Mardichi turned the key in the door and forced it open.Causing the small creatures to scream in fury as he squished one behind the door and dragged it over the tail of another.Mardichi and Sebastian were an explosion of movement. Once the door was thrown open, Sebastian skid out on his knees. Stabbing through the backs of creatures.One tried to leap at Sebastian’s face, but Mardichi caught it by the scruff and dropped it level over his foot which he brought up to send the thing flying into the brush with an audible crunch.I winced as I watched their dangerous movements.They were vicious killing machines. Working through the swarm of black creatures.I was most horrified by the glinting orange eyes staring up at me. Bits of yellow and red coursing through them like a fire was reflected in black eyes. They licked at pointed yellow teeth greedily and seemed fixated on me once they’d spotted me.They divided around Sebastian and began to swarm into the hut.I shrieked and leapt atop
We didn’t stop until we reached the docks.There was a huge boat parked at the end of the wharf. It had sleek sails and was smoothed at the stern and bow in a way which told me it would be fast.Sebastian dropped to his belly for me to climb off him, then he rose. Straightening into the form of a man. His clothes folding around his shoulders and hips to drape around him.Walking behind him, I glimpsed a brief view of tight buttocks before the black fabric of his pants had gripped them and fallen over a powerful length of leg. As we stepped onto the wharf, he swept up a Captain’s hat from hanging over a post. Flopping it onto his head in a way that made the single white feather there, bob.Mardichi had stopped at the end of the wharf and was looking at us. Seeming a bit unsure.Something is wrong.***“Mardichi?” Sebastian queried.“I have to stop by the tavern and get something. I’ll be along shortly.”“Can’t a bit o’ dram wait?” Sebastian frowned at him.“Not today, My Brother.”Seba
Mardichi did not miss that the demon master implied he was a fool. Something he was more than happy to let lie.“She’s not made for your ilk, Radix.” Mardichi grinned. “I’ll not give her to you. Not now. Not ever. Keep your slimy old hands the hell off her.”Mardichi slid to his feet. “I’ll bid you good day.”Radix leapt to his feet a bit to agilely for his seasoned age. “I wouldn’t harm a pretty hair on her head if you give her to me. If I find her on my own…I’ll let each of my minions have a go at her pretty tail.”Mardichi rounded and descended on the man. Grabbing a fistful of beard in his meaty fist. “Watch what you say to me.” He pointed finger in the man’s ancient face. “Lest I be tempted to rip your bottom jaw from your ugly face.”He gave that beard a purposeful tug.“You wouldn’t dare.” Radix sneered through his pointed teeth. “My minions would come from every corner of this tavern to tear you apart.”“Ah.” Mardichi gestured broadly. “But if you were going to do that, you’d
He grinned at me.“Did he try to seduce ye, whilst me was away?”“Of course, he did.” I scoffed at the idiocy of the idea. Certain that was the last thing Sebastian would try to do.“Bloody bastar’!” Mardichi rounded and nearly abandoned me as he headed for the door.I caught his sleeve and realized it was one of the rare occasions I had actually seen him in a full tunic and breeches.He’d dressed to go to the tavern.“I’m kidding! Kidding!” I skid before him to splay across the door to keep him from going out.“Best be, My Gel.” He caught me around the waist and lifted me in the air to turn with me and set me down before him.“Yer mine.” He tweaked the tip of my nose.***I felt my old pride flare. “I’m not yours. I don’t belong to anyone.”“That’s not entirely true. I’ve marked ye as mine forever.”“I thought the mark didn’t work?” I challenged defiantly.“It didn’t change ye. But a mark is still a mark. Bast sensed it.” He gestured above deck. “Why do ye think he came to have a loo
I reached between us and gripped the swelling bulge beneath his pants. Pushing downward and then massaging. Feeling him growing under my hand.He moaned pleasurably.I fumbled at his pants a moment and he scooted me up along his knees to withdraw himself.Gripping his length in his fist and holding it steady as he gave me a long look.I slid down his thighs and met that hard knob. Bracing myself on his thighs I lifted slightly and came down. Feeling his hard length slicking between my soft lips and parting them to make a path into my narrow channel.I gasped at the sensation of stretching. The slow feel of my body opening for him. Allowing him entrance to my core.He rumbled in his throat. Enjoying the feel of it.I pushed myself up, withdrawing from him and stealing the pleasurable heat that was making him feel so good. Then dropping back down again. Feeling him stretching back through me. The giant staff intruding into the center of my body. The first few times I couldn’t get all th
His arm hooked around my waist, no longer able to restrain himself and held me down on him as my body took off in violent shudders. It spurred him deep into my center, far behind my belly and so deeply that I was certain he could go no further.I could feel the melding of our thigh and where my lips sucked along his sack, telling me that he was fully in me as he too began bucking, pulsing inside me in tiny hops that told me his seed was ripping from him.I found myself screaming in ecstasy. Feeling both powerful and beautiful astride him.He growled as he finished and brought my head down to take my mouth more forcefully. Consuming it hungrily. His thick tongue delving into my mouth as if to mark me his eternally.He shifted sideways with me still on his lap and eased out of me as he turned us both onto our sides. His hand moved to rest on my hip, and he was giving my face a thoughtful study. However, by now, it was growing dim enough from the sun descending beyond the porthole that I
To turn him against his brethren?That was what Mardichi said the demon wanted from him.“Like Sebastian?” I was irate at the thought. I didn’t know much about the strange golden man, but it seemed to me that he was nothing but goodness.And gorgeousness.Dammit. For some reason, just thinking about the man elicited unintended lust. It was very odd.I caught myself and reigned in those primitive thoughts.The idea that the demon would try to get Mardichi to turn on those who were clearly loyal to him made me angry.That’d isolate him completely.The barbarian was right. I did still have much to learn about him, but I believed it was reasonable to guess that he wasn’t entirely well-suited to being around people and those he liked or considered close were likely few and far between.“Why haven’t you done it?”I felt his startled glance. “They’re me family. Only one I got. And no offering of pleasure or power would make me want something more.”Loyalty.Plain and simple.Despite all his
“Well, My Brother, perhaps it is time you learn.” Sebastian suggested. “We’ve a long voyage ahead of us. Maybe you should spend it learning how to treat the girl as a mate. Not a slave.”“I’ve never had one.”“A mate? Most of us haven’t...” Sebastian admitted. “Still, we somehow find a way to figure it out. And haven’t you adapted more than most in your long life?”Mardichi gave a grudging head tilt.“From a murderous barbarian on the edge of Greece, to turning about into a Templar Knight to falling from grace to become a shapeshifting immortal...I’d say you’ve done some adapting...” Sebastian said dryly.Mardichi grunted. “We all have.”“And I’d combat your argument by citing that though you’ve never had a mate. You’ve had plenty of slaves. And you certainly thought you knew how to treat them. So mayhap you should begin by learning how to do the opposite of that.”“Are you giving me romance advice, Bast?”Bast chuckled. “I suppose someone must.”“Pity be the fool.” Mardichi grumbled.
My mind was racing. Faster than a horse’s hooves as I considered my options. She embraced me tightly. “Forget whatever you’re thinking. Stay here with me baby girl!” “Here is where I was taken.” I reminded her. “Then I’ll gather all you girls and we’ll go somewhere else!” “Where?” “I don’t know yet. Just stay.” She stepped back to squeeze my hands. “Stay with me, Honey.” I wanted to. The sound of her sweet voice was something I’d badly missed. But Robin hadn’t gotten in with a bad lot trying to find me. Now I need to find him. But I knew nothing about bandits, their laws, or their weapons. But I know someone who does. And the truth was, I was aching to be close to him again. I’d missed his face every step I’d taken away from him. Now I need him. And somehow I knew, without a shred of doubt, that he’d help me. *** MARDICHI
“You’re a drunkard.” “But damn fun to be around.” He pointed out. “No. You’re not.” Mardichi gave a slight shrug. “That too, is a matter of opinion.” “What if she’s in trouble?” Acharius blurted about the young voice he could hear. “Then your old bawdys will care for her. They’re plenty vicious. Recall tha’ day they wouldna lemme in the house? I asked plenty nice and they…” He gave a low whistle. Acharius smiled fondly at the memory. “They were quite ready to fell you.” “I think they may’ve tried, too!” His voice rose slightly as he responded to Acharius’ comment regarding them killing Mardichi with the tiny daggers they’d wielded. “You were demanding to know if they had drink in the House.” Acharius defended. “Twas a fair question…It’d been a long morning.” “They thought you were a thief.” Acharius commented. “Shouldn’t you be out strolling Mane Country for Cimmerii?” “Ye mean
“I suppose.” He admitted. I turned and put my hand on the door. Realizing that every fiber of my heart wanted me to stay. Was screaming for me to turn around, embrace him and declare my love for him. But I can’t. I loved people before him. And I need to know they’re okay. And it was more than just that. Especially now. I need to know who I am. And if anyone else in my family knows how to control this… “Will you come back?” He asked softly. My gaze fell and my throat felt choked with emotion. “I don’t know…” “I travel to see the brethren often.” Mardichi breathed. But when I am not with them, I’ll always return here…For you.” He’s saying he’ll wait for me. Watch for me…Still be mine. “I don’t know how long it might take, if I ever did.” “I don’t care.” I stepped out and closed the door before the tears began pouring over my face. So, no
He’d lied. That was all I could think after it felt we’d walked for an eternity. He was incredibly spry. Nearly dancing on his feet as we walked through a meadow of tall wispy wheat grass toward a large hut. Well-built and beautiful. I felt a tingle of apprehension as I wondered who lived here. I thought it was apprehension. But it may just be my legs going numb. I’d sweated nearly all the way through the dress I was wearing. I was sure my armpits were dripping, and my hair was sticking to my forehead and the back of my neck. Mardichi jogged ahead to hold the door open for me. I was panting like a dehydrated hound. Dragging my feet and my shoulders slumped as I forced myself to take another step. Then another. I’m never going to get there. I was going to collapse into the grass first. He must’ve seen the distress on my face. He jogged back at a calm lope and swept me up
They were gloriously beautiful wings. Dark black with hints of a greenish hue which glinted in the sunlight sweeping through the trees and between the rustling bird wings around me. Everything around me seemed to quiet as I examined these things attached to my shoulders. Wondering where they’d come from. I reached out with hesitant fingers and grabbed the thickness of one. Startled by how warm, and real it felt. I didn’t know what I expected but this was the last of it. I’d half expected that my hand would sift straight through it. I flexed my shoulders, tensing the blades which I discovered, made the wings splay out and flex, to pointed tips. I moved my arms in, bringing my elbows together. Which made the wings wrap protectively around me. Instantly creating a cocoon of warmth. A blanket far warmer than any I’d ever climbed under. They’re unreal. Yet they were entirely so. Giving one a light tug revealed it was certai
I looked back down. Seeing that Mardichi was now bleeding badly. Though he was showing no sign of slowing down. The rodents were now dashing from the underbrush to tear at his slender legs. Ripping at tendons and trying to tear into something vital. One was currently hanging onto his soft stomach. Gnashing vicious little yellow teeth. Another had stepped out from the shrubbery. A flap along its belly began to lift and it loosed a woman’s cry. A sound that I’d have been certain was a woman screaming in distress. But there were echoing responses from every direction. Far too many out here. I could see them now. Coming from every direction with their hideous flicking tails. I felt a rush of heat and my teeth clenched. My arms felt like the bones locked out and my back felt as if it was ripping apart. There was a great flood of dark birds pouring from the sky in a swirl to come down and dump over the creatures. Blinding th
He caught me around the waist and pulled me closer against him. Holding me in the protective circle of his body. He shifted me to the other arm as he twisted to look over our shoulders and see the direction we’d just come from. Trying to watch everywhere. Nestled in the protective circle of his arms, I was reminded how massive he was. Nearly covering me with a shielding leg and his forearms. I noticed the trees seemed darker right now. Long twisted branches overhung the path we’d taken. There were empty bits of ground beneath where the leaves above didn’t let any rain or sunshine reach the forest floor. It was very barren in this area. I heard the first branch crack and realized what had so much of Mardichi’s attention. There’s something here with us. Once I noticed, I couldn’t help but feel it. A presence. And there were eyes. Someone’s eyes watching our every movement.
He stepped from view. I waited both excitedly and apprehensively. Wondering if he was still entirely him when he was in the other forms. He never seemed any different as the wolf. I doubt he will as the horse. I heard branches crunch and quickly looked up. Watching as the massive red beast stepped into view. My first thought was that I couldn’t possibly ride him. He’s too high up. And even if I could get up there, I wondered how I could straddle the width of his back. He’s as large as a cart. His hooves were huge with flowing hair, dancing in the breeze.His mane was as long and red as his hair and when he moved, I could hear the sizzle of sparks. I stared at him in astonishment. He walked near a boulder, prancing a circle before lowering his front half near the boulder. I hesitated. I had the deep sense that if I climbed up on that mount’s back. I was going to be forever
Afterward, we layside by side in the cool shade, watching the sunlight drizzling through swaying leaves above. I was entirely sated. My mind quiet for a time as I appreciate the view surrounding me. And the warmth of a man next to me. “This place is beautiful.” I remarked. Staring at the large, lush green leaves and the springy plants flourishing over the forest floor. Like a tiny piece of the paradise WaterRose was. I was suddenly heartbroken to be leaving. There was such a sense of security there. I understood why the Forever Knights didn’t want anyone to know about it. They carved out this tiny bit of peace and healing. I knew that for them, going to WaterRose was like having a home in the chaos. Somewhere family always was. I remembered how they’d all treated me. Even the Alpha. They’d made me feel like I was part of their oddball troupe.