"We all die, Elizabella. The gods of this world canbe merciful, but when your time comes, you must accept that fact. The greatest death a man can know is while in battle, fighting for his country.""But I don't understand," she whispers to me, clutching my hands in hers. I look away from her face as she draws herself closer. She will never understand the ways of war, but never will anyone. "Why not just make peace with oneanother?"This statement draws my eyes back to her face. "Peace? I have never known peace. The only peace I have is when I am with you. If it's war they want, it's war they'll get."BELLA'S POVI claim that I despise war, yet I still gave away precious information from my kingdom. Where does my loyalty lie?With my brothers and sisters back home, or will the beasts that raided my home and stole me away from my lifestyle? Ask me five months ago what I thought about thebarbarians and I would have told you they were a damned race, a merciless species that deserved t
Curiosity gets the better of me and I stalk forward to turn the golden knobs of the door. They give way and the door pushes open with a terrifyingly loud creak. But what the two doors hide is so much more amazing.It is a library. Books line the walls, and a great swirling staircase leads up to the second floor of it. Two large windows let the moonlight in as the torches do not lead on into the library. I shut one door behind me, leaving the other open in case the doors were to lock behind me.The place is huge and mysterious. My people had called the barbarians an unintelligent race with no interest whatsoever in edification; an unclean, uneducated species. But judging by the books and paintings hung on the walls, these peopledo not live up to the stereotypes from Bellechester.My fingers scrape across the spines of the books, a thick layer of dust coming off my skin. These books and parchment scrolls and paintings haven't been touched in years. I wonder why no one's been in here fo
. "What are you doing up here?"Amusement mixed with anger flash in his eyes. "I could ask you the same exact thing."Red Fox was supposed to be at the meeting with Ceaser. After all, he is one of Cesar's men. I don't want to talk to that low life so I try to leave, but he pushes me against one of the bookshelves and pins my arms above my head. "Let me go You, Bastard!" I scream at him. He sighs and tilts his head as if contemplating whether or not he should let me go. "Hmm, let me think. How about No!" He laughswhen I growl at him. "So, whose side are you really on, Tiger Claw?"When his face draws closer to mine, I struggle more. "Is this some kind of sick joke?"He's so close to me that I can feel his lips turn upwards into a smile on my skin. "I am not afraid."I decide not to provoke him. He's got the upper hand on me and Cesar can't protect me while he's at the other end of the castle. He is also unaware that i roam around here...."I am on your side. Why do you think I gave
Marudulla~~~I stand behind him in the chilly morning breeze, my fingers entwined in his hair, weaving it into a braid for him.It seems like forever since I'd touched those glorious, silky black stands. It's unseasonably cold this morning, but Prince Edmund insists on having the windows left open. The people are upearly this morning as well, for I can hear them bustling about the villages. I tie the end of Prince Edmund's braid with a strip of cowhide leatherand let it fall down his back. He turns around slightly and flashes me a brilliant white smile. "Thank you, Princess," he says in that deep, husky accent that I've come to treasure. I nod myhead and smile at him. He wears a fur vest that shows teasing glimpses of his bronze, muscled chest and deerskin pants that will keep his bulky legs warm.I am wearing spotted deerskin pants with fluffy sheepskin boots to warm my feet. I also wear a cozy deerskin top, with my hair intricately braided on either side of my head. He looks at m
"So that's it?" I cry. I'm blinded by my anger and can't really control what comes out of my mouth—or what I say to the king. "You wish to keep me as your mistress for the rest of my lowly life?" My bad habit comes around again. I'd beenso good about not scratching myself because I hadn't been unhappy or stressed in a very long time, but alas, my nails find my skin and draw blood.His eyes widen and he wrestles my arms to my side, growling when my blood drips onto his hands. "You didn't let me finish!" he roars at me. I instantly quiet down. "You will never marry, Elizabella…you will never marry anyone but me. And that child in your stomach will be my heir!"The pain from scratching my skin comes as blood rolls down my arms, but I don't acknowledge it. He is clutching my hands, kneeling at my sides, submitting to me. Yes…me. I remember what Cassandra said on my first day in Stauckana."If a warrior wants to marry a harem girl, she cannot refuse."But this was him demanding my hand
I lean closer to him, kissing his lips tenderly with my own. As I am about to pull away, he grabs my face tighter and pulls me back in for a more satisfying kiss, one with plenty of tongue and saliva, and passion. He tastes wine and rabbitstew. I pull away finally, laughter dying on my lips.It doesn't take long to notice the stares from the people at the table around us. Some smile, some blush, and some look away in embarrassment from being caught. Cesar just keeps eating his soup, his abnormally hot hand resting onmine. He has no sense of embarrassment. He only takes pride in the things he has conquered. And he has, undoubtedly, conquered me."Na yi ta na da kyau, ma'am," Cesar speaks up in his native tongue. It sounds so rough and manly when he says the words. "Amma idan wants Daga gare ku kiyaye staring an inda zan mace kamar cewa, shi ke cabbage take cewa ba za kaso a sakamakon. (I realize she is a beauty, yes. But if any of you keep staring at my woman like that, it's guarant
"All this talk of war is making me ratherunsettled."The ladies all nod their heads in agreement. Marudula: "I am afraid for Iron Coyote's life. He is the one to lead the armies into battle, and the enemies always want to take down the captains first," Marudula whines to the group, but no one seems to care. They have all been at the brunt of the aggressive prince's wrath and have no positive feelings towards him. Camellia nods. "All of our men will be joining the war. There is an equal risk that we might lose our lovers." She chews her lip and looks down at her knees. "Nobody likes a war. But if it's necessary, then I suppose we must prepare ourselves the best we can for the worst. Because now we all are in love with one particular person"I frown. All this talk of war makes me feel quite sullen. Michelle is cradling her stomach as she tries to focus on her knitting but I can see that she's trying to hide the fact that she's feeling rather ill.I think the weight of baby is now ti
My breathing is rapid and my heart beats uncontrollably in my chest. This is the first time I've ever been afraid of the Barbarian Prince after I have known him and become his lover. I was a little angry too from this reaction when I only tried to give him one single suggestion. I turn around slowly and make my way over to the door. As soon as I place my hand on the doorknob, deep down thinking he would stop me, and yes he did actually, he clears his throat."You Know I love you more than anything," he whispers brokenly and painfully."I didn't mean to snap at you like that. But I am not in the mood to play along with you. Men have temper issues"I turn my head so that he's only visible through my peripheral vision. "I know. I love you too. I am sorry for telling you what to do! You know things better than me" And I slip out of the room, the events from just a few seconds ago stillhaunting my mind.I am very worried since I heard about war and here he is injured before it has started
“Who? Me? You can't hold me against my will Mr. Edwards. I have rights and people will be looking for me. Besides, I'm not the one with glowing eyes.” She accused.“Yes you do have rights.” Lucas took Elsa's hand and turned to leave giving Jason a private look as he left.Jason read his meaning, the girl was his.“where are you going? Lucas, Elsa….I'm talking to you!” she yelled as Lucas shut the door.“Are you going to hurt her?”“No, Elsa, there are other ways.” He nearly took her life when she had brought information of Elsa, but he'd since changed his mind, “She is no threat to us.” He led her to his door, opened it, and allowed her to enter first. Elsa noticed that the room looked as though nothing had happened only a few hours ago. The table and chairs by the fire were gone, obviously broken. She shuddered at the images of the fight. She turned and faced Lucas, “Will that…that is…” She didn't know exactly what to call him.“Jack.”“Yes.” She involuntary touched her neck where h
Ted caught up with her halfway down the hall. “Why don't you believe at least one of us?”She stopped and turned to him, “Because Tanya's story is full of holes. She never wanted Elsa near Lucas in the first place. She tried her best to sabotage that date they had the other night and she treated her like crap. Now she has made up this ridiculous story to make him look like a freak. He is a respected, honest businessman and no one has been able to discredit him, professionally or otherwise.” Linda shook her angrily, “She must think we're stupid enough to believe this crazy story or she would have never told us about it.”“You should always believe your friends. Think of how frightened she was of him and how frightened I was when I saw him last night.”“Of course you were. He's quite intimidating, being so wealthy and all. And you did trick his girlfriend into going out with you. I'm sure you would be fit to kill if someone did that to you. Also, Tanya is a good actress.”“What about
“Natie.” Elsa said in greeting, not knowing what else to say. Despite the woman being a brunette, her short cropped hair had blond and auburn streaks throughout. To Elsa, it actually looked pretty good. She was a heavy set woman and when she smiled dimples appeared at the corners of her mouth making her look undeniably cute and trustworthy. “And this is Melody,” she placed her hand on the other woman's shoulder, “She is an expert in fashion.”“Melody.” Elsa greeted still gaping . Melody was a tall, lovely, thin woman, who was evidently no stranger to fashion. There wasn't a wrinkle on her tan slacks, white embroidered blouse, and multicolored scarf that she wore loosely around her neck and draped over her left shoulder and chest.“It's nice to meet you Miss Collins.” She stated genuinely. She turned back to Elsa, “I know they seem like normal staff here on the estate, but Mr. Edwards does not hire simple staff. We all are highly educated.” She reached up and tipped Elsa's mouth
Bob Mathews had been a truck driver for twenty three years. He hadn't a wife or kids, so his job was his life. He had tried the wife thing once, but like everything else in his life, it didn't pan out. The only thing that he stayed with him through his fifty six years, had been his love for the big trucks and the lonely roads. He was definitely a shallow man, who had seen too many bar fights and women who found men that drove the big rigs appealing, but they weren't the kind of women you'd bring home to your ma. He tucked a cigarette in his mouth as his right hand searched for his lighter on the seat. He was singing, rather badly, to an old Willie Nelson tune as he watched the road ahead. A light drizzle made him turn on the wipers. His hand was still searching for his lighter, and out of frustration, he took his eyes off the road and glanced down. He quickly found it and flicked it, causing an eerie glow inside the cab. He released the little red tab causing the flame to extinguish,
Dreadful realization hit her as his words sunk in. He thought she was worthless compared to his mortal pet! She turned and slammed her fists against the wall. He couldn't do this to her. He told her he still cared about her. She could try and make him love her again. No, that was impossible, she saw the way he looked at that woman in his bed. She never thought she could witness that kind of emotion from him. Her features began to change in her turmoil. He didn’t mean it, he was angry, her mind tried to reason and she would prove it, “I could kill her.” Her words had the opposite effect.His eyes flashed instant fury, “Not if you value your life Celeste!” his voice reflected the incredible power he held. Her face registered alarm and she crouched in front of him at his threat, “Could you kill me Lucas?” she hissed through her teeth. “Is she worth it?”He didn't hesitate, “Yes!”“Over here! Over a mortal!”“Yes!” he roared.“You are a fool Lucas, she is mortal!”“Not for much longer, y
She'd never felt such joy at the feeling of his flesh fully against hers. His firm body pressed her into the mattress and she relished the protection of his weight. She could feel his hand down her leg and gently, pulled it up against his waist as he settled between her thighs. His hand then circled down and cupped her bottom, causing her to lift her hips against him. She struggled to catch her breath against the electrifying feeling his hands did to her skin. She needed something from him that she couldn't say or know. He'd awakened an immeasurable desire in her and every inch of her being flared with tingling heat. She gasped loudly as he entered her. He covered her mouth with his bringing her back to their ecstasy. She moaned against him and he began to move within her. She expected pain, but there was none. The feeling was electrifying and it created a hunger in her. She wanted more. She moved underneath him in time with his thrusts. Lucas loved the chase; it was almost his fav
She put her fingertips on his lips, “Then let me stay and maybe something will change on how we feel, and that this is just mere infatuation. Or maybe it will just reinforce how we feel for each other and this is real. Either way, I have to know.”She had a valid point. He knew this was real, because this was new to him and he'd been infatuated many times. This wasn't just infatuation, “I have a dark side Elsa.”“We all do.” “You may not like what you see.”“Impossible.” She breathed.He groaned and for the second time kissed her. She had won.Ted lay in his bed staring wide awake at the blanched plaster ceiling of his dorm room. He was pissed off at Linda for laying the blame at his door about Brad. He fumed about it for the last two hours before he rolled over and succumbed to a restless sleep.When Emily returned to her apartment, she noticed the door had been pried. Without thinking someone could still be in her apartment, she pushed open the door and walked in. She turned on t
Her eyes narrowed, “I have had enough of your insensitivity. It's no wonder Elsa doesn't fall for you. You are rude, sarcastic, and a liar.”He glared back at her, “What is it with you? Why can't you just leave me alone? I have tried to tell you that I'm not interested in you, but you just can't take the hint! You're like that cat that came back. Take a hint! You are a spoiled rich daddy's the girl who cries if she can't get what she wants and you treat your friends like dirt.”Her mouth fell, “Oh! Really! At least my friends have a higher I.Q. then a rock,” She was referring to Dirk by a thrust of her thumb over her shoulder at the door of Deter's, “and I'm not the one who tricks naïve girls into your little love schemes…” He was about to protest, but she refused to let him interrupt, “Give me some credit, how obvious was that with Elsa? At least I'm honest and upfront about the things I want!”He grew angry and seized her by the arms. The only time he ever laid his hands on a woma
“but Lucas, to anyone else it looked…”“…You forget, I'm not everyone else.”She looked at him, “You make this too easy.”“It should be.”She buried her face in her hands and sighed, “See, I don't know how you know all that and all the other things I feel. I've never felt like this before and you're so sure about yourself and how you feel,” She looked at him, “I just don't know how to deal with this.”“There is no need to be afraid.” He pulled her closer to him and left his arms around her, “just go with it. “ he nuzzled the top of her head with his nose, closing his eyes at her exhilarating scent, “And I've never felt this way before either.”She pulled back and looked at him her eyes wide with wonder, “really?”He smiled, in all of her wide-eyed innocence she was very breathtaking. “Really? You don't have to worry. It will take care of itself. ” His hand came up and stroked her soft cheek as she laid his head against his arm.“I hope so.” She murmured.He leaned down and kissed the