Under a Blood Moon: Beaux Rêve Coven, Book 2 (3 page)

The sudden arrival of twenty demons in their midst had opened their minds and hearts to all sorts of wonderful possibilities—if they remained steadfast in their determination to seek a mate willing to share their power rather than control and consume it.

Thoughts of the demon she’d been previously promised to by the counsel were enough to send a shiver down her spine. Mathias was a dragon. Ruled by fire. As incompatible with her true nature as any demon could be, but an acceptable political alliance because of his higher status in the hierarchy of demons. Mathias had thought a lap pool and long baths would suffice to connect her with her elemental spirit guide. He’d been raised in privilege, expecting to rule over his mate, to use her as he saw fit without any consideration of just how miserable she might be confined to the land—and to his bed.

She would choose a more compatible mate. She had to. For her sake. The thought of never roaming the sea again was too terrible. But which of the three would best suit her needs? Pragmatism said she should choose the mermen. They weren’t quite as smart as Renner. She could appeal to their free-spirited natures, manipulate them to form a union that allowed her the most freedom.

But Renner…his draugr intensity appealed to her sensual side. He would challenge her every step of the way. But how could she ever know that her choices were her own when he could slip into her dreams to influence her? Already, her sleep was restless torture. How could she ever know that the heat he’d awakened in her was real and not something he’d fanned purposely?

Miren gripped the bread basket against her middle and squared her shoulders. Well, he’d forced her to narrow the pool of contenders. Even if her heart led her to his bed, she wouldn’t concede without a fight.

As a sea-draugr, able to shift into mist or animal, and with the ability to slip into her dreams, he would discover she was no easy conquest. She was witch. A prize he would learn to treasure and respect.

Confidence restored, a smile stretched her mouth as she pushed through the door. Magic wasn’t just her avocation. It was her most formidable weapon. As her gaze sought his tall figure, she grew still inside. Whatever it took, she would have the mate she deserved.

The idea that she could test the waters, so to speak, with all three of the waterkin…it offered all sorts of naughty possibilities. Why not have some fun along the way while she tweaked Renner’s nose and got closer to the mermen? Maybe she’d been so consumed with thoughts of the draugr, she hadn’t given the other two a fair chance…

“Choose me,”
he’d said. Huh.

She shook back her hair.
Watch me.

Chapter Three

Miren kept her smile fixed throughout the meal. She’d let Renner think she was reflecting on their kiss. That she was pleased he’d managed to muscle out the mermen for the privilege of sitting beside her at the table.

She’d barely touched her plate, although the savory jambalaya Bryn had prepared was a favorite dish. The scent of oregano, bay leaves and thyme tempted, but her appetite wasn’t there. She’d been landlocked too long, and lack of exercise was taking a toll. What she really wanted was fresh shrimp—shrimp she’d dragged from the ocean bottom herself. She missed the smell of the sea, the feel of a swaying deck beneath her feet. She missed her boat the same way Darcy must be missing her cats and kiln, Aoife her flower garden and Radha her loom.

Her boat was like a living thing to her that responded to her handling and her moods in a way nothing else could. Most of all, she missed the feeling of freedom when she stared at a horizon free of cloying vegetation and confining walls.

“We haven’t made plans for the blood moon,” Bryn said, her gaze circling the table to touch on each of her sisters.

Miren caught a note in Bryn’s voice, so slight the men who weren’t as attuned to her inflections missed. “With the men accompanying us to the oak?” she asked.

From across the table, Aoife coughed. She held up sprigs of purple heliotrope blossoms, a signal they should table their discussion until they were alone.

But Miren gave her a sly wink and then a pointed stare at the flowers.

Aoife’s eyes widened and she shook her head, blonde hair shivering around her shoulders.

“What are you doing?” Renner murmured near Miren’s ear.

Miren didn’t bother to answer him. She glared at Aoife. They were witches, dammit. If they wanted to conduct a conversation in private, why wait?

Bryn cleared her throat, drawing all the women’s attention. Then her gaze went to the flower.

Aoife didn’t need another prompt, her pupils dilated as she stared at the blossom.

“Goddess, give us grace.

Give us quiet to commune,

Free of prying eye or pricked ear.

A small gift from one we hold dear.”

“Witch, do you think to ignore me?” Renner asked, this time his whisper gusting softly against her ear.

Miren shivered but kept her gaze on the heliotrope.

“As I will it,” Aoife said, her gaze widening on Renner’s fierce frown, “so mote it be.”

Renner’s fingers squeezed on her thigh and held. The moment stretched.

And then Aoife looked up, a smile tipping up the corners of her mouth. “Quickly, I don’t know how long I can hold this.”

The men were frozen, their expressions locked in a moment of darkening suspicion. They’d heard Aoife’s chant but hadn’t guessed the significance of the bloom. Aoife’s brand of flower magic was rare.

“The blood moon,” Bryn reminded them. “We’ve made no preparations.”

“Do we need anything special?” Darcy asked, her auburn brows rising. “It isn’t as though we’re preparing for battle.”

Bryn frowned. “It is a true blood moon in the month of the blood moon. The earth, sun and moon will align. How can we not take advantage of the power?”

“It’s a moment when we can speak with the spirit worlds,” Radha said, her smoky eyes darkening. “When our prayers will be heard without filter. We really should think hard about what we want.”

“We have so much,” Aoife said, her gaze wide as she glanced around the table. “Too much.”

Darcy grinned and then turned to give Miren a steady stare. “If we concentrate our desires on one wish, on one sister…”

Miren shook her head. “I need no help.”

“You’ve narrowed your choice to three,” Darcy said, her green gaze flicking around their circle. “Besides Bryn, are any of us any nearer to making choices?”

The sisters shook their heads.

Miren shook hers harder. “I don’t want your help.”

“But you shall have it,” Bryn said, smiling softly. “I fear you’ll never commit to one of your beaus. That Renner will stomp around this house for years, giving you those melting looks of his, and you’ll let him suffer because you’re too afraid of letting go.”

“Are you feeling sorry for him?” Miren asked, wrinkling her nose. “And I’m not afraid of his…melting looks.”

Her sisters laughed. “You haven’t taken a single lover to your bed since their arrival.”

“Well, neither has Radha.”

Radha coughed. “Doesn’t mean I haven’t canoodled.”

Miren’s brows shot up. “Seriously? How? I mean, I haven’t seen you allow any man inside your room with you.”

Radha shrugged. “On the astral plane, while the demons sleep. I don’t feel proud of myself, but I’ve tested a few of them, luring them out to play. They think they dream. I skim energy…”

“Damn, I almost hate you,” Darcy said.

Radha rolled her eyes. “You don’t need astral sex. You’re getting plenty.”

“I know, but your way sounds cooler.”

“Are you sixteen? Ladies, can we concentrate?” Bryn muttered. “We were talking about Miren.”

Miren lifted a finger. “Don’t we need to draw down the moon’s power for Bryn’s birth?”

Bryn’s mouth pursed in disapproval. “We have another blood moon before the due date, and it’s not like we can’t spare a moment during this one for a quick blessing. But it’s time, Miren. I know you feel it too.”

Aoife moaned. “My mind wandered a bit. It’s all that talk about astral sex. This spell won’t last much longer.”

“But what will we ask?” Miren said, feeling as though the walls were closing in around her. Her sisters wouldn’t be swayed.

“For your heart’s desire.”

“Don’t you think if I knew what that was I’d already have made my choice?”

“We’ll help bring some clarity.”

“Quickly, sisters,” Aoife said, like a little girl who needed permission to go pee.

Radha laughed. “You have the attention span of a gnat.”

“Can’t help it. You talked about astral sex, and now I’m wondering about merman sex…”

“Silly, you can’t have sex with mermen when they’re wearing a tail.”

“Really?” Her gaze went back to the heliotrope she held. “Wrap it up already.”

“So we’re agreed?” Bryn said, ignoring Miren’s shaking head. When the other sister witches nodded, she turned to Aoife. “And now…”

Aoife blew out a breath and lowered her hand to the table. The noise level at the table rose as men moved and muttered.

“Something just happened,” Renner growled beside her. The hand on her thigh tightened.

Ethan’s frown was a fearsome thing as he glared down at the fork of food he held. “It’s cold. What the hell, Bryn?”

Bryn grimaced then gave him a radiant smile. “We needed a moment of privacy.”

“Bryn…” His voice deepened into a scary growl.

“Darling,” Bryn said, patting his arm. “We were only discussing our plans for the next full moon.”

“You are not dancing in the nude again.”

Bryn leaned away and stared. “You can’t be jealous. Everyone’s already seen us all naked.”

His glower didn’t lessen. “You’re pregnant.”

Bryn rolled her eyes. “It’s completely natural.”

Miren pressed her lips together to hide her smile. Her sisters all dropped their heads to hide theirs too, but the soft chuckles of the men seated around the long table didn’t help matters any.

Renner leaned closer and bit her earlobe. “We’ll talk about this later.”

Miren frowned and stiffened her back. “This was strictly girl talk. None of your business, draugr.”

“You are my business.”

She angled her head toward him, although he didn’t move, which caused her cheek to scrape against the short bristles on his. She shivered as she met his hot glare. “We’re witches. Do you really think you can control everything we do?”

“I won’t be left in the dark, Miren. My job is to protect you. If you leave me clueless—”

“This conversation was about you.” She dropped her gaze to the table. “About us.”

Renner gave her thigh a slow squeeze. “Do not close your door to me tonight,” he murmured into her ear.

“I wouldn’t dream of it.” She glanced to Mikkel who was seated two chairs down. “This would all be less awkward if we could move back to my place.”

“About that,” Ethan said, raising his voice. “The men and I came to an agreement earlier. Tomorrow, you may return to your homes.”

Miren bristled at his dictatorial tone. She nearly added a snide remark, but Renner slid his hand up her thigh, gliding his fingers in between. Instead, she gave a startled, “Eeep.”

“You sound like a mermaid,” Mikkel said, giving her a wink.

“You will all need to make accommodations for your suitors,” Ethan said.

“They’re moving in with us?” Darcy said, her dark brows rising high.

“They can’t simply continue to run their patrols?” This came from Radha, whose pale cheeks began to turn pink.

“As we can’t be sure others aren’t nearby, waiting to swoop in and claim you, we will remain close. You can return home, run your businesses. But the men will remain close.”

“What about your business?” Miren asked, raising her voice because she couldn’t imagine having three demons underfoot in her tiny stilted cabin. “Shouldn’t you all be returning to your jobs?”

“The men will be on a rotating schedule. Don’t worry about Vindlér Construction. Your comfort and safety is our highest priority.”

“It’ll be cozy,” Renner murmured.

“Crowded,” Miren bit out, uncomfortably aware of his fingers stroking closer to her sex.

“Maybe we’ll get a decent night’s sleep,” Elias said, his mouth stretching into a wide smile that said he expected his nights to be anything but quiet.

Renner moved his fingers upward, at last pressing against her sex. Just a teasing, light touch, but Miren froze, overcome for a moment with a sudden flash of heat. Her pulse quickened. So did her breaths.

Renner nuzzled her ear. “We can move you tonight.”

She jerked away, aware of all the interested gazes turning their way. “Don’t be silly. It’s dark. Morning will be soon enough.”

“Are you so eager then for me to join you in your bed?”

“
Shhh!
” she said, turning to give him a glare. “No one’s joining me in my bed.”

“I could give you a massage,” Mikkel said, taking a bite of his food and never glancing up. “I’m told I have very good hands.”

Beside her, Renner stiffened.

“A massage would be nice,” she said, the last word gritted out as Renner fingered her folds. “Maybe your brother could help you.”

Renner tsked beside her. “You do like playing with fire.”

A chill bit her spine. “No, actually, I don’t.” Her gaze locked with his. “I had a dragon once, and he nearly consumed me. It’s a lesson I’ve never forgotten.”

Renner held her gaze a moment longer, all trace of anger draining away. He withdrew his hand. “My apologies, darling.”

“I’m not your darling,” she whispered.

“Not yet.”

Renner eyed the bathroom door, frustration tightening his body. Miren had decided she would bathe before the mermen gave her a massage. And while the two men hurried off to gather fragrant oil and towels from the inn’s supply room, he sat in an armchair, waiting for Miren to appear in the doorway, hoping to have a chance to talk to her before the men returned.

She couldn’t go through with it. And if she did, he needed to reinforce his claim, make sure she didn’t experiment too intimately with the twins. Playful flirting was one thing—although the thought did make his stomach roil—but she needed to know he’d never permit her to have sex with them.

Not that he thought she’d do it with him watching, but he had pushed her, and she was stubborn. For someone whose element was water, she did have a hot temper.

His was unruly as well. The memory of their kiss, and then the way her body had betrayed her arousal at dinner, teased him to distraction. He had to have her. And soon. Or there would be violence.

He fisted his hand and thumped it against the padded arm of his chair. Miren knew he was the best choice. Why was she dragging her feet? And why toy with the two mermen? Was she trying to start a brawl? Did she want the three of them battling for the privilege of bedding her? Had she begun to think she really could have all three?

The hell with waiting. He stood and walked toward the locked door. He was a draugr. Why not use his abilities to his advantage? Show her the pleasure he could give her?

He placed his hands on the cool wood and closed his eyes, willing his body to relax. Water dripped from his forehead, from his fingers splayed on the white surface. A moment later, he lost the sense of sight and simply melted down the door, flowed beneath the tiny space between wood and tile and rippled toward the tub where she lay. When he sensed cool porcelain, he reformed, nude, since his clothing lay in a wet pile outside the bathroom. Droplets clung to his form, streamed from the strands of his hair as he stood over her at her head.

Glancing down her body, he felt a primal howl well up inside him. The scent of roses was nearly overpowering. Her eyes were closed, which allowed him a long, thirsty look. Her breasts floated, the tips wreathed with tiny fragrant bubbles. Her legs were drawn up so that only the pale knobs of her knees appeared above the foam. Her breaths were slow and even. She’d fallen asleep.
Perfect.

Kneeling at the edge of the tub, he leaned toward her and lightly touched her temples, rubbing there and then tugging in his mind at the invisible thread that kept her consciousness anchored to her body until he followed the thin silver-light strand.

He landed on the prow of a boat bobbing softly on a still, blue sea. Sunlight beat down, so bright he had to shield his eyes.

“You shouldn’t be here. This is my dream. Get out.”

Not knowing whether Miren was aware he’d entered her dream uninvited or not, he smiled over to where she stood behind the wheel of the boat. “And yet here I stand.”

Her frown was lovely above stormy blue-green eyes. The color of a shallow sea. And that glower grew fiercer as she raked his naked body, her gaze snagging on his cock for a long second before she forced her gaze upward to clash with his.