“I’m afraid not. That kind of connection doesn’t happen often. It’s called an animus connection…soul connection. We’ve never been able to explain why they happen, but they are powerful and aren’t something that can be broken. It’s like the two individuals share a life force, or a soul. I can’t find any record of it happening between a Fae and another creature. The connection is strengthened the closer in proximity the two individuals are. Based on what I could see from Rena, this man has been getting closer and closer to here, which is why the dreams are increasing in frequency and intensity.”
Mari’s mind was shattering trying to process the information that Illwyn was telling her. She pulled her knees up to her chest, hugging them tightly. The implications of what this meant was beyond frightening to her. She eyed her uncle warily and could sense that he was still keeping part of the story from her.
“I feel like you’re not telling me part of the picture,” she sighed in frustration, dreading what else her uncle could possible think was too much for her to hear.
“This man, if all of these things are related like I think they are, is incredibly dangerous,” Illwyn explained, “The man I brought with me earlier, Riley, was his friend. They fought and he brutally injured Riley, who is barely recovering from his injury. Just making the trip out here has taxed him more than I think he would ever admit. He’s come to help find his friend.”
“His friend fell under the control of someone who is incredibly powerful, and ultimately endangering everything we know. She’s the reason I am here. She has been collecting various creatures around the Eastern region, and now suddenly fled west to here, no less. The bear I had asked you to track down, we think is one of those, who have fallen in with her. I fear, what happened with Rena, was this woman taking advantage of the link between you and the fire dragon. I suspect she was able to use it to bridge the gap between all of you, and pull Rena’s power beyond being bound.”
“Can’t you just put Rena’s power back? I mean, binding can be done and undone. We do it all the time,” Mari asked in confusion. She wasn’t sure what this all meant for her sister, but she felt a flood of guilt over the fact that she had definitely been responsible for what happened to her sister.
“We can’t, dear,” Illwyn explained, “Power isn’t meant to be shifted away from a person like that. It’s an act against nature, and the costs of playing with power like that are deadly. I fear that’s what makes this situation with your connection so dangerous. The same thing was done to the fire dragon you’re linked with.”
Mar stared down at the circle pattern on her bedding. Rena was stuck in limbo. Mari was linked to a fire dragon who was also stuck in limbo with his power. Mari’s mind was searching for any solution she could see to the situation.
“Can’t we just get rid of this woman? The one doing all of this? Who is she, anyway?” Mari asked eagerly. She was searching for any kind of answer that would at least give her some sense of solace, some goal she could focus on to take her mind off it all.
“I honestly don’t know, dear,” Illwyn sighed, “The best we’ve come up with is trying to have you, Magni, Riley, Valentyn, and the missing Bear’s brother head out and try to see if we can find one of them. Either the missing dragon or bear. We just need to find someone who may be able to at least lead us to where the woman is.”
Mari frowned, still sensing that her uncle was hiding things from her. She couldn’t figure out why he was still being so secretive. She felt minutely better that there was at least some sort of plan that could be put into place. She was less than thrilled it meant having to travel anywhere with William, who looked at her like a piece of meat, and Riley, who probably thought she was a wanton hussy.
“When are we supposed to be leaving?” She asked with the weight of just how tired she was starting to settle around her, weighing her down.
“Tomorrow morning.”
“How is Rena doing with all this? Is she going to be ok?” Mari asked, realizing that had been her main concern before she so rudely interrupted their dinner. She loved her sister and felt immensely guilty that she had so easily forgotten in her interest in hearing what her uncle was telling her.
“She is very different right now,” Illwyn said cautiously, “It’s going to take her some time to adjust to how she’s feeling. I would recommend you get some sleep, and check on her in the morning since she’s resting. You need the sleep, and should be able to at least get a full night’s sleep without having to worry about any more burn marks.”
Illwyn rose from the bed and moved to the door. He felt terrible that all of this was weighing so heavily on this younger generation. He had no idea how he was supposed to explain to them that the woman, Kali–that they were dealing with–was corrupted as a direct result of the actions that he, his sister, and Mari’s father had taken years ago.
“Mari,” he said as he paused looking back at her, “Your human friend, Ben? Try not to take him for granted in all this. You need him more than you realize right now.”
Illwyn turned and exited, leaving Mari stunned in a state of confusion, guilt, and exhaustion. She had no idea what her uncle had meant by what he said about Ben, but she had a sinking feeling that nothing good could come from Ben being wrapped up in this. With a deep sigh, she reached over to the lamp by her beside and turned it off. She plugged her phone in, and laid back on the pillow feeling the weight of everything crushing her emotionally. Her fingers traced the intricate design of her bracelet as her mind drifted quickly off to sleep, despite her hesitation over whether the bracelet would or wouldn’t work.
Chapter 8
Mari found herself back in that foggy, shadowed room she was growing to know so well. She was standing at the foot of the bed, shivering as cool air enveloped her naked body. Ripples of goosebumps traveled the length of her body. The light hairs on her arms stood on end, and she felt more than just the cool air causing her body to react.
Muscular tan hands slid lightly around her hips, traveling up her torso to draw her back against a broad muscular chest. Every inch of Mari’s body was crying out for more. Her head fell slightly to the side, and she felt his lips grazing the skin along her neck and shoulder, a mixture of soft kisses and a few nips of teeth. She felt herself relaxing back against the man’s body. A soft moan escaping from her lips as his hands explored her body.
The heat of his touch was still scorching her body at every point of contact, but the edge of pain that had ridden behind that touch was gone. Mari felt herself letting her guard down as her nipples hardened at his teasing touch. Her head was buzzing as thoughts drifted away and were replaced simply by her inner need for them to just be closer. She craved the heat of his touch.
The man’s hands slid down to her hips and gently spun her towards him, before lifting her up cradling her body against his body, as he moved the few steps to the bed before gently laying her down. He crawled over her, supporting his weight on his hands and sinking to his elbows. Black curly hair hung down around his face, accentuating the shadow that was obscuring his face.
Mari looked up at his body above her in awe. His tan skin looked even more like caramel in contrast to her stark pale skin. She slid her hands boldly from his shoulders down the sides of his broad back. Every muscle beneath her touch seemed to tense as she trailed fingers across the smooth surface of his skin. She was pleased to hear the deepest of groans build in his chest. The reaction seemed to embolden her even more. She trailed her fingers back up using her nails to lightly trace her path back up to his shoulders.
A smile was pulling at her mouth, but was quickly replaced as he sank down quickly crushing her lips with his own. One large hand slid down the length of her body, pulling her leg up and wrapping it around him, and she obligingly wrapped the other around his waist.
Mari could feel the tip of his erection teasing gently against her entrance, causing her thoughts to swim with the dizzying heat between them. She more th
an just wanted him buried deep inside her; she needed it desperately. She ached for the perfect closeness. Her body was arching and writhing as she attempted to remedy the lack of closeness between them. She ground her hips up against his tip, pressing it barely into herself.
She inhaled sharply as she realized just how large he was. She could feel everything stretching in an attempt to accommodate him. Mari wanted nothing more than to feel him sink into her, but he seemed to be hesitating. Mari circled her hips, enjoying the intense heat between them and wishing more than anything to feel all of him within her.
The small circle of her hips seemed to be enough to drive him to action. He thrust into her in a swift motion, increasing in pressure and force as he attempted to bury himself in her up to the hilt. His body was tense with every action, losing himself more and more every time Mari brought her hips up to meet his.
Mari’s breath was coming in ragged breaths, moans escaping her lips every time his length delved deeper within her. The moans became gasps of pleasure as he began hitting the very end of her velvet sheath. As he seemed to increase the relentless rhythm between them, Mari’s thoughts became less and less coherent. Mari’s eyes closed against the incredible heat between them as she felt a wave of pure ecstasy boiling within her. Her body was clenching around him, her hips rushing up to meet his and with every stroke, she felt herself edging closer and closer to that cliff that seemed before her.
His body tensed above her, he seemed to crash into her a few more times as he came into her. Mari’s body rippled as wave after wave of heat washed over her, causing her mind to fade into a sheer blissfulness as she crashed over that edge with him. Her hips circled up against him a few more times as small aftershocks seemed to course through her body. She sighed deeply, enjoying the feeling of complete fullness as he rolled them onto their sides, still within her.
Mari’s body was consumed with a residual heat, and felt as if her body should be glowing a deep fiery red, with the ember of heat that seemed to settle deep within her. Her mind was fading to white, blissful and content, as she felt warm fingertips tracing the edge of her face.
˜
Light streamed in through the curtains of Mari’s room as the sun rose, patterns of reflections dancing across her face as she laid peacefully in her bed. Her eyes fluttered as consciousness fought to bring her back to the surface. She was rolled on her side, as she had been in her dream, but her arms and bed were tragically empty. Mari felt that lack and emptiness sharply.
Mari pushed herself out of bed, examining herself in her full-length mirror. She had been so concerned whether the bracelet would or wouldn’t work, but as soon as she was sleeping, that concern had flown out the window. Her fingers traced along her body, pleased to find no marks and burns. If anything, she looked at her reflection and felt like she was almost glowing. She blushed furiously just thinking about what she had dreamt the night before. Closing her eyes, Mari could recall images of smooth tan muscles, and the glorious feeling of him.
She recalled what her uncle had told her about the man from her dreams. She couldn’t understand how he could be the person he had described. Mari couldn’t explain why she felt that way, she had never met him, and had nothing but these strange encounters to go on, but she had this deep feeling that he wasn’t as bad a person as he was made out to be that she couldn’t shake.
Mari ran her fingers through her tangled mess of blond curls and sighed. She looked like she had done the things in her dream. Her hair looked like creatures were living in it again. She wasn’t sure she wanted to face her brothers, let alone this newcomer, Riley, looking like she had been well and properly fucked the night before.
Retreating to the bathroom, Mari hurried to get ready. Her mind was becoming clearer and clearer as she woke up. She knew that she needed to focus on the tasks at hand, and helping her sister, and not her mysterious dream partner. Mari was finding it more difficult than she realized to put him out of her mind though, as every time she brushed against specific places he had touched her she could feel some sort of latent tremor course through her body. A desperate need for that touch was floating around the edges of her consciousness distracting her.
Mari pulled on what clothes she assumed would function for their task. Tracking people was often no more difficult than simply talking to the right people, but it could also include traipsing around all manner of woods and mountains in their region. Opting for a simple black tank top that was fitted around her large, curvy breasts, and jeans, Mari grabbed a jacket and long sleeve shirt to take with her. She assumed layers would be her best bet, along with her pair of broken in sneakers.
Mari made her way quietly out into the hall way, intending to head for the kitchen. She paused outside of her sister’s room. She opened the door quietly, without knocking. Peeking slowly around the door, she saw her sister laid out on her bed.
Mari thought she seemed so small, sunken in on herself. Where there had once been a bright spark of life behind her eyes, she now stared dully and muted out at the wall across from her. Her hair was matted around her in a damp pile.
“Rena?”
Mari watched, hoping for some sort of response, but was disappointed as her sister continued to do nothing but stare out at the wall blankly. The vision of her sister laying there so void of any emotion struck Mari to her core. She resolved that they had to find this woman, and figure out some way to get her to fix this. She closed Rena’s door quietly behind her and wandered down the hall, feeling guilt nagging at her mind.
Mari chastised herself for being so wrapped up in her dreams, and the feeling she had from them that she had seemingly forgotten about her sister all this time. She was still so wrapped up in her thoughts as she entered the kitchen, she didn’t realize that Riley was standing in front of her until she ran lightly into him. She bounced off his hardened, muscular body with a startled gasp as her hands pressed against his chest and his strong hands circled her waist to steady her.
Her eyes were inspecting her hands that were spread across his bare chest. She flushed as her gaze lingered a moment before it trailed up to look him in the eye. She couldn’t figure out what was wrong with her. Apparently, she was just turning into a wanton slut. That was the only explanation she could find as she felt her body ripple with desire as she glimpsed a darkening in those light grey eyes.
“You mountain Fae have the strangest ways of greeting guests,” Riley laughed down at her lightly, “Between the orgasmic dinner and being accosted when trying to find coffee, what’s a guy to think?”
Riley’s teasing was enough to cool Mari’s desire; she was irritated that he seemed so flippant about what was an incredibly difficult thing for her. She attempted to push herself away from him in frustration. Mari scowled at him as she felt his hands tightening, not releasing their hold on her waist.
“A guy can think whatever he wants,” she snapped, “Let me go and get out of the way so I can get to the coffee pot.” She twisted again, and his hands dropped away this time as he stepped back chuckling at her.
Mari watched warily as Riley leaned back against the opposite counter out of her way. She watched as his face contorted in pain for a moment before settling back into the teasing grin, though it seemed a little strained now that she had distance between them and could focus.
“Are all dragons this obnoxious, or is that just your special talent in life? Offending everyone you meet?” Mari asked as she started moving around the kitchen and making the coffee. Her mind traced back to what her uncle had said about Riley recovering from an injury. She wanted to ask him about the injury, the fight, about Riley’s friend who was apparently the man she’d been dreaming about, but the words died in her throat.
The idea of talking about the dark man was terrifying to her. Mari didn’t want to think about the fact that he was a real person out there in the world. It was all so hard to process, even when she’d been thinking she was just going crazy. At least it was just a
dream is what she had been telling herself.
Riley stepped closer to Mari, his body inches from hers where she stood before the coffee pot. He shifted his weight a bit as he reached up easily reaching the coffee mugs over Mari’s head and placing them down on the counter. He was enjoying the effect his closeness seemed to have on her, as she blushed deeply again.
“Would it help if I apologized?” He asked, his tone bordering on something of a tease and sincerity. “I can’t really seem to help myself.”
“You’re ridiculous,” Mari scoffed as she poured coffee in the two mugs that he had placed before her, “I’m not nearly caffeinated enough for this.”
Riley grinned down at her with a soft chuckle. He had the sinking suspicion he would enjoy Mari’s company as a friend. She seemed to be unwilling to fall for his antics as quickly as other woman he’d met. She was attracted to him, he could tell that much from the repeated blushes, but she didn’t launch herself after him or ooze lust the way other women had. She was interesting, and he found the banter they had started amusing if nothing else.
“I’ve been called worse,” Riley admitted as he turned his back to her and started adding creamer and a gallon of sugar to his coffee. He turned to look at Mari, offering them to her.
Mari’s eyes widened as she saw the angry red gash that was recently healing down the entire underside of his arm and back. The reality of just how bad an injury it would take to leave a shifter with that kind of wound after the fact was sobering for her. Shifters had incredibly rapid healing responses, and from what her uncle had said, Riley had been injured weeks ago.
“What, no sugar?” Riley asked as he turned back to face Mari. He had felt her eyes on him, and was sure she was looking at the tear down his back. It was painful still, aching deep within him. The healers at his clan had done the best they could. Riley could still shift, but every time he did, he reinjured the fragile skin there. The best they could tell him was, he could shift, but it would be painful and there would be no way he could fly at least until the injury was given enough time to heal fully.
Touch of Fire (Into the Darkness Book 1) Page 7
