Cast Into Shadow

by Angela Colsin

  She would've rolled her eyes if her current discomfort wasn't centered around them—leave it to Joan to chalk up any and all problems her daughter complained of to work. But her job had nothing to do with the headaches plaguing her over the past few days, and she wasn't slow to point it out.

  “Actually, I think it's my glasses, Mom. I'm fine when I wake up in the morning, but after wearing them for a few hours, it starts getting uncomfortable, and today, the pain's been centered around my eyes.”

  “Your eyes? Do you think you need a new prescription?”

  “I don't know. Maybe?”

  Applying some blush to her cheeks, Joan suggested, “You should schedule a check up if that's the case. But I'm assuming you're feeling well enough to join the party, right?”

  “That's why I'm dressed up,” Kivsey returned with all the enthusiasm she could muster—which wasn't much. With each passing day, she was regretting her promise to attend the impending dinner party more, and using her headache as an excuse to sit it out was indeed tempting.

  But she didn't want to worsen the pain by listening to a fuss later, remaining silent while Joan asked, “And what about your … friend? Is he still coming?”

  Her dull tone spoke volumes of her dislike for Mikail, and when Kivsey nodded in confirmation, she pursed her lips.

  “Honestly, Jennifer, why did you invite him? He's so … cold.”

  Not to me. Leaning against the bedpost behind her mother's vanity, she smiled at the thought. For nearly a week, Mikail had conducted himself with the same attitude in Joan's presence that he'd used with Kivsey after their first meeting. He was never rude, nor had he argued.

  But clipped and quiet? Check and check.

  Of course, his behavior wouldn't have ultimately mattered. Joan knew he was a Dok'aal wearing a magical mask that made him appear human, meaning Mikail could've done a stand up comedy routine in the living room, and her mother would've still been skeptical.

  So she was none too thrilled when Kivsey announced her desire to bring the Warlord to the party that night. In fact, the only reason she was allowing it was her belief that Mikail was just a friend.

  But that didn't stop her from complaining, and Kivsey wasted no time defending him.

  “He's just not a people person, Mom. But when we're alone, he's different.”

  After drawing a tube of lipstick over her lips, she reached for some tissue to blot while casting a scrutinizing gaze at her daughter through the mirror. “Why? What reason does a dark elf have to be different with you? I know he realizes we're part elven.”

  “Wow,” Kivsey remarked teasingly, “you're actually admitting that out loud?”

  “Jennifer,” she drew out on a warning tone. “Don't start.”

  The retort had her groaning inwardly. Her mother never could handle a little teasing, particularly over this subject, so she stated seriously, “I already told you we got to know each other after he saved my life. It wasn't planned, it just happened.”

  “Fair enough,” Joan conceded, “but it still seems strange, and if he's not a people person, what interest does he have in a party?”

  “For one, he's never visited Terra before, and he's curious about it, Mom. So what's the big deal?”

  At that, Joan grumbled under her breath, tossing the tissue into a waste bin next to her vanity while replying casually, “Nothing, I'm just worried he won't fit in with everyone, that's all.”

  It was easy to see that wasn't her only qualm, but Kivsey wasn't going to open a can of worms by pushing unless it became necessary.

  Instead, she remained silent, allowing Joan to finish preparing by hitting herself with a few shots of perfume before stating, “So, the party's starting in an hour. Where is he, anyway?”

  Either patrolling the house, or in my room watching cartoons. She checked a smile at the thought. Mikail had taken up the habit of patrolling the grounds at least three times daily to keep the home secure, and usually treated himself to a few shows afterwards. Most were sitcoms and random documentaries, but yesterday, he'd discovered animated shorts, and couldn't get enough.

  Slapstick comedy performed by cartoon animals had him laughing until his eyes teared up, and she adored seeing his enjoyment. In fact, she was coming to adore him—a worrisome prospect, and not for the reasons she'd expected.

  Since his arrival in Terra, life had returned to normal just as much as it had changed. Instead of constantly wondering what could be, she was enjoying the present and finding worth in each passing moment. Mikail was with her now, providing a sense of fulfillment as they engaged in activities such as shopping, movies, and even a spot of driver's ed.

  The Warlord had taken an interest in cars, and insisted on learning to operate a vehicle to more easily traverse this human world. So she'd taken him to an empty parking lot and allowed him to make a few rounds.

  He picked up on the car's functions quickly as well—though their first lesson ended abruptly when he nearly crashed into a phone pole.

  But her favorite activity was their late evening reading practice. Not only was Mikail continuing his lessons with the Latin alphabet, he was also teaching Kivsey to read the Dok'aal's. So they'd curl up together on her bed with books and papers, reading and scribbling until dozing off to sleep.

  Yet it didn't matter what they did or where they went. The past week left Kivsey happier than she'd been in months, and the fact that it wouldn't be so if Mikail had never come to Terra was a telling sign.

  In the Atlantan Spire, she'd admitted feeling connected to him in a way she couldn't explain, and the longer she was in his presence, the stronger it grew, amplifying her emotions.

  She wasn't simply bonding with the Dok'aal. She was falling in love.

  It almost seemed impossible. Wasn't love supposed to take time? To flourish on a foundation of trust, respect, and too many other ingredients to count? Maybe that just depended on the situation, and whether both parties were ready. After all, frosting a cake fresh out of the oven would cause the icing to melt, but that didn't make it any less tasty to eat.

  It was just messier.

  So perhaps it wasn't too soon, and Kivsey wasn't afraid to explore those feelings—she was worried about how Mikail felt in return.

  Had the past week been as fulfilling for him, or was Terra simply unsuitable? It was hard to say. With Joan's attitude, he had a good reason to be irritated from time to time, but there were moments when Mikail seemed annoyed that had nothing to do with her mother.

  Instead, he was preoccupied with the difficulties in acquiring a home possessing the same luxuries as Joan's, and found it hard to understand why one person needed such an extravagant dwelling from the start.

  Such talk had Kivsey even more reluctant to attend the party that night. Most of the people coming were upper class snoots who owned multiple homes, and she didn't want their behavior convincing Mikail that his mate was spoiled, or even worse, making him completely unhappy staying in this world.

  So the sooner they could get this party over with, the better. Not only was it sure to be a dull event at best, their sterility potions had arrived from the Mystic Market just before lunch, allowing for some post party activities that were going to be much more … engaging.

  But more importantly, Kivsey was grateful to finally have the magical contraceptives if only because her dreams were getting more intense and erotic with each passing day, and if they didn't stop, she'd probably explode.

  If this was but a hint of the frustration Mikail had experienced before meeting her, his desire to keep her in Satorala was even more understandable. Just last night, she woke with a yearning for his attention so strong the thought of driving to the nearest drug store for a pack of condoms seemed like a wonderful idea despite their limited effectiveness.

  But Mikail talked her out of it, starting with a reminder of the potions they were soon to receive, and then sating her desires in other ways.

  Thankfully, it worked, though deep down, it hadn't seemed l
ike enough. Maybe she was greedy, or perhaps her needs were instinctive, but she wanted everything Mikail had to offer—and was determined to have it that night.

  Just as she had the thought, a knock came to the bedroom door with the announcement that the guests were beginning to arrive. The notice drew Joan's full attention, and she forgot her question over Mikail's whereabouts in standing and stating, “I'll be downstairs. So go find that dark elf, and let him know it's starting if he wants to attend.”

  Kivsey silently nodded, biting back her irritation over the way Joan always referred to Mikail as that dark elf with an inflection suggesting he was somehow inferior. Her attitude was definite proof that lying about the true nature of their relationship had been for the best, and Kivsey had no regrets.

  But even more irritating was the way Joan stopped before exiting the room to look her daughter's outfit over, and then smiled with her next suggestion.

  “By the way, that dress is perfect. Sam won't be able to take his eyes off you.”

  Humoring her mother with a returned smile, the expression faded to a grimace the moment she was alone. Her dress was actually more conservative than preferred in design, with a high neck and a number of buttons down the front that gave it the feel of a business suit.

  Yet she'd picked the garment for two reasons. First, it was snug, outlining her body in a way that was sure to tease Mikail's imagination, and she wanted a proper response.

  Second? It was the only dress with a skirt long enough to fully conceal her garters.

  Kivsey loathed wearing lingerie for extended periods, convinced the intimate apparel was designed with the sole intent of annoying the wearer until they were more than happy to remove it. But she'd purposefully bought the items to wear for Mikail that evening, and the insinuation that Sam would enjoy her look grated. It's just a good thing Mikail didn't hear that.

  The thought curved her lips into a frown. Mikail knew she'd only agreed to attend the party to make her mother happy, but guilt assailed her regardless. What if Sam starting making passes? How could she expect Mikail to bite his tongue? I wouldn't even want him to.

  “Kivsey?”

  The unexpected question drew her from the bothersome thoughts, and she glanced left to see Mikail standing in the doorway of her mother's room—then did a double take. Holy shit.

  Though currently masked to look human, he still filled out a formal suit nicely. The black blazer squared his broad shoulders, his pants outlining his thick legs, giving him the look of a walking fortress.

  Yet, judging by the state of his red tie, he needed help completing the ensemble.

  But if that was the reason for his visit, he didn't immediately ask, too busy staring as if unable to tear his gaze away from her long enough to make the request.

  The thought overwhelmed her with feminine satisfaction. Just wait til you see what I'm wearing beneath this getup, big guy.

  Kivsey truly couldn't wait to show him.

  CHAPTER TWENTY NINE

  ♦

  “Hey, need some help with that?”

  Mikail had no idea what Kivsey was talking about, too busy staring at her to pay any attention to the fact that he needed help with his tie—a loathsome aspect of his current attire. Why Terran outfits had to be so complicated was beyond him. The suit was boring in design, and the tie was absolutely pointless.

  Still, he was determined to attend Joan's party for a number of reasons, so if the garb was mandatory, he'd deal with it.

  But it seemed annoying clothing and undesirable company weren't the only things he'd have to endure that night. For the past five minutes, he'd been waiting outside of Joan's bedroom under cloak instead of being forced to interact with the woman—and overheard some infuriating, but unsurprising comments in the process.

  Ever since Joan learned he was a dark elf, being in her presence was like walking on eggshells. She was suspicious, disagreeable, and narrow minded—basically everything he'd expected from Kivsey after their first meeting, which truly made him wonder how Joan had raised a daughter as savvy as his mate.

  Whatever the case, he'd avoided her as much as possible over the past week. Not only was it unnecessary to cause additional friction when she already disliked him, he also didn't want to chance forgetting himself and showing Kivsey affection in front of her, which was bound to cause trouble.

  So he'd waited until Joan departed her bedroom to uncloak, then went to the door to ask for assistance—only to be stunned into silence at the vision waiting inside.

  Mikail knew Kivsey was going to make herself presentable that evening, but her snug, lavender dress was sexier than expected. Outlining every supple curve of her body, it was concealing enough to tease his imagination until he could think of nothing but ripping it off. The color complimented her tousled, butterscotch hair, and just before she turned from the mirror to approach him, he realized her black stockings had a sexy seam running down the backs of her legs.

  Indeed, she was exquisite, lust hardening his cock—while jealous anger balled his fists. Joan's insinuation that Sam would savor the sight of his mate was intolerable, and if he hadn't known Kivsey was about as interested in meeting the human as she was in keeping a wyrm as a pet, he would've forbidden her from attending the party at all.

  The thoughts were so distracting that he only noticed the smug smirk on her face after she'd walked over and taken his tie in hand to secure around his neck.

  “Why are you smiling?” he asked densely.

  A round of snickers erupted from her throat. “Because I accomplished part of what I set out to do.”

  “What's that?”

  “Wear something teasing enough to make you undress me with your eyes.”

  Realizing she'd purposefully chosen her outfit to drive him insane, he asked on a growl, “And what's the part you haven't accomplished yet?”

  Tightening the tie around his neck, she smiled suggestively, whispering, “Get you to actually undress me.”

  Never in his life had a single statement set his heart to racing so quickly. If Mikail was reluctant to attend a snooty dinner party before, now he was fighting tooth and nail not to drag her back to her bedroom and forget a party was even taking place—not that her answer was surprising after last night.

  Awakened by another erotic dream, Kivsey came to him while patrolling the grounds and sounded so desperate for attention he was powerless not to carry her back to bed and give her precisely what she needed.

  But even though their sterility potions were delivered earlier that day, and she'd insisted on taking the contraceptives immediately, she hadn't mentioned her intentions to use them.

  Now that she had, he groaned low, “You shouldn't have told me that.”

  “Why not?”

  “Because now I'm even less interested in attending this party.”

  He thought she'd agree, realizing she wasn't enthusiastic about going to dinner, either. But though the smile never left her face, it dimmed, as if he'd said something wrong.

  “Love?” he inquired curiously. “Are you okay?”

  “Yeah,” she nodded with a plain shrug of her shoulders—and he didn't believe it, eyeing her until she sighed and admitted, “I'm just worried, I guess. If I'd known you'd be here, I never would've promised to go to this party from the start, especially since Mom wants to introduce me to someone.”

  No matter how many times she mentioned Joan's various attempts to introduce her to men, Mikail's gut clenched as if hit with a fist. In fact, the biggest reason he refused to sit this party out was the thought of another male leering at his mate during dinner.

  Of course, it would be impossible to thwart attempts at flirting without revealing his true relationship with Kivsey to her mother. But at the very least, he could maintain a presence that told all other males to, quite simply, fuck off.

  So he related, “Don't worry. I know you're not interested in meeting another man.”

  “Yeah, but that's not quite what I mean. I don't think
you believe I'm interested.”

  Confused, he almost asked what could have her worried if jealousy wasn't an issue, but found himself distracted when Kivsey let a soft groan of discomfort and reached to rub her eyes beneath her glasses.

  The movement served as a reminder of her recent trouble with headaches. For some reason, she'd been complaining of recurring tension in her head and neck that worsened as the day drew on—and the situation was honestly beginning to concern him.

  So he didn't hesitate to take her shoulders in hand and ask, “Are you in pain again?”

  “Yeah,” she muttered, “and I'm starting to think my glasses are causing it. The pain is focused around my eyes, and today, it's felt like I have to squint when I wear them.”

  “Squint?”

  She nodded, qualifying, “I think it's because my vision is changing, and I need a new prescription, maybe something stronger.”

  At the mention of her changing vision, Mikail's concern instantly turned to relief, and he didn't waste a moment pointing out, “It's because we're bonding.”

  Her brows drew together in confusion as she looked up to ask, “Why would that impact my vision?”

  “Because you're becoming immortal, love.” Cupping her cheek, he smiled and added, “Our lives are being tied together irrevocably, and short of a decapitation, we'll both survive as long as the other lives. So physical ailments correct themselves.”

  In an instant, Kivsey's jaw dropped, her eyes going wide. “Oh my god, I completely forgot about that!”

  He grinned over her surprise, though the expression faded when she took a deep breath as if overcome, even a little distressed—not that he had to wonder why. His mate had never expected to bond with anyone, and in turn, she likely hadn't given much thought to becoming immortal.

  So the prospect, or the thought of it, was probably overwhelming, an assumption she proved correct with her next statement.

  “You know, I only met you because I was seeking something new and different, but I never expected this. I mean I've thought about having a mate, and I'm not complaining about being immortal. But … well, it changes everything … doesn't it?”