by Alice Wade
“Are you going to threaten my life if I say no?” she spat back and pushed against his groin.
He flipped her over and pinned her to the mattress, holding his face inches from hers and barring his teeth in warning. “Watch yourself. I’m your master for all intents and purposes. You don’t have any right to order me around.” Kaen rubbed his lips across hers, enticing her to react. He could feel her anger growing by the tremble in her lips.
“Oh, my apologies, Master.”
Kaen pushed her to the bed and let his body weight crush her, knowing he couldn’t cause her harm, but it would definitely be uncomfortable. He leaned in close to her face to speak. “Last warning.”
“May I ask a question first?” she whispered against his lips.
Kaen sighed and leaned back. “What is it?”
“What happened between them?” He knew she meant Warwick, Talon and Kailani.
“Long ago, they were a coven. Talon has a weakness for abandoned newborns, and Warwick was just that, so he adopted him. It was a tight coven up until Warwick decided he wanted Kailani for himself and raped her. You can only imagine what happened next. Talon gave him a choice—leave and be hunted for the rest of his life, or fight him. Very few can best Talon in single combat, so Warwick left.”
“Talon still hunts him. Interesting. You said you had her here?” Deandra felt a silly flash of jealously, but swallowed it. She didn’t love Kaen in the traditional sense, but now that they were married she felt a certain claim over him.
A wicked look had his eyes glowing yellow which only added to her heated reaction, “Oh yes, she was good sport most definitely. Your brother even had the pleasure of feeling her tight little body sheath his small cock. Yes, we all played.”
Deandra shuddered at the thought, “Does she mean anything to you?”
“Stop being weak. She was a tool to get at Talon. I enjoy toying with that elf and it gives me such pleasure to antagonize him.” His hand gently stroked her smooth skin, witnessing the soothing reaction this had on her spirit.
“So you don’t crave her?”
“This is the last we’re going to discuss Kailani. No, I don’t crave her. I only crave two women.” That statement uttered from his mouth shocked even him, because he realized in that moment, Deandra had made the list.
“I better be one of them.” She was so serious that Kaen laughed before he kissed her to demonstrate his answer, leaving her breathless with a raging need to complete what he had started. When he broke the kiss, he looked into her eyes with purpose. “Now can we change the subject?”
“What did you want to discuss?”
“Killing your brother.” He kissed her hard, crushing her lips with his.
After a moment, she shoved off him to look up into his smoldering black iris’. A sinister smile split her face, “My favorite topic.”
* * * *
Ondre took a step back and smiled at his handy work. The man suited his purpose well, and the king was once again in a more stable mood to face the situation with his sister. First though, he needed to take care of what he put into motion last night and complete what he intended. There was no way that couple would ever be in line for his throne, and the faster he completed his plan the better.
Refreshed in better spirits, Ondre strolled back to his room using the secret stairs and gave orders for the mess to be cleaned away and a bath to be drawn.
Just as he was undressing, a servant approached with an envelope addressed to him.
Dearest,
All is set as you asked.
Marigail
Finally. “Find me a suit and my dark cloak; I’ve a ride ahead of me. Have my horse saddled immediately.” The servant bowed and scurried off to do his liege’s orders, leaving the king to ponder this next move.
Chapter Thirteen
Feather light touches tickled his skin along his rib cage as Kailani’s fingers traced each ridge of muscle. Talon shuddered under her sensual attack which turned more forceful as her lips added to the caress.
“Kai, what are you doing here?” he asked, pleasantly confused.
“You were late returning and I don’t like being separated,” she replied between her small but gentle kisses along his chest and neck, slowly inching her way up towards his lips.
“You are not here. This is a dream,” he said to himself.
“Then enjoy the dream,” she answered in a sultry tone. “Relax and let me love you in your sleep.”
Talon was swept away with the memory of her full lips and silky skin as both attacked his body with a ferocity. He smelled her fruity scent of arousal as she came closer to his face. It was Nirvana to him, causing his body to react immediately to her proximity.
She touched him everywhere now with one hand stroking his erection until it was painfully throbbing. “Kai, you are torturing me,” he whined, attempting to overthrow her and dominate the situation.
“Relax,” she cooed. ‘This is your dream. Let it run its course.”
Talon was half aware that this wasn’t real but desperately didn’t want the dream to end. He gave up and his mind was swept under the spell it wove.
Kai’s naked body straddled his lap, teasing him with her body. She still kissed his neck and cheekbone while she inched herself into position. He felt the heat from her sweaty body along his firm thighs. He also felt the pressure of her hands along his chest, balancing herself in order to press against his body. Everywhere her lips touched it felt like fire touching his skin and he smoldered under her attentions.
He finally felt the piercing points of her fangs as she devoured him. His mind shattered at the same time that her warm body descended onto his, sheathing him to his base in a matter of one smooth motion. Talon thought he would explode. His back arched and instinctively pushed further into her depths while his hand gripped her narrow hips, holding her in place. He needed her, missed her, and utterly craved her.
He opened his eyes at the same moment she released her bite and witnessed the stunning beauty of his mate. She moved in a rhythmic motion with her head thrown back and dark hair sprayed across her heaving breasts. There were long strands lovingly cascading over her chest and her lean torso flexed with the effort to bring him ultimate pleasure. A deep growl of satisfaction rumbled in his chest for she was perfect.
Talon continued to watch and enjoyed her attentions. He loved how he could feel every muscle in her body respond to his touch. She was close to shattering and he desperately wanted to feel her body once she did.
“Kai, I miss you,” he cried as she found her release.
Talon’s body prepared to follow when something registered on the deepest recesses of his mind. This was different. What was missing were the images Kaen had planted and he didn’t have to fight them. After days of experiencing the painful images, he was prepared for the onslaught and found the absence to be unnerving. That roused him close to waking and the shock of that realization caused her image to fade into nothingness. Talon woke reaching towards the empty space where his mate had been.
“A dream,” he whispered with soulful regret. He lay on his bed with only a pair of loose fitting pants that didn’t hide the massive erection generated by that very erotic dream. He sighed once more and rolled to his side and froze.
Cuilwen sat in a chair, leering at him with dangerous dark brown eyes. She balanced a long peacock feather in her fingers. “Nice dream,” she said then laughed as she quickly moved away.
Talon sat up and felt a fury like he had not felt in quite some time. In all his years of knowing Cuilwen, he’d never released his temper directly at her before, but this act, this violation, crossed a line.
“Get out.” Talon didn’t even try to hide his fury and allowed his fangs to drop to highlight his intentions.
That piqued her curiosity, for she’d never really seen a
vampire before. “Oh, calm down. I didn’t do anything other than spark whatever your mind dreamt up by tickling you with this feather.” She poised the feather up and wiggled it around inches from his face, “I honestly was only trying to wake you, but your reaction was so incredible, I just couldn’t stop.” She smiled, recognizing his anger and moved farther back, dropping the feather to the table as she passed by. She moved towards the couch in the main sitting room.
“Get out.” Talon snarled, unconsciously letting his incisors drop lower with wicked intent.
When she felt the cold dread that he infused in the air, Cuilwen swallowed down her fear of seeing her former lover enraged, but stood her ground with her hands held defensively before her. “I really didn’t mean anything by my actions.” She said quickly. After taking a breath she continued. “I came here after receiving word that I was granted permission to see you. That was all. You just looked so peaceful sleeping that I…oh, I don’t know. I guess I was just playing around.” Cuilwen gracefully sat down, lowering her eyes until he calmed down. Cuilwen had to admit he really was quite impressive as a vampire. Try as she might, she couldn’t deny that her love for him still burned vibrant. But…that was never to be again. She knew that now, after witnessing that little show. To hear the devotion whispered from his lips as he thought he was making love to ‘Kai’. No, she realized in that moment that he was lost to her.
“Why now? Why did he give you permission on this day?” Talon tried hard to rein in his temper. Slowly, and with extreme care, he pulled his vampire energy back and was able to calm down.
“I have requested to be your escort, your guard so to speak, so you can walk outdoors. You have been in here for two days,” she replied.
“I don’t want to walk around. I want an answer so I can go home.” Talon entered the room and leaned on the wall, watching her carefully.
She smelled of her usual fragrance, and wore her long hair loose around her shoulders as usual. The image of those strands loosely draped over her shoulder caused the pressure to increase in his groin. It was too close to the image of Kailani with her hair flowing in a similar fashion that he’d just dreamt about. With a pained groan, he looked away and stared outside at the village and its people, hoping that was enough distraction to calm his boiling blood down. He needed find his inner peace. She’d thrown him off. Grabbing either side of the window frame, Talon leaned forward, breathing in through flared nostrils.
“He is not ready to give one. You know your father; nothing comes quickly.” Cuilwen watched his evaluation of the outside world and followed him gaze, feeling her insides melt. Suddenly she was very grateful for all her training which taught her control. She wanted nothing more than to fidget at that very moment. He stared straight at the garden where, as young lovers, they used to retire when they wanted privacy. It felt like knife in her heart. “He sent a message that it will not be long.” Again swallowing down her own emotions, Cuilwen stood, anxious to be doing anything but remembering her old life that was no more. “Come.”
His head turned, eyes resting on her suspiciously. It wasn’t until he raised his eyes to her face that he finally asked, “Why are you here? This must be very difficult for you and I’ve no intentions of hurting you more than I’ve already done.” Talon felt his anger disappear the moment he saw the sadness cloud her dark eyes and knew he caused that pain.
“You flatter yourself. As I said the day of your return, I’m merely curious about your life. Come, let’s talk and you can tell me all about what you’ve been up to and the woman who just captivated your dreams.” She smiled a charming little smirk that completely disarmed him immediately.
Talon shook his head in amazement, “You never change. Disarming as always.” Talon laughed, “Seriously though, what were you thinking toying with me like that?”
Cuilwen, seeing her friend once more, not the vicious vampire from moments prior, smiled. “I honestly don’t know. I promised I wouldn’t interfere. Yet, when you said her name with such love, well, I got jealous. I wanted to see what power this woman had over you.”
“She owns me—mind, body and soul.” To highlight his point, he touched his fingers to his forehead, heart then stomach. “She is the reason I must get an answer soon. Leaving her like this, with no word of my situation, is probably giving her the impression I’m dead. I have to return soon.”
The blonde elf eyed him critically. “She’ll be fine. We’ve just got you back and you already want to run away again?”
“Not run away…run home. She is my world now. Leaving her behind has left me feeling heavy with guilt.” He sighed. “Not to mention I miss her.”
“I think I got that point loud and clear.” Cuilwen said. “Can we please just sit and talk?” She held her hand out inviting him to come and sit.
Something in the way she held her wrist palm up had Talon on alert. He suddenly realized it had been days in this plane since he last fed. Even though had only been a few hours back in his human plane, the familiar burn of hunger hit him with a power that made him stagger. He stumbled backwards away from her, crashing over a chair and struggled to regain his balance.
Cuilwen, confused, followed and didn’t understand that he was fleeing her so inadvertently put herself in harm’s way. His thirst consumed him with an intensity he wasn’t prepared for. Elven blood was pure, raw and full of power. He had not expected to remain here for long and wasn’t mentally prepared for the draw to their ethereal design.
“Talon?” All he saw was white haze. The craze had settled—something that had not happened in over four hundred years. Not since he was still a newborn. In this moment, he lost control and pinned Cuilwen up against the wall and hissed. His body responded to the increased blood flow through her veins as she became frightened. He bared his teeth when the flush of adrenaline released indicating her fight instincts kicked in after the initial shock.
He sniffed her throat from her ear down to her collarbone, inhaling her clean scent. This was going to be quite satisfying indeed.
“Talon, get off me.” Her voice was firm and the command clear, yet he knew she was all show. He smelled her fear and that excited him as if fanning a fire. He allowed his incisors to fully lengthen and started casting his coercions.
Talon had been hunting in the human realm too long and forgot that elves were harder to manipulate. He was reminded of this when a blast of blinding white light exploded through his mind. The force of it struck him with such momentum that he was dislodged from her body and flung clear across the room.
“I warned you.” She said, dusting her sleeves and smoothing out the fabric, while he picked himself up off the floor.
His fangs were still dropped and his eyes were a dangerous shade of ice blue, focused solely on her. When Cuilwen saw that, she shuddered but didn’t back down.
“Knock it off already. Ask next time before you try and eat me for dinner. Honesty Talon, where are your manners? That was just plain rude.” This she said while she righted the chair he had toppled over. When done, she turned to him and sighed. “Is this what it means to be a vampire? You attack your friends for a snack?”
He recoiled as if slapped and the haze vanished. “What?”
“Do you do this often? Attack friends for a snack?” she asked, annoyed.
Talon was mortified. “I apologize. I’m not sure what just came over me. I wasn’t prepared to spend this much time here, so wasn’t mentally prepared for this. Leaving this room at this moment would not be a good idea. You should go.”
He turned away, horrified he’d nearly attacked his former lover. He wanted nothing more that to be left alone.
“Why don’t you explain it to me. Tell me what it means, and then ask before you go all psychotic. Maybe if I understood, I would not be forced to defend myself,” she challenged. She sat in the chair, waiting for him to explain while she calmly crossed her arms
and legs.
“I have nothing to share. Just help me get home and this won’t happen again.” He still felt the burn and struggled with his need, but now that the haze had passed, he was able to control it with more maturity. Her blood pounded in his ears and distracted him, which nearly caused him to miss what she said.
“Tell me what just happened,” she demanded, not willing to back away from this.
Talon scrubbed his short hair in frustration, turning to meet her expectant face while he battled with his urge to attack her again.
“You should go.” This time he begged.
“No. I’m not afraid of you. We’ve shared too much together for me to fear you, not to mention we are equally matched. You can’t beat me.” As she spoke, she watched his eyes narrow slightly becoming fixated on her wrist. She looked down to see what held his attention when she noticed a small bleeding scratch. She must have received just before she came here. It was so small, she had not even been aware of it. “Ah. Is it this cut that is causing such drama?” She held her wrist up and heard the vibration of his rumbling growl.
“Just get out. I obviously cannot control myself at the moment and I don’t…want…to harm you,” he said between clenched teeth. Fighting the urge, his breath came in hard gasps.
“If you bite me will that make me like you?” she inquired innocently.
Talon sent her such a look of loathing that she nearly laughed, “No. There is much more to a conversion that just a bite,” he snapped.
“Testy, testy. Then tell me what it means Talon.” She wasn’t going to let him hide. She was curious what it meant to be a vampire since she’d never encountered one before. The only passages in any book she could find were faded and nearly destroyed with age. After he’d been banished, she’d gone on a mission to locate as much information as possible, but found their libraries lacking. Now she had a real life subject to interview.
Talon turned from her, hanging his head while he rubbed the back of his neck. This conversation was more difficult that he’d ever imagined, considering who his guest was. “Your blood is pure and full of magic. I’m hungrier than I anticipated and you caught me off guard, especially after waking me from that dream.”
