Kain knew he was being ridiculous. There were a thousand things wrong with this scenario. He was standing in King Edward’s lair years before he was ever born. Surrounded by demons and alchemists who would happily destroy them if they decided they were intruders. And they had no way to return to the proper time. Which meant they were stuck. But was he thinking or planning on how he could survive the next hour? Or day? Nope. His brain was utterly consumed by the revelation that Pearl was formally betrothed to another male. Scowling in frustration, Kain watched as she gave a small shake of her head. “My mother mentioned a betrothal, but I assumed that I was cursed before it could be formally announced.” “Who is the lucky male?” “What does it matter?” she demanded in genuine confusion. “I’m curious.” She paused as she searched her memory. Then she gave a faint shrug. “I believe his name was Ethan.” “Ethan,” Kain repeated, the name teasing at the edge of his mind. “Do you know
Five years ago Pearl was trying not to be overwhelmed. It was unexpectedly difficult. After all, it was one thing to experience the world through the eyes of her mother. There was a constant buffer between herself and actually being awake and fully aware of the sensations that battered against her. But now she was left raw and exposed. And it didn’t help to have Kain standing just a few inches away from her. Her father, the king, would kill her… or kill him. She’d seen other demons through her mother’s eyes, but never one who was this gorgeous. His gray eyes that darkened from silver to smoke, the blond hair that was short enough to emphasize his finely carved features. And his hard, male body. He was deliciously sexy. Was it any wonder her magic was anxiously pressing against her skin, wanting a taste? With an effort, Pearl battled the urge to reach up her hand and touch the warm skin of his face. She’d risked everything to tra
But Kain couldn't help the feeling of dread that washed over him as he looked around the dark and foreboding room. He knew they had to find a way out of there, but he wasn't sure how they would do it. "We need to find a way to get back to our own time," Kain said to his companion. Pearl nodded. "I know. But how are we going to do that? We don't even know where we are or how we got here." Kain took a deep breath and tried to think. He had a basic knowledge of time travel, but it was mostly theoretical. He didn't know if the same rules applied in this situation. "We need to find a way to create a time portal," Kain said after a moment. "But I have no idea how to do that. And even if we could, we don't know whe
Kain instinctively moved to stand in front of Pearl, protecting her from view. At the same time, he took a quick inventory of the male in front of him.He was larger than Kain and attired in the familiar uniform that marked him as one of King Edward’s guards. But Kain was one of the few half-breeds who could actually shift into an alchemist warrior. Which meant he could destroy the male if necessary.Of course, destroying fellow half-breeds was usually at the bottom of his to-do list. Unlike some of his more bloodthirsty friends, he preferred to Kain his way out of a situation.“What are you doing here?” the male demanded.Kain flashed a smile even as his hand slipped behind his back. He never left home without his favourite dagger tucked
Pearl was surprised how easy it was to assume the role of an arrogant, pureblooded alchemist. Almost as if she was born to the role. And she supposed she was, despite the fact she’d been isolated her entire life.She could only hope her brittle façade could last long enough for her to do a search of the lair.Acutely aware of the heavy press of power that crackled and sizzled in the air as they reached the throne room, as well as Kain’s seething disapproval, she halted and removed her hand from the guard’s arm.“I can find my way now.”“My lady.” The guard offered a small bow before he was disappearing among the guests.She dismissed him from her mind as she allowed her gaze to wander over the large room. It was remarkably plain, with woven rugs on the stone floor and torches stuck into the walls. At the far end was a high dais with two thrones. At the moment both of them were empty.Her attention turned to the guests who were gathered in small clumps. Most of them were pureblooded al
King Edward continued to frown, but seemingly accepting she wasn’t a threat, he stepped back. “I must go,” he said, swivelling on his heel to stride across the room.Like a covey of nervous dew fairies, the guests scurried out of the way of the alchemist who headed straight for the tiny, pregnant female across the room.Her mother…Pearl made a choked sound of disgust as she watched King Edward place a protective arm around her mother’s slender shoulders. It was extremely rare for the king to be this kind. The obvious thing was that he must be pretending. Most pairings were nothing more than political alliances meant to strengthen a clan of powerful alchemist.But there was nothing political in the way King Edward was gazing down at her wife, it was like he was really in love with her. Or how he reached to lay a gentle hand on her swollen belly.“How is it possible?” Pearl rasped.Kain moved to stand beside her, his fingers stroking down her back. His touch was light, but it was enoug
He grimaced. Was it possible the two alchemists were safely going to indulge their passions? It was hardly unusual for party guests to seek out companionship among the female servants.He hesitated at the arched opening to the harem, peeking a glance into the large inner chamber.The floor was covered with mosaic tiles, and in the centre was a large fountain that sprayed water into the air. The walls were made of delicate latticework, and the ceiling was domed and covered with precious gems.Kain watched as the two males crossed the floor, waving away the females who scurried to offer their services. They exited into a darkened room on the other side of the main chamber.Kain shuffled through his memories. When he’d been li
Kain paused to smooth the short strands of his hair and to ensure that there was no dust clinging to his clothing before he returned to the throne room. Then he forced himself to count to one hundred.He’d learned from a young age that alchemists missed nothing. Even if they acted like they were entirely focused on King Edward and his wife, not one of them was blind to what was happening in the room behind them.Including the fact that the lycan king had disappeared and recently returned.The last thing he wanted was the alchemist’s return to be associated with his own.Finally, he casually strolled through the doorway and along the edge of the crowd. Kain kept his gaze lowered as was expected for a mere half-breed, and used his sense of smell to direct him to Pearl.Not that he actually needed her scent.There was something deep inside him that would always pull him to her side. Like a homing pigeon.A terrifying realization—that was tucked in the back of his head along with all the
Henry approached the captives, who were dangling from a tree. He leaned in close to take in June, Ryan, and then Janet's features. In his murmur, he said something along the lines of "This woman is unusual; she smells like a lycan but also human. It has an odd scent that reminds me of Her Majesty Queen Janet herself. When June and Ryan heard the massive lycans, they looked to each other and toward Janet, who was smirking at them, as if to say, "I told you so." Henry continued, as he went to Janet's side and licked the blood from his forehead and raised his brows. "You are an oddity, little one. And you are not from around here, either. Who are you?" Henry and his band of mercenaries might have been the same ones that June's own people were on the lookout for. It was a long-running blood controversy that began some years ago. Nonetheless, June had been on the verge of passing out when he felt that all the blood flowing to his head from the wound made him conscious of the fact that he
Suddenly, they were knocked senseless by three lycans as they were transported to their secret lair when someone appeared out of nowhere and attacked them, rendering them unconscious. Janet's nose was dripping with blood, and a trickle of it dripped out. It did not drip down her chin, but rather up into her eyes and over her forehead, due to the fact that she, along with her partner Ryan and June, were hanging upside-down in the air. After being taken and strung up, they will be skinned alive and eaten by a gang of feral lycans who have come to take advantage of their situation. Earlier, however, the three had been attacked when they were seen traveling down a trail near the cliff, and their belongings, including their backpack and weapons, had been taken from them. And now Ryan and June were arguing with their backs to the wall. "I told you we shouldn't stop," June snarled at him. "But you dickhead, you weren't even forced to walk in front of us, but for your own bloody sense of im
"We need to check to see if my friend is still in the building.""Why?""Wait a minute, and you'll see."Before they knew it, they were being waved at by someone who said, "Thank goodness, your little train is still running." June uttered the words and walked over to the man, who appeared to be an elderly retired soldier."Nice to see you, young man, and I've received your secret message on my radio, and right now we must move quickly. After ten minutes, the train would depart from the station. I already had a secret compartment set aside for you three, but please don't leave your cabin at any time, okay? I've managed to bring on a dozen lycans. Actually, you're dealing with tourists, so keep your mouth shut and never, ever open your cabin door, okay? Unless, of course, it's me knocking on the door.""Of course, Joe, and thank you for your assistance." June wrapped her arms aroun
Suddenly, June shook his hands, as though he were attempting to dislodge himself from the spell of Ryan's lips. "It was a dirty trick," says June."Oh yeah? According to the person who made me drunk and then attacked me to prove a point. What is it about you that requires everything to be a test? Is it June? Remember when you chose the army over me?" Ryan said with a sigh, "We are done with that nonsense.""Come on, sweetie. Play fair now. Tests enable you to push yourself to new limits, mate," June moved in so quickly that he was standing by the couch one moment and standing right in front of Ryan the next. His punch was deflected by June, who moved more slowly than usual, and Ryan managed to avoid his punch back."It's a bitter past, Ryan! And I already apologized a hundred fucking times, did I?""I don't care! You still hurt me." Ryan added with a bit of a smile on his lips. He knew it drove June
June added, "I think this is going to be good." He murmured to himself as he sat in a nearby chair and rummaged through his backpack."This is the possible trail that we have to follow to reach the peak." "We needed a compass and a certain map to reach the cavern.""What cavern?" Janet asked.June gestured to his own graph and mumbled something under his breath, "There is a cavern at the peak of the mountain, and if I'm not mistaken, then there is a possible entry on the west side." So maybe whatever you've been looking at was inside the cave, right?"Worth a try." Ryan smiles, knowing full well that there was an adventure waiting for them.After two bottles of June's grandmother's wine, Janet was unable to keep her mouth shut. When she told them everything, they laughed at the foolishness of her tale and didn't believe her at first, but after an hour of hearing about the Scroll of Fate, the message behind Ethan's research paper, and her time traveling with Finn, Vergel, and Ethan, th
"No, not at this time." "I believe the trail has been buried beneath the sleet." She sighed as she took up a position beside him."Fuck it. I'm done with it. Does that mean we're stuck here? "I'm not sure whether I should be angry with you or grateful," he said as he turned away from her and back into the chimney fire."What the hell are you talking about?""While you were outside, I needed to go to the bathroom." "I happened to stumble into some sort of attic." Ryan went on to say that, as he stared into the flames, he felt something stab him in the back of the head. There was a ray of hope. Then he went on, "...and then I found this," he mumbled as he handed her a small brown military bag that looked like it had been abandoned."Can you tell me what this is?" "What am I supposed to do with this?" Janet inquired as she purposefully opened the back and began to untangle what was inside."That, Janet, you know. That notebook, of course. Take a look at it right now." He muttered somethi
Human Realm. Present Time With two warm sleeping bags of her own, Janet warmed up beside Ryan. They were lying close enough to the chimney's fire that Ryan could feel the warmth of it lapping at his face as their wet clothing dried on the brick quarters hanging near the vent as Janet added wood to rekindle it. When the storm had passed, Janet had buried the family in the snow a few yards away from the cabin, just in case. By the next day, however, the storm was still raging outside, with the entire bracket of the house trembling under the force of the storm's powerful wind. After his encounter with the father's dead body, which was lying in the living room the day before, Janet's eyes were opened. She couldn't help but wonder. She didn't mean to touch his forehead, but she was not expecting those memories to come crashing down on her like hurricanes. It was both terrifying and exhilarating at the same time. Janet had no idea she possessed the ability to read the memories of someo
He nodded.She stroked his shaft with the curled tip of her hand, rubbing back and forth on his glans. "To bring you down before we even started," she snarled, her tongue slithering across his ear, causing him to moan. "Of course, I'd go further... I'd keep going until I thought you couldn't take it anymore, but I'm a kind woman. After all, I asked to have your soul... but let me have fun!"She giggled again before attacking the other side of his neck, causing Darwin to whimper again as his fangs elongated. He wanted to taste her. She pumped him carefully, tightening her grip and almost wringing his rod out. Her leafy scales moved on his naked skin and garments, wrenching and untwisting as she shifted her coils, all over again as he moaned.His body bucked, turning involuntarily against her shackling grip. He feared this would enrage her, but it didn't. It had the opposite impact: it was terrifying and erotic.She liked it. Her veins shifted to enable his reflexive twists to gain some
Darwin murmured. He was getting eager, clenching his thighs together automatically. Alicia hissed sensuously, her rich fragrance only marginally less sensual. "I can smell your blood boiling, I can smell your aroused soul, little vampire, just like what I smelled from the little sorcerer earlier—wanting it, wanting me." "I... I don't..." he began, unsure of what he was saying. He couldn't quite get what she was saying, but her voice was fascinating and alluring. He was in a trance; he understood, but he couldn't get himself away from her. "But don't you wish to enjoy the pleasure no dark creature can provide? What do you have to lose to get a taste of heaven and a replica of the manuscript? If you only accept, you will discover new passions." She slithered closer, her head brushing his hips, her eyes peering up into his. Her body loop softly nudged his back, her head rising in an arc again. Her movements were slow and deliberate, a lovely performance that soothed the senses. Nothi