by Sarah Bale
His body glistened with sweat. She reached up and ran her hands through his damp hair. Ian lowered his head and caught her mouth with his own. He kissed her roughly and then pulled away.
“I am not going to say I am sorry.”
“I don’t want you to be sorry,” Lexi replied. “I wanted it too.”
He looked away, “It can’t happen again. I am the head of the Royal Guard. I don’t go around fucking people who cross into my dreams.”
“Ian, we’re both adults,” she began. She wanted him to feel at ease about it. “And I am on birth control—”
He held up his hand. “Lexi, this cannot happen again. It won’t happen again.”
Her mouth fell open. “Why are you being like this?”
“Because I’m an asshole. And because I need to focus on protecting you while we travel to the palace. I won’t be able to let you distract me.”
She stared at him as he got up and put his pants on. She had just had the best sex of her life and now he told her he didn’t want to touch her again. She shook her head in disbelief. Had she done something wrong? Was that it?
“Don’t take it personally. You’re part of my job.” He stormed out of the room, letting the door slam behind him.
Lexi stared. Part of his job?
“Are you fucking kidding me?” she said to the empty room.
She sighed and got up to shower. There would be no more sleep for her this night thanks to one stupid man.
Chapter Three
“Up and at ’em,” an annoyingly loud voice said.
Ian opened one eye and groaned. Andrew stood over the bed with a cup of coffee in his hand. Ian sat up and took it.
“What time is it?” he asked in a scratchy morning voice.
“Four thirty a.m.,” Andrew replied. “I let you sleep in, old man.”
He didn’t point out that they were the same age because it was a moot point. In Sinoda, people stopped aging when they reached their life prime point, which varied from person to person, though they could also take a potion to stop growing older if they chose. He had stopped aging at thirty, as most Royal Guard members did.
He rolled his eyes and stood. “Is Lexi up?”
“One of the guards said she is dressed and ready to go. Heard she doesn’t look like she got much sleep, though. Know anything about that?”
Andrew could always tell when he had slept with a woman. In the past, they had even shared the women. There would be no point in lying. He only worried what his friend’s reaction would be when he heard the circumstances.
“She invaded my dreams and I was horny.”
That was most of the truth. He also found himself attracted to Lexi—more so than any other woman in his life.
Andrew was silent and then whistled. “Wow, she must be strong if she crossed into your dream. Only a Witch or the One could be that strong.”
He turned, not wanting to admit the truth to Andrew’s words. Either way it would not be good for Lexi. If she were a Witch then she would die by his hand. If she were the One… Well, he didn’t want to think about it.
He grabbed his tan pants and white t-shirt from the chair next to his bed.
“Make sure the bags are ready to go. I’ll be finished in ten minutes. And make sure Lexi is ready too.”
“Yes sir.” Andrew said with a mock salute. Then in a more serious tone, “I hope you weren’t an ass to her when you realized she had crossed into your dreams. I know you, my friend, and you don’t like it when people surprise you.”
* * * * *
After hearing a soft knock, Lexi opened the door. She found another gorgeous man standing before her. He could pass for Ian’s brother but instead of dark hair, this man had blond hair.
His electric green eyes danced with humor as he smiled down at her. She could tell right away from the little lines by his eyes that this man laughed often and she admired him for that.
“Someone sure got the mold right here.” she said with a grin. “Every person I’ve seen has been gorgeous.”
The man stuck out his hand. “I’m Andrew, Ian’s second-in-command.”
She rolled her eyes at the mention of Ian and said, “It’s nice to meet you, even if you are a friend of that jerk.”
Andrew laughed loud and unrestrained and it made her smile in return. They would most definitely become friends. She knew it.
“I’m here to make sure you’re ready. Did you find the clothing we left?”
She stepped back to show him her outfit. She wore a black silk corset with lace and ribbons and a long black skirt that flowed to her ankles. A black velvet cape sat on her bed to finish the look. She would much rather be wearing her old clothes but they had disappeared while she had been showering.
“I’m not sure what ‘look’ I’m supposed to be going for with this outfit but it’s cute.” She didn’t add that it was also comfortable, which surprised her.
“It’s what most Sinodan women wear. Ian wanted to make sure you blended in while you travel. You never know who might be looking for the woman who fell from the sky.”
She shivered as a bad feeling swept across her body. Every fiber was screaming for her to find a way back to Oklahoma but at the same time, something deep inside was telling her to stay.
“Who would be looking for me, Andrew? I have no family and very few friends. No one cares enough to look for me.”
His face grew thoughtful as if he searched for the right words, which scared her.
“Lexi, the Realm of Sinoda is not safe right now. There might be people looking for you as well as the Witches. But I’ll let Ian explain it to you.”
“Witches?” she snorted. “Yeah, right.”
He became very still. “The Witches are very real, Lexi. Don’t underestimate them. They could be the reason you are here.”
“I’m not sure why I’m here to be honest but it feels more and more like I belong here.”
He looked into her eyes. “You may belong here, Lexi. That’s why the king wants to meet you. He believes you may be the one who will save us all.”
Lexi had overheard one of the medics saying the same thing. What did it mean, though? She was just an ordinary woman from Oklahoma. How could she help them?
She went to the window. Her reflection stared back at her and she felt so alone for a moment.
“I’ve never belonged anywhere. It might be nice if I am the One.”
Andrew came and stood next to her. “It also comes with a high price. The Witches will come after you. They won’t stop until they have you.”
Her heart skipped at the mention of the Witches. Each time they were mentioned, she felt a nagging sensation in her stomach. There was something she was supposed to remember, but what?
“Are they good witches or bad ones?”
Andrew replied solemnly, “There is only one kind of witch, Lexi, a bad one. A very bad one. This is why you must trust Ian to protect you until you get to the king.”
She took Andrew’s hand into her own. “Thank you for telling me this. Ian hasn’t really filled me in on anything.” Then she asked, “Will you be traveling with us, too?”
“No. I have to make sure things are taken care of here while Ian is gone. I’ll meet you at the palace, hopefully not long after you arrive.”
He kissed his fingertips and then touched his heart, almost in a blessing of sorts. She realized he was worried.
“Everything will work out fine, Andrew. You’ll see.”
He stared at her for a moment before pulling her into a hug. It felt good to know she had made an ally. He squeezed her and then let go.
“Better hurry up. Ian will be waiting and we don’t want to make him mad.”
She harrumphed at that and Andrew laughed. She picked up her cape and put it on. After glancing in the mirror, she decided to put the hood over her hair. It almost felt like wearing a witch’s costume but she didn’t mention it.
“Are you sure there’s no other way for me to get back hom
e?” she asked.
She didn’t want to leave the safety of the compound. What if something bad happened to her? Heck, she was already in another freaking realm. Was traveling the smartest thing to do right now?
“The king is the only one who can help you get back home. I’m sorry.”
Sighing, she nodded. “Lead the way.”
She took Andrew’s outstretched hand as they left the room and tried to ignore the feeling of dread building in the pit of her stomach.
Ian waited outside the holding compound. The night sky still hid the rising sun. A short amount of time remained before light would soon take over the sky. And they needed to be on their way before then. Hell, they should have left when the stars were still twinkling but he had been too busy pounding his cock into Lexi’s tight pussy.
He heard the door open and turned to find Andrew leading Lexi to him. His gut tightened with jealousy when he saw they held hands. A shadow of annoyance flashed across his face as he met Andrew’s eyes.
Andrew winked and said, “Here you go, Ian. Lex is ready to go.”
Lex? He watched as his no-good friend hugged Lexi and whispered something to her, which made her laugh. He hated that his friend had made her laugh when he hadn’t. Andrew waved his goodbye to Ian. His jaw clenched as he refrained from flipping his friend off. He didn’t know what game Andrew played but this was one woman he wouldn’t share.
“He’s nice,” Lexi finally said as she stood next to him. Then she added in an unsure voice, “I’m ready if you are…”
He nodded curtly. Slinging his bag over his shoulder, he strolled away. Lexi silently followed him and he was glad for it. Pointless chatter would only make their journey that much longer.
Though he had traveled this path many times before, the danger seemed greater now. He needed to be aware of every whisper of the wind. He most certainly could not let Lexi distract him. One kiss from her would set him on fire and his guard would be down. Then anyone could attack them and that he couldn’t let that happen. Again.
He picked up his pace. Maybe if they hurried they could get to the palace in a couple of days.
* * * * *
Lexi panted as she tried to keep up with Ian. The skirt and boots she wore hindered her efforts though. If she had on jeans or even shorts, this process would be much easier but less Sinodaian. As if sensing her struggle, his pace increased. Jerk.
She found it hard to believe that she went from begging Ian to fuck her to wanting to throw a rock at his back. Or his head. Yeah, that would work too. She grinned at the thought. Okay, even though she was pissed at him, he still looked sexy. She was mature enough to admit it. And his butt in those trousers…yum.
Occupied by her perverted thoughts, she didn’t see the large tree root in front of her and stumbled, barely catching herself before she fell. Ian glanced over his shoulder. He glowered at her and turned away. She rolled her eyes. He wasn’t even speaking to her. She sighed and jogged to catch up to him.
“Can you slow down?”
He stopped and she ran right into his hard, sweaty back. She resisted the urge to rub her face against him. God, what was wrong with her?
“Jeez, you could have warned me,” she muttered.
His mouth seemed perpetually set in annoyance. “Do you want me to carry you? I will if you can’t keep up.”
An image of her slung over his shoulder flashed across her mind and made her blush. It also turned her. A lot. Oh how very caveman of him.
She glared up at him and replied, “No, I just want you to slow down. Why are you in such a hurry? Want to get rid of me that much?”
Anger seemed like the rational choice to go with. That way he wouldn’t know how he was affecting her.
“I am in such a hurry because I want to reach the forest before the sun rises. The trees will cloak us and make it easier to slip past the lunatic who lives near the woods.”
“Lunatic?” she echoed.
“Yes. The Witches warped his mind. Now he lives in his cornfields obsessed with killing birds and the occasional person who crosses his path.”
She closed her mouth and wondered just how long it would take to turn around and get back to the compound where it was safe. What the hell had she gotten herself into?
Ian tried not to feel bad for snapping at Lexi. He knew he shouldn’t blame her for what had happened the previous night. Hell, he wasn’t mad about it, he’d enjoyed it. He still wanted to throw her down and fuck her some more even if it meant putting them in danger. And her ragged breaths did not help his already hard cock.
He slowed his pace so she could catch up.
“Andrew said I might be the One. Do you think it might be true?”
He hadn’t expected her to hear that rumor. His men were going to get a lecture about gossiping when he returned to the holding compound.
“No one will know but the king.”
“Do I look like him? The king, I mean,” she asked. At his surprised glance she went on, “I overheard one of the medics saying how uncanny it was that I looked like the king.”
He glanced down. True, she had the same golden eyes and red hair as the king. Her creamy white skin also favored the former queen. Her full lips and high cheekbones were characteristics of the queen as well but that meant nothing. People needed to keep their damn thoughts to themselves.
Her luscious breasts…well, they were a gift of their own. At the thought of her breasts, he groaned silently. He would love nothing better than to suck them again while he pounded his cock into her. This time he would do it better. He would take his time and worship her body. He would watch as orgasms shook her body over and over. He would—
“Ian?”
He shifted and coughed to cover up his train of thoughts. “You favor the king and former queen but don’t look too much into it. A lot of people have favored the king and they were not the One.”
There was a long list of people who had died thinking they were the One. He didn’t want that fate for Lexi but it wasn’t his place to make the decision. It all depended on King Loren.
“What happened to the queen?”
He frowned. The memory that would always be burned fresh in his mind, as real as the day it had happened. No matter how much he tried, he couldn’t escape the nightmarish event.
“The Witches caught and killed her. Brutally. There was nothing I could do to stop it, either.”
He saw her shiver in fear and at the same time, he could see the queen reaching out for him, screaming his name as the Witches dragged her away. He had done everything in his power to save her but in the end, his age and inexperience had cost the queen her life.
He rubbed his right shoulder where one of their magic-laced spears had gone through his skin. Years went by and still the wound caused him pain. It also served as a reminder of what was lost that day. He could never forget even if he wanted to.
He didn’t mean to frighten Lexi but she needed to be aware of the risks.
“Lexi, this journey is going to be dangerous. The Witches will come after you. It’s not if, but when. That is a fact. It’s my job to make sure you get to the palace before that happens.”
Her breath hitched in her throat letting him know she was scared. “How is getting to the palace going to protect me? And why do they want to hurt me so badly?”
“Sapphire City is guarded by magic so strong that even the Witches cannot break it. You’ll be safe inside the palace walls but until then, we must be careful.” He paused, debating on how much to tell her. “The Witches want to hurt you because they fear you. If you are the One, you’ll have more power than all three Witches combined. They’ll try to stop you from getting to the palace at all costs.”
Her golden gaze met his and she said softly, “I trust you, Ian. I know you won’t let anything happen to me. Besides, I’m just a plain girl from Oklahoma. There’s nothing special about me.”
Her words burned in his chest. She didn’t even know him and yet she trusted him. He turn
ed from her so she wouldn’t see the fear in his eyes. He would not let her down. He would do everything in his power to make sure she got to the palace in one piece. And she was wrong about one thing. She was damn special.
Their first obstacle grew closer with each step they took. He led Lexi on the path that ran next to the cornfields of Sinoda. Birds chirped happily as they ate at the outskirts of the corn crops. He knew as they went farther into the fields that the scenery would change dramatically.
Many years ago, the cornfields were a major source of income for Sinoda. The farmer, Horace, was one of the richest men around, both in income and in life. Everyone who met him loved him. Then the Witches decided they wanted his wealth and captured him. After torturing him for weeks, the Witches let Horace go to run his cornfields.
But instead of being the kind farmer all knew, he became a killing lunatic. Ian had once called Horace a friend. Now he would kill him if the opportunity presented itself.
Ian held up his hand and stopped. Lexi stood behind him barely breathing.
“What is it,” she whispered, icy fear in her voice.
“We’re getting close to Horace’s cornfields. When the birds stop chirping, I want you to crawl behind me. Do you understand?”
She nodded and he prowled cautiously ahead. He prayed silently that they could get to the forest before the sun rose. It would be their only hope.
* * * * *
“Horace,” a sultry voice whispered. “Horace, wake up.”
Horace opened his eyes and glanced around in dread. He knew that voice. Oh he knew it so well. But why was she here after all this time? She had promised she was done with him but he should have known better.
“What the fuck do you want?”
“Oh Horace,” another voice danced around him. “That’s no way to talk to us. We just want to play.”
He sat up in his little bed. He could see no one in his one room shack but he knew they were there. He grabbed his coat and stood.
