Haven (13 page)

Liliana
quickly washed her face and brushed her teeth, smiling as she heard Leo
grumbling about the interruption. He continued to surprise her and she actually
looked forward to their mating. She found herself excited about their life
together. She was anxious to get the ceremony part done so they could leave
Legba.

The
whole way to the conference room, Liliana held Leo’s hands, marveling at the difference
a few days made. He had been mad as hell at being mated, and now, he scowled at
any male they passed in the hallway. A large frosted glass signaled their
arrival at their destination. The large conference table inside the room was
another clue.

She
frowned at the women gathered in the conference room. Taking a deep breath she
dropped Leo’s hand. Only a few more days to get through the traditions. It
wouldn’t be so hard. Expecting Leo to leave her at the door, her eyebrows
winged up in surprise as he charged through the door.

“What
are you doing here?” His voice was brusque as he halted at the oak table
separated him from the women.

Liliana
studied the one he’d addressed, her expensive clothing standing out amongst the
palace workers gathered in the room. A Cagyn, the female’s onyx skin was
supple, the copper lines running through her skin pulsating with power. Her
long jet black hair was partially pulled into a small bun on the top of her
head, while the rest skimmed the back of her silk dress in a shining curtain.

“Leonalph.”
Her voice was deep, gravelly in a way that should’ve been unattractive, but
made the mysterious woman sexy. Cagyn pheromones laced her voice, making
Liliana mad with jealousy.

She
stepped closer to Leo.

“I
ask again, mother, what are you doing here?” He stabbed a finger onto the
table.

Mother.
She sucked in a breath of surprise.

“The
di êjê
, Leonalph. According to the harpy who hunted me down, the mother
of the groom is required to speak with the bride before the ceremony. Impart
wisdom.” The smirk on the woman’s face seemed to make Leo madder.

Mistress
Yoru sniffed in offense, and Liliana couldn’t help but like the woman a little
bit for getting under the archivist’s skin.

Years
of etiquette training moved Lily from Leo’s side, extending her hand before she
could process the motion. “I’m Liliana Marcolev, mate to your son. It’s a
pleasure to meet you.”

His
mother sized her up before clasping Lily’s hand in a strong, but gentle grip.
“A pleasure, Liliana. I’m Sharine Tegan, mother to Leonalph, whether he likes
it or not.”

Leo
growled.

Wanting
to stall an impending scene, Liliana waved the palace servants from the room.
Hell or high water, she would not be responsible for more gossip getting back
to her mother.

She
turned to him, placing a hand on his chest. “We’re fine here, Leo. You had
errands with which to occupy yourself, right?” Social tone and accent in place,
Liliana knew how to play the game. Despite what her mother or any other
thought. She waved a hand in front of his face to break his eye contact with
his Sharine.

Leo
glanced down at her, blinking. “I can stay here. I don’t want to leave you
alone with her.”

“Well,
pesky customs dictate otherwise.” She pasted on her most cordial smile, turning
back to face his mother. “I’ll be fine. I promise.”

He
stared at Sharine another full minute in silence before he nodded. “I’ll be in
the surveillance room, call me if you need anything.”

“I
will.” She grabbed his face to bring his attention back to her. “Hey, I can
handle it.”

He
lifted a finger and pointed at his mother. “If you so much as…”

“Enough,
Leonalph.” Sharine cut him off. “What do you imagine I can do to your mate in
full view of the palace servants?”

Liliana
groaned and turned. Sure enough, the women all stood at the glass wall making
no attempt to hide their curiosity. Her mother would hear about it for sure.
Luckily for her, she didn’t have to go back to home and be subject to the
disappointed stares. Why did these things happen to her?

Leo
gave his mother one last forbidding look. Kissing Lily’s hand, he left the
room, taking the majority of the tension with him.

“I
would apologize on behalf of my son, but seeing as how you’re mated to him,
you’d best get used to his temper.” Sharine waved her hand towards a chair.

Liliana
sat, curiosity burning through her. 

“My
son and I haven’t spoken in years. As you can see, he prefers it.”

At
a loss for words, Liliana clasped her hands on top of the conference table.
Sharine had no problem filling the silence. She went on as though input from
Liliana was not needed.

“Now,
according to tradition, I’m supposed to tell you all about how to take care of
my son.” Sharine sat across from Liliana, fidgeting with the gold bangles
climbing her arm.

“I’m
not one for tradition. If you’re uncomfortable with this, we can skip the
formalities.” Lily certainly didn’t want to stir up anything that could
potentially hurt Leo.

Sharine
waved away her concern. “I don’t have any insight to give you on my son. What I
can tell you though is to be careful.”

Lily
sat back in her chair in surprise. “Leo would never hurt me.”

His
mother nodded. “You’re absolutely right. He’d never lay a hand on you, and for
the most part, should treat you wonderfully. Except…”

Liliana’s
back stiffened. “Except what?”

“Leonalph
has wanted to be in the Amanda for as long as I can remember.” A small
nostalgic smile tilted her lips. “He followed those soldiers around asking a
million and one questions. Gods, he was such a sweet and serious child.” She
cleared her throat and shook away the smile. “Now that he’s mated, he’ll lose
his position.”

“I’m
aware of that.” Defensiveness added a snap to her voice.

Sharine
nodded. “Of course you are. What you’re unaware of is the bitterness that
accompanies the loss. Bitterness he’ll take out on you.”

She
folded her arms on her chest. Leo would never hurt her, and the certainty in
his mother’s voice would not shake her faith in him.

“Right,
you’re sitting their smug because you know Leo so well, right? If you knew half
the way his father...” The woman took a shaky breath. “The head of the Amanda
used to be able to hunt. Did you know that?”

Liliana
shook her head.

“Yes,
Ranolph enjoyed the hunt. It gave his beast an outlet. He would take his men
out and hunt down those who committed crimes. At least the ones who weren’t
sentenced to death. He loved that job, and because he was mated, he was
required to give up that part of it.”

“Leo
is not his father. Our relationship will not be the same.”

“Whatever
you say.” Sharine stood and adjusted the skirt of her dress, her bangles
tinkling with the motion. She leaned forward, arms on the table. “Call me when
you’re pregnant, stuck at Haven, unable to leave.”

Lily
frowned. “Mates or not, the Amanda can’t hold me hostage.”

“No?”
The nasty smile on her face gave Lily chills. “Is my son not charismatic enough
to suggest you stay inside the walls of Haven for your own good? He cares so
much for the safety of his mate, surely you won’t object to a couple of guards
keeping watch over you.”

She
thought over the conversation they’d had just yesterday. “You’re wrong.”

“Am
I, sweetie?” Sharine stood straight, shaking her head. “Those Tegan men can be
quite persuasive. My bitterness is living proof of how charming they can be.”

Fed
up with the conversation Liliana stood. “Is that the ‘wisdom’ you came to
impart?”

Sharine
laughed, genuine amusement lighting her face. “Oh no, my dear. I only thought
to give you a little warning for appearance sake. In actuality I’m here to stir
shit up. I’ll try not get any of the splatter on you.”

Liliana
frowned in distaste. Leo’s mother just smiled and left the room. Gods, why did
these things happen to her?

LILY
WIPED THE STEAM FROM the bathroom mirror hours later. Her wet hair trailed her
back, the darkened colors still bright against the white towel wrapped around
her chest. Rivulets of water chased each other down her shoulders dampening the
towel. Leo crossed his ankle and leaned against the door jamb watching her. She
rolled her shoulders and sighed. She brought her wet hair to the front using
another towel to dry it. Exhaustion rode her shoulders slumping them as she
attempted to towel dry her hair.

He
must have made a sound, because her head popped up, her eyes catching his in
the mirror. He came up behind her and took the towel from her. Moving the hair
off her neck, he laid a small kiss to her shoulder. Without saying a word, he
rubbed the towel along her head, pulling her hair into it and rubbing vigorously.
The need to care for Liliana was a compulsion. He wanted to make her feel
better, and selfishly he could admit, caring for her would also calm the beast
raging through him.

Once
he heard the shower stop, something compelled him into the bathroom.

Finished
with the towel, he tossed it aside. Spotting a hair brush next to her hand
resting on the counter, he grabbed it and held it up. She nodded at his
unspoken question. Starting at the bottom of her hair, he methodically worked
through the tangles, much like when he brushed through his hair in his Eshu form
.
She sighed in
pleasure as he reached the crown of her head. He brushed in long, sure strokes,
massaging her scalp.
His
brows furrowed in concentration as he worked through her hair. He said nothing
as he brushed the tangles out, the intimacy in the action robbing him of words.

He’d
sensed her aggravation from the moment he’d picked her up from the conference
room. Her stiff gait as they walked back to their temporary quarters told him
all he needed to know about how the planning went. He imagined dealing with
anyone from the palace was stressful, especially after the day she’d had. Then
to add his mother on top…. Just the thought of his mother alone with Liliana
pissed him off. He could well imagine the nastiness she’d shared with his mate.
Lily said nothing about it though, and that worried him.

Finished
with the tangles, he braided her hair starting from her nape. He moved the
braid to her front, once again baring her neck to him. She adjusted the towel
knotted on her chest, the motion sensual in the silence enveloping them. He
then kissed her neck, wet kisses, dragging his teeth along her neck. Days ago
he’d cursed having a mate, now with her in front of him, her vulnerable beauty
reaching out to him, he couldn’t imagine life without her. He nipped her neck,
using his teeth, telling himself he wouldn’t break the skin. Her moan did
nothing to help his self -control though. What it did do was channel the tender
feelings from moments ago into hot, drugging passion.

One
hand gripping her waist, he used the other to release the knot holding the
towel over her breasts. It pooled at her feet, its thump the only sound other
than her heavy breathing. Humming in approval, his hands skimmed her curves,
tracing across her budding nipples. Her breath caught, encouraging his
exploration. He licked a path up her neck to her ears. He trailed his fingers
lower, ghosting over her stomach with the lightest touch. He reached her center
and looked into the mirror at her. Their eyes met and she let out a rough
exhalation, nodding her consent. Slowly inserting his fingers, satisfaction
spiked through him when she shuddered. She closed her eyes, leaning back into
his chest.

“Uh-uh.”
He bit her ear lobe. “Watch.”

Her
eyes popped open, the lids hooded as she watched him slowly stroke his fingers
in and out of her. He studied her face, picking up the pace of his fingers. Her
orgasm was right around the corner if her choppy breaths were anything to go
by. Her body tensed, and a long moan left her parted lips. He used his thumb to
stroke the numb of her clit and she exploded. Gods she was beautiful. He turned
her face with his other hand, kissing her deeply. Her body went limp, weak with
satiation. He lifted her up and carried her to their bed. Neither of them
exchanged words. He lay her on the bed naked, tucking her under the covers.
He brought the
blanket up to her chin, hiding her beautiful curves from himself, in an attempt
to keep temptation away.

“I’m
going to take a shower first, then I’ll join you in bed.” He leaned over her,
braced on his arms.

She
nodded her assent, her eyes lowering as sleep overtook her. She stirred as he
lifted from over her. He stood still until she’d settled back to sleep. Leo
walked back into the bathroom, setting the water on a comfortable temperature.
Shucking his clothes, he entered the warm stall, grateful for the water beating
down on his tired body.

He
leaned his head against the tile, his breathing harsh puffs of air. His body
was tight with tension, both from the stress of the last few days, and the lust
thrumming through his blood stream. He could do nothing about the stress, but
the lust was easily assuaged. Taking his length in his hand, he pictured
Liliana’s face as she orgasmed a few minutes ago. He vividly saw her full lips
parted, her head thrown back in ecstasy. He moved his hand up and down, wanting
those lips wrapped around his shaft. He imagined her cheeks sunk in as she
pulled him deeper. Her scent surrounded him from her earlier shower adding to
the memories of her breathless cries. It all crowded his mind sending him over
the edge. He came with the thought of her blanketing his thoughts.
He sank to the
tile floor, his body spent.

He
released his human skin, letting go of the magic keeping his body constrained.
Finally relaxed, he leaned back against the wall, letting the hot water pelt
him. He’d nearly lost Liliana. Agony at how close he came to losing her seized
his breath. Pictures of the damaged stall threatened to take over his relaxed
mood but he banished the thoughts. He’d find the person behind the threat to
her and he would end them. There was no other recourse. No other outcome was
feasible to him or his beast. He’d spent hours going over every bit of
surveillance they’d had available in the market and hadn’t seen anything out of
the ordinary.

He
wished they were on Adro. He’d be able to look through the Oras and find out
exactly who casted the spell. Since the magic was based on the Earth’s magnetic
field and their realms were merely ghosts of the Earth, the field didn’t reach them.
Thus no Oras. He didn’t realize how heavily they’d come to rely on them. He
growled in frustration. Old fashion hunting would take longer, but hard work
never scared him.