Immortal Rapture: Immortal Heart Read online

  Kyra huffed. “He won’t let me play with a bow… you know that, Iz.”

  They all smiled at Kyra, and Izzy sighed. “That’s because he wants you to be a proper young lady first… then you can follow in his warrior footsteps. Just like Aunty Holly.”

  Kyra smiled wide and snuggled deeper into Izzy arms as a large yawn stretched her full little lips.

  “I will become a proper young lady tomorrow.”

  Izzy kissed Kyra’s hair and sighed happily.

  It wasn’t long before Kyra was out, and Izzy was standing to carry her off to her bed.

  “She’s so good with her,” Holly noted as Izzy left the room.

  “She’s always been great with our niece and nephew,” Marie noted.

  “She came into Kyra’s life just as she needed her most.”

  Marie looked to Kat. “How so?”

  Kat smiled softly. “Kyra’s mom died a few months back. She and Bain fought when the freeze first took hold. Kathleen refused to come stay here at the castle. Bain refused to leave Kyra, so she came to stay with us. Not long after, we were all gathered around Kathleen’s pyre.”

  Marie shook her head. “I can’t believe all the things I don’t know about my own sister. She’s a mom and she’s this super powerful Fae who can heal and move shit like Uriah does…”

  “And manipulate fire, like my Kale.”

  “And she can sense emotions like Lothar,” Holly added. “She’s special and yes, very powerful. I saw her heal Uriah, it was… incredible.”

  Marie’s brow furrowed. “What happened to Uriah?”

  Kat smiled softly. “He was injured in a fire, none of us knew how badly, until Izzy had a vision about it. I wasn’t there when she healed him, but Kale told me about it. He said his wings were… well, in really bad shape. She fixed him up and sent him on the path that eventually led to you.”

  “Your sister was also amazing during our battle with the Dark. You would have been proud of the way she fought beside us.”

  Marie smiled. “I’ve been proud of Izzy all my life, and I’ve always looked up to her. I hate to think of her in danger, but there is no missing the lengths Bain will go to for her. I know she’s always safe with him. I just also know my sister. She’s independent and strong willed.”

  “That she is. She pretty much threatened me the first time we met… and she didn’t have powers at that point in time.” Kat laughed. “She is very protective of the ones she loves.”

  Marie nodded and smiled. Izzy returned, and they finished Brave before Kat switched out the DVD. Mathew McConaughey’s voice and leather-clad body filled the screen, and Kat sighed. She looked over at the others and grinned. “What do you expect? I’m a sex-fueled succubus.”

  They laughed. Marie snuggled back into the plush seat to get comfortable and popped a couple kernels of popcorn into her mouth and couple to Tracker. “Channing Tatum, half naked and dancing works for me.”

  Chapter Twenty-Five

  Izzy, Kat, and Holly all sighed as they took in the sight of the warriors all passed out throughout the couches and chairs of the hole.

  “This looks a little familiar,” Kat said, looking to Holly.

  Holly nodded in agreement.

  “I wonder what happened to Makyle?” Izzy said, scanning the room. She even peeked under the billiards table.

  Kat pointed to the open French doors where a soft breeze blew into the room. “My guess is he’s out there somewhere.”

  Izzy shook her head and grinned. “You deal with them, find something fitting for them to do today.”

  Kat and Holly exchanged impish glances and nodded.

  Izzy kicked Bain’s foot as she passed him, earning her a sleepy grin. “Is that my Izzy I smell?” He reached out and found her arm. He pulled her to him, earning a small yelp from her as she fell into his lap. With his lids barely cracked, he found her neck and nibbled at her skin.

  Izzy cupped his face and pulled back. “How are you feeling?”

  “Perfect now, sweetheart,” he mumbled as he tried to pull her closer.

  “No, you don’t. We’re one man down. I have to go find Makyle.”

  Bain pouted, his eyes finally open. “Why you?”

  “Doesn’t matter, Kat and Holly have a job for you.”

  Bain shifted his gaze to the other two women as they began the process of waking the warriors. He looked back to Izzy. “I’m not going to like this, am I?”

  Izzy laughed and kissed his lips softly. “Probably not.”

  She pushed off his chest and hurried out the French doors. She found Marie out by the garden, Makiah in her arms.

  “Good morning!” Izzy called out. “Where did you two disappear to last night?”

  Marie smiled. “It was actually early this morning. Makiah was hungry and well… he needed a bath.”

  Izzy arched a brow. “Oh?”

  “Yeah, he wasn’t quite tucked in properly.”

  Izzy laughed. “I see so, yes, a bath was in order.”

  Marie nodded. “I peeked into the hole and admittedly walked away. Plus, I thought the sun might be good for this little guy.”

  “It will be good for all of us. We haven’t seen much of it. Anyhow, you want to walk with me while I try to find Makyle?”

  Marie furrowed her brows. “You lost Makyle?”

  “It would appear so. Based off what the guys look like this morning, they had a good night. I’m not sure Makyle has ever had alcohol and if he attempted to keep up with the boys, he’s likely hurting this morning.”

  Marie nodded, and they headed into the hedge maze. No more than five minutes into their search, they found Makyle face down in the grass. Izzy squatted next to him. Planting her feet, she rolled him over, earning her a pained groan.

  “Makyle?” Izzy patted his cheek. “Makyle, come on. Wake up.”

  Makyle cracked open a lid, one diamond eye landing on Izzy’s smiling face. “Ouch… the sun is too bright. My head hurts.” He lifted his hand to shield his eyes from the warm, yellow light.

  Izzy grabbed his arm and forced him to a sitting position. Makyle looked around him, and then back to Izzy. “What the fuck happened?”

  She smiled and reached out to cup his head. Purple light flowed from her fingers, and she healed the aches that plagued him from the night before. “I am healing you this one time,” she said as she pulled her hands back. “Next time you have a hangover, you are on your own. I am guessing you learned your lesson.”

  Makyle smiled at her, feeling like a brand-new man. “I don’t remember much.”

  “What the hell were you drinking?” Marie asked.

  Makyle furrowed his brows as he tried to remember the name of the fruit-flavored drink Kendal had made for him. His eyes widened as it came to him. “Pink Muffs.”

  Neither Izzy nor Marie could hold back their laughter.

  “That was the response of the men last night. Care to explain?”

  “Later,” Izzy said as she grabbed his hands and helped pull him to his feet.

  ****

  “This is your fault,” Kale groaned to Uriah as Kyra placed a large hat on his head.

  Kyra smiled and cupped Kale’s face. “Uncle Kale, red is your color.”

  Kale grinned at her. “You think so?”

  Kyra nodded and moved to Uriah, and placed a big, floppy blue sunhat on his head. Cree was already wearing black, Lothar had green, and she had chosen purple for her father.

  “Aunty Kat, are you sure you don’t want to join us?”

  Kat chuckled as she looked at the ridiculousness before her. “No sweetie, I have work to do. You have fun with your uncles and your daddy.”

  Kat smiled at the glaring men in all their glory. Izzy had charged her and Holly with finding a suitable way for the guys to spend their day. Really, spending time with Kyra was a blessing, the makeup she had applied on them and the hats were more along the lines of punishment. Kat chuckled again as Kyra finished pampering the guys by placing a white feat
her boa around Kale’s neck. Kale lifted his gaze to Kat and grinned at her. She sauntered towards him and cupped his face in her elegant hands.

  “You have fun, I’ll be back later.” She pressed her lips to his and smiled as she pulled back, leaving only a whisper of space between them. “Red really is your color.”

  Kale groaned, snatching a quick kiss. “It’s your color now too,” he said as his red lipstick transferred to her pouty lips.

  Kat left the room just as Kyra began filling the tea cups. She smiled brightly as Izzy, Makyle, and Marie with Makiah in her arms were heading towards her.

  “What did you come up with as punishment?” Izzy asked brightly.

  “A tea party.”

  Izzy arched a brow as she stepped past Kat to peer into the dining room. She grabbed her cell from her pocket and snapped a picture. The flash caught all of their attention. Makyle stepped beside her and smiled, causing Bain to growl.

  Kyra shook her finger at her dad. “Proper young ladies don’t growl at a tea party.”

  Makyle chuckled. “You are so very right. Proper young ladies have manners while at a tea party.”

  Bain sighed, and then looked back to Kyra. “I’m sorry, little one.”

  “That’s okay, Daddy, like Izzy says, we learn something new every day.”

  Izzy smiled. “That’s right, now you boys enjoy your tea party. I’ll have some lunch brought out in a little bit.”

  Makyle chuckled, his head shaking as he headed off towards his room.

  “Should I set you a seat, Isabelle? Will you be joining us?” Kyra asked in her most proper tone.

  Izzy curtsied. “I would love to join you.”

  “Wonderful, and what about you, Aunty Marie?”

  Marie grinned, her gaze falling to a makeup-clad Uriah, who beamed at her. “I, too, would love to join you.”

  “Great, I will set a place for you and Makiah.”

  Kyra smiled brightly, her purple-flecked eyes shining happily and her curls bouncing as she moved around the table.

  Chapter Twenty-Six

  Marie smiled as she wiped at Uriah’s face. The golden bronzer that had been expertly applied was refusing to come clean of his skin. “I don’t know what kind of makeup they gave her, but it does not want to come off.”

  Uriah groaned. “I believe it was Kat’s makeup. She was feeling a little evil this morning. She seems to take pleasure in waking us early after we drink too much the night before.”

  “You make a habit of drinking too much?”

  “Not usually. It’s been a weird few days.”

  Marie tilted her head. “Weird, huh?”

  Uriah smiled. “Weird and amazing.”

  “Amazing sounds about right.” She agreed,

  “It does.”

  Marie smiled. “Well, as amazing as it has all been, you better go take a shower and scrub your face.”

  Uriah wagged his brows at her. “You gonna join me?”

  She narrowed her eyes coyly. “I might.”

  He arched a brow at her. “You might?”

  She laughed, placing her hands on her hips. “Convince me.”

  Uriah reached for her and kissed her deeply. “I missed you last night… And if you join me in the shower, I will convince you multiple times.”

  She smiled. “Mmmm, that does sound good, and I missed you too.”

  She looked from Uriah’s heated gaze to Makiah happily resting in his swing.

  Kyra had provided lots of stimulation for him today. She had already decided that she and Makiah would be best friends and when he was older, they would play all the time. She had a way with him already and was able bring out new expressions and noises that no one else could.

  “He’ll be fine, Marie. Probably be sleeping within a few minutes,” Uriah murmured against her neck as he pressed his lips to her sensitive skin.

  She nodded. “I know… and still I find it hard to let him out of my sight.”

  “I get it, it’s motherly instinct, but he’s safe here.”

  She turned to face him, a wistful smile on her face. “I know everyone in this castle will protect him without question, but I just want to be the one to do it. I already love him as if he were my own.”

  Uriah wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her to him. “And it is clear that he has bonded and loves you… just as I do, little nymph.”

  “I love you too… both of you,” she said before cupping his face and kissing him passionately. “Now, let’s go get that makeup off your stunning face. You make a much better looking man than woman.”

  Uriah shook his head. “I feel slightly insulted.”

  “Don’t be.” She winked. “I’m not into chicks.”

  Uriah lifted her into his arms and headed into the bathroom, flicking two fingers to gently swing the door closed.

  “Leave it cracked,” she whispered.

  Uriah shook his head and opened the door about an inch before he started undressing her.

  Makiah’s binky slipped from his lips and hit the small rug beneath his swing. As he geared up to wail his anger at the loss, the binky lifted from the ground and his chubby little hands guided it back to his lips. Within a few moments he was sound asleep , swaying gently in the jungle-themed swing Holly had conjured for him.

  ****

  Lady Esperanza stalked the halls of the Dark castle. She felt better, her strength returning after taking a break from Darion’s feeding. He needed her, but she couldn’t give him all of her. True mate or not, her interest was for herself, but a small part of her dark heart cared for the man who had barely left his bed since the battle. She yearned for the power that used to radiate from Darion’s very presence.

  With a deep breath, she calmed her anger at their situation. She had provided the vampires what they needed to make their way into the Light lands and capture what she desired. What she needed to fix her mate. The slick, black magic cloaks would help hide them while shielding them from the sun. One day she would find out how that bastard Evan, and even Holly, managed to walk in the sunlight. For now, it was of no importance. Instead of contemplating what did not affect her, she marveled at her own genius in providing them with a weapon to help subdue those who got in the way. Normally, she would have told them to kill anyone that hindered their path, but she needed them to succeed. She didn’t have time for their deaths.

  Soon, very soon, she would have what she needed. Once Darion was well again, they would rule together and even the Dark would cower.

  Pushing open the doors to Darion’s chamber, she was met with his gaze… he looked better. There was color in his cheeks and life in his glowing eyes.

  “Feeling better?” she asked as she moved to one of the armchairs near the bed.

  Darion smiled at her. “Ardea has been a good girl,” he said, looking down his naked body to the Magma’s head in between his thighs.

  Esperanza cool gaze narrowed. “Has she?”

  He smiled and reached his hand out towards her. “She isn’t without skill… but you know that, Essie.”

  “Indeed.”

  Esperanza stood from the chair and walked to the bed, taking Darion’s hand. He reached for the back of her neck and pulled her to him. “And still I’m hungry,” he said on a low growl.

  “Then she isn’t as good as you believe, if you find you are still hungry as she services you.”

  He grinned. “Perhaps I need my true mate to show her how it is done.”

  “Perhaps,” she said, pulling back and undressing.

  Reaching down, she fisted Ardea’s thick hair and pulled her from Darion’s throbbing cock. “Watch and learn,” she snarled, throwing her to the ground.

  Ardea dipped her chin. “Yes, My Lady,” she murmured, taking the seat Esperanza had just vacated.

  Esperanza straddled Darion, his hands falling to her hips as she took him deep inside of her. “I’ll help you, My Lord.”

  She smiled as she rode him. Knowing when the vampires returned he would
be healed, thanks to her… She would demand payment for this kindness.

  Chapter Twenty Seven

  Marie stood before the lake, a smile spread across her face as she glanced to her left, finding the path to the hot springs tucked in the trees. Looking back to the lake, she stepped to the water’s edge. Slipping her shoes from her feet, she dipped her toes into the chilly water.

  The snow was gone and the water lapped lightly, having broken free of the ice that held it still over the past months. She sighed and closed her eyes, feeling her body connect with the water. Her magic reached out to the element before her. It was the first moment she’d found herself alone since the fated moment she’d knocked on Izzy’s door to find Uriah healing in her sister’s home. Her life had new meaning. She’d been thrust into a world of fantasy and there was nowhere else she wanted to be, or with any other group of individuals. It had taken a lot of begging to get Holly to drop her off at the lake when she left to do her sweep of the eastern border.

  “Twenty minutes,” Holly had reiterated as she took flight.

  The guys were already out, Uriah was napping with Makiah… She had strongly considered just sitting there and watching them. It was a heartwarming sight to see Uriah with his son. He had finally found his rhythm as a father. Now he was no longer nervous about doing the wrong thing where Makiah was concerned.

  Kat had gone to the Human World to see someone named Jake and his seer girlfriend. Kat hoped she could help provide some answers. That left Izzy, who was with Kyra. It was her only chance at solitude.

  It wasn’t that she wanted solitude, but she wanted to see what her new powers meant without flooding Uriah’s bathroom, possibly the bedroom, and castle for that matter. Plus something about the lake called to her; it had the night Uriah brought her to its icy edge.

  With a deep breath, Marie clutched the hem of her dress and wrapped it tight around her thighs, and stepped into the water, allowing the cool liquid to lap against her bare legs. The water caressed her skin. She bent down and swirled her fingers through the water before cupping the liquid and, lifting her hand to her face, she blew against the small pool in her palm and watched it turn to ice. She arched her brow and imagined it thawing. Once in liquid form again, she imagined it lifting from her palm and floating around her. She found that her limitation with the element was merely bound by her imagination. More balls of water joined the first and moved rapidly around her before she imagined them shooting out into the lake like deadly bullets.