Married (4 page)

But his Family needed him. Resigned to the inevitable, Adam settled back and patiently answered the questions put to him.

Chapter Three

Georgeanne

“Does it bother you that Madeleine hasn’t made up her mind between Suzette, you and Christiana?”

Georgie studied the old woman in front of her, looking for any hint of deviousness in her too-innocent gaze. Margaret Davenold, Madeleine’s younger sister, merely looked curious. She was up to something.

Georgie shook her head. “All in good time.”

The woman tsked. “But if my sister doesn’t choose her heir and blood her appropriately before she dies, the power is up for grabs.”

Georgie put her suitcase on the massive bed, gathered the last of her fortitude, and turned to face the woman directly. One dramatic weekend in Poland and a four-hour cross-examination on the events of that weekend had plucked at her patience. “Suzette is still aspiring to have it all, is she?”

“My granddaughter is assured of her position as the head of the secondary branch. But why shouldn’t she keep her eye on the prize, hmm?”

“Because the prize isn’t hers,” Georgie said, too tired to be diplomatic. At least she was able to refrain from making comments about Suzette’s mental health. “Madeleine has two granddaughters, why would she allow the power to pass to your line?”

A flash of anger heated Margaret’s dark eyes. “My grandmother only blooded Madeleine because she was married to her Match. Otherwise, I’m certain it would have come to me.”

“I doubt that. Madeleine is stronger and better suited to the politics of the covens.”

“You’re wrong,” the woman snapped. “It was the promise of children in the Match that swayed my grandmother.”

Georgie shook her head, silently cataloging the differences between the two women, in spite of how similar their physical appearances were. Most importantly, Madeleine was in control of her emotions, while Margaret was often controlled by them. “Being Matched doesn’t guarantee children. Just look at Suzette. Married to her Match for years and still no baby to show for it.”

Margaret sucked in a sharp breath. “What would you know of it? You’re Bane, not even worthy of magic, let alone a Magic Match!”

Georgie bit her lip, locking the truth behind her teeth. She was, in fact, betrothed to her Match, a witch so strong, his power was difficult to contemplate. Silviu Lovasz had been born under the Reaping Moon and blessed with additional magical strength. A thing of legend—like her Bane-born lack of magic.

It had taken her a long time to accept their connection. Ten years of denying it, only to be smacked in the face with their bond the moment she’d reunited with him.

But their truth put them both in danger. It wasn’t wise to show how strong Silviu was or how intense the force of their combined magic became. It was bad enough a handful of people had already seen a hint of what Georgie and Silviu were capable of, they couldn’t afford to let anyone else in on the secret.

Margaret reined back her jealousy and turned sly. “In other Families, witches with no magic are shunned, at the very least. Killed all too often, and yet you may be heir to the Davenold power.”

“Those witches are Bane-made, their magic bound for crimes committed. I’m not.”

“No, your lack is a birth defect, which is worse. Not even the gods thought you worthy of power.” Margaret cocked her head. “What makes you think you can lead us?”

Georgie was almost amused by the new line of attack. “You know power passes to the grandchild in order to create more stability in the Family, Aunt Margaret. Longer reigns under a single leader, deeper connections between Family members and greater chances of developing long-lasting alliances with other covens. I am the only female in the Family to have been adequately trained in such things. What makes you think anyone
else
could lead us?”

Georgie fully expected to be Madeleine’s heir, and had been all but promised the position ten years ago, when her betrothal contract with Silviu was sealed in blood and made permanently binding.

The older woman made a little circuit of the bedroom Georgie had been given. Gauzy curtains stirred in the breeze of her making, drawing attention to the rolling green meadows beyond the window. Late afternoon sunlight illuminated the peaceful landscape beautifully, but Georgie wished she’d been given a room on the opposite side of the house, with a view of the North Sea in the distance.

“My feelings on the matter of inheritance would, perhaps, be different if you’d been born with magic.” Margaret turned back to Georgeanne. “You needn’t bother to unpack, you know. You might as well just leave your bags and come eat.”

“I’ll be down soon enough.” Georgie’s patience was wearing thin and exhaustion wasn’t improving the situation. She’d been up most of the previous night, first battling Alexandru Lovasz, then pondering the situation she found herself in with her betrothed. Facing her cousin Suzette in such a state was asking too much.

Margaret sniffed. “You will, of course, please yourself.”

The moment the door closed behind Margaret, Georgie’s shoulders sagged. The steel went out of her spine as she tugged the heavy drapes closed over the filmy curtains before climbing up onto the bed, not even bothering to change out of her travel-worn skirt and blouse. She threw her shoes to the floor and lay back against the pillows.

Sleep swept over her softly. Her body grew heavy, her mind began to wander and dim. Dreams swirled up from the depths, heating her with a golden glow of magic as soft pressure ghosted over her legs.

She blinked open her lashes and saw Silviu’s face. Strong, hard angles, high cheekbones and shining silver eyes filled her vision as his mouth moved, calling her name.

“Georgie, you didn’t call when you landed in New Hampshire. You promised you would.”

She watched his sensual lips curve, forming the words, and rolled her eyes. “You’re not allowed to scold me in my dreams.”

“You’re not dreaming, my love.”

She opened her eyes wider and saw the sunlight oozing past the curtains to fall right through his translucent form. Sweeping her gaze lower, she saw that he was naked. “What are you doing?”

“Astral projection.”

“I thought that was a myth.”

He smiled and shook his head, another wave of golden light spreading over her. “Not if you’re strong enough. Why didn’t you call me?”

“I’m in England.”

“What the hell are you doing there?”

A bolt of amusement passed through her at his outrage. “My presence has been specifically requested by Daniel Levy at the Levy–Ngozi betrothal extravaganza. Adam’s has been specifically requested by Constance.”

Silviu’s see-through form shuddered. “Poor guy.”

“She’ll get him killed, if he’s not careful.”

“I doubt you’ll let it come to that, my love.”

She made a non-committal noise and wriggled deeper into the soft mattress. “How can you come to me now, but you didn’t at any time over the past ten years? I mean, I knew you were looking for me after I was sent away, but you never did this.”

“You gave me a lock of hair when you left Poland, Georgie, a piece of you my magic can latch onto. We call it sympathetic magic. Now I can find you anywhere.”

“That’s a little creepy, Silver.”

His lips lifted at her pet name for him. “I missed you.”

Her belly gave a little jolt and she realized she’d missed him too, not that she’d admit it out loud. “I’ve only been out of your sight for twelve hours, and you probably slept most of them after being up all night negotiating with your new brother-in-law.”

His lips flattened. “I didn’t sleep. Ileana was attacked.”

“What?” Georgie sat up abruptly, shock stealing her sleepy laziness. “Is she okay?”

“She was shaken up, but Eliasz set things straight.”

“What did you do?” She knew how fiercely protective he was of his sister.

“Made sure the required arrangements were carried out so my sister would be safe.”

Georgie nodded and let her body relax again. “So why didn’t you sleep?”

“I’m sleeping now. I felt…
something
and knew I could reach you.”

“Astral projection only works when you’re asleep, huh?” She ran her eyes over his filmy form again. “And naked?”

“I sleep in the nude.” He shrugged and his transparent body climbed onto the bed next to her. It was an odd sensation—almost cold, yet filled with the detached warmth of his magic. She felt their connection in the center of her chest, a hot band of comfort that was almost scary in its allure. But the sensation was merely a dim echo of what she felt when they were physically together.

“I can feel your magic, Silver.”

He looked surprised. “Can you?”

“Mmm.” She didn’t stop to consider her words. “I love that I can feel it, like I’m almost normal, with my own magic.”

The golden shimmer brightened as Silviu’s face folded into strict lines of concentration. The light spread over the odd shield Georgie’s body always drew around itself when faced with magic, protecting her and making her impervious to all influence.

Except his.

With a pleasure she felt in her core, the light slipped under the shield, tingling as it descended past her skin. Magic wrapped her bones, filling her with a sense of vibrancy she didn’t have when she wasn’t near Silviu. Its addictiveness was just one of the reasons she couldn’t afford to lower her guard around him.

“Do you feel this, Georgie?”

His magic pulsed and heat blazed through her. A softly shivering sensation rolled over her body, sparking life into all her sleeping nerves. An invisible cord ran through her, pulling tight from her shoulder blades to her clit. She gasped, her head driving back into the pillows, struggling to comprehend what he was doing to her from thousands of miles away.

“Oh, God, Silver.”

“Damn, love, I can feel you against my senses as if you were in my bed with me.”

He sent his magic into her again. Energy and heat drilled into her, filling her belly, strumming along her nerves. It should have been cold and lonely, but she felt his spirit next to her like a physical touch.

Warmth swirled around her nipples in a velvet caress, licking her as he’d done with his tongue just a few days ago. The peaks hardened and throbbed, begging for more than he could give them. The sensations were more muted than she wished for but when they were together bodily it was almost overwhelming, a mind-stealing descent into ecstasy that tempted her to drop all pretense and throw open her heart. Something she didn’t dare do.

But with him still in Poland and only his astral projection next to her in England, Georgie felt safer, less vulnerable. She eased under the golden flow, knowing he couldn’t see her tumultuous emotions as clearly as when he was with her. This was a moment for pure feeling, no thinking.

And under the force of his talents, her brain had no chance to think. As her guard relaxed, more magic pumped into her, setting her nerves on fire, spreading the need out in a current that hummed and rolled into every crevice of her body. Desire flowed from her belly, heat and urgency pooling between her legs, conjuring a floating feeling in her head. Her blood thickened, her fingers prickled. Her pussy flooded.

“Your magic is rising, love, I can feel it.”

She shook her head, letting her eyes slide closed as his transparent hand drifted over her breast. “I’m Bane. I have no magic.”

“When will you stop lying to yourself, Georgie? You’re the strongest witch I know. You just need my magic to unlock yours, just as I need yours to access all the magic that should rightfully be mine. Balanced and Matched, my love.”

With that, Silviu set out to prove it. His power rolled over her, combining with her willingness and flattening her to the mattress. Pressure swept over her body, golden light flicking her nipples under her blouse until the hard peaks ached deliciously. His magic swirled over her flinching abdomen and drove deep into her navel, flew over her thighs and strummed the lean muscles. She was touched everywhere, all at once.

Translucent light smoothed up her leg, wrapped her thigh and slid higher, consuming her with its heat. Kneading her muscles too softly, it provoked a wildness within her before circling her leg and edging under her panties. The energy stroked over her creamy folds in a gentle lick, the almost-pressure teasing her and her imagination. She lost her breath.

“That’s right, relax, Georgie.”

“It’s not enough. I want more.”

“Lower your guard and you’ll get it. Mind over matter, love. You’re in control of how much you feel.” Silviu sent another pulse of magic spinning between her legs. “Take your panties off. Let me get closer.”

Not willing to acknowledge why, she obeyed, losing all touch with reality as her senses sank under the waves of pleasure he projected onto her. The moment she kicked the wet scrap of silk from her legs, his transparent form slid over her, a phantom sensation against the interior of her thighs as she spread them.

“Let go of your magic, my love.” His voice took on rasping tones, as if his control was fraying at the edges.

“I don’t know how.”

“Close your eyes and reach inside. All that Bane power is coiling within you, so deep, so ready to find an outlet. Just open your soul, love, and let it free. It will make the connection between us stronger.”

She did what he suggested and closed her eyes. She saw the golden flow of their combined Matched magic on the inside of her eyelids. Concentrating, she followed the threads of it in her mind’s eye, desperately seeking the source.

She didn’t know where to look, but somewhere in the golden light, she found a silver stream, refreshing and supple, shining with power. It wasn’t hers.

She latched onto it and Silviu’s warm energy took weight. Just enough to tease her straining nerves, not enough to appease their want. Her eyes flew open as he settled against her and his lashes descended in rapture.

“Yes, Georgie, like that.”

It was the second best thing to having him there. Magic and man, muted and bold, a contradiction that had her arching against his mirage. He shimmered and blurred and she reached for him wildly, trying to keep him with her. Her hands passed through his form and his lips pulled taut, his wavering face etched with concentration. His energy calmed a moment later, sliding back against her with naked weight.