Waking Beauty [Windsong Keep] (Siren Publishing Allure)

by Tasha Blackstone

  Windsong Keep

  Waking Beauty

  Talia has been sleeping for two hundred years, locked away in the Veil, alone and scared. When the darkness finally comes for her, she has lost her will to fight and accepts defeat.

  Hunter, the only Male Empath in existence, has chosen a life of solitude as penance for misuse of his gift. When fate steps in and draws him to the Sleeping Beauty, his desires are stirred and his need awakens with her.

  In this beautifully spun tale of love and lust, Hunter and Talia must find strength in each other to battle the shadows of their past. Haunting memories, a vengeful Shadow Witch, gifts that are out of control, and the powerful Blood Diamond are only a few of the obstacles standing in their way. Can they overcome their demons, defeat the vengeful Witch, and allow true love to conquer all? Or are they destined to a life of missed opportunity and unfulfilled desires?

  Genre: Fairy Tales/Myths, Fantasy, Historical

  Length: 50,615 words

  WAKING BEAUTY

  Windsong Keep

  Tasha Blackstone

  EROTIC ROMANCE

  Siren Publishing, Inc.

  www.SirenPublishing.com

  ABOUT THE E-BOOK YOU HAVE PURCHASED: Your non-refundable purchase of this e-book allows you to only ONE LEGAL copy for your own personal reading on your own personal computer or device. You do not have resell or distribution rights without the prior written permission of both the publisher and the copyright owner of this book. This book cannot be copied in any format, sold, or otherwise transferred from your computer to another through upload to a file sharing peer to peer program, for free or for a fee, or as a prize in any contest. Such action is illegal and in violation of the U.S. Copyright Law. Distribution of this e-book, in whole or in part, online, offline, in print or in any way or any other method currently known or yet to be invented, is forbidden. If you do not want this book anymore, you must delete it from your computer.

  WARNING: The unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this copyrighted work is illegal. Criminal copyright infringement, including infringement without monetary gain, is investigated by the FBI and is punishable by up to 5 years in federal prison and a fine of $250,000.

  If you find a Siren-BookStrand e-book being sold or shared illegally, please let us know at

  legal@sirenbookstrand.com

  A SIREN PUBLISHING BOOK

  IMPRINT: Erotic Romance

  WAKING BEAUTY

  Copyright © 2013 by Tasha Blackstone

  E-book ISBN: 978-1-62242-681-2

  First E-book Publication: March 2013

  Cover design by Harris Channing

  All cover art and logo copyright © 2013 by Siren Publishing, Inc.

  ALL RIGHTS RESERVED: This literary work may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, including electronic or photographic reproduction, in whole or in part, without express written permission.

  All characters and events in this book are fictitious. Any resemblance to actual persons living or dead is strictly coincidental.

  PUBLISHER

  Siren Publishing, Inc.

  www.SirenPublishing.com

  Letter to Readers

  Dear Readers,

  If you have purchased this copy of Waking Beauty by Tasha Blackstone from BookStrand.com or its official distributors, thank you. Also, thank you for not sharing your copy of this book.

  Regarding E-book Piracy

  This book is copyrighted intellectual property. No other individual or group has resale rights, auction rights, membership rights, sharing rights, or any kind of rights to sell or to give away a copy of this book.

  The author and the publisher work very hard to bring our paying readers high-quality reading entertainment.

  This is Tasha Blackstone’s livelihood. It’s fair and simple. Please respect Ms. Blackstone’s right to earn a living from her work.

  Amanda Hilton, Publisher

  www.SirenPublishing.com

  www.BookStrand.com

  DEDICATION

  To my readers, thank you! I smile every time I think that somewhere, out in the world, someone is reading my work.

  To my future readers, thank you for taking a chance on me! You make me strive to do better.

  To my fellow authors, thank you for your kindness and willingness to welcome a “newbie” into such a wonderful world.

  AUTHOR’S NOTE:

  WINDSONG KEEP

  Deep within the jagged Broken Top mountain range, a Keep filled with secrets lies in wait. The walls, once gleaming white and welcoming to all who crossed its path, now sit black and aged against the sky. A foreboding place that travelers avoid, the Keep is lonely and yearns for the life it once knew. In its prime, Windsong Keep was home to all royalty of the gifted community. Wizards, mages, and all creatures faerie lived together in harmony and peace. Dark times fell on the lands, however, and as with all wars that cannot be resolved in kind, hope and happiness were lost. What was once a thriving mecca of celebration and peace amongst the gifted is now a dark and dreary prison. Locked away in the depths of Windsong are all of the unwanted. Gifted who are considered a threat, whose gifts were too strong to control, or simply those who are undesirable. A collective of misfits referred to as charges by those who care for them roam the hallways by day and stay safely locked in their rooms at night. Many new charges are still sent to this all but forgotten Keep and no one ever leaves. It is the hope of the charges that someday the Keep will be brought back to life, but until then they sit in wait.

  WAKING BEAUTY

  Windsong Keep

  TASHA BLACKSTONE

  Copyright © 2013

  Prologue

  Anticipation pulsed through her body as the latch to her bedroom door clicked behind her. She had been waiting for this moment for what had felt like an eternity and as she turned around and found Xander standing before her, Talia’s heart skipped a beat. He was so beautiful. His thick black hair fell straight down to his shoulders and flowed along with his movement as he slowly approached her. His eyes, also black, stared at her with ignited passion and as she watched his tongue slide down along his bottom lip, Talia could feel her desire for him surge between her legs.

  They had spent countless moon cycles hiding their love from prying eyes, sneaking into the shadows to steal a kiss or a touch. Theirs was a forbidden love as Xander was a dark wizard. Presumed evil by many in the gifted community, his clan was only called upon and allowed in the palace during times of war. He and his brethren had been brought to Windsong in the earlier part of the previous winter to provide council for the rumored impending conflict between creatures of magic and humans and Talia had immediately discovered her attraction for him. He and his fellow dark wizards were unlike any creature Talia had ever seen. Their skin was golden brown and tight against bulging muscles that they were proud to openly display and their long black hair cascaded down past their shoulders. Every dark wizard had been branded with a series of scars along their arms, each a blend of magical symbols said to be protection spells warding off other clans that might attempt an attack. They were savage-like, with no regard for formal law. None of the clan was overly friendly. They never smiled and they never engaged in conversation unless prompted, but that did not sway all of the women in the palace from swooning over them. Their mysterious demeanors had only added to the allure and many of the women had thrown themselves, breasts revealed and legs spread, to the wizards in hopes of being their next bedmate. Many were successful, some were not. Tales of largely endowed penises and skilled lovemaking spread through the palace like a wildfire in dry brush an
d it quickly became law that the women of Windsong were forbidden from being bedded by the dark wizards.

  No one truly provided clear reasoning, but it was common knowledge that the men who lived at the palace and were normally able to pick their lovers from the droves of eager gifted women had been forced to turn to human whores in the nearby villages. Risk of creating half-breed offspring had been one rumored cause for concern, since pure magical blood was so vital to the survival of magic. Mixed-breed offspring was another concern. Dark magic had no right being coupled with white magic and many of the elders were said to be fearful of what the blend would create. Mostly it was believed that the law had been derived from pure, unadulterated jealousy.

  A coupling between Talia and a dark wizard, however, had been forbidden before they had even arrived. The Shadow Witch and the Wizards’ Council had pulled Talia into a private meeting and had advised her that though she was sure to lust after them like the other women were bound to, lying with one of dark wizards would taint her gift, placing the palace in danger. Talia was The Light. Her gift was simply said to be that of life, but it was much more than that. Any woman could bring forth life through childbearing, but Talia was the center of it. Her essence reached out and filled everything around her. Flowers bloomed when she walked past them, clouds shifted to reveal the sunlight when she stepped out into the gardens, and everything around her thrived in her presence. She was also the key element to one of the many secrets of Windsong. Every resident of Windsong Palace experienced the gift of immortality as long as Talia remained there. The Shadow Witch and the Wizards’ Council feared that if dark seed filled her body, that part of her gift would be extinguished and they would all begin to age and die away.

  As Xander stepped closer and closer, Talia no longer cared if their fears were true. During the time he had been at Windsong, Xander had been exceptional among his brethren. He was their leader, loyal to his clan, but also faithful to the gifted who had called on them for help. He did not slander others, did not brawl over stupidity, and had not once bedded any of the desperate women who had begged for his cock. He treated Talia as an equal and as time passed their talks of politics and proposed plans of action had turned into conversations of their childhoods, hopes, dreams, and desires. They had found love in each other and were willing to take the risk so that they could be together. After tonight, they would announce their union to the council and accept whatever consequences lie in wait.

  Close enough to hold on to, Talia reached her hand out and placed her palm over Xander’s heart. He was shirtless as always and his skin felt hot under her touch. His black eyes bored into her soul and she had never felt more exposed. She loved him with her whole heart and that love spilled over into her desire for him, making the lust she felt course through her body practically unbearable. His face as close to hers as possible without touching, his voice raspy and shaken, Xander whispered her name. “Talia, my love.”

  Before she could reply his warm lips brushed against hers. They were so soft and as he teased her with a kiss, his breath danced across her mouth, igniting her need for him. Talia could no longer hold back and she wrapped her arms around his neck, pulling her body tight against him. She pressed her lips firmly to his and slid her tongue past his teeth, eager to taste him. He did not disappoint. Their tongues intertwined together as Xander traveled his hands up her back, searching for the single knotted string that when undone would release her gown and reveal her naked body to him. As the knot came loose and her gown began to slide to the cold stone floor, Xander pulled out of her embrace and stepped back. “I want to see you.”

  Talia was not timid. She allowed the gown to fall from her body and rest in a pile at her feet. The hunger she saw in Xander’s eyes made her feel beautiful. Her curves were not subtle like many of the women in the palace. Her breasts were round and full, with erect pink nipples that stood out in contrast against her pale peach skin. Her flat stomach sat atop curved hips, her figure resembling that of the sand-filled hour glasses that were scattered around the palace. Her long, flaxen hair, waved with curls, tumbled over her shoulders and fell down to rest in the center of her back. The slight chill in the air pricked at her skin, but there was no amount of cold that could subdue the heat that pulsed through her body.

  “There’s my beauty.” Xander’s voice was filled with lust and he once again pulled her into him, hands cupping the fullness of her bottom. His erect penis pushed against the restriction of his pants and Talia became suddenly aware that the rumors had been true. She reached her hands in between them and felt for the leather tie that kept his dick hidden from her. She needed to see it and licked her lips in anticipation of wrapping her mouth around its girth. As Talia pulled at the tie, she stared into Xander’s eyes, showing him that she was not afraid. As the tie released, Talia took one of Xander’s hands, removing it from her bottom, guiding it around front so that he could feel how much she wanted him. She parted her legs and pushed his fingers onto her pussy. The folds of her skin were moist with desire and as he slid his finger up, he parted the folds and revealed her pulsing clit. The sensation of his finger tracing small circles around the tip filled Talia with a taste of ecstasy and she allowed her head to fall back as moans of pleasure escaped her mouth.

  Louder moans came as Xander pushed one then two of his thick fingers into her cunt and pumped them in and out. It felt amazing to have him inside of her and she ached for his dick even more. “Take me, my love,” she pleaded through labored breath, “I need to feel you inside me. I can wait no longer.”

  Without pulling his fingers from her pussy, Xander lifted her from the ground with his other arm and continued to finger her as he carried her to the bed. She felt her desire building and wrapped her legs tightly around his waist, needing to hold off her release until she’d had him all. He gently tossed her onto the bed and as he stood above her, Talia watched in delight as he removed his pants and revealed his full erection. He had the largest dick Talia had ever laid her eyes on. Longer and thicker than any other, his dark skin was tight against the rock-hard shaft and the head glistened with droplets of his seed. The thought of him plunging into her was intimidating yet enticing and she spread her legs in welcoming. Xander stroked his hand up and down the shaft of his cock and as he stared down at her, she watched him lick his lips in anticipation. He did not climb atop her as she thought he might, but she did not protest. He lowered his face down into the space between her legs and dragged his tongue up the length of her pussy. There was no other feeling like it and Talia cried out in pleasure as he covered her pussy with his mouth. Hands gripping her thighs, Xander pulled her hips hard into his face and pushed his tongue deep inside of her body.

  Unable to control her needs any longer, Talia pumped her pussy against his mouth and allowed her desire to build to the point of explosion. With fistfuls of linen tightly gripped in her hands and her hips lifted in air, rocking in motion with Xander’s mouth as he continued to consume her, Talia lost control and came. Her cries of pleasure echoed around the room and her juices exploded into Xander’s mouth as the intense tingling sensation of her orgasm flooded her body. Behind closed eyes, silver stars filled her vision and her heart beat faster than it ever had. Xander lapped up her juices and tormented her by running his tongue along the oversensitive nub of her clit until she dropped her hips onto the bed.

  As she opened her eyes, Xander pulled her bottom up to the edge of the bed and without a word pushed the full length of his cock deep into her wet pussy. She called out to the Creator as she experienced a mix of deep pleasure and intense pain. Even wet with desire her pussy was tight against his cock, and as he pumped his hips against her, his dick sank deeper inside of her body until he couldn’t go any further. As he pushed his dick in and out of her body, she ached to be filled with him. She reached up, grabbed his arms, and forced him down on to the bed, rolling him on to his back. She climbed on top of him and mounted her pussy back onto his dick. As she slid down the length of his shaft
and took him all in, Xander let out a deep, guttural groan and cupped her breasts in his hands. His stiff cock deep in her body, Talia rode him hard and as she brought him closer to his release, his hold on her breasts tightened. The pain that surged through them excited her, and the familiar tingle of her previous orgasm began to reawaken throughout her body. She had never come twice, but with Xander’s enormous cock filling her body, she was not surprised that he could bring her to ecstasy again.

  She rocked her pussy harder on his dick and as the tingle began to travel through her body, on the brink of explosion, she could feel his dick harden even more and pulse as he neared his release.

  Suddenly, without warning, Talia’s pussy was empty and she felt herself fly through the air. When she hit the cold stone floor, confusion clouded her mind, and even as she opened her eyes and saw the Shadow Witch standing over her, Talia still did not understand what was happening.

  “You sneaky little bitch!”

  The Shadow Witch’s words were venom spat in Talia’s face, and the rage that filled the air caused fear to replace whatever joy she had previously felt.

  “Mother, please! You have no right to keep us apart!”

  Talia’s words fell on deaf ears as the Shadow Witch gripped the large Blood Diamond that sat atop her long wooden staff and spoke an incantation that Talia had never heard. Before she could question what the Shadow Witch was doing, Talia heard a scream and then silence come from the bed that sat behind her mother. Scrambling to her feet, she tried to get to him in time, but as her eyes found his lifeless body, Talia’s heart shattered and tears streamed down her face as the truth set in that Xander would no longer be a problem for her mother’s reign.