“You love her,” she said quietly. “But she is mortal. I wanted you to have your happiness and not fear for her.”
“I’m glad I could help with this,” Dagda added. “Even though I’m still mighty upset that yourmáthairkept you a secret from me. However, what you have become pleases me greatly, my son. I care little that you no longer dwell at the pantheon. You are a male of worth, and you’ve proven it time and again. Indeed, I’ve taken a look into the Orb of Memories to find out everything since learning of your existence. You ever have need of me, call, and I shall be here.”
Blaéz stood there reeling in shock. Dagda’s attention shifted to Darci. His gaze softened. “For all that you’ve done and given up, my dear, eternal life is yours, with my blessing. Your shared soul…” He glanced back at Blaéz and shook his golden head as if in amazement. “It is a unique phenomenon that you have created, my son, one only pure love could bring to pass.”
Then he smiled. “May you both soon present me with a grandbabe to spoil. Now, we shall depart and leave you to enjoy this honeymoon.” Dagda glanced at the goddess, his expression back to inscrutable. “So, you’ve finally punished our first born? I deem it quite appropriate, though I would have added another century. Come, Morri, we have much to do, while you try to convince me why I shouldn’t be angry with you for your subterfuge of hiding our younger son…” They vanished in a shimmer of silvery-blue sparks.
Blaéz stared at the spot where The Morrigan and Dagda—hell, hissire—had stood a moment ago.
“Wow, that was…unexpected.” Darci’s voice broke the silence. “What’s going on with them?” she asked curiously.
“From what I heard eons ago, The Morrigan is Dagda’s destined mate, but he’d already fallen in love with another. So he claimed them both, but The Morrigan chose to live away from him.”
“I feel sorry for her. I could never share you. Ever,” she said quietly.
“You’ll never have to.” Blaéz touched her curly hair in awe.
Her lips curved in a soft smile as she stepped away from him. She pushed the gown off her shoulder, her attention back on the darkening symbol on the curve of her left breast. “This thing looks like I got a tattoo and it still hurts…”
Blaéz simply stared at her. He no longer had to fear her mortality taking her from him. His heart compressed like a huge fist had taken hold of it. “You will never leave me now,a leannan.”
Her brow creasing, she glanced at him. “What?”
He lowered his head and pressed his lips to the reddened flesh of the brand. He licked it slowly. Tenderly. A relieved breath escaped her. She grasped his head, her fingers tunneling through his hair. “That feels so good… It doesn’t hurt so much—what do you mean I won’t leave you?” she reiterated. “You told me that after you first shared your soul with me.”
He straightened and nodded, gliding his thumb over the now healed skin of the twin flames. “My sire, it seems, brokered the gift of immortality to The Morrigan, and she bequeathed it to you. It means if you are ever mortally injured—a fatal accident, shot, stabbed in the heart…anything—you won’t die from it.”
She stared blankly at him an endlessly long second. Then at the incandescent smile that lit her face, he wanted to find The Morrigan and thank her.
“Immortal,” she whispered. “Your mother mentioned something about trying to do the right thing—eeek,” she squealed as he swept her off her feet and into his arms. “Blaéz, what are you doing?”
Christ, he was so fucking happy. “After that awful moment of thinking she was attacking you, I find I need comforting.”
A smile trembled on her lips. “Really?”
“Absolutely,” he drawled as he headed for their bedroom. But her tormenting fingers stroking his nape stirred his blood. “Besides, I have to fulfill my promise of keeping you in bed. So, being soothed…indeed, it will help a lot.”
Laughter fell out of her. “You’re so full of crap—” He narrowed his eyes, and she hastily amended, “Er, sexy talk.”
“Too late. There will be retribution for disrespecting your mate...” Amusement spread through him at her scowl. “Hmm…ropes, bedframes, and you at my mercy. It’s going to be a perfect two fucking weeks.”
Blaéz claimed her mouth in a deeply carnal kiss, his tongue letting her know exactly what he planned to do with his cock in a few minutes. Her ire vanished, and she sighed, kissing him back.
As for the ropes, the possibilities grew. He loved besting her in the most sensual ways possible. It was always about her. Only her.
THE END…
