"You are covered in blood."

Nolan pressed against Jasper's cold body, gripping his wild curls as he ran his hand down a sculpted arm. He ran his tongue along his mate's collar. "Not mine." he muttered. He pulled at his button-down shirt. "Off. Now."

The answering growl was low in his ear, and he bit impenetrable flesh. He hadn't seen the other in a few weeks, though he supposed here it must've only been a day or two. Jasper's teeth grazed the mark on his throat, the one those very teeth had placed on him. His hands pulled Nolan closer as he moved them across the room and pressed him to the wall, sliding his hands under his shirt. Nolan groaned at the feel of cool hands on his skin. He was pulled into the bathroom and the shower suddenly came on before his clothes were being removed and a bare chest was pressing to his own heated one. Nolan was painfully hard, his body was hot and shaking and adrenaline-laced energy still coursed through him with the ardor of wild horses from the recent fight. Reilys had shown him where the demons had been spotted and he tracked a trail to a den of about two dozen in a cave a few miles out in the mountains. Nolan hadn't fought a demon in some time, and even though he had felt sick at the sight of the creatures and entirely enraged with the onslaught of emotions that had consumed him all at once, there was a simple purity to it, to fighting in an instinctual environment. Nolan had countless reasons to kill the demons but at its very core it was nothing but a fight for survival, and that instinct was imprinted into his very bloodline.

Hot steaming water pounded down on him as he kissed Jasper. The tile wall was cold against his back and burning gold eyes stared at him. "What happened, where were you?"

"Demons at the border. It seems most of them had already gone."

Jasper frowned, his blonde hair darkening from the water. "I don't like this."

Not only was Jasper his Mate but Nolan considered the vampire his Second. The man was fucking brilliant, and Nolan never doubted his tactics. He pushed his wet hair out of his face. "You and me both. I don't want to talk about this now." he smirked as he wrapped his hand around Jasper's swollen erection and tugged. "Now please shut up Jazz."

His hips rolled forward. "Yes my Ahrahn."

Nolan shuddered. "Fuck that's hot." the water ran a dark red as the blood washed away. Nolan grasped his hair. "Say it again Jas. fuck me and tell me."

Teeth caught his lip. "whatever you want Darlin'."

The bathroom door opened and the curtain ripped away. Javan's glowing eyes traveled over them as he smirked slowly. Nolan gave the man an impatient look. "What Javan?"

"Don't stop on my account."

"Believe me I won't," Nolan muttered before he pressed a hungry kiss to Jasper's lips.

"Where's Anala's last sketchbook?"

"Don't know."

"Think."

Jasper growled. "Leave or I hurt you."

"Save that for later. You know I like having you all hot and bothered soldier."

Nolan tried to think above the idiocy and combined sexiness in the room. "Jay unless you plan on stripping and joining us get the hell out."

"I'm tempted." he was running a hand down Jasper's back, making him groan against Nolan's shoulder as the blonde slid his hands lower, fingers sliding into the cleft of Nolan's ass. "You two are always fun, but I need the book. Maybe later."

Nolan tossed his head back, hissing as Jasper pulled their hips flush together. "Dear Goddess!" his cock throbbed painfully and he bit his lip. He pressed his hands against the vampire's back and swore.

"Check her room."

Crimson eyes rolled. "Don't you think I checked there?"

"Then she hasn't started anot—" Nolan froze. He met Javan's surprised stare. "She hasn't started another one." he paused, thinking for a moment. "It could be a good thing, Jay. Things are different now." that was the reason she left in the first place. She needed time away from this place, to regain her bearings after everything, and the temple had always been a safe haven for her.

Javan merely hummed. His eyes shifted and he tilted his head. "There's blood on your face."

"Yeah I just killed some demons."

"That doesn't sound good."

Jasper's tongue traced his collar, making him groan.

"It probably isn't, but I'll take care of it."

Javan nodded and turned, walking out and shutting the door. Jasper kissed him deeply and Nolan touched his face. "Love you."

"I love you too," he whispered against his lips. The vampire spun him and Nolan pressed his hands to the cool tile, grinning. His body pulsed as Jasper's slick cock pressed against his entrance. "You miss me?"

In one smooth motion Jasper slid into him completely, grazing his sensitive prostate in the process. Nolan groaned as his head fell back against his shoulder. Jasper's arms came around him, holding him against his chest and fingers brushing his nipples. "Like crazy." the deep southern twang of his voice was like warm honey and Nolan lived for it. "I missed your smell, your heat. Can you feel it? Can you feel what you do to me, Nolan?"

Jasper's ever-growing lust was wrapping around his body and the restless, whirring power was making him hyperaware of how every movement the blonde made was like fireworks under his flesh. Nolan's fingers clutched the tiles as a hand wrapped around his sensitive erection, pumping him slowly as his head was pulled back.

"Jas!"

Sharp teeth sank into his throat and Nolan's entire body jerked, a rush of fire spreading through his body. The tension in as his body soared, peaked, and imploded as he came violently, shouting. Jasper growled lowly as his cock buried to the hilt and pulsed deeply with his release. He shuddered as Jasper's fangs retracted, lapping at the blood on his throat and slowly pulled out of him. Nolan panted and leaned his head against the cool tile wall. After a moment Jasper pulled him to stand against him, reaching around to run a soapy cloth down his chest as soft kisses were pressed to his nape and shoulder. Nolan closed his eyes.

"I'm keeping you here tomorrow."

"I can't," he turned, watching the water trailing down his pale face.

Jasper's lips curled as he moved closer until their bodies brushed lightly, trailing his golden eyes to his lips. "I wasn't asking, nor was it a request."

Nolan felt his hackles rise and he smirked playfully. "Is that a challenge Whitlock?"

The vampire's head lowered and cold lips trailed a path down the side of his neck and the cloth ran up the length of his back. "You can take it any way you want. But the fact remains, your ass is mine tomorrow."

Nolan knew he had to return to the real world. He would have to find answers to the demon activity that may or may not bring his progress on rebuilding an entire kingdom to a screeching halt but for now, Nolan wanted to do nothing except feel his mate's body wrapped around him and contemplate the day to come.

Anala listened to the sound of birds outside, to the soft swishing of the curtains that billowed in the breeze. Sunlight filtered through the opening in the ornate dome ceiling and the open arches that held the thin orange drapes. This was the room she had dreamt of when she saw Iliana. Anala had spent years in this room with the woman who sat across her now. She had learned here, meditated in the warm circle of sunshine or pale moonlight, was taught what it meant to have her gift and her duty to her people. this was the room where Anala had raved in anger and confusion as she learned of the darkness the world held and where she learned how to feel the life that connected beyond the realm of the physical, that death was an existence all of its own she had the power to use. And now, this was where Anala was doubting everything she believed about herself.

"What is bothering you Anala?" Iliana was posed at a tall stand, a small bluebird perched on her finger, eating the seeds she offered.

"There was a day, long ago, where I stood before you and my sisters and swore that I would serve the Goddess. That I would do everything I could to help the Layame and recognize the sanctity of all life, that I would not upset the balance and take life and succumb to the darkness. I have done all of those things Iliana. I do not deserve the mark I was gifted with but every time I attend the prayers and walk the halls I feel her—" Anala stopped and took a breath, tears pooling in her eyes. "I saw my death. Why would she allow me life again? Especially after all I've done?"

The bird fluttered out of the opening, a series of quick chirps leaving it. Iliana made her way over and sat with Anala.

"Anala, you seem to believe you are being punished somehow. The circumstances of those violations do not warrant scorn, child. It isn't the forgiveness of the Goddess you must seek. You have to forgive yourself."

Anala blinked, a few tears sliding down her face. "How am I supposed to forgive myself when my very existence is against nature?"

Iliana shifted on the large blue cushion she sat on. "If you're life was meant to have ended then you would not be here now. You serve a purpose Anala. Never forget that."

"I have seen nothing that supports that. Not a single vision since I returned. Is something wrong with me?"

"No. if you are meant to have answers to your reason for being here then you will receive them. You cannot force a vision Anala."

"I know that."

"Then stop questioning yourself. You need to come to terms with the things you did in the past and make your peace with it. That's the only way you will be able to move forward." Iliana reached out and took her hand. "And you have chosen a mate to celebrate your life with."

Anala smiled at the thought of her vampire. She could feel his energy, somewhere below them. He was likely doing something Iliana had tasked him to. Mostly it was manual labor: retrieving firewood, helping in the kitchens, or whatever else needed to be done. "I never thought I would take a mate. After I saw my death it never really seemed like a possibility for me."

"Yet here you sit with the very mark on your chest."

"Do you not like him?"

"It isn't a matter of if I like him or not. I do not know if he is worthy of you."

Anala tilted her head. "Do you think he isn't?"

"I'm not blind. I can see something there, a pain you think I cannot see." her gaze was sharp and knowing, making Anala feel like she was a child again and had just been caught trying to deceive the woman.

"I met him before I died, before I even remembered. I returned and . . . he'd changed. We both did." Anala frowned at her mentor. "What if it's me who is unworthy of him? I think your judging him too quickly."

Iliana's copper eyes became sad and she was quiet for a moment. "I'll just have to see now won't I?"

Anala reached out and squeezed her hand. "He is a good man Iliana."

The woman hummed noncommittally. "I'm sure."

She tucked her long brown hair behind her ear and Anala shook her head. Nothing she said would convince the other woman of the truth. However Anala found herself smiling, at least Iliana wasn't showing complete contempt towards him. It was a start. Anala stood and made her way to the open terrace that extended along the outer wall. There was no railing, the floor falling away to open air. She looked out at the open grass and trees. The air ruffled her hair and a familiar yearning took hold of her.

Iliana said she had to forgive herself. Anala wasn't quite sure how to do that yet. But Anala knew where she needed to start. She felt the warm ripple in her back and a slight ache as her wings came forth. Every time she had felt ready to take off into the sky she always found herself frozen on the spot. Emmett had been there the first time it had happened, and Anala had played it off smoothly enough to not make him worry. She had been afraid, was afraid. Anala wasn't afraid to fly, it was instinctual and freeing but she had been having a hard time accepting that this was her life again. After everything she had been through, she was alive, and it was okay to want it. To hope. Anala shifted her feet on the ledge and took a steady breath before letting her body fall.

The air rushed passed her and the ground began to get closer and closer. Anala extended her wings and her breath caught as she was propelled upwards. Anala looked up and her wings flapped almost reflexively, sending her higher into the sky. Her heart was racing and her lips pulled into a wide smile as the sky opened up to her and her muscles worked flawlessly to move her through the air. The wind was cool and fresh on her skin. Anala was weightless. Blue spotted in white extended endlessly in every direction. She was light and clear and utterly free for the first time in an entire lifespan of chains and restraints. Anala laughed breathlessly, tears slipping down her cheeks.