Aveoth Read online

  “I always face things head on,” she said, as much to herself as to him. “Do it, Wings. Make me yours.”

  Blue flooded his eyes, wiping out the silver. “Don’t joke.”

  “I’m not.” She arched her neck to expose her throat. “I hope I don’t get pregnant. I’m not ready for that…but you explained how the mating happens. It’s a risk I’m willing to take. I’m in it for the long haul, Aveoth. Are you? Just promise not to break my heart. No cheating.”

  “I give you my solemn vow. You’ll be my everything, Jill.” Silver sparked in his eyes, overtaking the blue. “I will protect and love you until my dying breath, and even beyond that.”

  Tears filled her eyes. “I swear to do my best to make you happy. I already can’t see life without you, and I don’t think I ever want to. We’re so different…but we’ll face whatever comes together.”

  “Put your hands over my shoulder blade,” he rasped. “I need to slightly shift. Are you ready?”

  “Yes.”

  She slid her hands into place and felt smooth, supple skin. It swelled a little under her fingertips and then seemed to part, soft velvety wings slowly sprouting outward. She smiled as she brushed her fingers over their velvety surface. God, he was amazing. She watched over his shoulders as they grew outward, spreading wide.

  “Look at me.”

  She tore her attention from his black wings to study his face. The tan skin paled a little, getting a slightly gray tinge. She reached up with one hand, caressing his cheek. He was still warm and soft but the texture of his skin had become slightly smoother.

  “Are you certain? This is what I need to look like when I mate you.”

  She was falling for him even deeper. He looked concerned about scaring her. “You’re so sexy.” A thought hit, and she grinned. “This gives new meaning to the phrase rock hard, doesn’t it?”

  He chuckled. “I’ll be gentle.”

  “I know you will.”

  She adjusted her legs, hooking him better around his waist. She rubbed her calves along his ass. The exposed skin there was warm but felt a little similar to soft plaster. It wasn’t an unpleasant sensation, just strange. She trusted Aveoth though. He wouldn’t hurt her.

  “Do it, Aveoth. Make me yours.”

  “Are you absolutely certain? There’s no undoing this.”

  A small part of her panicked, but then a calmness spread through her, taking the panic away as she stared into his eyes. “I’m sure. I’m never going to feel this way about anyone else. I want to grow old with you, for however long that takes. Life won’t be boring.”

  He adjusted his hips and his hand teased her clit. Pleasure spread through her limbs. She was wet, ready, and wanted him. “Now, Wings. I don’t need foreplay.”

  He gripped his shaft and pressed the tip against her pussy. “I’ll treasure you forever, keep you safe, and love you, Jill.”

  “I promise the same.”

  He released himself and came down on her, his hips surging forward as he entered her. Jill threw her head back and moaned. He was big and really hard. That joke about him having a rock dick suddenly felt like reality, but it didn’t hurt. He slowly began to move in and out of her, gentle and slow.

  “I’m not that delicate,” she got out, using her fingernails to dig into his shoulders to urge him on. She wanted to kiss him but remembered how he didn’t want her exposed to the chemical. She bit her lip instead as he thrust into her deeper, moving over her faster. “Yes!”

  Aveoth tried to keep some control. Jill was delicate, despite what she claimed. His instincts were riding him to drive into her welcoming body and bite her. She tossed her head and he struck when her throat was exposed.

  He kissed her, his fangs raking over her skin. She moaned louder, her legs locking tighter around his waist. He ground his hips in a way that had him riding against her clit as he fucked her harder. She clawed at him, her vaginal muscles clenching around his shaft. His balls seemed to swell and he knew it was time.

  He licked her skin, then bit.

  She cried out when his fangs punctured her and he felt her climaxing. He fought to keep moving, driving into her as the taste of her blood filled his mouth. She was so sweet, so incredible. His skin tightened, tingled all over his body. He was shelling a little more but he couldn’t stop as he started to come. He pounded into her deeper, stilled and released his semen. All thought ceased as ecstasy took over.

  He wasn’t certain how long he remained in the haze of rapture, but when he stirred, he instantly adjusted his weight to take some off Jill. She was clinging to him, panting. He withdrew his fangs, licking the bite, and used a fang to tear at his tongue and induce his own bleeding. He kept licking her until the puncture wounds healed.

  My mate. My Jill. Mine forever.

  “Damn,” Jill chuckled. “That was so hot. I just came like two or three times.”

  He smiled and lifted his head, checking on her throat first. It was healed. He stared into her eyes and unshelled his body, his skin softening. “Did I hurt you at all?”

  “Nope. Next time I’m on top though. You get heavier when you shell.”

  “I apologize.”

  “Don’t. I’m not complaining. It was only an observation. Your mattress is really soft and I just sank into it a little more.”

  She was amazing. He’d been taught that humans lost their sanity when they discovered Gargoyles existed, and she’d been raised believing she was completely human. But Jill made jokes and didn’t seem frightened at all by the way he’d just claimed her. She wasn’t terrified of him with his wings and partially shelled. He reached up and stroked her hair back from her face.

  “We’re mated.”

  “I don’t feel any different.”

  “It takes time.” He lifted up and carefully eased off her, sliding his wings into his skin. He lay to the side of her and placed his palm over her stomach.

  She turned toward him and placed her hand over his. “What are you thinking about? Do you feel regret?”

  He hated to see the doubt in her gaze. “Never. I want our bond to be strong. Will you drink some of my blood? I don’t want the calling to hit you.”

  “What’s that?”

  “It’s something that happens when a mating bond isn’t strong. If you begin to sweat, tell me right away. To you, it’ll just feel like a spike in temperature, but you’ll put off a scent that will draw unmated males to want to have sex with you.” Rage burned through him at the thought of anyone attempting to touch his mate. “You need to drink my blood. My entire clan will be around you today. You won’t leave my side, but I would hate to have to kill someone with children present.”

  She curled up on her side, her legs resting against his own. “You didn’t mention this calling thing before.”

  “I just thought of it. I’m taking you out of my home today, around other males.”

  She crinkled her nose. “Blood, huh?”

  “Yes. It won’t be too terrible. You are part VampLycan.”

  “Don’t remind me of the sperm donor. Not now. Today is amazing so far.”

  Aveoth noted the teasing way she looked at him, and he smiled at her. “Stay here.”

  He let her go and rolled out of bed, strode to his kitchen, and got a goblet from the cupboard. He took the time to wash and dry it since they’d sat for decades untouched. He reentered the bedroom, grabbed one of his daggers, and approached the bed. Jill had sat up in bed and had the covers over her lap. Her expression amused him.

  “It won’t be that bad, Jill. I promise.”

  “Do I have the liver-and-onions face? My mom used to make them sometimes because she was a freak who loved them.” She grimaced. “So gross.”

  He sat next to her and grinned. “Liver and onions?”

  “Never had that?”

  “I can’t say I have.”

  “Lucky you. Trust me. If someone ever offers that to you for dinner, just say no.”

  He gripped his dagger and crossed his
legs, placing the goblet against his ankles to keep it upright and steady. His gaze held hers. “I’ll cut, bleed into the cup, and then you drink it.”

  “I almost wish I had fangs right now. You biting me was sexy.” She glanced down. “Although that goblet is beautiful, those designs in the glass. It looks expensive.”

  He shrugged. “They’re very old. That’s all I know. I inherited them from Lord Abotorus after his death. This is the first time I’ve used one.”

  “Is it like the official blood-drinking glass?”

  She always amused him, and he laughed. “It is for us. Are you ready?”

  “Never, but go for it anyway. It can’t be worse than my twenty-first birthday. I hit a bar with some work friends and each of them bought me a different drink, since I was legal. Some of them were downright gross, and man was I sick the next day. Lesson learned.”

  He sliced into the meaty part of his arm with the dagger tip and held it over the goblet as he bled. He glanced at Jill, hoping she handled the sight of blood well in the daylight. She watched, looking a little pale, but didn’t move away. His Jill had courage. He put down the dagger, filling the cup a fourth of the way before his wound healed enough to stop bleeding. He held it out to her, peering into her eyes.

  She accepted it with both hands. They trembled slightly so he gently cupped them. “My blood is yours, mate.”

  She nodded. “Um, thank you.”

  He chuckled. “Just down it. You should handle it well. You’re not fully human and you’re already changing.”

  “So your super-sperm will help my body take blood?”

  He laughed again, loving her sense of humor. “Yes.”

  “Down the hatch, then.”

  He released her and watched as she lifted the goblet to her lips. She closed her eyes, took a deep breath, blew it out, and then began to drink his blood.

  A warmth spread through Aveoth’s chest as she kept swallowing. His mate was accepting his blood. It was as it should be.

  She finished, and had a dazed look on her face when she opened her eyes. A little blood remained on her upper lip and he leaned forward, kissing her. She stiffened for a moment but then kissed him back. He pulled away before deepening the kiss, even though he wanted to make love to his mate. They didn’t have time. He needed to take her to his mother and Renna to be fitted for her gown.

  “Are you well?”

  She held his gaze. “Yeah. That was weird. Blood is thicker than water, for real, but I’m fine.”

  “Let’s shower, and then I’ll take you to my mother’s chambers.”

  “Why?”

  “You need something to wear.”

  “I was totally serious about the old-fashioned dresses. They have to go.”

  “We’ll work on it together. I promise.”

  “Okay. I’m not wearing a corset. That’s final.”

  “Agreed. Go jump in the shower and I’ll join you in a minute.” He sat up and climbed off the bed, taking the goblet and dagger with him. He also snagged his cell phone on his way back to the kitchen.

  He contacted Kelzeb first. His friend answered slightly out of breath.

  “What are you doing?”

  “Sparring with Fray. What’s up?”

  “I’m mated.”

  His friend was silent for a long second, then exclaimed, “Congratulations! I’m happy for you.”

  “They’ll know the moment I expose Jill to our clan today and they pick up her scent. Prepare for the worst.”

  “I’m on it. We’ll be ready.”

  “Thank you, my friend.”

  “I always have your back. Hey, Fray, we’re done. Looks like we might have some actual fighting to do later so I don’t want to wear you out.”

  Aveoth heard Fray laughing in the background. “The big guy claimed her, huh? Awesome.”

  “I’ll see you later today.” Aveoth ended the call and placed the second one to his mother. She let her phone ring six times before answering.

  “I hate this thing.”

  He chuckled. “It was a gift from me.”

  “Only so you don’t have to come see me as much. A small chunk of metal isn’t the same as looking into my son’s eyes when we speak.”

  “Jill’s my mate. It’s done. We’ll be there in less than an hour. She’s going to need a dress for the welcoming ceremony, something befitting a lady.”

  His mother inhaled sharply, then laughed. “That’s wonderful! Renna and I will go through my closets. Your Jill is much shorter but we can put something together appropriate for her coming out to the clan. How did she take your secret?”

  He sighed. “I haven’t told her. I will, but the time wasn’t right.”

  “Aveoth…”

  “She accepted me as I am. If she can handle the wings, and me shelling to claim her, she can handle the rest.”

  “True. We’ll see you soon.”

  He hung up, hoping he was right.

  Chapter Fourteen

  Aveoth had escorted Jill to his mother’s door and promised to come back within the hour. She hugged Jill, seeming happy to see her.

  Jill couldn’t help but gawk a little at Galihia’s home. The main living room looked like a mix of something that should have been featured in a magazine called rock mansions. Wooden shelves had been built against the rock of one huge wall, thousands of books lining them. A fireplace stood in the center of that wall, as well. A painted portrait caught her eye and she approached it, staring up. It was Galihia holding a tiny baby. He was wearing a white baby gown but had a tuft of black hair on his head. Striking blue eyes peered at her from the canvas.

  “That was Aveoth at two months,” the woman said from behind her.

  Jill turned. “You haven’t aged a day, it seems. And he was adorable.” Her gaze went back to the painting. Burning fire logs were in the same fireplace in the background. “How old is Aveoth?”

  Galihia laughed. “He hasn’t told you?”

  “No. He wouldn’t tell me how old you are either. I think he worries that I’ll have a heart attack or something.”

  “I’ll let my son answer those questions. For now, come with me. Renna is waiting in my bed chambers.”

  Jill followed the beautiful GarLycan through a kitchen, a smaller living room, and down a hallway. The double doors to the bedroom were wide open, and she spotted another woman who had to be in her late forties. The woman wore a cream-colored gown similar to Galihia’s. She had black hair, dark brown eyes, and smiled when she saw them.

  “This is her?” The woman rushed forward. “It’s so good to meet you! Welcome to the family.”

  Jill hugged her back, despite being a bit stunned at the woman’s obvious joy. “Thank you.”

  “Don’t crush her, Renna.” Galihia pulled Jill out of the other woman’s arms. “Meet my aunt, Jill. She’s one hundred percent Lycan and will hug you to death if you let her.”

  “Knock it off, Gali. You’ll scare the girl.” Renna winked at Jill. “Someone should show her open affection. The people who live in the cliffs are a bit stuffy. It was the hardest thing to adjust to when I came to live here. Lycans are huggers. We’re into touching and showing emotions. GarLycans and Gargoyles tend to hide them. You are such a cutie! I’m so proud of Aveoth for choosing you.”

  Jill wasn’t sure what to say, so she went with the first thing that popped into her head. “Thank you again.”

  Renna assessed Jill’s body. “We’re going to make you look beautiful when Aveoth presents you to the clan. Not that you don’t already look beautiful. I should say more elegant. Gali and I have already hemmed the gown we thought was right while we were waiting for Aveoth to bring you to us.” Her gaze lingered on Jill’s chest. “We’ll have to let out the top a little, though. Your breasts look larger than my niece’s. Let’s try it on.”

  Jill grimaced. “Formal attire? I haven’t really dressed up to that degree before.”

  Renna chuckled. “I like you already. I’m into comfortable dres
sing myself but not in public. You’re the new lady, and you should make a fashion statement.”

  They towed her toward the bed and made her strip. She blushed a bit, not really comfortable with being naked in front of the two women, but then they had her step into a big dress. It was yards of material, an off-white with tons of lace, and they pulled it up her body. The dress covered her from her shoulders to wrists and all the way down to her feet.

  “We misjudged,” Renna stated, dropping to her knees where Jill stood. “She’s shorter. We need to tuck in another inch of skirt.”

  “The hoop skirt will take care of that,” Galihia murmured.

  Jill groaned. “Hoop skirt?”

  “A small, lightweight, padded skirt. Like a pillow around your hips. Not a cage,” Renna announced. “It accents our hips by flaring that area out a bit. I swear to the moon that this clan is full of cavemen.” She chuckled. “They do live in caves, so we shouldn’t be surprised.”

  Jill didn’t want to know what a cage was, but an image she’d seen in a history book of women wearing wires around their lower bodies flashed in her mind, and she shuddered.

  “Renna,” Galihia admonished.

  “Oh, you know I’m right, Gali.”

  Jill turned her attention to Aveoth’s mother. “Can I ask you some questions, Galihia?”

  “Of course you can. You may also call me Gali.”

  “What’s going to happen when Aveoth introduces me to the clan?”

  “The Gargoyle Council will have a hissy fit,” Renna muttered, tugging on the skirt a little.

  Jill knew her eyes widened but Gali just smiled.

  “Don’t worry. My son will have everything in hand. You’ll be safe, and we’ll be with you. There is a ceremony room where we hold events. It’s a large cave.”

  “Everything here is in a cave,” Renna interjected.

  “Renna,” Galihia sighed.

  “Gali,” Renna sighed back. “Just tell the girl the truth. The Gargoyle Council won’t be happy, especially if they realize who her father is.” The older woman stood and put her hands on her hips. “They’re going to be furious when they learn she’s half VampLycan. They are fine to fuck but never to mate according to those gas bags.” She turned her gaze on Jill. “Fights might break out. We’ll protect you if anyone gets past your mate. It won’t happen, though. I wanted the three of us to wear black, but my niece said that wouldn’t be appropriate.”