Beyond The Veil: A Paranormal & Magical Romance Boxed Set

by Multiple Authors

  "Is something wrong?" She clutched the bed for support.

  Adrian stepped away, struggling to keep his wits about him. It was hard with his wolf pounding to be let loose.

  "You have no undergarments." He tried to keep his voice even.

  "I do, they are just shorter. I don't wear the usual female under things because I'm usually in breeches."

  He tried to concentrate, but the touch of his hands on her soft, bare skin was almost more than he could take. The arousal growing within him was an unbearable thirst that needed to be slaked.

  "Uh... do you have anything for me to put on you after we remove the dress?" He didn't meet her eye.

  "The nightgown I wore before is in the bathing room." Redlynn swayed slightly.

  Adrian moved away from her quickly, unable to control the uncomfortable bulge in his breeches. He tried to calm his mounting need. She was in no state to be taken advantage of, no matter how much his wolf wanted to claim her.

  He found the gown on the floor and lifted it, taking in her scent. Rushing to the basin, he plunged his hands into the frigid water and splashed it on his face. At the shock, his wolf retreated. He took several long gulps from the pitcher, then went to the small window and threw it open. The cold breeze slapped his face and helped his head clear.

  Get a hold of yourself. She is a female, a beautiful female, but she needs your help right now, not your loving. Besides, he didn't want to love her. He wanted to bed her, but he still had no interest in mating and becoming king. Adrian stared at the lights in the sky, breathing deeply for several minutes, and trying not to envision her naked body beneath his. It didn't work. He grabbed the gown and walked out. Redlynn leaned against the wall waiting.

  Without a word he knelt again and lifted the crimson silk. He averted his eyes and skimmed his hands over her hips, up her sides, atop her silken shoulders, and down her arms. He tossed the gown away and grabbed the nightgown. Keeping his gaze trained on the wall, he eased the new nightgown over her, letting it drop down, covering her body. A spicy, musky scent wafted off of Redlynn's skin, so strong it made him quake with need.

  "Am I so ugly that you cannot even bear to look at me?"

  How in the world could she think that? He watched the way her supple, soft lips moved as she spoke. Memories of their kiss the night before stirred the wolf again. Redlynn laid her palm flat upon his chest. Her soft fingers caressed his skin.

  "Adrian—"

  "You should lie down."

  "Lie with me."

  Yes. No! Her scent filled his nostrils until he couldn't think straight. He wanted to lie with her more than anything. To feel the softness of her skin, the caress of her touch. To make her his.

  "I missed you all day. Lying in your bed, smelling your scent on the pillows. I don't know why I want you so badly. I've never wanted a man before. But I want you." Stretching up on her toes, she pressed her lips to his. He stood still as her tongue skimmed over his lip, coaxing him for a response.

  He lifted his hands to push her away, but before he knew what he was doing, his arms were around her, pulling her to him. Her lush body pressed into his chest and his skin tingled where her hand still lay. He opened his mouth wider to allow her access. She probed and teased his tongue with her own. The force with which she kissed him startled him. The heat of her body scorched his, and her scent made him dizzy. He lifted her, placing her on the bed.

  She watched him with a glassy stare as he removed his shirt and slid under the covers on the other side of the bed.

  ***

  Whatever Blain had given her was making Redlynn lose her inhibitions, but she didn't care. A pulsing, aching need throbbed between her legs, and was not from being close to her woman's time. Something inside of her was awakened, and set her on fire, something that could only be sated by being near Adrian. Though she was a virgin, all she'd been able to think about was him. The feelings that had overtaken her confused her. But nothing else mattered at that moment. Her body called for him.

  His hands on her skin as he'd undressed her caused her to almost explode. Redlynn found herself needing him inside of her. She slid closer to him and smelled the forest on his skin. Her mouth found his, her hands roaming his chest and stomach. His skin was smooth beneath her fingertips. She traced his hard nipples and a rumble of pleasure escaped him as he pulled her close, kissing her harder. His hands moved down her back to her rump and he crushed her body into his. This was it. The moment she'd been waiting for. To finally have a man want to make love to her. It was terrifying and exciting. She reached under the covers for the cord for his breeches, but his hand found her first.

  Redlynn gazed deep into his brown eyes; golden flecks glowed within them. She was unsure. What if he didn't want her the way she wanted him?

  As if answering her fears, he kissed her softly on the mouth. But she wanted more; she wanted all of him. She pulled him to her, only to have her shoulder scream in pain. Her flinch made him retreat.

  "Let's just take this a bit slower." He clenched his jaw.

  "I don't want to."

  "Neither do I, but—"

  Redlynn moved in and kissed him hard. A moan escaped his chest that she swore sounded like a dog whimper. He pushed her away.

  "What? Is it me?" Her temper flared.

  "No. No." He peppered her face with light kisses. "We just... I can't. I don't want to hurt you."

  His lips on her skin was an exquisite agony. "You won't."

  Adrian sucked in a ragged breath. He ran his thumb over her lips. "You test me in ways I have never been tested, woman. But I must be chivalrous and say, no."

  "I think I might burst into flames if I don't have you soon." The throbbing inside of her was an ache that, with the knowledge that she couldn't have him, had become painful. She scissored her legs, trying to stop the sensation.

  "Come, let me hold you as you rest." He opened his arms.

  She didn't want to be held. She wanted him inside her. She wanted him to make the pain stop.

  "Trust me. I want it as much as you do." He kissed her cheek.

  "Then why?" She searched his eyes for the answer, but they darkened and a frown crossed his features.

  "Let me hold you." He gathered her against his chest.

  Redlynn curled into his body with her head on his shoulder. She traced circles on his skin as he stroked her hair and kissed her skin. She refused to force him to do something he'd regret, and she wasn't all that sure she wanted to lay with a man she barely knew, but the throbbing inside of her was getting stronger with every moon passing. She prayed that her fever would break by the next day.

  Adrian hummed a haunting tune, and soon she relaxed. What was happening to her? Her body and her mind were at war. Being in Adrian's arms both helped and made things worse. After a long while, she drifted off to sleep.

  Chapter Ten

  The next morning Redlynn tore at her gown to get it off as Adrian sprinted from the room to find Hanna. Fire scorched her skin. A pool of sweat soaked the sheets beneath her. By the time Hanna and Adrian returned, she wore nothing but her short bloomers, covered only in a thin sheet.

  "What's wrong with her?" Adrian's voice held a note of worry.

  "I don't know," Hanna admitted. "She looks fine."

  "I don't feel fine," Redlynn moaned. "Give me something for the heat," she whimpered.

  "I have nothing. We can bathe you in cold water, put a cold compress on your head, but you should know, Red, there's nothing for a fever like this. It must take its course and burn itself out."

  "If it doesn't burn me out first." Her eyes felt like they were melting in their sockets. Her head pounded in her ears.

  "Hanna, get the compresses." Adrian sat next to Redlynn and stroked her cheek. Her body ached for him. His hair lay loosely around his shoulders and his brown eyes were full of concern. He's beautiful in the morning. The throbbing inside of her increased at his touch on her skin. As irrational as it seemed, something told her that the only way to cu
re her was to make love to him.

  "What's wrong with her now?" Blain entered the room.

  "Nothing," Redlynn snapped. "I don't want you here."

  Blain laughed, moving closer. "Now, now, don't be like that golden sister."

  "Blain." Adrian's voice held warning. "She's sick. Step away from her."

  "Is it catching?" Blain looked at Redlynn, amused. He took a deep breath and his brows furrowed.

  "You drugged me. Get out!" Redlynn sat up suddenly. Her anger at his violation was enough to make her want to run him through with her sword.

  Adrian was up on his feet in an instant. "Leave." He clenched his jaw.

  Blain's smile evaporated. "Easy, brother." He sniffed the air again and his eyes lit on Redlynn.

  She blinked several times, trying to focus on his face.

  "What can I do?" Blain asked.

  "Tell the women to collect as much cool water from the spring as possible. She needs to bathe."

  Blain's gaze travelled to Redlynn and back to Adrian. "I'll do it."

  His concern for her seemed genuine, but what he'd done to keep her inside was not something easily forgiven. No matter the reason.

  Blain pressed his forehead to Adrian's. "I'd do anything for you, brother. You know that." The two men embraced in a way Redlynn had never seen men do before. A whine escaped Adrian's chest. Blain whispered something in his ear, then kissed him on the forehead and left.

  "You two are close."

  "He's my oldest friend. We have seen many bad times together." Adrian sat down and gently touched her. "Do you hurt?"

  "My shoulder's better than yesterday. And I've had a fever before, of course, but not like this. I feel like I am burning up from the inside out. And my—"

  "What? What is it?" His eyes searched her face.

  "Nothing," she said quickly. How could she tell him that a need to lie with him grew inside her in a way that was almost all-consuming? Even his touch on her cheek was now painful.

  He watched her for a moment before Hanna returned, followed by Dax, who held a large basin of water. Dax set it on the night table and Hanna brought several towels. She poured a vial that smelled strongly of eucalyptus into the basin, and then dipped in the rag.

  "Keep this on her head."

  "I'm not going anywhere." Adrian smiled at Redlynn and put the cool water on her brow.

  The hours passed slowly, with Adrian sitting at her side and mopping her brow. Occasionally he'd check her, frown, and start mopping again. He ran the towel slowly over her arms and legs, humming again as he went.

  "What are you're humming?" she asked, her throat dry and gravely.

  "It's an ancient tune of love and loss. Of a wish gone wrong and of the price that was paid for arrogance."

  He continued to run the towel over her limbs.

  By mid-afternoon Redlynn couldn't understand why she hadn't turned to ash yet. When Blain stopped by, Adrian sent him to find Hanna.

  "She's worse. We need to bathe her, Lord Adrian," Hanna declared.

  Several other women entered with buckets of water. Hanna covered Redlynn with the bed sheet and Adrian carried her to the tub and stood her on shaky legs.

  "We'll do it," said Hanna.

  Adrian didn't move. His face was full of fear and apprehension.

  Blain grasped Adrian by the arm. "Come on. Let's get you something to eat while she bathes."

  Adrian seemed confused by Blain's words, but allowed himself to be led out of the room.

  When the bathing room door closed, Hanna and the others removed the sheet and under things and helped her into the tub. Redlynn tried to protest the frigid water, but the women forced her in. She cried out as they poured the water over her shoulders.

  "It will help," Hanna crooned. "Phina come, brush her hair to distract her."

  An hour later, Phina and another woman helped Redlynn out of the tub. She shivered and her teeth chattered together. The mind-numbing cold was a stark contrast to the fire that burned her just an hour earlier. Hanna dried her with the towel, and then a new nightgown and longer pantaloons were produced. She felt wrung out and weak.

  The women helped her to the bed and tucked her in. Hanna stood by and made sure she sipped from a cup of water and honey.

  "Jelosa will stay with you, while I go for Lord Adrian," she said.

  Redlynn nodded mutely.

  Hanna touched her forehead and then replaced the cooling rag.

  "Your fever is better. Let us hope it continues to go down." Hanna squeezed Redlynn's hand, and then the group of women left.

  Jelosa busied herself around the room. She took the trays of food that had yet to be cleaned up and moved them into the hall. Then she picked up Redlynn's sword and set it against the wall, along with her bow and quiver. Going to Redlynn's pack she opened it and pulled out the clothes, setting them in a dresser drawer. She wanted to protest, but she didn't have the strength. Jelosa unwrapped the food items and sniffed them. A few pieces she set outside the door, presumably on the trays to be taken away. The other food items she put back inside the pack, along with her herbs. The bedroll she set next to the quiver. Her cloak was pulled from under the table, shook out and then hung on a hook near the fireplace.

  Jelosa stocked more wood on the fire and swept the room. When she finished, she pulled out a chair and sat down.

  "There. That's much better. It's been a while since a female has been in here to clean up."

  Jelosa was plump with brown curly hair, pulled tight into a bun. Something about her voice sounded familiar, but Redlynn was too tired to think of who it reminded her of.

  "I used to hate living out of a pack," Jelosa mused, running her finger over the stitching of Redlynn's leather satchel.

  "I'm used to it."

  "Oh, I was used to it. But I hated it. Here, though... here I have found peace. You can find peace here, too—"

  "Evening, Jelosa." Blain's cool voice floated over from the door.

  Jelosa yipped and got to her feet. "Master Blain." She gave a little curtsy.

  "I can sit with Redlynn."

  "No," Redlynn croaked. She sipped her water.

  Jelosa looked from Blain to Redlynn. "But Hanna—"

  "I'll sit with her."

  Jelosa nodded as Blain's gaze bore into her, hard. Then she curtsied to Redlynn. "It was nice to meet you, Lady Redlynn. I hope to see you up and well soon." She quickly left the room.

  "You, too," Redlynn called after her, unsure of what had transpired between Jelosa and Blain. It sounded like Jelosa had been trying to extend her an invitation to stay in Wolvenglen. "That wasn't very nice of you. And I told you, I don't want you here."

  Blain sighed and sat down in the chair by the table. He tapped on the table with his fingers and shifted his position several times before answering her. "Adrian will be here soon. He had a piece of urgent business to attend to."

  "Is he alright?"

  "He's fine. But he wanted me to let you know that if it weren't so urgent, he'd be here." He glanced at the door, and then out the window.

  Redlynn narrowed her gaze on him. He caught her stare and gave her a tight smile. He glanced at the door again, and then produced a piece of wood and a knife from his pocket, and began to carve at it, shavings falling around him. They didn't speak more, but Redlynn watched him until her lids got heavy. The respite from her fever felt wonderful. Her only concern was Blain being so close. She reached under her pillow and felt the knife still in place. She wrapped her hand around it and closed her eyes.

  ***

  Adrian's mind screamed at him as he raced through the forest. The last thing he wanted was to be out on patrol, but a bloodsucker had been spotted in the woods. If they hadn't cornered it, he wouldn't be out here.

  "Is he still in there?" Adrian asked.

  "He hasn't come out, and there is no other exit," said Christos.

  "I'm on my way."

  "We aren't going anywhere," replied Angus.

  "Let us go in
and talk to him," said Jale.

  "We can make him talk," Juda snarled.

  "No one goes in but me," Adrian roared.

  Adrian wanted to get in, question the vampire, kill him, and get home to Redlynn's side. Despite all of his protestations, he had feelings for her. If anything happened to her while he was gone, he would never forgive himself.

  ***

  When Redlynn awoke sometime later she was on fire again. Blain had pulled up his chair by the bed and slept in it with his feet up on the nightstand . I need to get out of here. I need some air.

  When she was a girl and had a fever, her mother used to take her out into the woods and lay her on a soft bed of cool moss, sing to her, and bathe her in the nearby stream till the fever passed. She wanted nothing more than to lie in the cool stream water and moss-covered ground. Crawling to the edge of the bed, she pulled herself to her feet and headed for the exit. She'd just gotten the door open when Blain was at her side.

  "What are you doing?" he asked in alarm.

  "I need water," she croaked. Her throat felt like she's been eating sand for the last week.

  Blain touched her arm and she jerked away from him. He stopped suddenly and sniffed her. A look of confusion crossed his face. He sniffed her again, moving closer, his pupils wide and dilated. "Crap. You need to return to bed."

  "You're not my mother."

  "I'm going to get you some water and Hanna."

  "I need water."

  "I know. And I'll get it for you." He lifted her and put her on the bed.

  "Let me go."