Authors: Stacie Simpson
“You sound like you don’t like your Elders very much.” She
was slowly stretching out, uncurling from her tight position.
I shrugged my shoulder. “Some of them mean well, but I’m
afraid the majority of them have been corrupted by the power they hold over the
rest of us. There’s nothing we can do about it though, so we all pretend to be
good little demons and try to avoid pissing them off.”
I gave her a wry smile and picked up a handful of sand to
let it fall from one hand to the other. “Anyway, a few centuries before I was
born the first conduit was discovered. According to the legends, time demons
instinctively draw the power of the River through the conduits whenever they’re
within close proximity to one of us. That’s why you feel that hum of energy
when you’re near me. It’s the River flowing through you into me.”
“If that’s true then why didn’t I ever feel it before the
bombing? And for that matter, if you can siphon the power through me just
sitting here why on Earth did we need to have sex to save Serafina?” She wasn’t
angry, but her face showed a hint of hurt like she thought I might have
betrayed her trust.
I ducked my head for a second gathering my thoughts before I
met her eyes. “Conduits have always been extremely rare and elusive. As far as
I know you are the only one to be found within my lifetime. So you have to
understand that everything I know comes from ancient legends that we have no
way to verify.
From the stories I’ve heard, I know that the previous
conduits were found by chance, just like you were when you followed me through
time. And like me, the demons that found them could feel the River trickling
through the conduits whenever they were close by. The demons could also pull
the power through a little faster if needed, but it wasn’t until they had
sexual intercourse with the conduits that the floodgates opened.
Many time demons spend their entire lives searching for
conduits and the kind of power they could access through them. Thanks to
Danarius, I’m sure some of those demons will show up before long looking for
you. But honestly, I’d be willing to bet that none of them will be able to pull
any power from the River through you.”
“Why do you believe that?” Angela asked tilting her head to
the side.
I went to my knees in front of her and took her hands in
mine.
“Shortly before the bombing you came to me with your fears
that Rachel might be the next victim of the Red Light Vampire. That night I
felt a change in our relationship. For the first time you looked at me without
any of the usual suspicion. You looked at me like I was a man worthy of your
trust. Because of that, I let my guard down and I realized the depth of my
feelings for you.
A few nights later when the bomb blast sent us flying I wasn’t
thinking about Dragon as I should have been. I was thinking about you and how
much I love you, how much I need you. Even when I knew you were alive and
relatively unharmed, leaving you to find Dragon and Serafina was the hardest
thing I’ve ever had to do. It was the first time I’ve ever felt anything so
strongly that it threatened to override my blood oaths to Dragon.
I believe the love I felt in that moment was the key that
unlocked your ability to channel power from the River of Time. Until then, you
only had the potential to be a conduit, but that potential could only be realized
with a time demon who loves you.”
Angela shook her head and tried to pull away from me again
but I reached out and cradled her face in my hands.
“I know I’m right about this Angela. I’ve used my powers
around you dozens of times before the night of the bombing. How do you think
Dragon always managed to avoid you when you wanted to question him?” She gave
me a faint smile but her eyes were still full of uncertainty. “The only thing
different from all those times and now is the way I feel about you. I think
that’s why conduits are so elusive. Not only are they rare, but we can’t
recognize them until we fall in love with them.”
I didn’t give her time to think or doubt my words. I swooped
in, claiming her mouth with mine as I rolled her to the sand and wedged myself
between her long legs. The kiss was long, and I savored her warm body pressed
beneath mine while I let her feel my love for her in my kiss, and in my touch
as I caressed her hip and thigh. I knew she’d been hurt by Jimmy, and from the
encounter with him in her kitchen, I’d guess he’d been really good at talking
his way back into her heart. I needed her to feel my love because after her
experiences with him, words alone would never be enough to convince her of
anything.
When I withdrew from the kiss, I propped myself up on one
elbow so that I wasn’t putting too much weight on her. She had tears in her
eyes and I wiped them gently from her face then kissed her cheeks softly.
“I don’t know how to do this Rook,” she whispered softly.
I kissed her forehead, then the tip of her nose, then her
lips.
“Just let me love you Angela, that’s all I need you to do.”
I gave her another long, lingering kiss then rose to my feet pulling her with
me. When she was standing in front of me I titled her head up gently with my
hand under her chin and looked into her pale blue eyes. “I’ll make you a deal.
I won’t say I love you until you say it to me. Until then, I’ll just have to
find ways to show you what you mean to me.”
Her eyes searched mine for a moment then she gave me a weak
nod. Taking her hand in mine I led her down the path back towards the resort.
After a few moments she glanced up at me biting the inside
of her lip. “Where do you think the conduits come from? I mean, I’m just a
human. How can I channel power for time demons?”
I shrugged my shoulder. “No one really knows, but there are
those who believe our Goddess has a hand in it, that she’s trying to return the
power of the River to worthy time demons. The Elders don’t like that theory at
all which tends to make me think it might be based in truth.”
“What happened to the other conduits and the demons that
found them?”
I stopped dead and stared down at her, chills racing up my
spine. Why hadn’t I thought of that before? “None of them, the demons or the
conduits are alive.”
Could the Elders have been responsible for their deaths? By
the look on Angela’s face she knew exactly what I was thinking. Pulling her
against my chest I held her tight. If the Elders came after her I wouldn’t be
able to stop them, not if they came in force. The power I’d gained through
Angela would help, but it wouldn’t be enough.
“Isn’t there any way to stop them?” she whispered against my
chest.
“We need to have a lot more sex.”
With a startled laugh she stepped back to look up at me
incredulously. “What does that have to do with anything?”
“Aside from the fact that I thoroughly enjoy having sex with
you.”
She swatted at me and I jumped back.
“Every time I make love to you I gain power from the River.
I know you’ve felt it rush over us. When it hit me on Dragon’s terrace I threw
it into a time shift. Last night when it hit me the first time I didn’t know
what to do with it so it just exploded around us. After that I learned how to
draw it into myself and store it for later. Feeling all that power I can see
how easily one might be corrupted by it.”
“Why do we have to have sex for you to access that power
anyway,” Angela asked as she took my hand and we started walking again. We were
almost to the back entrance of the resort.
“Most time demons believe the loss of control during orgasm
is what makes the rush of power possible. Based on my theory that love is
needed to awaken a conduit’s abilities, I think it’s a little more complicated
than that. Sex is sex, and orgasms are great, but when two people who love each
other are physically intimate they bare their souls to one another. I believe
it’s that connection that allows the power from the River to burst out like
water rushing over a broken dam.”
She gave me a beautiful smile over her shoulder as she
pulled the door to the resort open and I reached over her head to hold it. “There
goes that word again.”
As I followed her through the door I thought life couldn’t
get much better than this and I thanked the Goddess for finally bringing Angela
to my side.
We spent the rest of the day together talking and laughing
and getting to know each other. Rachel joined us for a while but she was far
more interested in what Solomon was up to. Just after we finished dinner Dragon
tracked us down and invited us to go to Lilith’s with him and Serafina. On our
way there we checked in on Rachel who was in The Catacombs where Solomon
assured us she would remain for the rest of the evening. With Rachel safely
occupied Angela and I made our way through the crowded hallways to Lilith’s
Lounge.
“What is that?” Angela asked indicating the shimmering
rainbow of colors that formed a translucent barrier just to the right of the
stage in Lilith’s.
“You can see that?” As a human it should have been
impossible for her to see the portal.
“Yes, but this is the first time. Has it always been there?”
I nodded. “It’s a portal that leads to our club in New
Orleans.”
“You’re serious?” Angela asked, her eyebrows raised and eyes
wide.
I chuckled. “Yes, I’m serious. Would you like to go see for
yourself?”
“Um, sure, but why can I see it now when I never have
before?”
As we moved towards the portal I shrugged. “I’m not really
sure but if I had to guess, I’d say it’s because of the power from the River
that constantly trickles through you whenever I’m around. The magic of the portal
keeps it hidden from humans, but with all that supernatural power flowing
through you, maybe the magic doesn’t recognize you as human anymore.”
We found Dragon and Serafina on the dance floor in Lilith’s
and they followed us through the portal.
Once we were on the other side I watched Angela for her
reaction. She stood in one place for several minutes while she looked around at
all the scenes of debauchery on display. On the video screens spread around the
club vampires were engaged in sexual activities while feeding from their
partners. Then there were live entertainers simulating sexual situations both
in full view and behind screens so that all we could see were shadows of
ecstasy playing out. It was all borderline pornographic and as Angela took in the
sights her heart rate quickened and the scent of her arousal filled the air.
Wrapping my arms around her from behind, I whispered in her
ear, “Welcome to Forbidden Fantasies.”
She shivered and the movement made her ass rub against my
rapidly growing erection. “Wow... Just wow. I know laws vary from state to
state, but I can’t believe all of this is legal in any state.”
Laughing, I said, “Vampire mind control does come in handy
sometimes.”
“Why does it feel a little like Mystique in here?” Angela
asked as she turned in my arms and wrapped her arms around my waist.
“Because there are sex demons working here too, just not as
many as there are in Mystique.” I bent my head down to kiss her. I’d meant for
the kiss to be brief but when our lips met I couldn’t help but linger. How many
times had I stopped myself from doing this very thing? It was such a relief to
have her welcome my touch and my kisses. As my tongue twined with hers she
molded her body to mine and I smoothed my hands down her back then lower until
I gripped the firm cheeks of her backside.
She pulled away from me laughing. “I don’t mind putting on
private shows for you, but I don’t think I want to be part of the entertainment
here.”
“We could always check out one of the private party rooms
down the back hallway.”
Her eyes flashed with interest but then she said, “Maybe
later.”
Just then Serafina bounced up beside us and said, “It’s
crazy isn’t it? One minute you’re in Mississippi and the next you’re in
downtown New Orleans.”
Angela grabbed my hand and started heading towards the front
door. “Come on, I want to see it for myself.”
I went with her and when we stepped outside she looked
around again. “My God. We really are in New Orleans.”
The street was crowded with tourists but the two vampires
heading our way from across the street were definitely local.
“Yes we are, and we no longer have a truce with the vampires
that run this city, so we should get back inside now.”
Angela looked confused for a moment then she noticed we had
company and allowed me to usher her quickly back inside the bar.
“Damn, they don’t usually move in that fast.”
“Maybe we should go back through the portal,” Angela
suggested with a worried glance at the door we’d just rushed through.
“We’re safe in here,” I assured her. “The wards around this
club won’t let anyone in if they mean us harm.”
Dragon came up beside me and peeked out the door. “Friends
of yours?”
I grinned at him. “Just some salespeople, I told them we
weren’t interested.”
Angela rolled her eyes and strolled over to a table near the
dance floor. I asked everyone what they wanted to drink then went to the bar to
get a round of beer and sodas for Angela and Serafina. When I sat down next to
Angela Dragon was munching on a bowl of popcorn and Serafina was on the dance
floor with Doyle who was a regular at Forbidden Fantasies, not because he liked
the atmosphere in the club, but because he liked to start fights with the
vampires outside the club. No wonder they were just hanging around waiting out
there.
“Which one of the bears mated the new bartender?” I asked
Dragon.
Angela looked confused so I nodded towards the man behind
the bar with shoulder length brown hair and said, “Do you see the mating marks
spiraling down his arms? They look like pencil sketches because they’re new.
When the mating bond is complete the marks will be colored in like Serafina’s
and Dragon’s. But in his case, they have bear fur under the claw marks rather
than dragon scales.”
“So everyone mated to a shapeshifter or a nightshifter would
have similar markings,” she asked and I nodded.
“Do you remember how Scarlett was spending a lot of time in
New Orleans right before the bombing?” Dragon asked me.
“You’ve got to be kidding?” I asked incredulously.
He shook his head with a grimace. “His name is Noah. She was
with him when I marked Serafina and all the other nightshifters thought their
beasts rolled over in their sleep. She told me she felt something when that
happened but she didn’t know what it meant. She only knew that she needed to
keep him close to her. Once the spell was broken the mating frenzy started
immediately but he doesn’t want to accept it. He used to work in that pub on
St. Phillips, you know the one with the really great ghost tours, but she
finally talked him into working here and staying in one of the apartments
upstairs for safety reasons.”
“Why doesn’t he want to accept the mating bond?” I asked.
“He was engaged to another woman before he met Scarlett.”
Dragon revealed.
“Damn, Scarlett just can’t catch a break can she?”
“What am I missing here?” Angela asked.
“When shapeshifters or nightshifters meet their mates they
are both consumed with lust for each other until the mating bond is complete.
We call that the mating frenzy. Noah was tied to another woman so he’s fighting
the bond, but since Scarlett has marked him, and that only happens after mates
have been intimate, it’s obvious he hasn’t been completely successful.” I shook
my head. “It’s only a matter of time before he realizes Scarlett is his perfect
match, but until that happens, Scarlett will be living through hell.”
“And she’ll be hell to live with,” Dragon added. “Shifters
are both protective and possessive of their mates, especially during the mating
frenzy. The longer he denies their bond, the more those instincts will
interfere with her ability to think rationally where he is concerned. I’ve
already warned him that his fiancée would be in danger if Scarlett were to see
them together or catch her scent on him.”
Angela leaned forward with her arms on the table. “What if
he doesn’t want to be with Scarlett? Doesn’t he have a choice?”
I sipped my beer then shrugged. “Sure he has a choice, but
they never choose to walk away.”
Angela started to say something else but Dragon interrupted
her. “Angela, a shapeshifter mating bond is indescribable to anyone who has
never experienced it. It’s not just a joining of souls; it’s a completion of
souls. It’s burning desire and passionate love with a deep seated friendship.
There’s no fear or doubt because we share our emotions openly, freely without
any barriers, it just flows through the bond.
It can be a little overwhelming in the beginning especially
for someone like Noah who doesn’t understand what’s happening to him. But I
believe that’s why mates experience the mating frenzy. It keeps them together
until they both realize what a gift they’ve been given. Fate brings them
together, and with the help of the mating frenzy, it makes sure they stay
together.”
Angela was quiet for a moment then she asked, “Will he become
a shapeshifter or nightshifter like her now?”
Dragon answered, “When we mated humans before the curse they
remained human but stopped aging as long as their mates were alive. For
example, Solomon’s mother was a fox shifter and his father was a human sorcerer.
His father did not age for hundreds of years until Solomon’s mother was killed
during The Great War. After her death he aged at a normal human rate until he
died of old age.
Now that we have the ability to change humans into
nightshifters our mates will have the choice to remain human or become
nightshifters. If I hadn’t been forced to change Serafina I never would have
done it because I saw my vampire side as a curse. Now that it’s done though, I
am grateful that my mate can share every aspect of my life with me. We can fly
together and feed together, although it’s difficult to choose donors since we
can’t simply drink from each other.”
Angela glanced at me with a raised eyebrow.
“Nutritionally speaking any blood would keep vampires alive
including bagged blood, but to maintain their sanity and their humanity they
need to absorb the life force from fresh blood drawn directly from a living
being. The life force counteracts the virus that causes vampirism and keeps it
from multiplying. Since vampire blood is tainted with the virus, drinking from
another vampire wouldn’t help keep the virus at bay. If the virus isn’t kept in
check it transforms the infected vampires into something similar to the mind
demons from whom the virus originated. Their powers increase, but their bodies
also transform, and they eventually become cruel, soulless blood addicts that
enjoy torture and mayhem.”
I paused then smirked at Dragon and added, “But I’m sure
that doesn’t stop vampires or nightshifters from sharing a vein to enjoy those
mind-blowing orgasms we discussed the other day at lunch.”
Angela’s cheeks turned bright red and Dragon chuckled as he
sat his beer back down on the table. “Yes, but now when I drink from Serafina I
can’t really consider it feeding. And since sexual arousal is an unavoidable
side effect of drinking blood it’s difficult to feed from anyone but Serafina,
and it’s even more difficult to watch her feed from anyone but me.”
“Difficult but necessary. Vampires who forgo fresh blood to
gain psychic powers not only lose their humanity and healthy complexions, but
also their ability to eat solid food and have bouncing baby boys and girls,” I
reminded him.
“I know, I know, and that’s why Serafina and I will continue
to look for suitable donors that we can both be comfortable with,” Dragon said
as Serafina slid onto his lap.
“My ears wouldn’t quit burning so I thought I better come
see what all of you were talking about,” Serafina said with a laugh.
Dragon smiled at her and said, “What else would I talk about
besides my beautiful mate.”
She pulled his head down to hers and while they kissed Doyle
joined us.
“So Angela, would you care to take a spin on the dance
floor?” Doyle asked as he flopped down into a chair beside Dragon. “Rook rarely
steps out onto the floor but if you’re tired of sitting around I can always use
another dance partner.”
Angela grinned at him and replied, “Sorry Doyle, but I’m not
much of a dancer either. I guess that’s just one more thing Rook and I have in
common.”
“Why don’t you go see if those humans in the corner want to
dance Doyle,” I suggested. “They were eyeing you the whole time you were out
there with Serafina.”
Doyle glanced over his shoulder then rose from his chair and
waggled his eyebrows. “Don’t wait up, Dad.”
It wasn’t long before Doyle was sandwiched between the two
women who were shedding what little clothing they started with as their bodies
undulated against his.
“You’re not actually his father are you?” Angela whispered
the question to me but Dragon and Serafina heard anyway and laughed.
I shook my head and moved my chair closer to hers so I could
put my arm around her shoulders. “No, I am most definitely not Doyle’s father.”
Before I could comment further Danarius walked through the
front door. I wouldn’t say the club fell silent because the music continued to
play, but every supernatural in the building went on high alert. Even the
humans seemed to tense with his arrival. Dressed in his tailored business suit
it was obvious he didn’t belong in this crowd of people wearing mostly denim,
leather, and stretchy knit clothing. He paused just inside the door until he
spotted us, then he sauntered over to our table and pulled up a chair.
“Do you mind?” He addressed Dragon who inclined his head and
the vampire sat down. “I was informed that Rook was in here tonight but I hadn’t
expected to see you here Dragon, or your lovely mate.” The smile he sent
Serafina’s way was full of charm.
“What do you want Danarius?” Dragon got right to the point
with a hard look letting Danarius know he was in no mood to play around. I knew
that having his pregnant mate this close to an enemy vampire had to be making
his dragon go crazy.