7
I t had been the most idyllic three months of Cali’s life, also the most surreal, and she was still trying to figure it all out. She had her memories of this life, not that there were many good ones, and then everything else in between.
So many lives lived, but the only constant was Cillian. And he made her happy above all.
And he was a pleasant constant indeed. During the day, they would spend time together, and if he couldn’t be with her, at least she had Honk to keep her company. She was growing fond of her little goblin/unicorn companion. She and Honk liked to walk around the garden and the maze, and the thing she noticed the most was that life was creeping into the realm.
At night, much like the contract she signed stated, she belonged to Cillian and she didn’t mind that in the least. In the comfort of his arms, she was safe. Unlike the times before when she had existed in the mortal realms and at the mercy of anything. In Cillian’s realm and with new protections in place, she was safe.
Ever since she had regained her memories, Cillian was softer with her, but he was still hiding the truth from her as well. Not that she could blame him. She knew what was at stake, his mother had told her as much. The banshee had basically insinuated that Cali would be the complete ruination of him. So, she let him have his secret, because she wasn’t telling him that his mother had told her everything.
Even though it was hard to believe anything bad could possibly happen, because life just seemed to get better as the days went on, there was one thing niggling at the back of her mind— the enforced day of freedom that would fall once every three months. If Cali had her way, she wouldn’t take it.
She was worried about what it would mean. If she stepped back into the mortal realm, would someone try to kill her? It seemed to be her eternal fate.
And as she sat down by Honk’s topiary, that they were lovingly trimming as it had fully bloomed after she bled on it, she couldn’t help but worry. She didn’t want anything to change.
“Mistress seems upset,” Honk stated, flicking their tail back and forth.
“Honk, I told you to call me Cali.”
Honk shook their head. “Cannot do that. Not right.”
Cali sighed. “Fine. I am a bit concerned.”
“About what?” Honk asked.
“The day of freedom. I don’t want to go.”
Honk’s little mouth pursed together. “I don’t want you to go either, mistress. Tis not safe.”
“What’s not safe?” Cillian asked, walking toward them.
Honk looked away and continued trimming the topiary as Cillian came over and kissed her on the top of her head, before sitting next to her. He was dressed head to toe in black leather, certain pieces studded with sharp silver metal rivets, and she couldn’t help but wonder where he’d been. When he left that morning, he once again stated “wraith business.”
Although, she wasn’t complaining about the look. She quite liked the way the leather molded to his body like a glove.
“I was telling Honk that I’m not sure about this day of freedom. I don’t really want to go,” Cali said, taking Cillian’s hand in hers.
“I do understand,” he replied gently. “You must, though. We cannot break the stipulations of the contract. It’s binding and I won’t have the contract put in jeopardy for anything.”
“What do I even do when I’m there? My adoptive parents weren’t exactly great and they’re dead. Simon probably would have me committed again if I showed up. There’s really nothing left of my life, because I’m pretty sure that whatever I owned, Simon has sold off.”
Cillian squeezed her hand, his eyes flashing briefly at the mention of Simon. “If I ever…”
“No. You won’t do anything to him. No revenge killing.”
Cillian growled. “Fine.”
“And no random accidents or killing that way. You leave Simon alone.”
Cillian frowned and nodded. “Agreed. You caught me on that technicality.”
“Apparently, I’ve known you many lifetimes now and I know how you think.” She smiled and then touched his face. “I’ll go, but I don’t know what I’ll do there.”
What she didn’t want to tell him was that she had this dread gnawing in the pit of her stomach. This sense of foreboding that was overcoming her that she just couldn’t shake.
“I know what you’re thinking,” Cillian whispered. “It will be okay. You have more protection now.”
“How so?”
“Well, you gave your virginity to a wraith and in this realm. There were times you weren’t always so innocent when we were together, and it was never in this realm. There is some magic that flows through you and that can never be taken away. Not even by the breaking of the contract. Does that ease your worry?”
“Yes.” It was a lie, because she still couldn’t shake that sense of foreboding.
All she needed right now was to be with Cillian, before she had to step off into the unknown tomorrow.
“What would you like to do now, pet?”
“I would like to spend my last day with you, before I have to leave tomorrow.”
“You say that with such finality,” Cillian teased gently.
“It’s not finality, it’s just I want to be with you. Only you.” She leaned over and kissed him.
He smiled and ran his fingers through her hair. “I think we can arrange something.”
She stood and he scooped her up in his arms, where she was able to wrap her arms around his neck. Her body thrummed with anticipation, because if she only had this one last night with him, she was going to make sure that he knew how much she loved him.
How much she had always loved him.
Cillian carried her to their bedroom. Her body was thrumming with anticipation. He set her down on the floor, she pressed her hands against his chest and she could feel his heartbeat under her fingers.
“Cali, if you…” he trailed off, running his fingers through her hair.
“I know,” she whispered. “I love you, Cillian. I can’t…I don’t want to lose you.”
“Never.” He kissed her fiercely. His lips pressing against hers. It was overwhelming. As she melted in his arms, she gave all to him. Even more than her soul. His arms wrapped around her as she surrendered herself to him.
She was his.
Forever, and nothing would ever separate them again.
“I want to devour you,” he murmured against her throat.
“Then do it,” she answered breathlessly.
His hands ran down her back, cupping her bottom and squeezing. She could feel his hard arousal. She didn’t want anything between them, because she wanted to feel it against her skin. She wanted him inside her, claiming her, possessing her completely.
He chuckled, clearly reading her mind. “Your wish is my command, pet.”
Just like that, they were naked. He ran his hands over her body, teasing her, trailing kisses over her as he sank to his knees.
“I can smell your sweet arousal.” His breath hot against her thighs. Her body quaked, her knees felt week.
Standing upright was hard. All she wanted to do was lie on the bed and spread her legs so he could fuck her senseless.
“I need…” She couldn’t finish her thought.
“Tell me what you need.”
She moaned and ran her fingers through his silken hair. “Oh God.”
“Me. You need me.” He chuckled, scooping her up again and laying her on the bed. He spread her legs wide with his hands and buried his face in her pussy, teasing her with light kisses before dragging his tongue up her center.
“Oh God,” she moaned again. She bucked her hips as his tongue traced her clit, flicking it and licking it, before it slipped inside her as he tongue fucked her, all the while his thumb rubbed her sensitive clit. She rocked her hips, urging him to take her faster.
“Easy, pet,” he teased.
“Take me,” she begged.
He grinned, leaning over her, her thighs quivering as his cock sank into her. It was achingly slow, stretching her, filling her completely.
She thrust her hips against him, urging him to take her hard, but he continued his tease of slowly entering her, each thrust causing him to sink deeper. It was absolute torture. When he was fully buried in her, she rolled her hips and Cillian growled possessively. His hands on her hips, his nails elongating like he was going to mark her.
And she desperately wanted to be marked by him.
“What do you want, pet?”
“I want you to fuck me.”
With another deep growl, he began to pump against her, hard and fast. Angling her hips up to meet him as he fucked her hard, like an unbridled beast. Her body thrummed as her climax built, her blood pounding, and there was a moment of something deeper, almost like a connection and she could read his mind. Like she became part of his soul. They were fused in a blinding light.
She cried out as she came, her pussy squeezing him.
Cillian roared, spilling his hot seed inside her as she released fully. Her body was boneless as he slipped out of her and fell back against the bed beside her, panting. She rolled over to rest her head against his chest.
I can’t lose you.
Tears stung her eyes, and he held her, and she clung to his moment, hoping this time she’d be with him forever.
The next morning came so fast and that dread she had been feeling the day before was still gnawing at her like a ravenous dog. Cillian had closed himself off again, almost like he too was worried about this whole situation.
“Funny,” she remarked. “When I signed this deal three months ago, I was really looking forward to this day.”
“And now?”
“I think you know the answer.” She put on the clothes she wore the day she was brought to this realm. It was just jeans and a tank top, but Cillian had left the realm and retrieved her purse from the hospital storage. She was a missing person in Thunder Bay, but he had smoothed things over so that no one would pester her.
She could end what was left of her old mortal life.
“Well, this is the first of four. Once the year is up, you never have to go back,” Cillian stated. “Oh, and it’s winter in your realm now.”
“Now you tell me.”
He smiled. “Well, I didn’t think it was relevant last night. I was focused on something else.”
“So, once this is all done, I can stay with you forever?”
He nodded. “Yes. I want to go with you now, but I cannot. This is your day of freedom from my realm and from me. Our binds won’t hold, but you must return to the portal by sunset or else…”
“I know and I will,” she stated emphatically.
Cillian didn’t look convinced, all he did was nod. “Well, come then, and I’ll take you to the center of the maze and you can be on your way. You have to walk through the portal before the sun comes up in the mortal realm.”
Cali nodded and took his arm, but she was shaking. They walked out of his castle and through the now blooming garden. Honk was standing out there with a great big red handkerchief and was dabbing at their shiny black eyes.
“Honk, don’t be sad. I’ll be back,” she reassured, kneeling down to stroke their furry head.
“Yes, mistress,” Honk replied, their voice wobbly while Cillian just rolled his eyes.
“Pull yourself together, Honk,” Cillian growled, gently.
Honk nodded and scampered behind them, like a pet.
Her pulse was thundering in her ears as they approached the center of the labyrinth. She could hear the hum of the portal. It was a golden one. It moved like water and flame. Cillian took a deep breath and she looked up at him, his long black hair swirling around in the air from the portal.
“I love you, Cali. I have loved you for a long time.”
“I love you too,” she whispered.
His arms wrapped around her as he pulled her into a deep, tender kiss. One that she didn’t want to end, but did as he pushed her gently toward the portal.
“I’m scared,” she said, taking a step toward it.
“Don’t be. I may not be able to come to your rescue, but I have friends keeping an eye out. You won’t be able to see them, but if you get in trouble, head to the docks, to The Lusty Kraken , it’s a bar owned by a realm being by the name of Coraliane. She’ll take care of you.”
Cali nodded. “Okay.”
Honk was crying loudly as she turned on her heel, closed her eyes, and was sucked out of Cillian’s realm, then unceremoniously dumped back into her own, right by the hospital. Right where she’d made her deal with Cillian.
“Fuck,” Cali murmured and she rubbed her arms as it was a frosty morning.
He could’ve given me a coat.
“It is chilly, isn’t it?”
Cali spun around and a gorgeous woman with coral-pink hair was standing there, holding a jacket. She had a pleasant enough smile, but there were some similarities between her and Elodi that made Cali a bit suspicious. She took a step back.
“Relax,” the woman said. “I’m Coraliane. I own The Lusty Kraken. I believe Cillian told you about me?”
Cali relaxed. “He did.”
Coraliane nodded. “Good. You looked ready to run and I’m not much of a runner in my mortal form, so I wanted to reassure you I’m safe. However, if you want to go for a swim, well then I could catch you.”
“What are you then?”
“Mermaid. Though, I do have siren blood in me.” There was a malicious glint to her eyes that caused a shiver to run down Cali’s spine.
“I see.”
Coraliane just laughed. “I will not harm you. Cillian and I are…close. Though, I prefer females over males. Who do you think taught him some of his more female-gratifying tricks?"
For one second Cali grew a bit jealous thinking about Cillian with this mermaid, but he was pretty upfront about who he’d been with, and since her memories were restored, she remembered she hadn’t exactly been a saint through the ages, either.
“It’s nice to meet you.”
Coraliane held out the coat. “Cillian thought you might need this.”
“Thank you.” Cali took the warm winter coat and slipped it on. “I don’t plan on doing too much today. I don’t really have a place anymore.”
“No, not really. I looked into that for Cillian as well. Simon seems to have sold off your life and taken most of your money, but again Cillian has provided well for you. You just have to be mindful to be back here by sunset.”
“Could I spend the day with you?” Cali asked. “At your place of business? I like to keep busy and I can work, it’ll help pass the time and maybe I can borrow a computer to look up someone.”
Coraliane smiled, and this time Cali got the feeling it was more friendly. “I would like that, and then at sunset, I can make sure you get back here. It’s your day of freedom, are you sure you want to spend the day with me?”
“Yes, that’s what I want to do.”
“Good, maybe you can help me pick out a wedding present,” Coraliane said, as she hooked her arm through Cali’s and they began walking away from the hospital, down toward the docks.
“A wedding present?”
Coraliane nodded. “For a wolf bride and a sasquatch groom. Maybe they need some kind of grooming device. I have no doubt their child will be hairy.”
Cali laughed and breathed a sigh of relief, feeling instantly better about being in Coraliane’s presence and off the streets. At least she’d be safe at The Lusty Kraken. Cillian had said so and she wouldn’t be bored senseless, just wandering around Thunder Bay. She’d have something to do and something interesting to keep her busy.
Maybe she’d learn more about Cillian’s world, which was about to be part of hers.
Cali completely missed Cillian, and Honk, too. She’d gotten used to their presence when Cillian wasn’t around, but she was glad that Cillian had mentioned Coraliane and that the mermaid had met her when she arrived back in the mortal realm, and had let her work at The Lusty Kraken for the day.
She had never noticed the world beyond the veil, as Coraliane had called it, before. Now that she had been awakened by Cillian, she could see the veil shimmering. She could see how regular mortals didn’t notice all the beings around her, and she got to hear all the gossip about how this realm, known as the northern realm, had been freed from an Elven king’s rule. And she was able to use a computer and locate her birth mother. The woman wasn’t in Thunder Bay anymore, she was farther north in Kenora, but at least it was a start.
It was a long day and it seemed that time was moving slowly. She wondered what Cillian was doing while she was gone, but then it was more enjoyable to think about what they could do when she got back.
She hoped so.
“You ready to go?” Coraliane asked.
Cali nodded. “Yes. I hope when I return again, on my next day of freedom, I can come here and help you out again.”
Coraliane nodded. “I would like that. You’re a good worker and I’m glad you don’t hold an ill will toward me and my past dalliance with Cillian.”
“We all have pasts. Some of us have more…detailed ones.”
Coraliane chuckled. “That is true. Come, I better get you back to the portal before the sun sets, and then I have to get back and get ready for that wedding tomorrow.”
“Sounds good.”
Cali grabbed her stuff and followed Coraliane outside. It was dusk, and the sun was getting ready to set. She could feel the panic rising in her, and all she wanted to do was get back to the portal.
She and Coraliane walked back up to the hospital, but the closer they got to the hospital, the more she felt uneasy. Like someone was watching them. Coraliane grew quiet too, like she was sensing the shift in the air, and she quickened her pace.
They made it to the portal and Cali could see it glowing, just beyond the shimmering veil.
“I’ll see you in a few months,” Coraliane said.
“Yes.” Cali took a step toward the portal, then there was a burst of energy that tossed her back.
Coraliane screamed and was thrown back too by the blast, knocking her unconscious. Cali opened her eyes to see Elodi standing there, smiling.
“So, you think you can go back to him?” Elodi stated. “You think your love will break the veil and destroy us? I think not. His mother warned you what would happen if you stayed with him. I’m going to kill you, Cali.”
Cillian paced nervously by the portal on his side. He knew that something was wrong and the moment that the sun set in the mortal realm, his instincts were proven right. It felt as if there were a slice through him. His realm was lost then.
Honk was crying and the realm began to shake. Everything that had grown and was alive because of her presence began to shrivel up and die. His realm was no longer his.
“Honk,” Cillian called out. “You need to stay close to me.”
“Yes, master.” Honk scurried forward, shrinking themselves and climbing up into his pocket. He couldn’t take all the other goblins with him, only Honk, because Honk seemed to care about Cali and vice versa.
Cillian knew that Cali had not broken the promise. Something had happened to her. He’d find out what, but first he had to deal with the bet he lost. The realm that was about to be taken away from him and his plans that had been dealt a serious monkey wrench. As his realm was transferred over to Gootch, he felt some of his power fading. So much for time travel. He could feel invisible chains locking him to the northern realm.
Gootch appeared, grinning, and then his mother followed slowly behind.
“Well, well. It seems she didn’t return like she promised,” Gootch said gleefully. “You have lost, Cillian, and your realm is now mine!”
“I concede that, but I know that Cali was waylaid by another. She remembers who she is and has protection. So she didn’t break her promise.”
“Not for long. Not when I fully take control of this realm,” Gootch stated. “She has powerful magic protecting her now, but soon she will be mortal again and helpless. And mine.”
A shiver of dread ran down Cillian’s spine as Gootch said that word. As Cillian looked to his mother, floating there with a smug expression on her face, he knew that it was her who had betrayed him and that Cali’s life was in danger.
“So, Mother, you have set this up. Haven’t you?” Cillian snarled.
“You need to learn to not bind your heart and soul to a mortal. You’ve played with time for far too long and I know the reason why. You want to overthrow my father. You want to control all the realms and have mortal and magic mix once more. It’s what you’ve always wanted. So like your father.”
“I’m nothing like him. Spineless mortal he was,” Cillian snarled.
“Well, you’re stuck in the northern realm now, but I can give it all back to you,” his mother stated.
“How?” Cillian asked.
“Your mother has agreed to give me most of your powers, but I’ll hand this over and some of your freedom back, if you keep away from Cali,” Gootch stated. “You need to let her die and let her soul cross over the Styx. She won’t come back.”
Cillian’s blood boiled. “Why would I do that?”
“Her hold on you is not good for you,” his mother snapped. “You’re a wraith. Act like one."
“Is that so?” Cillian tapped his chin. “And how would a wraith act?”
“You’re playing with things you cannot comprehend,” his mother howled. “You don’t want to give up your realm, your powers. You’re Death’s grandson. Do you really want to walk away from all of this?”
Cillian looked around at his realm. The place he grew up. The sanctuary he provided to his half siblings who were lost, never born, or just plain evil. It had been his since the day he was born, but here it was stone and bereft of life. Magic and mortals were supposed to mix and didn’t mix enough. He wasn’t sure how he was going to bring down the veil without his powers, but he knew one thing, he couldn’t live this eternity without Cali.
“No. I don’t want this. Gootch may have my realm.”
“But Cali is mine!” Gootch hissed.
“I offer you a trade,” Cillian stated.
“Oh?” Gootch asked.
“My immortality. I’ll age and die once Cali ages and dies, but she belongs to me. You free her.”
“No!” his mother shrieked.
“Why would I care if you die?” Gootch asked.
“Then you’ll be the most powerful in the Netherworld you blubbery twit. Now, do we have a deal?"
“Deal,” Gootch agreed.
Cillian smiled. Cali had spilled her virgin blood in this realm, extending her mortal life, binding her life to his the moment their souls really connected when they made love the last night she was here. He’d protect her in the northern realm and they could live their life together, happily for centuries. And when it was time for them to age and die, it would be together. Their souls bound forever.
“You better hurry,” Gootch warned. “Her life is in peril.”
Cillian turned and walked away from them.
Gootch was laughing and chortling with glee, but Cillian didn’t care. He had to find Cali and save her. His heart couldn’t take losing her again and he knew if he didn’t save her in time, her soul would be lost forever.
The love, the bond that Cali and he shared was strong. It was a threat to all those who wanted to control the realms. Just like it had been too powerful for him to completely control, he saw it all now.
His mother floated in front of him. “Are you mad? You’re giving up everything for a mortal?”
“I guess I am mad,” Cillian stated. “But this isn’t an eternity I want to live. Without her, I am nothing.”
“You’ll eventually die,” his mother warned. “Too much time in that northern realm and the bits of your father will take over.”
Cillian shrugged and stepped toward the portal, before the connection was lost and his realm became fully in possession of Gootch. “I don’t care anymore. Good-bye, Mother. Oh, and since none of the beings in the realm belong to Gootch, I release all beings under my control. Except Honk. They’re coming with me.”
And with that final word, he stepped through as his mother screamed her banshee rage from the other side.