Revolution

Carrie

The moment Deacon started talking about the curse, I heard my mother’s voice. I could feel the ghost of her arms holding me as she told me one of her favorite bedtime stories. It felt as though it had only been yesterday.

“When she returned to her home, the witch pulled her coven together and told them what happened. Together, they put a curse on all the Vampire Borns. They would no longer be able to give birth to female vampires, they would only have sons. Each witch cut their hand and sealed the curse with their blood.”

I kept looking over at Deacon, trying to place everything I knew. The vampires all respected him, some even feared him. There were times he moved faster than expected. He knew so much about their culture. But he went out during the day. One of the stories she told me had mentioned something about that.

I cursed for letting myself forget. And for not listening to my mother more often. I was vastly unprepared for this world when she left. Something I didn’t want to admit while I still had her.

I wasn’t even aware Deacon was talking to me until he grabbed my hand, a worried plea in his eyes. I let him pull me closer, placing me between his legs and holding both my hands in one, his other coming to my cheek.

My anxiety began melting away again. I had no idea how he always managed to do that to me. I should be irritated, I wanted to be, but it was nearly impossible to do with him around. With him touching me like this.

“Angel? Talk to me. Or at least listen, let me explain. I wasn’t trying to hide anything from you, I was just afraid you’d hate me, and I could never live with myself if that happened.” His sincerity was my undoing.

“You…you’re a…a…Vampire Born. Aren’t you? The cursed ones?”

His eyes registered his shock, but his body didn’t move from mine. I was beginning to regret my decision in how I slept tonight, all part of my plan to catch him. I was done waiting. I needed to be with him.

“How do you know that name, that term?”

“I told you. My mother was full of stories. I, uh, haven’t exactly been completely honest with you either.”

His palm fell. “What are you talking about?” Awesome, he was getting defensive.

“Hey. None of that. You kept the fact that you were a day walking vampire from me and did whatever you wanted to me in my sleep. And judging by the dreams I had, I’m pretty sure you fed me your blood and fed off me. Is that how you blended our scents?”

Oh, good. There was the anger for all that. At least he had the nerve to look ashamed.

“I’m sorry. I needed you safe, and that was the best way to do it.”

Sorry, my right butt cheek.

“Then what was all that BS with you and Colton having to touch me all the time?” I pulled one of my hands from his and waved toward the bedroom door, emphasizing his little friend in crime.

I was not going to admit I was starting to like it. Two hot guys paying so much attention to me, who wouldn’t?

“That was true. They needed to see as much as smell. This generation of Nightwalkers has no respect for the law.”

Right, I knew that was true. I always did. Deacon stood up, pulling my chin up to look at him as he made sure there wasn’t an inch of air between us.

“And I never heard you complain about any of it.” Dang, he already knew I liked it. “You saw tonight how they behaved better. Same with the last two nights. They won’t cross us both. You are well and thoroughly protected between us both.”

Umm, yes, it was nice between them both.

Deacon chuckled darkly, his eyes sparking flames, somehow knowing where my mind was going. His hand went to my butt again, forcing me to feel every blessed inch of him. He lifted my thigh, creating a pathway.

“Mate with me. Let me make you mine permanently. I love you, angel. I never thought it was possible. I don’t know how, but you wrapped me around these fingers the moment I pulled you through that door.” He folded his freehand with the one he was still holding of mine. “You were always meant to be mine. I know that now.”

He was moving just enough to tease me and keep me from thinking clearly. “I... I can’t. I don’t… know.” I groaned as he slowed, keeping me from reaching a place I had only ever been in my sleep.

“I know you don’t, just follow me, love. Tell me you will mate with me. You will forever be protected by me and my people. I can’t bear to lose you. I need you.”

My heart swelled at his words. I couldn’t doubt that he loved me and needed me. I had felt the same from the beginning as well. From the moment I first saw him, I knew I was finally safe, finally home. No one would ever hurt me again.

I wrapped my arms around his neck and kissed him. “I love you too, Deacon.” I smiled at the happiness in his eyes. “Make me yours. Protect me forever.”

He growled, spun, and dropped us on the bed. Somehow he managed to keep himself from crashing into me.

“You are going to need to drink from me again, angel. And me from you. Not yet though, I’ll tell you when.” He pushed my legs apart with his knee. “This is going to hurt, quite a bit, I think.”

He looked down, my eyes following. Holy cheese and crackers. That thing was massive compared to my ex’s.

“Don’t worry, angel. The pain won’t last long.”

It didn’t. I screamed like a freaking banshee, but it soon faded leaving room for much better feelings. When I was building up to scream in a different way, Deacon bit into his wrist and placed it on my lips. His blood was even better when I was awake. He tasted like caramel and honey.

I wondered if it was because of his skin tone. He was a bit caramelly on the outside.

Instead of screaming when he slowly sank his fangs into my neck, I bit down harder on his wrist. We both drank each other in, while we reached those pivotal moments. After a minute, before my body had even begun to settle down, I felt this woosh of air run through me. It was like someone had suddenly rolled down the window to my veins, while the car was going over a hundred on the freeway. My whole body shook, Deacon’s was shaking nearly as bad.

On some level, I registered how good it felt, all other levels were freaking me the hell out.

We released each other and he wrapped his arms around me, rolling us to our sides. We were hit with wave after wave. The wave built us up without us doing anything, and once again I felt this fiery heat shooting through me from below. From him. He was enjoying the ride just as much as I was.

It was hot, very hot. Like stepping into the hot tub after swimming in the cold pool water, kind of hot. The kind of burn that felt so good, too. My body rocked against his, needing more of it.

He didn’t ask why, he just reacted, moving us to my back again. It felt like hours before I felt sated. I collapsed on his chest, laying down on top of him, with exhaustion. I didn’t even fully comprehend when, or how, we ended up in this position. It just happened.

“That. was. Awesome.”

He laughed and rolled us to the side again, holding me close. “That it was, angel. I almost want to do it again, but not until after we sleep for a few hours.”

“I’m good with that.”

I was nearly there when he spoke again.

“Angel, what were you going to tell me earlier? What have you been hiding?”

I frowned. Really? Now? Ugh. I just wanted to get it over with and go to sleep. I yawned again.

“According to my mother, both she and my father were descendants of the coven that cursed your people. I’m sorry.”

Deacon scoffed. “Don’t be, it’s not like you had anything to do with it. It was a thousand years ago. Neither of us were alive back then.”

“That’s true.” It came out in more of a yawn. “Can we sleep now?”

He kissed my head, his lips turning up, oddly amused at my desire to sleep. “One more thing. Does your family still use magic?”

I shrugged. “Some, I guess. It changes with each person, with each generation. I’m not nearly as strong as my parents were. My mother was clairvoyant and had great control over it. My father could read minds when he wanted. Which helped him as a detective. I don’t really know any other witches outside of my family.”

“And you?”

I looked up at him, feeling a bit shy. “I can tell when people are lying, hiding things, and what kind of character they have. A few months ago, I started being able to feel intent. I always knew there was something you were hiding, but I also knew you weren’t hiding it to deceive me. I felt how strongly you wanted to protect me.” I giggled. “I can tell you a lot of things about this bar and your customers.”

“Oh, yeah? Like what?”

“Hmmm, let’s see.” I tapped my chin playfully. “Ethan, one of the donors, has a crush on Chad, the vamp who always picks him. The feeling is mutual too. I’m waiting for the day Chad offers to keep him. Ethan is taking care of his siblings now, and Chad would be really good to all of them. The teenagers are cooking up something. Some type of plan, but it has good intentions, so I don’t want to stop them. The two new guys, yeah, they have been best friends for years but were too ashamed to say anything to their families about their real feelings. Both their families are devout in their religions. They agreed to come so they could be together somewhere where they didn’t have to feel guilty. I could go on, really.” I shrugged. I only knew so many details because I was able to talk to them and piece what I felt together with that. For some reason, my powers had seen a major power boost over the last few weeks.

All this talking was waking me up more.

Deacon must have been thinking along the same lines, he kissed me softly, his hands taking possession of me again. He waited until I was in a very vulnerable spot to ask, very slowly, “what about Colton? What do you feel from him? Regarding you.”

Nope, not going there. I didn’t want him to be mad at his friend for something he was working to control.

Deacon stopped moving at the worst time. I whimpered and moved to get him back. Stubborn pain in my butt.

His chuckle was deep, evil-like. “Not until you tell me, angel.”

“You’ll get mad.”

“Try me.” He already knew the answer. I could feel it. But for some reason, he wanted me to own it.

“Fine.” I laid back into the bed with a huff. “He likes me, he has since we first officially met. He had ulterior motives when he came up with his plan. He wasn’t sure you would let him come near me. He knows he can’t have more, but he is happy with what he can have. As you said, Colton would never hurt me nor betray you. He is loyal to you.”

Deacon rewarded me handsomely, many times, until we both passed out from exhaustion. When I came to, the sun was up further in the sky than normal. Deacon was lying next to me, his head propped up on his hand. His other hand was circling me, the blanket pushed down to my waist

“Good morning, angel. How did you sleep?”

I blushed and tried to hide my face. I was embarrassed by the strength of my need for him last night. I still felt it, but it wasn’t as overpowering. I felt something else, too. A fuzzy, happy feeling in my chest. I rubbed it.

“Deacon, I feel something right here. It feels good, like love, and happiness.”

His fingers spread out, allowing him to take all of me in. “Yes, it is the bond. Something I wasn’t expecting. By bonding with me, we have blended our scents to the point of mixing your siren blood, which I am thinking is the pure witch’s blood running through you, with mine. You will also now live as long as I do. Our souls have been sealed together. But this feeling is something I did not foresee, and I should have. It is the very reason we came so far, so quickly, at least by human standards. You are my one true mate, the one fate designed just for me. You are the other half of my soul. You always have been. We can feel each other, our emotions. If you are hurt, I will know. If you are scared, I will know. If you are… I will know.” His voice deepened at the end, responding to the feelings I was having at the moment.

It helped speed things along. I got what I needed two more times before he helped me stand and pulled his shirt from the night before over my head. He only put on his boxers.

Deacon, my fated mate of all things, made me French toast, while I sat on the counter. We talked more openly now. He could use more details about stories and places he had been. He carried me to a chair at the table, before bringing me my food.

“Deacon, how old are you?” He had just told me a story about the civil war, I had to know after that.

“I turned 446 years old this past summer.”

My jaw? On the floor.

“Holy crap balls you are old.” I giggled. “Look at you, robbing the cradle.”

He shook his head at me. “Colton is more than twice that.”

“No way.”

He nodded, a glint of amusement in his eyes. “Yes, you were dancing between two really old men last night, angel. One of them to the point that he ran down your leg.” He popped my nose with his finger. “And you liked it.”

“No, I didn’t.” I answered quickly, with a scoff, shoving a bite in my mouth. Deacon found my denial to be the funniest of all.

“Angel, I’m a vampire, we can smell arousal. And I am especially sensitive to yours. And while I may not have your gift for knowing when someone is lying, I can feel your shyness, guilt, and a little bit of shame, right here.” He tapped his heart with one finger.

At this point, I was pretty sure my blush was going to be permanent.

Deacon pushed his plate away and knelt down in front of me. “Angel, I’m not upset. I’m quite happy that you like him and that he likes you. It makes me hope that one day, we can do more than just dance together. I want to show you the wonders extra body parts can do.” Deacon’s face fell. “I will only ever consider it with Colton, though.”

I couldn’t even form a word. Was he suggesting what I think he was suggesting? Thankfully, he let the matter drop. Although the next matter made me want to go back to it.

“I need to get going. I had planned on leaving earlier than this, but someone kept me in bed this morning.” I was tempted to stick my tongue out at him, he was only trying to lighten the moment after all. It wasn’t working though, so he moved on. “I will get back as soon as I can. I just need an idea of what the roads are like.”

He moved to stand and step away but I grabbed his hand. “Don’t leave me.”

He dropped down again, fast enough to make me jump. “I’m not leaving you, angel. I will be back in a few hours. Colton will be here with you. You said it yourself last night, he will protect you. And with my mark on you now,” his finger grazed over a sore spot on my neck, “nobody would be stupid enough to come near you.”

I pouted as he pulled me into the bedroom with him and I watched him get dressed, on the verge of tears.

Before he left, he hugged me tight. “So much sadness I feel in you, angel. I will be back soon. You are safe.” His voice sounded like he was the one in pain.

Deacon didn’t turn to the door, open it, raise his voice, or anything, all he said was a calm “Colton?” And a moment later, Colton was standing in the doorway.

He looked at my neck and smiled. “I had a feeling this was the case. I ended up sleeping in the cellar last night.”

I grimaced, they both laughed.

“Take care of my angel, for me?”

“It will be my pleasure.” Colton winked at me, making me wonder just how much he had heard of our conversations. “Just don’t turn me into a frog, and we’ll be cool.”

I groaned and tried to hide in Deacon’s chest. He just laughed, kissed me one more time and disappeared into thin air. Not even a minute had gone by before I heard his truck start… before the backdoor to the bar had closed all the way.