Kindred: Book 1 A Realms of the Otherworld Book (43 page)

I look to see Alaric prowl toward me in his panther form and I’m caught off guard. Oh my freaking goodness, his panther is all lean muscles and so striking. This is the first time that our cats have been allowed out together and it’s high time that they get to know one another. She and I are feeling playful tonight and I know instinctually that if I run he will chase. And oh, how I want my mate to chase me, so with one last lingering look at his beautiful black form I turn to bolt through the forest heading back toward the Keep. I know that we have taken him off guard but I can hear that he’s close behind us. Thru or link I can feel his exhilaration which just pushes me forward. Soon I’m overtaking Declan and Lexie as I zigzag and crash through the undergrowth of forest before I get back to the path that leads us back the way we came. She’s made for speed and agility and I allow her to push forward as I take a back seat to her powerful stride. She decides that we have just enough of a lead to hide from Alaric. She looks to the trees seeking a smaller tree with thick lower branches and she quickly finds what she’s looking for as she leaps forward toward a tree to our left, off of the path, as her claws latch on to the thick bark and quickly scales the tree to the first large limb. She stills, waiting for our mate. Alaric has slowed. He’s on to our little game as he stealthily makes his way forward, nose in the air trying to scent us. She decides to take our mate down at that moment, as she leaps from our perch to take him to the ground. As she lands on his back she is quick to roll us as she attempts to pin Alaric down but he’s larger and stronger and before long we find that it is us that are pinned to the ground. The thrill of the chase is pulsing through us. We’re panting heavily now and lying on our side as we submit to our mate. He stands over us as he leans down to playfully lick our face and we return the gesture. I suddenly need more. So much more as Alaric speaks to me thru our link.

“
Follow me. To the waterfalls, it won’t take long. I have a surprise for you. Come on, álainn.”

Together we race back toward the Keep. The night is warm and the forest sounds are comforting. Soon we break free of the forest and race down to the valley below. The falls are on the other side of the Keep and for a moment I wonder how we’re going to get there as they are across the lake and tucked into the hillside there. These falls are substantial and not at all like what we have back home on our property. As we get to the water’s edge I know that he means to swim and I follow his lead. I’ll be ravenous tomorrow. As we get to the opposite shore we follow Alaric’s feline as we make our way up to the falls, it’s been a long night and the waning moon is descending the night sky. He looks back at me and then dives into the pool and swims toward the falls. Soon he is swallowed up and I’m left wondering where he is.

“Come on, mo grá, follow me. I have a surprise waiting for you.”

My strength is waning as is the moon but I throw myself into the pool and begin to swim toward my kindred. My mate. The water is beating down on us as we break through the other side to find a hidden alcove. Through the curtain of water behind me I see the setting moon in all her glory as she is distorted by the rushing water of the fall. Alaric has shifted back. He has toweled off and is pulling on some lose sleep pants. I allow the shift to move over me and soon I stand and wade out of the water up to the dry stone ledge as Alaric reaches for my hand pulling me toward him as he wraps me in a warm dry towel.

I watch as Alaric goes about illuminating multiple light globes in the cavern. Situated toward the back is a stone ledge that has been carved out of the rock which has been very cleverly converted into a bed. Now I’m intrigued. I thought we would be going back to the Keep. Apparently not.

“What is this place Alaric?” I ask as I look around. It has all the comforts of home and is surprisingly warm and dry.

“Do you like it? I found this place long ago when I was a child. As far as I know only one other person knows of its existence and that is Nemus. Years ago I had him charm the interior to keep the dampness out of the air within the cavern. I swore him to secrecy. I would come here when I needed to get away from things or when I needed to feel the calming effects of the waterfall around me. What do you think?” He asks.

“I love it.” I say quietly as I twirl around to take it all in. “I feel safe here, cocooned away from the world and all that is expected of me, thank you for bringing me here. It’s perfect.”

He’s very serious as he says, “Ashlinn, I want you to remember this place. If you are ever in trouble and being hunted and I’m not there to protect you, I want you to try to make it here. It will be our secret hide away. Okay? Tell no one. This is our secret.”

“Got it, is there a code word for our secret meeting place?” I ask with a cheeky grin trying to alleviate some of the seriousness of our conversation. “How about, bedrock? The bed reminds me of something right of the Flintstones cartoon.” I say and smile up at him as I wrap my arms around him.

“Bedrock it is.” He grins down at me as his dimples play peek-a-boo for me to see before picking me up and carrying me to the bed. “I love you Ash, you were amazing tonight. I’m so proud of how far you have come but I think we both need some rest. It’s been a long night. It’ll be dawn soon and we’ll have to head back then.” He says as he gently lays my naked form on the bed and moves to cover me with a blanket before crawling in behind me.

The light globes begin to dim as I move to settle into his arm. I ask the one question that has plagued me all night, “How did it go with Tarron?” I feel him tense under me as I say, “That well, huh? It’s okay. I have a feeling that I will have a role to play that directly involves Tarron. I’m just afraid that I may lose myself in the process.”

He gathers me close as he kisses the top of my head before he says, “I’m scared I’m going to lose you to him, mo grá. His court is not like what you have seen here so far. It is dark and smothering in the dark majic that surrounds it. He has surrounded himself with dark fae and his fellow Fomorians that have chosen not to follow The Morrígan. There is so much you need to learn and we’re running out of time to figure a way out of this cursed blood contract. I want to run from this place and hide you away from him and his quest for revenge and power.”

As I listen to Alaric’s darkest fears for our future something clicks and I pull away from him to look down on his handsome face in the dim light with the sound of the waterfall all around us as I say, “Blood is the key. Why I haven’t thought of it before I don’t know. When will the witch arrive? She should be able to confirm my thoughts. The two parties that enter into a blood contract willing give their blood to seal the deal. The only way to nullify the blood contract is for both parties to willingly give their blood to the party affected to void it. Danu has already willing given her blood to me. Her blood courses through my veins. I will have to convince Tarron to somehow willingly give me his blood to void the contract. I know that it can’t be that easy but the most difficult ingredient to obtain will be Tarron’s blood.”

He stares back up at me thoughtfully. “And just how are you going to do that, mo grá? You know that he stopped putting his trust in people a long time ago.” His concern is etched on his face and in his graveled voice.

I know that he’s not going to like what I have to say so I lay my head back down on his chest and hold him tight as I blurt it out. “Once the terms of the blood contract goes into play, I will have no choice but to go to him. Once I’m in his court I will have to gain his trust.” He stills beneath me and I could swear that he has stopped breathing as I wait for his response.

“No, Ashlinn. You weren’t there. You didn’t see what I saw earlier tonight. Tarron has declared himself the champion for all dark fae and the misfits of the Realm. From what I saw tonight they are flocking to him in droves. I can’t in good conscience condone you going there.” He says seriously.

“Alaric, neither of us will have a choice in the matter. Don’t you see? This will come to pass. As much as neither of us wants it to, it will come to be. I have seen it. I would rather that we plan for what we’re going to do moving forward when the time comes. I really don’t want to have to wing it on my own not knowing what the plan is, cut off from everyone I love. Don’t you see that this is the best course of action?” I wait as he contemplates my words.

He sighs heavily as he finally comes around. “Okay Ash, tomorrow we will begin our strategizing. You’re right. I’m just being pig headed in my attempt to keep you from this fate instead of preparing you so you can come back to me.” His turmoil swirls heavily between us thru our bond.

I whisper, “I can do this as long as I know that you will be waiting for me in the end.”

“I will always wait for you but don’t take too long to come back to me or I swear I will tear this Realm apart and set it on fire to get to you.” He declares.

“Promise?” I ask with a tiny smile.

“My love for you is like a blazing inferno within me that cannot be contained. The longer that we’re apart the harder it will be for me to keep from spontaneously combusting. I mean it Ashlinn, heaven help him or anyone else that intentionally keeps you away from me. I will not be separated from you for long. That is my solemn vowel to you.” He says to me with quiet intent.

I rise up on my elbow and look down at him as I say, “I promise you that I will be strong in my resolve to get back you and I will do whatever it takes to be back by your side. I will not lose my faith in all that is good and right while faced with the unthinkable. I belong to you, always and forever and nothing will keep me away from you for long.” Leaning down I lay a gentle kiss on my handsome elf man, sealing my promise to him.

What’s left of the evening we spend in each other’s arms swept away in this majical secret place that belongs to just the two of us. We revel in our bond to one another and reaffirm our need to be together. I love this male with all of my being and I strengthen my resolve in a silent promise as we fall asleep in one another’s arms after we’re spent.

I wake to Alaric kissing my eyelids as he hoovers over me. Instantly I’m awake and I have a burning need that quickens as my kindred continues his trek, raining kisses down my neck. His large hand palms my breasts as he swipes his thumb over my taunt nub. He pulls me closer to him pressing into me. My back bows off the bed in an effort to satisfy the need I have to be filled by him. His mouth reaches my breast as he continues his heated exploration and my hands move of their own accord to fist in his hair. His mouth closes over my nipple and he quickly sucks and nips increasing my need for him. He looks up to see me watching him and slides back up my body to take my mouth in a possessive kiss that has me arching upwards again clasping him to me. This time I’m not disappointed. Our kiss deepens as he slides his hard length into me and my inner walls clench around him pulling him further into my core. Our rhythm is slow at first as we love one another but soon we are rocking into one another at a quickening pace. Neither of us can deny the need to be as close to one another as two people can be. The deeper he buries himself into me the faster I rush toward my release. I’m now beginning to quiver around him as my release takes hold and the two of us fall over the edge together and I’m literally seeing stars as I come down from the high induced from our coupling.

Alaric and I are still tangled together not wanting this moment to end. For a time we were able to hide away from the rest of the world. The sun is rising and we need to get back to the Keep there’s a lot to do and not much time to accomplish our end goals. Now that we have come to an agreement, no matter how much we dislike what that plan involves, we have to set it in motion. He looks up at me and gently kisses my lips and the tip of my ear, just because he likes how I shudder when he does so before he says, “Good morning, álainn.”

“Good morning, my sexy Elf Man.” I reply with huge smile. “Can you wake me like that every morning?”

Alaric smirks and then replies, “I would love nothing better. As much as I would love to stay here with you all day we need to get back. Are you ready?”

“I assume that we leave the way we came? Especially since I’m naked and without any clothes.” I ask.

With a wicked smirk he says, “Just the way I like you. Come on let’s get out of here. Breakfast is in an hour.”

“You don’t have to tell me twice. I’m starving.” I say as I get up and lean over to tidy the bed coverings. I catch Alaric staring at my behind as I finish up and decide to give him a quick shake of my rear before turning to see him checking me out. “Come on lover boy. Let’s get going. The days a wasting and just for the recorded I kind of like you naked too.”

We walk to the water’s edge before we allow our shift to take place. Our cats are ready for an early morning swim as we leap into the water and head out of our secret hide away. Back to reality.

Chapter 38