“You are Osiris’ daughter, I can smell it.” I said to the little witch at my door. I hadn’t closed it, had hoped that Vivinity would have followed me. I had stalked across the hall to keep from picking Vivinity up and carrying her to the bedroom and forcing her to admit she wanted me just as much as I wanted her. I could see the desire in her eyes, she was denying it in her head, but her body was screaming out for my touch. Her soul was there, willing to meld with mine, she just had to recognize it. “When he sent me, he didn’t tell me, and I didn’t notice until tonight. After smelling Vivinity, knowing she’s his daughter, it was easy to recognize the similar scent of you.”
Jackie was a cute little thing, perky blonde hair and wide green eyes full of trust. She obviously cared for Vivinity too and that made her important to him.
“Yes, but I wasn’t supposed to tell Viv anything about my father, just supposed to help her and be her friend. I didn’t know he was her father too, not for certain anyway, until tonight. I only had my suspicions.”
“I won’t reveal your secret.”
She smiled at me with a wide happy grin, she was Vivinity’s opposite, their mothers must have been quite different from each other. Perhaps Osiris had only gone after Zobeth’s opposites after he lost her. I couldn’t imagine what I would do if I had Vivinity and lost her, how could I ever look again at a female who even slightly resembled her, without wanting to scream and rage. Fear gripped me as my mind went to that dark place, how I would survive if I truly lost her, I had no idea.
“Thanks! Do you have some hair trimmers I could borrow? I want to give Falcon a proper haircut.”
I laughed, that fairy male was in for it if those two were going to shave him. “I do, but you better let me help.”
She shrugged and smiled. “Fine with me.”
I was thankful for the distraction, it got my mind out of the bedroom and back to what was important, saving my soulmate from marriage to someone else. I rummaged around and found the trimmers I kept in case I wanted to grow out my beard again. I followed Jackie across the hall with a smile.
Seeing Vivinity flopped on the couch with her eyes closed was a treat. She didn’t know I was looking, couldn’t guard her expression. She was deep in thought, probably trying to plan her way out of this impossible situation while not involving a single other person. She was going to have to learn to rely on others, particularly me.
“If you plan to shave the fairy’s head, I want to watch,” I said, drawing her attention. Her blue eyes shot to me and narrowed.
“I thought you weren’t going to bother me,” she said, her lush lips pursing slightly and one eyebrow raising in the cutest expression of annoyance.
I wanted so badly to walk over and kiss those lips, to take that annoyance and turn it into laughter, then passion. I shifted my hips trying to ease the sudden tightness under my kilt.
“I thought maybe he could help hold Falcon up while I do it!” Jackie said, perkily.
“You better let me do the shaving, you two hold.” I didn’t believe Jackie had any idea what she was doing, but I’d shaved a head or two in my time. I could make it look good.
“I suppose it couldn’t hurt to have a male input,” Vivinity said carefully.
“Shaving heads! Alright, let me smoke first.” Blade had come out of the bathroom with a hand towel wrapped around his waist, his hairy chest bare, a pipe and lighter in his hands.
I lifted a lip and snarled at the tiny beast.
Vivinity pointed to the balcony. Blade grunted, annoyed, but waddled his way over.
Calin stumbled out of the bathroom fully dressed. He held a hand to his head and groaned. “Anyone got an aspirin?”
“Drinking is a dangerous sport for such a little fellow,” I laughed. Calin laid down on the floor and groaned. I laughed some more, that one had been quite the comic when he was well on his way to passing out. I kind of liked him, the other one, I could happily kick over the edge of that balcony.
“Okay let’s do this!” Jackie waved the clippers in the air with enthusiasm.
“In the bathroom!” Vivinity commanded.
We were able to maneuver Falcon to sit on the edge of the tub with Jackie and Vivinity holding his body and head still. Blade stood on the counter, watching with delight as I shaved Falcon’s white hair into a very nice warrior style, a mohawk. I had to admit, it looked good!
“I don’t know if he will like it when he wakes up, but it is way better than what it was a few minutes ago,” Vivinity said, and everyone agreed.
I picked Falcon up with little effort and took him back to the guest bedroom. I dumped him on the bed and admired my handiwork for a moment. I think it looked better than the long shit, much more manly and fierce, no one was afraid of a wispy haired warrior, this style was badass.
I heard a gasp from Vivinity in the living room and rushed out, ready to kill whatever I needed to. Vivinity was staring down at her cellphone, her mouth gaping. Every cell in my body screamed to crush whatever was on the other side of that screen, whoever dared to make her freeze with such a look of sorrow on her beautiful face.
She dropped the offending phone and crumpled to the floor. I rushed to her and scooped her into my arms, wanting to shield her from the universe that would dare deny her anything. I growled as Jackie tried to come closer, then walked to her bedroom and kicked the door closed behind us. My love was suffering; I wanted to kill, I wanted to protect, and most of all I wanted her to want my help.
She didn’t complain, just made a hiccupping, weeping sound as I laid her gently on the bed and formed my body around hers. Shielding her as best I could. I wanted to be her cocoon. I wouldn’t speak, I would let her wallow as long as she needed, and when she was ready, we would get up and fight together. My woman had the soul of a warrior, she was brave and didn’t think she needed anyone else. Her tiny body fit so snug against mine, she was so delicate, she needed me and I needed her. Together we could conquer anything.
I breathed in her scent and my whole body shivered. It was overwhelming, being in her bed, her buttocks fitting snugly against my thighs. This was my mate and I ached to claim her fully, to feel her lose herself in the knowledge that for her, there could be no other. I was all she would ever need, until the end of time and beyond, even as we entered the underworld our souls would be mated. I didn’t care if she had already died once, I would never allow her to be denied access to the underworld. I would fight my father and Osiris if I had to. She would spend eternity there with me. I couldn’t contain a small groan as she shivered slightly against me.
I tamped it down, she needed me to be with her, not in her. There would be a time for that, I promised myself. I just had to wait, earn it. She would see. I would never let her be Alejandro’s victim, never! Her father was going to pay, I would bring hell down on his head for this.
“I will kill him,” I growled before I even realized I was talking out loud and not in my head anymore.
I washed my hands of that boy years ago, but I cannot ignore your irrational display of supernatural abilities in my casino. Do something like that again and I will be forced to retaliate. You are not my daughter…you never have been. Those were his words, that was his response, and I was out of options. I’d dropped the phone and crumpled.
Sobahn was at my side so fast, he’d growled at Jackie, shielding me in my misery behind his large form. I was grateful in that moment for him. Shivering with fear and anguish, completely lost in despair. He’d carried me out of the room and into my bedroom, closing the door behind us. He laid me gently on my bed and got in behind me, scooping me into his body. He was warm and he was kind, and I felt safe like I hadn’t since I was a child. For a moment I let myself enjoy it, but I couldn’t stop thinking of the horror that waited for me as captive bride of Alejandro and my body trembled with fear. There would be nothing even close to this feeling of safety and comfort in his bed, or his arms. I found him repulsive, and I was going to be married to him, he was going to win.
“I will kill him.”
I wasn’t sure who Sobahn meant, but I was starting to think it was a good solution. “I appreciate the offer, but I’m just not sure you can.”
He stiffened and turned me forcefully to look at him. “Never underestimate my power. I will kill to protect you. It is my mission and my honor to kill for you. You are my soulmate, and there is nothing more important to me than your happiness and safety.”
I shivered at the force in his words. I knew he was telling the truth, he would try, and he would die trying. “There should be another way,” I whispered, suddenly afraid that he’d be harmed, and it would be my fault.
He huffed, turned me again and went back to spooning me gently. We laid in silence for a long time, his warm breath lulled me into relaxation as it swept across my neck and cheek. Soon my mind drifted back to the mystery of what lay beneath his kilt. My body twitched against him, and I felt his body respond. His interest and excitement over our situation pressed against my back. It was impressive.
“You smell like the desert after it rains,” he whispered against my ear, and pressed his lips to my temple.
My body erupted in a delightful tingling, and I couldn’t contain a gasp at the unexpectedly strong response. Desire flooded me faster than I’d ever experienced before.
“I would do anything to make you happy, dear one. You have only to ask. Open your heart to me, I will always love you.”
“Because we’re soulmates?”
“Yes,” he whispered, and pressed his lips to mine.
I didn’t stop him, and he deepened the kiss, his hands wrapped around to cup my ass and pull me against him, further proving his desire for me. My body responded without my permission. My hips moved slightly, gaining a groan from him. I giggled, moving intentionally this time, and gaining another, deeper groan. It was thrilling to pull such sounds from a strong man.
“Love, I hope you’re ready to pay up on the promises your body is making, because if not, I am going to need you to move away, now.”
“Maybe a good roll in the sack is just what I need to clear my head.” I didn’t think about what I would feel after it was over… but I knew I would be able to forget all else in the moment and right now that sounded very good.
“It’ll clear more than that, if you’re willing to accept me as your intended, your soulmate.”
That was like a cold shower, I slid away from him, it was one thing to have a good fuck, it was another to make love. I didn’t make love, I didn’t feel love, and I didn’t want a connection to Sobahn or anyone else. “I don’t think that would make anything better, Sobahn. I think I need to figure out how the hell I’m going to bribe Alejandro to break our engagement.”
A moment of disappointment passed over his features, then he was back to being all business. “If you don’t wish me to kill him…” He looked at me and waited for a shake of the head. “Then why not leave?”
“Alejandro would find me anywhere, he has people all over, loyal people. I have to face him; I have to end this cleanly. I don’t want to live a life where I’m afraid of anyone, bound to anyone, beholden to anyone. If we killed him, his family would be after me. If I run, him and his family will be after me. I just want to live my own life, on my own.” My voice rose and hardened as I spoke.
“That sounds like a lonely life,” he said quietly, his fingers running gently across my jaw.
“Not lonely, safe,” I murmured, and tried to come up with a plan.
“If it’s your inheritance that you need, why not just take what’s yours?”
“I can’t just—” I froze, thinking of that. I may not be able to take what is mine, but I could certainly take something just as valuable. I looked at Sobahn and smiled. “You just gave me an idea.” The casino held something of such value, Alejandro would have to accept it as payment, and best of all, it would most certainly kill him.