Seared by Desire

by Jennifer T. Alli

  His eyes flashed red and his fangs lengthened dangerously. I’ll kill them all! his mind hissed angrily. “Do not push me Sara.”

  “Well then don’t push me either. If you can be jealous so can I.”

  He stared at her determined face for a few moments before his shoulders slumped in defeat. “You’re right. No one shall bathe us but each other from now on.”

  “I’m glad that we’re in agreement Lucian. I would have hated to make good on my promise. Strange women made me feel sick, I don’t think I could abide strange men touching me.”

  “That is how it should be Sara. No man will touch you but me and live to speak of it. I will cut their tongues out before gutting them on my sword.”

  “A little severe,” she admitted, “but you’ve reminded me of something important.” She began struggling against his hold trying to free herself from his steel-like arms. “Let me go Lucian.”

  “I like having you this close,” he purred in her ear. “What if I don’t want to let you go?”

  “I didn’t say you had a choice in the matter.”

  “Fine.” He released his grip on her. “What is so important that you had to fight to be free of me?”

  Her hands moved to her back and she pulled the long sword and its sheath from her body and presented them to Lucian. “I want you to have this sword,” she rushed, embarrassment beginning to fill her. “It’s not finished, so it won’t be perfect, but I want you to have it. I was going to make it just like I make every other sword but then I realised you aren’t like everyone else, you deserve the best I can give. I want to craft this sword for only you so please, take it and tell me how it feels. I want to know everything. How the balance feels in your hand, if it’s too heavy, how well it cuts, whether you like the material of the hilt…well you get the idea.” She thrust the sword at him. “Here, take it. Like I said it isn’t perfect but it will do for now. Before dawn comes tell me what you think and I’ll work on correcting it.”

  He was stunned into silence for a moment, unsure of how to react. She was constantly surprising him with her generosity and he was beginning to feel increasingly selfish. After all that she’d given him, he’d given her nothing in return. “I don’t know what to say.”

  “You don’t have to say anything, just take it.” She thrust the sword at him again, smiling when he lifted the heavy weight from her palms and placed the sword at his hip. “I want you to be safe so this is the least I can do seeing as I won’t be fighting along side you. How are we meant to marry if you’re hurt?”

  His hands had been moving steadily, placing the sword in its new resting place but they stilled at her words.

  Her confidence faltered when she saw his reaction to statement, old doubts filling her mind. He was half asleep when he said that, he probably doesn’t even remember saying it. He never meant it. The words meant to reassure and offer comfort hurt, the sting sharp and painful. “I don’t know what I’m talking about,” she giggled, the sound of her laughter sounding false even to her ears. “Marriage? It suits some better than others I suppose.” And it doesn’t suit me at all, she sighed ruefully.

  He moved then, pulling her body close and claiming her lips in a searing kiss. She gasped, shocked at the abrupt change in his behaviour and he captured the sound, using the opportunity to slip his hot tongue past the seam of her lips and into the cavern of her mouth. Groaning, she wrapped her arms around his neck and gave herself over to the sensations he so easily inspired within her. When he pulled away from her she was breathless, her eyes were glazed over with desire and all coherent thought seemed to have fled.

  “You are the most confusing person I have ever met Sara. One minute you accept my proposal and in the same breath turn me down. You are going to marry me Sara, there are no alternatives.”

  “Do I not get a say in the matter?” she teased.

  “No. You’ve had your say and didn’t seem able to make up your mind so I’ve chosen what is best for you.”

  “And that’s you?”

  He leaned in so close that she could see every minute detail on his beautiful face as his breath ghosted across her skin. “Of course it’s me. We will be married Sara.”

  Happiness flooded her and her smile could have rivalled the sun in brightness. “If that’s what you think is for the best then who am I to disagree? We’re going to be married.”

  “Yes.”

  “But let me guess…it won’t be until after your war is over.”

  “War is hardly conducive to a wedding ceremony.”

  “In that case, you’d better hurry and make peace with William. You expect me to do a lot of waiting for you, who knows how long my patience will last.”

  “You know that you don’t want to be rid of me,” he purred, as he began to kiss the slender column of her neck.

  Russell coughed loudly, trying to distract them from each other. “My Lord?”

  Lucian turned dark eyes on him though he made no attempt to distance himself from Sara’s small body. “Yes?”

  “I need to speak with you privately. It is urgent. I believe what I will have to say will greatly affect the likelihood of making peace with William.”

  Sara began to shove at his chest, trying to force him to create distance between them. “Off you go Lucian. I want you to make peace with William.”

  “I will try though it will be hard after what he did yesterday. Just recalling the sight of his hands on you makes me want to kill him.”

  “Well then try not to remember.”

  “And what will you do while I’m away?”

  “I have a project I want to work on as soon as I have pen and paper. I’ll be fine.”

  “And what if Seraphina begins to rise?”

  “Then I’ll call you. Just go,” she laughed, finally managing to push him away. “Take him Russell but take good care of him and bring him back to me in one piece.”

  He bowed. “Of course my Lady.”

  She turned pleading eyes on Lucian. “Are you sure there’s nothing you can do about the bowing and ‘my Lady’?”

  “Absolutely,” he laughed as he walked out of the room.

  “This way,” Russell directed, his path leading them down the stairs. “There is something I need to show you. The horses have been saddled and we are ready to depart immediately.”

  “Whatever it is you have to show me must be very important, you are very well prepared.”

  “I’m always prepared my Lord.”

  “That is true.”

  “But you’re right, what I have to tell you is very important.”

  The atmosphere in the tavern was tense; the lines that separated the vampires within very clear. On one side of the room sat the vampires that Lucian had brought with him including a very irate looking Gareth and on the other the Malachites though William’s presence was noticeable absent. His men began to rise from their seats in greeting when Lucian entered the hall but as Russell continued walking towards the exit, he motioned for them to remain seated. Russell was well aware of the import of this meeting; whatever he had to say would not take long. He strode outside and mounted his horse.

  “We must be quick Russell.”

  “Of course my Lord,” he responded, spurring his horse into a swift gallop.

  They travelled in silence for a few minutes, leaving the wealth and glamour of the upper city behind and descending into the squalor of the poor parts of the city.

  Russell slowed to a halt, dismounting and leading the horse by the reins through the increasingly narrow streets. Lucian followed suit, falling into step with his friend.

  “So Russell, what exactly are we doing out here?”

  “I wanted to discuss the peace talks with you.”

  “We could have done that back at the tavern,” he commented casually.

  “Yes we could have done but then Gareth would be doing his best to influence you in favour of continued warfare. William has given us a chance to put our differences behind us, we shoul
d make proper use of it.”

  “It’s true that Gareth is wary of diplomacy but he has good reason. William is not to be trusted. No one who places such little value on life should ever be taken at their word.”

  “Lord Lucian you seem to be condemning him before he has even spoken.”

  “I’m just being cautious. It’s strange that he would change his beliefs with so little warning. William views humans as cattle, there only for his needs. He doesn’t seem to realise that we need them more than they need us. He hardly seems capable of making such a change in perspective alone. They out number us at present but if we were all like William and killed them as we fed their numbers would dwindle and then what would become of us?”

  “Nothing!” a loud voice boomed. William stepped out of from the shadows of the narrow street they had walked down and Lucian instantly bared his fangs in anger. Unimpressed by the display, William smiled. A slight movement of his hands had men pouring from the shadows to surround the two on all sides. “Nothing would become of us Lucian,” William continued. “We would force them to breed and kill them as we required. Humans are cattle, nothing more.”

  Lucian was silent, his eyes darting the length of the street trying to assess the situation. He silently cursed at the potential obstacles to escape while simultaneously relishing the idea of dispatching with William's treacherous self and ending the conflict. He was so wrapped up in his internal thoughts that he almost missed William's next words though what greeted his ears made him wish he had.

  “I’m proud of you Russell, I’d given up all hope on you as a brother but you’ve come through for me this time. When I kill Lucian, I will be King and you will be a prince.”

  “Brother?” Lucian hissed. His eyes wandered over Russell’s frame, realisation dawning. The similarities were there if one was actually looking for them but with Russell's short cut hair and clean shaven face he’d missed them.

  “What are you talking about William?” Russell bristled. “I brought Lord Lucian here to discuss peace. I don’t want to kill my Lord.”

  “We will talk peace brother. Peace by way of the sword.”

  “William, don’t do this. I believed you when you said you wanted to end this pointless war.”

  “You were always very gullible,” he remarked casually.

  “Russell,” Lucian began pulling his commander’s attention away from what looked ready to devolve into a familial dispute. “I want you to tell me honestly, is William your brother?”

  He hung his head in shame. “Yes my Lord, but I swear I thought he wanted peace, I would give my life gladly to defend you.”

  It may come to that. “We will discuss your punishment once we have dealt with the situation. Are you prepared to kill your brother if the situation arises?” His voice was hushed in an attempt to prevent William overhearing their conversation.

  “I have always been prepared my Lord.”

  “That is good to hear.” He turned to William, his voice loud and confident once more. “William will you step aside and have your men stand down?”

  “No.”

  “More blood will be spilt needlessly,” Lucian pointed out casually.

  William laughed, the sound cold and cruel. “Look around you Lucian, you are severely out numbered, you will die this night.”

  Dark eyes landed on every man present, assessing the odds. “I have faced worse before and lived to speak of it. I cannot die.”

  “Why? Because of your delicious little bride?”

  The monster within him began to wake at the mention of Sara from his enemy’s mouth. His eyes flashed a dangerous red causing the more inexperienced fighters among William's group to take a wise step back. “You have no right to speak of her.”

  “I have every right Lucian. The legendary Quicksilver has been presented to me as a gift. Once you’re dead, I’ll take her for myself. By day she will craft swords for my army and by night I will take both her body and her blood.”

  If I die so will she. The thought made his blood run cold and his hand fall to the hilt of the blade Sara had given him mere minutes ago. Her beautiful face flashed through his mind and his grip tightened in preparation. William and all gathered were going to die. They were a threat not only to his life, his desire for peace but to Sara; an unpardonable sin. “You will regret your words William.” Lucian unsheathed the sword, the solid weight reassuring in his hand. Sara wanted information on how to better her sword; he would provide her with an abundance of it. He spared Russell a cursory glance pleased to find that he also had a blade in his hand. It was unfortunate for both he and William that it had come to this.

  Lucian almost felt sorry for his adversary; he had no idea the destruction that was about to be unleashed but it was himself he was concerned for. There was a monster beneath his skin, one that wanted death and destruction and didn’t understand the difference between allies and enemies, seeing only more bodies to the slaughter more blood to be spilt and would not be satisfied until he was drenched in blood. The monster was dangerously close to the surface and in the heat of battle would surface to wreak havoc. The danger he posed not only to the enemy, but to his own people, was one of the reasons he was so intent on a peace with William. His greatest fear was that one day he would lose control to the monster during combat and never return to his senses.

  But it won’t be this day, he told himself forcing himself to believe in his own words. With a loud roar, he let the monster loose. William had threatened his bride; there was no method too underhanded, no weapon too dangerous to use to prevent him from making good on his words.

  Chapter Fifteen – When Everything Burns

  At first the intent stares the Malachites were directing at her was a mere annoyance, but after thirty minutes of being stared at as though she were an attraction at a fair Sara was sorely tempted to walk over to them and ask them just what they were looking at. Thoughts of Lucian had her gritting her teeth and resuming her work. Gareth was kindly acting as a model for her but she was unsure how far his good will would extend, already he looked ready to flee. She ran her hands over his torso once again, comparing the breadth of his chest to what she remembered of Lucian's before jotting down the measurements on her small piece of parchment.

  “I’ve just got to do your arms and then it will all be finished,” she reassured, her hands traversing the length of both his arms. More notes were scribbled onto the parchment and then she pulled away from him. His deep scowl began to fade the moment his body was his own once again and he stretched his arms above his head, rolling his head to remove any kinks.

  “Remind me again why I agreed to help you,” he groused.

  “It’s your own fault really, if you insist on calling me Lady Sara then you’ve forced yourself to listen to my requests.” His scowl failed to inspire any fear in her and she laughed, “It wasn’t that bad. It was over quickly enough.”

  “For you maybe.”

  “Well I’ve finished now so you can go back to throwing evil glares at the Malachites. If you need me I’ll be over there.” She pointed to a small, secluded table, tucked away at the back of the tavern.

  “Lady Sara I’m going to have to insist that you stay here. I don’t trust those men and if something were to go wrong –”

  “Nothing will go wrong,” she interrupted cheerfully.

  “I’m not saying that it will but in case it does, Lord Lucian would want you to stay close to us so that we could defend you if the need arose.” There was something going on with the Malachites he could feel it in his bones. Their eyes wandered to the clock on the wall far too frequently to simply be waiting for their leader to arrive. It was as though they were counting down to a specific time and were anxious for it to arrive quickly.

  “I can take care of myself Gareth. I’m a fire elemental and a swordsmith remember?”

  “Yes I remember. You’re a very strange fire elemental who acts nothing like the many I’ve met over my centuries of life and a swordsmith who does
n’t want to fight. You may be capable of protecting yourself but that ability is severely handicapped by your unwillingness to hurt others. Did I forget anything?” She shook her head. “Then if you wouldn’t mind, please take a seat at this table. There is plenty of room and plenty of men to protect you.”

  There was clearly no point in disagreeing with him and she was wasting valuable time arguing with him. Sitting down at the table, she gathered the small piece of paper with her measurements on it and her tools to draw the image for the large final piece. She worked silently, steadily translating the image that was in her mind onto paper. She would need an accurate representation so that she could purchase the necessary supplies and materials to complete her task. Her mind was completely immersed in her task but when a shadow crept over the paper, obscuring her work, she was thrown back into the world outside of her thoughts.

  She looked up at the person creating the shadow, a scowl instantly forming on her face at the leering expression he was using to look her over with. “Yes?” she asked imperiously.

  “You’re Quicksilver?”

  “I don’t see how that is any of your business. Now if you don’t mind I’d like you to move, you’re blocking the light.”

  He didn’t move and more Malachites approached the table, effectively destroying any chance she had to work.

  “The Lady asked you to move,” Gareth hissed moving to stand behind her. “Or did you not hear her?”

  “There’s nothing wrong with our hearing.”

  “Then move. This woman is Lord Lucian's bride and your future queen. You will pay her the respect she is owed. Now move.”

  “No.”

  “Do you not understand what we are trying to do here today? We’re trying to make peace between our peoples, unify all vampires under one leader…your actions are putting that plan at risk.” The man smirked and the hairs on the back of Gareth’s neck rose in warning, his hand automatically falling to his sword.

  “That may be your plan but it is certainly not ours. My orders are to take this woman back to my leader.”