FOREVER KNIGHTS: #12 Primal Intent

Deragan lay in his chamber tonight linking with her energy as she dreamt. But tonight, she was having a virulent one about running from Radix down the road to Gilwynn. A cream satin dress stained in blotches of red from her injuries. She panted desperately as she ran. Looking over her shoulder and back. Hair doused with water from the river she’d escaped over.

The nightmares are waning. He told himself. Fighting the urge to console her. Unsure if it was a good thing or a bad thing.

I have to let them play out.

But he wasn’t the only one that heard her distraught sounds.

Her chamber door groaned, and Nick’s voice rose.

“Are you okay, Nore?”

The bed creaked as she sat up, huffing. “Yes, Nick. Thank you. Just a bad dream.”

“You said you’re having a lot of those?”

“Yes.”

“What about?”

“Odd. Just stress induced, I suspect.”

“Sorry, Sister.” He crossed the room to stand near her.

“Have you noticed Derrick seems different?”

“Different how? Are you just getting to know him better?”

“No. I don’t think so. He seems broader, taller.”

Nick was quiet a long time.

Deragan could practically envision his smirk.

“Are you sure you’re not just developing fondness for him?”

God, I hope so. It’s taking long enough!

“Stop it.” She cried. “I’m serious.”

“No. He looks the same to me.”

Good. He hasn’t been paying any attention. That’ll make him play into my hands faster.

Nick, still chuckling, left.

“Nick!” She called laughingly. “Even his skin and hair is darker. I’m serious!”

“No, it’s not.” Nick closed the door behind him.

She’s right. Perhaps he should listen.

Deragan was out conferring with the wolves. Unaware Lily and Mary pulled Nora aside today.

“Do you have a moment?” Lily asked. Blinking big blue eyes.

“That we may talk to you?” Mary continued. Her brown eyes seeming sharper.

Laughing ruefully, she said. “With you girls here I’ve nothing but time.”

They smiled. Both were ugly dresses. Lily in gray, Mary in brown. Aprons tied at their waist and necks. Frilled white mob caps holding their wild curls. Lily’s blonde. Mary’s brown like their mothers’.

“As it-” Lily started.

“Should be.” Mary finished.

“What is it?”

Looking at each other, before Lily whispered to her. “Things are going to change. We wanted to prepare you. Only you deserve the honor to be bestowed upon you.”

They nodded vigorously.

“It will be soon.” Mary asserted.

“What will be?”

“The veil will lift.” Lily commented excitedly. “You’ll see it all soon.”

“He’s tiring of the spell.” Mary explained.

Before Nora could question them, they spun in unison and walked away, perfectly in-step.

Stepping to follow them, Nora froze and stared in confusion.

Something glowed under the hem of Mary’s mob cap.

Nora rushed to catch up to her and lifted the edge.

Mary slapped it back down but not before Nora glimpsed what squirmed from sight. Hiding deeper in the darker curls piled beneath it.

“Isabelle?”

The hair writhed and bulged as a flick of wings made an appearance before it managed to scramble back under the cloth.

“Excuse me?” Mary’s brows lifted as she turned.

“Why is she with you?”

“What?” Mary blinked.

“What are you talking about?” Lily intervened quickly.

“You must know she’s there!” Nora objected. “Don’t lie to me!”

When they both just blinked at her she harrumphed and turned. Taking the stairs and heading to her chamber in frustration. Just as she touched the handle, a hand on her shoulder made her jump.

She rounded.

“Are you well?” Deragan’s eyes were vibrant blue a moment before he caught himself and returned them to hazel.

Darn it. I forgot.

What’s she so alarmed about? His gaze roved her face intensely.

“I-I don’t understand.” She stuttered. Reaching for her ring yet again, she twisted the skin just above her knuckle before giving a frustrated cry.

His eyes missed nothing. Staring at her wringing hands, his head cocked. “What’s happened?”

Was Radix here?

She pushed her bangs back. “I-I miss my friends.”

“The ladies?”

“Meralee Carter and the Widow Valentine, Anna. And a friend I haven’t spoken to in a long while.”

“A gentleman?”

She gave a grudging tilt of her head. “He got me through a lot.”

My voice. Me. Deragan nodded slowly. Sighing.

“I miss Meralee. I miss having someone to talk to.” Tears welled in her eyes. “I’ve sent her missives but she’s not responding.”

“Ssh.” He tried to shush her as he put a hand to her upper arm, but she abruptly lunged against him.

His arms reflexively wrapped around her.

Like countless times before.

His face dropped to the top of her head where he took in the scent of her hair, of her skin. Vanilla.

I missed this. Like everything else about her. His shoulders slumped and his arms enveloped her more deeply.

Her hands slid under his shirt and up his back. She pressed her cheek to his shirt. “I don’t even know if she’s okay.”

“She is.”

She leaned back to tilt her head up. Resting her chin against his chest. “How can you be so sure?”

Because I sent her with Lucien.

He steadied his breathing. Trying to slow his accelerated heart. Despite himself his fingers splayed her lower back. Heat suffused him. A low growl rippling through his chest.

She stiffened in his arms.

Trying to mask the sound by clearing his throat he murmured. “I’m sure she’s fine.”

“How can you be so sure?” Nora asked, though she was calming.

“From what I’ve seen of the Miss Carter. She’s no shrinking maiden.”

“That she’s not!” Nora agreed.

He looked away. It pains me to lie to her.

Do whatever it takes. She’d told him all those years ago.

He sensed her withdrawing from him. He took a step forward and gently backed her against the wall. Bumping the bottom of her nose with his urged her to tip her head back. Breathing on her lips a moment he couldn’t resist. His lips touched hers and received an immediate response.

Despite her startled gasp, her body softened and molded against him.

He moaned into her mouth. Realizing he was clinging to his tenuous control, he snarled in his throat and slammed both palms against the wall on both sides of her. Unable to stop his fevered reaction. I want her.

But I need her to want me as badly.

Nora blinked rapidly at him. “Wh-What-”

“I don’t know!” He retreated a few steps. Putting space between them as he looked everywhere but at her beautiful face.

Breathe. Slow down.

“Seemed like you did.” She retorted.

He stared at the wall next to her cheek searching for an answer.

“Why do you do that?”

“What?” His gaze flicked to her.

“Just when I think I’m getting close to figuring you out, you lock up.”

He tilted his head. A thousand responses crossing his mind.

Nora walked to her room on numbed feet. Finding her way to the window, she stared out. A flash of movement caught her eye in the rock clearing in the woods. Gray stone parted the trees and the shadow of the cave cut into a towering cliff. Where the blur she’d seen after her carriage wrecked, had disappeared.

Flickering lights luminesced. Recognizing them from the day they’d lured her into the woods. Three white mob caps were visible in the clearing.

Then Deragan emerged on the steps, heading down the lawn. Crossing it in long strides to vanish into the trees.

Her fingernails dug into the windowsill.

He appeared in the clearing. Pacing as he spoke and gestured aggressively.

The women stared avidly before tearing off their caps in unison. Two dark heads and a blonde. Their dresses disintegrated leaving only vines and leaves as covering.

Nora’s forehead dropped to the glass. When she opened her eyes, she met Deragan’s keen gaze.

He stared above the clearing, over the trees and lawn and straight through her window as though nothing stood between them.

She spun and put her back to the wall. Sliding to the floor and biting her lip so hard it bled.

Rising she ran down the stairs and into the Dining Room.

Seeing the look on her face, Nicholas rose from the table to meet her. His eyes filling with concern as he circled the table to approach her. “Nora? What is it?”

“I-I’m fine. It’s Derrick. He-he-”

“He’s right here. He’s fine.” Marcus cut her off gesturing behind him.

Feeling blood drain from her face, she looked where Marcus gestured.

Sitting in the chair there, Deragan reclined with his hands behind his head and feet on the bench as though he’d been there for hours. His hair hung just to his collar where it curled slightly. Rippling back in waves as dark as midnight. Staring at her, his face was impassive.

Don’t question them. He willed. They’ll tell you I just got here.

Tearing her gaze from him she breathed heavily. Looking to her brothers and then to the children playing on the hide near the fire.

Tonight, he exuded dangerous energy. Making her hair stand on end and sending chills racing her spine. He’d no facial hair now. His body taut with restrained strength beneath long sleeves. So unmoving he seemed far from the man she was coming to know. He now seemed coldly predatorial. Gaze locked on her.