Dark Song

by Christine Feehan

  Ferro waved his hand, covering the ground with a soft, furred mat, and sank down, drawing her with him. She faced him, closing her eyes, concentrating. He felt her moving in his mind, finding the small Western Screech Owl. The owls mated for life and almost always used tree cavities to nest in. During courtship, the male called to the female with a song, and when a lady accepted him, they sang back and forth in a duet, getting closer and closer until they found each other. Throughout the various seasons of the years, the male continued to sing to his chosen lady, as he intended to sing to Elisabeta.

  The Western Screech Owl was particularly fierce when it came to protecting its nest and young, as he was certain his Elisabeta would be in spite of the fact that she thought herself timid. He didn’t want her fighting vampires at his side. He would definitely forbid such a thing, but he wouldn’t want her to be so terrified that the creatures could easily kill her and their children should he be away. Knowing her, he doubted if that would be the case. She was beginning to see her power, and although her voice might bring peace, he knew he could teach her to use it as a weapon.

  “Look at the facial disk. Note every feather. The colors. Pale brownish gray. The lines are subtly dappled and darker in waves. The rim is very dark, not protruding much, with pale speckles along the edge. Because the eyebrows are slightly paler than the surrounding plumage, they do not show as well, but you cannot forget they are there. Take a good look at the eyes, Elisabeta. They are round, wide, bright yellow. You will be amazed at what they can see. The smallest rodent on the forest floor.”

  She wrinkled her nose. “You are not going to make this so real that I am going to have to eat a mouse, are you?” There was a hint of laughter in her voice.

  In spite of the fact that he was feeling a little anxiety over her first time at attempting to shift—it could be dangerous—he shared the moment of happiness with her. She’d had so few, and they were both learning.

  “You will have to learn to hunt, but fortunately, it isn’t unusual for owls to miss prey, so that looks natural.”

  “That’s a relief.”

  There was such vehemence in her voice, he found actual laughter rumbling in his chest. She joined him before they both sobered, and he went over the details of the Western Screech Owl with her several times, just to make certain she had all the features stored in her mind.

  12

  I’ll be the bright star, in the dark hour of night;

  When you’re feeling lost, I will be your light.

  Ferro was the most exacting taskmaster in the world. Elisabeta had successfully shifted into the female owl dozens of times, spread her wings, hopped around and shifted back without one mistake, only to be told to do it again.

  Is there a part where the owl actually uses her wings? She never would have dared to ask him had she been in human form. The little owl hopped more and more into the open, stretching her wings, getting used to the new shape, the feel and size of the bird.

  The male owl called to her with his song. He sounded mellow and calm, just the way Ferro always sounded. Elisabeta felt the female owl’s immediate response, the pull toward the male. She wasn’t in the least annoyed with the male. She wanted to be with him. She hopped closer, singing back to him.

  He spread his wings and took to the air, not high, just flying in a low circle along the ground, calling to the female to follow him. The female hopped several times, wings spread wide. Nothing happened.

  Let her fly, Elisabeta. Be the owl. Let her fly.

  Elisabeta turned what her lifemate said over and over in her mind. She was making the actual act of shifting and flying far too complicated. Ferro was telling her that in the form of the Western Screech Owl, she was the owl. She became the owl, and she had to be that female with all the instincts of the bird. She had to let go of Elisabeta just as she did when she entered another Carpathian who was in need in order to heal them.

  The male owl sang to her again. She loved that he called the female with song, just the way Ferro called to her every rising. Her lifemate had chosen well for her first shifting. She identified with her owl. The song resonated with her. She let it carry her closer to the male. The female fluttered her wings and sang back, calling out to her mate. She spread her wings and lifted into the air.

  Triumph nearly had her tumbling to the ground, but she steadied herself and followed the male in a low, sweeping, very tight circle in the clearing, right next to the tree line. The owl flew in absolute silence, the wingbeats soft, steady and rapid. The strokes were fast at five beats per second. The wind ruffled the feathers, adding to the feeling of absolute freedom.

  Are you good? Do you want to go higher?

  Elisabeta had been concentrating on how it felt to fly. She let herself look at the world through the eyes of the owl. Her hearing was excellent, so much so that she heard the cry of a mouse at least half a mile away. But it was her vision that shocked her. Turning her head, she could see everything in the owl’s world so clearly. She expected to feel sick and disoriented, but she was the owl, that beautiful little female flying for the first time in a whole new world, experiencing true freedom.

  I am good. So good, Ferro, thank you for this.

  We are going to go just a few feet higher, circle once and go back down.

  His voice was very firm and held a hint of command she dared not disobey. She didn’t mind in the least. She knew he was determined that nothing go wrong this first time, and he wanted to assess her to make certain she was fine. She was. She knew she was and she would continue to be. She hoped he would allow her to practice more, but if he thought she was going too fast, she would be disappointed, but she would accept his decision.

  The male rose higher into the air, and she followed, rising several more feet off the ground so they were a good fifteen feet up. She took in the blades of grass, the beetles and cicadas, a small frog that sat on a rock a few feet from one of the trees. She was beginning to distinguish creatures now, prey the female owl would hunt. All too soon they had completed the circle and returned to the starting point. The male glided easily to the ground. Her landing wasn’t quite as smooth, but she managed not to tip over and fall on her beak.

  Shift back to your form, Elisabeta. That was definitely a command.

  She obeyed without thinking. She hadn’t been wearing clothes so she didn’t have to worry about what she needed to put on, she simply took her normal form, fitting back into her own body easily.

  Ferro caught her to him, hugging her tight. “You shifted and flew for the first time, Elisabeta. You did amazing.” He sounded as happy as she felt. “I’m so proud of you.”

  He caught her chin between his thumb and finger to tip her head up to his as he brought his down so he could kiss her. Once his lips touched hers, it felt as though he’d lit a match and she’d caught fire. Flames licked over her skin, poured down her throat to rush through her veins, spread to her breasts and gather low. The burn deep inside her was hot, wild and out of control that fast.

  She ran her palms up his chest and dared to link her fingers behind his neck so she could lean fully into him. Suddenly, she wanted his mouth between her legs where she was hot and damp and that burn was so terrible it bordered on brutal. She felt the slickness growing as she kissed Ferro back, giving him everything she was, promising him whatever he wanted with just her mouth, with her body, the aching in her breasts and the tight, hard nipples pressing into the hard, defined muscles of his chest.

  He lifted his head, his eyes that beautiful silvery-blue she loved so much, his hand sweeping down her back to shape her buttocks, possession in the way he touched her. His gaze drifted over her face for some time as if waiting. His expression didn’t change. He looked at her as if she were the most wonderful, beautiful woman in the world and he adored her. One hand cupped the side of her face, the pad of his thumb sliding over her lower lip.

  “Are you tired? D
o you think you can try again? This time in the forest? It is different there. In the trees you have to maneuver through the limbs.”

  It was all Elisabeta could do not to pull his thumb into her mouth or slide one hand down his belly to caress his very hard cock as it lay against her body, thick and hot. She wanted to fly, but she wanted to be with him intimately. He hadn’t taken his thumb from her lower lip but continued to brush little caresses back and forth, mesmerizing her.

  Ferro had told her to ask for what she wanted or needed. The burning inside her increased with every stroke of his thumb. She opened her mouth and drew his thumb deep. His cock jerked against her stomach. Immediately she brought her hand under his heavy sac to cup the weight and fondle the velvet balls with her fingers.

  I am not in the least tired, päläfertiilam, she said softly, her mind to his. An invitation. She drew his thumb deep, sucked hard, curled her tongue around the heavy digit. I do want to continue the lesson, but there is a much more burning need you must attend to.

  What would that be, sívamet?

  Elisabeta had known all along what he had been waiting for. His eyes were more silvery than blue now, almost liquid silver, burning into hers, robbing her of her ability to breathe. The need between her legs had grown until she felt wild with it, unable to keep still, her hips rocking subtly, thighs rubbing together in an effort to alleviate the near-brutal ache.

  I need your mouth between my legs, Ferro. Please. I burn and need you to make it better. I can barely think and it grows worse with each passing moment.

  Ferro’s eyes grew warm. Then hot. Her stomach fluttered. Then her sex. Very gently he removed his thumb and waved his hand toward the ground to cover it with a soft mat. There was a large rise that went across the mat.

  “We will try something different this time. Just a little different, to see if you like it. Lie on your stomach with your hips over the mound.”

  Elisabeta immediately went to the mat, positioning herself as he had requested. She found that when her hips were over the mound, her buttocks were pushed high.

  “Spread your legs very wide for me.”

  Her heart beat wildly. He stood behind her where she couldn’t see him, but she could tell by his voice exactly where he was. From his position, he would be able to see how slick she was, that she was telling him the truth about her very urgent needs. She obeyed him, eagerly, opening her legs wide. At once the cool night air slid over her hot entrance, adding to the stimulation.

  “You’re so beautiful, Elisabeta.”

  He was much closer. On the mat with her. He’d moved so silently she hadn’t heard him. His hand went to the nape of her neck, making her jump. Very gently he ran his palm down her spine to the curve of her buttocks. She felt his breath at her entrance and her entire body shook. Then something sharp, like the tiny points of needles, rolled lightly along the inside of her thigh, bringing every nerve ending leaping to the surface. She started to turn her head to see what he was doing.

  “Stay facing forward. Take a breath and relax your body. Turn yourself over to me.”

  That was a direct command. Elisabeta did exactly what he said. Already his fingers brushed over her hungry clit. Her wet lips and slick entrance. Just little touches. His breath, so warm. His hand massaging her left cheek. The feeling of the rolling pinpricks just a little harder over the left cheek and then his hand came down in a gentle swat that sent every nerve ending spiraling out of control. His hand was back, rubbing and massaging, spreading heat, his tongue lapping at her entrance as she spilled hot liquid into his mouth, crying out, hips bucking so that he had to hold her down.

  He lifted his head. “Hold still for me, Elisabeta.”

  “It is very difficult.” She tried to lie quietly, afraid he would stop.

  “Your body tells me you like what I am doing.”

  “Yes, it feels shocking, but so good I can barely keep still. I will try, Ferro. I promise.”

  He went back to rubbing her cheeks, his shoulders wedged between her legs. “You are being very good for me. I love to see you like this. Dripping for me. Needy. Hungry for my body. For what I can give to you. I love to make you feel good, just as I know you enjoy making me feel good.”

  She closed her eyes, gasping as his mouth closed over her, tongue stabbing deep, curling inside her, drawing out hot liquid and then retreating to circle her clit. Blood pounded. Hammered. She was acutely aware of sharp little needles rolling gently over her wet lips and then her clit, making her cry out and buck her hips. His mouth covered her clit, sucked strongly, his tongue flicking, and then his finger penetrated so that her sheath closed around it, dragging at him, desperate to have him inside her.

  “Ferro.” She breathed his name.

  “This is where I belong, piŋe sarnanak, right here, deep inside your body. Right now I am craving the taste of you, so hungry. As much as I want to show you all the different ways I can draw out your pleasure, I need to devour you.”

  Ferro held her body and simply turned her over, catching her bottom in his hands so that her legs went over his shoulders. He lifted her soaked entrance to his mouth and proceeded to eat her as if she were the finest meal he’d ever had and he was starving.

  She couldn’t stop the cries escaping. It seemed impossible to drag enough air into her lungs. The assault on her senses was massive, coming from every direction, until her entire body was in a full-blown raging firestorm. She writhed under his relentless mouth, his tongue and teeth, the flick of his fingers and the brush of his thumb. Flames licked at her body, roared through her mind. It was beautiful and savage, merciless and perfect.

  His palm went to her belly, fingers splayed wide to press deep, holding her in place while his mouth ravaged her. Deep inside, the coiling wound tighter and tighter until she thought she might die if the spring didn’t release. He didn’t let up, devouring her more. The growling, hungry sounds he made were sexy, adding to the sensual experience, feeding her own urgent need of him. The desperation for him was growing in her. She wasn’t certain what “more” she wanted of him, but she wanted a great deal more.

  The burning inside her grew hotter. His mouth was an instrument of the most exquisite torture. She didn’t know if she could stand much more. She whispered his name, her hands finding his shoulders, digging her fingernails deep to anchor herself in the real world when she felt she might be in danger of flying apart, flying too high. It felt too good and she was afraid of losing herself. Of losing him. Of this. Things could be too perfect. She hadn’t had good or perfect.

  Let go, sívamet. Let yourself fly. That is what this rising is all about. We are flying in all sorts of wonderful ways. Relax and I will catch you.

  She was learning that Ferro’s word was golden. He would catch her. He would be there for her. Her rock. Her sword. Her shield. Whatever she needed him to be. The inferno burned wild and she had no choice, it was either have complete belief in him or go insane. She let go and let the firestorm take her. The blaze raced through her, out of control, sweeping through her body, an ever-widening conflagration that shook her to her core.

  She felt as if she spiraled completely out of control, ripples building into wild waves of pleasure, taking hold of her body, burning through to leave her in ashes only to start all over again. She was dimly aware of Ferro lifting his head, wiping his face on her thighs and then pulling her shivering body into his arms, holding her until she calmed.

  She buried her face in his neck, stunned that she could feel so wonderful and yet so completely out of control. Little aftershocks rocked her, over and over, until gradually her body quieted, leaving her feeling somewhat sated and yet still feeling as if she might be missing out on something big.

  She lifted her head to look at him. “Thank you, Ferro.”

  “I am very proud of you for asking me for what you wanted, Elisabeta. It gives me great pleasure to see you like that. There is so
much more, but we will save those lessons for another rising. The anticipation always makes the reward greater, as we both have discovered.”

  She smiled up at him. “I am willing to do whatever you wish.” She secretly thought continuing along the lines they had just gone might be perfect.

  “We are working on flying, and shifting is very important for a number of reasons.” He brushed kisses over her eyes and along her nose and then released her.

  Elisabeta rolled over onto her stomach again and laid her head on her hands, closing her eyes to savor the feeling of belonging to such a man. He gave her so many new experiences, all of them good. Every time he touched her, he brought her pleasure. Even now, he rubbed her bottom gently, massaging her, keeping the heat moving so exquisitely through her body.

  “I feel so lucky to have you for my lifemate, Ferro,” she said. “All those centuries I felt lost and alone, guarding your soul, but it truly was worth every single moment because you are worth everything the vampire put me through and much more.”

  Beside her, he went utterly still. His hand ceased moving. He was in her mind and she was aware he would know she meant what she said. Guarding Ferro’s soul had not been easy, and she didn’t want Ferro to know the terrible tolls Sergey had forced her to pay time and again throughout the centuries, but she had held out against him. She would never give up her lifemate’s soul. Never. That had been her line in the sand, so to speak. If Sergey wanted her alive, he would have to come to terms with that. There were times her defiance drove the vampire mad, and he had made her pay dearly.