Everwinter (Chronicles of Naelyra Book 1)

by R. J. Lloyd

  The wood of my chair creaked against the stone floor as I adjusted to see him. “But if the portals do not work, how did we take them to get here?”

  “Good catch, little one.” A small grin formed momentarily on Kane’s lips, showing his amusement in my ability to keep up with details. “As I said, portals all come from similar power. But the source of wielding that power is different. The portals Fubrik gave to us was because of how powerful dragons are as well as that he derived the energies from that planet’s core. There are very few races that can withstands a planet’s core heat, let alone be strong enough to contain its power. On Naelyra, the Voirechoes use nature as a source and endow smaller crystals. These have been entrusted to each of those that have been deemed keepers with maintaining the portals in Naelyra. Small groups that stand watch. You saw some as we passed through.”

  “Kind of like border patrols from my planet.”

  “Like what?”

  I chuckled. “Never mind. I just meant that I think I understood.”

  “Oh. Yes.” His forehead was still pinched in confusion, but he continued. “So, the portals that are still active only work between the points their crystals keep open. Those crystals only work on this world since they have to continue to draw from the nature here. But the large crystal that was the source for the ones between worlds has gone dark and sits, dead, on its dais. Nobody has been able to revive it, not even the dragons. People are searching for Fubrik, but he has not been seen since the war.”

  I pushed my plate away. “Dragons? Gods? Wars? This sounds like a whole lot of drama I want nothing to do with.” I stood and went to him by the fireplace. “People are going to want to ask me a lot of questions, aren’t they?”

  "No one knows about you other than me. Right now, you are my guest, and everyone knows better than to ask anything more than that. That is for the best. Trust me." He took me by the hand and walked me out of the room and down a long hall.

  Occasionally, I looked up at him, but he was focused on the hall in front of us each time. Eventually, we entered a massive, four-story library with another huge fireplace that had been freshly lit. I gasped. The center of the room had models of planets hovering. He points to a larger planet in the center. Without strings or ropes, it hung midair and had lines drawn from it to a number of other worlds. Earth was off to the side of the room - Earth in all its glory, so far from the rest.

  I was enthralled by all the books, wondering what all I could learn from the large selection that was in that room alone. As soon as I saw the planets, I gasped. I took in the sight of the celestial map, my expression turning awe-struck. “Wow. Are these all of the planets you know to have life? Or ones you’ve been to?”

  "All the ones the portals have connected to even if only once. The lines form on their own whenever a new planet is connected by portal. I have been mapping the magic and learning about it for a number of years. It is an incredible tool for building wealth and keeping my world safe. Of course, I am no savior. I just want this one for me," he said, honestly.

  I stepped up next to him, closer than intended, my mouth slightly open as I looked at all of the planets. “It’s beautiful.” But I wasn’t talking about just the planets. My hand brushed his, and a shock reverberated through my body, the strength of it surprising me. I pulled back quickly. Slightly embarrassed, I looked away. The books caught my eye once again. “As are those.”

  Looking down at me, his smiled softly. "It's a collection I’ve worked on for a long time. I have brought books from all over the planets I have been on. Magic ones and all." His expression warmed at seeing my enthusiasm.

  I slowly turned in a circle, jumping as my arm brushed against his coat. “Sorry.” I continued to turn. “It’s an amazing collection. I love a good book.”

  "Perhaps I judged you wrong. I am used to taking what I want, as you so loudly pointed out in the courtyard. I have lived hard and fast when it comes to what I want. Maybe I should rethink how I see you. You are something special, Auri." He lifted his hand to touch my arm but pulled back. Turning away, he walked over to a couch nearby.

  This time, I did not correct him on my name. I was puzzled by his words. “Well? I’m glad you see it that way.” This time I didn’t hide my smile. “But what made you change your mind? Just because I love your library?”

  “No.” He drank from his flask, setting it on the table next to him, leaning back on the couch. “You speak up for yourself yet have restraint. You trust but keep your wits about you, despite having plenty reasons not to. You’re intelligent but appear to have a longing to learn. You are stubborn, but there is a softness to you. This balance is appealing, and I find that I want to know more. Most things bore me. You do not.”

  “What do you want to know?” I made my way over and sat on the couch, turning toward him, a leg propped up under me.

  "All about you and how you became this woman. Why you became this woman when you could have turned dark. You could have lost your humanity and given in to the evils of your magic.” He threw his arm up over the back of the sofa.

  I laughed. “That could take a while.”

  “I have got nothing but time on my hands." He allowed himself to take in my form again.

  I cleared my throat, feeling his eyes on me. His gaze sending a rush of warmth through my entire body. I wanted his lips on mine again, but I was confused as to why. Sure, he was glaringly obviously attractive. But there was something more that drew me to him. I did my best to block that out and focus. “All about me? Well? I wouldn’t know where to start. I mean, I told you quite a bit at the dinner table. So, I suppose just ask something. And if I want, I’ll tell you. Or tell me about you.” I allowed myself to smile softly at him.

  "You love being in charge, huh? Getting off on the thrill of bossing a vampire in his nest?" His hand came up to touch my face.

  I didn’t flinch but watched his hand, my eyes fluttering slightly with his touch. “No. I’m used to not letting people run over me. And I’m not bossing you. I’m cooperating.”

  With his palm on my warm cheek, his cool thumb went to trace my bottom lip. "How old are you? How do you count age on your planet?" he asked as his hand caressed my cheek.

  I steadied my breath. “We count by years. And a year is each time our planet makes a full revolution around our sun.” I bit my lip. “I’m 28. You?” My breath caught.

  "We count similarly. Here, I am over 250 years old, last I bothered counting." He smiled, moving his hand down my neck, his nail tracing the spot he would bite if I would have let him. Then, suddenly, he pulled his hand away.

  My body shivered in reaction to his touch. A mixed sense of relief and disappointment ran through me and across my face as he pulled away. “Not as old as I expected.” I wanted to reach out to him but refrained.

  "You talk older than expected. It is a lovely thing, since you light up when you speak of things you enjoy." He leaned in and pressed his lips to mine. This time softer than in the courtyard.

  Several emotions swirled in me. And every reaction was overshadowed by his closeness. I found myself leaning into him in return, making our kiss a little harder than intended.

  I pulled back quickly and touched my own lips. “I’m sorry.”

  "Don't be. I want more of you." He eyed me over hungrily. "Am I worthy of it now?"

  I smirked, hitting his shoulder playfully. “Eager.” I ran my fingers down his chest. “Is this what you do? Find a woman, turn on your brooding charm, lavish her with gifts, bring her home and fuck her and feed on her until you’re bored or there’s an accident then dispose of her until you find a new pet?”

  He grinned and pulled me closer as he kissed me lightly, caressing my neck. "I do love to have fun. But no. I do not kill everyone I have sex with. That would be an unnecessary mess. Especially since most of them are my own kind, so it would be pointless.” He rested his left hand on my side. At first, a gentle touch, but then he gripped me as if holding me there. “I don’t tend to play
with my food that often.”

  I gasped and tried to pull away. “You don’t what?”

  He laughed. “I do apologize. It was a jest. I was teasing you.”

  I huffed, fighting a grin as I moved closer to him, finding it more and more difficult to resist the pull to him. I reached up, pushing a small lock of hair out from in front of his face. “I’d say I am attracted to you, but I’m sure every woman is.”

  He smiled and leaned in close, pressing his forehead to mine. "I think you are absolutely charming and beautiful and strong willed. Yes. I would love to fuck you unconscious. On every surface of this place. Yet I do enjoy talking to you as well." He rubbed my side gently.

  I giggled softly. “It amuses me how you deflect from a lot that I say.” My eyes closed, my hand landing on his leg. “But you do? Enjoy talking to me?”

  "I do enjoy you, yes." He softly kissed my cheek, his breath surprisingly warm. “Very much. It has been a very long time since I enjoyed someone’s company."

  This time, I melted into his lips, a soft moan escaping me. I ran my hand up and down his strong thigh, still worrying slightly about his intentions with me. But for now, I didn’t want to care. Something about being there with him felt familiar, and I wanted so badly to indulge in it. He moaned into my lips, and it wasn’t long before my hand felt his desire for me. He lifted me and held me close, cradling me on his lap.

  My eyes opened as I brushed against his rather large member. I coughed slightly, pausing. Slowly, I backed into my seat again and smiled shyly.

  "Something the matter?" he asked, his grin growing.

  I giggled louder this time, revealing a feminine side he’d not seen yet. “Wrong? No. Well maybe?” I blushed. “You’re just a lot bigger than I am used to.”

  His grin heated my core as it became almost sinister. "I am sure we can make it fit nicely. If you wish..." He leaned in to kiss me more.

  My blush deepened. "You're determined to have sex with me, aren't you?" I returned his kiss. "Do you have somewhere a little less public? Or because you're a vampire, do you not sleep and therefore have no beds?"

  "No one will bother us in here, but if you prefer a bed…" He ran a hand through my hair. "Then you shall have a bed."

  He picked me up into his strong arms and began marching me up the stairs. That warmth spread through me again when he pulled me into his body and carried me. I felt safe. But even more, I felt a craving building in me that made my breath hitch.

  I held on tight around his neck as we climbed. Brushing his hair away from his neck, I kissed his soft, cool skin several times. With my fingers tracing lines over his chest, he moved quickly, using his speed to climb the six flights of stairs, my touch seemingly driving him on.

  Kane opened the door to what appeared to be his master bedroom. Red silk sheets adorned the bed. A thick, black, down comforter covered the large mattress. A number of decorative pillows in the blood red and pitch black color scheme are propped up against the slatted headboard. The entire bed framed by the darkest of wood canopy that cradled yards and yards of a sheer fabric the same color of the sheets. Very few personal effects adorned the room, but between a robe flung over the back of a chair, a journal and writing utensil on the night stand and a single framed picture on the desk, I knew it wasn’t just a random guest room.

  The poles were ornately designed. The carvings made to look like the most detailed of tree trunks covered in thorny vines that climb up and across the upper frame. Some of the thorns piercing the fabric, holding it into place.

  He walked in and held his hand towards a darkened fireplace. A flame ignited into a fireball in his palm of which he tosses into the waiting logs making them roar to life as he walked his partner to his bed and laid me down.

  My teeth chattered softly as he laid me back. But I adjusted back to the pillows, a smirk on my lips and eyes on his, waiting for his next, impressive move.

  He stood there, fire at his back, as he disrobed completely in front of me. Not shy about his body in the least, he stood for a moment, watching me as if studying his prey. A wicked grin crossed his face as he stalked over to the bed.

  I leaned up on my elbows and watched him approach. I nodded, my smile deepening, taking on a similar, sinister quality. "Nice." I patted the bed next to me, nervous but trying not to show it. My clothes hung on me loosely, the parts he had ripped earlier were starting to fall open as the makeshift tie loosened.

  He pulled me by my ankle to the edge of the bed. I giggled and flailed but didn’t fight him, allowing him to move me to the edge of the bed as he knelt down, kissing up my leg. His hands roamed under my clothes close to my middle before pulling away and disrobing me quickly. Kissing all over my body the whole time, finding new places to press his lips with the removal of every layer.

  My head tilted back, and I moaned with each kiss he placed on me. I attempted to help him, but he pushed my arms to my sides. I laid back, my leg slipping up his side and hooking around his hip as he leaned completely over me.

  Kane smiled and leaned in to capture my lips with his. As his hands roamed over my breasts, he slid his right hand down to his throbbing cock, stroking it as he teased my thighs with the tip, his lips pressing down onto mine hungrily.

  My hands gripped his back, fingertips pressing into his flesh. As I pulled him to me, my thighs wrapped around his hips. His act of stroking himself was driving me wild, and my body arched into him, eager to find out how he would feel inside me.

  He rubbed his cock at my opening, trying a few times, testing how tight I am. He bit his lip and looked at me to be sure. When he attempted gently, I felt his girth against me. When he looked at me, my eyes meet his. “Gentle. Please.” I instructed softly, my legs tugging him to me.

  Pushing gently into me, taking me in stride, he nodded. My heat engulfed him. He let out an appreciative moan as he buried himself slowly, pausing often to let me get used to him. His hands roamed my shoulders as he watched my reaction, patiently.

  My moans starting to get louder the further in he pushed. Breathy, I whispered, “Yes...” as my fingertips pressed into his back, pulling him in once again.

  The bed creaked slightly as he arched up and started to thrust, bottoming out inside me gently. "Mmmm… perfection..." He kissed me as he moved his hips into mine harder, still holding back, taking me with care.

  My eyes search his face as I reached up and caressed his cheek. “You’re gentler than I expected.” The same hand trailed over his chest, while my hips kept time with his.

  "Believe me, I don't want to hurt you yet…" He picked up his pace as he felt me stretching to take him in, starting to get lost in the moment.

  I didn’t stop his movements but rather, looked up at him, my breath getting ragged. “Yet?”

  “Mhmm.” He rubbed his hand over my breasts as his mouth found one, sucking the nipple.

  The idea of getting rough with him excited and scared me, but I was so lost in the moment that my mind focused on him right there and right then, not on what that possibly could do to my body.

  “More,” I whispered.

  Moans growing louder with his mouth on my breast, I pushed into him more as my own juices mixed with his. He was used to making women moan, but he was taking special care with me; I could tell. His body reacted to my moans as he tried to find out my real limits, pushing me but backing down any time I showed any signs of pain. He paced himself, tilting his head back and fighting an orgasm so quickly.

  I winced occasionally, but it didn’t stop me. I took him in with every thrust, my body molding to his. My legs moving down, wrapping around his thighs. My arms around his broad shoulders. My breasts against him. I tightened down on him as my body started to climax, completely soaking him.

  Arching back, he moaned loudly as he thrusted like mad, almost losing control. His carnal desire fulfilled as I brought him to orgasm. He came so hard against my wall, feeling like he pushed through.

  His moans pushed me over the edge. My feet pl
ant on the mattress either side of him. My fingers dig into him as my own moans turned into screams. I felt him cum as I climaxed myself. I could feel his cum pushing past my wall. Finally, as he slowed, my grip loosened, but I didn’t let go. Winded, I held onto him, panting, feeling as if he filled me in so many ways. A feeling of being completely fulfilled, a feeling I’d never had before then.

  “I knew we would have fun.” He pulled free and slowly turned me on my side.

  I gave a little grump of disappointment as he pulled out. But it was quickly extinguished when he pushed back inside of me. I giggled with delight and pushed up onto him. My eyes closed, enjoying the sensations rushing through me. “Fun... that’s one word for it.”

  “Mmm… It is. What would you call it?” His rough hand held onto my leg as he pushed his cock all the way home, responding to my giggles as I took him again.

  “Mmm...” I rocked my hips, tightening and loosening in rhythm. “I don’t know. Not to stroke your ego, but I’ve never felt like that before.” I reached back and gripped his thigh.

  “Who cares if you stroke my ego a little? Just keep feeling like this.” He growled quietly in my ear.

  My leg snaked back between his to better steady myself. “You like how I feel?” I grinned happily.

  I wanted to feel his lips on me again, even if on my shoulder or neck. Not an emotional woman usually, I was struggling with keeping myself in check from the flood of sensations and emotions driving me. It was thrilling and scary, but I was lost in it. I was lost in him.

  I moved with his rhythm, loving his touch, his feel. I chanced pulling off him and pushing him onto his back before climbing on top. My tiny frame so petite compared to his. Slipping him inside of me, I slid down back onto him, completely. Leaning forward, I kissed his chest and laid forward, pressing my body onto his, my hips rocking slightly on his still hard cock.