by Bailey Dark
It's hard to understand what's happening, but I turn and look up at Kane, reaching my hand up and touching his face. As my fingers caress his skin, I pull back, wrinkling my forehead. "Your skin… It's… Cooler. The same temperature as mine."
He smiles at me and nods. "It's not cooler, you're just a bit warmer. But you are right, we're the same temperature now."
I sit up, pressing my fingers to my stomach, finding the large gaping hole to be gone. I feel a surge in my energy. It radiates through me, pulsating in my veins. I suddenly realize what's going on. I feel it in my soul. I gasp slightly and look over at Kane. "I'm… I'm immortal now?"
Kane nods, a sadness in his eyes. "I suppose that is the sacrifice that we made when I brought you here. The Blood Well always takes a payment. I'm sorry."
There is a sadness to losing my human side, but it doesn't make me fearful. Kane used to think that being immortal meant emotionless, callous, cold. But that's not true. In these final days of the battles, Kane has felt things, and done things based on his emotion. They are wrong. The immortals are different, but they are not monsters.
Kane helps me to my feet and wraps his arms around me as I look up at him. A smile moves over my lips, and I put my hands on each side of his face, thankful that I get to see him again. "I love you. I won't wait another day to say it."
Kane smiling is a strange sight to see, but I like it. "I love you too."
Chapter 26
Briar
Things move so quickly in this world, quicker than I noticed before. There's a calmness to me that I didn't have in my human life, one that I now understand looking back on the way that Willem and Kane acted when I first met them. The kingdom without Drogaem is strange, not like it was before he came.
It's been three days since I arose in the Blood Well, and life has already begun to move forward. For those that betrayed Kane and took alliance with Drogaem, they were given a chance to speak on their behalf. Some of them, Kane forgave and allowed them to join his ranks again. Some of them he sent away, forbidden from entering back into the kingdom within the underworld.
The courtiers did not return, and I don't believe that they will. They all know what happened in the hallways with the Shifter and the Vampire, and they all know that Kane is aware that none of them care about him. They are all there for what they can get out of it. It's nice, the halls stay quiet and comfortable.
As for the kingdom, moves are already being made to repair the damage, and attempts to make up for the deaths and despair that Drogaem caused when he and his men attacked. The people under Kane's rule seem confused, watching his more emotional response, staying hand-in-hand with me. But they are definitely appreciative of what Kane is attempting to do.
As for Kane and me, things have never been better. From the moment he carried me from the Blood Well, our souls were forever latched. What's interesting about it, though, is when I dive deep into my powers, meditating on them, I don't see a physical attachment. The physical attachment that he had created the first time to save my life had been destroyed when I died. The devotion that Kane and I have is chosen. We are not magically bound to each other, we are bound by choice.
I walk down the hallway barefooted, my silky black dress cascading around me. I feel no more embarrassment about wearing things more revealing. I don't know if it's my growth or my immortality, but I like it. As I turn the corner, I pause, staring straight ahead at a set of glass doors. A smile moves across my lips, and I hurry forward, pulling the door open. The warm rose-scented air blankets me, and I step down the vine entwined steps into Desona's garden. It's been a long time since I've seen it.
I make my way up to the pool in the center and run my fingers through the cool water. I remember the days I spent here in my frailty, my human entrapment, and I smile. As I stare down in the reflection of the water, I notice something behind me that wasn't there before. I turn quickly and tilt my head, looking at a large tall sculpture. It's me, dressed in my war-torn pants and corset, with my dagger in my hand. I stand triumphant and small flecks of golden light shimmer around the statue. I know that the goddess has put this here for me.
I chuckle and look up at the imagined sky within the confines of the Secret Garden and nod a thanks. Before I can turn, though, my eyes fall on a package, something wrapped in dark green silk and tied with a bright red bow. I pick it up and let the trappings fall away, finding my dagger beneath. The energy surges through me and into the dagger, making the blade shimmer in a rainbow effect. Lying next to it is the sheath I had made. I pick it up and slide the blade inside, wrapping the straps around it. Hopefully, I'll never need it again, but just in case…
As I leave the garden, I look back, knowing that I most likely will not see it for a long time. Desona made it available for me because I needed it as a refuge, but I no longer need that refuge. In days ahead, I will be the Queen, and I will stand next to Kane in a place we create. I am thankful, though, that I've had it all this time.
Exiting the doors of the garden, I find Aiden standing in his armor with his sword at his side. He grins at me mischievously and bows. "Kane has sent me to find you. He requests your presence at dinner."
I lift my eyebrow at Aiden and give him a smirk before walking past him and around the corner. Kane will always be suspicious of his brother, that's the penance for attempting to take his life, but I think that Aidan has learned his lesson. I think Kane has as well.
The excitement of seeing my betrothed pics my pace up, and I hurry to his room. I peek around the corner, but I don't see anyone inside. Quietly I walk across the room, the fire blazing in the fireplace, the lighting low, and the massive long table filled with food. As I stand here, I think about the first time I entered this room, how nervous I was, how much I was hiding.
"It's good of you to join me," Kane says, standing in the shadows.
I glance over at the table and back at him. "Aren't we going to sit and eat?"
He moves so fast I can't even follow him. When he stops, he's just inches from my face. He studies me, his breath cascading across my skin. I no longer feel fear thrumming through my veins, and instead, it's replaced with passion and want.
“Finally, alone.” Kane says, sliding his hand across my waist.
He goes to pull me forward, and I put my hand on his chest. "But the rules…"
Kane's eyes flash, and his lips curl. "Are mine to make… And yours."
The breath leaves my breast, and I feel electricity surging through me. His gaze is hypnotic, and my body quivers as his lips hover just a breath apart from mine. My soul and body ache for him, desperate to finally give in to the pull I so desperately need to feel from him.
I watch as his tongue flickers across his plump lips, and I pull my bottom one in, biting down on it. I feel his other hand on the crest of my back, and I breathe heavier and heavier as he begins to pull my dress up and over my head. My fingers trickle along the edges of his silk shirt, popping each of the buttons open. I press my fingers into his flesh, pushing up and over his chest as his shirt falls to the floor.
Tilting my head to the side, I close my eyes, feeling his lips drag across my flesh. He stops and presses down, running his tongue over my skin. His mouth opens a bit wider, and I feel a prick, a tiny nibble from his fangs. His saliva enters me, immediately surging through my veins, tantalizing every part of my body. My hands came up and grab his shoulders, digging into his flesh. My arousal is heightened, and I don't want to be the little girl anymore.
I look up into Kane's eyes and jolt forward, pressing my lips hard against his. He slips his tongue within my mouth, sliding it gently across mine and over my lips. Our bodies press heavily together, and I grind my hips, feeling the bulge trapped in his pants, throbbing for me, wanting me.
With one swift movement, Kane picks me up and carries me over to the bed, laying me gently down. He unties his pants and lets them fall to the ground before climbing on top of me. Our lips are together once again, and there is no more soft to
uch. He raises up and looks me in the eye, his stare dark and shadowy. The passion runs through both of us as his fingers dig into the sides of my thighs, pulling my legs up and around him.
There's a pause, and then he enters me. My mouth falls open, and my head tilts back, pressing my chest up into him. It feels so perfect, so right. It's more than I have ever imagined. The way his hips move against me, the way he rolls into my mound, creating a passion and pleasure that is beyond my comprehension. He breathes heavily against my mouth, his eyes staying latched to mine. I grip tightly to his shoulders and push, turning him over onto his back. He takes me with him, and I sit up tall, rolling my body on his, feeling his thickness and depth within me.
I lick my lips, the friction between us growing heated and heavier. His hands roam up the front of me and grip my breasts, a growl filtering from his chest. The ecstasy within the grind and bounce, filling higher and higher. There's a need, and it takes me over. I open my eyes, and I grip down on his chest, grinding my hips faster and faster. Moans escape my lips as I reach the pinnacle of my pleasure. Just as I'm about to explode, Kane grips my waist and flips me on my back, pushing my legs down as he pumps faster inside of me.
The delay in my explosion only makes the feeling stronger as it builds back up quickly. Kane falls forward, putting his hands on each side of my head, his hands gripping the sheets and his nose touching mine. As my body sparks, he dives deep inside of me and grips on to my sides, feeling me explode around him. The pleasure rockets through me, mixing with my powers and expelling a light all around us. As I pulsate against his long shaft, he growls, pushing his mouth to mine as he releases, his pleasure intertwining with mine.
It's as if we lift off, just the two of us in our own space, drifting through a whirlwind of exploding pleasure. Our souls beat as one and our lives set course together. As we gently descend back into reality, Kane wraps me in his arms and kisses me gently. My body shakes from the pleasure, and I hold myself against him, never having felt more protected or safer in my life.
"I love you."
Kane looks at me, his eyes now soften a bit, and he leans forward, nudging my nose with his. "For all of time."
I lean forward, pressing my forehead to his. "Even longer than that."
Thank You!
Thank you so much for coming on this journey with Briar, Kane and myself.
I do hope you loved the end of their chapter . . . for now.
I have more exciting tales coming your way and I can’t wait to share them with you guys. If you need to start a new series, keep reading for a free preview of my new Moon Cursed Series!
You guys are the most amazing fans anyone could ask for!
xoxo
Bailey
About the Author
Bailey Dark is obsessed with all things dark, hot, and supernatural. From Fae to Aliens, her heroes are thoroughly alpha and pure raw masculinity. When she’s not writing (which is hardly ever) she’s busy watching every movie in the marvel universe, or binging supernatural on her couch. So come along, and enter her dark world. . . .
https://www.baileydarkromance.com/
FREE Preview - Her Shifter King
Chapter One
Annalice
I could hear them long before I saw the faceless shadows creeping across the ground.
Their nails scraped against the brick walls, causing a horrific screech to ring loudly in my sensitive ears. Rain poured down from an obsidian sky that was streaked with grey storm clouds.
Droplets moved over the shrouded figures like water gently cascading over smooth rocks along a riverbank. Steam coiled from between my lips. My eyes darted back and forth as I tried to find a weapon. But weapons were useless against these creatures, for they were not from this world. They were much older than the dawn of man.
I had no choice but to run.
Water splashed up from the ground as my boots pounded against the concrete. The muscles in my legs burned. A gust of hot breath caressed the back of my neck and I tore down the alley. I knew I had to keep them away from the people that wandered aimlessly through the city.
Boney, taloned fingers wrapped around my ankle and jerked me back. I hit the ground with a wet thud and a pained groan exploded from my chest. My hands shoved against the creature’s gaping mouth as it hissed. A thick rope of rancid saliva dripped just inches from my face.
I rammed my elbow into its side and knocked it off of me, scrambling back on my hands until I was able to run again.
In truth, I had been running for a long time. My life had been perfect ten years ago. Back then I was simply, Anna. Anna Olson of Greensborough, South Dakota.
I graduated high school early and was on a full paid scholarship to any university I wanted, with Yale and Harvard scouting me for entrance exams.
But all of that changed in an instant.
I remember that day. I had barely lifted my arms to hang my diploma on the wall, when the door burst open. Splinters of wood came flying towards my face and three hulking shadows appeared in the entrance of my foster home. All of my foster siblings and the kind man that had taken care of us, had been torn to pieces as they tried to flee. The last thing I heard before the world went dark was a serpent-like voice uttering, “Annalice.”
I awakened in a pool of scarlet liquid with police officers standing over me.
They asked an endless stream of questions that I didn’t have answers to. It took months to convince a judge that I hadn’t killed my family, that I wasn’t some troubled soul that wormed my way into their hearts only to destroy the only home I had ever known.
Harvard and Yale stopped calling.
Everyone stopped calling.
I had no friends and no life anymore.
I couldn’t tell a room full of badges that shadow creatures had ripped through my foster family, so I told them a man had broken in to hurt us. In the end, they came to the conclusion that I was an orphan with a clean record and a bright future, not a murderer.
Moving to a new state and a new city had been a big change, but I felt safe for a while.
And yet here I was, again, still running for my life.
I took a sharp turn and ducked beneath a partially opened garage door of what appeared to be a loading dock of some sort. The building was abandoned, but the soda cans and old pizza boxes meant this was somewhere young kids came to hang out and probably skateboard. I heard the creatures scratching at the opening I came through and darted in search of an exit.
They found a way inside and I shoved my shoulder against an old door until it opened. A curtain of rain soaked me through the bone and blanketed the city as lightning streaked across the sky.
My boots slipped on the iron grating of the fire escape. I grabbed onto the ladder. It was stuck, unable to slide down the rails, so I jumped. A sharp pain shot up my leg as my ankle twisted on the landing.
I limped towards the end of the alley and tried to put some distance between myself and the creatures that hunted me. But a low growl echoed just a few feet in front of me as I came around the corner. Sleek black fur caught me by surprise. Glowing amber eyes watched me from the darkness.
A wolf.
Not just a typical wolf, though. This one was big. Huge, even. I felt the strength in my knees begin to give as I shrank back in fear.
The shadow creatures were close. I had been running from them long enough to know when they were near, but this...beast...seemed far deadlier. Something inside of me churned at the sight of him and a sweet fragrance permeated the air. The wolf sprang towards me, and I braced myself for the pain of its fangs. Instead, it avoided me and sunk its teeth into the shrouded figures that lingered just over my shoulder.
A deafening roar pierced the night, mingling with the horrific shrieks of my pursuers, and I pressed myself against the far wall.
Claws slashed and jaws snapped until the creatures faded away as if they had never existed. I looked on as the wolf began to tremble, a cerulean light engulfing its body. Bones cr
acked and popped, reforming before my eyes.
If my life had been any different, I would have been shocked into feinting at the sight of a wolf becoming a man. But the things I’d seen over the last ten years had numbed me to the unknown or unfamiliar.
Don’t get me wrong—I was terrified—but I remained coherent and upright. And I couldn’t take my eyes away from the transformation happening before me.
The sleek black fur disintegrated, revealing smooth sun-kissed skin that stretched taut over sculpted muscle. I watched the expansion and contraction of his torso as he breathed raggedly.
Now, there was no wolf. Only a man.
A very nude, very muscular, very attractive man.
Long, silken strands of ebony locks clung to his rain-slick skin. He turned to face me and I felt as though the air had been punched out of my lungs. The weight of his amber gaze kept me anchored in the midst of the storm that raged around us.
He spoke to me in a language I didn’t recognize, confusion evident in his expression. He tried a second time, but I just shook my head, hoping that ‘no’ was the same in every language.
“You do not speak the tongue of your people?” he growled in English.
I ignored his question, too consumed by what I’d just witnessed, “You’re . . . you were a wolf.”
He nodded, his brows drawn together in confusion.
“Like, a real wolf.” I repeated.
“A Shifter, yes. You’ve . . . you’ve never seen one of us before?” His voice was both cautious and uncertain, and for some reason, that alarmed me even more.
“You’re naked.”
The words flew from my lips before I could stop them and an unexpected grin raised the side of his handsome face.