Cursed with Life and Death

The Marking

** This is the sequel to Cursed With Two Mates, picking up exactly where the last book ended. Spoilers Ahead!

** This book contains ⚠️ 18+ explicit content, including sexually explicit scenes, violence and excessive alcohol consumption.

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He growls in my ear, a low, quiet, hauntingly sexy edge to his voice as he rasps out;

“Mine.”

I shiver, the depth of his possessive desire totally flooding my body as our connection starts strengthening from my marking.

“My turn?” I whisper, looking up at him, grabbing his bright blue eyes, and giving him a small smile.

“Take it slow baby, I want to savor this,” Xander smiles back and brushes some hair away from my eyes.

I smirk and roll us so I’m on top of him and begin kissing and biting his neck. “Going slow is not exactly in my nature but I’ll see what I can do.” I tease and nip his mark spot. He inhales sharply and twitches under me, still hard despite having just org*smed.

I continue moving down him and take him in my mouth, taking a leisurely pace as I work him, building him up again.

He lets out a low groan that reverberates through my entire body. He grabs me, pulling my face up to his and into a passionate kiss. I push myself back on to him, grinding him into me, reigniting a deep need to be closer in both of us. He digs his fingers into my hips and starts losing control, hitting the back of me as he buries himself deep inside me.

He groans again and moves his thumb, beginning to rub against my cl*t while still driving into me. I begin kissing his neck again, preparing to mark him.

“You’re not close enough, Jade” Xander warns, halting me while increasing the speed and pressure of both his thrusts and his hand.

I moan, not totally believing him. This feels incredible, I’m pretty sure the feeling of him setting off would take me with him. “I am, baby. I’m going with you when you give in,” I pant.

He kisses me and rolls us again, taking control.

“I guess you’ll have to wait until I give in then.” He replies with a gleam in his eye.

I clench around him again, meeting his thrusts with my hips. I let my hands get greedy, brushing them across his perfectly sculpted muscles.

“You’re so sexy Xander, I’ll never get enough of you, I’ll never want to stop loving you.” I moan out, getting overwhelmed by his skillful attention to my body.

“You'll never have to Jade. It’ll always be you and me now,” he flashes a smile that makes his eyes sparkle as he parrots my words back to me.

He lowers down onto me again kissing me with such overwhelming passion that it almost sets me off, his love and desire colliding completely in the way he’s touching me.

“Please baby.. I can’t hold on.. I want you.. Give yourself to me. Let me mark you as mine.” I beg, desperately.

“Are you sure Jade? This means forever.” He catches my eye and continues to push into me, grinding against me ever so slightly, knowing just how to drive me wild.

*Forever Xander. I love you. I’ll always love you. * I vow to him through mindlink, not sure if I’m able to hold it together to form actual sentences when he’s working me like this.

He grunts and twitches inside me in response to my words. I grab him and pull him against me, clawing at his back and kissing him feverishly, losing all sense of control.

He breaks the kiss and pants out “Now Jade,” while driving into me with such strength and speed it almost hurts.

I moan again, shoving one hand into his hair and digging my nails into his back with the other, pausing for a moment above his mark spot.

He growls again and I almost explode at the raw need in his voice. I sink my teeth into him, marking him, claiming him as mine. It pushes us both over the edge and floods our bodies with an intense pleasure that we both cry out as we pulse and grind out our org*sms together.

We slow and feel the other half of the connection slip into place, our mate bond strengthening within us with our newly solidified vow.

We lay there for a few moments, silently embracing and sharing gentle kisses. Feeling the warmth and love radiating between us.

“I love you Jade. We’ll figure out the rest so long as we get to be together.” He says softly, tracing his fingers down my side as we stay tangled together.

“I love you too, Xander.” I smile up at him.

“Here I didn’t think our s*x could feel any better,” I muse softly, my body feeling like jelly from the intensity of the last couple org*sms.

“Just wait baby.” He chuckles and kisses my neck again.

My phone buzzes, pulling us out of our trance. I sigh and reach over for my anklet to start the process of moving. Xander catches me around the waist and yanks me back down, nuzzling his face into my freshly marked neck, inhaling my scent.

“Mmm I wish you didn’t have to wear that anklet all the time. You smell incredible.” He murmurs and plants some more soft kisses on my neck.

I shiver with goosebumps. “I’m getting better at these barriers to be able to take it off more when you want me to.” I say with a smile.

“All you have to do is ask me,” the words leave my mouth before I even comprehended their meaning to me.

Travis.

My stomach lurches as I remember all the times he said that to me. I pull away and take a breath focusing on putting my anklet on.

Xander eyes me but says nothing, likely feeling the flash of pain from me.

My phone buzzes again, bringing a welcomed distraction.

I have your new bank cards ready, I will drop them by today. -Steve

I quickly close out of it. I’m not quite sure how to handle the fact that I inherited all that money yet.

“Everything ok?” Xander asks softly, aware of my unease.

“Ok isn’t the word I’d use” I mutter, not wanting to lie but also not wanting to get into it now. I turn and hunt down some clothes, needing to get out of here. “I’m a little hungry, did you want to come get food or would you like to get more rest?” I add looking over at him.

“I’ll come with you,” he replies, giving me a sly smile from where he’s still sprawled on the bed.

I can’t help but smirk back at both the double entendre and how freaking sexy he looks. Yeah he’ll come with me.

I throw on some black jeans, a black v neck and my sneakers, not paying too much attention to my appearance and we head to the caf. When we get there I see Katie, Jackson and Av are there as well. We grab some coffee, muffins and some fruit from the spread that’s out and join them at the table.

“Wow Jade you look like sh*t. Did you get any sleep?” Av says breaking the awkward silence.

“Gee thanks. Nice to see you too.” I say sarcastically. “Not really to be honest,” I glance over at Xander, doing my best to control my emotions. He takes my hand for some added support.

“That was some day,” Jackson adds, “it’s crazy to me that it was only last night that we were partying in the courtyard.”

I remain silent. How the hell am I supposed to act normal about any of this?

I look over at Av and see she’s now studying me intensely. Her eyes flicker down to my neck for a nano second, as if she could sense that I’ve been marked.

“Something’s different with you.” She says suspiciously.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” I reply a little too quickly and let go of Xander’s hand.

She glances over at Xander and studies him for a moment as well. I hear his heart pick up slightly as he clues into the fact that we’re about to get outted.

She shakes her head looking back at me and smirks “Wow Jade, you don’t waste any time do you?”

I don’t bother replying - I just glare at her.

“What is it?” Katie asks, glancing between us.

“They didn’t even make it 4 hours after Travis died to mark each other. No rest for the wicked I guess?” Her eyes burn into me as I swallow down the pain of hearing his name.

“Seriously??” Katie looks at us in shock.

“It was inevitable. It’s not like we planned it to happen like this.” Xander tries to jump in to help, I just look down in shame.

“I mean.. I don’t blame you, have to lock that down before he comes back from the dead or something. We saw how steep the competition was, I wouldn’t f**k around with waiting if I were you either.” Jackson replies to Xander with a joking smile.

My stomach knots - I can barely think about him much less talk so crassly about it.

“It wasn’t a competition.” I say quietly, not really sure how to handle this.

“You know it was Jade. We had all just assumed you’d pick Xander.. but after seeing how you are with Travis it wasn’t so clear.” Av adds.

“How I was with him, you mean.” I spit back, my temper flaring up. “He’s gone now in case you forgot, so this conversation is irrelevant.”

Silence.

I take a few deep breaths and refuse to look anyone in the eye. So angry and hurt that he’s gone and I somehow have to justify myself to anyone.

“Jade.. just because he died doesn’t mean your feelings for him are also gone or irrelevant.” Katie says softly, concern shining in her eyes.

“It does. It’s over. No more curse, no more evil fae after me, I’m marked. The end. No choices left. I belong to him now.” I keep word-vomiting.

“We belong to each other Jade,” Xander corrects me, softly.

“Sure alpha” I say sarcastically to him, lashing out unnecessarily. I feel his anger flare up and realize how much worse I’m making this.

“Jade..” Katie starts to say but I don’t want to hear it.. I’m going to burst into tears if we keep going down this road.

“I know. I’m Sorry. I didn’t mean it like that.” I cut her off and apologize to Xander, not wanting him to be angry with me . He nods but I can feel the concern radiating off him as well.

“Av lets go put up a new barrier around the school.” I change the subject, downing the rest of my coffee.

I bring my dishes into the kitchen and walk back to the table, taking a moment for myself.

She nods at Xander and stands when I approach, everyone wisely not pushing me further on anything.

Av and I go outside and plop down on the grass out front, sitting across from each other cross legged. We silently create a new shimmery green protection barrier around the school, working together to will a new safe wall into place.

It’s draining given how tired I am, but we’re able to get it done in about 20 mins. When I feel the final piece settle I take a deep breath and look over at her.

“Are you going to be ok Jade?” Avalon asks sincerely.

I pause and consider it. Feels like there’s a hole in my chest where there should be a heart, so it doesn’t super feel like it. “I’m marked now so I theoretically should be, right?” I reply quietly, looking away.

“The fact that you’re asking doesn’t bode well.. He would have wanted you to be happy, you know.” She says softly.

I stand swallowing down another wave of tears. “Then maybe he shouldn't have sacrificed himself for me.”

“Jade sacrificing yourself to save us wasn’t the answer just as much as him sacrificing himself to save you wasn’t either.”

“Then what was the answer Avalon?? Tell me what the f*ck I was supposed to do.” I snap at her.

“Probably could have waited to commit yourself to Xander until you were stable enough to commit. You need to grieve and mourn Travis, not get married the same f*cking day he died ” She shoots back at me.

“Who am I to know what the right time is! I listened to Ruby - she told me it’s time. I didn’t just beg him out of desperation of not wanting to lose another mate” tears spring forward as I say it, my body still wanting to reject that that’s the truth.

“Are you sure that’s not what she says was doing?” Av accuses again, with her hands on her hips.

I pause.

*Ruby? Is she right?* I ask for verification

*Now’s not the time to talk about it Jade* Ruby replies softly. I can hear the heartbreak in her voice as well.

“What do you want from me Av?” I ask, still leaking tears.

“Some actual honesty would be nice. it’s ok if you’re not ok.. that’s why you have friends to lean on. You don’t have to push it all down.” She says.

“You want honesty? Fine. I’m f*cking devastated. I shouldn’t even be here. And now I have to face the fact that I have to live in a world where I’ll never smell his scent, or see his face or hear the smoothness in his voice again. I’ll never get to feel who a large f*****g part of me was fated to again. I didn’t get to choose that.” I cry wrapping my arms around myself.

“You would have chosen Xander. You know that. I’ve seen it - there’s something different about the way the two of you connect that even I can’t tell what it is. Sure you and Travis were adorable but you can’t deny what you have with Xander. I mean, when they both were here you spent most of your time f*cling Xander’s brains out - you didn’t even care if Travis heard!”

“I cared! Of course I cared. I just.. can’t help myself around Xander.” I say honestly.

“You would have had to choose, and you still would have chosen Xander. At least this way you didn’t have to choose to kill Travis.”

“I CHOSE to go peacefully to keep him and all of you alive! Travis robbed me of that and forced me back to a world where he no longer exists. He took my choice away from me. And I can’t even f*cking yell at him or scream or get back at him. I just have to be here without him.” I shout at her, struggling to say his name.

“Without him, but with your mate. Who you did choose. When you marked him,” she narrows her eyes at me, not letting up.

“Again what’s your point Av? I’m aware that I’m not in a position to be so upset. but that doesn’t stop me from hurting. I’m happy I have Xander, and that he would still have me despite everything I did. That he wouldn’t force me into anything that would leave me this utterly f*cking broken.”

“You’re not broken Jade..” Xander’s voice behind me rings out, startling me. How long has he been there?

I turn to him with tears still pouring down my face. “You mean you hope I’m not broken.”

“You’re hurt, not broken. It’ll take some time but it won’t feel like this forever.” He says softly, feeling sorry for me.

Somehow that makes this worse.. I should have just swallowed it down. Freaking Avalon butting in.

“Yes it will” Vi appears behind me. “It will hurt forever. You can’t avoid that. You’ll just learn to live with it and cope with that pain in a way that lets you live your life. But it’ll always hurt.”

“Not helpful Vi,” Xander shoots her down.

“I’ve lost almost every person I’ve loved, including Travis. You don’t get to say what’s helpful or not.” She spits back at him. “You get to keep her and you don’t have to fight someone who was probably better for her than you. You’re the one who came out on top here.”

I feel it off of him, she’s right. He is relieved with how this turned out. My stomach turns.

“Jade let’s go get drunk. That’ll help numb you.” Vi says appearing in front of me with a fancy looking bottle of tequila.

“That definitely won’t help anything,” Xander says, taking a step forward.

“I’m in,” I say quietly and take the bottle, ripping the lid off and taking a large swig. Anything to numb this pain. I cough a bit at the burning, welcoming the tequila burn in place of the hurt the tears left behind in my throat.

I pass it back to Vi who makes a cheers motion with it and takes a swig herself.

“Jade, you should at least eat something more substantial first.” Xander says, taking his scolding tone with me.

“Why? It’s not like it’ll kill me.” I say taking another swig. I offer it to Av figuring she’d likely be in for some debauchery, “Want some?”

“Drunk Jade is the best. Count me in!” She grins and takes it.

A white SUV pulls up and parks by us.

“Can you hide that for a minute while I deal with this?” Xander says firmly, his authoritative tone taking over.

Out pops two wolves I recognize from the alpha training debacle - the small brunette girl who outted Xander for not including me.

“Myles, Lulu, thank you for coming. You must not have received my message.” Xander says and shakes their hands. “You might remember my Luna, Jade” he introduces me.

I guess I’m his Luna now?

“Oh I thought you weren’t going to be a Luna??” Lulu says waving at us. I appreciate her bluntness - I bet her and Katie will get along well.

I was about to respond with some comment about how I guess time might change things but another car pulls in the parking lot.

Oh sh*t. Steve. I forgot he was coming by.

Xander glances at me and the car, probably feeling my flash of worry.

“Sorry to run off on you again but could you excuse me for a moment.” I fake a smile as best I can and walk over to Steve holding my finger up to motion for him to stay there.

I slide in the passenger door of his Benz, thankful his windows are tinted.

“Sorry, can we make this quick? We have company.”

“Of course, I just wanted to drop these off. The pin is 0309. I also wanted to make sure you were getting my messages.” He hands me an envelope.

“Yes.. sorry I got it. It’s been a day.”

“Of course. I’m sorry to bother you again.”

“Hey, I have a question. I'd like to get some more clothes but I don’t necessarily love doing a lot of shopping. Is there a way I can do that where it’s not so.. time consuming?”

“Mr Williams had a stylist who custom made a lot of his suits and shirts, and a personal shopper on hand he would call for any extras, like the clothing he arranged for you at the beach house.”

I take a deep breath thinking about the beach house. All those silky white dresses are still hanging there.. My heart hurts.

“Wait, has the house been cleaned since we were there?!” I look over at him with wide eyes. I really hope there’s not still blood everywhere.

“No. Mr. Williams never arranged your flight home with me so I was surprised to find out you were here.”

I think I’m going to be sick.. imagining such a beautiful place totally disheveled.

“It’s going to need a very thorough cleaning with no questions asked.” I say quietly not looking at him.

“That goes without saying. Consider it done.” He says making a note on his phone.

I open the envelope and a number of cards and a passport fall onto my lap. I pick up the black Visa card and read it.

Jade Williams.

My heart starts pounding.

I look at all the other cards, including the driver’s license complete with the same picture my actual license has. All of them.. Jade Williams.

I take a breath.

“Did.. did he have my last name changed without me knowing?” I ask quietly, not meeting his eye.

“No, but if you want to use any of the money he left you he arranged a buffer between it and your actual identity. It can be safer that way when dealing with.. well that amount.” Steve says.

I take a breath. Always protecting me.

“Are there any other surprises left?” I swallow down tears.

“Yes.” He doesn’t elaborate.

My heart falls.

“Anything else I can help with for now?” He looks over at me.

I appreciate that he’s easy to work with . No bullsh*t, seems competent.

I shove the cards back into the envelope and reply, “I’ll text you if there is. Thanks for all your help.”

“Of course. Take good care.” He nods goodbye as I hop out.

I can feel the angry stare from Xander. He’s still with Myles and Lulu so I skirt over to Av and Vi.

“We should get out of here.” I say to Vi in as quiet of a voice as possible.

She smiles and replies loudly. “Jade, I really need your help at my new.. place!" She must be referring to her new club.

"There are a lot of decisions to be made and I could use your input. Since we’re free this afternoon after all, why don’t we pop over there?” she smiles at me and Av.

I push away Xander’s emotion and glance down, frowning at my clothes. Not exactly club attire but at least it’ll be just us.

“Sure why don’t Av and I drive, we’ll meet you there.” I try to smile back at her.

“Jade, who was that?” Xander cuts in walking over to me, eyeing the envelope in my hand.

“Oh.. just a human I know.” Technically not a lie but not what he’s looking for.

“I’m going to go help Vi, I’ll see you later tonight.” I close the distance between us and kiss him, going for a little surprise offence to pull this off.

He growls a tiny bit and pulls me into him harder, shoving his hand in my hair, taking total control of the kiss as he deepens it. I’m totally captivated for a moment, humming in approval as my body responds to him completely.

“Ok we need to get out of here before you start screwing on the table in front of all of us. Or grass I guess.” Av sneers, parroting Jackson’s words from..YESTERDAY? Was that only yesterday?!

That broke us up quickly.

I look down and take a breath, not catching Xander’s eye.

“I’ll see you in our room tonight” I say quietly.

“Be ready.” He rasps out, in his low, quiet voice.

I scurry away immediately towards the Audi R8 with Av and Vi walking behind me.

“Vi we’ll meet you there?” I magically retrieve the car keys and my purse, willing them to appear discreetly in front of me so Lulu and Myles don’t see.

I click the unlock button and see the beautiful black sports car in front of me lights up. Can I really drive this??

I quickly slide into the driver's seat and take a breath, feeling a flash of surprise from Xander, who must have just seen the car.

I toss my purse down and eye the sleek interior. I close my eyes and inhale, catching the faint scent of Travis. I instinctively touch my heart, the depth of the pain becoming overwhelming.

Av reaches over and starts the car, pulling me out of my trance. “Holy s**t Jade I don’t even know cars and I know this is a nice car.” I nod, agreeing.

I look down and adjust the seat and mirrors, focusing on appreciating how nice the car is. It should be fun to drive at least, I manage a small smile.

I stick the envelope of IDs and cards in the glove box, throwing on a pair of aviators I find in there.

I catch a glimpse of myself in the mirror. These sunglasses actually look pretty good. I give a small wave to an unimpressed-looking Xander, with a smirk.

Jade Williams. Has a nice ring to it...