“No, my arm is fine. It’s a small sting when vryko claws come out to play, but so worth it.” He smiled at her, wanting to sigh at the perfect female he’d been blessed to join. And a virgin? Orion had never lain with a virgin. He’d have to make sure to be extra gentle so as not to harm her.
He laughed and drew her into a hug, not even bothered that he smelled like a pack animal, the scent of sea nymph filling his soul... well, if had a soul. Macy was right in one respect. He didn’t normally feel so giddy or poetic over a female. But he liked it.
“Oh boy. This is going to take some work,” Macy said, watching him.
He reluctantly let Kaia go, aware she hadn’t protested his touch. Not now, and not before. She very much liked the look of him. He’d seen her reaction when witnessing his massive erection. He wanted to tell her he only got that way for her. He didn’t remember ever getting so aroused in the past. But she smelled hungry, needy. Wanting.
She smelled perfect.
“We’re fine,” Orion said in hopes of taking that frown off his mate’s face.
“Orion, I want you to be free. Not bound to anyone, but living with your own free will.”
He shrugged. “Whether I’m with you or not, I’m still bound to Hecate until my clan’s bloode debt is repaid. And now I’m bound to my Night Bloode brothers. And sisters,” he added with a glance at Macy. “We have to gather the rest of the Bloode Stones to protect us from some kind of ancient evil that’s coming back to destroy life as we know it.” He shrugged. “Eh. I’d much rather be with you. What do you think I should do?”
Macy paled. “Oh, Kaia. This is bad. Orion’s a gruff bastard who’s not one for sharing secrets. I bet you could tell him to cut off his own hand and he’d do it for you.”
He immediately extended his claws. “Right or left?”
Kaia grabbed his non-clawed hand. “Neither. Never cut off anything. You stay whole, you hear me?”
He released his claws and patted her gently on the shoulder. The poor creature looked distraught—over him. So pleased, he had a tough time holding back his joy. “Of course, my lovely mate. I’ll always protect you, and I can’t do that if I’m less than whole. Don’t worry. Nothing will ever hurt us.”
“Do you see what you’ve done?” Macy asked his mate.
He didn’t care for her tone and scowled.
“Me? I tried to save him.”
“You stole him from the witch who stole him from Hecate. She’s not going to be pleased. You have to give him back.”
“I would if I could.” Kaia shot him a sad glance, and he didn’t like Macy making her feel badly.
“Alright, witch. You should go now. My mate’s been most generous with you. But she’s tired and needs to feed.” He stroked Kaia’s hair. “You’re making her sad.”
“Jesus. I’m not trying to hurt her feelings, jackass. I’m trying to save her life.” Macy turned to Kaia. “He can’t go back. Not until this is fixed. I know Duncan would try to help, and Rolf might find this amusing as heck, but Khent and Kraft will try to end you for bespelling a vampire. Varu, our patriarch...” She swallowed. “Kaia, he’ll kill you and make it hurt. He doesn’t believe in second chances for those who hurt his kin.”
“He’ll try.” Orion huffed. He might have been more upset about the idea of his kin trying to hurt Kaia if he thought they could do it. But he knew he could end them. The secret fountain of rage deep inside him registered on a level none of them understood, including the goddess who owned his debt. They all thought him no more than an average vryko, and he was content to let that lie. “No one touches my mate and lives.”
Macy glared. “He’ll kill you too, Orion. If you’re a threat to the Night Bloode, he might feel bad about it, but Varu will end you. I heard all about how he killed a master strigoi—his own sire.”
He snorted. “Duh. I know. I was there.”
She continued, “Dude is a nasty killer, and the only one safe from him is his mate.”
“That I respect.” Varu was a Worthy patriarch and vampire. He had his priorities right.
Macy blew out a tired breath. “Look, I’m trying to help. You two need to hold up somewhere until I find out how to break this spell. I’m still not sure how Sabine had the power to bewitch you though.”
“She used a dagger coated in brimstone.”
Macy’s eyes widened. “Whoa. A demon blade. That makes sense. Nothing affects you guys, normally. Not from this plane or the fae realm. But it figures the hell planes have sway over death-bringers. We just don’t know much about them.”
Kaia asked in a quiet voice, “Could he be possessed?”
He liked that she continued to hold onto his arm. “I’m not possessed, Kaia. I don’t think.” He felt inside himself but sensed only his powerful bloode and a tie to the female next to him. He heard her heart racing and urged her heartbeat to match the rhythm of his.
She calmed, and he smiled.
Macy looked more disturbed. “Orion, step me through whatever you remember.”
He sighed. “Is this necessary? I’m happy with Kaia.”
“Please.” Kaia looked up at him, worry on her face. “It would be great if you told Macy what happened. I want to know too.”
“Fine. It was Sunday night. All the others scattered so I got the shit job of investigating the mystery island. Neptune didn’t like that someone was squatting in his territory, I’m guessing.”
“Sounds about right,” Macy muttered.
“I took the new boat. It’s a sweet little thirty-five foot yacht, all decked out. Really nice.”
“Orion, focus.”
He flipped her the bird, but Macy only grinned. “Anyhow,” he continued, “I docked just south of Whidbey. I thought it odd to see the mystery island, and I could tell it’s a magir construct. It’s in a pocket dimension.” At Kaia’s nod, he continued. “So I walked off the boat, through the snow, and heard a woman cry out. Lycans were fighting and ripping at her. I killed a few, let some go in hopes they’d try harder to kill me. It’s so disappointing when no one puts up a good fight anymore.”
“Wait,” Kaia said. “You walked onto the island? Into the woods?”
“Yeah.”
“Nothing stopped you? No wards or traps?”
“No. I think that’s the point, that island opens up its doors, so to speak, so it can trap whatever lands. The woman was hot.” He settled his gaze on her. “You, I mean, the sea witch, but I didn’t know she was the sea witch when I bit her. She told me to bite, and I drank her down.” He frowned and rubbed his chest, memories of the sea witch’s blood not quite right. “She was sweet at first. I think.” He stared at Kaia, seeing her face imposed on another woman, one slightly taller with a fuller build.
“Orion?”
“It’s a little fuzzy. I think I blacked out after I drank from her. I was inside a fancy bedroom. We talked, her and me. I do know she had that brimstone dagger. I think...” He rubbed his chest again, feeling the burn of more than just a blade. Darkness, a presence pushing through his veins. “Then Kaia showed up and we got the hell out of there.”