Total pages in book: 125
Estimated words: 120974 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 605(@200wpm)___ 484(@250wpm)___ 403(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 120974 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 605(@200wpm)___ 484(@250wpm)___ 403(@300wpm)
I’m surprised at the sudden outpouring of fear and horror my own words bring. It was so distant only a moment ago, but now it’s almost like I’m reliving the awful attack. I shiver convulsively and suddenly I’m right on the edge of tears.
“His teeth,” I somehow get out. “They were like these long, jagged splinters in his mouth. I was…was so afraid he was going to…to…”
But I can’t go on.
“Fuck, baby—you must have been so frightened.”
Valen’s words surprise me almost as much as his gentle tone. I’ve been waiting for him to shout at me for leaving the path but he doesn’t seem angry at all.
I open my mouth to agree that yes, I was frightened, but a sob comes out instead of words. Suddenly tears are stinging my eyes and pouring down my cheeks. I feel girly and weak but I can’t seem to stop them.
“Hey, sweetheart.” Valen surprises me again by pulling me into his arms. I struggle weakly against him, then give up and bury my face in his broad shoulder. He feels so solid—so safe. I haven’t felt safe since I heard my brother and the Healer talking about how my mother was going to die.
No, to be honest, I haven’t felt safe since my father died two years ago. It made me realize that anyone can be taken from you at any time. It made me desperate not to lose anyone else. Which is why I threw myself into this insane quest with no planning or preparation and now look where I am. Stuck in a cave in the middle of an evil, enchanted forest with a man who’s my enemy as my only companion.
But Valen isn’t acting like my enemy right now. He cradles me close to him, stroking my hair and murmuring soothingly.
“It’s all right, baby,” I hear him rumble. “Let it out. You’ll feel better if you do.”
I’m glad he’s not one of those men who get frightened or angry or cold when a woman cries. Because at this moment, I couldn’t stop if I tried. All the uncertainty and fear I’ve been trying to hold back come crashing down on me and the tears pour out, hot as fire on my cheeks.
Valen just holds me and rubs my back until at last the sobs taper off to hiccups. I know I should let him go and straighten up, but his skin is so warm and his spicy scent is so comforting. I hold on a little while longer and he doesn’t seem to mind.
“Thank you for coming to save me,” I say at last. “How…how did you find me?”
“Followed your scent—though it was all over the fucking place,” he says. “My Drake has a better nose than any bloodhound. “How did you get lost in the first place?”
“I…I stepped off the path,” I admit, in a small voice. “I know I shouldn’t have, but the pool right beside it showed me my mother and she was calling for me…”
He sighs deeply.
“This fucking forest is so fucking devious. You can’t trust anything you hear or see, I guess.”
“I guess not.” I sigh as well and sit up. “That witch—she looked like a young, innocent girl when I first went into her house—which I only did because a wolf chased me in,” I add quickly. “Also, the whole house looked like it was made of candy.”
“Candy?” He gives an incredulous laugh.
“Yes—I’m glad I didn’t eat any of it.” I shiver. “Well, except for licking my palm to clean off the peppermint.”
“It’s a good thing you didn’t take a bite of anything or we wouldn’t have gotten out of there so easily,” he remarks.
I give a broken laugh.
“You think that was easy?”
He grows serious.
“Not for you, I guess. I’m sure that’s the first time you’ve had a shaft in your mouth.”
“Of course it was!” I look down at my hands. “I mean, I’ve never…never done anything like the things I’ve done with you since we started this quest.”
He cups my cheek and looks into my eyes.
“Should I apologize for stealing your innocence, Princess?” he murmurs. “Because I’m not sorry—I just want more of you. I want your mouth on my cock again and I want to taste your sweet little pussy. I want to make you come while I’m on top of you, making you moan.”
My breath catches in my throat and I find that I can’t look away from his burning gaze.
“I…you…you shouldn’t say such things,” I whisper at last.
“Maybe not,” he says. “But I’m not taking them back. Now, let’s get you healed.”
“What? What do you mean?” I blink, surprised at the sudden change of topic.
“I can heal all this…” He nods at the wounds and scratches up and down my arm. “Using my Drake’s power.”
This is news to me.
“You can? But how?” I ask.