The two wardens forced James onto Leticia’s chamber bed, the soft feathered mattress dipping and puffing under his weight. They anchored the metal links curling around his neck to a steel hook in the wall, just above the headboard, then removed the chains from his ankle and wrists—only to cuff him to the bedposts. Leticia had brought slaves here before, Grace realized. The posts were damaged, the intense grooves evidence of their hostility. A lot of friction. How many times had James undergone this sort of indignity with the mistress? At least he didn’t try and bite the wardens, and they didn’t try to harm him, and Grace didn’t have to side with a “slave,” fueling suspicion. Already she felt as if she had a neon sign blinking over her head: Fake SorcerersThank God, Levy hadn’t realized the truth. And wasn’t the other mistress a shocker? Short, squat, and foaming-at-the-mouth-rabies mean. Awfully. If the Wicked Witch of the West had sex with Mr. Bean and John Cena, and the two of the
Such sweet, intoxicating words, all the more powerful because she couldn’t denounce him for only desiring what was available. Levy, too, had wanted him in a terrible, terrible way, but he hadn’t wanted the ugly mistress at all. So, logically, Grace had to understand that he was as enticed by her as she was to him. Alright, logically. And not just because she was throbbing and desperately wanted it to be true.James could simply be attempting to soften her up. Right? Maybe? Maybe not? Who knows?Oh, great. The alarming thought pushed its way from an awful spot inside her. A spot that never wanted her to be comfortable. A spot that felt she didn’t deserve to be optimistic. They’d been butting heads for months; more and more, she won the battles. Today, she might not."If I hurt you, you would not help me," he explained in a polished tone. "I want you to help me, Grace, and I am not a stupid man."No, he was a sexy one. So delectable."You’re a vicious man. I k-know you are.""Yes."His
One half of Grace trembled in delight, the other half shivered in concern. The vampires in her doctor friend’s lab had fed from bags of plasma. She’d never been bitten either. Had never wanted to be bitten. Until now. If anyone could make her appreciate something like that, it was this man. This vampire, this predator, "I’ll think about it. Now let’s backtrack a little. If you can make anyone look like the mistress, why did you conjure me specifically?" She asked. Why put her in such danger? Not that he’d completely wanted her, and her alone. She remembered his revulsion when he’d learned she was merely a mortal, recalled his shock. "I asked before, but you never answered." James leaned toward her, forcing her fingers to press into his skin. A quiet command—and an unrelinquishing demand—for contact. "I did not conjure you specifically." She’d realized that as she’d spoken, but hearing him ascertain it saddened her. She had to stay on a comparable footing with him, and even though he
Grace never wailed, never even gasped as the whip flayed her soft, delicate skin.James was shackled to Leticia’s bed. He hadn’t marked Grace as he’d wished, but he was somehow attuned to her in a way he challenged he had ever been attuned to another. He should not have been able to concentrate on her, particularly since he’d been battling a burning desire for her—her body, her blood, her everything, and all other thoughts had become dazed and trivial in comparison.Now, he felt the wrath. He was furious. There was so much resentment, and every bit of it was leveled at the wardens.They had hauled Grace along the elegant hallway filled with paintings of the master sorcerer and the mistress and their daughters, down the winding stairs with dim velvet carpeting, and to the outrageous banqueting room. Though Grace was no longer in the chamber, James saw her still. As if their psyches were somehow connected. She fought the entire way. Only when they bent her over the dining table, her fac
The wardens had touched her, damaging Grace. They would perish. Badly. By the time James finished with them, they would possibly thank him for killing them. All he had to do was free himself. And he would. Nothing would halt him. Not now, not anymore. "Soon" had at last appeared. Being a pureblood ancient vampire, as Grace had called him, was not going to aid him; James admitted that now. Still, his eagerness intensified, stirring with the scorn, the burn of that possessiveness. He would reach her by grit alone; he would protect her. No matter what he had to do. His gaze wandered to the wrist cuffs and dwindled. Without his thumbs, his hands would slide right through. He didn’t have to think about it. Goodbye, thumbs. Biting his tongue against the anguish he knew was to come, he banged his hands, thumbs out, into the headboard. Crunch. The bones broke with that very first punch. He sucked in a breath, but, like Grace, he did not mumble a sound. Punch, punch. Each new hit caused ev
They paid Grace no heed. One of the guards headed toward the entryway, where other guards were pouring inside to escape the beast, but he didn’t make it outside the room. Not alive. There was a blur of movement, then blood was squirting, a headless body falling. From the corner of her eye, Grace spotted James. He was a mess, covered in blood, limping, his arms hanging at his sides. His fangs were bared in a fearsome, crimson scowl, and she knew. He was the animal. Thank God. Some of the tension drained from Grace. Somehow, some way, he’d managed to escape. His plan to destroy the people who lived inside this palace was well under way. Before, she’d thought there would be survivors. Now, not so much. James barreled into another guard, his shoulder slamming into the man’s middle and knocking him backward. The guard propelled into another, the one with the whip. The two fell to the floor. James slashed into the whipper’s neck and shook, a demon with his first meal in months. Screams…
They traveled for hours—or so it seemed—though they never managed to exit the forest. James suspected they were going in circles, his doom in the center. Just when he would think they’d made progress, he would spy the glittering palace rooftop. A rooftop of the fortress was famous for, the shingles consisted only of slaves tears. No matter what he tried, he could not alter his path. Fail. The word the mother sorceress had used. Go ahead. Try. Fail. The bitch had used her magic on him as promised, James' realized. But what spell had she used? Unless he figured it out, he could not fight its power. Even as the question and answer formed in his mind, a sharp lance of pain jetted through him. He gnashed his teeth. At least the guards never caught his trail. Even when the magical shield around him evaporated in a puff of smoke. Magic he wasn’t sure how he’d wielded. He knew only that the mother sorceress had constructed a shield of her own, and he had instantly known how to do the same.
Such a strong reaction, when she’d had no cause to worry. And yet, that worry pleased him. James liked her concern. Liked what it meant. Already Grace cared. This mortal cared. “I’ve been thinking,” she said, nibbling on her bottom lip. James stomach clenched at the sight of her teeth, doing what he wanted to do. “Something you enjoy.” He placed his throbbing hands over hers, preventing her from drawing away. “Yes, well.” Grace tongue emerged, swiping where she’d bitten. “We’ve been going in circles, which means Levy her mother told the truth. You are cursed to remain in Nork.” The sight of her tongue did far more damage to his control than the sight of her teeth. How easy it would be to lean down, lick, sample, savor. Not until she heals. Another reminder. Also, not until she begs. You promised. “I know,” he said more harshly than he’d intended. “Oh.” Her nose scrunched adorably, easing the sting of his self-directed anger. “Well, you could have told me. I’ve worried, expecting
He drew her to the ground. He couldn't help but notice her heated, red nipples. He made a circle with his tongue, flicked it till she moaned, and then moved on to the other. His fangs grew long and painful. However, now was not the moment to wallow in the ecstasy that was her blood. He'd eaten before approaching her, expecting to satisfy his hunger for her. No other blood had ever had the same effect on him as Grace's. So powerful, so devouring. And, as much as he desired his entire memory back now, he would rather not disappear without notice again and have to chase down his woman's position, putting her at risk. He laces his fingers through Grace, squeezing. "I get it. We both made mistakes, and I regret ever keeping you from knowing what really happened. If only I had the memory, I would have risked my life all over again. But I'm selfish; I wanted you so much. Thank you for sticking by my side even though I was pushing you away. For not turning your back on me." James murmured.
Sweet 84Grace was engulfed in James's arms, and he returned her passion in equal measure. He'd nearly fallen to his knees the instant he saw her, perched beside his adversary, in danger but yet alive. Yes, he'd had that sensation of relief. Fury, as well. The mother sorceress was within his grasp, his to slay.However, fear accompanied the rage. He'd felt the magical charm protecting the mother sorceress from physical harm and returning whatever damage was meted out to the attacker.If he'd gone for her throat, Grace would have. They would have been killed.That didn't happen. Grace was now safe.The mother sorceress had to have known James was on his way to her, or she would not have cast the enchantment. A spell that most witches feared casting. True, no one could hurt her, but no one could help her either. If she inadvertently hurt herself, the spell would turn on her, viewing her as a threat. She would suffer not only from her injuries but also from the magic hundredfold.Grace
Grace was holding a bejeweled, golden goblet when the servant behind their chairs leaped to obey. Rather than refuse it, she clung to it. However, drinking the wine was out of the question. She needed all of her wits. She planned to give her a care gift tonight if the opportunity arose. Poison? A stab wound? Whatever way she chose, she would have to use caution. She was powerless against the mistress's magical skills. Particularly considering she had no idea what the girl was capable of, especially with the mother sorcerer watching in the corner. "Now," the mother sorcerer said softly. "Enjoy." The men danced for over an hour while the mother sorcerer ate and drank. Grace stood there, staring at her like a lab rat. The mistress soon began giggling and throwing grapes at the males. She grew aroused after the chuckles stopped. She placed her hand beneath her robe and massaged herself between her legs, unapologetically. "Touch his chest, Leticia," the mistress huskily said. "That's ri
Even though Grace was carried on a plush golden carriage with the mother sorcerer and the princess, the sun was blocked by a canopy of dark netting. She much preferred traveling with James. She knew she was buying time, and soon enough the magical cloaks that made her look like Leticia were deemed to fade at any moment. She just prayed that James wasn't too far away from her, and where was he anyway? She knew he was close by, Close, she thought. Grace could almost smell him—a hint of magic, a pinch of seductive ocean, sandalwood, and spice. She prayed he’d opted not to follow her.The mother sorcerer thought he was dead. So, in a way, he was finally free of the bitch. He could travel to Nork and do what needed doing. And Grace could deliver his vengeance—a special care package of lethal—for him.The mother sorcerer and Levy had killed an innocent old witch for no damn reason. No wonder the people in the village were afraid of Leticia. The royal family and the people associated with th
Kingdom of NorkDizziness rolled through Grace, and she couldn’t contain her gasp of excitement. Next time she opened her eyes, she would be there. Back in Nork. And if she retained this ability, she would never have to worry about losing James to magic again. She could stay with him always. If she didn’t retain it automatically, she could drink from him every day to ensure that she did.“Well, well,” a female voice said. “There you are, using your magic to become invisible again. Who were you spying on this time, sister Leticia, dear?”Dread replaced Grace’s excitement as she opened her eyes. She was in the little room, all right, but that room was now overflowing with Levy and her soldiers. Two of them held a teary-eyed woman. The very woman who had brought Grace here, who had fed her, clothed her.Levy stood at the edge of the bed, peering down at her. There was no sign of James.Slowly Grace sat up. Careful. “Yes, I was using my invisibility again.” As far as lies went, that was
There were no smells here either, not even the smell of her own skin—a scent we become so used to that we aren’t even aware of it. It becomes lost in a sea of other scents minutes after we leave the shower. She searched for that lost smell now, but it was gone as if she were gone, like she no longer had a body to emit a scent.There were no sounds. She couldn’t even hear her own heartbeat. It was strange how she’d spent the majority of her life ignoring or tuning out that sound, but even when she wasn’t paying attention to it, it was still there, thumping reassuringly, telling her in the most basic way that she was alive. The absence of that rhythm scared her more than anything ever had.She tried to shout, but it was eaten by the void. She couldn’t even scream in her mind. She felt like she was disappearing, or had already disappeared, and all that was left was some small, broken shred of herself, futilely resisting the darkness, struggling to not be eaten and become nothing herself.
Stay calm. I’m dreaming. The void will go away. It always does.Just as she thought that, the emptiness disappeared, bit by bit. Sensation came back first, then memories, and finally awareness of the space around her. Usually, the blank cut right to hazy images of sand, cheering, and fighting, but this time felt different.This doesn’t feel like a dream.Grace sucked in a stuttering breath, trying to inflate lungs that felt like they’d never been used. Her chest burned, and her thoughts were sluggish and cloudy. Prying her eyelids open only earned her a stab in the brain from the bright, white light around her. It took blinking repeatedly for the room to come into focus.When it did, adrenaline flooded her in a rush, sending her heart pounding so hard that her chest ached. Shock scattered her thoughts, but her training kicked in almost instantly.Mindlessly taking a slow, silent breath, she forced herself to calm down. Something vaguely resembling composure came slowly, in increments,
James gave chase.Grace heard the voices before she spotted the town, and she nearly toppled over with relief. She increased her speed, and finally, blessedly, she reached civilization. The sun was steadily rising in the sky, casting a violet haze on the people just now starting their day. Warming Grace, and even burning her. Her skin itched, prickling as if little bugs were crawling through her veins.She did not want to contemplate the possible reasons for such an occurrence. People—humans?—strode along cobbled streets, some carrying wicker baskets piled high with clothing, some carrying bags of—she sniffed, moaned—bread and meat. Her stomach grumbled as her mouth watered. She was lightheaded; her blood supply was a little low. She needed to replenish.Grace paused beside a tree, watching, thinking. She had two choices. Continue to move, remaining on her own, and risk being discovered by mistress Levy. Or enter the town, eat, and risk being found by Levy. At least the second option
James dragged Grace through the forest, branches slapping at him. She was limping again, and he wanted to carry her, but Levy’s guards must have caught his scent, because the echo of their footsteps increased, and the sense of magic intensified in the night air.They were closing in.He could have moved from one location to another with only a thought. Back to the withered, perverted kingdom of Nork from here. His heart clenched in his chest, and he gritted his teeth. Now was not the time to think of his home. Or the condition of his home. Or his parents and the sorcerer he would soon destroy.What if he disappeared, but Grace did not go with him? She would be left on her own in an inhospitable environment, the enemy all around.Damn this. He had to try something. He’d managed to beat the flood of memories back, but they were knocking at his mind, demanding release. If they overtook him again...James focused on what was most important. He and Grace shared a past he’d barely touched o