Cameron left and Matt cursed even as he pulled the bowl of gelatin back in front of him. Muttering, he spooned up more of the dessert. «Damned fey always speak in riddles.» But the smile that curved the corners of his mouth belied the light feeling in his heart. For the first time since witnessing the joining between Christy and Sebastian, Matt had hope for his own love life.
He sat in silence for a while, mulling over Cameron's words, when the back door opened. Hastings walked in and slapped a folder stuffed with papers on the table as he hooked a chair and sat down on the opposite side of the table.
«Glad to see you up and around, Matt.»
«Thanks. Me too.» Matt swallowed a sip of coffee and sat back. «So where did everyone go? The place looks like it's emptying out.»
«My team is going on shifts. Sebastian's asked us to help with security here. We're also going to be working with Atticus at the winery. This mess has brought a lot of business my way, but I can't say I'm pleased by the necessity. Still, the work is good to have. Vamps pay well.» Hastings wore the smug grin of a business man that almost made Matt laugh. The raptor had killer instincts no matter what the playing field.
«Where's Steel?»
«He took off already, but we had a talk before he left. He's going to be investigating his handlers in the AC from here on out. Any jobs he takes for them will be strictly for show and as far as they're concerned, all of Kelly LaTour's friends are still mortal and he has no idea what happened to their boy Mario.» Hastings snagged a mug from the counter behind him and poured a cup of coffee for himself. «Steel is going to work with us to figure out what's going on over in the Altor Custodis and just how deep the Venifucus threat goes.»
«Sounds dangerous.»
Hastings sat back, his eyes going cold. «It is, but Steel can handle himself. He's just the kind of man we need on the inside.»
«I'll drink to that.» Matt raised his coffee cup and Hastings joined in the toast. Steel had impressed quite a few of them with his skill and strength under fire, not to mention his deep and true remorse for what had happened to the people he'd investigated in the past. Matt knew the former Navy SEAL would work hard to make up for his mistakes, though he'd have to live with the guilt for a long time to come. Still, he was a worthy ally and Matt was glad Steel was playing on their team now.
At sunset that same day, Christy woke in Sebastian's arms.
«Good morrow, my love.» Sebastian stroked her hair as he gazed deep into her eyes.
«Have I told you yet today how much I love you?» She knew, looking up at him, that this was the man she would spend the rest of her life with, though the possible length of that life still boggled her mind. He'd changed her life so drastically, and all for the good. It was hard to think now about the person she'd been just a few weeks before. How could a man like this want such a weakling? The idea still made her pause.
«I knew you were special the moment I saw you at that wedding, Christina. You should be able to read that much in my memories. I have no doubt we were meant to be together.» He leaned in to nibble at her throat. «I cursed the fact that you were married and had plans to wait for you, no matter how long it took. Eventually, you would be mine. I had faith.»
Amazingly, she could feel the truth of his words. Just as she'd dreamed of him when the nights were long and lonely in her troubled home, he'd held hope that someday she'd be free and they would be together.
«I dreamed of you, Sebastian, so many nights.»
«I know.» A wicked light entered his eyes. «But I bet you never counted on some of the things I demanded of you. Can you ever forgive me for springing Matt on you so soon after your trauma? If there'd been any other way, I would've taken it, but that first meal was crucial.»
She smiled up at him. «I understand your reasons now, but I will admit, it was hard to take at first. I mean…» She felt heat rise to her cheeks as she remembered those first encounters. «I had all this new, sexual energy pushing me to do things I'd never done before, though I had fantasized about some of them. Some of the things we did though, I never thought of in my wildest dreams.» She laughed with embarrassment and a growing sensual thrill as Sebastian's fingers trailed over the sensitive skin of her abdomen.
«I knew Matt would treat you right and push your boundaries. I'm glad it worked out, though I was worried you might hate me. Or that you might prefer Matt to me. Of course, then there'd be one less werecougar in the world today.» His dry tone made her gasp with scandalized laughter.
«Sebastian!» She pushed at his arm, knowing he was only teasing about doing away with his friend, though she could feel the very real fears he'd harbored before they'd been joined. «Do you think Matt will be okay now?»
«He'd damn well better be. I don't like sharing.» He tightened his arms around her, snuggling her close.
«Don't you?» She blinked up at him, teasing him with the thoughts she could read in his mind. «That's not what you thought last night.»
«Well,» Sebastian cleared his throat, playing along, «perhaps I should rephrase that.» He moved quicker than lightning, laying her flat on the bed while he loomed over her.
His eyes were hot with desire, his body warm over hers. «You're mine, Christina.
Forevermore. You are my sun, moon and stars, my days and most importantly, my nights.
I'm a jealous man, my love, and I won't be so generous with anyone other than Matt.
And even then, not often. He needs to find his own mate, but until he does, we can't ignore the fact that he's joined to us.» He leaned closer. «To do so would be cruel, and even I will admit, the possibilities are…intriguing.»
The fire in his gaze made her squirm. «Sebastian, I don't think-«
«Good.» He leaned in to kiss her. «Don't think.» He kissed her again. «Let me worry about Matt and his role in our lives. Given time, I think it'll all work out, my love. You'll see. For now, I just want to claim my mate again. And again. And again. I want you to never forget that I'm the man you will walk into eternity with.»
«I could never forget that, Sebastian. I may be your days and nights, but you're my future. My forever. I love you, Sebastian.» She strained upward and kissed him, looping her hands around his neck to draw him down, over her. She put all her love into the kiss and the long, languorous loving that followed. They were One in mind, heart and body, as they would be forevermore.
EPILOGUE
A few weeks later, Christy and Sebastian walked into the courthouse just after sunset. Sebastian had used his influence-both political and magical-to get time with a judge willing to see them at night.
The were lawyer, Morgan, represented Christy in the action they'd brought against Jeff. Sebastian had paid a little private visit to Jeff and once again used some of his vampiric power to convince the man that fighting them in court would be detrimental to his health. The bully backed down with a whimper and didn't contest the divorce proceedings. Sebastian had even procured a lawyer for Jeff, to be certain there would be no doubt in anyone's mind that the proceeding was legal…and final.
Once the papers were signed, the couple went home to celebrate all night long– privately.
They celebrated again a few months later, with their friends, at an elaborate wedding held at Sebastian's estate. All of Christy's college friends came to the wedding, some of them already part of the supernatural world, some only just becoming aware of such things, and one who knew nothing at all…yet.