So she had gone to search for him, this time, she ensured to check every room on his floor. Most were locked and she hoped he wasn't in one of the locked rooms. She hoped she would find him here and not have to go to the floor above, the place that contained all of Eli's precious memories about his family, the place that had been termed forbidden for anyone to go to but her. Still, she would try her best to avoid the place. He had seemed very displeased when he discovered someone, who was unknown to him, her, had been there without his knowledge. She wondered if he was still searching for the person or maybe he had already found out it was her and decided to keep quiet about it. Sometimes, Eli was hard to figure out but he mostly would unravel himself to her if only she could just ask. That was it. She was scared to ask, not because she feared that he would do anything to harm her, she knew he wouldn't. She was scared that revealing that might lead to more and more questions that
"I want your gaze to devour me like this all the time."It was that bad?Her eyes were betraying her that much?!They weren't even keeping anything a secret from him, instead they were boldly betraying their owner, not even trying to hold back.She let out a shaky breath, observing now that the only thing stopping him from slamming himself against her was the paintbrush and palette occupying his hands, but he could easily get rid of that and before he would start thinking of ways to make 'the look in her eyes' last longer, she would have to move away from him.Create a distraction. She tried to look over his shoulder at his painting, but that was impossible nevertheless, she feigned an expression like she could see what was on the canvas. "That looks good." She complimented in a breath and took a turn around him, taking a step back and slipping away from his front to see what was on the canvas. It was just paint and paint, and mixtures of different paints all over the canvas.Her b
Belladonna wanted to say something to that, something heartwarming definitely, but she had leaned against the table, her hand slipping a little, making some of the scrolls tumble to the floor. "I'm so sorry." She said in haste as she hurried to the floor and started picking up the scrolls that went all over the floor."It is alright." He said in return, picking up each other carefully, like they were precious eggs and he was afraid of breaking them. As she picked them, curiosity got the best of her and she found herself unrolling one to check what it contained."My hair." She smiled, staring at the painting. He had been right, he had just the right shade for it.That reminded her of how his fingers always found their way to her hair. She never really gave more thought to it but now that this painting was in her hands, it felt so heartwarming to be desired like this.Eli looked up at her from his crouched state, before he stood up straight and went to the table to put down the scrol
She was right. Her vassel was different from the one he had imaged. It was better. Despite her breast bag, he cod see that her breasts were a little larger and her thighs too more than his painting's, and she was curvy, her stomach was not as bony sucked in as he had painted it either.The candlelight surrended him no mercy as the light help his eyes greedily feast on their desire.His Donna's vessel was that of a goddess.He gulped, blinking and looking away from her to recollect himself. "Did you come across Lady Kestra on your way here?"He needed to know if Kestra was tempering with her brain again. If this was only an after effect, if she had any control of herself. "Why is that important?" "Are you drunk, Donna?" Oh, now she understood.He wanted to know if she was in control of herself, although she couldn't really understand why Lady Kestra was connected to this. In truth, she really didn't know what had come over her but she knew what she was doing and she understood
To be consumed by the need for ecstasy to the point where logicality and shame meant nothing, where those brown smoldering eyes that gazed at her, were all that mattered.At first, her plan had been for him to see her, then she had progressed to wanting him to know how she felt, just like the other paintings she had described to him, just like the many things he wanted to touch but couldn't. She had been caught in the moment with the painting and done what she did without much thinking. Her system had shot into overdrive and her brain had taken a break from shock. She didn't want him to feel terrible about it, it appealed to her in a sick way she couldn't describe, and in her bid to reassure him, she had stripped and approved his actions further. Besides, had she not told him to show her all the paintings and she would describe how they felt to him? That had been one of the reasons she went ahead. She wouldn't scurry away just because a couple of those paintings were of her. She w
Her thighs widened and she whined, focusing on the pain that she felt when her teeth pressed against her lower lip instead of the pleasure that surged through her body at the contact of her fingers that slid in between her welcoming folds, pressing against her pulsating sex."This is wet."Something in his jaws ticked as he watched her. "I think it's really wet."He could hear it and that didn't help at all. It didn't help that his hearing was this good. The way she moved her fingers up and down, every swipe, every stroke, he could hear everything. Now, he couldn't hold back anymore, he walked across the room with intent and determined steps, and something sparked in her eyes when she saw that.Her gaze followed him as he move closer to her, while she bit back a moan that threatened to slip past her lips. She shouldn't stop now, but somehow, she didn't want to."It feels warm."She bit back another moan, this one causing her body to shudder slightly from her fight.Enough about ho
After stepping out of the bathroom and getting dressed, there was a knock at the door. Belladonna threw the door open, the painting Eli had promised to give her was at the door in Anok's hand. "Good morning, Milady. The King said this should be delivered to you."She had grinned and asked Anok to help her hang it on the wall. It was good to see something different in this room that was full of the color red. Something vibrant and full of life. She hadn't liked it so much yesterday but today, she felt different about it and it seemed to appeal to her. Maybe because of the memory that accompanied it. It was lovely, not in its appearance but in its memory. "Did you like it?" She had asked when he was done and Anok wore a confused look. "Milady?""The painting? Do you like it?"He had frowned, then shrugged."The King is talented.""I know that but do you like this painting.""Your desire towards the painting is what is important, not my insignificant one, Milady."At that time, the
She raced up to her feet at the first sight of his bare chest. "I'm fine in this. Never mind, Eli."He hesitated for a millisecond, then he continued unbuttoning his shirt anyways. With a simple swing, he took off his shirt."Well, I am hot." Before Belladonna had a chance to say anything to that, there was a knock at the door. Eli had not been pleased with the disturbance and with a grunt, he pulled his shirt back on, dashing to the door when he was done with that and his mask was once again on his face. He had come back into the study even more displeased.The news he had gotten made it necessary for him to leave. Without wasting even a second, he told her everything.What Belladonna had earlier feared was happening. The dragon was misbehaving. "Stay right here, I will lock the door. I see you are with my keys, one of them works for this door too. I will be back as soon as I can." He had instructed, then left after that.Belladonna let out a shaky breath. What was wrong with h
Her stomach rumbled, but it was quiet, and for the sake of her dignity, she hoped that he hadn't heard it. “You don't need the sun, you need food; I know a place.”“Get out of my sun.”“I’ll take you there.” Quickly she was on her feet, his arm along her waist to keep her stable. “Are you even listening or are you just deliberately ignoring me?”“Deliberately ignoring you.” “What? I expect the elderly to behave with more sense,” she jabbed, annoyed with his interference. “There are no elderly here.”In a flash, he is with Arlo. Then before she could tell, they were before a table that must have been prepared for them only moments ago. She was dizzy from the speed but the lovely aroma in the air could not be mistaken; there was food here. She felt Ikrus push her into a chair and she took her seat, blinking to regain her stability and clear vision. When she finally did, she looked around. They were in a kind of glass room with flowers on the ceiling. The table before her was smal
She cleared her throat, changing the topic. “Is my age a problem for you, Ikrus?”He sucked in a deep breath, looking away, still thinking about why he had brought her and Arlo here - still trying to figure out his thoughts. “No. I was merely surprised, that is all.” “I’m not bothered either.” She leaned closer to him, a hair’s breadth between them, catching him off guard with her action. “Don’t worry,” she skimmed her fingers over his hair and he stilled, forcing himself not to move as more of her fragrance consumed his air. “I have always fancied old men.”What?!Old men?!Old men where?!“I’m not old,” he said, clearly offended. “You are thirty-two,” she said as she lay down and closed her eyes. “Exactly. I am not old.”She felt his shadow over her and she sighed, wanting the warmth of the sun on her skin once again. “You are thirty-two… and blocking the sun.”“That is not old at all.” He sounded like he was losing his mind, but his voice was leveled. She shrugged nonchalantly
She turned to him sharply, wheels turning dangerously in her head already to come up with a lie, her lungs clogging with fear, only for her to discover that he wasn't looking at her but at someone else. “Look! Arlo is walking!” He declared in hushed excitement. Aniya rolled her eyes, taking a deep breath of relief, tucking away the poison bottle. He didn't catch her, she could still kill him. “Arlo can walk.”“For long distances like that?” He turned to her, surprised. “Yes.”“Oh.”“In fact, we must redesign the room to accommodate him. He keeps on trying to pull things down.”Ikrus frowned. In a flash, he was holding Arlo who was strongly protesting against being held. He certainly wanted to play on the ground. “How old is the little one?”“Arlo,” she said, emphasizing his name, subtly ensuring that he wouldn't call him “little one” again, “will be two soon.”Ikrus nodded, taking the information in as he easily moved Arlo from one hand to another in his struggle to get down. “H
Aniya told her about the strange lily she found in her coin bag while telling her how she had come by it, although leaving out part of the poison, while watching to see if the witch had told Oana about what she was searching for. It didn't seem like the witch told her anything. “I have seen something like that in my room before,” Aniya said. “I’m scared of what it means and I am afraid—” she looked over to Arlo for the umpteenth time, “of harm coming to Arlo or me.” Oana was very concerned and she said she would tell the Alpha and Luna about it so that they could give orders for the Pack House to be thoroughly searched. Then Aniya asked, “What about last night? Why did the sun suddenly come up and merge with the moon?” She rushed to the window. “Everything seems normal now.”“Elder Superior said it was a result of something that happened in another realm. It is none of our concern; our Realm stays unaffected, and all the portals remain sealed.” Aniya panicked.Another realm? Wha
That night, after they had both eaten, Alaris took Belladonna to a nearby river, where a burning incense was placed on a leaf pad to float away. “It is to let go of the past and begin anew,” he has explained. It was something that helped Belladonna even though she hadn't known she needed it. Her heart felt lighter and with a more positive perspective, she left the river bank.The Belarion Rebellion and the rest of the Cave had fully returned now. Shortly after, Belladonna and Alaris started trying to create the army. They were once again under an open sky. Nyka watched from a distance, just like every one of the dragon people had been advised to do. Her father was right next to her, he wasn't supposed to be here. He was still injured from the torture he had received from the White King’s warriors that had captured him but he was terrified that if he as much took a step from her, the Heir would seize her and kill her. “What do I do?” Belladonna asked, trying to shake off the press
[LYCANS’ REALM]The coins vibrated on the floor, clanking as they added to the slight trembling she could feel around her. Aniya’s heart jumped. Quickly, she dashed to her bed and grabbed Arlo, taking him swiftly into her arms. She could hear a bell ringing from a distance. Voices of terrified people seeping into the air, even with her ordinary human hearing, the building chaos felt loud to her.What was going on? Before she could make it out of the room, though, she felt someone sweep her away, and in a flash, she was in an enclosed space, an arm around her, so that she held Arlo between them. She knew it was Ikrus; with such speed and the feeling of momentarily ease that went through her, it could be no one else. She hated the Matebond for many things but for this little ease that she could feel right now, she appreciated it a little. Even if this relief was a lie that everything was alright, it was better than the sheer terror she had been experiencing.The rumbling continued,
Finally, they were under an open sky.The Moon was full in its glory above them. “It is a perfect night,” Ny'ka said before intertwining her with Belladonna's.“Close your eyes.”She obeyed. “Think of the Bearer, of her grave, of her presence, and connect with her.”The Bearer. Belladonna allowed her mind to roam, remembering the silver-haired woman she would always dream about. She had never seen her face so there was no way she could see that. The image was blurry and soon it was nothing but darkness. “Open the windows, open the door,” she could hear Alaris' voice. Then she remembered her way of sealing the windows and the doors of her mind. So many things were happening in her mind. She could see the path to the castle, down to that room, to that sarcophagus, Then she was back in that room again - with the windows sealed and the doors locked.There was a white beam outside the window and a woman with long silver hair that shadowed her face.“Open the doors and the windows!”
“Don't kill me please, I believe now. You are the Heir, you are the savior. I see it.” Ny'ka begged. They were in one of the underground rooms, away from the people of the Belarion Rebellion and those of the Cave. This was something Alaris didn't want many to know about.“Please, take my life instead and spare my daughter,” Leader Tyrek begged. He knew what crimes Nyka had committed, the Priest told him everything.“You tried to kill me,” Alaris said to Ny'ka who was still on her knees, begging, tears running down her cheeks.“It was a mistake. It won't happen again.”Alaris smiled. “It won't.”He held her wrist and pulled her up, but while he did that, he crushed her bones, and pressing his flames into her skin, he healed her, just like he had seen it happen with Nightshade and that stranger in the Castle during their escape.It was an excruciating moment for Ny'ka and it didn't help that he did it again and again and again…By the time he was done, she was back on her knees, breat
The moment the ambush came upon them, some guards had taken Ny'ka and discreetly escaped from the scene. They were headed to the White King’s Castle to be highly rewarded for bringing to him the daughter of the leader of the revolution against him. They were supposed to take Leader Tyrek along too, but it seemed the guards who had him in captivity had been attacked. There would be much to tell the King upon getting to the castle. While they silently snuck away, Ny'ka found a way to free herself from the bondage and attacked them. She would rather die than have them take her alive; it was looking like that was the only option for her until she felt she had until Alaris' showed up. He descended from the sky with his massive leathery wings and he saved her; he killed the guards and swept her up into the air in his arms. In that moment, she saw what the others saw in him. A saviour.In that moment, something changed. “You saved me,” she said, the wind almost stealing her words away