I shake my head. “I haven’t traveled up North yet. How did you end up there?”
“I was captured among many from a small town below the Wailing Forest. We were all destined to be sold and abused. I ran for my life the moment I could.”
“I’m so sorry you had to go through all that.”
She seems to zone out, the memories flooding back as she continues to speak: “I fled into Sadelaer, which was not safe for me either, so I continued to run. When I reached the edge of this forest, the trees opened themselves for me and blocked the vampires that came after me, hunting me.”
She smiles. “I still don’t understand how I was able to escape them, as if fate itself interjected, guiding me straight into the forest, you know?”
“I’ll bring you with me to Valorya. I’ll keep you safe; my magic will keep us both safe. None of these fucking bloodsuckers will touch you; I’ll kill them myself if I have to.”
Her eyes widen at that statement, but the way her body slacks against mine fills my heart. She trusts me. I hope Caria is there to assist if needed. Who would have thought that befriending a witch was useful? Holding Jodelle, feeling her body tight against mine, Harlot no longer occupies my mind; all I desire to do is bring Jodelle to safety.
I take Jodelle with me as I make my way through the forest; the trees part hesitantly, making it obvious they have not forgiven me for hurting them, but they do take a liking to her. I thank them in silence for not making this more difficult than it already is. Jodelle insists she can walk a little longer, but I refuse to let her take one more step. I carry her so her bloodied feet no longer need to hold her weight, even though she’s flesh over bone, her ribs protruding through her skin. I give her a soft kiss on her forehead, promising her that I will nurse her back tohealth. She lays her head against my chest and falls asleep from exhaustion. I can hardly begin to understand the hardships this girl has witnessed and endured. Her whole body is covered in scratches and scars from cuts and whips. Her feet are a bloodied mess, and I am amazed and impressed that she was able to carry herself as far as she did. Her greasy hair is matted to her scalp, and dirt mingled with blood is coloring the ridges of her fingernails. Still, I have never seen a more irresistible creature in my life. Not even the ethereal beauty of vampires comes close to her.
I push open the inn's doors. Besides some snarls and growls when we enter the city, none of the vampires is dumb enough to attack us. The Aurum must have confused them to the point where they are unsure whether it is just me or both of us who are protected by it. Again, I see a fresh mass of human carcasses on the square. Adults and children have been brutally devoured and slain, and the square is covered in blood stains, old and new. I am grateful Jodelle is asleep so I can spare her this sight, a sight the magic wants me to see. I am never able to walk around the square; it always forces me through it so I can witness the horrors first-hand. See the decay and rot, the meaningless deaths.
Caria's icy stare chills me to the bone, the corners of her mouth down. Her golden eyes glide over Jodelle’s unconscious body, a jealous glint visible, and her shadows whisk around her dangerously. This is what she meant earlier, her magic being fickle. A deep red bowl of shiny black and purple berries appears on the counter, and aggressively, she snatches it away and throws it in a bin. I hear the bowl clatter, its shards loudly clanging on the bottom. I recognize the berries from the patterns that are visible on Caria’s skin.Belladonna.When Caria turns around, a new bowl with berries appears, moving toward meover the counter. Unsure what it means, instinctively, I press Jodelle closer to my body. Those berries are deadly. Neither of us speaks as I pass Caria, the girl tightly in my arms. I give her a quick nod in acknowledgment, ignoring the bowl of berries that follows me, taunting me, but I receive none in return. I hear the bowl shatter as it falls on the floor, followed by Caria’s swearing.
I tuck Jodelle into Harlot’s bed and let her rest. I park myself on my own bed and watch her.
Her long blonde lashes flutter as her closed eyes twitch from the dream she’s having. I hope she has a good dream. My heart hurts from the idea that I cannot always protect her, not when she’s asleep. Her lean fingers fumble with the sheet. Her plump pink lips open slightly as she mumbles something. I can’t make out what she’s saying. Her honey-colored hair is sprawled on the pillow, knotted and tangled. Cute little freckles cover her button nose.
I lick my lips as a desire to make her mine, to claim her, courses through me, and my cock twitches. Alarmed by my own mind, I withdraw my gaze from her. I need to know if the attraction is mutual before I make any move on her. Fuck. I scold myself. I literally saved her, and here I am, preying on her like some fucking perverted asshole, while she needs time to recover. From one cage to the next, freed, only to be locked in with me in a city infested with vampires, because I couldn’t stay away from her. I’m disgusted by myself, but I refuse to leave her alone. I can’t. The idea of her waking up by herself, all by herself, possibly frightened, makes my heart ache, and so I stay by her side, waiting.
Hours pass, and when the sky turns black and the moon illuminates the world, Jodelle finally wakes up. Her soft voice calls to me. I give her water and food that Caria disapprovinglygave me. Jodelle gulps the water down in one go, telling me her throat feels parched from the long sleep. I refill her cup.
I first ate some of the food to ensure it wasn't poisoned or spoiled. I threw away the bowl of berries; Caria insisted I did, pain written all over her face as she mumbled it. No matter how often she threw the bowl away, it kept reappearing. It would have been easier if I’d just gotten rid of it myself.
When Jodelle’s belly is full, I help her into the bathtub and caress her head while she cries from the pain as the warm, soapy water enters and cleanses her wounds. When I can no longer stand her torment, I get into the tub with her. I hold her, not caring about my clothes becoming wet, until she can handle the stings the water inflicts. I wash her hair meticulously and carefully untangle it. I massage her scalp in between to release some of the aches, and she rewards me with soft moans of pleasure. Thankfully, she doesn’t feel what that does to my body, my cock pressing painfully against the boundaries of my pants. When she is clean, I help her rub ointment on her wounds, and I bandage her wounded feet. I brush her hair and wrap it in a towel to dry it further.
“Fynn.” She leans her small body toward me, covered in a large, warm towel.
“Thank you for all of this.”
I swallow as I take her figure in. Being near her sets my soul aflame, a desperate need I can’t explain burns inside me. I want her, I need to consume her. I wish to taste her, feel her lips on mine.
Like a mind reader, without warning, she slams her mouth on mine, and instinctively, I wrap my arms around her, needlingly pulling her into my chest. She straddles me with her long, lean legs, the towel falling to the ground as it breaks free due to her movement. I break our contact and let my eyes roam over her body. She smiles at me shyly as she tries to get off me.Her cheeks flushed. I grip her hips softly, careful not to hurt her, and keep her in place.
“Where are you going?” I say with a raspy voice.
“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to… I don’t know what I was thinking. Ever since I saw you in the forest, this desire came over me to be with you. Being here with you, so close to you, it’s intoxicating. I can’t control myself around you.”
I pull her in closer, pressing her apex against my groin to let her feel what she does to me.
“Don’t ever apologize for taking what you want or need from me,” I say.
She gasps, and I leech myself back onto her mouth, stealing the moan that follows. Our tongues caressing each other, all of it feeling natural.
Without saying a word, Jodelle unbuckles my pants and frees my erect cock. I stand up, holding her in place with one hand firmly on her ass as I step out of my pants. I sit back down as I feel her slick arousal against my hard member. I take off my shirt, and she positions herself, ready to slide down. I hold her waist as I feel her wet opening.
“Are you sure you want this?” I whisper.
She bites her lip in return and pushes herself down, enveloping me in her warmth. I growl in delight as she starts to move up and down my cock with her tight cunt. Her perky tits bounce, and I take one of her peaked nipples into my mouth, moving on instinct. Her hand slides between her legs, and she starts to circle her clit. I make her a silent vow that I will get better at pleasing her myself and learn all that is there to learn about her body. As our bodies make obscene sounds, and the room fills with the smell of sex, I’m taking her as my own. Guided by a predatory instinct to claim her, mark her. Jodelle ismine. As the realization hits, I feel more feral, and I push her offme, flip her on her stomach, pull her ass up, and start to pound into her from behind. She mewls as I thrust viciously.
“You’re mine. Mine,” I hiss at her, and I slap her ass hard.
Her cunt pulses around me as I hit her deeper.
