by Sydney Addae
Apprehensive, she looked over the railing to gauge the distance if she fell, and didn’t like the odds. Just because she would heal fast didn’t mean she appreciated getting hurt, especially when there were ways to prevent it. Grateful for her boots and socks, she stepped carefully toward the ladder. Upon reaching it, she realized she still held the book and decided to leave it. She placed it next to the ladder hook and stepped on the first rung. Pitiful sounds from her beast slipped through her lips, startling her to the point she almost fell.
Holding the ladder with both hands, she closed her eyes, offered a prayer of thanksgiving to the Goddess, and glanced at the book. “Take it? Is that what you want? I don’t understand it.” She grabbed the book and stuck it beneath her shirt into the waistband of her jogging pants. With each step downward, hairs on the back of her neck stood. Her heart raced even though it made no sense. She was alone in a library, she should have been ecstatic instead of swallowing buckets of dread. When she reached the first floor, something brushed against her. Fear spoke to her in its seedy voice, telling her legs to go weak, her stomach to lurch, and her heart to jump.
She screamed and missed a couple steps, but didn’t hit the floor. Where was her attacker? She saw and scented nothing. A low growl rose from her lips as her beast rose. Sharp, stinging pain ripped across her back. Shyla screamed again but hugged the ladder close as burning pain raced through her body. “Climb,” she told her shaky legs. “Go up.”
This time she heard the subtle sound of the wind as it brushed against her back. Again, she screamed. Pieces of her shirt and skin flew from her body as if someone had used a potato peeler. Tears ran down her cheeks as she forced herself up the stairs, praying to the Goddess that whatever it was that attacked her remained below, otherwise, she would die. Her stomach heaved. Intense heat radiated from her back as sweat poured down her face. Dizzy, she saw another alcove almost to the top and released a sigh. Thankfully, whatever attacked her remained on the lower floors and not high in the stacks. She gulped air and arched in pain as her skin re-knitted. Several moments passed before she could leave the ladder for the narrow wooden ledge leading to the alcove.
Breathing hurt. Her heart raced. All she wanted was to curl up into a ball and wait for pack. But no one would come, no one had answered her call. With small, careful steps, she made it to her destination, sat on the bench in the niche, and stared into the dimly lit room below. Okay, now she knew she wasn’t alone. What the hell was that? She dropped her face into her palm and tried to figure how her night had gone so terribly wrong. This place wasn’t normal. Whatever attacked her wasn’t normal. Leaving her chamber at home wasn’t normal. So what was going on?
Frustrated, she tilted her head back and yelled. “Hello! Can anybody hear me? Where the hell am I? How do I get the hell out of Oz without that thing killing me? I didn’t even get to drink my glass of wine!” She dropped back against the wall. One hand rested on her stomach as she took a deep breath to think. Her fingertips outlined the book she had stuffed in her pants. Pulling it out, she looked at the cover. “I’ve seen this before.” She tucked her feet beneath her and opened the book. Soon she recognized the old language and read the first ten pages. None of it made sense and she sat the book aside.
Her beast whined.
“What are we going to do?” she whispered. “Whatever that was down there won’t let me near the door. I don’t see any windows. We’re stuck.” Fear took hold and she wondered if she’d die sitting in a dusty library.
Shyla laughed but it held no humor. “Library kills Librarian. That’s crazy.” Gut wrenching anxiety gripped her. She picked up the book and continued reading even though she had no idea what anything meant. When she finished, she sat the book aside and leaned back.
“That’s weird,” she said to her beast. “Felt like I just ate something.” The whole idea was preposterous, but she couldn’t put her finger on what was so off about that book. She pulled out another book from the shelf and started reading. By the time her eyes grew heavy, several books were stacked on the floor beside her. Unable to hold her head up further, she slipped into a deep sleep.
CHAPTER 4
Silas strode down the hall toward his private quarters hoping to catch his mate before she started her day. He glanced at his watch. She should have returned from walking the pups to school.
“Jasmine?”
“Yes?”
“I need a few minutes of your time. Are you in our rooms?”
“Yes. I can tell by the tone of your voice something has happened.” She paused. “Is our family okay?”
“I’m almost there.” He didn’t want to start now because she’d just have more questions which he wouldn’t be able to answer. His deepest hope was that she’d have some perspective on Angus’ situation that he hadn’t been able to see or understand. His wolf wasn’t okay with the way things had happened, but he didn’t know what to do. He turned the corner, Jasmine stood in the opened doorway watching him approach. Dressed in a peach and cream tailored dress, she looked every inch the sexy, business executive she’d become. His chest swelled with pride over her organizing the bitches all over the nation into a powerful Intel unit. He read the concern in her eyes, reached for her and held her close as he closed the door behind them.
“It’s Angus.” She stiffened but didn’t stop or interrupt. He didn’t say anything else until they sat on the sofa and she faced him.
“He’s headed back to Plias, where we were born.”
She frowned and nodded slowly. “Why?” She shook her head. “Why now? Does this have to do with Elyria? Her burial? Is something wrong?”
Silas had forgotten that his daughter, a child he never knew existed, had been buried in Plias. Discovering his seed had turned into a murderous, psychopath who’d kidnapped Asia and Hawke’s daughter, Sarita, out of anger, had scorched his relationship with his mate. Things had been tense and difficult for a couple months after, but they had weathered that storm and he had no intention of ever crossing that bridge again.
“No. That’s what’s so strange. Ten minutes ago, he contacted me from the airport. Instead of telling me his ETA for here, he said something came up and he has to go to Plias, but wouldn’t tell me what was so important, or how long he’d be gone. He apologized for not being able to tell me more right now.”
Jasmine frowned. “That doesn’t sound like him.” She paused and sat back on the cushions watching him. “What do you think is going on?”
“That’s just it, I don’t know. We talked about the case he was working on, I told him about Little League, we laughed and he said he’d be on the plane this morning. But he was supposed to come here, not head to New York.”
“He contacted you from New York?”
Silas nodded. It bothered him that Angus had waited until he was about to board to let him know about all of this. It caught Silas by surprise.
“Like I said, it’s not like him,” she said, her light brown eyes filled with concern. “But, despite what happened months ago, Angus can take care of himself. You know that.”
Silas wasn’t so sure. Two humans shot Angus with a drugged dart and almost drained his blood to sell to drug dealers. It still rankled him to know Angus had come close to death that way.
Jasmine leaned into him. “Admit it. Angus can take care of himself.” She took his much larger hand into her smaller one and rubbed her finger across his palm. “We’ll miss him, but he needs to be free to do what he has to do. And for him to leave me and the kids without saying good-bye, it must be extremely important and beyond his control. So, we need to support him and not make things tougher for him.” She kissed the back of his hand, easing his beast. “Okay?”
“I support him,” Silas said, and then pulled her close for a long, hot kiss. When they broke apart, she had that dazed look in the depth of her eyes that made his chest expand with masculine pride. No one else did that to her, just him. He tapped the end of her nose. “But I’m going to ask the Goddess i
f he’s in trouble or not.”
“Hopefully she’ll answer you.” Jasmine moved and sat astride his lap. She placed her arms around his neck and pulled him close. “That kiss wasn’t very satisfactory.”
He chuckled at the mischief in her gaze.
“No?”
She curled her lips and shook her head. “Nope.” Her fingers played with the strands of his black hair as she stole glances at him.
His dick hardened as he waited to see where this was headed. “My apologies. Let me attempt to make it right.” He leaned forward, pulled her closer to him and captured her mouth. His lips captured the sweetness of hers.
Her breath hitched as his thick fingers rubbed against her wet panties. “You’re wet.”
She opened her legs further.
“Exquisite,” he said against her lips. With one hand, he reached beneath her dress and ripped off her panties.
Her brow rose but she didn’t speak. His fingertip traced an invisible line down her throat, circled her breast and pinched her pointed nipples.
Heat rushed between her legs. Need spiraled, fogging her mind. The tight bow of craving snapped. She placed both hands on the side of his face, pulled him in and kissed him for several moments like he was the air feeding her existence. His kiss was brutal, his tongue unapologetic. That was fine with her.
Gasping, they broke apart. Chest heaving, she saw the mask of need on his face and knew he was right there on the edge with her. His large palm covered her breast and pushed gently. Understanding immediately, she lay on the sofa with one leg on the floor as he shoved her dress out of the way. He palmed her breast. Sitting up, she pulled the dress over her head and tossed her bra aside, not wanting anything to come between them.
His predatory gaze on her body sent an expectant thrill through her. He flicked her nipple before suckling the hard peak while his fingertips explored the rest of her on its downward journey. Her flesh quivered under the onslaught. The string of pleasure between her breast and pussy tightened, ratcheting her need, leaving her panting, wanting more. Without thought, her legs widened to allow his questing fingers have their way. His mouth moved to the other breast as his finger penetrated her.
A moan of bliss escaped her parted lips, while her head thrashed from side to side. An incredible itch, deep inside her core seethed and writhed, the only way to describe the feeling, needed scratching. She lifted her hips and moved in tandem with his thrusting fingers.
Silas pushed deeper, faster.
She met him thrust for thrust. Sweat rolled off her forehead as she bucked upward to reach her goal. Then it hit, spiral after spiral of ecstasy so strong her entire body shook. Her back arched taut as waves of ecstasy rolled over her. Tremors shot through her, rippling her core.
Temporarily sated, she stretched and watched him lick his fingers.
“I need you.” His raspy voice filled her with hope.
“Inside me.” She leaned back and gazed at his lust-filled face. “I want you inside me.”
She absorbed the shudder that went through him. His tongue flicked her pebbled nipple. “Yes,” she whispered in awe as his large member sprang free as he pushed down his pants. It stood magnificently during her inspection. Pale, long and thick with a wide mushroomed cap, his cock bounced against his stomach as he maneuvered them on the large sofa.
His hand stroked down her arm, and he placed her hand on his cock. “Feel what you do to me, Sweet Bitch. I’m hard as nails for you,” he whispered against her throat. “You do this to me. I want you so bad, I hurt.” His hand rolled hers over the head, spreading the pre-cum over the mushroomed tip before guiding her down the wide column to the base.
“Is this for me?”
His breath hitched. “Yeah.”
“Then give it to me, I want it.” Her hand stroked the thick pulsing rod slowly. His thighs trembled as his hand grabbed hers.
Rising, he thrust forward and slid inside her tight sheath. Her back arched as she took all of him. She rolled her hips.
“Shit, you’re so hot, so tight. Give me a minute. I need—”
Ignoring his plea, she rolled her hips again, enjoying the friction. “You feel so good.” He remained motionless above her, teeth gritted as she fucked him from beneath. Panting and grunting as pleasure twirled in her belly, she sensed it building again.
Leaning forward, he kissed her sweaty brow. “Let me help.” He slammed forward into her, his balls slapping between her thighs. Her body caught fire. The muscles of his lower abdomen flexed and bunched, contracting hard with every plunge.
Incoherent words competing with grunts and moans flew from Jasmine’s mouth as she crested. Colors flew across her lids. A tightening in her belly burst free, hard enough that her vision blurred and her ears felt as though they're going to explode. Her toes curled as she panted for breath. “Soooo good,” she whispered when she could talk.
Slowly her eyes opened. Silas leaned over her, sweat dripped from his face onto hers, their fast breaths filled the room.
“Ready?” he whispered with a smug grin.
She nodded. Damn if he hadn’t earned that grin.
Silas moved slowly within her again. Her pussy had been made for him, it fit tight, greeting him on every thrust in homecoming. He planned to up the ante with new and better memories of their couplings. This was his woman and he loved the look of sweet bliss on her face as she came. His ego demanded he put it there again and again. He wanted her to equate him with her pleasure.
Stoking the embers of her release, he bit down lightly on her ear, just hard enough to hurt a little. Her moan of contentment pushed him over the edge, he groaned as he pumped furiously into her tightness.
Intoxicated by the cries filling the room, Silas intensified their rhythm. Goddess, he was blessed having her. Her passion fueled his. They passed their unquenchable need for one another back and forth between them in a loop.
Her hands on his ass, cries for more, humbled and spurred him on. His heart expanded as he received her most treasured gift, her trust. Every part of him merged with her during this taking. His arms tightened as he filled her, recommitting his heart, and life.
With a loud growl, his body spasmed through the last of his release.
He’d never felt so alive as he did when they made love.
“You’re addicting,” Jasmine said softly as she reached out, touching his silky hair, stroking it in wonder. “And distracting. Now I’m late for work.”
Silas lifted her and walked toward their bedroom. “Don’t worry, I’ll give you a note to give to your boss.”
This wasn’t the first time Silas remained on his knees hoping and waiting for the Goddess to appear. When he’d first arrived in America to carry out the Goddess’ instructions for the new world, they’d communicated daily. Things were so wild, rough and unpredictable. That was when he learned the Goddess was not omniscient, especially when it came to the humans full-bloods co-existed with. Because the Goddess didn’t know how certain things would turn out, she gave him a few rules and after the first two years told him to trust his judgment. At the time, he had been upset she’d disappeared, leaving him in hostile territory. Those early years, he’d fought more Alpha challenges than he cared to remember. He and his growing pack were constantly on the move, finding others, taking care of those weaker, and defeating everyone who didn’t accept his leadership.
If his sweet bitch had seen him then, barely human, she would have run fast and far. Would he have gone after her then? He didn’t think so, even knowing she was his mate, he would have denied a human mate. It took over 300 years for him to be in the right head space to accept humans, even though he’d fought their initial attraction every step. Focus, he chastised himself.
“Goddess, I need a word with you, please.” Despite the churning in his gut over Angus, Silas kept his request simple. Ten minutes had passed since he’d done the ceremonial cleaning and initial request. Within the next few minutes, she would either grant his request or not. What
happened with Angus? Silas’ gut said something big was going on. It would be big for Angus not to share the information. But what? He couldn’t imagine anything that would cause Angus to act the way he did.
Seconds later, the room brightened. He lowered his face to the floor and waited. Heat raced up and down his spine as the seconds ticked. Would she allow him to speak? To answer his questions?
“Your overwhelming concern for your brother is unnecessary. All is as it should be. Change is the one thing we can all predict, it always happens. It’s the trajectory or path change travels that remains in the shadows.”
“How does this change affect Angus? Will it impact my den? My pack?” The last time she’d mentioned change in that placid tone, he’d just learned humans could give birth to half-breed pups. If something of this magnitude was happening again he wanted to know.
“What is happening will happen, you are prepared. Be strong my wolf and don’t fear. All is how it should be.” The room darkened at her leaving.
Silas closed his eyes as he went over her words in his mind. “All is as it should be? Does that mean Angus is supposed to be heading to Africa?”
“What’s wrong?” Jasmine asked.
He sat back on his heels and scooted out of his prayer circle. “Just talked to the Goddess.”
“I’m on my way up.”
Silas exhaled and leaned against the wall with his arms on his knees. No matter how he re-hashed her words, he still sensed something was wrong. Angus was in trouble. He couldn’t shake that feeling.
The door opened. Jasmine walked inside, washed her hands, removed her shoes, and sat on the floor in front of him. “What did she say?”
Silas repeated the conversation with the Goddess, watching Jasmine’s reaction.