"How long have I been out?" I ask while pulling myself up to a sitting position, suddenly I'm conscious of my own nakedness when I wasn't with Wolf.
"Don't worry about that," Athene says, turning towards me. Her eyes run over me as she glides across the floor. "Your new life is just beginning; time is no longer something you have to worry about. Believe me the years will come and they will go." Her hand traces the line of my jaw, around my ear and then down the side of my neck. I shiver with sheer pleasure at her touch. "Let's get you dressed shall we? I think I have the right sizes here for you." She pulls me to my feet towards the wardrobe. Throwing the doors wide she pulls out drawers and starts rifling through, pulling out underclothes to hand to me before turning her attention to the outfits.
"My new life?" I ask, pulling on the underwear she has handed to me noting it is my size.
"Yes, dear child," she says pulling a dress out of the wardrobe, frowning then putting it back. "You're one of us now, you had suffered too much. It was the only way I could save you."
"Why didn't Wolf want to save me?" I feel a pang of sadness again that he walked away from me.
Athene pauses in her selecting before she speaks. "Wolf has eyes only for Luna," she says softly. "This I told you but there is a long dark history to the man you know as Wolf. He does not embrace the joy of what we are; the darkness he runs in taints him. He did not want you to become one of us."
I nod but I don't know that I really understand it. Athene pulls out a dress turning to hold it up to me; she stops her eyes drawn to the scar directly below my bra. Self consciously I cross my arms over it, my eyes dropping to the ground.
"Tsk child," she says pulling my arms down. I still feel a burning shame in me at the disfigurement there, but she reaches out and traces it with her fingers. "The scars he leaves run deeper than flesh."
I look up to meet her eyes; she has turned her left cheek towards me. Tentatively I reach up my left hand and trace the scar just as she traces the one on my chest. Her hand strays up towards my breast, impulsively I pull her down towards me, and our lips slowly meet, gently closing on each other. The kiss sings through me, I can feel my beast humming with pleasure and feel hers answering my call. Slowly we part, lips lingering together.
"I'm thirsty," I say.
Athene smiles and nods. She walks over to a table beside the bed and rings a small brass bell. A tall, gangly man wearing a waiter's outfit walks in. On his arm he bears a silver tray with a decanter and two brandy snifters. He places the tray on the table at the bedside without a word, pours the two glasses half full, hands them both to Athene and leaves. Athene hands one glass to me, holding the other out in front of her.
"To new beginnings," she says.
I click my glass to hers. "And happy endings," I say smiling at her. The drink is rich and thick, just above room temperature. It is the most satisfying, wonderful taste I've ever had in my life. I feel satisfaction spreading through me. Athene watches closely as I drink, then drinks herself. Smiling she sets her glass aside, then leans in closer to me and her lips meet mine.
<<<<>>>>
Thank you for reading!
Dear Reader,
I hope you enjoyed Beast: Predator & Prey Book #2. If there is any feedback you want to give, good or bad please send it to [email protected]. I am happy to hear from you always! You can also visit me on the web at www.jamesdhorton.com
Finally, I’d like to ask you a favor. If you’re so inclined, I’d love a review of Beast: Predator & Prey Book #2. Even if you didn’t like it, I’d love to hear your thoughts and why so I can improve the future stories to come!
As you may know, reviews can be tough to come by, especially for a self-published author. You, the reader, have the power now to make or break a book. If you have the time here’s the link to my author page on Amazon. You can find all my books here: www.amazon.com/author/jamesdhorton
There is still plenty of story to come for Lily and Wolf, as well as new characters; some of whom you may have met and some yet to be introduced. This story has been percolating in my head for years and now that I’m getting it down on paper, I appreciate your coming along on the adventure with me and hope you will continue to join as we find out what is around the next turn in the road.
Thank you so much for reading Beast: Predator & Prey Book #2.
In Gratitude,
James D Horton
About the Author
James D Horton is a breakout new author of the Predator & Prey series which is an urban fantasy setting with a paranormal romance story. It features vampires and the human Lily who falls in with the enigmatic Wolf, who is not your run of the mill vampire. The story starts in Predator & Prey, and then continues in Predator & Prey: Beast. The third book in the series is in progress which is Predator & Prey: Control, which will wrap the first set of books focusing on Lily's story.
He is also the author of two popular non-fiction books which are relationship advice books presenting the successful actions that he and his fiancé use to make their relationship better every single day with their six children.
He lives in Lamar, MO with his fiancé and their children, plus the ever annoying Spock, a Yorkshire Terrier Chihuahua.
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