Flame Thrower (27 page)

His voice shook her out of her thoughts because his heated and passion filled words touched her soul. “Tillie, oh Tillie. What did I ever do to deserve you?” he asked very quietly.

“I think you have that backwards, Ryan. I’m the one not worthy of you.” Tillian rotated her hips in an act that drove him mad and ended up with him whisking her to the bedroom, where he looked down upon her when he pinned her to the bed.

“You deserve me and so much more. I’ve waited for you my whole life and won’t risk losing you. Prepare yourself to be showered with love, affection and devotion for the rest of your long life, my wife.” Then Ryan demonstrated what he meant by making love to her until the moon was high in the night sky.

Tillian’s mind couldn’t rest, though. She waited until Ryan fell into an exhausted sleep before she left their bed and collected her clothing. She stood there, clutching the garments to her chest, gathering her courage to get dressed and then sighed. This was her choice.

While she dressed, she tried very hard not to succumb to the tears that threatened. She knew what she had to do and was committed to seeing it through. For once, she’d be strong. For once she’d fight back. She wasn’t going to let people die because of her and she wasn’t going to sacrifice a sister she’d never met to the cruelty of Folkyn. As Wallace had said earlier, she was the Queen of Yorath now and that meant she also protected her people, and that included Yorath’s King.

She’d become overly attached to this man and when she looked down upon his sleeping form, her heart broke. He was so spectacular when he slept for all his worry lines, laugh lines and stress melted off his face and left behind a peacefully innocent man. Her heart thudded twice and she felt the pull to crawl back under the sheets and feel his naked body next to hers. She had to leave him...to save Crysin…to save Ryan from harm. Without Tillian’s intervention, that woman would be handed from man to man until Tillian was produced or Ryan would get injured trying to bring her back.

With a tremendous amount of regret she removed the necklace Ryan gave her on their wedding day. It had not left her neck since, and she laid it on her pillow. He would know immediately what it meant when he woke the next morning to find her gone.

She stifled a sob when she looked at Ryan, her gorgeous and generous husband, and resisted an urge to run her fingers through his short hair or feel the scruffy fuzz of his beard. She would miss him, everything about him. On second thought, she went to his closet and added one of his shirts to her pack as a reminder of what she left behind. With one final glance at the sleeping man, she swept from the room in the dead of night before she had second thoughts and stayed.

Lucky for her, Ryan had not posted guards at their door and she found her exit to be unhindered. The stable boy was confused to be roused so early, because dawn was only a few hours away. In his confusion, he numbly saddled her horse without question. It was the Queen after all and the royals sometimes did things that were odd. Once she was mounted and riding off, he returned to his bed without much thought.

Getting out of the city was another matter. The guard was suspicious she wanted to leave without an escort and wouldn’t open the gates. Tillian had to use all her authority and commanded him do so, and in the end he did.

The moment her horse cleared the threshold, he sent a man straight to the castle at once.

Looking back over her shoulder as she galloped away, Tillian knew the warning had been raised. She pushed her horse into a run, knowing she only had a minute head start before Ryan unleashed his army to stop her from doing the one thing she felt was right.

* * * *

Ryan groaned at the loud pounding on the door and wanted nothing more than to roll over and just hold Tillian. When he did, he found a cold sheet where her warm body should have been. A metallic item slithered into his hand and when he lifted it to his sleep muddled eyes, he felt a chill seep through his body.

Her necklace dangled from his fist and he knew. He knew instantly what she’d done.

At that exact moment, Wallace burst through the door yelling at the men pounding. “Curse your weakness! Just open the bloody door!” He then burst into the room and found Ryan sitting in bed staring at the rose pendant dangling from his fist.

Ryan’s gaze ripped away from the rose to Wallace, flames licked his irises, announcing his emotional state. “Where is she?” Ryan asked coldly.

“Gone. She just rode out and I can still catch her.”

“We, Wallace. I won’t let her ride there alone.” Ryan efficiently dressed while he managed to control both his magic and his anger. She had left him. She had left and was returning to the people who caused her so much pain. He would never understand that.

Wallace watched him and knew. “She did this for you, Ryan. Tillian didn’t trust that you’d not be hurt, and is sacrificing all to save you, Crysin and the guards of Yorath.”

Ryan slipped over the edge of reason and hollered at Wallace while the temperature soared. “I don’t give a damn!”

If this were June, Wallace knew he would react the same way, and allowed Ryan his moment to seethe. After a moment he said, “Horses are waiting outside.”

“Fine.” Ryan shoved the necklace into his pocket before securing his sword on his hip. “Let’s go,” he ordered and stormed from the room.

Gareth rolled over and felt the naked warm body next to him. Memory of who was here caused his body to harden and he pressed against her back. The movement elicited a moan from his lips. “Crysin, my dear. It’s that time again.”

She groaned into the pillow. Damn this man. He’d not lied one iota about his stamina or his creativity, so had taken every opportunity to play with her until she finally had to beg him to stop. Since he was partaking in her body in what felt like every hour, Crysin was sore, bruised and very tired. “Gareth, I can’t do this much more,” Crysin whimpered.

With some amusement, he leaned up on an elbow and stroked the hair off her back and he leaned down to suckle her skin along her shoulder. “Too bad. I’ve only got you one more day.”

One thing frightened Crysin and frightened her badly. Somewhere in the course of the past few hours, she’d felt the drug wear off and found she didn’t want or need more to keep herself wanting Gareth. The man was a good lover and he wasn’t too cruel in his creativity. The fact that she liked him scared her.

“Please, no more for a while. I’m too tired to move,” she mumbled into the pillow.

Seeing she wasn’t lying and truly was exhausted, he found a kind streak and relented. “For just a short while, though. I’ll have food brought and some fresh water, but, I’m far from through with you.”

Her only reply was a muffled sound before she drifted halfway to sleep. Gareth dressed and found a guard to send in search of something to eat at this time of night before he returned to the bed.

She watched him with half lidded eyes upon his return, for he’d woken her when he rejoined her on the cot. “I’m going to miss this, Crysin. I’m surprised to find you a satisfying lover. Women back home just do not demonstrate your level of skill.”

“You’re so ignorant, Gareth. We are trained, don’t you know that? From the moment we are of age, we are shown the art of love making. Don’t get too flattered because this is all training, not desire.” She knew she lied. She did enjoy Gareth and he knew it too. His fingers along her bare skin were soothing and she rolled over onto her back. Crysin shivered suddenly when a chilliness hit her skin, and she pulled the blanket up to hide from the early morning air.

He watched her closely and quite possessively. “I should have known you were trained. I won’t tell Ellis that or it’d ruin his impression of his prowess.”

“Tell him what you like, I care not.” Her yawn split her face. “Now, let me sleep.”

“I don’t think so, Princess.” His eyes spoke mischief and a wickedness that sent a thrill throbbing between her legs, earning a groan.

“Gareth.”

His lips halted any more conversation while he kissed her into submission and within moments she was rolling towards her captor while he slowly slid the sheet down her body, revealing her naked form inch by inch. She moaned in denial, but didn’t stop him from uncovering her for his hands to have free access to her curves.

In one of the moments he broke the kiss, Crysin touched his cheek, caressing gently. “How could this side of you do the horrible things you’ve done?”

Gareth darkened immediately and rolled away onto his back to brood. “You had to go there.”

Her body followed his like a magnet and she crawled up his body to rest her head on his chest. She resisted a smile when he didn’t push her off, instead he ran his fingers through her hair in an act of endearment. “I find this all to be very confusing, Gareth. I want to understand.”

“That is for me to discuss with Tillian,” he growled.

“Gareth, you’ve convinced me there is something good still inside you, so do the right thing and let me go, let me ride away without anyone stopping me.” Crysin held her breath while he didn’t move or even breathe.

“No.”

“You are not your Father,” Crysin whispered but found herself being shoved off while Gareth sat up and wouldn’t look at her.

“I almost forgot, almost lived away from the guilt, but you had to drag me back.” His words seared with anger while he snarled at her.

“Ah, welcome back,” Crysin sighed and gathered the blanket again while laying flat on her back. Gareth snapped and she found her throat being held in a painful grip that had her gasping for air within seconds.

“Careful,” he mocked, giving her another squeeze while she clawed at his hand desperately.

Finally he released her and left the bed and got dressed. When he found his inner calm again, but not his lust, he turned to her. “Don’t forget who and what I am. I am no longer the man I once was. That person died the day I followed my Father’s order to harm my sister. Don’t tempt me to show you more of what I can do, for I’m sure there are many men just outside this tent that would love to experience the joys your body can deliver.”

“Oh, I won’t. I think you’re wrong, though. You are a Prince of Folkyn. You are more than a monster, and all you have to do is forgive yourself first.”

“I only care about whether Tillian can forgive me,” he sneered.

“Well—” She took a chance and leaned forward. “She’ll never do that unless you forgive yourself first.”

Gareth unleashed his anger as if he were being held back and pinned her to the cot painfully while he covered her with his entire body. “I said stop.”

“Then make me,” she challenged.

And he did, by kissing her so painfully that she whimpered under his caress while he plundered her mouth and practically ripped open his breeches while not removing his lips.

When he was naked, he snaked his hand down her side and hip then straight across, spreading her legs and forcefully thrusting into her body, spearing her on his fingers. “Is this what you want?” He accentuated his words with a rough stroke. “This side of me?”

“No, I want—” She gasped while he stroked her harder. “I want you, the real you, the man I know you can be.” Gareth had her on the brink in seconds regardless of his less than amorous attentions and Crysin shattered violently on his hand.

Without missing a beat, Gareth moved between her legs and pushed deep inside with a driving force and heard Crysin cry out. He smothered her cry in another kiss that swallowed her sound.

His hips moved with a momentum that had the cot rocking against the dirt floor and he didn’t stop until he felt the flutter of pleasure through his groin that radiated down to his toes.

“Be yourself, Gareth,” she moaned. “I know you’re in there.”

“Crsyin,” he cried and released all this guilt in a wave. He felt it flee his body in powerful bursts when he emptied everything he had. Gareth collapsed on her chest and cried. He felt her arms tightened around him while he fought the forgiveness he wouldn’t allow himself ever to feel.

After a moment he spoke. “I don’t exist anymore. I died and now this is all that is left,” he whispered into the crook of her neck. “Please don’t force me face it, please don’t.”

Embracing him, Crysin hugged him to her chest while he finally drifted off to sleep for awhile. Hopefully he’d be able to run from his guilt and anger while he dreamed of who knew what. She hoped he’d be free for a while at least.

In that moment, Crysin accepted she’d developed an affection for this tortured man and laid a small kiss on his forehead, earning a murmur in reply.

“All right, just sleep.”

* * * *

Just as Crysin drifted off to sleep, the sound of a galloping horse thundered into the camp. When it skidded to a stop, Crysin heard a woman screaming Gareth’s name at the top of her lungs. The urgency was unmistakable. Crysin sat up and caught a glimpse of her captor when he sprang forward cinching up his pants and sprinted from the pavilion into the night before she could stop him.

Crysin quickly dressed, crawling to the wall of the tent to listen. She couldn’t make out words but the voices were strained and the conversation was broken and emotional. One name filtered through to her though and it caused her to hold her breath in shock.
Tillian.

She strained harder to listen for her brother because if his wife was here, he wasn’t far behind. Crysin heard only one horse and one voice which spoke to Gareth. Which meant Ryan wasn’t here. Which meant Tillian had come on her own.

Crysin’s eyes darted around the tent nervously while she tried to figure out what this meant. If Tillian were here without Ryan’s approval, then chaos was about to break loose and she would be caught in the crossfire of her brother’s blazing anger.

The sound of the tent flap opening drew her attention, sending her jumping back. In walked the handsome pair. Side by side they were a stunning sight. Brother and sister shared a common bloodline and appearance, but Tillian displayed her exotic appearance more dramatically than her brother. Where she was stunning, painfully so, he was merely handsome.

“Ah, Princess Crysin, you’ve heard.” He noted she’d dressed and allowed his eyes to roam from head to toe.

This was the wicked Gareth, the one who adored cruelty and instantly she knew he’d retreated behind the façade created to hide from his guilt. She watched him and tried to catch his gaze but he refused to let his eyes linger longer than a fleeting glance before they darted away. It was as if he knew he’d crumble if he looked at her.

“I have to say I’m a bit disappointed that my sister arrived. It robs me of one more day of your company. It appears Tillian has a conscience and didn’t want you to suffer like she had, and is going against her good husband’s wishes and turning herself in to save you.” Gareth turned to look at Tillian then added, “He still owes the money though. Father won’t have it any other way. How shall we address that? Shall we send another note, maybe written in your elegant hand?”

Crysin knew what his coldness was costing him, because the only person who could absolve him of his guilt was the woman standing two steps from him. Yet he continued to be callous and she knew instantly he wouldn’t get what he wanted. He made sure of that.

“What’s happened to you, Gareth?” Tillian asked in a pained voice.

“That’s not important,” he said, his voice heavy with torment. He turned to face Crysin straight on for the first time. “Crysin, you can go.” He watched his sister stand just inside the tent, watching him with a judging stare. She didn’t try to hide the disgust she obviously felt.

Crysin didn’t move. She stared into his angry eyes and saw a glimpse of something. It was a gut-wrenching pull at her heart. She suddenly wasn’t sure she wanted to leave at all. Gareth needed help and Crysin was sure she’d be able to get him through this. The longer Tillian glared at him, the stiffer he became. It was a matter of time before he cracked. When she pleaded with her eyes, he barked, “Go!”

She flinched at his harshness but still didn’t move. He wilted, dropping his shoulders in defeat. “Please, just go.” His whispered words finally broke through and she stepped forward, only to stop when Tillian finally spoke.

“I’d like a word with her alone.”

Crysin knew instantly why Ryan had fallen for her. She was elegant and strong, but there was a weakness in her, a softness that her brother would find irresistible.

Gareth turned back to his sister and shrugged. “Why not?” He left.

Tillian rushed to her the moment the flap dropped and clutched at her tightly. “I know we’ve not met but I couldn’t leave you here. The thought of what could be done to you by who knows how many men...it made me sick with dread. I know Ryan will explode when he finds me gone, but Crysin, I just couldn’t leave you here one more day.”

“Ryan doesn’t know about this, does he?” Crysin whispered and knew instantly the wrath of anger that was coming.

“He probably does by now. The guard was suspicious and I’m sure he sounded the alarm.”

“Tillian, do you know what you’re doing?”

“Not really, but there is no other option. I know my family better than Ryan and he was being stubborn. I also know the despair of waiting for someone to rescue you from this torment. My brother didn’t come for me, so...here I am. It’s the best I can do.”

“There’s a difference, Tillian. I know my brother will come. You didn’t.”

The statement rocked Tillian and found she couldn’t speak for a moment until she swallowed. “I hoped,” she finally whispered. “But he never came.”

“It’s up to you whether you forgive him, but the brother you knew is still there somewhere. I saw it briefly, but he’s shattered by what he did.”

“He should be and I’m not sure I can easily forgive, but maybe in time. I don’t trust him, though. Once I get home, I’m sure I’ll be right back to where I was, don’t you see? He’ll leave again, only this time, I’ll expect it.”

“Oh no, Tillian, you can’t go back!” Crysin cried and pulled back to look up into her exotic face. “What about Ryan? Think what this will do to him.”

“I know he’s racing right behind and won’t be far away. Please remind him of my love. Please? I need him to know I didn’t run out because I didn’t love him and will miss him for the rest of my life.” Tillian finally cracked and a huge sob broke free. All the regret of leaving her sleeping husband and the love he gave her came crashing down. The pain tore at her soul with gut-wrenching swipes, stealing her breath. She knew she’d not remain alive much longer once Gareth learned the Flame Thrower was about to arrive.

Crysin hugged her again. “Oh Tillian, Ryan is going to go insane.”