Ethan’s Mate (The Vampire Coalition #1)(11)
Author: J.S. Scott

Ethan turned to address Adare. “She’s a very nice woman. She put up with the four of us.”

Liam commented quietly. “Ethan’s rich, charming and handsome. What’s not to like?”

Ethan scowled. “Maybe, the fact that I’m a vampire and about to make her daughter my eternal mate. I’m not quite sure how she would feel about that little fact.”

“I take it she wasn’t invited to the witness ceremony.” Nathan raised a brow, throwing Ethan a wicked grin.

Ethan showed him his middle finger. Nathan knew Brianna’s mom didn’t know. They were planning a human wedding ceremony and they would be married in the human tradition.

Ethan didn’t mind having a wedding in addition to mating. He had gotten Brianna the finest engagement ring he could find that would still suit her tastes for something simple and classy. He was finding out that just about anything that branded her as his made him ecstatic.

“I already told Brianna that you would be more than happy to be my groomsmen for the wedding,” Ethan informed his brother wickedly. “She has a maid of honor and two bridesmaids, so it works out perfectly.”

Ethan grinned, flashing them an evil look, as all of his brothers’ faces registered horror and dismay. None of them were laughing now.

“When is it? I think I already have plans,” Nathan grumbled.

“Me too.” Rory agreed.

“And me.” Liam said softly.

“Oh, no. If you can’t make it…you can explain to Brianna why you can’t attend one of the most important days of her life. I’m not doing it.” Ethan broke into a small smile as they all frowned. His brothers really did adore Brianna and somehow she could get away with getting them to do her bidding. It amused the hell out of him. Like it or not, he knew they would all be there.

There might be a few bumps along the road to integrating their families, but it wouldn’t be that difficult. Brianna had a human life and family. He respected that. Although she would be a vampire’s mate after the ceremony, she would never be completely vampire. She would need blood and she would have to avoid the sun, but she wouldn’t have magic. Any aging would freeze and she would keep her increased strength, but she would be between two worlds. She would be more vampire than human, but she was raised as a human and he didn’t expect her to leave that totally behind.

Ethan was startled when a firm rap on the door broke into his thoughts.

“It’s time, Ethan,” Adare informed him quietly.

His brothers all slapped him on the back. They were leaving. Brianna might adore them, but she really didn’t want them to witness. She had come to care for them like family and she insisted she would rather have strangers at this particular mating ritual as she really didn’t want her future brothers-in-law to see her naked.

Adare was leaving too. Now that he was mated, he could no longer watch the ceremonies like a eunuch. He and Kristin would leave as soon as Kristin had finished her duties as an attendant.

His brothers disappeared. Adare stood at his side, ready to escort him to the mating chamber. Adare would await his mate Kristin outside of the door where she would exit and they would depart together.

Ethan tried to get control of himself, but the closer he came to the mating chamber, the more his control seemed to slip away. He was ready to begin an ancient vampire ritual and the magic involved in the upcoming ceremony seemed to be building.

Adare opened the door and motioned him to enter, stopping and leaving Ethan to continue alone.

As Ethan entered the chamber, he felt a powerful surge of magic, but it wasn’t coming from him. This was ancient magic, strong and powerful.

His clothing dissolved and he was suddenly dressed in only a scrap of leather to confine his cock, held in place with only a few strings. His member was already protesting by trying to burst the seams.

His skin gleamed from the ancient mating oils.

He could feel that magic swirling around him, heightening his arousal to an almost feral need. He could only imagine what would happen once their marks touched and the ancient words were said.

He gritted his teeth, trying not to lose complete control while he waited for his mate to arrive.

Chapter 8

Brianna approached the mating chamber with two women in front of her and Kristin at her side. Kristin was newly mated and Brianna appreciated the fact that she had just been through what Brianna was going through now. She had helped calm some of Brianna’s nervousness.

Brianna wasn’t afraid. Hell…she had been close to dying by the time that Ethan had entered her life. Now she was ready to live. She would live a glorious life with Ethan by her side.

She was dressed in the traditional, full, transparent, ankle-length gown and it trailed along behind her as she walked down the narrow hallway. She had chosen a scarlet red that matched her mood today. Her hair had grown quickly, restored to its normal shoulder length and she had left it down over her shoulders.

Brianna had been bathed in sensual, exotic oils. Her skin was still slick from the scented oil that had been applied after the bath.

The women all stopped at the mating chamber door and Kristin moved forward to pull the heavy ornate door open, moving to the side to let Brianna enter.

Brianna stopped, her eyes sweeping the room. Ethan stood on the platform in front of a huge, elevated bed. The bed was covered in black silk, a few black silk pillows scattered over the massive surface.

Brianna smiled. The chamber preparation was Ethan’s choice. She guessed he was in a “dark” sort of mood today.

As Brianna entered the room she noticed that it was just as Kristin had described. A circular, small room with darkened windows all around the upper walls. They were for the observers. The witnesses. Everything was lit with candles that were placed on a ledge that circled the windows. She was guessing that the witnesses would get a hell of a good view.

She locked eyes with Ethan. His were almost completely black and intense. She longed to speak with him telepathically, but she didn’t. She knew it only made things worse for him when he heard her voice and couldn’t yet touch her.

Brianna could feel the electric vibrations in the room and her hair lifted like it was blowing in the wind.

It’s ancient magic, Brianna. I’ve never heard of this happening before. It’s probably because of my age. But it’s not evil. Don’t be afraid.

She started as she heard Ethan growling in her mind, surprised he could still use his magic to speak to her this way. She could feel his need and her body responded. Her body jerked as she was assaulted with his mating instincts. She wanted to lay on those black sheets and satiate this vampire any way he wanted it.