by Jana LaPelle
I wake to Alaric kissing my eyelids as he hovers over me. Instantly I'm awake, and I have a burning need that quickens as my kindred continues his trek, raining kisses down my neck. His large hand palms my breasts as he swipes his thumb over my taut nub. He pulls me closer to him pressing into me. My back bows off the bed in an effort to satisfy the need I have to be filled by him. His mouth reaches my breast as he continues his heated exploration and my hands move of their own accord to fist in his hair. His mouth closes over my nipple, and he quickly sucks and nips increasing my need for him. He looks up to see me watching him and slides back up my body to take my mouth in a possessive kiss that has me arching upwards again clasping him to me. This time, I'm not disappointed. Our kiss deepens as he slides his hard length into me and my inner walls clench around him pulling him further into my core. Our rhythm is slow at first as we love one another, but soon we are rocking into one another at a quickening pace. Neither of us can deny the need to be as close to each other as two people can be. The deeper he buries himself into me, the faster I rush toward my release. I'm now beginning to quiver around him as my release takes hold and the two of us fall over the edge together, and I literally see stars as I come down from the high induced from our coupling.
Alaric and I are still tangled together not wanting this moment to end. For a time, we were able to hide away from the rest of the world. The sun is rising, and we need to get back to the Keep, there’s a lot to do and not much time to accomplish our end goals. Now that we have come to an agreement, no matter how much we dislike what that plan involves, we have to set it in motion. He looks up at me and gently kisses my lips and the tip of my ear, just because he likes how I shudder when he does so, before he says, “Good morning, álainn.”
"Good morning, my sexy Elf-Man," I reply with a huge smile. "Can you wake me like that every morning?"
Alaric smirks and then replies, "I would love nothing better. As much as I would love to stay here with you all day, we need to get back. Are you ready?"
“I assume that we leave the way we came? Especially since I’m naked and without any clothes.” I ask.
With a wicked smirk, he says, "Just the way I like you. Come on let's get out of here. Breakfast is in an hour."
"You don't have to tell me twice. I'm starving." I say as I get up and lean over to tidy the bed coverings. I catch Alaric staring at my behind as I finish up and decide to give him a quick shake of my rear before turning to see him checking me out. "Come on lover boy. Let's get going. The days a wasting, and just for the record, I kind of like you naked too."
We walk to the water's edge before we allow our shift to take place. Our cats are ready for an early morning swim as we leap into the water and head out of our secret hideaway. Back to reality.
Chapter 38
(Ashlinn)
Once we get back to Glenndale Loch, the day rushes by in a blur. We gathered everyone together and share my not so brilliant epiphany. Evidently, the druids already knew that we would need Tarron's blood and had started to formulate a plan in order to acquire that unattainable ingredient. They have continued to come up against roadblocks on that front. What I did not take into account was that we would also need the blood of the dark witch that weaved the spell into the contract. Danu was able to locate her. My parents set out earlier this morning to go and retrieve the witch. She is scheduled to arrive by force this evening, but word has it that she is willing to cooperate. Which is one break that we were not expecting, but I will gladly take it at this point.
On another front, most everyone has accepted Garrik into our ranks. Tolin and Torin included. In fact, I think that they are happier to accept him than they want to let on. Ferg is still watchful and continues to maintain his vigilance. While watching the males together, I formulate another plan that will involve Garrik. While everyone is talking amongst themselves, I decide now is as good a time as any.
I clear my throat and stand trying to get everyone’s attention. “Excuse me. Can I have everyone’s attention?” It takes a moment, but everyone quiets. “I need everyone to gather around. I know that you’re all working on separate plans and strategizing, but I think I have an idea that I want to throw out there for discussion. I think we need an inside man and I know who we can use to accomplish this goal.” That gets everyone’s attention.
Declan is the first to speak up, “Ashlinn you want one of us to infiltrate Tarron’s court? That will be nearly impossible since he knows most of us by look alone. Although, that’s not a bad idea.”
Alaric is already nodding as he is following along my train of thought and agreeing with my logic. “Hear me out Declan, we have the perfect person for the job, and he’s right here in this room. Garrik, if you are up to the mission, I think you would be perfect for this task. We can place him on the other side of the forest between Tarron’s Keep and the Forrest Elves. His cover will be that he was sent on a suicide mission by The Morrígan and he no longer supports the Fomorian queen. His infiltration to Tarron’s camp will accomplish two goals.” I say as everyone looks back and forth between Garrik and me.
Alaric speaks up as he continues to warm to the idea. "Of course, Tarron has no idea that The Morrígan wants you out of the picture, but with Garrik's arrival, he will be informed of her dark intentions. Therefore, effectively enlightening him to the danger to Ashlinn's life if he puts her in the spotlight, this solves one of our problems. Tarron is no fool, but if Garrik plays his cards right, he can quickly become one of Tarron's most trusted advisors. If we can get him in place before Ashlinn ends up in Tarron's court, we should have a way of getting messages in and out to Ashlinn when needed, and we can stay informed of his plans. That is a lot of ifs."
Dagda speaks up, “This could work. What do you think lad?”
Garrik looks around the room then looks at me as he says, "It would be my great honor to be there for you, my lady. I will do everything in my power to be of service to you."
"Thank you, Garrik. We will have to get you in place as soon as possible. You will need to look as if you have been through a difficult battle. By now word has most likely spread that a Shadow Demon attacked the Forrest Elves, but I highly doubt that the reason behind the attack has been discussed so your information should get you in the door. Initially, you will be looking for a safe haven for a few nights, and you will be willing to discuss the details of the attack. Then let it slip that you are not going back to be The Morrígan's puppet. You're through with that. Slowly give Tarron the information that you gave me. Hopefully, by the time the blood contract goes into play, you will be entrenched in his good graces. The first time you see me, you will have to act like you have no idea who I am, and you are to follow Tarron's strict orders. That will include restraining me if necessary. Do you think you can do that Garrik? In turn, I will not acknowledge you at all and will act like the stolen princess that I will be. I may not be very nice to you while we are at his mercy but remember this, I will hold you near to my heart always for being brave enough to walk this path with me."
Garrik nods and says, “It will be my honor. If you need to strike me then do so, I understand the terms of this mission and gladly lend my services to you, my lady.”
Dagda speaks up, “Then it’s settled, Garrik, you go undercover tonight. We will need a way to communicate with Garrik. Nemus, do you have any suggestions? It will have to be something that a Fomorian warrior will be expected to keep on his person at all times, something that will not draw attention to him.”
Nemus responds, “It will have to be something non-intrusive, something that will not be taken from him when he enters as they will inevitably relieve him of all weapons when he enters the Keep. What about a compass? I can charm it to activate an open line of transmission to a matching piece here using a code word as it is being opened. Any other time it will be a compass. If they try to take it, just be very humble and say that you believe it to be a family heirloom and i
t is the only thing you had left of your life before The Morrígan enlisted you. What do you all think?”
“I think that’s perfect! How soon can you whip that up?” I ask Nemus. “Can you link it to a backup as well?”
"I can. We can give Garrik his which will only receive messages when he activates to send a message. The two here will be given to Alaric and Declan. Those two will notify the receiver of any incoming message, unlike the one I will be giving to Garrik. Will that work?" He asks.
Alaric speaks up and says, “Sounds good. Why don’t you go get busy on this task?”
"If there is any further discussion, I should probably not know about it. It would be best that I excuse myself. From this point on, all I need to know is that there is a plan and I have a contact. Just in case Tarron decides to interrogate me, I don't want to be the one to screw everything up. I have no idea what is in store for me. Thank you all for working so hard on this. I appreciate you all. I'm tired. I didn't get much sleep last night so I may go lay down. Garrik, I will see you on the inside." I say as I ready myself to leave.
Alaric looks concerned as he reaches out to me, "Ashlinn, is everything alright? I thought this would put your mind at ease."
"Trust me, it does, but all this talk of code words, undercover agents, and whatnot got me thinking that it's not a good idea for me to know all of the details. You must agree. I will need to appear distraught and scared and angry. It is enough that I know you all have my back." I reply with a yawn. "I wasn't kidding. I'm really tired and want a nap. I'll see you in a bit?" I ask as I lean over to give him a quick kiss.
“I’ll be up to check on you soon, mo grá.” He replies as he takes my hand and raises it to his face and places a gentle kiss on my palm. Through our link, he says, “Is breá liom tú.”
“I love you too. Now, you need to get back to it. See you soon.” I reply.
I exit the library and slowly make my way back up to our chambers. In less than two weeks' time, I will be pulled by force into a den of the unknown. From Alaric's reaction to his meeting last night I saw images of a horde, what looks like monsters to me. I am resigned to accept my fate as long as I can make it back to Alaric and my family. That is a non-negotiable term in my acceptance. Time has passed so quickly, and so many things have happened since the accident. Would I have changed any of my decisions or actions since learning my lineage? No. The only things I would change have always been out of my hands. It would appear as if this is the path that I'm destined to walk. I wonder what the reason and purpose for this detour into the unknown is. I mean, everything happens for a reason, right? My purpose here in the Otherworld has so far been clear.
As I enter our bedroom, I go straight to my wardrobe and gather up a pair of sleep shorts and a matching tee shirt. I wasn't kidding. I really am tired, and with everything that's going on, I just want to lie down. Last night was exhausting and took a lot out of me. To top it off I only got a couple of hours of sleep which has led me here with me contemplating a nap. I rarely nap. I walk into the bathroom to wash up, and as I go to turn on the water, I see the charmed wrist cuff that I normally wear to bed and I still.
Realization dawns on me. Alaric and I weren't protected last night. Oh, my God. I can feel myself begin to panic just a bit, so I close down my link to Alaric. Come to think of it; I should have already had my next cycle. I've been so caught up in everything that I haven't worried myself about the mundane. Slowly, I begin to process how long I've been here and how many weeks since my last cycle. Could my body be that screwed up? No, if there is one thing that my body has always been good at, it has always been timely. By my calculations, I'm well over a week late, maybe a little longer. If that's the case, then that charmed wrist cuff was just bling that I wore to bed. If my calculations are right, then I'm more than likely pregnant. Well snap, this is what I was trying to avoid. The timing couldn't be worse. A child, now? No… No one can know. Especially not Alaric, he will go ape shit crazy. I’ll have to tuck this little nugget of information away as I prepare to be ripped away from everyone I know and love. This will have to be my little secret. For now.
Glossary of Irish Gaelic Terms
álainn = beautiful
ceann beag = little one
dathúil = handsome
iníon = daughter
Is breá liom tú = I love you
majic = magic (For purposes of this series, magic will be referred to as majic. The spelling is meant to be unique to the Realms of the Otherworld Book series.)
mo grá = my love
mo ghrá = my lover
Mo neart = my strength
Glossary of Irish Mythology
Airmed = goddess of healing. Alaric’s mother.
Bridgid = daughter to The Dagda married to King Bres of the Southern Territories. Goddess of dawn and fertility.
Danu = High Queen to Faerie as well as mother goddess to the Tuatha Dé Danann. Ashlinn’s mother.
The Dagda = High King to Faerie as well as the good god, father figure, and protector of the tribe the Tuatha Dé Danann.
Clíodhna = goddess of love and beauty.
Fomorians = Traditional rivals of the Tuatha Dé Danann portrayed as monstrous beings.
The Morrígan = Dark queen of the Fomorians. A fate deity, foretelling doom and death in battle.
Tuatha Dé Danann = A supernatural race in Irish Mythology thought to represent the main deities of pre-Christian Gaelic Ireland.
Chosen
BOOK TWO
A REALMS OF THE OTHERWORLD BOOK
JANA LAPELLE
Text Copyright © 2017 Jana LaPelle
This is a work of fiction. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, or persons living or dead is entirely coincidental. Any references to historical events, real people, etc. are used fictitiously.
No part of this book may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means without the express written permission of the author.
All Rights Reserved.
Cover design by: www.ebooklaunch.com
Acknowledgements
A huge thank you goes out to my dear friends Dianna and Larissa. Thank you so much for your continued supported. All your kind words, praise, encouragement, and constructive criticism have continued to help me grow as a writer. Thank you for listening to me when all I seem to want to talk about is my writing and this fantasy world I seem to be caught up in. To my son Gabriel, I have said it before you are my inspiration, thank you for being you and for your creative and fascinating mind. Without your influence, I fear that one of my now favorite characters in this series would never have evolved the way she did.
For my family and friends and especially my son for daring me to follow my dreams and supporting me as this series continues to evolve.
Chapter 1
(Ashlinn)
I wake with a start, and I'm drenched in sweat. Not wanting to wake up Alaric, I quietly crawl out of bed and make my way to the terrace to cool my heated skin. The moon is a waxing moon. It’s but a sliver in the midnight sky, allowing the stars to pop out dramatically, as she keeps me company tonight. I stand naked to the celestial body in more ways than one.
My nocturnal wanderings plague me. It's been a month since I dream walked during sleep. Astral projection seems like such a mouthful. The last time, Alaric followed me to my first meeting with my mother, Danu. I know he's exhausted, or he would have sensed my leaving this evening. Things have been really crazy since arriving here in the Otherworld, and with everything that has happened recently, it's no wonder that lately I've been preoccupied with the dark prince's court. That may explain my unexpected visit to his domain this evening. To say that it troubles me is an understatement. Was it my subconscious that directed me to dream walk to Tarron's court? Or was it something more sinister? Was dark majic at work tonight?
No matter the cause, once there, my curiosity was peaked, and I decided to have a look around. I really didn't wa
nt to be seen or noticed in any way once I realized where I had ended up. For the most part, I was able to wander the grounds unnoticed, but as soon as I came upon Tarron, he almost immediately sensed my ghostly presence. He was in the company of a beautiful, young female in a sitting room, and if I had to guess, he was feeding from her. It appeared to be an incredibly intimate moment and from her moans and the way she was pressed against him I could tell that she was very much enjoying the act. I shake my head as if to clear the image burned into my memory. I can't quite shake the fact that the dark prince sensed that I was there. He swung his gaze from the young woman he was feasting on and directed his glowing green-eyed gaze right toward me. He didn't seem at all surprised that I was there, watching this intimate act, and he said, "Well, Hello Sunshine." His grin was full of wicked intent, and it was enough to send me back to my prone form, his mocking countenance haunting me.
It has only been a few days since I realized that I’m carrying Alaric’s child. I wrap my hands protectively around my flat abdomen cradling my precious cargo. This would not be possible if it were not Her wish. The Tree of Life is actively messing with my life, and for once since meeting her, we are not on the same page. This is not what I wanted. Not yet anyway. I’ve always wanted a large family, and realistically, I knew I would have to start early in life if I were to accomplish that wish but now is not the ideal time. I wanted for all this to be behind us before we started our family and now he or she will be caught up in the middle of all this insane craziness! What did Alaric call it? A shit storm and that about sums it up. A baby changes everything. I sigh heavily with the burden of my secret. Since my epiphany, I have become hyper-aware of Alaric and his probing of the barrier that I have created in our link, a necessity that I despise.