6. Ivy

I'm losing my mind over the fact that he won't break his word when I need him so badly. He doesn't know this, but I made sure to give myself a blow out and style my long, wavy hair. I shaved everywhere and even wear a bit of makeup. And there's cute lingerie in my suitcase, just in case I get even more lucky.

And maybe that recent bottle of wine didn't help matters.

This Korn is a male of his word. I should help him maintain this vow. Really, I should.

But somehow, I can't.

Especially when the whole thing isn't remotely fair.

"I vowed I would not make you mine," he repeats for the tenth time.

He wants to trek through the mountains and forest during a rainstorm to make sure he doesn't touch me inappropriately and break his vow? This man is amazing. But he's now got me pressed against the wall and I can feel an erection I'm concerned is a little too big. But on the other hand, all I want is to pull down his pants and start stroking him. No way is this guy leaving. I will cry real tears. "I admire the strength of your convictions. It lets me know that any vow you take with me will also mean a lot to you. Your word is your vow. I love it. But the truth is that you took a vow that was incorrect, under bad conditions. I think that makes it invalid."

"A vow is a vow. Only the being I made the vow with can break the vow and I am unable to communicate with that being."

"The solution isn't to leave."

His fingertips trail down the side of my neck, almost touching my breasts. A shiver of desire runs down my entire body. "Justice."

"If I stay, I won't be able to resist what you're offering. I will take you."

"And if you go, I will follow you."

His dark eyes clash with my troubled gaze. The muscle in his jaw twitches.

My fingers drop to the band of his pajama pants. "Don't go," I whisper.

And suddenly I feel antsy, wanting my dad to give us his blessing right this second. I automatically pull out my phone. "How about we call my dad and tell him what's happening and get him to let you out of your vow?"

Justice crooks an eyebrow.

"No… dammit the cell phone still isn't working. Oh hell, you're right. We are stuck."

"I will not touch you without first being let out of my vow by your father. I am Korn and we do not break a legal blood vow."

"Can you at least kiss me?"

He thinks for a moment. "This is acceptable. But I cannot go any further. I cannot give you my seed or my fangs. I must not ingest your blood."

I twirl a strand of hair. "Because doing those things would make me your wife?"

"Because doing those things would indeed make you my mate for life."

I put the phone that still isn't working back in my pocket. My hands slide up his perfect, muscular, hairy chest and my arms go around his neck.

He bends his head and takes my lips.

It's the best kiss of my life. The fangs. The beard. It's heady and I might swoon just from being in his arms.

His kiss deepens and his tongue sweeps into my mouth. I kiss him back with all the passion I've felt for him these last six months. I've dreamt of this moment and masturbated late at night to this image too many times to count.

He breaks off our embrace. "You taste of alcohol," he chuckles.

I lick my kiss-swollen lips. "Well, I think I finished the bottle."

"I've never seen you drunk before."

"Well, I'm a little stressed. Probably that third glass wasn't necessary."

"Even if your father were to let me out of my vows I can't take advantage of a drunken female. I need to know that you have given me your full consent."

"I give my consent," I slur. "I want everything with you."

He rolls his eyes. "The solution is for me to place you on the bed and let you sleep. When you awaken, I might have a female with all her capacities."

Suddenly I'm in his arms and he's placing me on the bed. I had no idea I was this tired, but I really am. I don't struggle, move around, or start another conversation. I simply sink into the bed and rest my head on the pillow as he pulls a blanket over me.

And then my eyes flutter closed and I pass out.

My cell phonerings and rings. I sit up and reach for the screen. My mouth tastes dry and I need water asap. "Oh my gosh I have reception," I say while also reaching for and opening a nearby water bottle. "How is this possible? I swear I had no bars prior to this."

"Answer it," a deep voice responds from next to me.

I blink and look around because our small cabin is dark. Only the glow of the glass front of the wood stove gives off any light. And the sound of rain continues outside.

"Right now? But…" I glance at the screen and frown. "Oh no…it's…"

"Who is it?"

"It"s my dad."

Justice nods his head grimly and reaches out. "Let me talk to him."

"Let's talk together. I have to give him an earful too." I tap a button on the screen and place my dad on speakerphone.

A familiar voice appears, "Ivy, are you okay?"

"Hi Dad. Yes, I'm okay."

I chug down half a water bottle while he talks. "Oh good. Ruth and I have been worried. We saw the weather forecast change for your area because of a freak flash flooding and they had to close the park temporarily. I haven"t been able to get a hold of you or Justice. Tae's been worried too."

"I'm here," Justice says. "I'm in a cabin alone with Ivy."

There's quiet on the other line.

"What did you do?" dad says with a firm voice. The voice he uses when he's mad at me. Uh oh. And yet I'm mad at him too.

"I have to tell you something."

"She wasn"t supposed to go on that trip with you."

"But she's here. And we were in an airplane together, and then in a vehicle and now we're isolated in a one room cabin due to this storm. And I've run out of blood."

"You know the rules."

"I know."

I throw my hands up in disgust. "Rules? You realize you two are talking about me as if I"m not even here. I make my own decisions."

Justice picks up the phone and holds it in his hand as he talks, "I know you said that I should not interfere with your plans for your offspring. Understand that and I've done my best to follow your wishes but I've received new information."

"Ivy is going to marry Kristopher Borges."

I snap my fingers, my lips twisted with annoyance. Justice hands me the phone so I can speak to his friend. "What are you even talking about? Dad? There"s no engagement. I'm not marrying Kris. That's never happening. He"s been playing you guys because he"s been in love with Angela for forever. I"ve been sort of helping them out and pretending, letting him say that we're engaged to his dad. Think about it, Dad. When did Kris and I ever go anywhere alone? When do we go out on dates? Have you seen us vacation together? Or anything? I mean, come on. I felt bad that I wasn"t even trying that hard to trick his dad. I think it"s just something you wanted to believe so badly you let yourself believe it."

"You're not engaged to Kristopher and he's instead marrying Angela?"

"Yes. I think they are eloping this summer. It's all planned."

"Dammit. I've always wished…"

I reach out and take Justice's hand in mine. "But the good news is that I've found someone else ever better, who you will like just as much."

My dad let's out a small snort at my maneuver. He appreciates a good Machiavellian negotiation tactic better than anyone else. I learned from him, the master. My father is well-known as one of the best lawyers in the country. He's stood in front of the Supreme Court three different times. This man is so good he was able to talk the Korn delegate into maintaining a vow to stay away from his daughter. But now the machinations are over.

"Ivy is my true mate," Justice loudly announces.

"Justice don't do this to me. You say that now, but will you still feel the same five years from now? You"re just going to traumatize Ivy and drink from her and then you"ll go back to your home planet, leave her behind and have broken my little girl"s heart."

"That"s not true. Ivy will be the mother of my offspring and my true mate. I will never leave her and will be committed to her for life."

"Dad, I want to marry Justice Bloodworth. I'm never getting together with Kris. That was never happening. He told that story, that he and I were engaged to his dad so he could marry who he wanted. I went along with it, not even realizing you knew. We'd never made any announcement. I can't believe you told that to Justice."

"Ivy, you're my daughter. I want what's best for you."

"Justice is what's best for me."

"He's going to drink your blood. What if he accidentally kills you?"

Justice lets out a deep growl. "This won't happen. Ivy is my mate. When I pierce her skin it will be pain free because of antibodies in my saliva. Afterwards I will lick her and she will be healed. I will only drink a small amount of her blood. There has never once, in all recorded history been a death caused by mates sharing blood during a frenzy. It is an act of love, not of harm."

All three of us are quiet for a moment, taking this in. "That's been your problem all along, isn't it?" I question. "You think he's going to hurt me?"

"He has fangs."

"I think the problem this whole time is that you're two guys haven't properly spoken about this to each other. This is all just one big misunderstanding, which has negatively affected my life."

"Has he already had sex with you?" my father demands. "Justice," he growls.

"I have not broken my vow," Justice Bloodworth says with a deep voice. "I took a blood vow and I've kept it. But I request that you formally relieve from this vow so that I can claim your daughter and make her my mate."

"Why would I allow that?"

He meets my gaze. "Because I love her."

I let out a sniffle. "And I love you too, Justice."

"I can't believe this is happening," Joseph King mutters under his breath. "You realize he's my best friend and he's fifteen years older than you."

"I know and I don't mind. It will all work out."

"I will treat her well and give her space and support to still reach her dreams."

"Good," my dad snorts, "because Ivy is always the smartest and most caring person in the room, wherever she goes."

And now I want to cry again because he's never told me that's how he views me. This is definitely a day of revelations.

I have one more trick up my sleeve.

"Dad, there's something else you need to know that I think will make you happy. I'll get pregnant right away because this is a Korn mating and you'll be a grandfather. You know you've always wanted grandkids to spoil."

"Is this true? I will have grandkids soon?"

"Korn mate during blood frenzy and claim mates in order to start family lines," Justice agrees.

"Grandchildren," my dad sighs with delight. "Ruth and I would both love that."

I squeeze Justice's hand.

He lifts our entwined fingers and kisses the top of my hand.

"Alright, you've got me there. I give my consent," Joseph King announces. "I formally end the blood vow between myself and Justice Bloodworth." He chuckles. "Go forth and multiply."

And then he ends the call.