A deep, sexual ache built in my core, and the wind felt like it was licking my skin. What if I lifted my skirt and touched myself…
Stop it, Aenor. I despised him.
But my breath was speeding up, wild need quaking through my body.
Unless… unless I could use this.
He obviously wanted me. I’d seen him looking at my body, at my mouth. I saw the way he gazed at me hungrily when he’d tied me up, like he wanted to lick the seawater off every inch of my body until I screamed.
What if I could seduce him? What if I could keep him happy enough that he’d forget his whole plan? If he was overcome with pleasure, he wouldn’t need to burn the world.
Yes… This all made sense.
If I crawled into his lap and unbuttoned my top…
My breasts felt full and heavy, aching for his hands. It was as if invisible tongues were licking at my nipples, stroking me to a frenzy.
A hot ache between my legs forced them open. The boat rocked back and forth, back and forth… I fought the urge to slide my hand into my panties right in front of him. My hips rocked on the seat.
Salem was just looking at me, like he knew exactly what he was doing. He was tormenting me. That was what he did. He tormented people.
And gods help me, I liked it right now.
When I felt the cold sea air on my chest, I became aware that I was unbuttoning my top, legs splayed while I stared at him.
No. No, Aenor. He must have been invading my mind.
I stopped unbuttoning halfway down, the tops of my breasts exposed. The feel of my silky shirt against my skin was an excruciating erotic torture. One by one, I started fastening the buttons again.
“Stop doing that,” I said. I tried for that commanding voice again, but it came out pleading.
“What is it you imagine I’m doing to you?” His deep voice carried an erotic promise. “I’d love to know.”
“Stop making me feel things.”
“I assure you I’m doing no such thing, but that is fascinating.” His eyes danced, gaze sliding down my body. “And where are you feeling things?”
Cold air on my thighs told me I had hiked up my skirt, and the wind kissed my panties. Gods have mercy. I yanked the hem of my skirt down again, a furious blush burning my cheeks. I kept the hem firmly in my grip.
Salem rose where he stood, staying steady in the boat. Then he crossed to me, eyes locked on me like a hunter.
My breath shuddered as he leaned down, hands on either side of me. He was gripping the side of the boat behind me, boxing me in.
He moved in close, giving me a slow smile. With his mouth next to my ear, he whispered in a low voice, “I know you’re keeping secrets from me, Aenor. You have something planned. You’re conspiring against me.” His velvet-smooth voice stroked my body. It was a sensual, dangerous touch that skimmed the apex of my thighs.
My knees opened wider, and I felt the cold air between my legs again. My shirt had been pulled up again. My eyes were wide as I looked at him.
“You’ve been bad, haven’t you?” he purred, still boxing me in.
Wild need burned all rational thought from my mind. A sexual ache swooped between my legs.
All I knew was that I was too hot in my shirt. The cold sea wind whispered over my bare breasts as I took it off. He lowered his eyes, and a wicked smile curled his lips. His body had gone completely tense, muscles taut.
“Bad? I don’t know what you’re talking about,” I whispered.
His magic slid between my legs, a phantom licking that grew stronger. My mind went blank, and liquid heat rushed through my body.
His lust magic had curled around me completely, until everything felt like sexual torment—the rocking of the boat, the feel of the wood beneath my bare legs. The wind tingling over my exposed skin.
I wanted to touch myself so badly that I could hardly resist it. I looked up into his eyes, and they shifted from blue to a deep red.
I was so turned on that I could hardly protest when he picked me up by the waist and turned me around to face the sea. I knelt on the seat, leaning over the side. Salem leaned down behind me, his powerful body pressed against mine, warming my naked back. He slid his hand down my side to keep me in place where he wanted me. Raw, masculine power radiated off him.
Molding himself around my body, he cupped my breasts, thumbs skimming my nipples. He leaned down next to my ear. “You have been lying to me. Haven’t you?” His deep voice trembled over my skin. “We’ll have to do something about that. I’ll find out the truth from you, I think.”
“Mmmm…”
He slid his hands further down my body till they reached the hem of my skirt. Then he yanked it all the way up to my waist. He leaned over me again, one of his hands covering mine where I gripped the side of the boat.
Slowly, he traced his finger just inside the top of my panties, leaving a hot trail of tingles as he swept from one side to another. My entire body was exquisitely sensitive, and I gasped at his light touch. I shuddered, moving my hips back against him. I could feel his length pressing against me.
Slowly, he hooked his finger into the side of my underwear, teasing me. “Don’t ever think you can lie to me, Aenor.”
He pulled my panties down sharply, exposing me completely.
I gasped as the wind hit me.
I was desperate for him to touch me. Vaguely, I was aware that I needed to pull my skirt down, but I couldn’t bring myself to do it. So I knelt there, naked and turned on before him.
He slid a hand down my back, guiding me to lean on the side of the boat. My breasts pressed against the damp wood, my bare ass in the air. I knew he was enjoying the sight of me, turned on and submissive before him.
I gasped when his hand came down hard on my bottom, the sound of the smack echoing through the air. It hurt for a moment, and then it felt like a wild pleasure rippling through me. He hit me again, pleasure arcing through me at the smack. Gods, I liked this? I was so turned on that every time he hit me I could feel my nipples tightening more to sensitive points, my sex clenching.
He smacked my bottom again, and again, until I was sure my skin had gone pink. Each time, I gasped with pleasure. He had complete control over me, and he knew it.
Now, his hand was moving lower when he smacked me.
When he struck me between my legs, I moaned with pleasure—a wild sound that came from some ancient, animal part of my brain.
“Please,” I whispered, not even sure what I was asking for. I ached for him, and I didn’t care what the consequences were anymore.
The hand on my back slid up to grab my hair. His other moved down to my inner thighs. His painfully light touch was pure torture—a worse punishment than anything else. I needed him to slide in and out of me, filling me.
Instead, he stroked slow circles on my upper thighs. My legs widened. I moved my hips, trying to demand more from him. I knew he could see exactly how turned on I was.
Writhing with need, I craved satiation.
At last, he reached the apex of my thighs—but he was still touching me lightly. Slowly, he brushed his finger over my sex. My hips bucked. I’d do anything for release. I no longer cared that I hated him, or that I’d vowed to kill him.
“Please,” I said again.
“I told you, Aenor,” he purred. “You despise me, but I told you I’d make you’d beg for it, didn’t I?”
Fill me, Salem.
“Aenor…” His voice sent a fresh rush of molten desire pounding through my body. “You’re mine now. Tell me what you want.”
I needed him to fill me now so desperately that I couldn’t even form the words. I moaned, ravenous with animal desire. Slowly, he slid a finger into me, and I clenched around him. He pulsed it in and out, and I moved back against his hand.
No. No.
None of this was happening. Was it?
None of this was actually happening.
The burning. The screams. The drum.
I could hear the
drum now. If I gave in to him, everything burned.
As I let Salem fuck me, the sea began to boil, seawater evaporating into reddening skies. Fire seared the landscape on a distant island, trees blazing like torches.
This wasn’t happening.
This wasn’t real.
Salem
I stared across the boat at Aenor. Her green eyes seemed to glaze over, her mouth open. She gaped dumbly at the ocean water like she’d been lulled into a magical stupor. I thought, perhaps, she might even be drooling. Something had just struck her dumb, but I had no idea what it was. She’d just stopped speaking mid-conversation.
Was she hallucinating?
She really didn’t look quite herself right now.
“Aenor?” I said.
The breeze lifted her hair in front of her face, and she didn’t move a hand to swat it away. Her ceramic mug of coffee slid out of her fingertips, smashing on the floor of the boat. She didn’t react a bit. I could only hear that her heart was racing. Her cheeks had gone flushed.
What in the gods’ names was she thinking about?
“Aenor!” I said again.
Her gaze snapped to me. She was alert now, and she licked her lips. Her cheeks had gone pink. She actually looked like she desired me, and my heart sped up.
I knew that look well, but I hadn’t expected to see it from her. She crossed her legs tight, like she was trying to resist while she stared at me. Gods, the look in her eyes should have made me delighted, but it felt like ice shattering in my heart. No matter what, she couldn’t look at me like that forever. It wouldn’t last.
She rose from her seat and crossed the rocking boat to me. “I’m feeling a little cold.”
Her gaze roamed down my body, then up again to my face, eyes half-lidded with desire.
Gods, she was perfect.
She trailed one fingertip down her chest, like she was tracing a raindrop down her body. She wanted me, and that was all I needed to know. Already, I was hard.
I grabbed her by the waist, pulling her into my lap, and she didn’t resist. I swept my gaze over her curvy body, already imagining ripping her clothes off her. I wanted to kiss her between her legs until she moaned my name.
“What are you doing?” she whispered, but she wasn’t pulling away.
She gave in to me as I pulled her closer and kissed her throat. Her neck arched as I swirled my tongue over it.
Ever so slightly, her knees were opening a little in an invitation. I wanted her naked, now, spread before me like a prize, but I wasn’t going to rush it. I was going to take my time with her.
I kissed her neck more deeply. Slowly, I stroked my hand up her inner thigh. I brushed lazy circles, higher and higher, coaxing her legs open wider. She was quickly losing the battle with any resistance she might have. She was mine.
When I gently stroked my knuckles over the front of her silky knickers, she took a deep, trembling breath. I could feel her arousal even now, hot and wet beneath the silk.
I pulled my hand away, and she gasped like she was shocked. “Salem,” she whispered, a blush on her cheeks.
“Yes?” I murmured. Let’s hear you say what you want.
Staring into my eyes, she started unbuttoning her shirt, until her plump breasts were exposed before me. I kissed them, gently, then took her nipple in my mouth, sucking on it. My tongue swirled as I tasted her.
She writhed in my lap, head back with ecstasy. When I glanced up at her face, I found her rosy lips parted with desire. The sunlight bathed her skin in gold, so beautiful that it was like a knife in my heart.
I slid my hand under her skirt, brushing my knuckles against her heat again.
Slowly, I pulled her panties down, dragging them down her legs, off her ankles.
She spread her legs wider, her skirt riding up until I could see all of her. Her desire for me was apparent. Hot little minx.
I’d draw out her excitement as long as I could. Then I’d fuck her until she forgot her own name.
I stroked my fingertips between her legs again, almost groaning at her slickness. She went wild with desire, her breasts brushing against me. She shifted against my hard length. I slid a finger into her.
“What do you want, Aenor?” I whispered low in her ear. “Say it.”
I already knew what she really needed. She needed me to spread her legs and fuck her tight little hole until—
She shifted, straddling me, eyes blazing with fury.
She definitely did not look turned on anymore. Though, admittedly, I still was.
I was so intent on the sudden rage in her face that I nearly didn’t see the piece of sea glass she’d pressed against my chest—sharp as a blade. It was the same perfect blue as her eyes. “I want you dead, my soulmate. And I’m the only one who can kill you.”
“What are you doing?”
Where had the bloody sea glass come from? What was going on?
Her face only inches from mine, she plunged the shard into my heart. Her eyes locked on mine, brimming with tears now, and I could feel the life seeping out of me. A tear streaked down her cheek, and I wanted to brush it away, but I was dying.
My heart had stopped, and my mind whirled with darkness. I was falling again. Plummeting.
So close to achieving my destiny, and it was all over.
The evening star burned out for good.
* * *
When the vision cleared, I found that Aenor and I were staring at each other, slightly dumbstruck.
We were alive in a boat on the calm sea, and, regrettably, fully clothed. No one was fucking anyone. On the plus side, nor was anyone murdering me with sea glass.
“What the fuck was that?” I shouted. Had I ever been this rattled?
She blinked at me. “I just had a horrific vision of my worst fear.”
“What was it?”
Her cheeks were red. “Never mind that. I think the Ollephest might be near. You know, the thing that killed Ossian’s mate. It shows you your worst—”
A loud roaring interrupted her, and a scaled creature rose from the water behind her. Its jaw alone was nearly the size of the boat, and its dark eyes were intent on Aenor. The blood of some other victim dripped from its teeth.
Ah. Yes. The Ollephest. I supposed that explained the visions.
Aenor stared up at him, and a surge of protective rage erupted in me. I felt my wings shoot out behind my back as I took on my true form. I pulled out Lightbringer, flames blazing from the steel. My wings beat the air fast, lifting me into the sky above the boat.
The Ollephest swerved along the waves, its body moving along with them. It shone in the morning sun with brilliant blue and green scales.
As the creature opened its mouth above Aenor, I swooped and brought my sword down hard into its neck. The thing shrieked, but it was far too big for me to sever its neck completely.
It swung its head toward me, fangs glinting in the sun. I drove my sword into its eye.
Roaring, the creature swiped at me with a taloned hand, carving into my wing.
The pain was nearly indescribable, searing and deeply invasive. It was like a burning nail being scraped across a naked bone.
I gripped Lightbringer hard, fighting to keep control so I could kill the thing. Arcing around its head, I drove my blade into its other eye, blinding it.
Good. Nearly done.
But its attacks were growing more frantic, talons swiping wildly at anything around it. Clearly, I knew how to injure him, but how did I kill him?
I looked below me to find that the sea level seemed to have receded, pulling the monster away from me.
Aenor looked minute in her boat so far below me. It took me a moment to realize she was controlling the sea.
She gazed up at me, her eyes bright blue. I started to swoop lower, but my shattered wing made my flight irregular. Each beat of my wings was like a thousand blades pushed into my body. Still, if I could get to Aenor, I could lift her away from the monster. I dove for her and wrapped my arms tight a
round her waist, gripping her to my body.
My wings thumped the air, and as I lifted her, she curled her arms around my neck, holding on tight. When she wrapped her legs around my waist, an ember ignited in my heart.
The feeling was short-lived, because the monster slammed its spiked tail into us with the force of a bomb. My bones shook, wing bones cracking harder. It was like being hit with a three-hundred-mile-per-hour train. I lost my grip on Aenor, and she lost hers on me. Fear coiled through my heart.
The wind rushed over me as we tumbled back into the frothing sea. I hit the water hard, my wing snapping with a searing pain, and I sank deep under the water.
The sea was churning now, and I couldn’t tell which was up or down. My lungs started to burn as I scrambled for control, searching for Aenor under the water. Unlike me, she’d be fine under there.
As long as the creature wasn’t raking a claw through her body.
Something like panic was building in me as I fought my way to the surface, pushing out the pain in my wing. My lungs burned. I couldn’t die, but I could feel a world of pain. Especially if something happened to Aenor…
Was that a scream I heard through the water? Panic, now clear and real, burned hotter in my mind. Where was the source of light? Was I swimming deeper under the water, or heading for the surface?
At all costs, I had to get to her. Because even as I scrambled for the surface of the water, the horrible truth was dawning on me—the reason her pain bothered me, the reason I couldn’t kill her. The reason blind fear drove me to protect her at all costs.
The Ollephest showed you your worst fears. And my worst fear had manifested before me. Because only one person could kill me, and that person was my mate.
This was the dark, jagged thought I’d buried since I first met her. Now, the truth was ripping its way up to the surface of my mind.
Aenor was my mate. I’d scented it on her the moment I first met her. That intoxicating smell of brine and wildflowers and an animal instinct that wanted me to keep her close. The force of nature that compelled me to sleep in front of a door while she rested.
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