Instead, he asked, “Does she know? Callum?”
Gregor shook his head. “No. And they won’t. As this was kept from you and Leah, it will also be kept from the other mates. As you read, it is essential that every immortal demonstrates his ability to make a crucial, selfless sacrifice for his mortal lifemate. And it is essential that every mortal demonstrate her generosity to or protection of immortals. To establish an eternity of peace between the species, The Three must personify that we can live together through diversity and in harmony.”
He’d read this in The Prophesies. It was annoying but it was understandable.
“And the third lifemates?” Lucien asked.
“They have not been located,” Rudolf answered. “We believe the male is living amongst mortals. Their story is vaguer in The Prophesies but we believe from studying the parchments that he knows who he is, what he’s capable of. He feeds from mortals, he morphs to wolf. But he does not know of the existence of others of his kind. He thinks he is an anomaly, hides his abilities and lives underground. Therefore, it is difficult to find him.”
“Perhaps he has not yet come into existence,” Lucien suggested.
“No,” Avery whispered, “Sonia’s destiny will play out shortly. The Noble War is nearly upon us. He’s out there as is she, whoever she may be.”
Lucien tipped up his chin then remarked, “If he thinks he’s an anomaly, he’s correct. Unless I’m mistaken, he would be the only vampire, werewolf hybrid in history.”
“In the years to come, many things will change, Lucien,” Avery replied. “Many. What was impossible will be exceptional but possible. Then it will become commonplace.”
As it always had been. As, he hoped to Christ, it always would be for a very long time.
Lucien moved on.
“I’ll be telling Leah of The Prophesies,” he announced and the three other men in the room tensed.
“This is unwise,” Gregor muttered.
“Why?” Lucien shot back and Gregor’s eyes slid to Avery. “It isn’t unwise,” Lucien stated and Gregor’s gaze came back. “You’re intent to keep your secrets from being revealed. But I can assure you she won’t speak of them.”
“Can you be certain?” Rudolf asked.
“She is mortal but there are many mortals who are far from stupid, Rudolf,” Lucien returned. “I’ll explain to her the importance of keeping the secret and she’ll understand it. I’ll also explain the consequences of not keeping it and she’ll definitely understand that.”
“Of course but she is also in the life. Her family is in the life. What is to come, her part in it, she may be moved to warn them,” Rudolf replied.
“She won’t speak of The Prophesies,” Lucien repeated.
“It’s essential she doesn’t,” Gregor pressed,
Lucien looked to Avery then back to Gregor and impatiently reiterated, “She will not speak of them.”
Gregor took in a breath. Then he nodded.
Lucien wanted to get back to Leah so he demanded in the form of a request, “I wish to speak to Avery alone.”
Glances were exchanged but Rudolf and Gregor assented, said their farewells and moved to leave the room.
Gregor, however, stopped at the door.
“The Council wishes you to know that the access provided you to these documents means our debt is paid.”
“Servicing The Dominion by hunting my own and taking them to their deaths for fifty years is hardly paid by providing me access to documents that describe, however vaguely, that myself and my bride face mortal perils in a Noble War,” Lucien returned. “That is surely my due and I regard it as such. Tell The Council I consider that I still hold the marker and I will call it when I need to use it.”
Gregor held his eyes. Then he sighed. Then he tipped up his chin and left the room.
Lucien didn’t speak until he sensed they were well out of hearing distance. Then his eyes moved through the room. Not finding what he was looking for, he turned his gaze to Avery.
“Is this room monitored?” he asked.
“No,” Avery answered.
“What I wish to discuss, it would be foolish to lie,” Lucien stated quietly.
“As has been explained, very few know of The Prophesies, Lucien. This is a humidity, air and temperature controlled room that holds nothing but The Prophesies. Access to it is strictly limited. Security is state of the art. However, it does not include cameras or microphones. It wouldn’t do for security guards to be able to catch a glimpse of the parchments or hear those allowed in this room discussing them.”
Lucien nodded once.
Then he crossed his arms on his chest and stated quietly, “You’re an Ancient.”
Avery slowly closed his eyes.
He was.
Fucking hell.
“Do you know our origin?” Lucien asked and Avery opened his eyes.
“I vow to you, Lucien, that this is also a mystery to me,” Avery answered.
“Are there others older than you?” Lucien queried.
“I cannot say,” Avery demurred.
“But there are other Ancients,” Lucien went on.
“I cannot say,” Avery repeated.
“How many people know that Ancients still exist?” Lucien pushed.
“One,” Avery answered. “You.”
That was what he was looking for. An indication of trust. And he had it. This secret was more crucial to guard than The Prophesies.
Lucien took a moment.
Then he reminded him quietly, “My future bride and I risk much for this world.”
Avery studied him.
Then he whispered, “You do. And therefore I will give you another vow. There will be those who will do everything in their considerable power to keep The Sacred Triumvirate safe. But right now, this is all I can give you.”
“I have children and The Prophesies state that I will have four more. For reasons that, if The Prophesies are true, are no longer accurate, Leah and I do not use protection. If this Noble War means my bride and I will perish and our children will live without parents or worse, die themselves, I need to know what you know and take precautions.”
“You must find out along with me,” Avery replied.
“You know no more?” Lucien pressed.
Avery extended a hand to the papers on the table. “I wrote those parchments. I wrote everything I knew, Lucien, everything that came to me. If I knew more, I would gladly tell you. I don’t. Therefore, you must find out along with me.”
Lucien held his gaze and read nothing. And he knew from this that when Avery gave away the knowledge he was indeed an Ancient, this was his intention.
He tried once more by reminding him, “I lived eight hundred and twenty-two years waiting for the woman who was destined for me.”
“And we’re counting, very much, on your desire to keep hold of that destiny,” Avery returned.
“If that’s true, Avery, then you are very lucky,” Lucien whispered.
At that, Avery smiled.
Lucien didn’t smile back. He lifted his hand in a brief gesture of farewell and left the room to make his way to his mate.
* * * * *
“Okay, seriously, this is awesome!” Leah exclaimed.
She was sitting astride him. Lucien was on his back in their bed in their hotel room in Speranza, Leah straddling his hips. She was wearing a black, silk nightie adorned with thick edges of cream lace. They’d just made love and her hair was a wild tumble around her shoulders.
Prior to their making love, he’d given her an emerald cut, black diamond engagement ring. After, he told her of The Prophesies.
As was her way, her reaction surprised him.
“My pet, we’re talking about war,” he reminded her quietly.
She leaned into him, putting her hands to his chest, her face getting close to his. Hers was still excited.
“Yes, and you, me and the other four are going to kick ass,” she declared then lurched back to sitting and
cried, “I can’t wait to get superhuman abilities!”
Lucien shook his head, finding he couldn’t stop himself from grinning.
Then he sat up, his grin died and he wrapped his arms around her loosely.
“My love,” he started to caution, “anything can happen in war.”
She wrapped her arms loosely around his shoulders and tipped her head to the side.
Then she asked, “Darling, are you the Mighty Vampire Lucien?”
His lips twitched but he didn’t answer.
“You are,” she whispered, her arms getting tighter. “You’re unstoppable. And you’re giving me your abilities. So we’ll be unstoppable.” Her expression grew serious as she pressed closer. “Before you get all mature vampire and impart wisdom on me, I’ll tell you, I get it. I’ve never been in a war but everyone knows wars are to be avoided. And I hate to remind you of something that upsets you but Edwina and I were attacked by four vampires. I had no power in that situation and I was terrified out of my mind. So it may be that my powers won’t be akin to a vampires’. But at least I’ll have a fighting chance.”
She was right. She’d reminded him of something that upset him.
Greatly.
Lucien didn’t share this and Leah wasn’t done.
“But I also get something else. And I’ve thought this for a long time even when you told me before that you were mostly like me. There is magic at work. And that magic, I know in my heart, led me to you. And if that’s the kind of magic we’re dealing with then it’s the good kind. And we have that on our side. And we have love on our side. And the other four will have love on their side too. And when you have our kind of love, you can’t be beat because you won’t allow yourself to be beat.”
“I can’t argue with that,” he muttered and was rewarded with her smile.
Then her arms left his shoulders so her fingers could wrap around the sides of his neck and she tilted her face close.
“Nothing will take you away from me, darling,” her fingers squeezed, “nothing.”
Lucien stared into her beautiful eyes.
Then his arms tightened around her and he twisted her to her back as his mouth took hers in a searing kiss.
When he lifted his head, she took in an unsteady breath. Then she finished their conversation with a whispered, “I get all this,” her limbs gave him a squeeze and her lips gave him a smile, “and kickass, superhuman abilities. I… can’t… wait.”
Lucien grinned down at her. Then he dropped his head and kissed the smile away from her face.
Then he took his time doing a great many other things.
Things he couldn’t wait to do.
* * * * *
It was after the Ancient Claiming Ceremony. After the celebration following. After Nadia threw her back out breakdancing at the celebration. But before they would board a plane in the morning to travel to Italy for their honeymoon.
Her fists in his hair became insistent.
He felt it, stopped feeding, lashed his tongue along the wound and gave his brand-new bride what she wanted.
He tipped his head back and looked at her.
She slid down on his cock, filling herself full of him, her eyelids heavy.
Christ, she was beautiful.
So fucking beautiful.
Her lids were heavy but her focus was all on him.
“This is our eternity,” she whispered. His arms, already wrapped around her, went so tight he felt it as the gentle wind of her breath stroked his face.
All he could see was her beautiful features. All he could feel was her body in his arms, her sex wrapped around his cock, her thighs pressed tight to his hips, her breasts to his chest, her arms curved around his shoulders holding him close. All he could smell was the overpowering scent of her excitement. All he could taste on his tongue was her blood mingled with her skin and her pussy. All he could hear was her heart beating, her excited breaths.
“This is our eternity,” he agreed quietly.
Her lids grew heavier even as she smiled an alluring smile. A smile for his words. A smile because she, like he, knew they were living a dream.
“Give me beauty, my vampire,” she demanded.
Instantly, he flipped her to her back and gave into her demand.
Fuck, but he loved it when their dreams came true.
Literally.
The Three Series will continue with the story of Callum and Sonia.
####
About the Author
Kristen Ashley lives in the beautiful West Country of England with her husband and her cat. She came to England by way of Denver, where she lived for twelve years, but she grew up in Brownsburg, Indiana. Her family and friends are loopy (to say the least) but loopy is good when you want to write.
Kristen’s Mom moved her and her brother and sister in with their grandparents when she was six. Her grandparents had a daughter much younger than her Mom so they all lived together on a very small farm in a small farm town in the heartland. She grew up with Glenn Miller, The Everly Brothers, REO Speedwagon and Whitesnake (and the wardrobes that matched). Needless to say, growing up in a house full of music, clothes and love was a good way to grow up.
And as she keeps growing up, it keeps getting better.
Discover other Titles by Kristen Ashley at Smashwords.com
Rock Chick Series:
Rock Chick
Rock Chick Rescue
Rock Chick Redemption
Rock Chick Renegade
Rock Chick Revenge
Rock Chick Reckoning
Rock Chick Regret
The ‘Burg Series:
For You
At Peace
Golden Trail
The Colorado Mountain Series:
The Gamble
Sweet Dreams
Lady Luck
Dream Man Series:
Mystery Man
Wild Man
Law Man
The Fantasyland Series:
Wildest Dreams
The Golden Dynasty
Fantastical
Other Titles by Kristen Ashley:
Fairytale Come Alive
Heaven and Hell
Lacybourne Manor
Mathilda, SuperWitch
Penmort Castle
Play It Safe
Sommersgate House
Three Wishes
Connect with Kristen Online:
Official Website: www.kristenashley.net
Kristen’s Blog: www.kristenashley.net/menu/blog.html
Kristen’s Facebook Page
Follow Kristen on Twitter: KristenAshley68
Cover Photo and Design by DM Ashley
Kristen Ashley, Until the Sun Falls From the Sky
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