He doesn’t say anything, but there is a new tightness to his jaw. A battle between shame and desire to speak to a mother he never thought he’d get a chance to know.I wish to ease the weight caving his shoulders in, but the one on mine is urging me home.Now.
“Come to dinner tomorrow, son,”I say, clapping him on the shoulder before stepping out.
“I can’t,” he saysbehind me, his words twisted and raw. “Ihave to t–”
“That wasn’t an invitation,”I call over my shoulder.It was an order as Boss of this Family. I promised Sau I would take care of her in all things. If she wants to see Leon, I’ll damn well make sure he’s there.
And if anyone has hurt her in my absence again, I’ll burn this whole fucking city to the ground.
“Yes, sir,”Leonsays,but I’m already at the end of his front lawn, brisk strides carrying me towards home. I offer a two fingered wave without looking as adrenaline pumps through my veins.Althoughmy houseis only a couple downfrom Leon’s andIam well insideourwardswhere no witches or vampiresdarecome,the night has always been owned by our enemies, and the hairs onthe back ofmyneckand armsstand at rightful attention.
The air is hot and muggy despite the presence of the moon above, and I leave my jacket draped over myarm.The pavement is hard beneath my feet. The lamps cast circles of light beneath them, leaving the rest of the worldhidden. A movement flutters off to the side, a whisper of wind,andI glance in its direction, my pace not faltering, my telekinesis reaching out, searching the shadows to see what’s there.
Nothing.
But the uneasiness in my stomachbuildswith every step I taketowards home. My eyes flick to the roof of our house,the only bit of it I can see from here,and my throat tightens at the thought of Sau in dangereither from others or from herself.
My pace picks upat the thought of her bleeding out on the cold tiles of our ensuite.
I’m through the front door, having swung it open before I even reached it. It closes behind me as I quicken down the hall. I’m in our bedroom a moment later, staring at her in relief as she sleeps quietly inourbed.No blood. No pain. No one else in the room.
I lean against the doorframe for a moment, catching my breath and giving my heart a chance to settle. The pounding of my pulse starts to slow as the panic twistingmy stomach starts to unwind.
Walking over to her, I strip out of my clothes, dropping them on the floor as I go. The door shuts behind me, and I crawl into bed with my wife.
She turns to me, her eyes popping open. The first look is that of terror, but then she realizes it’s meand where she is – safe, and that fear fadesbeneath a slow smile.
I lean forward and kiss her, my hands running down her body to squeeze her breasts. She stills beneath my caresses, her mouth freezing against mine. There is still fear inside her, still an uncertainty of trust, but I need her too muchright now to back off.
“I need to make love to you, Sau,” I say as I palm her through her thin nightgown. “I need to bury my cock inside you and feel your legs wrapped around me. Can you hold me, sweet girl?” I slide my hand between her thighs and run a finger against her underwear. “Can you hold me right here?”
Sliding aside the fabric, I push a finger in.
Fifteen
HER
12August1947
I squeeze my eyes shut at hisfinger’spenetration, the pain of Antonio’s claw ripping through my memory.
“Open your eyes, Sau,” Caden says as his finger moves in and out of me. “I want your eyes on me while I fuck you.” His thumb presses against my clit, a soft contrast to what my body remembers. “Can’t you feel my love for you?”
I roll my lips in to stop a whimper, and I hate myself for needing to. For letting the filth the wolf left on me taint this special moment, taint him.
“Don’t think about him,” my husband hisses, curling his finger. The scratch of his nail sends a bolt of electricity through me, and my eyes snap open wide even as I flinch instinctively, expecting to see a gold gaze so full of anger.
Instead, I see the soft green of fields I dream to run through, where life is just the love of grass beneath bare feet and high-pitched squeals as your love chases you. I want tobelieve that fairy tale. I want to get lost in its bed of soft summer heat. Where this is good and safe andwanted.
But the clouds roll in dark and hateful, and lightning strikes, setting the earth on fire until nothing but gold flames stare back at me.
“Concentrate on me, Sau,” Caden murmurs gently. “Let me wash his touch away.”
My heart thrashes in my chest as my body remembers something so different to what my ears are hearing. I try to focus on the now, on the loving green eyes waiting for me.
But my throat is constricting.
My heart is racing.