Mate or Meal 12
The Wolf Who Fought for His Soul
Mate
Claim or cower? Tainted by his mother’s machinations, Paris
Marrow blames himself for her actions and seeks redemption. The
only one who believes in him is his mate, Jace Wade. However,
Jace is all too aware of Paris’s emotional vulnerability and is
reluctant to force Paris into a connection he might not be ready
for. At the same time, Paris feels unworthy of the other wolf’s
affection, the mistreatment and loneliness of his childhood
overcoming his sense of self-respect.
Even as the two wolves bond, their future remains threatened by
their past. Paris and Jace embark on a quest to find Paris’s mother
and her warlock ally. But the warlock’s plan is far more sinister
than any of them expected. Paris will have to face his own fears,
and fight for his soul mate. Can he find the necessary strength?
Can Jace’s love wipe away the doubts and pain in Paris’s soul?
Genre: Alternative (M/M or F/F), Paranormal,
Vampires/Werewolves
Length: 39,012 words
THE WOLF WHO FOUGHT FOR
HIS SOUL MATE
Mate or Meal 12
Scarlet Hyacinth
EROTIC ROMANCE
MANLOVE
Siren Publishing, Inc.
www.SirenPublishing.com
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A SIREN PUBLISHING BOOK
IMPRINT: Erotic Romance ManLove
THE WOLF WHO FOUGHT FOR HIS SOUL MATE
Copyright © 2012 by Scarlet Hyacinth
E-book ISBN: 978-1-62241-008-8
First E-book Publication: July 2012
Cover design by Jinger Heaston
All cover art and logo copyright © 2012 by Siren Publishing, Inc.
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PUBLISHER
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DEDICATION
For Ralph.
THE WOLF WHO FOUGHT
FOR HIS SOUL MATE
Mate or Meal 12
SCARLET HYACINTH
Copyright © 2012
Prologue
The Alpha mansion of the Marrow pack was filled with a dark and
almost ominous silence. Paris stole a look at the package in his hand
and wondered if he was doing the right thing. It was Tucker’s
birthday today, and Paris had hoped to give his brother a present,
perhaps pursue the bond between them in the process. He loved his
siblings, even if they had always excluded him from their activities.
Maybe it wasn’t too late to mend the rift between them.
Of course, there was always the chance that his olive branch
would be refused and even draw unwanted hostility upon him. Paris
would never know until he tried. Bracing himself for whatever
followed, Paris left the house and slipped into the garden.
Outside, Tucker’s party was in full swing. Paris saw the other
wolf with two of their brothers, Hamilton and Knox. The youngest of
their family, twins Giles and Alissa, stood farther back with some
other members of the pack.
In all honesty, Paris would have preferred to catch Tucker
somewhere alone, but it was too late to back down now. Thankfully,
no one paid much attention to him, and he managed to make his way
to Tucker’s side without incident.
The Wolf Who Fought for His Soul Mate
9
“Hi,” he greeted his brothers. “Happy birthday, Tucker.”
“What are you doing here?” Tucker asked with a frown, ignoring
Paris’s friendly approach. “You should be inside.”
Paris tasted the bitterness of rejection and immediately knew this
had been a bad idea. But everyone was staring at him now, both his
siblings and the rest of the pack. “I just came to give you this.” He
shoved the present in front of Tucker, hoping that his brother would at
least accept it so that Paris could go back to the house and hide.
“Uh…Thanks,” Tucker said as he took the gift. “Now hurry back.
Mom and Dad are around here someplace. You wouldn’t want them
to see you.”
No, indeed, Paris wouldn’t want that. His mother had been
adamant about him not being allowed at his brother’s party. Paris
couldn’t say he was very surprised. In spite of being the oldest
sibling, he’d always been the smallest of the group, more sedate and
quiet in temperament. That must be why his parents couldn’t even
bear to look at him.
Alissa and Giles made their way to Paris’s side and started to lead
him away. Their hold on him was so insistent it hurt, but Paris did
nothing to protest. It was more than clear that Paris’s attempt to reach
out had failed abysmally.
The twins rushed him back into the house. The three of them had
barely entered the mansion when he sensed their parents approaching.
Thankfully, their mother stopped to talk to Tucker. However, Paris
wasn’t so lucky with regard to their father. The Alpha wolf
intercepted the three of them, and Paris forced himself to push back
his apprehension. He bent his neck lightly, exposing his throat in a
gesture of submission. He’d learned the hard way that the best thing
for him was to play nice and stay out of his father’s way.
He’d dared to go against that today, but hopefully, the Alpha
would understand Paris had meant well. No one spoke, and Paris
could feel the anticipation and panic gathering in the air, both from
himself and from his siblings. Distantly, he wondered what they were
10
Scarlet Hyacinth
thinking. Were they annoyed because they needed to babysit Paris?
Did they want their father to punish him? Or could Paris dare to hope
that they held at least a small measure of affection for him?
In the end, he couldn’t tell, as their father gestured for Alissa and
Giles to return to the party. The twins did so without comment,
leaving Paris alone with the Alpha.
“Paris, come,” his father told him. “I need to talk to you.”
Paris had no choice but to obey. He followed the older wolf as
they walked through the house. He was led into his father’s office,
something that made Paris even more nervous. Usually, he wasn’t
allowed in here. As the oldest son, he should be learning how to lead
the pack, or at least how to help out. But his family had always
pushed him aside, choosing to lavish their attention on Tucker
instead. He wondered what in the world his father intended to tell
him. Would he finally send Paris away? It was an outcome Paris had
expected for a while now, and he was getting ready to live as a lone
wolf, scorned and without a pack. In the end, it wouldn’t be too
different from his current situation. The only problem was that Paris
truly had no friends and knew no one outside the pack. Where would
he go if he was banished?
“I will be brief, Paris,” the older wolf said, as if oblivious to
Paris’s musings. “I’m not really your father. I’ve watched you with
my pups, and I believe you need to know this.”
A part of Paris wasn’t really surprised. His Alpha had never
treated him like he did Tucker and the others, and his mother had
always been cold to him. When he’d been growing up, his siblings
had often ganged up on him. Maybe they’d only taken their cues from
their parents, but the end result was that Paris had ended up isolated
and alone.
Confusing emotions swirled through Paris. In a sense, he felt
relieved. He might have his shortcomings, but his family’s rejection
must not be based solely on that. At the same time, though, Paris had
always considered the man in front of him his father, regardless of the
The Wolf Who Fought for His Soul Mate
11
treatment he had received. And then, there was the question as to the
identity of his real parent. He surmised that his mother had, indeed,
given birth to him, because otherwise, he would not be here in the
first place. Even so, he needed to know for certain.
“What about my mother?” he asked. “Is she really—”
“Yes, Aria is your birth mother,” the Alpha said brusquely,
interrupting Paris. “As for your father’s identity, I do not know, and I
do not care. I thought you needed to realize the truth and stay out of
pack business. Since you are not my child, Tucker is the eldest, and
he will one day take over my position. I do not want you confusing
him in any way.”
Paris couldn’t fathom what that meant, so he just nodded. “Thank
you for telling me. I appreciate you protecting me all these years in
spite of everything.”
That was a huge lie, and they both knew it, but the Alpha made no
further comment. Instead, he showed Paris the door. Taking the
dismissal for what it was, Paris left the Alpha’s office, still musing
over the newly acquired information.
As he headed back to his room, Paris dared to steal one more look
toward the gardens. Through the large windows of the hallway, Paris
could now see his mother talking to a young female werewolf a little
farther away from the main group. He wondered what in the world
she had planned now. Whatever it was, he obviously couldn’t stop it.
Questions assaulted his mind. Who was his father really? Why did
his mother resent him so much? Would Alpha Marrow eventually end
up exiling him? And more importantly, did his brothers even know
about this?
There was no one to answer Paris’s questions. As always, he was
all alone. When he finally returned to his room, Paris plopped down
on the bed, closed his eyes, and wished for what he always did. A
mate, someone to hold him and understand him, someone who would
never belittle him. Love, passion, and a life together.
12
Scarlet Hyacinth
Just before Paris at last surrendered to a restless slumber, he
couldn’t help but wonder if he had a chance of finding his true place
in the world, or if a mate was just as unlikely for him as a family.
The Wolf Who Fought for His Soul Mate
13
Chapter One
A few months later
“Paris, I’ve told you before. It’s not safe for you to leave pack
lands. Your father wouldn’t want you in danger.”
Paris struggled not to scream at Alpha Soren Wade. In a way, he
knew the older werewolf was right, but at the same time, he couldn’t
just stay here and hide. He’d brought a lot of pain on this pack by
making all the wrong choices. Because of this, his real father’s mate,
Reed, had been injured and nearly killed. Paris could still remember
how wrecked his dad had been when Reed was struggling for his life.
And now, his mother, the one who’d hurt Reed in the first place,
had fled with the aid of infamous warlock Tyrell Hall. Paris didn’t
think he stood much of a chance in front of the magic user, but he
could lend a hand with the search. Anything was better than just
sitting around, moping.
“I would be with my father and Reed,” he tried to coax Soren.
“They would keep me safe.”
“Paris, they have a job to do,” Soren explained. “How can they
accomplish it if they constantly have to worry about you?”
It hurt that everyone here seemed to look upon him as a child who
needed to have his hand held and be kept away from the rest of the
world. It hurt, and it was very unfair. Reed was just a little older than
him, and Soren’s own pups were about his age. Both Reed and one of
Soren’s boys, Derek, had joined the expedition. Why couldn’t Paris
do so as well?
14
Scarlet Hyacinth
Paris sighed to himself. Trying to reason with Soren would be an
exercise in futility. Perhaps things had not changed so much after all
when he’d come here from his previous pack.
“I understand,” he told the Alpha wolf. “I should go. You
probably have a lot of things to do, so I won’t disturb you anymore.”
Soren gave him a skeptical, somewhat suspicious look, but
nodded. “Take care, Paris,” he said. “Remember, we’re only thinking
about your own good.”
Paris had a distinct feeling of déjà vu from the time his adoptive
father had told him about his parentage. He’d asked himself many
questions then, and now, most of them had received their answer.
Paris just wanted to get out of there and be with the one person who’d
never once looked down on him.
He thanked Soren and fled the Alpha’s office as quickly as he
could. His wolf already ached to be with his mate. Thankfully for
him, Jace must have had a similar thought, as they ran into each other
just as Paris was heading toward the main mansion foyer.
Their bodies briefly came into contact, and heat flooded Paris.
Quickly, he took a step back, struggling to leash the beast that simply
wanted to pounce on Jace. “Hey,” he said lamely.
“Hi, Paris,” Jace greeted him in a soft tone. “You talked to my
father?”
Paris nodded. Jace knew all about Paris’s doubts, about his wishes
and guilt. The other wolf’s presence had helped him brace the horrible
time when Reed had been sick, almost killed in Paris’s stead. From
the moment they’d first met, Paris had felt attracted to Jace, and while
he’d never had the courage to pursue it beyond the tentative
relationship they had, everything inside him screamed they were
meant for each other.
“I did,” he replied. “He refuses to let me go.”
Jace took his hand and pulled him to the vacant living room. Once
they sat down, Jace gazed deeply into Paris’s eyes. “Maybe he’s right,
The Wolf Who Fought for His Soul Mate
15
Paris. I mean…Going all the way to Japan? We have so many people
there already, and it’s been all for naught.”
Paris’s hackles rose. He’d thought that Jace understood, but
apparently not. He pulled his hands out of Jace’s and glowered at the
other wolf. “I just want to help. How can I stay here and pretend
everything’s fine when I nearly killed my father’s mate?”
“You didn’t do anything, sweetheart,” Jace said. “That was all
your mother. She’s insane, and you’re not to blame for her mental
issues.”
Paris shook his head angrily. “I should have seen it. Out of
everyone here, I knew her best. I just…” He broke off, not knowing
how to explain the conflicting emotions he still had about his mother.
Even if she had never shown him true affection, he’d always loved
her. It was why he had defended her in the first place when his
adoptive father had attacked her. He’d gone so far as to knock the
man out to help her, not knowing what his choice would end up
causing. But what else could he have done in those circumstances? It
wasn’t like he could just let his mother die. “I just don’t know what
I’m supposed to do,” he told Jace at last. “What I should have done.”
“You acted in the best way you could, given what you knew at the
time.” Jace tried to soothe him. “How could you have possibly known
things would turn out the way they did? Besides, you shouldn’t dwell
on what could have been. Reed is fine now, and I’m sure our forces
will eventually catch the warlock and your mother.”
But would they? There was one question that kept tormenting
Paris ever since his mother had escaped Soren while being transported
to Elder Wade’s lands. What would the warlock want with Aria in the
first place? All evidence showed that Tyrell hated shifters.
Therein lay the gist of the issue. A small part of Paris still feared
for his mother, still hoped that she could be redeemed. Even after she
had nearly killed him, he didn’t want her to die. Oh, he could never
forgive her for what she’d done, but that didn’t change the fact that
consorting with the warlock could easily get her killed.
16
Scarlet Hyacinth
“Jace, I need to go after her,” he said. “I don’t really understand it
myself, but I have a feeling I will be needed.” Knowing he was being
unfair, he gave Jace a pleading look. “Help me. You can do it. You
can help me sneak out of the States and into Japan.”
He came closer to Jace, half because he didn’t want anyone to
overhear them and half because he simply craved Jace’s touch. “I’m
not an idiot. I realize the risks. But I can protect myself just fine. I’m
not a helpless pup.”
“Sweetheart…” Jace took a deep breath, and Paris’s nostrils flared
as he scented the werewolf’s arousal. The other man’s proximity
roused Paris’s own beast, and he had the yearning to simply climb
into Jace’s lap and rub against the other wolf’s cock. But then, Jace
spoke again, and his words were like a bucket of ice water over
Paris’s excitement. “We can’t do this,” Jace said. “I can’t do this. It’s
not safe.”
Paris moved away from Jace, recognizing the rebuff for what it
was. Fine. No matter. Paris had always been on his own. He’d just
have to make his way out of this without anyone’s help. He should
have known that not even his mate would truly grasp what Paris was
trying to say. In the end, they all thought he was nothing but a child,
which must be the reason why Jace had made no move to touch him
in the first place.
“Fine,” he snapped at Jace. “I get it. I’m an idiot who doesn’t
understand what’s right in front of his nose. And on that note, I’m just
going to play with my action figures now. If you’ll excuse me.”
He shot to his feet, ignoring Jace’s attempts to stop him. Perhaps
he was being a selfish brat, but there was just so much going on. He’d
had hopes that he would find a home, but pack members could be
very unfair when hurt. In their eyes, Reed was one of their own, and
their concern had manifested in trying to separate Paris’s father from
his mate, but also in a general dismissive attitude toward Paris. He
had told no one, not even his mate, about that, and he was glad he
The Wolf Who Fought for His Soul Mate
17
hadn’t. In the end, they’d probably think he was whining when he had
been the one saved from all the pain.
His angry steps carried him to his room. As soon as he shut the
door behind himself, Paris made an inventory of what he’d have to
take for an extended trip to Japan. It was a bit mind-boggling really.
Paris hadn’t done much travelling, so he didn’t even have papers to
take an official flight. He would have to sneak in on one, perhaps in a
shifted form. He was small enough as a wolf to pass for somebody’s
pet. That would entail several difficulties, though. He’d have to be in
a cage, and if someone figured out the truth about him, God only
knew where he’d end up and what would happen to him.
But the alternative was staying here, and while his wolf craved
Jace’s presence, he spent every waking moment wondering,
questioning himself. Even if he went to his own death, he had to try.
Otherwise, he’d go mad here, waiting to receive news and
increasingly burdened by the pack’s hostility and his friends’
disdainful affection.
Decision made, Paris started packing a bag. He wouldn’t need
much stuff if he went with the plan to escape the country in shifted
form. He went with some clothes and whatever money he could find,
putting everything in a small backpack that would go unnoticed in a
crowded plane cargo room.
Once he was ready, he looked out the window. There were always
a lot of guards watching the Alpha mansion, and evading them, as
well as the security systems, would be a challenge. Paris had faith that
he could do it, though. As inexperienced as everyone considered him
to be, he did have one skill that had served him well so far. He could
memorize and assess the perimeter of a large compound, and if he
saw the plans beforehand, he could even find blind spots that could be
used to his advantage. It was how he’d managed to run away from his
former pack in the first place. He was also quite fast and agile, his
size useful when he needed to sneak in somewhere or get out of sticky
situations.
18
Scarlet Hyacinth
Paris looked at the time and mentally assessed his situation. He
hid behind the curtains as a group of guards walked past the house,
directly below him. When they were gone, Paris knew he had to take
his chance. Without allowing himself to linger any further, he opened
the window and jumped outside, easily landing on his feet even if his
room was at the second level. He had maybe one minute before the
guards would be making rounds in this area of the compound again.
By that time, he needed to be out of their field of vision.
Thankfully, Paris could remember where exactly the sensors were
and managed to avoid them. He moved as quickly as possible in the
circumstances, half expecting that any moment now, he would be
caught. He wasn’t. Surprisingly, he managed to get over the fence and
reach the edge of the forest just before the guards came around once
again. He caught sight of one of the men sniffing the air and dropped
to the ground, hoping the man would not pursue his suspicion. The
guard looked up at the still-open window, and just like that, Paris
knew he was busted. Crawling against the ground, he hastened into
the forest, hoping they might lose his tracks. It was too late to back
down anyway. His attempt to flee would make him lose what little
trust he’d earned in the eyes of the Alpha. Jace would probably be
disappointed and hurt as well. As his mate’s image flashed through
his mind, Paris experienced a pang of regret. Maybe he shouldn’t
have left like that. In the end, Jace probably meant well, and Paris was
acting just like the kid they thought him to be by running away and
doing whatever the hell he wanted to, regardless of the rationale
behind their advice.
He was seriously considering going back when all of a sudden, he
sensed a presence approaching behind him. A wolf emerged from the
bushes, and Paris stopped, frozen in his tracks. He couldn’t have
moved to save his life.
As the majestic beast turned into Jace, Paris nearly swallowed his
tongue. Jace had shifted for him before, so Paris was not a stranger to
The Wolf Who Fought for His Soul Mate
19
Jace’s naked body. It didn’t change the fact that the sight made Paris’s
knees turn to jelly and his cock throb with arousal and need.
And then, Jace spoke at last. “Where do you think you’re going?”
Paris lost it. He collapsed to the ground and buried his face in his
hands. God, he was such a mess. How would he ever get his life
sorted out when he couldn’t even understand his own emotions?
* * * *
Jace watched Paris come undone in front of him with a sense of
helplessness and fear. When the guards had told him it was likely that
Paris had run away, Jace’s heart had nearly stopped. He couldn’t even
fathom losing Paris, and the horrifying panic he’d experienced upon
being faced with the realization that he might have urged Paris to take
such extreme measures smothered him.
He’d known Paris was fragile ever since the young werewolf had
first come to the Wade pack. From the very beginning, Jace’s wolf
had recognized Paris as his mate, but he’d also seen the sadness
hiding behind those beautiful eyes and had known that he needed to
take it slow.
But the situation had only worsened since Paris’s mother had
nearly killed Reed. Now, Jace had no idea how to reach out to his
mate, how to convince Paris to stop blaming himself for someone
else’s actions. And in his zeal to protect his sweet mate, he’d
accidentally pushed Paris into something worse.
Seeing Paris barely managing to contain his tears, Jace knelt next
to the other werewolf and hugged him. “It’s all right,” he murmured
in Paris’s ear. “I understand. I want to go hunting for Tyrell, too. You
just mean more to me, that’s all.”
It was true. Jace had been quite put out when his father had taken
Derek along on the expedition, but left Jace behind. He’d obeyed
Soren, of course, but as things were now, he was stuck here while his
brother was out there fighting the threat against their nation. At the
20
Scarlet Hyacinth
same time, while Jace would have liked to help Derek, he had his
priorities straight. The most important thing for him was and would
always be Paris.
“Do I?” Paris asked him, lifting his eyes to meet Jace’s. “I…I’ve
been very selfish. I just…I look in the mirror and I don’t like the
person I see there.”
Confusion, fear, and helpless anger irradiated from Paris. Jace’s
wolf whined and paced restlessly at the knowledge of his mate’s pain.
Paris’s family had done quite a number on him, and current
circumstances weren’t helping.
Even if Paris tried to hide what was happening in the pack, Jace
had seen the signs. He’d often gotten in the way of other wolves who
thought they knew better. But he obviously could not hide Paris in the
Alpha mansion forever. Paris was right about one thing. They needed
to get out of here.
“You’re not selfish,” he replied in a decisive tone. “You’re hurt,
and our pack isn’t helping you any.” His mind was in turmoil as he
tried to figure out a plan. When Paris looked at him with tearful eyes,
Jace made a decision. “All right, sweetheart. You and I are going to
Japan. Just promise you’ll never run away from me again.”
Paris threw his arms around Jace and buried his face in Jace’s
shoulder. “You don’t have to do that,” he replied. “It’s stupid. I won’t
ever be able to make up for what she did. For what I did.”
Jace just held the smaller werewolf, caressing his hair, wishing
that the increasing affection he felt for Paris would be enough to
mend his mate’s heart. In spite of himself, having Paris close had a
very specific effect on his body, something that, when he was naked,
he couldn’t really hide.
It was not the first time this had happened, and Paris couldn’t be
oblivious to it. Similarly, it was impossible for Jace to miss that Paris
felt the same. It was only normal, since they were mates, and being
werewolves, they felt the natural pull toward each other. But as much
The Wolf Who Fought for His Soul Mate
21
as Jace would have liked to claim Paris, he feared that the inevitable
change in perspective would just hurt Paris even more.
What they needed was to start anew, to run far away to a place
where only the two of them existed. But that could never be, not until
their families and friends were safe from the threat Tyrell represented.
“We can do it together, sweetheart,” he told Paris. “Now come on.
Don’t cry. Run with me. You’ll feel better.”
Paris broke away from the Jace and offered him a wide smile. “I’d
like that. It seems like I haven’t gone on a run for so long.”
The excitement Paris felt over something so simple just about
broke Jace’s heart. Unwilling to allow more sadness to encroach on
their time together, Jace changed back into his wolf form. Blushing
wildly, Paris began to take his clothes off. Jace hastily looked away,
knowing all too well that there was only so much he could take before
he fully lost control.
Thankfully, Paris didn’t take long in divesting himself of his
clothes. With the corner of his eye, Jace caught sight of his mate’s
slender body shifting into that of his beast. The process was very
quick, so before Jace knew it, a small but gorgeous wolf appeared in
front of him.
The fact that they were both in their animal shapes did nothing to
dim the instinctual need Jace had for his mate. Paris released a playful
yip and took off running. Excited, Jace began the hunt, following after
the smaller wolf.
They ran together through the undergrowth, and Jace’s fears
melted in the adrenaline of the chase, in the wildness and natural
rightness of the moment. Paris was very fast, but Jace managed to
keep up without a problem. In all truthfulness, it seemed to Jace that
his mate was teasing him, sometimes slowing down until Jace had
almost caught him. Finally, Jace’s excitement was such that he could
no longer contain his impulses. He pounced on his mate, stopping
Paris midleap.
22
Scarlet Hyacinth
They fell on the ground together in a tangle of furry limbs, with
Jace on top of Paris, and shifted into their human forms. The result
was the two of them lying naked on the grass, panting, their instincts
fully roused.
Their gazes locked and held. The warmth and silkiness of Paris’s
body under him was so intoxicating Jace couldn’t have moved to save
his life. Why had he thought this was a good idea in the first place?
Fuck, how could he not want to be inside his mate?
“Jace.” Paris’s voice was a breathless whisper. “I want…”
Jace’s mouth went so dry he could barely speak. “I know. I know,
sweetheart.”
It didn’t take a genius to figure out what Paris wanted. With their
bodies flush against each other, Jace could feel Paris’s hard cock
against his own. Even the knowledge that he should not take
advantage of Paris’s fragility couldn’t stop Jace from reaching
between them and gripping his mate’s shaft in his fist. He swept his
thumb over the already leaking tip, never once looking away from
Paris’s beautiful face. Paris’s expression was the very image of pure
ecstasy. Jace had never thought Paris could get more gorgeous, but
apparently, he’d been very wrong. And Paris’s pretty pink lips looked
so very enticing that Jace couldn’t hold back.
He crushed his mouth against Paris’s, at the same time bringing
their cocks together. Paris moaned, parting his lips for Jace and
allowing the other wolf invasion. Jace thrust his tongue in his mate’s
mouth, discovering the dark recesses of the wet cavern, exploring and
taking no prisoners. As he did so, he moved his hand up and down
their cocks, possessiveness rising through him when Paris wantonly
rubbed against him.
Desire sparked brightly within him, Jace’s wolf demanding that he
claim Paris. Jace delved deeper into the kiss, seeking Paris’s very
essence, aching to brand Paris as his own. He didn’t stop moving his
hand up and down their joined shafts, using their own pre-cum to
The Wolf Who Fought for His Soul Mate
23
improve the glide. Paris already seemed close to orgasm, his motions
growing more erratic with every pull of Jace’s palm.
Jace would have loved to bring Paris to climax, to have his mate
come undone in his arms. Alas, the need to breathe forced him to
break the kiss. As he looked into his mate’s dazed eyes, though, he
realized that he’d allowed his instincts to take over and push him into
the thing he’d tried to avoid. He released his mate from his arms and
got up. It was cruel to stop just moments before both of them had
reached orgasm, but Jace had no other choice.
At first, Paris didn’t do anything, obviously having trouble in
mustering coherent thought. But as a few seconds passed, Paris finally
snapped back to reality. He blinked at Jace in confusion. “What’s
wrong, Jace?”
“We can’t do this,” Jace replied, shaking his head to cast out the
lust.
Paris gaped at him. “You can’t be serious. Don’t you want me?”
“There’s nothing I want more right now than to make you mine
forever,” Jace said, frustrated with himself and with the situation.
“But I can’t.”
“Why not?” Paris cried, his gaze pleading for an explanation.
“Because I can’t take advantage of you that way,” Jace replied. “A
mating is serious business, and you’ve been through so much lately. I
just don’t want you to make any decisions you’ll regret later.”
“So what you’re saying is that I don’t know my mate when I see
him?” Paris shot to his feet and narrowed his eyes at Jace. “What kind
of person do you think I am?”
Uh-oh. Jace had a feeling he’d walked straight into a minefield.
He simply couldn’t bear the thought of having Paris angry with him,
but he didn’t know how to explain his misgivings without fucking this
up more.
“You’re the most beautiful person in existence,” he answered,
“and I’m not just saying that. I’m just not sure you’re ready.”
24
Scarlet Hyacinth
He winced at how arrogant his own words sounded. For a few
moments, Paris just looked at him. Jace wondered what the other wolf
saw, or what he was looking for.
In truth, Jace desperately wanted to be what Paris needed, but he
didn’t think he was that man yet. No matter how much he tried, he
couldn’t keep Paris from those who would hurt him, from the people
who blamed him for Reed’s injury. As Paris’s mate, he was supposed
to protect the other man, but Jace hadn’t done a very good job so far.
He wouldn’t blame Paris at all if the smaller wolf didn’t want to be
his mate.
“Mating doesn’t work like that,” Paris whispered. “We always
know when we find our mates, whether we are at a bad point in our
lives or not.”
“That’s true, but sometimes we can mistake other emotions for a
mate bond.”
Paris recoiled as if he’d been struck. “So you think I’m a mistake?
Is that it?”
“No, sweetheart.” Jace reached for Paris, his resistance dwindling
with every second that passed. He pressed their foreheads together,
holding Paris tightly when the smaller wolf would have wiggled
away. “I’m not explaining myself correctly. I have no doubt we’re
mates. I just want to give you time to adjust to me and to your new
life.”
“I don’t want to adjust to this,” Paris shot back snappishly. “It’s
not the life I want in the first place. I’ve always dreamt of a true
family, of a mate who loves me. What I have now doesn’t cut it in the
slightest. And I’ve been ready for something different from the very
moment I realized we were mates.”
There was such decisiveness in Paris’s voice, such strength, that
Jace could not have refused the smaller wolf to save his life. He
brushed their mouths together once again and whispered, “Are you
sure, sweetheart? We can wait for as long as you need.”
The Wolf Who Fought for His Soul Mate
25
“Thanks, but no thanks.” Paris looked straight into his eyes, a hint
of vulnerability on his face. “Unless you don’t want me like I want
you.”
Those words sealed the deal for Jace. The uncertainty in his
mate’s tone pushed aside Jace’s misgivings. He couldn’t allow Paris
to believe Jace didn’t see the truth of their bond. “Don’t ever say
that,” he replied, unable to keep the growl from his voice. “Make no
mistake. You’re mine, and I’m yours.”
He pushed Paris onto the grass once again and lowered his body
over that of the smaller man. Even if a part of him realized this was
hardly the best time for a mating, his wolf would hear nothing of it.
For once, Jace obeyed his beast. It was what both he and his mate
wanted. Why deny it? Refusing their connection would just hurt Paris
instead of protecting him.
Still, Jace was acutely aware that Paris didn’t have a lot of
experience. From what Paris had told him and the things Jace’s father
had found out, Jace had concluded that, in many ways, Paris had been
excluded from all aspects of life in a pack. Sexuality was most likely
new to him, and the innocent, if wanton, responses to what Jace had
done so far confirmed Jace’s original guess.
As such, Jace knew he had to take it slow. He had been lucky
enough to live around people who’d found their other halves, but
Paris hadn’t. For that reason and many others, he wanted to worship
Paris, to show the smaller wolf how beautiful making love could be
and what a mating truly signified.
Paris reached for him, obviously demanding to resume their
earlier frantic touches. Instead, Jace pinned Paris’s hands above his
head and brushed butterfly-light kisses over Paris’s eyelids. “Relax,
sweetheart. Let me show you just how much you mean to me.”
His mate seemed somewhat confused and anxious, but
nevertheless, he surrendered to Jace’s ministrations. Jace licked down
Paris’s Adam’s apple, lingering in the hollow of Paris’s neck when
his mate gasped in surprise. It seemed he had found a sensitive spot.
26
Scarlet Hyacinth
How delightful. Jace looked forward to tasting Paris all over and
finding all the other erogenous areas of Paris’s body.
He spent the next couple of minutes doing just that, sucking on
Paris’s neck, then, when that ceased to be enough, progressing down
Paris’s chest. He was instantly drawn to Paris’s pert little nipples. The
tight buds peaked as if demanding Jace’s attention. Jace couldn’t have
resisted if he wanted to. He sucked one of the bits of flesh into his
mouth, grinning to himself when his mate arched beautifully against
him. Oh, yeah. Things just seemed to be getting better and better, and
Paris’s innocent sensuality was drawing Jace out of his mind.
Even so, Jace stuck to his resolve, caressing Paris’s sides gently,
holding his mate down when Paris would have roughly thrust against
him. With a great deal of reluctance, he released the tiny bud from his
mouth and decided to go for its twin. As he sucked and bit on the
nubbin, he marveled at just how responsive his lover was. Jace knew
he could very easily get addicted to Paris’s sweet cries, to the way he
clung to Jace and writhed, wordlessly asking for more, but at the same
time, attempting to pull away. It was, in a way, endearing, but it also
fueled Jace’s lust. The predator inside him demanded his mate’s
submission, and the way Paris gladly gave it already strained his
control.
When he was satisfied that he had Paris well and truly incoherent,
Jace abandoned his mate’s nipples and licked down Paris’s smooth
chest to his belly button. He thrust his tongue inside the tiny hole, his
cock throbbing as Paris actually started to whimper. The need
escalated more and more inside him, but still, he bypassed Paris’s
cock, knowing that if he went there, he had no chance of stopping
himself from taking Paris, from fucking that sweet ass.
Jace traced the line of Paris’s hip with his tongue then progressed
farther over his mate’s legs. He found another sensitive spot behind
Paris’s knee no less. Discovering the smaller wolf’s body like this
was a joy in and of itself. Distantly, Jace noted that Paris tasted sweet
The Wolf Who Fought for His Soul Mate
27
all over. He could only imagine the incredible flavor Paris’s seed
would have.
Unable to hold back, Jace returned to Paris’s prick and lowered
his mouth over the thick shaft. Even here, Paris was beautiful,
pearlescent drops of pre-cum seeping out of his slender, rosy cock
like crystalline tears. Jace swept his tongue over the glans, moaning as
his mate’s taste exploded in his mouth. It was just as good as he had
expected, no, even better.
Faced with such a delicious treat, Jace abandoned all thought of
slow lovemaking. He took his mate’s cock deep into his mouth,
devouring his prize, reveling in the amazing feel of Paris’s length on
his tongue. He no longer held Paris in place, instead caressing Paris’s
hip in a silent urge that it was okay to let go, to lose control.
Paris did just that. He started thrusting inside Jace’s mouth,
fucking Jace’s face with abandon. Jace accepted it, loving the
sensations Paris’s unleashed passions created inside him. If he’d had
any doubt that they were mates, they were swept aside by what he felt
now. Jace had always loved giving head, as there was power in the
carnal act. He controlled the pleasure his partner received, and he
loved knowing that. Now, however, the emotions going through him
were very different. He enjoyed being the one to cause such ecstasy in
his mate. Even if they hadn’t completed their bond, Jace seemed to
experience an echo of Paris’s desire. It only impassioned him further,
and he sucked Paris’s prick deeply, taking it all the way into his throat
and swallowing around the head.
Paris released a low cry, and it was the only warning Jace got
before hot streams of spunk filled his mouth. Jace couldn’t suppress a
moan, greedily gulping down his mate’s offering. He drank every
drop and cleaned his mate’s cock with slow licks, already knowing
that he would be addicted to this for the rest of his life. For crying out
loud, he was already so close to coming that he wasn’t sure he could
get inside his mate without embarrassing himself.
28
Scarlet Hyacinth
It seemed Paris had different ideas, though, or rather, thoughts of
payback. To Jace’s shock, his mate found a hidden strength in his
orgasm. He pushed Jace down and straddled him, his eyes glazed with
lust and need. “I want to taste you,” he murmured.
Jace could do nothing else but nod. He doubted he could have
refused his mate anything when Paris looked at him like that. Besides,
what guy in his right mind would refuse a blow job from his mate?
Naturally, their particular situation was somewhat different than
those of others. Paris began to lose his burst of zeal as he crawled
down Jace’s body. Uncertainty radiated from him as he shyly brought
his mouth to Jace’s cock. He looked up at Jace, scrutinizing Jace’s
face with anxious eyes. “I’ve never done this before,” he whispered.
“You don’t have to,” Jace immediately replied. “We’ll only do
what you’re comfortable with.”
Paris bit his lip in a strikingly endearing and innocent gesture.
Jace had to bury his fingers in the humid earth so as to keep himself
from reaching out and forcing his mate’s mouth on his prick. Yes, he
was aroused as hell, but he also would never do anything Paris
wouldn’t like.
The assurance seemed enough to encourage Paris into action. He
licked over the head of Jace’s cock, gathering the pooling pre-cum on
his tongue. Paris took it slow, learning, getting accustomed to Jace,
and while Jace would have loved to hasten the pace, he could
appreciate the sensual torture his mate unwillingly thrust upon him. If
they rushed into it, it would be all over before it even began. After all,
just the sight of his mate sucking his dick was almost enough to drive
Jace to climax.
But Paris was nothing if not a quick learner. Soon, the slow
exploration ceased, and Paris took Jace’s cock in his mouth. At first,
he attempted to rush things and ended up gagging. In spite of the
urgency flowing through him, Jace reached down and caressed Paris’s
head, threading his fingers through the other wolf’s hair. “Don’t try to
The Wolf Who Fought for His Soul Mate
29
take more than you can handle, sweetheart,” he told Paris. “We have
all the time in the world.”
That was only half true, since Jace hardly thought he could
withstand the pleasure his mate was giving him for much longer.
Nevertheless, Paris took the advice and the encouragement and
understood what Jace meant. His eyes drifted shut as he focused his
full attention on Jace’s prick.
At first, Paris’s inexperience showed, but the other wolf more than
made up for it in enthusiasm. In fact, the sensations coursing through
Jace were already more intense than anything he’d ever experienced
with other lovers. Only, he’d never had lovers, not really. He’d
partnered up with men and women in the past, but they’d all been
sexual liaisons and nothing else. Something had been missing, and
Jace had only found it now, in Paris.
With the perfection of his mate’s mouth working him, Jace
couldn’t hold back for much longer. As Paris bobbed his head up and
down Jace’s cock, Jace finally snapped. He thrust his prick deep into
the wet cavern and howled as a wave of ecstasy washed over him.
Some act of God kept him from closing his eyes as he came, and he
watched Paris drink down his cum like it was the most-delicious
elixir. A few drops of spunk dribbled out, as Paris was still new at
this, but that fact only made possessiveness swell inside Jace. It was
as if he had marked Paris with his seed, branding the other wolf as his
own.
When Paris released Jace’s dick, Jace noticed with a great deal of
satisfaction that he was still hard. His mate seemed in a similar state,
as his hard cock insistently nudged against Jace’s thigh.
This time, the wolf could no longer be denied. Jace yearned to be
inside Paris, to claim his mate in every way possible. Paris seemed to
guess his thoughts. He met Jace’s gaze and offered him a tentative
smile as he lay back on the grass.
Jace could practically feel the nervousness irradiating from his
mate. He pressed a light kiss to Paris’s lips, tasting himself in the
30
Scarlet Hyacinth
other wolf’s mouth as their tongues entangled. It was oddly erotic,
and Jace was tempted to go on kissing Paris forever. But as good as
the lip-lock had been, nothing could satisfy Jace now except taking
Paris’s sweet ass.
Sadly, because of their choice of location, Jace now realized he
lacked what he needed to make the experience more comfortable for
Paris. In his zeal to devour his mate, he’d drunk down Paris’s seed,
which he could have also used to smooth his way in. But Jace had
other, even more interesting methods to relax his mate, and he looked
forward to testing each and every one of them on Paris.
With gentle hands, Jace flipped Paris on all fours. He’d have liked
to see Paris’s eyes as he sunk into that sweet hole, but this position
would be better for Paris, at least for the time being. Paris obediently
pushed his ass out. Even if he was still nervous, the other wolf seemed
to want this as much as Jace did.
“Don’t worry, sweetheart,” Jace said as he kissed the small of
Paris’s back. “I’ll make this so good for you.”
At first, Paris didn’t reply. Then, when Jace made no move to
proceed with the lovemaking, Paris threw a look over his shoulder. “I
just don’t want to disappoint you, that’s all.”
“Oh, Paris.” Jace was torn between kissing that doubt away and
hunting down the people guilty of Paris’s insecurities. “You could
never disappoint me. We were made for each other.”
Since it was clear to Jace that Paris seemed to think far too much
whenever Jace didn’t touch him, Jace spread Paris’s ass cheeks,
exposing the little opening hidden there. His mouth watered just at the
sight, and he licked across the crease of Paris’s ass, wanting to taste
his mate all over.
Paris’s moan echoed the pleasure that exploded through Jace.
Paris’s seed had been like nectar of the gods, but this…This was so
much more. There was something dark and intense about the intimate
caress, and Jace’s cock throbbed with need as he worshipped his
mate’s most-hidden spot. He stabbed his tongue in Paris’s hole, using
The Wolf Who Fought for His Soul Mate
31
it as a little cock to relax Paris’s entrance. Soon, Paris had forgotten
all about his misgivings and was writhing in agonizing pleasure,
pushing his ass back and fucking Jace’s face. Random, incoherent
pleas left his lips, and Jace could no longer deny Paris, or himself, the
pleasure of their union.
Lifting his head, Jace spit on his hand and wet his cock as well as
he could. He still wasn’t very pleased with the poor lubrication, but
the alternative would be going back to the mansion. For obvious
reasons, that was out of the question. He’d just have to be very
careful.
It was easier said than done, especially when Paris made those
needy, whimpering sounds that drove Jace wild with desire. Even so,
Jace clung to his resolve as he positioned his cock at Paris’s hole.
With excruciating slowness, he pushed inside.
Paris tensed in the beginning, obviously unused to the sensation of
being invaded. Jace stopped, whispering endearments in Paris’s ear
and caressing his hip. Gradually, his mate started to relax, and Jace
fully slid into the warm tightness of his mate’s ass.
Sweat beaded his brow as he struggled not to start thrusting like
his body demanded. Instead, he stilled, waiting for his mate to give
him the green light. But fuck, Paris was so tight, so hot that it took
everything inside Jace not to rut inside the little hole like an animal.
Thankfully, Paris was, as Jace himself had said, made for him. His
body greedily swallowed Jace’s prick. He gasped and pushed back
against Jace. “Please, Jace. Fuck me.”
Jace gave Paris a few more moments to adjust and then pulled out,
only to thrust back in seconds later. They both groaned as sensations
exploded through them. The delicious friction, the sweet, velvet-like
hold of Paris’s body made Jace lose himself in his beast, in the
absolute need to claim and be claimed. Paris practically screamed as
Jace’s dick brushed against his prostate, and the ecstasy that exploded
through him burst through their as-of-yet-incomplete connection,
making Jace drunk with lust.
32
Scarlet Hyacinth
No longer able to keep his animalistic lust in check, Jace started a
nearly punishing rhythm. He knew he should take it slower to pay
heed to the fact that Paris had been a virgin. But how could he when
Paris took everything Jace offered and demanded more? They were
made for each other, and their bodies fit together just right.
They moved together like longtime lovers, as if they had been
together forever and weren’t just now getting used to their bond. In a
way, Jace supposed trivial things like the length of their acquaintance
didn’t matter. At a visceral level, their souls had known each other
from long ago, perhaps even beyond their birth. What little part of
Jace remained rational could only wonder how in the world he’d
thought he could keep himself from claiming Paris.
It went on and on, and it seemed to last forever, yet far too short.
Jace’s wolf howled at him, demanding that he complete his
connection with Paris. His canines ached, the need to sink them in
Paris’s flesh so intense it overwhelmed Jace. Thrusting hard against
Paris’s special spot, he buried his fangs in Paris’s throat.
The taste of Paris’s endorphin-filled blood exploded into Jace’s
mouth, sweeter than honey. Instantly, Jace felt their connection click
into place. Jace and Paris climaxed at the same time, and, for one
sweet moment, the world seemed to stop spinning. Jace lost all sense
of individual identity as he became one with Paris. The only thing that
remained was Jace’s connection with Paris, the continuous stream of
thoughts and feelings bursting in his mind. There was insecurity for
both of them, so much fear and apprehension, but also a pleasure and
a love that swept all the rest aside. Love. Everything Jace had ever
been searching for in one all-encompassing emotion.
When the haze of orgasm finally began to dim, Jace felt like a
new man. The strength of his connection with Paris awed him. It was
as if a new light glowed from within him, Paris’s light and purity
giving him a new outlook on life.
The Wolf Who Fought for His Soul Mate
33
They collapsed together on the grass, and as Jace slipped out of
Paris, he decided to test their bond. “You okay, sweetheart?” he sent
through their mind link.
Paris’s eyes snapped to him. He blinked, as if he couldn’t quite
believe what was happening. “Fine,” he tentatively replied. “Can you
really hear me?”
When Jace nodded, Paris’s lips twisted into a gorgeous smile.
“Cancel that,” he said out loud. “I’ve never been better.”
The lighthearted glee of the reply imbued Jace with renewed
energy. He might have reached out and taken his mate again, except
Paris suddenly pulled away and turned into his wolf form. He released
a happy yip and leapt around, seemingly in the mood to play.
Jace was feeling pretty playful himself. As a rule, he was quite
impulsive, but he’d tried to hold back his naturally explosive
temperament around his mate. He realized now that it had been the
wrong thing to do. If anything, Paris was the only person who could
ever truly understand him. While his siblings and parents loved him,
only his mate would be one with him in a way that went beyond all
limitations of flesh.
In that moment, Jace truly felt happy. Both as a man, and as a
wolf, he’d been accepted and had been given the greatest gift a shifter
could receive, a mate. Following Paris’s example, he changed shapes
as well, intent on celebrating their new life.
They frolicked together in the forest, simply forgetting all about
their problems in their need to enjoy each other’s presence. It was
only when night started to fall that both of them remembered how
they’d ended up here in the first place.
The realization brought their playfulness to a sudden halt. Jace
sensed the return of Paris’s concerns and uncertainties. As they both
shifted back into their human forms, Jace hugged his mate tightly.
“Don’t worry, sweetheart. We have each other now. We can deal with
everything that comes our way.”
34
Scarlet Hyacinth
“But, Jace, what are we going to do about my mother?” Paris
inquired, a hint of desperation in his tone. “I just simply can’t allow
her to be out there, on the loose.”
Jace realized the extent to which Paris felt responsible for his
mother’s actions. He was convinced his mate was not to blame for
any of this, but of course, his opinion wasn’t unanimously accepted.
“I agree. I trust Derek and the others to find her, but you won’t ever
be at peace if we don’t help.”
Paris broke out of the embrace and sighed. “You think it’s crazy
of me to suggest it.”
Jace shook his head. “We’re not going back to that debate again.
I’ll tell you what. I’ll try to get us to the vampire coven. If we manage
to convince Kaname Yamamoto we can help, I want you to promise
me to always stay by my side. I don’t want to risk you getting hurt.”
The smile that appeared on Paris’s face reached out to the deepest
corners of Jace’s heart. Paris hugged him once again, kissing his
cheek. “Thank you, Jace. Thank you for trusting me. I promise I
won’t let you down.”
“I’ve never doubted you,” Jace replied softly. “Now, we just have
to get out of pack land somehow. I can imagine my dad will be very
pissed with us for our little disappearance.”
Jace felt rather than saw Paris’s wince. Realizing that they needed
to face the Alpha sooner or later, he released Paris. “Come on,
sweetheart. We can do this together.”
They briefly passed by the spot where Paris had left his previously
worn outfit. While Paris seemed a bit more comfortable with facing
Soren when he was dressed, Jace didn’t have his mate’s advantage.
He’d left the house in wolf form, and Paris’s clothes didn’t fit him.
He’d just have to go naked instead. After picking up Paris’s bag, they
headed back toward the mansion.
When they reached the Alpha’s home, Jace briefly considered
sneaking inside for supplies, then running away, before discarding the
idea. How could he protect his mate from their enemies if he was
The Wolf Who Fought for His Soul Mate
35
afraid of his own family? His courage faltered when he saw his
parents waiting for him outside. There were no guards, just Daniel
and Soren. In a way, it was both better and worse than anything Jace
had expected. He preferred having privacy to explain his decision, but
he didn’t feel at all ready to face his two fathers. It wasn’t exactly
discreet for him to show up naked in front of his father, but as
shifters, they were used to their nudity.
Soren beckoned the two of them forward and scanned their faces.
“You two are mates,” he said without preamble.
Jace nodded. “I assume you don’t have anything against that.”
“Of course not,” Soren replied. “I just want to know how that fits
in with Paris trying to run away from the pack.”
Jace sensed Paris’s apprehension and shame. The other wolf took
a step back, as if shying from Soren’s anger and sharp words.
Knowing what Paris had been through at his other pack, Jace couldn’t
allow anyone, not even his father, to question his mate like that.
“I appreciate your support for our mating,” he replied. “As for the
rest, Paris might have been impulsive in his attempt to flee, but that’s
no reason to glower at him.”
“No one is glowering,” Daniel intervened in a pacifying tone.
“We’re just worried about you two, that’s all.”
“You don’t need to be,” Jace replied. “We know what we have to
do now.”
Soren crossed his arms over his chest. “And what exactly is that?”
“We’re going to Japan,” Jace answered, putting more certainty in
his voice than he felt. Truth be told, his father could stop him if he so
desired. Going against Soren’s wishes would be interfering with pack
law, and that was punishable in several unpleasant ways. Jace hoped
he wouldn’t have to brave those consequences, but alas, his father’s
expression darkened.
“Jace, you know as well as I do that this is not a game. I
understand Paris’s desire to help, but you shouldn’t indulge him.”
36
Scarlet Hyacinth
Jace felt his mate’s temper bristling. Paris had always been
dismissed as unimportant before, and Jace’s parents were doing the
same thing now. While their intentions were good and
understandable, Paris would clearly no longer stand for it.
“Yes, Father,” he said quickly. “We’ll go inside to talk a bit now.”
Soren narrowed his eyes at Jace, but stepped out of the way,
gesturing them forward. Jace and Paris passed several pack members
as they entered the house, some quite hostile. While he was aware of
all the eyes on them, Jace ignored everything that wasn’t Paris.
“Don’t worry, sweetheart,” he sent to Paris. “Just hold my hand
and don’t look at them.”
“They don’t like me,” Paris replied. “They wish me and my
mother would never have come to this pack. They blame my father for
what happened.”
Sadly, it was true that many people had shown a negative attitude
toward Paris, especially after Reed’s departure. Reed was well liked
and considered a pack member, even if he was a swan. His injury
might not have been at Paris’s or Anson’s hand, but few saw it that
way. Even if Anson had been among the ones who’d most suffered,
he was still viewed as having taken advantage of Reed. And now that
Anson had left, all the discontent fell onto Paris.
Reed’s parents had tried their best to convince everyone that no,
neither Paris nor Anson were to blame for the actions of Paris’s
mother. But in many cases, it had been futile. While Jace was still
apprehensive about leaving pack lands and leading his mate into
danger, the truth was that staying here represented a permanent strain
on Paris’s state of mind and self-respect.
Soren hadn’t explicitly forbidden them to go anywhere. For the
moment, both Jace and Paris would most likely be watched, but Jace
knew everyone here very well. He’d grown within these lands, and he
understood exactly what he needed to do to slip out. It wouldn’t be
easy, but it was possible.
The Wolf Who Fought for His Soul Mate
37
Holding hands, they headed toward Jace’s room. As soon as they
were behind closed doors, Paris plopped on the bed and buried his
face in his palms. “I hate this,” Paris said. “It’s so unfair. I feel like a
prisoner.”
It was unfair. Paris shouldn’t have to pay for the mistakes of
others, and Soren should know better than to force Paris to stay here.
Not that Jace didn’t understand where his father was coming from. He
did, and he knew that Soren always tried to do what was best for
everyone in the pack. But in these particular circumstances, Jace
couldn’t rely on anything or anyone but himself.
Of course, they could just retreat somewhere else, perhaps with
the Cunninghams. Jace had no doubt that his friends would receive
them with open arms. But that would hardly solve the problem, would
it? Everything inside Jace ached to protect Paris, but Paris required
support and trust more. He had been discarded as useless for far too
long, and even if Jace feared dragging Paris into danger, he needed to
respect his mate’s desires.
Obviously sensing his thoughts, Paris looked up toward him. “I’m
sorry, Jace. I shouldn’t drag you into this. It’s not your fault for any of
this.”
“It’s not yours, either,” Jace replied. He went to the bed and sat
next to Paris, pulling his mate close. “Look, there’s no reason why
this trip even has to be dangerous. I’m sure the vampire coven has
plenty of soldiers. The hardest thing now is actually finding Aria and
her warlock friends. We can help with that.”
“Your father doesn’t think the same,” Paris replied, bitterness and
misery irradiating from his tone. As they lay together on the mattress,
he cuddled close to Jace, burying his face in Jace’s chest. Slowly, he
started to calm down, and Jace actually felt their bond soothing Paris,
flooding the smaller wolf with warmth. The fact that Jace still hadn’t
put clothes on had a lot of potential, but they couldn’t exactly stop to
have sex now. They had too many problems to deal with.
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Scarlet Hyacinth
“We should be happy and celebrating now,” Paris said at last, “not
complaining over the behavior of others. By rights, I should just let it
go.”
Only, Paris couldn’t let it go, and they both knew it. Even if he did
make the attempt, those around them would never let him forget. It
infuriated Jace that people he’d known since his young years could be
so absurd and judgmental.
They fell into silence, and Jace strained his hearing, trying to
figure out what was going on outside. He knew better than to believe
his father was done with him. Soren would undoubtedly come to see
him soon and make sure Jace wasn’t up to no good. Jace and Paris
needed to get out before that happened.
Jace was torn between the loyalty he felt for his father and his
affection toward his mate. In his heart, he didn’t want to abandon his
pack without a good-bye, and he didn’t think Paris wanted that, either.
In many ways, Jace considered himself blessed. His family had
been through a lot. His mother lost her life while protecting him and
his siblings, and while he wished he’d known her, he’d never felt
abandoned or lacking in affection. It was for that reason that he’d
come back to the mansion in the first place.
And then, a knock sounded at the door. Already realizing who it
was, Jace left the bed, found a pair of pants, and pulled them on. As
quickly as he could, he let his family in.
Soren looked a little less stern than before. He hugged Jace
tightly, his eyes shining with affection and pride. “I believe I didn’t
congratulate you appropriately. I really am happy for you. A mate is a
wonderful thing.”
Jace breathed in his father’s love, relief coursing through him. He
was so very thrilled at mating Paris, and he’d yearned for his family
to share in his joy. Werewolves were, in general, tactile people, and
while Soren could be harsh when he wanted to, he was Jace’s father
first, then his Alpha.
The Wolf Who Fought for His Soul Mate
39
Behind Soren came Daniel, and Jace’s sister, Mel. As Soren
released Jace, Mel pounced on him, kissing his cheeks in clear
excitement. “I could tell from the very beginning that you two were
meant for each other,” she said. “I don’t even know why you waited
for so long.”
For a few moments, she lavished her attention on him, but then,
she must have realized what he’d been aware of the whole time. Paris
was still curled up in the bed, watching the scene and clearly
uncertain if he should approach. She abandoned Jace and climbed into
his bed next to Paris. Paris looked shocked as she hugged him tightly.
“I love it that I have a new brother,” she said. “Thank you for being
here, for being with him.”
As Jace watched them, his dad came up to him and took his hand,
squeezing it tightly. Even if Daniel wasn’t his blood, Jace had never
loved him any less for it. “I’m happy for you, too,” the squirrel-shifter
said. “Your mother would be so proud.”
In that moment, Jace realized he’d made the right choice in
waiting. He loved his family for being so supportive. There just had to
be a way to convince his father that they really did need to leave.
As if guessing his thoughts, Soren sighed. “I’ve been unfair, and
I’ve placed you both in a bad position. As you know, diplomatic
relationships between different species are tenuous at best, and we
don’t want to abuse the hospitality and goodwill of the vampires. But
it is true that Paris has personal insight in the matter.”
Daniel nodded. “We will allow you to go and contact Yamamoto-
sama on your behalf. So far, he has helped us a lot. Should he agree,
we will let you go.”
Jace smiled as he felt Paris’s enthusiasm soar. “Thank you,” he
said.
“No.” Soren shook his head and, in an unexpected gesture, kissed
Paris’s forehead. “Thank you.”
40
Scarlet Hyacinth
Chapter Two
A few days later
“This will be your room for the duration of your stay,” the Asian
servant told Paris. “Should you need anything, you only have to call
upon us. Feel free to look around this wing of the coven.”
“Arigatou gozaimasu,” Paris said, still in a daze. “I appreciate all
your help.”
The vampire coven in Tokyo was even more intimidating than
Paris had expected. It didn’t help that his father had been angry upon
finding Paris there. Worse still, vampire elder, Kaname Yamamoto,
had been offended by Paris’s supposed presumptuousness. It was only
by sheer luck, or better said, Kaname’s generosity, that Paris had been
allowed to stay here.
It was all very strange. Daniel and Soren had said they would
contact Kaname, but as far as Paris realized, that hadn’t happened.
The vampire elder had acted as if they’d never heard of them coming
here at all. Paris had wanted to say something, but he hadn’t really
gotten the chance.
Thankfully, Kaname had accepted their aid regardless of this
glitch in communication. They had been assigned personal quarters
within the coven and were supposed to comply with the instructions
of the other shifters present. Personally, Paris didn’t have a problem
with obeying his father’s advice. It just bothered him that, in spite of
Jace’s precautions, they’d still been treated like disobedient children.
Paris might have deserved that, but Jace didn’t.
The Wolf Who Fought for His Soul Mate
41
As the servant gestured him inside, Paris looked around the
luxurious room, gaping. The Alpha mansion in Soren Wade’s pack
was amazing, but this…This went beyond anything Paris had ever
imagined. When he’d first entered the coven, he’d caught sight of
several hints of the vampires’ ostentatious wealth, but he hadn’t really
been able to focus on them. Now, however, he spared a few moments
to admire the sheer lavishness of the guest quarters.
Behind him, he heard the door close as Jace joined him in the
room. “Quite a place the vamps have here,” the other wolf
commented.
Paris nodded just as his gaze fell on the antique four-poster bed.
He felt his face flame at the implication that he and Jace would share
living chambers. The two of them had not explicitly told the vampires
they would need one single room, as they were a couple. However,
Kaname seemed to have guessed. Perhaps Paris was being very
obvious, since he simply couldn’t stand being away from Jace. Half
the time, he wanted to touch the other wolf, to make sure Jace was
really his and their mating hadn’t been a dream.
“It’s not a dream, sweetheart.” Jace wrapped his arms around
Paris’s waist and kissed his nape. “I assure you that if it were, we’d be
somewhere on a cruise, just the two of us.”
That sounded amazing to Paris, but alas, he knew they couldn’t
afford to have time to themselves, not yet, at least. They’d come here
to solve the dilemma of Paris’s mother’s disappearance. Now that he
was here, Paris had no clue where to even start. He realized he hadn’t
truly thought ahead at what suggestions he could provide. Hell, he’d
never even left the United States until now. If not for Jace, he
wouldn’t have known how to come to the vampire coven in the first
place. How could he possibly guess her location and that of her
warlock ally?
“You’re thinking so hard again.” Jace turned him around and
forced him to meet his gaze. “Stop berating yourself for things
beyond your control. You’re right about one thing. You’re the one
42
Scarlet Hyacinth
who knows your mother best. You can offer valuable input on her
character.”
“If I’d known her so well, I wouldn’t have allowed her to hurt
Reed,” Paris replied morosely. He shook himself, knowing now was
not the time for self-pity and regrets. “But you’re right. If I just keep
telling myself I can’t do anything, I’ll always be useless.”
Jace arched a brow at him, and Paris winced, realizing that he’d
just done it again. He simply couldn’t get over the feeling of
helplessness and the knowledge of his own flaws.
“Maybe we should get a feel of the place for a bit,” Jace
suggested. “It wouldn’t hurt to get to know our hosts.”
“Don’t you think we’ve annoyed them enough for one day?” And
by we, Paris was actually referring to himself, since it had been his
idea to come here in the first place.
Jace rubbed their noses together in a gentle Eskimo kiss. “If they
didn’t want us here, they’d have said so. Besides, I suspect that all the
guests here have permission to go in certain areas of the coven.”
Paris supposed that made sense, but he still felt a bit anxious. He
didn’t want to offend the vampire elder more than he had.
“I just don’t get it. I thought your parents said they’d talk to
Yamamoto-sama.”
Before Paris and Jace had left, the Wades hadn’t been able to
reach the vampire elder. They had, however, contacted an assistant,
who’d assured them it was safe to come.
Jace hummed thoughtfully. “It’s probably hard to be organized
when so much stuff is happening. The guy my father talked to might
have forgotten.”
Somehow, Paris found that hard to believe. “I don’t know…It’s
just peculiar.”
“Tell you what. Let’s unpack, and then we’ll ask the servant if we
can look around and maybe talk to the elder later,” Jace suggested.
“One question can’t hurt. Besides, I really do want to explain that we
didn’t just come here without consulting my father.”
The Wolf Who Fought for His Soul Mate
43
Paris liked that option more. They could just wait here until the
vampire elder decided to call upon them. They weren’t children, and
hiding in their room was out of the question. Besides, they needed to
clarify the situation, because as it was, Paris didn’t think he had any
credibility in Kaname’s eyes.
“You’re right,” he told his mate with a smile. “We have to begin
this little adventure with something.”
“That’s the spirit.” Jace kissed his forehead with a tenderness that
made Paris’s heart ache. “Now come on. We need to get out of these
clothes. I feel filthy after that trip.”
From a purely practical perspective, Paris knew his lover was
correct. The plane ride had been close to hellish. As wolves, they
hated being confined, and the flight had essentially put them in the
position of hours spent among hundreds of other passengers, in a
limited space, with all sort of smells around them, and unable to move
around a lot. At the same time, though, Jace’s words conjured a
different image, of something else they could do after “getting out of
these clothes,” as Jace had so eloquently put it. He tried to suppress
his arousal before Jace could feel it, but of course, failed abysmally.
Jace gave him a heated look and licked his lips. “Maybe we
should take a shower together,” he murmured. “You know, to save the
water. We wouldn’t want our hosts to be upset about us hogging the
facilities.”
Paris muttered an affirmative reply that didn’t quite register in his
own mind. Jace smirked at him and started to disrobe. He took it
slow, as if putting on a show for Paris, first toeing off his shoes, then
undoing his shirt, one button at a time, with excruciating focus. In
fact, Paris didn’t doubt that Jace was indeed stripping for Paris’s
benefit. It certainly worked and had quite an effect on Paris. His
mouth watered as he watched his mate reveal all that delicious flesh.
He was so focused on keeping a close eye on his mate that he
forgot about getting rid of his own clothes. When Jace dumped his
pants, revealing an already hard-as-nails erection, Paris actually
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Scarlet Hyacinth
whimpered. He knew from proven experience just how good his mate
tasted and how addictive it felt to have Jace’s cock inside him. There
was nothing he wanted more in that moment than to be in Jace’s arms,
but he couldn’t move a muscle to take what he yearned for. He was
simply hypnotized by Jace’s sheer animal magnetism.
Thankfully, Jace took the lead and invaded Paris’s personal space.
He pressed his mouth to Paris’s in a devastating kiss, and just like
that, Paris broke out of his trance, losing himself to the passion that
burned white hot between him and Jace. Their tongues dueled in a
battle that Paris willingly surrendered. Paris was so focused on the
kiss that he didn’t realize his mate was taking off his shirt until Jace’s
hot hands caressed his skin. He practically jumped, making his mate
break the kiss and chuckle.
“I love it how you’re still so shy,” the other wolf said.
Paris frowned at him. “Don’t laugh at me. I was just startled.”
Jace brushed sweet kisses all over Paris’s face, making Paris’s
incipient frustration melt. “And I do enjoy startling you,” Jace
murmured.
That was quite true, and even if Paris pretended to be pissed, he
actually enjoyed Jace’s attentions. And God, did Jace know it. Even
now, he took advantage of Paris’s distraction to lift him in his arms.
He draped Paris over his shoulder like a sack of potatoes and crossed
the distance between them and the bed. Before Paris even realized
what was going on, his mate dumped him on the soft mattress.
Paris blinked up at Jace in a mix of anticipation and lust. Courtesy
of their bond, he could tell exactly what Jace had planned, and he
yearned for it. Fortunately, Jace didn’t leave him hanging for long. He
joined Paris on the bed and practically pounced on him. His hands
avidly worked at Paris’s clothing. While Paris would have loved to
help, he found that his trembling fingers prevented Jace’s progress
rather than aiding it, so he just stopped. To his glee, Jace didn’t need
his assistance. The time for playing games was gone, and Jace
stripped Paris with swift efficiency. He pulled off Paris’s boots and
The Wolf Who Fought for His Soul Mate
45
rolled off his socks, kissing Paris’s toes as he did so. Next went the
shirt, and Paris managed to help a little there, slipping his arms out of
the sleeves. As it landed on the floor next to the boots, Jace
progressed to Paris’s pants. Paris couldn’t help but sigh in relief as his
mate pulled his bottoms off, underwear included, thus releasing
Paris’s cock from its confines.
Jace smirked at him and licked his lips. “Look at you. Already so
hard for me.”
Paris might have urged his mate into less talking and more
fucking, but then, Jace swept his tongue over Paris’ prick, and Paris’s
thoughts dissolved into a blur of incoherent ideas. He just knew he
had to get his cock in the heat of Jace’s mouth, and preferably Jace’s
dick in his ass. He had no idea how he’d accomplish that, but right
then and there, logical impossibilities didn’t really register.
And then Jace took Paris’s cock in his mouth, and Paris’s mind
completely scattered. His mate was impossibly good at that. He took
Paris’s prick deep and did a strange corkscrew motion with his tongue
that seemed to be designed to break through every bit of Paris’s
control. Given the circumstances, it was no wonder that Paris lasted
an embarrassingly brief time. When Jace finally swallowed around
the head of Paris’s dick, Paris cried out and found his peak, filling his
mate’s mouth with his seed.
The orgasm almost made him black out, the pleasure Jace’s
skilled mouth had given him short-circuiting his brain. When he
began to recover, he looked up at his mate’s beautiful face. The
exhaustion of the day and the draining beauty of the orgasm left Paris
lax and dazed on the bed, but he remained aware that Jace hadn’t
come. “We never did take that shower,” he whispered.
Jace laughed. “It’s never too late.”
He took Paris in his arms and carried him to the bathroom that
was, unsurprisingly, as lavish as the rest of the quarters. There was a
huge shower cabin, but also a Jacuzzi that could have easily fitted five
people. Jace ran the water in the tub, holding Paris tightly to his chest
46
Scarlet Hyacinth
as he waited for the Jacuzzi to fill. Once he seemed satisfied, he
placed Paris inside.
As the hot water surrounded Paris in its liquid embrace, Paris’s
body relaxed even more. His mate slipped inside next to him, and
through their bond, Paris sensed Jace’s arousal still present. The heat
bubbling within Jace awoke Paris’s wolf once more, and he crawled
next to Jace, his anus aching with the need to be filled.
“It’s all right, sweetheart,” Jace said through their bond. “I’m
fine.”
By now, Paris had gotten used to Jace’s extreme protectiveness
and wasn’t fazed by the protest. He pressed his mouth to Jace’s in a
languorous kiss. “I want you inside me,” Paris replied, climbing in
Jace’s lap. “Don’t ever try to keep me from yourself. You’re what I
need.”
He felt the moment Jace’s resistance crumbled. Jace’s tongue
thrust in his mouth, taking possession of everything Paris was and had
ever been. The other wolf’s arousal nudged against Paris’s crease,
demanding attention. Paris gladly gave it, rubbing his ass against
Jace’s hard cock. Jace groaned in their kiss, a savage and at the same
time needy sound that echoed the desire within Paris.
Their bond overflowed with passion, and Paris wished he’d
remembered to unpack the lube. But as he looked around, he spotted
waterproof lubricant on the edge of the Jacuzzi. He was too pleased at
the discovery to feel embarrassed. These vampires really did think of
everything.
Jace snatched the bottle and opened it without even breaking the
kiss between them. There was some fumbling due to their reluctance
to be even one moment apart, but Jace seemed very skilled at
multitasking. Somehow, he managed to pour a generous amount of
fluid on his fingers. He reached behind Paris, teasing Paris’s hole with
two long fingers. Paris leaned into the caress, moaning as the digits
entered him. Even if he’d just come, the fire and the need burned
The Wolf Who Fought for His Soul Mate
47
through him once again. He moaned when his mate mercilessly
rubbed his prostate.
Enflamed by anticipation, Paris clutched Jace’s shoulders and
buried his fingernails in his mate’s flesh. “Please. Oh, God, please.
Fuck me, Jace.”
His cries echoed against the tiles of the bathroom walls as Jace
stretched him, preparing him for invasion. Paris was tired of
preparation and foreplay. He wanted to feel Jace’s cock pounding
deep within him, filling him up like only Jace could.
Fortunately, their new connection had more than one advantage.
Paris’s need fueled Jace’s, and the other werewolf at last removed his
fingers from Paris’s body. He used more lubricant to slick up his
cock. Paris honestly wished he could see what Jace was doing, but
even if the angle hadn’t been all wrong, he’d have probably been too
focused on Jace’s deep gaze to break eye contact. They were both
falling into a chasm of pleasure together, just like they had fallen in
love, and Paris never wanted to get out.
The blunt head of Jace’s erection nudged against Paris’s hole. In
one smooth thrust, Jace pushed in. Paris’s world disintegrated as the
heat of his mate’s erection scorched him from the inside out. He could
only hang on for the ride as Jace pounded him hard and fast.
God, it was good. It was exactly what he needed, in this foreign
land, among these foreign people who knew so little about him and
probably cared even less. Every hard shove sent sparks of sensual
energy all throughout him, and his entire body sizzled under Jace’s
wicked assault.
On and on it went, the two of them moving faster and faster in a
rhythm both addictive and familiar. Water sloshed around them,
cascading on the floor, caressing Paris’s oversensitized skin. His cock
rubbed against Jace’s naked stomach, the friction both maddening and
unsatisfying. Little explosions of pleasure burst through Paris,
building up, adding and pursuing another climax that threatened to
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Scarlet Hyacinth
shatter his mind. At the same time, Paris sensed Jace’s emotions
flooding him through their bond.
Paris couldn’t take it anymore. He’d have liked to prolong the
moment, but the ecstasy was too much, too perfect. He felt that he
would lose his mind if he didn’t come in the next five seconds. In his
perpetual need for Jace, he bit down on Jace’s throat.
Blood flooded Paris’s mouth, the very essence of Jace’s being
bursting on his taste buds. Instantly, rapture swelled inside him and
the pleasure that had been gathering exploded, Paris’s world melting
into a rainbow of colors. Their connection pulsed with thoughts,
emotions, and sensations, and as the climax rolled through Paris, Jace
came as well, filling Paris’s ass with streams of hot cum and doubling
the intensity of his orgasm.
In a way, Paris was surprised he even remembered to release his
hold on Jace. Sometimes, Jace bit him. Other times, Paris bit Jace. But
whatever the case, it always felt amazing, like they were no longer
separate people, but two halves of one entity. Alas, they couldn’t
cling to it forever, and after Paris licked the wound, he slumped
against his mate, enjoying the lingering pleasure until it started to fade
away.
All too soon, the water began to cool, alerting them they were
taking far too long. Jace groaned, finally slipping out of Paris’s ass.
He was still half hard, and Paris would have loved pleasuring him
again. Unfortunately, they couldn’t afford to lose themselves in their
passions. They still needed to get acquainted with their hosts. In the
end, Paris and Jace hadn’t come here for an exotic vacation. They’d
taken on a task, and they would not fail.
With twin sighs of regret, both men quickly cleaned up and left
the tub. Paris winced when he saw the state of the bathroom. The
floor had been flooded, and the tub was dirty, the remnants of their
seed floating over the surface of the water.
“I’ll clean up,” Jace offered. “You get some new clothes for us, so
that we can go exploring afterward.”
The Wolf Who Fought for His Soul Mate
49
That sounded like a great idea. Honestly, Paris didn’t feel
comfortable with having staff cleaning their mess, especially after a
sexual activity. The vampires had been so very hospitable so far, even
if the circumstances of Paris and Jace’s arrival were less than ideal. In
a sense, they had forced themselves on Kaname Yamamoto,
something which Paris realized was his own mistake. But he would
show the vampire elder that his heart had been in the right place. He
would help find his mother and prevent her from harming anyone
else.
With that in mind, Paris tackled the first task. He and Jace didn’t
have too many bags, so Paris quickly dealt with finding two outfits.
He put the rest of the clothing and apparel in the large wardrobe,
making a mental note to ask Reed and his father for a good place to
shop. It might have seemed trivial, but really, Paris didn’t want to
embarrass himself in front of the largest coven of vampires in the
world.
As Paris dressed, Jace emerged from the bathroom, still naked,
and Paris couldn’t help himself from scanning his mate from head to
toe. Jace was simply too gorgeous for words, and if it were up to
Paris, he’d spend the rest of his life just kissing those full lips, licking
those taut abs, and fucking himself on that long, thick cock.
“If you keep thinking that, Paris, we’ll never get out of this room,”
Jace said in a husky tone.
Paris laughed shakily, a bit uncomfortable at having been caught.
He loved his bond with Jace, loved how Jace always knew what he
needed. Even so, it sometimes made him uncomfortable that Jace
could hear his every thought and read his every weakness. In his
heart, Paris still couldn’t see himself as worthy of Jace’s affection. He
was afraid that Jace would soon realize that, too. “Sorry,” he said
quickly, trying to push aside the thoughts. “I’ll stop.”
The arousal in Jace’s gaze melted into concern. The other wolf
came to Paris’s side and brushed a brief kiss against Paris’s lips. As
they kissed, Jace’s voice slipped in Paris’s mind. “Hey. Don’t ever
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Scarlet Hyacinth
think stuff like that. You’re the best thing that ever happened to me.
You’re so beautiful, brave, and kind, and I fall in love with you more
every day. I don’t want to hear you ever thinking you don’t deserve
my feelings.”
It was so very intimate to talk like this, and to a certain extent,
Paris felt ashamed of his doubts. He realized all too well that Jace
loved him. Revisiting the emotions that had plagued him during his
stay with the Marrow pack didn’t help either of them. He needed to
let go of his misgivings, but it wasn’t easy, not when everything he’d
considered true had suddenly become false. Hell, he’d even found out
that Alpha Marrow had been the one to warn Jace’s father of Aria’s
plans.
Sometimes, everything seemed so chaotic, and Paris’s only anchor
was Jace. He was so afraid of losing the other wolf, so afraid that his
life would once more turn upside down, and this time, he would be
separated from the man he loved most.
“That won’t happen.” Jace broke the kiss, but still spoke in his
mind. “That won’t ever happen. We won’t ever be parted.”
“You don’t know that,” Paris answered out loud. “How can you?”
Jace caressed the side of Paris’s face. “I just do,” he replied. “I’m
your mate. We’ve found each other, and I won’t allow anyone,
anyone to tear us apart.”
Paris hated and loved his weakness and his need for reassurance.
He hated it, because he didn’t want to be a liability for anyone, and
loved it, because, really, hearing Jace saying those words with such
certainty brought him a pleasure that was almost sexual.
Jace snickered. “I’m glad I can please you.” He snatched a pair of
pants Paris had prepared from the bed and pulled them on without
bothering with underwear. “As much as I’d love to explore that, it’s
time for us to go.”
They finished dressing in silence, although Paris couldn’t help but
notice that it took them far longer than it should have. Then again,
who could blame them if they brushed against each other from time to
The Wolf Who Fought for His Soul Mate
51
time? Who could blame them if they stopped in the middle of
buttoning their shirts to kiss or caress the patches of skin still left
exposed? They were recently mated, and by rights, this should be a
honeymoon trip of sorts. Instead, they were getting acquainted with
people outside their own species, who may or may not be hostile to
them, while hunting down Paris’s mother. It wasn’t exactly ideal, but
Paris could brave anything that came his way as long as he had Jace
by his side.
When they were at last ready, they slipped out of the room,
looking around to see if there was anyone they could ask.
Unsurprisingly, they spotted the servant who’d helped them before
waiting a short distance away, just far enough to give them privacy,
but still available for anything they needed.
“Could we talk to Yamamoto-sama?” Jace asked politely.
The servant bowed lowly. “Of course, Wade-san. He is waiting
for you. Right this way.”
Why didn’t it surprise Paris that Kaname expected them to seek
him out? The vampires seemed to have a system in place to anticipate
their guests’ every need. Paris wondered exactly how many surprises
waited for them there.
* * * *
“Ah, my new guests.” Kaname Yamamoto waved them forward,
the perfect picture of absolute hospitality. “Please, sit, sit.”
Unlike before, they hadn’t been taken into Kaname’s private
office, but rather, into a larger room filled with various members of
the coven. Reed and Anson were also there, seated next to the
vampire elder. They were in a sort of nest of comfortable pillows
thrown over tatami mats, a low table with various drinks in front of
them.
Jace and Paris obeyed Kaname’s instructions, and Jace wondered
how in the world they were going to approach Kaname about the
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Scarlet Hyacinth
issues on his and his mate’s mind with so many people around. Even
more surprisingly, there seemed to be a stage of sorts in the middle.
Currently, it was empty, but Jace would bet that the situation might
change soon.
The vampire elder smiled at him, and Jace wondered if Kaname
could read his mind. “You’re just in time,” he said. “The show is just
about to begin.”
The show? What show? Jace hadn’t really come here for
entertainment, but he couldn’t deny his host, so he stood back and
relaxed, insofar as he could, at least. Paris gave him an uncomfortable
look, also glancing toward Reed and Anson, seeking an answer there.
When the older wolf and the swan looked just as puzzled, they could
do nothing but wait and see what happened.
Finally, a group of men and women entered the stage. Some
carried instruments, and all were dressed in traditional Japanese garbs.
The hairstyles and makeup resembled those of geishas, although there
were some differences strong enough to note but with a certain
subtlety that prevented Jace from pinpointing them exactly.
A small number of the new arrivals, both male and female, slipped
through the room, zeroing in on certain areas. A man and a woman
made their way to Kaname’s table, therefore ending up in Jace’s
proximity. The female sat next to Kaname, her posture impeccable
and demure. She seemed ready to serve him at any time. Meanwhile,
the man seemed somewhat more approachable and less shy, smiling
and offering Jace some sake.
Not wanting to be rude, Jace took a sake cup the man gave him
and took a small sip. The alcohol burned through his system, stronger
than anything he’d ever had. However, shifters were notoriously good
at resisting the effects of any type of beverage or hallucinogen that
had the potential of clouding the senses. Jace continued to drink, all
the while keeping a close eye on the stage.
The rest of the group was now gathered in a semicircle, with two
women kneeling and holding shamisens, presumably ready to play.
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53
The other girls were waiting, also on their knees, while the men stood
farther back, large drums in front of them.
At a sign from Kaname, the performance started. The clear voices
of the singers rang out through the room with a soothing quality,
startling Jace. They plucked the chords of the instruments with nimble
fingers, and the resulting melody was gentle, almost sad, with a sort
of hypnotizing effect.
The other women got up as one being. They moved slowly and
gracefully, their bodies swaying with the music like tree branches
with the wind. Jace had seen many dances, but this one had a
particular surreal quality, as if the dancers were reaching out to his
very soul. He squeezed Paris in his arms, the flow of the song making
him aware of just how much he loved the other wolf and how lucky
he’d been to find his mate. He realized why he was so affected by the
melody. Even if he didn’t understand all the words, the singers
crooned an ode to love, something Jace could truly empathize with.
Paris relaxed in his arms, watching the show with half-lidded
eyes. They’d been subconsciously stressed ever since they’d realized
their arrival hadn’t been communicated to Kaname, but the tension
drained out of them both as if the slow, whirling dance of the geishas
was coaxing him into a state of complete relaxation.
And then, all of a sudden, the slow melody stopped. A brief
moment of silence followed, during which Jace wondered if the
performance was over. But Jace didn’t have time to experience any
disappointment. The sound of powerful drums erupted, as powerful as
the emotional melody had been, but in a completely different way.
Where the shamisens had brought forth striking emotions, the rhythm
and the beat called out to the part of Jace that remained an animal.
More men appeared from the right, clad in skimpy black shorts. In
a blur of motion, the geishas loosened their hair and dropped their
kimonos. Jace was surprised as how quickly they moved, since
Japanese garbs weren’t exactly easy to get out of. Nevertheless, mere
seconds later, the lovely graceful ladies turned into enticing sirens.
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None of them were actually naked, but they could have been for all
the flimsy, transparent material of their current outfits covered.
A dance began, but it was nothing like that of the geishas. Women
and men came together, reaching out for each other, sometimes
touching, sometimes kissing, but never quite falling over the edge of
sensuality and into vulgarity. The dancers undulated over each other,
a new, more predatory grace guiding each step. With each beat of the
drum, Jace felt his own heart race faster, and even if he’d just come
earlier that day, he found himself getting hard again.
Paris climbed into his lap, grinding his ass slowly against Jace’s
cock. As they weren’t in private, Jace couldn’t do much else, but he
couldn’t resist stealing a kiss from Paris’s tempting lips.
He broke away from his mate just in time to catch sight of the
show’s ending. And what an ending it was. Lights flashed over the
stage, illuminating the contorting bodies as both the male and female
dancers swirled in a blur of color and bared flesh that would have
been impossible to follow for a normal human. The drum beat faster
and faster, and Jace imagined it followed the sound of thrusts pressing
into willing flesh. Paris clutched his hand, burying his fingers in
Jace’s shoulder, but unable to suppress a whimper. One more flash,
and then the drums stopped, the dancers fell, everything coming to a
complete halt.
Dim lights started to illuminate the room. The performers
smoothly got up, and the women gathered their abandoned kimonos.
Jace wanted to clap, but all his attention was focused on Paris, on how
warm his mate felt by his side, and how perfect they came together. It
was so easy to remember the delicious sensations of Paris’s ass
squeezing his cock. For fuck’s sake, Jace barely managed to prevent
himself from coming.
The vampires didn’t seem to have such scruples. As the dancers
disappeared off the stage, Jace caught sight of several groups of
people gathering together, kissing, grinding against each other,
already in the middle of foreplay.
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55
Fortunately, or unfortunately, Kaname got up and gestured for
Jace, Paris, Reed, and Anson to come with him. The entertainers
gathered around them seemed somewhat disgruntled but didn’t
question their elder. Instead, they focused their attention on the
clusters of vampires now releasing the sexual tension that had
accumulated during the dance.
Kaname left the room, leading the four shifters out. “And how did
you enjoy the show?” he inquired in a tone that suggested he knew
exactly what Jace, and probably everyone else, had been thinking and
feeling during the dance.
“It was amazing,” Reed replied breathlessly.
“A very unexpected combination,” Anson offered, sounding
somewhat more controlled than his mate. But then, Anson had a lot of
experience in keeping his instincts in check.
“Vampires are a sensual race,” Kaname explained. “We also
appreciate the traditions of each country that hosts our covens. For
that reason, we mingled elements of our cultures into something that
suited us.”
“It was very beautiful,” Paris said at last. “Both sections of the
show. Please, transmit our compliments to the performers.”
“Thank you. I will.” They entered an empty room that seemed
strikingly sedate given where they just been. The couches and
armchairs suggested it might be a receiving area of sorts, and Jace
was not surprised when Kaname once more indicated they should sit
down.
“I would very much like to allow you to enjoy the aftermath of the
show,” he said with a grin, “but I believe you’re not ready for it quite
yet.” The seductive smirk melted into a more serious expression. “Not
only that, but we also have some business to take care of. I contacted
Alpha Soren Wade. He tells me he left a message with one of my
assistants. I’m afraid I received nothing of the sort.”
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“We gathered that much,” Jace replied, swiftly burying his arousal
into a distant corner of his mind. “We meant to explain now since we
never had the chance when we arrived.”
“Soren let you come here?” Anson inquired. “Just how bad are
things at home?”
The implication was that Soren might not have allowed them to
contribute had pack members not been against Paris. While that might
have been, to a certain extent, true, Paris bristled. “I came here to
help, Dad, not because I couldn’t face the pack.”
“I know. I’m sorry, Paris,” Anson immediately apologized. “I’m
just concerned for you.”
Paris nodded, even if he didn’t seem fully pacified. “I can’t
exactly clarify things with the vampire elder here,” he told Jace
through their bond. “I’m just so frustrated, Jace. I do appreciate his
affection, but it feels like he, and everyone else for that matter,
considers me incapable of helping and fixing my mistakes.”
“First of all, sweetheart, they’re not actually your mistakes.”
He’d said this countless times before, but he would not let up until
Paris truly understood it. “Second, you have to understand Anson just
wants to protect you. He didn’t expect to have a son, and he was
already deprived of watching you grow up. I gather he’s also
frustrated because he might have never left had he realized that pack
members will take everything out on you.”
Paris took his hand and entwined their fingers together. “It’s
okay,” he told his father. “It’s been a hard time for all of us. But I still
think we can work together to achieve our goals.”
“Well said,” Kaname replied. “I admit I am a touch concerned
regarding the absence of this message. I’m afraid that, even if I have
actively encouraged an attitude of openness toward shifters, not
everyone here appreciates my new policies.” The look in his eye
made Jace wonder who would be crazy enough to go against Kaname
for something as stupid as a phone call. “In some ways, I’m a very
The Wolf Who Fought for His Soul Mate
57
traditional man, and I like others to respect certain rules. I assume that
this person is aware of my habits and decided to sabotage you.”
“Then you know who it might be?”
Kaname smiled sweetly, although his gaze remained cold. “Don’t
worry about that. There aren’t many people in my coven who’d do
something so reckless.”
Jace would bet money that whoever had interfered with the
relations between vampires and shifters might be someone close to
the vampire elder. After all, who would risk Kaname’s displeasure
without having the certainty that they could get out of trouble if
needed?
Of course, Kaname didn’t seem to have any reason in telling them
anything further on the topic. “At any rate, now that we’ve established
your presence here, I’ve made a couple of arrangements. Wade-san,
I’ve mentioned your arrival to your brother. The four of you will go to
meet him and subsequently join the little task force we formed for the
purpose of finding the warlock.”
Jace couldn’t help but be excited at the thought of seeing his twin
brother once again. He’d missed Derek a lot. They’d always been
close, both to each other and to their sister, and they shared a bond
that Jace could only compare to that with Paris. These past few
months, Derek had been away a lot, and while Jace had told him
about his feeling for Paris, he also wanted to share the latest news, to
explain all the emotions that coursed through him whenever he was
with his mate.
A small wave of sadness swept through Paris, and Jace recalled
that his mate had siblings of his own, brothers and sisters he’d been
forced to leave behind upon abandoning the Marrow pack. “You’ll see
them again,” he promised. “As soon as we find Aria, we’ll look them
up.”
He’d caught a brief glimpse of the Marrow siblings through
Paris’s thoughts and memories, and he didn’t think they hated Paris.
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Most likely, they had been taking their cues from Aria and their
father, but they still had time to fix things.
“I hope so,” Paris whispered through their bond. Out loud, he
said, “Thank you, Yamamoto-sama. You’ve been very generous and
hospitable.”
“It was my pleasure to have you here,” the vampire elder replied,
eyeing Paris with interest. “Perhaps in different circumstances, you
could visit again and fully enjoy the perks of being my guest.”
The only thing that kept Jace from growling was the knowledge
that this flirtation truly meant very little. Kaname didn’t represent any
kind of threat for Jace’s relationship with Paris. In fact, his behavior
seemed to be typical to vampires, who were naturally sensual and
unashamed to show it. In spite of his possessiveness, Jace reigned in
his impulses. He had been taught to respect cultural differences, and
he would do so now.
“It would be an honor,” Paris replied smoothly. “When are we
supposed to go?”
As Paris spoke, Jace realized his mate felt a little excited, too.
He’d only spoken with Derek a couple of times, and he wanted to see
the person who meant so much to Jace. Even among all the
depressing, distressing, chaotic, and sometimes so very amazing
changes in their lives, the truth was that Paris and Jace wanted to
know each other even more than they already did through the normal,
slow way.
This time, Kaname seemed oblivious to just how much this
meeting would mean to Paris. “Tomorrow morning,” he replied. “It
will give you some time to rest, recover, and well”—he smirked
knowingly—“relieve some of the pressure of your position.”
Jace thought that relieving pressure sounded like an excellent
idea. With a brief, polite good-bye, Kaname took his leave. Servants
were already waiting to take the four of them back to their rooms, or
alternatively, the area where the show had taken place, should they
desire it. In the end, all four of them decided to retreat to their own
The Wolf Who Fought for His Soul Mate
59
quarters. As much as they’d enjoyed the sensual dances of the
vampires, there was nothing like spending time alone with his mate,
making love. The following hours were spent in a flurry of passion,
desperate, wanton kisses, and bodies writhing and grinding against
each other. When Paris and Jace at last fell asleep, they were
exhausted, sweaty, covered in semen, and feeling more optimistic
about the entire situation than they’d been in a long time.
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Chapter Three
The next day, Jace, Paris, Reed, and Anson were driven to
Ōkuma, in the Fukushima Prefecture. Jace had not known exactly
what clues his brother was following. Perhaps if he had, he’d have
been more reluctant regarding his plan to bring Paris here. After all,
no one was eager to take his mate to the location of a severe nuclear
disaster.
They had been assured that, at this point, the lingering traces of
radiation poisoning could barely harm humans, let alone shape-
shifters. It would be perfectly safe for them to stay inside the city and
even venture beyond, closer to the power plant. However, once they
reached the destination, Jace could tell something was different.
Kaname’s staff had taken them to a small house at the very edge
of the town. As he got out of the car, Jace scented the air, and it
seemed to carry a peculiar weight he couldn’t detect in other areas. It
didn’t feel right, making him restless for no particular reason.
Thankfully, his concerns were at least in part swept aside when a
familiar figure headed his way. Derek hugged him tightly, and Jace
embraced his brother back. “I was wondering when you’d finally
show up,” he said. “I missed you.”
“So did I.” They broke apart, and Jace ushered Paris closer. “You
remember Paris, my mate?”
Impossibly, Derek’s expression grew even brighter. “So you
finally took the leap, huh? That’s great. Congratulations to both of
you.”
Paris smiled shyly. “Thank you,” he replied. “I’m very happy that
we found each other.”
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61
Truth be told, Derek had been surprised when Jace had first told
him he wanted to wait before mating Paris. Jace tended to go with his
impulses, so it wasn’t really a shock that he hadn’t succeeded in
sticking to his resolve for too long. The knowing smile on Derek’s
face would have irritated Jace had it come from anyone else.
At any rate, they hadn’t come here to talk about himself and his
mate. Paris might be his favorite subject of conversation, but Jace
would have to wait a little before he could tell his brother all about his
relationship with Paris. Their first priority right now was to get
acquainted with the task force meant to find Tyrell and Aria. Jace had
many questions, the first of which being why in the world Derek had
come to a town in an area that had been involved in a nuclear
accident.
As if guessing his thoughts, Derek thanked Kaname’s staff,
politely dismissing them. During the brief conversation, the vampires
had unloaded the luggage Jace and his companions had brought. A
couple of quiet servants appeared, whisking the bags away, while
Kaname’s people got back inside their cars and drove off. Once they
were gone, Derek gestured Jace and the others into the house. “Come
in. We have a lot to talk about.”
The five shifters entered the building, with Derek leading the way.
It was constructed in a traditional Japanese style, something Jace was
growing to admire more and more. Derek pushed open a sliding door,
revealing two people sitting together on a tatami mat.
A man Jace had never met was rubbing his temples, as if plagued
by a migraine he couldn’t escape. Rhys Whitaker watched over him,
his entire demeanor screaming concern.
Both men looked up when Derek stepped into the room. “Oh,
good,” the stranger said with a smile. “They’re here.”
He got up, ignoring Rhys’s efforts to help him. “I’m Noah Hall.
Thank you for your kind offers to help.”
Noah Hall. The warlock’s son, and the same one who had helped
rescue Jace’s uncles from imminent death. “No, thank you,” he
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replied. “You jumped to our aid even if we were only strangers to
you.” Remembering the man probably had no idea who he was, he
quickly introduced himself, “I’m Jace, Derek’s brother, and this is my
mate, Paris.”
“It’s a pleasure to meet you both. I suspected you must be Derek’s
brother. The resemblance is quite impressive.” The warlock turned his
attention toward. “Paris. You’re Aria’s son.”
Jace felt apprehension flow through his mate. Paris didn’t want to
be judged by what his mother had done, and too many people already
put him in that position.
“I am,” he replied. “I want to help you find her.”
“You have my thanks.” A small, weak smile. “Believe me, I
understand how hard it must be for you. I appreciate your courage.”
Paris’s anxiety turned to surprise. Jace supposed he shouldn’t
really be shocked at this development. After all, Noah would be the
first one to understand that a child shouldn’t have to pay for his
parents’ sins.
Anson greeted Noah and Rhys as well, introducing Reed to the
warlock. Noah congratulated Anson on his mating. Jace recalled that
the duo had met briefly during the first expedition to find Tyrell, the
same one which had nearly killed Derek and Jace’s uncles, Brody and
Isaac.
“Now that we have the formalities out of the way,” Derek piped
up, “we should get to the matter at hand. We have some other people
here who are helping us, but most of them are vampires and are
sleeping now. Until then, we’ll inform you a little on what’s been
going on, if that’s all right with you.”
“That would be perfect,” Anson said. The older wolf seemed even
more eager than Jace to catch their enemies, which was
understandable given the circumstances.
Noah sat back down, and Jace noted the increasing strain on his
face. Derek and Rhys took over the conversation. “We’ve reached the
conclusion that Tyrell Hall might be here due to the lingering energies
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63
in the area,” Rhys said. “Preliminary investigation at the power plant
told us that we might be on the right track, but it’s very difficult to
pursue it further.”
“While most of the damage from the nuclear emissions has
dwindled by now, magical beings, especially witches, are influenced
by it,” Derek added.
That explained the obvious difficulties Noah seemed to have for
no apparent reason. “But if it’s hard for you to be here, wouldn’t the
same thing apply to Tyrell?” he asked the warlock.
“The energy in itself isn’t painful,” Noah replied. “It is, first and
foremost, a fuel. But as its core is unstable and dangerous, it isn’t
recommended for anyone with strong magical abilities of our
alignment to use it. I expect my father couldn’t care less about reason.
He’s probably thrilled about the potentially destructive
consequences.”
Paris hummed thoughtfully. “So, you’re certain that he came
here?” When Noah nodded, Paris continued, “But at this point, he
must have left, right? Why stay in this area?”
“I don’t know if he got what he was looking for,” Noah replied
tightly. “I can’t be inside the power plant without feeling like my
mind will explode. If not for Rhys…” He shook his head, as if
discarding what he’d meant to say. “But we can’t go yet. We don’t
know in what direction we should be heading.”
Jace could easily understand their predicament, especially since
they didn’t have any further clues. His mind whirled as he sought
solutions, a blur of Paris’s busy thoughts lingering at the edge of his
consciousness.
“I’ll try once again today,” Noah said at last. “But even if I
succeed, it’s likely that we won’t know where he went.”
“Not necessarily,” Paris replied. “Just the fact that he came here
tells us something very important. What is he looking for? More
power. His magic was already very strong. Why did he need this
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boost? And why do so after he allied himself with my mother? There
has to be a connection.”
Noah blinked at him, as if considering the words. “Tyrell is
always trying to find more and more power. I’m not sure if it’s
necessarily linked to her.”
“I don’t know,” Reed offered. “If he’d wanted to tap into it, he
would have done so before releasing Aria.”
“There’s one thing that’s certain,” Anson said. “Tyrell hates
shifters. He thinks we are weak, enslaved by our emotions. Like many
others, he blames us for the fact that humans are now aware of the
existence of paranormal beings. He wants to eliminate us. And yet, he
freed Aria from her imprisonment. It all comes down to why he did
that.”
“Aria is anything but weak,” Paris said. Through their bond, Jace
caught flashes of memory as the other wolf remembered distant
episodes from the past. “She wouldn’t have minded killing me if it
meant furthering her own ambitions. She’s always pursued her own
purposes at the expense of others. I lied to myself for a very long
time, trying to believe that she meant well, but the truth is that she is
ruthless.”
“Tyrell would respect that, to a certain extent,” Noah mused. “He
is the same way, and she would be an asset since she knows all there
is to know about the shape-shifter world. As I understand it, she was
the wife of an Alpha, so she has information regarding the inner
workings of your people. Many of the people in our coven are loyal to
him, but they lack the ruthlessness you mentioned. He would want—”
Noah’s eyes suddenly widened in realization. For a few seconds, he
hesitated, as if afraid to speak, to share whatever idea he had come up
with.
Jace needed to know what was on his mind. “What is it?” he
asked. “What would Tyrell want to do in these circumstances?”
“He went to a lot of trouble for Aria,” Noah replied. “He wouldn’t
do it if he didn’t have an important plan in place involving her. Even
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65
so, she is still a shifter, something he cannot and does not like.
Therefore, he might attempt to give her some magical abilities of her
own.”
Jace gaped at Noah. “But that’s not possible, is it? We’re shifters.
We were born this way, and we’ll die this way. We can’t just change
what we are.”
Noah shared a look with Rhys, and Jace noted the incubus’s grim
look. Out of all of Jace’s close acquaintances, Rhys knew most about
Tyrell. He had gone on a mission to find the warlock’s whereabouts
and had nearly been killed in the process. Jace was awed at the extent
of the incubus’s dedication, and at his fearlessness. To a certain
extent, it made him aware of how serious the situation must be, for
Rhys to look so put out.
“Have you heard of the concept of familiar?” Rhys inquired.
“Of course,” Reed replied, sounding puzzled. “It’s in all the
legends and stories regarding witches. They’re spirit companions that
can often appear in the guise of animals.”
“Many witches attempted to summon various creatures for their
own purposes,” Noah explained. “Naturally, some of the darker
beings didn’t take kindly to being bound to a master. As such, another
solution came up. It was suggested to conjure actual animals, but the
idea was discarded, as having a mere pet cat wasn’t what witches
were looking for. They…We needed creatures of intelligence, but that
would bend to our will.”
Noah seemed to be having some trouble in placing himself in the
same category as his father or others of his kind, something that
reassured Jace. However, he was increasingly unsettled by what the
young warlock was saying. “You mean witches can enslave shifters?
But if they’d had that ability, wouldn’t they have done it to more of
us?”
“To answer your question, yes, shifters can be made into
familiars. The shifter in question needs to agree, though, and must
have a propensity toward whatever goals the witch might have,” Noah
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explained. “There is a contract of sorts between the two, an exchange
of power, which can only take place if both of them have powerful
incentive.”
“Well, Aria certainly has both those things,” Paris murmured. “So
how can we be certain if she did become his familiar?”
“I’ll need your assistance on that,” Noah replied. “If she was
indeed involved in a magical ceremony, it’s likely that your blood
connection with her can give us valuable clues.”
“Of course I’m willing to help,” Paris answered automatically.
“Whatever you need.”
Alarm bells rang in Jace’s mind. “Not so fast. It’s not dangerous,
is it?”
“Normally, no.” Noah grimaced, rubbing his temples once again.
“But the truth is, I don’t really know. Essentially, what I’d try to do is
use Paris’s genetic link with Aria to glimpse into her memories. But if
she is Tyrell’s familiar, they might feel us and strike back.”
“I’m not afraid,” Paris said, just like Jace had known he would.
He gave Jace a pleading look. “Don’t, Jace,” he sent through their
bond. “I really want to do this. I knew there must be some way I could
help, and I was right.”
“We could try something different,” Rhys suggested. “We could
go to the power plant and scan its energies.”
Noah nodded, looking a bit more enthusiastic. “That would be
perfect. It would tell us exactly what went on there.”
Derek cleared his throat. “For those of us who aren’t versatile in
magic, what would that entail? Isn’t it the same with what you
mentioned earlier?”
Noah shook his head. “It would be based on the same thing,
Paris’s genetic connection with his mother. However, instead of
actively reaching out to her, we’ll just go to the power plant and
attempt to catch a snapshot of the events that happened there. You
see, areas where spells take place maintain a residual energy. With the
lingering traces of the nuclear accident, I can’t really tell if it exists
The Wolf Who Fought for His Soul Mate
67
here, and I won’t be able to if Aria wasn’t actively involved in the
spell. But chances are that Tyrell did indeed plan to make her his
familiar, here at the plant, and they might have discussed something
we could use.”
“Are you up for it, though?” Rhys inquired, sounding concerned.
“I’ll be fine,” Noah replied. “This is the right thing to do. I can
feel it in my bones.”
Jace wasn’t so certain, but what could he do? They agreed to visit
the power plant that evening, once the vampires awoke. “For the
moment, it would be best for all of us to get some rest,” Rhys
suggested. “It’s going to be a long night.”
Personally, Jace wasn’t tired, and while he’d have loved to spend
some time in Paris’s sweet embrace, there were still many dilemmas
on his mind. Still, he knew the phrase didn’t truly refer to him, but
rather, to Noah, who would be the one who’d suffer most in this
complicated endeavor.
So, he let Noah and Rhys go, while the rest of them clustered
around Derek. Derek smiled knowingly. “Want a tour of the town?”
he asked.
“Thank you,” Reed replied, already seeming excited. “We’d love
a tour.”
For the next few hours, Jace just enjoyed the company of his
loved ones, as well as learning new things about a culture he wasn’t
familiar with. As they walked, Derek spoke in low, measured tones,
explaining how much the area had suffered. Neither Derek nor Jace
had been old enough at the time of the nuclear explosion to clearly
remember, but they had learned a lot of things about it, especially
since their father always wanted to make them understand the
importance of power and how it should be controlled. In spite of the
town’s tragic past, though, the locals were doing their best to rebuild,
seeking to create a brighter future for themselves and their families.
Apparently, the vampire coven led by Kaname Yamamoto was
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pouring funds into developing infrastructure and facilities to prevent
disasters like that one from happening.
Jace couldn’t help but note that whenever he spoke Kaname’s
name, Derek’s tone turned a bit huskier. It didn’t take him long to
realize Derek was completely infatuated with the vampire elder.
While he could understand the attraction, he felt concerned. He
respected Kaname, but so far, he’d gathered vampires led a life that
was in many ways dictated by the sensual demands of their bodies. If
Kaname was Derek’s mate, that could prove to be a problem. Not to
mention that Kaname had pointed out some vampires were still not
very fond of shifters.
“Maybe it’s just physical attraction,” Paris suggested through
their bond. “They don’t have to be mates to lust for each other.”
That was true, but Jace knew his brother well. When Derek was
attracted to someone, he rarely showed it. He was a very private
person, and he didn’t exteriorize his feelings like Jace and Mel did.
“You should talk to him,” Paris added. “I’m sure it’ll help.”
“I will, sweetheart,” Jace replied. “It’s probably nothing.”
But he didn’t truly believe it, and judging by Anson’s expression,
he suspected he wasn’t the only one who’d noticed. When they
returned to the house, Jace immediately cornered Derek in the first
free room he could find. Paris, Reed, and Anson gave them some
space, even if they did seem a bit concerned.
“All right,” Jace told his brother, “tell me everything. What
exactly is your relationship with Kaname Yamamoto?”
“What makes you think I have any personal relationship with
Yamamoto-sama?” Derek inquired with a scowl. “He’s a great man,
and I respect him. There’s nothing more to it than that.”
Jace eyed his twin in disbelief. He understood Derek’s need for
privacy, but they had always been so close. Derek had never outright
lied to him, or hidden important facts. “You don’t trust me,” he said,
unable to suppress the sadness in his tone. “I told you about Paris. I
told you everything, but you don’t trust me.”
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Derek gave him a helpless look, and Jace sighed. “It’s all right.
You’ll tell me when you’re ready. I won’t push you. But…Don’t lie,
okay? Just say you don’t want to talk about it or something like that.”
If anything could have made Jace more concerned, it was Derek’s
refusal to explain. Derek grimaced, obviously realizing that he’d hurt
Jace. “I’m sorry, Jace. It’s just…I don’t really understand it myself.
We truly don’t have a relationship. We haven’t even touched. And
yet, I’m so drawn to him, to everything he does. I can’t explain it, and
I don’t want to think about it. We’re too different, and he’s clearly not
interested.”
Even if Jace had thought something similar just a few minutes
back, he couldn’t help but encourage his brother. “Our dads are also
very different, and they’ve been together forever. Our friends found
their mates in the unlikeliest people imaginable. Maybe now is not the
right time, but who knows what will come in the future?”
Derek nodded, and while his expression remained almost
unchanged, Jace detected a barely perceivable change, a lightness of
heart. “You’re right, of course. There’s no point rushing into things.
We have other problems to worry about that now.”
While Jace hated disregarding his own brother as a secondary
priority, Derek had a point. Until Aria and Tyrell were caught, none
of them were safe and none of them could enjoy their matings. That
included Jace and Paris and everyone else they knew.
“Come on,” Jace told his brother. “We’ll get some rest like Noah
suggested, and tonight we’ll head out.”
“Let’s just hope your mate manages to do what we haven’t been
able to so far,” Derek replied. “If he doesn’t, we’re shit out of luck.”
* * * *
That night, five shifters, two magical creatures, and three
vampires snuck inside the Fukushima Daiichi power plant. The
vampires led the way, together with Derek. Reed, Anson, Jace, and
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Paris came after them, while Noah and Rhys flanked them,
presumably scanning the area for any magical activity.
Their precautions turned out to be largely useless, as there was no
sign of Tyrell. Humans still watched the area, but they were easy to
avoid. Paris was half relieved, half disappointed. However, he
couldn’t say it surprised him, since Derek had mentioned ahead of
time that he and others had been here before.
It was entirely possible that Paris’s presence wouldn’t change a
thing. Noah had pointed out that only if Aria was now Tyrell’s
familiar would this work. Knowing his mother, Paris was pretty sure
that she’d have been willing to go with whatever Tyrell had planned,
as long as she received power in return. But would they be able to
find some certainties here? If not, they would have to take the riskier
path, something which they all agreed should be avoided.
Once they were closer to the plant, Rhys and Noah took the lead
from the three vampires. Just being here clearly bothered Noah a lot,
but he didn’t shy away from it, and he didn’t hesitate. The only
evidence of how much it affected him was the fact that he held Rhys’s
hand the whole time, squeezing it so hard the knuckles went white.
They stopped in front of the third reactor unit. Paris couldn’t sense
anything different about this particular location. The entire area gave
him the creeps, the quiet, aging structures still holding far too many
memories of the disaster. He’d been aware of the power plant’s
history, but it had seemed something so very distant. Now, while
being here, his complaints seemed petty and insignificant compared to
what the inhabitants of the area had suffered.
“They’re not petty,” Jace said in his mind. “They’re just different.
You can’t compare personal problems caused by your family with a
nuclear disaster. Both things can ruin lives, but not in the same way.”
Paris supposed Jace was correct. He struggled to push the
thoughts out of his mind and focus on how much he cared about Jace.
His tendency of falling into self-pity had to go if he wanted to face his
mother. He wasn’t the same person he’d been. He had a real family
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71
now, people who loved him, a mate. He could take on anything, even
this awful place that sent shivers down his spine.
Steeling his resolve, Paris directed his attention toward Noah and
Rhys. The warlock had closed his eyes and seemed to be simply
inhaling the air around them. “What’s he doing?” Paris asked his
mate.
“I haven’t got a clue,” Jace replied. “Maybe trying to get a feel of
the energies in the area. I studied magical creatures some, but I put it
all on hold when this came up.”
Paris distantly remembered Jace and Derek had been students at
the United Paranormal Academy. His siblings had gone there, too,
and Paris had wanted to join. His mother had refused, arguing that his
adoptive father would never allow it. He should have realized it then,
understood that she was the one keeping him away from the affection
a pack normally provided. But even if he had, he’d have been unable
to do anything about it. He’d lacked the strength to even try. Now,
however, that had changed, and he was eager to show his mother that
she couldn’t always get her way. She needed to be punished for her
crimes.
In spite of his anxiousness and excitement, Paris waited patiently
while Noah and Rhys slowly moved around in front of him and the
rest of his companions. Well, Noah was moving. Rhys just stood
behind him, remaining close to the warlock’s side. Apparently, his
presence helped Noah.
Paris didn’t know how long it took Noah to get a feel of the
energies, like Jace had so eloquently put it. Finally, after what seemed
like forever, Noah opened his eyes. Moving with striking rapidity, he
drew a circle on the ground. Oddly enough, he didn’t actually have
chalk or anything like that. Instead, he seemed to be using the tips of
his fingers. Only, of course, Noah’s digits didn’t even have to touch
the surface he was creating the drawing on. Instead, a small bluish
glow emanated from his fingertips, leaving behind a clear azure
circle.
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Rhys stepped out of the way, allowing Noah to work. Once the
circle was complete, the warlock drew a pentagram in the middle and
several symbols in each of its corners. He seemed to be murmuring
incantations of sorts, but Paris couldn’t distinguish what was said.
The words appeared to be in a language he didn’t know.
At last, Noah got up and looked straight at Paris. He nodded,
beckoning Paris forward. Without hesitation, Paris stepped toward the
warlock. Jace didn’t release him, though, and advanced with him.
Immediately, Noah lifted a hand, stopping them before they could
reach the circle. “No, just Paris.”
Jace opened his mouth to protest, but Paris shook his head. It
made sense that Noah would only need Paris’s presence. After all,
Rhys had stepped away as well. If Paris understood this correctly,
Noah would be the one to cast this spell, and Paris would be its focus.
Other people would ruin it.
“I’m not sure about this, sweetheart,” Jace said, his anxiety
feeding into Paris’s heart. “I want to be with you.”
“You’re always with me, Jace,” Paris replied. “It’s okay. This is
what we came here for, remember?”
Jace still didn’t seem very sure, so Paris added, “Trust me. I’m
stronger than I look. Nothing can hurt me as long as we have our
bond.”
The words might have been said largely for Jace’s benefit, but
Paris found encouragement in them as well. He smiled at his lover,
and Jace’s resistance broke.
Paris felt how much it took out of his mate to let him go.
Nevertheless, Jace did so, releasing him and allowing him to move
forward. Paris joined Noah inside the pentagram and waited.
“So now what?” Paris asked, keeping his voice a low murmur.
“Give me your hand,” Noah replied. As Paris did so, he noticed
with some trepidation that the warlock’s fingers were still glowing.
He didn’t pull away, though. He was probably just being ridiculous.
Magic might be dangerous, but this was Noah. Even if Paris barely
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73
knew him, he’d heard about what Noah had done and respected him
greatly for it. This would be perfectly safe.
He was so convinced of it that he hissed when the blue light
slashed a long cut in his palm. Jace shot forward, ready to jump to
Paris’s defense. Once more, Noah stopped him. “It’s okay. Normally,
it’s not recommended for anyone to willingly give their blood for any
spell since other witches can and will use it against you. I wouldn’t do
that, though. Once we’re done here, I’ll clear all traces of your blood,
just in case.”
“I believe you,” Paris said out loud. Just for Jace, he added, “Let
him work. I’m not made out of porcelain. It’s just a scratch.”
Jace clenched his fists and gritted his teeth, his body as tense as a
bowstring. Paris sent waves of love through their bond, wishing he
could do more to reassure his mate.
“We’re just being silly,” Jace whispered in his mind. “Like you
said, it’s only a scratch.”
Paris met Noah’s eyes and nodded. “All right. What next?”
“Close your eyes and relax,” the warlock replied. As Paris
complied, Noah gave him further instructions. “Count with me.
Ten…Nine…Eight…”
Noah’s voice droned on, and Paris found himself drifting, drifting,
until Noah’s words became a dim echo. Oddly enough, Noah seemed
to be speaking to him at a different level, too. Paris was somehow
aware that his ears weren’t processing any further messages other
than the countdown, but a string of incantations filled his mind,
flowing over him, threatening to overcome him. If not for his bond
with Jace, he would have been scared. As it was, he relaxed and
accepted Noah’s power.
At first, Paris thought he could manage, that he would be able to
open himself to the magic without losing his will to it. But then, all of
a sudden, energy exploded within him. A tidal wave of strange
thoughts, emotions, images, and incomprehensible flashes of reality
swept over his mind. Paris’s eyes shot open, but he seemed blind to
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everything around him. His vision was filled with things that had
happened a long time ago. And this place…This place had so much
history. Laden with pain, the ground ached to tell its story to anyone
who would listen. Paris wanted to scream, but the agony coursing
over him wasn’t physical. It went beyond what his body could process
and delved deep into the caverns of his soul.
And then, Paris sensed Jace. He could almost see his mate with
his mind’s eye, reaching out to him. Finding an anchor in Jace’s
strength, Paris struggled to grasp what the magic was trying to tell
him. He didn’t have to know every single memory that had become
imprinted in this particular spot. They just needed the one that
involved Aria and Tyrell.
As new understanding flooded him, Noah’s presence started to
guide him. In the beginning, it felt somewhat clumsy and awkward,
but then it became clearer, like a beacon steadying itself and lighting
the way through a chaotic maze. Paris’s mind finally began to discard
the incoherent messages, and a crystal-clear image formed.
* * * *
Aria watched her new employer with a degree of apprehension.
He was working on creating a pentagram using nothing but his hand.
It was quite interesting to watch. He was simply rotating his finger,
and the line appeared wherever he willed it to.
It should have looked awkward, since he was in a wheelchair. In
fact, given his current condition, he should have seemed small and
defenseless. But even if Tyrell was paralyzed from the waist down,
unable to fix his body through any sort of magic or medical
procedure, he remained as dangerous as ever.
To a certain extent, Aria had been surprised when she’d met
Tyrell. She had first seen a handicapped child that would probably be
powerless in any serious battle. But he had quickly shown her that it
was not the case. Tyrell’s current form had been injured during an
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75
attack on Isaac Wade, but his real power lay within his magic, and
those abilities were just as potent as before.
“What exactly does this spell do again?” she asked.
Tyrell looked at her, his old, wicked eyes seeming out of place in
his young face. “It will give you some of my magic,” he replied, “and
create a thread of connection between us. With you as my familiar, we
will be able to unify our strengths against our common foes.”
Turning his attention back to the pentagram, he continued to draw
the glowing image. Aria didn’t get the impression that he was pissed
at her for asking, so she dared another question. “So I’ll have
powers?”
“Yes,” Tyrell replied, this time not looking away from his work.
“Essentially, if, or rather, when you face the Wades, they won’t be
able to shackle you or immobilize you using that silver-based drug.
You’ll have that strength I imbued you with, permanently.”
Oh, Aria liked that idea. As a shifter, she was naturally wary of
magic, but Tyrell Hall had helped her escape her imprisonment. She
owed him. However, it wasn’t gratitude that urged her to stay by his
side, but the real knowledge of his power. He was dangerous, and he
could hurt her if she tried to double-cross him, but as long as she was
agreeable, she could use him. Much like she had with her former
husband, really. It would just take some adapting and cautious
maneuvering. She had to be more careful this time, and not get too
ambitious. He would share some of his magic with her, but she was no
fool. She knew it would have a price. But even if she’d wanted to
refuse him, it wouldn’t have been smart. At the moment, he was her
only ally, and a very valuable one.
Aria remained silent, now excited about the prospect of her new
abilities. She scanned the faces of the people around them, silently
wondering what they all thought. They hadn’t all been pleased at her
appearance, but from what she’d noticed, most of them feared Tyrell
too much to oppose him. Tonight was no different, and while several
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men and women seemed uncomfortable, only one person spoke up. A
woman.
“Are you sure about this, my love?” she asked.
Tabitha was Tyrell’s wife from his previous life. She hated Aria
with a passion, most likely because she realized that she herself was
obsolete. The only thing she’d probably been able to offer to Tyrell
was sex and perhaps companionship. With Tyrell becoming a child,
sex was out of the question, and now Aria had swooped in to take the
only thing that remained.
“It’s not that I don’t trust you,” she insisted, “but Aria is a
shifter.”
“I know,” Tyrell replied in an irritated voice. “That’s exactly the
point.”
Aria hid a smile. Truly, she was much better as a companion for
Tyrell than Tabitha could ever be. The witch was weak, fixed on
emotions that meant nothing. Tyrell and Aria understood each other.
And should there come a time when sexual entertainment was
required, perhaps once Tyrell got another body, Aria didn’t have a
problem with providing the necessary service.
Perhaps Tabitha knew this as well, as, in spite of Tyrell’s obvious
annoyance, she continued to insist. In a way, Aria was surprised.
Surely, Tabitha must realize by now that disobeying Tyrell wasn’t the
way to draw his attention, at least not in a favorable way.
Aria mentally counted to ten, and inwardly smirked when, right on
cue, an invisible power struck Tabitha, sending her flying several feet
away. The rest of the warlocks and witches seemed torn between
running to her aid and sticking to their spots so that they wouldn’t
draw Tyrell’s wrath upon them. With a dismissive wave, Tyrell
wordlessly allowed them to tend to the now-unconscious Tabitha.
Aria would have preferred for Tyrell to kill the whore, but she
understood his point. He was merely disciplining his coven. If they
went around killing their people, they wouldn’t have the hands they
needed when the time came for the confrontation with the shifters.
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77
Either way, Aria had more important things to worry about than
Tabitha. Tyrell gestured for her to kneel in the center of the
pentagram. A small hand landed on her head as Tyrell spoke words in
a language she didn’t understand. She began to grow dizzy, hot,
unable to draw air in her lungs. Her wolf snarled, trying to pull away
from the foreign power invading her. Aria loved the shifter part of
her, but now, that wildness and impulsiveness was becoming a
detriment to her progress. She leashed her beast, opening her mind to
Tyrell.
A few seconds passed while pure flame seemed to engulf her. It
hurt, but Tyrell was relentless. At this point, Aria could no longer pull
away, so she desperately wished for it to be over soon. She felt as if a
drill were piercing her skull, burying itself inside her brain. She
thought that any moment now, her heart might burst out of her chest
to land at Tyrell’s feet in a bloody lump.
None of that happened. Instead, something seemed to click inside
her. The wolf howled in protest, but began to quiet down when she
realized there was no way out. And then, Aria became aware of
something new inside her, a new, amazing power. Tyrell had given
Aria what he’d promised.
At last, the warlock released her, and Aria got up on shaky legs.
Oddly enough, she felt both as weak as a newborn pup and as
powerful as a goddess. The conflicting sensations confused her,
leaving her dizzy and, to a certain extent, annoyed.
“It’ll settle soon,” Tyrell explained. “You just need to get used to
it.”
Indeed, as she listened to him speak, Aria already found her vision
clearing and her body accepting some of her new power. “So what
now?”
Tyrell rubbed his hands together in a gesture that looked very odd
on a child. “Now, we strike. Winter Tomacelli won’t even know what
hit him.”
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Aria nodded, feeling quite pleased with the plan. Everyone
expected Tyrell to strike at some of the other shifters in Japan, or
perhaps the Wades, who had been his first target. Sidhe prince Winter
had left with his mate, Corbin, and probably considered himself to be
safe in his haven.
But Tyrell didn’t take kindly to having his plans thwarted. He had
wanted Isaac Wade to kill Winter’s baby, and when Isaac had failed
to do so, he’d decided on a new idea.
Tyrell squeezed the armrests of his wheelchair and smirked. “It
will be perfect. I will leave this flawed body behind and replace the
soul of Winter’s offspring. They’ll never be able to tell the
difference.” His voice appeared in her mind. “It will be your task to
anchor me while I am trapped as a fetus, and then as a baby. Our lives
are bound starting now, so it would behoove you to take this
responsibility seriously.”
Aria suppressed a frown. He hadn’t mentioned that before. So if
he died, she died?
Tyrell chuckled and nodded, having obviously heard her thought.
“Yes, my dear familiar. That’s exactly it. But I trust you are very
resourceful and you can handle it with no problems.”
Doubt plagued Aria, but she fought to push it back, knowing that
he would feel it. Had it been worth it? Had it been worth it to leash
her wolf and put her life on the line for this power? Either way, it was
too late for regrets. She’d chosen her path, and she would follow it,
wherever it might take her.
“I will,” she replied. Remembering the details of the plan, she
couldn’t help a smile. “And I will laugh when the heir of the Sidhe
people starts destroying his own family, and the rest of the world.”
* * * *
Jace held onto his mate, desperately seeking to grasp what the
other wolf saw, to find a way to comfort Paris. He caught a few
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79
glimpses, images that didn’t really make sense on their own, but the
vision that had been induced by Noah’s spell seemed to have been
aimed strictly at Paris. While Jace sensed Paris’s anxiety, he could do
very little about it.
His mate trembled in his arms, murmuring incomprehensible
words under his breath. At one point, Paris’s body went rigid,
spasming, biting his lip so hard he bled. The circle of magic around
them had stopped glowing, but all the light appeared to have been
infused in Paris’s skin. He was hot, feverish, and Jace feared for him.
“Someone help me,” Jace called out. “I don’t know what to do.”
Anson, Reed, and Derek were by his side, helping him pin down
Paris and make sure the other wolf didn’t hurt himself. Jace sought
out Noah, and to his shock, he saw the warlock standing in the same
place he’d been, his posture rigid, staring into space as if he couldn’t
see what was happening to Paris at all.
“Noah!” Jace shouted. “Give me a hand. What the hell did you
do?”
The warlock didn’t answer, and neither did Rhys, who was
watching Noah closely. Before Jace could fall further into despair and
anger, Paris’s erratic motions stopped. Slowly, he cracked his eyes
open.
“Jace?” he croaked out. “Are you okay?”
Jace would have laughed had he not wanted to cry. “Am I okay?
You blacked out, sweetheart. You were seizing.”
Paris licked his lips, frowning and clutching Jace’s arm. “I had a
vision,” he said. His eyes widened and information processed through
Paris’s mind. “We have to go. We have to warn them.”
Just as Paris spoke, Jace managed to catch a few of his mate’s
thoughts. “Winter? What in the world? That can’t be.”
“I know what I saw, Jace,” Paris answered. He struggled to get up,
the urgency and fear he felt for his friends giving him a strength that
surprised Jace.
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Anson reached for Paris, giving him an earnest look. “What did
you see, son? And more importantly, are you okay?”
“I’m fine,” Paris replied steadily. “I saw Aria becoming his
familiar.” He looked toward Rhys and Noah, and Jace followed his
gaze, only to see Noah coming to as well.
“Tyrell is insane,” Noah said. His voice was rough, like
sandpaper, as if he’d screamed a lot and gone hoarse. “He wants to
sneak in on Sidhe land and transfer his soul within the child of Prince
Winter.”
“He’s in a wheelchair,” Paris added. “He said that he needed a
new body.”
Jace didn’t know what to address first, Tyrell’s condition, the
awful plan Tyrell had, or the fact that Noah hadn’t kept his promise
and pushed Paris into something that had hurt him. In the end, the
wolf inside him won, and he glared at the warlock.
“What happened?” Jace asked furiously. “What the hell was that
all about? I thought you said you wouldn’t hurt him.”
“You’re being unfair,” Rhys snapped back. “It’s hard for Noah,
too. He’s doing his best, but this is very taxing on him.”
“It’s okay,” Noah intervened. “Jace is right. I lost control. The
energies here were stronger than I expected. You have my most
honest apologies.”
Jace wanted to say that an “I’m sorry” was hardly good enough,
but the words died in his throat as Paris squeezed his hand. “Rhys is
right, Jace,” Paris told him through their bond. “It might have hurt
me, but it hurt him as well. This place just carries too many strong
memories. No one could have handled it.”
Intellectually, Jace knew they were both right, but he still resented
the fact that Paris had been forced to go through that. He took a deep
breath, forcing himself to calm down. It wasn’t Noah’s fault for this.
It wasn’t anyone’s fault but Tyrell’s. The panic he’d experienced
upon seeing his mate in pain still haunted Jace, but he turned it into
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resolve. He had to protect Paris so that the other wolf wouldn’t have
to suffer like this again.
“I’m not the one in danger now,” Paris whispered in Jace’s mind.
“I disagree,” Jace answered. “But now is not the time to discuss
this. You’re right. We have to warn Winter and Corbin. We can’t
allow Tyrell to succeed in his plan.”
Anson and Reed already had their phones out, obviously intending
to call home. They cursed at the same time. “Useless piece of shit,”
Anson said. “It doesn’t work.”
With Rhys’s help, Noah went to Anson’s side and stole a peek at
the older wolf’s phone. “The magic must have short-circuited it,” he
said in a tired tone. “Again, I apologize. I didn’t expect for it to be so
strong.”
“It’s all right,” Jace heard himself say. “I’m not happy with what
happened, but you can’t be expected to know everything.”
“I should,” Noah answered, sounding angry. “How can I possibly
defeat Tyrell if I can’t tell a simple thing like that?”
Rhys pulled Noah into an embrace, and Jace looked away from
the duo, giving them a private moment. They might not be shifters,
but he could see a true bond when it was in front of him.
Unfortunately, they didn’t have too much time at their disposal. One
of the vampires with them cleared his throat. “Could you tell when
these events came to pass, when this conversation took place?”
“I would say a couple of weeks back,” Paris answered. “How
come he hasn’t attacked yet?”
“It’s not so easy,” Anson replied. “Winter and Corbin are safely
hidden within Sidhe lands. Even if Tyrell knows where to go, which
seems to be the case, I believe there are wards there that would detect
the presence of any intruder.”
“He’s probably attempting to work around them,” Noah mused.
“We must return to the house and contact Yamamoto-sama,”
another vampire suggested. “I am certain he will know what to do.”
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“Agreed,” Noah replied. With the corner of his eye, Jace caught
sight of him leaving Rhys’s embrace. “While the spell could have
gone better, we found out valuable information tonight. The Sidhe
must be warned.”
There were murmurs of approval all around, as well as a lot of
concern. Jace also realized Paris was a little confused. The
information had finally settled, and he couldn’t understand some of
the implications of what the vision had revealed.
Paris didn’t know Winter and Corbin, as by the time of his arrival
in the pack, they had already left. Since Paris had also been kept in
the dark regarding many issues of shape-shifter politics, he didn’t
know all of Jace’s friends.
As the group quickly headed out, Jace took the brief moment of
silence to explain. “You’ve met Preston Mckenna, I believe.” When
his mate nodded, Jace added, “Corbin is his older brother. He met
Winter when the prince temporarily came to help us. It was actually
the first time after Tyrell appeared. A spell was cast on several
shifters, rendering them catatonic. Winter helped heal all the victims.
Long story short, he and Corbin fell in love, got married, and
conceived Lamont.”
There was more to it than that, but the details were too
complicated to be explained in a normal way. Jace opened his mind,
remembering everything that had happened then and willing the
memories to flow through their bond. Paris released a small gasp.
“They love each other so much,” he said.
“Just like we do, sweetheart,” Jace replied. “And we won’t let
that warlock destroy their happiness.”
Renewed decision solidified inside Paris. “No, we won’t. He
needs to pay for everything he’s done. It’s time to end this.”
Jace couldn’t have said it better himself. It occurred to him then
that Tyrell had already starting paying for his deeds. “I think I know
why he’s in a wheelchair,” he told Paris. “Isaac once mentioned to
me that Tyrell got in his head after kidnapping him, controlling him,
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twisting his consciousness. Isaac’s bond with his mate expelled the
warlock, and since Tyrell disappeared without a trace, Isaac
suspected that the blow must have affected Tyrell physically. It seems
he was right.”
“This is a good thing,” Paris replied enthusiastically. “He’s
vulnerable. He’s desperate for power and for a new life. We can use
that.”
Jace grinned. Even aware of how dangerous Tyrell could be, he
suddenly suspected that Tyrell had bit off more than he could chew.
“I think, sweetheart, that this time around, Tyrell’s plans won’t go the
way he expects them to.”
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Chapter Four
“Tyrell Hall plans to attack us?” Sterling repeated, pretending to
be shocked. “You are certain of this?”
“Quite certain,” Kaname Yamamoto replied. “As you are
probably aware, we have been trailing him all over Japan. Noah Hall
finally uncovered his plan a little while ago, with the help of Aria
Marrow’s son, Paris.”
“This is all very upsetting,” Sterling answered. “I assure you I will
have security strengthened to keep Winter safe at all times.”
“We are ready to send reinforcements, should you desire it,” the
vampire elder said. “Some of the young men here are very eager to
see Tyrell punished.”
Sterling could understand that. He himself burned with an anger
that might have pushed him into something very unwise had he not
been all too aware of the possible consequences of his actions. He
considered Kaname’s offer and decided it wouldn’t hurt for Winter to
have a few of his new shifter acquaintances around. This entire thing
had shaken his nephew greatly, and Sterling was very concerned that
Winter’s anxious state of mind could affect Lamont. A distraction was
exactly what Winter needed.
“A discreet force will more than suffice. I would appreciate it if
Winter’s friends visited. However, I think it would be best to allow
Tyrell to proceed with his plan. Once he is inside the island, we will
catch him.”
“Very well, Your Majesty,” the elder vampire said. “I will convey
your message. You might receive a call from Elder Wade soon.”
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“I will discuss it with him as well. Until then, you have my
thanks, Yamamoto-sama.” Sterling considered telling Kaname to
withhold sending his own people before deciding against it. The
vampire understood the delicate nature of the situation too well to
draw Tyrell’s attention by dumping an entire coven in Sterling’s lap.
After a formal good-bye that lasted far too long, Sterling finally
ended the conversation. He had been somewhat shocked when he’d
received the call from Kaname, but not because of the information the
vampire had provided. Rather, he had not expected the shifter-
vampire alliance to be so efficient in finding out Tyrell’s plan. It was
a pleasant surprise, and it spoke well of the future cooperation
between their species.
Naturally, Sterling had already known about it for weeks, ever
since Tyrell had decided on it in the first place. He looked toward the
female figure hovering in the center of his office, wondering if he
would ever get used to seeing her there.
“Tell me what you see, Great One,” he said to the Oracle. “Tell
me we’ll be all right.”
She tsked, reminding him so much of the Jayna he had known and
loved. “You know better than to doubt yourself, King Sterling. You
must remain calm. For the moment, we still have time. Tyrell is
attempting to sneak through the wards.” An image appeared in the
center of the room, that of a small child surrounded by streaks of
black-and-white energy. “I must admit he is good at what he does.
Once we deal with this, we must reinforce the wards and make sure
no intruders can bypass them.”
Sterling assented with a nod. He’d been very disturbed by the idea
that, with enough work, the wards could be cracked just enough to
allow a few people inside without warning him. According to the
Oracle, they would have noticed quite quickly, but Sterling had
suspected that without her omniscience, Tyrell might have actually
succeeded in his plan. Just the thought that he couldn’t protect the
nephew he loved so much tore Sterling apart. In a way, it soothed him
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that Kaname had found out in time to warn him. While he trusted the
Oracle beyond any shadow of a doubt, the fact that he had outside
allies who could have told him of the warlock’s plans reassured him.
Even so, Sterling still wished he could just go ahead and trap
Tyrell without bothering with all the subterfuge. The Oracle seemed
to guess his thoughts. “You must be patient. There is someone else
waiting, someone Tyrell wronged even more severely. He deserves a
new chance, and we will give it to him.”
Sterling sighed. “I know. I apologize, Great One. I simply won’t
find peace until he is caught and defeated.”
“You have many friends, King Sterling, friends who will help you
defeat this foe, and who have to face fears of their own. They are
heading this way now, and they will build new lives, new bonds,
based on what will soon happen here. You must be there for them and
build the best future.” The Oracle’s eyes flashed from silver to green,
and blood red colored her previously translucent hair. She smiled
brightly, making Sterling’s breath catch. “Now go. Go see my son. He
needs you.”
Sterling wished he could touch Jayna. He wished he could see his
brother, too. But he considered himself lucky for still having her
support, even if her mortal form was gone. “Thank you again. You
can count on me.”
“I know,” Jayna replied. “You wouldn’t have been given this role
had you not been able to shoulder it.”
With an enigmatic smile, Jayna’s figured disappeared. Sterling
shook himself and left the office. His nephew was waiting.
Guards saluted him and servants bowed as he passed. Sterling
briefly greeted them, but didn’t stop. Sometimes, the size of the Sidhe
palace irritated him. He had assigned a private wing for Winter and
Corbin’s use, and it took him far too long to get there.
At last, he reached Winter’s quarters, clinging to Jayna’s
encouragements as he readied himself for what would undoubtedly be
a difficult conversation. He knocked at the door, and almost instantly,
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his nephew’s mate, Corbin, answered. His face bore a half scowl
Sterling recognized as a sign of concern. Lately, it was appearing
more and more.
“How is he?” he whispered as Corbin gestured him inside.
“Agitated,” Corbin murmured back. “Any news?”
Before Sterling could answer, Winter appeared from the bedroom.
His hand rested protectively over his swollen belly as he gazed at
Sterling with anxious eyes. “Uncle? What’s wrong?”
For perhaps the millionth time, Sterling wished he could have kept
Tyrell’s plan from reaching Winter’s ears. However, Corbin needed to
know so that he could adequately protect Winter, and the lynx-shifter
couldn’t keep anything from Winter.
“Nothing is wrong,” he replied. “Calm down, nephew. You should
be in bed now and taking it easy.”
“I’m trying,” Winter said, sounding frustrated. The lynx went to
his side, and seemingly on instinct, Winter leaned against Corbin.
“It’s just…The very thought of what he intended…”
“I know. You’ve been very brave in handling this. Elder Kaname
Yamamoto just called to tell me about Tyrell’s plans. Apparently,
they just found out now.”
“That’s good news,” Corbin replied. “I didn’t actually expect
them to find his trace.”
“It seems the vampires had help from Aria Marrow’s son,”
Sterling replied. “At any rate, I told Yamamoto-sama to send in some
of your friends. You might appreciate the company. We are keeping
everything discreet, though, since Tyrell will probably be attempting
to go through with his plan any day now.”
Winter couldn’t suppress a shudder, and once again, Sterling
wished he could have spared his nephew the fear. But he knew Winter
well, and he understood that Winter was too strong to allow this to
defeat him. Not only that, but he also had his bond with Corbin. There
was power in that connection, one that would keep Winter’s baby
safe.
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Even knowing this, Sterling couldn’t keep himself from inquiring
into the child’s welfare. “On a more positive note, how is Lamont?”
he asked.
Winter grinned a little, caressing his belly. “Fine. He’s barely
given me any trouble at all. I think he feels it when I’m nervous, so
I’m doing my best to remain calm, insofar as it’s possible at least.”
Sterling reached out for Winter, gently patting his nephew’s
stomach. Lamont Tomacelli-Mckenna, half Sidhe, half lynx. The heir
of the Sidhe kingdom would be a half-breed. In Sterling’s opinion, it
seemed fitting, as the paranormal world seemed to be struggling to
achieve unity, or at least, cooperation. Many people were still trying
to fight it, and not only maniacs like Tyrell. Some of the Sidhe
remained purists and hadn’t taken kindly to the idea that, one day,
they might be led by a king with shifter blood. But Sterling already
loved Lamont, just like he had loved the brother whose name the
unborn baby carried. He would not allow anyone to harm the young
family.
“That’s good,” he told Winter. “Have you checked in with the
priests? Do they know when a birth can be expected?”
“They’re not sure,” Corbin answered. “My genes complicate the
issue. They think it’s going to be soon, though.”
Normally, Sterling wasn’t very effusive with Winter, but since
nearly losing his nephew, he’d decided to drop the façade. He kissed
Winter’s forehead and whispered, “That’s good. I’m very eager to
meet the new member of our family.” He broke away from his
nephew and smiled. “I expect to have visitors soon, but don’t worry
too much. I won’t allow them to bother you if you don’t want to talk
to them.”
“Who is visiting?” Corbin inquired.
Sterling hadn’t actually asked, but the information came to him
regardless. Sometimes, the Oracle provided him with information
directly, although it was only for small things like these. “Derek and
Jace Wade, and Jace’s mate, Paris. Anson Wright and his mate, Reed.
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Noah Hall and Rhys Whitaker. I believe Preston and Layton wanted
to come, but your father dissuaded them.”
Corbin seemed relieved. “I can’t wait to see everyone again, but I
don’t want my brother to be at risk,” he replied. “I haven’t met Paris,
though. You said he’s Aria Marrow’s son?”
“Yes, and he’s been struggling to surpass that. He’s a good boy.
Coming here will make him face his fears, but I also think you’ll like
him.”
Winter and Corbin didn’t ask Sterling how he’d found out all that.
They’d gotten used to Sterling knowing things he shouldn’t know and
stopped demanding explanations. “Thank you, Uncle,” Winter said
instead. “I appreciate your concern and all your help.”
“You don’t have to thank me, Winter,” Sterling answered gently.
“All you have to do is be safe, eat well, and rest.”
“I’ll make sure he does all that,” Corbin promised.
“Excellent.” Deciding he’d prolonged the conversation too much,
he added, “I’m going to leave now and let you get some sleep. I’ll see
you both at dinner.”
“Yes, Uncle,” Winter answered. “Thank you again.”
Corbin led Sterling to the door, and Sterling gave the lynx a
serious look, silently telling the other to keep a close eye on Winter.
Corbin squeezed his shoulder and nodded. Sterling trusted the shifter
and knew that Corbin would give his life to protect Winter if it was
necessary. But it wouldn’t come to that, not now, and not even in the
future.
As he left his nephew’s quarters, Sterling went in search of his
high priest. He had some final arrangements to make. He wouldn’t
take any chances with Lamont’s and Winter’s lives. Tyrell would
soon realize that he’d made a serious mistake in going against the
people Sterling loved.
* * * *
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The first moment he stepped on the ground of the Sidhe island,
Paris felt overwhelmed. He couldn’t believe that he was here, as a
guest of honor of Sidhe king Sterling Tomacelli. A few months back,
he’d never have expected his life to lead him into this direction. At
the same time, though, Paris knew very little of Sidhe, mostly what
he’d learned from Jace during their trip here. He hoped he wouldn’t
make a mistake and insult the king with his ignorance.
They had been brought here by ship, a small boat that now seemed
somewhat unusual given the majestic nature of the island itself. Oh,
the boat in itself held an elegance and a beauty Paris had never seen in
anything created by humans or shifters, so in that sense, it fit the
overwhelming beauty now surrounding him. Even so, it hadn’t
prepared him for his current surroundings. The view from the small
harbor they’d stopped in left Paris breathless. Everywhere he looked,
he found greenery, healthy vegetation that begged the wolf inside him
to come out and play. The ocean’s water lapped lazily over the shore,
as if caressing the golden sands. In the distance, a beacon of light
seemed to shine. Paris squinted, but couldn’t identify the source of the
rays.
Under normal circumstances, Paris would have loved to enjoy all
this beauty, but he remained aware of the quiet and hasty motions of
the guards with them. The Sidhe sent as an escort had explained King
Sterling had ordered absolute caution. Their visit had to remain
private, kept from prying eyes at all costs.
He looked around, taking in the sight of the small harbor. All
these precautions made him wonder if the Sidhe leader knew
something they didn’t.
“I wonder what the king is planning,” Paris told Jace as they left
the boat behind and followed after their guides. “It doesn’t seem like
they want to stop Tyrell from attacking.”
“I’ve only seen King Sterling a couple of times, but I’ve heard he
has an uncanny knack of knowing exactly what to do, and at what
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91
time,” Jace replied. “We have to trust he’ll take all the necessary
steps to protect Winter and Corbin.”
The words made Paris very curious as to who the Sidhe truly
were. His contact with magical creatures had been limited so far. He
was eager to know more and eager to meet Jace’s friends who now
lived here.
The soldiers led them from the harbor onto a winding path that cut
through a thick, lush forest. Paris walked hand in hand with Jace
while their five companions followed behind them. The trees blocked
Paris’s sight of the horizon, and because of that, he was taken by
surprise when, upon stepping outside the woods, he was faced with
the sight of a palace that seemed to glitter in the sunlight. This must
have been the source of the glow he’d spotted from the harbor. Paris
froze in awe at the beauty.
Derek, Reed, and Anson seemed just as impressed, while Rhys
and Noah observed it with thoughtful expressions, perhaps comparing
it to what they knew of their own societies. For a few moments, all of
them stopped to admire the view. It seemed, for lack of a better word,
otherworldly. Other than Jace, this must be the loveliest thing Paris
had ever seen in his life.
Jace chuckled. “I’m sure the Sidhe would disagree with your
assessment. In fact, I’m pretty sure you’re far lovelier than me.”
Paris considered his mate’s words, and decided Jace was too
handsome to be seen as lovely. He might have lost himself in the
contemplation of his lover’s attributes had one of their guides not
cleared his throat. “Is everything all right?” he asked in a neutral tone.
“Quite fine,” Jace replied smoothly. “We were just amazed by
how beautiful the palace is.”
Immediately, the man smiled. “It is. King Sterling will probably
offer to give you a tour once this issue is clarified.”
The guard’s words sobered Paris, reminding him he hadn’t come
here to sightsee. “Thank you for your patience,” he told the Sidhe.
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“We should probably be on our way now. His Majesty must be
waiting.”
The Sidhe soldier just nodded and led them into the palace
gardens. Unsurprisingly, they were as beautiful as the rest of the
island, starring intricate mazes, blooming flowers, and fountains that
sent crystalline water flying into the air. But Paris’s mind quickly
went from admiration to urgency and concern. He truly needed to
know what would be done to stop Tyrell’s plan. Just the memory of
his vision made him nauseous as he considered the implications of the
warlock’s ploy.
Paris and his companions entered the palace through a side door
which seemed to have been meant for the use of servants. This area
wasn’t as richly decorated as the gardens, but the walls still boasted
discreet engravings that reminded Paris of the style of the boats.
They veered off into a different corridor, this one clearly intended
for the personal use of nobles or perhaps even royalty. Anticipation
pulsed through Paris. He clutched Jace’s hand tighter, distantly
wondering how in the world he’d manage to face a king.
“He might be a king, but he’s still just a man,” Jace told him.
“Think of it this way. King Sterling is the leader of a nation, but so is
my grandfather. You don’t find him intimidating, do you?”
Paris blinked, several thoughts whirling through his mind. Jace
was completely right. As an elder, Kevin Wade occupied the same
role King Sterling did, only for a different species. But this
meant…This meant Jace was royalty, too. It had never occurred to
him. Oh, God. This was not the time to have a realization like that,
because it brought back the uncertainties and self-doubt Paris had
been experiencing ever since he’d mated Jace.
“Believe me, Paris,” Jace told him, “leaders can make mistakes
just like other people. I know. You have your own inner value and
strength. Their positions don’t make them better than you.”
Paris remembered that Jace’s family still held some resentment
over Elder Wade’s involvement in the attack on Jace’s uncle, Isaac.
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Most likely, Kevin Wade had never meant something bad to happen.
Like Jace said, he’d made a mistake, a serious error, and something
that had nearly cost many people their lives.
Even so, that didn’t change who he was and his connection to
Jace, and it didn’t eliminate the gap between Paris and his mate. Paris
hated being so insecure, but in moments such as these, he simply
couldn’t help it.
Jace narrowed his eyes at him, and Paris half expected his lover to
scold him again. Instead, the other wolf grinned and stole a kiss from
his lips. “I love you so much, sweetheart. I look forward to proving it
to you, over and over and over again.”
Heat invaded Paris at Jace’s words, his face flaming as arousal
flooded his body. How could he cling to his feelings of inadequacy
when Jace said stuff like that? Of course, his body’s response to
Jace’s clear need for him wasn’t necessarily a bad thing, but in a few
moments, Paris would be in the presence of King Sterling. Now was
not the time for his cock to demand attention.
Much to his dismay, Derek elbowed Jace and gave both him and
Paris a knowing look. Thankfully, the Sidhe guards were discreet, and
if they noticed a change in Paris’s attitude, they didn’t show it. Paris
would have died of embarrassment had they seen it, too.
Forcing himself to focus on the importance of this visit, Paris shut
down his libido, all the while swearing that once he had a free
moment alone with Jace, he’d spend half an hour just sucking his
mate’s cock. When Jace groaned, Paris couldn’t help a small smirk. It
wouldn’t hurt for Jace to get a taste of his own medicine.
All too soon, the little group reached two ornate doors engraved
with a symbol Paris didn’t recognize. Predictably, there were several
soldiers guarding the entrance, and they spoke a few words with the
Sidhe accompanying Paris and his friends. The exchange took place
in a language Paris didn’t understand, and he wondered what they
were saying.
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After a few moments, one of the men knocked at the door, and a
cool, male voice replied, once more in that same foreign tongue. The
soldier slipped inside, trailing off the names of Paris, Jace, and all the
other guests. This was it. They were being announced, and the king
would mostly likely agree to see them soon.
Indeed, no sooner had he thought this than they were being
ushered inside. Paris noticed several of his companions kept their
gazes on the floor and decided to follow their example. Therefore,
even as he entered what he guessed was the throne room, he struggled
to remain calm and reined in his curiosity. From what he could tell, he
needed to wait until the king addressed them.
“That’s true,” Jace whispered in his mind. “If we were Sidhe,
we’d also have to kneel, but since we aren’t, we’re merely providing
proof of our respect.”
Paris wasn’t well versed in how to behave when faced with
royalty. He supposed this process was normal, but still wished it could
be a little faster. He wondered what King Sterling saw when he
looked at them. Allies? Friends? Useless underlings?
Finally, the Sidhe King spoke out, snapping Paris out of his
thoughts. “Greetings, gentlemen,” he said. “I welcome you to our
palace and to our lands and thank you for your assistance in this
delicate time.”
Taking his cue, Paris looked up. He found himself facing the
throne positioned on an elaborately carved dais, where a handsome
blond man sat, his ice-blue eyes watching Paris and his friends, not
giving a single thing away. King Sterling’s voice had been
exceedingly polite, but at the same time, aloof. Paris had no idea how
to react, and was very relieved when Anson and Jace took command
of the situation.
“You honor us, Your Majesty,” Anson said. “It is our hope that
we will be able to cooperate to defeat our common foe.”
“I trust your nephew is well?” Jace inquired. “We have all missed
him dearly.”
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“Winter will be happy to hear that.” King Sterling’s perfect lips
twisted in a barely perceptible smile. “He is well. I’m afraid he is
resting now, but you will be able to see him in a little while.” His
expression sobered once again. “In the meantime, there is a very
serious issue we need to discuss. Tyrell Hall.”
Noah and Rhys tensed, while Paris just waited to see what
Sterling would say. The Sidhe king must have been shocked and
angry upon finding out what the warlock had planned, but Paris didn’t
think Sterling would take it out on Noah.
Paris’s suspicion was confirmed mere seconds later. “First of all, I
appreciate the efforts you have all made to find Tyrell,” the Sidhe
king said. “He is a danger to us all, a danger that needs to be
eliminated.” He got up, leaving the throne, and went down the dais,
heading toward them. When he’d been sitting down, Paris hadn’t
realized just how tall the man was. He’d have been even more
intimidated, but the topic at hand cast those feelings aside.
“If I may, Your Majesty,” he started politely. When Sterling
gestured for him to continue, Paris decided to take the opportunity to
describe his vision. “Tyrell turned my mother into his familiar. He
said he wanted to use Aria as his anchor for when he…When he was
an infant.”
“Winter’s child.” The only sign betraying Sterling’s anger was a
clenching of his jaw. “I’m aware of the situation. Tyrell is working on
the wards around the island as we speak. Aria is with him since, for
the purpose of this plan, she will have to be present for the supposed
soul transfer.”
Paris was so focused on Sterling that he almost jumped when
Noah suddenly spoke. “What must we do?” the young warlock asked.
“We must watch and wait,” Sterling replied. “I will protect Winter
at all costs, but there are other aspects to take into consideration,
things I am not at liberty to share. I must tell you one thing. I do not
want Tyrell to be physically harmed, not seriously, at least.”
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Paris gaped, unable to control his reaction. “But…But he plans to
essentially kill your nephew’s child! Why are you even concerned
about his welfare?”
Sterling arched a brow at him, as if surprised that Paris had
expressed his outrage. “I have my reasons. They will be revealed in
time.”
Jace squeezed Paris’s shoulder. “Let it go, sweetheart,” he
whispered in Paris’s mind. “I’m sure King Sterling has a plan. He
only wants what’s best for Winter.”
Paris sighed to himself. Instinctively, he knew that. He could tell
that the king held a genuine affection for his nephew. He shouldn’t
have exploded like that, especially not in front of his royal host. “Of
course,” he told Sterling sheepishly. “I apologize. I am just
concerned.”
“It’s all right. I will not take offense in your doubt since you only
wish to help my family.” The king returned to his throne and sat down
once again. “I will ask you to limit your outbursts, though. I don’t like
having my authority questioned.”
A part of Paris wanted the ground to open and swallow him
whole. The other acknowledged that, even if he’d fucked up, the king
hadn’t thrown him out. Sterling understood Paris’s point. “I
understand, Your Majesty,” Paris said quickly, looking down. “It
won’t happen again.”
“There is no reason to dwell on this further,” Sterling said gently.
“You have gone through a lot lately, and losing your temper is
understandable sometimes. But back to what I was saying…I expect
Tyrell to attempt an attack in the following days, tomorrow, or the
day after. I will need you to help Winter go through this difficult time.
Stay with him and with his mate. They will have guards, of course,
but friends are always better.”
“We will do our best, Majesty,” Derek offered.
“I must ask, Your Majesty, how is Prince Winter’s pregnancy
coming along?” Rhys inquired. “It must be very hard for him to cope
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with the tribulations of a potential assault while he is in such a
delicate condition.”
“Indeed.” The king hummed thoughtfully. “Mr. Whitaker, now
that you have asked, it occurs to me that incubi have a great deal of
experience with male pregnancy.”
Rhys nodded. “Yes. It’s quite common among our people.”
“I’d like you to work with our healers to monitor Winter’s
pregnancy. It is very rare among us, and while they are very skilled at
handling this sort of thing, an experienced person would help a lot.”
“It would be an honor, Your Majesty,” the incubus replied
smoothly.
As the two discussed further arrangements, conflicting emotions
filled Paris. When he’d first heard about male pregnancy, Paris had
been shocked, but his stay with the Wade pack had taught him many
things. Even if Paris still wasn’t completely used to the idea, he
accepted it as something specific to each species. But now, he found
another feeling invading him. He wished he could give Jace that, too.
Jace would not be able to be a father because of mating Paris.
“We can always adopt, Paris,” Jace sent to him. “It’s not like
we’re the only gay shifter couple.”
That was true, but Paris still felt a little jealous. Even so, he was
happy that two men had managed to build such a lovely family and
vowed to keep them safe. Tyrell wouldn’t get to them. Paris might not
be as strong as some of his friends, but he’d do his utmost to stop the
warlock.
Finally, all the arrangements were made. King Sterling clapped
his hands together and smiled at them. “Very well, then. You must be
very tired from your journey. I’ve had rooms prepared for you where
you can rest. Feel free to notify the servants for anything you might
need.”
“You are too generous,” Anson said. “We thank you.”
“I am merely your host,” the king answered. “We will see each
other at dinner, and we’ll discuss this further.”
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Taking their cue, everyone bowed in front of the throne and
headed out of the throne room. Soldiers followed them, apparently
already ready to do Sterling’s bidding.
They were led away into a different wing, and Paris paid close
attention to everything they were being shown and told since he might
need the information during their stay here. In his heart, he would
have preferred to face the threat Aria and Tyrell represented head-on,
without resorting to all this subterfuge, but he supposed King Sterling
had his reasons.
“I agree,” Jace told him. “I really wish we could have seen
Winter and Corbin, though. I’ve been worried about them.”
“Let’s just take everything one step at a time,” Paris offered.
“King Sterling is right about one thing. We’re both exhausted. We
need to rest if we’re going to be of any use to your friends.”
Naturally, rest couldn’t be further from Paris’s mind, but when
they reached the guest wing and their assigned room, Paris found that
he really wanted to follow his own suggestion.
One of the Sidhe with them opened the door and gestured them
inside. Paris and Jace said a quick good-bye to their companions and
went in. The others would be assigned different, if neighboring
quarters. While Paris liked their company, he looked forward to some
privacy, some quality time with his mate.
As Paris and Jace went inside, the Sidhe with them reasserted
King Sterling’s promise of hospitality. “Should you need anything at
all, you can call on the palace servants.” He pointed them to a bell
that would apparently summon the help. “They will also show you the
way to the dining room that will be used tonight.”
The guest quarters were as luxurious as the ones Paris and Jace
had been given by Kaname Yamamoto, but in a different, more
discreet way. The bed beckoned Paris forward, and instantly, images
of its potential uses invaded Paris’s mind.
Jace growled at him playfully. “I thought you wanted to sleep.”
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“We don’t have to sleep to rest,” Paris replied cheekily. All of a
sudden, he really wanted Jace to keep his earlier promise and show
him just how well they fit together.
Jace pounced on the bed and crawled over Paris, moving like the
predator he so obviously was. The wolf inside Paris wanted to bare
his throat in submission. The man wanted to tear off his clothes,
spread his legs, and beg Jace to fuck him into the mattress. He
decided to do all of it.
Arching against his lover, Paris licked his lips and pleaded,
“Come on, Jace. Fuck me. I need you so badly.”
With everything that had happened, they hadn’t gotten the chance
to make love since first arriving in Japan, and Paris wanted to feel his
mate inside him, to have Jace filling him like only he could.
As always, Jace’s need echoed Paris’s. The other wolf climbed on
top of Paris and crushed their mouths together. He licked across the
seam of Paris’s lips, demanding entrance and surrender. Paris gladly
gave his mate everything he requested. As their tongues dueled, he
moaned, clutching Jace’s shoulders, the kiss only whetting his
appetite for more.
Frantic hands tore at his clothing, Jace obviously as desperate as
Paris felt. Their wanton desire was, to a certain extent,
counterproductive. They couldn’t break apart for enough time to
breathe, let alone adequately get rid of their garments. Jace’s
forcefulness won out, and their clothes suffered the aftermath. The
garments ended up in tatters on the floor as Paris and Jace sought skin
to skin, their shared passion unleashing, a fire fueling itself on its own
intensity. Paris’s moans escalated as his mate’s hands caressed his
naked body, exploring, caressing, both worshipful and dominant.
Paris loved the way Jace touched him, as if he depended on it for his
next breath. The coarse hairs on Jace’s chest rubbed against Paris’s
nipples, making him whimper. His mind was a blur of wanton
thoughts, both his and Jace’s.
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But soon, the kiss became insufficient, and Jace tore their mouths
apart. “Crap. Lube. We need lube.”
Jace tried to pull away, but Paris whined, wrapping a naked leg
around Jace’s waist, unwilling to allow Jace away from him even for
the purpose of providing lubricant. Their bags had been brought in
and were waiting in front of the wardrobe, but they were not
unpacked. It would take forever for Jace to find what they needed.
Well, maybe not forever, more like one minute, but in Paris’s current
mood, even ten seconds was too much time to be apart from Jace.
“Ah, fuck.” Jace cursed under his breath, and it was the only
warning Paris had before his mate flipped him on all fours. Already
anticipating Jace’s touch, Paris wiggled his ass invitingly.
His mate caressed the twin globes, pressing light kisses on his
sensitive flesh with a patience that belied the urgency flooding their
bond. Jace spread Paris’s cheeks and licked across Paris’s crease,
awakening every nerve in Paris’s body. He wriggled his tongue inside
Paris’s channel, driving Paris wild with pleasure. Paris pushed back,
his ecstasy soaring higher and higher.
Oh, God, he wanted to come, but at the same time, he wanted to
hold back. He had to have Jace inside him before he found his peak. It
simply wouldn’t be the same, wouldn’t be enough if he climaxed
without Jace taking him first. There was just something special about
having Jace’s cock penetrating him, branding him from the inside out
that made Paris experience the ecstasy at an almost-transcendental
level. And now, he didn’t even care that Jace had barely stretched
him. He just wanted to feel the heat, to experience the delicious burn,
the sweet agony that wiped away every doubt and every thought,
leaving behind only the reality of their bond.
Jace obviously caught onto Paris’s wishes, as his voice drifted into
Paris’s mind. “I don’t want to hurt you.”
Paris was grateful for having their bond, because he didn’t think
he could have vocalized the full extent of his emotions. “You’ll never
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hurt me,” he sent to his lover. “We’re mates. We were meant to be
together.”
“That only makes me want to protect you more,” Jace shot back.
How could Jace be so coherent while he was fucking Paris’s
asshole with his tongue? Paris’s thoughts were rapidly dissolving into
incoherence, and if he didn’t get Jace to fuck him now, he’d go crazy.
“Jace…Please…I need you inside me,” he begged.
Jace lifted his head, and Paris anticipated the feel of Jace’s prick
against his anus. Instead, Jace rubbed his thumb against Paris’s
opening, making Paris shiver with unsatisfied lust. God, it was so
good, but it wasn’t enough, not nearly enough.
Acknowledging Jace’s stubbornness, Paris decided it was time to
take things into his own hands. Moving quickly, he broke away from
Jace and rolled over, turning to face Jace. He was pleased and
satisfied with himself when he saw Jace’s eyes widen in surprise.
Because of their bond, shocking each other was quite hard these days.
Paris loved it, as it meant they knew each other at the most intimate
level possible, but he still enjoyed teasing Jace, giving the other wolf
things he did not expect. It was refreshing, arousing, adding another
layer to their continuously growing passion.
He pushed Jace down, and when the other wolf fell on his back,
he straddled Jace, rubbing his ass against his mate’s erection. Of
course, Jace instantly knew what he had in mind, and his strong hands
landed on Paris’s hips, steadying him. Paris just smiled and nodded.
He understood Jace’s concerns, but they weren’t justified. Paris’s
body was made for Jace, and when they were together like this, Paris
truly understood just how deep and precious their bond was.
It didn’t matter that Paris had grown surrounded by a family and a
pack that had treated him as a pariah, while Jace had been lavished
with affection from all directions. It didn’t matter that Jace was the
grandson of the elder, while Paris still struggled with the notion of
finally finding his real father and needing to bring his mother to
justice. In the end, the only thing that held any value was their love,
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their passion, their bond. Jace was right. Paris had nothing to fear, not
when they were together.
Positioning himself over Jace’s dick, Paris slowly pushed down.
He actually felt the head of his mate’s erection pop in, and he couldn’t
suppress a moan of pain-pleasure. Oh, it hurt, of course it hurt, but
that only made it better, more real. Sometimes, Paris thought that he’d
fallen into a dream when Jace had mated him, and the delicious burn
reminded him that no, this was truly his life, his soul mate, the man
he’d spend forever with. That thought and the pleasure of Jace’s
invasion almost made Paris embarrass himself. He bit the inside of his
cheek, and he succeeded in pushing back his climax beyond his reach.
Just a little longer. He needed to wait just a little longer, to feel the
brunt of Jace’s passion, marking him, reminding him of everything
they’d built together.
Gradually, Jace guided him down, until he was fully seated inside
Paris, the penetration so deep and so intense it short-circuited Paris’s
brain. He had to take a few seconds to breathe and gather his wits,
because the way Jace’s cock stretched his passage threatened to
destroy what little control he had left. Through their bond, he sensed
Jace’s desperate need, the urge to thrust, to claim. Even so, Jace
waited, giving Paris time to adjust, as always putting Paris first.
Paris’s heart swelled with love even as his body burned with
desire. He moved up, groaning as the friction sent shocks of pleasure
over his already oversensitized skin. Jace growled in echo, and Paris
thrust back down, barely managing not to come when the angle made
Jace’s cock brush right over Paris’s prostate. Greedy for more, Paris
rode his mate’s prick, indulging in the drug he could never get enough
of.
However, Jace was apparently done with concern and scruples. At
first, he allowed Paris to lead and keep the rhythm, meeting Paris’s
every motion with his own thrusts. But then, all of a sudden,
something seemed to snap inside Jace. The other wolf pushed him off,
rolling them over until Paris was on the bottom again. The change
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dislodged Jace’s dick from Paris’s body, but Paris didn’t even have
time to complain, as Jace shoved his dick back in so hard Paris’s teeth
rattled.
From that point on, Paris’s world melted into a blur of rapture,
instinct, and desire. He was completely at Jace’s mercy, and he loved
it. Over and over, Jace thrust inside him, the forceful movements
making the bed hit the wall and creak in protest. Paris heard himself
moan and plead and barely recognized his voice as his own. He was
well aware that whoever had been given the neighboring room must
also be realizing what was going on, especially since he couldn’t hold
back his cries to save his life. But Jace liked it, and Paris lost himself
in his mate’s passion, unable to care about anything else.
He’d been holding back for what seemed like forever, so it was no
surprise that Jace’s thorough fucking soon had him on the edge.
Burying his fingernails in Jace’s muscular shoulders, Paris bared his
throat, wordlessly demanding for Jace to claim him. Jace didn’t wait
for a second invitation. He struck, burying his canines in Paris’s neck.
Instantly, a whirlpool of pleasure burst over Paris, his world
fragmenting and reshaping to focus on one single man. He felt Jace
reach his peak as well, filling Paris’s ass with his essence. Their bond
glowed brighter than ever, fueled by the power of their love.
Emotions and sensations flowed between them, until Paris didn’t
know where he ended and Jace began.
It went on and on, until Paris’s very identity melted within Jace.
He would have been satisfied with remaining there forever, floating in
the haze of Jace’s desire, in a world where only the two of them
existed. But alas, time refused to stand still. Paris found himself
forced to return to reality, the afterglow of his climax starting to dim.
Together, they collapsed on the bed, spent, sweaty, and content.
“So, did it work?” Jace asked after a while.
Courtesy of their connection, Paris knew exactly what his mate
was referring to. He chuckled and cuddled close to his mate. “You
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know it did. I’m sorry, by the way. I know I shouldn’t allow the past
to bother me, but sometimes, I can’t help it.”
Under normal circumstances, when Paris recalled his previous
life, he felt uncomfortable and self-conscious. Now, however, he was
too relaxed to worry about that. He didn’t even care that he was
covered in spunk they should probably clean. The only thing he
wanted was to remain in Jace’s embrace and be, just be.
Jace caressed his hair and kissed his forehead. “It’s normal. But
let’s not think about it for now. Get some sleep. King Sterling will
summon us soon for dinner.”
The reminder of where they were also brought back the reason of
their stay here. Even so, Paris didn’t allow Tyrell or Aria to intrude on
his little oasis of happiness. He closed his eyes and inhaled deeply,
reveling in the scent that was so uniquely Jace, manly, spicy, and
familiar. It made Paris feel safe and loved. And as Paris drifted into
sleep, he knew that in his love, he could find the strength to fight for
his soul mate.
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Chapter Five
The dining room of the Sidhe palace was as opulent and majestic
as the rest of the structure. Glittering chandeliers, crystal tableware,
and antique furniture were only a few of the luxuries that decorated
the area. That didn’t surprise Jace, especially since lately, he seemed
to be visiting a lot of such locales. However, he had been a little more
intimidated when he had learned that this was only one of the dining
rooms inside the royal residence, apparently quite small and poor
compared to the one actually used for balls and parties.
Even so, instead of lingering on his awe for the wealth displayed
with such elegance, he focused on the two men now entering the
room, two friends he had missed dearly.
King Sterling had organized a fancy dinner, even if the only
people present were Jace, Paris, and their companions. As he had
promised, he had brought Winter and Corbin with him. Since finding
out about Tyrell’s plans, Jace had been so very worried about them.
He had practically grown up with Corbin, and he saw the other man
as an older brother. As such, despite the knowledge of the necessity to
remain polite in front of the king, he couldn’t contain the urge to
enthusiastically greet the couple.
As soon as Corbin approached, Jace went to his side and hugged
him tightly. “It’s such a relief to see you,” he said. “How have you
been?”
Corbin embraced him back. “Happy. Worried. In love.”
Jace chuckled. “I know what that’s like.”
He broke away from Corbin and turned toward Winter. “Hey,
Winter. How’s the new member of our family doing?”
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Winter smiled weakly. “Energetic,” he replied. “He wants to come
out into the world already.”
“Probably eager to meet his parents,” Paris said from behind Jace.
“Congratulations in advance.”
“Thank you,” Winter replied without missing a beat. “And you
must be Paris. We’ve heard a lot about you. Congratulations to you,
as well.”
Corbin squeezed Jace’s shoulder. “I really wondered who was
going to tame this one. It looks like he’s far luckier than I expected.”
Even if they were in public, Jace couldn’t suppress the urge to
reach out to his lover. Pulling Paris close, he kissed the other wolf,
loving the way Paris’s cheeks flamed at Corbin’s compliment.
Unfortunately, they weren’t here to celebrate their union, so he kept
the lip-lock brief. In the meantime, everyone else approached Winter
and Corbin, expressing their interest regarding Winter’s welfare and
the incoming birth. As the conversation continued, Jace half expected
the Sidhe prince to ask them to back down. Instead, Winter went to sit
down on one of the dining room chairs, but he seemed to welcome
their questions. The affection behind the inquiries appeared to
reassure him.
Jace could feel his mate’s curiosity, but also his embarrassment.
He wanted to touch Winter’s belly, but didn’t know how to ask. As if
guessing their thoughts, Winter beckoned them forward. “Come on. I
can tell you want to meet Lamont, too.”
Eagerly, Paris and Jace joined the others next to the dining room
table. Paris didn’t show any signs of his nervousness and just gave
Winter an inquiring look. The Sidhe prince nodded, that same warm
smile urging Paris forward. Jace noticed that in spite of everything
going on, Winter looked luminous, obviously happy about his
pregnancy and already loving the as-of-yet-unborn child.
As Paris gently petted Winter’s swollen belly, Jace felt his mate’s
awe and the decision to support the little life growing within. The
moment made Jace’s heart squeeze in his chest. He already knew that
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Paris would one day be a great parent. Once this was all over, he
would do his best to cement his bond with the other wolf. When they
both felt ready, they would adopt.
Naturally, Winter soon needed some space. Everyone sat down
around the table, and servants began to bring in their dinner. Elaborate
dishes were set in front of them, the scents tantalizing Jace’s nostrils
and making his mouth water.
It was only the manners his parents had deeply ingrained him that
kept him from digging in like a ravenous beast. Well, that, but also
the relaxation lingering after the pleasure he’d shared with his mate.
A discreet blush tinted Paris’s cheeks, and Jace hid a smile. He was
relieved that none of them brought up Tyrell Hall’s imminent arrival,
because he was enjoying this calm, peaceful mood too much. Even
Noah, who at first seemed a bit more reluctant to accept the Sidhe’s
hospitality, allowed himself to crack a few smiles, drawn in by the
familiarity and the warmth.
“So, Corbin, tell me,” Derek was saying, “what’s it like being
Sidhe royalty?”
Corbin chuckled. “I honestly haven’t thought of myself that way.
I’m just trying to learn a little more about their ways and hopefully be
ready when the time comes for me to help Winter with further
endeavors.”
They were dancing around the obvious fact that Winter would one
day become king, but Sterling just seemed amused. “They will both
get accustomed to the idea of one day leading this nation,” he said.
“When Winter comes of age, I know I will be leaving the Sidhe in
good hands.”
“Thank you, Uncle,” Winter said quietly. “Your support has been
invaluable.”
“You deserve it,” the king replied. All of a sudden, his smile
disappeared, and he tensed.
“Uncle?” Winter inquired. “What’s wrong?”
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Sterling got up, his expression closing off completely. “I am
needed elsewhere, I’m afraid,” he said. “Please, finish your dinner. I
will see you again soon.”
“It’s Tyrell, isn’t it?” Winter asked. He shot to his feet, eyes wide
with fear. Corbin was right there by his side, supporting him, holding
him close. “Uncle, tell me the truth,” Winter insisted. “Tyrell is here.”
King Sterling nodded. “He is making his way across the island as
we speak. Aria is with him. But you mustn’t worry. We can handle it.
I’ve posted guards all around the palace. They are aware of Tyrell’s
plan. We will catch him.” A ghost of a smile slipped on his lips. “Stay
calm,” he said. “I’ll handle this. You just keep yourself and Lamont
safe.”
Instantly, the Sidhe prince started to protest. “But, Uncle—”
“No buts,” Sterling interrupted him. “Noah, please come with me.
Everyone else, stay with Winter. I’m relying on you to keep Winter
from danger.”
“Your Majesty, can I come as well?” Paris inquired, his tone
pleading. “I want to help.”
There was more to it than that. Paris needed to face his fears, to
feel like he had finally atoned for his mother’s sins so that he could at
last let go of the past. Jace knew that while his love was helping Paris
surpass many of his doubts, there were still wounds that refused to
close. At the same time, however, he’d have preferred to have
Sterling refuse Winter. Seeing Paris affected by Noah’s spell had been
bad enough. Tyrell was very dangerous, and just the thought of Paris
getting hurt made Jace sick to his stomach.
Paris threw him a narrow-eyed look. “When are you going to trust
that I can protect myself?” he asked through their bond.
Jace wrapped his arm around Paris’s shoulder, willing his mate to
understand his point. Paris melted against him, but his resolve
remained stern, and he turned toward the king again. “Please, Your
Majesty. I can be an asset to you. I know I can.”
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“Very well,” Sterling said, much to Jace’s surprise and quiet
dismay. “You and your mate can join us. Stay close, be careful, and
no matter what happens, don’t lose your calm. Now, please follow
me.”
Without further ado, the king opened the dining room door and
headed out. After sharing a brief hug with Derek, Jace and Paris
rushed after him. Noah kissed Rhys’s cheek, whispering something
Jace couldn’t quite catch, then followed them. Outside, the king stood
in front of a group of Sidhe soldiers, giving quiet orders. Several men
headed out, probably to alert others of the possible attack.
“Come,” the king told them. “We will wait for Tyrell to advance.
The guards in the palace have been instructed to keep a close eye on
the area but pretend not to see him. We will intercept him once he is
already inside. Aria is with him. Paris and Jace, your task will be to
focus on her, while Noah will be focusing on blocking Tyrell’s magic,
should he attempt to fight us. There are a few other witches with him,
but don’t worry. We’ll have a lot of people ready to assist you.”
“Understood,” Jace replied. They were already moving,
presumably to the spot where they would set the ambush. He knew
that Aria would be stronger now, due to Tyrell’s spell, but Jace felt
stronger, too. He had an even deeper bond, one born out of love, not
magic.
He heard all the questions Paris had, mostly revolving around why
King Sterling was allowing Tyrell to even get so close. This time,
however, Paris didn’t ask anything. Instead, he followed behind the
king, spine straight, decision burning within him. Proud of his mate,
Jace decided that yes, he would trust Paris and trust himself that he
could protect the other wolf. They had just too much to live for and
too much love to share to allow anyone, let alone Tyrell, to get in the
way of their connection.
* * * *
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“Wow,” Aria said in a whisper as the Sidhe palace loomed ahead
of them. “These people really like living in the lap of luxury.”
“Stop admiring them. Focus,” Tyrell hissed, pinching her hand.
“We’re very close now.”
But Aria was focused, completely focused on her task. Her
loyalties might be questionable, but she knew that for now, the best
path for her lay at Tyrell’s side. She had been granted a very
important role, and she planned to fulfill her task to the best of her
ability.
“Good,” Tyrell said in her mind. “We are closer now, and we
must be extra careful.”
As if summoned by Tyrell’s thoughts, a Sidhe guard appeared,
scanning the area. Aria ducked behind a tree, shielding Tyrell from
sight. The rest of the witches and warlocks with them followed her
example and found a place to hide. Holding her breath, Aria waited,
hoping the Sidhe guard wouldn’t see them. Impatience warred with
annoyance inside her. She was used to having children around, but it
still irritated her to have to carry Tyrell around. She couldn’t wait for
Tyrell to get another body. Her job would be much easier then.
Tyrell’s chuckle echoed inside her head. “I agree with your
assessment. I can’t wait, either. But make no mistake, I will get even
with those who brought me to this point, starting with that worthless,
treacherous scum I once called a son.”
Noah Hall, Tyrell’s son, was the man who had originally killed
Tyrell and destroyed his first body. After that, Tyrell had stolen this
child form, only to have it half ruined after the last attempted attack
on the shifters and Winter Tomacelli. Aria had to hand it to Tyrell,
though. This plan was perfect. Not only would it give Tyrell a new
body that he could use, but it would also be the perfect payback
against both shifters and Sidhe.
To a certain extent, it surprised Aria that Tyrell had come up with
this idea, since he’d never even tried to hide the disgust he felt for
shifters. Nevertheless, the warlock’s lust for power seemed to surpass
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his dislike for the species of the child whose body he meant to invade.
It made sense, since he had once told Aria that it was their behavior
and lack of focus that he loathed, not their physical forms. Aria was
inclined to believe him, at least in this respect, as he had never
showed the hatred he had toward shifters in his attitude toward her.
Of course, it would take a while until everything would be in
place, but revenge was always a dish best served cold. She suspected
that some of her current companions wouldn’t be so agreeable to what
Tyrell had in mind.
Several witches and warlocks had come to aid Tyrell with his
plan. Tyrell had explained to Aria that he could have snuck in on his
own with only Aria to carry him and watch his back, but he needed
the additional people to distract the Sidhe. Corbin and Winter had a
connection, and both of them needed to be unconscious so that Tyrell
could proceed with possessing their child. Unfortunately, he couldn’t
kill Corbin, since the resulting grief might cause Winter to lose the
baby. Therefore, he needed the assistance of some of the members of
his coven. They were young, inexperienced, and unaware of what
Tyrell truly intended. The only one who would leave this island was
Aria. Everyone else would be sacrificed so that their enemies would
believe Tyrell had been defeated.
Finally, the Sidhe watching the path moved away, and Aria could
proceed farther. At last, they reached the lavish gardens of the palace.
Things got harder after that, and several times, they were almost
caught. Aria cursed the witches and warlocks who became
increasingly nervous. She was actually wondering if she could ask
Tyrell to dump them quicker, but Tyrell just gave her an eloquent
look, and she remained silent.
Luck seemed to be on their side, as the gardens held a number of
ornate mazes they managed to use for cover. It helped that the
darkness of night had already started to shroud the area, and in spite
of the close calls, they at last managed to sneak inside the palace.
Sweat beaded Aria’s brow, and she steeled herself for the next step.
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Tyrell had told her that the Sidhe were very reliant on their wards and
wouldn’t expect such an attack, but Aria knew she still needed to be
on her guard. It would only get harder from this point on.
Through the information her connection with Tyrell provided,
Aria knew exactly where to go. It had taken a while, but Tyrell had
managed to find out the location of the island, as well as its layout and
the architecture of the palace from some Unseelie Sidhe. Following
the map that they had both memorized, Aria headed in the direction of
the family wing. It was very close to something the Sidhe called the
Silver Pool, although Aria hadn’t fully understood what it
represented. Tyrell himself wasn’t sure, but he seemed quite certain
that it could be a well of bottomless power that he could use for
pursuing his goals.
Groups of Sidhe clustered around staircases and in crucial points
on their path. Oftentimes, they needed to go around, lest they run into
foes they could not take on. Finally, they reached their destination.
Oddly enough, there were no guards in front of the door of Winter
and Corbin’s quarters. Suddenly, Aria had a bad feeling, and it
occurred to her that this might not be such a good idea after all.
Tyrell frowned at her. “I thought you were stronger than that,” he
said in her mind.
“I’m just recommending caution,” Aria replied, still feeling a
touch strange about communicating like that with the warlock.
Predictably, Tyrell didn’t like being questioned. A spike of pain
pierced Aria’s brain. “You will do as I say,” the warlock told her.
“Now move. Most likely, they aren’t inside. We will wait for them to
come back from dinner.”
That was possible, and Aria berated herself for getting cold feet
now of all times. Tyrell was right. She was no coward. They could do
this. They would do this. Aria had many plans of her own and many
enemies who needed to pay for the humiliation she’d been through.
After checking the corridor one last time, Aria headed toward
Winter Tomacelli’s quarters and pushed the door open. Several things
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happened at the same time. A strange force pushed her forward so
hard that, in spite of her natural abilities, she couldn’t stay on her feet.
She fell to her knees, and in the process, accidentally dropped Tyrell.
The warlock was somewhat more graceful than her and instead of
collapsing to the floor, quickly whispered a spell that had him
levitating in thin air.
Sidhe started pouring into the room, from seemingly every
direction. The warlocks and witches who were supposedly Aria’s
backup attempted to push back and fight against the attack, but they
didn’t have a chance. They were outnumbered by far, and the Sidhe
also had the benefit of surprise. Angrily, Aria quickly got up, ready to
grab Tyrell and make a dash for it.
But then, before she could reach for Tyrell, another Sidhe
appeared, blocking her way. Instantly, she knew he wasn’t like the
others. There was something about him, a majestic strength that
warned her away, but also made her itch to attack. Behind him stood
Paris, Jace Wade, and a man she somehow recognized as Noah Hall.
She had never actually met him, but her bond with Tyrell told her
everything she needed to know.
It seemed clear at this point that this had been a trap all along.
Aria decided that Tyrell could reap what he’d sown. One way or
another, she was getting out of here. Noah and the strange Sidhe were
completely focused on Tyrell, and as such, the warlock was
distracted. He couldn’t hold her back. She remained his familiar, but
as long as Tyrell didn’t die, she’d be all right. And as far as she knew,
the Wades and those allied with them were all softhearted fools who
didn’t even kill their enemies.
Using her new abilities, Aria turned on her heel and rushed toward
the exit, struggling to make her way through the throng of battling
magic users. She was very close to achieving her goal when a heavy
weight landed on her back, causing her to temporarily lose her
balance. She staggered, but this time, managed not to fall. Growling
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furiously, she pushed off the wolf who had stopped her and turned
just in time to see him land on all fours.
Paris was still small, even in his beast form, making Aria wonder
how she’d ever given birth to such a creature. Still, there was
something about him that seemed different this time. She understood
the reason when a larger wolf joined Paris—Jace Wade. The little
whore must have mated Jace, but whatever. Aria could easily teach
the whelp a lesson. It would be better if she could take them out as
well, then make her way past them. It shouldn’t be too hard with her
abilities.
In the blink of an eye, Aria melted into her wolf form. Once again,
she lunged. She moved faster than a normal shifter due to Tyrell’s
gifts, her jaws snapping as she made for Paris’s jugular. Jace
intercepted her, and her claws raked over his chest as she tried to
dislodge him. He was strong, the Alpha’s blood powerful within him,
and with her own power, she wouldn’t have beaten him. As it was,
she pooled her magical energy in her muscles as Tyrell had taught her
and pushed him off her. Before he could recover, she jumped on him,
already aiming for his throat. His thick coat made it harder for her to
get a grip on him, and he wasn’t exactly helpless prey, either. But she
probably would have managed to slay him had her son not intervened
yet again.
Paris pushed her off Jace, his canines clamping in the flesh of her
shoulder. Aria howled with rage and agony, ready to tear the head off
this little pup who had dared to stand in her way. She attacked, but
Paris’s smaller size turned out to be an advantage. He dodged, moving
out of the way just in time. Even as she turned, intending to reach for
him again, he nipped her other shoulder. It wasn’t a serious wound,
but she felt the pain, regardless, and it distracted her.
He was fast, faster than she had expected, and this turn of events
took her by surprise. Aria had thought the main threat would be Jace,
but she’d been wrong, and that unbalanced her. Paris kept dancing
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115
around, his youthful agility giving him an edge he’d never before
exploited. And then, Jace joined him as well.
Aria summoned every power Tyrell had given her, her rage giving
her an extra boost of power. When she attacked again, Paris couldn’t
jump out of the way in time. Her blow fell over his shoulder, though,
which was quite annoying, since she had aimed for a more
incapacitating and perhaps even lethal hit.
She might have managed to defeat them, but the Sidhe finally
took out the warlocks and witches. Hell, Aria’s reinforcements had
been overpowered so thoroughly that the Sidhe hadn’t even been
forced to kill any of them. With her last allies gone, Aria found
herself the focus of the miniature Sidhe army. She made one last
attempt to jump out of the way, doubling back toward Tyrell’s
position. In the process, she ended up facing Tyrell once more. After
that, she could do nothing else. She released another furious howl as
invisible bindings pinned her against the floor, layer upon layer of
magical energy threatening to crush her under all the power.
Aria was well and utterly caught. The only advantage of her
current position was that she could see what was going on with the
others. Sadly, that didn’t bring her much encouragement, since it
seemed obvious that Tyrell was also losing the battle.
A blue circle glowed around him, much like the one he himself
had once summoned, but somehow, very different. His childlike
features were contorted with pain and fury. He no longer levitated, but
seemed completely focused on the strange Sidhe who had put Aria off
her guard.
Noah stood behind the powerful magic user, eyes closed and
muttering something under his breath. She didn’t know what Noah
could be doing, but somehow, she realized that the actual
confrontation was taking place purely between Tyrell and the Sidhe.
Information slipped into her mind, and she grasped that Tyrell’s
attacker was Sterling Tomacelli, the Sidhe king.
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Tyrell was a powerful warlock, but in the end, Sterling prevailed.
One particular spell had Tyrell slumped on the ground, defeated,
unable to speak or to move. Aria suppressed a smirk. It seemed that
she’d been right about one thing. These weaklings wouldn’t kill
Tyrell, which meant that eventually, the warlock would break free. It
might take a long time, but Aria could wait.
Much to her surprise, though, something else happened then. A
ghostly figure appeared next to Sterling, looking exactly as Tyrell. He
held onto Noah’s hand, looking confused and bewildered.
Tyrell—the one who had a physical form—gaped in disbelief.
“You can’t do this,” he shouted. “You can’t.”
Sterling smiled coldly, and terror flowed through Aria. “Oh, but I
can,” the Sidhe king replied. Turning toward the translucent boy, he
whispered something in the youth’s ear that Aria couldn’t hear.
Instantly, the child’s expression turned into a bright, but uncertain
smile. He nodded and released Noah’s hand.
The Sidhe king murmured another spell, and a flash of bright light
filled the room. Tyrell screamed, and Aria felt the moment the
different presence entered the warlock. This was the true owner of
Tyrell’s body, the child whose mind and soul had been banished when
Tyrell had chosen him as his vessel. Now, he was taking back what
legitimately belonged to him.
Tyrell tried to keep hold of his position within the child’s body,
but the youth had Sterling’s and Noah’s powers backing him up. Aria
sensed the moment when Tyrell lost the battle. Her vision blurred, and
her lungs started to seize. She couldn’t breathe. She couldn’t see. She
tried to cling to reality, to life, but as the child finally took his body
back, everything became lost, and her world melted into utter
darkness.
* * * *
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117
Paris knelt by his mother’s still form, checking her pulse. He
couldn’t sense it, and he couldn’t hear her heart beating. “Jace,” he
said in a choked voice. “I think she’s dead.”
He hoped to receive some sort of reassurance from his mate, but
instead, King Sterling spoke. “I’m afraid it couldn’t be helped. As she
was bound to Tyrell, her soul couldn’t withstand the shock when we
banished him from the body he had stolen. I would have warned you,
but she did have a chance. If she’d been stronger, if she’d had
someone else to anchor her, a person she truly loved, she could have
survived.”
At this point, Paris couldn’t really process Sterling’s words. He
felt a little numb. In his heart, he’d always hoped he could one day
redeem her. It might have been unreasonable, even treasonous, given
everything she had done. She had hurt his new family a lot. In spite of
everything he’d found out about her, a part of him hadn’t been able to
give up on that quiet wish.
Jace took him in his arms, shushing him. “It’s okay, sweetheart.
You can grieve. She was your mother. It’s normal to feel pain.”
“I…I don’t know what to do, Jace,” Paris sent to his mate. “I
want to cry, but I can’t. I can’t be relieved, or hurt, or anything
really. I just don’t know.”
“Above all, you are loved, Paris,” Jace told him. “We’ll get over
this, together. She chose her own path, and you’re not to blame for
any of this.”
And therein lay the crux of the issue. In a way, Paris’s actions had
led Aria up to this point. Paris experienced a pang of guilt and
accepted it. Even so, as he thought back and ruminated over Jace’s
words, he realized that, in the end, Aria’s own actions had determined
her fate. It still hurt that he hadn’t been able to help her, and it
probably would for a while now. But useless guilt wouldn’t help. He
needed to tell his siblings and discuss what they would do with her
body.
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Shaking himself, Paris tried to focus on the rest of the room’s
occupants. King Sterling held the child who had once been Tyrell in
his arms. As if realizing he was being studied, the boy turned toward
Paris.
It was so strange to see the same face Paris had grown to associate
with Tyrell on a different person. However, Paris didn’t feel for a
minute that he was looking at Tyrell. The child’s eyes held an
innocence and an apprehension that called out to Paris and reminded
him of his own past.
Paris broke away from Jace’s arms and headed toward the boy
with Jace trailing behind him. “Hi,” he said. “I’m Paris, and this is my
mate, Jace. What’s your name?”
“I’m Daire,” the boy replied. “I’m lonely. Will you be my
friend?”
“I’d love to,” Paris answered. He stole Daire from Sterling’s arms
and kissed his forehead. “Don’t be afraid. You’re safe now. They
can’t hurt you anymore.”
As Daire cuddled close to him, Sterling tensed, much like he had
earlier that day. Paris was getting good at interpreting the Sidhe
king’s expressions and immediately inquired, “What is it? What’s
wrong?”
“It’s Winter,” Sterling said. “He’s giving birth.”
A blur of activity exploded all around them. Some of the guards
gathered the invading warlocks and witches and ushered them out.
Even if they seemed concerned about their prince’s condition, they
obeyed King Sterling’s every order, securing the remaining dangerous
elements. Meanwhile, Sterling rushed out of the room, leaving Paris
alone and confused as to what he was supposed to do.
Jace took the decision for him. Taking Daire from Paris, the other
wolf pulled Paris along, following right behind the Sidhe king. And as
he ran by his mate’s side, Paris found the strangest thing happening.
In spite of the pain still pulsing in his heart, there was also hope. A
new future lay in front of them, embodied by Daire and baby Lamont.
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119
It would be up to them to make sure that the story would not repeat
itself. This day marked an ending and a beginning, and Paris fully
intended to use the second chance he’d been given together with the
mate he loved so much.
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Epilogue
A rose landed on the coffin, then another and another, until six
flowers waited forlornly on the wooden surface. Then, the first
shovelful of earth followed, crushing the roses under its weight. Paris
supposed that, in a way, it was symbolic. Aria had been beautiful
once, but she had been destroyed by her own ambitions.
As he threw more dirt over his mother’s coffin, it seemed to Paris
that every motion was both painful and cathartic. He still wished he
could have helped her, but he understood that something had been
fundamentally wrong with her. A small part of him would always
grieve for her, but this was well and truly the end.
He wondered what his siblings were thinking. Up until this point,
they hadn’t talked too much beyond making arrangements regarding
Aria’s resting place. She had been brought to Marrow pack lands,
where the Alpha had decided on a location for her grave. Paris’s
brothers and sister seemed to have accepted Aria’s demise, but Paris
suspected it must be even harder for them than for him. At least he
could acknowledge the full extent of Aria’s deeds. In their case,
Alpha Marrow had most likely kept the gory details of what had
happened from them. What were they thinking now? Did they
understand the reasons of her death, or were they outraged and angry
that Elder Wade hadn’t protected her? He was their brother, the eldest
of them, but they had no real relationship, and he couldn’t bring
himself to ask.
“You have to make the attempt, sweetheart,” Jace told him
through their bond. “They’re in mourning, but so are you. Take the
first step. I know you can.”
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121
“I don’t think this is the right time,” Paris replied. Their world
had been shaken, and unlike Paris, they didn’t have mates to steady
them, to provide them with comfort.
“They have each other and their father,” Jace offered. “And they
have you.”
Jace had a point, but Paris still wasn’t sure how to approach them.
They’d always rebuffed his every attempt of befriending them. He
would have to give the matter some further thought.
As he considered this, he and his siblings at last finished filling
the grave with dirt. Paris abandoned the shovel and stepped back, his
mind filled with questions. What now? It simply didn’t feel right to
just leave. He scanned the faces of those present, seeking answers.
Few people had come to Aria’s funeral. Mostly, the only
attendants were those who’d at one point been close to Aria—Alpha
Marrow, Paris, and his five siblings, as well as Jace, Paris’s father,
and Reed, who had joined them in a natural show of support. Elder
Wade and his mate were also here, something which Alpha Marrow
seemed to appreciate.
They’d kept the ceremony brief and private. None of her children
had known what to say. Alpha Marrow had refused to do so, as well,
so the elder had spoken instead. Now that it was all over, Paris wanted
go back to the mansion and meet up with the people who meant so
much to him. But at the same time, he felt like there was still
something he needed to do.
And then, Alissa took a step forward and left another rose on the
fresh mound of earth. She caressed the headstone and sighed. Her
lower lip trembled as if she wanted to weep and was forcing herself
not to.
Giles wrapped an arm around his twin’s waist, blankly staring at
the grave. They were the youngest of Aria’s children and would
probably be most affected by her death. Paris couldn’t help himself.
He had to tell them he shared their pain.
“It’s all right,” Paris said. “It’s okay if you want to cry.”
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For a few seconds, Alissa just stared at him. Paris half expected
her to push him away, but she did no such thing. Instead, she burst
into tears and hugged him tightly. On instinct, Paris returned the
embrace, caressing her hair. She didn’t speak, but when Giles joined
in the hug, he said, “Thanks. Thank you for being here for us. You’ve
always been kinder than we deserve.”
“Don’t say that,” Paris immediately shot back. “We’re siblings.
Of course we should be close. I just wish things could have been
different with…with her.”
Alissa stopped crying. She broke away from Paris and gave him
an earnest look. “Is it true that she tried to kill you?”
Paris nodded, but decided they probably didn’t want the details.
“She did, but it doesn’t matter anymore. That’s in the past. You have
to remember the good about her.”
“You’re very generous,” Tucker said from behind him. “I don’t
know if I could say that had I been in your shoes.”
“We’ve been thinking,” Hamilton added. “The six of us have
never really truly bonded like family. But we want to change that. We
don’t want something like this ever happening again.”
“If you want, of course,” Knox said hastily. “We’d understand if
you were reluctant to have anything to do with us.” He threw a gaze
toward Anson and Reed. “After all, you have a new family now.”
“Whatever happens, you’ll always be my siblings.” Paris was
shocked that they seemed to have the same concerns he had. “I’ve
wanted to reach out to you, but I was worried you hated me.”
“We don’t hate you,” Tucker replied. “It’s just circumstances that
kept us from acting like we should have. I know that’s no excuse
but—”
“It’s all right,” Paris caught his brother off. “Water under the
bridge.”
Already feeling a bit better, Paris stole another look at his
mother’s grave. He was ready to let go. In many ways, she had shaped
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123
the way he’d grown up and had kept him from having a true pack. But
maybe without her manipulative ways, he’d never have met Jace.
“I very much doubt that, sweetheart,” Jace said through their
bond, coming closer to him. “We were meant to be together.”
Paris offered his mate a small smile and nodded. His brothers
looked curious, obviously guessing Paris and Jace were using mind
speech. Before they could ask, though, Alpha Marrow cleared his
throat. “Perhaps we should go,” he suggested. He eyed Paris and his
children in an uncharacteristic show of uncertainty. Paris couldn’t tell,
but maybe Alpha Marrow would have liked to strike a truce with
Paris as well.
Nevertheless, it was far too soon to consider becoming friends
with the man he’d once considered his father. Paris’s emotions were
still divided where Alpha Marrow was concerned, as for many years,
the man had allowed Aria to do whatever the hell she wanted. Still, it
was his warning that had brought Paris and his father help during
Aria’s first attack. It might not be a bad idea to reach out to the Alpha,
especially since it was Paris’s deepest wish to let go of the past and
start anew.
“Yes, Alpha Marrow,” he said. “And while we are here, I must
thank you for letting Alpha Wade know of Aria’s plan against me. I
never had the chance to tell you this until now, but I do appreciate it.”
“It was the least I could do,” the Alpha replied. He seemed
surprised by Paris’s tentative friendliness, but he took it all in stride.
“Now come. We should head back to the mansion.”
“I agree,” Elder Wade said. “I believe there are many guests
waiting, concerned for your well-being.”
Paris couldn’t agree more. It was time to leave the past behind and
focus on the future. Everyone followed behind Alpha Marrow and
Elder Wade, exiting the grove that was now Aria’s final resting place.
The walk to the mansion was quiet, all those present lost in their
thoughts. For his part, Paris was missing Daire, and he knew Jace felt
the same. Ever since the little warlock had appeared in their lives,
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he’d become like another part of them. Paris and Jace were already
talking to Skylar Cunningham, hoping to make arrangements so that
they could officially adopt Daire. According to Sterling, Daire’s real
parents had been the ones to offer him as a vessel for Tyrell, and
while the Sidhe had been willing to take Daire in himself, he’d gladly
stepped down at Paris and Jace’s insistence.
The best thing was that the Sidhe had also healed the injury
Daire’s body had sustained during Tyrell’s attack on Isaac.
Apparently, the magic that Winter’s people could wield was stronger
than Paris had ever imagined. There was even a special healing area
used for more serious cases, called the Silver Pool. Courtesy of that
power, Daire could walk again.
Of course, the wounds marking Daire’s soul wouldn’t heal so
easily, but Paris thought that he and his mate could help. The little
warlock was so very brave, and he raised every protective instinct
inside Paris. Hell, Daire had actually wanted to come to the funeral,
wanting to offer his support, but in the end, Paris and Jace had
decided the last thing the young warlock needed was to be reminded
of the trauma he’d gone through. Therefore, he had left Daire at
Alpha Marrow’s mansion, together with the rest of their family and
friends.
“He’s a great kid,” Jace told him. “It will take some time, but
we’ll help him.”
Paris nodded at his mate. Already he was anticipating his new life
with his new family. It should have seemed a bit strange, since he’d
just left a funeral, but these days, Paris had gotten used to his
conflicting emotions. The pain of loss had been pushed aside,
shadowed by the joy of having Jace and Daire close.
Soon, the group reached the mansion and found several people
waiting in the courtyard. Jace’s parents and siblings, as well as his
uncles, Isaac and Brody, were there. There seemed to be quite a bit of
tension between Elder Wade and the rest of his family since the Elder
had attempted to intrude in Isaac’s and Melanie’s lives with
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125
dangerous consequences. Even Jace had kept his distance from his
grandfather, and while he was polite, he also avoided any close
contact.
Paris knew that the situation pained Jace and needed to be dealt
with soon. However, for the moment, he let it go and instead went to
where the Mckennas were waiting.
Daire sat in the grass, playing with Corbin’s newborn son,
Lamont. He laughed gaily as the small white lynx pounced on him,
rubbing his furry head against Daire’s chin. Winter and Corbin
watched over the two with indulgent expressions.
As it turned out, Winter and Corbin’s son had been born in shifted
form. It had been very unexpected, but apparently, one could never be
certain which form half-breeds would take upon birth. Layton and
Morgan, for example, had been born in shifter form, but Layton’s son,
Shea, had come to the world in human form. It seemed to depend a lot
on the genetic compatibility between species. For Paris, it was all very
confusing, and he couldn’t imagine how odd it must have been for
Winter to birth a lynx. Not only that, but unlike in the cases any other
lynxes Paris had seen, Lamont’s coat was also snow white, a
consequence of his Sidhe ancestry. In fact, in spite of his outside
appearance, he’d already exhibited signs of having magic.
To a certain extent, Paris had been surprised by Winter and
Corbin’s visit since he had expected Sterling Tomacelli to keep them
close to home for a while longer. He’d then realized that, most likely,
Lamont would remain in lynx form for a whole year, which might
make the Sidhe uncomfortable. In the meantime, Corbin’s brother and
parents had also arrived. They lavished their concern on Winter and
Corbin, but were also very thankful and affectionate toward Jace and
Paris. Paris was very happy to have them all here. Daire seemed to
like Lamont a lot—or maybe he just wanted a pet. Either way, he
smiled more when the little white lynx was around and was more
open to displays of affection. In spite of his protectiveness, Paris
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knew Daire would be safe with his friends should problematic
circumstances like this funeral ever emerge again.
Daire looked up, and when he saw Paris and Jace, he immediately
shot to his feet. He rushed toward them, still holding Lamont in his
arms. “Is everything okay now?” he inquired.
“Of course, honey.” Paris knelt next to Daire and ruffled the little
warlock’s hair. “Everything’s just fine.”
The moment might have been even a little solemn, but then,
Lamont bit Daire’s chin and Daire huffed, placing the little lynx on
the ground. Paris couldn’t help it. He burst into laughter. It was hardly
appropriate given the circumstances, but suddenly, he realized that
there would be no more tears in the future. Oh, he didn’t doubt that
he’d have to face many challenges, but he would take it all on with a
smile on his face. He considered himself lucky that he’d found a soul
mate who had taught him the true meaning of love and a son who
could show him affection in spite of being so hurt before. Most
importantly, he was no longer afraid, and he would fight for his new
family, come what may.
THE END
WWW.SCARLETHYACINTH.WEBS.COM
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
A native Romanian, Scarlet was born in 1986 and grew up an avid
fan of Karl May and Jules Verne, reading fantasy stories and
adventure. Later, when she was out of fantasy stories to read, she
delved into her mother’s collection of books and, of course, stumbled
onto romance.
As a writer though, Scarlet Hyacinth was born one sunny summer
day, when a dear friend of hers—the same friend who introduced her
to GLBT fiction—proposed they start writing a story of their own. As
it turns out, the two friends never did finish that particular story, but
Scarlet discovered she had a knack for writing and ended up starting
to write individually. And so, between working on her dissertation,
studying for exams, and reading yaoi manga, she started writing the
Kaldor Saga. Along the way, Scarlet met a lot of wonderful people
who supported her, and in the end, she found her story a home and, in
the process, fulfilled a beautiful dream.
For all titles by Scarlet Hyacinth, please visit
www.bookstrand.com/scarlet-hyacinth
Siren Publishing, Inc.
www.SirenPublishing.com