I got up from the bed and moved toward the door.
He followed, taking my hand and spinning me to face him. There was a look of frustration in his eyes. I gave him a questioning look and tugged my hand free as he backed me against the wall, grasping my wrists and raising them over my head.
Unable to tell me anything, he lost control before he could communicate any further and kissed me. It was hard, desperate. I felt his frustration at not being able to convey his message in any other way than the firm grip he had on my wrists and the way his body pressed into mine.
I’d never seen the forceful side of him, and I liked it. I groaned into his mouth as he forced my lips open with his own, his tongue meeting mine and making his point. He’d never kissed me like this, no one had ever kissed me like this, and I felt my need for him throb. Rather than press my thighs together, I raised my knee and settled it on his hip as his mouth claimed mine. He ground his hips against me, and I tilted my hips to better feel his hard cock beneath his pants.
He took the hint. Transferring his grasp on my wrists to hold them with just one hand, he traced one finger down the side of my face to my throat. I felt his fingers twitch, his thumb pressing into to the hollow, before moving on. The way he squeezed my breast made me gasp, and he responded with a hard pinch to my nipple. The pain increased my need, and I hooked my foot around the back of his thigh, forcing him closer.
I almost sobbed when he slid his hand into my pants, moaning when his flinger slid between my lips and found me slick with need for him. Pulling away, he held my gaze and retracted his hand, bringing his finger up to my mouth. He watched me suck it clean, his brown eyes alight.
I couldn’t have spoken if I’d wanted to, but my lips twitched up at one side at his expression. Then his hands were on my waist, turning me to face the wall, and tugging my ass back toward him. I wiggled my hips as he tugged down my pants and underwear, exposing me to him, and braced my hands against the wall as he thrust inside. He fucked me hard, wrapping his hand around the length of my hair and pulling my head back onto his shoulder to make my back arch further. The angle, the discomfort, the pain of him tugging at my hair with every thrust pushed me to orgasm faster than he was expecting, and I heard him suck in a breath as I pulsed around his cock. I wanted to press against him further, to grind against him and squeeze every last sensation out of it, but he held me firm and kept pounding. He wasn’t far behind, and pulled me into him so he could kiss my shoulder as he inched toward his own release. The kiss built and turned into a bite as he forced himself deeper, and I hissed through my teeth. He released me at once, hair and neck, and pulled me close.
Panting, I suggested, “We should probably get some sleep.”
His arm tightened around my waist and he kissed my neck, then pulled my panties up for me. I kicked off my boots and stepped out of my pants, allowing him to lead me to bed.
Okay. There was far more to it than him thinking I was beautiful. He couldn’t put it into words, and that was okay. He trusted me almost immediately when I’d done nothing to earn it. He’d already done so much for me, and had shown me without words that he cared. I could do the same for him.
Chapter 5
We ate breakfast quickly and left just after daybreak. Fallon seemed eager to get moving and he set off at a faster pace than he’d walked the previous day.
It was cold and still dark, with a heavy mist creeping through the trees, giving the place an even more ominous feel. I’d dressed myself in jeans, a tank top and a plaid shirt to keep me warmer as we walked.
He headed northeast for a while, before turning and heading directly east. It surprised me that I knew what direction we were moving in, but I shrugged it off as another weird side effect of the powers I’d inherited.
“Is it just me, or are these getting creepier?” I asked, gesturing toward the trees as they became denser. It was clear we were entering an older part of the forest. The trees were taller, their trunks thicker and more gnarled the farther we walked. “And it’s so quiet, it’s weird. The only sound here is the occasional snapping of twigs. And do you get the feeling you’re being watched? It’s probably just me… Fallon?”
He’d paused a few paces ahead and held up a hand.
I stopped. “What?”
Without communicating anything to me, he removed his bow from his shoulder and drew an arrow from the quiver on his back.
I turned around, looking back the way we came. I couldn’t see much, the morning mist still hadn’t cleared, and all I could hear was my own pulse in my ears. I turned forward, and saw the same mist. The same trees.
“There’s nothing there,” I said in a loud whisper.
Fallon backed toward me, his footsteps almost silent, then loosed an arrow off to my right.
I looked in that direction and thought I saw a shadow moving through the trees, but it was hard to tell in the half light and dispersing mist.
“What was that?” I whispered, suddenly afraid.
Fallon hissed, nocking another arrow.
The eerie silence was broken by a low, guttural growl. It was hard to describe the sound, but I was sure I’d heard it somewhere before.
Fallon grasped my shoulder and stepped around me, aiming his arrow in the direction of the sound.
Whether he heard it, I wasn’t sure, but there was a sound behind me, and I turned slowly, holding my breath. I didn’t really want to know what was there. I wanted to run screaming, but I was frozen as I looked directly into a pair of gleaming, black lined, amber eyes.
It took me a second to realize what I was looking at, but as my eyes slid over his thick muzzle, broad forehead and thick, black mane, my heart stuttered in my chest.
“Fallon, put the bow down…”
He spun so quickly he almost knocked me off balance, and I had to throw out an arm to steady myself.
My sudden movement spurred the creature into action, and my stomach clenched so hard I thought I would vomit as Fallon pushed me aside.
I collided with the thick trunk of the closest tree, and my hands slipped on the light coating of damp moss, grazing my palms and causing me to stumble.
I righted myself and turned to see where Fallon was as the lion charged past.
I’d never seen one outside of a zoo, and certainly never with enough room to run free. Of course, I had watched the occasional wildlife documentary while dying from alcohol poisoning on my sofa on Sundays, but even then you didn’t get the magnificent scale of the damn things. Despite his size he was nimble, and I watched in horror as he turned to charge again.
But he wasn’t running at me. He was heading directly for Fallon. His mouth was open, displaying his sharp canines, and his eyes were narrowed as he focused on his prey.
Fallon was already prepared, an arrow nocked and aimed, and he fired directly at it.
The lion stumbled, tripping over its huge paws, and fell at Fallon’s feet.
“Fallon, no!” I yelled, as he dropped the bow and reached for the sword at his hip. “Don’t.”
The lion moaned and I stepped forward to inspect it. The poor thing was only acting on its instincts. Protecting its home against intruders. The monkeys had done precisely the same thing when Tatiana came, and had died for it. There’d been enough death. Enough killing.
The arrow was lodged in its shoulder, and it was clearly in pain. “Fallon, I don’t think it was trying to kill us. It was protecting its home. You can’t kill it.”
Fallon didn’t need to be able to speak to communicate his feelings. It was all there, clearly etched on his face. It had attacked me, and he was going to repay it in kind.
“Do not kill that lion,” I ordered more forcefully.
He stayed his hand and looked at me.
“I mean it. We can’t go slaughtering our way through this. We need to get that arrow out and let it go.”
Sword in his right hand, he gestured at the lion, then me with his left.
“It’s a lion, it’s what they do.”
He rolled his eyes and jabbed the point of his sword in the beast’s side. It didn’t move.
“Leave it alone,” I said, stepping forward.
It was clearly in pain, but still managed a ferocious snarl as I crouched at its side.
“If you stay still, I can help.” I don’t know why I was surprised it seemed to understand me. “Please,” I begged, reaching for the arrow, “let me help you.”
I glanced up at Fallon. The look of exasperation on his face was enough, but the way he shook his head at me, stepping back slightly, didn’t put me off. I glanced back down at the Lion.
“I’m going to pull it out, I need you to stay very still and keep those teeth to yourself.”
It puffed out a breath, closed its eyes, and I saw its body tense as I reached for the arrow.
Fallon touched my shoulder and I gazed up at him. His eyes were full of caution.
“I have to.”
I gripped the shaft of the arrow tightly and pulled. It was deeply embedded in the muscle, and I felt it release with a sickening gush of blood. I quickly pressed my free hand down on the wound, his warm blood coating my palm. I needed gauze or something to soak up the blood, and squeezed my eyes shut, willing something to appear.
“Keep still,” I murmured, as a thick wad of clean cloth formed between my hand and the lion, and I leaned down hard. “I know it hurts. The bleeding should—”
It happened so fast there wasn’t time for me to get out of the way. The lion rolled, pushing me back, and was on its feet in an instant. I lost my balance and sprawled on the ground, looking up at the massive creature with wide eyes.
It snarled at Fallon then turned to me, its mouth wide as it roared in my face. The sound was deafening, but rather than turn away, I stared directly into its open mouth.
His teeth were sharp and unnaturally white.
“Please don’t…” I was distracted by movement on my left and saw Fallon had an arrow pointed directly at the side of the lion’s head. “Fallon, no!”
He ignored me, and I noticed the lion glance in his direction.
“Please… Fallon, don’t hurt him.” I turned toward the lion, and pleaded, “Look, I know what you’re thinking. Please don’t kill me. I know you can understand what I’m saying. I’m not asking you to trust me, just let me explain before this gets out of hand. Please.”
His lips twitched, bringing my focus back to his jaws, and I was certain he was just going to eat me anyway. But if he did, Fallon would attack him, and if he wasn’t fast enough then the lion would probably kill him too.
“I’m not what you think,” I began, holding out my hands. “I’m not Dorothy. I’m trying to help.”
Fallon had stepped back, pulling the string of his bow taut, the arrow ready to pierce the side of the lion’s head—a kill shot.
“Fallon, don’t… I’m Ella, I’m working with Glinda—”
The lion snarled again, swiping at me with a massive paw. I flinched to the side.
“Wait, I’m not her ally… she’s using me. My great grandmother killed the Witches of the East and West, their power transferred to me, but to use it effectively I have to take over the castles. She wants me to take the East. Then, I think she’s going to try to kill me. I don’t want that. I don’t even want to be here, but I can’t go home until I’ve done what has to be done. I have no intention of handing power to her or anyone else. I don’t even want it for myself. I just want to put things right and go back to Kansas.”
The lion turned its head and roared at Fallon, warning him to back up. I was relieved when he took the hint.
“I’m trying to help,” I continued, drawing its attention back to me. “Please.”
It stepped closer to me, and I considered trying to back away, but there was nowhere to go and no time to get out of its way. Instead, I leaned my head back and sighed.
“If you kill me, Glinda could take everything. East. West. The city. Tatiana won’t stand a chance. If you kill Fallon, then that’s one more person trying to help taken out. If you kill the people working against Glinda, you condemn everyone to living at her mercy. Please…”
Fallon had moved so he was standing a few feet from my head. I could just make him out, and hoped he’d lowered the bow.
“Please,” I whispered, closing my eyes.
I couldn’t say anything more. He either believed me or he didn’t. Or I’d been talking to a wild animal that had no idea what I was saying, and it was going to kill me regardless of who I was or why I was there. In which case, I had to get Fallon away.
“Fallon,” I called quietly. “Run.”
I opened my eyes about to kick the thing in the chest, but it was gone. In its place stood a man with black, braided hair and deep bronze skin. His thick brows framed a pair of amber eyes that glared down at me with no small amount of disgust. His full lips parted, and the top lip lifted in a sneer as he glanced up at Fallon and barked, “Who is she?”
I rolled over into my stomach and looked at Fallon as I pushed myself up from the ground. “She is Ellana Rose,” I answered, turning to face him, “the heir of Dorothy, like I said.”
His shoulder was still bleeding, but it seemed to be clotting without pressure on the wound, and I looked over the rest of him. His muscled chest was bare, with a thick mat of black hair covering most of his skin. He was large in build, easily a hundred pounds heavier than Fallon, and more muscular. He wore what appeared to be linen shorts, thankfully, and was barefoot. His thighs were thick, his shorts tight, and his calves bulged he was so well toned. He was as close to physically perfect as a man could get, but I wasn’t letting that sway me. Not this time. I’d made enough assumptions based on appearance.
“What are you doing in Tatiana’s lands?” he snarled.
“Passing through, with her permission,” I informed him, dusting myself off. Some of the dirt was very wet and clung to my pants. I gave up on it after a few swipes and looked up at him. “I claimed the West and the forces there. Then we were escorted to the border by a Lioneag, who Tatiana gave me, and plan to travel east on foot. As I said, I’m expected to take control of the Quartz Tower.”
His eyes narrowed and he pursed his full lips. “And the Witch of the North knows all of this?” He didn’t sound convinced.
I nodded. “She visited me yesterday, we discussed the options, this is the only way.”
He glanced at Fallon and I looked back to see him nod his confirmation.
“If you have the power of the west, why did you not defend yourself?” he demanded. “How are we to know you aren’t manipulating us?”
I sighed. “Because I’m not here to kill everyone. I don’t want to make enemies, I just want to… well, apparently I’m the best chance to stop that psychotic pink pompom from taking over. She manipulated my great grandma, but she can’t manipulate me. I know what she did. I want to put things right. My grandma was just a kid and Glinda exploited her. She made her kill for her. It destroyed her life.”
“So you want revenge?” he prompted, cocking his head.
I shook mine. “No. Not revenge. That won’t help anyone. I just want to undo some of the damage. It won’t bring back all the people who died, and it won’t fix the mess it made of my grandmother’s life, but it might just clear my family name and stop Glinda from doing whatever it is she plans to do when she takes over.”
Apparently done listening to our exchange, Fallon moved around me and picked up the pack he’d dropped while trying to fend off the lion. Then he took me by the hand and stepped forward.
The man stepped aside, letting us pass, and inquired, “How do the people know they can trust you?”
“They don’t,” I retorted, not looking back. “Just as I didn’t know you wouldn’t kill me. But that didn’t stop me from telling Fallon not to hurt you. Believe me or don’t, but I have to go. The sooner I reach the tower, the sooner this is over.”
“It isn’t so simple,” he called as I set off walking again. Fallon fell
behind, shielding me from the shapeshifter.
I didn’t respond. I didn’t have time. I needed to reach the East before Glinda discovered I was heading there. With the power of the two kingdoms, I had a chance to defend myself. That was my hope anyway.
We hadn’t gone far when the sound of twigs snapping came from ahead. I didn’t slow down. I didn’t react at all when the lion man stepped out into my path from between two very large trees.
“Okay. What isn’t simple?” I questioned, as I stepped around him.
Fallon had stopped. I turned around to see the shapeshifter staring me down.
“Look, I know I look like a Dorothy. I know the people here have no reason to trust me. But I also know that there are three of us with magical powers and one tower that needs me to claim ownership if I’m to help return this place to any sort of normality.” I pointed south. “That city is ruined. I know what it was like before the two sisters burned it down fighting. I’ve read all about it. I’ve seen the destruction. I’ve seen the people of the West fighting with their allies from the North. I’ve seen my people die to defend their home and me in it. I won’t pretend to have the answers, but I can’t sit back and allow more innocent lives be lost because one lunatic wants to rule it all. I didn’t ask to come here anymore than Dorothy did. Glinda brought us both. We’re both pawns to her. The people here don’t matter to her, all she wants is more and more power. I’m not the bad guy. I’m trying to help,” I concluded with a huff, just wanting to get to the tower.
The lion didn’t move, but he did make an odd, “pfft pfft” sound that didn’t sound at all threatening. It seemed more peaceful. Accepting.
I looked at Fallon who lowered his head.
“Okay,” I mumbled, running my hands over my head to smooth down my hair. “So, I’m moving east. Come with me, or don’t. Believe me, or don’t, but there isn’t time to stand around pleading my case. I need that tower. The people need me, whether they accept me or not.”
I turned my back on him and started to move. I didn’t know where I was going, the trail long since having blended in with the dirt, so I continued in as straight a line and hoped Fallon had followed.
The Quartz Tower (Kingdoms of Oz Book 2) Page 4
