Peace
Sebastian was beautiful. She hadn't let herself admit how much until now, but he was. His eyelashes were so very long, his face so symmetric. And his mouth. She loved his mouth.
She grinned for the longest time, feeling incredibly giddy, girly, and silly.
She could afford to. She was alive.
Cat knew just what would make her feel alive right then. She got to her hands and knees and crawled down to his boxers, freeing his morning wood and putting it in her mouth, sucking it long and hard.
Bash thrust in slow and shallow, still asleep, but soon his eyes flew open. He laughed.
"I died, didn't I? I'm in heaven."
"We're alive, I think. But heaven can always be arranged."
She was too impatient to stretch out the play, too needy and desperate to feel him. She climbed on his lap and lowered herself onto his hard cock, moaning as he entered her. Thankfully, Bash was on the same page, and began thrusting high, hard, deep, and fast. Today wasn't about slow caresses, about sweet nonsense. It was about reconnecting, putting the pieces back together after they'd almost fallen apart.
They could have lost everything. For a time, they'd both believed they might. Now, they were reclaiming it. Seizing balance, perfection, life.
A bond. A bond Cat hadn't felt, but now tugged at her, making itself known, and there was only one thing left to do. Her fangs extended painfully under her lips, and she bit down on his shoulder, swallowing the tiniest drop of blood just as he took hers right under the collarbone.
One drop was all it took for mates to claim each other. And they were one.
It waslucky that she’d stocked up. Everyone made it for tea at four o’clock. And everyone promised that they’d be there the next time Catherine held a party, and the time after that too.
Cat and Greerhelped Chloe move her belongings to Skyhall.
The dark castle was filled with light inside, thanks to its great windows. And something else. This felt a little less like a statement, and more like a home. A place where some might have laughed and loved long ago.
“I guess it’s not so bad,” Chloe admitted. “Wanna help me pick a room?”
She didn’t linger in her new home.
She had somewhere else to be.
Chloe hesitated.
Even the very first time she'd made her way down to the cave, she'd been more confident. Even the very first night, she’d believed that this place meant safety to her. Now, she feared everything had changed.
But she went to Eirikr's prison nonetheless.
He was her ancestor. Her family. He called her his little daughter.
Yes, he was a thousand times more savage than anyone she knew, and yes, he'd done terrible things in his time. But that didn't have to change their relationship.
Did it?
Eirikr was seated on the floor at the end of his cave, his bright blue eyes locked on hers.
Chloe bit her lip.
"I didn't know," she said.
It made no difference, but she wanted him to realize that.
"I didn't know Greer was the descendant of the person who trapped you in this place. I had no idea she could get you out. I'll ask her. I'll ask if she'd consider freeing you, for good."
"Don't waste your breath." Eirikr's voice was darker, slower. "It will not be of use. Your witch's hands are as bound as anything can be."