“Are you all right?” he asked her.
“Yes. I just thought I saw something…” she said as her voice drifted off. “I’m fine.” She placed Wolf to her breast, and he began to nurse.
As the time passed, the drumming grew louder, and they could hear people chanting and shouting. Lucian had taken the babies to Neve. Skye had boiled some water and placed it in the small bucket in her tent. She stepped in and washed herself quickly because it was cold. Her clothing had disappeared and was replaced by a tiny animal skin skirt and some bits of animal skin that barely covered her breasts. At least someone had left her a fur cloak and some boots, she noticed. It must have been Lucian, she thought. She knew that the cold didn’t bother his kind, and they didn’t need to cover up as she did. Skye rubbed scented oil over her body and dressed. Lucian came back as she was sliding on her animal skin boots.
“Are you ready, Skye?” he asked anxiously. His lusty eyes looked at her in approval.
Lucian was dressed in a loincloth made of the same animal skin as hers, and she noticed he had some blue symbols painted on his skin. Her eyes longingly followed the markings over his muscled chest and arms.
“Yes,” she said, nodding her head. Skye walked over to him, and he kissed her.
“Wait,” said Lucian as he stopped her from putting on her cloak. He had a small bowl in his hand with some blue paint in it. Lucian stuck his finger in the bowl and then placed it to her chest. He began to trace symbols on her flesh. His finger moved from her chest to her arms and then her face. Skye’s skin quivered as he touched her. Lucian smiled when he was finished and set the bowl down. Then he wrapped her in the cloak and took her hand to lead the way.
They walked through the maze of tents and wooden structures to an empty area in the middle of the village. There were several large bonfires and large, flat rock altars. The men and women were scantily dressed and painted with similar blue symbols as Lucian and herself. The women danced around the fires seductively as the men whooped and shouted. When the song was over, the men joined the women as the drums started up again. Skye felt a pair of eyes on her. She looked around and saw a pretty woman staring at her and Lucian spitefully. The look she was giving Skye was disturbing. She squeezed Lucian’s hand to get his attention.
“Who is that?” she said. Lucian looked around, but the woman had disappeared.
“Who?” he asked, confused.
“Never mind,” said Skye. Lucian handed her some wine, and they began to drink.
After a few drinks, Lucian tried to get Skye to dance with the women. It was difficult with her cloak, on so she removed it and decided to brave the cold for a while. She was surprised she did not feel so cold. Skye danced as the other women were doing. Her body moved fluidly and seductively. Lucian kept his eyes on her. Her body was glowing again like the other fairies. Some of the other villagers stopped what they were doing to watch, but Skye did not notice. She had shut her eyes and was moving in rhythm to the beat of the drums. When the song was over she stopped and walked over to Lucian. He handed her more wine, and they gulped it down. It was sweet with honey. The music continued, and Skye looked around to see if they were dancing again, but they were not. Instead a few couples climbed on top of the large rock altars and began making love.
“What are they doing?” she asked, feeling self-conscious. It seemed wrong to her to be watching something so personal.
“You know what they are doing, Skye,” Lucian said.
Skye laughed. “Yes, I know.”
“It is part of the ritual. Those are newly married couples trying to conceive. This is a fertility ritual,” he explained.
“Oh,” she said, slightly taken aback.
The group was becoming frenzied with their own lust. The men began chasing the women around the circle playfully. Lucian and Skye joined in. She led him around the altars, teasing him. Skye looked around as she ran and saw that some of the others had fallen on the spot and began making love. She ran away from the circle and weaved in and around the tents. Lucian was not far behind. Skye stopped behind a tent and laughed as she waited for him to catch up with her.
“It’s no use, Skye,” he said. “I can smell you like flowers in a summer breeze.”
She took off from her spot and headed back to their tent. Skye went inside and tried to catch her breath. Lucian burst through the tent flaps and embraced her savagely. He kissed her mouth wildly. Skye’s hands fumbled at his loincloth, finally freeing him from it. Lucian’s hands were all over her, not resting in one spot for too long. Then he ripped off her garments. There was something feral and exciting about Lucian that made her desire him more. Skye backed her body toward the bed, and he followed. She lay back in the middle of the bed and pulled her knees up. Then she sat slightly upright on her elbows. Lucian kneeled next to her and placed a hand on her knees. His hand slid between her legs, separating them. He moved his hand lower and lower, his eyes locked on hers, and began stroking her with his hand. Skye dropped from her elbows to her back and moaned. Lucian stopped and lay on the bed next to her, his body in the opposite direction. He bent his head down, and his tongue eagerly took the place of his hand. Skye moaned, completely uninhibited, and her cries of pleasure stirred Lucian’s desire. Then he felt her take his hardness into her mouth. Skye stroked the length of his shaft as her tongue encircled the tip. Lucian gripped her buttocks with his hands and pressed her harder to him, his head moving frantically.
Lucian couldn’t hold back any longer. He needed to be inside her now. He let go and pulled himself up on the bed. He kneeled next to her and turned her body around so she was on her hands and knees. Entering her swiftly from behind, Lucian grabbed her hips and began thrusting inside her. Skye let herself be totally dominated by Lucian’s passion. Then he leaned himself back on his legs and pulled her up on him to where her back was touching his chest. He began sucking on her neck. One hand groped her breasts, and the other hand was between her legs. Skye rocked her hips gently as he thrust himself into her deeper and harder. Her cries grew louder as she climaxed, and her body began to tremble. Lucian gripped her hips with both hands as he pounded into her ferociously. Skye gasped as he reached deep inside her. Lucian groaned and cried out, unrestrained, until his last thrust. His body quivered and jerked for a moment, and then he was still. Lucian turned her head with his hands and covered her mouth with his own, kissing her passionately. She turned around, slowly letting him slide out of her so she could kiss him better.
“I love you, Skye,” he whispered between kisses.
Skye smiled. “I love you, Lucian.”
Her body was letting off the strange glow again. Lucian could feel the warmth of her light encompassing his body. He collapsed back on the bed and pulled her to his side. Lucian wrapped his arms around her and held her tightly. Skye pulled the blanket up over them, and they lay there for a long while. She could feel the gentle rhythm of his breathing as he slept, and she soon fell asleep.
Chapter Fourteen
NAPLES, 2011
Skye was packing her belongings into boxes. Her little apartment was cluttered with boxes she’d already stuffed full. There was no change regarding the excavation, so she decided to cut her losses and move on. Skye had terrible dreams all night long. She dreamt about the past. It left her thinking all day about her future. She decided she would join up with her father, Tiberius, and continue what they had started. Suddenly there was a knock on her door. Skye went to open it.
“Lucian!” she said, surprised, as she opened her door to see her former lover standing there. He didn’t wait for an invitation and stormed inside.
“Skye, you are looking well,” he said awkwardly. Lucian wanted nothing more than to embrace her and kiss her. He had been longing to do so for centuries since the day she’d left him in Britannia.
Skye stared at him in shock. She didn’t know what to say. She had never stopped loving him, and the moment she saw him now Skye just wanted to hold him like before.
“Wh
at are you doing back in Herculaneum?” he asked.
“I’m searching for answers,” she replied.
“I am here for answers as well. Father never told me where you were. Not even our children would tell me where you were. They said you come to visit them, but you always leave in secret. I have searched for you, my love. When I heard your name on television, I came right away,” said Lucian.
“I stayed with you for many years, and I couldn’t get rid of this desire to find out who I am. I had this recurring dream that I knew was connected to my past. Then I went to talk with Queen Oona about other ways to regain my memory without destroying Amara. She told me that you and Tiberius promised Amara would be destroyed if she saved my life. So I left with Tiberius to find Amara and destroy her. But we never found her, only traces here and there.
Lucian stared at her, confused. “Why didn’t you ask me to help? Why did you just leave me?”
“I did it to protect you,” she said.
Skye’s mind drifted back to Britannia. Tiberius’s words echoed in her mind. She explained it to Lucian.
Come with me, child. We will destroy Amara and regain your memory. You don’t love Lucian. You love another, and he was stolen from you. You will only destroy Lucian if you stay with him, if you should remember. I know you do care for him. Do you want him to suffer? Leave with me now. Leave him a note. He will move on. Lucian was betrothed to Kara once. Her husband is dead. He and Kara will marry and take over the pack. It is his legacy. You know the pack is at risk of falling apart with Cale gone. Their marriage would keep the pack united. Lucian would have the chance to produce pureblood heirs.
“I never got the letter. My father must have kept it,” said Lucian. “You just left me. You tore my heart from my chest and took it with you. Then you come back several years later, stay for a night, and then vanish again without an explanation. You promised me we would talk in the morning. We never got around to that talk. And just so you know, I never cared if I had pureblood children. I love the twins, and I love our son. Do you know what has been like for me having to go beg Oona to see my own children? Why did you leave them with her?
“Oona demanded I give her our children as payment for saving my life until I destroyed Amara. After a while, I gave up the search. I came back that night because I missed you so much it was killing me. I stopped caring about my past. But I realized I couldn’t stay without the children. My life would always be incomplete. So I left again. I rejoined Tiberius and continued our quest. I gave it up a hundred years ago. I came back a second time. I wanted to be with you. But when I came to the village I saw you with Kara, and you were holding your child in the air. You looked so happy. I couldn’t intrude. So I left again. Over the years I changed my identity and location. I studied from university to university learning languages and history.”
“Skye,” Lucian said, interrupting. “That was not my child. It was Kara’s, but she was married to another pack member. Not me.” He moved toward her. “Oh, my love…”
A tear streamed down Skye’s cheek. “Oh, Lucian, I am so sorry. All the time we wasted for nothing.”
“Don’t cry, my love. We are together now, and I won’t let you go ever again,” he said. Lucian took Skye into his arms and held her tightly. He lifted her chin and kissed her softly on the lips.
Skye crushed her mouth against his. A rush of memories flooded her mind. She had missed him so much. She felt his hardness against her.
“I need you now, Skye,” he whispered.
“I’m yours,” she said.
Lucian ripped her clothes off. Skye laughed.
“Such a beast,” she said playfully, as if no time had passed between them. Lucian responded with a growl.
Lucian removed his clothes rapidly. Skye took in the sight of him. He hadn’t changed in all these years. Lucian picked Skye up into his arms and carried her upstairs. Then he threw her on the bed. Skye was excited by his roughness. He climbed on top of her and entered her without warning. Lucian pounded himself into her with the longing of centuries.
“I’m sorry, Skye,” he said breathlessly. “It’s been way too long.”
Before she knew it he burst inside her. He knew she was not finished so he removed himself and began stroking her with his fingers. Skye’s body writhed with pleasure beneath him, and soon her cries of ecstasy filled the room. When she was silent he leaned over and kissed her.
“But now we have forever,” he said.
“I have missed you,” said Skye. “I love you.”
“I love you too,” he said. Lucian rolled over and spooned her. “You have had other men while we were apart?”
Skye closed her eyes in shame. “Yes,” she said.
“I’m not mad. You thought I was with someone, so you moved on,” he said, to her surprise.
“And you?” she asked, not really wanting to know.
“No,” he said. “Wolves mate for life, remember?”
“I’m so sorry. I feel horrible,” she said.
“It’s in the past, my love,” said Lucian.
They slept until the sun went down. Then they were awoken by a loud banging at her front door.
“Oh no,” said Skye. “That must be Marco.”
“Who the hell is that?” Lucian asked with a twinge of jealousy.
“He was sort of my boyfriend. Didn’t end well,” she explained.
“Let me answer then,” said Lucian.
Lucian got out of bed and walked downstairs. Skye followed him, wrapped in a sheet. At the bottom of the stairs he slid on his boxer briefs and pants. He stopped and sniffed the air.
“Vampire!” he exclaimed.
“What? Here?” Skye asked nervously.
“Go back upstairs,” he ordered.
Outside the door Andy could smell a werewolf and suddenly felt fear for Skye. Amara was missing, and he knew she was after Skye. Could she still have wolf henchmen to do her dirty work? Andy bust down the door. Inside he saw his old dominus Lucian standing half dressed.
“You!” cried Andy.
“You!” exclaimed Lucian.
Andy pounced on Lucian. They fell to the ground, snarling and hitting.
Upstairs Skye could hear the commotion. She wanted to help Lucian and rushed downstairs. She saw Lucian and Andy rolling around. Is Andy a vampire? she asked herself.
“Lucian, stop! It’s OK. I know him,” Skye yelled.
Lucian stopped, and so did Andy at the sound of her voice.
“I thought you were in trouble,” Andy said staring back and forth between Lucian and Skye, who was wrapped in a sheet. He was troubled. “How do you know each other?”
“I think we all need to sit down and talk,” said a voice from the doorway. All three of them turned to see Tiberius. “Araceli, my child, come here and give your father a hug.”
“Araceli!” exclaimed Andy as he turned to look at her. He was so confused. She was too.
Skye walked to Tiberius and gave him a hug. She loved and resented him at the same time. “What did you call me?”
“Araceli,” he said. “I should have told you who you were and given you the whole truth. I am sorry, my daughter.”
“What the fuck is going on here?” yelled Andy.
“Sit down, and let me explain,” said Tiberius. He came in and shut the door behind him. “It is good you are here.”
“I’ll be right back,” said Skye. “I need to get dressed.”
Androcles looked pained. He knew she and Lucian had just been together. She had just been in a relationship with Marco. He couldn’t stand the thought of her with other men. He knew who she was now, but she didn’t know who he was. This was not the reunion he had hoped for. Still, he knew she had retained something over the years.
Skye came back downstairs fully clothed and saw the three men sitting on her couches. She sat next to Lucian. Lucian grabbed her hand in his. Androcles stared at them silently, his heart sad. He turned and looked at Tiberius.
“So explain,�
�� he demanded.
“Skye, please listen to everything, and I will answer your questions after,” Tiberius said pleadingly.
Skye nodded her head in agreement.
“Your real name is Araceli. You are the daughter of a senator of Rome who was cousin to the Emperor Vespasian. Marcus was his name. You and Androcles were lovers at one time. You two were caught. He was your guard and was sold off to slavers instead of being executed. Your father married you off to the Legatus Antonius. I met you both at the amphitheater in Herculaneum shortly before the eruption. Androcles was wounded, and the woman we have been searching for, Amara, turned him. She found out about you and was consumed with jealousy, as she wanted him for herself, so she cast a spell and took your memory. We were locked together in a cell as the city was evacuating. Lucian came and saved us. We all went away. That is when we took you into our pack as one of our own. You know the rest. I am sorry I lied and said I didn’t know who you were. I am sorry I allowed Lucian to rename you. I am sorry I took you away from him. I see he has led a miserable existence without you. You see, Amara killed my wife. I had been in denial. When I realized the truth, I wanted so badly to destroy her. I needed you to help me find and destroy her. Forgive me, son. Forgive me, Araceli, for taking both lives from you,” said Tiberius sadly.
Lucian was silent. Araceli looked at her adopted father. “I forgive you, Father.” She turned to Androcles. “I’m sorry, but I don’t remember you. I don’t remember anything we had. I have read the scrolls. I know the story. But I don’t remember,” Araceli apologized. “I can’t even hear that story and see it as me. I have no feelings of it, no memories. I—”
“It’s all right, Araceli,” said Androcles interrupting her. “I thought you were dead. I thought you had perished in the eruption. I really don’t even know what to say right now. I love you, though. I always have. I haven’t felt alive all these centuries. Then I saw you and couldn’t believe it.”
Lucian and Tiberius sat silently and awkwardly. Androcles wanted nothing more than to take his love into his arms as he had longed to for centuries. He started to cry. A stream of blood ran down his cheek.
The Immortal Scrolls Page 15