Her eyes widened at the threat that he’d seduce her ruthlessly.
She thought I’d harm her? His arousal was immediately doused with the familiar feeling of disappointment.
“You’re mistaken about me.” He whispered.
“I’m not so sure…”
“You should be.”
But the weight of her words pierced him like a sword. “Ask her about Raese.” He said. Clearing his throat, he rose and strode from the room, trying to hide the pain she’d caused him.
“Look what you’ve done now…” Calisto said. “Why so heartless?”
“I don’t know him.”
“You do. Better than anyone.”
“Better than you?”
“Better than anyone.” Calisto’s voice turned chastising. “You should ask yourself why you work so hard to keep him at arm’s length.”
Elsabet eyed the darkness. “What about Raese?” She asked hesitantly.
“If I’d known anything new it’d have been the first thing, I wouldn’t have wasted time on repartee. I’m tired.” Calisto sighed.
It was a few hours later after the sherry took her in its grip, she rose and decided to walk it off. Putting a hand to the back of the chair to steady herself. He put his over it with a worried look. “Are you okay?” I didn’t intend to get you intoxicated. He felt a pang of remorse. She’d had two glasses already and had told him she’d not had anything heavier than wine previously. I should’ve paid a bit more attention. She slid her hand out from under his. Dodging his study. She moved to wander the aisles of the library under his watchful eye. Swaying slightly, she stumbled now and again. Making him jerk in his chair. “Can I help you?” “No.” She responded. But it lacked her usual venom. He drew a steadying breath and let her move about. His concern mounting. She stopped and began looking through the pages of a book. “Will you give me a hint about the book I search for?” “One about me.” Her eyes
Instead, she moaned softly, and her hands pressed to his chest, wrapping around his waist to reach his back. He felt his body hardening in response. Abruptly she jerked her face to the side and pushed him back, sidestepping to escape his reach. “I-I can’t-” He stood where he was. A black silhouette with gold eyes glowing like floating orbs in the dark. She was staring at him as if he’d just lit on fire. Which I think I have. I will have another taste of that. She backed away until her back slammed into one of the cases, jostling the books. And making her give a panicked screech. “I don’t know why-I…” Fumbling to slap books back up over her shoulder she continued backing from him. Easing around the shelf. Realizing he’d lost her for the night and seeing that pursuing her would terrify her. She’s afraid of surrendering. He knew he was close to sending her walls crumbling. I can be patient awh
Kneeling before her, he placed his other hand on her knee to massage it over her skirt. Vaguely noticing she didn’t jump or recoil from his touch this time. “Is this a game? Do you toy with me?” He took another drink and eyed her warily over the rim. “Am I playing a fool in your hands?” It’s been years of casual touches, getting close, then drawing back. I’m more confused than ever. “Would I find you so pliable?” She arched a brow. “You would.” He looked at her steadily. Mesmerizing turquoise eyes intent on her face. “I’m clay in your hands...” “Clay hardens.” Me too. Every time I look at you. Bast nearly spit his wine at the immediate thought entering his mind. She gave him a quizzical look. “My usual crude tongue would run far from my control should I respond to that, My Lady.” “You know well, I’m no Lady.” I disagree. “Are you trying to provoke me?” He gave her a que
He rose up and she greedily unlaced his breeches and withdrew his hardened length from his pants. Groaning he kicked from his pants and replaced his finger with his root. Sinking into her heat and feeling her body stretching to accommodate him. A sweet body unused to the intrusion of man. He was instantly flooded with possessiveness. Wanting to make her his, and mark her so no other man or beast could put a hand on her without grave consequences. “Get this dress off me.” His gaze fell to the many laces tying down the front and the long layers of skirts. “Tear it off. Like you did your shirt.” She said urgently. His brows shot up. “Now, Sebastian.” He complied before surging roughly into her. Desperate with the need to drive into her. Mount her like the beast he was. But even as he filled her, he yearned for more. Knowing he’d never get enough of her. His tawny hair fell in gold waves down his back as he
Like a coward, Sebastian pulled on his boots and strode from the room. A wave of his hand had clothes on the floor turning to floating gold flakes which disappeared through the floor. A flick of his finger down his chest to his feet made clothes appear on him. Trousers molded his legs. Boots forming around his feet, as he reached the door. He pulled the handle and entered the hallway shirtless. That’s torn on the library floor. He went that way to pick it up. Not in the mood to answer his brethren’s questions. He aimed for the front door next. I can’t be here when she wakes and realizes she’s bound to the castle again. To me... In only a matter of hours he heard her heartbeat speed, and her breaths lighten as she woke with the sun above the meadow. “Sebastian!” She raged. Immediately sensing the magic holding her. “You betrayer!” He grimaced and like a hound with tail tucked, he crept across the foyer and out the doub
Netherlands TEVERIUS Tev, the youngest of the knights, lurched to a sitting position. Driven from the dreadful nightmare of the crone killing the girl, Serdephe. Blue scales clattering over his chest and shoulders. His hair was pulled back into a tether for bed. It floated around him now as his body fought changing. Piercing blue eyes flashed to white and darkened again as he blew slow breaths. He glimpsed the hazy outline of his former brethren standing in the corner. “Now you know…” Chavias’ head lowered as he vanished from the room. “You know what she will do…” Tev gasped and launched from the cot. He jumped from the deck, risking injury to race barefoot through the Netherwood. Shoving giant leaves aside and leaping downed trunks. His feet sliding through the mud. But too focused on getting to the shack to waste time changing. Or even manifesting a shirt. Tev crossed the bridge in one bound
Crone’s Hut, Netherlands MARDICHI, TEVERIUS, & ACHARIUS Mardichi and Teverius were happy to see Acharius. Turning human as he stepped from the woods. Clothing materializing around his giant body. And quiver sliding up his back, the strap creeping over his shoulder to cinch across his torso, bow materializing in hand. He fired arrows as he crossed the meadow from the Netherwood. Cutting a path through the Targue. The slivers of wood flew in a hailstorm. Hitting nearly simultaneously a hairsbreadth before the next set landed. “I’ve never seen so many!” Acharius yelled, seeing the clearing awash with the movement of the monsters. “What are they after?” Acharius fired another round of arrows, but Tev shouted and clumsily batted it from the path of piercing the animal next to him. Despite his great speed, catching arrows had never been his forte. Acharius noted. “My dogs!”
“Not I!” Mardichi complained. “Me ale willna drink itself back at the Driter’s Den.” He waved behind him as he began the trek back. His back bled badly and both arms were a mass of bite marks. “Leave him.” Deragan said, shaking his head. “I’ll help you.” “I must return.” Acharius said. “Go.” Deragan agreed. Nodding. Once they’d gone, Tev turned and lowered to sit on the bloodied grass. Staring mournfully between two naked bodies. Deragan put a hand on his shoulder. “Which ones?” “Gray and Pitch.” “Sorry, Brother.” He consoled. Understanding this was two of Teverius’ Demon Dogs. Tev mourned them in silence awhile. Deragan and Sebastian let him. After a time, he rose. Together, Bast, Deragan and Teverius dragged the bodies off and called Mardichi back just before daylight to light them afire. *** WaterRose, Meadow Mountain, Grier Country “Elsabet.”
Once he felt the energy of the stronghold steady, he felt it was safe for him to go upstairs. He needed to stay collected. If the both of them were in chaos, the stronghold could peel itself apart.Bast hurried up the steps and turned into the flat hall. Pulling himself around the banister to rush his pace. He hurried to her chamber, only to come to an abrupt halt at the chamber just before hers.The door was open and inside was Sebastian’s twin brother.Alazareth was sitting in a chair inside the room. His back to the wall so he could hear everything within the next room. Worry was on his face, and he was massaging the back of his jaw. A motion that always indicated severe tension. Alazareth was always composed.This is bad. “What is it?” Bast’s steps slowed.“Something is wrong.” Alazareth’s jaw ticked.Oh, no… Sebastian tensed. His fists working at his sides as he waited. “What?”
Dread Hideout, Dread CountrySighing, Acharius headed back toward his caves. His huge form should’ve lumbered, but he moved far lighter than he should’ve for his size. His blonde hair hung to his shoulders, a few warrior braids near his face. A fur was slung over his back with a bow and a quiver over that.He lifted the bow over his head just as he reached his chamber but paused when Alazareth’s voice summoned him back out. “Acharius!”The viking’s head whipped in the direction of the opening. Noting it was odd for Alazar to come here.Acharius ducked slightly as he emerged from the lower mouth of the cave. His massive size blocked the darkness beyond him. “Alzareth?”His eyes moved to the identical figure next to him. “Bast?” His voice dropped in concern. “What is it?”“What is it?” Acharius asked.“We need the women.” Alazar responded.“Mags and Aggie?” Acharius looke
“Elsabet?” Sebastian called, having just arrived back at WaterRose, he was frantic to check on her.To see if she’s alright. If our babe is.“Yes?” She called from upstairs.He followed the sound of her voice up to her chamber. Finding her still abed. “Are you well today? Is there anything you need?”“I’m exhausted.” She sighed wistfully.Drawing near, he saw that her ripe belly seemed to have grown overnight, straining her petite frame.“I feel weak. But better. The pain is less.” She swept hair from her forehead so she could better look at him. Blue eyes lovely.“Come.” She waved him over.He walked to her.She caught his larger hand in hers. Rubbing the back of it with a soft thumb pad.He turned his hand to link his long fingers through her small ones and let her pull him down next to her.She scooted over and he was swallowed by the warmth of where she’d lain. Feeling that rare heat he only pe
Elsabet eventually fell asleep.Sebatian was wide awake behind Elsabet. Careful not to bump her wounded back. He suspected that, like him, if she were able to change shape she could go far in the way of healing.But she can’t. Her body wouldn’t let shift while there was an infant in her womb.He stroked her hair.She made small sounds of distress that told him she was either having a nightmare or suffering the throes of her fever.“It’s okay, sweetheart.”“Why weren’t you there?” She whimpered again.She doesn’t believe I was. That made him feel like he’d let her down, even though he had been there. He laid with her for a long while.When he did finally move to go and began sliding his arm from beneath her head, she abruptly caught his forearm and wrist. “Stay.”He did. Because he could deny her so very little.It was hours before he did slip away. He made it to the door that time
“Sebastian. Sebastian…” Elsabet moaned. Throwing her head side to side.“I’m here.” He told her. Crouched next to the bed, holding her hand. His expression was rife with worry as he saw her suffering.She was so strong, seeing her this weak was painful. She was fighting against something she couldn’t see.For both her and my daughter. Sebastian’s throat felt raw, and his face was swollen from the emotions he had while sitting at her side.“Where are you?” She murmured, tossing her head. She was covered in sweat. The fever had taken hold and now wreaked its cruel havoc.“I can’t find you!”“I’m here, sweetheart.” He said brokenly.“Why won’t you come?” She whispered urgently.He realized she was dreaming, perhaps reliving that moment in the grove. Wherever she was, his voice wasn’t reaching he
“Is that?” Alazareth asked quietly. Staring at the sky where the glistening creature had vanished. His sword lowered in astonishment.“Don’t say his name.” Sebastian snapped, throwing out a hand.Radix will hear you. Mardichi crouched. Preparing to launch skyward.“No!” Sebastian shouted. “Let him go.”“With her?” Rhyers asked indignantly. “Sebastian?” Deragan grunted between the targue, he fought. He threw one and straightened to look over the others. “Are you certain?”Sebastian looked back at him. “We have no choice but to trust him. For now.”With the most precious thing I have.Sebastian had to let her go. He focused his fear and anger on the hoard before him, praying that Elsabet was being taken somewhere safe and not straight to the demon master.“Alpha!” Alazareth shouted.“Fight them back and take the sky. Go different directions to scatter them, we’ll circle back la
Just when Sebastian’s fear might’ve reduced him to begging Radix, futile as it would’ve been. He heard a sound that brought hopeful light back to his world.A sound which forced back the darkness.A familiar roar. The battle cry of his brother.Alazareth emerged from the trees, sword in one hand, a dagger in the other, and dark blood staining his tunic as he sliced through the animals before him. Working his way from the back to the front in a flurry of attacking blades. He was a blur of motion.Targue shrieked in suffering.Alazar purposely ran across cimmerii nonis. Stomping on them like the rats they were, as he went.Another targue lunged at Elsabet, trying to get to her skirts but there was a shout from the distance. “I’m coming!”Sebastian recognized the flash of Rhyers’ dark hair coming through the woods. He ran barefoot. Launching against trees and throwing his body sideways to evade obstacles without stopping. As he reached o
Elsabet’s hair lifted along the back of her head, darkening to brown. Her eyes burned red and long black claws jutted from her nails.She’s feeling what I do. Everything in this clearing suddenly felt wrong.Her reaction only alarmed Sebastian more. It meant she intended to fight instead of run.No, Elsabet. Sebastian ran from the bank and stepped into the knee-deep water, backing next to Elsabet as he scanned the ground and the trees above them. He knew that the nonis were nothing compared to the Sarabi that could descend from the sky without any warning.He curled his tail around her hips, to know where she was.No. Sebastian’s heart thrummed like a drumbeat. You can’t hurt her. I won’t let you. Shifting human would do him no favors. His reactions were stronger and faster as the panther. I don’t have time nor room to turn into a dragon. How did they find me? He
Radix lifted the goblet in Chavias’s direction. Sloshing some of Chavias’s blood on his skinny, gnarled fingers and black nails. “Let’s see what secrets you’ve let up today.”Radix gulped the fluid down. So greedily that it ran down the corners of his mouth.Radix was heedless. Focused on the visions running behind his eyes.Chavias’s memories peeled through his mind. Images of Chavias laughing with his gold-haired friend. Or playfully sparring with the others. Then the world darkened into an endless stream of days in his miserable cell in the caves.The blood was tainted with Chavias’s misery giving it a bitter flavor.Which had been the moment that Chavias had gained control over the pain. Feeding into his blood the most mundane memories he possessed.Radix spit the last swallow of Chavias’s blood out. Not caring for the taste of those memories of his cavernous prison.“Strong stronghold?” Okine chirped hopefully. Wondering if Radix