Heart of Stone (Rock Star Fairy Tales #1)

Chapter 60

C h apte r 60

Claimed and Reclaimed

After Midnight, Monday, M arch 16 th in the Old House in Sor ne, Arillo

A t some point during the magical onslaught, Ash sidestepped, moving them both through space, mouths still connected in a soul-sear ing kiss.

Margot’s ears popped, body protesting the sudden elevation difference between the Aerie and the low-lying lands of their old house in Sorne. She recognized Ash’s bedroom, the small bed with its worn blue blanket pushed against the wall, the faded posters of other rock stars, the empty guitar stand in the corner, his brown dresser, the top covered in a layer of dust. Beyond the wall next to his bed lay her old room, her bed pressed against the s ame wall.

Sometimes, when she slept, Margot felt like she could reach through that wall and touch him. Now, there was no wall, only the overwhelming force of Ash’s will surrounding her, smothering her. It covered her in an instant, and she felt the bond snap into place, feeling at once whole and completely shattered, everything she was reforming into a new Margot, one who was completely and utterly Claime d by Ash.

Oh no, she thought, tearing herself away from him, gathering her own will. You will not Claim me without consequences. Without thinking or knowing how she did it, Margot copied what Ash had just done, enjoying his wide eyes as she slammed her own magic into him, the blow making him fall to his knees in the old room. She felt him fighting it, fighting her, more aware and able to defend himself than she had been, but Margot was persistent and angry. Her rage made her magic stronger, and she could feel his resistance fading , ebbing.

Surrender to me, she demanded, looking down at him . You know you want to.

I can’t, she heard him thin k. I won’t.

You will, she demanded. pushing even harder. If Ash was going to Claim her, then she was going to Claim him right back, keeping them on even ground. If they were ever on eve n ground.

She pulled him up to her, a hand twisting in his hair as she pressed her body against his, feeling the attraction between them, the wild desire spil ling free.

Mine, she heard Ash say in her head as his arms wrapped around her . Alwa ys Mine.

Yours , she agreed , but also Mine. Her fingers worked frantically at the front of his tuxedo, needing to be closer. Ash stepped back, sitting hard on the bed and yanking her atop him, one hand freeing his pants as the other shoved her dress up, both of them crazed with the magic, the push to complete the connection. Margot found him just as he jerked her forward, filling her, and everything in Marg ot lit up.

Ash opened his eyes, really seeing her, and then he ducked his head, chin dipping as he let the magic flow over him, surrounding him and encasing him, the Claim settling in to place.

For a long time, they stayed that way, Ash inside her, chest heaving from his exertion, Margot atop him but not moving, her own heart pounding in her ears. When she finally returned to herself, feeling her body again, she stared at him, truly seeing him with her new eyes.

He was b eautiful.

Of course he’s beautiful , she reminded herself. You k new that.

But the Ash before her was glowing, a soft red flame outlining his body, and she could sense the raw power within him, power that was now at her disposal, should she want to call on it. Transfixed, Margot held out her hand, palm up, and imagined a small flame dancing in her hand as he had shown her. The fire was warm, tickling her skin but not painful, though she knew that it could burn anything down if she want ed it to.

“Wow,” she breathed, her voice loud in the empty house, and Ash looked up at her. For a second, Margot wondered what he saw, but then she could sense it, could see herself through his eyes, and the image was fr ightening.

She was a fae creature with wild dark hair, eyes glowing bright blue as she crackled with electrica l energy.

Taking a cue from her, he held out his palm, a tiny ball of lightning appearing. “Go,” he said quietly, “when did you learn to conjure l ightning?”

“I didn’t,” she told him, but as she watched him, she suddenly knew she could, targeting the bolts here and there as she liked. “But I do now.”

Ash looked up at her, into her. “I see you,” he said quietly. “Al l of you.”

“I see you,” Margot whispered. “All of you.” She paused, and though it was obvious, she asked the question aloud. “Did we just Claim each other? We’re s o fucked.”

Ash nodded, fingers flexing as he played with the light around his hand, testing another of her abilities. “I think … I know what you know.”

“And so do I.” She peered at him. “Though I already thought you were a dragon.” She could see Ash in his memories, a huge black dragon the size of the house they stood in, leathery wings spread wide as he followed the wind, exhilaration flooding him as he flew above the clouds, diving and spinning in the air currents. “You can see the wind.”

“Half-dragon,” he reminded her. “And not only full dragonborn ca n see it.”

“So that’s what he lied about,” she mused and knew Ash was seeing the conversation with Tobin in her memory. “He was protecting your secret.”

“Interesting,” he said slowly. “I didn’t think he would defend me.” She watched as he saw more of her memories, pulling the secrets from her without any effort at all. He blanched as he saw Lord Rebinus in her trailer.

As the memories of Tobin played before them both, Margot remembered where she was, literally sitting atop Ash.

“Um…” she said awkwardly, moving forward and sliding over to sit on the bed next to him. Ash adjusted his pants, putting himself to rights again. “That was … intense.” She laughed softly, emotions raging through her. “You did say it would involve sex, though I didn’t think that’s what yo u meant.”

“Claiming may involve sex,” Ash said, “but that’s not what it means.”

“Love then?” Marg ot asked.

Ash reached out to stroke her cheek. “If love made a Claiming, you would be here with him,” he said softly, “woul dn’t you?”

“What is it then?” she asked, feeling the magic all around them both, but not underst anding it.

“Can’t you see?”

And Margot could see—everything in him. It was amazing, and also horrible, knowing she was just as expose d to him.

“Is this what Claiming means? Knowing everything about someone?” Margot asked. She remembered how easily she had seen into Lawrence—and the way his interest had morphed into slavish devotion. Will that happen to me? Has it already happened?

“The Claimer knows everything. The Claimed only knows their side, the loyalty, the fealty, the need to please their Lord.” Margot took that in, adding it to what she already knew about Claiming.

Lord Rebinus knows this about everyone beneath him. No wonder it’s so easy for him to cow the others—and why they fear him—while longing for his approval.

“Is that what you feel?” she asked, enjoying the feel of him next to her on his bed, years of longing to be with him echoing from her to him. “You yearn to p lease me?”

“Just as you want to please me,” he replied, turning to face her. “I shouldn’t have hesitated, Margot,” he said bluntly. “I should have protected you from the start.” She could see his regret, but she didn’t expect to see him approach his father after the faeng attack, after that disastrous moment in the green room where it had been easier to fall back into old habits than face the possibility of a life with her. He had demanded the right to defend her next time, the right to reveal himself to the fae, even if it put him at risk.

Lord Novus had agreed, sharing his news about the dragon alliance, provided Ash remained Unclaimed and on his way to becomin g a Lord.

A promise Ash had just broken to be with her.

She could see it all: his desire for her, his internal struggle between loyalty to his father and his people and the temptation she represented, the powerful magic he kept hidden from everyone.

“Oh, Ash,” she said, seeing a young boy covered in soot, eyes wide as he stared at Tobin, his older brother picking him up and promising him that the secret of Ash’s power would die with him.

She sighed, seeing Tobin in her mind, wondering how he would react to what she had done. “He knew,” she told Ash, “and he never told anyone. I don’t think even Rebinus truly knew. Tobin kept that loyalty to you. Held onto it. He even lied to me about it.”

Ash nodded. “I never knew how deep his loyalty to me went. I assumed it all vanished with the Claiming.” He peered at her, and she knew he longed to kiss her again, to feel her body against his. “What about your loyalty, Go? You still choosing my brother?”

Margot considered his words. She could talk about Tobin’s loyalty, but she had just broken her word to him. Though he had insisted he didn’t expect her to resist Ash, Margot still felt guilty for that moment—and the desire for more still tingling under her skin.

It’s just sex, darling. She could practically hear Tobin say it. But i t wasn’t.

“I think I love him,” she said, the words falling from her lips despite herself.

Ash nodded, but she could feel the flinch of pain within him. “And me?”

“I’ll always love you,” she said, the truth heavy between them. “But I think I resigned myself to never being with you.” She frowned, the outside world struggling to get back in. “What happens now?” she asked. “We Claimed each other. Doesn’t that fuck up your precious fae h ierarchy?”

“It does,” he admitted, turning the full force of his honey gaze her way. “Right now, I don’t care. We can sort it o ut later.”

“Later?” she prodded, feeling his need for her just as her own rose to match it. “This is insane, Ash,” she mumbled, a hand reaching out to meet his, palms pressed together. “It’s … too much.”

“I just need to kiss you,” Ash said, voice low and husky. “Please kiss me.”

Margot closed her eyes, feeling the pull of the magic between them, passion swirling around them both. For a moment she hesitated, just to see if she could, but then she leaned forward, meeting his mouth with a hunger fueled by years of frustration. Lust rose in her belly, hot and demanding, and Margot climbed back on his lap, straddling him on the edge of his bed, the old blue blanket dipping under their combined weight. She Claimed him again with her mouth, her hands, consumed by the pull of their bodies, his excitement only spurring her on. They kissed for a long time, truly feeling one another, finally connecting a s equals.