Rian said the only thing he could. “Your guess is as good as mine.”
12
Audrey watched the man she loved and the people he called family laugh at something that would’ve sent any other group of people over the edge. This was the first time she’d seen Rian in what could almost be considered his natural habitat. No, hell wasn’t where he lived, but these were his people and he was doing what he was made to do—help people. All the other times over the years she’d only seen him in his basement or the cabin he’d built for her in the woods. It was always just them. Now, she could see where all the happiness she felt in his heart had come from.
Staring at her mate and thinking of all the ways he was absolutely perfect inside and out, Audrey was completely surprised when he appeared right in front of her. Kneeling down, he took her hand in his and caressed the back with his thumb, miraculously avoiding the cuts and bruises. The electricity of their connection flared to life and even though they were in the Abyss, thoughts of what it would be like to actually make love to the man before her flooded her mind.
As if he knew what she was thinking, Rian smiled. She watched the pupils of his eyes all but eclipse their normal dark brown color before he leaned forward and passed a gentle kiss to her battered lips.
“Thoughts like that will get us both in trouble.” He winked, pulling back but still holding her hand.
“You can hear my thoughts, too?”
Nodding, Rian responded, “Yes. It is a product of our growing bond and the years we have spent together. It usually happens after the official mating but in our case, it has simply grown over time.”
“Guess I better be more careful with what I think.” Audrey chuckled.
Rian’s face grew serious. “You never have to hide anything from me. I want us to always be open and honest no matter what.” He paused and grinned, “But I will need to teach you to block your thoughts from everyone else.”
Certain she would die from embarrassment, Audrey asked, “They can hear me, too?” She knew her voice was rising in not only volume but tone as well, but she couldn’t help how mortified she was going to be if anyone had heard what she thought of Rian’s butt.
Laughing, he answered aloud, “Not until we are officially mated. After that, you will share the unique and private bonds I have with each of my brethren. You’ll be able to speak to them mind-to-mind and they you. That is when they will be able to hear your thoughts if you’re not shielded. But don’t worry, we’ll work on it…together.”
Listening to Rian speak of their future as a forgone conclusion made Audrey feel both overjoyed and overwhelmed. So many times over the last century, she’d dreamed of being free, of a life with Rian topside where they would never have to be apart.
The opposite had also been true. She’d also feared spending eternity as Adramelech’s plaything and often times had prayed for death. The princess had tried with all her heart to believe she would one day escape, but after so many years, had begun to doubt her dreams.
“What’s wrong, mo ghra’? You suddenly look so sad.”
He cupped her cheek so tenderly and looked into her eyes with such love and devotion, Audrey broke down and cried. In a flash, Rian picked her up, sat down, and was cradling her safely in his arms. It was the best feeling in the world but made the tears fall all the faster.
She could count on one hand the number of times she’d let herself actually cry. Being raised for the better part of her life by her father, a strong but loving king who couldn’t stand to see his little girl cry, the princess had learned to push her sadness aside, hide the tears and press on. It was the least she could do for not only had she lost a mother, but he’d lost the love of his life.
Then, finding herself in hell, Audrey knew from day one weakness could and would get her killed, or worse yet, the plaything to more nasties than she could imagine, so she’d gotten tough and ignored her pain and sorrow. Now all of that had changed. He had changed it. The amazing man holding her so tenderly and telling her everything would be okay had changed everything, and there was no going back. He was fighting hell to save her. What man does that? What person does that for another…ever? It was unfathomable yet it was happening, and it was the most amazing, most frightening thing she’d ever had to deal with.
Taking a deep breath, trying to calm herself enough to speak, Audrey lifter her head and looked at her mate. Her well-prepared speech flew out the window and her heart took over. It took two tries, but the words finally began to flow.
“I am so very sorry for all the things you’ve gone through because of me. All the pain and frustration I’ve caused because my uncle doomed me to this.” She motioned at the pit of hell they were presently sitting in while his brethren were coming up with a way to locate their friend.
“Everything you’ve done, the lies you’ve told, the secrets you’ve kept, the things you had to do that went against everything in you, all because of your feelings for me. And now here you are, and not just you but your brothers and your kin, coming to the actual pits of hell to save me. It breaks my heart. You have done so much for me and I continue to be nothing but a burden.”
Rian’s brows furrowed. He leaned farther back from her and just stared for several heartbeats. The look on his face was unreadable but definitely not what she’d expected after her heartfelt apology. The scrutiny of his gaze became too much. Looking at the dirty abrasions on her hands and her torn fingernails, she waited for him to speak…to say anything.
“Audrey,” he finally spoke. His voice was soft and low but with just a touch of harshness she didn’t remember ever hearing. Taking another deep breath, she slowly raised her eyes to meet his. There was still endless love overflowing from their dark depths, but now it was mixed with resolve and a need she’d never seen before.
“I want to make one thing abundantly clear,” he paused, the authority and command of his voice resonating within her. “You will never again apologize for anything I’ve done. Anything and everything I did was for us, for our future and most importantly, because I love you more than I ever thought I could love another.”
His hand returned to her cheek and he leaned forward until they were almost nose-to-nose. “Don’t you see? It’s your feelings for me that have kept me going, that fuel my every thought, color my every thought, and have kept me alive when I would’ve otherwise just given up.”
He kissed the tip of her nose then smiled. “Without you, my sweet, sweet Audrey, I would’ve simply withered and died. You are quite literally the single most important person in my life. You make every day worth waking up to and I plan to spend eternity showing you exactly how much I love you.”
Overcome by his words, Audrey closed the distance between them, laid her lips to his, and where words failed, showed him how very much he meant to her. Their kiss was slow, soft, and beautiful. It was like never before. She could feel everything Rian was feeling and knew from his reaction he also shared her emotions.
Deepening their kiss, her mate took control. He turned until she was straddling his lap. The change in position let her feel how very much Rian wanted to be with her. Rolling her hips, Audrey tingled when Rian groaned low in his throat. Needing to feel more of him, she slid her hands under his torn and dirty T-shirt. The tips of her fingers had just touched his skin when the howl of hellhounds tore through the cavern.
All amorous thoughts fled as faster than her eyes could follow, Rian had them both standing and was tucking her safely behind a large boulder on the far side of the hole that had once held the Guardsman they all called Kayne. She heard the scratch of nails against the stone as the Chancellor’s pack ran towards them. Knew the hounds would only be this far away from the castle if Adramelech were using them for protection. Since punishment and torture were part of his every day job, the Demon Lord was not well liked by hell’s constituents. In fact, it was safe to say he was one of its most hated among everyone but the aristocracy.
“Rian, those howls mean…” Audrey never got to finish her warning as not only all seven of the Chancellor’s hounds came charging at the Guardsmen, but countless others as well.
