Taken by Moonlight (65 page)

Cassie
blinked and focused on her. “Wha—where will you go?”

“Everywhere.
We must rebuild in the place safest for us to do so. In order to find that, we
must search.”

“And
Alexander?”

Nicolette’s
smile faded and she drew her hand away. “Alexander is one of the most powerful
of our people. If anyone could survive this twice, it would be him.”

Cassie
nodded, and pushed herself up. She brushed at her clothing, blinking rapidly at
the red that stained her fingers.

“When he
awakes….” she began shakily, but Nicolette held up a hand and smiled.

“He will
come to you,” she assured her, looking over her should to the silent people who
seemed to be waiting for her. “You won’t come with us?”

She shook
her head, looking around for her sister.

“I
understand,” Nicolette said slowly.

As she turned,
Cassie asked, “And my mother?”

“She will
be waiting for you when you arrive home.”

“Thank
you…Grandmother.”

Nicolette
looked over her shoulder with a little smirk. “Grandmother? Yes, I assume I
will have to grow used to the term, although…it does make me seem old.”

Cassie
smiled. It was true. Nicolette didn’t look the part of a mother, much less a
great-grandmother.

“Nicolette,
I—we—thank you.”

“You are
welcome, Cassandre.” She turned and began walking in the direction of the
druids. Just as suddenly, she stopped and turned back to Cassie. Lifting a hand
to her chest, she said, “If any of you ever have need of me, simply call.”

Brows
furrowing, Cassie blinked in confusion. Nicolette laughed.

“Do not
worry. I will come if there is need.”

With that
she turned and continued walking to her people. She disappeared in the midst of
them, and moments later, they all vanished. The entire group—including
Alexander—melted into the air.

After the
druids disappeared, the vampires followed suit, leaving only the
weres
behind.
Soon, they too, began to disperse. Although Conall headed back to Astrid’s
townhouse, it was only for a short moment. Now that Vivienne was safe, he was
anxious to be home. His mate and her sister took quick showers there as he spoke
with Eirik and Astrid, before heading to the airport. Santiago had decided stay
a while longer, and while Conall found it strange, he’d never before tried to
figure Santiago out, and had no intention of doing so now.

Once they
were aboard his jet and heading for New York on a very early Wednesday morning,
he found himself relaxing. It had taken Vivienne only minutes before she’d
fallen into a deep sleep beside him. And it had taken him only seconds after
that recognition before he scooped her up and deposited her in his lap. She’d
awoken briefly, but with a little smile, she’d burrowed her head against his
chest, wrapped her arms around his waist, and gone back to sleep. He requested
a blanket from the flight attendant, who seemed on the verge of telling him
something about Vivienne’s position in his arms before deciding against it. The
attendant draped the fleecy fabric over Vivienne, while Conall pressed his seat
backward until she was at a more comfortable position. That done, he looked
around the plane, trying to take his mind off the fact that her breasts were
pushing into his chest, and he hadn’t had her in days.

Raoul and
Cassie sat toward the front of the jet, their seats facing Conall and
Vivienne’s. The rest of his pack were seats behind, and he could hear their
voices above the roar of the engines as they spoke of the battle.

Like her
twin, Cassie was asleep. Her body was curled toward the window, and only her
hair could be seen under the blanket that covered her. Raoul, however, was
watching them with a smirk. When Conall lifted a brow, his beta chuckled and
said, “I believe she’s tamed you.”

Conall
didn’t reply. He didn’t doubt the truth of the statement. Vivienne had gentled
his beast, making him do things that months ago he would never have considered.

“Did you
speak with Sloan?” Conall asked softly, careful not to disturb Vivienne. He
knew she was exhausted. It had weighed on him from the moment he’d regained
access to her mind.

“Yes. He
knows we’re to arrive at six in the morning.”

“Good.”

Closing his
eyes, Conall concentrated on the sound of his mate’s breathing. Raoul did not
speak for long moments, so Conall was surprised when his beta said, “He says to
tell you that preparation for the mating ceremony is continuing as planned.”

When he
only nodded, Raoul chuckled. “Vivienne is practically falling from you. Let me
help you with her—”

Tightening
his grip on the female in question, Conall growled from between clenched teeth,
“Touch her and die.”

Raoul
hadn’t moved. His smile only grew larger as he stretched and replied. “I, for
one, will be glad to see you officially mated, Conall. You’ve turned into even
more of a boar than you usually are.”

Vivienne
awoke with a little moan. Blinking open her eyes, she bit at her lip, and tried
to squeeze her legs together. She was hot, so hot, and then as her wits
returned, she realized why.

She was
lying atop Conall, who was caressing her jean-clad ass as she lay flush against
his swollen sex. She shifted slightly, moaning once more as her nipples grazed
against the material of her shirt, which was currently pressed against Conall’s
hard chest. Vivienne wore no bra, as the clothing she’d been taken in had been
unfit to wear. Astrid had given her jeans, a button-down long-sleeved shirt,
and a warm jacket. She’d also given Cassie similar clothing.

Lifting her
head, Vivienne stared into Conall’s eyes, and tightened her grip on him. He was
looking at her in that way again, the way he did right before he devoured her
with kisses and caresses that drove her wild. Her gaze lowered to his lips, and
she licked her own.

He growled
a warning, one she easily ignored. Instead, she pushed herself farther up his
body, biting in her whimper as her hard nipples ran their way up his chest,
until she was close enough that she could feel his breath against her lips.

Vivienne
….

I missed
you, Conall
. She
rocked her body against his slightly, biting her lip as her center rubbed over
his length.
My body missed you, too.

Big hands
secured her waist and he held her steady. His breathing grew uneven as he
stared at her lips, and she projected vivid thoughts of what she wanted him to
do to her. It didn’t take long before his lips forced hers apart as his tongue
sought entry. She gave it freely, moaning as his taste invaded her senses.

When she
pulled back, his eyes were yellow, his canines had descended, and he felt even
harder between her legs. Vivienne looked around briefly, noticing the wolves
behind them appeared to be sleeping. She turned her head, remembering that Raoul
and Cassandre were seated in front of them, and praying they, too, were
sleeping. Cassie was dead to the world, her breathing even as she faced away
from them. Raoul had his eyes closed, but an amused smirk was on his lips. He
was awake.

Vivienne
felt her cheeks heat a bit, but that did nothing to stamp down the feelings
rushing her body. She continued looking around the cabin until her eyes landed
on a place that would give them some privacy.

Jumping
from Conall in a quick motion, she grinned and whispered into his mind,
Follow
me.

She turned
and headed for the bathroom, praying it wasn’t one of those tiny compartments
that would cramp them up. And even if it was, feeling as she did, she didn’t
care.

It wasn’t.
Vivienne barely had time to appreciate the spacious, clean interior of the
bathroom before Conall dwarfed it with his presence, and pushed her back
against the off-white wall. When his lips landed on hers, she whimpered and
opened her mouth, pressing her tongue against his as she hooked a leg around
him.

Conall
pulled away briefly, and Vivienne arched a brow at him. When he began popping
the buttons of her borrowed shirt, she understood. As he worked on her shirt,
she unzipped her pants, pushing them as far down as they would go with him
standing so close to her. He caught her hands in one of his and pushed them
above her head. As she watched, he lowered a wicked looking claw to her new
underwear, and made easy work of the thin fabric, sending it to the floor.

Licking her
lips, Vivienne moaned. His claw lightly caressed her smooth belly before the
paw pads disappeared completely, and his rough hand cupped her sex. She cried
out, leaning her head back and trying to pry her hands from his. He didn’t
budge. Instead, he simply rubbed his hand over her hot, aching slit.

Don’t
tease me, Conall,
she begged.
I don’t want to be teased.

“What do
you want,
alainn
?” he asked in a gravelly voice.

Vivienne
squeeze her thighs together, hissing when his finger dragged slightly over her
clit.

I want
you inside of me.
She moaned as his finger slipped into her tight opening, and worked her hips
against it.
I want your cock—not your finger.

She’d
barely gotten out the last piece of her sentence before he slid his finger from
her body and spun her spun around. As her cheek kissed the wall, she pushed her
ass back, and waited.

Vivienne
didn’t have to wait long. He unbuttoned his pants and unzipped his fly, freeing
his erection, before lining it up with her slick heat, and pushing home.

They both
cried out, especially when his hands went under her belly to pull more of her
onto his cock. With one hand under her belly and one against the wall, Conall
began to move. His thrusts were quick and powerful, hard jabs that shook
Vivienne to the core as her fingers gripped his hips and took them. She even
spread her legs wider, wanting more.

“Yes. Oh
yes. I missed you, Conall. Ah!”

He nuzzled
her neck, and she turned her face slightly, groaning when he captured her lips.

“Don’t—ever—leave—me—again.”
He punctuated each word with a thrust of his hips, and Vivienne found herself
confused before understanding settled in. He was talking about the way she’d
left to meet Cronin, which she recognized in hindsight was a stupid idea. She’d
been terrified, and her judgment drastically clouded.

She nodded.

“No, not
like that—”

“
Ever
,
alainn
,” Conall reiterated. He ran his tongue down the side of her neck
and she shivered. She would have collapsed but for his hand holding her up. “I
will know where you are, always.”

Even as she
moaned in pleasure, Vivienne managed to gasp out, “You’re overreacting.”

He nipped
at her neck, and she whined softly. His nip was followed by a soothing lick,
before he pulled from her body and turned her to face him.

Without a
word, he picked her up. Vivienne held his gaze as she wrapped her legs about
him. He thrust into her. Moaning in pleasure as he growled, she wrapped her
arms about his neck and focused on his handsome face. He was so beautiful, even
with him looking feral from the exertion.

Don’t
leave me again, alainn,
Conall whispered directly into her mind.
I went half mad when I couldn’t
find you, Vivienne.

I’m
sorry. I wasn’t thinking clearly.

Don’t do
it again.

I won’t.
I promise.

He kissed
her, and she returned it, moaning as his canines nipped at her lip. His lower
body began to move once more, and Vivienne clung to him, holding on as he sent
her over one peak, then another. Coming down from her second, she said
breathlessly, “I love you.”

Conall held
steady for long moments before he leaned forward and kissed her lightly. “I’ve
loved you from the moment I first saw you.” He pushed his hips forward once
more and she felt the swollen base of his sex push against her. He reared back
again and thrust again, this time a bit harder. The base slipped inside her
body, creating a feeling of close-to-bursting fullness. She welcomed it. “You
are my other-half,
alainn
, the air I breathe. If anything were to happen
to you, Vivienne….”

“Nothing
will happen to me,” she replied confidently. “Love me, Conall.”

He did just
that, pushing them both to the peak.

“Are we
still going to do the mating ceremony on Sunday?” she asked softly, tightening
her arms and legs about his body.

Conall
chuckled at the anticipation and slight fear in her voice. “Barring a natural
disaster, you will take me as your mate on Sunday.”

“I will
take you?” Vivienne asked curiously. Reverting to her only knowledge of a
similar ceremony—marriage—she queried, “Won’t you take me as well?”