Awakenings (A Witch's Coven Novel Book 1) (13 page)

Leah rode her orgasm until her legs began to shake and the crash came hard. “Please, please.” She stopped rubbing herself and grabbed firmly onto the lion’s cock, and he let out a guttural sound, pulling out of her, and then with her hand tightly around him, he thrust back into her and he could hold back no more. He spent himself in her, pulling out and thrusting in twice more until when he slid back out of her, Leah locked her hand hard on his cock and twisted around it. He pulled fully out and his semen dripped onto her thigh.

Leah laughed and then turned her head away.

“Neither of you are finished yet.” The house lord placed Leah’s head softly back on the mattress and his voice was thick with emotion. “You have Ada yet to pleasure.”

Ada glanced up in surprise, thinking that she had been forgotten.

The lion man moved off the mattress and untied Leah’s legs. She then freed her left hand and the house lord took Ada in his arms. “Lie down and relax. You have followed every instruction well.” He kissed her on the head and she lay on the mattress and relaxed. “You are the one that I want most. I have saved myself for you and just you.”

A smile broke out on Ada’s face, but still she did not say a word. Maybe she feared that he would change his mind, I did not know.

The lion man stood up and walked off back into the shadows, and I heard a door open and then shut. Leah took her position between Ada’s legs but still wore her blindfold. The house lord kissed Ada’s small breast and then put all of it into his mouth and then popped it back out wet and moist from his saliva. Ada opened her mouth and arched her back but still did not make a sound. The house lord touched Leah’s arm and she bent over, put her hands on Ada’s inner thighs, and then teased her with her tongue.

I watched and pulled back under the desk for a moment and glanced back to the door. I would need to make an exit soon and head back to my room. I didn’t want to get caught watching them as I feared that my house lord would turn me out for what I had seen. I stayed curled behind the sofa for a few breaths and heard Ada gasp in exasperation. If I stayed, I would see more, but, if caught, I would be embarrassed and would suffer some form of punishment. But the risk did not outweigh my curiosity. I sneaked out around the desk and watched as Leah stretched out on her belly and buried her face between Ada’s legs. But what caught my attention was the house lord staring into Ada’s eyes and she back at him. He watched her every expression, and she had locked on to him. They had forgotten anyone but each other.

Leah continued to lick Ada, and she made exaggerated moaning sounds, but Ada and the house lord ignored her. They were aware of only each other. Leah slid two fingers into Ada and continued to lick her, building up her speed, and Ada’s body rose and arched back, but she broke away from Leah and kicked her back. Leah stopped and rose up but still was unable to see. Concerned she asked, “Did I hurt you?”

Ada shook her head and my house lord lifted her up in her arms. “What is it?”

She fought to speak, her face flushed and full of emotion. “Send her away. I want to be with you and just you.”

He did not respond for a moment, taking in her lips, the tears in her eyes and the curves of her body. I watched them both in profile and could no longer see Leah. She had pulled the blindfold off and waited in the corner of the room out of my line of sight. My house lord pulled himself away from Ada and went to Leah. He lowered his voice and said, “Please, leave us for tonight.”

I heard Leah begin to cry, and she walked to the doorway, and then he stopped her.

“You have done nothing wrong.” He kissed her on the forehead and put his arm around her. “Go back to bed and get some rest. All will be well in the morning.” He kissed her again, and when she cried only more, he put his arms around her and pulled her close in a tender embrace. He did not kiss her again but held her against his chest. Still fully clothed in his robes, she sniffled but calmed down after a short time. He rubbed her back as he held her and said, “You are well liked here, and I will keep my door open for you, but tonight I will listen to what Ada wants. I owe it to her as she’s been patient with me.”

Leah nodded, and she hugged him and then kissed him on the cheek. She ran out of the room, and I heard her go across the room, picking up her clothes that had been thrown on the sofa. She hurried in dressing and then rushed out of the room and ran down the hall back to her bedroom. After she left, the house lord took Ada in his arms and held her close. He put his hand on her cheek and stared at her.

She returned his hug and looked up into his face and said, “Thaddeus.” She put her hand on his cheek and said his name again. “My dear Thaddeus. Please, tonight will you be with me?”

A range of conflicted emotions broke out on his face. But he turned away, and I could see no more. I could only hear his forlorn voice speaking low and intimate to Ada. “I want to be with you but cannot.”

“But why? Is there some hurt you have that needs healing?” She pulled at his robes to see his chest, but he pulled her hands away.

“You must trust me.” He held her face in both his hands.

“But you watch us together and yet you never touch. For tonight, please, will you be with me? I want you inside me. I want to please you for once.” She went to kiss him, but he turned away.

“I can’t. Please, enough.” He raised his voice and again pulled her hands away from him. “I think you should go back to your room now. It is late and we are both tired.”

“But I have followed your every wish, but you still refuse to be with me, yet you say …”

He turned back to her and placed both hands on her face and said, “I love you. Yes, yes, I do. I love you more than any woman I have loved.”

“But you won’t touch me? You won’t be with me?” She pulled away from him and in the lantern light she looked lost and alone.

He stayed apart from her for a moment, started forward, but then stayed still, conflicted on what to do. “You know my true name. Is that not enough?”

“What good is your name if when I call you, you won’t love me?” Ada turned her back to him and fought back tears. “I’m sorry. I truly am, but this waiting has been hard for me. I don’t understand. You simply deny me without explaining.”

Thaddeus reached out to her and held her in his arms. “I am sorry. I truly am, but I need you to trust me. If I could be with you tonight, I would.”

She sobbed in his arms and he held her, rocking her back and forth in his arms until she quieted and fell asleep. Still he rocked her, and then, after a long while, placed her down on the mattress. He walked over to the far side of the room and came back with more pillows and blankets. When he returned, he lay down next to Ada, pulled the blanket over both of them and then wrapped his arm around her naked body. I watched their breathing until I knew that they both slept. I had not much time and expected that my house lord was a light sleeper and would be awake soon. I crawled to the other side of the sofa, stayed on my hands and knees, and moved as quickly as I could out of the room. Halfway down the hall, I stood up, rushed down the stairs like a cat, and went, without stopping, directly to my room.

For the rest of the night, I lay awake, staring at the ceiling. Outside the snow blew and the wind whistled through a tiny hole in the window to my room. I put another log onto the fire and replayed the entire night’s events in my head. I had learned a lot that night, but what I had not expected was to learn my house lord’s name. Thaddeus. A strong name, for a strong man. I buried the memory deep and erased it from my waking mind. I knew that it would be best for me that way.

Chapter 6

The illusion fell from the girls’ eyes, and like the blowing snow outside, the remnants of my memories blew out the window. I put my arms down and faced the girls. “I think it’s time that I head off to bed. It’s late, and I should let you all get some rest.”

Alessia stood up and said, “Thank you for coming to check in on us. It was an enlightening evening.”

Cassy giggled into her hand. “Enlightening isn’t the word I would have chosen to describe it.” She fanned herself and pretended to faint.

“Keep that story to yourselves. It’s not one that I want to find going through the halls tomorrow morning. Do you understand?” I kept my tone firm and direct.

“I’ll not say anything.” Cassy pretended to lock up her lips.

“You learned your house lord’s true name.” Alessia followed me out into the hall and watched me go and said, “You could have power over him with that.”

I smiled and nodded. “You listened well. I happened to learn something extremely important that night. Something that would serve me well.”

“But why do you give this information to me?” Alessia asked.

I pretended not to hear and vanished down the hall, thinking of that night long ago. The snow then resembled the snow now, and many memories rose up inside. I would not sleep the rest of tonight, I had too much on my mind. I left Alessia waiting in the hall and did not look back.

***

An hour before sunrise, Alessia sneaked out of the tower and her room to come see me. She wore her black robe and day clothes with her boots and gloves. I felt her arrival and thought to turn her away, but was touched that she was concerned for me. Hidden in my back room watching the Moonstone, I whispered a spell and unlocked my door.

“Hello?” I heard Alessia enter my study and sensed her surprise in my not being there.

“I’m back here,” I called loudly to let her know where I was.

Alessia rushed in with her hands raised, ready to cast a spell. She was out of breath from running. “Do you need help?”

My concentration broke, and I turned away from the pedestal. “I could use company.”

Alessia kept her hands pointed at the Moonstone. “I could sense it. There’s danger in the air.” She stopped and tried to clarify her thoughts, but was distracted by the crystal. “Something is wrong, but I can’t quite say what it is.”

“Has anyone else detected this?” I asked.

She shook her head. “All the other girls are sleeping. When the storm started to die down, they went to bed, but I felt it calling to me. I can’t figure it out, but something is not quite right.” Alessia looked wise beyond her years. “I’m worried for you.”

Touched, I went to her and lowered her arms. “There’s no need to worry now. The danger has passed for tonight, but it will come again.”

She watched the light from the Moonstone fade and finally go out. “It’s gone now. But I felt a presence come to us. I can’t quite explain what I felt, but I knew you were in danger.”

“Come with me.” I led her back into the study and offered her a chair.

She sat but glanced back toward the library. “Are you going to tell me what’s going on, or just lie to me and tell me that everything is alright?”

I reached out my senses and detected no more danger. All would be well for the rest of tonight, but the snow had picked up again, and the back part of the storm would wrap its way back around, and before morn I could sense that we would be hit with a burst of heavy snow. “I don’t know where to begin, and it’s late. You should go to bed.”

“Show me. Bring me into your past and let me see what you’re up against. I can help you,” she implored and leaned forward, impassioned and ready to help.

“I’m too tired for all of that. I need to save my strength for tomorrow.” I closed my eyes and settled myself in my chair.

“But something is wrong. Why won’t you tell me what it is?”

“It’s not for you to be concerned about.” I lifted a weary arm and pointed to the door. “Alessia, go back to bed. It’s late. Please.”

She hesitated before she answered. “No. You’re trying to protect me, and I won’t go until you tell me.”

“I am your coven mother.” I rose up out of my chair and pointed to the door. “I command you to leave.”

A hurt look crossed her face, but she suppressed her anger and did not lash out at me as many others would. She stood up, and I could see her jaw clenched. “You convinced me to stay and not waste my life, and now it’s my turn to help you. You need help and I don’t know why you’re too proud to accept it. I sense a presence that’s searching for us. There’s something wrong and a grave danger is coming our way. An ancient and fearsome presence. It’s calling to both of us.”

She stood firm and did not back down. “You’re not alone in this. I know it’s not a dragon, but it’s something worse than that. Something the Realms hasn’t seen in a long time. Please, don’t shut me out.”

I could not back down. For her sake, I could not. I pointed to the door again. “Go. Now!” I yelled at her and could see the hurt in her eyes, but it had to be.

She turned her back on me and said not another word. She stormed out and slammed the door to my study. With her gone, I collapsed back into my chair and listened to the snow picking up outside. I shook my head and whispered low as though even the sound of my voice might bring him to attend me. “Why now? Why are you coming back now after so long?”

No voice answered. Only the howling wind and snow mixed with sleet that brushed against the windows spoke to me. I put my head in my hands and tried to focus, but could not. I was tired and needed sleep. I sat there listening to the snow and then opened my eyes in a flash and twirled my hand in the air. I pulled at the fabric of the room, and, like a scarf covering a woman’s face, the room shifted and Alessia stood in front of me, watching.

Her illusion broke away, shattered, and then vanished. She faced me, adamant with a look of concern on her face.

Anger subsided within me and I motioned her to come to me. “You have been studying well if you were able to fool me with such an illusion.”

“Did you like the added touch of me storming out and slamming your door?” Alessia smiled. “I thought you might like that bit.”

I laughed and could not help myself from smiling. “Yes, that was a nice touch. You made me focus on the emotion within the illusion so that I didn’t notice any flaws. That’s just as I had taught you.”

She sat across from me in a chair and reached out, becoming serious. “I’m worried about you.” She placed her hand on mine. “But if I’m really honest, I’m concerned about all of us.”