"How about you go find, Serene and leave me alone!"
I could see him past my foot as I yanked my heel in a circle, trying to break his grip. He was now frowning.
"Serene and I were long ago over!"
"I don't believe she knows that." I accused panting. Trying to get away. "She keeps trying to kill me."
"Who could hurt you?" He whined. Even as his grip on my leg became so vicious that his fingers bit into my skin, raking thin scratches over the side of my knee.
His other hand stretching from the puddle, dripping a few isolated drops as he gripped my heel so his other hand could wind up my calf in a long caress. Reaching for my thigh and stretching to reach higher.
"Get off of me!" I kicked at him, struggling to get free I fell.
His hands were still trailing my leg reverently. "Mmm. So beautiful..."
He was using the physical contract to draw himself through the water like a portal to get to my location.
I knew Orin was always watching through water, waiting to spot me. Obsessed beyond reason.
But I hadn't known it'd work like this. That he could physically get to me, if he could touch me.
His head was now emerging, water pouring off him like dense oil. His other hand stretched beneath what remained of the torn tunic, reaching desperately toward the crux of my thighs.
The energy of changing locations.
I was quickly running out of time. Drawing the heat of the candles inside to create a bloom of yellow light over the puddle. Making him close his eyes and duck at the sudden, unexpected brightness. I twisted and wrenched from his grip to crawl away. Aiming for the tavern doors.
Without the touch, Orin was immediately sucked back beneath the surface of the pool, shrieking in frustrated objection. "Come to me, My Spark!"
"Not yours!" I announced. Climbing to my feet and ignoring him as I stalked to the door.
I pulled my long green cloak tight around me. Sweeping away the mud and debris and composing myself. Ensuring that it covered me from head to my toes. Blowing a long breath, I pushed the door open. I was immediately assailed by waves of heat, wrapping around me like a smoky cloud. The faint smell of the log burning in the fireplace that consumed one entire wall. The various scents of roasting meet.
A boar and some manner of bird, I'd guess. As well as a loaf of bread which had just been baked. I slumped at the tantalizing smell. My body weakening at the same time my stomach rumbled, reminding me that I was uncertain when last I'd eaten.
I'm starving.
Keeping my head ducked, I was careful to keep from looking directly at anyone. Knowing my eyes were most of the problem.
My gaze is what brings them in.
I could feel the hush around the room as I entered. Tankards thudded numbly to the table. There were hushed gasps as men couldn't help but turn to watch me coming in. Though they could see nothing but the outline of my green cloak.
"A drink, Mum?" The barkeep asked.
Not a chance.
I had no intention of remaining down here in the Main Room a moment more than necessary.
"Just a room please." I whispered. Plunking a coin to the counter and sliding it across with one gloved finger.
The less skin I showed, the more others could resist my power.
I withdrew my hand quickly to keep him from bumping it as he collected the bit of precious metal.
He slowly lifted it but when I hazarded a glance at why he was moving so slowly I found him staring over my head. As if getting permission from someone.
Who?
For the barkeep of the Immortals Den, a man who regularly encountered dangerous creatures, to need permission from someone here indicated that there was someone very powerful in this building.
I sent my magic out in rainbow tendrils that most could not see to touch along the bodies here, trying to find one holding more power than the rest. But I wasn't feeling anything distinguishing, yet... Until I eased toward the west wall and felt such a flood of strength that my magic recoiled and retreated. Hoping I could get it away before the being noticed.
That energy felt painfully familiar.
Impossible. I travelled all day to get out of their reach.
My curiosity got the better of me. Scanning the occupants furtively I saw dark skin to light skin beings. Some with pointed ears, some with twisted snouts or thing lips exposing fanged teeth.Monsters of every breed here. I noticed.But turning my head a bit further beneath the hood of my cloak, allowed me to glimpse the figure sitting in the west windowsill. His booted feet resting on a chair beneath him. Men surrounding him. Ones that had been happily regaling the group with tales of their feats until I walked in. His hair was pale blonde and mimicked the shade of the moonlight peering in on the wide, indented sill next to him. Blue eyes were fierce as they stared at me unblinkingly.Oh, no.He must've nodded because the barkeep told me where to go.I climbed the side stairs, far against a back wall. Turning twice, before they reached the second level. The railing dusted in gilt. And the steps trimmed in it. I suspected there'd once been a shining gold or red rug which had long sinc
"You're not my slave. But you are one of my subjects.""Don't you mean one of King Eternus'?" I sneered. Feeling a moment of true joy at sending that jab home."It is he they serve, but I that protects them." Gray said flatly. Impossible to rattle.I knew that. But it's still worth a try.In truth, I found him incredibly intimidating when he was cold and calculatedly calm like this. I couldn't tell what he was thinking, or what he was up to. He seemed to operate very different then every other monster I knew.And I found that threatening."Thus, you think they're yours?""Yes. Mine to protect.""I am not yours. Nor do I need your protection." I sneered the word.He stiffened and rotated to stare at the same wall I was locked on. "Just because you don't want it, doesn't mean you don't need it.""Oh, you have me." I looked at him now. Less threatened when his dark blue eyes weren't picking me apart. "I need you, Gray...""So badly." I feigned a yearnful whine.He grunted. "Careful. One
The girl visibly deflated at the sight of him pressed against me."Sorry, Sir." She murmured. Bobbing her head. "Brought the buckets, Sir.""No need to be sorry." Gray said in that dark voice. "Do as you need. You're no bother to me."It was humiliating that she could see us in such a compromising position.I probably looked no better than a common harlot with him molded against me as he was. His fingertips a breath away from fondling me."Is your intent to embarrass me?""No."I eyed him quizzically."It's to keep you right here, right where I want you, whilst she goes in and out."He wasn't jesting.Even when the brawny lad drug in the large metal tub and began pouring the buckets that the barmaid had brought up, he didn't budge.Not until they said they were done. Placing a platter atop our cloaks on the chair.Gray barely grunted in response as they closed the door."They're gone." I reminded. "You can let me go now.""Oh?" He queried. "Should I leap at your command as the Skins d
Baths in general were something I could rarely enjoy, for fear Orin would find me. To fully bathe I typically had to hide my face or cover the majority of the water with a cloak.To keep him from seeing me.I feared that one day, I’d be careless, and he’d get ahold of me.Gray positioned my arms on the outside of the tub as he set me in. Letting them slide down the metal, behind me.Forcing me to sit entirely upright in the water, my back pinned to the metal. Making me feel even more vulnerable than when Frost had me chained to the wall this morning.Because it’s Gray that has me. A tiny voice admitted.My jaw ticked and I was ramrod stiff. Watching as he walked to the chair to remove the platter to the side table before flipping the buckles at the shoulders of his tunic. Letting the glittering gold chain mail fall from his chest and to the floor.He leisurely collected it and set it atop his cloak. He sat on the edge of the bed and took off his boots before standing to unbuckle his b
“No to which, Baby Girl?” He growled against my cheek but I for the life of me I couldn’t remember what we were talking about.“Stop calling me that.” I muttered weakly.“No.” He shook his head. “Never.”“Why do you always do this?” I said desperately. Awash with emotion.Something I hated.“What?”“Make-make me feel…Why can’t you-” My desperate voice cracked, and I gave up.“Make you feel vulnerable?” He queried knowingly. His flat voice devoid of any hint of emotion. Though I knew he basked in mine.“Why can’t you just get it over with like the rest?”“Because I’m nothing like them.” He said darkly. His face written with disdain as he put an arm along the edge of the bin to lean into me as his other hand found my entrance. Slipping one long, slim finger deep into my channel.I gasped and my eyelids fluttered at the pure pleasure of the gentle touch. The coaxing fingers working in and out of me to create slow building.I hated it.And I loved it.Which made me hate him even more.“An
Following his motions, I worked him more vigorously. Determined to not let him do it.Not this time.He tipped his head, waiting.I shook my head in answer. But in that same moment a lightning streak burned through my spine sending my back curving forward until it almost bent in half. My knees shoving down into the bottom of the washbin. My wrists straining at the ropes as my body jerked in tiny tremors. Emerging from where the inside of my body gripped him and stroked along his length. Before bursting through me in white-hot heat.My head fell back, and I was racked with the violence of my climax. Something I hadn’t had in months.He held me down against him, piercing deep as I reached my peak and then subsided from the dizzying heights.Only then did I realize he’d entirely stopped moving.“Damn you.” I said angrily. Knowing he’d caught himself before sating his pleasure. Leaving me feeling strangely unfinished.And even more like he won.He proved, yet again, that he was strong.Wh
“Spark…” Craven’s voice made me tense in my sleep.I could feel his presence closing in. Winding through time and darkness to reach me.The incubus could always find me when I slept.I felt him drawing nearer and I couldn’t fight my way out of the peace of slumber. Another of Craven’s talents.I was suddenly flipped onto my back. I opened panicked eyes. Straining to get out of the dream state and confront him. Feeling the usual terror because I knew I wouldn’t be able to see him or touch him.Or fight him off.I was exhausted and could think of no way to fight him off right now. Just as I felt his weight climbing over me I opened my mouth to scream but couldn’t get any words out. Only the merest croaking emerging. But the moment that weight drew up to my torso and prepared to settle into my crevice, Gray’s arm snatched out and caught at air. Dragging something down to his face.“I’ve told you, Craven.”“I’m sorry. I’m sorry, Gray. I forgets!”“Best not.” Gray sat up enough to do an ex
She nodded. Unnerved by the fact that the two men were so unison that their voices sounded like one. Yet, both their mouths had moved.“Give us the coin.” The brown eyed one said.“And we’ll find your woman.” The other supplied. Speaking as the other stopped as if perfectly orchestrated.Like they have one mind.She pulled the coins from the pocket of her scanty overdress. Holding her hand out over theirs.Greedy light filled their gazes and as they reached, she withdrew the coins to clutch them near her chest.Leaving their outstretched palms empty.“I want her brought back unsullied.”“She’ll be suitable to work.” They responded together.Kareni was clever enough to notice their evasive answer but knew how hard it’d been to find these two to hunt her down.No one else can promise me they’ll even find her.The girl had proven particularly elusive thus far.Kareni was somewhat skeptical that even these two would, but she had enough spies and assassins at her disposal that she was conf