Scion's Avalon [House of Dracul 2] (Siren Publishing Classic) Read online

  The fireplace in their room burned bright. David did not bother turning on the overhead lights. The last remaining moonlight filtered in through the window. Everything in the room glowed warm gold on one side and cool silver on the other. Shadows danced in the hidden spaces between the two different light sources.

  David locked the door and turned on the CD player. Soft instrumental music plucked quietly in the background. He gently turned back the velvet spread, exposing the crisp, white, Egyptian cotton sheets underneath.

  Cassy stood rooted in place. The stresses of the night had not taken the edge off David’s desire. He looked at her with the same heat as he had earlier. She watched him strip his shirt off over his head and took in a sharp breath.

  His black hair contrasted with his pale skin, making his features more exaggerated. The muscles of his tight abs and well-defined chest rippled and rolled as he moved toward her. Silver-gray eyes had replaced the once dark-brown ones Cassy had fallen in love with over three years ago. The color change had not lessened the amount of passion she saw when he looked at her like he did now. There seemed to be no one else in the world but the two of them.

  Standing in front of her, he leaned in to softly brush his lips across hers, almost asking for permission. She brought him closer, giving him her consent. Kissing him pushed the rest of the night’s tensions out of her mind completely. She relaxed into him, slipping her arms around his waist.

  She loved the feel of his skin under her hands and remembered what it was like to have his body when it was warmer and human. His heat had covered her like a blanket. The difference was now gone, but the treasured memory lingered.

  Cassy enjoyed feeling his hands work quickly down the front of her shirt, unbuttoning it and rubbing across her shoulders to push it down her arms. She let go of him long enough to hear the rustle of the fabric as it pooled on the floor behind her. His deft hands made short work of her bra clasp. It, too, disappeared. Her bare breasts pressed against his chest.

  She felt his cock stiffening through the remaining fabric they wore. Her nipples hardened into tight, rosy pebbles. The scent of desire perfumed the air. Deep within her, a warm spark began to grow until the very core of her being felt like a raging inferno. A slippery wetness pooled along the lips of her pussy. Her fangs slowly extended with a near-silent snick.

  He moved his lips from her mouth and made his way down the side of her neck. Licking and teasing her thrumming pulse, he undid her pants and pushed them past her hips. He caressed the curve of her ass and hummed his pleasure against her skin.

  “I love that you still don’t wear panties,” he whispered into her neck.

  “I still hate ‘em,” she said, repeating her mantra where underwear was concerned.

  Cassy felt his fangs drop as the lusts mingled for him, as well. She gave a satisfied sigh and reached between them to unbuckle his belt and took his pants down enough to gain access his cock. Hard and ready in her hand, she gave it a light squeeze, applying pressure to his sensitive member. Stroking it up and down with a careful motion, she felt their shared heartbeat quicken. Lub-dub. Lub-dub. Sticky pre-cum dripped from the tip. She used it to lube her hand. She increased the pressure and enjoyed his reaction to the hand job.

  He sucked in a sharp breath and closed his eyes. He leaned his head down to touch hers. As if frozen, he held very still.

  She kept the pressure steady and the strokes rhythmic. Only when he gave a panted groan did she increase the intensity. She felt the telltale signs beneath her hands of his impending orgasm.

  “Not yet. Please, not yet,” he begged in a whisper.

  David pulled one leg up to his hip, causing her to let go of his cock to balance herself. He drew in a deep breath and lifted her other leg off the floor.

  Her dewy pussy rubbed along his dick. She wrapped both legs around him, locking her ankles behind him. It occurred to her only then that her pants were no longer just pushed down but missing. She glanced down to find them in tatters on the floor and laughed.

  David carried her the few feet to the bed and lowered her back onto the cool sheets. He nibbled his way down her body until he took one of her nipples into his mouth, sucking it enough to nick her breast with his fangs. The brief stinging pain intensified the pleasure. She felt his tongue dart over the pinpricks, lapping at her blood. He gave a satisfied groan around her breast.

  Cassy raised her arms above her head and tangled her fingers in her long, chocolate-brown curls, surrendering her body to him completely. When her skin healed, David teased each of her nipples in turn with the tip of his tongue. Her insides clenched tighter with each flick. Desire to have him nibbling and sucking lower began to build. She wanted him between her thighs.

  A faint silver glow spread along their bodies and grew steadily brighter with each passing moment. She was his and only his. The magic undulated along their skin in pulsating swirls. When he left her breasts and nuzzled her sensitive, plump clit, the silver flashed to gold. They gasped simultaneously with the change.

  He sucked and played with her clit. She responded by opening her legs wide and sighed in relief at having a need sated. Anything and everything he wanted was his for the asking, for the taking. He was her lover, her bonded mate. A flood of nectar filled her pussy with the affirmation. Heat from the magic rushed across her skin like molten metal.

  “Oh, my sticky, sweet wife,” he crooned as he lapped up the fluid from her dripping slit. His hands caressed her flat belly and slid down to hold her hips.

  She gripped the sheets as small ripples waved their way through her body with each darting movement of his smooth, moist tongue. Her clit swelled to the point she thought it would explode with the pleasure of it. The magic gave her glimpses of his enjoyment of tasting her. Every lapped drop left a slightly salty-sweet tang in her mouth. The sensation turned her swollen clit into a throbbing hard pearl.

  Teasing her to the brink of orgasm, David stopped short of finishing her. Cassy whimpered with need. She knew he was not done, but the momentary frustration was almost painful.

  “Please, please! Give me more,” she begged.

  “Oh, don’t you worry, sweetheart. I’m not finished with you yet,” he reassured her.

  He lifted her up slightly and dragged her to the edge of the bed. His hands slid from her waist down her legs to her knees, coaxing them back apart as wide as she could spread them. In a slow and steady movement, he submerged his cock into her waiting slit.

  She loved the feel of his ridged shaft against the pliable, slipperiness of her pussy. The thick rod stretched her open the entire length of her tunnel. The way the ridge of his cockhead rubbed against the inside of her body as he pulled out excited her more. He angled his body to press his weight into her clit as he did this by bracing himself on the bed. She loved this, too. Now she enjoyed him and watched his face at the same time.

  He paused with only the tip of his dick still inside her. For the space of a heartbeat, he waited and pushed his way back in, bottoming out once more. He repeated it twice, making her whimper beneath him before filling her with his cock.

  The slow, long strokes turned to driving thrusts. Over and over, he worked his dick in and out of her body. A determined look stayed on his face. She knew he was trying to hold out for her to come first.

  She stroked her breasts and nipples. The stiff peaks tingled with delight. Her pussy quivered around his thick shaft, and her insides tightened. The swirling, golden energy caressed her skin like thousands of tiny kisses. Plunge after plunge, he drove his cock deep into her body, building the anticipation of release higher and higher. At last the final height had been reached. The anticipation toppled over into an orgasm. The quivering of her cunt gripped his throbbing cock. More sticky juices flowed down the length of his shaft. She cried out in a wordless scream as the sensation exploded throughout the rest of her body.

  Time seemed to stand still for her. The nerves in her body seemed to fire all at once. Her pussy rippled with pleasure.
It felt like warm waves of ecstasy crashing into her from every side. She became lost in a sea of joy.

  Cassy opened her eyes in time to watch David’s face. He was not going to be able to hold back any longer. She loved this part just as much as her own orgasm.

  “I love you. I love having you inside me,” she whispered to him. She watched as he let go of his self-control. He gritted his teeth and clenched his jaw. The strokes became shorter. His dick began to spasm. Thick ropes of creamy cum filled her pussy, coating her insides with hot, sticky goodness. He let a growl escape as he pressed himself as deeply into her body as he could get. Little aftershocks passed between them.

  He lowered himself on top of her, pressing his weight along the length of her body. “I love you, too,” he said.

  Finally, he slipped from her body and flopped onto the bed beside her, panting. “I’ve wanted to do that to you all night,” he said.

  She curled herself around him. “Well, now you have, and I’m glad you did,” she said. “Let’s not bother with the shower. I can feel the sun getting close to the horizon. You get the curtains, and I’ll get the bed back in order.”

  David nodded and went to do his assigned task. Cassy propped up on one elbow, distracted by his beautiful, naked body bathed in the predawn light. The way he moved with such grace fascinated her. She watched him reach up and pull the foil-lined shades down. He spread his arms wide and pulled the heavy, room-darkening curtains closed.

  When he turned around, he gave her a coy smile that showed his fangs. “Mrs. Ashe, I do believe you were watching me instead of getting ready for bed,” he teased.

  “Can I help it if you are so distracting?” Cassy played along. She pushed herself to her hands and knees and crawled up to her pillow. Flopping down, she patted his side of the bed in invitation. The cool, smooth sheets felt good against her body. She still felt a little tingly from the sex. Seated deep in her body between her hips, a place the size of a large marble still radiated warmth and did not so much tingle as vibrated at a very low level. It was different, but Cassy enjoyed it. The lingering feeling made her feel more fulfilled.

  “Now how can I resist an invitation such as that?” David crouched and sprang forward from his position by the window. Cassy gave a squealing giggle as he landed in the bed next to her. He kissed her gently on the lips. “I love you, Cassy.”

  “I love you, too, but the sun is rising.” She yawned. She reached down and pulled the covers up over them. The magic on their skin had cooled to a silver film where they touched. Snuggling into his waiting arms, she gave a deep, contented sigh and began drifting off to sleep.

  When she woke, something seemed wrong. There was no fire in the hearth. The curtains were still closed. These things were supposed to happen automatically at sunset. The room had been charmed. She asked David to close the curtains early, but this did not explain why they did not open on their own. Instead, the room remained dark.

  Cassy heard the distinctive clink of crystal on crystal. A thick liquid poured from one container to another. The coppery scent of blood perfumed the air. She went on alert. Someone was in their room. Her fangs extended quickly, and her body tensed for action.

  The outline of a figure sat in one of the chairs near the foot of the bed. It lifted a glass in a toast and sipped. She knew they were being watched.

  The sounds must have woken David. He leapt from the bed, placing himself between Cassy and the shadowy figure. He took a protective stance and growled low in his chest. His brilliantly white fangs gleamed in the room’s darkness as he snarled at the intruder.

  A familiar chuckle came from the chair. The figure sat the crystal glass back onto the serving tray, seemingly disinterested in David’s threatening growl and defensive stance. It stood, tugged its clothes back into place, and smiled. Another set of fangs gleamed in the dark.

  “Very good, David, but had I vanted to kill you, I could have done so vhen I entered the room undetected,” the man said with a thick, Romanian accent.

  Cassy’s gasped and yanked the sheets up to cover her nakedness. If she had taken blood yet, her face would have burned bright red. She was so embarrassed. Her father had been watching her sleep in David’s arms.

  Chapter 5

  David relaxed his posture and picked up his pants from the previous night. He seemed to casually slip them back on but did not bother with a shirt. Sitting back on the bed and leaning against the headboard, he tucked Cassy under one arm. She felt mortified, even if David chose to brush off his modesty.

  “Father, what are you doing here?” Cassy managed to croak. The words wanted to stick in her throat.

  “I understand you have been made aware of Elisabeta’s disappearance. I also know money was transferred into and out of the accounts I set up for you, and I believe you to be ignorant of these strange activities,” Vlad answered. “You have been used.”

  “Sir, wouldn’t this conversation be better after Cassy has had a few private moments to start her evening?” David’s tone was unhappy but respectful and suggested the prince leave. It did not pay to give demands to the High Prince of the House of Dracul.

  Vlad Tepelus IV ruled over all vampires and had done so since his brother, Minhea, was assassinated in 1510. Being the son of Vlad the Impaler left its mark on the High Prince. Ruthlessness rested under the polished exterior.

  However, Vlad loved her enough to let her go and released her from her birthright as his Scion. After all, he had Max to follow him. Allowing Cassy to live in exile with David had been a tender gift, one she relished every night of their lives.

  “You are right, of course. I will wait for you in the library, as that is the good Ladies’ preferred place to conduct business and interviews. Cassandra, please do not dillydally. There is much to discuss.”

  He rose from his seat and started toward the door next to the bed that led into the hallway. When he was beside them, he looked down at David. Cassy knew her father’s cold stare without having to see it.

  She watched David’s face instead. He returned the unemotional glare without speaking. His only response was to pull Cassy more tightly to his body.

  She clung to David with equal determination.

  “Well played, young man. You may make a proper guardian for her after all,” Vlad said after a few seconds and left with a chuckle.

  David leaned over and locked the door behind the High Prince. He turned to Cassy and shook his head. “You have one weird family. What about that couldn’t have waited until we were up for the night?” As he spoke, the fire burst to life. The curtains drew back, and the foil-lined shades lifted, just as they should have.

  “He was testing you,” Cassy admitted. “He wanted to gauge your reaction. I think he is trying to find a reason to like you.”

  Cassy scurried out of bed, grabbing her robe and tying it on quickly. She hastily selected clothes from her closet and dressed. With her father waiting, she skipped the long soak she had looked forward to all week.

  “And being family isn’t enough?” David asked. He was changing into clean, unwrinkled pants. A clean black long-sleeve T-shirt was laid out on the bed.

  “No, it’s not. Remember, most born vampires still live under the old system. Marriages are arranged for advantage, not love. Made vampires don’t live that way because there is no bloodline to consider, and they’re considered second-class. You are the exception. Your elf heritage gave you all the benefits of being born, but it doesn’t give you equal status in my father’s eyes. He must want something from us, or he wouldn’t have come,” Cassy explained.

  “Are we obligated to do whatever he says? We are in exile, after all. What could he possibly want with us? He has legions of servants,” David complained.

  “There’s only way to find out and that’s to let him have his say.” She stood in front of the heavy-framed full-length dressing mirror. Her favorite pair of jeans was topped with a long-sleeve button-down in pale lavender. She raked a brush through her long, chocolate cu
rls and pulled the mass into a ponytail high on her head. The dim light made some of her features blend into the rest of her very pale skin. Silver-gray eyes rimmed with dark lashes stared back. A little makeup would have helped with the cosmetic problems, but she had no plans to bother with any today.

  David cleared his throat behind her. “Your footwear, M’lady.” He dangled a pair of sneakers by their laces.

  She noticed he had dressed in a similar uniform of jeans and a monotone gray flannel button-down. He wore his favorite running shoes. She knew he covered up a certain amount of unease and guessed the sensible shoes were his way of planning ahead hidden behind a joke.

  “Why thank you, M’lord. Let’s hope these aren’t going to come in handy,” she said, taking them. Once the final lace was tied, she offered him her hand. “Together?”

  “Always, Princess,” he replied.

  Hand in hand, they made their way down the stairs and the long gallery to the library. She could have slayed dragons with him by her side, as he was now. As long as he stood by her side, all was right in the world. The leftover warm vibration between her hips hummed with her thoughts. The bond gave a faint gold glow that radiated from their joined hands.

  Cassy did not pause at the library entrance, waiting to be acknowledged. She and David walked in like equals and took their usual seats on satin pillows at Lady Helena’s feet. Cassy had opted to follow the elder Crone’s example and waited for her father to speak first.

  “First, I have something to offer the good Ladies for the offense one of my servants committed. Please accept my most humble apologies,” the High Prince offered. He bowed slightly to Lady Helena and held out a teal cubelike box with a stiff, white ribbon tied around it.

  Cassy thought the box looked like something from Tiffany’s. It was not possible, however. Tiffany’s had been a victim of The Falls. Most of the luxury companies fell prey to the devastating collapse that imploded the global economy. All that remained of the once-prestigious company were bits and pieces of heirlooms people hid away during the worst of the looting. She found it highly unlikely her father would give away something as valuable as a Tiffany item for the offense of a minor servant.