FOREVER KNIGHTS: #2 Rise of the King of Assassins

WhiteHall, Harridan Hamlet, Paladines (Lost for fourteen years)

RAESE

Tonight, Raese dreamt of climbing ropes until his arms ached. The sensation so real he smelled flowers blooming on the branches near him. Felt the grating twists of rope biting his palms. Since many of the pulleys mysteriously shattered overnight. They were moving armloads of wood by sliding to the ground. His boots crunched over soft vines twining the forest floor surrounding the base of trees. He used the back of one forearm to brush sweat from his forehead. His mouth felt chalky and he was tiring.

I need to check those pulleys. He reminded himself. He’d not had a chance yet but was sure he’d find they’d been tampered with by human hands. Her pretty hands.

Unbuttoning his tunic, he rolled it from his shoulders and caught it in one fist. He ran a hand through his hair, pushing it back from his forehead. The fresh air felt good across his bare torso. He sighed in relief, tossing his shirt behind a tree as he neared the Lake.

Despite that he’d learned much from Benjamin, who worked aside him, he was still curious about the pretty wood wraith. More than curious. I want to get closer.

He couldn’t have imagined his luck as he headed for a drink. Rounding a cluster of trees, he caught the flash of dark hair whipping and saw his movements drew the attention of the bathing woman. He froze, watching her intently.

In one sweep she caught her chemise from atop the lilypads and found footing on something under water to launch herself out. Impossibly perching on lilypads floating the surface.

Raese caught the merest flash of a rounded derriere and shapely back prior to the chemise falling to conceal the tantalizing display of skin. Catching slightly over the rounded globe of a white breast before falling over her body.

Before he registered what’d happened, nor mustered any words, she slid the second strap of the undergarment into place. Twisting her torso to see him over her shoulder. Blue eyes nearly vibrantly purple in the afternoon light. Reflecting dancing golds which winked over the surface of the pond.

When his eyes wandered up to meet hers, he found the sullen look she gave him. As if I’m the worst kind of intruder…

I am standing here staring like a lovestruck boy.

She floated along the surface, only calves and feet dangling in the water. A thick black braid pulled over one shoulder.

Seeing he’d not moved, her eyes slid to the bank next to him.

To what? His gaze followed hers and spotted the green riding dress trimmed in vibrant bird feathers, complete with leather corset in a pile. Nearby were her boots.

He was tempted to take them. And see if she'll come out after them.

She looks ready to fight for them.

And he had the hidden desire to scent her clothes. To catch her woman's smell so he could label it as hers.

The same possessive desire that had that view of pale shoulder and back locked in his mind. He'd already chosen the perfect place to sink in wolf's teeth.

To mark her as my mate while I make love to her. The thought rather surprised him as he'd heard other immortal knights discussing it.

But never had the urge myself to mark a woman. To see the slight wound on her shoulder that would alert the others she had been claimed.

Creatures for miles would know she's mine.

The power of the mark was reknowned. Dreads throughout Ardae could sense when a woman had been marked by a Forever Knight.

“I presume these are yours?” He bumped one of the garments with the toe of his boot.

Her eyes lifted, but she said nothing.

As if asking what I intend to do.

But the look she was giving him was suspicious.

He sensed her discomfort.

“I wasn’t peering on you. My only reason for coming down here was to fetch drink for my parched neck.” Even saying, he noticed how rough his throat was and massaged it to loosen the chords.

But peering he had. And peering I am now.

He suddenly seemed unable to look away, in-fact.

He was mesmerized by her damp hair falling over her shoulder. Somehow making her look…Vulnerable.

Exposing the soft flesh at the back of her shoulder.

A perfect place for marking. He had the sudden overwhelming urge to do so. Making him harden immediately.

He nearly crossed the distance to let his wolf's teeth sink into the skin. And claim her as mine.

Shaking his head he focused on her blinking over her shoulder at him. Her eyes seemed larger. Making her look younger than he’d have guessed before.

“How old are you?”

She lifted a brow but said nothing.

Unwilling to talk to me or to strangers in general?

“I’m not asking out of poor intent. I ask from a place of raw curiosity since you live out here on your own.”

Her chin hitched but she didn’t reply.

“Not to say I don’t have thoughts of poor intent…” He admitted, gaze trailing over her. Catching long swooping lashes framing almond-shaped eyes which dominated her round face. “You’re a very beautiful woman.”

He had thoughts of poor intent. Very poor.

He wanted to rip that chemise off her and feast his gaze on the pale flesh again. Wanted to see it pinken with desire while he kissed those damp lips.

Everything about this woman is alluring. He realized. Feeling like he'd been punched in the gut.

“Do you keep your hair down to hide your face?”

To disguise your beauty?

When she only blinked at him, he took it as an affirmation.

She's some kind of a temptress? A Yearner? He wondered briefly. Considering if she could be one of Radix's minions.

No. Too flawless.

Yearners could generate a pheromone to make them nearly irresistible to men but it did not change the fact that they weren't beautiful creatures.

Quite ugly really. Though one typically cannot tell while they're still alive.