Cursed Heart_The Siren Coven Read online

  Damn it all, she's right. I can't keep her from fighting. She's the strongest woman I've ever known and that's not going to change just because she's mine. "I think the first thing we need to do is call your sisters and bring them here. You need a protective spell that keeps you from being summoned when you're not in this house."

  Her face drains of color. "No. We can't do that. Izzy's pregnant. Gwen is…she's fragile."

  "Gwen is not fragile. I've spent plenty of time with her. That woman is stronger than any of you give her credit for. There's a difference between fragile and soft. Gwen's strength is inside while you wear yours like armor."

  The furrow in between her brows deepens as she considers what I've just said. "I suppose you're right. But that still doesn't address Izzy. There's no way I'm summoning a pregnant woman. I can't risk hurting my niece."

  "I'll go collect them all. They need to be here. You know it's true. You may not need to be together anymore to be strong on your own, but you three are better together."

  She surprises me by reaching across the smooth wood of the table and threading her fingers with mine. "Can we leave the dog at home?"

  It takes me a moment to realize she means Grant. "I doubt Izzy will want to leave her mate an entire ocean away."

  "It was worth a try."

  I can't stop my laugh. She may pretend to hate the shifter who broke her sister's curse, but I know Helena truly has a healthy respect for the man. "I'll get them in the morning. Tonight, I want to enjoy my last bit of uninterrupted time with you."

  Her eyebrow rises and a fire lights behind her eyes. "Oh, you do, do you?"

  "I do. And I'll need every bit of strength to bring them all here. I'm sure I'll need to replenish my power after as well. It's going to be very…taxing."

  "I suppose I can accommodate your needs. But…"

  I'm aching at the flush in her cheeks. My cock is straining against my jeans and she's leaning forward, her full breasts tempting me from the low neckline of her shirt. "But?"

  "I'll need a promise from you."

  "Anything you want."

  "I want more than your fangs inside me. I want to feel you moving over me and taking what I know you've desired since that first night after I brought you to us."

  The imagery of her under me, bound and waiting for my body to fill hers sends heat racing through my body. I have to clear my throat before I can speak. "I don't…" How do I answer this? I want her. I want her with a ferocious need so all-consuming she's almost all I think about. But what if she runs?

  She stands with a seductive smile on her cherry-red lips. "Anything, you said. Anything I want. Now, come along, Fallen. I'm not the one who bites."

  10

  Tamiel

  This woman is testing my strength. I'm starved for her. "Helena, if you don't back away, I'm going to do exactly what you say you want."

  Her gaze meets mine and it's all challenge and desire. "Finally."

  "But you understand we can't go back after this? It'll never be the same between us." I grip her by the hips and lift her until she's sitting on the table.

  "You really think you're that talented in bed?"

  Her flippant attitude is proof she can't handle this. The depth of our true connection.

  I move back even though it physically hurts me to do so. "I need to tell you something first."

  "What could you possibly tell me that I don't already understand? You want me, I want you." I'm about to walk away, but she grabs my wrist and tugs. It's not in my nature to leave her side when she's in need of me. My heart gives a pang of longing at the earnest look in her eyes. She cups my cheek in a tender gesture that catches me off guard. "You lost so much when your soul mate died, and I…I've accepted I'll always be broken. Can't we just take comfort in each other?"

  I can't deny her now. Not when she just opened her heart and shared such a vulnerable piece with me. My lips connect with hers sending a wave of…rightness through me. This is where I'm supposed to be. With Helena.

  When I pull away, the taste of her remains on my tongue and I can still smell rosewater in the tumble of dark waves falling down around her shoulders. "If we're going to do this, it needs to be in a proper bed."

  Without a word, she hops down and leads the way. As she walks, she pulls her shirt over her head and drops it in the hallway. My desire moves from smoldering to an inferno at the sight of her bare back, long chocolate hair falling over her shoulders like a curtain. I want to run my hands over the impossible softness of her skin. "You're a vision."

  She surprises me by stopping in the doorway to my room and glancing back at me. I see it the instant her armor falls back into place. This is getting too real for her. "None of that. I don't need sweetness from you, Fallen. There'll be no tender words exchanged and no idiotic notions of love."

  That pisses me right the fuck off. Moving faster than she can track, I pin her against the door frame and run my nose along her throat. "I'll tell you whatever the fuck I want. If I think you're a vision, I'll say it. If your skin is soft as velvet, I'll bloody well make sure you know it. And if you think I'll let you run this show, you couldn't be more wrong."

  A flare of desire lights in her eyes before she flicks her gaze away. "You're such a prat."

  "Maybe I am, but right now, I'm going to take you until you're crying for release and begging me to keep you."

  I cup her luscious arse and walk us back to the bed. I need to get her under me, to hover over her, and watch her face as I make her come. It's my favorite pastime. She holds onto me as I lay us both out on the mattress, and for a moment, she is completely at my mercy. She needs me. And I love it. I make quick work of her jeans, sliding them over her hips and down her legs before tossing them carelessly on the floor. I'm desperate for her, but I want to savor this woman at the same time.

  Trailing my finger over the scrap of virginal white lace that covers the part of her I most want to see, I murmur, "Look at these knickers. What a surprise. I would've expected black lace, maybe nothing at all."

  Before she can answer, I seal my lips over one of her nipples, causing her to moan and arch her back. Sucking and nibbling the tight bud of her nipple brings sharp hitches of breath from her while a sudden pain races over my scalp. Fuck, I love that she's a hair puller. My shaft is aching to be touched and desire burns in my blood. I'm between her thighs, but I need more. In a few short movements, I reach down and undo my zipper, freeing my cock. Everything in me is begging to sink into her slick heat.

  When her fingers wrap around my length without warning, I release her nipple and let out a harsh groan. "Fuck, Helena."

  She strokes me slowly, her gaze fierce and determined. "You know, that word never did me in like it does when it comes from you."

  "Which?" I ask.

  "My name."

  Another slow stroke has my eyes rolling back in my head. It feels fucking amazing to have her touch me in this way. "Helena…" I begin but trail off. I don't know what I wanted to say. I can't think beyond the sensation racing through me.

  Then her touch, that experience I can't get enough of, is gone. I bring my gaze to her and see a sly smile turning up her lips before she tangles her fingers in my hair and pulls my mouth to hers. Electricity sizzles between us, a connection being forged in this one kiss that I thought I'd never find. She spreads her thighs and wraps her legs around me as I position my cock at her entrance, but I'm met with that damn scrap of lace between her legs.

  I don't dare take my lips from hers as I grab the flimsy piece of fabric and tear it from her in one swift motion. She flinches slightly but tightens her legs around me at the same time, swiveling her hips and moaning against my mouth. My cock brushes her and I give a shallow thrust, only just breaching her, but the feel of her, wet and ready has everything in me begging to hammer myself home.

  Instead, I push forward at a torturous pace, allowing her time to adjust to my size, and committing every sensation to memory because when this is over, it'll be a
ll I have of her. She's going to leave once she knows. But then she kicks her hips up and takes me as deep as she can. My crown hits her womb and she cries out. I almost pull out, worried I've hurt her, but her walls clench around me and she breaks our kiss.

  "Don't you dare. You promised you were going to fuck me, but you're treating me like I'm going to break."

  She starts fucking herself on my cock, the motion of her hips sending me entirely too close to my climax. "I need this to last," I force through gritted teeth. It's taking all of my control to stop myself from spilling my pleasure inside her right the fuck now.

  "We can do it again." She smiles and leans close to my ear. "And again."

  That's me done. I'm lost to her now. I thrust hard and deep, eliciting a harsh scream from her. Reaching between us, I stroke her clit until she's letting out pained moans and I'm meeting her involuntary hip rolls with rough movements of my own.

  "Come for me, love. I need you to give me this."

  The room smells of sex and sweat, of our bodies finally joined as we're meant to. Her bronze gaze finds mine and the near panic in them gives me pause until she begins pulsing around me and her orgasm claims any and all control she has. I follow in her wake, pleasure racing through me, sending my seed deep inside the body of the one woman on earth meant for me.

  It's right.

  It's destined.

  And unless we break her curse, it's doomed.

  Helena

  "I have to tell you something," Tamiel says, his expression serious.

  I sigh and roll my eyes. "If you're going to confess your undying love, I've already heard that too many times from men who didn't mean it. Love is a myth."

  "Helena, stop." He's still inside me, still half hard. "You…you're mine."

  It's then I understand. I feel it. There's more to us than just simple attraction and affection. I don't just want him. I need him. He's mine. Tamiel is my soul mate. "No. You…you said your soul mate died."

  "You did. You died right in front of me." He pulls away, rolling off me and sitting on the side of the bed, head in his hands.

  My heart breaks for the pain in his voice. I caused that pain. My curse. "When?"

  "Nearly twenty-seven years ago."

  I close my eyes and relive it all in a flash. The streets of Leeds, someone shoving me into the road before I could stop them. The blue car's horn blaring. Pain. Nothing.

  "Why didn't you tell me?" It's an accusation, but he earned it.

  "I couldn't. Not if I wanted you to stay. Tell me truthfully, if I'd have told you from the start that you were mine, what would you have done?"

  "Laughed in your face and sent you packing."

  His shoulders shake with laughter. "Exactly as I'd expected. I couldn't risk losing you."

  "Are you afraid you'll lose me now?"

  "Haven't I? You've had one foot out the door at all times."

  I'm not sure how to react. On one hand, I'm terrified of what my death will do to him. On the other, I know I can't be without him. "My life isn't permanent. I'm going to die and leave you all over again."

  "No one's is. Death is part of life."

  I cock an eyebrow at that. "You're never going to die, Tamiel. You're a true immortal being."

  "I'll follow you. When you go, I'll ask Gabriel to smite me and end my existence."

  My heart lurches. "No. You can't do that."

  "Why not?" He turns blazing irises on me. "I've done it once before."

  "What?"

  "I spent decades trying to come to terms with losing you. I hadn't even spoken a single word to you and yet, watching you die killed part of me. Before you trapped Lucifer, I goaded Sariel into killing me with Michael's sword."

  The thought of him being cut down by his own brother makes my chest tight. "But you're here."

  "Sariel didn't have enough angelic grace. He couldn't smite me. I went to purgatory and was prepared to spend eternity there. But while Sariel and his crew waged war on Lucifer, I was called back into being. Lucifer called all the fallen from purgatory. I just didn't join the fight."

  I can't help myself, I take his hand. He's already lived without me, suffered knowing the other half of his soul was gone. How can I live with myself knowing he's going to choose death when I'm gone?

  "Tamiel, I can't give you forever. I don't have it."

  He cups my face in his large palms and stares deep into my eyes. "If I have to, I'll move Heaven to keep you."

  "I don't want you to do that."

  "Well, that's too damn bad. I fell from Heaven on the faith that I'd find you. It's taken me thousands of years, but I'm not letting you go."

  He's determined and devoted. There isn't a spell making him say this, it's unadulterated truth. Because of that, I can't justify fighting him any longer. Or perhaps I just don't want to push him away. He's right. We've found each other. Any time together is better than none. "Okay."

  "What?" Absolute disbelief colors his tone.

  "I'm saying yes. If this is my last life, I want to spend it with you." My limbs are shaking from the adrenaline racing through me.

  All the tension in his features vanishes at my words and he pulls me against his chest. His fingers trail through my hair and I just want to melt into him and forget about everything else. In his arms, there's no Calista, no curse threatening to take me, and nothing will separate us. But one thought comes hurtling through the comfort of Tamiel.

  "If I'm your soul mate, does that mean you can get me pregnant?"

  He stiffens. "Oh, fuck."

  11

  Helena

  "I swear to God, if you got me pregnant I'm going to lose my mind."

  Tamiel looks a little green. "I didn't even think about it. Fuck." He runs a hand across his jaw and sighs. "We'll have to be more cautious. But I'm not sure how that's going to work."

  I know exactly what he means. The fallen feed on their partner's energy via sex, but it takes more than the act to do so. He has to spend himself inside his partner's body. No pull-out method or condoms. "I'll have to make a contraceptive potion." Except I've never been very gifted with potions and I don't want my sisters to know just how far Tamiel and I have taken things. "Or perhaps I can get one from a local coven. It might be to my benefit to build some connections here."

  His shoulders straighten and take on a slightly defensive posture. "I don't like the idea of you taking any kind of elixir to prevent a child. Isn't that dangerous?"

  Oh, this angel is just as ridiculous as every one I've known. Overprotective and demanding. "So, tell me, Fallen. How are you going to feel when you can't feed?"

  "I'll feed on blood."

  "And when we fuck? Your instincts will scream for you to fill me. You can't possibly tell me you'll stop yourself from taking exactly what you need from your soul mate." The silver in his eyes flares like molten platinum. I'm right and he knows it. "So, until I take some preventative measures, we'll have to abstain." The idea makes me want him more than anything. I've never taken well to being told I can't do something.

  "Then you'd better hurry up with whatever it is you need to do. I've waited to have you for thousands of years."

  A snort of laughter escapes me. "Oh, don't pull that on me. You fed from other women. How else would you have survived?"

  "I fed from their veins, not their essence. This act was one I reserved for my soul mate alone."

  My eyes widen and I swear the air leaves the room for a moment. "You're telling me in absolute seriousness that you saved your body for me? You're a virgin?"

  He smirks. "Well, not anymore."

  "But, your host was a vampire. Surely he'd—"

  "Does that matter? I control this body, it has been mine since the Flood. Until you, I've never known the feeling of being inside a woman."

  A fierce sense of pride washes over me. "And was it worth the wait?"

  "It was."

  I smile at that, warmth spreading from my chest and through my entire body. Is this what happi
ness feels like? A yawn takes me by surprise and exhaustion seems to hit me like a freight train. "God, I'm so tired all of a sudden."

  A guilty look crosses his features as he brushes a strand of hair away from my face. "That'll be the feeding. I may have been a bit…overzealous. It was my first time, after all."

  "Glutton."

  "That's three now," he says, lying back on the bed with me and pulling me close.

  "Three?"

  "Deadly sins I've committed because of you."

  "What are the other two?"

  "Lust." He chuckles and nuzzles his face into the hollow between my neck and shoulder. "I'd say that's a given. And envy."

  I frown and thread my fingers through his. "Why envy?"

  "I've envied Sariel since the moment he found his love, Grant and Izzy for their happiness, even the other fallen who were able to put aside the idea of their soul mates. Envy might be my first sin. When Sariel told us about his soul mate, when he chose to fall, I wanted that for myself. I would've done anything to find you."

  "So you fell. You gave up your wings and waited."

  His lips press soft kisses to my bare shoulder and I let myself relax into him. "And I've finally found you. I'm never going to let you go."

  I drift to sleep with the sound of his words still ringing in my ears and the slight spark of hope that maybe we'll be able to find our way to a happy ending rather than the tragic one I fear.

  Tamiel

  I spend the night with Helena in my arms, watching the sky grow lighter as the hours pass. I don't want to let her go until I absolutely have to because, though she's said she wants me, I know how quickly that can be taken away. She's perfection. My brilliantly and wonderfully made other half.

  The unfortunate shift of air in the room has me turning my attention to the doorway. Gabriel is here. Bugger. Sliding my arm out from under Helena's sleeping form, I stand and pull on some clothes.

  He's standing in my kitchen, a bag of unground coffee in his large hands. "Honestly, you like this?"