My curvy little priestess is beside herself.
She’s crying again asIcarry her away from the temple of theNatureGoddessbut this time the tears are silent.Thenslip down her flushed cheeks as she stares over my shoulder at the retreating temple and the look on her face is utterly hopeless.
Somehow it’s even worse than the way she was sobbing whenIfound her in the garden, andIcan’t help feeling thatI’mto blame.
I feel fucking horrible for what happened—Ionly wanted to help her.Inever meant for her to be found out by that dried up old priestess who kicked her out.Ivow to myself thatI’llprotect her and keep her close, butI’muneasy in a wayIwasn’t before.
The reasonI’muneasy is myDrake.He’selated—happy and satisfied in a wayI’venever felt before.EversinceIgot my magical suppression tattoos, he’s been mostly asleep and almost completely indifferent to anything happening in my life.Hestopped trying to force aShiftso he could fly—which was big problem before the tats—and he never spoke a word.
But all that was beforeElowencame into our life.Nowhe’s sending extremely possessive feelings to me—and wanting to know when we can breed her—bothof us.
His reason for this isn’t purely lust—though that’s certainly a big part of it.Butin order to bond a woman to both of us, we both have to breed her.That’sjust the way it is for my kind ofDrake.
ButIdon’t want to hurt the little priestess, andIdon’t want to scare her.She’salready frightened to death about the idea of getting instantly pregnant, the way her fellow priestesses did.Theidea of asking her to take not just me but myDrakewould frighten her to fucking death,I’msure.ButmyDrakeis determined that she’s ours and we need to claim her.
I had to hold him back when she was sucking me—he wanted to come through so she could suck his cock as well.Itried to tell him that a partial shift like that would only frighten her, but he doesn’t want to listen.Heseems to think she’s already ours and we just need to claim her and mark her in the most permanent way possible.
He wants her too much—it’s dangerous.Ishould leave her alone—should put some distance between us for her own good and safety.
But how canIput distance between us now?Shehas no one now—no one but me.
I’m torn between the two things—my concern for her and worry that myDrakewants her in a way she would no doubt consider disgusting, horrific, and unnatural.
I don’t fucking know what to do—Ionly knowInever want to put her down.Icuddle her close to my chest asItake her back to my home.
I’ll have to worry about myDrakelater—for now,Ineed to comfort her and keep her safe.
23
ELOWEN
Theron takes me back to his home, carrying me right through town and ignoring the curious looks we get from the townspeople on the street.Hesays nothing but cradles me close to his chest as thoughI’msomething precious.
I’m too upset to care that people are staring.AllIcan think of is thatI’velost my home—the only placeI’veever lived and the only peopleI’veever loved.Idon’t have any other place to go—any place to live.
It’s kind ofTheronto bring me to his home, butIcan’t ask to live with him.Despitethe things we’ve done together, we barely know each other.Ican’t just move in with him—not that he’s offered.
I feel lost…adrift.Whenhe puts me down on his bed,Iturn on my side and curl in on myself.
Theron doesn’t say a word.Hegoes to the hearth and starts doing something.Ican hear some clanging and then the sound of liquid pouring.Ijust lay there, wishingIcould go back in time—wishingIcould do theTimeWeaving.Butthere’s no way—it’s impossible.It’smeantto be impossible.Clearlywhoever wrote the spell didn’t really want anyone to be able to go back in time.
Maybe it’s dangerous…Idon’t know.Itdoesn’t matter becauseIcan’t even begin to do even one of the dangerous quests that make up the spell—let alone all four of them.
SoI’mstuck andIhave no idea whatI’mgoing to do.Dieon the street,Iguess.MaybeIcan get enough for food ifIbeg.MaybeI’llhave to sell myself like the women of the night andI’lllive a short, miserable life giving myself to menIhate who disgust me over and over, just to earn enough to get a crust of bread.
If it sounds likeI’mdepressed, well—Iam.Whocould blame me?
The worst part is,Ican already feel the curse starting to ramp up again.DrinkingTheron’sseed helped in the moment but it’s clear the relief it gave me won’t last.Sooneror later,I’mgoing to need male seed again and ifIcan’t get it…
My gloomy thoughts are cut off whenTheronsettles on the mattress beside me and holds out a steaming mug.
“Here,” he rumbles, pushing it into my hand.“Drink.You’llfeel better.”
I sit up and sniff the contents of the mug.Itsmells sweet and spicy and strong—some kind of tea, maybe?Itake a tentative sip and it’s delicious.Itake a longer drink and look up at him.
“Thank you,”Isay in a small voice.
“You’re welcome, little one.”Hesighs and runs a hand over his horns.“I’msorry we got caught.Ididn’t know there was anyone else in the garden.”
