by Nesa Miller
“A chuisle,” he emitted more as a guttural grunt. “I can't take much more.” Her hands massaged along each calf, nimble fingers working their way over his leather pants. “Come to me.”
“You first, my love.”
Her mouth, hot and wet, made his eyes roll back into his head. Tongue, teeth, lips, and breath played their part in stroking his inflamed maleness. Her hand was warm against the flesh of his balls, while stiff peaks of pure delight tantalized his thighs. His heart racing, the torment teased at the fabric of his sanity, dominating his every thought, every breath. Lost in the moment, he clenched at the silver haven so intent on his divine liberation.
My angel, my demon…
Once his breath steadied, she moved over him, lying by his side. He gazed at the beauty who graced him with her love. “I will not ask where you learned that.”
Her finger caressed his lips. “Your blood tells me your strengths, your weaknesses…” She dipped down, sucking his bottom lip between her teeth, “your pleasures.”
“You listen well.”
“It doesn’t hurt having a succubus in the family, either.”
The corner of his mouth twitched. “To be at your mercy in that way…”
A brief smile touched her ruby lips, then was gone, but her gaze held his. “When I’m with you, Dar, I feel like I could conquer the whole world.”
He smiled. “I’m familiar with the feeling, but shall we leave world domination for another day?” Capable of movement once again, he rolled her to his other side and placed a leg over hers. The pale flesh, so soft, so inviting, stirred the devil within him. “Allow me to show you my favorite pleasure, dominatrix.” Ravaging her lips with his, he repaid her generosity with a barrage of his own.
Arms and legs intertwined, they murmured soft words of love against skin slick from the flush of passion. Their lips met in a salty embrace, tongues caressing in tender exploration. Dar released a contented sigh. “I would stay here with you forever, a chuisle.”
She swept her finger along the line of his jaw. “If only it were that easy, my sweet savage. I’d gladly forget the world.”
“Aye.” He caught her hand and brought her fingertips to his lips.
“Got any magical Krymerian hideaway we can run away to?”
“A tempting proposal, milady.”
His grin intensified the pulse between her legs. To avoid melting into his golden pools, she dropped her gaze, watching her fingers trace the outline of the shared mark on his chest. “You know, with all the talk about the blood today, I’ve been wondering.”
He chuckled, twirling a lock of her hair around his finger. “About what, my beautiful lady?”
“You’ve always told me not to share it, no matter what. You’ve even outlawed it within the clan.” Her gaze came back to his. “But you’ve never told me why.”
“Can we talk about this at another time? Our private time is so precious I hate to waste it discussing such things.” He leaned in for another kiss.
Etain turned her head. “Not today.”
“I have good reason. Can we leave it at that?”
She pushed away. “With your clan at Laugharne, and Freeblood here, who knows when I’ll get another chance. I need to know, Dar. Your blood has saved my life more times than I care to remember. Because of you, mine saved Freeblood. Holy hell, our sharing of blood created Faux, a totally different person. And now your clan wants your head on a platter because of it. Why would you outlaw such a vital part of you?”
She watched his face as he sighed. “Sharing my blood has not always gone well. I think it has to do with the human aspect.”
He told her of times long before she became an Alamir, of bloody clashes between the clans as they struggled to come to terms with their new lives and the overwhelming responsibilities it entailed. He witnessed the death of so many who should not have died, many who could have taken the Alamir in a different direction, a direction of peace and harmony instead of the senseless brutality that ruled.
“There was one man…noble, well-spoken, courageous to a fault. He was a born leader, and his clan followed him without question.”
A deep respect had developed between the two, both recognizing a kindred spirit in the other. Dar learned as much from the man as he taught him in return.
“There were those who despised the clan and thought their loyalty to the man inane. Those who hated him laid a trap and waited until I was away, so I could not interfere. The plan succeeded with deadly precision. Most of his clan could not be saved.”
Despite repeated donations of blood from fellow Alamir, his friend’s life threatened to slip away. Dar had rushed back as soon as he received the news, arriving just in time to offer his own blood. He was certain its superior qualities would prove a vital turning point.
“You saved him?”
He looked away, lost in another time. “Aye, I saved him…if you can call it that.” She placed a hand on his. After a few moments, he came back to her, hesitant to look her in the eye. “He was never the same afterward.”
“Well, neither was I.”
An unusual expression passed over his handsome features, something akin to pride tempered with sadness. “Your reaction was different, a chuisle.” He squeezed her hand. “Your system seemed to absorb the light in my blood rather than the dark.”
“Oh.” They lay quietly as Etain pondered on what he had said thus far. “That doesn’t make any sense. You told me the priests removed the darkness when you were a child. It was that separation that made Midir.”
“They couldn’t remove it all.” His smile held no humor. “How can light exist without the dark?” He shook his head. “No, a portion of the darkness remained. I have thought on it often, trying to understand how you were not affected by it.”
“Maybe it’s like playing roulette.”
He raised a brow.
“You know…” She turned onto her side, her head propped on her hand, “spin the wheel and hope the ball lands on your number.” The look on his face told her he had no idea what she was talking about. “A crap shoot?” His brows came together. She twirled a strand of her hair, trying to find a phrase he would understand. “A toss of the dice?”
He smiled. “Aye, perhaps it’s like that.”
“This friend who you saved… Is he still alive?”
“As far as I know.”
Dar explained how the man murdered his caregivers and disappeared into the night, taking with him those few of his clan who still clung to life.
She bit her bottom lip, unsure whether to ask the question. Dar saved her the effort.
“He turned to the Bok.” He closed his eyes, leaning his head back. “He has risen within their ranks and is an intelligent and ruthless commander.”
“I’m so sorry, Dar. When was the last time you saw him?”
He blew out a breath. “I have a question for you instead.”
“Okay,” she said, curious.
“The night you became an Alamir, you said you were fourteen. Correct?”
“I did. I was.”
He shifted onto his side, facing her. “You said you aged five years.” She nodded. “How did you know?”
“Well, my body changed, um…developed, in a matter of minutes.”
“Aside from that, you were specific about it being five years. How did you know you were nineteen? Why not eighteen, or even twenty?”
“I’ve never really thought about it.” She shrugged. “I just…knew. I can’t explain how or why. Does it matter?”
“Not tonight.” He pulled her into his arms, taking her mouth in an ardent kiss. “Tonight, there is only me and you.”
“One more question, please,” she said, her gaze intent on an answer. “Could the man you saved have been one of Midir’s men?”
His hands stroked her body, sparking the lust in her blood. “I highly doubt it.”
“Why?”
“If Thamuz had been working for my brother,” he mumbled, his
teeth raking her bottom lip, “we would not be here now. He would have seen to it.”
Freeblood cracked his neck, grinning at his prowess in tempting fate at least three times in the past half hour. There was an added bounce in his step as he followed his nose toward the kitchen. At the doorway, he ran his hand over the wall, searching for the light switch, finding only a cool, smooth surface. When he stepped into the room, a soft light illuminated the warm color of the walls. Nice.
Circling around the dark stone island, he searched the mahogany cabinets and found dishes, pots, and pans. Opposite the island sat a massive range, warm to the touch, which dominated most of the wall where it stood. He shuffled over the stone floor toward the refrigerator and smiled when he opened the door, finding an array of edible choices.
“Already feels like home.”
On the opposite side of the room was a set of frosted glass double doors that, when opened, revealed a wonderland of treats. “Looks like Krymerians aren’t so different when it comes to food. Dar’s gonna regret this.” Within a few seconds, he assembled a king-sized sandwich, then sat at the island, savoring his creation as he reflected on the day. Despite a few tense moments during the interview, he was happy with how it went.
Dar is a Krymerian... Freeblood shook his head and smirked. Whatever that is. He ran a hand through his curly mop of hair and blew out a breath. Alamir… Damn. Then his mind went to the fourth piece in this jumbled puzzle. And Faux… He had no words to describe that sexified demon of a woman. When he yawned, he was reminded of the late-night party he’d been enjoying when memories of Mexico had returned. Remembering Etain’s attempt at erasing those memories, he’d left immediately, following the burn in his blood. What a surprise it was when he ended up at Laugharne.
“There’s something they aren’t telling me, I’m sure of it. But…” He stretched and pushed away from the island. “I need sleep.”
Placing the dishes in the sink, he ventured upstairs and paused on the landing. North, west, east, or… He turned. “South it is.” Not far down the hallway, he came to a set of three doors, considered the close proximity of the three in relation to others in the corridor, and pondered the purpose. Music drifted into the hallway. He pressed an ear to the center door and heard muffled voices. “Mom and Dad.”
The door to the right looked no different than the others, yet it held an indescribable allure. Freeblood touched the smooth wood with both hands and pressed his ear to its surface. Tingles in his lower belly niggled down, stirring the beast below. He balled his hands into fists.
“Sleep first.”
He forced himself away from the door and moved farther down the hall, far enough to afford him a peaceful night. Within moments of slipping between the sheets, the newest family member of the Sólskin estate was fast asleep.
In another bedroom, a young woman’s dark eyes fluttered open. Faux smiled, recognizing the red-and-black furnishings, then frowned, remembering why she was in bed… Midir and his stupid blade. Taking a quick inventory of her body, she smiled again, happy to be pain free, and slowly sat up, stretching the stiffness from her muscles. “Back where I belong.” Checking her belly, she was reassured by Dar’s mark but noted the small alteration left by Midir’s sword. The crown of swords was no longer the eternal circle of protection.
He’s gonna pay for that.
Swinging her feet over the edge of the bed, she stood up, having to grab the post of the bed for support. Her legs felt like rubber left too long in the hot sun. Fortunately, her tail hadn’t suffered the same fate, snapping out to keep her from falling back. She took a deep breath, leaning against the coolness of the black lacquered post, hoping to slow the spin in her head. “Damn, how long has it been?” Sliding down onto the bed again, she bent over, head in her hands. “I need to eat.” Her stomach growled in agreement as she grabbed the robe at the foot of her bed, trying to slip it over her shaky limbs several times. Eventually, she was able to stand on her own and shuffled to the door.
At the kitchen, she stopped, goosebumps rising. Whatever had caused it held a touch of danger, enough to make it interesting, but not enough to cause any worry. She walked in, tail at the ready in case something should come from the shadows, and jumped when the light came on. Hand on her chest, she laughed at herself.
Walking to the refrigerator, she removed some items, surprised that the simple act of making a sandwich helped her relax. Sinking her teeth into the soft bread, she closed her eyes, relishing her first solid food since Midir’s attack, savoring every morsel. She even scooped up any stray crumbs with her fingertips, happily licking them clean. Depositing her dishes into the sink, she thought it odd to find one plate and glass already there but didn’t make much of it.
Faux roamed about the manor, poking into various rooms. Something was different. Although determined to find what it could be, her body forced her to admit her need to slow down. At the stairs, she paused, taking several deep breaths before slowly walking up.
On the landing, she suddenly detected another presence in the house. She pressed her body against Dar’s bedroom door, listening to his and Etain’s muffled voices, but wasn’t in the mood to face either one of them tonight. Not with the delicious tingles tempting her to the room at the other end of the hall. Her body hadn’t felt this alive since...
With a touch of her old stealth, she slipped into the room, pleased to know she was still able. Her bare feet whispered over the large rug, a smile crossing her lips at the familiar face in the bed. “So, you’re back.” A manicured nail trailed along his cheek. Deep in sleep, he didn’t stir. “I think I’m too tired to walk all the way down that long, lonely hallway back to my cold, empty room.” She walked to the other side of the bed, slipped off her robe, and slid in between the sheets. “You don’t mind, do you?”
Curling up close to the sleeping young man, she drifted off to sleep.
5
Dirty Deeds
Sunlight shining on his face dragged Freeblood to consciousness. Eyes barely open, he raised an arm to block the light and was surprised by Etain, her arms crossed and toe tapping, a murderous look on her face.
“What're you doing?” he mumbled, squinting against the brightness.
“What the hell are you doing?”
He blinked. “Uh, well, I was sleeping until someone opened the curtains. How about doing me a favor by closing them?”
“You wanna rethink that, bub?”
He followed her gaze to the lump beside him and sat up. “Whoa! Where’d you come from?”
Faux stretched. “Good morning. Best night I’ve had in ages.”
“Hey.” Freeblood’s eyes darted up to Etain. He was certain the Four Horsemen rode in the ice-blue apocalypse. “Nothing happened here.” He looked at the impish Faux. “Not that I would’ve minded, but…” He turned to the face of his reckoning, “nothing happened.”
“You were warned, Freeblood.”
“Shut up, Etain,” Faux barked. “You never let me have any fun.”
“It’s a miracle you’re even alive. You’re jeopardizing more than just your life by cavorting with this heathen.”
“There was no cavorting,” Freeblood threw out, just in case anyone was listening. “And-”
“Shut up, Freeblood,” the sisters snapped in unison.
Determined to live through this escapade, he slid under the covers just as a spiked tail whipped over his head. Keeping a low profile, he peeked out from behind the sheet.
Naked, Faux stood up on the bed. “I have rested for what feels like for-ev-er with only that mindless mage for company. I’ve heard more than I care to know about raising four fucking kids and am completely convinced I don't even like kids. Plus, you took Dar for yourself. Well, you’re not taking this one. He’s mine!”
Etain's eyes darkened. “You ungrateful little shit. We have all risked our lives to ensure your recovery, protecting you from worse evils.” Her wings fanned out, emphasizing her outrage at Faux’s declaration. “Bu
t all you care about are your own selfish pleasures.”
Faux's mouth dropped open, landing on her rear on the bed, speechless. Curious at the strange expression on her face, Freeblood followed her stare at Etain. “That’s not a happy face.”
“Fun time is over, Romeo.” The threat in Etain’s voice was loud and clear.
Dar, who languished at the door, amused by their predicament, came into the room. “What have we here?”
Freeblood mustered up his best innocent face, hoping it would help. “I swear, I didn’t know she was here until Etain woke me up.”
Etain clenched her teeth. “Perception isn’t a strong point with you, is it?”
Dar frowned at Faux’s state of undress. “Faux.” When she didn’t respond, he yelled, “Faux!” Her gaze snapped to him. “Go to your room and get dressed. Now.” She stared at the changed man as she shuffled off the bed. “Freeblood, gather your wits…and your pants.” The young man nodded. Dar turned his back on the pair, facing Etain. “We will get this straightened out, a chuisle. However, we must deal with the Council first.”
“You go ahead.” Her piercing glare at Freeblood forced him back under the comforter. “It won’t take me long to sort this out.”
“Etain.” Dar gripped both her arms. “Look at me.”
“What?”
“We will deal with these two later.”
“You take care of your business, and I’ll take care of mine.”
“I would prefer that you came with me should anything go awry with the Council.”
“You don’t need me to handle your Council.” Etain nodded toward the bed. “This needs to be dealt with now. I’ll come along once I’m done.”
Dar lowered his voice. “Remember her condition, Etain.”