Keras’s slow smile said it all.
The wraith had stolen information from Esher, but in turn, he had given Esher a way of tracking him.
He watched his brother go to join the others, the hunger to hunt rising inside him again, stronger now that he knew he would be able to track the wraith once he was close enough, could use the wound he had inflicted to locate him, sure the pain would grow stronger the closer he was to the bastard.
Aiko slipped her hand into his, drawing him back to her.
He dipped his head and brushed his lips across hers, used the kiss and the way she responded, looping her arms around his neck and holding him tightly, to ground himself and push away from the urge to hunt.
There was something else he needed to do more.
He needed to make sure Aiko and his brothers were safe, and that their home was protected, ready for when the enemy made their next move, one he was sure would come sooner rather than later.
They would be ready for them.
It was agony, but he forced himself to break away from her lips and met her gaze. “Would you like to learn how to make a ward?”
“I thought only powerful beings could create them?” Her eyes darted between his, and he had the feeling his brothers had been telling her all about their world in his absence, keeping her mind occupied while he had been fighting the daemon.
He nodded and turned away from her, leading her towards the cherry tree she loved so much. “I think you’ll be able to handle it.”
She stopped him dead with her words.
“Because I’m like you now?”
Esher looked back at her, and he must have looked as surprised as he felt because she giggled, her brown eyes bright with her smile that warmed him, chased away the dark clouds in his heart and allowed light to shine back in.
He had meant to break it gently to her that he suspected his mother had done something to her soul, blessing it to make her immortal for him, tied to the Underworld just as he was.
But she knew.
“You broadcasted your worries a little when we were in the park tonight.” She pulled him with her, and he realised that she also knew he meant for her to place a ward on the boulder beneath the cherry tree, must have read that too. “It’s easier to know what you’re thinking now that I’m stronger.”
Clearly it was. Worryingly easy. He would have to warn his brothers to be careful around her.
“I won’t go poking in their heads.” She smiled over her shoulder at him, and gods, it felt so normal, hit him hard as he walked behind her, letting her lead him.
Only a few minutes ago, he had been convinced he was on the verge of losing everything he loved, was a danger to everyone and had to leave.
Rather than pushing him away to protect themselves, they had gathered around him, had shown him the depth of their love and that they were going to protect him. He only hoped he could withstand whatever trials lay ahead of him and live up to their faith in him, deserving that love.
His family.
He listened to them as they talked, as Eva asked what Valen was doing and Megan teased Ares, telling him he was messing it all up, and Keras chastised Cal for picking too simple a ward and told him to do it again.
They were his family, all of them.
Aiko included.
And he would never give up, would never give in, would keep fighting the darkness in his heart in order to protect them and their homes.
The Underworld.
And this one.
The skyline beyond the white wall enclosing the garden flickered to the otherworld, and the new-found strength beating in his heart grew stronger as he saw it looked better now, some of the damage reversed by the blow he had dealt his enemy today, removing one of their ranks and making it clear he wouldn’t succumb to his darker self.
At least not easily.
“Esher?” Aiko’s soft voice lured him back to her and he realised they had reached the cherry tree.
He stared at her as she smiled at him, his beautiful immortal, his little butterfly.
Her smile faded, her face falling as he drew her towards him, a flicker of heat igniting in her eyes as she looked up into his and allowed him to guide her into his arms, back where she belonged.
“What am I thinking?” he murmured, lowering his head.
Her blush answered him, but she breathlessly whispered, “Later.”
He dropped his lips to hers, brushed them tenderly and shut the world out as he kissed her, giving her a taste of what was to come when his brothers were gone and they were alone. He held her close and her heat seeped into him, her soft sighs stirring fire in his veins and strengthening the resolve in his heart.
His little butterfly.
A single question rang in his mind, echoing there as he savoured her kiss and the feel of her in his arms.
What would he do for her?
For her, he would destroy his enemies and protect the humans he had once despised, ones he was learning to forgive because she had opened his eyes and his heart again. He would defend the gates and fulfil his duty, keeping their world and this one safe.
For her, he would fight the darkness and he would win. He would vanquish his other side and destroy it for good, would become the complete male he had once been.
All so he could be with her.
Forever.
The End
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Felicity Heaton is a New York Times and USA Today best-selling author who writes passionate paranormal romance books. In her books, she creates detailed worlds, twisting plots, mind-blowing action, intense emotion and heart-stopping romances with leading men that vary from dark deadly vampires to sexy shape-shifters and wicked werewolves, to sinful angels and hot demons!
If you're a fan of paranormal romance authors Lara Adrian, J R Ward, Sherrilyn Kenyon, Gena Showalter, Larissa Ione and Christine Feehan then you will enjoy her books too.
If you love your angels a little dark and wicked, her best-selling Her Angel romance series is for you. If you like strong, powerful, and dark vampires then try the Vampires Realm romance series or any of her stand alone vampire romance books. If you’re looking for vampire romances that are sinful, passionate and erotic then try her Vampire Erotic Theatre romance series. Or if you like hot-blooded alpha heroes who will let nothing stand in the way of them claiming their destined woman then try her Eternal Mates series. It’s packed with sexy heroes in a world populated by elves, vampires, fae, demons, shifters, and more. If sexy Greek gods with incredible powers battling to save our world and their home in the Underworld are more your thing, then be sure to step into the world of Guardians of Hades.
To see her other novels, visit: http://www.felicityheaton.co.uk
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PARANORMAL ROMANCE BOOKS BY FELICITY HEATON
Stories in the Eternal Mates romance series
Book 1: Kissed by a Dark Prince
Book 2: Claimed by a Demon King
Book 3: Tempted by a Rogue Prince
Book 4: Hunted by a Jaguar
Book 5: Craved by an Alpha
Book 6: Bitten by a Hellcat
Book 7: Taken by a Dragon
Book 8: Marked by an Assassin
Book 9: Possessed by a Dark Warrior
Book 10: Awakened by a Demoness
Book 11: Haunted by the King of Death
Book 12: Turned by a Tiger
Book 13: Tamed by a Tiger
Book 14: Treasured by a Tiger
Book 15: Unchained by a Forbidden Love
Stories in the Guardians of Hades romance series
Book 1: Ares
Book 2: Valen
Book 3: Esher
Book 4: Marek - Coming in 2018
Stories in the Vampire Erotic Theatre romance series
Book 1: Covet
Book 2: Crave
Book 3: Seduce
Book 4: Enslave
Book 5: Bewitch
Book 6: Unleash
Stories in the Her Angel romance series
Book 1: Her Dark Angel
Book 2: Her Fallen Angel
Book 3: Her Warrior Angel
Book 4: Her Guardian Angel
Book 5: Her Demonic Angel
Book 6: Her Wicked Angel
Book 7: Her Avenging Angel
Book 8: Her Sinful Angel
Stories in the Vampires Realm romance series
Book 1: Prophecy: Child of Light
Book 2: Prophecy: Caelestis & Aurorea
Book 3.1: Spellbound
Book 3.5: Reunion
Book 4: Seventh Circle
Book 5: Winter's Kiss
Book 6: Hunter's Moon
Book 7: Masquerade
Book 8: Hunger
Books 1-3 are also available in one anthology ebook: Prophecy Trilogy
Stories in the In Heat romance series
Book 1: In Heat
Book 2: In Heat: Mating Call
Stand alone paranormal romance books
Blood and Snow
Love Immortal
Ascension
Forbidden Blood
Heart of Darkness
Vampire for Christmas
COPYRIGHT
Copyright © 2018 Felicity Heaton
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means mechanical, electronic, photocopying, recording or otherwise without the prior written consent of the publisher, nor be otherwise circulated in any form of binding or cover other than that in which it is published and without a similar condition being imposed on the subsequent purchaser.
The right of Felicity Heaton to be identified as the Author of the Work has been asserted by her in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.
First printed March 2018
First Edition
Layout and design by Felicity Heaton
All characters in this publication are purely fictitious and any resemblance to real persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.
Cover by Felicity Heaton