you as we come, Megan. I’ve wanted to taste you, to savor you, to bask in your essence. Will you allow it?”

“Oh, Dante. Was there ever any doubt?” She stroked his muscular shoulders, smiling up at him.

“I would never deny you. I’ve wanted to share this with you for just as long. Bite me, Dante.

Make me yours.”

He growled as he lowered his head, kissing her first, then sweeping his lips to her neck in a warm, wet path of kisses that grew progressively hotter as he neared his target. His hips resumed their pounding cadence as he drew near the source of her lifeblood. She felt the scrape of his fangs against her sensitive skin a moment before he struck.

She was desperate. Desperate to come and desperate to make him come with her. She felt the sting of his bite a moment before she screamed her pleasure to the stars, experiencing the most intense orgasm of her life.

She felt her blood flow into him, joining them, coalescing their essences to produce a new, single entity. As she climaxed, she felt Dante join her, reaching with her toward a distant star.

She felt more than that, she felt his wants and desires, his needs and hopes, his dreams.

In a blinding second of clarity, his mind was open to hers. Their blood mingled…as did their minds.

“We are One.”
Dante’s voice sounded through her head, though she knew he could not speak with his mouth. His lips still drew on her neck, drinking her blood, joining them together. No, the words had come directly from his soul to hers.

Incredibly, she heard his thoughts. A flash of insight followed, and she suddenly understood.

They were truly
One
.

For each bloodletter, there was One person who could join with them fully. Who could complete them. They searched their whole lives for their One. Many never found their perfect mate. For the few lucky souls who did, the blessing of perfect union—of hearts, minds and souls¾was the ultimate reward.

They had achieved this rare honor and nothing or no one would ever part them again. She saw the love in his heart, and he saw her love just as she saw his. No words were necessary. Words were, in fact, totally superfluous. They were communicating on a much deeper level.

They were One.

Megan smiled blissfully as she came back to Earth from the most intense experience of her life.

She was utterly exhausted, but a grateful smile graced her lips as she sank into the oblivion of sleep.

“I love you, Dante.”

“I love you, too, my One.”

Megan woke in the late afternoon, wrapped in Dante’s arms. She never felt more safe and secure than when she was with him.

In a rush, the events of the night before came back to her. While she was alone in her thoughts with Dante asleep, she could feel that place in her mind where they were connected. That magical place that made them One.

She couldn’t quite believe it. She had once heard the legend about how bloodletters searched through their entire lengthy existence to find one special person created just for them. She’d thought of it as a simple romantic tale. She never really believed it could be true.

Here she was though, living the fairy tale. It didn’t seem possible that she could be Dante’s perfect mate. The One for whom he had been searching for so long.

She kissed his cheek before she left the bed, gratified when he smiled even in deep sleep. She felt truly alive for the first time in years. The curse was lifted—both the compulsion placed on her by Poferov and the debt owed to Dante for the tragic death of Erik. She was free, yet not. Her life was tied irrevocably to Dante, for better or worse. They no doubt had many things to work out, but she felt certain with love, many things were possible.

She dressed quickly and bounced down the hall toward the kitchen to find Duncan there ahead of her. As usual, he was cooking.

“I don’t think I’ve made one single meal since I’ve known you,” she said by way of greeting.

Duncan turned from the stove and saluted her with his spatula. It was an action she was quickly becoming familiar with. His smile turned questioning as he met her eyes.

“Something’s different.” His head tilted, considering her.

Megan felt her face heat under his perusal. She felt different, but she didn’t know if such deep changes would actually show on her face. Then again, this was Duncan. He had a way of seeing to the heart of the matter. If anyone could sense the differences in her, it would be him.

“Dante and I…” She didn’t quite know how to phrase it. “We…uh…we joined…sort of. Last night.”

A broad smile broke over Duncan’s face. He leaned back against the counter with a knowing look.

“It’s as I suspected then. Congratulations are in order. I have long despaired for Dante, hoping he would find the balance to his life. You’re it, Megan. As I’d hoped.” She could feel his happiness. “You wanted this to happen?”

“Oh, I’ve wanted Dante to find his One for a long time. He’s had too much tragedy in his life. I always hoped he’d be one of the lucky ones. I hoped he’d find that perfect someone to share his life and his troubles. After I got to know you, Megan, I started thinking you might be the answer to his prayers. I’m only glad my suspicions were true. You need each other. Both of you have been so alone for so long. I think you’ll make a magnificent team now and into the future.”

“But for how long?” Her thoughts turned depressing, and she finally allowed herself to think about some of the big questions surrounding their relationship. “It’s just not done for a bloodletter to turn a shifter.”

She sat at the table, wallowing in her thoughts as Duncan turned off the stove and served up giant hamburgers. He sat with her at the table as they began to eat.

“There’s another complication, Megan.”

“Oh?” She looked up at him, pausing as she lifted her burger from the plate.

“You’re part fey.” His eyes twinkled at her.

“You know, I still don’t really believe that.”

“You should.” Duncan continued his meal as if they were merely discussing the weather.

“Half-fey and bloodletters have been forbidden to mix for centuries, though it was not always so.

It was believed that such a union would give too much power to those individuals. I have existed long enough to be certain of the truth of the adage that absolute power corrupts absolutely.”

“You’re saying that Dante and I can’t be together?”

“I’m not saying that at all. Merely that you shouldn’t be together, given past precedent. The prohibition against half-fey and bloodletter unions is longstanding and with good reason.

However, times are changing and new threats are emerging. I’ve been around long enough to remember the last couple who were like you, of mixed blood.”

“There have been couples like us in the past?” Now she was confused. He’d just said it was forbidden.

“Not many and not often,” he confirmed. “When last we faced Elspeth, such things did occur every now and again. The nature and strength of the magic she had at her disposal—and that she passed to her followers—necessitated equal strength to fight it. Once she was banished to the Farthest Realms, the need for such power diminished and was eventually forbidden.”

“I remember, Duncan.” Dante’s voice came from the doorway. Night had fallen and he had risen without Megan being aware. She checked the place in her mind where he was joined to her and found a passageway blocked from his side. It hurt to think he didn’t want to keep the connection open. It felt like a refusal of her love.

“Don’t ever think that, my love.” Dante came into the kitchen and knelt before her, cupping her cheek in one strong hand. “I blocked the connection because I thought it would be more comfortable for you. Neither of us is used to this yet and I, particularly, have some memories that I prefer you didn’t see—at least not until you’re ready to see them.” Understanding dawned. “You want to take it slow?” She offered him a shaky smile.

“Just so. I think we both need to acclimate to being in each other’s minds.” He placed a gentle kiss on her lips, speaking in her mind through the small trickle of connection that still flowed between them.
“Good morrow, my love.”

“I’m truly happy for you both,” Duncan said as they pulled apart. He watched them with a sappy grin on his face. “Congratulations, my friends.”

“Thank you,” Dante replied. “I never thought I could be so blessed.”

“The Lady knows what She is doing. Her ways are mysterious, but She never gives anyone more than they can handle. Those with the purest hearts sometimes suffer the most on their journeys. You, Dante, have been proven a man of honor time and time again though you suffered greatly. Perhaps this is your reward.” He gave Megan a teasingly speculative look.

Dante rose and headed for the cooler to select a bottle. “I believe this calls for a toast.” He lifted a fat, dark bottle from the back of the refrigeration unit. “How about some champagne? I’ve been saving this for a special occasion and there is nothing more special than the gift of finding my perfect mate.”

The look he sent her melted her heart and held the promise of many happy times to come. She tried not to think about the problems they faced as a couple. This moment was too special, too happy to ruin with questions about tomorrow.

They all raised their glasses for a joyous toast. The champagne was the finest vintage she had ever tasted. It rolled over her tongue in gleeful bursts of tiny bubbles. She savored the drink and the company. These two men were the best friends she’d ever had. Of course, Dante was much more than a friend, but the basis of their relationship was a mutual respect, liking and camaraderie. That was rare in her experience.

It was a while before they returned full circle to the troubling subject of their mixed heritage mating. She could feel Dante’s concern when he thought on the subject. It had a different flavor than her own panic that somehow someone was going to forbid them to be together. His worry felt more long term while hers was immediate.

“No one will come between us, Megan.” He took her hand and squeezed it reassuringly. “What concerns me is the fact of our mating at all. If bloodletters are finding mates among
were
and part-fey once again, it bodes ill for our world. Your blood powers me like no other. I will be one of the strongest of my kind to walk this Earth in many centuries.” He looked from her to Duncan’s serious face and back again. “If you decide to join me in the darkness, you will be the first shifter made bloodletter in just as long. Your fey blood will only increase your power.

Together, we will be mighty, but I have to ask why the Goddess would grant us such power, unless…”

“…unless She is preparing this realm to face a dire threat,” Duncan finished the thought in ominous tones. Megan felt her stomach clench at the implications. She was finally free of her family’s debt and her keeper only to be thrust into an even more dangerous situation.

“So you can turn me? I thought it was forbidden.” She clutched at the part of his words that gave her hope for them as a couple.

“It can be done.” Dante brought her hand to his lips for a gentle salute. “Such a thing has not been done in a very long time. If you chose to spend eternity with me, I would turn you in a heartbeat. Or if you chose not to become as I am, I would join you in the next realm when you eventually die. I would not continue here, in this life, without you, Megan. We are One.”

“That’s the most beautiful thing anyone has ever said to me, Dante.” She held his gaze, hope coursing through her. “I want you to turn me.”

“Don’t forget, my love, I can see into your heart. I know you love the sun and I know you fear the change. We have a lot of time to make this decision. Let’s just enjoy learning each other for now and let tomorrow’s big decisions wait until we’re more comfortable. There is no rush.”

“Not to mention,” Duncan interjected, “that having one of you able to operate in the daylight could be very beneficial as a tactic.”

“It’s good to see old campaigners like you never really lose their edge,” Dante chided his friend.

Now that Megan was One with Dante, she could feel things directly from his mind. He had constricted the connection but was not able to close it completely. Images still made it through from time to time. Things from Dante’s past. She saw the image of Duncan, looking much the same as he did now, only clothed in the rough fabric of a bygone age. She also saw him shrouded in chainmail, a cunning grin on his face as he sharpened a sword.

These were memories of times past. Good times shared between the two men in another century. Megan was awed by the thought and feeling of friendship that was so strong between them. They were more like brothers than mere comrades.

And now she was part of their small circle. Through Dante, she was brought into the select group. Warriors and comrades in arms with a
Chevalier de la Lumiere
. Stranger things had happened, but she wasn’t sure where or when.

“The way I see it, last night we took care of a huge problem. Of course, we still have Siobhan to deal with.” Duncan brought them back to their current mission.

“The more I think about it, the more I believe Poferov was positioned there, just for us. Kevin said he thought the information came too easily. He warned of a trap, but the trap wasn’t for us.

It was for Poferov.”

“He was the highest ranking
Altor Custodis
agent in the metro area. He controlled a multitude of agents,” Megan recalled. “Usually
AC
field agents move around a lot, going from place to place.

It helps keep their covers intact. The administrators—the ones like Poferov who keep the records and don’t engage in fieldwork—they’re assigned to different locations and often live there for years. Poferov has been the section head for New York Metro for a long time. Forty years at least.”

“Convenient if he was also the local
Venifucus
leader,” Duncan commented with a sneer. “I can easily imagine a scenario where the Vabians wanted him out of the way and used us to help them do it.”