Chapter 16 - Lorelei

Everything felt deliciously blank, a balm after weeks of anxiety and one stressor after another. All I knew was that Mark was fucking me senseless, and it felt incredible.

As he glided in and out of me, he leaned forward. He took one nipple in his mouth, tugging gently with his teeth in a way that made my toes curl and the fire burning below my stomach grow. His hands ran down my bare stomach, sending shivers of ecstasy trailing after his fingers as they slipped lower and lower. Every touch, every caress seemed perfectly tailored to make me need him more. Despite all the times I had denied it, both to myself and to him, I had wanted this ever since that first time. I’d needed it. Needed him.

His thumb pressed against my clit, his eyes sparking with amusement as I writhed beneath his touch. It was as though he knew exactly what I wanted without me having to say anything.

Even as he did this, he didn’t miss a single thrust. His speed intensified with every plunge, making me go mindless as I focused only on that sensation, each pump sending new electricity coursing through me, so intense it was nearly unbearable.

My back arched as the pleasure built between my thighs. I could tell I wouldn’t last much longer. I tried to hold onto the sensation, wanting that ecstasy and need to last for as long as possible, relishing the feeling as it continued to swell, as he continued to pleasure me in a way I hadn’t thought possible.

Just as I tried to hold onto the feeling, one hard thrust sent me over the edge. I cried out, fingers clinging to the sheets as my hips bucked and spasms of ecstasy washed over me. Mark’s lips slammed against mine, smothering my scream as he continued to pump in and out of me.

Moments later, his cock spasmed inside me. He moaned in satisfaction against my lips as he slowed, his semen filling me. When he finally stopped, he didn’t slip out of me. Instead, he propped himself up on his arms, his cock still twitching inside me as we caught our breaths.

Eventually, though, he slid out, leaving me feeling almost empty. But he didn’t move from on top of me.

“You all right?” he asked.

I nodded, not able to say anything else.

Hovering over me, his thumb stroked my cheek. The affection on his face was so obvious that it took me by surprise. Finally, he sighed.

“I’m sorry,” he said. “I really shouldn’t have dragged you away like that. I should have respected your wishes. Probably should have been doing that the whole time.”

My mouth opened, despite myself. I hadn’t believed it, but maybe he really was changing. I wouldn’t have expected the Mark from a couple of months ago to say anything like that.

“Thanks,” I said. “And I’m sorry I didn’t tell you. I should have. I just didn’t know how to broach the subject.”

“I understand,” he said. He finally moved off me, flopping beside me on the couch before turning to look at me again. His jaw worked as though he didn’t want to say whatever was on his mind, but then he said, “You want to keep working with Declan, don’t you?” It wasn’t a question.

I hesitated, then nodded. “I’ve always wanted to help, but after meeting the people here, I want to even more. I like the people here. If I can do something to keep them safe, I want to do it.”

He snorted but gave me an affectionate, knowing look. “I know that feeling.”

I tilted my head, giving a quirk of my lips. “The difference is, I don’t want to kidnap them.”

“No, but you want to put yourself in danger still,” he countered. Then he shook his head. “Still, if you really want to do this, I won’t stop you.”

I sat up, unable to conceal my surprise. “Really?”

He made a face. “I’m not going to lie and say I’m thrilled about it,” he admitted. “But I get the feeling the only way I’m going to get you to stop is if I lock you up again.” He gave a half-smirk. “And we both know how well that worked last time.”

I tried to keep my expression neutral, but I knew I wasn’t doing the best job. Affection and surprise bubbled up inside me. For the first time since he’d come back into my life, I actually believed there was a chance Mark had changed from the kid I’d known growing up.

I leaned forward, letting my lips brush against his. “Thank you,” I said.

***

I bent over the spell book, running my fingers along the page, mouthing the words and trying to quell the budding frustration. I’d never had the temperament for studying spells and reading magic books, and this one was particularly dense. It took me hours to try teaching myself the spells in books at my cottage, and I could barely get anything out of them. It was like trying to learn to read as an adult.

A dull throbbing started at my temple as I forced myself to slog through the text until I realized I hadn’t retained any of it. I groaned, my eyes beginning to ache from strain.

It didn’t help that Declan continued watching me, arms folded as he leaned against the wall. He’d been nice enough not to push me, but I couldn’t help but feel him staring at me, expecting a breakthrough at any minute.

Yet again, I felt that frustration at never getting the proper training. Since I had started working with Declan, I’d gotten into the habit of practicing spells, both for my own education and because I figured it would help once we figured out how to open The Trove. But it had been slow-going so far.

“This is pointless,” I muttered, taking a step back and rubbing my eyes.

“Keep trying,” Declan urged. I knew he was trying to be encouraging, but something about the statement rubbed me the wrong way.

“That’s what I’ve been trying to do,” I grumbled, running my fingers through my hair. “But I’m not good, and I’m even worse without a wand.”

“You’ve gotten better,” Declan said.

I snorted, shaking my head. “You wouldn’t say that if you had a real witch.”

“You are a real witch,” he insisted.

I made a dismissive motion with my hand. “Agree to disagree, but there’s something that’s been bothering me. What is it about whatever spell is on The Trove that makes it so my family—my bloodline—is the only one who can open it? It doesn’t make sense.” My brow furrowed as I bent back over the book, flipping the page. “You would think that by now, some other witch would have found and opened The Trove, regardless of how much of a family secret it is. Which makes me wonder if looking through these books is useless. Maybe it’s something only my family…”

I froze, trailing off mid-sentence as a symbol in the book caught my eye. Something about it screamed familiarity. It was a circle with several interlocking triangles in the middle and inscriptions around the edge.

“I’ve seen this before,” I murmured.

Declan straightened, noting something in my voice that caused him to perk up. “What? Where?”

“I don’t…” My mouth fell open in surprise. I squeezed my eyes shut, trying to call up an old memory of a family hike through the woods. I remembered coming to an old clearing with a large rock situated perfectly in the middle of it. My parents had slowed, checking something as they chatted to themselves. Bored, I had gone over to the rock and started clambering up. I remembered tracing the intricate grooves I had noticed with my fingers, humming to myself.

A minute later, my father called me over to him. I scrambled off the rock and hurried over.

“You need to be careful around that rock,” my father told me.

“It’s just a rock,” I argued.

He shook his head. “It’s a very important rock,” he said. “I’ll explain when you’re older. But for now, best to leave it alone until you fully understand it. Come on. I’ll show you where you can find some blood root.”

Then he had taken me by the hand and led me away from the clearing.

The memory faded, returning me back to the house and the problem at hand. I could feel Declan staring intently at me, waiting for me to say something.

“That’s where it is,” I said, my breath catching in my throat. I could have kicked myself. How many times had I hiked by that stone over the years? After that conversation with my father, I had gotten into the habit of steering clear of the rock, eventually letting the memory fade entirely.

Well, almost entirely.

“You remember where it is?” Declan asked, every inch of him now alert.

I didn’t answer him immediately. Instead, I studied the symbol, making sure it was the one I remembered on the stone. It was, right down to the positioning of the engravings around the border.

My eyes sped across the page as I read the notations beneath it. The more I read, the more everything made sense.

“It’s blood magic,” I said.

“What did you find out?” I had completely forgotten about Declan until he asked that question.

I turned to look at him, unable to hide the grin growing wider across my face. “I figured it out,” I said. “I know where it is, and I know how to open it now.”

Declan watched me with an intense interest, eyes glinting with satisfaction and triumph. “How certain are you?” he demanded.

“Pretty,” I answered, tapping the page I’d been reading. “This symbol, I’ve seen it before when I was a kid. I didn’t know what it was at the time. This book says it’s related to blood magic. I think the bit about my bloodline being the only one able to open it was even more literal than we thought. The knowledge wasn’t just passed down through my family—it is my family. I have to use blood magic.”

Declan pushed past me to study the page. “You’re certain it was this symbol?” When I nodded, he asked, “How does blood magic work exactly?”

“Honestly, pretty simple,” I said. “You create a sigil like this one; there are a few. To seal the magic, you have to use some of your blood. To activate the magic later, you use some of your blood and an incantation.” I glanced back down at the page. “This one right here is apparently supposed to go down through a family. As long as you’re part of the family and know the incantation written here, you can activate the sigil.”

“How much blood?”

“When I studied it when I was a kid, most blood magic didn’t take that much.”

“And you think you know where it might be?”

I bit my lip. “I think so. Up near where I grew up.”

“So you think you can get us there?”

I bobbed my head. “Absolutely. We could go right now. I might not be the best witch, but I know how to create a portal. We can end this in thirty minutes.”

Declan held up his hand. “I’m thrilled we figured all this out. Don’t get me wrong. But I don’t know anything about blood magic.” He raised his eyebrows. “Is it going to hurt the baby?”

I shook my head, though the fact that he had even asked took me by surprise. He’d always seemed like a gruff, “at-all-costs” type of guy. Maybe I’d misjudged him.

He nodded. “I wanted to make that clear, because I know I’ve been pushing for you to do this. I think it’s the right thing, but if you’re not comfortable, I’m not going to force you to do any of it.”

“I know,” I said, and I meant it. “Trust me, I don’t feel strong-armed. If anything, I’m relieved. I feel like I’m being useful for the first time in ages. And I’m relieved we have a plan. It means I won’t have to look over my shoulder the entire time I’m pregnant.”

But that bubble of joy and enthusiasm burst when the door slammed open. One of the Gold Wolves, his blond hair coming almost to his shoulders, ran in with a stricken expression on his face. Right behind him came Mark, wearing an identical expression.

The lazy smirk on Declan’s face vanished at the sight. He straightened, his eyes locked on the blonde newcomer. “Will? What’s wrong? What happened?”

Will’s chest heaved up and down. “The witches,” he said. “Inara’s at the front door. She’s demanding an audience.”