Alamir: Blood of Kaos Series - Book One

by Nesa Miller

  Faux, sitting in the other chair, slipped off her boots, curling her legs under her. “It is kinda spooky. On another note, he totally called you out on the Freeblood thing.”

  “Yeah. Thanks for your support on that one.”

  Faux shrugged. “Even I know you can’t hide anything from that man. He’s so…”

  Etain blew out a breath. “Overbearing.”

  “Um, not the word I was going for, but…” She shrugged.

  “It doesn’t matter. When we leave here, I guess I’ll have to go looking for the arrogant brat and drag him back.”

  “Want some help?”

  “Oh no…” Etain pushed out of her chair. “You’re not going anywhere near that troublemaker. Once I find him, I’ll take him to the Ambassadors. Job over. Then I’ll have a think about how to deal with my former clan and this new Dar.”

  “What am I supposed to do while you’re playing bounty hunter? There’s no way I’m going back to that stupid island. No fucking way.”

  “I didn’t expect you would. We’ll figure something out…tomorrow. Right now, I could use a good night’s sleep.”

  “As long as I’m free of the island and the clans.” Faux stretched her legs, grabbed her boots, and headed to the door. “Think about the Freeblood thing, and I wouldn’t mind having a shot at those LOKI people. They mess with you, they mess with me. With Dar, though, you’re on your own. See ya in the morning.”

  Etain stretched, the effects of the day heavy on her shoulders. The bed was more inviting than she wanted to admit. Slipping under the covers, she sighed. Just as sleep threatened to steal her away, she came awake, snaked a hand down to her boots, grabbed the dirk, and placed it under her pillow. A small comfort. She dimmed the lamp closest to her instead of turning it off. Time would tell if she could trust this new Dar.

  Faux’s mind ruminated over recent events, floating in and out of dreams, tumbling, twisting. People, places, and things appeared, then disappeared - Freeblood in the distance, an air of Etain circling her head like a bothersome fly, Dar rising from the ground wearing black, red eyes aglow.

  She turned onto her side, her body twitching. Flopping onto her back, she shook her head. She flipped to the right, then rolled onto her back again. A low groan melted into a laugh.

  Walking through a dark cavern, she searched for something…or was it someone? A faint light ahead confirmed she moved in the right direction. Entering a large room, she sensed a light, but the source wasn’t apparent. Steps came from behind. Spinning, tail ready to strike, she stumbled back, a low “Oh” escaping her lips. The form resembled Dar, yet he didn’t look like the man she’d recently met. This one stood well over eight feet tall, dark hair flowing, red eyes, and black shiny wings spanning farther than the walls could accommodate.

  “Are you afraid of me?” His deep voice resonated throughout the enclosure. Too shocked to talk, she slowly shook her head. “Then why do you run?”

  Another step back found her against the wall. She looked to her left, then her right, having nowhere to go. “I-I’m not running.”

  “You and I will be friends. Very good friends.”

  “If you say so.”

  “But you must bear my mark first.”

  No sooner did the words leave his mouth than Freeblood and Etain appeared on either side of her. Each took hold of an arm, securing her in cuffs mounted to the wall.

  “Etain? What’re you doing here? Where’d these come from?” Once cuffed, she was alone with Dar again. Intrigue replaced her fear. “I hope this is a game we’ll both enjoy.”

  The dark form moved closer. She looked up with a seductive gleam in her eye, thinking to charm her captor, but the form in front of her was no longer Dar. His smile, if it could be considered as such, was not one of friendship. Two rows of sharpened fangs gleamed in the flickering light. It was then she realized the light in the room came from the flames atop his head. A large hand clutched her throat, dragging her up the wall. Blood-curdling screams filled the cavern as the beast rammed a red-hot branding iron into her belly.

  Tangled in the sheets, Faux woke, a sheen of sweat covering her skin. Throwing off the covers, she slapped at the bedside lamp, fumbling for the switch. She checked her stomach in the dim light. “Just a dream,” she breathed, collapsing back onto the pillows. A small noise made her look up. “Who’s there?”

  Dar awakened in the dark hours of the morning. Not yet accustomed to his new surroundings, he found it difficult to sleep for any length of time. Dressed in only leather pants, he padded out of his room in search of a small distraction.

  Etain was his first thought. He found her sprawled face down across the bed, naked, pillows askew, the comforter in a puddle on the floor. He started to close the door, to leave her in peace, but changed his mind.

  Her pale skin appeared golden in the soft light, warming the coolness of her silver hair. The seductive curve of a hip and swell of a rounded breast made his fingers twitch. Tremors ran through him, imagining her breath against his ear. The promise spoken earlier in the night came back to haunt him. No harm will come to either of you this night. Harm was not his intent, but she might not agree. Inhaling a deep breath, his traitorous hands curled into fists at his sides. He picked up the comforter and covered the fair angel asleep in innocent abandonment.

  Watching the spawn sleep brought on a different mix of emotions. This creature invoked a burn in his blood. It felt as familiar as the burn he experienced with Etain, yet it was not the same. The desire, the need was there, a song that was music to his soul; however, there were underlying notes…offbeat, sour. He attributed it to a lack of sleep.

  He sat in a shadowed corner, contemplating the jumbled sensations. Closing his eyes, he entered her mind. Not as he was now, but in demon form, taking great liberties to interact with her. He was pleased when she woke and tossed off the covers, exposing her naked body, frantically checking for the mark. A delighted chuckle escaped his lips.

  “Who’s there?” Faux called out, scrambling to retrieve the covers so hastily thrown off.

  “Modesty doesn’t become you.” He came out of the darkness, naked, a playful grin on his face. Eyes dark with desire drank her in. “I thought I would look in to see if you were comfortable and decided to have a rest.”

  “I didn’t know watching someone sleep was so exhausting. What do you want?”

  “This is my home. I go where I want, when I want.”

  Faux edged away. “Does that include taking what you want?”

  “I will do only what you want me to do. Nothing more, nothing less.” He watched her, waiting. “Or I can leave you to your dreams...” Dar sat on the edge of the bed, “if you wish.” Caught up in her black gaze, he reached out, rolling a stiff nipple between his fingers.

  Faux blew out a hot breath and shivered. “You better be all go and not just show.” She pulled him on top of her, challenging his passion.

  Between exquisite pain and pleasure, Dar found the distraction that helped him set aside the torment of the past, temporarily forgetting the agonies of the future. He had forgotten how consuming the act of passion could be, letting himself drown in it.

  When the skies began to brighten, he pulled away from the heated hellcat, leaving her in bed. Walking to the door with no handle, he opened it with a single word.

  “Would you care to bathe?” he called out, stepping through the doorway. Not hearing a response, he returned to the opening. “Come now, before Etain wakes.”

  She sighed, gathered the comforter around her, and scooted out of bed. “The door with no handle leads to a bathroom?” she asked, leaning against the doorframe, entertained by the sight of his firm, round ass. “Privacy issues?”

  Bent over the copper bath, Dar looked over his shoulder. “This is my personal bath. No one enters unless invited.” He turned off the water and eased into the tub, flinching from the scratches across his lower back.

  “Aren’t I the lucky one.” Faux ventured farther into the
room. Polished black marble lined the walls and ceiling. The floor was of the same stone, but left in its natural state. “Mmm, warm floor.” Dropping the comforter, she approached the large copper tub, admiring its shiny bright outer skin. She stopped, staring into the reflective surface, and screamed.

  6

  Emissary

  Etain jerked awake. Disoriented, she dragged a hand through her ragged mass of hair, listening for whatever had disturbed her sleep. It was quiet. She dismissed the interruption as one of those dreams that jars you awake, disappearing as soon as you open your eyes. She turned her head, already drifting off again.

  A subsequent scream set the Alamir into motion, dagger in hand. She rolled off the bed and grabbed the robe lying on the chest next to the footboard. In her race to get to Faux, it didn’t register that the robe hadn’t been there the night before.

  Running into her room, she found the bed in disarray, no sign of the girl. Then she spied the open black door.

  Etain charged through, tripping over Faux, who was sitting on the floor. “Faux, what’s happened? Are you hurt?” A splash drew her attention to the bath. The deep scratches over Dar’s shoulders told her plenty. “What have you done?” Her grip tightened on the hilt of the dagger.

  “Nothing she didn’t welcome with open legs.” He smirked. “It’s the mark that’s upset her.”

  Etain noticed the bite marks on the girl’s neck. She crouched down for a closer look, careful to keep Dar in her sights. “Not too bad, certainly not worth screaming bloody hell over.”

  “Farther down,” he said.

  Faux twisted away, trying to escape. Etain grabbed an ankle. “Hold on a sec.” Sight of the brand on her belly set her teeth on edge. Her eyes cut to the bathing animal. “Holy shit. Is this your doing?” She stormed up to him. “What in the name of Kaos-”

  “Be careful, Etain!” Faux screamed. “He’s not who-”

  Dar waved his fingers, his eyes on the angry vixen standing over him. “Be silent.” Etain looked back at Faux, who was now slumped over.

  “You are despicable. Is this why we were summoned? To satisfy your lust?”

  His blue eyes darkened. “My house, my rules. You would be well advised to remember your place.”

  She bent over the edge of the tub, getting in his face, challenging the savage with every word. “You would be well advised to remember your place, High Lord. Play your games with some other depraved subject.”

  “Is that an invitation?”

  Light flashed off the blade digging into the flesh below his chin. “You will never touch me or my sister again. Aye?” She held his amused gaze for a long moment. “You are disgusting.” She turned, silk robe billowing behind her.

  Dar seized the smooth fabric. Mid-step, she halted, grasping the front of the robe as it slid off her shoulders and down her back. She heard water splash onto the floor.

  “You will not deny me, milady.”

  She did not deign to look at him. “I am not your lady.” She turned sharply, careful to keep the robe tightly clasped in her hand. “Or a lady of the…” Her mouth dropped open at the glistening form in front of her, the well-defined, rippling muscles across his bare chest and shoulders. She blinked, trying to concentrate on what she meant to say rather than the tight abs stacked above a chiseled pelvis that led to… Her head swam. Realizing her mouth was still open, she closed her eyes and managed to get out a single word, “clan.”

  “Time to play.”

  Massive wings arced and swept round, encasing her within their black walls. His blue eyes morphed into slits of red. A soft breath crossed the demon’s lips, blowing the silver strands from the translucent skin of her neck. Her dagger fell to the floor.

  His prize, so close, so intoxicating. Mesmerized by the beating of her heart, the demon closed his eyes, basking in their effects. The lavender glow of the Tiffany stone went unnoticed.

  To mar the slender neck would be a violation even he could not endure. Instead, he followed the curve of the delicate flesh to the shoulder, breathing in her scent. Ready to pierce the white skin with sharp incisors, a blast repelled the unwanted kiss. Demon eyes widened, seeing the outline of a lavender dragon at the base of her neck.

  “What is this?”

  His eyes returned to their normal state, meeting a piercing lavender gaze. He tried to push away, but an unseen force bound them together.

  She spoke, but it was not her voice. “This one you shall not have, brother. You will honor my domain.”

  “Midir. She is not yours to have.”

  An evil laugh filled the room. “The same fool, as always.”

  “Show yourself. Let's end this.” Dar ceased his efforts to break free, deciding the wiser course was to conserve his energy.

  “You know I cannot physically enter your castle. You’ve made sure of that. Nonetheless, I can extend my will through my emissary.”

  “How can she be your emissary? She was in your realm for only a short time. I made sure of it.”

  “Yes, so you did. So you did. As a precaution, I made the preparations during transport to my castle. All you interrupted was the final step. Although I was annoyed at the nuisance and quite perplexed on how to complete her transformation, I was most pleased when you gave her the ring.” The joy was evident in his voice. “It gave birth to a most devious plan.”

  Dar remembered the ring he had left in the castle courtyard, given with the intent to protect, including from him. A terrible oversight at this stage of the game. The lavender glow made perfect sense. He closed his eyes in acceptance of the wrong nearly perpetrated against a woman he held dear.

  “Forgive me, milady.” Put in his place, Dar engaged his brother. “Yet she is here with me.”

  “The lady denies you,” Midir stated, more as an insult than fact. “Before your interference, I placed the mark of the dragon on the lowest part of her neck. I marked the other, as well.”

  “There was no dragon. I was quite thorough in my attentions.”

  “I know well your appetites. I marked both women. Whichever one you took would simultaneously activate the mark on the other. It didn't matter which one because I knew I had a backup.”

  “Etain carried no mark when she arrived.”

  “But she did.” Midir’s delight sparkled in Etain’s eyes. “It remained invisible until you fraternized with the other. The taste you enjoyed upon their arrival started the process. Your interaction with the demon girl solidified it.”

  Dar couldn’t resist asking. “The ring… What part does it play?”

  “It’s actually quite interesting.” Midir raised Etain’s hand, eying the ring. “The stone comes from inside the dwelling of dragons. Its properties come to life when combined with a mark placed on the body. It doesn’t have to be a dragon,” Midir chuckled, “but I thought it appropriate. Your assault on Etain provoked its protective qualities, thereby repudiating your advances. You have played your part most admirably, brother.”

  “The ring is a family heirloom, not a relic of a dead race.”

  Midir’s laughter grated on Dar’s raw nerves. “How little you know of our family…or hers, for that matter. The ring was a gift from an old Draconian king.”

  “Enough. You speak nothing but lies. Get out.” Dar shook Etain by the shoulders. “Wake up, milady. Wake up. You are safe.”

  The lavender glow faded. Her gaze held his for a moment, then moved up over his head. Her eyes rolled back and she fainted, collapsing in his arms. “Damn.” He drew in his wings, reverting to his Krymerian form, and carried her to her room.

  With Etain safely tucked in, he returned to the bathroom, wrapped Faux in the comforter, and put her back to bed.

  He strolled to his room, deep in thought. Draconians were not a generous people. Why would they gift a Krymerian? Then there was the ridiculous prophecy. Lyoness and Draconians? Insanity, is what it is. Standing at the wall of windows, Dar gazed out at the clouds shifting lazily through the morning sky. I must find a wa
y to protect Etain from Midir. Thanks to my idiotic lack of judgment, the ring is of no use where he is concerned. Although he is right about her potential, his interest in her does not make sense, other than as another way to torture me. Be that as it may, if he turns her to the dark, it could mean serious consequences for the Alamir…and myself.

  Just past noon, Dar rose, revitalized and ready to attempt a fresh start with the ladies in the house. Once dressed, he ventured to Etain’s room. His knock going unanswered, he poked his head around the door and found her still asleep. Her warm scent invaded his senses and, for one crazy moment, he considered joining her under the covers. However, an innate appreciation for his manly parts made him think better of it.

  At Faux’s room, he considered erasing her memory of the night’s events, but decided against it. He would have to cleanse Etain’s memory too, and memory cleanses were dangerous.

  You are alike in some ways, but you are demon where she is not. She is a warrior who has a job to complete. You are not, which makes you far better equipped to carry out my plans.

  He laid a hand over her belly, reaching out with his mind. At first, he sensed nothing and had to delve deeper. In time, an impression touched his heart, bringing a faint smile to his lips. “There you are.”

  Thoughts drifted to the encounter with Etain, bringing him back to the reality of their situation. “Let’s keep this between us for now, little spawn. Etain’s connection with Midir is too strong. I will not risk our futures.” Regret stabbed at his heart. “If only I had been there to protect her as promised…” He sighed. “But that is in the past.” His attention returned to the girl. “Remember what I say.” Dar weaved a flow of power into his words, his breath glowing with its strength. “We must keep Etain here a while longer. Use any excuse you can, but she must stay here.” When the flow of power subsided, Dar left her to her dreams.