Dark Illusions: The Beginning

by Ariana Browning

  Kat leaned toward Vincent and whispered, “May I go to the bathroom?” So I can cry my eyes out?

  He looked down at her and released his grasp then turned and continued talking to his men, dismissing her, making her feel worse. The beast only wanted her as a trophy and that was it. A toy to manipulate, to play with, to have serve him. Not to talk to, not to treat nicely. No, he wanted something he could take his anger out on and make others jealous because he possessed it.

  Kat went into the women’s bathroom and splashed some cold water on her face. She looked at her reflection and her eyes watered. She splashed more water on her face before drying it off.

  Leaving the bathroom, she entered the main room again, stopping for a moment to take a deep breath and steel herself. She closed her eyes and took a step—

  A hand reached out and pulled her aside, placing her back against the column. She looked up into the face of Julian.

  “Julian,” she whispered, eyes widening. She sucked in a sharp breath and looked toward where Vincent stood. They were blocked by the huge column so she couldn’t see him anymore. Julian’s fingers wrapped around her chin so gently it made Kat turn his way. He rotated her head to the side.

  “What is this?” he growled. His eyes flashed the animal inside, and he looked ready to explode. His fingers tightened on her ever-so-slightly. Kat felt his anger at her being hurt and something about it made her nervous.

  A shiver of fear swept over Kat and she closed her eyes. “Nothing.”

  “This isn’t nothing,” he murmured. “You don’t deserve this.” A finger grazed the scar on her chin, causing a ripple of pleasure to course through her and the fear melted away.

  Kat looked up into his eyes when he touched her. Warmth crawled through her and embraced every inch of her body. Standing there with him, all her inhibitions and fear dissipated. She felt safe and couldn’t think of anything more she wanted than to be with him. Time no longer meant a thing. Only the two of them existed in the world.

  Julian looked down at her with such passion and adoration that her heart soared. He studied every inch of her face and settled on her mouth when she licked her lips in anticipation. Her breathing picked up and she screamed within, kiss me.

  Julian didn’t waste the moment. He bent down and took her mouth in his, and hunger exploded within Kat. Electricity vibrated down her back and throughout the rest of her. She deepened the kiss, and Julian’s hand reached behind her, pressing her further into his body with a stronger touch than any mortal man could.

  Kat’s body throbbed with need, Julian was too intoxicating. She didn’t want him to stop. His other hand slid up the small of her back, and she struggled not to crumble into a pile on the floor. A small moan escaped her. This man, this man was everything she wanted and needed. He felt right, it felt like she’d known him in another lifetime and was his.

  She moved her hands up to his chest, digging her fingers into his shirt, gripping fistfuls of his shirt, desperate for more. A purr escaped Kat and Julian growled in response. His muscles contracted in his arms and tightened her further against him. Breath escaped her when she was crushed against his body.

  She clung tighter to him for fear that she would collapse. The muscles under her hands shifted and drove her crazy. Her fingers itched with the need to undo the shirt and reach inside to graze the power of the body beneath them.

  Julian backed her into the column behind them. He pressed his body hard into her own, causing her to shiver with need. The familiar tingling sensation that came before an explosion melted through her.

  She sighed with pleasure as his hand moved from her back to her side, rubbing her closer to an explosion. He knew what he did to her and he refused to stop, wanting to possess her body and soul.

  Kat knew how much Julian wanted her. She could feel it in his touch. He hungered for her, and yet they were almost strangers. They hadn’t known each other long, so she couldn’t understand why she craved his touch so relentlessly. Why she wanted to give him every inch of her existence.

  Every touch, every look, every word, every time she breathed him in only made her want more, she wanted him to possess her. An insatiable desire grew within that would not be fulfilled until he was inside of her. The more she got, the more she wanted.

  She forgot where they were and reached up to undo a few of the buttons on his shirt. His mouth moved from her own, to her neck, where he devoured her. Her body burned. The explosion almost hit when his mouth kissed the bare skin inside the V of her dress, she leaned her head back against the column.

  Kat pulled his mouth back up to hers, and he kissed her deeply once more.

  “Good luck explaining this to Vincent.”

  The name cut through her like ice. Julian dragged his mouth from hers and Kat looked to where the sound came from, eyes wide. One of Vincent’s guards stood next to them. Vincent must’ve wondered where she was, so he sent a guard to find her.

  Kat turned back to Julian and his eyes were yellow. Julian looked at her, but she wasn’t afraid. She was only turned on. If only that insufferable guard hadn’t shown up. The rage emanated from him so powerfully that it made her body quake.

  “Don’t bother, I will,” Julian said and a vicious growl came from his body. Grabbing Kat by the wrist, he dragged her behind him. Julian entered the main floor where all the clans were and left Kat, storming toward Vincent with his group.

  Out of the corner of her eye, Kat noticed Kober entering the room. She found it difficult to make out his clan because they kept themselves hidden within the shadows. She could see by the expression on his face, he was ready to assist Julian if he needed it. The next breath, he was by her side, guarding her.

  Julian was in front of Vincent. He grabbed Vincent by the neck, lifted him off the floor like he weighed nothing, and bashed him into the wall behind them.

  “I know what your plans were for her. How dare you. In my city, you would try to defy me?”

  Vincent laughed that sick laugh, which always caused nausea to roll through Kat. “She is mine, Julian. She knows this. She does not belong to you, she belongs with the Raaka. You will not have her, the Raaka will.”

  Kat couldn’t contain herself, knowing Julian was there as well as Kober, “No I am not. You disgust me. You arrogant pig. I—”

  Julian raised a hand to quiet her and she did in an instant. Kober touched her delicately on her arm to get her attention. His face reminded her to listen to Julian, that she was safe now.

  Julian growled and dragged Vincent from the wall. He launched him across the room, sliding to a stop on the floor across the way. “Take him out of here.”

  Men rushed over and grabbed Vincent, escorting him from the room. Vincent snarled and tried to break free, but the men wouldn’t have any of it. One of them was the young leader of the clan who’d been in Julian’s castle. The way he acted made her wonder if he was a personal guard of Julian’s.

  “You have no right to hit someone like her,” Julian said. “You will answer for that and for trying to Awaken someone without my permission.” Vincent struggled and cursed Julian as he was led from the room, all the others remained in place, knowing better than to cross the prince.

  Julian walked over to Kat and studied her. “Are you all right?” he asked in a much softer tone than even a moment ago.

  Julian touched the side of her face and Kat closed her eyes, leaning into his touch. “I’m okay. I just hate him so much, he disgusts me.”

  A gentle smile crossed Julian’s lips, “I think I can understand.” Speaking to Kober, but keeping his attention on Kat, Julian told him, “Take her back to the castle.” He dropped his hand away when Kober reached for her. As they left, Julian said, “And Kat?” She stopped and turned his way. “Stay there.”

  Kat nodded and let Kober lead her from the room, to the car, without a word.

  As they settled into their seats, Kober looked over at her as they drove off. Kat glanced at him upon feeling the weight of his stare.
“Are you really all right? I will not react the way Julian did. It surprises me that he let himself lose control with such ease. That is not his normal way.”

  Kat watched the city pass by outside the window. She turned to Kober to answer, “I am now that you’re here. I honestly didn’t think that leaving would—” Tears welled in her eyes. A couple fell as she cleared her throat. “—I don’t know. I wanted to go home and get a few things. I didn’t think a few hours would—”

  Whispering she confided, “He hurt me, Kober . . . really bad. . . .” Kat looked outside as the tears fell. She didn’t say another word as they drove and Kober didn’t probe.

  If she looked at him, she would’ve noticed him clenching his fist, causing blood to flow from where his fingernails punctured the skin.

  Twenty Two

  Kat stood in the bedroom that Julian had provided for her. Kober brought her there and then left. Her nightgown she’d worn lay atop the bed. She changed into it and threw the dress Vincent made her wear, into the trash bin.

  A maid came in to bring her some food and water, saw the dress, nodded and picked it up. She let Kat know she would throw it into the garbage outside. Kat thanked her and the old woman left.

  She hadn’t felt like talking since the last time she spoke to Kober. She kept thinking about what Vincent had done. Julian came in to find her standing by the balcony with the doors open, staring up at the full moon. He watched her for a few minutes before making his presence known.

  “He won’t bother you anymore. It is safe for you to go home.”

  “How do you know? How do you know he didn’t tell you he’d leave me alone, only to turn around and come after me again?”

  Julian stopped next to her. He took hold of her, spun her around, and pulled her into his arms. Kat took hold of his shirt and inhaled the scent of his body.

  “I wouldn’t tell you, you were safe if I questioned him. I promise you. You are safe.”

  Kat’s eyes watered. “He just hurt me so much, Julian. I don’t want to go through that again. I’m surprised I’m still alive. That I’m not in some body cast.”

  Julian’s body stiffened at the confession, struggling to contain his anger. He wiped away the tears that fell down her cheeks.

  “Thank you for saving me.”

  “I am sorry it took so long to get you away from him. He should never have had a chance to touch you.” Julian said. He held her at arm’s length to look into her eyes. He took hold of her chin and lifted her to face him.

  Julian looked down at her with such tenderness that another tear made its way down her cheek. With his thumb, he rubbed it away. He leaned forward and kissed her on her forehead, then on her cheek. His mouth moved to her own, gently kissing her.

  He pulled away and told her, “I can’t stay.”

  “Why?”

  “You know why.”

  “What are you doing to me?”

  Julian’s eyes sparkled. “What do you mean?”

  “Whenever you are around, I lose myself. You know what you’re doing to me. Don’t leave, Julian.” Kat said, tugging at his shirt.

  Julian responded by bringing his mouth to meet hers. Gently, but powerfully, he kissed her. He wrapped his arms around her body and crushed her against him.

  Kat’s hands came up and pushed his jacket off his shoulders. Julian scooped her up and carried her to the bed where he lay her down on the mattress, then reached up and pushed the dress off of her shoulders. He kissed her shoulders as he did and pleasure ripped through her body with every touch of his mouth.

  Julian pulled her dress down her body, revealing her bare breasts and stomach. His mouth traced the lines of her stomach with an expert’s touch, kissing and nibbling every inch, causing Kat to gasp.

  His mouth came to kiss between her breasts, moving to her nipples becoming erect with pleasure. Kat weaved her fingers through his hair as his mouth kissed and nibbled each nipple. She moaned with pleasure, arcing her body into his touch when he gently sucked the tips. His mouth moved down her stomach as he pulled the nightgown down her legs and off her body, leaving her naked in front of him with a smile.

  His mouth moved down to her inner thighs. Kissing the flesh on her thighs, he moved to kiss her stomach again. When she purred he moved to devour her mouth.

  Kat maneuvered herself on top of Julian’s body and brought her hands up to the buttons on his shirt. Unbuttoning his shirt, she pushed it off his strong shoulders. Rubbing her hands down along the bare muscles, she pushed the shirt all the way from his body and threw it to the floor.

  She traced the lines of the muscles underneath with her hands, relishing the smooth hardness. Julian growled as her mouth settled on his chest. She kissed her way down to the waistband of his pants and taking hold of the button, she undid them and pulled the pants off his body, throwing them to the floor.

  As she moved back to his mouth, Julian grabbed her and flipped her underneath him once more. He leaned back to look into her eyes and Kat looked up at him with complete trust. He smiled as his mouth moved to her neck and nibbled her to a moan.

  Kat turned her head as Julian kissed her neck. She looked to the night outside the window as every fantasy she’d imagined was fulfilled in the room that night.

  Twenty Three

  The smell of fresh roasted coffee caressed Kat’s nose, causing her to stir. Upon opening her eyes, a cup sat and waited for her on the table next to the bed.

  Rolling onto her back, she glanced over to the other side of the bed. Julian was gone. It hurt, but she knew why he’d done so. He’d left for the same reason he told her he should’ve left the night before.

  Stretching her entire body like a cat, she smiled and enjoyed thoughts of the night before. She couldn’t recall ever having been with a man who made her feel the way Julian did. She was still shocked at herself for giving in to him without hesitation, but all her walls went down around him, and she felt safe with him.

  Being around him was unlike anything she’d ever experienced. Trusting him was easy and she didn’t get the impression he was one to bed a woman just for fun, that he wouldn’t allow it to happen for no reason. Otherwise he wouldn’t have wanted to leave. Did he seem like a playboy? Sure. But did he seem like a man who’d play with her emotions? No.

  Swinging her legs from the bed, she sat up and noticed a dress draped across the chair. She climbed out of bed and got dressed, grabbed the coffee and took it over to the window. Taking great pleasure in the roasted aroma, she sipped at it while she watched the guards patrolling below. She had no idea what time it was. When Julian left her to sleep, the sun was rising. If she had to admit it, she was just as guilty, she hadn’t wanted it to end.

  Kat finished her coffee and went in search of Julian. He’d told her she could go home without worry, but she wanted to double-check. She didn’t want a repeat of the last time. A part of her hoped Julian hadn’t meant she wouldn’t see him again. She hated the thought that this was the end for them.

  A part of her still believed what Vincent said was true too. She hated herself for it. Not that Julian didn’t care about her because she was human, but because she was human, he wouldn’t want to be with her. Or rather, couldn’t be with her because she was human. Either way wasn’t a nice thought.

  Kat left the room in search of Julian, wondering what it would be like to be with him. What would it be like to live there with him? She shook her head, I can’t think about that. I can’t get my hopes up. Just live in the now, Kat. Just live in the now. She shook her head to clear her thoughts.

  Giving a light rap on Julian’s office door, she walked in when she didn’t hear any reply and glanced about. Nobody was within the room, but on her way out, she bumped into Kober.

  “Good morning,” he said with a welcoming smile. “Sleep well?”

  The twinkle within his eyes made Kat smile. He knew what happened. “Quite well. Thank you. Good morning to you too.”

  He nodded and glanced at the office. “Were you
looking for Julian?”

  “Yeah, but I take it he left?”

  “Yes. A little while ago.” He told her, apologizing.

  “Of course he did. I can go home, right?”

  So Julian made his decision. No point in trying any harder. If Julian wanted to get a hold of her, he knew where she lived. If she wasn’t in any more danger, there was no reason for her to stay.

  “I was told to tell you that you could leave whenever you wanted to, but you are more than welcome to stay if you do not feel safe enough to go home quite yet. You will be safe either way. He has made sure of it. I will keep watch over you as well, always close.” He placed his hand on her arm.

  The finalization of everything hit her and all hope fled. She looked down at Kober’s hand, then up into his eyes. “That’s okay, Kober. We both know Julian would’ve been here if he wanted me to stay. I have my own life. He knows where to find me. I have no reason to stay here any longer.”

  The sorrow Kober felt was evident. “It is not that he does not like you—”

  Kat fought the tears welling up. “Don’t Kober. Please don’t. Will you go with me? To give my home the once over?”

  He nodded. “Of course.”

  Twenty Four

  Kober walked into her condo and Kat hung back. She didn’t move until he gave her the all clear, then she reluctantly entered, worried that someone would jump out at her any minute while she looked around.

  Even though Kober had gone through, she still wandered about checking all the rooms while Kober waited in her living room. He busied himself with opening the patio doors so the fresh air could come in, and to remove the thick atmosphere that seemed to permeate the air.

  Kat wandered back into the living room, taking a deep breath, and Kober stood there watching her. “I will always be here, Kat. If not me, someone else will watch over you. You will not be alone for as long as it takes. But know I will never be far away.”