Fate and Fury (48 page)

Sally blushed. She didn’t know what to say to him. Her mind was reeling at all the things he had said and she just wanted to throw herself in his arms and scream do it already. She nearly laughed out loud at herself. She wondered what he would say if she did just that. She looked into his eyes and could see the earnest need for approval there. He truly wanted to please her, wanted her to know just how precious she was to him.

“
If you aren’t ready, Sally, we can wait. I won’t rush you.” Sally knew that he meant every word. He would wait for her forever if she asked.

“
Costin,” Sally huffed, “we did the Blood Rites. I wear your markings and your bite and now I’m your wife, what else am I waiting for?”

Costin grinned. “Those things are all true, but you are still young, and I am still the first guy you have ever been intimate with. I will completely understand if you want to move slowly.”

Sally tapped her lips with her finger and Costin could see the mischief dancing in her eyes. “Slow is good I’m sure, but according to Jen sometimes a little rough is just as necessary.”

Costin coughed, trying to swallow. Sally’s face turned bright red and she laughed. She couldn’t believe she had just said that. Well, that wasn’t entirely true, it didn’t totally surprise her. She had lived through a hellish evil spell, helped kill a witch, and fought an evil hoard of demons, saved a Warlock King, and brought a powerful Alpha back to life, so joking about sex with her mate and husband really was a piece of cake at this point.

“
Sally mine,” Costin’s voice dropped low and caressed her skin. She shivered as she felt his fingers begin to skim across her calf and up to her thigh. He tapped her hip playfully as he grinned wickedly, “rough you say?” She squealed as he flipped her on her back. One second his hand was on her hip, teasing, and the next he was over her. Sally’s breathing increased, as she stared up into glowing, hazel eyes. Costin’s unique scent wrapped around her drawing, her closer to him. She growled at him and nipped his shoulder. He chuckled at the surprise and longing he saw on her face.

He kissed her deeply pulling her tight against him and when she shuddered, he tugged her bottom lip with his teeth. “Rough it is,” he whispered, hoarsely against her lips.

Epilogue

“
Every man makes mistakes. Every man faces times in their life when they would give anything for a do-over. Unfortunately, life doesn’t work that way. Once the mistake is made, the only thing left to do is deal with the consequences. That is when the measure of a man is made, when his character is revealed.” ~ Cypher

Vasile sat in his office facing a group of solemn faces. He had called this meeting of his closest men and of Decebel and his top four to discuss the new enemy that had risen, just as Mona had fallen.

“
Has anyone ever heard of this man cloaked in smoke with yellow eyes?” Decebel looked over at Wadim.

“
I know you might think that I know it all, because I’m the historian, but I got nothing on this one.” He threw his hands up in the air and let them fall to his thighs.

Vasile let out an exasperated breath. He had been wracking his brain, trying to remember where he had seen those yellow eyes. It had been a very long time, but he was sure that he had met the man at one point in his long life.

“
Whoever he is, he is deadly,” Costin said, from where he leaned against the wall, his bartending towel tossed casually over his shoulder. He had been at the bar working when Vasile had called and hadn’t bothered to set it down.

“
He is deadlier and more dangerous than you can possibly know.” A deep voice rumbled from behind them. They all turned to see Cypher standing in the door. He still looked weak. He was, however, finally walking on his own strength.

“
Please, come in Cypher,” Vasile motioned for him to take a seat among them.

“
You know him?” Sorin spoke up.

Cypher nodded. “He is Reyaz, my brother.”

Q

Decebel lay next to his mate, watching her sleep. Her face was relaxed and peaceful, no lines of worry, no pain danced in her eyes. He gently rubbed her stomach where their baby was nestled safe and growing. Every day was one day closer to her birth, one day closer to the promise the Fates had made to take her from them. In all the chaos of the past weeks, they had not had much time to think about the impending birth. In the few quiet moments they'd had, they spent them talking of a future that might never come, but they refused to acknowledge that possibility.

Decebel had a made a decision that he knew Jennifer would not like, but he did not know what other options he had. He kissed her gently on the forehead and then quietly rose from their bed.

Once in the quiet garden he closed his eyes and knelt to the ground.

“
I request an audience with you Great Luna. It is of great importance and I beg of your help.”

“
You need not beg child
,” her voice spread warmth into the cool room and Decebel felt a hand urge him to stand. “
I have told you that all you need do is ask and I will answer
.”

Decebel met her eyes and he clenched his jaw, determined to get the words out without breaking down. “My mate is with child and the Fates have determined that her life is the debt that will be paid for Jennifer’s life being spared.”

He watched as she took his words in. She had known what the Fates had decreed and she had chosen to wait to see how Decebel and Jennifer would respond.

“
What is it you ask of me
?”

“
I want to take her place. She is an innocent, her life is not supposed to end. I have lived a very long time. I have been blessed to have found my true mate and it is only right that I should die before my child.”

The Great Luna’s eyes softened, “
And, what would your mate say about this
?”

“
Jennifer will survive losing me if you will break the bond between us. I do not believe she could survive losing our child.” Decebel told her, honestly.

“
Don’t you think it should be her choice
?”

“
I cannot ask her to choose between me and our child; that isn’t fair. I have always told her I would protect her from anything, even herself.”

“
This is truly what you want
?” She stepped towards him and placed a hand over his heart.

“
Yes, if it is the only way to save her life, it is what I want.”

The Great Luna nodded. “
So be it
.”

And, then she was gone.

Decebel fell to his knees as he felt his heart tear in two. His body shook with his grief and his wolf cried out for their mate. He kept the bond closed, not wanting to wake her. And, in the quiet of the garden he reached for the darkness that had tormented him for so long, for it was only in the darkness that he would be able to hide his shattered soul. He cried out for his love, for the woman who had saved him and brought meaning to his life once again. He prayed that she would be able to forgive him and that one day they might be united once again. He vowed that until the moment that the Fates sucked the life from his body, he would treasure every second he had with her.

He stood and shook off as much of the pain as he could. And, with final resolve, he turned and went back to his love, enveloped her in his arms and whispered three words in her ear.

“
Please forgive me.”

Q

Sally lay contentedly in Costin’s arms hours later. She could hear his heart beating where her head was pressed against his chest and she found comfort in the steady rhythm. After so many dangers they had faced, so many ugly things that had been thrown at them, now she lay in the arms of her mate and it was beautiful.

“
You are beautiful,” he whispered.

“
Are you listening to my thoughts?” She asked with a grin.

“
Always,” Costin squeezed are affectionately. “Are you alright?” His words were soft and she heard the apprehension in his voice.

She pushed herself up on her arm so she could look him in the eyes.

“
I’m better than alright, Costin.”

“
I love you,” he told her as he reached up his hand and caressed her face.

“
Thank you.” Sally’s head tilted to the side as she looked down at him, her eyes narrowed thoughtfully. “Hey, we never said our vows.”

Costin grinned mischievously, he kissed her neck and then looked back up at her.

“
Do you remember me whispering in your ear tonight or the words I sent you through our bond?” He asked her.

Sally nodded.

“
You are the air I breathe, the food I eat, the water that quenches my thirst, Sally mine. You are what I have waited for, what I have so desperately needed and what I could never deserve. Every whispered promise, every confession, every longing, hope and dream I have shared with you this night, those are my vows to you my love. All you need know is that I am yours, unequivocally and you are mine.”

Sally stared into the eyes of the man she loved, the man who was more than a man and more than anything she ever imagined she could have. She saw every thought that coincided with his words, felt every emotion as intensely as he did and she found joy in the love that he held for her. She was his, no matter what new evil they would face, no matter the trials, the triumphs or the fury that would come knocking at their door. She was his and he was hers, fate had destined them and loved had bonded them.

More books by Quinn Loftis

The Grey Wolves Series:

Prince of Wolves

Blood Rites

Just One Drop

Out of the Dark

Beyond the Veil

Elfin Series:

Elfin

Visit
www.quinnloftisbooks.com
to keep up to date with the latest information on characters, release dates and fun give aways.

Thank you so much for taking time to read Fate and Fury. It is my sincerest hope that you enjoyed it.

Please enjoy this excerpt from Raine Thomas’
s award winning YA Paranormal Romance.

Becoming

By
Raine Thomas

Prologue

His lungs burned like hot coals in his chest as he ran. Although he would have preferred just about any other method of climbing to his destination, the thick surrounding trees prevented it. The terrain was treacherous, marked with jagged-edged rocks made wet and slick from a recent thunderstorm. The lack of moonlight on the hot night was a mixed blessing. He couldn’t see very well where he was going, but he hoped the cloak of darkness would offer him some camouflage from his pursuers.

He was eternally grateful that the bundle in his arms didn’t squall or otherwise make noise that would surely give away their position. It made his task at least mildly easier.

Before he had started this last leg of his journey, he had seen his two companions off safely. That was another blessing on this otherwise cursed day. Knowing they had achieved that much of their mission gave him hope that he could finish this.