Page 27 of Venom Within Her

My panic started to melt away. Being in her arms felt so nice. But just as quickly as it faded, it started to build again. Am I really feeling calm, or was Larz making me feel that way?

I choked down the fruit and averted my gaze, running my fingers down Larz’s scorpion hip tattoos. “Are you doing that?”

“Doing what?” She massaged my thighs. I could feel her trying to meet my gaze, but I refused.

“Making me feel calm again.”

She took my chin in her hands, forcing my gaze to hers. “Is that what you’re worried about?”

“I just…I don’t know if what I’ve been feeling has been you or me. If you can get inside my head whenever you want, how will I ever know?”

“I would never do that without you knowing. Well, I wouldn’t ever do it again, and I’m sorry I did before. It was wrong, I just hated seeing you so panicked.”

I didn’t know what to say. It’s like there were two, very different me’s fighting inside me. One who was ready to surrender and be loved, and one who wanted to retreat back into the safety of being alone.

“With your permission, I’ll help you recognize what it feels like when the connection is made, that way you’d know if we ever connected.”

“Okay,” I nodded.

She pulled me into a soft kiss, “just relax. First, I want you to focus on what you’re feeling in this moment. Your fear. Your worries. How you feel about me.”

I did as she said, closing my eyes and taking note of every emotion and every sensation I felt in my body. There was worry, a bit of hesitation, and something deeper that I couldn’t quite bring myself to admit. But there was no fear.

Our gaze met again and her eyes flashed gold. It felt different than the physical connection. It was more subtle. More gentle.

“Do you feel that?” She asked. “Like warm honey melting down your skull.”

I nodded, letting the sensation take over me.

“In a second,” she started, her voice low and calm, “you’ll feel exactly how I feel. Not physically, but emotIlonally.”

The warmth in my head spread throughout my body, burning especially hot in my chest. A sweet softness mixed with possession vibrated just under my skin. It was intense, primal, definitely not mine.

But, in a way, it was exactly how I felt for Larz, just heightened and more feral. She made me feel warm, she made me want to have nothing but her, and for her to have nothing but me.

There was something else, though. The urge to entwine with her. Like I was ready to claw into her skin and settle myself inside her body. My teeth ached, wanting to feel her flesh pressed against them.

Then, in an instant, the feeling was sucked from me, leaving me alone with my own emotions again. But one thing remained, the pull. The pull was stronger and warmer than ever. The possession I’d felt inside Larz’s emotions stuck with me, like I wanted her to possess me in every way possible.

19

Larz

I felt her hesitation during the mind connection. It was clear how much she wanted this, but how hard it was for her to trust. I’d spend my entire life showing her she was safe with me, starting with right now. It was time to tell her everything.

“I know it’s hard to trust. I know all of this is hard to accept, but I think it’s time I told you everything. That way, you have a choice. And whatever choice you make, I will support it.”

I picked her up off my lap and placed her next to me. Ilona sucked down her tea and snacks, listening intently as I explained everything to her. Everything from us being fated mates, to the claiming sting, to the protector of the forest.

“Protector of the forest?” She sat up a bit straighter.

“Yes. Some call her a demon; we call her Esta, the protector. She’s the oldest creature in Cutwood Forest. The mother of all. While she protects the mystical creatures, she and her daughters also care for the humans. The lost, injured, even dead.”

“Even Stellan?”

“Yes. Even though she tried to hurt us, Esta will take her body and give her back to the Earth. It's like the circle of life; her energy will be recycled and used to feed the forest. That’s where a majority of the healing power stems from. It is a great honor.”

“So that’s what you meant by she’d never be found?” She sighed.