Cursed: Brides of the Kindred 13 (63 page)
Read Cursed: Brides of the Kindred 13 Online
Authors: Evangeline Anderson
Tags: #alpha male, #science fiction romance, #brides of the kindred, #romance adult erotica, #romance and paranormal, #romance, #erotic romance, #romance about vampires, #erotica, #evangeline anderson
“The Goddess…it’s the Goddess,” Charlie breathed.
“
You are correct, daughter.”
“Oh, my!” Charlie put a hand to her chest. “All this time I’ve been praying to you and I didn’t even know if you were real but I just didn’t know what else to do.”
“
I am real.”
There was humor and warmth in the voice.
“I simply exist on a different plane of existence than my mortal sons and daughters. But I still care for you, my children and I hear your prayers. I also reward sacrifice.”
“Sacrifice?” Stav asked.
“
You were willing to lay down your life to save a people not even your own,”
the Goddess said softly.
“That level of self-sacrifice must be honored. The task you did—bearing the positive emotion and allowing yourself to be used as a catalyst with the demon’s negative emotion—killed the parasite which caused your Curse. And now I have healed the damage to your heart. You will live a long and fruitful life and you and Charlotte will see children and grandchildren of your own before you come to live with me in the Last True Home.”
“Oh, thank you!” Charlie looked up at the ceiling too, though she could see nothing there. “Thank you, Goddess!”
“
You are welcome, daughter. Your faithfulness too, has been rewarded. If you had not insisted on bonding yourself to Stavros, despite your belief that he would not live long, the process that finished off his Curse could not have been completed. It was the love and emotion generated by your bonding that finally freed him completely and allowed me to heal his heart.”
“Truly you are good to your children, Goddess,” Sylvan said with quiet reverence and respect. “I think of you and thank you often when I hold my beloved mate and the children you have granted us.”
“
Much has been given to you, Sylvan. And much will be expected,”
the Goddess said.
“You are the leader of your people now. Commander Terex is broken in mind and spirit. I want to heal him but I cannot…not yet. In the meantime, you must assume the mantel of leadership permanently. You are to be the new Chancellor of the Kindred High Council. ”
“I will do as you say, Goddess.” Sylvan bowed his head. “And now that the Dark Kindred are disbanded and Earth is allowing us to call brides again, I think we will get on better.”
“
Do not be too quick to count your troubles over, Sylvan,”
the Goddess counseled sternly.
“It is true that the demon Ur is no more and the denizens of Zeaga Four are now free to feel and have emotions once more. But their leader, Two, is still a danger to you.”
“But he left. He, uh, flew away,” Charlie protested. “How can he possibly bother us now?”
“
As to that, I am not at liberty to tell you everything. Knowing too much of the future is dangerous for your limited minds, my children,”
the Goddess said.
“However, know this—you will have to deal with him in time. But you will not be able to kill him yourselves.”
“We won’t?” Stav frowned. “But then how can we neutralize him as a threat?”
“
A foretelling was given—both Six and Charlotte heard it,”
the Goddess murmured.
“You must examine it for answers. And now I must go—I can spend only limited time on this plane of existence.”
“Goodbye, Goddess,” Charlie called. “And thank you—thank you so much!”
“
Use your time with your mate well, child. Love each other with all your hearts and beware the danger that still lurks. Sylvan, rule with wisdom and patience. And now…farewell.”
There was a deep silence in the room and then Charlie felt that the warm, feminine presence of the Goddess was gone.
“Wow…” She drew a deep breath. “That was…intense.”
“Amazing,” Stavros murmured, putting a hand to his broad chest. “I do not know what to think or what to do.”
“Do as the Goddess said,” Sylvan counseled. “Clearly she brought you together for a reason. Love each other well.”
“That won’t be a problem.” Charlie stepped over and pressed herself to Stavros’s side, winding her arms around him and breathing in his warm, spicy scent.
“But what she said about the Dark Kindred Commander—about Two—is still troubling,” Stav said, even as he hugged her tightly to him. “I didn’t know him very well but it seemed clear the time he spent with the demon inside him affected his sanity.”
“Affected his sanity? He was crazy, plain and simple,” Charlie said bluntly. “As my Grandma used to say, his elevator doesn’t go all the way to the top anymore. He was actually
upset
the demon left him.”
Sylvan frowned and shook his head.
“It’s very strange. I do not think he could have been completely sane to begin with and inviting that darkness into his soul can only have made his condition worse. But what is the foretelling the Goddess spoke of?”
Charlie frowned. “I can’t remember all of it—maybe Six can help you there. But I
do
know Two said a witch told him no Kindred could kill him.”
“I know it.” To her surprise, Stavros closed his eyes and recited.
“No Kindred shall kill you
Though you spill rivers of their blood
The one who is your doom
Comes from desert and from flood.
A free-born male
Too proud to bend his knee
Enslaved of his own will
Against his will set free.”
“Wow.” Charlie looked at him in wonder. “How did you remember all that? I thought you were out of it or mostly dead while Two was spouting off.”
He smiled. “I think it was one of the times I was alive. And I don’t know why but it’s burned into my memory—the image of Two flapping those huge black wings of his, hovering in midair and reciting his saying.” A shiver ran through his big body. “Gods, it’s not a pleasant memory!”
“It sure as hell isn’t.” Charlie pressed closer to him and held him tight. “But we have time to make some much nicer ones of our own right now.
Lots
of time.” She smiled at him and Stav smiled back, his eyes half-lidded with lust.
“
Falina,
have I told you how beautiful you are?”
“No.” Charlie snuggled closer. “But I’m ready and willing to listen.”
Sylvan, whom they had pretty well forgotten, cleared his throat.
“Oh, I’m sorry.” Charlie felt her cheeks getting hot. “I just didn’t think—”
“About anything but your new mate. I understand—I’ve been there.” He smiled. “Bonding is a lifelong process in some ways but at the beginning, it’s very…intense.”
“That it is.” Stavros spoke to Commander Sylvan but his eyes were locked with Charlie’s.
“Well, I will leave the two of you alone.” A small smile was playing around Sylvan’s mouth. “To honor and obey the wishes of the Goddess. Just remember you’re still in the Med Station and there
are
sick people around you trying to recover. So…try to keep it down, all right?”
“Mmm-hmm,” Stavros was already kissing her neck, making it hard to think. Charlie meant to make a more coherent answer, but as she felt those long, dangerous fangs prick gently against the flesh of her throat, she couldn’t do a thing but moan.
With a smile, Sylvan shut the door with a quiet
click
and she and Stav were alone.
“
I love you, Charlie,”
she heard him send through the new mental link they shared.
I love you too. Now bite me!
He did. But the last thing she on her mind before pleasure stole her ability at any coherent thought was the strange foretelling that Stavros had somehow remembered.
A free-born male
Too proud to bend his knee
Enslaved of his own will
Against his will set free.
What kind of guy could it be describing? If he’s not a Kindred, then where is he from? And who would willingly choose to be a slave and not want to be set free?
Charlie had the feeling it would be awhile before they found the answers. But in the meantime, she was content to be with her man and love him as much as she could for the rest of their long and happy life together.
The End
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