by Alice Wade
“I hear you’ll be just fine,” he said softly while he stroked the hair away from her face.
“Yes, so I hear.” She watched as his brown eyes roamed the length of her body, checking for her health. It wasn’t until she was bathed in the intense stare, that she could see his eyes no longer burned with raging magic. She exhaled with relief at seeing him once more in control. The only sign of any stress was the deep worry lines that creased his brow. “I’m all right, Ryan,” she added when his frown increased.
“I can’t tell you how scared I was, Tillian. What were you thinking?”
She could still see his distress, which had relaxed a little with the news she would be fine. Yet Tillian wasn’t ready yet to talk about why she did what she did, and asked instead. “How’s your sister?”
His head nodded. “Gareth was gentle so she wasn’t too badly injured. Emotionally, yes, but not physically.” Ryan cupped her face with his hand. “What were you thinking?”
When she realized he wasn’t going to let that question go, she sighed. “I wasn’t. You wouldn’t listen to me, but I guess I wasn’t listening to you either. I was fixated on the terror Crysin probably felt and the hope she most likely clung to that someone would come to her rescue. That is what drove me. I also was frantic with the possibility that you could be injured, so I stupidly thought that I was protecting you.” Tillian’s eyes closed to block out the horrific memories replaying in her mind talking about it all. “I didn’t factor in you’d follow until I saw the gate guard’s suspicion. I knew he’d raise the alarm and that is where I miscalculated. I thought I could get there and avoid having you or Gareth injured.” A tear escaped her tightly closed lids. “Now look what I’ve done.”
Ryan made some sound in his throat and turned her face him, rubbing his bearded cheek against hers. “This is not your fault. This outcome was to be regardless, Tillian. I’m just sorry you had to witness what transpired.”
“I hurt you by leaving. I didn’t think through that either.”
“I love you, wife. Whenever you are in danger, it will drive me insane. Accept that now and you’ll soon find life will become much easier to accept.”
His confidence and assuredness in the statement touched her, but she still felt awful for bringing him to that state by her foolish actions.
“Just don’t ever do something like that again and trust me next time.”
“I promise. Hopefully, there won’t be a next time. I’m quite done with the drama,” Tillian said to soften the moment.
“I would hope so. Oh!” He pulled away from her for a moment to dig in his pocket and withdrew her rose pendant. “I almost forgot about this. I would be annoyed if this wasn’t returned to its proper place immediately, so...” He slid the chain around her neck the closed the clasp. The rose rested perfectly on her chest again and Ryan touched it with his fingers. “There. I never want to see that off your neck again, is that understood?” A playful teasing lifted the tone.
“Yes, I understand.” Tillian opened her mouth to say something else but he blocked the words with a passionate kiss that had her breathless. When his tongue finally stopped caressing her mouth and his lips lifted enough for her to talk, she whispered, “I love you,” and felt him smile against her lips. He had pulled away and she watched while his demeanor changed. His gaze upon her was sad and mournful when he asked, “Will you ever forgive me for what I’ve done?”
When her head turned away, Ryan frowned.
“In time. I understand why you did it. He was a brother just like you, regardless if he was weak and easily manipulated. He was still my sibling.” Tillian tried very hard to hold back the flood that overwhelmed her eyes while she spoke of Gareth.
“How can you be so forgiving after all that he’s done? To you and Crysin? How can you still show loyalty?” he asked incredulously.
“Because he was my brother,” she said again and let the tears flow down her face. Saying that made her realize that in time, she would have given Gareth what he’d begged for and regretted not telling him before he died. A part of her had indeed forgiven Gareth, even if a larger part still felt disappointed he left her to die as he had.
Ryan shook his head in frustration. “I’ll never understand his actions or your love for a man who could do such things, but it is your heart to council. What is most important is that Yorath got their two most important women back.” He looked down at her again. “And I got my wife.”
“Yes, you did.”
“Now, I have more pressing business to explore, so now that you are healed completely, I—”
Tillian ceased his talk with a kiss that sent a throbbing pain to his groin. “You are overdressed for such a conversation,” she finally said once she released him from her lips’ caress.
“That can be rectified.” Striding to the door, Ryan whispered something to the guards outside then slipped the bolt for privacy. By the time he returned to the bed, he was gloriously naked with a trail of clothing behind him.
“Much better,” she purred as he slid under the covers and pressed his warm skin to hers through the thin nightgown she now wore.
“Tillian, please don’t ever leave me again.” His words were so heartfelt and passionate, causing Tillian to smile.
“I won’t. Leaving you once was enough for a lifetime.” She felt her nightgown pushed up her body until she was forced to sit up so he could lift it over her head.
“I’m going to love you so passionately for the rest of your life, you won’t know what hit you,” he added.
“I look forward to it.”
“Then let me start now,” Ryan answered and rolled over her to cover her body. There were no more words that needed to be said and no discussions remaining to have this night. This is all that needed to be discussed and communicated.
Later, when they both lay quietly in each other arms, Tillian wanted to ask something that lingered in her mind. Ryan mumbled something so she continued. “Has a message been sent to my Father in Folkyn?” The news of her rescue and the death of Irfan’s son was going drive the King of Folkyn insane. If a war was a threat before, now it was pretty much a guarantee.
“Yes. While the healers were treating your wound, I dispatched a rider immediately.” He sighed when she raised her eye brow in question. “I kindly reminded him that what is mine is mine.” This was whispered while he kissed her ear in addition to giving it a little bite. More throaty and full of passion, he followed that up with, “You’re mine.” No, she would never leave him again. “I also sent a message to the King of Lysban, warning him in case Irfan tries anything along his borders. I’m positive Irfan will contact the Order of the Mages and Basil will alert me. Only time will tell.”
Tillian allowed his love to melt away her worry. This time the war would not just be about her so she decided not to fret about what was to come. She leaned back into the bed to experience all Ryan had to give while he wrapped her in his arms. The scent of him, the feeling of his body holding her, and the sound of his voice were effective tools to force all the negative thoughts and worry from her mind.
What would come, would come, but for now she was content to let this man love her and she him. For the first time in months she felt truly safe. This was because she was finally home.
About the Author:
Alice Wade graduated from University of California, Santa Cruz with a degree in Psychology. She is a Marketing Professional by day, writer by night and has devoted herself to using the written word to motivate emotional responses.
With her writing, she’s proven that anything is possible if you just try, as evident by the accomplishments to date. She has written a total of nine novels, three of which are being published with Eternal Press. Talon (April 2012) is a Paranormal Romance and will be the first to release. This is followed by the first book in the Flame Thrower Saga: Flame Thrower (May 2012), a Romantic Fantasy.
Alice does take breaks, however. When she is not writing, she loves camping with her fam
ily (two step daughters plus very supportive husband), learning to fly fish around California, and playing with her two Boxer dogs.
Visit her online at:
http://www.alicewadewritings.com/
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Alice-Wade/261678170529712
http://twitter.com/#!/AliceWadexx
Also from Alice Wade:
Talon
by Alice Wade
eBook ISBN: 9781615726585
Print ISBN: 9781615726592
Erotica Paranormal
Super Plus-Novel of 217,157 words
Blood and pain reign in a vampire ravished land where only an exiled elf can stem the flow. The vampires who riddle the realm have only one name to fear: Talon, an elf. He and his mate, Kailani have made it their life’s mission to hunt down and control dangerous covens which have grown too violent, too hungry, destroying vast amounts of life in the name of their selfish entertainment. There’s one problem with this strategy for Talon and Kailani are vampires as well. Together they must band with humans to defeat the bloodthirsty villain, Kaen and his psychotic queen. This is a highly sexual tale any vampire romance lover will enjoy.
Also from Eternal Press:
The Yellow Sun
by Elizabeth Darker
eBook ISBN: 9781615722969
Print ISBN: 9781615722976
Paranormal Shape-Shifter
Novel of 48,248 words
When Amara Parsons gets a call in the middle of the night, she expects a body–but even this professional vampire hunter isn’t prepared for the butchered victims surfacing all over the city.
Amara is familiar with the unusual and bizarre. When bodies start showing up with the tender areas missing, it sets off an alarm–even for her.
However, when Amara is paired up with Christopher Hoyt, a hunter from a program overseas, she assumes the work will be harder than ever. She can barely get along with her partner, Stephanie, who is a borderline hippy, let alone a hunter with a history of going rogue and a werewolf.
They must work fast because time is running out. Along with the murders, is a threat of a vampire uprising vampire. The hunters must seek help from the vampire overseeing the city to keep one step ahead.
Now the group needs to find their killer and keep from killing one another before it’s too late.
Table of Contents
Flame Thrower
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
About the Author:
Also from Alice Wade:
Also from Eternal Press: