The Willow (8 page)

Lazarus laughed cruelly. “Used all your strength, did you, to send the youngling away? This will be easier than I thought.” He lunged toward her and sank his fangs deep into her neck.

Her eyes closed, her body tightened then she screamed.

The visions abruptly stopped, but the sound of her horrific scream was still echoing in my mind. I opened my eyes, and as I did, my heart plummeted for so many reasons it was impossible to pinpoint them. For the horror of what I just witnessed, for the knowledge that she was as wonderful as I suspected, and this was as far as I was ever going to know her. I could only hear her voice, see her smile, feel her love only through someone else’s memories, and the pain of that sank in deep.

I met Zia’s gaze, tears filling my eyes. My words caught in my throat.

She cupped my cheek in her hand, a tear fell down her cheek. “I know, sweetie—it saddens me too.”

Another two weeks passed, and training was going—well, it was going. Kyden’s patience was hanging on by a thread—a very thin thread. My fighting skills were mediocre, if that. He began taunting me, egging me on, and I would’ve given my left pinky finger to be able to kick his ass.

We had been circling each other for minutes now while he gave instructions on combat—rules of engaging the enemy. I listened, more focused on his moves, waiting for an opening so I could attack.

Seconds later, I saw it.

His body slightly turned and left him open. I lunged forward slamming my fist directly into his gut. Only to have him grab my arm and send me straight to the ground, face first.

“Never let the enemy get behind you. This position leaves you vulnerable.” His voice sounded well amused in my ear.

Annoyed, I smashed my head back, spun around and kicked out, flinging him backwards. I instantly jumped to my feet, a little surprised to see blood trickling down his nose when I turned to face him.

He wiped it away, unfazed. “Once you begin the attack never stop. Not for anything.”

Taking his advice, I lunged forward, and kicked out at his hip. It never connected. Instead, I found myself lying flat on my back with him holding on to my foot.

He sighed, exasperated. “You need to do better.”

Yanking my foot away, I leapt to my feet. “I’m doing my best.”

He began to circle me, his face taunting. “Why are you so afraid?”

“I’m not afraid. I—I just—I’m—”

“You’re what, a coward then?”

The words alone would have been the icing on the cake, but his clipped tone was the cherry on top. Thought ceased to exist in my mind—all that remained was action. When Kyden lunged forward, my instincts stepped in and I leaned out of the way quickly.

“That’s it,” he approved. “Block hits with your arms. Kick out, and send me away. You need to get me on the ground as quickly as possible. The longer the fight continues the more tired you’ll become.”

He came at me with a steady stream of punches and kicks, but I dodged and blocked each one. As the minutes passed, his words couldn’t have been truer. I was weakening and he was growing stronger. He moved in closer toward me, which reduced my ability to defend myself. He was gaining the upper hand. I needed to get him away and quickly.

I raised my leg and kicked high, sending him tumbling back. Before I could even blink, he was on his feet again and preparing to land a low kick to my stomach. I couldn’t stop it. No matter how fast I moved away, his foot was going to hit. I held my breath, tightened my stomach and prepared myself for the blow.

The impact of it sent me flying back, but just as I fell, I threw myself around his body. If I was going down, he sure as hell was going with me!

We landed hard. “Well done, Álainn!” he praised.

I raised my gaze to his. Molten embers stared back at me.

Fighting definitely excites him, as it does me too. I grabbed his face, demanding he kiss me. He didn’t deny me. He stormed into my mouth as if he needed my body to save him. There was nothing gentle about it. His tongue was forceful as it pushed its way in—his lips violent as they crushed against mine.

I moaned against his mouth, replying to his sweltering fire. He growled in response, rolling onto his back to pull me up to straddle him. I peered down with only seconds to spare before he grabbed my face tightly and angled my head for his attack. My breath went ragged instantly as he consumed my neck with pure greed.

Seeing the intensity in him—feeling his erection beneath me, a thought slowly emerged. I had to tell him something about myself before we went any further.

I probably wouldn’t have said anything at all, but judging by how he felt against my body if I didn’t, I’d regret it. “Kyden…I’ve…never…”

“You’ve never what?” he murmured, nibbling my ear.

I tried to say it twice, but every time I opened my mouth, nothing came out. Who’d ever heard of a twenty-four year old virgin? It wasn’t that I never wanted to or that I’d been saving myself. It was all Gloria’s fault. She didn’t raise a fool and my exes just didn’t measure up. By the time I ever got close enough to do the deed was usually the time I ended it.

He laid back and crossed his arms behind his head. “What is it?”

Holy crap!
He was simply irresistible lying there beneath me. It didn’t make this any easier. “Well…”

My hesitation lasted for many minutes while he searched my face. The confusion rushed across his features. Then, I saw it. The answer hit him like a smack in the face.

“Virgin?” His expression matched his voice perfectly. He was completely shocked. He stared intently, waiting for my reply.

With a groan, I said, “I am.” His face slowly lit up, a smile filled his entire face. “It doesn’t bother you?” I didn’t like feeling like an underdog here.

“Bother me?” He laughed deep and low. “Not bloody likely.”

Before I could even respond, he grabbed my face and kissed me deep enough to send quivers in places we were just discussing.

Suddenly, a loud gasp sounded around us. It was Haven.

My eyes snapped open just as Finn said, “So, this is your definition of training, is it Kyden?”

“Beats a punch to the face,” he answered, finishing up with a little nibble on my neck before he laid back.

“I—I—” Haven stammered.

“Lost for words, Haven?” I laughed loudly. “That’s a first.”

She glared at Kyden, but Finn knocked her arm. She huffed loudly. “Come on, we’re already late.”

* * * *

To say the least, the Witches Meadow stunned me. The entire meadow was in full party mode and everyone looked two, if not three, sheets to the wind. It wasn’t the hundreds of guardians, vampires or witches that was shocking. Oh no, it was the wereanimals—weretigers, werewolfs, werecats. It was flippin’ unbelievable. “What’s this all about?” I asked Haven

“It’s a full moon party,” she answered, glancing at the sky.

Following her gaze, the moon was large and completely full, shining brightly in the night sky. I looked back at her. “A full moon party, what’s that?”

“We always celebrate the moon when it’s full. It’s mainly for the witches and weres, but the vamps always join in on the fun too.”

“And the reason being?”

“When your magic comes in you’ll understand it better.” She shrugged. “It just rejuvenates us, but really it’s just a really good excuse to throw one hell of a party.”

She was sure as shit right about that—this was one hell of a bash. When I glanced back out the crowd, I jumped three feet off the ground and shimmied my way closer to Kyden staying free and clear from the large lion sitting next to a witch.

Kyden chuckled deeply. “Scared of the lion, are you?”

“Damn right I am!” Sure, there was a person that lived in there. But who the hell cared, it’s a lion for frigs sakes.

“Give him a little scratch behind the ears and he’ll love you forever.” Then, he proceeded to do just that.

My hands stayed right where they were, glued around Kyden’s arm. As we pushed through the thick of the crowd, Trefan was surrounded by young witches giggling around him. Obviously, he was a favorite of the younger crowd and I could see why—he was a cutie!

Haven grabbed his arm and pulled him away. “Act your age for once, will you? Gosh, what are they, sixteen years old?”

“What fun would I have if I did that?” Trefan responded, smugly.

Trefan was probably acting more his age than half of the supes here. At least he wasn’t groping any of them.

“Please tell me no one gets naked.” I said to Kyden.

“Can’t make any promises there.” He reached his hand out. “Come dance with me, Álainn.”

Haven grumbled something incoherent and stepped toward me. Finn immediately interjected, pulling her in the other direction.

Part of me was beginning to wonder if she had a split personality disorder, or maybe it was bi-polar? She was up and down and flipped over backwards constantly.

Kyden led me into the center of the crowd and kissed me as if no one was around. The world went quiet. All I knew was the way his strong hands caressed my back and the way his mouth eagerly met mine.

When the heat between us sizzled through the air, he drew away. His gaze locked with mine as he began dancing slowly with a sexy smile on his face. I reached up and ran my hands along his strong arms—humming over each curve of his glorious muscles. He grasped my hips firmly, pulling me closer toward him and leaned down to curve around my body. He continued to glide his hands along my back and I gingerly explored my way to his ass where I teasingly grazed over each tight cheek.

He arched his brow. “You prepared to finish what you’re starting?”

“I am,” I purred, leaning up to lick his bottom lip lightly. It was about time I took control of this. Now that my virginity was out of the bag, Kyden was likely to proceed at a very slow rate.

I wanted this—wanted him.

The second I touched his mouth, a deep growl rose from his chest and his pupils dilated to such a degree that the light green was almost gone. He dove forward and took my mouth fiercely. I sank into him, met his intensity with a force of my own. He wasn’t the only one who could play rough.

It wasn’t long before my legs began to wobble beneath me, the need to get him naked consumed me. The necessity was driving him just as strong. He grabbed my shoulders firmly and pushed back.

We stopped dancing and just stared at each other, fighting for an ounce of control. My virginity was about to become extinct—that was undeniable.

“Thirsty?” he asked, sounding a bit strangled.

I nodded slowly. “Something cold might do us both some good.” I wasn’t kidding, either. If he didn’t put some distance between us, I was about to do something very inappropriate in the Witches Meadow.

He cupped my face and brushed a thumb across my lips before taking my lips deep enough to leave me breathless. He groaned and released my mouth. “Stay here.”

Watching him walk away, I chuckled. He looked so stiff.
Poor guy!

Suddenly, there was a poke on my shoulder. “We haven’t had the chance to meet. I’m Zennah.”

I spun around and the witch before me dazzled. Her long brown hair, small nose, delicate lips and bright brown eyes, all but sparkled. There was something about her though, an edge of some sort. She didn’t look friendly.

“No, we haven’t. I’m Nexi.”

She put her hands on her hips. “So, you’re with Kyden are you?”

This witch did
bitch
really well. The question was why was she doing it to me? “What’s it to you?” I snapped.

She raised her brows at my aggression, but came back with equal force. “Let me give you a piece of advice. Stay the hell away from him.”

“Excuse me?”

Instantly, she stepped back. Her tone softened. “Listen, I’m just trying to save you a big heartbreak.”

“Oh really? What kind of heartbreak?”

“The one where he gets you in his bed then tosses you aside.”

“And you know this from person experience?” I asked and immediately regretted it. Sometimes knowing things isn’t always better. Who Kyden slept with before me wasn’t on my need to know list.

“Sorry to say it, but yeah, I was his last conquest.”

She wasn’t lying. It was obvious she was doing this to spite Kyden. The vindictiveness was cold on her face. Nonetheless, this was something I had to get to the bottom of.

“Come with me,” I demanded and grabbed her by the arm.

I scanned the crowd searching for Haven. Kyden could’ve answered this himself, but I wasn’t quite sure he’d be truthful and Haven would.

A moment later, I found her dancing with Finn.

Finn saw me approach and squinted his eyes, staring intently. When it dawned on him who I was dragging behind me, his eyes widened, his mouth formed the words,
“Oh shit.”

So there was truth to this.

Finn spun Haven around just as I reached her. She was smiling, but when she saw Zennah, her lips twisted to a frown.

“Is what she says about Kyden true?” I growled.

Finn glared at Zennah. “What did you say?” His words never threatened her, but his tone certainly did.

She gave a snotty shrug. “I told her the truth. She should hear it before he uses her too.”

Dropping Zennah’s arm, I grabbed onto Haven, pulling her away from the crowd. There was no way in hell I was going to discuss this with everyone around—especially Zennah. She’d probably get a kick out of it.

Haven ran behind me, gasping. “Ouch. Ouch.”

I was being rough—I didn’t care. I was pissed. Once we were free from the others, I turned and glared at her. “Is this true, Haven?”

She nodded with a quick worried edge. “Yes. He is a bit of a heartbreaker.”

All the tension, all the mood swings, the anger, the hostility—instantly explained.

Anger raged through me. The problem was I had no idea who to be angry at—Kyden, Haven or myself. “Why would you not tell me this?”

“Finn told me not to. He didn’t want me to get involved. Are you mad at me?”

I huffed—furious. I cared for him now and it could have been prevented if I’d known the truth.

Kyden suddenly appeared beside Finn, looking to Zennah, then to me. He saw my expression and stepped forward.

I stopped him with my hand, wanting nothing to do with him. Not a damn thing!

He looked at Zennah angrily and snapped out a few choice words. Judging by her snarl, whatever he said to her wasn’t nice.

Another asshole, Nexi. Bravo!

This had become a bad habit of mine. My heart had been broken before from the likes of womanizers. The mistake wasn’t going to be repeated. I spun around and ran as fast as I could.

Kyden called out behind me and stayed right on my heels. But not until the voices got quiet and the garden surrounded me did I spin around to face him.

He approached me cautiously.

“You—you—” I took a deep breath. “Fucking fuck!”

He arched a brow. “Done?”

I wanted to say more, but I was too angry.
Dammit!
At the moment, my brain refused to work. Twenty minutes from now, I’d have a thousand things to say, but right now my mind was completely blank.

“Now then, tell me what she said?” he said calmly.

“That you slept with her then broke it off.”

He nodded bleakly. “Sounds about right.”

“You admit it?” I gasped. Truthfully, I hadn’t expected him to own up to it.

“I do. I cared nothing for her or the rest of them for that matter.”

Christ! He was a cold-hearted bastard. I glared at him. “I’m not going to be one of them. You do know that, don’t you?”

“One of them?” Confusion swept across his face. “What are you…?”

I never let him finish. “You know—your fuck of the week.”

His brows furrowed. “Excuse me?”

Spinning away, I attempted to get the heck out of there, but he grabbed my shoulders, forcing me to face him. “Let go,” I shouted, trying to struggle free.

“I will not!” he said, holding onto my shoulders tight. “What’s this about?”

“Let me make this real clear to you, Kyden. I will not be used by you. Not now, not ever!”

“Use you?” He cocked his head. “And why do you think that I would do such a thing?”

“Isn’t that what you do? How many have you taken to your bed only to throw them aside? You disgust me.”

Anger flashed across his face. “What did you just say to me?” His grip tightened. His calm demeanor gone. “I’ve never used anyone. What they’ve given me they’ve offered freely. I cannot help that I felt nothing for them and didn’t pursue anything further.”

I snorted. “So, that’s what you tell yourself.”

He breathed deep, then his tone softened. “Nexi, what’s this about? That I’ve had other lovers—this bothers you?”

“No, you idiot, what bothers me is your trying to make me one of them.”

“I wouldn’t think of it! I’ve barely tried a damn thing with you.”

I tore away from him. “Just leave me alone, Kyden.”

He let me as he said quietly. “I care for you.”

I let out a harsh, cold laugh. “Do you even know what that means?”

He lunged forward, pulling me tight to his body. “I do now.”

I planted my hands on his chest and pushed away. “Well I don’t care about you!”

“You don’t care?” he repeated with an arched brow.

“Not anymore.” I knew better than to get involved with a guy like Kyden. My heart had been stomped on, pissed upon, and thrown to the curb by too many guys like this.

His look told me he knew better. “Well, even if I believed that, which I don’t, it doesn’t matter. I care for you and if you believe for one moment that I will let you walk away, you are clearly mistaken.”

I scowled at him. “Watch me.”

He lunged forward and pulled me tight against his body. “You are mine, Nexi Jones. Best you just accept that.”

What was I some dog and he was pissing on his territory? I was so angry, my voice growled. “Kyden…go…”

My words died away as his mouth captured mine. He wrapped his hands around my face and took me in a violent kiss, which was entirely possessive.

This idiot just signed his own death wish. I raised my knee, swung it back, and hit him directly in the balls as hard as I could muster. He dropped instantly. The second he let go of my arms, I ran for the doors not wanting to be near him for another second.

I should have known better, he was practically perfect. Gloria’s favorite saying echoed through my mind—“if it's too good to be true, it probably is”.
A bit too late for the reminder, Mom.