AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“You’re safe now, female.”
There was a scowl before she slowly turned her head and looked around. Her breath caught and her arms tightened. “Oh my God…oh my God.”
I winced at the sudden burst of energy and gently gripped her vise like hold. “Female…you’re strangling me.”
She jerked her gaze to mine. Her eyes were wide with…fear. She was scared, no…she was terrified. I turned around, looking out along the blanket of trees. “What is it?”
“It’s just…really fucking high.” She whimpered.
Instead of pulling her from me, I wrapped my arms around her, taking her toward the gaping mouth of the cavern. It was big. Big enough for me to fan out my wings and ease my shoulders. “You’re safe here.” I ducked my head at the entrance, then straightened, sinking into the pitch black world.
Her legs eased their stranglehold around my waist as I stopped just inside the entrance. I’d venture further if it was just me, sinking into the blackness and the silence to rest. But it wasn’t just about me anymore, was it? For the first time in hundreds of years, maybe even a thousand, I put another being’s needs before my own hunger to survive and I turned around, lingering in the mouth of that cave.
The rain picked up, filling my sensitive ears with the deafening sound as Violet lowered her feet to the floor and released her hold around my neck. The moment she stepped away, I loathed the distance. I wanted her against me, smothering me…choking the life out of me.
I wanted this female anyway she’d allow it.
One nod and I’d fight all seven kingdoms just to have her.
“They won’t come,” she said, staring out at the endless crystal sky before turning. “They won’t come for us in this rain.”
I stepped closer, dragging my curled finger along the side of her face. “Then it’s a good thing this…beast peed all over us, isn’t it?”
Her eyes widened right before she tipped her head back and unleashed a howl of laughter. One that seemed to consume her until she clutched her belly and bent over, right before she stumbled and almost sent herself careening toward the ledge.
I lunged, grabbed her arm to steady her, then pulled her against me.
In an instant, her laughter died away.
Her body jerked and shuddered, leaving me to run my hands down her arms. “You’re cold, female. You’ll catch your death in these wet garments.”
She stared up at me, her breaths deepening and her pupils dilating. “What do you suggest I do, then?”
The air plunged through my chest. My body was fighting itself. One to warm and heal and find a way out of this strange existence and the other part of me wanted to be wherever this creature was. I was aware of everything about her, of the taste of her skin and the feel of her warmth. Her scent lingered inside me, filling a void that hadn’t existed before I plunged into this world.
But it existed now.
Because it was all I was aware of.
“We could try removing them. Flesh to flesh will keep us warm.”
“Does that mean you’ll remove yours, too?” she asked, knowing full well what was happening here.
Still, her teasing little game made me smile. She was being coy, playing with me. I curled my spine, leaning down until she almost had to drop her head right back to meet my stare. “You bet your perfect mortal ass I will.”
Her teeth shone neon white in the darkness. I liked that white. I liked it a lot. That stampede grew louder in my chest.
“I m-might n-need a little help,” she whispered, her teeth chattering. “You kn-know how w-wet clothes c-can be.”
No, I didn’t. But I was sure to find out. I captured the bottom of her sodden shirt and tugged, finding resistance. The fabric stuck to her skin, making me yank harder until with a rush it tore upwards, along her arms and over her head with a whoosh.
Her breath caught, eyes widened. It left me with her shirt in my hands, staring at her perfect pale skin. “I need to dry these.”
She gave a nod, covering her body with her hands. “I’m not sure there is anywhere.”
I glanced behind me, my eyes adjusting to the darkness like it was my second home. “I’ll be back.”
I didn’t give her a second, just strode forward, sinking into the gloom and sending my senses out. She saw nothing but emptiness, whereas I saw it all. Every stone and every forgotten tree root from decades before. When this mountain was covered with vines.
