The Mating Intent-mobi (22 page)

Gideon smiled ruefully. “You see your purpose now, Elf?”

With a shaky hand, she helped Dave sit up. “That’s why we were able to defeat the dark enchantment. Gabriel’s Elven half is pure Light, same as his mother’s. His white light was empowered when we became lovers and his Elven half was awakened.”

“But it didn’t fully emerge until she returned to me, and my heart woke up, too,” Gabriel said softly.

As they stood, Lana hugged Dave. The Enforcer’s expression turned soft. Sienna felt sheer amazement. The cold-hearted bitch truly did love Gabriel’s father.

“Is it over?” Gabriel asked wearily. “Are you two great and powerful bastards done fucking with our lives yet?”

“Perhaps not.” Tristan arched a brow. “I can still carve you like a Thanksgiving turkey, if you do not shut that trap of yours.”

Then he gave Sienna a gentle smile. “As long as you both work together, you will be able to balance each other’s powers. Alone you are nothing. Together you can accomplish much.”

His gaze hardened as he studied the ashen Lana. Her frail beauty appeared to crumble and she looked deeply shaken for the first time since Sienna had known her.

“The next time you wish to experiment with one of my Wyldings, Lana, it is best to ask permission. I approve of breeding to keep a species from dying out, but your manipulations have hurt others. You fucked his father simply to become pregnant, not out of love.”

“That’s not true.” Dave leaned against Lana. “I saw her here, in the forest many times before we became lovers. I fell in love with her and I knew what I was doing.”

“So did I,” Lana said.

He kissed Lana deeply and to Sienna’s shock, the Enforcer melted in Dave’s arms. They seemed to shut away the world.

Gabriel’s jaw slackened. “Sheesh. She cares about him.”

At least she cares about someone. She never cared about me
. “It’s a good thing the Enforcer never had a vow of celibacy like me. Otherwise, you’d never have been conceived,” she told Gabriel, unable to keep the sarcasm from her voice.

“And that would have been a true tragedy, because then I’d never have met you.” He nuzzled her hair. “For bringing me into this world, I guess I can forgive the bitch for wanting to punish you.”

He slid his arms around Sienna, his embrace comforting. “I think we need alone time, pixie.” Gabriel brushed his mouth against hers in a light kiss.

“Great. Everyone’s going to get laid tonight except me,” Tristan muttered. “Time to rent another porno.”

The Silver Wizard wandered down the path, whistling. Gideon remained, and she tensed, wondering what he wanted.

“You still have an obligation to King Cael,” he told her. “If he releases you from your duties, I will release you from my judgment. There will be no consequences. Is this what your heart desires?”

She nodded.

“I will be back.” Gideon waved a hand and vanished.

Tension knotted her stomach as she rested against Gabriel, waiting for the Fae King to appear. Gabriel pushed a hand through her hair, his touch comforting. “Forget what the mighty king says. Resign. It’s not a job for life.”

“And what do you expect me to do with my life? Stay here and make love with you all day long?” she teased.

“That’s a nice option.” He smoothed back a lock of hair from her face, his gaze tender. “You will be the guardian of the Everglades, helping me protect it from bad juju and pollution. With your touch, we will keep this environment safe for our children.”

Her eyes widened. “Children? That’s a lot to think about.”

“Don’t you want a family?”

She nodded fiercely. “I’ve always wanted a family of my own. Two children would be great.”

He gave a wicked grin. “How about six?”

“I thought your people weren’t that fertile.”

“No reason to keep from trying.”

Sienna laughed, loving his wicked humor, loving how damn good he made her feel.

Light shimmered before them, iridescent sparks in a brilliant wash of rainbow colors. When it faded, a tall, silver-haired Elf stood there, clad in a brilliant scarlet robe embroidered with silver filigree, his hair falling down to his breastbone. Clutched in his right hand was a long crimson staff topped with an intricate twist of leaves. His ears were pointed and his eyes a deep violet.

Cael. Rightful King and ruler of the Fae of the Northern Light.

She pulled away from Gabriel, and bowed low.

“The Crimson Wizard has asked me to release you from your vows and your duties as my Shadow Guard. Gideon said he owed you a favor for nearly killing Gabriel’s father,” Cael said.

“Perhaps he’s not as much of a bastard as I’d thought,” Gabriel muttered.

The Fae king’s expression remained impassive. “But Gideon left the decision up to me. I am not releasing you, Sienna.”

A cold shiver raced down her spine. Gabriel growled low, and she touched his hand to calm him.

“Why not? I wish to live among Gabriel and his people.”

“Live here, among the beast shifters?” Cael sniffed. “Your place is at my side, vanquishing evil from the earth. You will accompany me back to our home.”

“Even if it means I’m miserable, because I can never be with Gabriel? I have a real home here and finally have a chance to be happy. I love him.” She softened her voice, hoping to reason with him. “Don’t you wish for me to be happy?”

“My wish is for you to attend to your duties and return to court.”

Searching his face, she saw no trace of the tender love he’d accorded his daughter, Samantha. Not one ounce of compassion.

“You never formally acknowledged me among your court. Do I have any hope you might do so if I return with you?” Sienna asked.

Cael’s expression tightened. “I never acknowledged you because you were half dark Elf. Your place is beside me as my Shadow Guard. Only I can tame the darkness inside you.”

“Not quite.” Gabriel smiled coldly. “She has me now. I can help her. She no longer needs you.”

A crimson aura pulsed around the king. She sensed his gathering power, but did not fear him.

“Release me, Cael. I can no longer serve you if my heart remains here.”

“You will do as I command. Return with me or face my wrath.” Cael raised his staff.

Power hummed inside her, a great ball of darkness that wanted to smash Cael to the ground and make him helpless. She reached deep inside herself for the love Gabriel showed her, and threaded the white magick through the dark. Then she summoned the power, bouncing the ball of dark magick in her palms, the white light a tight net around it.

“I’m staying here. I don’t wish to fight you, but if I will if you force me. And I daresay I can put up a good fight now.”

Shock made the king’s jaw slacken.  He lowered his staff. “You have learned to control your black magick.”

“And if she returns with you, who knows how much more powerful she’ll become if you keep sending her out to cleanse the earth of evil?” Gabriel slid an arm around Sienna’s waist. “All that black majick inside her, growing and growing. She might even become more powerful than you.”

Alarm filled the king’s expression.

“But if she remains here, with me as her mate, attending to the Everglades, she won’t be a threat to you,” Gabriel added. 

Sienna hoped Cael would finally see reason.

He seemed to struggle with this. Then finally the glowing red aura around him faded. Cael sighed. “Very well. You were never happy among us, Sienna. Your heart is too restless. But perhaps now, you will have peace here.”

As she pulled the power back inside herself, the Fae king looked cagey. “But you must never return to us, even to visit.”

A hollow ache settled in her chest. She had expected this. Even so, it hurt to know she could never go back. And then she looked up at Gabriel, saw the love in his eyes.

It was time to cut the ties to the Elven for good.

“Fine with me. My place is here now, with Gabriel.”

Cael waved his staff. “I release you from your duties, Ninianne.” The king looked solemnly at her. “You are no longer known among us as Nianianne, your true Elven name, but all shall call you Sienna.”

“That’s all?” Gabriel frowned. “Shouldn’t there be rainbow sparks, a chorus of Fairies singing, a marching band?”

The king gave her lover a wry look. “You always did have a sarcastic mouth, Gabriel. I enjoyed your company when you visited us.”

“Funny. You didn’t seem thrilled when I asked to live among you,” he said darkly.

“Because your place is here, among the Everglades. You have kept the environment safe and your people and other shifters protected. What good would you accomplish among the Elven?” Cael shook his head.

Peace filled Sienna as she squeezed Gabriel’s hand, feeling his work-roughened hands. Hands that toiled in the earth and were not soft and smooth like Elven. Hands that fought fiercely to protect all under his care. “I do love you, cat. And I love this land you guard.”

Cael gazed at the marsh and the water birds hunting among the plants. In the distance, the Silver Wizard knelt by the water, staring into its depths, as if divining the future. Then the wizard stuck a finger into the marsh.

“I asked Gideon to partner with Tristan and plead with the goddess to eradicate her sacred spring. He agreed with me that it serves no purpose, other than to tether you here, Gabriel. Tristan and I will deal with any Other who needs to be cleansed of evil. Once the spring is dry, your duty as its guardian is over. You will be free.”

“Thank you,” Gabriel said, blinking. “That’s mighty generous of you.”

“Consider it a mating gift.” The king looked at her. “Good-bye Sienna. I thank you for your services, and I wish you well in your future life.”

Cael struck his staff into the ground and vanished.

“Wow, that was quick. Typical king. Make a grand proclamation and then heads off for the forest and a glass of elderberry wine.” He looked at her, his brows drawing together. “No regrets, pixie? You sure about this?”

“Never been more certain in my whole life. I want us to be together, Gabriel. Your mate forever.”

He pulled her into his arms, his gaze glittering. “I can’t wait to get inside you so deep you’ll never want me to leave.”

She smiled up at him, this panther who had captured her heart. Always unconventional, never predictable.

“I will never want to leave you, Gabriel. We have a lifetime together.”

“More than my parents had. I’ll always stay by your side, pixie. I’ll never leave you as my mother abandoned me when I was born.”

In the distance, Tristan wiped off his hands and stood. He approached them and nodded at the nearby bushes.

“You think your parents conceived you out of purpose, but they did love each other, Gabriel. Even now, years later, they still desire each other.”

They turned and watched nearby bushes rustle to the sound of high, excited female cries and heavy male grunts.

“Parental sex. Blech.” Gabriel shook his head.

They started for the parking lot. Tristan accompanied them.

She felt afraid of this powerful being, but sensed he meant no harm. “What were you doing to the water?”

“Testing it to see if it remains pure. And reinforce the warding I placed here years ago to encourage Others to make love on this land. Perhaps other panther shifters will be conceived here.”

Gabriel stopped and turned on his heel. “You sly devil, Tristan. You accused my mother of manipulating events to conceive me when you were the one who set the stage for it?”

The wizard shrugged. “I do not force these things, only aid them if the couple seems right for each other.” Tristan tilted his head, appearing to listen. “Speaking of couples, I sense a great disturbance in the force.”

They stared blankly at him.

“I’ve been indulging in
Star Wars
too much.” The wizard shook his head, waved a hand and vanished.

“We need to do a disappearing act of our own,” Gabriel told her. “Let’s go home.”

When they finally arrived back at his house, he herded her upstairs to his bedroom. “From now on, you’re not sleeping below stairs.”

She gave him an arch smile. “I presume we won’t be sleeping much over the next week, anyway.”

He grinned. “That’s my Elf.”

Gabriel gave her a gentle push onto the bed, removed clothing and then told her to turn over. Intrigued, wondering what he had in mind, she did.

A drawer opened. A pen snapped. Then she felt the smooth slide of something across her left cheek. Sienna tried to twist her head.

“Don’t look.”

A cell phone camera clicked. He flopped onto his stomach beside her and showed her the photo.

Written in bold blue across her ass cheeks was GABRIEL and his phone number.

Sienna sputtered as he tapped her nose with the pen and grinned.  “I marked you. Your ass is mine.”

“Better not be permanent marker, cat. And why?”

“In case you get lost, people will know who you belong to and can return you to me.” Flinging the pen aside, he drew her into his arms. “I don’t want you ever leaving me again, pixie. I need you by my side, always.”

She kissed him, knowing she would never leave Gabriel, her panther and her mate. All her life she’d struggled with finding acceptance and love. She’d searched for years among her people for her heart’s desire, but never found it.

Because he’d been waiting here for her all along.

The Silver Wizard materialized at the Mitchell Ranch. Inside a corral, two Lupines quarreled with each other.

Aiden and Nikita were at it again.

Tristan climbed up to sit on the railing besides Kyle, a member of the pack. Bare-chested, the male leaned his chin on a fist, watching the arguing duo. He glanced at Tristan.

“Hey there.”

“What are they bickering about?”

Kyle sighed. “The mating challenge.”

“Ah, this should be good entertainment.” He waved a hand and a tub of popcorn appeared in his hands. He offered some to Kyle.

They munched as they continued to observe the furious couple shouting.

“And what is your part in this?” he asked Kyle.

“I was training with Aiden for the challenge when Nikita drove up, pretty as you please, and told him she’s postponing it for another month. Aiden wants it done this week. She’s already asked for two extensions.”