A Midsummer Night's Demon

chapter Fourteen

The sound of the minstrels’ lutes and vihuelas filled the air, their songs dainty and gentle, much like the Goddess they celebrated. The soft sound of the waves kissing the shore below accompanied the minstrels in a steady beat.

Humidity clung to the hot night air, but the company made the slight discomfort worth braving the balmy weather. Lyn sat next to Ky on the dune, his arm about her shoulders. She felt at peace, tucked against his side. She took a deep breath, taking the salted fishy smell of the ocean into her lungs.

The evening had been going splendidly. She’d introduced Ky to the majority of her friends and family in attendance. He amused them with stories and witticisms. No one realized that he was a vampire which put him at ease, and the look on his handsome face indicated he might be having a good time.

“Here, it’s almost time for the bonfire.” Her friend, Bret, passed her a handful of flowers. “Put these on.”

“Put what on?” Ky’s voice sounded suspicious. He watched the male demon saunter off to offer another bunch of flowers to a different couple.

Lyn lifted a garland of yellow blossoms. “Put this around your neck.”

Ky took the garland gingerly between his finger and thumb, holding it away from his body, like a deadly animal about to strike. Make that rotten meat, Lyn amended, noting the look on his face.

“You want me to wear a Hawaiian lei?”

“It’s not Hawaiian. It’s a Litha tradition. The men wear garland around their necks and the women wear these.” Lyn put a crown of yellow and white flowers around her head. “They are made of St. John’s Wort and white lilies.”

Ky smiled a sexy grin and placed the garland around his neck. “When in Rome,” he gave her a wink that made her bones melt and sent a rush of heat to her feminine core, “wear a lei.”

“Do you have any idea how sexy you are?” Lyn laced her fingers with his.

“Do you have any idea how beautiful you are with those flowers in your hair?” he countered, and drew her closer.

His lips descended on hers in a gentle kiss. His tongue bid entrance into the warm cavern of her mouth, by making a sinuous slide along the seam of her lips. She immediately obliged, opening to him. Ky slipped his skilled tongue between her parted lips, and she gave herself over to his light but thorough kiss.

The sound of a throat being cleared superfluously loud next to them brought the kiss to a quick end. His lips left hers, and she knew a moment of anxiety.

Her brother, Matthias, smacked Ky on the back, hard enough that Lyn could feel the hit where their bodies pressed together. “That’s enough of that, you two. It’s time for the Creation Story. Don’t want to keep the Priestess waiting, if you know what’s good for you.”

The threatening look her brother gave them brought Ky to his feet, his hands clenched by his thighs. Her brother responded in kind, squaring his shoulders as his fingers curled into his palms. Their eyes met in an intense stare, sizing each other up.

“Men!” Lyn rolled her eyes. “Mierda. Back off, Matt.”

Her brother’s dark, angry gaze locked with that of her lover’s. His eyes narrowed in challenge, daring Ky to advance.

“Who is this male?” Ky demanded, his stare never leaving his opponent. He shifted his weight to one side, settling into a fighting stance.

“Who am I? Who the hell are you to be sucking face with my sister?”

The look of shock that settled upon Ky’s face would have made Lyn giggle if not for the tension that filled the air. “You are her brother?”

Matthias nodded his head and crossed his arms over his wide chest. His hands pushed behind his large biceps, making them look even bigger. “Yeah. And who exactly are you?”

Ky pulled his eyes from her brother’s to look at Lyn. “I thought I had met all your relatives, Lyn.”

The female demon lifted her shoulders in a carefree shrug. “What can I say? I have a large family. In the next decade, you may not get to meet them all.”

“Next decade?” Her brother’s gaze darted between her and her mate several times. “This”—Matt gestured at Ky with his thumb—“is more than just a one night stand?”

“He is my mate, Matthias. You will treat him with respect.”

“Respect is earned, Daelyn, not given.” Her brother eyed Ky with discerning interest as his arms fell loosely to his sides.

Lyn could not help but notice the way his hands tightened by his thighs. Her eyes darted to her lover, watching his fingers flex into fists. These two might be talking, but their bodies looked ready to battle. Like two predators eyeing prey, underneath their calm façade their muscles coiled, ready to pounce at a moment’s notice. She needed to do something to keep them from going to blows.

She knew her brother always craved a good fight, and Ky would be just the person to give it to him. Long ago their kind physically challenged family members for the right to mate with a female. And though they evolved past such archaic behavior, the instinct was still buried deep inside, waiting to come out.

Lyn pushed off the blanket, intending to rise to intercede. Immediately she found Ky’s hand in front of her face, palm up. She took the proffered hand, allowed him to help her to stand. Their fingers laced, and she bestowed a worried glance on her brother.

Matt’s eyes dropped to their hands, the sight causing his fists to relax. His dark gaze rose to meet her own. “You have chosen this male for your mate?”

A weak smile raised the corner of her mouth. “Yes,” Lyn replied without hesitation. “I have. I would like your blessing, but I do not require it.”

She shot him a pointed glare, watching the expression of quiet acceptance cross his face in understanding. Their eyes met, and held in a respectful stare.

Matt’s body relaxed, and the tension left his shoulders. Cool resignation replaced the heat in his eyes. If he had not yet accepted her choice, he had at least accepted that it was her decision as to who to take as a mate.

“Tell me, Lyn, do you intend to complete the Bonding Ritual with this male?”

She wrapped her arm about her lover’s waist, registering the feel of his muscles under his thin shirt. “I do.”

“What’s the Bonding Ritual?” Ky looked at her upturned face.

“You don’t know what the Bonding Ritual is?” Matt’s incredulous tone made Ky’s head snap in his direction. “What kind of demon are you?”

Ky’s muscles bunched under her arm. If she didn’t intercede soon this would get out of hand. Two powerful Alpha males in close proximity was never a good thing, but the same two males overly protective of her and volatile toward each other—well that was a recipe for disaster.

“Didn’t you say it was time for the Creation Story, Matt?” Lyn asked. “Maybe we should go down to the beach. We don’t want to miss it.”

“Mmm-hmm.” The expression her brother gave her told her he knew she’d tried to distract him. “You sure you want this guy for your mate, little sister?”

Ky bristled beside her. “I’ve had enough of—”

Lyn tightened her grip on his waist, and spoke loudly to cut him off midsentence. “You go on to the beach, Matt. We’ll be right behind you.”

Her brother’s gaze raked over Ky’s body, as if he was deciding whether or not he found him worthy of his sister. He must have found something he liked, because his hardened look softened—a little.

After a quick nod of his head in their direction, Lyn watched her brother lope off toward the glowing beach. At six-foot tall and two-hundred pounds, most found him a formidable guy. He also routinely made the mistake of thinking of himself as her protector, acting more like her father than her brother. He had been posturing with Ky, but her brother seemed appeased for now. Matt had run off more than one of her boyfriends, and she wasn’t about to let him interfere with her mate.

If he knew about Ky being a vampire, there would be demonic hell to pay. Her brother had a hard enough time accepting she had chosen a mate, but if he found out that mate was not a demon…that was not something that would be tolerated by her brother.

In a few minutes her friends and family would witness Ky and her complete the Bonding Ritual and then no one would ever try to separate them. Anticipation knotted her stomach as she allowed Ky to lead her toward the bonfire that blazed ahead in the sand and joined the throng of demons sitting on the beach.

With the crowd surrounding her in the sand, the Priestess stood proudly in the center of their circle. The long, red velvet robe with the attached hood trimmed in golden thread hid her body from view. Her demure face, with slight age lines etched thereon, held wise, hazel eyes. Her long dramatic dropped sleeves hung from her outstretched arms while she spoke. Although a tiny woman, quite petite in stature, her dramatic presence commanded respect and supplication.

The Priestess regaled the multitude with tales of the Sun God impregnating the Goddess during Beltane. She spoke of how tonight they celebrated the Goddess being heavy with child from the mating. Her erotic descriptions of the physical act riled the crowd, causing the scent of male arousal to mix with female heat in a heady combination that left no one in attendance unaffected.

Ky pressed his body against hers. The hand that rested possessively on the nape of her neck pulled her to him for a kiss. His full lips pressed against her in wanton demand. Lyn parted her lips in response, the desire burned through her blood to heat her body. His tongue slid against hers in an erotic glide. Their tongues thrust back and forth between their mouths struggling for dominance, fueling their passion.

The feel of his fangs lengthening against her tongue made her pull away. “You’re being vampirey,” she whispered against his mouth, trying to catch the breath he had stolen with his kiss.

“What?” His question sounded thick, heavy as she nibbled her way over his strong jaw to find his ear.

“Your fangs,” she whispered, nuzzling his ear. Lyn ran her tongue around the delicate lobe, and felt a shiver go through him. “Pull your fangs back.”

Ky’s fingers threaded through her thick hair to hold her steady. He pulled back from her, looking into her eyes. “My body is responding to the emotions around us. It is difficult to rein in my natural instincts.”

She ran her hand over the thick evidence that supported his statement. His most manly part jumped behind the material of his pants in response to her touch. “I can see that, but you need to try to pull back those fangs. Please Ky, for me.”

No one could know he was a vampire, not yet. Not before they completed the Bonding Ritual.

She watched her vampire close his eyes. He took a deep breath that expanded his thick chest in the most tantalizing way, and let it out in a long exhale between his pursed lips. Another slow breath escaped his mouth.

Around them people sat enthralled by the sensual story the Priestess narrated. The couples touched and kissed one another passionately as the story about the coupling gods came to its climax.

Feeling a bit grateful when the story at last ended, Lyn glanced up to find Ky smiling at her, his teeth normal length. Relief flooded her body.

Before the mass could get any more carried away by the sensual desire the Priestess created with her tale, the woman raised her arms to the sky, calling out to those around her, “Now is the time for all couples to declare their love by participating in the Bonding Ritual. Please join hands.”

Lyn grabbed Ky’s hand and stood. With her mate in tow, they joined the other couples to form a line, standing two by two. It stretched down the beach behind the fire.

Ky leaned over and whispered in Lyn’s ear, “What happens next?”

“We jump over the fire.”

“What?” The concern in Ky’s voice drew her eyes away from the fire to look at him. His dark brows narrowed over his icy eyes. “I’m not jumping over any fire.”

“Lower your voice,” Lyn whispered when the couple in front of them turned around in surprise at Ky’s protest.

The line advanced toward the fire, and the crowd cheered a couple who took the leap.

“You did not tell me the celebration required us to jump over a fire.” He leaned down, putting his lips next to her ear. “Vampires hate fire. It is one of the few things that can kill us. You can’t expect me to willingly jump over that. Look, over there. I see people who aren’t in line. Why aren’t they jumping?”

Lyn glanced over at the groups of people sitting on either side of the bonfire, Matt and Bret among them. “Jumping the fire ensures a long and happy relationship, financial prosperity, and many offspring. The ritual is only done by couples in a commitment.”

With the horde cheering, the line continued its advance as several couples took their turns to jump over the blaze in quick secession.

Ky watched another couple make the leap. “I am wholly committed to you, Daelyn. I don’t need to jump over a fire to prove it.”

“Yes, you do.”

Pulling his eyes from the fire, Ky looked at her with a hurt expression on his face that threatened to break her heart. “You doubt my love for you? Do you really believe that I will not remain with you forever?”

Lyn cupped his cheek in her hand. “Of course I believe you love me. I can see it in the way you look at me. But my family will not easily accept you, Ky.” She leaned closer to whisper, “because of what you are.”

“I do not care what your family thinks of me, only what you feel for me.”

The line advanced closer to the fire, and Lyn could feel its heat flush her face.

“But I care. They must accept you, accept us. We have many centuries before us and, despite what I said to Matt, I want their blessing.”

Ky brows rose inquisitively. “Did you say centuries?”

“Yes.”

His hot breath ghosted against her ear when he spoke. “Wait, demons live for centuries? I thought you were mortal.”

“We are. We don’t live forever, but our lifespan is much greater than a human’s. That’s why it is so important you complete the Bonding Ritual with me. I want my family to accept our union. It will make the next few centuries so much better.”

Ky straightened to his full height, his eyes slid from her face to the fire. “And if I jump this inferno, I will garner their blessing of our union?”

“If you do so three times.” They moved ever closer to the fire.

“Three times?” His blue eyes darted back to her face. “I’m expected to jump the blasted thing three times in order to win their approval of our relationship?”

Lyn nodded her head enthusiastically. “Yes.”

Ky let out a heavy sigh, and gave her hand a squeeze as they once again moved forward in the sand. The heat of the blaze engulfed them. “Then if your family demands proof of my love, I have no choice but to give it because I will not give you up, Daelyn. You are my heartmate, and I refuse to lose you a second time. The first time almost did me in. I learned I do not want to live without you, honey. And if I must jump over a fire to have you, then show me where it is, and I will jump it however many times you tell me to.”

“It’s right there.” Lyn pointed in front of them.

They’d reached the front of the line. The time to jump had come.