by Isa Fae
Eric shifted forward, slowly moving Miranda backward as his tongue continued its assault, ravaging her mouth, until whimpers of pleasure escaped from her throat. A hand disappeared from her skin, and then she was pushed back, aware they were now in another room. A smaller room. The door shut behind them, and she brought her leg up, wrapping it around his hip as he groaned in her mouth.
“I missed you so fucking much.” His words were a throaty growl as he bit her lip and grasped her thigh with his free hand, pressing her pelvis into his throbbing erection, finger still deep inside of her, swirling in her moisture.
“Then you shouldn’t have fucking left in the first place.” Miranda was losing all control as his hardness pressed against the front of her, his finger quickened inside of her, and an orgasm threatening to take hold.
Eric smirked against her lips. “There’s my fiery girl. I thought I’d lost her behind the blonde hair, makeup, and sexy as shit dress.”
“Never!” She lifted her face and squeezed her eyes shut, letting her release roll out of her, causing her body to shake and convulse in his arms. Before she had time to recover, Eric pulled his finger out of her, wiping her moisture on her bare skin and then grasping her hips, lifting her up and placing her down on something cold.
His gaze never left hers as he undid the button on his pants and let them drop. Miranda gripped the edge of… a table, she realized. He was going to take her on a table. She found that sexy as hell. Her fingers clasped tightly at its ledge, watching him step toward her, sliding down his boxers, and she licked her lips, heart hammering. Memories flashed into her mind again. Him walking out the door. Him taking the Fae in his arms. Him dancing with the Fae. He’d hurt her so much. So, she had no idea why her body needed him. Why she craved him like she did. “You’re a fucking asshole.” The words slipped out before she could stop them.
The corner of his lip crooked up. A lopsided grin that not only sparked the fire in her soul, but turned her burning desire for him into pure lust. He reached for the bottom of her dress and pushed it to her waist, slipping his hands up and taking her by the hips. “So, we’re back to this again.” He entered her hard and fierce, causing her to tilt her pelvis to adjust to him.
“You left me, Eric,” she said breathlessly as he went into her deeper, breaking away the barrier she’d put around her soul. He’d hurt her. Not just hurt her, but he destroyed her entire being when he walked out the door. And she’d never let him forget it.
He leaned over her, taking her wrists in his hands and lifting her arms over her head. “I told you to stay there. I was coming back for you, Miranda. And I did. But you were already gone.” He continued moving in and out of her, not letting his words distract him from his motions. “If anyone left anyone, you left me.”
“Don’t you even fucking say that!” Miranda nearly keened as he buried himself in her again, feeling with each deep stroke, the depth of her desire, of his. She wouldn’t be denied and neither would he. Her walls clamped and tightened around him, and she reached out, digging her nails into his sides, pushing herself over him faster, causing him to hiss but not in pain.
She had no idea how he managed to spin the truth around…she didn’t leave him, and his words made her even angrier. “I never left you.”
“Trying to cover up your impression and change your identity.” The hurt and anguish in his eyes were undeniable. “No, Miranda, but you sure as hell made it difficult for me to find you.”
The hot tears struck Miranda’s eyes without warning as the orgasm built inside of her. He was right. She did change everything about herself. And at first, she’d thought it was to hide from the people in the faction. But the more she pondered it, she was making sure Eric couldn’t locate her too. Because the very thought of him possibly not wanting her scared the shit out of her, and she knew her heart wouldn’t be able to take his rejection.
When she came, she came hard, the intensity of her magic and his magic merging together to shake her to her very core. She screamed out, causing Eric to place his hand over her mouth to silence her.
Eric’s own orgasm followed quickly behind hers, and his motions ceased. His hardness throbbed inside of her as he brought his hands down, taking either side of her face. He held her head in his hands, his face so close to hers the warmth of his rushed breath blew over her skin when he exhaled. “Listen to me. You changed me, Miranda. You changed me in every fucking possible way, even ways I didn’t know existed. I don’t know how you did it or why. But it doesn’t matter. You made me feel. Made me feel things I’d never felt. When I left that day, I did it to save you. Period. Not because of some Fae. Not because I wanted my old life back or because I missed my job or my house or any other of those things. Because after being with you, you became my life. You are my life. The only thing that matters me. And I will fight like hell to make sure nothing bad ever happens to you again. Do you understand me?”
Miranda had no words. Only tears that she couldn’t shut off. “But you hate witches.”
Eric leaned down, touching the tip of her nose with his. “But I love this one.”
Miranda’s heart slowly came together again. All the pieces fitting perfectly as if they had never shattered at all. He loves me. She’d never knew what it felt like to hear the sound of those words. Somewhere deep inside, underneath the wall she had created to keep the evil and the bad and all the hate out, she always wondered what it would be like. And it felt even more spectacular than she ever imagined. To be wanted. To be a part of something. To be loved. But she knew it wouldn’t last forever. Because just beyond those doors, hunters were searching for her. The hate was seeking her out. And just as much as Eric loved her, the Lord was just as determined to end her.
45
Eric
He’d found her before they did. Possibly even mended the wounds he had caused. But they weren’t out of the clear yet. Eric knew the Lord wouldn’t give up on finding her. He’d seen the menacing things he’d planned to do to Miranda in the Lord’s eyes. And that told him Lord Manchester wouldn’t give up. He wouldn’t fade away and he wouldn’t back down. Eric had to get her out of this mansion. Now.
He slid off Miranda and tugged his clothes back on. Then he took her hands and pulled her off the stainless steel table in the oversized food storage area until she was standing in front of him. “We need to get out of here.” He placed his hand to her cheek, using his thumb to swipe a tear away. “The Lord knows you’re here. Matryx, the woman you thought I left you for interrupted me and the Lord’s meeting. She and the hunters are looking for you now.”
Eric could see the anger building in the depths of Miranda’s green eyes. And he could feel it come off her in waves through her impression. He couldn’t let her feelings for that Fae bog down her capacity to think clearly. He had no idea what happened between the two of them away from his presence, but he did know revenge could cause someone to make mistakes. Big ones. One example was how he originally took his hatred of witches out on her when he first saw her.
“Miranda, focus.” He took her by the shoulders. “We need to find a way out of here before they find us. There are too many for us to fight.”
She blinked, her eyes which were distant and occupied in thought now came back to him. “I told Tessa to gather up all the servants and get to the cabin. There should be enough magic between the witches and Fae to create a barrier around it to protect us from the Lord and the hunters.”
“That was your plan?” Eric couldn’t believe this. “Your plan was playing a waiting game with the Lord? And what about food and supplies?”
She sighed and shrugged her shoulders. “Look, it’s the only thing I could come up with at the time. I just needed to get everyone away from him. And as far as I know, they are. Probably on their way to the cabin now.”
Being a hunter, Eric knew her plan would end up being a failure, but he couldn’t think about that now if the servants were already on their way. His main priority was getting her out of the m
ansion and to the others she was trying to save. Since he knew she wouldn’t leave them behind it. He’d have to think where to go after they were on the way to the cabin. “Where’s the nearest exit?” Sure, he did the tour, but she was more familiar with the layout than he was.
“It’s the main entrance, but I’m sure the hunters are guarding it. Other than that, that way.” She moved her eyes to her left and then focused back on him. “There’s a few rooms to go through, but it leads to the back entrance, putting us behind the mansion near the forest.
“Okay, lead the way.” He spun her around and took her hand, letting her tow him out of the kitchen.
They moved as quickly and quietly as they could through the other rooms. Eric knew he should be leading her since he could see through the darkness, but he didn’t really know where he was going.
“It’s just up ahead,” she whispered back at him as they crossed into another room. A dining room with a long, rectangular table. A chair at each end.
Eric glanced back and forth as she pulled him along, searching for any signs of the hunters. When they cleared the kitchen, they came to a narrow hallway, the rear door slightly visible through an archway in the wall. Relief flowed through him as he saw it. He was so close to getting her to safety.
“Stop!” A male voice shouted behind him.
Eric released Miranda and swirled around. “Keep going!” he shouted to her as he faced one of the hunter’s he’d been on the tour with earlier. As he lifted his arm and faced the palm of his hand toward the Fae, Miranda gasped behind him, causing his body to lock into place. His teeth clenched as the storm brewed inside of him. He didn’t need to see the bitch to feel her.
“I’d think twice about that if I were you, Eric.” Matryx’s tone was sharp and cold, her bitterness rolling into him like an ice storm.
Miranda grunted in pain as he slowly turned around to see Matryx holding a handful of her blonde hair in her hand, forcing her down on her knees. She struggled to lift her arms, attempting to touch Matryx’s hand, but before she could, the Fae kicked her in her side with the toe of her shoe. “Don’t you think about it either, witch. You thought you got me earlier, but you didn’t. I won’t give you a second chance.”
“Let. Her. Go.” Eric hissed each word through his clenched teeth, the storm intensifying inside of him with each breath. He wanted to wrap his hand around the bitch’s throat and squeeze the life out of her. If only she wasn’t holding his own life in her hands.
“Not a chance.” Her smile was wicked, her eyes taunting. “She doesn’t belong to you. She never has.”
“She doesn’t fucking belong to anyone!”
“Actually,” heavy footsteps pounded the floor behind him, “that’s where you’re wrong.” Lord Manchester walked past him, and as he did, two hunters grabbed Eric from behind. One on each side of him.
He stopped in front of Matryx and Miranda, gazing down at her as she looked up at him. There was no fear in her eyes as Eric thought there would be. There was only hate. Her green eyes seemed to glow as she narrowed them.
The Lord crouched down, taking her jaw in his hand while Eric tried to shove himself out of the hunters’ grips. Watching him touch her sickened him. And now he’d wished he would have taken care of him during the meeting. “You’ve been very naughty my little pet. But, it’s okay. You know how I enjoy punishing you.”
“Get your fucking hands off her!” Eric threw his elbows back and both men lost their hold on him. He lunged forward, the fire burning inside of him causing him to go mad. But before he reached the Lord, a sharp pain struck the back of his head. Everything went black.
46
Miranda
He dropped to the floor right in front of her and the hunter stepped back, the brass candlestick he held in his hand was dripping with Eric’s blood.
“No!” Miranda screamed. Moisture rolled down her cheeks as her body trembled in fear for Eric and rage toward Mason. “You fucking bastard!” She knew the blow didn’t kill him, but none of that mattered. What mattered was she was stuck there, forced on her knees to the floor, unable to get to him. If she could have made it to her feet, she would have reduced every last one of them to a pile of ash. Starting with Mason.
“Now, now, my dear.” He squeezed her jaw harder. “He is disloyal and he betrayed the entire faction. You know I have rules to protect my people. Of course, his punishment may be harsher since he is a hunter.”
“You’re an evil, egotistical asshole. You know you don’t protect the faction. You only protect yourself!”
Matryx nearly ripped her hair from her scalp as she forced her head back. “Witches don’t talk to Fae like that. Especially, the Lord. Show some respect.”
“Fuck you, too!” Miranda focused her eyes on her, wishing she could shoot beams from them and melt the Fae’s skin off her face.
“My, my, Miranda.” The Lord made a clicking sound with his tongue. “What has that hunter taught you? You have such a fowl little mouth now.” He stood up, looming over top of her and looked down. “I might have to retrain you.” The creases in his lips lifted into a smile. He directed his attention to the Fae, all humor disappearing from his expression. “Take her to my chamber. But watch her, she has no problem using her magic on a Fae.”
“I’m fully aware, my Lord.” Matryx answered him but glared at Miranda and then used her hair to bring her to her feet, causing Miranda to wince. “I think maybe you should weaken her a bit so I’ll have better control over her.”
“Yes. That might be a good idea.” He leaned in, pressing his lips to Miranda’s, but she clamped hers closed, feeling sick as he flicked his tongue, attempting to part them.
Matryx glanced in the direction of the remaining hunters, nodding her head toward Miranda. They quickly came over and grabbed her arms, restraining her as Matryx shoved her knee hard into her lower back, causing her to yelp in pain.
Grasping her mouth, Mason held it open and inhaled. Miranda felt her energy draining right away, and she fought to get away from him as her eyes rolled into the back of her head, but they all had her trapped, unable to move. Her body became weak and her mind foggy. Her thoughts disappeared and her fingers numbed. The Lord’s face blurred, distorting into a mask of vile maliciousness, revealing his true self, if only to Miranda. She wobbled, falling in and out of focus between the black voids in her mind. Finally, he released her, and she lost her balance, falling back against Matryx.
She struggled for breath as the Lord turned and walked away, pointing down to Eric as he passed him. “Put him in the holding area. I’ll deal with him later as well,” he said as he continued to walk.
The two hunters bent down, each one slipping their own arm under one of his, lifting him to his feet. They turned around, carrying him out of the narrow hallway.
“Give me trouble witch, and I’ll kill you before the Lord does.” She shoved Miranda forward, causing her to stumble from her lack of energy.
Once Matryx got Miranda upstairs and to the chamber room, she opened the soundproof door and pushed her in.
Miranda fell to the floor on her hands and knees, not sure if she had gone insane or what, but she suddenly had the urge to laugh. Maybe, it was her lack of magic. But she couldn’t stop the giggles from reaching the surface.
“What’s so funny, witch?”
The Fae had totally opened herself up. “How does it feel to get rejected? To have a witch chosen over you?” She laughed harder as she attempted to pick her head up and look at the woman, but it was too heavy.
“What did you say?” The Fae woman snapped, stepping into the room.
Miranda leaned to the side so her butt was now sitting on the floor. She turned her head, meeting the eyes of Matryx. She laughed again. It was funny how the Lord took her magic but she was the one who felt drunk. She swayed back and forth, the redness of Matryx’s face was now matching the color of her dress. “Eric. How does it feel to be rejected? For me to be chosen over you?” Miranda tried pressing h
er lips together to contain herself, but the laughter sputtered out any way.
She bared her teeth and lunged down at Miranda, crashing into her and rolling over the floor, taking Miranda with her. “How dare you, witch? I will beat whatever magic you have left out of you!” She pounded her fist into the side of Miranda’s face. Each blow becoming more agonizing than the next.
Miranda felt the sticky warmness oozing down her face, and she was too weak to fend the psycho woman off her. She clawed her skin and pulled her hair when she wasn’t trying to turn her face inside out with her fists. Miranda went through a lot of abuse with the Lord, so she knew how to shut her body down to the pain. She’d done it numerous of times.
Matryx huffed and puffed, stopping to look at her, her hair tangled and disarrayed. Her eyes were a muddy brown, red flakes of hate shimmering in the light. “You are weak and pathetic. I have no idea why he wants you. He deserves so much better than the witch scum you are.”
“Apparently, I must be better than you?” Miranda’s lips were swollen and sore, and even speaking caused them to burn. But even though she had shut down her body to the pain and lost a majority of her energy, none of that had an effect on the fire still burning inside of her. Miranda would fight until the end. Even if fighting meant only using words. She placed her hands on the woman, pushing out anything she had left, watching as the Fae’s eyes grew wide and her body shaking violently.
Then the darkness overtook her. Her body became weak and numb as she struggled to find the light. But the blow to her face caused the wave of blackness to finally pull her under.
47
Eric
When he came to, he was lying on the floor, head throbbing and surrounded by bars. It took Eric a moment to remember what happened. But when he did, he jumped up. “Miranda!” The spinning room threatened to take him back down and he leaned over, placing his hand on the bars to steady himself. A heavy current of electricity jolted his body. This time he did go back down. He landed on the concrete floor on his knees in a daze, and he gazed around. He was in some sort of underground room. A basement or a cellar maybe. Eric wasn’t exactly sure. But the place reeked of mildew and the air was stale and damp.