Between the Moon and Her Night (Between Life and Death #3)

Chapter 47

Sage

One Year Later

T en seeds. Ten sprouts. As green as my mate’s eyes.

I sat in front of my makeup vanity, my heart pounding against my chest like horse hooves against stone. In my clammy hands, I cradled a little wooden bowl. Inside of it, there was a truth that would change my life and Von’s forever—

Pregnant.

I was filled with such intense happiness, I couldn’t help but laugh softly as tears brimmed on my lower lash line.

We were going to have a baby— a baby.

The thought of Von holding our little babe in his strong, tattooed arms made my heart swell with pride. I placed the small bowl on the vanity and my hands fell over the flat of my stomach, my fingers brushing over the exquisite black crystals and intricate rose point lace that adorned the bodice of my gown.

“What will you be, my little love? A boy or a girl?” I asked as I smiled softly. “You are going to have the best daddy. Of that, I have no doubt.”

Von and I hadn’t been trying to conceive for very long, but I always just had this feeling in my heart that once we tried, his seed would take.

And take it did.

Two nights ago, Ezra had shown up here, at the castle, with a tin in one hand and a tonic in the other. When I opened the metal container, I found a cloth filled with Neptuah seeds. Ezra had said something about the rocks being off a year, but the month and day were right. When I asked her what the tonic was for, she said it was for morning sickness. A few hours later, we were cozied up on a settee, a blanket draped over our laps and a cup of tea in our hands. We proceeded to gab late into the night, until the wee hours of the morning. After she left, I placed the tin and seeds inside my bathroom vanity, not expecting to need to use the grains so soon, but after I vomited up my dinner—and nearly destroyed my dress in the process—priorities quickly shifted.

Now that I knew that the bond wasn’t causing my upset stomach, there was one big question left—how and when should I tell Von?

Knowing the territorial alpha male, I knew that the happy news would send him into a protective spiral. My divine feminine didn’t mind the thought of it—I adored how much attention Von showed me, how devoted he was to my existence, how protective he was over me . . . how protective he would be over our little one.

But today, of all days, I didn’t need him ripping the heads off any of our guests. Crimson blood and gold ichor were not a part of my color scheme—only black and canopy green. The colors that had won my heart.

I decided I would tell him tonight.

A string pulled—a familiar sensation.

I glanced into the reflection of the mirror, finding the incarnate of darkness and sin standing behind me. He was dressed in his regal King of the Spirit Realm attire, a silver skull propped on his shoulder and his crown of flame and bone floating above his raven hair, one side freshly shaven.

Every inch of him was lethal. Deadly.

But best of all? I bit my bottom lip. All of that was mine .

Striking green eyes, as breathtaking as a forest after it had been rained upon, met mine.

Oh, shit—

Green!

Eyes retracting from his, I looked to the sprouted grains set in front of me. I didn’t want to tell him yet.

I felt a bit of warmth come from my belly and suddenly the bowl full of sprouts was gone. I spared a quick glance down. Was that you, little one? Apparently, someone had picked up their daddy’s party trick of making things disappear.

I couldn’t help but grin.

“What are you smiling about, my darling little bride?” Death asked as he swaggered towards me, his incredible power brushing up against me—stroking my divinity, making her purr for him .

My skirts bunched as I rotated on the stool, looking up at the towering male. “I’m smiling because I’m thinking about our future,” I answered honestly, knowing that Von would see straight through my lie, so I didn’t bother with one. Rising, I closed the last stride of distance between us, my hands falling over his chest as he wrapped me in his strong, muscular arms—arms that would hold our little one in less than nine months.

My heart nearly burst at the thought.

Von’s black brows raised as his hand dipped under my chin and he pulled my face to his. “Your happiness tastes different right now, less citrusy and more . . . floral. Like the petals of a daisy on my tongue.” His eyes flickered between mine. “What’s going on with you?”

Creator above. This male was impossible to hide things from.

“Am I not to feel immense joy today, of all days?” I countered as I pulled back from him, stepping over to the cathedral-length veil that hung on the bathroom door. I ran my fingers over the fine black lace, the same floral pattern as my gown. When the veil was pulled out, a crescent moon would show at the bottom of it, nestled among a canopy of twinkling black crystals—a nod to us. I peered at my inquisitive mate over my shoulder. “Besides, I should be the one asking what you are doing here. Don’t you know it’s bad luck to see me before we exchange our vows?”

He let out a low, sexy laugh. “What can I say? I’m a greedy bastard. I wanted to be the first to see you like this .” His eyes raked down my body, taking me and my black wedding gown in, stoking my coals in the process. He walked over to me, his heat kissing my back a breath before his hard body pressed against mine. Starting at my elbow, his ringed fingers brushed up the length of my arm as he purred, “Seeing you wear my colors . . . it makes me feral.”

I shivered, committing his words, the way he said them, to memory.

His hand moved beneath my chin, guiding me to look at him. “Do you want to know one of the other reasons why I have come?”

“Why?” I asked, turning towards him.

His lips tipped up at the corners, exposing those incredible fangs. “I want you to feel my seed leaking between your glorious thighs as you walk down the aisle.”

“Oh,” I said, the word breathy. “But the dress—”

“Will be fine.”

“You could easily remove it,” I suggested.

“That would defeat the purpose.”

“The purpose?”

A wicked, wicked smirk. “Of fucking my bride in her wedding gown.”

Like a big, sleek jungle cat, he grabbed me. I squealed as he swept me up from the floor, carrying me with ease—something that was a feat in itself considering how much dress there was. His lips met mine as he lowered me onto the soft, black furs that were draped over our big bed.

Von’s kiss was molten.

Passionate.

Consuming.

I wrapped my arms around his neck, binding myself to him as he propped himself over top of me, between my arched legs. His hand dipped under the fabric of my dress and his fingers began to trail up my lace stockings. His touch was somewhat muted until he reached my mid-thigh where the stocking ended. His rough fingers brushing against my smooth skin had my legs shaking and my core aching.

And he hadn’t even touched me there yet.

I think we’re doing this backwards , I said through the private pathway that linked us to each other, my lips preoccupied with his. Aren’t we supposed to have sex after the wedding?

Don’t worry, little bride, he mused, fingers hooking my panties, snapping the crotch in two with the swipe of his hand. I plan to fuck you every chance I get today so that I can fill you with my baby.

I giggled softly against his lips—unable to help myself. Creator above, it was going to be hard to go the whole day without telling him.

He bit my bottom lip, causing a sting of pain. You find the thought funny. At that moment, he inserted a finger into my sex, all the way to the knuckle.

“No,” I gasped. His broad finger invaded me so thoroughly. They were always so much better than my own, so much bigger, longer.

Always such a good girl for me , Von praised as he slid his finger in and out. Keeping this pretty little sex of yours soaked and ready. He dipped a second finger inside, stretching me even more. The heel of his palm sunk into my clit, rubbing it in circular motions.

Do you know what good brides do on their wedding day? His lips roamed to my neck, his fangs scraping over the sensitive skin—not enough pressure to tear it, but just enough to make it swell.

“What?” I rasped out loud, his powerful fingers exorcising the sound out of me.

They bleed for their grooms . His fangs sliced into my neck. There was a sharp pinch of pain and then euphoria exploded.

“Von.” The husky moan fell like a prayer from my trembling lips, my hands weaving into his hair as he drank from me. When his fingers pulled out, I could have cried at the loss of him.

He pulled back, sinking onto his haunches as his shadows swallowed his clothes, revealing the war god’s seductive body—built to conquer.

I propped myself onto my elbows, taking view of the monumental cock standing before me—how my body managed to fit all of that , I would never know. Powerful veins roped around his steely length, a pearl of precum on the slit. My tongue darted over my bottom lip. How badly I wanted to taste him.

With one muscular, tattooed forearm, he stroked himself for my enjoyment. Then he leaned forward and released a mouthful of my ichor onto his cock, drenching his masculinity in my essence.

White-hot liquid heat pooled low in my abdomen.

“Do you like the sight of your blood on my cock, Little Goddess?” he purred, flashing his barbaric fangs, dripping with my ichor.

“Yes,” I rasped, the word more plea than answer.

“Tell me why,” he demanded softly, heavy, taut muscles flexing as he slid his hand up and down at a slow, easy pace. He was glorious.

I bit my bottom lip, released it. “Because it’s like I’m claiming you.”

“Now you know how I feel when I see my seed leaking out of you,” he said as he crawled over top of me, lowering himself into the cradle of my hips at the same time he aligned himself with my center. “Do you know what that’s going to do to me as I watch you come down the aisle?”

I shook my head, recalling that Von could see past clothes, if he wished to. Which meant that was exactly what he would be seeing—my thighs painted in him.

“It’s going to make it nearly impossible for me to stand there,” he groaned as he pressed himself in, and in, and in—so deep, it felt like the air was being evicted from my lungs.

“Fuck. Von!” I cried out his name, tossing my arms around his neck. With him, it always felt like I was being split in two, but it was a small price to pay for the pleasure he would stitch me back together with, for the ecstasy I would feel.

“I might just have to order everyone to leave, bend you over the altar, and take you right then and there,” he mused, his fingers strumming my swollen bud, sparking pleasure with the pain I felt at my entrance from being stretched so thoroughly.

“Yes,” I moaned, so completely full of him. It was a fullness unlike any other.

“I want this swollen with my pup.” His hand pressed against my lower stomach, over top of my dress. “So that every time I look at you, I’ll see the evidence of your submission to me.” Slowly, he began to work me in, his tempo increasing. “I want the world to see how pretty you look as you sit on our throne, growing my heir in your belly. I want them to see what a good girl you’ve been for me, taking my cum.”

At that moment, I nearly cracked—I nearly told him—but he picked up his speed and the words never got the chance to leave my lips, because I was too busy crying out for him.

Pleasure intoxicated my veins, making me feel as if I might combust. I channeled that energy into my fingers, running my claws down his back.

Give it to me, love, all of it, he purred as he thrust, and thrust, and thrust.

And so I did. I sunk my nails even deeper as he rode me into oblivion.

I felt pressure against my bladder, making me feel as if I had to pee—making me track towards my orgasm even faster. I looked down. Von’s hand was still firmly pressed against my lower stomach—it increased the sensation, it felt incredible.

“Ah, ah, ah.” The heavy sighs of pleasure danced from my lips in tune with his thrusts. I looked up at him, my eyes pleading for release.

“Come for me,” he purred. Then he leaned forward, his lips parting mine, his tongue slipping into my mouth. It wasn’t enough that he could hear the extent of my pleasure—he needed to physically taste it too.

I screamed as I came, the sound muffled by Von’s mouth against mine. Stars danced at the back of my vision as my consciousness flickered in and out from the intensity of my release. My body spasmed as I rode out those incredible waves of pure, unparalleled ecstasy.

Von lifted my hips from the bed, angling me as his molten seed pumped inside.

Take every drop, Kitten , he commanded through the bond as he kissed me, working his hips in such a way it felt like he was even deeper than before.

What are you doing? I asked, my hips rolling with his as he continued to do that even after we both had orgasmed.

He smiled against my lips. Ensuring I plant my baby deep inside of you.

With his length still in me, he swept two fingers beneath it, gathering the evidence of our joining. He broke our kiss, bringing his fingers to my lips. “Taste us. Taste how good your blood is when it’s mixed with my seed.”

I opened my mouth and his fingers dipped inside. It was a combination of salty and sweet, and it tasted incredible.

“Mmmm,” I moaned, licking us off his fingers.

He groaned, and it was one of the sexiest sounds I’d ever heard. Pulling his fingers out, he looked at me, his eyes renewed with that bright, vivid green I had grown so fond of seeing.

I kissed the tip of his nose, then said, “As much as I’m enjoying being with you like this—” I wiggled my hips, “—we have a wedding to attend, my love.”

He raised a black brow, his fingers playing with a lock of my hair. “We could just stay here for the rest of the day. I could have someone officiate on the other side of the door.”

“We have guests waiting for us,” I reminded him.

“I couldn’t care less.”

“Von,” I warned .

“Fine, little creature. Have it your way,” he said, kissing my forehead. Pulling himself from me, he got up.

He offered me a hand standing up, my legs shaky. I hoped that would wear off by the time I started to walk down the aisle.

He glanced down at my dress, a toying smile plucking at his lips. “Your gown is a mess.”

I looked down, eyeing the smears, as well as his massive handprint painted in my ichor, that was placed over my stomach.

“Fix it for me,” I told him, my hand itching to touch where he had touched, to connect the three of us, but knowing that maternal move would be a bit of a giveaway, I kept my hand loose at my side.

“So very bossy,” he teased before he did as I asked.

In truth, I was sad to see his handprint go. There was something sexy and romantic about seeing it there. First, was the sheer size of Von’s hand, which was a turn on itself. But second, it was sweet seeing his large handprint against my stomach, knowing that our tiny babe was already growing on the other side.

After Von left so that I could finish getting ready, I stood in our bathing chamber, my hand circling my stomach as I looked in the full-length mirror, trying to picture myself with a baby bump.

I felt a dark presence standing behind me.

Smirking, I rolled my eyes. Insufferable male .

“Von, you have to let me get ready or we’ll miss the wedding,” I huffed, turning around.

Something scratchy was thrust over my face, painting my world in darkness. I clawed at it, trying to get it off, but a potent, lung-choking scent clogged up my nostrils. I sputtered, breathing the cloth into my mouth with each ragged gasp for untainted air.

Fumbling for my powers, I conjured a barrage of daggers and sent them flying out around me. But they lacked structure, so when they hit my assailant, it sounded like a bucket of water splashed against a wall. Metal screeched, like rusty hinges being pried open, and then something hard was locked around my neck. Long, thin nails drove into my flesh without mercy, and my ichor rose to the surface. I cried out in pain, my nerve endings screaming as if they were being burned.

That potent, acrid smell continued to work on me, causing me to gag.

Causing me to panic.

The baby!

My hands dove to my stomach—my instinct to protect our child at the forefront of my mind as my muscles started to grow weak from the intoxicant.

I needed to protect our baby.

I needed to protect our baby.

I needed to . . .