Marked for Darkness

by Raven Woodward

  “Maaaarked,” a voice spoke to her right. It was wispy. As though it took great effort to utter the word.

  Marked? She’d thought it was saying her surname, Marks.

  A pale white shape took form beside her and she bit back a scream. It was a man with long hair and a thick beard. His torso was bare, his chest and biceps impeccably muscled. His hand rose, reaching for her.

  Liquid heat spread through her, thick and slow like syrup. All at once she felt her body reacting to the gorgeous man as he walked toward her. Her clit throbbed with need, nipples stiffening painfully.

  Harlow felt paralyzed, unable to move away as he advanced. Then he knelt in front of her.

  “Let me see your body, Marked.” The man’s voice was more solid now. Low and commanding. Very like someone else’s, but she couldn’t think whose.

  He looked familiar too, yet she couldn’t place why…

  Her back arched as she began to undress obediently, shedding the too-big T-shirt first. The cool air nipped at her firm peaks that begged for the man’s touch.

  “That’s it,” he rasped. “Take it all off.”

  She hooked her thumbs under the elastic waistband of the gym shorts she still wore and pushed them down, along with her panties.

  The man’s eyes shone brighter. Hungry.

  Her pussy ached to be licked. Fucked. She wanted to feel the beautiful man’s cock fill her, finally ridding her of the innocence she despised.

  She lay on her back, lifting her hips in silent offering to him. His throaty chuckle only made her wetter.

  “Shall I fuck you, my pet?” the man asked as he began to remove his pants. Though he was ghostly and colorless, he was the most beautiful man she’d ever seen.

  “Yes,” she pleaded. Unable to wait any longer, she slipped one hand to her clit and began to stroke, letting out a loud moan at the delicious friction. Her other hand cupped one of her breasts, kneading it.

  The man finally crawled on top of her, one hand fisting an impossibly large cock. Harlow’s mouth watered at the bead of moisture gathered on the tip. “The king will enjoy playing with you, Marked,” the man said above her.

  She couldn’t comprehend his words; she just needed him to fuck her. His closeness drove her temperature higher as she rubbed her sensitive bud harder. Faster.

  The man pressed the warm head against her entrance just as her back bowed and she cried out. Her body was racked with pleasure, but it didn’t end there. The man plunged his cock inside her in one violent stroke that had her coming again, harder this time.

  Tears streamed down her face as the man grinned triumphantly. Then he gripped her hips, keeping everything but her head and shoulders suspended off the floor as she wrapped her legs around his thick, chiseled waist. He pistoned in and out of her like a wild animal and her walls clenched around his wide girth hungrily.

  Her breasts bounced from the force of his thrusts. He watched them with rapt fascination, then bent over, capturing one in his mouth.

  She shattered again and her scream filled the room. The man’s body tensed, and a low growl rumbled in his throat. She felt his seed shooting inside her, hot and thick.

  It undid her to know he’d poured out his essence into her womb, and she came once more.

  A bang sounded from far away as Harlow collapsed, gasping, yet still aching for more. When her eyes opened, she was plunged back into endless darkness.

  The man was nowhere to be seen.

  A light flicked on in the staircase and another man, with dark waves tousled back from his face, rushed into the room. His eyes were wide.

  Realization trickled in, filling her with horror.

  Another light filled the room, illuminating everything. Including her nakedness.

  Arian’s concerned expression morphed into something darker, his pupils blown wide.

  His steps became jerky, while Harlow scrambled to cover herself.

  Then he stopped abruptly, face turning to stone. His nostrils flared as he sniffed the air. “Who else was here?” She had never heard him sound so…inhuman.

  “I-I don’t kn-know.” Cold enveloped her, making her teeth chatter despite the thick duvet she’d wrapped around herself.

  Arian bent down in front of her, looking at her, but not really seeing her. The green in his eyes was swallowed by burning gold.

  “Rasimus.”

  Arian

  Oricus was behind this. He knew from the moment he smelled Rasimus’s cloying magical scent. Like a signature in the air. As if leaving his mate a sweating, panting mess in his own home wasn’t a big enough hint. It had been exactly twelve hours since Arian found his brother’s warning gift.

  Now, her cum glistened on her milky white thighs and on the concrete floor. Her scent of pleasure was everywhere.

  But it was Rasimus that had made her cum repeatedly. Not him.

  Arian’s beast roared inside him as he shot to his feet. His body began to expand but he forced it down.

  Down.

  Down.

  He locked his gaze on Harlow, who scooted away fearfully, then winced. His attention shifted to her swollen, purpled ankle. Her body shook with violent shivers from the spell that Rasimus had cast. Yet even with a blanket covering her, Arian’s cock was rock hard.

  His mate was naked.

  Ready for him.

  No, the beast snarled, not you. Rasimus.

  Fuck her until she forgets him.

  Arian shook his head as if that would silence his inner turmoil.

  When at last he’d leashed his raging animalistic instincts, he stooped low and scooped her up into his arms. She yelped, struggling, but he only held her tighter, trying to ignore the feel of her body beneath the blanket. Of having her pressed against him. At the bottom of the staircase he paused. Then he gently set her on her uninjured leg.

  “Give me your palm.”

  She trembled as she held it out to him, her other hand clasping the blanket around herself as though that could prevent him from taking her if he desired.

  Flexing one finger, he allowed it to lengthen and sharpen to a claw.

  Before she could jerk away, he sliced a small cut into her palm. Then his finger returned to normal. She sucked in a breath as the crimson bloomed and then slowly pooled in her hand. He dipped two fingers into her blood and traced the symbol required to dissolve the ward. It hissed audibly, the mark glowing a pale blue. Then it vanished.

  Harlow blinked at it as if she was dreaming. Arian didn’t bother addressing her concern before running his tongue over the wound. She winced, then her eyes went wide at the now bloodless cut. Then he swept her back up into his arms and carried her up the stairs.

  “I c-can w-w-walk,” she said.

  “Your ankle looks broken. Better not risk it.” His voice was gravelly.

  Harlow tried to shift in his arms, then huffed when she was unsuccessful. “Where are you taking me?”

  Arian didn’t dare respond. As it was, he was fighting his every instinct. He knew he shouldn’t be near her. He could have left Elentis to clean her up, but just the idea of anyone being left with his naked mate had him seeing red.

  Through the house he carried her, feeling her chilled skin begin to warm. Her head rested against his shoulder and her eyes fell shut. No doubt she was exhausted after what she’d just been through.

  At last he entered his room and set her on the bed. He forced his gaze away from her tired, pliant body. Forced his feet to carry him from his room into the ensuite bathroom. The tub was more like a small pool, already warmed. He added his usual scented soap and the surface began to foam.

  He unfastened the buttons to his suit jacket and slipped it off before stalking back into his room. Once he tossed the jacket at the foot of the bed, Harlow looked up, blearily. Arian began unbuttoning his shirt and she sat bolt upright, eyes suddenly wide.

  “What are you doing?” she squeaked.

  “Washing you,” h
e answered simply.

  She scrambled away from him, eyes fixed on his torso as he shucked off his shirt. “I can wash myself.”

  Arian rolled his eyes and rushed toward her. He ripped the blanket off her body in one swift motion and she screamed.

  His ire flared as he bent and tossed her onto his shoulder. “What happened to you was not real, do you understand? It was an illusion. A complex one, but you were entirely alone in that room. Do you get it? You were not yourself. Rasimus violated you by forcing you to believe what you saw was real. Moreover, he likely made you unable to think clearly.”

  Harlow swallowed loudly. Her chest heaved, and Arian struggled to ignore her perfect ass only inches from his face. When they entered the bathing chamber, she inhaled sharply. The room was almost as large as his bedroom, with a large tub in the corner. Water trickled down the stone waterfall that made up the far-left wall, which fed into the steamy bath. The room smelled of pine trees and cloves.

  He placed her at the edge of the tub so she could dip her feet into the foamy water. She hissed as she sank her bruised ankle beneath the surface. His eyes narrowed.

  Drawing to himself his full height, his eyes bored into hers, trying to make her see the truth in them. “I will not force you into anything you don’t want. You will, however, bathe.”

  “A-alone?” she asked, eyeing his bare torso as she carefully lowered herself to her waist, then her delicious, creamy breasts disappeared from view as well.

  His voice was husky when he said, “I will make sure you do not drown. You’re weak.”

  When Arian began removing his shoes and slacks, color sprang to her cheeks and he fought to keep his face neutral. Her innocence was both amusing and refreshingly sweet.

  Harlow folded her arms over her nude chest as though he could somehow see past the bubbles. He moved faster, pulling off the last of his clothing before walking over to join her.

  She dipped low in the tub, so the water bobbed just below her lips. The bubbles coating the surface irritatingly obstructed his view of what was beneath. He’d seen her body many times before—mostly when she was unaware that anyone could see her.

  Yet every time felt like the first.

  It drove him wild.

  The warm water lapped up his thighs as he descended the steps. Harlow’s sapphire eyes tracked him, watching with intent interest. He strode for her with purpose, and only when she realized he wasn’t about to stop did she begin to wade backward. But she was too slow.

  He snaked an arm around her middle, pulling her to his hip before continuing for the back wall where a stack of shelves held wash cloths.

  “What the hell are you doing?”

  “Washing you,” he said again, grabbing two cloths and holding them up for her to see.

  She reached for one, but he moved it out of her reach. “I’ll do it,” he growled.

  Her anger had his lips curling in a grin and his cock jumping to attention. “Too bad,” he said. Pulling her to where one of the benches were, he sat and pulled her sideways onto his lap.

  She yelped when her hip met his aching length.

  He held her still as she fought to move off him. “Chill, I’m not going to fuck you right now.” The “right now” had slipped out, but he didn’t bother correcting himself—the aghast look on her face was worth it.

  “Try ‘ever,’” she snapped.

  Arian chuckled. She was too much fun. He leaned in, letting his lips brush her ear as he said, “More like when you beg me to.”

  She crossed her arms and lifted her chin, refusing to look at him. “That is never going to happen.”

  He sighed, brushing her hair over her shoulder as he used a bar of soap to coat the cloth. As he began to rub Harlow’s back, she sat ramrod straight, giving the impression that she didn’t want him to touch her.

  But he knew better. He’d let her believe whatever she wanted to believe—for now.

  Applying pressure to the tense muscles, he stroked her neck and back. Little by little he felt her leaning into his touch. The cloth brushed the curve of her ass, and she went rigid again.

  “Relax,” he whispered against her ear. Arian washed her legs, tenderly observing her ankle. “Definitely fractured,” he murmured.

  “Great.” She sighed.

  “How did it happen?”

  Harlow turned away so Arian couldn’t read her expression, but her silence was telling enough.

  “You tried to escape.” It wasn’t a question.

  She nodded almost imperceptibly, tensing for his reaction.

  Arian dipped the cloth and simply returned to washing her shoulders. He moved to her chest, running over the swells of her breasts. Underneath them. When the fabric rubbed against her erect nipples, she shivered. Arian’s cock pulsed. Emboldened by her arousal, he dipped the cloth lower, washing down her abdomen. Into her trimmed strawberry-colored curls.

  He wanted to feel between her thighs with his fingers. Sink one into her wet, perfect pussy.

  Harlow’s head rested on his shoulder, her eyes closed.

  No. He sighed. Rasimus is the only reason she’s allowing me to touch her. His hand stopped just above her swollen bud, and her breath caught.

  He squeezed his own eyes shut as his beast raged against his one show of decency.

  Harlow lifted her head as if coming back to herself, though she didn’t try to move from his lap. “Why did that guy keep calling me ‘Marked?’” she asked, her fingers raking through the bubbles floating above her chest.

  Arian went still. She turned slightly to look at him.

  “His name is Rasimus. He is…like me.”

  “Okay…” she prompted. Arian’s free hand massaged her shoulders, and she groaned. “Are you trying to distract me?”

  He gave a dry laugh. “A little.”

  She quirked a brow. “Why?” Her voice cracked, clearly still raw from earlier.

  Arian’s blood heated, remembering her passionate screams that were not for him. “Because it is not a pleasant topic.” He paused, forcing a steadying breath. “He is my brother. One of ten.”

  “That’s a lot of brothers.” She didn’t sound particularly surprised by that information.

  Arian released her waist, and Harlow moved to sit on the bench beside him. He shrugged. “Where I come from, it is not uncommon for women to bear multiple sets of twins.”

  “Do you have a twin?” she asked.

  Arian smiled. “No. I am the oldest. After me is Oricus, then Lefayon, and Rasimus. Xalicur and Geoff are twins. Then there’s Altair. You met Prodepheus and Kaimon, they’re also twins. After them, Tadaj was born and last was Elentis.”

  “Which one tried to kill me?”

  Arian’s throat bobbed. “Oricus. Unfortunately, I hurt him very badly by taking away the one thing he loved. It was for his protection, but it nearly killed him. Since then my brothers have been divided. Most sided with him.” He scrubbed a hand down his face, feeling the usual pang of guilt when he thought about his crime. “It’s a wonder I have anyone left. But Elentis, Prody, Altair, and Kai have stuck with me.”

  Harlow scooted closer, but he didn’t dare look at her. He couldn’t. “I’m sure he’ll forgive you one day.”

  Arian didn’t answer. Didn’t tell her that would never happen. He couldn’t tell her that what he’d done was horrifying, and if she knew what it was, she’d run as far and as fast as she could. Instead, he simply carried on. “Oricus wants to punish me any way he can. He sent Rasimus. And Rasimus obviously learned a few new tricks if he got past my wards with his enchantments.”

  “How is casting some weird sex spell meant to punish you?” she asked. Her cheeks were tinged pink once again. Perhaps she knew at least part of why. “And why did he keep calling me ‘Marked?’ Not ‘Ms. Marks’ but Marked.”

  “What did Elentis tell you about me? About our…condition?”

  Harlow’s hands wrung together under the water, and sh
e stared at them through the patchy suds. Then she met his gaze, her blue eyes bright. “Just that you’re apparently immortal—about five-thousand years old—and that some evil empress killed your parents, then cursed you guys because you wouldn’t join her harem. Oh, and that your beast form traps you every full moon.”

  Arian half laughed, half scoffed. “That is mostly true. I am far older than five thousand years though. Our beast form entraps us for the final cycle of the moon, which usually lasts from two to four days depending on the month. When we were first cursed, we knew only one thing. Bloodlust.”

  Harlow’s eyes widened.

  “Occasionally, if one of us came upon a civilization, something far worse than death would happen. Our beasts are entirely primal beings—we would kill and feed for three days. It didn’t take us long to figure out that we needed to be in a secluded area away from humans during our transformation.” He paused, trying to find the right words.

  “Go on,” she said softly.

  “Our beast form occasionally finds a female it imprints on, so to speak. It bonds itself to the female, thus creating a Soul Mark. It only ever creates one Mark and it is for all eternity. I felt mine snap into place far earlier than anyone else’s.” He levelled his gaze with hers. “Twenty-five years and three days ago. The youngest Marked in history.”

  Harlow’s lips parted as understanding sank in. “What?” She shot to her feet, backing away to the other end of the tub.

  Arian prowled toward her. “Oricus wants to do to me what I did to him.”

  Raw fear took over her features, making his chest ache. “You killed his…Marked?”

  Arian’s expression hardened. “I had to. Our beasts form attachments to mortals.” He waded through the water while Harlow fought to put distance between them. “Mortals die. Unless of course we make them immortal, which creates another problem.

  “Immortality is a curse, one I’ve sought to escape for thousands of years. Creating immortals means more people that have to suffer through the bloodlust. The crazed, animalistic tendencies. We’re slaves to the moon. It’s been thousands of years and still the only things I can think about when my beast takes over are killing and fucking.