"It is gratifying to hear I distract you enough to have you off your guard." Leaning back into his chest I heard him inhale sharply."Flower, you have no idea just how much you distract me." His hand snuck up from my waist and brushed against my breast. "Having that round ass pressed against me while we ride is torture.""I'm not exactly bereaved to know you suffer, your majesty." My voice turned breathy as his large hand massaged my breasts."Hmm, am I to assume that I have no distracting effect on you then?" When his hand flew between my legs to cup my heat I gasped audibly. Even with the layers I was wearing it was hard to ignore his touch and the warmth it brought."None at all. More of a nuisance than anything." But my head was full of clouds and my skin was buzzing with the energy blooming inside of my body. Some little voice in my head screamed that reacting in this way at Caliban's touch was obscene. Yet my entire body was shamelessly aroused at the barest touch.Visible light
The third day would undoubtably be the worst. Conversation was relaxed but minimal. My thighs and bottom hurt from days of riding in the saddle and Caliban's rough treatment at night.My saving grace was the great quantity of sunlight I was exposed to as the forest thinned out and the thick copse of trees became increasingly sparse the further north we traveled. Although the sun's rays only went so far to fight off the frigid cold."What do you know of the Thanaten capital?" Caliban questioned."Nothing, really." I shrugged and jut my lower lip in a pout I knew he couldn't see."We'll be there around sundown." An uneasy chill crept over me at the thought. Some old instinct in my bones wanted me to be afraid of whatever I was going to see when we arrived. Or maybe I was scared of my future still.Following the last argument, I had done my best to push those fears to the back of my mind and not even consider bringing it up again.After rutting with the king in the woods last night as th
The sun continued to set as we got closer to the capital. Once down in the valley my ears began to pick up on the sounds of life in the distance. Even though it was near fully dark there was still so much activity I could hear."Is your capital still so active this late?" Leaning forward in the saddle I tried to see as far as I could."It stays active well into the night. Plenty of shops stay open until just before sunrise. We may not be monsters, but we are still creatures of the shadows and night is the perfect time for Thanatens to thrive.""In Laernear we rise with the sun every day." And now the sun was gone.It seemed no time at all that we crossed the field of tall grass leading to the outer edges of Umbra. The outer canal acted similarly to an ancient moat would have around a castle, guarding the capital. Along with six towering buildings that had the appearance of a black quartz crystal sticking up from the ground in even intervals around the city.The closer we got I was abl
The shadow horse nickered impatiently as the soldiers worked to swing open the gate doors. The heavy iron creaked and groaned as one side was pushed open to make way for Caliban and his warhorse of living shadow. Meanwhile I kept my head down and covered but feeling the increasing stares of Thanatens the entire time weighing me down.Unease slithered into the pit of my belly and pressed into me like a beast as we crossed over the bridge and the gate behind us was slammed shut and locked once more. I could feel the claws of anxiety sinking into me and attempting to drag me down as that dark castle got closer.The king wasn't talking to me, instead we rode in silence towards his home. I didn't want to be afraid, but there was no promise of what was awaiting me once me arrived at his home. It didn't feel real in a way, where I was. This was all beginning to feel like some nightmare and that feeling wouldn't stop plaguing me.A paved stone pathway led us from the bridge to the gatehouse o
On the first day I woke up disoriented with my head pounding. The sun was just beginning to rise, and I left the four-poster bed in the tower and trudged over the thin rug to the balcony door. At first the door stuck as though it hadn't been opened in ages, but once it swung free a rush of cold morning air blew in and my tangled hair whipped around my face.It was a small, round balcony with a thick iron railing. In the horizon I saw where the sun was beginning to rise. Leaning against the railing I released a sigh and surveyed the land while I awaited the sunshine. The long river continued to wind away into the valley, and I could see the ridge to the south where I had been when I first saw Umbra.Further to the right I could see some of the capital in the growing light and despite my circumstances I was still impressed with the colorful city and glistening blue water of the canals. From this height and distance, I tried to enjoy the sight.When orange and red light blossomed over th
A few items had been left behind in the white oak dresser and I picked at what was available. All the clothing colors were dark and most of the materials were thick and soft for wearing outside in the cold. I pulled out a black silk dress that was small and lightweight enough to wear to sleep and slipped it on. Having nothing better to do I sat at the vanity and brushed through my hair while avoiding looking at my reflection.When the sun had been gone for hours, I turned off the gas lamp on the desk and crawled into the bed on the dais. In the pitch black of the room my mind wanted to run over me with dangerous thoughts. It didn't feel good to admit that the darkness around me was sinking into my mind and becoming its own creature.The second day was much the same as the first. I tried harder to stop and question the servants when they brought my meals but the guard with them was always there to warn me away with a stern glance and flash of weapon. Those meals were left mostly untouc
Two days later I woke up with the sunlight streaming into my eyes through the tall floor to ceiling windows in the warm room. My head was throbbing, but I managed to sit up and look around the room. A large black stone fireplace was in the wall across the room and the pale grey walls were nearly bare. A few shelves held medical tools and medicinal supplies. At the back I noticed a large Ashwood desk with scattered papers and books.A closet door stood ajar and I could hear someone within rustling through the shelves inside. At my left a small table held an empty bowl of what smelled like broth and an empty pitcher of water. When I swung my legs over to get out of the narrow hospital bed a wave of nausea rushed over me and I nearly fell from the bed with a loud groan as I swayed toward the floor.My breath whooshed out of me when a sturdy body caught me and gently laid me back into the bed once more. After a few dizzying seconds my head stopped spinning and I managed to open my eyes ag
"Nonsense, I never doubted you." His tone was deep and reserved now. I let my eyes roam over his cleaned-up appearance and marveled at how splendid Caliban looked.His long white hair had been braided at the side and was out of his face showing off how perfectly sculpted it was. A black cloak of some fine material was draped around his shoulders and held in place with a gold clasp across his chest. New black pieces of jewelry befitting his status adorned the length of his ears and fingers now and a thin black gold circlet graced his brow.A king in his castle.As if he felt me staring his eyes drifted back in my direction as he looked me up and down in the infirmary bed. I was painfully reminded that I must look like a wild beast after sleeping for so long without a bath and nothing more than a rumpled sleeping gown on my body.Caliban took a step further into the room in my direction and my breath lurched in my throat. His hand at his side opened and closed repetitively and I noticed