Sebastian’s gaze lingered on her swollen belly. What will she do when the time gets close? Will she let me near the infant?
“Do you?” She lifted a brow.
Love you? You must know I do. He thought.
“Do you?” He countered. Hoping she might answer for once.
She lowered her head. Giving him a condemning look.
He chuckled. “Fine, have it your way. Yes, Elsabet, I think you know I do.”
Elengard stuck her head in. “You called?”
“Could you set up lunch in here?”
She glanced past him at Elsabet. Noting how pale and uncomfortable the woman looked. Her dress strained around her middle and she looked as though her back would bow over any minute. “Of course!”
As soon as she left the room, he levelled turquoise eyes on Elsabet.
“And what would you have me do with that information?” She hitched her chin.
You know the answer to that.
“You know that too. I’d have all of you,
Elsabet’s question was complicated.Has something happened to Quandary. The answer was no. But it was harder to admit to her that he was Quandary.I’ve waited too long to tell her. Or, perhaps he shouldn’t have deceived her to begin with.But had I not, I’d have missed so many chances to comfort her. “No, not persay.”She eyed him skeptically. Lurching forward to down her glass of water, body language hostile as she tried to gauge what he was about to say.Rising, he refilled her drink under her watchful gaze. Taking his seat again, he felt her eyes on him. Studying his movements.She was unholy beautiful.Angry or not.Firelight played with some gold tones in the white of her hair. Making her seem to glow.He itched to wind his fingers in its luxurious length.It’d be as soft as the rest of her.“You’re eying me as thoughI’m&
As promised, Sebastian was in Elsabet’s chamber in under an hour. Padding in on quiet paws. He went to Elsabet.She was sitting in a chair by the window, looking out over the meadow to the trees beyond.He sat before her, curling his long black tail around his paws as he peered at her through yellow eyes.“Hello, my friend.” She murmured. But she didn’t look at him. Which made him wonder, if she had understood what he said more than she’d indicated.Perhaps it was why she wanted to fight. Her own brand of denial. But with her, he was never sure about anything.“Do you wonder what I’m thinking?” She murmured. Stroking the top of his flat head. “Or, like him, do you peer into my mind.”I haven’t peered into your mind in a long time, my love. Or I might know what you want of me. He thought morosely.“Is he right?” She murmured. “Do you only come to spy on me?”He huffed. Scooting closer t
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
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
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
“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
Reaching down, Elsabet yanked the pendant loose from his hands.Sebastian's torn shoulders and arms offered little resistance.It was as the sun was cresting the ridge that she released her grip on him. Watching him fall.For just a moment, she wished she could take it back. He was courageous. Admirable in his fearlessness.A shame.Even in his shredded shirt with gold hair tousled, he'd been wildly handsome.She watched his strange expression as he looked up at her, dropping limply in a deadfall toward the trees far below.Totally calm...He was...peaceful.Bafflement marked her face. Making him fight the smile pulling at his lips.He gave her a chiding look. Angry at her choice.Or perhaps disappointed. Elsabet started to turn in flight, reluctant to see his human body crushed in the trees.Turning back from the body of water, she headed back toward LandingTown.As she turned something scintillating caught her eye. She glanced down and watched flashes of vibrant gold erupting from whe
*****Note from the Author:This is a very slow burn book. Spanning many decades as it interweaves with other books such as King of the Seditious and The Barbarian's Pleasure (you don't have to read those to understand this one ).This is the story of Sebastian and his valkyrie.*****1580 - A Cottage in Inner Forestway, Mane Country"Sebastian" The woman breathed as she opened her cottage door and bid him enter. That husky seductive note already tingeing her voice.As she has countless times before."Moira." He greeted stomping off his boots before entering the sparse cottage."I've missed you." She cooed. Stroking the Ample tops of her small, pert breasts."I know.""My lover has returned from his estate. He's really quite possessive." She threw shining brown hair over her shoulder, proudly."I care not a whit for possessive lovers." He shrugged."Do you care for me?" She pounced on the opportunity to ask the question.Despite that she already knows.He leaned back his head, gold eye