She plotted to discover his weaknesses and leave this wretched castle with the amulet she’d seen still hanging about his chorded neck.A beacon of her purpose, I suppose. He grinned. Shifting happily in his red chair. Slinging an arm over the back as he put a leg over one armrest and kicked thoughtfully.He grunted. Staring at the ceiling above him thoughtfully. “Aren’t we frustrated, Little One?”He felt little remorse for taking her captive for trying to steal from him. Especially for this Prince of Air and Darkness.A creature of Radix’s? He wondered. Some dark Cimmerii?***Bast toyed with the flame of a candle on the table next to him. Pinching the wick and then releasing with dancing fingertips before leisurely scooped handful of exotic nuts from the bowl next to him. Firelight dancing over his features as he chewed.Riding along with her memories of coming to LandingTown with the other woman, watching Sebastian, sighting him as a target and studying his habits.Learning with th
Why that name? The valkyrie wondered but refused to think about it further.Elsabet headed down the corridor and Wrenny fell in line beside her.“Elsabet?” Wrenny asked catching the end of the conversation from the hall.“I know.”“I thought you were done with that name?”“As did I.” Elsabet said sharply.“No one has called you that since…”“Yes.” Elsabet cut the other girl off and bit down the memories it invoked.***Sebastian in his lair, was sorely disappointed she refused to indulge in them. I’d be curious to know why that name has such significance. And how the maid knew it.Bast’s leg swung over the armrest as he enjoyed the memories she rehashed. He reached to pull a book off the round table between the chairs, rolling it in his palms to keep his hands busy and his focus sharp. Anticipation heightening.Blonde hair hung loose over his shoulders. Brushing a beautifully cut overcoat which swathed over a loosely laced white shirt. Leaving his collarbone and the defined lines of h
Afraid is not the word.“She does not favor me.”“Then she is certainly not human!”Bast shook his head. “She most definitely is not.”If she were, she’d already be in my bed.Only now did Bast’s hand fall from Chavias’ chest.“So…What does she eat?” Chavias asked thoughtfully.“I’ve no idea.” Bast stiffened.“You may want to find out. Can you ask her?”Bast gestured to the upper level. “Did she look in a mood to chat?”Chavias grimaced, lifting his hands in surrender. “I was directed to back off, so I guess it’s not my dilemma to discern.”“You’re a terrible friend.”“Or” Chavias lifted a finger. “An exceptional one.”Bast glowered. “Have I mentioned there are days I could throttle you myself?”“You mean days you wish you could?”Bast eyed his dark friend. It’d be a great battle. His brow lifted.He noted the scars crossing Chavias’ cheeks and the particularly deep one rolling over his collarbone.Nearly a death blow.He’s been in more battles than most men have heard of.Sebastian w
Gasping, she lay there. Eyes the stormy blue of a rainy day glaring up at him.The kind of eyes that draw a man from across a crowded room.He had pitched her out of his mind like dirty clothing. “Best learn to heed me, woman.”He stared down at her. No shred of empathy on his face.Tongue to teeth she hissed again. Looking at him scathingly as she fumbled for a broken piece of ceramic still littering the floor. She hurled it at him weakly.His eyes roamed over her restlessly. Contemplating all the things he intended to do to her while she was captive. And what I may have her do to me.Feeling his animal beginning to respond to his sordid thoughts, he knelt next to her and moved a bit of hair off her face.“I don’t have to be cruel, Little Harpie. Stop making me.”She glowered unwaveringly.“I can do this as well.” He blew his lips and made a low whistling sound.Watching as her body tightened.She gasped at the sensations of his magic moving through her.Looking in her pretty blue ey
Elsabet was furious at being a captive. Frantic in her desperation to cling to her defiance and looking for a way out.And even more upset that I had her melting with wanting for me with a single, simple dream.The vision he’d injected into her of things he wished to do to her beautiful body. In response she’d shouted threats of her escape.She still doesn’t realize what she’s dealing with.“Get comfortable.” His breath sighed through the empty corridors like an eerie echo. “You’ll be here as long as I desire it…”“No.” Eyes shooting through the darkness, she found him gone, yet somehow still here. Filling these walls. She was beginning to realize that in one way or another Sebastian was everywhere here.***Hours crept by, as Elsabet clawed for a way out.Sebastian watched from the next room, feeling her movements through the wall.Nothing had been built before that could hold her. It amused him.She was beginning to look like a pet railing against domestication.“Why am I here?” She
“I’m sensing her.”Feeling her walking around and stewing in her fury. Sebastian was partially linked to her nearly constantly to monitor what she did, where she went and that she wasn’t trying to escape.“There a difference?” Mardichi queried, looking bored.“I’m only seeing her in my mind.”Not watching her.“And keepin’ track of ever’thing she does.” Mardichi shifted in the seat. “Gad, blessedly women canna do tha’ ta us. That’d be dreadful. They’d know wha’ foul creatures we are in truth.” His burr thickened as he grumbled.Bast had always noticed that it varied with Mardichi’s mood and how relaxed he was. And who he’s around.“You are.” Bast corrected.I have some honor.Earning him a black look from Mardichi. Bast added. “Do you truly think they don’t already know?”“Nay. They’re smart creatures.” Mardichi grudgingly admitted. Speaking awhile longer before growing certain Bast paid him no heed. Leading him to mutter about the deviled troubles with women as he rose and eventually
The next evening dragged on. A breeze coasted through Elsabet’s room. Rejuvenating the gold flakes pouring horizontally across the walls.Too weak to do much, she turned her head to trace their movements. Even that small action made her groan, putting a hand to her forehead. Blinking heavily, she fought off unconsciousness. Levelling her gaze on Lord Bodane who appeared in the doorway. Wearing a teal tunic, the same color as the penetrating gaze searing through her.“What do you want now?” Head heavy, she slumped further into the pillows. Eyeing him passively.It’s the first time she’s looked at me without distaste twisting her face.She’s too tired. She won’t last long if she doesn’t eat.Seeing how deathly pale she was, he suffered a pang of remorse. She was surrounded by dead curling feathers. Molting.He’d thought being a creature rather than a mortal she’d have more endurance, but he was finding her surprisingly fragile.Chavias said food was important. But I didn’t realize…He’d
He left her chamber sighing. Heading down the long corridor to the chamber at the end. Once inside he went to the balcony and stepped outside. Knowing the balconies only wrapped this corner of the castle. Safe from the wind and rushing waters.He stood shirtless, feeling the occasional spray from around the corner carried in on the breeze. Despite his bare chest, he hardly perceived the cold. His breeches were molded tight to his skin against the wind as he surveyed the bailey. My dominion.To the untrained eye it may have looked empty, but Sebastian heard and saw everything. He heard his friend Dimitrius, the fey bridge guard, in the tower greasing gears and moving the handle. Ensuring everything worked smoothly.He caught the sounds of the man’s son Mandrake, the stable boy, playing in the straw with a puppy which yipped excitedly. Making the boy laugh.He heard the two cooks in the kitchens below adding logs to the fire for dinner.A door closed down the hall and he knew one of the