for her distress. Teague blocked the clamour of voices in his head, muffled the furious
banging on the outer door.
“Come to me Aingeal, or I come to you. There is no decision you can make other than to
accept. I am not leaving until you have fed.” Easing from the bed he strode across the floor
to tower over Alex. Lifting her eyes to his face, tears slipped over peach tinted cheeks.
“I could kill you…” The whisper was dragged from a throat dry with a raging desire to taste
the pulse pounding in the curve of his neck.
“It is a risk I am prepared to take.” Leaning down he placed a kiss on her brow. The scent of
mulled wine and cloves wreathed his skin. Alex loved his smell, remembered all the times
she had kissed his lips just to enjoy the taste of Christmas.
“I love you too much to take that risk.” Backing into the doorframe she was surprised by a
wide smile of joy. The husky laugh that reverberated in the Bard’s throat made her shiver
with longing for him to take her in his arms.
“Iscatya was right. The angel in you is too pure to succumb to evil.” Violet eyes took on a
faraway look as Teague sent a message to his Queen.
The fear of danger is past. Could you ask my brothers to cease an attempt to disrupt the
barrier… You are well aware of where Aingeal’s hunger will take her.
A giggle resounded in his head. A mischievous witch wished him joy in his love.
I promise there will be no further disturbance, until you are both ready to face an anxious
group of idiot males.
My thanks to you, oh gracious Queen…
Knock it off Teague or I will come in there and mess with your plans.
I am too happy to care. Teague shot back.
Sidhe can’t tell fibs my Bard and assaulting your Queen would make Drusal very unhappy.
Eyes creased with laughter, Teague blocked any further intrusion as he swung the petite
form of Aingeal into his arms.
Alex had held still for the few seconds it took for Teague to communicate with the outside
world. Being lifted off her feet to rest against the smooth skin of a bare torso did little to
allay the overwhelming desire to taste every inch of that skin.
“No…” She struggled to regain her feet. “I’m so not going to be forced into feeding from you.”
Dropping full length on the bed with Alex clamped to his chest Teague grinned at her futile
attempts to fight free. Nestling her head into the curve of his shoulder, the Bard whispered
to her with a voice husky with desire.
“I want more than a mere bite. I want you bonded to me in a marked mating. No more will
I listen to spurious reasons for not committing to our love. My wish is for us to be as one.”
Taking her hand, he licked the healing scratch on the palm.
“If you do not want me as a marked mate, then take my life now. I have no further use for it.”
The heady scent of spices proclaimed an arousal of desire for the female locked to his body.
Shaking her head, Alex tried to dispel the pull of a passionate avowal of love.
“I’m not Sidhe royalty, a marked mating is impossible.” Retracting her fangs, she lay
quiescent, hoping Teague would feel her withdrawal from him.
“What you are… Is part Angel, Vampire and Sidhe. The Queen in offering you her blood,
made the life coursing through your veins a part of three royal courts. The element that lifts
you above us all, is the purity of your soul. Evil has no place in a heart that beats to the
rhythm of so many dimensions.”
Teague was The Bard. His song of reassurance brought a thrill of belonging to a heart that
had never had a home, or family that truly wanted an orphan child.
“Why would Cat risk all that you fought for, to make sure I lived?” Rejection sat front and
centre in her mind, she had been slapped down too often to accept softly spoken
assurances at face value.
“Why do you spend hour after hour placating the demands of Sidhe and humans? Because
you love them all, whether they are worthy of that love or deserve to be flogged for treating
the Angel of Edanholme with disrespect.” Stroking feathers of hair from a face any angel
would be envious of, Teague tried to show his female how worthy she was to be loved
enough to form an eternal bond.
“The Queen loves you. My brethren adore you. I cannot live without you.” With the tip of
one finger he raised her face to his. The kiss he laid gently on her lips sparked a flame of
desire, inciting a lust for his body. The essence of life thrumming though his veins drew Alex’s
eyes to the pulse throbbing just under the skin of his neck.
Closing her eyes she ignored the blood lust in giving all she had to a kiss that delved soul
deep. Tasting Christmas on his tongue, she willed the innocence of young faces opening
gifts to the forefront of her mind.
Teague’s hands running beneath the bathrobe to tease her nipples, shattered any connection
she had to innocence. Abandoning any hope of living to see the end of the day, Alex broke
from his kiss. I can’t do this… Her cry reached his mind.
“I wish you to.” His husky whisper tickled the curve of her ear.
Fangs dropping instinctively to touch ivory skin, Alex shied away from hurting Teague.
Gripping the nape of her neck, the Bard held her against his throat.
“Make the mark that will tie us together forever.” Long fingers trailed over her stomach to
reach the core of feminine arousal.
Teasing at sensitive flesh, Teague stoked a fire that consumed Alex in a tidal wave of desire.
As he entered her in a swift move, she bit down on his neck.
The groan that left his throat wasn’t one of pain but immediate and needy arousal.
Awash in a flood of life essence flowing into the farthest reaches of her body, Alex became
aware of her lover’s need to be released.
Fangs retracting she licked the wounds closed, blowing a cooling breath of air across
heated skin. Removing his hand from her body, she straddled his waist to take on a mighty
arousal. Alex leant down to kiss the curve of lips that had held her mesmerised from the
very first time she saw the Bard. His hips surged to meet hers in a rhythm that touched and
teased a responsive spasm of ecstasy. Gasping at the shuddering release that locked her
muscles tight, Alex cried out to her mate to be one with her.
Surging from the bed Teague gripped Aingeal to his chest, flipping over to tower over her,
he plunged deep in sealing the bond of mating. Skin infused in an unearthly glow, white
flares wreathed the violet of Teague’s irises as he gazed down at the female he had given
his heart, soul and essence to.
Alex smouldered beneath him as the force of a titanic release raced through her body in a
flood of pleasure and exquisite pain that shot out from the core of her being. Swirls of white
fire expanded out from her belly to trace the flow of ecstasy to the tips of fingers and toes.
Teague’s groan shuddered through his chest as static electricity built in a discharge of
incandescent light as they were both rocked by a second release. Caught up in a whirlwind
of both their making the room shook with the intensity of a bonded coupling. As the last
breath of wind died away, the Bard laughed softly collapsing beside his one true love.
I believe I have moved on to the next plane of existenc
e.
Alex rolled into him, squirming beneath his arm to lay her head on the smooth contours of
her lovers chest. Limp and relaxed, she had felt his thought without any pain in her skull.
I can hear you clearly…
Lifting her head she gazed into the wonder of violet eyes still tinged with the aftermath
of a tornado of sensations and emotions she had never dreamed of.
The bond is complete and irrevocable, unless you ever wish to release me.
A smile as glorious as any Christmas morning creased the face of the Bard.
Like that’s ever going to happen. Reaching up Alex laid her lips on his, tasting only the spices
of mulled wine.
“I love you Teague, never doubt that one consistency in my life. But I have to know what
would have happened, if I had been careless and killed you?” A flicker of fear still raised its
ugly head in her heart.
Threading his arms beneath the robe clinging to her arms, Teague pulled Aingeal to his lips.
Tender kisses were dropped over every inch of her face in a wash of love.
“You would have met the same fate.” He whispered into her hair.
A sigh left her lips as Alex tightened her grip on his shoulders.
“That’s what I thought.” Rolling to his side, she let her arm lay across a wide chest.
“You pushed the boundaries too far Teague. I’m a vampire now, nothing can change that
but death. Every time we make love I could get carried away to the point of draining the last
drop of your life.” Dropping her fangs, Alex ran a finger over one tip. The bead of blood was
dark red, glistening with tiny sparks of white fire. Leaning over Teague sucked at the tiny drop
of his bonded mate’s essence.
“You taste divine Aingeal.” Licking her finger clean he loomed over her, the fire of desire
darkening his eyes. “Don’t you care?” Alex cried out loud.
“Of course I care my love, tis why I sealed the room. I had to know if it was safe for you to
leave what could have become an eternal prison. I did not want my Aingeal to live out
eternity not knowing whether she is Demon or Angel.” Running fingers through her hair,
Teague dropped a kiss on her brow.
“I would rather die with you than live without you precious one.”
No.. The mental scream pulsed into his brain.
With a burst of strength Alex pushed at his chest to bounce her love off the bed.
“That was stupid, stupid and cruel. You had no idea at all, as to the outcome and still you
baited me.” Sitting alone on the bed, forehead dropped into her palm, Alex’s heart went
into overdrive.
“Teague I can’t do this. I can’t live each day with the thought of your death on my conscience.”
Despairing sobs shook her frame.
Sitting cross legged on the floor, as naked as the day he was born, the Bard showed nothing
but a serene countenance to his mate.
“Iscatya felt as you do. She ran from her mate rather than risk his life.” Holding both hands
palm upwards Teague let his air element flow outwards to wreath the female on the bed.
“The tie they have is stronger more resilient than any in our history.”
Alex blocked the wave of air with a waft of flame, an intuitive denial of a temperate wind.
“I’m not Cat. I’m not Sidhe. I can’t control the darkness lurking in my soul.”
Shaking his head a long plait skittered across broad shoulders.
“In negating my attempts to soothe your heart you proved you are as much Sidhe as I am.
Iscatya gave you in death the heritage of all the elements at her disposal. It was a scant
amount, but enough to gift the new Aingeal with the strength to fight the curse of the
vampire dimension.”
Inching closer to the bed, Teague laid his head a hand-span from Alex.
“Look at my neck. See the gift of marked mate you have laid upon me. It is a sign of true
bonding one to the other. None but Sidhe could do this.”
Lifting one finger Alex stroked the silver crescent at the base of his neck.
“Don’t lie to me Teague. This is really a mate mark?” Hope lifted the dark doubts that
afflicted her heart.
“I cannot lie.”
Shifting to place his head in her lap, the Bard proclaimed his commitment to Alex.
“I am yours. You are mine, for as long as we walk this plane together and beyond.”
Reaching to take his head in her hands, Alex scanned the tranquillity of a beautiful face.
“Really, truly, we can walk out the door and no-one will rush to drive a stake through my
heart?” Sapphire eyes awash with tears Alex kissed her mate.
“Why would a piece of flesh driven through your heart cause you to fear us?” Perplexed
at the question, Teague held Alex against his chest.
“Not a steak of meat, a stake of wood. Fictionally, wood driven through the heart of a
vampire kills them.” Her answer didn’t lift the frown from his brow.
“The only way to make sure a vampire is extinguished is to remove the head.” Kissing the
pulse point on her neck, Teague pushed Alex back onto the bed. Running his hands over
her waist, he licked at the taut skin of a stomach free of a disfiguring scar.
“Ok….” She moaned, reeling under the onslaught of a male bent on taking his female.
“If I walk out the door no-one is going to take off my head?”
“They would have to take my head first.” Teague growled as he claimed his mate once more.
The world rocked for them and anyone in the immediate vicinity of the suite. The ground
shook, air coming alive with mini twisters. Oblivious to the chaos their coupling created
Alex and Teague made their bond more secure.
strokes of her fingers through the length of silvery hair.
“I’m hungry.” A soft murmur reached his ears.
“Then take my blood, it is yours for the asking.” Arching his neck Teague crept up her body
to lay his head firmly on one shoulder pinning Alex to the bed.
With a chuckle of gratitude she kissed the pulse point on offer.
“No, I mean I’m really hungry. I can’t remember the last time I ate, apart from a pathetic
little croissant.” Her belly growled to add the final touch to a pitiful lament.
Raising his head Teague grinned at the familiar noisy rumble of her stomach.
“What do you wish for?” Sliding from her arms, the Bard was ready and willing to go in
search of food.
“Something meaty…?” Alex craved protein in any shape or form.
“Turi..?” Raising his eyebrows, Teague shook his head.
“No he is too sinewy and would stick between your teeth.” Face dead pan he reached for his
clothes.
She was aghast at the proposal for a second, wondering where he was going with the offer of
his brother’s essence. Collapsing onto the bed laughing Alex had a mental image of The Bear
being served up on a platter. “Very funny…” She stuttered between giggles.
“Stick to music Teague, vampire jokes are really not in good taste right now.”
A wounded expression crossed the Bard’s face. “I was being serious.”
Hefting a pillow at his back, Alex revelled in the dry satire of her mate.
“I dare you to go out there and tell the Bear he’s next.” Her chuckles were unabated.
“Perhaps not…” He grinned sheepishly.
“Coward…” Alex shot back, hol
ding onto aching ribs.
“Aye I am at that. Turi would in truth be happy to oblige.” He paused in pulling on leather
jerkin. “His love for you is nearly as great as mine.”
Mirth stilled at the expression of pain on her mate’s face, Alex bounded off the bed into
his arms.
“Don’t think even for a minute I would trade you for another. I love you, have loved you
from the first moment I saw the wonder in your eyes, in finding a new more exciting form
of music.” Reaching up to grip at his shoulders, Alex wanted to brand every inch of his body,
to affirm their commitment to each other.
“I am yours, you are mine.” Sapphire eyes glowed with the white fire of his element.
“Remember that and keep it always in your heart. I may not be the Aingeal of yesterday,
but I will always be the one who loves you most.”
Laying a soft kiss on his lips she stepped back to allow Teague to finishing dressing.
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
Left alone in the suite Alex had precious few minutes to ponder on a violent rebirth.
Being attacked by blood hungry hybrids had worked in her favour, in as far as, she now
had the longevity to become bonded to a Sidhe warrior.
The form of that rebirth was catastrophic to her soul and the safety of the human
population residing in a small Yorkshire town. Cat was a caring ruler of Edanholme,
but a threat to any being whether human, Sidhe or to the fragile stability of the Dark
Court would elicit dire retribution.
Ameia was involved up to her neck in the conclave of hybrid waifs. It was Alex’s bad luck
to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. Her adopted sister had not wilfully led her
into a nest of vipers. The fault was hers for being overly protective of a young girl.
Dressing for winter, Alex pulled jeans and sweater over t-shirt and shorts. If she had to
enter the eternal summer of Edanholme, the top layer could be discarded.
The tenor of her existence had changed dramatically overnight. Teague was bonded to her
forever. That didn’t mean she could shrug off the responsibility of orchestrating the smooth
flow of a realm open to any and all refugees.
The Bard harboured doubts about the nature of her blood lust. The barrier screamed prison