Page 6 of Crimson Everlasting (The Crimson Vampire Coven #18)

T rent closed his eyes and held his breath as the full experience washed over him like a raging river. This was his beloved, and the urge to claim to sink his teeth into the tender flesh beneath his hungry lips was almost too much to bear, but he held himself and he resisted.

His love was not ready and not prepared. They needed to talk, and he needed to be completely honest. Emrys’ needs and desires mirrored his own, so he was pretty confident things would go well if he took his time and handled things correctly.

They both gradually came down from the euphoric high, and Trent took a deep breath, breathing in the sweet scent of his beloved, letting it sink in and take root in his heart and soul. "So beautiful." He muttered and rested his head against Emrys's shoulder.

"So handsome," Emrys whispered back. Trent wrapped his arms around him and carried him to the bedroom. Emrys had taken a suite with a private bedroom and attached bath. He gently placed him onto the bed and then went to the bath and came back with a warm, wet washcloth.

Trent cleaned them both up, taking special care with his amazing little beloved.

Emrys watched him but did not stop him or try to interfere.

He seemed to appreciate the attention, and Trent had plenty to give.

He finished and tossed the washcloth in the direction of the bathroom before joining Emrys on the bed.

Emrys grabbed the blanket from the foot of the bed and covered them both as Trent arranged the pillows and took Emrys into his arms. "I get the feeling that you have things to tell me," Emrys said after a few minutes of silence that hung heavily in the air.

“I have a feeling you know more than you're saying." Trent trailed his fingertips down Emrys' bare chest, loving the feeling and the way Emrys’ breath caught in his throat. A soft sigh was followed by a teasing glance.

“We both have secrets, my love." He said and leaned over, taking his lips in a soft, explorative kiss, sinking deep and pulling him close.

"Do you know what I am?" Trent lay his head on the pillow he shared with Emrys and waited for a response. Emrys' lovely green eyes traveled his face over and over again, and a slight smile graced his lips.

Emrys nodded without saying and then went on to explain.

"I'm human, thoroughly human, but also enchanted. I don’t know how it happens or how they chose, but the enchantment occurs out of the blue, with no warning and no explanations. It just happens.” Trent listened but wasn’t grasping exactly what he was referring to.

"I know that you're a vampire. I recognized it in your features when you confronted Mr. Grant.

God, you're handsome." He added with emphasis, and Trent felt himself blush.

“I’m fairly confident that the Crimson Corporation is actually the Crimson Coven and Alexander Stone is Master Alexander Stone.

I'm familiar with covens, although I've kept myself apart from the paranormal world.”

“You are absolutely right," Trent told him and cupped his cheek, running his thumb over his cheekbone and loving the soft warmth beneath his touch.

“What is your enchantment, sweetheart, and why have you kept yourself apart?

" Emrys didn't answer immediately; he closed his eyes, seemingly enjoying how Trent was stroking his cheek. After a minute or so, he opened his eyes and held Trent’s gaze.

“There are very few of us in the world. It happens when events and circumstances align, and no one knows exactly what those events and circumstances are." He was struggling, and Trent did not push; he stayed silent, attentive, and waited. “Have you heard of the everlastings?”

“Just recently, there was talk of such beings; some thought them to be myth, and others swore they were real.”

“Do you believe?”

“I didn’t have an opinion at the time, but it wouldn't surprise me that such beings exist." Trent smiled. "Are you an everlasting Emrys? Is that why you seem so mature for such a young man?” Trent had suspected there was more to his beauty than there appeared, and the fact that he was fully aware of the supernatural was going to make Trent’s life a lot easier.

“I was struck by lightning when I was twenty-five, and that was two hundred and twenty-eight years ago.

I was left for dead, but I didn't die. That fact had people treating me like a curse or worse, something demonic, so I quickly took off.” Trent listened, a little shocked by the age and thoroughly impressed by his ability to thrive under such circumstances.

“I met another like me, his name was Osin, and he brought me to a community. There were twenty-eight of us, and we lived together, supporting and covering for each other. Needless to say, immortality was not looked at as anything but demonic in those days.” He moved closer, and Trent gathered him to his chest, holding him comfortably and securely.

“I left a little over a hundred years ago and started living on my own. I started in Montana, living quietly, and then changed my name and moved to New York, and then I changed my name and moved here. When you never die, it requires a lot of relocating.”

"You've had two reincarnations." Trent clarified, and Emrys nodded. “Vampires go through much the same, but we manage to remain in our homes. The humans don’t look all that close, and we are able to transition with the help of the Coven. Sometimes a high-profile individual has to disappear for a few years.”

"How old are you, Trent?"

“I'm the senior in this relationship, being two hundred and eighty-four years old.” He chuckled, and Emrys kissed him.

“It’s so wonderful not being the oldest.”

"You'll find vampires much older than me at the coven and some of the hellhounds, or well over a thousand," Trent commented lightly.

“Hellhounds.” He blurted. “You have hellhounds at the coven.”

“Two are officers with the Crimson police department.”

"I bet they're good at their jobs," Emrys stated sarcastically.

“Very good.”

They fell silent for a few minutes, and then Emrys asked. "Why didn't you claim me?" Trent pushed the lovely red hair back from Emrys's face and stared lovingly into those green eyes.

“I thought you were simply human, and I wanted to make sure it was something you wanted. I didn’t want to force you to bond with me.

I will cause changes in you physically, and you will become my primary source for blood.

I can't feed from another once we bond. That’s a lot to drop without getting permission.

” He stated it as gently and honestly as he could.

"That was very thoughtful of you, Trent.

You're intelligent, powerful, gallant, and thoughtful. What a man you are, my love.” Emrys kissed him lightly and then rolled on top of him, straddling his waist. "So, what are these changes I’ll endure once we are bonded?

" He lay his head on Trent's chest, and Trent wrapped his arms around him.

"You'll be able to read my emotions, and we'll be able to communicate with our minds and emotions. It's not exactly words, but we'll feel each other's needs and fears and any strong emotion.” Trent was on cloud nine with his chosen in his arms and all explanations being simple and basic.

“I can sense some of that already.” He commented.

“Fate prepares us with gentle nudges and growing connections. It’s all in our destiny.” Trent spoke softly. “You’ll no longer be immortal, but you will still live a very long time. Your lifespan will mirror mine. I hope that isn't a deal breaker." He heard Emrys laugh.

“I’ve lived several lifetimes already. Immortality was not my choice. My choice is you, Trent. It will always be you." That statement caused a flutter in Trent’s heart that flooded him with a warm and endearing regard for the man in his arms.

"And I will always choose you, sweetheart, always.” Trent felt a quiver catch in his throat at the honesty and the, dare he say it, love in his lover's tone.

“I feel the connection, and I feel your heart, Trent.

You're everything I want and everything I need.

" He slid to the side and once again snuggled close.

"It's late, let's rest and continue this talk in the morning.” He suggested.

“For now, I just want to hold you and feel the promise that you represent.” Again, Trent was floored by his candor.

There were no games, no caginess; he was open and clear with where he stood and what he wanted.

“I knew you on some level the moment I saw you crouched down at the edge of that stream. I didn’t put the feelings and the sense of peace together right away.

I desperately wanted to get to know you, but it took a few minutes to realize that you were the one.

You were the one I’d waited so long for, the one who would stand with me in life and love forever.

" Trent followed his declaration with a possessive kiss, which Emrys eagerly reciprocated.

“We’ve sent out word to everyone from here to New York in search of a human over the age of one hundred and twenty-five years.” Cullen stepped into the room where Fergus lay with his parents on either side, holding his hands and desperately hoping for a miracle.

"Thank you, Cullen," Quinn said without taking his eyes off Fergus. "My father has left to meet with his contacts in hopes of finding something that will cure our dear boy.”

"This can't be the first time something like this has happened. There must be something we're missing." Alexander looked at Cullen, pleading for something, anything. Cullen felt an all-encompassing, crippling sense of inadequacy at that moment.

"We will find something, Alexander, I give you my word.

" With that, he left the room and sent an emergency alert to every soldier and guard, to every member of the Crimson Coven, to respond with a thought or a possibility, no matter how extreme or unlikely.

He needed ideas, and the Crimson Coven was full of them. Fergus would not die.

Trent woke to his phone alarm going off.

It was a Coven alert that was for dire emergencies and required everyone to respond and/or convene as soon as possible, depending upon your location.

He immediately sat up and opened the message.

“Oh my God.” He mumbled with his heart suddenly in his throat.

The message was catastrophic. "Oh my God.

" He said again, the shock and pain etched on his face.

Emrys sat up and put his arm around Trent. He was equally shaken by his worry, which was evident. "What is it, Trent? What's wrong?"

“Fergus Ravenscroft Stone, the sixteen-year-old son of Alexander and Quinn and heir to the Crimson Coven, is dying.” Just saying the words wrenched a panicked gasp from him. “It’s an unknown blood disease. He’s unconscious and fading.”

“They must have a cure. What have they tried?” Emrys was asking.

“The only thing that can cure him is the purified blood of a human born before nineteen hundred. Those that are bonded no longer possess the enzyme they require it has to be a human over the age of one hundred twenty-five years.” Trent shook his head as the reality hit him.

“There is no chance that such a human exists.”

Emrys took him by the arm and forcefully turned Trent to face him.

"Look at me, Trent." He stated his eyes traveling over Trent's face.

"It's me, that's why we met now instead of later, it wasn't for our welfare, it was for his.

" It took Trent a moment to catch up to what Emrys was saying, and then it hit him.

“You’re an Everlasting.” He said the words slowly with a growing understanding and enthusiasm. “You can cure him.”

“I can cure him.”