She reached down between their bodies as she drank from him, and unzipped his pants. Wulf moaned deep in his throat as she guided him straight into her. With no control over himself, he took her wildly, fiercely, as they bonded their life forces together. They came together in a furious orgasm that slammed through them both at the same exact moment.
Weak and spent, Wulf pulled away from her neck. She looked up at him, her eyes glazed as she licked her lips and her teeth receded. Wulf kissed her deeply, holding her tight.
"Wow," she breathed. "I'm still seeing stars." He laughed at that. He was too.
"Do you think it really worked?" she asked.
"If it doesn't, I vote we follow Zarek's advice of taking Acheron out and beating him."
Cassandra laughed nervously. "I guess in a few weeks, we'll know." Only it didn't take that long. Cassandra's eyes widened as she started gasping for air.
"Cassandra?"Wulf asked. She couldn't respond.
"Baby?" he asked again.
Her gaze was filled with pain as she reached up, laid her hand against his whiskered cheek, and shuddered. In less than three seconds, she was dead.
"Acheron!"
Ash jerked awake at the shrill pitch that rattled through his head. He was lying naked in his bed with his black silk sheets wrapped around his lean body. I'm tired, Artie, and I'm sleeping. He sent the mental note through the cosmos to her temple on Olympus in a much calmer tone.
"Then get up and come here. Now!" Ash let out a long sigh. No.
"Don't you dare roll over and go back to sleep after what you've done." And that is?
"You released another Dark-Hunter without consulting me!"
The corners of Ash's lips twitched as he understood her latest rant. Wulf had bitten Cassandra. He smiled, relieved at the truth. Thank the gods, Wulf had chosen wisely. "That was not the way this was supposed to turn out and you know it. How dare you interfere! " Leave me alone, Artie. You've got more than your share of Dark-Hunters.
"Fine," she said, her voice brittle. "You bent the rules of our agreement, then so shall I."
Ash bolted upright."Artie!"
She was gone. Cursing, Ash willed his clothes back on his body and flashed himself from his home in Katoteros to Wulf's house. It was too late. Wulf was in his living room with Cassandra in his arms. Her face was pale with a bluish tint to it.
As soon as the Viking saw him, his teary eyes blazed with hatred. "You lied to me, Ash. My blood poisoned her."
Ash took Cassandra from Wulf's arms and laid her gently on the couch. Erik started wailing as if he understood what had happened. As if he knew his mother was dead. Ash's heart stopped beating.
He'd never been able to stand the sound of an infant crying. "Go to your son, Wulf."
"Cassandra—"
"Go to Erik!" Ash snapped. "Now, and get out of the room." Luckily, the Viking obeyed.
Ash cradled Cassandra's head in his hands and closed his eyes.
"You can't resurrect the dead, Acheron," Artemis said as she flashed into the room. "The Fates won't let you."
Ash looked up at her and narrowed his eyes. "Don't mess with me right now, Artie. This doesn't concern you."
"Everything you do concerns me. You know our bargain. You gave me nothing in exchange for Wulf's soul."
Ash rose up to his feet slowly, his eyes flashing. Artemis took a step back, recognizing the fact that he was in no mood to play with her.
"You never had his soul, Artemis, and you know it. You used him to protect your brother's line. What better way than to release him to watch over his immortal wife and breed equally immortal children who are strong enough to survive those who want them dead?"
"Wulf belongs to me!"
"No he doesn't. He never did." Ash closed his eyes and touched Cassandra's forehead. Her eyes fluttered open slowly.
"No!" Artemis snapped.
Ash looked up, his eyes glowing red. "Yes," he hissed. "And unless you wish to take her place with Hades, I suggest you back off."
Artemis flashed out of the room.
Cassandra sat up slowly. "Acheron?"
"Shh," he said, moving away from her. "It's okay."
"I feel so strange."
"I know. It'll fade soon."
Cassandra frowned as she looked around the room. Wulf returned. He froze as soon as he saw Cassandra sitting up. Faster than Ash could blink, he was across the room so that he could scoop her up and hold her.
"Are you all right?"
Cassandra looked at Wulf as if he'd lost his mind. "Of course. Why wouldn't I be?"
Wulf kissed her, then looked at Ash in disbelief. "I don't know what you did, but thank you, Ash. Thank you."
Ash inclined his head. "Any time, Viking. All I ask is that the two of you enjoy your time together and have lots of children." He folded his arms across his chest. "By the way, as a wedding present, I'm revoking the daylight curse from you and your children. No one born to either of you will ever again have to live at night. Not unless they choose it on their own anyway."
"Am I missing something?" Cassandra asked again.
One corner of Ash's mouth twisted up. "I'll leave it to Wulf to explain. For the time being, I'll go back to bed." Ash flashed out of the room.
Wulf picked Cassandra up and carried her toward his bed. Artemis was waiting in Ash's bedroom for him to reappear. The look on her face told him she was planning on making the rest of his day miserable.