Beyond The Veil: A Paranormal & Magical Romance Boxed Set

by Multiple Authors

  "Don't leave this room, Redlynn. I mean it, don't leave. I can't protect you if you leave this room right now. So please, listen to me this once. I'll be back in a minute."

  Her mind whirled and her heart pounded. Sweat no longer beaded on her skin. "I need air."

  "I'll open the window." He moved to the wall, pushed open the glass. "Please, Red. Please stay here." His eyes pleaded with her. He rushed from the room.

  Redlynn whipped her head from side to side on the pillow and moaned. A cool breeze rolled over her skin, taunting her with scent of the woods. Stream water, the moss, even dirt. The woods called to her, tempting and begging her to join them.

  The moon, swollen, round and white, shone brighter than she'd ever seen. A million twinkling lights teased her with their brilliance. A pain shot through her belly and up into her chest. Redlynn gasped for air as the twinge shot through her limbs.

  I have to get out of here!

  She stood once more and headed for the door, stepping barefoot into the hallway. Slowly she made her way toward the dining hall. She reached the balcony. Several men drank down below. Some were playing darts, others were playing cards or arm wrestling. One of the men playing cards stopped and sniffed the air.

  "You smell that?" he asked.

  Another man sniffed the air as well. "What is that?"

  "It smells like—"

  A groan escaped one of the men. "That's delicious. It makes me want to just—"

  Most of the men had stopped what they were doing now, and lifted their noses into the air to sniff. It's me!

  Redlynn melted into the cool stone wall behind her and slid sideways toward the staircase. Below, the men talked and whispered. When she reached the bottom step, she slunk as far into the shadows as possible and crossed to the entrance hall. Her heart pounded. If they found her, they'd call for Blain, and she wouldn't be able to get into the woods. She needed to go to the woods. She needed the river. Her mother's river.

  "I think I'll see where Jelosa is." A redheaded male rushed from the room.

  "Yes." Fendrick stood and rubbed his hand over his scalp. "I think... Hanna... " Then he, too, rushed from the room.

  What was going on? Redlynn reached the door and slid out as Blain rushed in from the kitchen area. He stopped and sniffed the air.

  "To your rooms," he barked.

  The men grumbled, but they obeyed the command. Redlynn closed the door and crossed to the entrance. She stumbled and almost fell, but caught herself and kept moving. When the exterior door opened, the wind whipped into her face and she took a deep breath, filling her lungs with the night air.

  "Lady Redlynn!"

  The call came from behind her. It was Dax. He was going to stop her. Redlynn dashed down the stone steps. She moved too quickly and almost fell, but Dax was there and caught her. Blast it all!

  "Lady Redlynn, what are you doing out here? You're supposed to be inside."

  "I need water."

  "Let me get you some."

  "I need moss." She stumbled forward, trying to make her way to the bridge. Her limbs felt like oatmeal.

  Dax reluctantly helped her move, glancing over his shoulder to the castle several times. "Lady Redlynn, please. I don't want trouble with Adrian and Blain."

  "Just let me go to the water and moss."

  "Moss? No, please—"

  "Leave me," she shouted, shaking him off. "I need water!" Redlynn took several steps forward. She was almost to the gate when he rushed up to her. She spotted the pitchfork from the night before. Stooping, she grabbed it and spun around, impaling Dax in the leg. He let out an inhuman roar.

  Redlynn released the pitchfork and it stuck where it was, its prongs deep in his thigh. Dax roared in pain. Blood oozed from the wound, making her stomach lurch and her head spin. "I didn't mean to... I didn't..." Wide-eyed, she backed away from Dax as he clutched at his leg. Her hand flew to her mouth, stifling a cry. What's wrong with me? I just injured a defenseless man! "I'm sorry," she whispered. "I didn't mean to..."

  Dax ripped the pitchfork from his leg, bleeding heavily. "You can't go into the woods." He limped forward. "Lady Redlynn, you can't."

  "I need water. My mother used to take me... the moss..." she mumbled. Redlynn moved to the drawbridge, through the gate, and made for the woods. Behind her Dax screamed Blain's name.

  Chapter Eleven

  Adrian approached the cave with caution. Juda and Jale, already in human form, stood at the entrance. Angus and the other wolves moved away as he stood on his hind legs and shifted.

  "Bloodsucker," he called into the cave.

  There was no answer.

  "Bloodsucker, show yourself. This is Prince Adrian of Wolvenglen, show yourself, or I'll send my wolves in to tear you apart." He was in no mood to play games.

  From the depths of the cave, a shadow moved and a tall, pale figure with blond hair walked out into the mouth of the cave. He wore a leather traveling cloak and had a sword strapped to his back.

  "Who are you, and why are you on my lands, bloodsucker?"

  "Sageren. My name is Sageren, not Bloodsucker. But you may call me Sage."

  "What are you doing on my lands, Sage? Many of you have been here lately."

  "So I've seen."

  "What do you want?"

  "What do I want? Or what do they want?" Sage questioned.

  Adrian was in no mood. He growled. "Don't play games."

  "What they want is blood. What I want is to tell you about it."

  "Why?"

  "Because someone in the woods is helping them get the blood. I've heard that they took some girls. Virgins."

  "Who's helping them?" Adrian asked.

  Sage shook his head. "That, I don't know."

  "And why are you telling me this?" Adrian demanded, his patience waning.

  "Because you protect the humans, specifically the girls that are being taken. I think the Weres have suffered enough at the hands of my uncle, the king. And I don't agree with what is currently being done to the humans by my kind."

  "What do mean to the humans?" Adrian took a step closer to Sage. Had they gotten through his borders into the farmlands? "Are there more than the girls?"

  Sage shifted his stance and scanned the wolves. "Let me take care of that. You just worry about your women."

  "You're Lothar's son, the deposed vampire heir." It made sense.

  "I am." Sage leaned casually against the cave wall.

  Adrian let the news sink in. He'd heard the stories of the royal family being murdered by Philos when he took the throne from his brother. If this were the exiled Prince Sageren, this information would most likely come at a price. He may seem like a friend now, but you could never trust a bloodsucker. "So, what do you want in return for this information?"

  "Your possible help in regaining my kingdom, should the time ever arise."

  "I have no desire for another all out war with the vampires." Adrian crossed his arms over his chest.

  "War is coming for the vampires whether you help or not. If you help, my side might stand a better chance at winning."

  "And what does that do for me?"

  Sage chuckled and then sighed. "I told you about the females. I should think that'd be enough. Even so, I promise that should I retake the throne, any vampire caught bringing unwilling humans into Tanah Darah will be executed."

  Adrian tried to concentrate on the offer, but his thoughts continued to travel to Redlynn. "If we are able to find the girls, and they are still alive, you may call on me should you find yourself in need of support."

  "But, Lord Adrian—" Juda broke in.

  Adrian spun and bared his teeth. The wolf stood his ground for a moment, and then lowered his gaze.

  "Thank you, Prince Adrian," Sage said. "May your woods be fruitful, and you find an end to your curse soon."

  A ripple of grunts and growls ran through Adrian's pack. He turned at the sounds of a wolf shifting. Angus was on his feet. Brushing his shaggy red hair from his face, he mov
ed to Adrian's side.

  "Lord Adrian, I need to speak with you."

  "What is it?" Angus was older, and deserved respect, but this was not the time.

  Angus looked from Adrian to Sage and back again. "We've just been told that your…" Angus's eyes travelled to Sage. "Guest," he continued, "is in the woods."

  Redlynn was in the wood. And though Sage had helped them, he was a vampire, and she was human. He turned to Sage. "Our business is concluded. You need to leave my woods immediately."

  "I see that you're busy. So I will let myself out."

  "Angus will escort you to the border." Adrian nodded to Angus.

  "As you wish." Sage gave a slight bow. Adrian didn't have time to watch him leave, because he was already shifting. Once in wolf form, he felt Blain's presence.

  "What happened?" he snarled. "I left you in charge."

  "She was burning up. I went to get her a drink and she slipped out of the castle. Dax found her and tried to stop her, but she impaled him with a pitchfork."

  "Is he alright?"

  "He'll be fine. She got him in the leg. Hanna was patching him when I left. I think she was delirious. She kept telling Dax she wanted water and moss."

  "What the hell does that mean?"

  "I don't know."

  "Where are you?" Adrian leapt over a felled tree.

  "I'm heading to the river."

  "I'll meet you there." There was a long silence as Adrian sprinted south. "Is there something else?" Dodging a snake, he ran up onto a rock, hurdled off, and landed ten feet away without a sound. Pulling air into his lungs, he tried to catch her scent. Blain was unusually quiet. "What is it?" He wasn't sure he could handle much more.

  "She's in season."

  "What do you mean? Women get their cycles all the time. Why is this so different?"

  "I don't know Adrian, but she smells different. This isn't a woman's bleeding time, she's fertile."

  "How in the world can you possibly know that?"

  "All I know is when you catch her scent, it will be all you will want. No disrespect intended. But every male in the castle smelled it. I had to send them to their rooms. As bad as it is for her to be out here, it's better than her being there, trust me. The scent she's giving off."

  What was going on? He stopped, stuck his nose in the air and sniffed, pulling air into his lungs again. The howl that cut through the night was something he couldn't hold back.

  "You smell her."

  "What the—"

  "I don't know, but we better find her before someone else does."

  "The Bloodsucker's gone," said Angus.

  "Angus, you and the others, get to the castle. Blain, you go as well. Make sure the gate is dropped and the bridge secured. I don't want any of the men getting into the woods tonight."

  "Aye," said Angus.

  "I'm on it," said Blain.

  Sage was gone, and the wolves were headed to the castle. Now all Adrian had to do was find her. And fast.

  Chapter Twelve

  Adrian ran toward the scent of Redlynn, his very core answering the call that her body was sending. He ran on pure instinct, unable to understand what was going on. Finding her was his biggest priority.

  His nose led him to the river. He turned north at the edge of the water and followed it toward the castle. After running for several miles, the fragrance grew so intense that he had to stop. Standing in the shadow of a large redwood, he shifted to human. He was naked, but there was nothing for it. He had no choice.

  Moving easily to the bank, he walked a short way before he saw her. She lay on her back in the river, floating in her gown. But she wasn't moving. Panic rushed through him. Wading out into the water, he moved swiftly toward her.

  "Redlynn! Redlynn," he called. He was almost to her when she turned slightly. "Redlynn," he whispered, lifting her into his arms and cradling her against his chest. He kissed her cheek in relief. Her skin was hot as coals. All he wanted to do was mate with her. He'd never smelled something that called to him the way her body did at that moment. Only the cold river water kept his desire in check.

  Tension bunched his muscles as he held her close. He swallowed. He needed to get her to land, but out of the water, there'd be no hiding his arousal. His wolf begged for her. "What are you doing out here?"

  "I needed water."

  "We have water in Wolvenglen." The relief of finding her and the terror of her condition collided inside. His heart pounded as he held her close and kissed her cheek. He couldn't concentrate.

  "My mother used to bring me to the river."

  "My mother used to do the same for me," he said. "Only she did it in the tub. Come, let me take you somewhere safe, where Hanna can look after you."

  "I miss her so much." She stared into his eyes. Her chin quivered and Adrian pulled her close and kissed her hair.

  It had been years since he'd let in the pain he felt at the loss of his own mother, but holding Redlynn in his arms, hearing her own sorrow, brought it all back.

  "She was so wonderful. Amazing and strong. She didn't deserve what happened to her. She didn't deserve to be married to my father, or have a daughter who was an outcast. She deserved better."

  He looked her in the eyes. The sorrow of her life seemed to be spilling out. Everything she'd ever been through, all of the jeers and taunts. The unmet expectations and pain. How could someone so beautiful have been treated so poorly?

  He shook his head. "You're wrong. She did deserve you. How you see yourself… I wish you could see yourself through my eyes."

  "Lay me on the moss," she whispered.

  "Redlynn—"

  "Please, Adrian. Lay me on the moss. Let me see the stars and remember my mother."

  He didn't want her to stay out here, but maybe it was better that she did; the scent she was giving off was dangerous—dangerous for both of them. He was barely holding back his instinct to take her and make her his mate, and he was stronger than most. Some of his men wouldn't be able to withstand.

  "Your eyes are golden again," she whispered. Lifting a hand she stroked his cheek. "Why are they like mine?"

  His chest tightened. He wanted to tell her, but he honestly didn't know why her eyes were like his, or why she saw his wolf eyes when he was in human form.

  "Let me carry you to the moss." He was naked and without a horse, what else could he do? For all of his parents' counsel, his years of learning, tutelage and reading, nothing had prepared him for something like this.

  Her body was weightless in his arms as he carried her out to the bank and laid her on a patch of moss. Above them, the clouds covered the moon. He sat next to her and swallowed down a whimper. He was sure that she'd be dead from fever before morning. Her eyes weren't focusing clearly, and she blinked at him slowly.

  Hot, moist tears stung his eyes. He refused to cry in front of her, but the despair inside him was like nothing he'd known. He'd gotten too close, even though he'd promised himself he wouldn't. The pit in his stomach was only going to get worse after her passing.

  "You're naked," she said after a while.

  "Uh... Yes, I am." He crossed his legs and hung his head.

  "Why?"

  Tell her! Tell her the truth!

  She turned her head to stare upward. "Have you ever stared up at the stars before? I've never seen them so bright."

  "Every night when I run I look at the stars." What does it matter now if she is going to die? Tell her.

  "Do you run every night?"

  "Yes. There's a grove not far from here. When you're well I'll take you there. You can lie in the tall grass and see all of the stars above. We'll go there and I'll show you the patterns I make with them. There's a dragon and a warrior. Mage towers and a giant cow." He looked over at her and his chest clenched. She looked worse. Her cheeks were as red as strawberries and her eyes as glassy as a pool of water."

  "And I'll show you the giant castle where I used to dream I'd live. And the giant bird that used to carry me there." She stared
up into the trees. "There's nothing more lovely than the stars."

  "There's one thing."

  Her gaze turned upon him. Her eyelids closed and then opened again slowly. Pain marred her features.

  "I ache for you," she said, her voice husky and low.

  "I ache for you, too," he whispered. Gods in the heavens, he ached for her like he'd never ached before.

  "Then why, Adrian? Why will you not make love to me?"

  "Because I am trying to be a gentleman." He tried to concentrate on anything but the desires rushing through him. Her body called to him like a siren's song. And her words only made it worse.

  "I don't want a gentleman. I want you." She laid her hand on his arm.

  Her slender fingers felt like candle flames licking his skin. Leaning near her, he picked up her hand, kissed it, and then each delicate fingernail. Turning her hand over, he kissed her palm, and up her wrist. The silence of the forest was like a cocoon. Her scent drifted on the breeze, invading him.

  "Adrian. Why do I ache for you? Ever since I first laid eyes on you, I have been drawn to you. But these past two nights, it has become a pain that I cannot understand."

  He trailed light kisses up her arm. He didn't want to think, just feel.

  "The pain, the need inside of me, it's excruciating. Like I'm going to explode if I don't have you. Please, Adrian, make it stop."

  Her words flooded into him. The breathy way she called his name was all it took. There was no stopping him now. If she were going to die, he'd have her die knowing that he cared. Tomorrow, he knew he'd regret it if he didn't. A tear dripped from his eye, and he kissed the crook of her elbow. Lifting her arm, she twined her fingers through his hair. They locked eyes.

  The walls around his heart crumbled to pieces. Looking into her eyes, he saw it. Redlynn should have been his mate, and he'd give her whatever she asked.

  He kissed up her arm to her collarbone. Peppering her, he kissed from her neck to her earlobe, down her jaw to her blistering lips. Tasting her hot breath, Adrian rolled on top of her. A groan escaped him, followed by a soft mewl from her. His arousal grew and pressed between them.

  He kissed down the other side of her throat, moving her gold locket out of the way. She moaned his name when he reached the peaks of her breasts. Her hands grabbed his shoulders and her nails dug into his back, causing a rumble to escape his chest. His hand ran roughly over her thin gown, down her side, to her protruding hipbones. Digging his fingers in, he pulled her near and lifted her leg, wrapping it around his waist. He needed her.