James’s head was a seething cauldron of thoughts, his body a tuning fork of emotion. One moment he’d been fighting the giants, protecting Grace, the next he was shouting in pain, unable to control the turmoil in his mind. Faces, so many faces. Voices, so many voices. Clutching at his ears, he fell to his knees. The jarring helped. The faces faded and the voices quieted, allowing rational thought to form. Had to…protect… Grace…again… But when he pried his eyelids apart, he saw that the giants were gone. So was Grace. James was no longer near the river, no longer in the forest. A barren wasteland surrounded him. What trees he saw were gnarled, their leaves withered. Ash floated in an acidic wind, black snow scented with death and destruction. And he smelled something…rotting. He recognized nothing. He turned, saw a snakelike vine slither from one of the trees, then another, both headed in his direction. They dove for him, bit at him and, when they tasted his blood, seemed to cackle
James had at last taken control of his emotions and hadn’t lost his temper since. That didn’t mean his fangs were useless, though.“And if your fangs have been pried out of your mouth?” his father demanded.“No one would ever be foolish enough to remove my fangs. Mother says I’m the most powerful vampire in the world. I can walk in the light, and I can steal power from anyone I choose.”“No, she says you will be.” His father’s expression hardened. “You are a prince, James. The crown prince. Many in this world and the other will covet your direct line to my throne. Many will try and hurt you simply to hurt me. You must know how to defend yourself, always, for every situation.”James gave the sword another once-over. Long, thin and polished to a vibrant shine. He was not used to its heaviness, or the thickness of the hilt. “Very well. I will train some more, but why are you not teaching Daniel?”“So many questions.” His father sighed.“Why must he watch? He’s a prince, too, you know.” A
“Jamey,” a young voice called. “Jamey!”James was on his feet a second later, hopping along the rocks and racing toward his youngest brother. The youngest prince was on the beach, beside James’s boots, and unharmed. Relief speared him.“Michael, damn it. What are you doing out here? Until you’re older, you’re not supposed to be near the water on your own.”The little boy screwed up his lips, all determination and courage. “I’m not on my own! You’re here.” A mischievous glint in his eyes.“Damn it.” Just like that, James’s anger deflated. As always he could not stay angry with the scamp. Michael looked up to him, wanted to spend time with him, and James loved that. Loved him. Even though the boy had butchered his name while learning to speak, and his family sometimes still teased him with the nickname. “O-lie.”At least he had later moved on to “Jamey.”The females who made their way to James’s bed often called him by the shortened Nicki, as well, but that invited a familiarity he neve
Grace's head bounced off hard, rocky ground, the impact addling her senses, turning the world blurry. Earlier, she went unconscious and awakened to different kidnappers.Shouts and screams came to her like they were happening on the other side of a wet curtain. She flailed her legs, turning to get her hands under her. Sharp gravel on what had once been an asphalt road drove into her palms as she pushed up, kicking away from the body she'd fallen backward over. She got her feet under her, but as soon as she tried to rise, she was violently dizzy, the world seeming to turn abruptly ninety degrees. She hit the ground again. The clash of weapons, pleading screams and the raider's victorious shouts were everywhere. She crawled as fast as she could on her hands and knees. She had no idea what direction she was going; just away from the sounds of fighting.A strong hand grabbed the back of her jacket and she screamed. Her nails snapped against exposed asphalt, clawing to get away. Another ha
It took a few minutes, but she felt steadier. She put a foot on the ground and pushed, fighting the restraining cable and the cramps in her belly to flip over, putting her hands toward the dim firelight. She had to rest again after the effort. When she felt strong enough, she craned her neck, ignoring the pain shooting through her shoulders, neck and belly to see how the cable was attached to her restraints.Smooth, dark metal encircled her wrists. These weren't brute manacles like raiders or scavengers used. These were manufactured, maybe even made in a factory. She'd heard unbelievable tales about the factories in the great city-states with their farms and walls and guns. Staring at the cuffs, something in her leapt with joy.If even part of the tales the wandering stories tell for a few pieces of scrap or a meal are true...She couldn't help herself, she let her fingers run over the smooth dark metal. But when she saw what connected to the center of the chain between the cuffs, her
She'd seen very few people in her life that looked so... uniform. All of his clothes looked like they belonged together and many of the things he had seemed to be made to match everything else. Her mind wandered, imagining what his tight trousers looked like from the back without the long coat in the way.He knelt next to her and she felt his hands on the cuffs again. "Don't try to run off. Fair warning, catching people who try to run is part of what I do." His voice wasn't harsh per se, but straightforward, matter of fact.This close in the firelight she could see several long-healed scars on his otherwise handsome face and the darkest blue eyes she'd ever seen. She'd seen a stone someone called Lapis. His eyes reminded her of it.Then the handcuffs were off. As her hands fell forward the jabbing sensation in her shoulders turned to a spasm that made her hiss in pain and brought her straight up for a few seconds before easing off. He didn't respond to her pained grimace. He was diggi
"I uhhh..." she stammered. "Need to go to the bathroom." Grace watched his expression. He looked so different in the sunlight, younger, less harsh. She wiggled a little to see what would happen, instantly regretting it as his hand slid over her nipple again. "Can I?""Of course." Daniel lifted his arm off her and let his hand fall from her breast.Grace wanted to scramble to her feet but only got to her hands and knees before the battered muscles of her stomach forced her to stop. She hissed but pushed up to her feet and forced herself upright."You should let me look at that," he told her as he sat up, nodding at her belly. He was maddeningly calm for how out of control her body suddenly felt."I'm fine!" she snapped.He pointed her in a direction. "Over there will probably be safest."She marched toward the corner of the building he indicated. She did have to go to the bathroom - badly. But more than anything else, she needed to be anywhere that didn't involve being in contact with,
It was hot and so she'd taken off her jacket. His eyes kept being drawn to her bouncing breasts as they lurched over uneven ground. Part of her wanted to cross her arms, but she just couldn't, instead waiting for his glances.She'd eaten three large piece of boar he'd given her; he'd eaten as many himself. In her glances around the vehicle's interior, she'd seen the remains of the boar. He wasn't joking. Parts of it were neatly cut up, dried and stored, a large haunch of it hung wrapped in cloth and carefully strapped between shelves in the far back of the truck.He drove past giant quarantine signs that ran in a line at the boundary of a what had once been part of a city. They were from the old world, or the world just after the bombs fell. She watched the signs pass, her stomach dropping."What are you doing!? It's not safe in there!"He nodded. "That's the point." Grace pulled the blanket up again, his deadpan confidence doing nothing to help her racing heart. No one went into the
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