The Oath Read online

  Later that night, as I prepared for bed, I wondered if I was afraid to commit. I’d put off forwarding my mail or bringing my cats here to live at Danial’s, telling myself it was too soon. It seemed too fast to commit my life to someone after only knowing them two months, but how long would be enough? I was happy living with Danial. My old life seemed a black hole of loneliness in comparison. What was I waiting for?

  * * * *

  Danial announced the night before Christmas Eve that Aran had asked Cia to be his mate and they would be moving back to the guardhouse communal bunker. “The date for the ceremony is New Year’s.”

  Aran and Cia were two of Danial’s guards that had been staying at my house, watching it for me this winter while Danial and I decided whether or not to sell it. “I’m happy for them.”

  “Don’t worry. Suri volunteered to watch over your house for the winter.”

  Later that night, I decided that was the sign I’d been waiting for. Christmas Eve would be the perfect time to break the news.

  * * * *

  Christmas Eve visiting my parents went better than expected. I’d spoken to my mother, Tina, every few days but I’d wanted to tell her about the ring face to face. When we came in, I made sure to display it prominently.

  “Sarelle, you have a ring!” She almost elbowed Danial into the TV trying to get to me fast enough. “It’s beautiful!”

  “He asked me to marry him.” I winced at the lie, and then told myself it was close to the truth.

  Chris, my stepfather, broke out the scotch to celebrate, and we all had a toast. I clinked my glass with Danial’s, seeing their happy faces and listening to them making plans.

  “Happy?” he whispered.

  “Very,” I whispered back, kissing his cheek tenderly.

  * * * *

  Later that night, he and I sat by the blinking Christmas tree in the great room. Suri and the other foxes had helped me put it up earlier that day. I’d brought some lights from home, but other decorations I’d made with the help of Ivan, Janice, and Demetri: popcorn strings, cookie ornaments, pinecones, and various nuts and feathers.

  Theo had declined to help, saying he had work to do. Yet he’d come in with a golden star when we were almost done, and I’d seen the pleasure in his face when he’d put it on top. By the time I’d turned to thank him for it, he was already gone.

  He’d been distant toward me ever since I’d moved in. The few times we’d needed to talk, he’d been polite but short. I wondered if seeing Danial and me so much in love hurt, if he remembered Tawny and missed her.

  “You look tense,” Danial said. “I can fix that. Slide your feet this way.”

  He proceeded to give me a foot massage. I writhed in pleasure and uttered moans as he eased all my tensions with the deft manipulation of his strong hands.

  “Is there anything you aren’t good at?” I asked, sighing with contentment.

  “Not many things,” he said immodestly.

  I laughed. He tickled my foot, and I shrieked. Ghost and Darkness, our dogs, looked up, decided it was nothing important, and laid their heads down again.

  “I have something for you,” he said. “Look under the tree.”

  “Really, Danial, you give me too much as it is—”

  “Shh,” he said, holding his finger to my lips. “I’ll get it.”

  He got up and retrieved a gift bag from the tree’s base. “Open it.”

  I opened the package and took out a beautiful black velvet robe. As I slipped it on over my nightgown, I felt something in the pocket. It was a red velvet box, containing a pair of stunning gold earring studs in the shape of fox heads. I fingered the choker at my neck with the same symbol: the gold fox head, ruby eyes glinting.

  “They’re beautiful,” I said, giving him a kiss. “Thank you.”

  “Put them on.”

  I removed my earrings I had on, and slipped on the others.

  “They look lovely. See for yourself.”

  Looking at myself in the bathroom mirror a moment later, I thought it might be too much. Between the scars, the choker, and the fox earrings, I felt like I had a sign on my forehead that said “Danial’s” in huge letters. The ruby eyes winked at me in the light as I moved my head to make them flash and sparkle. “They’re beautiful.”

  “I’m glad you like them,” he called from the great room.

  I paused before the mirror. This was it, the moment I’d planned on telling him I would swear to be his. Like before, my uncertainties arose. I couldn’t ever leave him if I did. Not ever. Was I that sure?

  Words my friend Kat had spoken earlier came back to me. Why haven’t you told him you’ll marry him? Are you crazy? You love him; he loves you; he’s rich; and he’s gorgeous! How can you even have to think about it?

  I went to the bedroom door. Danial waited for me, the strong lines of his face relaxed in a happy smile as he studied the tree. His freshly cut hair feathered back except for a loose wave that fell over his forehead. I loved him so much my chest ached.

  It was now or never, the perfect moment to pledge to be his forever. Kat was right; things weren’t going to get any better. If I didn’t do it, I’d wonder the rest of my life what it could have been like with him, what I missed out on by not taking the chance.

  I walked to the couch and bent over, kissing him on his lips. “They are beautiful. Thank you.”

  “I’m glad you like them.” He reached for me. “Sit with me.”

  I took hold of his hand and gently pushed it back toward him. That got his attention. “Sar?” he said, alarm and wariness clouding his features.

  “I have something for you, too.” I went to my knees beside the couch. He watched me, riveted.

  God, I so wanted to do this perfectly, like I’d mentally rehearsed all afternoon. “I’m yours, Danial Racklan, for tonight and the rest of my life. I, Sarelle McGarran, promise myself to you.”

  He helped me to my feet, hugging me tightly. “I, Danial Racklan, accept your Oath to me, Sarelle McGarran. From this day forward, you are mine to love, protect, and honor. What we have joined together no one may put asunder.”

  I hugged him, shell-shocked. I’d wanted him to understand that I wanted to give him my Oath, not do the actual Oath here and now. “Don’t we need witnesses?” I whispered.

  “No,” he said happily. “You offer your word to bind yourself to me, and I accept. That’s all there is.” He scooped me up in a quick motion. “Except for the consummation.”

  He carried me into the bedroom and began removing his clothes. I removed mine, apprehensive. “What do I have to do?” I asked nervously.

  “Nothing you haven’t done before with me. Come here, Sweetheart.”

  I went to him, my heart racing. He took my face in his hands and brought my lips to his gently, his fingers caressing me. When I tried to kiss him harder, he drew his lips aside and hugged me.

  “Patience,” he whispered. “We have the rest of our lives stretching out before us. But there will never be another night like this one.” He kissed me again, chastely. “I want to remember you exactly as you are now, the way your hair shimmers, the love in your eyes as you look at me.” He ran his hands backwards, brushing the hair from my face. “I had forgotton how good happiness felt. I want you to remember this night as one of the best of your life, the way I will remember it.” He kissed me gently. “Tell me again you’re mine, that you want to be.”

  “I’m yours,” I said huskily. “I want you more than anything.”

  He let out a soft sigh, then his solemn expression curved into an eager smile. He eased us down on the bed and kissed down my throat, his fangs bringing moans with each light prick as he pressed his lips to me. I kissed him harder, shifting my hips under him to receive his first ardent thrust. Moments later, I slid into climax, Danial right behind me.

  He kissed me again, then withdrew and cradled me close. For the first time, we didn’t speak afterward, even to declare our love. Maybe for the first time, neith
er of us felt we needed to say the words.

  Danial drank from me that night during sex, reopening both scars and making the shallow one deeper. He did it very gently and tenderly, his love for me in every kiss and touch. Our sex had always been good, but that night, he made me feel cherished.

  As we were drifting off near dawn, he asked, “Where would you like to go?

  “Go?”

  “I understand it’s traditional to go on a honeymoon for a week or two after marrying. Where would you most like to go?”

  I thought of all the exotic locations that could be mine. “I’d like to stay here.”

  He looked at me with puzzlement. “Here?”

  “I’d like you to stay here with you beside me. That’s where I most want to be. Can you take the time off from work to be with me?”

  He traced my cheek with his hand, nodding. “Then that’s what we’ll do. I’ll cancel all of my business dealings for next week. Get some sleep, Sar.”

  I fell asleep in his arms, dreaming of my new life and all that was possible.

  THE END

  About the Author

  Tara Fox Hall’s writing credits include nonfiction, horror, suspense, action-adventure, erotica, and contemporary and historical paranormal romance. She is the author of the paranormal action-adventure Lash series and the vampire romantic suspense Promise Me series. Tara divides her free time unequally between writing novels and short stories, chainsawing firewood, caring for stray animals, sewing cat and dog beds for donation to animal shelters, and target practice.

  Other works by the author with Melange Books, LLC

  Return To Me

  Surrender to Me

  The Origin of Fear in Spellbound 2011 Anthology

  Night Music in Midnight Thirsts II Anthology

  Partners in Midnight Thirsts II Anthology

  Kink in Wicked Christmas Wishes Anthology

  The Oath in Wicked Christmas Wishes Anthology

  Bedtime Shadows Anthology

  Make Me Behave Anthology

  Latham’s Landing, An Anthology

  Her Frozen Heart, in Frozen, A Winter Anthology

  The Promise Me Series

  Promise Me, Book 1

  Broken Promise, Book 2

  Taken in the Night, Book 3

  Taken for his Own, Book 4

  Promise Me Anthology, Book 4.5

  Immortal Confessions, Book 5

  Her Secret, Book 6

  Point of No Return, Book 7

  Lost Paradise, Book 8

  Dark Solace, Book 9

  Coming Soon

  Tempest of Vengeance-Promise Me, Book 11

  Turn the page for more books available

  from Melange Books

  Also Available

  From Melange Books

  Promise Me

  Book One

  by Tara Fox Hall

  When young widow Sarelle McGarran finds the vampire Danial Racklan unconscious and hurt in her woods, intuitive concern quickly becomes passionate love. Together Danial and Sar work to overcome their own past heartbreaks, their vastly different lifestyles, and Danial's relentless enemies. Yet Danial needs more; an Oath of forever. But can Sar give Danial his greatest desire?

  Also Available

  From Melange Books

  Latham's Landing

  by Tara Fox Hall

  All That Remains

  Sandra has come to Latham's Landing seeking to discover what really happened to her relative who disappeared there years before, persuading her reluctant friend Tina that a little paranormal investigation will be fun.

  The Origin of Fear

  Four college friends mount an expedition to Latham's Landing—an abandoned island estate infamous for mysterious deaths—to gather pictures and inspiration for a thesis on the origin of fear.

  The Fire Within

  A bitter Caroline Stone embarks on a mission to destroy the evil isle estate that took her fiancé, joining with several others also out for retribution. Can the combined fire of their hate triumph over the relentless evil of Latham's Landing?

  Also Available

  From Melange Books

  Surrender to Me

  by Tara Fox Hall

  Former aristocrat turned lowly vampire Devlin Dalcon gets by on his supernatural charm, swindling others for money and goods. When Devlin encounters bride-to-be Annabelle—another potential victim—he finds the tables have turned as he falls in love with her.