“Is this how you deal with family, brother?” Kade barked from the bottom of the steps, his body quivered with tensed anger, skin aflame as his darkened eyes rapidly roamed the front shut house. He was partially naked, clothes scattered all about him in a heap.
Salem had dragged him out with fastidious viciousness, unallowing him a moment to fully comprehend what was occurring. And when he finally did, it was too late. The front door shut in finality, numerous locks ringing on the opposite end.
The fucking audacity.
Kade was suddenly hyper-aware as a cold wind brushed his torso, arousing each numbed sense and with it came a surge of wrath. He prowled around the mansion’s exterior, trying to peer through windows but Salem’s slave, he could not remember the other woman’s name, had dutifully drawn each curtain shut.
He tried the doors as well. Nothing.
Kade’s upper lip pulled back in a snarl, “Nice try, brother
Slowly and reluctantly, Inayah uncovered her face. She blinked, closed her eyes, and blinked again. Streaks of shallow light penetrated the window and vaguely blinded her. She sat up, dragging her feet off the bed, and rubbed her knuckles onto her eyes.She stretched her arms above her head and yawned then blinked again, simply watching her legs dangle above the dark brown polyester carpet.A sharp knock on her door is what drew her attention away. For a moment, she thought she had slept in late but soft darkness outside says otherwise.“Girl!” Mathilde hissed beyond the barrier.Inayah scratched at her belly then scalp, quietly opening the door. Cold air instantly seizes her throat then nose.Mathilde stands before her clearly impatient. “He waits for you.”Inayah blinked, “Who?”Something dark flashed across her face but disappeared just as fast, “Master, he said get ready to leave.” A
“Get in, Inayah,” Salem spoke with levelled casualness, pointing at the opposite end of the claw tub. It was Victorian and large enough to fit them both comfortable. His elbow rested on the bath’s edge, cupping his jaw whilst sonorously watching her evident hesitance.It was either the heat of steam that caused her cheeks to redden or something else, as her gaze dropped to the clear water surface, seeing everything beneath.“I will dirty the water,” Inayah says and his mouth quirks at the corner.“That’s the whole point, slave-”“Inayah.” She suddenly said.Salem grew still, arching a dutifully curious eyebrow.Inayah raised her chin defiantly, mimicking the same eyebrow movement. “Inayah,” she repeated, “my name is Inayah.”It was bold of her, something that completely caught Salem off guard as he gaze with a lost expression at the girl. There was som
Inayah sat on the seat before Salem’s study table, staring at the thick bound book before her.Lycan mythology.Salem had given it to her as basic reading material, the start to their first few days of literacy and lectures had gone rather roughly. Not because Salem was a tough teacher, in fact he was rather patient and willing to repeat material for her.But Inayah just loathed reading. She hated writing even more.Evenings had once been her favorite time but after Salem introduced education hour, she constantly glanced at the clock overhead, wishing that time would slow to a lumber. She would rather spend the day polishing silver, scrubbing the floors or stripping off curtains - hell she would rather do all Mathilde’s chores without so much of a whine, than sit down and read.The activity was rather tedious.Salem did not make it easier with his sterness, though for the most part he was either playing his violin or reading a bo
“Stay safe, Master.”Inayah glanced up in time to see Mathilde carefully treading behind Salem who strode whilst buttoning up his midnight black coat. She stood in the kitchen with either of her sleeves rolled up to her elbows, churning butter. The process had been tedious and ran from dawn up until noon, Inayah had pounded away in silence, struggling to ignore the burn in her biceps and triceps.“Where is Inayah?” She heard Salem ask followed by a long hesitance on Mathilde’s part.“I will request her…” short hurried steps, the anger in each clicking subtle.Inayah glanced up just as Mathilde appeared by the doorway, hovering with certain uncertainty. “He calls you.”Inayah released the pounder and drew her wrist across her forehead, wiping away perspiration. Face flushed from exertion, she made her way to the parlor where Salem stood holding a leather bound book.At the sight of
Cold.Inayah felt a gust of cold night air brush across her body, and she in turn shivered uncontrollably. She felt ill, terribly so, eyelids laden with sickness and her body radiating heat like a brick.It was the sound of a door slamming shut that forced mild consciousness into her trembling body with a low, struggling moan, she forced her eyelids open. Inayah was staring at something blank, a wall, she realized, and lay there unmoving.Her head felt as though it had been stuffed with cotton, and a sudden wave of pain washed over her. It was exquisite, and debilitating even for her. It was the worst burning sensation she had ever experienced, even worse than the burn of the poker.Inayah whimpered as her body shuddered violently, beaded sweat surfacing along her forehead and upper lip. Adrenaline had masked the injury for at least a little while, but now it was biting. In that moment, she wished she could pass out again but her body was fightin
Inayah woke to bitter cold thrashing across her bare cheeks, drying them. She cracked open her fatigued eyes and peered at the slightly lit room.A low mournful sound sang across the empty room followed by slight hammering sounds. Another gust of cold crossed the woollen blankets piled over her shivering form, offering little to no heat. She blinked hard and forced her attention towards the source;The cabin’s front door was gaping open, beating against the wall each time wind surged through from the outside. From where she lay, Inayah was able to make out the whiteness that piled beyond the barrier. Soft flakes having drifted inside and settled on the rags, along with frost spreading like a fog on the wooden door.Snow.It was snowing.How long had she been asleep?Inayah struggled to bring a thought to completion but could not, she still felt terribly ill and her mind addled like soup, swilling about the confines of her skull. She co
Inayah woke to bitter cold thrashing across her bare cheeks, drying them. She cracked open her fatigued eyes and peered at the slightly lit room.A low mournful sound sang across the empty room followed by slight hammering sounds. Another gust of cold crossed the woollen blankets piled over her shivering form, offering little to no heat. She blinked hard and forced her attention towards the source;The cabin’s front door was gaping open, beating against the wall each time wind surged through from the outside. From where she lay, Inayah was able to make out the whiteness that piled beyond the barrier. Soft flakes having drifted inside and settled on the rags, along with frost spreading like a fog on the wooden door.Snow.It was snowing.How long had she been asleep?Inayah struggled to bring a thought to completion but could not, she still felt terribly ill and her mind addled like soup, swilling about the confines of her s
Lycus circled the mauled bear thoughtfully, his muzzle and paws were wet with blood and melted snow.The kill had been effortless and easy. Perhaps what had been the most difficult part was tracking the hibernating animal so far off into the forest and the further he walked, the more hesitant he grew over the human girl who currently was passed out on the cot.He did not know whether she would dare escape again, though it was obvious that was more hesitant knowing he could easily track her. The forest was large and she did not know where they currently stood.She was foolish enough to escape once.His brothers on the other hand… Lycus’ wolf growled lowly before his bones began to snap and realign themselves, fur sinking in on itself. He straightened with a sigh, rolling his stiff shoulders back and cracking his neck sideways.His body was sleek with blood, bits of flesh and fur stuck between his teeth from