by Eve Langlais
Her pussy quivered. She might have come a little.
The kiss was even fiercer than before. Their tongues dueled wetly.
His hands grabbed hold of her and lifted, with no help from her. He wasn’t as gentle when her back slammed into the wall.
Damn did she like it.
She wrapped her legs around his shank and kept him close, rubbing her heated core against his lower belly. Feeling the hot throb of his dick below her butt.
“Rub it against me,” she ordered. Being a virgin didn’t mean she didn’t know what she wanted.
I’ve experienced this in my dreams.
Yet they hadn’t prepared her for the electrical charge of it.
Elspeth rarely lost control. She couldn’t. No one could handle it. She could barely handle it.
But Luc could. He wanted all of her. No pretense, and no holding back.
The tip of him rubbed against the petals of her sex. She shuddered and moaned, her fingers digging into the flesh of his shoulders. Those lovely, broad shoulders.
He slicked it back and forth, drawing shivers and groans and tightening desperation.
“Now, Luc. I need you.”
Needed him so damned much.
The head of him paused at the opening of her sex.
He held off, despite the tension thrumming in him.
“Why are you stopping?” she asked, the hot breath against his ear wringing a fine tremor in his frame.
“I’m not in control.”
“And?” She licked the outer part of his ear. “Neither am I. This will either end well or it won’t. But I’ve seen the future, and I’m wagering on explosive.” She bit the lobe, and his hips jerked.
He slid into her.
Just a bit. It stole her breath.
He’s big.
It will fit.
He pushed a little deeper, stretching her.
What if it doesn’t?
He didn’t move. He didn’t speak. He didn’t have to. She knew why he froze.
He didn’t want to hurt her.
This demon, abused and abandoned, alone for a long time, worried about her.
She cupped his face and met his gaze. “Don’t be afraid. I’m not. This is our destiny.”
She didn’t give him a soft kiss. She bit him. Grabbed that lower lip of his and nipped it hard enough to draw blood.
She sucked, and he bucked, his hips grinding forward, taking their innocence in one swift move.
A moment that surely made the world tremble. Her existence was certainly rocked.
He fit within her perfectly. Their bodies moving in synchronicity. The bond between them forming with the shedding of blood.
It further strengthened when they kissed.
And when they came, an explosion intent enough to steal her breath, she felt his aura. Hard and cold, yet it went well with her warm persona, a shield against the ugly beyond it.
When she finally caught her breath enough to realize that they were still in the shower turning into shriveled prunes, she smiled and nuzzled his skin.
And what did she have to say about this monumental moment in her life?
“That was epic.”
The entire night proved to be one enjoyable thing after another. As older virgins, they had a lot of pent-up frustration to deal with.
The man was a beast. And she was… In love.
But love didn’t mean shirking her duty to the Sept—and it wouldn’t help her avoid what was coming.
Time to get moving.
The next morning, Elspeth rose from the bed. She smiled down at Luc, who snored softly amidst the tangled sheets. She brushed back his hair and enjoyed one last touch, one last look.
She left her clothes on the floor. Left everything behind as she exited his room and padded to a guest room across from it. Far enough from him that she could shower and do her toilette duties.
She performed those tasks quickly. She’d lingered longer than she should have in bed.
At least she’d had the forethought to have her luggage delivered to his place, which meant she could put clean clothes in this room, preparation for later. Say thank you to her vision advantage. Seeing herself in a few grubby, I-slept-in-those clothes in dreams helped make sure she controlled at least something.
Exiting the bedroom, she paused for a moment, staring at the door behind which Luc still slept. Despite the night they’d spent making it clear how she felt, it occurred to her before leaving that she should write him a note.
It took but a moment to jot something and slide it under his door.
Then, off to destiny. Alone. Which was kind of scary, but she had to do this. Had to leave Luc for him to find himself. He wouldn’t understand her choice. He wasn’t supposed to. But, hopefully, he would become what he had to in time to save her because she neared that damned fork. The biggest stumble in her life’s path.
Of late, she didn’t see anything beyond it. Not a good omen.
Arriving downstairs, she caught Alfred in the kitchen tucking away his cell phone. He looked rather distressed.
Entering, she noted some delivery bags and food partially placed on plates. Here she’d thought dear Alfred did all the cooking himself. Sly man.
She wandered closed enough to snare a piece of crisp bacon and dipped it in an open pitcher of syrup.
Only as the sugar and salt hit her tongue did she ask, “Did someone accuse the butler of doing it?”
“Not quite. Rather the master. A friend of mine was calling to warn me the coppers have a warrant to search the castle.”
“What for?”
“Someone tipped them off about the bodies in the field.”
“You know about the bodies?” she asked, grabbing a croissant and shredding it to eat it.
“I was the one driving the master that night.”
“Which reminds me. We never did ask how you found us.”
“A spell by the master. I drove since it led him a fair distance.”
“You’re awfully efficient, Alfred. I’m going to enjoy having you as a butler. You just wait, next Halloween, guess what we’ll dress up as?”
Alfred didn’t look amused. It was utterly perfect.
“I have to leave,” he remarked.
“Where are you going? Need a hand?”
“As a matter of fact, I do. Groceries again. You know how heavy those are.” Alfred rubbed his lower back while Elspeth snared a danish.
“Sure thing. Let’s go now so we can return before Luc wakes up.”
Alfred led the way to a lovely town car. Slick and black, the interior very clean with a hint of perfume.
Not her perfume.
“Is this the car Luc likes using?” she asked, unable to help herself from asking the jealous query. She ran a hand over the smooth paint heading for the passenger side.
“No. This is the one I prefer. It’s got some nice features for the driver. Get in the back, and I’ll show you some of the perks.”
Intrigued, she clambered into the back seat. The perfume scent stronger than before with something else.
Something oddly familiar.
Click.
The door locked.
Whir. A sheet of glass rose forming a wall to separate the front and back. Hiss.
Gas vapors emerged from some vents while, from a speaker, she heard Alfred say, “Dumb blonde. You should have stayed in bed with your demon lover.”
No, thank you. She’d seen that future. It didn’t go well for anyone.
Chapter Twenty-One
Stretching in bed, Luc found himself smiling. He had plenty to grin about after last night.
A virgin no more.
He had one sexy female to thank for that. Speaking of whom, he rolled over in bed and realized that she wasn’t beside him.
Probably off hunting down some food. The woman had a healthy appetite. She possessed gusto for many things, including life.
And me.
Rising from the bed, he reveled in the cool air bru
shing his nude skin. In the dungeons, the heat from the molten lava running below the ground’s surface made it warmer below than above.
He’d never even imagined what something chilly would feel like and found himself eager to experience his first snow.
As a matter of fact, Luc found himself eager for a lot of things now. His life was truly about to begin. Especially since, now that he’d let go of some of his anger, he could see a future.
One with Elspeth.
He slid on a pair of pants and a shirt. Alfred frowned when he went about half dressed. The old man was probably jealous of his much younger body.
Although, truth be told, Luc hoped he appeared half as fit as Alfred at that age. His own father had been much frailer.
As he headed toward the bedroom door, he noticed a slip of paper on the floor. A scrap hastily scribbled on in red.
A note he couldn’t read. But he could guess at the contents.
The fool woman! What had she done? Because he had no doubt she’d hared off, probably acting on some vision.
And she didn’t expect to return.
Unacceptable. They were tied together. She and I, forever. The things she did would affect him. He’d die without her, mostly because he’d lay waste to the world until it killed him. He’d lost everything else in his life. He couldn’t lose her, too.
Exiting the bedroom, he didn’t hear a sound. Most definitely not Elspeth’s warming laughter. She was always happy. He understood better now that she used it as a defense mechanism against the dark things she saw. He admired her all the more for not letting despair be her constant companion.
In the face of adversity, she fought. She feared nothing. Not even the hauntings of her own mind.
The scent of her hovered. Strong, especially across the hall. A quick glance through the bedroom showed her passage. An old trail. He returned to the hall and strode to the staircase.
The treads were a gleaming wood. Nothing like the stone block steps in the castle he’d grown up in. The bannister, the same one he’d attempted to slide down yesterday, taunted. He eyed the railing. He could do this. It just required a little balance—and maybe a touch of magic.
This time, when he grabbed the rail, he used a cushion of magic to keep him from tilting. It was getting easier to allow the power to fill him up.
The dungeons never gave him much of a chance to do anything; the very ore in the stone created a dampening effect on his spells. Those he and his mother managed were but pale imitations.
Nothing fettered him now. He could truly manipulate the esoteric forces, and he used them, of all things, to have fun.
Because that was what sliding down quickly on a thin piece of wood entailed. Adrenalized pleasure.
An exuberant, “Yaaaaay,” emerged from him as he soared.
He then lost all breath as he slammed into the newel post at the bottom.
Balls first.
Kill him now. The pain proved intense.
He slumped off the rail, losing hold of his magic cushion, and hit the floor, groaning.
He really hoped that Elspeth wouldn’t choose this moment to witness his discomposure.
As he writhed, he, at the very least, expected his nosy manservant, Alfred, to appear and mock him.
However, instead, he got treated to Babette uttering a somber, “Get off the floor so I can kick your ass.”
Rolling over, he peered up at her with one eye—all he could manage as the pain radiated through him. A throb that screamed that he’d broken his cock.
The horror.
There was no sympathy or humor in Babette’s gaze. It brought a chill. He pushed up to an elbow and asked, “What’s wrong?”
Rather than reply, she posed her own question. “Where’s Elspeth?”
“I don’t know. I woke to find her gone.” He didn’t yet mention the note. Not with the sorrow and anger in Babette’s gaze. “Did you check to see if she’s in the kitchen with Alfred?”
Babette shook her head. “You already know she isn’t. Where is she? Is she still in the castle?”
“I don’t know.” The simple truth.
“You can stop it, dude. We know you’re the one who’s been kidnapping the women.”
His hand slashed through the air, magical motes visible only to him clinging in preparation. “I have no idea what you’re talking about. I’ve taken no women.”
“Liar,” Babette spat. “The evidence all leads back to this castle.”
“Impossible, and have you so soon forgotten? Maedoc already told you it was his brother.”
“Are you his brother?”
The very idea had him gaping. Luc rose to his feet and retorted, quite indignantly, “Most certainly not.”
“Then Maedoc lied. Or maybe he truly thought his sibling was to blame. But the clues tell a different story, one that leads us to you.”
Despite the accusation in her eyes, he knew the truth. “I didn’t do it.”
“Then prove it. Produce Elspeth. Unharmed.”
Didn’t Babette understand that he’d like nothing more than for Elspeth to appear? The damned note burned in his pocket. He yanked it free. “I don’t know where she is, but she left this.” He thrust the scrap at Babette, who snatched it.
Her brow furrowed as she read. “What the hell is this supposed to mean?”
“It means I don’t know where she went. I was following her scent trail to this floor when you arrived. I was about to check the kitchen. You know how she is about food.”
“She’s not there. First place I looked. I checked out most of the first floor of the main house actually and didn’t find any sign of her. Her scent just goes cold by the back door.”
Now his blood truly ran cold. “Perhaps she had an early errand to run.”
“With whose car?”
“She can fly.”
A snort spewed from Babette. “She might be crazy, but even she wouldn’t take off in broad daylight. Not to mention, I don’t smell dragon anywhere. Do you?”
No, he didn’t, it was if she’d vanished into thin air. “She can’t have disappeared. Have you contacted whoever she reports to?”
“I am who she reports to.” Babette slapped a wall with an open palm, the sound sharp. “Enough with the crap. Where is Elsie?”
“I don’t know.” The simple truth, and said with a sigh because he expected what happened next.
“Then that leads me to the second reason I’m here. Lucifer, Shining One, you are under arrest on suspicion of murder, illegal use of magic against others, kidnapping, and entering the Emerald Sept territory without proper permission or declaration of species and intent.”
“You can’t be serious.” He blinked at her. “I popped out of Hell into the ruins of a castle in the mountains. Report to whom?” His spin straightened. “And as for your murder and kidnapping charges, for the last time, I didn’t do it.”
“Tell that to the king. Will you come willingly?” It was then that he noted she wore leather gloves, probably to ensure she could handle the dracinore cuffs she removed from her bag.
“You’re working with Maedoc.”
“I work for my king,” she said, dangling them. “These were a gift.”
“You do realize you’re being manipulated.” Luc couldn’t have explained how this benefited Maedoc and his brother, but surely they did it for a reason.
She approached him, hypnotically swaying the cuffs by her side.
She was small in size, but he didn’t make the mistake of thinking Babette would be easy to evade. Good thing he could use magic. Even if erratically. The dracinore worked strongly in this dimension, just its presence nearby disrupted the flow of magic around him.
He’d have to find another way to beat… He glanced at Babette’s sad expression, and he realized she didn’t want to do this. Just like he didn’t want to fight her.
She only followed orders, orders based on lies.
Someone intentionally made me look guilty.
But who
would listen?
In this world, everyone outnumbered him. Only a few people ever chose to listen. One of them stood in front of him, but she was letting duty and love for her friend cloud her reason.
Yet he had to try. “Listen, Babsy,” Luc said, adopting the name Elspeth used. “I understand things might look bad right now. But I swear. I did nothing to Elspeth. I haven’t hurt anyone.”
“I wish I could believe that.” Babette shook out her hands, and the fingers turned into dragon paws tipped in sharp claws. Her face took on an alien cast, and her eyes glowed.
Luc waited for the anger to flush him hot and draw out the demon. He didn’t have full control of his other side yet. Repressed for his entire life, the ability to change shape was like a muscle atrophied from lack of use.
The rage, which helped his inner beast pulse to the surface, remained dormant.
He looked at Babette. How could he fight her? He meant her no ill will. The idea of hitting her repulsed him. Was this why his father had refused to go to war? Because it involved hurting people that hadn’t truly done anything to—
Whack.
Her solid blow to his head caught him by surprise. Because he’d not actually thought she would attack him. His jaw went sideways without his face and snapped.
Ouch.
He shook his head as he staggered. “I didn’t do anything—hey.” Luc danced out of the way of her slashing claws.
Babette ranted as she attacked. “Do you have any idea how much it pisses me off to have to do this? I trusted you, dude. Trusted you with my bestie. And I’ll tell you, it wasn’t easy to call her that. I mean, Deka will always be my main friend, but she’s got a man now. And Elsie…well, she’s a good sort. Nuts. But I actually like that about her. Plus, she’s tough. Which is why you better not have hurt her, asshole!”
Luc found himself in the position of having to defend himself against the blows. He saw a few opportunities to retaliate.
Yet he held back.
He couldn’t hit Babette. She wasn’t his enemy. She acted right now out of affection. Caring. For Elspeth.
He could understand feeling a little crazy about that because now he was getting worried. Where was his curly-haired bundle of sunshine?
