by Kiki Howell
“Have your fun, Sebastian,” Malina’s honeyed voice dripped poison. “Call me when you fulfill whatever base urge she satisfies.”
Returning Malina’s hard glare, Remy took a small step forward longing to punch her arrogant face. The grip around Remy’s hand tightened, locking her to Sebastian’s side; he shook his head subtly. Irritated, Remy mentally struggled with the physical restraint and settled for visualizing smacking Malina roughly across the cheek, leaving four delightfully long red fingerprint-shaped marks down the side of her porcelain face. Remy’s hand twitched.
CRACK!
“Ow!” Melina yelled, rubbing the side of her cheek; four scarlet lines appeared. “Who did that?” she demanded, glaring at each person in turn.
“None of us,” Sebastian answered in bewilderment.
“I know it was one of you.”
“Perhaps someone else hates you, Malina,” Cassie snickered smugly. “You were never anyone’s favorite person.”
“I was extremely popular,” Malina seethed through narrowed slits.
“You were a bully,” retorted Cassie, placing her hands on her hips.
Malina lifted her skirt elegantly and drifted closer. Her dark eyes sparkled with malice as they skated over Cassie’s face. “Watch your back, Cassandra,” Malina threatened and vanished into the shadows.
Cassie snorted. “Watch your back,” she mimicked and rolled her eyes. “Malina was always so melodramatic.”
“You are not worried?” Remy’s voice cracked. Sebastian’s other hand stroked the inside of her arm; she curled into his embrace. Placing a tender kiss on her ear, he nibbled a blazing trail down her neckline.
“Malina has no teeth.” Sebastian’s voice vibrated against Remy’s delicate skin.
“I would like to know who actually did strike her,” Cassie declared, glancing between Rowan and Sebastian, waiting for an admission.
“I didn’t,” Rowan raised his hands and stepping away from Cassie’s annoyance with a grin.
“I already said I didn’t,” replied Sebastian, testily.
“Then who did?” Cassie asked. She chewed her lip a moment. Her eyes lit up at the same moment as Sebastian’s.
He spun Remy in his arms; his blue eyes bright. “How did you do that?”
“I’m not really sure. I just imagined slapping her and...,” her voice trailed off.
Sebastian looked over Remy’s head at Cassie. “Is that supposed to happen?” he asked; his tone worried.
“I have no idea,” replied Cassie, in confusion. “Perhaps we should talk to Grandfather.”
“Your grandfather is preparing for the ceremony,” Drew’s baritone floated across the atrium. He crossed the room quickly; his long legs swallowing the distance between them. “Why do you need to speak with him?”
“What happened to your face?” Cassie asked incredulously, ignoring his question.
Drew’s skin aged twenty years, fine lines crossed his face; a roadmap of time. He smiled, enjoying a private joke. Inclining his head slightly, he turned his hands up in an apologetic gesture. “I’m not really twenty-six.”
“How old are you?” Remy whispered in disbelief. Her hand inched toward his face, stopping just short of his skin; Sebastian locked his arms securely around Remy’s waist. With a twitch, her fingers retracted, repulsed.
“Mid-forties,” he admitted contritely. “I should have told you.”
Remy snapped. “You should have told me a lot of things! Is your name even Drew?” Her agitated voice cracked; she vibrated with rage against Sebastian’s hold.
“Of course, it is,” Drew responded waspishly. “Your grandfather required the disguise for your protection.”
“I hate you,” snarled Remy. She launched herself at Drew, ripping free of Sebastian’s grasp. Quicker than she anticipated, Drew side-stepped the attack. Remy growled, spinning and leaping again. Drew evaded her a second time; he tilted his head and flashed a tight grin.
“We could do this all night, Remy.”
Remy snarled.
Drew raised a questioning eyebrow. “Are you finished with your tantrum?”
“Yes,” muttered Remy, peevishly.
“Good. I’d like a moment to explain why it was necessary to alter my appearance.”
“Fine,” grumbled Remy, folding her arms across her chest. “I still hate you.”
“I know,” sighed Drew with a roll of his eyes. “As a known member of the coven, my special interest in your well-being would be questioned; it would bring too much attention to your sudden departure. I had to disappear too. No one would suspect a scruffy, twentyish, young man of being anyone important.” The last sentence reverberated with force; an accusation.
“You volunteered,” retorted Cassie, “Grandfather told me.”
Drew gazed at her thoughtfully. “It was an honor to be chosen, but there were considerable sacrifices I made to receive the assignment.”
“Like what?” Remy challenged, her eyes flashed.
His green gaze shifted to Remy. Slowly, Drew shook his head. “That is extremely personal, Remy.”
“We were once very personal, Drew,” Remy replied bitterly. Drew shook his head, placing a finger over his mouth. His eyes flicked to Sebastian.
“Tell me what happened,” he instructed.
“She slapped Malina,” answered Sebastian, curtly; a dark expression slid across his face.
Drew choked and glanced at Remy. “Well, that may not have been your best decision, but it certainly doesn’t merit your grandfather’s attention.”
“She did it from five feet away,” added Cassie, failing to hide her delight.
“What?” Drew’s head whipped to Remy for clarification.
“I never left Sebastian’s side,” her troubled gaze slipped to Sebastian. He nodded, closing the space between them. His fingers laced through hers again, a comforting gesture.
“You never will again,” he murmured, eyes burning.
“You cannot know that,” replied Remy, softly.
He grinned. “Yes, I can.”
“I think Remy visualized it,” Cassie stated. She glared pointedly at Remy, still distracted by Sebastian’s wolfish gaze. “Ah-hem.”
“Yes,” answered Remy; she tore her eyes from Sebastian, blushing.
“What does it mean?” Cassie asked pointedly.
“It means the transition has begun,” stated Drew, succinctly. “I need convey this message to your grandfather immediately.” He turned to leave, but spun back around, studying Remy. “Can you stay out of trouble until he sends instructions?”
“Of course,” Remy retorted; her anger flared. Sebastian squeezed her hand.
“Try not to anger any more prominent clan members,” Drew rejoined and left without another word.
Cassie rolled her eyes. “How did you live with him for five years?”
“That wasn’t really by choice, Cassie,” muttered Remy, bitterly.
“Miss Vasile,” Rowan slid beside Cassie, “I believe I offered to show you the outdoor gardens. I think now is the best time.”
“I do like plants,” Cassie beamed at him.
“Since when?” Remy grumbled suspiciously.
“Since now,” she bit off, shooting Remy a silencing glare. She and Rowan exited through a semi-hidden door along the back wall of the atrium.
“Rowan is in big trouble,” Remy chortled, turning toward Sebastian.
“I think you may be right. I have never seen him spend more than sixty minutes in the company of any woman.”
“Is that a family trait?”
He raised an eyebrow. “Been listening to unfounded rumors, have you?”
Remy studied him carefully. “I think there may be some truth in them.”
“I would love the opportunity to convince you otherwise.”
“Granted.”
“Follow me,” he commanded, leading them through another doorway to their right. Books burst from the shelves, dribbling into haphazard piles stack
ed along the walls, stalagmites of literature. A crackling fire bathed the room in soft light.
“Where are we?” Remy whispered in awe, slipping past Sebastian to investigate the bookshelves.
“My private library,” rumbled Sebastian, locking the door. He crossed the floor quickly, gathering Remy in his arms. His mouth covered hers, exploring her lips; waves of heat washed over her skin. Gathering the silky material of her dress in one hand, Sebastian bunched the hem around her waist and lifted her, roughly pressing her into a nearby shelf. Responding to his kiss, Remy wrapped her arms around his shoulders. His tongue pushed past her lips, each stroke of his tongue sending a cascade of shivers rippling through her body.
His hand skated up her leg, brushing lightly across her thighs, before dipping between them. Slipping under the flimsy cloth, Sebastian plunged his fingers inside Remy. He pressed softly, curling his fingers, before slowly extracting them.
“Sebastian,” she moaned, squirming against him. He repeated the same maddeningly slow process, gently pressing forward and leisurely sliding his fingers along her warm center. Biting her lower lip, Remy rolled her hips forward into his hand.
He complied with a wicked grin; his fingers stroking between her thighs. “Ask me,” he murmured; his cobalt eyes gleamed.
“Please, Sebastian,” she begged, her hands gripped his shoulders.
With a quick flick, he unfastened his pants and freed his erection. Thrusting forward, he impaled Remy against the bookshelf. She moaned against his mouth, wriggling her hips impatiently.
Slowly easing out, Sebastian paused, blue eyes glowing fiercely. “You are mine,” he declared, before slamming into her again; his mouth claimed hers, moving in rhythm with his hips. His unforgiving tempo, seductively relentless, pushed Remy towards her impending orgasm.
Tipping her head back, Remy clung to his arms, her breath coming in short gasps. Fire blazed through her body. The tremble began in her legs, bursting through her skin, until she cried out, sinking her teeth into Sebastian’s shoulder to muffled her scream. He continued his unyielding pace, sinking deeper into her center. Through the blinding haze, Remy gasped again, desire pooling in her stomach.
“Please,” she pleaded again, clawing her fingers down his jacket. Her cries echoed in the library; a second orgasm rocked through her body. Sebastian released a moment later, his voice joining hers.
“Well, that was a first,” admitted Sebastian, as his harsh breathing subsided. “I think the library is my new favorite room.”
“It might be mine too,” Remy grinned.
A bell tolled eleven chimes.
“We need to leave,” he announced lightly, sliding Remy the length of his body.
His fingers wrapped around her hand in a reassuring gesture. Sebastian led Remy back into the atrium and through the same hidden door which Cassie and Rowen exited earlier. Following a winding path, Sebastian and Remy passed various, exotic potted plants and trees. A few moments later, they discovered Cassie, leaning over a kidney-shaped pond, surrounded by ferns. She glanced up as they approached; the worried look on her face did not ease.
“It is time,” Sebastian’s grave tone accelerated the nervous energy balling in Remy’s stomach.
Cassie nodded. She rose from the side of the pond and approached Remy’s left side, lacing her fingers through Remy’s free hand. Cassie gave it a tight squeeze. “Everything will be fine,” she soothed. “Drew will meet us with further directions; just breathe.”
Remy swallowed anxiously. “Ok,” she choked out.
Sebastian retained his grip on Remy’s other hand, forcing them to amble, three-wide, through the garden toward a sandy pathway which disappeared into a grove of trees. Rowan led the way down the lantern-lit trail, pausing at each lantern to blow out the flame.
“Why is he doing that?” The hysterical question bubbled from Remy’s lips.
“We are the last to arrive,” answered Rowan, calmly, replacing a smoking lantern on a metal stake shoved deeply into the sand. “No one can find the pathway once the lights are extinguished.”
“It ensures our privacy,” Sebastian whispered in her ear; Remy shivered. “Cold?” he asked in concern
“Yes,” retorted Cassie, waspishly. “Why you picked this flimsy costume is beyond me.”
Rowan glanced up at Cassie, his eyes drinking in the dress. “I think you look gorgeous.”
Cassie beamed and flushed. “Thank you.”
“Would you like my jacket?” Sebastian offered. He released Remy’s hand to shrug off his coat. Draping it over her bare shoulders, he reclaimed her hand immediately. “Better?”
Remy inhaled deeply; Sebastian’s scent overpowered the salty island air. “Infinitely,” she sighed.
The darkened path broke into an open clearing in the grove. Clan members stood in small clusters, whispering on the outskirts of the meadow; their formalwear an extravagant contrast to the landscape surrounding them.
Drew approached with a worried grimace. He pulled Sebastian aside and whispered urgently in his ear. Sebastian nodded, indicating his acceptance and allowed Drew to take residence next to Remy.
“I spoke with your grandfather.” Drew’s quiet words barely tickled her ear. “We underestimated the speed of your transition.”
“What does that mean?” Remy murmured; her eyes locked on her grandfather as he navigated through the crowd.
“Hopefully, we can get through the ceremony before the full transition process occurs.”
“That is not what I asked.”
Drew sighed. “It means you are about to experience the worse pain in your life.”
“What?” gasped Remy, whirling to stare at Drew.
“Sebastian and your grandfather have agreed to help me ease your pain as best they can, should the transformation begin early.”
“Should?” Remy asked, tentatively.
“It’s not an exact science, you know?” Drew hissed.
“No, actually I don’t know,” retorted Remy; her eyes flared.
“We should be able to secret you away without anyone noticing.”
Remy bit her lip and glanced nervously at Cassie. “Is it too late to change my mind?”
“Yes,” she replied softly, grasping Remy’s hand again. Cassie’s attention turned to a stone altar in the middle of the clearing; it hummed, shining brilliantly, reflecting the bright moonlight.
Chapter Seven
THE FOUR ELDERS, including Freda, gathered around the ancient stone alter - the heads of the clans. Their identical black robes billowed lightly as each woman stepped to a side of the altar; north, south, east, and west. The shrine, surrounded by a circle of giant quartz rocks, pulsated. Raising their arms to the sky, words tumbled simultaneously from their lips, a haunting chant which resonated in Remy’s blood. Their voices poured over her, though her, drawing Remy into a strange hypnotic state.
“Remina Vasile.”
The name reverberated through the clearing. Thunder echoed across the sky; a loud crash; then a bolt of lightning struck the alter. It shot through the crowd and struck Remy directly in the chest, causing her to fly backward. She crashed to the ground in a heap, groaning.
A collective gasp circled the area; whispers snaked through the air. Remy’s chest burned; she struggled for breath. Sebastian knelt by her side, his arm wrapped tightly around her shoulders. Cassie appeared at Remy’s right, mirroring Sebastian’s position. Gently, they helped her rise. She swayed unsteadily in their tight grip, sucking in a deep breath.
Grandfather nodded from his ceremonial position. “We have a nomination,” he announced, his booming tone held a note of pride.
“No,” shrieked a voice from the left. Malina decisively stepped forward. “I contest the nomination,” she declared. She lifted her right arm high in the air. A silver knife appeared in her left hand. Quickly she sliced open her palm. A drop of blood fell on the altar; it hissed and fizzed. Smoke rose from the drop as a second one joined it on the stone tablet. “Rem
ina is undeveloped; she cannot fulfil the requirements.”
The flames began in Remy’s toes, a light, annoying burning which hastily licked its way across her feet. Within seconds, the tiny ember morphed into a raging fire, seeping into Remy’s bones and igniting her blood. A loud bong emanated from an abandoned clock tower, situated behind the quartz circle. It rumbled across the ground; midnight. The second bong shot a surge of pain reverberating through Remy’s body; her limbs buckled. She sagged against Sebastian. He wrapped an arm around her waist, softly stroking the inner portion of her wrist with his icy fingers. The third bong brought an excruciating volley of pain. Remy bit her tongue to keep from screaming; a whimper escaped from her lips.
The sound reached her grandfather. Staring directly into Remy’s eyes, he held her gaze for the next three tolls, until the overwhelming pain burst through the trance. Remy closed her eyes in agony, breaking the connection.
A loud cry escaped, drawing the attention of several coven members milling nearby. Sebastian edged closer to Remy, blocking their view with his tight embrace. He glared at Drew over Remy’s shaking body.
“We need to get her away from the clearing,” hissed Sebastian.
“We cannot remove her from the circle,” Drew muttered back. “She is named.”
Remy whimpered again, biting down hard on her lower lip. A dribble of blood, leaked from under her teeth.
“Do something,” commanded Sebastian. “You have my permission.”
Drew immediately grabbed Remy’s hands; she shook him off with a wild glare. “Let me help,” he murmured impassively.
“No,” she ground out, clenching her teeth. More blood oozed from her lip.
“Don’t be stubborn, Remy,” Drew growled; his voice grated across her strained nerves. Grasping her hands again, he squeezed tightly, absorbing the fire.
Seven...eight...nine. Remy collapsed, severing Drew’s grip. Shrieks echoed in her ears, a guttural sound of intense suffering. Fired raged over her skin, charring every inch. Faintly, she heard the taunting bong of the clock tower. Remy screamed. Her body bowed into dreadful positions, fingers scraping along the dirt floor.
