Kynessie

I returned to Tylania’s little cottage after staying with a friend in New Orleans for two days. I planned to visit her, but then those fucking rogues attacked the pack, which threw my original plans out the window. My friend was human so I could not even explain to her why I was late. I had gotten back around noon but decided I needed a nap. All those bullshit wives' tales about vampires being unable to be out in the sun are crap. We can be out in the sun, and no garlic does not affect us. I put that shit in just about everything I cook. I fucking love the taste of garlic. Wood can incapacitate us, but it will not kill us. It affects us like wolfsbane does wolves it disconnects us from our inner beast. The only way to kill a vampire is to remove our heads or hearts. Well, for most vampires, that holds. I am the rare exception. I let out a groan when I hear my phone start ringing. Whoever this is better have a damn good reason for calling me right now. I finally slam my hand down on it and let out a hiss when I hear Tylania’s voice. All the bitch does is laugh at me as she tells me we are having dinner at the packhouse tonight. I grunt at her and end the damn call. 

I lifted my hand to knock on the door again, for Aisling ripped it open. I smiled at her when she asked me what had taken me so long. She might be centuries younger than me, but we quickly became friends. I ran back into New Orleans for a quick blood bag. Being a pure blood royal, I do not need it as often, but it has been a week since my last blood meal, and I could feel the burn at the back of my throat. It took three bags, and then I had to let the blood lust cool down for an hour. I told her there was a minor accident while riding back, explaining why I was late. As I approached the house, my inner beast came forward. We have an inner beast, much like shifters. They give us extra power, much like shifters. We do not shift, but they are connected to us just as shifters are connected to their beasts. 

(What is going on Thyox?-Me)

(I do not know, but someone in that house smells delicious, and not in the way I want to eat him. -Thyox)

I take a deep breath, and the scent of wintergreen and leather hits me. I follow Aisling into the house, and the smell gets stronger. I come to a dead stop when one of the most gorgeous men I have ever seen turns around. His shoulder-length curly strawberry-blonde hair lays on his extra wide shoulders. His stunning pale jade green eyes lock with mine. He is a fucking giant, as most Lycans are, meaning that he towers over my 5’4” frame by at least two feet. Meaning he is close to 7’ or taller. I cannot take my eyes off him.

“Mate.”  He growls.

I stand there staring at the incredibly gorgeous male in front of me. I blink when what he says sinks in. There is no way this is possible. My beloved died 300 years ago. I felt the pain of losing him, even if I had no idea why I was in such severe pain at the time. I turn around and run. I hear him growling, but I know he is not coming after me. I do not understand any of this. I can feel someone running after me, but I won’t stop until I return to Tylania’s cottage. I slam the door shut and slide down onto the floor. I pull my knees up against me and lay my head on them. What the fuck is going on? I sense a presence before me, but I do not move until someone touches my arm. I look up and into Tylania’s pale hazel eyes. She wipes away tears I had not realized fell as she sits beside me. She is the only person who knows I felt my beloved die all those years ago. 

“Kynessie.”  Tylania says.

“No, there is no way this is possible. I told you what I felt all those years ago, even if at the time it was happening, I had no idea why.” I cry.

“Maybe Tiernan is your second chance beloved.” Tylania says.

Tiernan, what a very sexy and very Irish name. I can hear my inner beast purring as she lets his name slip past her lips. I let a shiver slide down my body when I think of him staring at me with those pale jade green eyes. 

“That is impossible. Vampires do not have a second chance beloved, or mates. We are a one-and-done species. My only choice is taking a chosen mate or beloved, which I will not do.”  I told her. 

She sits beside me, and I lay my head on her shoulder. This hurts, and I have no idea why. I had never even met my beloved before he was taken from me but seeing that man standing there and hearing him call me his mate broke something inside of me while, at the same time, it fixed something inside of me as well. He also reminded me of someone, but I cannot think of who that is now.

“I am sorry I ruined dinner. Please tell them that I did not mean to ruin their night.” I told her. 

I am sure she has already linked Cahir and told him that she is with me. I know they went through a lot of trouble to put this dinner together, and I am sure that the man, who I am sure is also the alpha, probably thinks I am crazy for running away like that. He will probably tell me to leave. I am sure he will reject me since I am a vampire. Tylania pulls me off the floor and tells me to sit on the couch.

“Do not worry about dinner. Cahir let them know that we needed to talk. They want to ensure you are ok and we can have dinner another night.”  Tylania states. 

She made us some food, and we sat there talking into the early morning. We also drank some wine. I had to cut her off when she started slurring her words and telling me about her sex life with Cahir. I was a little tipsy, but like shifters, it takes a lot of potent or specially made alcohol to get a vampire drunk. I carried her to her bed and laid her down, covering her up. I dropped down onto my bed and rolled over onto my back. I still do not understand how any of this is possible, but I guess I will find out.

“You know you will have to talk to him sooner or later.” Tylania says.

“I know. I still do not have any idea how this is possible.” I pointed out.

We were sitting at her kitchen table. She was nursing a mild hangover as we both drank some coffee. Cahir had linked her earlier to let her know that they were having breakfast and to let us know that Tiernan wanted to talk when I was ready.

“What if I have everyone meet in Tiernan’s office and we can figure it out. I know his family wants to meet you. His grandparents and his great-great grandmother are waiting in the pack house.” Tylania tells me.

“Fine let’s get this shitshow over with. We can figure out why he thinks I am his mate and then he can reject me.” I sigh.

“Reject you? Why would Tiernan reject you?”  Tylania asks.

“Tylania, I am not stupid. I am a vampire; while they are okay with me visiting you and staying on their land, I am sure the last person he wants to be mated to is me. Besides, I doubt his family and pack want a vampire as their luna.” I answer.

The two of us walked back to the pack house. I can feel my anxiety ramping up, and I must fight myself the whole way not to turn around and run away again. Tylania lets us in, and we climb the stairs to the second floor. She tells me that is where all their offices are. I stop in the doorway when I see everyone staring at me. This only increases my anxiety. Although I did catch a familiar scent as we walked into the room. 

“Essi?” a familiar voice says.

I look over to see Carlotta sitting there. I lift my eyes from her to the others in the room. That is why Tiernan and his father, Tilman, looked familiar. I sat down near Carlotta. She was my good friend Thomas’s mate. She grabs my hand as I smile at her. She was the only thing about this entire situation that was keeping me from bolting from the room.

“Great-grandmother, you know her?” Tiernan asks.

“Yes, this is Essi. I told you how she saved your great-grandfather the other day.” Carlotta says.

“Essi my dear, Tiernan tells us you are his mate.” Carlotta states.

No beating around the bush with her. Not that I would expect anything less. Carlotta has always been a very blunt individual. She just ripped the band-aid right off. I let out a sigh and nodded my head. I do not know what to say. She does ask how I feel about all this.

“Honestly, I do not know how to feel. I am still trying to figure out how this is even possible.” I tell them. 

“What do you mean?” A guy asks.

They may look familiar, but I still did not know anyone in here besides Tylania, Carlotta, Cahir and Tiernan. Two women were watching me very closely which was making my anxiety spike once again.

“Ok, before we go any further, let me tell you who everyone is. You know Cahir, well this is Riordan, and that is Kyran. The two over there are Alpha Tillman, Tiernan’s grandfather, and Alpha Torhan, Tiernan’s father. This is Luna Regina, Tiernan’s grandmother, and Luna Seara, Tiernan’s mother. You apparently know Luna Carlotta.”  Tylania says.

I look at Tylania, and she nods her head at me. I have never told anyone else this before. I try not since it hurts. I close my eyes as I get ready to tell my story.

“It was the middle of December 300 years ago. After a long day of dealing with stuck up royals, I finally fell asleep. Around three in the morning, I was jolted awake by searing pain in my chest. It felt as if someone was ripping out my heart. Soon after the pain started, my family came running into my room. I was in so much pain that I hadn’t realized I was screaming. My father called the doctor, but nobody could figure out what was wrong. There were no visible wounds. The doctor went as far as to test my blood thinking someone tried to poison me.” I explain.

I look up when I hear a growl to see Tiernan's eyes flashing from their pale jade color to black and back to their original color. It looks as if his Lycan does not like the thought of someone hurting his mate. Thyox was purring in my mind.

“The pain lasted the rest of the night. The doctor finally sedated me, and when I woke, I felt empty. A few days later, I was in the library and came across a book about shifters. After reading it, I figured out that my beloved must have been a shifter and that he must have died that night. It explained almost everything I felt.” I add.

“You felt something else that night?” Luna Seara asks.

“Yes, while I felt empty and that something had been ripped from me, I also felt as if something came alive within me. It was weird. I never told anyone about that part since it no longer mattered by the time I figured it out.” I add.

The room is quiet. I keep my focus on the hand that Carlotta is holding. I have no idea why I did not see it earlier, but I guess the shock of Tiernan saying I was his mate clouded my mind. 

“When you saved my mate is there a possibility that you were also injured, and your blood might have mixed with his?” Carlotta asks.

“I guess there is a possibility he was covered in blood and so was I. Honestly, I have no idea whose blood was on either of us.” I answer.

I watch as Tylania disappears and then reappears with a book. She must have figured something out. She starts flipping through the pages and squeals when she finds what she is looking for. She then pokes me and takes a single drop of blood before doing the same with Alpha Torhan. I shoot her a look. While the pin prick did not hurt a little warning would have been nice.

“What do you know my little witch?” Cahir asks.

“This explains so much. When you saved Carlotta’s mate your blood must have mixed with his. This allowed him to survive. Everyone has always wondered why your family and the pack that helps protect you is immune to vampire venom. This would be why.” Tylania says.

“I did not bite him.” I deadpanned.

“You would not have had to. If any of your venom entered his blood stream that is all it would take. It is possible that some was on your lips and dripped into one of his open wounds as you waited with him until the others came to aid the two of you.” Taylani adds.

“You said this happened in December.” Carlotta comments.

“Yes.” I answered.

“We lost Thomas in December, and it would have been 300 years ago. That explains why you felt all that pain. I think that when you saved him your venom and blood mixed with his. In a roundabout way, it connected you to him. You felt him die and then felt as if part of you died.” Carlotta points out.

“I was born the same night that great-grandfather died.” Tiernan adds.

I look at Tiernan. His birth is the possible cause of the feeling I had that night. I felt a pull towards him, and I wanted to be around him. I felt an instant connection when our eyes locked, and his scent was heavenly. He turns away from me, and that feeling of being rejected surfaces. Carlotta waves for Tiernan to come over to where we are sitting. She grabs Tiernan’s hand and slips it into mine after removing hers. Fuck, a tidal wave of emotions surges through me as sparks course through my body. I vaguely hear Tiernan growl, and I think he says my name, but all I can see is darkness.

Damn, my body feels heavy as I try to move. Whatever I am lying on feels like heaven. It is soft and smells so damn good. I turn my face and bury it into the softest pillow I have ever felt. It smells so good, just like wintergreen and leather, just like Tiernan. My eyes flew open, and I sat up, which was not a great idea. I grab my head as I let out a cry. Fuck, my head hurts! I could hear Thyox grumbling in my head. I do not think she liked me sitting up that fast either.

“Are you ok?” Luna Seara asks.

“My head hurts but besides that yes, I am fine. What happened?”  I told them.

“You passed out after touching me.” Tiernan comments.

Well, shit, I had not noticed him standing there. Not that I was complaining. Damn, he is a wall of solid muscle. His mother smiles at me as she stands. I watch her leave. That is when I realize that I am in his room. I look down at my hands and take a breath. I have no idea how this is going to go.

“Please just get it over with and reject me.” I whisper. 

I jump when a deep, pissed-off growl reverberates through the room. I feel the bed dip as Tiernan sits down making me squeal as I fall into him. At this point, I do not know what I should do. 

“Why would I reject you?” Tiernan asks.

“I might be a friend of your family’s, but I am a vampire. There is no way….”  I started to explain.

My explanation is cut off when his lips are pressed to mine. Okay, so I let out a squeak of surprise, and maybe I tried to move back, which did not work since his colossal hand was buried in my hair and holding my head, making it impossible for me to move. I could once again hear Thyox purring in my head. I have no idea when she learned how to purr.

(Please as if you want to move-Thyox)

(Shut up. -Me)

Stupid inner beast. Not that she was wrong. Damn, he is a good kisser which had me thinking of why that was, but I stopped myself from going down that rabbit hole. I would be either incredibly naive or stupid to believe that he had saved himself for me and I was not a virgin. I may not have been with many guys, but I had a past which I am sure he does too. A gasp escaped when he tightened his hand in my hair, allowing him to slip his tongue into my mouth. Not that I am complaining. I pulled back just enough when I desperately needed a breath.

“I do not care that you are a vampire and neither will my family, the fact that you saved my great-grandfather is irrelevant, you are mine.” Tiernan growled.

(He claimed us. -Thyox)

(Did you squeal and then purr again? -Me)

(Hush, this giant mountain of a Lycan just claimed us. Mark him now. -Thyox)

I roll my eyes at her. She has never acted like this before. One kiss and she is a desperate horny bitch. I hear Tiernan chuckle at me, and I raise an eyebrow at him. I can see his Lycan trying to come forward. Although he is hard to see since he is so dark in color.

“What is your Lycan's name? My inner beast’s name is Thyox and she is acting like a bitch in heat.” I told him.

“Caturix, that is my name, my little darkling.” Caturix's deep voice tells me.

And now my thong is soaked. I watch his eye return to the pale jade, but then I notice he stiffens up as his nostrils flare. Shit, I bet he can smell my arousal. I try pressing my legs together, but I know that is not going to help this situation. He closes his eyes, and I try to back away and get off the bed. I do not get far before he grabs my leg and pulls me back towards him.  

“Umm I need to pee.” I squeak.

“Fine, mom linked me and told me that dinner was ready. I hope we can make it threw dinner without you running away again.” He snarks.

“Shut up, asshole. Sorry that I freaked out when you called me mate when I thought mine had died years ago. I guess you would have thought that normal, but I did not.” I hiss. 

I jump up and run into the bathroom when his chest vibrates with a growl. I hear him slam the door as he leaves the room. I am unsure how I will make it through this dinner.

(Can we eat him? -Thyox)

(Oh my, will you fucking stop. When did you turn into such a horny bitch? -Me)

(When a hot and sexy as fuck Lycan claimed me. Please tell me you are not thinking of rejecting him. -Thyox)

(I am not going to reject him, but it will take me some time to come to terms with everything we found out. -Me)

(Understood, now let's get down there and ogle out sexy as fuck, beloved. -Thyox)

I take a deep breath and open the door to find Tiernan standing there. He stretches his hand towards me, and I place my hand in his. This is going to take getting used to. We walk towards the stairs and down to where the rest of the family is. This is going to be interesting.