Cimmerian Shade: A Limited Edition Paranormal Romance & Urban Fantasy Collection

by Kiki Howell

“Move,” Cassie shoved between Drew and Sebastian, dropping to her knees in the dirt. Rolling Remy’s twitching body onto its side, Cassie locked her arms around Remy stiff limbs. Brown seeped into Cassie’s grey eyes as she wrestled Remy’s head into her lap. “Sleep, Remy,” her haunted voice demanded. Cooling blackness washed over Remy.

  “REMY,” SEBASTIAN’S deep voice broke through the darkness. “Remy,” he called again; his distant voice filled with apprehension.

  Her skull ached. Rolling her head to the side, Remy felt a cold hand feather across her sweaty forehead. Slitting her eyelids, Remy moaned as the dim light assaulted her eyes.

  “How are you feeling?” Sebastian’s worried face appeared in her blurry vision.

  Attempting to rise, Remy gagged, overwhelmed by dizziness. She slumped ungracefully over the edge of the bed, dry-heaving. Sebastian hoisted her back against the pillows, his fingers detangling the nest atop her head.

  “What happened?” Remy murmured; her fuzzy memory refused to fill in the missing details.

  “Malina issued a challenge,” Drew grumbled, approaching the side of the bed. He bent from the waist, inspecting Remy’s face with narrowed eyes. One finger traced a light path down her cheek. “Amazing,” he murmured, hovering in her peripheral. “I see no recognizable features.”

  “What is he babbling about?” Remy’s eyes shifted to Sebastian, perched on the left corner of the mattress.

  Sebastian swallowed a smile. “You don’t quite look like yourself.”

  “Who do I look like?”

  “Your mother,” replied Drew, admiringly. “Nadine Bonnay.”

  No sound came from Remy’s open mouth. She nervously twisted a loose strand of hair; a red curl wrapped around her finger. She shrieked, staring at the unfamiliar tress.

  “Shh,” soothed Sebastian. “Take a deep breath.”

  Wide-eyed, Remy followed his instruction, inhaling loudly.

  “The glamour has dissipated,” explained Sebastian, calmly. “May I show you?” he offered; Remy nodded mutely. Sebastian slid his arms under her legs and effortlessly lifted her from the bed. Remy cuddled into his chest, seeking warmth; his arms tightened protectively.

  Her stomach flipped over. Nuzzled close to his skin, Remy imagined brushing her mouth against the base of his neck. She licked her lips, anticipating the shock of electricity.

  “Are you ready for this?” Ripped from the fantasy, Remy reluctantly lifted her gaze to Sebastian. His sapphire eyes flared a moment. “What are you thinking about?” he murmured wolfishly.

  A shiver danced down her spine; she flushed. “Nothing.”

  “Mm-hmm,” he rumbled softly. His eyes dropped to her lips with a wicked gleam. “I bet I can guess.”

  “Ah-hem!” Drew cleared his throat loudly. “Still in the room,” he announced curtly.

  Reluctantly, Sebastian set Remy in front of a covered mirror, hidden in the corner of the room. Drew approached impatiently; his hand plucked at the edge of the sheet concealing the mirror.

  “One...two...three,” counted Drew. On three, he ripped a long black sheet off the mirror.

  Remy gasped, her hands flew to her mouth. The apparition mimicked the movement. Stunned, Remy reached up and grabbed a lock of her red hair. The jarring doppelganger copied her movement; a horrified look on its face as it twisted an auburn curl around its pale fingertip.

  “This cannot be me,” Remy breathed softly, hesitantly approaching the glass. She stared at the mirror, examining the creature in front of her; bright green eyes stared back. “Explain,” Remy demanded, glaring at Drew’s reflection, “who is that?”

  “That is you. The spell was extremely powerful,” he offered, adding a forced smile. “This is your true likeness; a beautiful tribute to your mother. She was quite lovely, as are you,” he added wistfully.

  “Stunning,” Sebastian corrected, enfolding Remy tightly. “You are the same person; the adornment has merely changed.”

  “Don’t you find it a little creepy?” Remy asked, watching the question tumble from her foreign lips. Her eyes absorbed every detail, only the mark on her throat remained unchanged – the one shared physical characteristic between Remy Vasile and Remy Bonnay.

  Sebastian pressed close, his body flush against her back. “I happen to like redheads,” he nipped her earlobe, sending an electric spark through her skin. Spinning quickly in his arms, Remy pressed her mouth against his, igniting a torrent of shivers. He welcomed the sensual assault, lightly tracing the seam of her lips with the tip of his tongue; Remy moaned.

  “Remy!” Drew yelled, breaking the intimacy.

  “What?” she scowled at him.

  “We have a problem to deal with.”

  “Which is?”

  “Malina issued a challenge,” repeated Drew, an edge of frustration.

  “What does that mean?”

  “It means she is disputing your apprenticeship under Madame Tobain, who named you as her successor. If Malina wins the challenge, she takes your place and decides your punishment. Which, in her case, will probably be instantaneous death.”

  “There is another option,” Sebastian added quietly, releasing Remy and taking a step closer to Drew.

  He acknowledged Sebastian’s comment with an inclined head. “Yes, there is an alternative.”

  Remy approached the alien likeness; her fingers lightly traced the glass. “What is that?” she murmured; her light green eyes glowed eerily.

  “You abdicate, go on the run, and vanish.”

  Remy spun around. “Alone?”

  “With me,” Sebastian replied softly.

  “I cannot ask that of you, Sebastian. You would be giving up your family, your friends, your livelihood,” Remy protested. She leveled her gaze with him. “I can beat Malina.”

  Drew snorted. He turned his smirk on Sebastian. “She wants to fight. Do you give your consent?”

  “No,” Sebastian answered darkly. “The risk is too great.”

  “Why does Sebastian’s opinion matter?” Remy grumbled loudly.

  A sigh escaped; Drew rolled his eyes. “You didn’t explain anything to her, did you?”

  Sebastian grinned guiltily. “I may have left a piece or two out.”

  Drew grumbled, glaring at Sebastian in irritation. “Sebastian marked you.”

  Instinctively, Remy’s hand brushed against the base of her throat. “Sebastian’s parents said the same thing. What exactly does that mean?”

  “A mark claims you are his mate and as his mate, the council must now have his accord not to interfere in the contest with Malina.”

  “Which I refuse to give,” added Sebastian stubbornly; he crossed his arms.

  Remy turned to him, with a raised eyebrow. “My mate?” she asked exasperated.

  The boyish grin flashed across Sebastian’s face. “I may have placed a claim on you the morning we visited my grandmother.”

  “You may have?” Drew interrupted furiously.

  Sebastian narrowed his eyes. “Angry that you didn’t get the chance?” he needled.

  Darkness rolled through Drew’s eyes. “I had the opportunity long before you.”

  “She was not your destiny,” growled Sebastian, taking a step toward him.

  Drew copied Sebastian, stepping forward as well. “I protected her.”

  “You upheld her banishment,” Sebastian snarled. “You are her jailor.”

  “Yet, you wish to deny me my destiny as well?” Remy’s quiet question broke through the argument. Both men twisted; Sebastian returned to Remy’s side.

  “When there is a possibility that I could lose you, the answer is always yes.” He raised her fingers to his lips and brushed a fiery kiss across the tips.

  “What if I don’t want to be with you?” A peculiar look passed between Sebastian and Drew.

  “I am only bound to you; you are free to leave me anytime you wish,” Sebastian dropped Remy’s hand.

  “What would you do if I left?”

  “Wait f
or you,” he offered a tight smile. “However, I would happily come with you, if you wanted to leave together.”

  “Sebastian,” Remy whispered; his burning eyes locked on hers, “we would be outcasts. I cannot curse you to that existence.”

  He touched his forehead to hers. “How will I live without you?” he whispered back; his words caressed her lips – an intimate kiss.

  “Teach me to fight,” Remy breathed, holding his gaze; she licked her lips. His mouth claimed hers, hungrily. She slid her fingers through Sebastian’s sandy hair, drawing him closer as she deepened the kiss. A growl rumbled in his throat. He broke away.

  “You are a better seductress than I thought,” he murmured, shaking his head with a grin.

  Remy smiled sweetly and tilted her head. “Did it work?”

  “No.”

  “Damn.”

  “However, you are free to spend the rest of the day attempting to change my mind,” he suggested with a wink.

  “Apparently, you are still in disagreement,” interrupted Drew in a clipped, irritated tone. “Remy, you are exhausted; you should get some rest.”

  “I will see she gets into bed,” replied Sebastian, smoothly.

  Drew arched an eyebrow. “Remy needs sleep, Sebastian Ayres.”

  “Agreed.” Sebastian grinned and gently wrapped one arm snugly around her waist. “I am here to ensure no one disturbs her.”

  “I expect your answer by sunset.” Drew stomped from the room, slamming the door; a locked scraped.

  “Did Drew just lock us in?”

  “He did,” confirmed Sebastian with a nod.

  “Why?” Remy asked suspiciously.

  “Malina is not known for fair play. It is just an extra precaution.”

  “I hardly think a lock will keep her out.”

  Sebastian wiggled his eyebrows. “It’s a special lock.”

  A giggle burst from her lips. “That is good to know.”

  The arm entwined around Remy’s waist loosened its hold, stroking softly across her lower back as Sebastian removed his hand. Remy shivered at the loss of contact.

  “Cold?” asked Sebastian, curiously.

  “Extremely,” she admitted, rubbing her arms for warmth.

  His gaze softened. “It’s an after-effect of the transition. Happens to everyone; it your case it might be a little more extreme.”

  An icy blast whipped over her skin, Remy shivered violently, her teeth chattered. “Wh...wh...what do I do?” Remy managed.

  Sebastian grinned; he gestured apologetically. “Body heat is the fastest way to make it through this stage.”

  “S...seriously?” she trembled. Another bout of shivers wracked her limbs.

  “Yes,” he murmured, continuing to appear contrite. He pressed his lips together and glanced down a moment. When his gaze rose, it burned hungrily. “I cannot say I would be averse to the idea.”

  Remy’s breath hitched; she nodded slowly. His body crushed hers, wrapping its warmth around her frozen skin. His searing mouth sealed itself to Remy’s lips, sending waves of fire coursing through her blood. Fingertips skimmed up her arms, grasping the bodice of the gossamer dress. Ripping with it a growl, Sebastian shredded the material.

  “Hey,” Remy murmured against his mouth, “I liked this dress.”

  “I’ll buy you a new one,” he muttered, pushing his tongue greedily into her mouth. His fingers danced across her bare back; she shivered again. Sebastian, refusing to break the kiss, tore his shirt open, scattering buttons across the floor. He dropped the material in a heap on the floor, pressing his bare chest against Remy’s skin. One hand slid up, squeezing her exposed breast. He tugged at the nipple. A moan escaped Remy’s mouth.

  Grinning, Sebastian lowered his mouth and lapped his tongue across the bud. Remy trembled again. “Sebastian,” she gasped as his teeth closed around the tip.

  Sebastian’s wicked mouth nipped a seductive path between her breast and her collarbone, scattering a torrent of shocks with each nibble. Remy moaned each time his mouth touched her skin. Slowly directing her backward, Remy’s legs bumped into the edge of the bed. She fell, pulling Sebastian with her; he landed atop her body, nestled between her legs.

  Planting her arms above her head, his mouth continuing to gently tug at her nipple. She writhed under him, longing to skim her fingers up his chest.

  “Ah-ah,” he warned, locking her wrists to the bed. “I will tie you up again.”

  Gently, his lowered his head, his teeth scraped across her breast. Remy arched off the bed, electrocuted by his touch. Her fingers clenched into fists.

  “Sebastian,” she panted, lifting her hips into him.

  “Yes,” he murmured huskily, gazing at the blush seeping through her skin. “Still cold?” he teased.

  “No,” she gasped, grinding against him.

  “Do you still want to fight Malina?” he murmured; his lips brushed against the pert nub.

  “Yes,” she squirmed impatiently.

  “Pity,” Sebastian replied, slipping one hand between them. His fingers pressed against her soft center; she wiggled, straining against his hand. “I have an idea,” his lips skated across her skin. “Instead of you convincing me to change my mind, I propose to spend the day wearing you out, so you’ll be too exhausted to fight.”

  A smirk graced Remy’s face. “You wouldn’t dare.”

  “Watch me,” he rumbled, quickly shredding last of the cloth separating them. Keeping one hand locked around Remy’s wrists, his other hand continued to caress Remy’s center; his thumb drew intimate circles until she panted breathlessly. Bucking against his ministrations, Remy raised her hips, pressing against his fingers.

  “Please, Sebastian,” she begged, the nearing orgasm stealing her breath.

  Grinning wickedly, Sebastian stilled his hand, leaving her teetering on the edge. He repositioned himself, thrusting forward quickly. Sheathed deeply in her warmth, Sebastian dragged in a ragged gasp. His mouth brushed hers. Remy arched her back again, groaning against his lips.

  “I wonder how many times I can make you scream before someone comes to check on you,” he murmured mischievously.

  “What?” Remy’s eyes widened.

  “Let’s count.” Sliding out, he quickly slammed into Remy again, burying himself. He rotated his hips, before pulling back again. Without a pause, he thrust forward, increasing the maddening rhythm until Remy vibrated beneath him, jerking against the hand restraining her on the mattress.

  “Sebastian,” she screamed; her legs constricted around his hips. Her release ripped through her body; she trembled beneath him.

  “One,” he declared, pressed Remy back into the mattress; his mouth locked onto her neck, nibbling tiny shivers across her skin. Thrashing uncontrollably under his weight, Remy’s body flamed with desire. It pooled in her stomach, stoked by the relentless thrusting of Sebastian. His hand slid under her hip, lifting her leg; he drove deeper.

  “Oh, god,” screamed Remy. The second orgasm shot through her veins, more potent than the first.

  “Two.”

  Chapter Eight

  A LIGHT TAPPING woke Remy. Still pinned under Sebastian, Remy shifted sideways, trying to slip out from under his bulk without waking him. Sebastian’s hand tightened on her arm.

  “Where are you going?” he mumbled into the pillow.

  “Someone is at the door,” Remy explained. A second knock punctuated her statement.

  “It’s sundown,” Drew announced formally through the door. “What is your decision?”

  Sebastian sat up quickly; his eyes flickered over Remy. “Have you changed your mind?” he whispered.

  “No.”

  He sighed heavily and turned toward the door. “I will not interfere,” called Sebastian, reluctantly. He threaded his fingers through Remy’s.

  “I will relay your answer to the council. Please be ready to leave in one hour.”

  “What?” Remy exclaimed, leaping up. She raced to the door, twisting the handle;
it rattled.

  “It’s still locked,” Sebastian stated quietly, immobile on the bed.

  Remy twisted to glare at Sebastian; her voice rose hysterically. “Tonight? Why, tonight? I have no training.”

  “The elders will make the contest fair,” Sebastian answered robotically.

  Terror burbled in Remy’s throat; the color faded from her skin. “What if I lose?” she whispered. The word hovered, taunting.

  Sebastian appeared at her side, tugging her chin until she stared directed into his eyes. The cobalt gleamed fiercely. “I did not love before you; I will not love after you. My soul anguishes without your touch. I swear on my life, Malina will not harm you.”

  “Do not offer me your life, Sebastian,” breathed Remy.

  “It is mine to give,” he replied, his eyes gleaming. He pressed his lips to hers, gently parting them with his tongue and teasing her mouth until she moaned. Breaking the kiss, Sebastian stroked his thumb across her swollen lips. “I will see you again,” he whispered.

  THE STONE ALTAR GLOWED ethereally; pulsating with the energy of the surrounding clan members. Grandfather waited behind it, his regal gaze passed over Remy – a brief smile. She stood, flanked by Sebastian and Drew, vibrating anxiously.

  “Will the challenger step forward.” Grandfather’s booming voice echoed around the clearing.

  Malina flowed up to the altar, a sickly, sweet smile pasted across her face. “I challenge the nominee, Remina Vasile,” she announced smugly.

  “Bonnay,” corrected Grandfather, gently.

  A whispered hush raced around the circle.

  “Remina Bonnay,” Malina repeated hesitantly.

  Grandfather nodded his acceptance. “Will the nominee please join the challenger at the altar.”

  Remy released Sebastian’s hand; her eyes locked on Malina’s sneering face. Deliberately walking a snail’s pace toward the illuminated stone, Remy glared at Malina, who shifted impatiently at the altar. Remy’s gaze slid to her grandfather; he winked, a subtle signal of confidence, before continuing his speech.

  “In accordance with the traditions passed down from our ancestors, a challenge must be fair to each participant. As Remina has just gained her powers, she is not equipped with the skills necessary to compete in the usual fashion.”