Darkest Risings (37 page)

He
sank his fangs into the creamy swell of her breast, and she immediately
clenched around his fingers. She thrust against him as another orgasm ripped
through her, and he drank from her, knowing the sensation would heighten her
pleasure. Her blood was like nectar on his tongue, a drug to his body. He would
crave her until the day he died.

When
he finally eased his teeth and fingers from her body, she was lying limp under
him. He smiled and kissed her on the cheek.

“Wow,”
she whispered. “I had no idea it would be like this. Now I know what people
mean when they say the sex was so good it almost killed them.”

He
chuckled. “You haven’t seen anything yet, honey. And I’m the man to show you.”

“Should
I be tired? I thought I wouldn’t have to sleep as much, but I feel exhausted.”

“You
won’t have to sleep as much eventually, but at first you’ll need more sleep so
your body can adapt to the change.”

She
yawned.

“Will
you be okay here for awhile? Ashe needs me.”

Her eyes
flew open. “You aren’t going out to another fight are you?”

“No.
Only a meeting downstairs.”

“You
know I’m going to be worried about you all the time, right?”

“There
is no need, but I’m honored.” He smiled. “I assure you I can take care of
myself. I will always find a way to come back to you.”

“Believe
me, I have no doubt of your, um, capabilities. But I will worry about you when
you are in danger just as you would worry for me.”

Anger
slapped at him hard with fear dogging its heels. “You will not be in danger. I
will not allow it,” he said through tight lips.

She
reached up and caressed his cheek.
 
“I
know. I know.” She smiled. “Now go to your meeting. I’ll be fine. I’m going
back to sleep.”

“Hey.”

“What?”
she muttered.

“I’ve
never really asked you about your writing. How’s it coming along?”

She
propped herself up on her elbows and smiled.

“What?”
he said.

“I
don’t know.” She shrugged. “It’s the first time you’ve showed interest in my
writing.”

He
cupped her cheek. “I’m sorry about that. I’m not good at expressing emotions
and conversation. Honestly? I’ve never wanted to share those things with anyone
before now. I already told you it’s going to take me some time. But in the
meantime, even if I don’t seem to show it, I am very
interested
in everything about you, Wilhemina. I want you to feel
comfortable to come to me for anything, to talk to me about anything.”

“I
know. It’s nice is all. I didn’t mean to make a big deal out of it. It felt
good.”

He
smiled. “That’s my main goal in life now. Making you feel good. I do care.
Please have patience with me?”

“Of
course, but don’t forget I need to know you need me too—not just intimately.”

“Honey,
since the moment I met you, you became the reason for every single breath I
take. You are my other half. Without you, I would be lost. Don’t ever doubt
your importance to me. You are everything.”

Tears
swam in her eyes. “Damn,” she whispered. She sat up on her knees and hugged
him. “I love you, and I feel the same way about you. I’ll always be here for
you.”

She
kissed him, and he claimed her mouth with a slow, lazy, burning kiss.

“To
answer your question, I haven’t had much time to work on my book, but I have it
outlined and am ready to get started on it.”

“I’d
like to read it when you are ready.”

“I’d
like that very much.” She kissed him again.

He
helped her get settled back into bed and tucked the covers around her before
kissing her on the forehead.

“Get
some sleep. I’ll be back soon.”

“Okay,”
she answered as her eyes slid shut.

He
watched until the slow, even rise and fall of her chest indicated she’d fallen
asleep. The fear of her being in danger had subsided to an incessant gnawing.
There would never come a time when he wouldn’t worry about her because the
thought of losing her was incomprehensible. He kissed her on the cheek then got
up to shower and dress before going downstairs.

Aldin
stared down at Ragnor. The lifeless pale body lying on the dark silk sheets was
a macabre sign that they had failed. Now that Ragnor was dead, the ritual could
not be performed that would bring him and his brothers into their true blood
powers. Without those powers, they had little hope of defeating Trinidad.

The
first wave of the uprising to most would not seem much more than a reckless
ambush, but they all knew better. There had been a purpose behind that ambush.
Trinidad had tested their weaknesses and had taken out Ragnor. Trinidad had
somehow known about Ragnor, known that he’d come to try to repair a broken bond
between brothers. But how had Trinidad known of Ragnor when Ragnor had not been
able to see who Trinidad really was until the night of the first battle?

That
fact alone sent shivers of cold dread through Aldin’s spine. That fact alone
spoke of the power that Trinidad wielded. However, something still didn’t add
up. Up on the rooftop of the warehouse when he’d seen Trinidad for the first
time, Aldin had read the need for revenge that had burned in those cold eyes.
Trinidad had been careful to keep his features hidden, but even the cloak
couldn’t hide his need for vengeance. Thus, Aldin doubted Trinidad’s goal had
been to kill Ragnor.

No.
His goal had been to draw Ragnor out to reveal who he was. Trinidad had planned
to taunt Ragnor, to show him what he was capable of, to test the waters. Aldin
had no doubt that Trinidad’s main goal was to make Ragnor suffer for the wrong
he felt he’d dealt him. The next and final wave of the uprising would be much
different. This battle had been too sloppy to represent the cunningness Grady
had insisted Trinidad possessed, the wickedness that Malachi had spoken of, the
evil they had all witnessed in small doses.

Unfortunately,
even though Aldin doubted Trinidad had actually meant to kill Ragnor, it may
have made his plan for revenge that much easier. They could not allow Ragnor’s
death to get back to Trinidad. If Trinidad knew of Ragnor’s existence all
along, what other information did he possess? Was he aware of the true blood
ritual and that only Ragnor had the power to perform it? Was he even aware that
Aldin and his brothers could be brought into such power?

That
answer was simple. No. Had he known only Ragnor possessed the ability to
perform the ritual, killing him would have been Trinidad’s number one goal, not
taunting. He’d watched the two fight, and while Ragnor and Trinidad both had
each dealt staggering injuries to one another, Ragnor had not been the only one
holding back.

Aldin
shook his head. None of that mattered now. Ragnor was dead, and all hope was
lost. His kind and human kind would soon be caught up in a battle that would
most likely open the jaws of hell and swallow them all.

“All
hope is lost,” Aldin said.

“No,”
Ashe answered.

“What
do you mean no?” Aiston asked.

“Good
question,” Uriah grunted.

Malachi
leaned against the wall in a dark corner of the room, blending with the
darkness as if it were a part of him. Dominic sat in a chair about ten feet
from Malachi, his face pale and lips drawn in thin lines over his teeth. He was
not taking Conrad’s death well. Marilena sat on the edge of the bed beside Ragnor
with her hand resting on his chest as if her touch could force his heart to
beat once again.

“Read
the letter, Mother,” Ashe said solemnly.

Marilena
nodded and opened a folded piece of paper that rested beside her.

“My dearest Marilena, and beloved
sons,

I write this letter in haste as I
have finally seen Trinidad for who and what he is. While my heart grieves at
the loss of a half-brother I never knew existed, I know that the only thing
that will end this uprising is Trinidad’s death. However, as much as I long for
his death to avenge my daughter, Estril, I also feel obligated to try to breach
the chasm of hatred that separates us before I lose my brother to the darkness
forever.

I do not expect you to understand my
need for this as I am positive vengeance for your daughter’s, your sister’s,
death is first and foremost in your minds. It is also foremost in mine, and
will be dealt no matter the outcome of my meeting with Trinidad.

Dearest Marilena, please forgive me,
but I have foreseen my death, which I felt no need to disclose to you because I
did not want to see worry for me etched on your beautiful face. If you are
reading this letter then that vision has come to pass.

At this point in time, I know you
must think that all hope is lost. It is not. I performed the virtus ritus
adveho en vox before I left to confront Trinidad. However, the ritual is not
complete until the last step is performed. The four sons must come together
under the blue moon and drink from one another. Only then will the ritual be complete.

I wish you all luck. I know you are
all strong and will find a way to save us all.

Love always,

Ragnor”

“How
in the hell are we supposed to save us
all
when he is already dead?” Aldin said.

“He
left another letter only to me,” Marilena said. “I cannot divulge that
information to you until and unless you choose to fulfill the ritual. The only
thing I can tell you is that he can be brought back.”

“Then
let’s fulfill it,” Aiston said.

“If I
understand all of this correctly, it will be dangerous for Uriah to come into
those powers unless he is anchored to his life mate.” Malachi stepped from the
shadows.

“And?”
Aiston asked.

“You
really need to brush up on your astronomy, brother.” Aldin’s stomach began to
drop.

“The
blue moon is in three days on August thirty-first. Will your life mate accept
you by then, Uriah?” Malachi turned to Uriah.

Uriah
snorted. “Since Lindsey won’t let me within twenty feet of her, I’d have to say
noooo.”

“Then
we’ll wait until the next blue moon. Give Uriah some time to convince her,”
Aiston said.

“The
next blue moon isn’t for three years,” Malachi said.

“Yes.”
Ashe nodded. “You really do need to brush up on your astronomy.”

“Never
needed it before. Probably won’t need it again.” Aiston shrugged.

Aldin’s
gut clenched. He had no choice but to ask the question that was undoubtedly on
the tip of everyone’s tongues. “You wouldn’t consider compelling her?” He would
never have done that to Wilhemina, and he didn’t expect Uriah to do it to his
viata amant
.

“No.
I will not,” Uriah answered vehemently.

“That’s
settled then. We have to figure out a way to take down Trinidad without our
true blood powers,” Ashe said.

“Not
necessarily.” Uriah argued. “We have another option.”

Marilena
slowly stood and turned to Uriah.

“No.
I’ve lost a daughter, and—” She glanced at Ragnor and sobbed. “I will not lose
a son too.”

“It
is my choice, Mother.” Uriah glared at her.

“If
you are insinuating what I’m thinking, it’s not going to happen.” Ashe’s words
were chastising.

“In
case you haven’t noticed, I’m a full grown man capable of making my own
decisions. I can handle it. We will perform the ritual. We will come into our
powers. We will kick Trinidad’s ass back to hell where he belongs, and I will
hold off the darkness of those powers until Lindsey agrees to be with me.”

“And
what if she doesn’t agree?” Dominic asked quietly.

The
anguish in the hunter’s voice was enough to make Aldin’s stomach twist in
knots.

“She
will,” Uriah said determinedly. “It is our only hope. Our only option at this
point. What would you do?”

Uriah
had them all with that question. Aldin was certain he, Aiston and Ashe would
all make the same decision under the same circumstances. And Uriah was right.
He was a man capable of deciding his own fate.

“Very
well. In three days, we complete the ritual. But there is one stipulation,
Uriah, that you must agree to or we will not go through with this,” Ashe said
before looking to Aldin then Aiston then back to Uriah. “If the darkness starts
to overtake you, Lindsey will be compelled to accept you as her mate.”

“On
one condition.” Uriah paled, and anger flared in his eyes.

Ashe
nodded for him to continue.

“If
the whole mess is over with Trinidad when and if the darkness starts to take
me, I have the choice to allow you to compel Lindsey to accept me or to end my
life.”