Sacrifice of the Septimus: Part 1 (Afterlife saga Book 7) (3 page)

“It pains me more to leave the comfort of your warm body, trust me on this my love” he said before kissing my bare shoulder softly. He then gripped me under the arms and hoisted me up the bed into his arms where he could hold me close to him. I tried to control my breathing and he smoothed back my hair from where strands of it had stuck to my perspiring forehead. I looked up at him and damn him for looking like he had done a mild jog around the park. Whereas I knew I looked like some brutal drill Sargeant turned physical trainer had taken out his frustrations on me in the form of a cardio workout two press ups short of torture! In other words, I looked a mess and not the sexy kind that they portrayed in the movies. For starters when wearing my hair down, all that was needed for it to look like a great place for birds to live was a light breeze. So give me a wild sexathon and I was always going to end it looking like I was a victim to Victor Frankenstein pulling down on the electro switch.

“Your hair looks fine, sweetheart,” Draven said and my head snapped up, eyes no doubt wide with panic.

“I don’t need to read your thoughts to know what your over critical mind is chastising yourself for.” I frowned making him laugh before clarifying,

“Your eyes always give you away.” I huffed not really meaning it, making him laugh again. Then he slid his body further down and leant his head on one hand with his elbow to the bed. This was enough of an action to tell me he wanted to talk about things. I was silent as he looked down at me and it didn’t take long before he broke me.

“I may have overreacted,” I admitted and he raised one eyebrow no doubt mocking me.

“Really? You overreact…never.” Oh yes, he was definitely mocking me.

“Oi!” I shouted smacking him playfully on the arm, happy now we were at least making light of the situation and no longer arguing about it. But Draven and I arguing, then ending up having hot steamy sex usually went hand in hand. Not that I was complaining as we could both be quite hot headed and if this was one way of letting off that steam before actually being able to talk about it in an orderly manner then so be it…if needs must and all that, I thought giggling to myself, exhausted after my third orgasm.

“Okay so what can I say, I saw her and freaked out.” And it was the truth.

“I would have liked the chance to prepare you but her return was unexpected and therefore I was not granted the blessing of time to do so.”

“Then why did you tell Zagan you were ready for me if you weren’t?” I asked thinking this was odd, until I received his answer that was.

“Because she came to me moments before you walked through the door. I didn’t know what to do other than restrain you…and well, we both know how well that worked out don’t we?” he said sounding angrier at himself than with me.

“Ah, well that would explain that but I think it’s time to tell me who she is…I mean
really
is because I gotta tell you, the sight of her freaks me the Hell out Draven!”

“I know love,” he replied with sympathetic eyes that held just the slightest amount of guilt, a guilt he didn’t need to feel.

“First you should know that she is someone I trust in…deeply.” When I gave him a look that said it all there wasn’t much he could say to argue against the reasons behind it. Not when the amount of people who had betrayed us seemed to be mounting and time became something to dread as old enemies seemed to be worming their way out of the woodwork getting ready to strike.

“Please know that after all we have been through I do not make that statement lightly,” he added before I could speak my thoughts aloud.

“Okay, so you trust her, I get it but…
should I?”
I asked knowing this question would most likely go straight over his head as ‘the green eyed monster’ was still a fairly new concept for him. He was more of a ‘My woman!’ or ‘Touch her and die!’ kinda guy, so sitting quietly on the sidelines and having no choice but to sit through the jealousy wasn’t something he understood all too well.

Although maybe I was wrong as he had to deal with the whole Dickhead Alex thing.

“I am not following.” Nope, not wrong, I thought groaning to myself. Also the memory of him attacking Lucius at the council meeting hit me like a thunderbolt as I was still unsure half the time what was real or just a dream from the last nine months.

“You attacked Lucius!” I shouted and it was as if something else finally clicked.

“You’re jealous!” Trust him to get it now I thought bitterly.

“No I am not and don’t change the subject,” I snapped and he laughed at me saying,

“Why not, you just changed the subject to that blood sucking…”

“Eh…Draven, kettle…black,” I reminded him and when I got his confused look I stupidly thought that the next thing the conversation needed were charade style actions. So I first did the kissing a fake person action then moved on to the classic ‘I want to suck your blood’ action, pretending I then had fangs.

This accomplished two things, the first was Draven looking at me as though I had lost my mind and then Draven losing his mind by roaring with laughter, close to the point of tears. The added third thing was my neon, atomic blush that could have melted skin! ‘Why Keira…just why?’ My internal normal side said after smacking her forehead then mine.

“Have you finished yet?” I snapped at him getting even more embarrassed but secretly loving that I could make him laugh this much. Actually if I were honest I utterly loved the fact that nobody else could make Draven laugh the way I could…not that I would tell him that, as it would make my pouting face a bit pointless and I was trying to be stern.

“I’m sorry sweetheart but I don’t think the image of you trying to be a Vampire will ever leave my mind…in fact it’s been eternally scorched into my memory bank forever more. It’s one I will save for the darkest of times as it is sure to make me smile even then.”

“Ha, ha, very funny. Can we move on now?” I said turning away from him and adding crossed arms to my sulk. Although this did nothing when Draven put his arms around me and whispered in my ear,

“It was utterly adorable and I love how funny you are. And did I mention
addictive?”
He added this last part at the same time as running his fingertips across my bare breasts. I shuddered under his gentle touch and I could feel his winning smile spread across the sensitive skin on my neck.

“If you continue down that path then we will never finish this conversation,” I reminded him, closing my eyes as his fingertips grazed my hardening nipples.

“And you think that by informing me of such that I will be persuaded to stop? If that is your intention then you don’t know me as well as I would hope you would do by now,
my Wife,”
he hummed in my ear using that smooth velvet voice of his that I prayed to the Gods was only reserved for me.

“I know what you are doing…
Husband.”
  He growled against me at the way I emphasised ‘Husband’ as it obviously had an effect on him the way I intended.

“Soon we will be married not only in my world but in your mortal one also…how does that make you feel?” I knew when the question was asked that the reaction I gave him wasn’t one he would be expecting or more importantly one that he would want to hear. But after the decisions I had made only minutes before walking in here then I was left with little choice in telling him.

Especially when I sucked at keeping secrets. Of course it didn’t help that my whole body went tense and Draven’s quickly followed suit.

“What? What is it Keira?”

“Uh…well its nothing really…” This was in no way enough to pacify him and I knew this for certain when I received a stern sounding,

“Keira” 

“Now it’s nothing to freak out about…I mean it’s a good thing and she said no pink, which I am taking as a good sign for us…cause no offence but you are not a pink kinda guy…” He knew I was waffling and stalling for time when he turned me round to face him and brushed my hair back from hiding my face.

“Enough Keira. Tell me…are you…
backing out?”
  I couldn’t help my reaction. I was so shocked that he would think this that my hands flew to cover my mouth and in doing so hit him under the chin. He released an ‘Umpf’ sound and my hands soon forgot about my mouth and instead went to his chin.

“Oh bollocks! Shit, I am so sorry, I didn’t mean to do that but it’s your fault, Christ but are you crazy?”

“Keira let’s try and leave Christ out of this should we. Now answer me…do you still want to marry me?” he said taking my hands in his own to stop me from fussing over his chin.

“Of course I bloody want to marry you! Are you mad! I think even the Pope would throw down his little white hat and say yes if you asked him!” His eyes smiled when I said all this but just to be sure in case he hadn’t fully got it with the daft Pope comment, I placed both my hands on his face and said,

“Draven, listen to me. I love you. I have loved you from the first day we met and I will love you till the end of my time. So yes Dominic Draven, I want to be your wife, in your world, in my world and in whichever world is next for us…am I understood?” He placed his forehead to mine and said,

“Yes my sweet wife, I understand.”

After this he pulled me in for a kiss framing my face with his hands as I had done to him and for a moment all our problems were lost in the shadows of bliss…that was until he asked,

“So what were you trying to tell me?”

“Uh…okay so I might have agreed to Sophia planning our wedding.” I felt him relax the second I said it but what he didn’t yet realise was that this was the less of two evils in regards to our wedding.

“Ah, now I understand.” At this point I wanted to say, ‘oh no you don’t’ but another kiss stopped me.

“I know my sister can be a little…impulsive and forthright when she wants something but know it is done out of love and…”

“You already knew didn’t you?” The smirk he couldn’t seem to hide was enough of an answer.

“I confess I knew of her intentions.” I groaned making him laugh but knew that laugh would be short lived after what I was about to say.

“And for the record, I am not at all offended that you would not class me as a ‘Pink wearing man’, in fact I want to marry you even more because of it,” Draven joked, which was a shame because I was about to annihilate his good mood with my next bombshell,

“That’s good then as you won’t be invited to the Hen do a certain someone is planning.” This time Draven’s body was the one to go tense next to me and even though I think he knew the answer, he still had to ask …

“Who?”

“It’s Pip” I answered, scrunching up my face and wincing like I could smell something bad, purely because I knew what was coming… 

“Fuck!”           

Chapter 3

Snorting Saviours

Calming Draven down after explaining about the Hen do and how I didn’t really have much of a choice when agreeing to Pip planning it was not an easy thing to achieve. To be honest I was actually surprised that Draven even knew what one was, until of course he explained to me that Pip had already approached him once before. Apparently the first time Draven and I tied the supernatural knot she had mentioned something about planning one then. It was only when he had the good sense to ask his sister what this mortal custom entailed did he reply with a, ‘Not now, not ever’ type of comment.

Pip had sulked all right but not for long. And I can’t imagine which well-dressed trouble maker had reminded her that this wouldn’t be her only chance at throwing me the rude sex party of her dreams. Personally I think they had both schemed this from the start knowing it would play out this way and what was I left with…?

One pissed off Supernatural king to deal with...! As usual, I thought bitterly. 

“It’s not happening Keira and that is the end of it.” This is what he started off saying and eventually I got him down to Ragnar not leaving my side and it being held at the club. To be honest I was fine with this as it wasn’t something I was particularly looking forward to either. I knew I would have hated the idea of Draven being thrown a Stag do, which if I recalled from Frank’s wasn’t exactly just about a few guys all sat round drinking beer and watching a game. I think I remember something about poor Frank passing out after one too many slippery nipple shots and waking up to find half his body covered in temporary Disney princess tattoos.

“This isn’t funny,” Draven scorned me and I laughed again.

“You don’t even know what I was laughing about,” I replied and couldn’t help but smile at the way Draven was acting. He was pacing our room with his arms folded after nearly tearing his t shirt with the rough treatment it received when pulling it over his head. Basically he was acting like a ten year old that had been banned from TV for a week.

“Oh I can only imagine with that nezbedný Imp involved!”

“Oi! Now that is out of order! She is my friend and you have no right to call her that!” I shouted getting up and putting my hands on my hips, making a stand in a way that I hoped translated into ‘you have gone too far mister!’. Only for some reason this made him smile which had me wondering if I had gotten the ‘pissed off’ stance wrong…that or I still had chocolate round my mouth from my muffin and tea earlier.

“What do you think nezbedný means?” he asked smirking at me and I frowned in return.

“I don’t know but it sounds just awful!” I snapped making him laugh.

“Draven,”
I said his name in warning and his face softened. Then before I could take a breath he was inches away from me, thanks to supernatural super speed and was lifting my face up with a single finger under my chin.

“It means ‘Naughty’ in Czech.” I curled my lips inwards before then biting the bottom one and said,

“Ah...well, that’s alright then.” This made him chuckle down at me before he said,

“What am I to do with you my little wife?” I rolled my eyes at this new pet name, making him smile, no doubt because he loved teasing me as men often do.

“You know I think I prefer Vixen,” I grumbled and he ran his hand down the side of my face before saying,

“I bet you do…but you know
… I find myself growing hard every time I get to call you ‘my wife’.”
He whispered this last part down in my ear and I gasped in surprise. Then we both looked down to find what only he knew we would find…

“You’re hard!” I couldn’t help but shout, shocked it had been the truth. He laughed and said,

“Well would you look at that…how did that happen I wonder?” I looked back up at him and he winked at me, making me blush.

“You’re funny,” I said laughing and loving how playful he could be with me.

“It’s a rarity I know but let’s just keep it a secret as I’m not sure Kings are supposed to be funny.” I winked back at him, held my little finger up and said,

“Pinky promise, your secret is safe with me...” I bit my lip again before throwing him some sass.

“Besides, I’m not sure anyone would believe me.” Then I kissed him on the cheek and walked away, grinning when I heard him growl behind me.

“Oh that’s it Vixen, you are gonna get it this time!” he promised and I did the typical girl thing, shrieking when he began to chase me. I ran around the sofa and stopped with him on one side and me on the other. We both looked at each other trying to judge which way the other would go.

“You’re getting slow in your old age Draven but don’t worry, I will keep you young,” I teased winking at him and his eyes flashed purple as this time his Demon responded for him…the growl though, well that was all Draven.

I jumped when he chose his side and I ran the other way, not having a shot at getting away. He jumped over the sofa, as graceful as a jungle cat and I laughed and giggled when he caught me around the waist before hoisting me up over his shoulder.

“Let me down! I don’t want you to throw your back out old man!” I shouted and he replied by locking my legs down against his chest and tickling my sides.

“Come on…where’s my sweet little piggy snort?” he asked and that was it, one more dig with his fingers under my arms and I was a goner! I snorted and snorted until tears appeared and Draven’s deep laughter was masked out by the sound of my inner farm animal.

“Let me down! Enough…enoughhaaaaa...pleeeeeease stop!” I pleaded and finally he stopped and asked,

“Sorry what was that about old man? I didn’t quite catch it” He held his hand over my ticklish sides and I knew what I should have said to get out of thi
s
delicious torture…but what can I say, I’ve always been a few peas short of a casserole!

“I said its okay, I have the chiropractor on speed dial and heat packs in the cupboard!” He laughed once in disbelief before promising me my punishment.

“Oh little girl, you just made a big…big …mistake. I can torture you, my beautiful little wife for days without breaking a sweat.” I gulped and then screamed when he smacked my ass playfully. He then took two long strides to the bed and threw me back effortlessly, so that when I landed I bounced twice. I was panting hard at what beautiful torture he had in mind and looking up at my masterful husband about to issue such punishment was enough to dampen my inner thighs in a few fluttering heartbeats.

“Oh what fun I am going to have playing with you, my love,” he promise
d
and just as he was grabbing the t shirt back over his head a knock sounded at the door. I don’t know why but I covered my mouth with my hands when he growled…and this time it wasn’t a happy, excited one. 

“Leave us!” he snapped but the door opened anyway and before I saw that it was his sister, I wondered who had a death wish. However, Draven had little to no control over his sister, so our blood free day could continue...now if it had been Pip, I wouldn’t have been so sure.

“You know sister, there is a very good reason I don’t just walk into your private quarters and intrude on you and your husband.” Draven said this through gritted teeth.

“Because you’re boring?” she asked and I snorted behind my hands which got me a warning look from Draven, one I could never take seriously.

“Because
I understand the concept of
privacy,”
he corrected, turning back to her after I received my one eyebrow raise, one that I must mention was as sexy as it was hot in Hell, and I could say this being what felt like a frequent visitor. 

“Yes, well my dear brother that is what you call ‘life’s a bitch, when you’re the one in charge’ so as usual it is left up to me, being the one with breasts, to inform you that your presence is needed elsewhere.” I couldn’t help but chuckle at this, understanding exactly what she meant. Interrupting Draven when he was enjoying his alone time with me was bad enough for his own sibling. But if you were anyone else and had dangly man bits then it would have been so much worse, considering what they most likely would see if opening that door…something Sophia had no shame in witnessing I might add.

Draven didn’t really have much of an answer to this as she was right. Draven was and always would be the captain of this Supernatural ship, which meant a heavy responsibility, one I had only had a slight taste of once before.

Actually since having to hold my own council meeting back when we had to decide how we were going to save Draven, I had become a lot more understanding of his position. Being the one in charge more often than not sounded better than it was. But in reality every choice you made was one made for the benefit of others and your own personal gain or loss and opinions had to take a back seat…well, unless it was about me and then as far as Draven was concerned to Hell with the consequences!

Let it be noted that I would have liked to have been a smart ass here and say, ‘look where that attitude had gotten us’ but the simple fact was that Draven and I had both survived everything that had been thrown at us and so far none of it had stuck. We were both still alive, together and fighting on the same side, despite all the lies, betrayals and blood spilled.

“Fine!” Draven snapped and I tried not to react when Sophia rolled her eyes behind him.

“Will you join me?”

“We will follow shortly, we just need to have a little girl talk. You go ahead Dom.” Sophia answered for me and with one completely different to the one I would have chosen.

“Girl talk,” Draven grumbled knowing this was most likely Sophia code for ‘bugger off’. This time I couldn’t help but smile when yet another Draven sibling was rolling their eyes at the other. Only this time it was coming from my husband when he lovingly pulled me to my feet and off the bed only to then smooth back the hair from my face.

“Don’t keep the chair next to mine empty for long love. A Queen’s place is beside her King.” I blushed and so as not to ruin the moment by releasing a nervous snort, I kept it simple and safe with a nod. He smiled at me as he ran a thumb over my heated cheek and then whispered,

“Parfait.”
I was about to ask him what he meant when Sophia cleared her throat and Draven closed his eyes as if for the first time in his forever, hating his job. So I placed my hand on his cheek and whispered back…

“Deep breaths sweetheart.”
His eyes snapped open and before I knew what was happening he said,

“The world can wait!” He pulled me forward suddenly and took no time before kissing me like it was to be our last for the rest of the year. This time no amount of throat clearing would have worked as we both lost ourselves in the kiss, not giving a damn about the rest of the world as like he said…

The world could wait
.

Shortly after this Draven left to go to his council meeting and Sophia wasted no time in proving that she was not only my sister-in-law but a true friend first.

“Thank Lucifer, I never thought he was going to leave.” I frowned bending down to search for my runaway trainer that decided under the bed was a fun place to hide.

“Why, what’s up?” I asked giving up on trying to hook it out with an outstretched hand and instead shimmying half my body under there…thinking that Supernatural cleaners obviously didn’t get the memo that beds in the human world weren’t immune to dust bunnies. Jesus but these bad boys could devour me whole or at least take an arm off!

“Bloody hell Sophia, not to be harsh but I would sack your cleaner. I think the dust bunnies down here just took my trainer as a hostage!”

“What on Earth’s plane are you doing down there?” Sophia asked sounding frustrated.

“Looking for my shoe, aha, got ya…! OUCH!” I banged my head when I tried to wiggle my way out once I got the shoe and the next thing I knew I was being dragged out. I rolled to my back and looked up to find Sophia looking down at me like I had two heads, so I lifted up my shoe and said,

“See, found it,” giving it a wiggle. 

“Keira this is serious,” she said after rolling her eyes and letting go of my leg with a thud. I mouthed the word ‘oww’ and rubbed the heel of my foot when she turned her back on me. I got up and kicked my feet into my worn trainers after smacking the dust off the right one and like her and her brother, rolled my eyes at the ‘lost sole’ that I gathered had been sacrificed to the dust demons that lived under there.

“Okay, so I’m listening… what’s up?” It was only when I saw her face that I knew something wasn’t just up…it was way up, as in resting in Heaven and couldn’t get any higher.

“Sophia, what is it?”

“There is someone that I need to tell you about, well more like someone… someone that came back to Afterlife that works…” I held up my hand to stop her and said,

“Let me guess, names Ranka and looks the spitting image of someone that no doubt has a picture of my head on a dart board…actually, scratch that, let’s be honest and just go with my picture on a wall that she throws knives at…that kind of someone?”

“Wait, how did you…oh hell no, please tell me that he didn’t?!” Sophia said interrupting herself with the right answer to her own question.