Page 19 of Midnight & Mergers
“Good. So there’s no easy way to say this, so I’m just going to come right out with it. Your mother, a distant cousin of Alec Christianson, the King of the Vlad Vampire clan, was also a Strega witch. That combination would have been fine, but your father was a kelpie shifter. You are a trifecta, and that makes you a hybrid. Tyler is a werewolf, and he is trying to kill you because—”
“Because I’m a supposed abomination. Yeah. I know the story.” Teagan began to shake. “I was told to hide myself from all magical beings because they wouldn’t understand me. My kelpie father fell in love with my mother, who had a powerful bloodline to begin with. With the trifecta, they had the first female kelpie shifter in existence. Me. All of them were male before I came along. After some research, they discovered that my mother’s magic was why I’m a female, not a male kelpie shifter. Somehow, her magic was the catalyst—but? Magic has a funny way of balancing itself out. Normally because I’m a shifter, a werewolf bite wouldn’t kill me. But since I also have vampire blood, a werewolf bite is lethal. How did you figure all this out? I’ve been cloaking my shifter aura since my father died. Apparently, my mother, before her death, linked him and me with her magic to keep me safe. Once he died, the spell broke, and I shifted into my black horse. That’s how I discovered my suppressed shifter side’s existence.”
“That makes sense because, as a vampire, I shouldn’t have been able to figure out your shifter side so easily with your magical barrier. You may have been cloaking your shifter side, but there’s one thing you can’t cloak from any magical being.”
“I read my mother’s grimoire and did the spell perfectly, so I don’t understand how you figured it out. The only way for me to be detected by another magical being is if they are my mate.”
Brooks sucked in a breath and nodded.
“Yeah, exactly. That’s the one thing you can’t hide from. I had suspicions because I could sense your beautiful, distinct shifter scent. But you masking your aura threw both Anne and myself off. I had Anne research you and your family; by then, it was easy to put two and two together.”
“Wait, so we are mates? Really?”
“It would appear so.”
“And I know Tyler’s a werewolf. I gathered that when he introduced himself, I could see his aura.”
“My coven and I will keep you safe from Tyler. I promise he won’t harm you.”
“I have to leave town, Brooks. He won’t stop coming after me, and I don’t want you or your coven hurt because of me. Trust me when I say this is a fight you don’t want to get involved with. That law means everything to the wolves. They will stop at nothing to destroy me. Hell—they nearly killed Alec for dating a werewitch. They weren’t even serious at the time. And now? Morgan’s witch powers lie dormant. Their potential offspring are no more dangerous than I am.” Teagan said as she lowered her feet to the floor. “I appreciate you trying to keep me safe, but the only way I will be is if I put enough distance between Tyler and me because his bite will kill me.”
“That’s where you are wrong. The wine you had at dinner contained an elixir that Anne had made, and it purified your blood. He can’t kill you with his bite any longer.”
“Well, thank you both, but I can’t have you helping me. This isn’t your fight. I’d be heartbroken if either of you got hurt. The werewolves will kill you because you are sympathetic toward a hybrid. And what’s worse? This could start another Civil Were War.”
“Teagan, no. Tyler made it my fight when he threatened you. You are a kelpie, and you, out of any other shifter race, can appreciate that a mate bond is the strongest bond in existence. I can’t just shut off my need to protect you. That’s impossible.” Brooks said as he tucked a piece of hair behind Teagan’s ear.
“I understand that because I want to go to keep you safe. But I’m finding it awfully hard to stay away from you, and I’m also finding it hard to keep arguing with you.”
“Good, then you’ll stay.”
Brooks cupped her cheek and drew her lips towards his. The kiss was just as soft and sweet as their first. But it grew needy when he parted her lips to deepen the kiss.
“I’ve wanted to kiss you like this since I first met you.”
Teagan smiled and cupped his cheek.
“I have, too.”
“Well, now that I know you won’t be fighting me for keeping you safe, how about we order some room service? I think both you and I could use a drink since our evening was cut short. How about a bottle of red?”
“That sounds good. While you order, I will find a movie for us to watch.”
“Okay.”
Brooks called downstairs for room service, returned to the bedroom, and sat next to Teagan. She turned to him and smiled.
“I still can’t get over the fact that we are fated mates. It’s so surreal to me. I’ve heard about shifters falling in love at first sight, but I never dreamed it would happen to me—and with a vampire, no less.”
“I’m happy we found each other. Christmas will be much brighter now that you are in my life.”
He pulled her close to him and claimed her lips.
“I want you, Teagan.” He whispered over her lips.
“I want you, too.”
He caressed her hair as his lips slid from her mouth to her neck. She let out a soft moan as he settled his lips on the crux of her neck. His hands slid down the length of her body before settling at her waist.
