“You see, during your gods’ war, they needed something a bit more powerful than a mortal to be able to defeat the vampyres. So, they created the lycans with venom that could kill a vampyre in mere seconds. But, it isn’t very easy to control a wild animal now, is it? So, a few of us were gifted a rare ability.”
Malakai lifted his hand as if to examine it. With a quick glow of his eyes, his nails began to grow into bone-like claws.
“Pack alphas were granted the ability to shift into mortals. That way, the gods could give us our orders, and we could relay it to our packs.”
“I… I thought Rosina created the mon—creatures used in the war.” I felt embarrassed for even opening my mouth, knowing what I knew now, and remembering that her son sat beside me.
“Well, now you know who really did.” The humor in Malakai’s voice dropped, and he lowered his hand, nails receding as he sat down to finish his food.
I turned to Mara. She stared off in the distance, her mind clearly spinning with something she didn’t want to share. “And you?” I asked her. “Are you like…him?”
She didn’t look at me. She just stood from the table to excuse herself. “No, Morrigan. I’m not.” Without so much as a goodbye to either of the men, she began walking out of the dining room.
Memory
300 YEARS AGO…
Kaiden didn’t greet me when I arrived for our normal Saturday dinner.
I also noticed that none of the lords were in attendance either. I found him in his study—head clutched by his hands and the room barely lit.
“Kaiden,” I whispered, entering with caution. “Are you alright?”
He grunted as he lifted his head, keeping his eyes squinted. “I’m sorry. I didn’t… I didn’t even realize what day it is…”
As I grew closer, I noticed sweat sticking to the back of his shirt. “Are you sick?” I asked, leaning down and placing a hand to his forehead. His skin felt unnaturally hot to the touch. “Kaiden, you’re burning up.”
“I just need rest,” he groaned. His fingers wrapped around my wrist, tugging me until I fell onto his lap. “And you,” he whispered. “I need you.”
My cheeks blazed as I let his head rest against my chest. “We can relax tonight. I’ll make you some tea.”
“Right,” he breathed, trailing his nose up my blouse to my collarbone. “You smell so good.”
I had to bite my lip through the embarrassment. Though we may have kissed before, this felt far more intimate than anything we had done thus far. “Maybe I should get you something to eat?” I offered, but he gripped my waist tightly, preventing me from moving.
His nose reached my neck, and it sent a shock of heat down my spine.
“Whydo you smell so good?” His words came out in an almost snarl, and the moment I felt teeth scrape against my skin, I leapt from this grasp.
“Kaiden!” I squeaked, ashamed of the fire growing within me from what he had just done.
But Kaiden looked… frightened. He ran a hand through his hair and stood abruptly, shoving past me. “I think… I think you should go.”
Go?“Kaiden, it’s fine, I was just?—”
“Go!”
Chapter 19
MORRIGAN
My back arched as my fingers dug into the sheets, scared that if I didn’t hold onto them, I might actually float away.
“Gods, I love how you taste, Morrigan,” Kaiden groaned as his tongue flicked at my center. I was practically squirming beneath him, feeling my own heat sizzling beneath my skin. “Does that feel good?” he asked, slipping two fingers inside me.
I moaned as my eyes closed, my orgasm climbing to the surface while my core burned with a fire that begged to be released. “Please,” I begged. “Don’t stop.”
My breaths were coming in heavy pants, and then I felt them—the shadows. It started as a slight prickling sensation on my skin, like I couldsomehow sense the moment they seeped from him. Tickling my legs, they crawled up my calf, over my thigh, and to my waist. When they reached the area just below my breasts, I sucked in a sharp breath as they traced a line below them, teasing me in the most pleasurable way.
