Page 24 of Eternally Theirs

Chapter Six

Mercy struggled against the fog that had filled her mind for… how long? She didn’t know. She’d felt Deo and Ever with her, sometimes one of them, sometimes both at once. She’d watched with the clear vampiric vision of her mind the two of them together, fucking on the hard marble floor, watched as Deo had taken Ever’s long cock into his mouth, as they kissed, stroked each other’s bodies with clever searching hands and tongues.

Even in her dream-state she felt desire for them. Love for them. She felt their desire for each other, and their love—for each other, for her. But it was time to wake now, to become a part of the world once more.

She forced her eyes to open and found Deo resting beside her. She blinked. He smiled.

“You are back, my love.” He kissed her lips, her cheek, lifted her hand and brushed his lips over her fingertips.

“How long was I…?”

“For three days. I was worried. I reached into your mind, but everything was so dim. Ever assured me you were fine, but still, I’m glad you’re back with us.”

“Yes, so am I. I’m better now.”

“I’m glad. Do you need to feed? I can have Calam send for one of the club members.”

“Not yet. I’ll feed later.”

Deo stroked her hair, running it through his fingers, as he often did. His eyes were that lovely blue-green of the summer sea. “What was it like, love? Did you dream?”

“No dreams. It was as if my mind was at rest. But I felt you here with me, both of you. I felt so safe.”

“We were always with you, love, one or both of us. We always will be.”

She flexed her feet, her legs, feeling her strength returning. She lifted her hand to his smooth cheek, loving the hard silk of his immortal flesh beneath her palm.

“I love you, Deo.”

“As I love you. Always. Truly forever.”

“Yes.” She smiled. “Where is Ever?”

“Conducting some club business. He’ll be back soon. You can’t wait to have him.” Deo grinned. “I can feel your need.”

Mercy laughed. “Always. Both of you, my lovers. My loves. But I need a bath first. Draw one for me?”

“I’ll be right back.”

He kissed her hand once more and stood. Mercy stretched, raising her arms over her head. It felt good. A bath would feel wonderful. And being in her lovers’ arms, their bodies joined, even better.

It was nighttime, she realized, her gaze going to the high windows. There was no moon tonight, or perhaps it was simply obscured by clouds. She could smell the rain outside, heard the distant rumble of thunder. And in the club below her, if she focused, she could hear the heavy pulse-beat of music, of human blood thundering in those delicate veins. She could hear—could sense—the desire. And something else… What was it? It was a strange sort of darkness, which made no sense. And there was a familiarity to it, which seemed even stranger.

There was a crash of splintered wood, and she bolted upright, her heart hammering. A dark flash, and then he was on her, hands gripping her waist as he lifted her from the bed. She struggled, but he was so much stronger than she. So much older. Ancient.

Familiar.

Gaius.

She knew the tone of his anger, the scent of him like old earth and moss and the hardest granite, even before she saw his tall, dark form hovering over her.

“Deo!” she screamed.

He was there, his hands on her, and she wanted to cry with relief. But Gaius was so ancient, so powerful—even with the two of them struggling against him, they would never win.

“Do not fight me, Mercy.” Gaius’s gravelly voice echoed with what she now knew was the hollow tone of centuries untold, and that strange accent. “I made you. You belong to me.”

“Never!” Deo roared, trying to keep one arm wrapped around her waist, but she was slipping from his grasp.

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