King of the Asheville Coven: Harper's Mountains Vampire Romance (7 page)

Sadey startled awake. She blinked rapidly, her heart galloping against her sternum. The soft glow of the living room light fixture made her wince. She’d fallen asleep on the couch, and the television now had a frozen screen, asking if she was done watching the show she’d nodded off to.

She exhaled and stretched, then smiled as Aric cupped her breast and settled again. Silly mate, feeling her up in his sleep.

Sleep? She frowned at the window near the door. It was still pitch black outside.

Her blood chilled to ice. Aric was on shift tonight, not lying behind her on the couch. Panting shallowly in fear, she forced her gaze down to the arm draped over her hip. It was bigger than Aric’s, tanned from the sun, and scarred from where she’d raked her claws down it after Brock had hit her.

“Did you miss me, baby?” Brock murmured in her ear. His warm breath made her want to retch.

She lay there, too afraid to breathe, too afraid to move, her palms going damp with sweat. Her animal snarled a warning, but she couldn’t get a single muscle to move when he sat up and pressed his weight onto her, slipped his meaty hand around her throat.

It was the touch of his calloused hand against her skin that woke the fight in her. Sadey struggled like some wild thing, but Brock was twice her weight. She wanted to Change, but he was straddling her now, both hands wrapped around her throat, his eyes glowing the same light gold color hers did. Sadey thrashed and bucked, gasping for air, but Brock’s eyes were empty. They were soulless.

“I knew you were here all along, you stupid bitch,” Brock growled out. “Who do you think ran you off the road? Who do you think has been watching you play house with that fucking bloodsucker? I was going to let you live, Sadey.” His voice echoed with the hollowness of insanity. “If you would’ve come back to me, I would’ve let you live.”

“Please,” she choked out. “Don’t.” Tears streamed down the corners of her eyes. She wasn’t ready to go yet. Wasn’t ready to succumb to the darkness without telling Aric goodbye. Without explaining she’d tried to be stronger for him.

“You’ll die alone now. No people, no friends. No vampire fuck-buddy to save you. He’s working. He’ll find your body long after you’ve gone cold, and that’s my revenge on him for taking what was mine. I can put you in the grave, and he can’t raise you from the dead.”

Wait…Aric. Reach!
“
Aric! Help me! Please, Aric.
” She squeezed her eyes closed against the shattering edges that were demolishing her vision. Sparks zipped this way and that behind her eyelids as she sucked desperately for air. “
Aric…I’m sorry. I love you. I’m sorry.
”

This was it. The end. The darkness had reached across two state lines and swallowed her up. At least she’d had a good ending. A happy one. How sad would it have been to go still trapped?

The front of her house exploded inward, and when she opened her eyes, sheetrock, siding, insulation, and glass blasted above Brock. His face was red with hate and exertion, but as he looked up, fear flashed in his eyes. And then he was gone.

There was no weight pressing her down, no hands crushing her neck. There was just the beautiful breath of oxygen she dragged into her lungs, and then the pain of her knees hitting the wood floor beside the couch.

Aric was against the wall, and a moment of confusion took her. Where was Brock?

Aric reached in the hole and yanked something massive out of it. Brock fell to his knees, crimson painting his neck and arm.

Sadey winced away from the sight of Brock’s throat, which had been badly torn. Gads, Aric was so much faster and more lethal than she’d realized.

The front of the house was demolished, and outside, the
squeak, squeak
of bats and a thick purple haze transformed the night. Garret appeared on the porch first, and then one by one, the rest of the Asheville coven solidified.

Aric paced wordlessly, only a deep hiss in his throat as his eyes stayed on Brock who was hunched over and holding his bleeding neck.

“Sadey, are you okay?” Garret asked from outside.

She tried to say yes, but couldn’t get her voice box to work yet, so she nodded instead. Swallowing hard, she wheezed out, “Come in. All of you come in.”

Garret stepped over the rubble, followed by the others. When he helped her upright, his hand was strong and cold and firm under her elbow. His jet black eyes churned with hatred as he looked at Brock. Then to Aric, he said, “Kill him for what he’s done.”

What? Sadey thought the coven hated her, but here was Aric’s Second encouraging vengeance against crimes committed against her.

Aric shook his head hard as though he couldn’t think straight. “It’s your right,” he ground out, casting a quick, dark glance to Sadey. “Do you want to kill him? Or do you want me to take the burden. I can. I want to.”

But did she want that? Did she want to make Aric a murderer? He cared about life so much—human, shifter, and vampire. Would killing Brock ease his need to defend her, or would it hurt him?

“There’s another way to keep him out of our lives.” She punched each word past her vocal chords, and it hurt, but this needed to be said. “There’s a way that would keep the blood off both of our hands.”

In a moment, Aric’s face transformed to that of realization. His lips snarled back over his long, sharp fangs, as though a part of him still wanted to end Brock’s life. But Aric wasn’t like Brock. He wasn’t heartless, and the more she thought about it, the more she knew Aric would carry this night with him for always if she didn’t keep logical enough for both of them.

“I want him dead for what he did to me, Aric. I do. But a quick death is too easy on him and will echo through this coven for always.” She swallowed hard and clenched her fists. “Wreck him instead.”

Aric’s snarl turned to an empty smile, and he squatted down just out of Brock’s reach. Brock stretched his hand for him, but when Aric twitched his chin, Brock reared back as if he’d been slapped. And then Brock’s bright blue eyes were taken over with the dark color of his pupils as they dilated completely.

She didn’t want to watch, so she followed Garret and the others outside. A few of them asked if she was all right and wanted to know what had happened. She tried to explain in as few words as possible, her gaze never far from the inside of her house where Aric was canting his head the other way, his eyes locked on Brock’s as he put who-knew-what visions into his head.

Brock looked terrified, his eyes wide, his mouth hanging open like he was mid-scream. She’d never seen fear on his face until tonight. She tried to conjure a single ounce of pity for him, but couldn’t. He would’ve killed her with his bare hands while he stared at her petrified face if Aric hadn’t come for her.

Aric was talking low now, murmuring something not even her snow leopard hearing could pick up.

“Sheeeyit,” Garret muttered in a gleeful voice, shaking his head. “Our king isn’t playing around. This guy’s fucked.” He turned to her and frowned thoughtfully. “I hoped Aric’s interest in you would pass. It won’t, will it?”

Sadey rubbed her tender neck and shook her head. “I hope not.”

“Do you love him?”

Her voice pitched to a whisper as soft as a breath as she answered, “I do. Very much. Garret, how did you know to come here?”

He chuckled darkly. “Your man pulled in the entire coven. It wasn’t our choice. Looks like we owe you fealty now.”

“I’m sorry.”

“Don’t say that, shifter. Don’t let the boys see a drop of weakness, or they’ll test you relentlessly. Apologize for nothing. It’s beneath you.”

“Beneath me?” she whispered, staring at the other vamps who stood in pairs talking low.

Garret leveled her with a look, one eyebrow cocked, his chin lifted high. “You’re mated to the King of the Asheville Coven now, Sadey. Chest up, chin out, princess. You are royalty in our coven.”

“Our coven,” she murmured.

She’d never been a part of anything like this. These almost strangers had come to help her. Even if Aric had forced them, Garret had showed her kindness tonight, and the others, too.

Perhaps she’d been wrong about vampires. Perhaps it wasn’t just Aric who was protective and caring.

Inside, Aric stood and crossed his arms over his fire department shirt, puffing out his biceps and chest with the motion. He tracked Brock’s progress as her ex left the house. Brock shook uncontrollably and looked around like a terrified field mouse in the shadow of an owl. When his eyes landed on her, Brock screamed a high pitched, horrified sound. He pinned himself against the porch railing, chest heaving as he sobbed.

“Go on, or I’ll let her have you,” Aric said blandly.

Shoulders shaking with his crying, Brock ran for his car, tripped in the yard, and then crawled as fast as he could through the mowed grass. The murmur of the coven’s chuckling filled the night as Sadey watched Brock blast out of the driveway in the black pickup truck that had run her off the road. He must’ve bought it recently, but if he wasn’t careful, he was going to swerve off the road himself.

She turned around to ask Aric what he’d put in Brock’s head, but he was right there, and he hugged her so tightly it pushed the air out of her lungs. His face was buried against her neck, and she could feel it—the relief.

“Are you okay? Tell me you’re all right, Sadey. I heard you…fuck.” He hugged her tighter, lifted her off the ground. “I heard you call for me, and I was afraid I would be too late. I heard you say you were sorry.” His voice hitched on that last word. “Garret,” he said in a hard tone as he set her down.

“Yep, we’re on it,” Garret muttered. “Come on boys, let’s check out the damage.” The others meandered up onto the porch, but Garret hung back and clapped his king on the shoulder. “I’ll order the supplies, and we’ll get it fixed up.”

“Thank you,” Aric murmured to Garret’s back as his Second made his way up to the destroyed house with the others.

Cupping her face and angling it back, he studied her throat. His relief she’d felt a second ago transformed to anger, and power pulsed against her skin. “I wanted to kill him, Sadey. Seeing him choking you…” He gritted his teeth and looked like he wanted to spit. “You should know what’s in my heart. If you hadn’t spoken up for him, that asshole wouldn’t be breathing right now.”

“I wasn’t speaking up for him, Aric.”

Her mate frowned, and confusion filled every beautiful angle of his face. “What do you mean?”

“I was speaking up for
you
.” Sadey gripped Aric’s wrists to keep his touch on her. “I didn’t want you to have another black mark on your heart because of me. I wanted to protect you.”

Deep emotion pooled in his eyes as he shook his head in disbelief. “I keep thinking you’re a dream. Like I’ll wake up, and my life will be like it was before you. Dark and empty. I don’t know how I got lucky enough for you to pick me back.” He parted his lips to say more, but his phone chirped in his back pocket. He checked it and muttered a curse. “I have to get back to the station. Will you do me a favor?”

“Well, you did just save my life,” she said with a shaky laugh. “I pretty much owe you any favor you want. What’ll it be? Titty squeezes? A BJ? I’m drawing the line at a threesome because I don’t share my man, my food, or—”

Aric kissed her into silence, making her forget her train of thought completely. With a deep chuckle, he eased back and rested his forehead against hers. “I was just going to ask you to sleep at the coven house tonight. My protective instincts are kicked up, and Garret can make sure you are comfortable.” He bit his bottom lip and grinned wickedly. “We can discuss BJ negotiations when I get home.”

“Deal,” she whispered, thoroughly enjoying the way he’d said
home
, as if it was hers, too.

But as she watched him saunter off, evaporate into a powerful gust of bats and smoke, and then disappear into the night, she reconsidered that word. Home wasn’t her rental house or the coven house, or even Winterset.

Now, home was Aric.

Aric smiled at the new bed of flowers in the landscaping of the coven house. Three months living here, and Sadey had put her stamp on every piece of this place. The music of laughter floated out of the open windows and reached for him on the front porch.

This was his favorite part of his fire shifts—when he got to come home to her and to his coven.

His old life felt a million years ago now.

Aric pushed open the door and paused in the entryway just long enough to set his gear bag down. Dawn was an hour away, but the boys were still riled up, joking with each other and playing the music too loud. Quietly, Aric padded into the living area and leaned against the doorframe there. Dawn and the girls were here tonight, which made the human food smell of steak make sense. Sadey always insisted on cooking for the feeders before they left so they wouldn’t feel faint on the way back to their lives.

The coven had complained half-heartedly at first about cooking in the kitchen and filling the house with the stink of food, but Sadey wouldn’t be budged, and Aric was glad. The feeders were happier for the tradition they were creating now. Dawn and Sadey were cracking up over something at the table as his mate forked a bite of salad. She had her blond tresses up in a messy bun and wore an easy smile that said she was comfortable with everyone here. Her charcoal gray cable-knit sweater dropped from one shoulder and exposed the claiming mark he’d given her.

Some of the coven were on the couch watching a television show, two were playing chess in the corner, and two of them were sitting at the table with the girls, teasing them. Garret was standing over the old jukebox the boys had ordered for the house, and after he punched in the number he wanted, Sadey groaned out, “Garret! We’ve heard this song three thousand times tonight.”

“And we’ll hear it three thousand more because it’s that good,” he said with a wink at Dawn.

These were Aric’s favorite nights, when everyone was happy.

“
Hey you.
”

Aric blinked slowly and smiled at his mate. Sadey looked so pretty under the chandelier above the kitchen table, an easy greeting grin on her full lips, her eyes crinkling as the grin reached them.

She really loved him.

Sure, he could tell from the fact that she’d switched her work hours and sleep schedule around to coincide with his. He could tell from the way she snuggled him in her sleep in the dark of their room during the daylight hours. But this—the way she looked at him with her heart in her eyes—said she was happy to be in love with him.

He twitched his chin toward the hallway, and her smile deepened. She squeezed Dawn’s shoulder as she passed and made her way to him.

“I missed you,” she murmured as she snuggled into his arms. And then she rested her cheek against his chest and went to purring like she always did when he came home after a shift.

He lifted her chin, brought her gaze to his so she would see how much he meant his next words. “I missed you, too.” And then he leaned down and kissed her, his hands sliding down her neck and arms until he reached her waist.

She was always so reactive to his touch, and then she was reaching again. “
Love, love, I love him, love him. I love Aric.
”

He chuckled and nipped at her lip. His mate was a loyal creature who loved with her whole heart, and she’d somehow chosen him. He was so damn lucky to have landed in Winterset. So damn lucky to have landed in Sadey’s arms.

“Get a room,” Garret called across the couch.

Fine by him. Aric waved goodnight to his coven and hugged his mate tightly as he walked her backward down the hallway.

Sadey wrapped her legs around his waist. “Night, vamps,” she called over his shoulder.

“Night.” The coven’s murmurs bounced down the hallway after them as Aric maneuvered them down the stairs to the basement rooms.

“Tell me about your day, mister,” she murmured, resting her chin on his shoulder.

Aric kicked open the door to their bedroom and closed it with his hip, then murmured, “It was an easy one. No calls. The town was quiet tonight. And Chief Lang pulled me in his office at the end of my shift.”

“What for?” she asked as he settled her onto the wood floor.

Aric shook his head, still barely able to believe it himself. “He said I was an asset to the truck and he’d made the right decision in hiring me.”

Sadey’s beaming smile stunned him into stillness. “So are you still the King of the Asheville Coven?” she asked innocently.

He could see it clear as day what she wanted him to say. He’d balked before tonight, but now it felt right. “No. Now I’m the King of the Winterset Coven.”

“So we’re staying. Officially, this is home?”

The excitement in her voice was catching, and he laughed. With a nod, he murmured, “We’re home.”

The notes of Garret’s favorite country song floated down through the ceiling. Aric held Sadey as gently as she deserved and rocked them side-to-side in a slow dance. Resting his cheek against her hair, he murmured, “Before I met you, I was so angry. I couldn’t get over Arabella stealing the sunlight from me. I couldn’t be the king I wanted to be because of my unhappiness with her betrayal.”

Sadey clutched his shirt and sighed, relaxing against him as they slow-danced. “And now?”

He leaned back and searched her gorgeous eyes. Slowly, he pressed his hand over her chest where her content purr rattled on. “And now I think I was supposed to find you when I did because you banished the dark parts of my life right when I thought I would be lost.”

She was flowers in the garden and secret smiles. She was love, happiness, and echoing laughter. Somehow, she’d come in and become the glue for his coven—the glue for the pieces of himself Aric thought he had lost.

After everything, she had chased the shadows away, and now he didn’t have to mourn his old life or the things he’d had to give up.

Because Sadey—his fiercely beautiful, playful, tender-hearted Sadey—had turned out to be his sunlight.