Roane ran his tongue over his teeth and willed his growing fangs to retract before they became obvious to Theodosia. He dropped her hand and stepped back, placing a more comfortable distance between them. “Until the morrow, my lady.”
He turned and headed toward the door. The sound of Theo’s racing heart pounded in his ears, the scent of her sweet flesh lingered on his lips. He might have made a pact that would spare him physical death, but in the end, marrying Lady Theodosia would surely kill him one way or another.
Chapter Three
The day’s events seemed like little more than a distant, blurred memory to Theo. In her worst nightmares, she’d never imagined her wedding ceremony to pass so quickly, nor did she anticipate Roane’s steadfastness on insisting they hadn’t time for the simple meal her parents prepared. In truth, the man appeared far too eager to leave the church, especially when he pushed for the shortest vows possible. And then there was the matter of his outright refusal to stand at the church steps and thank the local well-wishers who greeted them as they emerged from the family chapel. She couldn’t fathom the man’s audacity, and on such a bright, sunny day to boot. Roane’s actions did little to help ease her uncertainty and left her with no option other than to speculate the worst for the days ahead.
As she leaned against the carriage window, Theo forced the unpleasant thoughts from her mind. At least the journey to Cu Mara had been comfortable, albeit long. She parted the window curtains and gazed at the fog. The hazy mist appeared to suddenly dissipate, leaving the sole bridge linking the island and the mainland clear to travel.
She leaned back and stared over at Roane, sitting next to her. After they settled in the carriage, he’d drawn the curtains closed and fell fast asleep as the team pulled away from Barrett Hall. She wondered if Roane always acted in this manner, or perhaps the stress of an unwanted marriage had taken a toll on him. Theo settled for the latter and prayed. Hopefully, as time went by, things between her and her new husband would improve.
She reached forward and pushed the curtains farther apart. The sun set over the horizon, blanketing Cu Mara in a soft, orange glow. Glints of fiery reds and yellows danced across the calm, blue sea. Several seals bobbed in the water.
Roane let out a low moan and then shifted in his seat, edging his body closer to her side of the coach.
As the carriage made a sharp turn, Theo slid to her left.
Roane slid with her.
The weight of his body pinning her against the carriage wall felt oddly comfortable. A rush of heated excitement rippled through her body. The scent of sandalwood mixed with other unidentified herbs wafted to her nose. Damn, the man even smelled good. Visions of the Cu Maran crypt flooded her brain. Roane’s cologne seemed vaguely familiar to Theo. If she didn’t know better, she’d swear it was the same scent she’d smelled in the Cu Maran tomb. She dismissed the notion and settled for the fact that perhaps the fragrance was native to the island kingdom.
Roane pulled away. “Are you all right?”
Visions of the night in the crypt filled Theo’s mind. Something familiar in Roane’s silky voice sent a shiver down her spine. Impossible. She shook her head, but didn’t utter a word, her gaze transfixed on Roane’s face. The man was even more appealing with slightly tousled hair and a still-sleepy look.
He reached for her hand. “My world isn’t as bad as you might think.”
“I never said anything of the sort.”
“You didn’t have to,” Roane answered. “If I were in your shoes, I’d think the worst of this arrangement. Any sane woman would.”
At least he didn’t think her mad and that was more than any man had thought of her in the past. Of course, Roane didn’t know about her romps in the Cu Maran crypts. And if she had anything to do with it, he’d never know.
Changing the subject seemed best at the moment. The small coincidences linking him to that dreadful night alarmed her, and she hated it when paranoia set in with such force. But as of late, in her odd world, paranoia seemed an ever-present companion. “Do we have much farther to travel?”
“Castle Cu Mara is just over the hill in the distance,” he said, jutting his chin toward the now-open window.
Theo leaned forward a tad, but kept her hand in his.
He liked that Theo didn’t pull away from him. The feel of her soft, delicate fingers intertwined with his pleased him. It was hard to believe so feminine a hand had once gripped the stake that had nearly killed him. Judging by the wound left behind, he surmised the weapon to have been fairly thick in girth and adequately long. He moved her hand to his lap and continued staring at her fingers. If she could handle a large stake with ease, he imagined she could also manage his cock. The thought of her hand wrapped around his own weapon sent a surge of excitement through his veins.
He looked away and shifted in his seat while adjusting his already too-tight breeches.
Theo leaned her head against the window.
The sight of her ivory, swan-like neck enticed the vampire in him. Roane checked his preternatural desires but did so only for fear of frightening his new bride. He’d have to find a gentle way to confront her about that night in the crypt. Pouncing on her now would probably only serve to distance her from him, and even he knew better than that. He made a mental note to settle her in the bridal chamber as quickly as possible once they arrived at the castle. If nothing else, he’d insist upon taking his marital rights and ease the pain throbbing at his crotch. The matter of the vampire and the hunter could wait.
But despite his anticipation for what would transpire between them once at Castle Cu Mara, being so close to Theo at the moment only acted to increase the fires of desire growing inside him. And that didn’t help much, because he couldn’t take his eyes off her. With the first rays of moonlight filtering into the carriage and dancing across Theo’s lace-trimmed neckline, the urge to lean over and pull down her bodice overwhelmed him. The thought of her exposed breasts with their tight, rosy nipples being so near was almost too much to bear.
The carriage traveled over a bump.
Theo fell forward.
Roane reached out and pushed her backward, saving her from sliding off the seat. His fingers snagged the lace at her neck and slipped downward as he scrambled to free his hand.
Theo froze against the back of the carriage seat, her heart racing. Roane’s hand gliding over her nipple as he pulled her dress down sent a wonderful, warm sensation straight to her clitoris. She had spent countless hours reading the few remaining parchments from the lost books of the selkies in her father’s secret library. The sexual tales revealed in the tomes were sinful at best and Roane’s touch made her more than eager to know if the man was familiar with the wickedly enticing legends. Mayhap he was even trained in the selkie ways. As king of Cu Mara, his bloodline would be as entangled with the selkie legends as was her own.
Roane’s warm breath caressed the peak of her right breast.
Her tightening nipple ached, the intense sensation forcing her to recall one tale where a selkie lover brought his mortal mistress to climax solely by suckling the woman’s breasts. Roane certainly had the lips to do the job and being his bride, she certainly didn’t mind offering up her goods.
As if he read her mind, Roane dipped his head to her nipple and circled the taut bud with his tongue. He then pursed his lips and gave her a gentle tug, rolling her sensitive tip between his teeth in a playful manner. His skillful maneuvers sent shockwaves of heated pulses pummeling through Theo’s body.
She arched her back. With her left hand, she reached up and glided the pads of her fingers over her other nipple.
Theo moaned.
Roane caught her fingers mid-circle. Nudging her hand away, he cupped her breast and skimmed his palm over the sensitive peak.
Theo reached up and ran her hands through Roane’s thick, dark hair, bringing him closer to her chest. The feel of him against her was wickedly pleasant.
He moved her to the side, repositioning the two
of them, and placed his knee between her thighs. The folds of her gown rubbed against her clitoris, sending twitching spasms through her vagina. She prayed to the gods Roane minded his hands where her legs were concerned. She couldn’t risk him finding the vampyric hunting tools she’d sewn into her garters.
She moaned as Roane gently played with her nipple. The spicy scent of citrus and sandalwood teased her nose. She entwined her fingers through Roane’s hair and reveled in the soft, silky feel of his dark locks. She held him close to her, his mouth like fire against her skin.
Roane suckled her hard.
The ripples assaulting her nether regions continued to mount until an intense explosion shattered her composure.
Roane gave her nipple one final tug, extending the swollen peak until she thought it couldn’t extend any farther.
He lifted his head and kissed her lips. Backing away, he smiled. “You have beautiful breasts, my queen.”
Despite their shared intimacy, Theo felt her cheeks flush.
“They deserve a set of goblets to match their shape, so I may display your assets to all who share a drink at Cu Mara.”
The thought of glasses fashioned after her bosom seemed crude. Theo found the top of her gown and edged the neckline back up to its proper place.
“You don’t approve?” Roane raised an eyebrow.
“I’d prefer to share my assets only with you, Your Majesty. Not your entire kingdom.” The thought that he’d expose her in so open a manner disappointed her. She straightened her gown and sat back up. As she fixed the wrinkled lace at her neck, she glanced at Roane’s bulging crotch. Despite her disapproval of his desire to commission a set of glasses shaped like her breasts, she couldn’t help but wonder what it would feel like to have Roane inside her. If it weren’t for the weapons sewn into her garters, she would press the issue and have him fuck her in the carriage. She wondered why he didn’t make another play to satisfy his own needs.
The carriage came to a halt.
Roane gave the door a slight kick with his boot and then stepped down. He turned around and offered Theo his hand.
After descending the small set of steps from the carriage compartment to the stone-paved drive, Theo stood in awe, her eyes wide, staring at the castle before her. She’d taken a secret entrance into the crypt and hadn’t realized the vast size of Castle Cu Mara. With its large stone tower, the foreboding fortress was daunting enough to scare away even the greatest of enemies. No vampire would dare enter such a place unless invited.
Roane’s large hand grasped her shoulder. “Don’t let it frighten you, Theo,” he whispered. “Castle Cu Mara is now your home.”
“It looks more a nightmare than a place where one could rest.” She didn’t know where those words came from, but they’d fallen from her tongue before she could think twice.
Roane’s breath fanned the back of her neck. “I’ve always rested peacefully here, my sleep undisturbed, save for one bloody night.”
His deep, velvety-smooth voice sent a chill down her spine. Theo swallowed hard, but refused to allow thoughts of her crypt-creeping venture to haunt her.
Roane tightened his grip upon her shoulder. “Let me introduce you to the household.” He guided her toward the castle steps where a line of formally attired servants stood waiting in line. They bowed as Theo approached.
She wasn’t accustomed to people treating her like a queen. Her new role would take some getting used to. As she started up the main stairs, the piercing echo of a bat shattered the night air. She looked up and saw what appeared to be a large, dark cloud moving toward the island.
“Get her inside, now!” Roane ordered.
A burly-looking man ran down the steps and grabbed her arm.
Theo had no choice but to follow him inside the castle. She ran up the stone stairs and into Cu Mara’s main hallway.
Several of the servants followed them inside. As the last maid crossed the threshold, the man who brought her to safety shouted to a group of young men standing in the hall. The servants scrambled at the man’s orders and worked furiously to close the large portal sealing the castle’s front entrance.
The high-pitched echo of what sounded like hundreds of bats, mayhap even more, penetrated the castle walls.
Theo ran into the first room she found and frantically searched for a window to see what transpired outside. But much to her dismay, the only portals in the room, save for the doorway, were shuttered with thick wood planks. She panicked. The thought of Roane left outside to fend off vampyric bats scared the hell out of her. Despite how her marriage had been arranged, she had no desire to become a widow on her wedding night.
She wondered if she was the cause of this sudden invasion of night creatures. Maybe Dubheasa had learned of her marriage to Roane and would now take her revenge for not getting the sealskin. She couldn’t let her husband learn about that night in the crypt.
Theo ran from the room and dashed across the hall to a second chamber. Once again she found no accessible windows.
The man who led her inside the castle appeared in the doorway. “I believe what you’re searching for can be found in the tower room, Your Majesty. The castle’s front serves only as a deceptive façade. King Roane has…shall I say…an aversion to sunlight.”
She had neither time to think nor to fear. “Take me to the tower.”
Chapter Four
Theo followed the man back into the main hall and up the winding, central staircase. A sense of dread filled her soul. “How far up is the tower?”
“Several stories, Your Majesty.”
The sound of the bats grew more intense. Theo ran her hand over the walls as she ascended the stairs, the cold, gray stone feeling like ice against her fingers. Every inch of space, including the mortared area in-between the stones, vibrated against her skin. She prayed Roane survived the onslaught. The power of the bats’ shrieks astonished her. While she didn’t imagine the creatures could actually succeed in crumbling the castle, they obviously had the ability to put up a good fight.
She continued up the stairs.
Roane’s man stopped at the top landing and glanced over his shoulder, his stern-looking features suddenly seeming a bit less intense. “Now might be a good time for me to formally introduce myself,” he said. “The name is Connor, Connor Fitzpatrick. I’m Cu Mara’s envoy to the Vanishing Islands.”
So the tales of mythic lands that could disappear from mortal view weren’t mere legends, thought Theo. Islands other than Cu Mara did indeed exist in the real world. “I thank you for your help, Connor. This isn’t exactly how I envisioned spending my wedding night.” She didn’t know what else to say, having been thrown into a world of both strangers and chaos at the same time.
“The bats don’t come often,” Connor said, making his way up the next flight of stairs.
He must have sensed her uneasiness.
“They don’t stay long, either.”
But unfortunately, his words didn’t calm her rising fears. “You mean they’ve been here before? In the same numbers?”
“The smaller islands surrounding the larger Celtic nations are sanctuary for a vast number of odd creatures.”
She wondered if he really believed he sounded convincing. Instinct alone told her that in these parts myth intermingled with reality, and somehow that didn’t make for a very good outcome.
Several flights of stairs later, they reached the tower. A cold chill crept down her back. She didn’t like the feel of stark isolation she sensed emitting from the area.
“The window is at the far end of the chamber, shuttered and locked,” Connor said. He reached for a flaming torch hanging on the wall.
“Is there a key?”
A look of confusion settled across the man’s face. “For the door or the window?”
“Both.” In truth, she referred only to the window, but now seeing that the tower itself was locked, her uneasiness intensified. “I suspect with so large a home, Roane hasn’t much need of this area, d
oes he? I suppose I’d keep it locked too, if I didn’t use a room often.”
“He has his reasons.”
That wasn’t what she wanted to hear.
Connor handed her the torch, then removed a dagger from the scabbard tied at his waist. He inserted the weapon’s point into a small hole situated next to the top door hinge and turned the hilt one complete rotation. A small click echoed in the night air.
As Theo waited in silence, the wood plank opened with a creak.
Connor removed the dagger and placed it in her free hand. “It unlocks the window as well.”
She stared at the crimson-colored knife resting in her palm. A small crest with a seal and a bat was carved at the top of the hilt. Theo remembered the same insignia on Roane’s coat pocket.
“The tower is all yours, my queen.” Connor stepped aside, clearing the entrance for her to pass.
A sudden sense of fear of being left alone overwhelmed her. For all the years she’d spent isolated, working in crypts, never once did she feel frightened over being left to herself. In fact, she preferred the lack of company. “What if I can’t…” She turned to face Connor, but the man was nowhere in sight.
Theo swallowed hard and decided she had no choice but to face whatever lurked in the foreboding tower on her own. If she didn’t get to that window, she’d have no idea what was going on outside. And, even though from so high up she couldn’t be much use to Roane, she did have the small, vampyric hunting relics including a cross and vial of holy water, secured in the lace of her silk garters. She thanked the gods Roane hadn’t found them during their romp in the carriage. If he had, she wasn’t sure she could have explained herself in a logical manner.
She stepped inside the tower. The dank, stone room smelled of centuries-old dust and stagnant air. Several large tapestries lined the walls and a long, worn out runner ran the length of the chamber, marking a straight path from the door to the sole window at the far end. She also noted a few odd pieces of furniture—several mismatched chairs, a table, a tall candelabrum and a bookstand.
In the Shadow of the Selkie Page 3
