After Dark
Scotland, 1310 A.D.
N ATALIE TOUCHED DOWN LIGHTLY INTO THE MOONLIT CLEARING deep in the forest, using only a few running steps this time to stop her forward motion. Neither did she have to concentrate hard to fold away her wings, absorbing them into the pouches that melted between her shoulder blades.
Just as Simon said, her wings had come to be an integral part of her body—flying, as instinctual as walking.
Regrettably, taking to the sky didn’t mean she escaped her worries. Her joy at discovering her newly emerging abilities had waned. The more she came into her Born self, the more withdrawn Rene, her lover, had become. Her bitterness over his abandonment wasn’t something she could deny anymore.
Perhaps if she tired herself enough, she could smooth the nasty edge that had crept into her voice whenever she spoke to the others living in the monastery. They didn’t deserve her anger. After another quick glance around, she “popped” her wings again, fanning them wide, intending to take one more flight around the secluded valley.
“You do seem to have a flare for the dramatic,” Simon murmured from the edge of the woods.
Natalie’s hands went automatically to her breasts even though the mage had been training her for weeks and had often seen her seminude. Her wings had shredded several shirts and gowns before she resigned herself to the fact modesty couldn’t be a vampire’s trait.
She let her hands drop to her sides, narrowing her gaze as he stepped into the moonlight. She didn’t understand her particular annoyance with him. He was only trying to prepare her, to ease her way since she didn’t have a vampire mentor.
However, to his discredit, his glance did flicker downward, touching her nipples before coming back to meet her gaze, one sardonic brow rising high.
Her chin came up. A wash of heat filled her cheeks, irritating her more. “Don’t you have somewhere to be?” she bit out. “Like stirring up trouble in some old caldron?”
A grin brought a devilish glint to his eyes. “I think you’re ready.”
“If it’s sword play or sticking something with a pike, you’re right.”
“Not the sort of bloodletting I had in mind.”
Blood! Damn, did he have to mention it out loud? She’d taken blood from a milk cow before fleeing to the skies, butthat hadn’t satisfied. Nothing would, except the life source of the one man she couldn’t have. “Where’s Rene?”
“He’s already gone to bed.”
The heat of her irritation cooled. Her glance slid sideways. Rene had avoided her again.
“You know,” Simon said slowly, “he’s going to have to make a decision sooner or later. Or you’re going to have to make it for him.”
Natalie turned away. More concerned with hiding her expression than her nudity. “He’s avoiding me. I have the feeling he’s already made his decision.”
“He’s stubborn,” Simon said, a palm smoothing along the edge of her wing as he stepped in front of her. “He doesn’t realize the anger he feels inside himself isn’t with you.”
“I thought it was a forgone thing,” she said, fighting to keep the thickening emotion from her voice. “The first bite was supposed to link us. He’s supposed to want this— want me .”
Simon lifted her chin with a finger and brought her gaze back to his. The understanding in his expression nearly did her in. “That bite did bind you together, but Rene’s older than most mates Born women choose. His will is strong.”
“I didn’t ask him to come with me through that portal, Simon. He stepped through it all by himself.” She sighed, trying again to stem the tears underlying her blustering anger. “I’m confused.”
“Just because he couldn’t bear to part with you doesn’t mean he’s as accepting of his role as your consort.”
“I’d never make him serve me. Not in the way the other Born expect their Revenants to behave. I love him.”
“You’re changing, growing confident and stronger
Scotland, 1310 A.D.
N ATALIE TOUCHED DOWN LIGHTLY INTO THE MOONLIT CLEARING deep in the forest, using only a few running steps this time to stop her forward motion. Neither did she have to concentrate hard to fold away her wings, absorbing them into the pouches that melted between her shoulder blades.
Just as Simon said, her wings had come to be an integral part of her body—flying, as instinctual as walking.
Regrettably, taking to the sky didn’t mean she escaped her worries. Her joy at discovering her newly emerging abilities had waned. The more she came into her Born self, the more withdrawn Rene, her lover, had become. Her bitterness over his abandonment wasn’t something she could deny anymore.
Perhaps if she tired herself enough, she could smooth the nasty edge that had crept into her voice whenever she spoke to the others living in the monastery. They didn’t deserve her anger. After another quick glance around, she “popped” her wings again, fanning them wide, intending to take one more flight around the secluded valley.
“You do seem to have a flare for the dramatic,” Simon murmured from the edge of the woods.
Natalie’s hands went automatically to her breasts even though the mage had been training her for weeks and had often seen her seminude. Her wings had shredded several shirts and gowns before she resigned herself to the fact modesty couldn’t be a vampire’s trait.
She let her hands drop to her sides, narrowing her gaze as he stepped into the moonlight. She didn’t understand her particular annoyance with him. He was only trying to prepare her, to ease her way since she didn’t have a vampire mentor.
However, to his discredit, his glance did flicker downward, touching her nipples before coming back to meet her gaze, one sardonic brow rising high.
Her chin came up. A wash of heat filled her cheeks, irritating her more. “Don’t you have somewhere to be?” she bit out. “Like stirring up trouble in some old caldron?”
A grin brought a devilish glint to his eyes. “I think you’re ready.”
“If it’s sword play or sticking something with a pike, you’re right.”
“Not the sort of bloodletting I had in mind.”
Blood! Damn, did he have to mention it out loud? She’d taken blood from a milk cow before fleeing to the skies, butthat hadn’t satisfied. Nothing would, except the life source of the one man she couldn’t have. “Where’s Rene?”
“He’s already gone to bed.”
The heat of her irritation cooled. Her glance slid sideways. Rene had avoided her again.
“You know,” Simon said slowly, “he’s going to have to make a decision sooner or later. Or you’re going to have to make it for him.”
Natalie turned away. More concerned with hiding her expression than her nudity. “He’s avoiding me. I have the feeling he’s already made his decision.”
“He’s stubborn,” Simon said, a palm smoothing along the edge of her wing as he stepped in front of her. “He doesn’t realize the anger he feels inside himself isn’t with you.”
“I thought it was a forgone thing,” she said, fighting to keep the thickening emotion from her voice. “The first bite was supposed to link us. He’s supposed to want this— want me .”
Simon lifted her chin with a finger and brought her gaze back to his. The understanding in his expression nearly did her in. “That bite did bind you together, but Rene’s older than most mates Born women choose. His will is strong.”
“I didn’t ask him to come with me through that portal, Simon. He stepped through it all by himself.” She sighed, trying again to stem the tears underlying her blustering anger. “I’m confused.”
“Just because he couldn’t bear to part with you doesn’t mean he’s as accepting of his role as your consort.”
“I’d never make him serve me. Not in the way the other Born expect their Revenants to behave. I love him.”
“You’re changing, growing confident and stronger
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