With no more use for the bowl of water, Belladonna had to go back and return it. It was swift but coming back to the room didn't come with as much ease. Somehow, along the way, her steps had become clumsy, her sight a little blurry and the fogginess returning toback to her brain. She felt a great need to rest her weight upon something so she wouldn't fall, laughter bubbled from within her and chuckled for no reason, as it increasingly felt like the floor was playing jokes on her with it's unsteady movements.It was slight though, nothing she couldn't handle, at least now that she was in her bed and well fed, she might just sleep it off and get better when she wakes up.Before she could lay in bed though, there was knock, one that came in rapid succession. Why were there so many knockings this morning? She didn't remember always having so many knockings by this time. Eventually, she got the door and the person on the other side turned out to be..."Isn't that my masked lover?" Her sm
He wondered if this was on purpose or her mind had truly blurred out by how dangerous this position was. Despite his instinct to bring his hands to her waist, he kept them curled into fists and burried into the bed."Donna." The tip of her nose nuzzled against his scales as she sniffed them in. He shut his eyes momentary trying to recollect himself from the struggle he had within him. The blossoming need, the igniting desire. No. He must remain the logical one here."Donna, you have to stop---ah"The sharp yanking of his hair backward stopped his words to a scratching halt, a groan that almost sounded like a moan slipping past his lips as something jolted in him.He gulped, staring up at her with brown eyes that glinted with shock and surprise, his breath shaky with the lust that shot through his veins, straining with promising scandal against every restraint he was desperately trying to put forward. What was she doing to him? The electric blue orbs that gazed down at him did not
Eli spring up halfway but Belladonna clung to him, her nails scratching against his back, digging into his flesh and drawing blood, her breath harsh against his ear, her chest raising and falling beneath him, her eyes partly closed and filled with lust. She had no control of herself.He had thought that her emotions had been merely heightened but the theory that they might have completely taken control over her was something that didn't cross his mind. Despite how much his own desire stood in the way, he knew he had to put a stop to this right now. His hands move to hers to pull them away from him, but her lips connected with his neck, savoring his flesh, sucking his skin and leaving a hickey behind to evident her brutality. He groaned, panting, feeling his bulge strain against his pants, as she pressed herself further against him. His fists that were resting at either sides of her, on the bed, buckled at the feeling that surged through him, making them fall back into the bed, but
"How dare you?" Her voice was a little breathy, as she staggered back from the door that Eli had just flung open and came in through before slamming it shut just as instantly. "You left me alone. I was withering away, I was dying."Eli's face scrunched up into a frown underneath his mask. Dying?"Look at me, I can barely stand." She accompanied her statement with a dramatic fall and he caught her just in time, laughter rumbling from his chest.She would certainly be mortified with the memory of this when she recovered. "Take me.""I will," came his reply without an ounce of hesitation."Now." She emphasized.He slipped a finger underneath her chin, his gaze holding hers."Listen to me. Do you remember that you said you wanted to get married first, and that will happen during the Red Moon when you will be crowned Queen." His fingers slipped from her chin to caress her cheek. "My Queen.""I don't want to wait anymore. Please, don't tell me that I have to wait.""You do not."Happines
Yes, he did. Who wouldn't love Kestra. She was like family. The only one who had been with him through his trying times, stood my him through it all. He loved her.But there were different types of love and for the one his Donna was asking him about, the answer was 'no'. What bothered him though wasn't the question but why she must have asked it. For everything there was a reason. So why?"Why did you ask?""You haven't answered me yet." She said with a click on her tongue against the roof of her mouth, although the glint in her eyes held no playfulness."No, I do not have romantic feelings for my right hand woman."She chuckled, casually checking through the wardrobe again. "You must be in love with saying too many words." "Do you find it disturbing, perhaps?"If he could have it his way, he would try to make sure everything about him was perfect to her, that there would be nothing about him that she would have a problem with. She shrugged. "I guess it has grown on me." She
Belladonna woke up to the sunlight seeping from the curtain and flashing warmly against her eyelids.Asides from feeling like the world had slipped away too fast and the time had most likely jumped, there was a slight banging in her head that she had to deal with. Her fingers ran through her hair, meeting it tangled though, she had to pull them out and pressed them against her creased forehead instead in a search for relief.Why did it feel like she was forgetting something?Just as that thought had crossed her mind, images folded her mind, she cringed as she remembered how she had acted intoxicated and how shameless every of her move had been.The knock on the door made her jump and with slightly stumbling steps from how weak she felt, she had answered the door. It was the new maid but she didn't really have anything to say it her. It was weird to see someone else attending to her that wasn't Raquel, she would have to check on her later today to see if she was getting better. In se
Honestly, at this point she felt her fear was groundless. If she were to get pregnant, Eli would certainly not turn against his own child but the thought of going against a promise she had made for herself for such a long time didn't go down well with her. It was a sought of control she had that she wasn't ready to lose. Nor take actions that might put her at risk of losing it."I'd rather not. It is too...""Too what?" He asked."Tempting." He chuckled, leaning in for a kiss. Her hand moved up instinctively, the keys jiggling by the sudden movement as she raised it inbetween them to create an obstruction."I also came to return your keys.""Keep it." He pulled her hands down, pulling her closer. "Just in case you need to ambush me again.""I won't."He chuckled. She expected him to pull away, maintain the sought of boundary that he usually would but it seemed something had changed in their relationship and he stayed put, moving her hand up his cheek to caress his cheek. The hard
Belladonna was the most puzzled. This conversation had gone astray."I don't." Why would Lady Kestra even think that?Her features relaxed into relief and a slow smile play at the corners of her lips. Lady Kestra seem to have different kinds of smiles, each fitting for each situation and somehow she seemed to always have the right smile on at every instance.Except that grin. That wide grin that always felt aching to even look at. It must be because of her perfect white set of teeth, maybe that was why she loved showing them off so much, because they were just so beautiful.With her gaze piercing down into hers though, Belladonna felt the need to stand her ground and make things clear. So she rose up to her feet, and took a couple of steps away from the chair. Her eyes skimmed over her sewing machine and she remembered briefly that she hadn't given out supplies for any order today. Ah. That reminded her of Raquel. She missed her so much. Despite her new maid's hardwork, she just
“What is this?” Ny'ka asked, racing up to her feet.“The Stones of Prophecy. I already told you,” Ka'el replied, rising to his feet too. He groaned a little, his ribs hurting from the force that had tossed him aside.The stones had suddenly fallen to the ground, scattered; they were still glowing though. “I mean, what do they do?“I don't know!” There was a bit of panic in his voice, then he started to mumble to himself as he fell on his knees and started trying to collect the stones. “The King believes his daughter is in the Rebellion, and there are rumors of the Heir; he thinks they are working together.” He stopped and stared up at Ny'ka who watched him with a frown on her face. “That is why the Moon and the Sun came up in the sky because she is really here? But you said it didn't happen here, that it was from another Realm. It is from another realm, right? It isn’t true, Is it?”Ny'ka tried to grab one of the stones from Ka'el but it held it away from her. “Is his daughter truly
Then she felt like she was drowning and her words vanished from her lips. It felt like she was right in the lake and above it at the same time, hovering over the water and looking at the drowning child, while the drowning child looked back at her, struggling. Then she was finally in the baby and she could see Xinora floating over her as she felt herself dying in the baby — felt the baby dying. She saw Xinora stare right at her mother, who froze immediately like she had seen a ghost - it was what she looked like anyway, what she seemed to be. Then Belladonna felt the presence slam right into her immediately. Xinora had vanished and was now inside her as one being, the moment of her almost death creating the perfect space for Xinora to fit in. But just as Xinora had merged into her, she dissolved into the back of her mind like a mere pest fighting against a strong host. Her mother pulled her out of the water, her gaze blank and cold. Without a word, she wrapped her in a piece of clo
Trigger warning: Dealing with rape aftermath (from victim’s perspective) on page, and baby drowning on page. _________Belladonna paced the room. Two nights have passed since Alaris and her had discussed about Xinora. The Rebellion was healing, and she had sought out Ny'ka to help her with creating portals; although she knew that it might not work, just as it hadn't been working, but that was just how unpromising Channeling had been, and it had worked eventually. That wasn't the problem though. The thing was that Ny'ka was nowhere to be found. It didn't take long for her to figure out where she was.She was with Ka'el, most likely inquiring about their recent failure.Alaris had confirmed her suspicion, and here she was, in the room, trying not to drive herself mad with every single possibility that was crossing her mind.The Priest had drawn a tattoo on the top part of her chest, a little distance from her neck. He had smeared it with the blood of an animal, chanted some things th
Ny'ka went to Ka'el that night as the Heir had ordered, only to find out that he was with someone. Tsiri?What?What was she doing here? Why was she here? How long has she known about Ka'el? How did she get here?Why was she here?By Ina, what had she told him?!The White glow of the crescent moon above glimmered down on them through the shadows of the scanty leaves of the tall trees around them. The smile on Tsiri’s face was plain for Ny'ka to see, just as obvious as the doubt that dotted Ka’el’s eyes. What had she told him?!“Is it true?” Ka'el asked, his fist tightening around the small bag he had in his hand. She wondered what was in that bag but his next words made her aware of the greater problem she had before her. “Are you just fooling me?” He asked as his free hand anchored around Tsiri’s waist, making her smile widen. Disappointment flashed in Ny'ka's eyes and she frowned, blatantly ignoring Tsiri. “Fooling you? What nonsense are you talking about? And why are you with o
“Nightshade, do you have any memories of Jyris?”He was crouching in front of her. This room suddenly felt too small. Where was the air of ease?“No, except that he healed my ankle, gave me that gold ring that you tossed away and he was at the table with the King. Nothing else. I’m trying to but I don't remember anything else.” She wouldn't tell him about the strange feeling of familiarity she had when she had first seen him. That would be too dangerous. “You were in her dreams even when you weren't in captivity. So can you just go into people's dreams? Can you still do that?”“No. Her dream was the only one I could get into without being in captivity. But My freedom does come at a price. It was hard to lure the brides with my soul, and certainly, I prefer this freedom to that.”“Did killing her hurt you? Since the gems are supposed to be a pair.”“I struck her stomach.”“Why didn't you strike her in the heart or behead?”“I wanted to behead her and take her heart as my own; a litt
He heaved a sigh and sat next to her. “Well, it was after being King. I think the wars I had fought strengthened the connection with my gem; the lives I had taken fed it, and I dreamt of Xinora — well, she dreamt of me. It was the first time I would be in anyone's dreams.”Belladonna nodded, taking a mental note of that. “She was crying and lonely, and because the Gem perceived its master to be distressed, it sought a connection and found me. Xinora was terrified when we met; I was confused, too; it was strange. But then, I realized who she was and why I was there. At that time, I really wanted to come back here, to Vestros, but I knew it wasn’t time, I wasn't powerful enough back then.” He paused, before he continued. “The White King would kill me easily, but being in her dreams was like fate being on my side. She was the only weapon that could be used to kill me—”The only weapon?“Wait. Only a Bearer can kill a Bearer?”“Yes.” “So,” she turned to him squarely so she wouldn't mi
“And you didn't tell me? Why?”“It was over two centuries ago.” He stood up. “She stayed dead during those times, why would I think anything would come out of her now?”Belladonna said nothing and Alaris continued. “With you, I believed she had already been replaced. A new Master, her time was over, gone. The gems will always have their masters, I have discovered. At first, I was worried, but then you proved to be more than one with a mere link.”“I had visions of her. I told you everything.”He shrugged. “I thought it was just her lingering presence since she was the one who was connected to the gem before you. They are just mere visions, they don't suggest a powerful presence to get bothered about.”“You must be joking,” she stated, flabbergasted. “I had dreams of her every time and nothing ever really happened as a result,” he replied with a dismissive tone.“You know that is not true.”“Nothing “real” ever really happened.”With a realization, she stood up. “You are doing it aga
It felt compelling to desire more, it felt right… yet it didn't.Alaris pulled away being the first one to snap back from the spark pulling them together. “I’m sorry, I shouldn't have done that.” He was gone in a flash, leaving her flustered. She couldn't think; the foreign and overpowering feeling was a driving force that sent her out of the room to go after him. She did, reaching the surface, however, and feeling the warm glow of the moon on her skin. Something else seemed to have possessed her, and she went towards the lake instead, strangely seeking the comforting feeling of the water and the floating relief. The reflection of the full moon was cast over the still water and the trees seemed to create a path for her. She walked into the water as a shadow warrior emerged from behind her; the only one of Alaris' shadow warriors that wasn't killed. It swiftly moved into the water, reaching out to pull her back but she turned sharply to it. “Go Back!” She ordered, her voice a gr
Breathing heavily, he turned back to her. “I’m sorry— I just— I was afraid that you’ll shift—”“I have been terrified that this day would come but I thought I was stronger, as strong as I was in your Realm. I knew I would be lacking the moment I saw that annoying thing healing your ankle with his flames,” he laughed, the sound dry of humour as he swept his hand over his hair, pushing it back. “At that moment, I knew there were many things that I lacked, many skills, so many things. I might have been a King there but here, I am like a child. I’m not better than any of those dragon shifters. I’m useless.” “You are not.”With a huff, he sat down next to her, feeling exhausted. “My pretense to know what I am doing can no longer save me. I’m fighting a lost war, Nightshade and you can see it.”He turned to her, to find her shaking her head. “Don't lie to me.”“I’m not.”“Alaris—”“Don't try to inspire me, it won't work.” “I wasn't trying to inspire you, I just want to tell you how disap