Authors: Talyn Scott
Oycher suddenly had a coughing fit.
“He sounded okay, Six?”
“Um, as okay as Anthony ever does,” he replied with a wobbly smile.
She glanced over at the door and back, feeling suddenly anxious. “You brought me down here after the werewolf fiasco, and your weird brother put me in his car. What’s changed so quickly enabling us to go above ground?”
“Well, I agreed to allow a meeting with the Weres.” Every feature on his perfect face tightened. “Particularly, you will meet with Bane Ruyter, the Beta of the North American Pack, and they agree to back off after you listen to whatever garbage he spews.”
One word in that statement bothered her more than meeting with a feral werewolf. “You will
allow
?” She pulled away from him, tried to anyway, but he tightened on her.
“Permit. Authorize. Sanction. Approve.” He kissed the tip of her nose. “Any of those words better for you.”
“Uh, no,” she snapped, by the gleam in his eye, he was enjoying this proclamation a little too much.
“You’re in my world, angel.” He nipped her ear, and then laved the sting away. “Males of our race provide for their mates in every way. Females accept provision. These are vampiric mating terms. You are with me on
my
terms. I’m not human, and we are thoroughly mated.”
She chose her words carefully, biting her tongue along the way. “Is that why everyone refers to me as your wife, though we aren’t married?”
“By vampire law, we are husband and wife now.” He stared her straight in the eyes with profound conviction. “I provided the Coven Master with proof of the night I took your virginity: the blanket smeared with your innocence.”
She recoiled, but listened nonetheless.
“We would have been married for eight years, if I had presented it to Maestru then, and he made the proclamation before others of my kind. But I’ve explained all the reasons I
allowed
you to walk away, but I
provided
for you handsomely while we were apart – though we weren’t technically married without the official proclamation.”
“That’s how vampires get married?”
“One of the few ways, spilling of innocence is the easiest way – less painful for the female,” Oycher added his two cents.
“I don’t want to hear the other ways,” she snapped, angry with herself for forgetting he was there in the first place.
“I wasn’t telling.” Oycher shook his head, smiling secretively.
Six gripped her chin, forcing her attention back to him. “You have to understand, all those years ago, we were also marrying in the humans’ way. To uphold you race’s traditions. I conceded to that, though most vampires find it insulting.”
“Why would they?” Did she really want to know? Blythe realized learning something new every day could be a bad thing.
“Many humans, not all, regard marriage as a contract that can be broken for any reason by the rap of a judge’s gavel and a signed document. Species Breed Vampires consider vampire ceremonies sacred and eternal. Even those who have lost their mates due to death, rarely take another lover.” He curled a lock of hair around her ear. “We are dangerous, but our love is everlasting. It shows in our commitment to our mates. Therefore, when I say ‘allow’, it’s inherent to my very nature as a male. I will protect you no matter what it takes, which is my right to do so. I will provide for anything you require, and, of course, all things frivolous.”
“I…I have plans.” She pulled back. “Plans you never even asked about. I have an education - a degree that wasn’t easy for me to earn, and work experience I will continue to use. After Tony gets well, I’ll be able to save to start my own accounting firm - a small one that I’ll grow client by client.” She raised her chin. “I’ll rent a place right on First Street. And I’ll be successful…helping interns from the local college, and maybe they’ll be prosperous partners with me later.”
“I know you’ve become quite educated and hard-working since you were eighteen. If I must, I’ll find a position in my company for you, but I have to admit, I don’t like that idea at all.”
She opened and closed her mouth several times before she settled on, “Right now, I’m too mentally drained to discuss my rights” – she started to say woman, but it wasn’t that at all – “as a
person
.”
“Then don’t. And you will never fool me into thinking you want an emasculated man, so don’t bother to try.” He grew irritated, saying, “You want me the very way that I am: uninhibited, wild yet responsible, and caring for you in and out of bed. You want me as a vampire. You want me as a shifter. You want me as a counterpoint to your female nature.” He stuck a finger in her face. “And to quell any bright ideas you may have, you’re not getting out of this marriage, and why should you? I’m the male who loves you unconditionally. It’s time we had our happily ever after, and I’m sure as hell ready for it.”
“This marriage doesn’t hold water in the human world,” she said weakly.
He made a dismissive sound in the back of his throat. “I knew you would say that, so Kash took care of it. Here,” he handed her an official document from the clerk of courts.
“A signed marriage certificate.” Her chin hit the floor. “That’s my signature…by yours, witnesses, and an actual judge.” Blythe huffed, “I know this man; he comes into Six Feet Under every weekend!”
Oycher muttered, “And the thought of crooked community leaders angers you?”
“Not funny.”
Sixten threw Oycher a murderous look. “Not meant to be, angel.”
“It’s legal,” her voice shook, “really legal.” He pulled the paper from her hand, folded it up, and tucked it away. She groaned, “You’re beyond high-handed.” She closed her eyes, blocking him out. “There aren’t words to describe what I’m feeling right now.”
“That’s where we’re
at
now, Blythe.” He tugged her arm away, getting in her face. “What do you want to hear? A lie? I’m a normal, immortal male. I told you.” He trailed kisses down her jaw, though she wrenched away. “I don’t need a paper. For that matter, I don’t need a fucking proclamation from the Coven Master. I need
you
. And you’re not going anywhere Blythe
Kovac
.” A powerful hand cupped her nape possessively, fingers sliding over her skin. “Not. Anywhere.”
“You’re up, man.” Qudir was at the door, officially ending their discussion – for now.
After he reached the threshold, Sixten turned back and said, “Get used to it.”
“
W
hat the hell is this?”
“I told you, Six.” Kash looked exhausted. “We’ve been at it all night. Man, just accept it. Tony is not pulling out of this.”
“We’ve all tried.” Qudir curled his lip. “Everybody’s had a mouth on him.”
Kash said, “I don’t know what you expected with half his brain missing.”
“At the least, I expected him to answer some pertinent questions about my wife before I re-killed him.”
Kash made a piffing sound. “You weren’t going to kill him again. A mate in mourning makes for a lonely bed.”
“How am I supposed to find out what he was doing with these women, particularly my wife? Furthermore,” he muttered, turning away from Anthony, “how was he involved with the Habalines? Pure Habalines, mind you.” Sixten yanked at his hair, a sign of pure frustration. “This really stinks.”
“Yeah, I want him out of here,” Qudir ordered Kash. “He’s too ripe, shitting up the place.”
Sixten opened his mouth, but Qudir cut him off. “Before you ask, Maestru already tried.”
“You’ll have her at Six Feet Under later?” Kash changed the subject when Maestru entered the room.
“Yeah, I’ll have her there,” Sixten spat the words. “Heads up to all, I’m not promising to behave. In fact, I’m sure I’ll be a total ass.”
“I’ll expect the worst from you, Six.” Maestru neared him. “There’s no shame in guarding your territory. If we own lovers, it’s difficult for other males to near them. But a mate, damn, it’s unthinkable, especially if a werewolf’s involved.”
“Is this you trying to make me feel better?” Sixten’s claws elongated. “Because I’m telling you right now, you’re wasting your breath and my time.”
“Eh, I tried.” Maestru looked at the deceased. “When are you breaking it to her?”
“I want at least one more day.” He brought his fists down on a file cabinet, denting it. “She needs more time to acclimate to our ways – to me as I truly am.”
“Yeah, this is the kind of shit” - Qudir tilted his head toward Anthony - “humans break over.”
“That’s the point of this meeting.” Maestru scrunched his nose. “If only we had a window down here. Anyway, we have so many claims on Blythe floating around. Werewolves say she’s theirs. Dru says she’s a Donor. I proclaimed her your wife. So…to calm things down and get to more pressing matters, what if we took the other two groups out of this maddening equation?”
“Short of killing them all, what did you have in mind?” Sixten asked warily.
“Undead.”
“Forget it.”
“I’ve already offered to change Blythe for him,” Kash said.
“You’d better think about this, Six.” Maestru leaned against the wall, crossing his arms. “Who else knows she’s a Donor? Dru will keep his mouth shut. The Vojaks always stand behind their fellow Vojak. Who else is there? Her brother obviously knew, yet he lies dead before us.” He cleared his throat. “Maybe there’s Ryan. But he knows I’ll kill him if he even
thinks
about letting that intel fly.”
“Or his parents?” Sixten gave him a disgusted look.
“Six, rule the Coven and then tell me how to keep certain members in line,” Maestru said with exhaustion Six had never heard from a vampire. “Then we’ll talk ethics.”
His stomach sank. “
Ethically
, I can’t kill Blythe.”
“It wouldn’t be you, but one of us,” Maestru said without hesitation.
“Won’t happen.” Sixten gave the battered file cabinet an angry kick. “She would be my mate, and one of you would own her as your Undead. I go from one equation to another, yet nothing gets solved.”
Kash looked affronted. “Like I would require anything of her, or hold ownership over her head.”
Six sighed. “Of course you wouldn’t. But what happens if you get killed? Your next of kin gets ownership of your Undead. That would include my wife,” he said hoarsely. “None of this matters, anyway. Even if I had the ability to change her myself, I would never stop her precious heart. Never. It’s just not right.”
Maestru pushed off the wall. “Six, I have no alerts to any Dynasty Vampyrs or hunters in the area, and I will tell you if that changes.” He chose his words cautiously. “But think about what’s best for you and Blythe before you say never.
Never
is a long time to be lonely. Why harbor regrets later, when you can prevent them today?”
B
lythe stabbed her second piece of sausage, but she didn’t have room for another bite. While reading in his chair, Oycher ignored her the entire time. Blythe wasn’t fooled, though. She hadn’t a single doubt that he was digging in her head.
Most likely.
“Want some?” She lifted her fork, dangling the sausage Oycher’s way.
“No.”
“Pancakes, then?”
“No to the pancakes.”
“Can’t eat any of it, can you?
“Offer what I’m hungry for, and I can
eat
plenty.” Oycher smiled cruelly.
She shifted uncomfortably, balling up her napkin on her plate. “Should I make a run for it?”
“As fun as that sounds, you don’t know your way around here. There are doors you shouldn’t open, which belong to Vojaks you need to avoid. So, no.” He creased a page in his book and put it on a side table.
“I haven’t met the half of you, have I?”
“Not even close.”
“So…you’re babysitting me because you’re one of the
good
ones?”
“Yes, I’m pure as the fallen snow.”
“You actually said that with a straight face.”
“Much like the straight face you kept when you refuted your marriage.” He clucked his tongue. “But we both know better, don’t we? You’re still in love with Sixten. You want him. You’re proud to be his wife.”
“Nosy much?”
“Answer this question, and I’ll keep my mouth shut.”
She didn’t have to work up the nerve to be honest with him since he could hear her thoughts before she voiced them. “I don’t believe you, but shoot.”
“What sacrifice are you willing to make for the one you love?”
“Do you all live such tragic lives, dwelling in gloom and doom?” Blythe scooted her chair out and stood up. “Why does there have to be a sacrifice?” She waited for some profound answer after such a philosophical question, but to her disappointment, he was rather glib with his reply.
“Some days, that’s how the dice rolls, baby.”
“She’s not your baby.” Sixten blew in like a thunderstorm, glancing at her plate, nodding in approval, and then gripping her by the elbow. “Bedroom. Now.”
Oycher’s annoying laugh drifted through the corridor and she protested, “We need to discuss these caveman tendencies of yours,
hubby
.”
Silence.
“Six?”
He opened the door, pushed her inside, and shut it with an ominous finality. “You. Naked. Bed.” After kicking off his shoes, he stripped, put his hands behind his head, and leaned against the headboard waiting.
Just like that, her skin was on fire, arousal tingling under her skin. How had her mouth suddenly gone dry? “I think we’d better discuss this, uh, marriage certificate.”
His eyes darkened into a smoldering, carnal rage while waves of sexual tension rolled off his body. “You get me so fucking hot. Clothes off. My claws won’t retract right now. So unless you want me to claw my way through them, I’d suggest that you strip.
Quickly
.”