Authors: Editor
“Oh! This is an exquisite position,” Serina purred in a voice that sounded nothing like her, but much more raspy, masculine. She yanked his hips down to her and ground her pelvis without mercy into his erection. “Come for me, Lucian, crash into me. Take me here, now, like this. I need you, I love you...Lucian…” Serina yelled in anguish, “Please don’t leave me.” Tears rolled from behind her closed eyes.
André found his will and strength quicker than lightning striking. “Serina, I am not my brother. You’re acting like two totally different women right now.”
“You think? Help me, André!” Serina cried. “Drop me.”
In her next breath of air, her voice dropped to a baritone. “You want to be Lucian. Kiss me, André,” she growled and yanked him to her mouth, jammed her tongue deep into his mouth and came close to eating him alive. He fought for freedom.
She cursed, “Coward!”
A split second later, Serina ran her fingers through his jet-black curls and yanked him away from her. “Kiss me again, André, and I’ll bite off your tongue. Ask Jonah. I got his.”
This insanity had to stop.
“I love your pouty lips, Lucian.”
Oh Christ, not again
.
His heart pounded its way past ribs and sinew looking for a way out. However, lower body parts also sought release. André peeked down at his erection. He thought about whacking it off himself.
With a machete.
Serina/Jasper read André’s mind and offered, “Let me do that,” as she reached between his legs.
“Oh, in the name of the Queen, Serina, stop!” He ripped her hand from his pants and then remembered something. He dug in his pocket and yanked out a small bottle. He brought it to his lips, bit down on the cork stopper and opened the bottle. He wasted no time dowsing Serina with the blessed water.
Raven screamed in her head,
Serina, André, stop what you’re doing now.
Serina, listen to me. André is not Lucian. Stop your assault. The vampire is playing you both. Listen with your heart, Serina. I would not lie to you.
Jesus, André, get off her!
André fell backwards onto his ass and took in a huge gulp of air when she released him. He touched his lip and his finger came away covered in blood. She bit him.
Confused, Serina shot her brother-in-law an unfavorable glare. “Ouch, André, what just happened? I don’t remember anything at all. My head feels like a punching bag. That may not be the only part of my anatomy that is bruised, besides my ego?” Serina looked down at the position of her body...lying beside André with her skirt wrapped around her hips. A warm rush of color raced up her neck to her face. “What did we do?” She yanked her skirt back down to her ankles. “Did we? Lie to me if you must!”
“No.” André felt like an awful cad. He had almost taken her, but he ignored the signs.
Take me Lucian…I love your pouty lips…
André whacked the side of his head repeatedly with his palm. “How could I be so callous? Serina, the vampire that killed Lucian and attacked you—” André ran his fingers gently over the deep, purple holes in her neck. “—has one hell of a stranglehold over you. None of us are immune. Most assured we would have had sex just now if Raven had not gotten into our heads, and Father hadn’t given me the holy water. Forgive me?”
Serina grabbed his face. “André, do not place blame on yourself. You and I both are strong-willed. We have loving people who surround us yet Jasper has found entrance to our bodies, not our hearts. We need to find a way to combat him. He cannot destroy what we have left.”
Determination to bring Jasper to an abrupt end took precedence on Serina’s
do it tomorrow list.
He’d met his match, and she was the spark waiting to incinerate him. She needed to protect Raven and André at all costs. Now Serina understood why she lived.
Jasper. It was all about Jasper now.
“You look so much like him, André. It hurts so. That is why I went a bit ballistic on the top of the mountain…”
“A bit, Serina?” André interrupted. “Look behind you. The trees exploded behind us. The earth shook.”
Serina shrugged her shoulders and kept talking. “I thought about you...I didn’t think I could ever look at you again, and not have my heart fragment into a million pieces.”
“It works both ways, Serina. I look at you and will always wish to see my brother at your side.”
“Payton!” Serina gasped. “Jonah ripped him open. Do you know what that means?” Serina gave it her all, attempting to get to her feet, yet she stumbled the second she stood.
André caught her and balanced her. “André, he’ll turn into a werewolf. Is there anything we can do to prevent it? Can you get me to him?”
André pulled Serina up into his arms and headed down the mountain. “His fate will be determined in a few weeks. Serina, you don’t mind if I drop you in the creek when we catch up to everyone do you?”
“That bad?”
André nodded. “Worse. Tell me about Jonah. Why did you want to protect him from us?”
“I knew if confronted a fight would ensue. He told me about his past, and I suppose I have sympathy for him. He lost his wife the same way I lost Lucian.” Serina clammed up and buried her face into his shirt. For a brief moment, Serina could speak of Lucian and not turn into a babbling idiot. That time had apparently ended.
André pulled her closer to him and held her as they continued down the mountain. “I see Duncan, they’re just past the turn.”
Payton fought to remain conscious. Duncan cautiously looked at Serina, then to André. “Serina, please help Payton. I know what you did for our Lucian and Ray. Can you help him?”
Serina set her hands on Payton’s shoulders and explained her intentions so she wouldn’t give him the fright of his life. “I’m going to enter your body now. It may feel awkward at first, but it shouldn’t cause discomfort. Don’t panic.” Serina kissed his forehead. “And Payton? You’ve got us, always, no matter what.”
“Thank you,” came through chattering teeth.
Serina shed her earthly body and became pure kinetic energy. Focused on the damage done to the interior of his chest wall, he’d been most fortunate Jonah had missed his lungs. He did however make quite a mess of his abdomen and sliced into his liver. Meticulous at her work, she mended all torn parts with great certainty that Payton would live to see the next full moon. After that, it was out of her hands. When she finished, she passed out, with not a word.
Duncan caught her and held her, uncertain what to do with her or what to feel for her, but he held her all the same and didn’t let go. He ran his hand over her face tenderly. “Someone needs to get her water and food. She’s completely depleted of energy.” And without missing a beat he added, “This is indeed my fault, André. Payton would never have gone through this if I’d listened to her. I was so certain we’d lost her along with Lucian that my temper took over my better judgment. I am so sorry, Payton. Please forgive me. If I could trade places with you, I would do so in a heartbeat.”
“Careful what ya wish for, Duncan. Next month Payton might be needing some company when he’s out roaming the woods,” Jonah muttered.
“Well then, he should be thankful he’s got you to show him the ropes, hey?” Duncan harshly added, “He was a good man until you did this to him.”
Jonah pugnaciously replied, “Payton still is a good man, Duncan. Just different now. He’s still a man, with a heart and a conscience.” Saying that, he hoped it would sink into Duncan that, he too, owned a heart and a conscience, although he wasn’t sure why he cared an iota what any of them thought of him.
André looked around their makeshift camp, and seeing no food or water, said, “Hold the fort, Duncan. I’ll be back. You two, kiss and make up before I get back.”
“You first, Ands,” Duncan shouted.
“Not on your life.”
Chapter Sixteen
He placed a ladle of water to her lips, but Serina didn’t stir. He looked at her lying in Duncan’s arms and asked, “Can I take her?”
Duncan looked up through tired, smoke-filled eyes, and reluctantly handed her over. “André, did you change your clothing?”
He gave Duncan’s question some serious thought. “I don’t recall.” He then did the one thing he’d wanted to do since he’d found her. He waded her into the water. Slowly the cooler fluids rose to her neck and rushed over her tiny body. He ran his hands across her skin where all the debris of the past days stuck to her fragile bones. Cradling her head in one hand he washed her hair, knowing soaps would still be needed, but he had to start somewhere. His touch was gentle, intimate. She felt wonderful in his arms. He closed his eyes holding the tears hostage. No tears today. Feeling her heart beating through her shirt, allowed him a moment’s respite, even if only temporarily. He prayed she’d open those emerald eyes for him soon. He needed to see that sparkle she held for him alone. Would the gleam still be there? Or had he already been replaced?
And just like that Serina opened her eyes. She all but jumped from the water onto his shoulders laughing.
“What is with the St. James men and water? I hate water. Get me out of here.” She laughed heartily, showing off a beautiful grin and soft lips that he had to have.
“Not that fast, little luv. You need a good rinsing off, and then we’ll see what we can dig you up to dress your little body in. Usually you’re a beautiful woman, except at this very moment.” Pulling her off his shoulders and back into his arms, he said one last thing to her as they both went under the water, “Hold your breath.”
“Wha—?”
Under the water, Serina clamped her eyes shut. Being scared of the water as it was, she didn’t need to see any fish or sea serpents swimming by her with large fangs directed at her body.
As he crushed her tightly against him, a stinging sensation in her chest perplexed her, and just as quickly, the pain was replaced with an undeniable need. She shook, saturated with pleasure. Her lower muscles gave off little tremors, creating waves in a still lake, releasing all the horrid memories of the past days.
She had no idea of how or why this orgasm came about, but she welcomed it. Even knowing she desperately needed oxygen she let him hold her under the water. That too heightened her orgasm. She wanted to get to the top of the water and gulp in as much air as she could force her lungs to take, but at the same time, she couldn’t release her body from the intensity feeding her. She never opened her eyes; she didn’t want to wake up and have her dream be that, a really wet dream. Right here, like this, she decided she had a newfound appreciation for water.
Serina came up and sought to see the glimmer in his eyes, remembering the intense beauty they held and how she felt when she gazed into them. She rubbed water from her eyes trying to focus, as she clung to him in a death grip.
His words, just before he dragged her under...he’d said the exact same thing to her the night they’d spent at the lake. Coincidence? She thought not, but she had to ask. “Lucian?”
Damn the moon for disappearing and stealing all the light.
It had to be him. She knew at that exact second, she didn’t want to live without him. She tried to kiss him but he pulled away from her.
“Sorry, luv.” He carried Serina back to the edge of the water, set her down and left, never speaking another word or glancing back.
“Sorry luv,” Serina mimicked as she sat on the muddy shore and picked up every last stone in her reach and flung each one harder than the last into the lake. “
How could I have been so delusional?
” She’d have bet her life Lucian returned. Now this orgasm left the bitter taste of guilt. Getting up, Serina wobbled sideways and stumbled over a few rocks making her back to Duncan. She plopped down next to him with a thud, and soggy butt. Gathering the ends of her dress, she wrung the water out. Duncan looked at her from the corner of his eye as the excess drops rolled to his feet. His nose twitched.
“Feel any better? I must say you smell much better.”
“One out of two isn’t bad.” She turned to Payton. “How are you doing?”
“I’m no longer resembling a stuck pig, nor am I chasing me tail so I suppose I’m just ducky too.”
Serina snapped, “Don’t ever say that word again.”
“What word,” Payton asked. He glanced at Duncan and mouthed, “What did I say?” Duncan shrugged his shoulders.
“The one that rhymes with lucky and quacks.” Watching Payton mumble through the alphabet until he reached
that word,
Serina couldn’t help but laugh.
André returned with cans of beans, fresh raspberries he’d picked and canteens filled with water. “Anyone hungry?” Glancing at Serina he eyed her from head to toe. “Serina, you’re soaked. What, did you fall in the water? We’ll have to get you some dry clothing.”
The air stilled. Not a one of them budged. Serina looked from Duncan, whose mouth hung open, to Payton, who held his chest, to Jonah who turned a pasty white and rested her eyes on André. Her hands went to her mouth as if trying to contain the scream that would come out regardless. “Lucian,” she squealed. He’d made it back to her. She didn’t care how he got there, only that he had.
Duncan bounced to his feet and searched in and around their campsite. “Serina? Am I crazy? Please tell me I’m not clinging to a dream. Please tell me we both saw him.”
“Would one of you please tell me what in hell I just missed?” André faced Serina, then twisted his body around to follow Duncan zigzagging between trees and brush. “Hello! What happened?” André dropped the food in haste and held his arms wide open with a questionable look on his face.
Wearing a grin from ear to ear, Duncan answered, “Lucian. We think.”
“You’ve all gone insane. I leave for one second, maybe two and you’re all seeing ghosts.” Regardless of his words, André wasted no time to join Duncan. “Serina, tell me what went on,” André yelled from the top of a boulder trying to get a clearer view of the area.
“I stayed put. I passed out after healing Payton.”
“I was there for that part,” André answered.
“I passed her to you, I thought,” Duncan piped in.
“Wasn’t privy to that part,” André added.
Serina wondered aloud, “Then where did he go? Why would he leave me?”
With restless passion, André headed for the woods once more and scoured the mountainside for his brother.
André finally settled by the fire beside Serina, drained. He glanced around. Each of his family were spread around the fire at various angles trying to get close enough to stay warm through the night, but far enough from the flames not to end up singed come morning. He lay on his side next to Serina, his one arm bent under his head, focused on the flames and things that one could not see or feel except him.
He’d come very close to having sex with Serina. That would haunt him all the days of his life. He’d lost faith. The vampire got to him, which had never happened. That too bothered him, because his will was unbendable. “This vampire must be ancient.” André said it more to himself.
Jonah offered, “Jasper? He’s crafty, but he’s a peon. His strength is gained through another vamp. This other demon lives without consequence. He is immoral and his appetites go far beyond blood lust. Been told he’s cannibalistic by nature.”
“Lovely. How is it you know so much of him, yet you have no name to stake him with?” André chuckled. “
What a great metaphor
.”
“I have only heard mention of him by way of others less fortunate. Forgive me, I meant no harm.”
“You’ve already caused enough of that now!” Duncan, obviously still awake and still very angry piped in. “Why is it you lie here with us?”
“I stay for Serina, to see that she makes it home safely. If Jasper returns, you’ll need help.”
“She doesn’t need you. We do not need or want you here, Jonah. You will leave us in the morning.” Duncan’s voice reached new octaves surprising even him.
“Ease up, old man. Serina says the man means us no harm and I believe her. I think it’s in our best interest to keep him close at hand or under foot, whichever way you choose to look at it, but this way we can monitor him as well. I think it makes more sense to keep your friends close and your enemies closer.”
“Means us no harm, does he? Ask Payton that why don’t you.”
“Duncan—please, let it rest for tonight. Payton’s alive. We found Serina, and Lucian’s somewhere—or so you keep saying. Tomorrow, if Jonah barks or snips at you, you can neuter him with Payton’s silver knife.” André winked at Duncan then gave a slow lazy stretch of his arms over his head with a loud sigh. “Who’s got first watch? We’ve still three hours before sunrise.”
“I’ll watch for awhile,” Payton offered. “I can’t sleep just yet any way. My stomach is rumbling so loud it’s keeping even me awake.”
Huddled close to the fire, Serina basked in the warmth, as it soothed her tired bones. Even sleeping on the ground didn’t bother her tonight. The flame’s reds, blues and oranges sparks dazzled the night. Serina laid back and listened to the crackles and pops of the logs burning. The crisp, woodsy aroma should have relaxed her but she couldn’t let her guard down. Lucian was out there somewhere alone. She hadn’t dreamed him up. She knew when he could, he would return for her. He’d promised her that. He’d told her death would not separate them. Even though he made his way back, Serina had questions. What happened to him? Where did he go? Was he actually dead? She shook her head a steadfast no. Everything her sciences taught her said this was implausible. But medical science had some catching up to do with real life, it seemed. Look at her—she was a walking anomaly of life. Ah, but she was still alive. Well, now, didn’t Jasper pose an unsettling point. He was technically alive, although for how long once she was through with him remained to be seen, but he was on her side of the ley lines causing all sorts of havoc. And now, her dear husband followed in the heathen’s footsteps. Ugh!
She wanted to dance and sing to the world that the love of her life lived, but she smartly knew her limits... Singing and definitely dancing was not her forte. When a sharp stab in her chest demanded her attention, she crossed her arms over her breasts and that one tiny movement sucked her last molecule of oxygen she had stashed in her away. A tingling, tickling sensation wound around her nipple and dove down past her abdomen and stopped right between her thighs. She touched her breast again and the same thing happened. It was where she’d felt the undeniable pleasure radiate through her body when she went under the water. She looked around the camp to see if anyone watched her. André lay beside her snoring. Duncan’s eyelids fluttered in deep sleep. Jonah slept with knees pulled tightly to his chest, his arms welded around them and his head at a crooked angle to the rest of his body’s alignment. Serina snickered. He was going to have one hell of a stiff neck come sunrise. No sign of Payton, but she assumed he was out picking berries or bugs to eat.
Serina pulled open the large shirt Duncan gave her, and she gasped when she found two tiny holes in the center of her breast. She immediately placed her hand over her flesh, unsure what she felt other than a deep curiosity. She pulled the edges of her shirt closed hearing Payton’s whistling.
When Payton returned he stood over Jonah and stared at the man that possibly infected him with the lycan virus. Serina channeled him as he watched Jonah for signs of anything different, finding none, all for Jonah’s yellow eyes. Those eyes stood out like a dinosaur on an ant farm.
A handsome, striking dinosaur, her thought, not Payton’s.
She pulled away from him and observed him like any other person without the ability to read his thoughts. He lay down and curled up next to the fire then closed his eyes lightly just for a minute, to relieve the tension. One minute turned into two and then four and then he lost count. So did Serina.
Concealed by the darkness just beyond the campsite, he watched them sleep. A grin slowly worked its way to his face when his eyes lit upon Serina. He moved closer and added more wood to the fire to keep them warm and to keep animals away.
André.
He stifled the desire to throttle him. André lay protectively next to Serina, circling her with his body, yet not touching her. Close, but not too close. After the entanglement between them today on the mountain, they’d have to be watched. Can’t have your brother sleeping with your wife. Doesn’t make for pleasantries, period.
Witnessing them together earlier stopped his heart, for a second time. He’d never lived through anything so painful. Jasper’s bite didn’t hold a candle to watching his beloved bride come close to getting full carnal knowledge of his twin. Even knowing Jasper caused this didn’t lessen his anguish. Hearing Serina calling André by his name, eased his burden some, but none-the-less, it left a bitter taste upon his lips. He couldn’t intervene, couldn’t stop the struggles between Serina and André because his needs overrode his emotions. He needed blood and seeing his brother’s hands on Serina’s ass made him want to rip out his twin’s throat and drain his last drop from him. And dear God, how close he actually came to doing it! He left to regain what precious little control he owned. He would not turn into the monster that did this to him.