by 1
She fell over him, gasping for air.
Chapter Eleven
Alex woke up to an empty bed, but she’d expected that. Last night, Vasilis had explained that on every full moon the castle was busy preparing for a possible attack.
She’d shown immediate concern, but he’d put her at ease, telling her they hadn’t been attacked in over fifty years. The Lycans in the mountains knew the castle was well protected with a fleet of Lycan warriors.
She rose from the bed and dressed in the riding outfit Vasilis had had the maid fold neatly in one of the drawers. She frowned only for a fraction of a second, recalling last night when Vasilis had told her he didn’t want her leaving the grounds without him. He was worried for nothing, she decided. She’d take her horse out for a short run this morning and then spend the day with Ariel. Besides, Vasilis was busy in the great hall with his father and his guards organizing their night when the full moon rose.
She was looking forward to riding her black steed. For over a week now, she’d been sitting in a wagon and she missed the freedom she felt when she was galloping on horseback.
Thirty minutes later, she was riding out into the fields, past the village below the mountain. The wind on her face and the sun on her back were calming her heightened senses. Since last night, she felt different. She couldn’t explain it, but it was as though she heard and smelt everything.
Ridiculous, she scoffed inwardly, gripping the reins. There were many explanations for it and she opted to choose coincidence.
Alex frowned, pushing her thoughts away as the hair on the nape of her neck rose. Glancing sharply behind her, all she could see was the vast expanse of empty fields, but she was still tense. Why did she feel like someone was following her?
She galloped harder and faster, leaning forward on her horse when a curious tingling persisted on her back. She turned around again and gasped. She could see a black shadow far into the fields gaining incredible distance on her. She crouched over her steed and clicked her tongue as her horse raced ahead. At one point, she turned around and gasped. The black shadow was almost behind her. It was a massive black wolf. Alex screamed.
“Faster, boy. Faster,” she urged her steed, but it was useless. The wolf was now racing at her side.
She glanced down and frowned. It looked familiar and this close to it, she was oddly unafraid. Was it Vasilis?
The wolf made a strange sound and she gasped. It was a curious mixture of a yelp and a howl. She looked back down at it and saw it snap its gaze to her. It made a curious motion with its head, almost as though it nodded and she brought her steed to a thunderous stop.
She dismounted as her heart raced in her chest. The wolf stopped and remained motionless before her, gazing at her with its amber eyes.
She then gasped as it transformed into the tall, muscular form of Vasilis. He was in his human form and very naked. Her heart flipped over in her breast. She ignored his clenched fists at his sides. He was angry.
“I forbade you to go riding alone,” he practically roared. “Damnation, woman, do you not understand there are dangers everywhere.”
“I’m…I’m sorry, but surely you can’t be serious? What can possibly happen out here? Look around, there’s nothing but fields upon fields.”
He grimaced. “Did you not see how I gained speed on you?”
She worried her lower lip. He was right. He did move incredibly fast and any other Lycan with deadly intentions could have easily caught up to her.
“I’m sorry,” she said in a small voice.
With a grim face, he reached for her and drew her in his arms, hugging her close. “Do you not realise what I would go through living the rest of my immortal existence without you? I would take silver to my own heart if that happened.”
“I’m sorry,” she repeated against his chest. He kissed her on the top of her head and she wrapped her arms around his waist, pressing her body against his.
She felt him stiffen. She lifted her face and looked at him. “What is it?” She saw his expression darken with desire as his gaze skimmed her face. She raised her face and parted her lips invitingly.
With a strangled groan, he brought his head down and kissed her, his arms drawing her body close to his. Alex sighed against his mouth and pressed her lower body against his erection.
A low groan emitted from his throat and she opened her mouth as their tongues mingled and meshed. She could kiss him forever, she realised. In his arms was where she felt complete, whole and she never wanted to lose this feeling.
Startled, she felt him lowering her to the ground. She grasped him around his shoulders and looked up into his face. He was regarding her with a taut expression, his mouth thinned as though he was suppressing something violent at bay. She shivered in spite of the sun’s heat and her warm riding skirt and closed her eyes. She trusted him. She loved him.
With a rough hand, she felt him raise her skirt to her waist and grab her undergarments, ripping them away from her silken folds and then touching her.
Alex gasped with pleasure.
“You are ready for me,” he said huskily.
She didn’t know what that meant and she didn’t care. She spread her legs and squeezed her eyes, clutching his shoulders.
“Do it now,” she said hoarsely.
Without another word, he positioned himself over her and plunged deep into her warmth. Her tight sheath accommodated his generous size and they moved together in unison.
His hands slid over her bottom and he crushed her to his heat. Alex was spiralling again, out of control, and she arched her neck, gasping for release.
Her body exploded with sheer pleasure a moment before he buried his head in her neck and growled his release.
They lay there for a few minutes, their laboured breaths recovering, when he slowly raised his head and stared down hard at her.
“Never leave the grounds without me again,” he said hoarsely.
“I…I won’t,” she replied.
He rose, helping her up and fixed her skirt over her.
She stared at his naked magnificence and smiled. “Somehow, I don’t think you should be parading all your male glory through the town.”
His mouth quirked with dry amusement. “When I realised you went out riding, I followed you on horseback. I knew you were too far ahead and I was worried your safety so I left my horse just outside the village, along with my clothes.”
She looked down at her riding attire. “I don’t have anything to give you.”
He shrugged. “No matter. I’ll return as my wolf and dress when I return to our chambers. Come.”
He shifted into his massive, black wolf form. Before she climbed her horse, she leaned over him and ran a hand over his thick black fur.
He threw back his head and howled just before he brought his mouth to her hand and licked it. She smiled, climbed on her horse and they rode back side-by-side.
Chapter Twelve
Alex saw Vasilis briefly in the courtyard later in the day when she took Ariel outside for some playtime. Her heart skipped a beat as she watched his impressive form adorned in warrior garb striding toward her, his expression intent.
He greeted Ariel with a smile before he turned a serious gaze on her. “I won’t be coming to our chambers tonight.”
“I know.”
“Make sure you stay with Hesta and Carla in the bower tonight.”
“I will.”
“I will see you at sunrise.”
Without another word, he grabbed her by her shoulders and kissed her.
She gazed up at him in a daze after he released her. “Be careful,” she said.
A few hours later, she was back in the bower staring out of the window. The full moon would be up soon, she thought, looking up into the night sky. She would be lying to herself if she didn’t admit she was worried. Even though Vasilis had said an attack was unlikely, she couldn’t contain the nagging fear that nothing in life was certain.
She glanced over to Ar
iel who was sound asleep. Hesta had given her a mild sedative. All human children were on every full moon, Hesta had explained. The human and Lycan adults didn’t want them to witness something they weren’t ready for.
Trumpets blared throughout the castle and Alex jumped in fright. “What was that?” she asked, tossing a sharp glance at Hesta and Carla. They both looked shocked.
“The castle is under attack,” Hesta whispered, her expression stunned.
Alex stiffened. “What? What do you mean?”
“Child, we haven’t heard these trumpets in over fifty years.”
Fear raced through her veins. “Vasilis told me an attack was improbable. He said the castle hasn’t—”
“Calm yourself, child! We are prepared for this.”
Alex snapped out of her dazed fear and ran to the chest by the dresser. Quickly, she lifted the massive lid and grabbed her weapons. She attached her sword on her belt, tucked her dagger in the waistband of her skirt and slung her harness over her shoulder. She turned around and gasped, watching Hesta and Carla shift into their Lycan forms.
What if Hesta was wrong? What if they weren’t prepared for this? She choked back on a fearful sob. What if Vasilis got hurt, or worse, died?
Her tearful gaze fell on Ariel and her legs felt weak. Oh my God! Ariel! What would she do if Ariel got hurt, or worse? She couldn’t even fathom the or worse.
She heard screams, roars and growls rising from the castle grounds outside and her breath came out in short gasps. Howling rose from the distance, getting closer, louder.
The attack on the castle had begun. She watched Carla lift Ariel from the bed and run to the bath chamber.
“Where are you going?” Alex yelled.
Hesta placed a taloned hand on her arm and looked down at her. “We have secret tunnels beneath the castle and the village. The humans and the children hide there until the battle is over. Come, child. We must go to safety.”
Alex followed Hesta’s towering monstrous form into the bath chambers and saw Carla position Ariel securely on her hip as she pulled a lever with her free hand by the wall. A panel opened revealing darkness. Carla grabbed a candelabra and disappeared into the blackness with Ariel tucked gently under her arm.
Alex gasped, rushing to the entry and peered inside. The glow of Carla’s light grew fainter, but Alex could make out the stone steps leading down. She turned around and stared at Hesta who was grabbing a torch light.
“Come. We must hide. The master and his warriors will protect us,” Hesta growled.
Alex couldn’t move. Vasilis was still out there. “How safe are the tunnels?”
“Very. In all the battles the last two hundred years, no one has ever discovered them.”
Alex had made up her mind. “Go. Guard Ariel with your life. I’m going to find Vasilis.”
“You’re mad, child! There are Lycans out there who will turn you to their dark side.”
“My silver will protect me. Go! Take Ariel to safety.”
Hesta looked like she wanted to argue, but clamped down on her ferocious jowls. “Aye. I will take your sister to safety and guard her with my life, child. Godspeed.”
Alex nodded and watched Hesta bend her head as she slipped through the entry. Alex closed the panel behind her and whispered a small prayer, wishing all the children of the castle grounds were safely hidden away.
She inhaled deeply and left the bower, rushing out in the corridor. She froze. Standing before was a Lycan growling at her. Alex wished he were one of the guards or the villagers.
“Ah, a beautiful addition to our pack. You will come in very handy to our leader. Lord Balkathan is in need of feasting on new flesh,” he growled in a sinister voice.
At least now, she knew he wasn’t one of the good guys. She brandished her sword before her, willing her fear to go away, and faced him with a bravado she was far from feeling. This was different than fighting a bandit. This man was a Lycan with speed and strength she could never match.
He advanced her slowly and she raised her sword, gripping it tightly. “Stand back, beast.”
“A courageous beauty at that. Lord Balkathan will be pleased once he adds you to his harem. Methinks he will enjoy taming you, wench. You have fire.” He made a disgusted sound. “His last addition to his harem was a snivelling, weak wench. She was insane, constantly scratching herself and trying to take silver to her heart.”
“Katya!”
“Ah, so you know of her. Good. You will tell me where she is. We are here for one reason and that’s to kill her. Lord Balkathan does not want her exposing his secrets, you see.”
“No!” She brandished her sword again, taking a firm stand. Her silver would protect her and if she calmed down and focused her energies on her target, she could get out of this. Hiroshi taught her to smash through thick planks of wood with her hand. She could do this, she repeated with more confidence than she felt. “I’m not afraid of you.”
He advanced another step and then faltered, his head rising as he sniffed the air. Suddenly his expression changed and he growled menacingly. “I see I am too late. A shame. Lord Balkathan would have enjoyed your flesh. Too bad I have to kill you now.” He grabbed his silver dagger from the belt around his waist and raised it as he vaulted through the air toward her.
Alex didn’t have time to decipher his strange words as she immediately dropped to her knees and watched him vault over her head and land behind her. With lightning reflexes, she rose, spun around and plunged her sword deep into his back. He roared with shock as he fell to the ground, transforming into the man he once used to be.
She had to find Vasilis. At the thought of him, she felt a huge wave of feelings pummel her belly. She…she could sense him. She felt him. He was in the great hall fighting three Lycans. Stunned at this brief imaging flashing through her mind, she sprinted down the stairs. Her heart pounded in her throat as she sped past the kitchen through the main hall and stopped before the great hall’s doors. Without another thought, she flung open the doors and ran inside, her gaze frantically searching for Vasilis.
She froze as she saw three Lycans advancing on Vasilis, their swords raised before them. They had him cornered at the far right of the hall. She screamed. Vasilis snapped his gaze to her and roared ferociously.
“Alex! Run!”
She dropped her sword and grabbed her bow and one of her arrows. One of the three Lycans growled and sprinted toward her as Vasilis’s roar raised the rafters. She released her bow and the Lycan went down.
She was going for another one of arrows when a violent, scorching pain coursed through her veins. She gasped, doubling over, her bow falling at her feet. She looked up in shock as Vasilis fought the Lycan attacking him. With every blow the evil Lycan made with his dagger, Vasilis stopped it with his sword. Terrified, her gaze went to the other Lycan who was advancing her.
“Don’t touch her, you bastard!” Vasilis roared. “Alex! Run, dammit! Run!”
She took a few unsteady steps back and came up against a tall, heavy armoire. The Lycan sprung in the air and landed on top of it. With inhuman strength, he pushed it forward as Alex screamed, falling back. She landed on the ground with a jarring thud, her breath knocked out of her. She pushed at the armoire trapping her lower body, but couldn’t even budge it.
Frantically, she looked up and saw the Lycan who attacked her had returned to the other Lycan and they fought Vasilis with their silver swords. Alex screamed, desperately trying to remove herself from under her trap. She looked at Vasilis. He gave her an anguished, fearful look and she felt the first spasm of real fear. Oh my God! They weren’t going to make it.
She knew Vasilis wasn’t fighting at his full capacity. He kept looking her way, roaring, distracted by her.
Alex screamed as a shaft of excruciating pain coursed through her limbs. My God! The armoire was crushing her. She felt…she felt like her bones were cracking. Vasilis tossed her a look fierce with worry and one of the Lycans sprung through the air and landed
behind him. He grabbed Vasilis by the hair, pulling his head back, as the other Lycan in front of him jabbed the sword from Vasilis’s hand, tossing it a few paces away. Alex screamed in sheer fright, desperately pushing at the armoire. Vasilis had no silver! They were going to kill him.
Her body stilled, growing numb somehow, as a curious feeling invaded her bones. Instinctively, she raised her face and looked out of one of the windows. She saw the full moon rising.
It beckoned her.
Alex couldn’t believe, nor could she stop, what happened next as her body immediately expanded and shifted into a massive Lycan. Fire and ice raced through her veins as her bones grew, her skin stretched. She flung the armoire off her and rose, all seven feet of pure She-Lycan muscle.
She then gazed at the window, threw her head back and released a long, loud, ominous howl. She snapped her gaze to Vasilis and saw the Lycan facing him had his dagger’s tip poised on his neck while the other one held him captive from behind.
But Vasilis seemed unfazed by his pending doom because he kept his gaze pinned on Alex, his expression sheer disbelief.
With lightning speed, she grabbed one of her arrows from the ground and sprung to her bow that was a few paces away. She rose, positioned her arrow and released it into the Lycan who was ready to kill Vasilis. She collapsed on her knees.
She felt another wave of transformation coming on and she panicked, as she stared at her outstretched hands reverting back to their human form.
Vasilis spun around and grabbed the Lycan by the throat, raising him off the ground. He turned his head and growled at Alex. “The dagger!” he roared.
Her clothes lay in tatters by the armoire and she crawled naked to the dagger laying a couple of paces away and grabbed it. She tossed it in the air, Vasilis catching it neatly, before he turned on the Lycan and stabbed him in the gut.
He snapped his gaze to her, breathing hard as he dropped the dagger to the ground. “Holy Mother of God!” he rasped, taking a staggering step toward her. “You are my one!”