Total pages in book: 20
Estimated words: 17648 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 88(@200wpm)___ 71(@250wpm)___ 59(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 17648 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 88(@200wpm)___ 71(@250wpm)___ 59(@300wpm)
I watched him in silence, trying to decide what frightened me more—his power, his appearance, or that a part of me, a secret, shameful part, wanted everything he offered.
I was no longer in the world I knew. And a part of me realized I’d longed for that my entire life.
6
KATRINA
Icould still feel the heat of Blaylock’s hand on my waist and the weight of his black-eyed gaze locked on me even though he’d long since pulled away. A part of me assumed he’d press for more.
To claim me right in the throne room. To make me his in every irrevocable way.
But instead, he’d released me slowly, as if he’d been reluctant to let go. And I couldn’t deny that I longed for his touch again, to feel that huge hand on me, and to know that his strength was more powerful than anything I’d ever experienced.
I stood where I had stopped when first entering the room and watched Blaylock ascend the bone and crystal stone dais, his massive form turning to face me at the same time he sat on the throne. The look in his eyes as he stared at me was unreadable.
Not cold.
Not cruel. But something that made me crave and yearn for whatever he had to give me.
For long seconds, we just stayed like that, both silent as we stared at each other. He didn’t order me to do anything, and I felt an independence and power in that fact. Before I could do anything, several cloaked beasts entered, speaking that strange language, but the tone told me whatever they said was important.
“Little one,” Blaylock said, addressing me. “I have some matters to tend to, but I encourage you to explore the castle. This is just as much your home as it is mine.”
That made my chest fill with comforting warmth. I backed away slowly, cautiously, keeping a wide berth from the cloaked figures until I reached the massive doors. I slipped through them but not before looking at Blaylock once more.
He leaned forward, his black gaze on me, this slow smirk curving his mouth and making my core instantly heat and wetness pool at the top my thighs. Before I could contemplate my bodily reactions to Blaylock, I quickly passed through the doors.
Once out of the throne room, the cool air in the hallway felt like a slap to my flushed skin. I wasn’t afraid of this strange, ghastly place but was unsure of what I would find. What I did know was I wasn’t returning to my room.
The halls were silent and empty as I wandered. The flickering, blue torches gave this beautiful, eerie glow to the dark walls and flooring. The castle was massive, and the numerous hallways made me feel like I was in a labyrinth.
The deeper I ventured, the more I realized this place—Blaylock’s domain—was not just a fortress. It was alive in an ominous and ethereal way, and that was evident by the glowing, pulsing light coming from the veins of crystal that ran through the structure.
The few castle staff I passed were cloaked, their visages hidden, which I found myself thankful for. The last thing I needed was more fear to settle in at seeing living, breathing monsters again.
I’d seen enough at the slave auction to last me a lifetime.
Despite the cloaks hiding their forms, I made out horns and claws, scales and glowing eyes hidden within the darkness.
I wrapped my arms tighter around myself and continued my exploration until I found a chamber with the large wooden door open. I stopped and stared at the stone statues lining either side of the entryway.
A gust of chilled air came from inside the darkened room, and I hesitated at the threshold.
Pushing my unease aside, I stepped in, candlelight flaring to life upon my entrance as if I’d beckoned it. The room was a grand hall—enormous in size with an arched and curved ceiling that opened up to the peaceful night sky above. And of course, the same glowing crystals veined the walls and floor.
I stood in awe, shaking my head to clear my thoughts from the beauty of it all. The room was filled with massive, monstrous statues, each seeming larger than life. They stood like sentries, beasts frozen in violent poses, as if ready to attack.
A shiver rippled down my spine and intensified when I realized I wasn’t alone.
“Fearsome, aren’t they?”
I jumped and spun around, heart leaping into my throat. Blaylock stood in the doorway, framed in the glow of the blue torchlight.
In the time it took for me to explore, Blaylock changed into a pair of dark trousers that clung to his thick, powerful legs, his chest still bare of any covering. But nothing could hide the raw, brutal strength of his body.
His horns curled back from his brow, gleaming faintly like onyx in the low light, matching his short dark hair that had this windswept appearance to it.