In the early hours of the following morning. Sebastian had gone to the chamber on the floor level to evade the company of the other knights in an effort to ease enough he might take his Knight Sleep. He blew out a long breath and was quiet for a couple hours in an effort to sleep.
But he heard a whispering step outside his door. Too soft for any knight in this castle.
The door groaned slightly as it eased open. There was little hesitation as the step approached.
He felt slight weight on the bed near him where someone put a hand down. He sensed someone leaning over him. Felt the barest hint of strands of hair brushing his cheek. He was overcome with the scent of wildflowers.
What’s she doing?
Or even more interestingly. How many times has she done this?
What if she intends to kill me?
Instead, he felt the barest touch of fingertips over his bare chest. Grazing over his skin tentatively. As
WaterRose, Meadow Mountain, Grier Country Sebastian crossed the foyer to the stairs but saw the library door open and glimpsed Elsabet sitting within. In my chair of course. The great red and gold construction was plush and comfortable. A book rested in her lap. She was absorbed staring into the dancing flames from the endless fire. Does she notice I warm every room here for her? She went back to leafing through the volume. Still trying to find my story. He knew. A sly smile crossing his face. She grew further frustrated when she couldn’t. Rising in a huff, she returned that one to grab another before returning to the chair. Bast veered to the stairs on the far side of the dais to keep from disturbing her. Deciding on his more comfortable chamber upstairs, he slowly climbed the steps. Keeping her in view until he’d rose too high to see in the door any longer. ***
The sudden rush of water outside drew her attention. The river walls of WaterRose flooded into motion again. “Did you stop the water?” She questioned nervously. His gaze didn’t flicker from her. Not advertently. In his fury his power had surged out in a way that interfered with the balance of magic binding WaterRose together. As he registered it, he forced his heartbeat to slow. Breathing through his nose until he felt his body easing. The tension making his hands fist, releasing. The room brightened, and the warm glow of the fire returned. She eyed those flames. Blowing a heavy breath. “You’re calm now?” She edged away warily. Calm is a bit strong for it. *** His face no longer showed the shadows of his skull. But his eyes remained on her, still watching her every movement like a wild cat ready to pounce. She chewed her cheek. Her eyes skittering as her feet sl
WaterRose, Meadow Mountain, Grier Country Sebastian stood atop the steps, staring down. Deciding. He heard Teverius’ voice in his mind. As he had for several weeks. ‘If the girl has a weakness for cats and you have a weakness for she…Perhaps, were you a kitty you’d have more opportunities to be close to her…’ Nothing else has worked…He shrugged. Hesitating only a moment, he took the first step and his feet turned to smooth black paws as he quietly strode down. Relieved to find his pain lessened as he switched shapes. His body automatically healing what was damaged every time he changed form. He rounded the doorway, and his suspicions were confirmed. There was his chair, high backed with ornate gilded trim and rich red and gold embroidery, wrapping around her like a hug. Can she smell my scent when she sits there? He wondered. He always caught her aroma when he slumped into th
WaterRose, Mane Country “Elsabet.” Sebastian called. “No.” She shouted back from upstairs. “Come down here.” “No!” Damn her. She’d been dodging him ever since that confrontation in the hall. In which he’d refused to let her prod him into forcing her. There’s no telling me no, when I really want something. You’ll learn. “Little Harpie.” He turned his voice coaxing. Echoing through the corridors with a husky lilt. Mardichi called it the Voice of Persuasion. Bast turned it up. “Come to me…” He heard vases hitting the wall and a stomping footstep above him as he waited in the foyer. She materialized atop the stairs. The firelight from the torches catching her hair in a halo of orange. Her red dress was sleeveless, trimmed in long wisping red feathers which clung to her pale skin. Revealing a tasteful expanse. Her eyes were vivid blue in her rage. C
“What’s wrong with it?” Sebastian queried. She frowned and her brow furrowed fearfully. “What is it?” He rushed to her side. Taking her hands. To his surprise she let him grip her fingers, lightly stroking the knuckles with his thumb. “What can I do?” She worried her lip and eyes roved his face as she tossed over what to do. Then abruptly her expression melted. Her head lolled back and when it dropped forward, her eyes were liquid. She licked away what remained of the wine on her lips and her head lowered. Eyes intent on him. I know that look. He was startled. But I’ve never seen it on her. *** Her lips parted breathlessly, damp and red from the drink. She slid one of her hands free to flatten against his chest. In less than a second it molded over his body trailing up. She stood on her toes to reach the back of his neck. He noted faintly her smell had changed. Lending a more poignant sweetness to the air. Som
“H-how did you make that appear in your hand?” She blinked at the cup he held near his shoulder in horror. His other hand was sweeping her lower back to keep her pulled tight against him. “Magic.” She was staring at him. Looking more terrified than any prey he’d ever hunted. “Care for another sip?” Her lips parted and her chest heaved. “Take it.” He urged. “It’s yours.” Like a hopeless addict after opiates she stole the glass and drank what was left. Her throat working as she swallowed and a single purplish wine drop slipping from the corner of her mouth to trail down her neck and over her collar into the hollow between her breasts. Unable to resist, he lowered himself enough to stop its progress with the tip of his tongue. Deliberately dragging his tongue over the trail it’d left. Up over her torso, along the side of her neck, her jaw and to that pretty mouth as she removed the cup. Humming in her throat in a long purr
The feel of linking with her. Of her sweet body swallowing him up was nearly enough to make him collapse where he was. She was like all the finest things he could imagine. Satin, velvet, honey. Like the most tantalizing dream. But he wasn’t dreaming. He’d probably checked five times in the last three minutes. He was deeply inside her while she braced her body along the bed, her ass in the air. For the taking. He pulled out of her and caught her hips as he lurched back in. Watching her body jerk and her silver hair bounce. Hearing her alluring gasp of surprise as he filled her again. “More?” He leaned around to query. “More.” Surprised at her honesty he was willing to obey. So, he gave her more. Pumping into her, more ferociously. Building the friction between them and hearing her soft pants as her climax drew closer. The intensity of those short quick breaths telling him she was straining not to come already.
“You are the most intense man…” She said a bit harshly. But he understood it was her version of teasing. He scoffed. “I’d think you much the same kind of woman.” Her mouth scrunched to the side in disapproval of his comment. She doesn’t like hearing that. “Tell me, Woman. What does it feel like to have me inside you?” He began gliding smoothly in and out of her. Letting her body slick to make her channel more open for his length which filled it in like a dagger into a scabbard. Caressing so softly over his length to swallow his base and brush along his sack. Entirely surrounding him with her warmth. “Your spike is fat and stiff.” She said uncertainly. “Indeed.” He laughed slightly but tried not to be discouraging. “And what else?” Her sexual praise is a bit staled. He fought the twitching of his lips. Reminding himself that now was not the time for his twisted humor. “You feel like…Like…” She b
Later that night, as Elsabet slept, Sebastian found himself sitting in the library. In his luxurious red chair next to the fire. The one he so often shared with Elsabet.He tilted forward in the seat, then leaned back. Rocking his body since the chair, on its stationary legs, could not.He slowly lulled the tiny being in his arms. Bright gold curls framed her small round face. And little hands flailed sleepily. Looking for something to hold onto.When Elsabet had curled into a ball and murmured that she needed to rest, he’d taken the baby and retreated downstairs. Sensing that Elsabet was grieving the loss of her own freedom. Resenting her own surrender.And the reasons she had to do it.
Elsabet giggled, then grunted in pain. Holding her abdomen as pain knifed deep into her center.Bast tightened in fear, but before he could question her the pain seemingly subsided. She relaxed and her hands slid away.“He is right though.” Sebastian said quietly, seeing she was alright. His words caused Elsabet to glance back at him. “She is as fair a beauty, as her mother.”Confusion crossed Elsabet’s face. She looked lost, not understanding something.“What is it?”“I’ve never heard people discussing me as though it’s fact that I’m fair to look upon.”“Fair!” Sebastian said incredulously. “You’re far more than fair. As I’ve told you on many an occasion!”Does she jest?Both men looked shocked.“I thought you said that, merely for the sake of being charming.”“Does she not know?” Alazareth blurted, staring at her astounded. Eventually he gave Sebastian a horrified look. “Clearly not.” Seba
Sebastian looked at his twin, Alazareth, to answer his question. “Her name is Sebet. After her beautiful mother.”Sebastian’s gaze returned to Elsabet and he noted her shocked expression. Her stormy blue eyes were huge, awash with emotion.“What?” He queried.“You’d name her after me?”Of course.“I name her after my greatest treasure.” His eyes returned to his new daughter, and he missed the flicker of pain flashing over her face at being referred to as something she would’ve considered property.Alazareth noticed her agony and his gaze slid to his brother who was absorbed in murmuring to the curly haired little girl. Blissfully happy to see her. Alazareth couldn’t bear the thought of stealing his brother’s moment of joy, to point it out to him.Elsabet’s gaze fell to her hands, and her expression was anguish.Sebastian would’ve noticed instantly, any other moment. But this one, all he could see was his new daughter.
Sebastian gave Elsabet’s hand a quick squeeze. Leaning over her and pressing a quick kiss to her forehead.We can’t lose our daughter. He tried to push Agatha’s warning aside. But he was afraid. Very afraid.Elsabet screamed in pain.The ground under their feet quaked as she moaned in pain. Stones cracked and corners of moldings fractured and fell away. Bits of stone fell like rain from the outside of the building, past the window slits.“I’m here.” He whispered against her forehead. Leaning over her. As he did, he exuded enough magic to steady WaterRose against her unconscious swells of it.There was suddenly the vivid smell of blood and unknown fluids, an odor that terrified Sebastian in its foreignness.Agatha began shouting excitedly while Mags soothingly coached Elsabet on what to do.Then Agatha made a sudden rapid movement and swept her other hand under the coverlet draped over Elsabet’s knees.There wa
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