by K. L. Bone
The second woman eyed the bride with a smile that did not reach her eyes. “We’re going to let the others inside now,” the witch stated. “I wish you pleasure in fulfilling your requirements tonight.” She then turned to the door with a soft chuckle.
Embarrassment colored her cheeks as the doors opened, permitting multiple members of both families to enter the chamber. The stranger who was now her husband entered last, garbed in only a thin nightshirt under a thick green robe.
As others, including her father and new in-laws, spread throughout the room, Caleb walked toward Julia, his eyes taking time to wander over her with enough scrutiny to deepen her blush. She stood to meet him.
When he reached her, he grasped her wrist before raising the back of her palm to his lips, placing a gentle kiss before moving his hand to caress her cheek. Fingers pressing lightly across her face, Caleb ran a thumb over her painted lips, disrupting the creamy color as his digit transformed to crimson. He moved a hand lower, touching her arms before moving inward to her sides, exploring. She stood still, permitting the undesired caress, but flinched when his hands reached the swell of her breasts.
Ignoring her reaction, Caleb pulled open her robe, and ran his fingers along the underside of her pillowy flesh before his fingers sought her hidden nipples. Pressing down his thumb, he stained her thin gown, the red paint from her lips smearing her shift, marking the point where he had tweaked her nipples.
With a smirk, Caleb pushed the green outer robe from her shoulders before motioning toward the bed. “In you go, little one,” he spoke for the first time since he had entered the room. “On your stomach.”
Head swimming from a combination of fear, and whatever had been laced within the vile concoction, Julia complied, climbing on the bed to slip beneath one of the coverlets. Towering over her, Caleb reached for the ribbons that tied the curtains surrounding the canopy bed and closed them. The thin fabric afforded only the illusion of privacy, the material sheer enough to heighten, rather than mask, the activities within.
A man Julia did not recognize handed Caleb a vial of something she could not see, before he joined her on the bed. Seemingly uninterested in foreplay or romance, Caleb settled himself near the foot-rail. “On your hands and knees, please.”
With little care or patience, her shift was tossed over her back, exposing her lower body to Caleb’s gaze. Taking the vial, her new husband popped the lid, pouring a generous amount of oily liquid onto his hands before lifting his own gown enough to apply it to his thickening cock. Pumping his hand several times, he closed his eyes as he sought enough stimulation to take her.
Once fully erect, Caleb forced a now oily digit inside her dry passage. Grunting in approval at her tight confines, Caleb spread the slick substance, twisting his finger to ensure lubrication as she muffled a pained moan.
Grasping her hips, Caleb aligned himself with her entrance before leaning down to whisper, “I am aware I will not be the first to thrust a sword into this tight sheath. However, rest assured, wife, I shall be the last.”
With that, he thrust forward, stuffing as much of himself into Julia as he could on the initial push, drawing a sharp yelp of pain from her lips.
He ignored her cry, taking delight in the way her nearly virginal passage clenched involuntary around his thick shaft. Once fully embedded, he required only a few rough thrusts to find his pleasure, spilling his seed inside his unwilling bride.
Act complete, Caleb leaned over her, licking the side of her face to drink her salty, blood-stained tears. “Very nice,” he cooed. “And to think, tomorrow you will fully be mine.”
A part of her wondered what he meant. However, she was unable to fully process anything as he finally withdrew from her sore body.
Drawing back the curtain, he stepped out, grabbing his discarded robe to a round of congratulations.
“Delightful, as promised,” Celeb spoke to Lord Skye. “I’m certain she shall make me quite happy.”
“And provide both our families with many heirs,” her father added.
“Of course,” Caleb assured. “Shall we adjourn for a nightcap?”
“Be delighted,” Lord Skye answered as the room cleared. “I’ll be right there.”
With laughter and bawdy comments, the room emptied with the exception of Skye, and a circle of his knights, as Julia remained hidden behind the curtain, face buried in the covers.
Turning to the men, Skye kept his voice low, so Julia would not hear. “Now, my little selkie,” he addressed Rónán’s trussed up, gagged form, “do we have a clear understanding to whom my daughter belongs?”
Enraged, Rónán met the vampire’s gaze with fury.
Instead of being concerned, the vampire lord laughed. “The show tonight was your fault. Had Black found her virginal, he would have been far more gentle. But alas, what’s done is done. The only question remaining is are you willing to do as I have asked, and break her heart as instructed?”
“Never,” was muffled by the gag, but combined with Rónán’s anger, could be mistaken for little else.
“Fine,” Skye stated, “you leave me no choice.”
Nodding toward the door, the closest knight rushed to open it, allowing Gavina and Lady Glamis to re-enter.
“I’ve an appointment with some O-positive,” the lord stated. “Hold him here, but out of sight,” Skye nodded at Gavin, “in case he’d required to ensure her compliance, but see to it he is not released until the women are finished. He can have one last day with her, but tomorrow’s night, return him to his cell.”
“Yes, my lord,” one of the knights stated, bowing his head in acknowledgment.
Chapter VIII
AD 40
Isle of Skye, Scotland
“My lady,” Gavina attempted to rouse Julia from the bed. Having collapsed under Caleb’s weight, Julia had remained perfectly still after his departure, lying on her stomach, face buried in the pillows in numbed agony.
“My lady, here.” Gavina assisted her to a seated position. “Take this, please.”
Something cold pressed against Julia’s palm, and she was startled to realize the woman held another goblet. “To help you sleep.”
“No.”
“Please, my lady. You’ve been through a trying night.”
“Which is why I have no doubt I will sleep soundly, without aide. The last tonic made me dizzy. I still am. I don’t require anything else, Gavina.”
“Again, Lady Julia, I’m afraid there is no choice.”
“Why?” she asked, senses sharpening as her fear of the tonic combined with Caleb’s parting promise. Tomorrow you will be fully mine.
“This is pointless, my lady. You will take it, as you did the previous drink. Be a good girl and do not make us force this upon you.”
Standing, unsteady from a sharp pain between her legs, Julia moved toward the door, but paused at the assembled guard. She scanned the room for another avenue of escape, but found none. Desperate and with no options, she dashed past the women closer to the knights.
Neither woman moved to stop her.
“Step aside,” she commanded the gathered guardsmen.
“I’m sorry, my lady. Your father has ordered us not to allow you from these chambers until Lady Gavina grants permission.”
“I want to see my father,” she pleaded to a knight she knew well. “Please, Lucas.”
Lucas’ resolved wavered. The fear in Julia’s voice, combined with the cruelty shown to her on this night, made his heart ache for her. He looked past Julia to a senior knight, who shook his head to the negative. “I’m sorry, my lady.”
Heart sinking, Julia turned incrementally back toward Gavina. “Allow me to speak to my father.”
“He won’t change his mind, Julia. Now, will you please submit? Fighting the inevitable only prolongs your suffering.”
Julia glanced between the two women and stated her suspicions, “What you’re holding is not a simple sleeping tonic, is it? A witch of the Bargarran Coven woul
d not be required for that.”
“The truth of the tonic won’t make this any easier, Julia.”
“Tell me anyway.”
“‘Tis an ancient ability from our coven,” the witch stated, “one which opens your heart to your new husband.”
“A love potion?”
“You are Lord Black’s wife. Nothing can change this. This tonic shall ease your suffering, until your heart is able to naturally follow.” Gavina stepped closer, grasping her arm in an attempt to coax the younger woman forward.
Julia allowed herself to be escorted toward the waiting witch a few paces, then pulled back. As she did, Lucas’ hand clasped her shoulder, not painful, but preventing her retreat.
She struggled, desperate to twist from Lucas’ grasp, but was unable. When they reached the waiting women, Lucas adjusted his grip to better immobilize her, pressing Julia’s arms to her sides while using his own arms to securely hold hers. Leaning his lips to her ear, Lucas whispered, “I’m sorry, Lady Julia. Please don’t make this more difficult than it must be.”
“It’s poison,” she pleaded with the knight. “Don’t let them.”
“Your reaction, my lady, is why this must be done,” Gavina answered in the knight’s stead. “The tonic will take away the fear, Julia.”
“You’re turning me into a slave, and I won’t even be aware of my enslavement.”
“This is a chance at happiness with the one to whom you are bound.”
“I’ll do everything Father and Black require. Did I not prove that tonight? Please, Gavina, allow this to be my choice.”
The elder woman sighed, exchanging a glance with the witch.
“Prolonging this won’t help her,” Lady Jane spoke matter-of-factly.
Gavina nodded, moving toward Julia as the witch chanted in a language Julia had never before heard.
When Gavina reached for her, Julia let out a piercing shriek, yanking hard against Lucas’ hold. His hand slipped on her left harm, but not enough to allow her escape. Digging his fingers deeper into her flesh, he secured his hold as another man stepped forward to assist.
“To her knees,” Gavina instructed.
“No!”
Julia’s plea caused Lucas to hesitate and he glanced at the elder woman. “Give me time to calm her. I believe—”
“These are orders, knight,” the witch reminded, “from your liege lord.”
Unable to hide his displeasure at being a part of condemning the sweet girl, Lucas nevertheless obeyed and, with assistance, forced Julia to her knees. The goblet was held toward her tightly closed lips.
At her refusal, the handmaid reached a hand around Julia’s head. Digging fingers into the cascading locks of Julia’s hair, Gavina grabbed a fistful of the golden strands and yanked hard.
Head tilted back, Julia struggled to keep her lips closed, jerking her head left and right as much as the brutal hold would allow. With her lips turned away, she let out another high-pitched shriek. “No!” she insisted through gritted teeth.
Impatient with her continued protests, Gavina walked toward the captain who, after a brief exchange, stepped out into the hall and returned shortly with Rónán.
Heavily shackled, fear clutched him as he viewed his love’s restrained kneeling position. “Stop this!” his plea echoed Julia’s. “For the love of the gods, she’s been through enough!”
“Rónán!” Julia called, turning toward his voice.
Gavina used the distraction of her beloved’s plea to reassert control. Yanking hard on Julia’s gathered locks, the younger woman gave an involuntary shriek, which allowed Gavina to pour the goblet’s vile contents between her lips.
Jerking in an attempt to expel the bitter toxin, a hand was pressed over her mouth while another ran along her throat, coaxing her to swallow. She struggled, the concoction’s taste growing steadily worse. In the distance, Rónán shouted, but his voice was faint, barely a whisper against the witch’s ceaseless incantation in a language Julia did not recognize.
At Gavina’s instruction, Lucas turned Julia enough to see where Rónán stood captive between several guardsmen.
“Look at him, Julia,” the woman commanded. “You will swallow this tonic, or I will have it given to your lover as well. Then you can both pay the price for your childish resistance.”
“No,” Rónán begged. “Let her go!”
The foul taste saturated the back of her throat as Julia met her love’s eyes.
“Now, Julia,” Gavina increased the pressure on her throat. “Or I will put him in your place.”
Tired, numb, and overcome, Julia lost her battle, swallowing the tonic, heart aching at the knowledge she had sealed an unforeseen fate.
Gavina stepped back, allowing the witch to step forward. Pressing a hand to the top of Julia’s head, the woman wet her fingers in Julia’s blood-tinged tears, drawing a design upon Julia’s forehead with the salty liquid.
A cold smile lifted the corner of the witch’s lips as she switched from her chanting back to a language all could comprehend. “Don’t worry, child, in a few hours, all shall be well.” The witch extended a hand to further caress her face, but this time Julia was pulled back by Lucas.
“She took your damned tonic,” the knight spoke, voice brittle with anger at the transgression he had been forced to commit against his young charge. “Be gone.”
Surprised, the woman pulled back with an unexpected chuckle, but obligingly moved toward the door, Gavina joining her departure.
In Lucas’ arms, Julia shook uncontrollably, violent tremors running up and down her spine in erratic spasms.
Noting Rónán’s outraged expression, Lucas called, “Let the anger go, Rónán. Julia needs you.” Addressing the men he said, “Unchain him. The women have completed their task.”
Once free, Rónán immediately reached his love’s side, where he pulled Julia from Lucas’ arms into his own. She collapsed at his touch, and he guided her to the plush rug, sobs echoing along stone walls as she pushed herself against Rónán’s chest.
On her opposite side, Lucas knelt. “Julia,” the knight began, placing a hand on her shoulder.
She shrieked at the contact.
“Get the fuck away from her!” Rónán exclaimed, forcefully pushing Lucas back with one arm while he held Julia with the other.
“I’m sorry,” Lucas’ voice conveyed his agonized sincerity. “I am…”
“Get out!”
As Julia’s sobs continued, the knight’s gaze fell to the floor in defeat.
Noting his shamed expression, Rónán softened his tone. “I’m aware you had no choice, but you held her down for them, Lucas. I can’t calm her with you here.”
Lucas nodded, heavy footsteps matching the weight in his heart as he left the room. The other men followed, leaving the two kneeling figures alone in the vast chamber.
“I’m sorry,” she whispered repetitively between ragged breaths. “I didn’t want to.”
“Shh,” he shushed her, heart breaking as her tears soaked his shirt. “This isn’t your fault, Julia. I promise.”
“I couldn’t stop them. I did what they wanted. I’m so sorry. My father, he…he implied he would have you harmed if I had refused. I’m sorry.”
“Don’t say any more. You don’t have to say another word. I was there,” he whispered the last. “Your father made me watch.” Rónán pulled her closer, hoping the steady beat of his heart would provide the comfort she desperately craved.
As she leaned against his chest, her ears again pounded with the unfamiliar rhythm. “What’s happening to me?”
“You’re okay.”
“No.” She shook her head, attempting to explain. “A thumping, in my head—over and over. I keep hearing it, but it’s as if none other can.” She pulled away from him. “Leave me.”
“I’m not going anywhere, Julia.”
“You have to. How can you stand to hold me after—”
“I love you,” he assured. “I told you I would love
you, no matter what may come.”
With that promise, Rónán gathered Julia to him, carrying her not to the bed, where she had been forced to submit, but to a nearby chair, allowing her to curl into his arms. Tracing a finger along the side of her face, he kissed her, a slow, languishing caress that silenced her tears.
Taking her hand, he gently pressed her palm to his chest. “What do you feel?”
“Your heart.”
He nodded, then took her other hand and pushed it against her own chest. “And now?”
Concentrating, she flattened her palm, realization dawning as her lips parted in wonder. “How?” She shook her head. “Pure-blood’s hearts never beat. We’re born dead.”
“You’re alive now.”
“But that wasn’t the tonic. I heard the thumping before they gave it to me. Ever since we…” Her eyes widened, her mother’s old stories rising from the past.
“For every vampire, there is one destined mate.”
“But how do you know who it is, Mama?”
Her mother had smiled sweetly. “You will know he is found when your pure heart finds life anew.”
Rónán’s touch drew Julia from memory.
“Father was right. You were destined for me. You’re my mate, my ordained love. You’re…”
He reached out and cupped the back of her head as he drew her close for another kiss, reaffirming his promise protect her immortal heart, which beat for him alone.
Chapter IX
AD 40
Isle of Skye, Scotland
Renewed moonlight arrived too soon. Julia opened her eyes, startled to find herself enfolded not in the arms of the man she loved, but in those of a stranger.
In a blind panic, she scrambled to her feet, yanking herself away.
“Julia?” the stranger asked, opening his sea blue eyes.
“Where am I?”
Understanding her confusion, the man replied, “This is the bridal suite, remember? We never returned to your room last night.”
“Why were you holding to me?”
The man tilted his head. “What do you mean?”