The Other Switch (The Forever Series, Book 7.5): The Forever series, Book 7.5 (5 page)

Constantine takes my arm and Teleports us to our bedroom. I am glad to note the brand new sheets. “Aefre,” he says. “I don’t know what is going on with you lately, but you need to stop this. Your mood swings are extensive and you are being willful and careless and not at all like yourself.”

“Maybe I am being myself, for once,” I say back to him, hands on my hips. “I am tired of having to be so perfect all the time. I am tired of being told what to do and how to act. I want to have fun, I want to relax, I want to make love in a barn. I don’t want to be on a schedule and have everything organized down to the last millisecond.” I move closer to him knowing that everything I have said is true. I want a piece of her life for myself. “Please, my love. We need to take a vacation. Just the two of us.” I would rather it be the three of us, but I know he won’t refuse me if I exclude Sebastian.

“We have already discussed this,” he says with a frown. “You said you wanted to go to Miami.”

I did? Or more like, she did? That sneaky cow. She was already making plans to go and find Cole
.

“Just the two of us?” he repeats quietly as I remain silent, still reeling from this news. The sex aside, she appears to have interacted with him far more than I am comfortable with. I nod and he closes his eyes. “Oh Aefre, I want that. I really want that. Just the two of us.”

“Please say yes,” I ask him.

“Yes,” he says before he kisses me. “I will go to Miami or anywhere else you want to go.”

Oh, we are going to Miami all right. I have already checked and Cole is there in this world. He is there working on a movie, just as he is in her world. I am going to find him and turn him and be with him forever. He will be mine. Truly mine, and no one will be able to take him away from me.

“Make love to me,” I whisper. “Like you used to, slow and passionate.”

He takes my hands and leads me to the bathroom. “After a shower,” he mutters and I sigh. Just this once I wish he had taken me spontaneously.

As it turns out though, this works out nicely in my favor, as he not only joins me (I can’t remember the last time he did that), but slowly washes every inch of me, driving me into a lust-fuelled frenzy. Then he sucks on every part of me, from my toes to the back of my knees, all the way up to my nipples before he drops his fangs and feeds from me so slowly I never want him to stop. He pulls back and kisses me sweetly and I feel his love for me and it wells up in me. I do love him so much. I always have and I always will. I want to please him so I drop to my knees and take him in my mouth and he shivers at my touch, at my mouth on him. The water is pounding down on us and it is incredibly sexy. He is incredibly sexy.

He pulls me up before he can finish and leads me back out of the shower. He picks me up in his arms and, soaking wet, he places me on the bed and sees to me just as I asked him to: slowly and with such an intense passion that only he can give me. I come several times before he slowly slides into me and wraps his arms around me tightly as he moves inside me
.

“I love you, Aefre,” he whispers. “I love you so much.”

“I love you, Constantine. I want to please you,” I murmur to him and roll us over so I can ride him. I run my hands over his chest as I move my hips over him. He grabs my thighs and I pull him up, wrapping my legs around him so I am so close to him. I drop my fangs and feed deeply from him as we both come together. I pull back, panting, and lean my forehead on his, holding him tightly.

“Do you truly forgive me?” he whispers.

“Yes,” I say straight away. I had already decided back in her world that I would forgive him, but she took that away from me. I am glad he asked again and I could give him my absolution. Her opinion doesn’t count, she doesn’t know. She doesn’t have a right to forgive his hurtful actions.

“Thank you, my love,” he says. “I was so worried that this time I had lost you forever.”

“Never,” I say, meaning it completely. “Yes, you hurt me terribly, but I know I hurt you too, and for that I am sorry.”

“No, Aefre, don’t say that. You do what you must. I understand it, I really do.” He pushes my hair out of my eyes with a look of such longing it makes me want to cry.

“Sometimes I wish we’d had more time,” I say, taking his face in my hands. “More time to just be us.”

“You do?” he asks, surprised.

“Yes, don’t you? We had almost no time after you turned me, everything happened so quickly. I was expected to be so much when all I wanted was to enjoy you. To enjoy what we were, what you made me. There wasn’t enough time,” I say sadly.

He crushes me to him as he kisses me. “Oh, Aefre. I know exactly how you feel. I just didn’t know that you felt the same. You seemed to accept what you became with such ease and I just accepted it too. I wanted more time with you. I needed more time with you,” he whispers.

“Then let’s take it. Cassis is more than capable of running the Empire. We can go and travel the world, properly this time. Let’s take the time to just be with each other.”

He looks at me as if I just handed him the moon, but then his eyes cloud over. “Just the two of us?” he asks again.

I hesitate now. “Mostly,” I say, and a pained expression crosses his face. “My love, I don’t want to hurt you, but you know I can’t be without him for long periods. When he is at Court it will just be us. You and me and nobody else.”

“You need to go to your own Court,” he says then, changing the subject abruptly. “I know we spoke of this the other day, but, Aefre, you need to go and see Drake. Soon.”

“I don’t want to,” I say petulantly.

“I know you don’t, but it would be better for everyone if you went to him. If he takes it upon himself to come here again…” he trails off and a frisson of dread goes down my spine. No, that wouldn’t be good at all.

“Fine, I will go. I will show my face for a couple of days, and when I get back we will go on our vacation,” I say and he nods briskly.

“Take Sebastian with you. I don’t want you around him on your own.”

“Okay, I don’t really want to be around him on my own anyway.” I sigh, but then look up at him from my lowered lashes. “Now where were we?” I ask seductively as I snake my hand down in between us and he grins, happy to have me initiate for a change.

Chapter 4

We told Sebastian that I was going to go to Court and he sent word that we would be arriving shortly. We left the date open as I was nervous and still did not want to go. To say that Drake and I do not get along is the understatement of the century. He came here looking for me several months ago and I rejected him. He is mean and a bully and I hate him. I didn’t need him in my life, but as it turned out he needed me. So much, in fact, that he kidnapped my daughter and kept her in a disgusting hole deep underground until I told him that I would do as he wished. Ever since then I have tried to avoid going back to Court and he has tried everything to get me to go. But if he ever lays a hand on Cassis again, I will kill him. I am dreading going again. I don’t want to see him, but Constantine is right in saying that if he comes back here it will be bad for all of us. I need to brush it off and do my duty, to protect my daughter and my family.

“I am going to miss you while you are gone,” Constantine says to me in between kisses between my breasts.

“I am going to miss you too. I wish I didn’t have to go,” I say and sigh.

“It’s for the best, my love. You know you have to. I wish I could come with you.” He pushes my breast into a small mound and tugs on my nipple and it sends a shiver down my spine.

“I know. I wish you could as well, but it wouldn’t be a good idea. You know how he feels about you. When I get back we will be together,” I say and he smiles at me.

“I can’t wait. Aefre,” he says, then seriously. “I know the last few days have been traumatic for you, but I am glad that you had this…breakdown. It has changed you. If possible, I love you even more now.”

“I love you even more now too,” I say as he resumes his task of little kisses to me that are driving me crazy. “Constantine. I…I know about Serena,” I blurt out and he stops what he is doing to look up at me. “I know that you want her because she is Sebastian’s and I understand that you want to take something that is his and I know that I have no right to ask you this, but will you please end it? I can’t bear thinking about you with anyone else. I am sorry I am such a hypocrite.”

“Aefre,” he says. “I want to do as you ask, I really do, but soon you are going to be with child, with Sebastian’s child.” He sits up and turns away from me. “I’m sorry, my love, but thinking about that tears me up inside. It makes me…you know how it makes me,” he says sadly. “Once you start to show, I don’t think I will be able to be with you or even sleep in the same bed with you,” he adds quietly. “I will need something to distract me. I need the distraction now or I am going to lose myself again. Please say you understand?”

I sit up as well and place my cheek on his shoulder. “I do, my love. I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have asked. Forget I said anything.”

He turns to me again. “No, I love that you asked. A few weeks ago, even a few days ago, I felt you didn’t care enough to ask. I will end it, after. I promise you.”

I nod, knowing that I am undeserving even of that much.

“Do you think that we might try again ourselves one day?” he asks me shyly.

“Do you want to?” I ask, a bit surprised by his question.

“Yes, very much so. Cassis means the world to me and I love sharing her with you. That she is a part of both of us. I want that again.”

“Then we will try,” I say with a smile and his face lights up.

“Thank you,” he murmurs as he kisses me. “Now let me make love to you before you go.”

And he does, twice, before we are interrupted by a knock on the door.

“Time to go,” Sebastian says softly as he sees us wrapped around each other on the bed.

I nod. “Just let me get showered and changed.”

“Of course,” he says and watches me walk naked into the bathroom.

“Take care of her,” I hear Constantine say gruffly, as I close the door.

“You know I won’t let anything happen to her,” Sebastian replies.

I hover on the other side of the door for a few more moments, wanting to hear what they say.

“If he lays a finger on her, I will kill him,” Constantine says forcefully and I gulp. He’s getting that way again. Itchy.

“He won’t hurt her. They may have the worst father-daughter relationship going, but he needs her. Plain and simple.”

“There is nothing simple about this,” he grouses.

“Tell me about it,” Sebastian says heavily and then there is silence, so I turn towards the shower and step in. I am dreading this trip. In fact, I would rather be going anywhere but there. But I must remember that in a few days, we will be going to Miami and I will find Cole. I will make Constantine understand that I need a charge. He has thousands so surely he will understand the need. But it is tough luck for him if he doesn’t, because I am going to find Cole and turn him and bring him home with me.

I step back out into the bedroom to find them sitting together on the bed in silence. Both of them look up at me in appreciation as they see my chosen outfit, acceptable for attendance at the Dark Fae Court. A long, deep purple gown with thin straps to show off the markings on my arms, and a full length black velvet cloak to cover up my Dragon tattoo. No need to poke the bear.

“You look beautiful,” Constantine says.

“Hm, it’s too bad that he won’t think so. He hates how I look. Maybe I should just comply with his request and Shift into something he might accept.” I turn to the mirror and Shift, changing my hair to drop to my waist, black with a purple sheen to it and eyes the color of amethysts. “Maybe now he won’t look at me with such disdain.” I turn and meet their wide eyes as they take me in.

“Aefre, you shouldn’t have to change yourself for him to accept you,” Constantine says as Sebastian just says, “Wow.”

“I know I shouldn’t have to, I don’t want to but I don’t want any drama either. The smoother things go the better and if he likes the way I look, then it is a start.”

“He is a fool for not appreciating you as you are,” he grumbles.

“Well, thank you, my love,” I say as I swish forward and bend to kiss him. “I will see you in a few days. I love you.”

“I love you,” he says. “Be careful, and don’t go anywhere on your own. I don’t trust him, or any of them with you.”

“I won’t let her out of my sight,” Sebastian says as he takes my hands and Teleports us deep into the forest, just beside the Faerie Ring that takes us to the Fae Kingdoms. “I would never say this in front of Constantine because I know how he feels about your natural self, but don’t Shift back until we return. I do think you might find he will be more receptive if you look like him.”

“I hope so. I know I shouldn’t care what he thinks, but it does hurt when he looks at me like I am less than nothing,” I say sadly.

“I know. But that you are not, my love. Remember who you are,” he says.

I nod and with a stiff back step into the circle with him and we are transported to the Fae Kingdoms.

We step out of the ring and head west towards the Dark Fae palace. East is where the Light Fae live. We walk in a companionable silence for a few minutes until we reach the black path that leads to the palace. There is no one waiting for us as we weren’t expected, so we just continue to walk in silence, me dreading this meeting, and him worried about it for me.

Soon we see the palace in sight and the Dark Guard escorts us the rest of the way. Even in my different guise they know who I am because of my markings and I am treated with a wary respect, but with a hint of contempt. We aren’t kept waiting once we reach the palace as someone had gone ahead to announce our arrival and we are ushered into the Throne Room, where both Drake and his awful wife, Maurelle, are sitting waiting for us. Sebastian tightens his grip on my hand and we both bob our heads as we are greeted with unpleasant stares. Although, I am sure I see a glimmer of acceptance flash in Drake’s eye before it vanishes and he resumes his icy stare. Maurelle is glaring at me with open hatred, and, well, I can’t blame the woman. I am living proof that not only did her husband cheat on her, but I also remind her of her own failings to give him a daughter.

“Aeval,” he says, his violet eyes narrowing at me, as I stiffen at the name he gave me, remembering the “You are a Fae Princess, you will have Fae name” speech. Fortunately, it is similar to my own, but it still rankles me.

“Drake,” I say, refusing to call him Father and I won’t submit to calling him Your Majesty. If anything,
he
should call
me
that.

“It is about time you came. You have been very neglectful of your duty.”

“Yes, well, I do have an Empire to run,” I say haughtily and I note with satisfaction that he dislikes the fact that I have an Empire and he only has a Kingdom.

His eyes then bore into Sebastian. “Kalen,” he calls Sebastian by his given Faerie name. “I trust you got back in time to see to her.”

See to me? That’s…unpleasant and upsetting as Sebastian nods his head. So clearly he did “see to” the other me.
Slut
, I think irrationally, as I was probably doing her husband at the same time as she was being “seen to”.

“Very well. Let us hope that something comes of it this time. It is late now. Tasha will show you to your,” he pauses and watches for a reaction as he says, “room. Tomorrow we will discuss your nuptials.”

I open my mouth to say for the thousandth time that I am already married, but Sebastian squeezes my hand and I close it again. I really shouldn’t provoke him.

Drake smirks at me as he knows he has annoyed me. “It is about time that you both take your rightful places. Dismissed,” he says with a wave of his hand.

My mouth drops open in outrage that he has dared to treat me so casually. One of these days I am going to show him who I really am. One day, but not today, as Sebastian whisks me away, sensing my anger. “Don’t let him get to you,” he whispers. “That is why he does it. Show him you don’t care.”

I clamp my lips together in an effort not to start yelling and follow Tasha out of the Throne Room and down the hall. She shows us to a lovely room. It’s all dark and medieval, one of my more preferred eras. I take my cloak off and fling it onto the bed.

“I hate him,” I say and Sebastian takes me in his arms.

“Forget him now. This is the first time ever that I will have you in my bed the whole night, just the two of us.”

I smile at his eagerness and say, “Indeed. And what will you do with me?”

“I will make love to you and when you fall asleep in my arms, I will wake you to make love to you again and then again until morning.”

“I like the sound of that,” I manage to get out before he kisses me, tugging at the laces at the front of the dress to get it loose. He pushes it over my shoulders and it drops to the floor in a heap, which he picks me up from, placing me delicately on the bed before he undresses himself quickly. I kick off my shoes and crawl to the top of the bed and sink into the mountain of pillows as he falls on top of me. “Next time I will go slowly, right now I need you,” he says before he pushes himself inside me and I cry out at the feel of him. The sparks fly as I run my fingers down his back and I can feel the markings twirling away at my touch.

“Oh, Aefre,” he whispers. “I love you so much.” He wraps his arms around me and drops his fangs, sinking them into my neck and suckling slowly as he continues to drive into me, causing me to come quickly and forcefully and a second time as he groans and the vibrations set me off.

“My sweet, sweet Sebastian. I love you. Let me show you how much,” I gasp as he bites down harder at my words. He releases me and kisses me as I roll us over and pull him up with me. I move quickly over him, bringing him into a state of pure pleasure, before I bite down on him and feed slowly as he did to me. He comes inside me, pulling on my hips as he throbs on and on until I release my bite and kiss him softly. He falls back to the bed, bringing me with him and I lie content over him, with my head on his chest.

“I didn’t Shift back,” I say suddenly, as I see my long black hair splayed out around him.

He looks down at me in surprise. “I didn’t even notice,” he says with a small smile. “Our connection just takes me over and it is just me and you.”

I narrow my eyes at him. “Hm, and the fact that you find this attractive had nothing to do with it?”

He laughs. “Well, I won’t deny that I find you very beautiful, Princess, but it is you that I love. The real you. You could be a hideous beast, but you would still be my hideous beast to love.”

I smile at him and put my head back on his chest. “I’m going to fall asleep now, be sure to wake me up in a bit with your tongue caressing me,” I say slyly and he chokes.

“You are being very wicked lately, ever since I got back. I like it,” he says as he kisses the top of my head. I snuggle into him and I think that I like it too. The jump through timelines has shown me how uptight I was. I need to relax and embrace this life again. I drop off with Sebastian’s arms tight around me and awake suddenly as I sense another presence. I turn and grab the hand that is hovering close to my back. It’s Drake. “I don’t know what Fae abilities you have, but you should know that you can’t sneak up on a Vampire,” I say, gripping his hand tightly.