A hunt would do him good. Besides, his curiosity was piqued too much to leave the intruders for Aleron’s former soldiers—those he had managed to control and convert to his side.
He raced easily through the trees, following his senses. His nose detected an animal that was not an animal. More than one, actually. A very distinct aroma that only morphed or turned creatures gave off.
Stopping, he crouched behind a fallen log. They were near and headed his way. He remained downwind from them, so he should be able to surprise whoever they were. He just needed to wait and be patient.
After only a few moments, out from the bushes poked a furry head with a white tuft. What the hell was that? A ferret? No, wait. Another one. Two ferrets. Who were they?
Were those rolled missives he saw in their mouths? Definitely part human, not trained animals. Along with their scent, he sensed their intelligence and emotions, even though he could not probe their minds.
An attempt to get to Aleron or Starr, no doubt. Good try but they would not succeed. They would make a tasty treat. His long tongue lapped across his snout.
Suddenly, one of them perked up. Hell, they must have sensed him. No time for hesitation. He jumped out from behind the log.
With a squeak, they took off running. He did not worry. He would be able to easily catch at least one of them. Fools.
They all entered a clearing, headed toward the entrance to the château. Not a smart move on their parts. They should have gone deeper into the forest and run up a tree to save themselves. Now he could pounce.
Perhaps he would not eat his catch, which would not make much more than a snack anyhow, but send the bodies back to L’Night or Toussaint once he found out which one had commanded them here—an ominous message of just how serious he was. He had no doubt they were sent by one of the two factions.
A loud caw drew his attention upward. A raven, one with a larger wingspan than would ever exist naturally, swooped down and grabbed the ferrets, one in each claw, then soared back into the sky before he reached them. Damn it!
He skidded to a stop. He recognized that black bird. Recognized her scent. Lady Raine de L’Night.
Dear cousin. He snarled.
Last he had heard, she was no longer residing in France. Apparently, he had heard wrong. He watched Raine’s glide path as she disappeared above the trees. He hated that bitch. She was a woman not to be underestimated. Lady Raine de L’Night would be back. Of that he was certain.
He needed to prepare. Lord Viper had sent a messenger and now several scouts. Soldiers would come next. Where was Lady Dominique in all this, he wondered? The nest of Toussaint had been surprisingly silent.
Regardless, he would send Viper a missive. The time was right.
Viper would no doubt be desperate after finding out that yet another attempt to rescue his sister had failed. Negotiations, which he felt confident would progress in his favor, could now begin.
Though Toussaint held the rights to Château de la Lune, if Viper de L’Night went to the High Council, the property could be transferred to Les Loups without Aleron’s assent. Viper only needed to convince them of its urgency. He did not care how he acquired the holdings, as long as he did in the end.
* * * * *
The archer patrolled the forest grounds. He had been unable to sleep. He could not relax his mind or body enough, not with the current state of the pack and the possibility of battle.
He wished this capture and the ensuing conflict it caused had never occurred. He had wished that often, during many recent conflicts. Underworlders needed to unite, not fight among themselves. These senseless territorial battles could be the end of them all.
A shadow caught his eye. He glanced up. A large, dark shape glided above him. His heart began to pound and he brought his bow around. He reached for an arrow but hesitated before pulling it free, sensing he was not in danger.
He recognized the scent of the creature, even from a distance. Not a wild mammal, or wild avian in this case, but a morphed one. A female. As she circled, he saw her more clearly above the trees.
“Ah…” He relaxed. Though an intruder, he would not harm her.
Lady Raine. It had been a long time since he had seen her in her sorceress form. She had shifted into a raven and was carrying something furry in each claw. Intriguing.
He watched her intently. She seemed to be heading toward the towers at the back of the château. “Brave or foolish? I am not sure which you are, my lady,” he mumbled, shaking his head.
Suddenly he felt someone stealthily approaching him from behind. He turned swiftly, drawing his dagger.
“What are you doing out here?” the man asked. “Démon ordered that we rest.”
He puffed out a heavy breath. “Do not sneak up on me like that, brother. I was prepared to cut out your heart.” He put away the weapon as his brother stepped nearer. “I was not tired, which has proven to be a good thing.”
“Oh?”
“Lady Raine has arrived. No doubt looking for Lady Starr. I imagine she was sent by Viper to assess the situation. Come.”
* * * * *
Starr’s heart pounded furiously as she fucked Aleron. She bounced atop him, driving his cock deeply inside her. He had said, love me. Not fuck me.
She had not been able to respond to him. Not with words. Her emotions were too raw. She feared tears would roll down her cheeks and she did not want to appear that vulnerable. “Oh yes!”
Aleron groaned and shifted beneath her. He reached up and pinched her nipples.
The slight pain sent heat and a sexual shock right to her cunt. Her muscles contracted and a wave of pleasure swept over her.
Aleron slid his hands down her body and tightened his fingers on her thighs. “Ah, Starr! Take all I have.”
“Aleron, yes!” He was perfect. So perfect that she knew deep in her heart that she loved him. Had his words to her been emotional too or only physical instructions? She did not want to dwell too long on the answer. “Oh…ah!”
“Let us climax together,” Aleron said as he thrust up into her. “I am ready.”
“Yes. I am ready too. Now!” Their bodies, joined as one, shattered in sexual ecstasy. The feeling of coming together was so intense she could neither move nor speak afterward.
She lay atop Aleron, totally spent. Starr marveled at how thoroughly he satisfied her every time. And how he seemed to stay hard even after climaxing. Well, she would take care of that with her mouth. He would go flaccid after she sucked him.
Starr cuddled close to Aleron, enjoying his body heat. As soon as she caught her breath, she would pleasure him until no life remained in that royal cock of his.
Seeing a small movement, she casually glanced to the side. She gasped.
“What is wrong?” Aleron’s head turned and he followed her gaze. “What the hell?” He pushed her off him and jumped from the bed. “Deviant rats!” He grabbed a chair as if prepared to toss it in the creatures’ direction.
“Wait!” Starr held out her hand. “They are my cousins.”
He looked at her with wide eyes. “Cousins? You have rat cousins?”
“They are ferrets. Not rats.” A small smile played on her lips. “Surely you do not fear something so small?”
Aleron released the chair and stood straighter, tipping up his chin. “Fear? Of course not. They simply surprised me.” He cleared his throat. “Why do you have ferret cousins? And how did they get in here?”
One began chattering incessantly. Then the other.
“That first one is Belda. Slow down. I cannot understand you. The other is Caresse. A sorceress cast a spell upon them for sleeping with her mate. Viper must have sent them.” Her attention settled on Caresse. “How did you get here? You had what? Caresse? Belda? Are you listening to me? You said you lost some missives?”
Both ferrets had quieted and were completely ignoring her. They sat staring up at Aleron.
Starr sighed. His cock stood only semi-hard now, but impressive neverthel
ess. A fine specimen of a man he was indeed. “You might want to cover yourself.”
Aleron grunted and reached for a blanket.
“What did Belda say about Raine?” she asked, trying to recapture their attention. The two had spoken so quickly she had not understood most of what they had said.
“Rain?” Aleron frowned. “Who cares about the weather, my lady?”
“Not the weather. Another cousin. Part bane, part sorceress. She can shift into a wolf or a raven. I think Belda said that she is here in the château and that she dropped them in a discreet location so they could find us.”
Belda squeaked a response.
“What?” Starr shook her head, still not understanding.
Caresse chattered and ran in a circle.
“Oh. Raine planned to circle around the other way, since they were not certain where we were being held.”
“This cousin—where does her alliance lie?”
“With Viper, despite her bane blood.”
“Are you certain? Traitors are rife when it comes to blood and riches. Instead of attempting a rescue, she could be here to align herself with Démon.”
“No. I am certain Raine would never cross Viper. They are very close.”
“Hmm. You have a most interesting family, Starr.”
Chapter Seven
Still in his wolf form, Démon’s ears picked up a sound. He looked skyward. Raine reappeared and circled back toward the towers. Damn it! He could hardly believe his eyes. He raced into the château. Even though the ferrets must have told her that they had been seen, she still intended to infiltrate from the rear and try to find Starr. That haughty, avian sorceress was just the type to attempt such a foolhardy move.
He ran past a group of servants and also bypassed some soldiers who were changing shifts. As he made his way through the common rooms and headed toward the back, he lifted his nose, trying to catch Raine’s scent.
Of the Undead guards stood here and there at their assigned positions but he decided not to sound an alert. Not yet. He wanted to take care of that sorceress bitch himself.
Up the stairs and toward the towers, he searched. That was where she would have entered in her raven form. But he saw nothing. Where was she? He headed toward the hall where his two prize prisoners were being kept.
Just when he thought that perhaps Raine had not entered the château after all, he caught her scent. He did not smell the ferrets and wondered where they had gotten. They could not be far. Their small stature made them more difficult to find, especially when other, stronger scents were in the area.
He rounded a corner and saw Raine right outside the chamber where Starr and Aleron were imprisoned. She had morphed into a black-and-silver-coated wolf. In her natural state, she was a real beauty and now, as always, she took his breath away.
She had moved more quickly than he had thought possible. Impressive. Her sorceress powers remained as strong as he remembered.
No guards were standing watch in this area and anger clawed at him. He should have known better than to post Of the Undead soldiers here. They were too unreliable, with their limited intelligence. But his bane guards had needed rest and he had not believed anyone would be able to penetrate this far into the château. A menacing growl escaped his throat.
At the sound, she turned her head and saw him.
He bared his teeth. Raine could not get away from him now. He had her only escape route blocked. In the other direction, the hall was a dead end, with no windows.
Even if she morphed back into a raven, he would be able to get at her with one good leap before she made it past him. The ceiling here was not high enough to afford her room to escape. He stalked nearer.
Raine lowered her head in a submissive gesture.
He hesitated. What was she about now?
She turned and raised her tail. He immediately caught her sexual scent. Provocative. She let out a small whimper and waited where she stood for his next move. She thought to toy with him, did she? Well, she would learn the folly of that act.
Démon cautiously resumed his approach. When he reached her, he sniffed her from behind, unable to resist. She turned her head and he saw her acceptance of his dominance in her eyes. Perhaps he had misjudged her intentions. And feral desires.
With a growl, he mounted her. He would fuck her and then turn her to his side so thoroughly that she would forget any alliance to Viper or Starr. As he was about to stab his huge cock into her cunt, she spun around, knocking him off with her hip. Her move sent him tumbling down the corridor.
Damn her!
She sprinted past him and headed for the stairwell that led toward one of the outside towers. He scrambled to his feet and quickly followed on her heels. He would rip that bitch to shreds!
Raine cleared the stairs and raced down the hallway, but Démon moved quickly, closing the distance between them. Before he caught her, she escaped outside and jumped from the top of the tower, morphing into a raven at the same time. She dipped dangerously low to the ground, within ten feet, before her body completed the change.
Seeing her drop, the frustration Démon felt turned to satisfaction as he peered toward the ground. Two of his pack soldiers were about and had spotted her descent. One aimed his bow. You just ran out of luck, dear cousin.
The identical second soldier grabbed the bow, stopping the archer.
What? Démon’s anger exploded. Damn it!
Raine circled, now rising too high for an arrow to reach her. Seething, Démon morphed back into his human form. He stood in silence on the tower, watching Raine, his hands planted on his hips, his long hair blowing in the wind.
Brusquely he turned and stalked down the hall. He descended the stairs to his chamber. Unmindful of his nakedness, he stopped in front of the bane guard standing beside the door. “Bring me a messenger. I want to send a missive to Lord Viper. Post our highest-ranking Of the Bane guards on Starr and Aleron. And find the two archers. Bring them to me. They are, as of now, considered dissidents.”
The soldier hesitated, his eyes wide.
“Go!”
“Um…yes, my prince.”
* * * * *
Starr wrapped a blanket around her and scooted off the bed. “What is it?” she asked Aleron. His face had gone blank for several moments and he seemed to be listening for something.
“I thought I heard scuffling and detected a strange odor—a mixture of bane scent and something that I cannot place. But…” He shook his head. “I must have been mistaken. It is gone now.” He glanced around the room and frowned. “Your cousins, what did they say was Viper’s plan?”
“I do not know for certain. I cannot understand their chatter as well as Viper does. They had messages, but lost them running from a cat or a bat or a rat or something in the château. I am not exactly sure what. Démon spotted them on the grounds, Caresse said. So they are going to remain hidden here for a while and hope that Raine can either get to us or take enough information back to Viper to organize a successful rescue. Belda said something about your cousin, Dominique, but I could not understand it.”
Aleron puffed out a sigh of frustration. “More waiting.”
“I am afraid so.”
Aleron glanced around again, peering low. “Where did they disappear to?”
She pointed to a corner, where the two ferrets lay together, curled atop a fat pillow. “They were exhausted. They will no doubt sleep for hours.”
“Humph.” Aleron approached and slid his arms around her waist. “I am not of the same mind. I will not to be able to sleep for another minute until we are out of here. Doing nothing does not sit well with me and I am restless for a conclusion. I am truly sorry that I got you into this.”
His apology surprised her. “It is not your fault.”
He cocked an eyebrow.
“It is not.” She knew his thoughts had returned to her harsh words and to the party at Haut Manor, where he had coaxed her from the safety of her family.
At one time,
blame had been easy for her to place. But no more. Not since Aleron had captured her heart. She did not want him to feel any guilt or responsibility over this.
She reached up and cupped his cheeks. She allowed her lips to gently touch his. If her words could not convince or soothe him, perhaps her touch would. Like always when they touched, a spark of need flushed her body.
Aleron pulled her even closer. He obviously felt the immediate connection too, which pleased her greatly. When she opened her lips, his tongue slipped inside her mouth.
She slid her fingers into his long hair and pressed her body against his. She could not ever get enough of him. He tasted hot and untamed. And ready for sex. She pulled the blanket off his hips.
He groaned in response.
When she broke their kiss to take a breath, she looked up into his eyes and whispered, “Let us fill our waiting with bodily pleasures, my lord.”
He smiled. “My thoughts exactly.” He picked her up and set her on the bed. The look in his eyes softened and he stroked her cheek.
She leaned forward and gently teased the tip of his cock with her tongue.
“Ah…” He slid his fingers into her hair.
She opened her lips and engulfed the thick cock head. She sucked lightly and then harder as her excitement grew. His low groan spurred her on. She took more of his cock into her mouth, one inch at a time, bobbing her head faster and faster, until she was practically frantic for the taste of his semen.
“Oh…wait.” His body started to shake. “Starr, wait.” He pulled back, breathing heavily. “Damn, that felt great, but I want to come inside you, while looking into your eyes.” Gently, he removed the blanket she had wrapped around her body. “You are everything I have ever dreamed about.” He leaned over her, pushing her flat on the mattress, and circled one of her nipples with his tongue.
“Ah…Aleron. Your touch is more pleasurable to me than even the richest of blood.” She arched her back.
He sucked the fleshy bud into his mouth and eased his hands down her body, massaging her flesh. Her skin tingled and her limbs began to tremble. She needed him so much. She spread her legs. “Do not make me wait.”
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