The Wolfen Lover Page 3

He stared at Byron, a younger vampire who was the most trusted of his advisors.

  “Byron, you must go to the forest. Laina has gone from us, and I know she seeks the Wolfen creatures who remain.”

  The younger man nodded. His eyes were filled with rage, and the king was pleased to see his anger. He knew Byron had no pity, but that he loved his daughter well. This will be a test for him, he thought. A test of his loyalty to me.

  “What should I do when I find her? I cannot kill her?”

  “Bring her home. That is all that is required. When she is here, I will see to the rest. But she must not be set free for any reason.” He stared into Byron’s eyes, looking for weakness. The younger vampire ducked his head a little. He adored Laina, and everyone knew that he did.

  Byron sighed. “Very well,” he muttered, and he rose, gesturing for his men to follow him.

  The king watched him draw himself up, his face like stone. Alastair grinned and knew he would do anything to keep his favor. Even this.

  Laina stayed in the cave with Michael, and it became their home. By day, she stayed in the gloomy half-light, and at night, she would venture into towns, but never her own, looking for the unworthy and punishing them for the betterment of all mankind, or so she believed.

  She would never let him see her drink, for he was in his Wolfen form at night and seemed more dangerous to her. In the night, she would stroke his soft fur in their firelit cave and feel his contentment, and she was everything now, to him . . . mother, lover, sister . . . It mattered not what you called it. But it was love. When he returned to the cave, his face soaked in animal blood, she grinned as happily as she did in the mornings when the change was done, and he stood tall and dazzling in his day clothes.

  Michael told her that they should go to the village and that he would find a way to destroy the vampires who laughed as they killed his mother and the others. For a few days, though, he gave in to the feeling of oneness he had with the tiny vampire who swept the cave like a village housewife and made tea from woodland herbs and flowers.

  “You are my mate,” he would tell her. But yet we have not shared our bodies, not completely, Laina thought in frustration.

  We will mate, and I will love you well, she would think, performing her little tasks that she did with such joyful precision. She began to use dyes and sticks to paint beautiful images on the walls of the cave using the pigment from berries, and at night, when the fire was lit, the bodies of animals and creatures she had drawn upon the walls would wrap the cave in their primitive beauty.

  I must convince him to stay here, with me. He must not fight this battle. We will both be doomed. I must make him forget his mission, and I must somehow keep us safe, safe from their revenge. And I must never forget that all of this could be a trick, a mere enchantment, and that he might only be pretending to love me. But she could not convince herself of this. It was too painful to bear.

  After a few nights, she felt tension and something like fear that ate away at her serenity. She wondered if Michael could smell her fear and sense her worries as he could never do in his manly form. He would growl at her sometimes. She could not understand his language, and during the day, he was as smiling and sweet as always.

  She had her answer a couple of days later. “You are afraid,” he had told her one morning, as he stretched his limbs. It was not a question, but a statement. His voice was calm and quiet. It was her favorite time with him, when he was newly a man, and she watched him quietly and longed for the comfort that she was sure would come when he held her and mated with her.

  “Yes,” she whispered, sadly. “They are coming for us, just as we come for them.” She played with her skirts, her eyes unseeing, for she was back with them in that terrible place in her mind. She hated to think of their dark plotting, the way their fangs would show as they grinned. They loved death, because death meant Wolfen blood.

  “They are coming for me,” she whispered. “And they will strike without warning. I feel them now, planning and waiting. But who knows if I will have the warning I need when they decide to punish me. And you must not be here. They will drink your blood.”

  He moved closer to her, placing his warm hands on her shoulders. “You are mine, and I will protect you, my . . . love. You must be . . . my mate, and the Wolfen always protect their mate, always.” He kissed her slowly, sensually, his hands roving over her body.

  “Tell me how it is done, how they can die,” he said into her ear, his voice low with excitement. She let his hands move over her breasts and felt her breath quicken. She was sure his body was burning with desire, just as hers was.

  Her eyes were dreamy as she reached out to him. “We must be mates,” she said quietly, “two creatures as one, and then I shall share all my secrets. I swear it to you.”

  Chapter Four

  Another night passed, the wolf entwined with Laina, his head on her heart. In the evening, just at twilight, they would move once more, leaving the cave that had been their treasured home. Laina would assist Michael in anything. She knew that now. Nothing could stop her from giving him the secrets he wanted, and she was certain that she could make this choice, to punish the cruel ones who would kill another magical tribe without remorse or compassion.

  Laina stared into the darkness, sleepless and watchful, always waiting for them, always diligent. Her whole life seemed different now, with her strong Wolfen at her side, and she cherished her moments with him, for she did not know if they would last. Would they be able to survive the struggles that lay beyond the sanctity of their stone haven?

  Morning seemed to take an eternity to arrive, and Laina always wished that she could go out in the bright sunlight and see the world as a mortal woman, or even as a Wolfen could. But it was not to be. She must hunt at night when she needed to, and she must stay inside, sentenced to the gloomy interior of the cave while Michael roamed in the fresh air.

  He was careful with her, never chastising her for what she was. They had learned to understand each other, and it was good between them. Trust seemed to flow between them, and no words were needed.

  She watched him stir in the coming dawn like he did every morning, his wolf’s body growing tense and wracked with pain. She stroked his soft fur, murmuring words of love and held him close. She could feel the sweat through his pelt, and she wished she could take all of his pain and keep it for herself. She tried to hold onto him while the change came so that he should not be alone, but his wracked body twisted away from her. Suddenly, he fell on her and lay upon her, his huge, muscular body heavy and tense.

  She longed to feel his thighs along her own and longed to stroke his glossy black hair and smell his heavenly scent, so different from the animal smell in her nostrils. Michael groaned, in the voice of a man. He changed, his body thrashing against hers, but she did not cry out or try to get free. She waited until his transformation to a young man was complete, and she felt his hardness pressed into her. She felt her heart beat fast as he ran his hands all over her body, still fierce and animalistic, and pushed up her skirts.

  Never before had he gone so far, and her body met his in response, because she could wait no longer. The days and nights they had spent together, the trust they had built like a fortress, stone by stone, was being rewarded with kisses along her throat and with hands that roved over the soft, dark hair between her legs. She moaned softly, desperate for his lips on her mouth, for his soft tongue against her own.

  Michael got on his knees and loosened her bodice, hungrily, with his eyes half closed. He stripped her to the waist, never speaking, his hands seeking her breasts. She stared dreamily, drinking in his beauty, stroking his strong, hairless chest and his full, muscular thighs.

  Laina felt the heat rise to her head, making her dizzy and weak as he put his lips upon her breasts and sucked her nipples. She trembled with longing as he ran his lips down her midriff, over her stomach. His eyelashes fluttered upon her skin, and every sensation was exquisite, every sense was heightened. He pushed her
down onto the furs that were their little bed and pushed her legs apart. He stared down at her, stroking his cock with one hand until it was huge and swollen.

  Then, he fell on her like, and he was wild and abandoned. He pushed his hard cock inside of her, groaning louder now, animal sounds mixed with human. She could feel the sacred magic of their mating, and she opened herself to him, gasping a little as he entered her so roughly and with such desire. Feeling him insider her, she put her hands upon his hips and moved with him, her eyes closed.

  He was not gentle with her, for the animal in him was so strong, and she was aroused by his roughness and his loss of control. She began to feel things she had only dreamed of as he moved in and out of her, sweat beading his brow. She reached down and touched her slippery sex, as he pounded into her with his hard cock over and over again. She was wet with excitement, and her own touch made her hotter and wetter still.

  She ran one hand along her breasts, unthinking, playing with the nipples, and she saw his pleasure as he watched her through slitted eyes. She began to buck and writhe under him, and giving in to her body, she moaned in pleasure and felt the great swell of ecstasy as she climaxed. She tightened around his cock, shuddering and trembling, and she felt the warm gush of his seed deep inside of her as he came. He stayed silent, unmoving, his breath ragged as the waves of pleasure engulfed him, and he closed his eyes.

  Laina, dazed with love and happiness, grinned up at him, for she had always been unsure just how it would be and whether she would feel what mortal women felt.

  Michael rolled over beside her, and stroked her body with one hand as he cooled down, a sheen of sweat visible on his face and chest. “I take you as my mate, now and always,” he whispered. To her, it seemed he whispered an ancient incantation. “I will protect thee and honor thee for now and always, and we shall live our lives as one.”

  Laina felt tears fill her eyes, and they were tears of elation. She repeated his words, her heart bursting with joy. Michael rose up and rummaged among the cloaks and sacks that held his few possessions, and he walked back toward her, his eyes as tender as she had ever seen them. He placed a ring with an amber stone in a golden setting upon her pale finger. “My mother’s,” he whispered. “She put it on every morning, and every night she hid it with magic.”

  “My love,” Laina whispered and kissed him deeply. Laina laughed a little in wonder because she was so enthralled him, she was love struck. For a moment, she felt almost embarrassed. She had always led a solitary life, where emotions were guarded like treasure lest they be wounded or misunderstood. But now, her whole heart was laid bare . . . to Michael.

  “My mate,” Michael answered, and he laid her down again, for the cave was dark enough for her, and he was ready again.

  Chapter Five

  Byron gathered his underlings to plan the mission into the forest. The vampires were clustered around a long, mahogany table, their sleek heads close together. It was daylight, but the bright sunlight was blocked from their view by heavy tapestries hung upon the windows. No light filtered in to the dining hall, and Byron saw that all their pale skin was like parchment in the gloom.

  “We must go to the forest, but no one must see us,” Byron said, his voice intense. He had made his peace with what must be done, and he wished to gain the king’s favor. Bringing back Laina and punishing her was becoming a pleasant thought.

  “In the night, when the moon is dark, we must find Laina among the Wolfen caves and bring her back here. If she will not come of her own accord, we will take her by force. If she is not alone, we will feed on whoever is with her and bring back their head for the king.”

  The vampires nodded. Byron knew such missions were rare and provided intense excitement in the ranks of the clan. He was sure the others were honored to be among the chosen. By ingratiating themselves with the king through the successful outcome of their mission, they could rise in the ranks and hold their heads high. But no one will rise higher than I will, he thought happily. Byron knew that when the king was happy, all was possible, and many favors could come to him. Only the most revered of the king’s companions were invited to hunt for him.

  Once the princess is brought home, I will be treated to the finest wines and the best rooms at the estate. And all these men will be the inner circle as well. “We must not fail at this,” he told them gravely. “We all know that the king will be angry if we do.”

  They nodded and murmured, and Byron saw the grimaces of fear they tried to hide.

  “What if we do fail?” one blond vampire asked Byron, his worry showing in his pale eyes.

  “We will be punished, and I will be held responsible,” he told him. “And I will hold all of you responsible for my pain and discomfort.”

  “But Laina is strong,” the blond vampire continued. “She is as fast and clever as any of us are.”

  “Shut up!” Byron roared, and he felt his head pound. He knew Laina was his equal, or more. It made him angry that he could never be the stronger one.

  The other vampires simply stared at Byron. No one spoke.

  “You cannot fail at this. I will be there to make certain that you don’t,” he said menacingly. And he sent the others out to prepare. I need to be alone for a moment, he thought. “Laina, how could you do this?” he wondered aloud. And what will happen to me if I fail?

  The king provided for all, Byron knew, but he could turn on him in an instant should he fail. And his wrath was legendary. He could banish me forever. Byron knew that to be part of a clan was safety in numbers. The life of a renegade vampire was fraught was peril.

  He went to say good-bye to the king, an hour later, and his heart beat like a sparrow’s. The king did not look angry, but he was harsh in his final words.

  “Go now, while the moon is dark and hidden,” he said roughly, “and attack any you find while they sleep. If they are awake and aware of you before you attack them, you will see the danger and magic that they bring. This is why they must all be destroyed before the Wolfen grow to adulthood and achieve their greatest powers. They are terribly strong, as strong as we are. They have abilities you have not yet witnessed.”

  “How does it taste?” Byron found the courage to ask the king. “The Wolfen blood.”

  “Like honey,” the king answered, and they laughed. Byron had been left to guard Laina during the Halloween attack, and so he did know that pleasure . . . yet.

  If I find her, Byron thought, I will slake my lust upon her, where no one else can see. Byron had spent years living in the same estate as Laina, watching her beautiful, dark eyes move past him, and imagining her smooth body under his. He would have this chance to take what he wanted, and he would feel her lips, her hair, her whole body, as he had longed, too, for so many long years.

  Laina, he thought, almost sadly, you should have been my bride. I could have ruled with you under the king and queen, and what a royal couple we should have made. Why did you spurn me, time and time again? Byron knew he was the most handsome and refined of all the male vampires, and he could have his pick of any of the women, but for him, there was only . . . Laina. And that would never change.

  Byron was in his room putting on his cloak and getting ready to leave when Melissande appeared in the doorway. She held him in her sultry gaze, using her considerable charm as she always did, and she beckoned him closer. “You shall have Laina for your bride, if you succeed in this. The king has just told me.”

  Byron glowed with the very idea. He beamed at the queen and nodded. If he could bring her home, she would be his, again and again. Life was long, Byron mused, and the touch of another was like a drug to him, a balm for loneliness. Whatever happened in the moon-dark forest, he would have her, one way or another. And he would be crown prince, as well.

  The other vampires were waiting for him downstairs, ready for battle. He smirked at them, feeling his tension and fear disappear. Soon he would rule over them all, with only the king to answer to.

  “It’s time to go,” he said, a
lmost cheerily, and they all slinked out into the night.

  * * * *

  Michael and Laina left their home the night of their mating. The night was dark, for the moon was almost hidden, and tomorrow, there would be no visible moon at all. For Michael, it was a magical time. The romance of the mating made his heart pound.

  Laina carried her own things, and Michael’s, in a small bag, so that he should have clothes, when morning came. Michael gazed at her, and he felt hot waves of pleasure run along his nerves as he remembered their mating and the moment he was inside of her. He longed to lie with her again and again and to give himself to her. His love was like a newborn creature, hungering and thirsting, unable to see beyond those desires. He was dreamy but watchful as they moved through the forest. I am her protector, he thought warmly. Life feels real now, he knew, his eyes moist. He had known that other Wolfen creatures loved. He had seen the looks on their faces and the way they were with each other. But he had not ever felt this.

  Michael was, for the very first time, completely contented. And it was as simple as that.