by Blue Saffire
Lost in the music, something catches my eye in the image before me. A rose of fire encased in a glass dome. As I turn my attention to the rose it comes into clearer view. It burns bright and strong. A petal falls and the player stops its motions.
I turn back to the cellist. Her shoulders sag. I reach to touch the mirror with my fingertips and the surface ripples.
Before I grasp what’s happening, I’m sucked into the mirror and standing in the room I had been watching. It’s much larger in person.
I realize it’s a bedchamber. A bed is on one side of the room, in a sitting area before a balcony is where she sits with her cello, and then there’s the side of the room I’m on, furthest from her and the bed.
I’m before the table the rose rests on. It calls to me. I reach to touch the dome that covers it.
“No.” The word is roared by my captor as she appears before me.
I take a step back. She covers the table with her back to the rose. Her breasts are exposed as they heave in the confines of a corset. Her hood has fallen back from her face.
Fear and anger cover her features. Anger wins out as she moves toward me. The blaze in her eyes turns to flames. Smoke comes from her nose.
“Who let you in here? What are you doing here? Do you know what you could have done?” She growls.
“A mirror brought me here,” I reply.
“A mirror?” she furrows her brows. “What? Don’t lie. You could have ruined us all.”
“I never lie,” I growl. “The mirror appeared and brought me through to this room. It showed me the image of you and the rose.”
“Enough,” she roars and her voice sounds through the room.
The force of her word pushes me back. I cross my forearms before my face and dig my heels into the floor to stop my backward motion. When I’m no longer being pushed back, I stand straight once again and glare at her.
I tilt my head. “Why are you so hostile toward me? Am I not your prisoner? You have imprisoned my father and now me for something as simple as that rose you are protecting now.
“Are you so barbaric that you have no regard for the life of others over plants that die and regrow?”
She vibrates with anger, taking a step away from the table and the rose. Her eyes turn the color of white-hot fire. She flips her robe out to her sides.
“You know nothing of what you speak. It is life that I preserve with this rose.” Her words come out with so much pain. “You look at something that’s more precious than gold and know not it’s value.
“Stand there and judge me, but you will never understand how much I value life whether man, creature, plant or beast. Now go!”
I clench my fists at my sides. An ache within keeps me rooted to the spot. Not the same pain from when she placed her hand on my chest. Something else I can’t explain.
If I didn’t know better, I’d say it’s the pain of a spirit link. However, my betrothed back home has not begun to bond with me. It’s one of the reasons I’ve questioned the nobles.
This feeling is too strong to be her. If I didn’t feel her when I was in my realm, I wouldn’t feel her here. Blaise groans and clenches at her chest. I narrow my eyes. The amber color of her eyes returns.
“What…what are you doing to me?” she says tightly.
“I have done nothing.”
She lifts her gaze to me. I go to step closer, but she takes a step back. Her face softens as if she’s a frightened bird.
I continue to move forward. She holds out a hand and roars at me, pushing me back again. I take the same stance to shield my face and slow my backward motion.
“Get away from me. Get out! You’re a thief and a liar. Get out.”
Anger rises within, overriding the pang in my chest. I turn and storm from the room without a further thought. It’s a great disgrace to call a Kunglig a liar. I will not stand here for this.
It’s clear I’ve given my word to a mad woman. There seems to be no reasoning with her. I would never go back on my word with a sane person. However, this Blaise isn’t sane.
I keep moving until I reach the front doors of the castle. I release my powers and fling my arm out, causing the doors to blast open.
I grind my teeth as the action takes more energy than it should. I don’t stop moving. I step out into the dark night.
A howl sounds in the distance, but I keep moving. I fear not what lives in the woods of this place. I need to find a location with enough energy to tear through to the next realm.
My instincts lead me further into the brush. Agitation rises as my power seems to remain bound somehow. I bare my teeth and focus.
The howling continues as I go deeper into the woods. I’m getting closer to the source of great energy. My powers start to pulse in response to it.
I’m so focused on it I don’t pick up on the wolf that attacks me until it’s right on me. It lunges through the air, clawing my shoulder as I turn out of its way. I bite back the grunt from the searing pain.
I find myself surrounded by big gray and white wolves. I crouch ready to defend myself to the death. Two of the beasts jump into the air flying at me. I grab them both by the throat and smash their heads together.
A third wolf charges me before I can drop the first two to the ground. I have just enough time to wrap my arms around its body. I squeeze, releasing a loud roar of my own and crush it in my hold.
When I drop it, I take note of the fact that I’m still surrounded and it seems the numbers have doubled. Five of the larger ones all attack at once. I go to release my power right as they’re airborne, but flames suddenly surround me.
The barrier acts as protection, sealing me in. A tailed figure lands before the flames encasing me and the ground shakes beneath my feet. It’s her.
My eyes widen at the sheer force of the power I feel coming from her. The five wolves remain suspended in midair. Frozen.
Blaise raises a roar and they turn to ashes at her feet. The other wolves turn and retreat. I’m in awe of what I’ve seen.
Suddenly, the flames turn to smoke and Blaise tumbles to the ground. I rush forward and catch her before she hits the ground. I lift her into my arms, shifting her body a bit to accommodate her tail.
“Too far from castle… magic weak… must hurry back before they return,” she murmurs before she passes out.
I look at her face. Her features are softer when she’s not snarling at me. I war for a moment. She has less power out here. I could leave her and get to the portal I feel tugging at me.
I sigh. She has saved my life. I’m indebted to her. I would not leave her here to die after she risked her life to save me.
“I am a man of my word,” I mutter and start back the way I came.
Chapter 5
Let Me See
Argon
I stroke her cheek and find that her skin isn’t hard like I thought it would be. My gaze searches her face. I want to touch the lava-like skin, but I don’t think she would like that.
As I crouch beside the chaise I placed her on inside of the living area, I brush a lock of hair from her face. I can’t say that there isn’t something pretty about this creature.
“She’s waking,” Ms. Posh says nervously.
“Blaise,” I call her name.
She moans and opens her eyes. I startle at how they suck me in once focused on me. At the moment, her gaze is far from that of a beast. I’d swear I could see a woman from my home.
I shake it off when she starts to sit up. I back away to give her room. Her little friends have been flying about her with worry. It’s clear they all care for their master.
“You scared the shit out of us,” Dinesh says. “Next time, let his ass get eaten. He shouldn’t have gone out in those woods.”
“Dinesh,” Bach growls.
“What? Screw him. She could have been hurt.”
“I’m fine,” Blaise says. She looks to me and her eyes widen. “You’re bleeding.”
She reaches out for my shoulder, but halt
s and pulls her hands back. I nod for her to continue. The wound burns, but I’ve been more concerned with her.
She touches the fleshes gently with her long clawed like nails. Her face pinches and she sucks her bottom lip into her mouth. Something about the gesture makes her less beastly.
“There is poison, but I can heal it,” she says. “You will have to take my venom as a counter. I can’t seal the wound until we get the poison out.”
“Your venom?”
“Yes, it’s not poisonous like this. It won’t kill you. You may hallucinate after. For how long, I can’t say. Everyone reacts differently,” she warns.
“I guess that’s better than death. Go on.” I nod.
She lowers her lashes. Her brown cheeks seem to glow with heat as if flames rest beneath the skin. I’m curious when I realize it’s her way of blushing.
“What? What is it?”
She releases a heavy breath. “I’m sorry.”
Before I can ask her for what, she grasps my jaw in her palm and tugs my face to hers. Her lips crush to mine, her tongue brushing my lips. I open them in surprise.
She sticks her tongue into my mouth and flicks it against mine. Instantly my face warms and a unique flavor bursts into my mouth. Saliva and something else fills my open cavern.
Blaise strokes my neck, causing me to swallow. My shoulder begins to warm and tingle. At the same time, the ache in my chest turns into a fierce stirring.
I groan, reaching for her waist. I feel like I’m floating as I take over the kiss and devour her mouth. Blaise whimpers as her fingers bury in my hair.
It’s as if I leave the room we’re in as I keep her clenched to my body and continue to kiss her surprisingly soft lips. I’m at a loss for understanding.
“Daddy, daddy,” a little girl calls.
I turn to find a small child with eyes like mine, brown skin, and reddish brown and blonde ringlets bouncing as she runs toward me. Her arms are open wide as her little legs carry her forward. She launches in the air and my heart races.
The distance is too great, she will fall if I don’t catch her. However, I’m thrown when she floats and a pink translucent orb encases her.
“Thank you, Mama.” She giggles. “Daddy,” she squeals happily as I open my arms to catch her when the bubble pops and she falls toward me.
“Damn, that was hot as fuck.” Dinesh’s voices brings me back to the here and now.
Blaise steps away from me quickly and pulls her hood up over her head. “You will be fine by morning. You should eat something. My venom can be hard on the stomach when it’s empty.”
With that she rushes from the room. I fall back on my heels and stare after her. Lifting a hand to my lips, I find them seared.
“Don’t worry,” Ms. Posh says. “They will heal in a moment as will the open wound. It will seal right up.”
I nod and swallow thickly. I don’t know what just happened, but something has changed within me. I have no doubt that my spirit link has opened.
“This can’t be,” I whisper.
“I get the feeling shit’s about to get real around here,” Dinesh says.
“Hush,” Bach chides. “Come, we will feed you. Her warning is very real. You don’t want to suffer that stomach ache.”
I nod and lift to my full height. “Lead the way.”
Blaise
I pace my bedroom as my body buzzes. I can still feel his hands on my waist. Such big hands.
My lips are still tingling from that kiss. I was so angry when I felt him leave the castle. I had a mind to let him find out what those woods had waiting for him.
I never should’ve let him get that far. Any further and we both would have been in trouble. My powers don’t work at their max strength that far. It’s a part of the curse.
“Are you okay?” Soila asks.
“Yes, I’m fine.”
“He’s the one. He has to be. I could feel the connection from you both. It pulsed off of you.”
“It was the use of my powers, nothing more,” I mumble.
Soila flies to float in front of my face. Her lips are pursed at me. “You know that’s not true. Don’t keep fighting him. It’s not going to help us.”
I close my eyes and shove a hand into my hair. I have no idea what happened back there. That wasn’t normal. Every time he’s around me I get this ache in my chest. It has only gotten stronger. It’s a burning sensation that makes me uneasy.
When we kissed, I felt like my heart would explode. It wasn’t until he started to hallucinate that it eased a little. Now I feel this pull. I want to go in search for him.
“Don’t you think I understand this?”
“I’m sorry, Princess. I have overstepped.”
“No, no, you haven’t. I’m just frustrated. I don’t know what to do. Look at me. He wouldn’t have kissed me if he had a choice.” I frown.
“Oh, Blaise. You were not the only one enjoying that kiss. He was right there with you.” She giggles.
“Ugh, this is stupid.”
I turn and throw myself across my bed. I should go to bed. Maybe when I wake this will all be over. I bite my lip and groan.
“Can I offer a suggestion?”
“Go on.”
“You should put on something pretty and go down to dinner with him. I’ll fix your hair. Come on. It’s worth the try,” Soila says.
I lift my head to look at her. The pleading in her eyes makes me reconsider throwing this day away and starting over tomorrow. I sigh.
“Okay. I’ll try.”
An hour later I feel like a fool. Soila and Hiasha worked together to straighten my hair and re-curled it to cascade around my shoulders in deep body waves. Heavy bangs fall across my eyes and distract from my scars a little.
The tight blue corset and leather pants are what I normally wear under my cloak. However, they insisted that I not wear the cloak. I feel so exposed.
My hooves are revealed, as is my tail. I drew the line when Hiasha tried to paste rhinestones on my hooves. It already looks as if I’m trying too hard.
“Stop fidgeting. You look great,” Soila says.
I nod and wipe my hands on my thighs. I blow out a breath and push the doors of the dinner room open to enter. I gasp when I see him.
There he sits at the head of my table. His head is bent and his long locks hide his face as he stuffs bread into the broth before him and then into his mouth.
That sensual mouth that felt so nice against mine. I lift my hand to touch my gloss painted lips. They still tingle from his warmth.
Slowly, he lifts his head slightly and looks at me through his lashes. He looks both dangerous and sexy as he does so. I have no doubt this man is a warrior where he’s from.
He drops the remaining piece of bread back onto the plate at his side. His mouth opens as his eyes roll over me from head to toe.
He lifts to stand. Again, I marvel at his height and strong body. His sleeveless shirt fits against his muscled chest. The leather pants he wears are loose enough for battle, but fit snug enough to showcase his strong thighs. His gaze is intense when he lifts his eyes back to mine.
“Come sit with me,” he says as he moves to pull the chair beside him.
My cheeks warm. I stumble forward a few steps, but stop and wrap my tail about my middle. I bite my lip.
“I didn’t come to disturb you. You can eat alone if that’s what you wish for,” I say.
“There is plenty of food here. I’m sure you need to eat. You used a lot of energy to save me.”
I continue to chew my lip as I move closer. I wince as my hooves make noise against the wood floors. I wish I could hide them somehow.
“Thank you,” I murmur when I reach the chair and release my tail to take the offered seat.
“You’re welcome.”
He returns to his seat. However, he doesn’t start to eat again. Instead, he watches me. His eyes fall to my breasts, but he quickly shakes his head and lifts his gaze back to my face.
; “How is your shoulder?” I blurt out to fill the silence.
“I don’t feel a thing.” He looks down at his shoulder. “It has healed. Thank you.”
“You’re welcome. Thank you for not leaving me in the forest to escape.”
“It isn’t my way,” he says, setting those intense eyes on mine.
I look away from his penetrating gaze and reach for the bread as Bach and Dinesh place a bowl of soup in front of me. My cheeks heat as Dinesh gapes at me with an open mouth. I know he’s going to say something with his smart mouth.
“Holy shit,” he breathes.
“What he means is you look lovely tonight,” Bach says.
I shift in my seat uncomfortably. I don’t like having all this attention on me. I reach for my hood, but realize it’s not there.
“You do look lovely.”
“Thank you, Argon? I heard your father call you this.”
“Yes, that’s my name.”
I frown. “It’s nice to meet you?”
He gives a small chuckle. “Yes, Blaise. I think it is nice to meet you. Interesting at the very least.”
I turn to my bread and soup and he returns to his. Silence falls once again. That is until I lift my bowl and slurp down the rest. Ms. Posh clears her throat in the distance and I blanch.
Quickly, I place the bowl down and peek at Argon to find him watching me with a smile in the corners of his lips. Without taking his eyes off of me, he lifts his bowl and slurps down the rest of his broth.
“That was delicious,” he says once he places the bowl down. “Can I carve some of the meat for you?”
I stare at him as if I’ve lost my voice. I’ve been nothing but terrible to this man. I’ve imprisoned him and his father. Yet he’s kind to me.
“Why are you so gentle with me?”
“You’re a lady. Ladies should always be treated with respect,” he replies.
I want to laugh in his face. I’m a beast. Not a lady. I haven’t been a lady in… I don’t know how long.
I lower my head. “Yes, thank you. I would like it if you would carve the meat.”
