The Empress' Rapture (3 page)

“We should really go. If you will release my arm.” Sierra turned and continued at a slower place. She knew her father was going to blow a fuse. She glanced behind her to see both men behind her within a few strides.

“Did you hear what we said back there in the woods? Do you know what we are?” Roman demanded.

Sierra stopped again and turned to face her companions. Hands on her hips, she tapped her foot. Both were well built. Each one possessed muscles on top of muscles. They stood at least half a foot taller than her. She loved tall men and shook her head to stop her heated thoughts.

“If you mean do I know that you’re shape shifters, then yes. If you mean about this mating business, then yes on that too. I’ll tell you right now I don’t know either of you, but it’s not that hard for me to understand. I have shifters in my family and I know there are other shifters out there, so why not people like you? I’m cold, my face is swollen, my back hurts, and my house is right there, so are you coming or not?” She pointed through the trees at the large cabin home and stomped her foot.

“Lead the way, my lady, but we’ll talk later on this, darling!” Roman smiled.

Sierra moved around the swing in the backyard and reached for the back door, but it flew open an instant before she touched it. Her father glanced down at her, sniffed the air, and sighed. Her brothers looked on behind him. Their eyes glowed red and their arms crossed their chests. She knew they would be furious with her for taking off and risking her life again but this was ridiculous. Garth and Roman grabbed her from behind and pushed her behind them.

She sighed glancing up at their wide backs. “Dad, I needed some time alone. I’m sorry. These men helped me. Jack cornered me in the woods. Roman, Garth, this is my father, the alpha you wanted to meet. Oh, and my brothers. Please move.” She shoved herself in front of them.

“Jack attacked you again?” he asked, his tone angry. “You broke your stitches. When are you going to grow up and stop acting like a spoiled child? I swear I should have had all boys!”

She stepped back and glanced down at the ground as she heard her mother’s voice.

“Sierra, baby, are you okay?” Sierra’s mom appeared in the doorway and pulled her inside. She gazed at Roman and Garth.

“I’m fine,” Sierra replied, ignoring her father. “This is Roman and Garth. They stopped Jack from attacking me. I invited them over for some hot chocolate.” Slowly, she took her coat off. Sierra strode into the family room, grabbing the blanket off the couch.

“Lie down,” Mary Ann ordered. “I’ll have to stitch those again.”

Sierra cringed at the idea of the needle going into her skin. Her mom took her time and peeled her shirt off her back. Lying down on her stomach, Sierra flinched inwardly upon hearing the men enter the room. Roman and Garth stood at the head of the couch staring at her back.

“What the hell happened?” A deep growl issued from Roman.

“Jack did this yesterday,” her father snarled next to him. “She was supposed to be in bed resting.” Her father put himself between her naked back and her two would-be bodyguards. “I’m Drake Blacksmith, and this is my wife, Mary Ann. Thank you for your help. I am in your debt,” Drake stated and glanced down at Sierra. She saw the guilt in her father’s eyes and knew he would be even more protective now.

“There’s no need to thank us; she is our mate. I’m Roman Doming and this is my twin, Garth. We’re here on business. We were waiting for a meeting with you about moving our den down to Montana. We decided to take a run when we bumped into your daughter. God, I should have killed the Troll on the spot!”

Looking up, Sierra saw her father shake Roman’s hand as he sized him up.

“We don’t know yet if you’re my mates,” she mumbled. Her mom sat down by her side with the medical supplies. She hid her face, knowing tears would come the second her mom put the needle into her skin.

The men moved to the middle of the room as she heard their conversation. Sierra peeked at Roman unaware of anyone in the room until her mom pushed the larger cut together and slid the needle through. “Ouch, Mom! Not so rough!” She glared at her mother as the tears rolled down her cheeks. She turned her head towards the couch and clung to the pillow.

“We
are
your mates! Don’t look away, little one. There’s no shame in your tears.” Roman knelt by her and turned her head to look at him. “If I could take away the pain, I would,” he stated and kissed her lips softly.

Roman smelled of pine trees. She wanted to crawl into his lap and bury her face in his neck. She was losing it. A total stranger and she already wanted to crawl in his lap.

“I’m sorry, baby, but this one needs to be tight or you’re going to scar. After last night you’re lucky I had enough supplies left. It’s hard for me to get them from the hospital. We’re very fortunate your uncle is a doctor there and I’m a nurse. If you were mated, you’d be able to shift and this would’ve healed.” The same speech everyone heard in the house when they were injured.

Sierra glanced at her mom and cringed at her mom’s stare. “Yes, Mom.”

She closed her eyes, laid her head down, and tried to pay attention to what Roman and Garth were doing since he moved away from her. Yet she only heard bits and pieces of their words. Until she heard her father inviting them to stay at the house, her jaw dropped and her eyes snapped open as she turned to stare at her father.

“Close your mouth. It isn’t ladylike. You know your father asked them so we can find out if they truly are your mates. Plus, they have business to discuss,” her mother stated.

Gentle fingers ran down her cheek, but there were no actual fingers on her face. She glanced at Roman across the room and he smiled. She knew he was the one doing it. Closing her eyes once again, the warm fingers continued to caress her.

His warm hand cupped her cheek, and she sighed, falling asleep.

Roman’s hands skimmed over her plentiful breasts. He squeezed her nipples between his forefinger and thumb and brought his lips in contact with her. Sierra’s moan vibrated into his mouth, his lips full and aggressive. Tongues danced together, each fighting for control of the other. Another body slipped in behind her, his form pressing into her. An enormous cock pushed into the crack of her ass. Roman’s hands traveled down her thighs to the junction of her pussy and rubbed against her mound, making her clit rub against her jeans.

“
Feel how our bodies scream for us to join. You’re made for us, little one!”

Sierra looked up to find Roman standing over her, smiling. Her eyes caught movement behind him. Focusing on the target, she saw Jack’s evil smile. He said one word: “Mine!”

“
NOOOO!” she screamed. Her body melted away from her mates, leaving them there alone. The distant roar of their anger filtered through her mind.

They tried to grab her, but nothing worked. She knew this had to be a dream. Everything went black, and she heard no more.

Chapter Four

She jerked, and her eyes flew open, the dream still fresh in her thoughts. Sierra’s body shook, and Jack’s evil grin still filled her mind.

“I told you no one would take you from me. I warned you what would happen if you let anyone touch you. You’re mine. I’ll prove it now!” Jack’s scratchy voice insisted.

Sierra looked around. A shiver skirted her spine when she realized she wasn’t home anymore. “How did I get here?”

He leaned over her and flipped her onto her back. His dirty-clawed hand grabbed her breast and pinched the nipple. His other hand held her arms above her head as she tried to scratch him.

“What the hell did you do? Where am I?” she screamed, inhaling the scent of rotten meat and decay. She tried to fight him, but he was too strong. “You’re at my home,” he sneered into her face. “No one knows where it is, so don’t worry. We won’t be interrupted again. I have more powers than you know, baby,” Jack smirked.

Her fingers started to tingle, the blood flow cut to a minimum. He released her nipple and tore at her jeans. Sierra bucked trying to force him off of her. She would be damned if he would rape her.

“No! God, someone help me!” She struggled and kicked at him every chance she got, but he finally managed to strip her body naked. Tears of anger and frustration streamed down her face. She just needed to give them time to get here. She fought harder and brought her knee up into his groin, but missed.

He lay on top of her and rubbed his cock against her belly as he licked her breast with his rotten tongue. She gagged and coughed the smell of piss and rotten flesh as he lowered his body onto her.

Sierra knew she had to concentrate to get out of there. Roman and Garth’s snarls filled her head; they were so close. Then she heard her father issue commands to her brothers.

Sierra tried once more and rammed her knee into his cock.

He screamed, grabbing his cock and rolling off of her. His friends stormed into the room. The door slammed against the wall. Sierra concentrated, trying for the first time to shield her body as the other Trolls surrounded her growling. Clothes appeared on her. She surveyed the room keeping her distance from their claws and heard the muffled shouts of men.
Thank God!

Men from her father’s pack fought the Trolls guarding the home outside. She didn’t know how they’d gotten to her so fast, but she didn’t care as long as they hurried. She didn’t know how much longer she could keep the four here off of her. Tears rolled down her cheeks, relief and anger flooding her body.

“This isn’t over, Sierra!” Jack’s voice filled the room, but he and his friends vanished into thin air. The door flew open, and her mates rushed in full of rage. Their growls of frustration rang through the house at losing their prey.

Sierra needed to learn how to protect herself! She knew she had powers that she hadn’t even tapped into yet, but until now, she’d never had the need to use them.

We’ll teach you how to use your powers. You’re not alone, little one.
Roman whispered in her mind as he spoke with her father. Her brothers and the others from the pack searched the home, waiting to see if any other traps would surface. Not one person approached her to comfort her. She was surrounded by family and friends, yet alone.

I must do this on my own, Roman. Tell Father I’ll talk to him tomorrow.

Remembering the spell she had heard in a dream, Sierra cussed at herself for not using it sooner. She focused her thoughts on the one place no one knew existed. Her mates and family yelled in the distance for her to come back, but she ignored them as she disappeared from the room.

She’d put her family in harm’s way one too many times. It was time for her to grow up. Her father had been right and she wouldn’t disappoint him anymore.

Sierra stared at her small cabin nestled on Bear Paw Mountain. It was her getaway place. No one knew that she bought it two years ago. Working all those overtime hours she had managed to save enough to purchase it. Her one-bedroom log cabin in the woods stood alone. A large fireplace took up one wall, while she had a nice large bay window letting the sun in or gazing at the stars at night.

Walking inside, she closed her mind to her family and mates. Sierra started a fire in the fireplace with a wave of her hand. “It’s time I grew up. I can’t depend on someone to always protect me. I have to be able to pull my own weight!”

Standing in the center of the room, she focused on her powers, reaching down into her soul. Sierra opened the door she always kept shut and hidden. A rush of power consumed her and flowed around her body.

“
Focus! Leave your body and float outward. Good, now look down at your body.”
An unfamiliar voice in her head guided her. Sierra saw her body standing in the middle of the room. She floated around, amazed.

“
Who are you?”

“
In time you will know the answer. Now, leave the cabin and focus on a place you want to visit. Your spirit will take you there. No one will see you or feel you.”

Sierra concentrated on her family’s home. She watched her mom pace back and forth yelling at her father. Her spirit drifted into the living room. Roman and Garth stood there, but they looked right at her, as if they could see her.

They feel you, but can’t see you. They’re your mates. You haven’t joined with them yet, so they can’t tell where you are.

Sierra didn’t know if she should trust the voice, but she felt safe. Both Garth’s and Roman’s bodies tensed.

“They found me when Jack took me. Will they be able to find me again?” she asked the voice in her head.

No, you’re blocking them now, but you weren’t then. You wanted them to find you. I should warn you, they are highly pissed. I feel their anger. Are you sure you want to do this by yourself? Maybe you can call them and have them help you. They do have Fey in their blood. Their input would only help you.

Sierra thought about it and drifted back to her body. She wanted them with her, but when they didn’t even ask if she was hurt earlier, something inside of her had broken. No one had bothered to see if Jack had hurt her. She shivered as she remembered Jack ripping her pants off his green decaying cock rubbing against her skin. Even the thought of it now made her gag.

Settling back into her body, Sierra walked to the couch in front of the fireplace, sinking into its soft cushions. She stripped her clothes off and ran to the bathroom. She needed a hot bath to wash away his stink.

Sierra poured the bubble bath into the hot water and stepped inside, sinking into the water. She sighed dipping her head down as she grabbed the soap off the edge of the tub. She felt so dirty and stinky so she scrubbed till her skin was raw. Her back stung as the soapy bubbles got into her cuts.

She stood, turning on the shower and rinsing the soap from her body and washed her hair next, but nothing seemed to help as she trembled. With the water off the water she climbed out of the tub and dried off.

Naked, Sierra moved into the bedroom where she grabbed a sweater and a pair of jeans dressing. Sierra made her way back to the living room and crawled onto the couch curling up with her blanket.