Deadly Beasts (The Curse of the Rose Book 1)

by T. M. Watkins

  His hair was a mess, I thought that styled hair was good on him, I was wrong. This was far better. Messy hair, the kind of hair that could be messed even more with too much time in bed. My cheeks flushed at the thought, I was insane for thinking like this. I was supposed to be thinking of something that I could impale him with, not the other way around. Snickering like a school girl, I settled back down onto his chest, toying with the few hairs on his sternum. I could gently pull on them, that might wake him up. Then again, I could rip them out, that would definitely wake him. As I laid in his embrace, I wondered why I was thinking like that. Here and now, I had bliss, why ruin it? His hand shifted on my back, his grip lessened on me. Taking the opportunity, I lifted my body to move away from him. I was going to roll over, I was going to move to the cooler side of the bed but I didn't. Instead I looked at him more.

  Foolish move, I knew I was done for the second I looked down at his angelic face. Sleeping William was intoxicating, my heart was beating hard as I leaned on one hand, sliding the other over the soft skin of his chest. Slowly moving higher to the rough bristle on his neck, the sharp hairs scratched over my palm as I moved to his jaw. Lay back down Mary, roll over and ignore him. Don't do it my mind howled as I ignored it and leaned down for one soft kiss. I wanted him to wake. I wanted his eyes to bolt open and catch me. If it ended in another fight, it would be nothing new. But if it went the opposite direction then that would be just perfect. I got nothing which was to be expected, my luck was what it always was. William didn't wake, he didn't flinch, he didn't move. The positives could be found though, his lips were tender, silky soft and left me wanting for a moment where he might want to kiss me. Hopefully sober this time unlike the terrible mistletoe headband incident. Or the kiss that turned into almost sex that was interrupted by unexpected visitors. That was a good kiss.

  I grinned and settled back down and enjoyed the close proximity until he woke. Then the nightmare would begin. No doubt he would blame me for this, stating something ridiculous like the fae in me lured him into the bed. It would be an all in brawl where he would go skulking off into the night and I would become a blubbering mess, again. I was becoming a little sick of the theatrics of this man and this place, all I wanted was normality. He might be good looking but he had moments where he could be bat shit crazy. I inwardly sighed, I figured I was no better. Being cooped up in this house with no light at the end of the tunnel was giving me a seriously bad case of cabin fever. No longer did I want to be loved, I just wanted to escape into the real world where I could walk down the street and feel alive. Not this shell of a being, lost in her days and nights of staring at the same walls and ceilings, fighting with a man that had no clue what he wanted and being the target of a species that seemed worse than the scariest of nightmares. Why did I walk down that alley?

  I knew the answer why and it was something that I hadn't told anyone. Him. He had come into the shop just before it shut, it had thrown me off guard because I thought he was in jail but he wasn't. He'd come in to gloat that he had won the appeal and that all of the charges were dropped and because he had lost his job, he was going to sue me for defamation. It didn't matter that I had nothing, he could sue me for everything I had, I didn't care about that. What I did care was that he had won his appeal, he had beaten me. Then the offer came, he would drop the charges if I opened my legs for him on a regular basis. That it could all be over in the blink of an eye, so long as I was a good girl and did what he told me to. The smarmy grin got larger as he leaned over the counter to whisper that I had a week to decide and if I was a smart girl, I would keep my mouth shut. That week had long since gone and I wondered what he had done. Had he gone to the lawyers has he threatened or had he forgotten about it seeing as I had pretty much disappeared off the face of the earth? Maybe walking down that alley hadn't been such a bad thing after all, I could change my look, make Porter give me a new identity and take off from this stink of a town. But then Spud's words rung through my head, I don't know how far you could actually get before he would call for your return. Would William let me go? No my mind whispered like the wind. So I was stuck, I knew it. Unless I could convince William to let me go, I was never going to escape.

  The dragons had settled, sleeping peacefully on the shield until William started to stir, then they got up and paced back and forth on the underside of my wrist. It was like they were readying for the impending war, readying to be split again when William would blow his stack and take off into the night. His arm coiled around me tighter, pressing me hard against his body. It moved higher, over my ribs and to the small patch of land just under my arm, right at the edge of my breast. Dangerously close. I thought about moving my arm off his chest and covering the area but it was like he had read my thoughts or felt the anxiety rippling through me. His other hand ran over my arm, settling on the edge of my shoulder. The soft smile on his face had dropped away, replaced by an intense frown. His body stiffened under me but still his grip on me was relentless, in fact I think he was holding me tighter. Carmella the air around us breathed. My body tightened at the sound of it, did he think he was in bed with his wife? Was he drunk again and had mistaken me for her? I'm sorry it whispered again. My body had frozen still, not daring to move in case I woke him. Was he talking to her, was that what this was? I silently prayed that I didn't do something like sneeze, I wanted to hear more. I've made my decision and it's final. The blue of the lantern flickered in the non-existent wind, casting a moving blue hue across the ceiling. It had grown in size making me wonder what was going on. Leave now, there is no life for you here.

  The dragon on my wrist could be seen in the growing light, it was shaking it's head like something was trying to invade it's mind. As it paced past the shield, it dropped it's head to scratch it over the pointed edge letting out a soft groan, almost a whimper. There is no love for you. The light in the blue lantern grew so large it smashed the glass, the light roared brightly from the base of it. I tried not to jump but it was hard not to, especially considering the sound was a small boom. Glass tinkled onto the bed beside us, the bedside and the floor, some had even punctured the wall. The light grew in it's intensity, almost like it was trying to start consuming the bedside table, setting fire to the place. My little dragon had burrowed his way into the vines, cowering from the nightmare that was going on around us. William remained asleep throughout it all, almost like he wanted to stay asleep. What other explanation could there be? How could anyone sleep through the booming sound of glass shattering and the flickering and growing light of the blue lantern?

  The hand that was on the underside of my arm pushed against my back, crushing me into him. It was a protective gesture, I knew this now. I understood. I think his wife had come here to kill me. Banished echoed the room. The light howled as it erupted into a blistering red hot flame, engulfing me in the heat. I gripped William hard as I watched bright eyed as the flames went from red to white, slowly dissipating with the howls. The room settled and slowly the dragon emerged from his hidey hole. What a great warrior you are my mind scoffed. William's body relaxed, visibly sagging back onto the bed. He was far more strained than I had thought he was. A soft sigh escaped him as his eyes opened, blinking and frowning as he got his bearings. The room was dark without the blue light, I could barely make his figure out.

  “Mary.” He whispered. His voice was soft and full of hope, there was no anger, no hate. “I'm sorry.” He rolled onto his side, keeping his grip firmly around me. No escape for me then. His breath was warm in the cool air, whispering across my skin as he searched me out. “I was blinded to her, I endangered your life in so many ways.”

  The pain in his voice was raw, filled with pure emotion. Could this be the final wall that he finally breaks down?

  “I didn't mean to hurt you.” His fingers edged the wound on my back. “I do care, forgive me.”

  All I could do was sigh and wrap my arms around him, feeling the warmth of his body against mine. “All is forgiven.” I whispered in th
e dark.

  “She was here.” He said low as he lifted his head. “I knew as soon as I walked into the masters office she was never coming back but still she came here wanting to know why.” He sighed as his fingers toyed with my hair, gently curling them in his fingers. “Even though she had no intention of coming back to me, she was livid that you were here. She knew that I had made another claim, hers had been broken and she knew that she had been replaced.”

  I did not like that word, replaced. I was not a replacement, especially not for her.

  “She had come here with the intention of reinstating the claim, binding us back together so that she could keep her hold on me forever.” His lips hovered over mine, barely any distance between us. “I'm sorry, I never thought that she could be like that. I didn't think she could ever be so brutal as to kill another just to keep a hold of me.”

  I bristled at the word kill. I know I had suspected it was the case but to actually have confirmation that I was right, that his wife wanted me dead, it was harsh.

  “But she's gone, right? Can't come back?”

  “Banished into the underworld means forever, no escape.”

  Even though I wanted to say good riddance, I held my tongue. No goading him, no spite. Just keep my mouth shut.

  “So you were here to protect me?”

  “That is my job.” He murmured.

  Sadly I nodded, hoping that the wall I was slowly building to shut him out would hold the wave of anguish that was building rapidly. I wriggled out of his embrace and sat up on the bed, looking down at him in the dark. The edges of his body could barely be made out, the contours of his chest and abdominal muscles. He was an incredible specimen and still not available to me. Even with the wife gone.

  I knew the sun was still up, it was on the other side of the house and it wasn't time for William to leave yet. That left far too much time for me to handle. He seemed content to lay on my bed and nothing more. Nothing more my mind huffed. Could it not get out of the gutter for just a moment? No, this is about love and affection, both of which you are sorely lacking in. As I wrapped my arms around one bent knee, I sighed lightly. Was there ever going to be an end to my nightmare?

  “What's wrong?”

  You. My mind whispered.

  “Nothing.”

  Liar.

  “You would be surprised at how much information this offers to the other person.” His finger traced one of the cuffs on my wrist. “I can tell you are upset, so how about you stop dragging things out and just say it?”

  “Just wondering about my life after the lycan is caught.” I lied.

  If I were to be truthful, it would be a long list of things that were plaguing my mind. Him and these dragons that seem intent on annoying me, my life in general, the revelation of what I truly am. I could find many things to hold concern over.

  “You're not still thinking of the camper van, are you?”

  I shrugged even though it was pointless, he wouldn't have seen it. “Would you let me go?”

  And then there was silence. It didn't last for long but it was enough to convey the message. Wrong. Wrong on so many levels.

  “I just banished my wife into the underworld.” He sat up far too close to me. “Regardless of what kind of woman she truly was, I just sent her into an eternity of suffering. Blinding pain in a sea of black, wallowing in misery the likes of which I can guarantee you will never know. So tell me, after giving her up in favour of you, why would I want to let you go?”

  He sighed as he moved away, fussing with his clothes as he redressed. “If you remain as my claim then you will be like Marty and Spud, you will become a member of my world. There is the issue of the fact that you are not human but it does not mean that you can not remain within this circle. However being that you are a light being you are entitled to break the claim if you so choose. You can walk away and never look back.”

  The door swiftly opened and slammed closed again before I could even say a word. Yet again I was lost. Yet again I had opened my mouth and of course, it was the worst possible outcome.

  Chapter Twenty-five

  I had to deal with this, it was driving me crazy. Dressing quickly into a simple and plain dress, my heart was pounding. If he was giving mixed signals or if he was just being aloof, I didn't care. I wanted a straight yes or no answer, once and for all. Scampering down the stairs, I searched for him in the den and the parlour, nothing. I knew he hadn't left, the dragons were still doing the same as each other, though they were acting a little odd. They were rubbing themselves against the corners of the shield, purring puffs of smoke was rising.

  I searched through the remaining parts of the lower level, the only person I found was Spud who was picking the mud from his shoes in the utility room. With confusion on his face he set them aside and followed me, shouting that my dinner would go cold if I didn't go to the dining room and eat it. I didn't care, I was determined to finish this nightmare of emotions. I bustled back up the stairs, frowning at how odd Spud was acting. All it did was set my determination firmly in place. My hand was on the door knob of William's bedroom before Spud caught up with me, I was glad that he didn't manage to stop me. I was glad of what I found beyond the door, it answered my question quite clearly.

  It never occurred to me to question Marty's presence in the house. I had just assumed that she was here because Spud was and they were part of William's world. But as I looked upon the two of them sprawled on the bed, William with his fangs sunk into her neck and the look of ecstasy on her face, I understood everything. She gripped the shirt on his back as her eyes fluttered, her legs sprawled wide for him to lay upon her. They were dressed, but all I could wonder as I stood and watched was, how far would this go? Slowly I began to step away, my gaze never leaving them. I could feel the warmth of Spud behind me, stopping me from going any further. He cleared his throat, which I couldn't understand why he did it. Tears rolled down my cheeks as I watched them realise they had been caught doing whatever the hell this was. Marty shrieked as she pushed William off her, trying to pull her dress down.

  “It's not what you think.” She spluttered.

  “Really?” I said dryly as I flicked the tears away.

  I looked at William, his glacial stare said it all. Say something. Do something. Prove yourself worthy.

  “I uh... I should go.” She murmured.

  As she closed the gap between us, I could feel Spud's hands on my arms. Likely to stop me from attacking his sister. He pulled me aside to let her past, I could feel the unease radiating heavily around me. Spud's grip on me eased slightly, I could feel the bristles of his stubble as he whispered in my ear.

  “It is common for a lower member to offer or be asked to feed the elder of their family, what they were doing was not abnormal. However the way they were doing it, was. How you take it from here is your own choice Mary but think before you speak. For the sanity of everyone who reside in this house, tread carefully.”

  And with that I was pushed into the room and the door was slammed shut behind me. I looked down at the dragons who had burrowed their way into the vines again. Hiding, how I wished I could join them.

  “Why?” I asked with a soft tone.

  “Why not?” He said smugly. “She is mine to command. If I told her to offer herself to me, she would have to.”

  “But would you?”

  He got off the bed and strolled to the curtains, flicking them back to reveal the darkness of the night. “If the circumstances were right, then I might consider it.”

  I didn't think it was possible to stick the knife in any deeper, but he had.

  “Did you kiss her?”

  “What difference does that make? I think you need to re-evaluate your questions.”

  Bastard. Complete and utter bastard.

  “Do you love her?”

  Did I want to know the answer? Yes, finish this once and for all. No more grey areas, black and white and obvious.

  “I suppose with time that might be poss
ible. Though at the moment she is nothing more than a convenience.”

  “Am I a convenience too? Would you treat me with such disrespect?”

  I wrapped my arms around myself, trying to cover myself from the cold. In my haste to find him, I hadn't selected a jumper and now I was suffering for it. William grinned as he thumbed the dark curtains, mulling his words as he looked at me.

  “No, you are far from a convenience and as for how you are treated.” He shrugged as he started to move closer. “I give as good as I get, if you want to be treated the same way then by all means, get on the bed.”

  I wiped the tears and shook my head, not wanting anything like that. It seemed too detached and unemotional, it wasn't love, it was feeding mixed with lust.

  “Well then, what do you want Mary?”

  “For you to stop treating me like I'm the enemy, like you hate me. You put a claim on me to stop Nick but what about this, what makes this right? Why would you do that with her?” Tears rolled freely. “It's not as if I haven't made myself clear yet you seem intent on giving me a taste of it and then ripping it away from me.”

  He moved closer, far too close. I pushed him away but it was pointless, he grabbed my wrists and tried to settle me. There was no settling this down, this had just escalated.

  “Just tell me that you hate me and be done with it.” I cried.

  “Stop it.” He snarled dragging me into his body. “I don't hate you.”

  “Then why?” I sobbed as he clutched me tight.