I don’t know why but those words struck fear through every part of me. “Mathis...”
“It’s too late, Saria. I have you where I want you. I’m not letting you go until I’m well and done with you tonight.”
He kissed me. Drawing his lips through my hair to kiss along my collar. Lifting one of my hands to kiss along my bare knuckles and slowly up my forearm and the inside of my bicep before dropping kisses to the top of my shoulder and down over my breasts. Working his way down the frame of my body. His hands flexed and caressing over me. Following the lines of my legs and hips. Lifting one knee so he could look in my eyes as he dropped kisses over it. Kissing along the inside of one leg, nearly up to where my folds just brushed.
I drew a hushed breath. My body already quivering with anticipation.
But he only brushed along them in passing, making me shudder before giving the inside of my other leg the same attention. Bracing it out before him to caress the i
He still had not come by the time first light began to pour into the window which was still open. He’d told me he would have me until morning. And he has. I no longer knew how many times I’d come. Several times as he’d laid over me. Then he had turned me over and nibbled on my shoulder. Softly biting it and holding as his pace increased. Growing more fervent. He moved his feet further apart. To reach further into me. Pressing against my soft cheeks as he arced his hips back, withdrawing from my narrow channel which now felt so exhausted that the quivering had mostly subsided. But the more tired I became the more fervent the next climax became. As if my own body was fighting him. He reached under my armpits and up under me. Putting his hands over my smooth forearms to grip the back of my small fists which had gripped the bedding in an effort to delay any further climaxes. I’m already so tired.
I looked from Mathis to them. Seeing their inquisitive expressions and the confusion on their faces. Suddenly it dawned on me. He forgot to mask himself to their eyes. I straightened my shoulders and quickly came up with an explanation. “My friend. He’s my friend.” I said quickly. “He asked to see the Magistrate...I’m showing him.” I pointed up the hill, floundering. Lola looked at us askance. “And just why would you be going to see the Magistrate at this hour with a young man?” “To be wed, of course.” Mathis said coolly enough her face showed utter shock. She’d clearly been challenging us to see if it was such a thing but to have him blatantly admit it stunned her to silence. I gave him a shocked look. But he was already walking past them as if they were no longer relevant. “Why would you say that?” I cried. Trying to jerk my hand from his reach. Instead he clenched his arm closer to hi
I froze in the blackness. Horrified that I was trapped. “Come on.” I could hear amusement in his voice and realized he was right next to me. He closed the door as he came down behind me. He knows I was petrified. He caught the back of my arm and held on as we went down the stairs, as if worried I might trip. I called him out. “Is that so I won’t fall or run?” “Both.” “Mathis?” I heard Udora’s soft voice calling. “Is that you? You’ve left me down here far too long this time!” She sounded annoyed. I paused on the steps in confusion. What’s she mean by that? Mathis turned his hand, I could just barely see the outline of it in the dark. A cool green flame burst to life and stretched aobut a foot up from his palm. Illuminating his features. He put a finger to his lips to indicate I should be quiet. I gave him an incredulous look. Wondering why I would obey him now.
“Why did you bring me here?” I swallowed the pain rolling through me. He’d said he’d break me. Now he’s perilously close. I felt weak, betrayed and entirely alone. The two people I’d thought closest to me were both traitorous wretches. “I should think that painfully clear.” Udora said snidely. Taking another step towards me. “Enough, Udora!” Mathis put up a staying hand but she continued speaking spitefully. “The demon thinks he loves the girl...And that she might ever love him back.” “Shut up!” He roared. “He wants you to know what I am. So he’s the one you trust.” “That’s only partly true.” He approached in several strides to catch her arm. Pulling her further back from me. As if he’s worried what she might do. “I wanted you to know what you’ve really been so loyal to.” “Why?” “Because, though I have never denied I’m harmful I thought
Mathis made almost no sound. Barely the flutter of clothing and I saw his feet leave the floor as he must’ve leapt. I heard a thump and a horrible wet, wrenching sound. Next was the sopping thunk of a head lolling along the stone floor. The grip on my neck went slack. Dark nails slipping from the wounds they’d created as the heavy body collapsed next to me. Headless. I screamed. Leaping to my feet in panic. By the time I managed to scramble to my feet, he was already there. Eerily still in that way that only he could master. Where he only watched my skittering movements with those intelligent green eyes. But once I steadied myself on swaying legs, his hands snatched out to catch my upper arms. Jerking me against him as he wrapped sheltering arms around me. “What did you do to her?” “Killed her.” “Her head.” “Parted from the rest of her.” He said flatly. I flinched and tucked my face into
He dressed in more finery. Smoothing his black hair back into a tether and wearing a cream undershirt with a silver vest and long overcoat. Once dressed, he offered me his hand. “Let’s get you home.” I took it. Wondering why it felt like every time I took it, I was making some kind of promise to him. Vowing to trust him, when I should not… Blowing a relieved breath, I let him help me into the carriage. Relieved to see the driver sitting atop the bench this time. He’s making an effort at normalcy. We took the winding drive down the hill and into the village. Quickly arriving at my house. I blew a steadying breath. Letting him help me down from the carriage. “Are you ready?” He tucked me under his arm. “To be home?” I peered up at him. But he wasn’t acknowledging me as he kept me sheltered next to him and we headed for the front door. Mother rushed out and embraced me. “Dear Heaven! You’re okay.”
“Because of Kasha?” He lowered his head in admonition. His hands linked behind his back. To keep from touching me? I wondered. “Despite all I’ve done, I have deep respect for you, My Spitfire. And ultimately, I wish to see your laughter return. And that is what I’d spend the rest of my days striving for. But if away from me, is how you can regain it, then that too I’d learn to appreciate.” “You’re so contrary. A moment ago you were declaring I’m yours. Now you say I have a choice.” “You’ve always had a choice. Even when you believed Udora was at my mercy. You had the choice of forsaking her.” “That wasn’t an option.” “Not with you. Just because it wasn’t an acceptable choice, doesn’t mean it wasn’t there. But,” He lifted his finger. “I do caution you, you can’t change me, Sweetheart.” “You just said you have changed!” He smiled almost sadly. “I have. Because I wished to change, to become something more
Only as The King of Creatures stood facing me now, did I realize how tall and imposing he was. He wore a masquerade mask over his eyes, which seemed to change from blue to orange like flames burned in them. His hair was blonde and waving back to his collar but as he moved. It shed small sparks at the tips from the tresses that hung loosely over his forehead. He was lean and tall. Towering well above me like one of the trees in this forest. The strangest man I’d ever seen. “They brought you here?” “They summoned me, yes.” He nodded toward Veline. “They advise me you’ve discovered the root of evil in Drimidan.” “Yes…” I said slowly. Mathis. “Tell me what he is?” “I don’t know for sure…He was once a man but now a demon.” “A form of changeling then…Hmm.” He murmured thoughtfully. “Well now that we know, killing him should be easy enough. We’ll just need you to get me into the fortre