Slaves of Destiny

by Leia Shaw

  Bodhi stalked down the hallway and into the arena, stepping over bodies, ignoring pleas for help. One wing rubbed up against her face. It was softer than she’d expected – almost like velvet. She longed to stroke them then run her fingers over his muscles. She wondered if his erection had grown with the rest of him?

  He turned down another hallway. The blood rushed to her head. He stopped at the room they’d occupied and seemed to think for a moment.

  “Bodhi…”

  She wanted to soothe him, bring him back to himself. Though this primal version of him was arousing, she was worried he’d lose control. And if he’d been injured, he’d need his wounds tended.

  After seeming to come to some conclusion, he walked into the room, slamming the door behind him. Gently, he placed her on her feet.

  She looked up at him and placed her hand on the only clean spot on his chest. “Are you hurt?”

  Instead of answering, he placed both his hands on the top seam of what was left of her dress then ripped it open. With a gasp, she staggered back. Was she to be taken from the hands of one rapist and dropped in another?

  But as soon as she backed away, his eyes changed. Instead of brimming with fire, they softened. His lips turned down in a frown and his shoulders dropped.

  “I’m sorry, beautiful,” he said. “Don’t be afraid. I just…” His eyes shut and he shook his head, as if at war with himself. “I just have to have you now. I don’t understand it, but I do.”

  She understood it. Part of being a supernatural male was an unyielding urge to mate. And for an incubus, who fed on sex, even more so.

  “I promise I won’t hurt you,” he said, sincerity in his voice.

  Of course he wouldn’t. She trusted that much. Having been coasting on adrenaline for some time had shocked her system. Bodhi wouldn’t rape her. He wouldn’t hurt her. He was not like the satyrs.

  She nodded then went to him. In return, he smiled and touched her cheek. She could tell it was difficult for him to restrain himself. His hand shook as he stroked her tenderly, down her cheek then to her neck. His fingers traced from her collarbone to where he’d ripped the dress.

  “I’m sorry,” he whispered.

  He ran his hand down her chest then back up her neck, around her ear, gently through her hair, soothing her, relaxing her. She exhaled the breath she’d been holding then leaned into him, placing her forehead on his chest.

  “It’s over, love.”

  She nodded, and to her surprise, tears streamed down her face. He cupped her head against his chest and just held her. His heart thumped under her cheek, secure and steadfast. Did she truly belong to him? After all these years alone, living in fear, was it finally over?

  Bodhi swallowed hard and let out a low groan. She lifted her head to see agony on his face. She recognized that feeling.

  “You poor man!” Immediately, she unzipped his pants then sunk to her knees. “Let me help you.”

  “No.” He tried to pull her up, but she refused.

  “It’s no trouble,” she told him. “I know what it’s like.”

  Gripping her arm, he pulled her to stand. “I need to be inside you. Hard and fast. After that, we can…play.” He smirked first then his expression sobered. “I promise I won’t hurt you on purpose.”

  Incubi had a poor reputation. Their sexual appetites were unmatched in the supernatural world. And they weren’t known for being gentle either. It almost seemed as if they fed more on the violence than the actual intercourse. Not like nymphs who enjoyed the playfulness of sex, and the pleasure. Incubi wanted to control and to rule over their lovers. But Bodhi’s humanity wasn’t far below the surface, at least not yet.

  She gulped and allowed him to back her up against the bed. He spun her around and pushed her over the side of it. A moment later, her dress went up and the cool air hit her naked backside. The vulnerable feeling combined with the anticipation of what he might do sent an exciting thrill through her body, even though nerves still tickled in her belly.

  She waited, but nothing happened. What was he doing back there? Writing poetry?

  Feeling frustrated, she stomped her foot. “Well?”

  A firm slap landed on her ass and she yelped.

  He chuckled darkly. “Be patient, little one. I enjoy looking at you.”

  It was difficult to be patient when she felt desire warm her sex. Her nipples tightened and she clenched her thighs together to relieve the growing ache. “Please,” she whined, feeling powerless, but liking it.

  He plunged into her. He wasn’t jesting when he’d said he would take her hard. Each brutal thrust jerked her body into the bed. He laid a hand on her lower back then pounded into her faster. She clawed at the bed, not to get away, but the intensity was so raw, so fierce, it was nearly unbearable.

  Pressure intensified, throbbing, aching, pushing her higher and higher. She couldn’t hold back. She screamed and clutched the blankets as pleasure rolled up so intense it almost hurt. Behind her, Bodhi roared as he came inside her, branding her, marking her.

  She bit down on the sheet as the sensation slowed, then faded, leaving her a limp, sore mess. Her head flopped onto the bed and her fingers uncurled around the sheets. She stared at the wall, wondering what came next.

  What would he say? Did he want to keep her? Was she an acceptable mate? Did she satisfy him? The answers terrified her. What if she wasn’t enough? She couldn’t go on by herself, not after all this. The thought of going back to the forest, drinking wine night after night, dancing alone under the moon, missing her sisters… She swallowed hard. And now that she’d met Bodhi, she’d rather die at the hands of the satyrs than go on without him.

  So this was how Juliet had felt? Was it any wonder she’d taken her own life?

  Bodhi flipped her over. She blinked back her tears, bit down on her lip, and waited for the verdict.

  Gazing down at her, he took her chin between his fingers. “I don’t know what happened to me, what I am and what it means. But I do know this… You are mine, Seraphina. I love you and I want to keep you.”

  She grinned. It wasn’t a sonnet, or romantic proposal, but somehow, in its imperfection, it was perfect.

  Epilogue

  One year later

  Bodhi had heard it would be like this. What you thought you knew about life, yourself, your priorities, where things stood, it would all go to hell. One look was all it took for him to realize such a small thing could easily bring him to his knees.

  Nothing mattered anymore but her.

  His goals, his life, his joy, none of it was nearly as precious and important as this little life he cradled in his arms. So dependent and vulnerable yet she possessed his heart and his soul fully.

  Since he and Sera had made their dwelling Topside, Bodhi had learned to conceal his wings and tamp down his unnatural presence. They both passed for human – odd humans, but they’d fooled his family and friends. Everyone loved Seraphina. They’d been perplexed by her ignorance of pop culture at first, but she was learning quickly how to fit in. And he’d gone back to teaching, only his mission had changed. Instead of encouraging students to study the meaning of life – he encouraged them to live it. The question wasn’t why, it was how.

  Right now, Seraphina was sleeping on their bed, her pale skin still damp with sweat. Even exhausted from the delivery, a smile rested on her lips. She’d nursed the baby, kissed her head then fallen fast asleep.

  “What will you call her?” the witch midwife asked as she packed her bags.

  He stared down at the tiny face peeking out of the blanket. “Asha.”

  It meant hope.

  She was the first half-blood nymph. The future of her mother’s kind.

  About the Author

  Leia Shaw is the bestselling author of the paranormal romance series, Shadows of Destiny. Thinking up fae politics, plotting dragon power games, and calculating how fast werewolves can change forms has given her a way to express those dark places in her mind. More recently, s
he’s branched out into the erotic world and has written a humorous but heartwarming contemporary BDSM romance 31 Flavors of Kink. She is also co-authoring the bestselling Badass Brats Series.

  Leia lives in New England with her husband and two kids. Though she will go to her grave denying it, her husband insists she would be thrilled if he suddenly sprouted fangs.

  Shadows of Destiny Book Order

  Destiny Divided

  Destiny United

  Destiny Unchained

  Destined for Harmony (novella)

  Destiny Bewitched

  Destiny Forgiven

  Destined for Eden (in the Ever After Anthology)

  Slaves of Destiny

  Destiny Lost (coming Summer 2014)

  Covert Destiny (coming soon)

  Masters of Destiny (coming soon)

  Badass Brats Series (erotic BDSM ménage)

  The Dom with a Safeword

  The Dom on the Naughty List

  The Dom with the Perfect Brats

  The Dom with the Clever Tongue

  The Dom with the Kink Monsters (coming Spring 2014)

  Other Books by Leia Shaw

  31 Flavors of Kink (available now)

  Kept: an erotic anthology (coming March 2014)

  Acknowledgments

  First to thank for the completion of this book is my favorite crit partner, Sorcha Black. Whenever I felt overwhelmed with projects, she talked me down from my metaphorical ledge so I could go on.

  Also a big thank you to my betas; Cari Silverwood, Lina Sacher, Audrey, and Jenny. Special thanks to Lina, also acting as editor, for her recommendation of two new betas for me!

  And probably my biggest thank you goes to the fans of this series! You guys keep me going. Whenever I feel like I’ve hit the end of the Destiny world, someone messages or emails me about Gethin’s story or Aedan’s and I get a burst of inspiration to keep going. I’m glad you want me to keep writing. There are more stories here to tell. Thank you for reminding me of that.