Page 9 of The Dark War

Heaven.

Was this what heaven was like on the other side of the veil? For so long, I had been alone, doing the bidding of someone else, a mere servant having no hope of finding someone to love me. Now here he was, taking his time, showing me how a mate should be loved despite his many mistakes. The last mistake almost cost us our entire future.

I wanted to forget all our worries. My fingers tangled in his dirty blonde hair that had grown just to his ears. My fingernails scratched his scalp, causing him to moan into his kiss. His warm tongue slid into my mouth. I giggled, feeling how needy Jasper and his wolf were. His wolf’s voice was just as loud as his.

“Easy there, Xander,” I cooed at him. Jasper’s eyebrow raised, intrigued I had learned to talk to his wolf all without a mind-link. I could link my mind to shifters well, but talking to their animals was a different story. Now, I could play with Jasper’s wolf more.

I had not only been studying ways to build a nation from the ground up but enhancing some of my powers. It would have been a shame to have them and not use them when the time came.

Placing my hands on either side of his face, I gently pulled away. He whined, and I couldn’t help but feel terrible. He had waited so long for us, and here I was worrying about a country that didn’t care that I was the personal slave of my half brother for so many years. I had been selfish, and it was time to rectify that.

I didn’t hold any resentment toward Clara. In fact, I was thankful for her. Without her, I think Jasper would have fallen apart. I would have rejected him if I hadn’t seen such a new, wonderful side to him back on Earth. He had proven to me he was patient and willing for his mate. He would make the perfect king.

My only problem was that Parliament didn’t like the idea. They wanted a vampire to even out the genes of the new heir that was to take over the throne. Of course they would think about a new heir now, even with the problems we had. There would be no heir, no babies, no happy times unless we continued to take back control of the nation.

They would have to deal with my decision because Jasper was my mate. The goddess deemed it so, and I was never letting my wonderful mate go.

“We should eat.” I caught my breath. My heart beating rapidly only had me thinking of last night, the first time we had made each other feel pleasure I had never really known.

“Right.” He grabbed my hand. “Can we do more of that later, though?” I laughed out loud, trying to hide my fangs. “Don’t you hide.” He growled playfully. “I enjoy seeing that smile. I haven’t seen it enough.” His wink had me weak at the knees while he led me down a stony path.

The flora and fauna were beautiful. It was brighter than the vegetation before Darius took over. I’m not sure if we even had seeds from hundreds of years ago for the plants that had taken root here. I’m sure Jasper had already done his research, finding vegetation that would still grow under the clouded and darkened sky of the day and the brightness of the moon.

“Don’t worry,” Jasper said as he pulled out of my seat. “The plants grow well here. I think the gods want Vermillion’s land to flourish again.” Jasper sat, his hand reaching across the small table set up in the middle of the oasis. “This is just the first step, and from the pictures you showed me the other day, I’m sure we could find similar plants in all the territories. There are so many places still left unexplored.” I nodded gratefully, blushing at how Jasper had taken another project in his hands without telling me, trying to help.

Jasper pulled a basket from under the table. It held cheeses, wine, and a few bags of blood. Jasper didn’t like the idea of me drinking other werewolves’ blood that had been graciously donated, so he often gave blood twice a day to make sure I would stay full.

Smiling, I watch him pour it into a glass. He tended to every need I had, never letting me lift a finger to help. “Jasper?” I questioned. He hummed, finishing setting the neat spread. Brushing his hair back with the palm of his hand, I pulled his hand away, interlacing it with mine. His eyes softened, his lips coming to a curl of a smile.

“Are you ready?” His head cocked to the side, blinking a few times, opening and closing his mouth.

“For what, little witch?”

“To be king?” Jasper immediately shook his head.

“I don’t want to be king, Taliyah.” His hand didn’t let go; he only squeezed it tighter. “This is your land, your people, your home. I am but a werewolf.” He placed his free hand on his chest. “Your people won’t accept me. They are having a hard time with just you. I would only cause problems. I am happy to be your mate, and support you where you need it. Hell, I’ll be your concubine if you want me to have a status.” He reared his head back in laughter. “I’ll do my job well, too.” He grinned wickedly.

“All I ask is that I am your mate, and I am the only one to touch you because Xander wouldn’t be able to stand it.” I giggled, watching his face turn red. Clearing his throat, he took a piece of cheese on a steel fork to put in my mouth.

“I just want you, Taliyah. I will follow you to the ends of the world. Do as you ask and help when you need it. But that”—Jasper pointed behind us, the dark castle seen from above the trees—“that is your destiny, to bring the country back together. Bringing me into it, making me king as an equal to you, won’t help.” Placing the cheese in my mouth, I chewed, pondering his words.

As much as I wanted him to rule beside me, the rogues would only stir more. How Jasper grew up in just a few months of meeting me, I’m not sure how he managed. He was so much more handsome as the days grew. The bond was utterly strong, his wolf patiently waiting for me.

“How about a prince?” I muttered, taking a sip of blood.

“If you have your heart dead set on it, I’ll do as you ask.” He shook his head, sipping his wine.

Whisps buzzed around us, coming from nowhere. They kissed my cheek but pulled on Jasper’s hair. “Stupid fuckers.” He waved them away. “Never did like those things.”

As the afternoon progressed, we lay on a blanket where the grass grew abundantly. It was a dark green, not the grass that used to grow in this land, but it was too close to tell. Once the entire land was covered in vegetation, I could see the animals returning. Catch and release for their blood if we needed it, and even plowing the land and trading food for blood could come to fruition.

Things were looking up. Time was speeding by more quickly than in previous months now that Jasper had calmed me. His head lay on my chest while I played with his hair. His fingers played with a nearby deep purple leaf.

“How did I not notice this little oasis? Surely I would have seen this looking out my office window.” Jasper chuckled, the vibrations pulling into my beating heart.

“The kitchen chef is a witch. Her powers aren’t that strong, so she would come out every day and cast an enchantment on her way to work in the castle. I gave her an extra day off a week to do that.”

“So that is why my toast was burned some mornings.” I snorted. Jasper’s arms wrapped around my waist.

---