In the Shadow of Angels: The Guardian Series 1 (32 page)

There is only faint sucking sounds, his breaths heavy, filling my head. Images flash behind my eyes; moist, full lips, soft, pale skin, stark blue eyes. Erotic pictures. A flash of thighs and the hollow of a neck, the skin pulsing.

I groan loud, pulling at his clothes, slipping my hands in his shirt. His skin is cool and my fingers dig into his chest. I clench my teeth, moving my hands down, tugging the button of his pants. Every suck of his mouth draws up from between my legs, pulling at this terrible ache in me. I need him, deep and hard. It builds higher ... climbing ... Painful, and oh so exquisite.

He breaks away and I’m thrown back. I gasp for air, my vision clouded and my heart racing. Aydin’s lips gleam with my blood. His hands tremble as he pierces the tips of his fingers and leans forward, rubbing them to my neck, sealing the puncture marks. The burning stops but the air is filled with lightning, my body absorbing the shocks.

Aydin stands, his breaths heavy, and leaves. I hear the lock clasp on his cell door, keeping me out, or maybe, him in. I have caught my breath. I am back in control, but I can still feel it. Velvet kisses that stroke my neck. Soft and sweet. My body has been cleansed, a blanket of warmth draped over me.

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The water in the wooden bath is cold. I sit, my knees to my chest, completely numb. The thin cloth in my hands is stained bright red as I pull it away. My hands tremble slightly as I stare at the pink water dripping from it. Everything around me is in slow motion, surreal, like I am looking through the eyes of someone else.

There is a lot more blood than I thought there was going to be. My breaths are shallow and tears sting behind my eyes. Whatever happened in the cavern was nothing like I have experienced before. It seems like we should be cuddling, or talking, anything, after that. I shouldn’t be left alone, crying in awe over what had passed between us. Aydin was not cruel, he was loving and passionate. My eyes close, remembering, and my pulse throbs deep in between my legs. There is no distinguishing if the crazed desire I had felt was my own or if it belonged to him. Maybe it was both of ours.

His scent is all over me, making my stomach twist. I rub soap over my skin, feeling the mark. The skin is smooth, like Aydin’s teeth had never touched me. But I can feel them, and in a strange way it is comforting. I keep conjuring up the images of what we had done. Is that what the experience was supposed to feel like? Wild and lustful? My face heats remembering my reaction. That was certainly no kiss. No kiss has ever felt so sensual and possessive.

It is unclear if he shared the erotic images with me. The crystal blue eyes, the lips and skin. Pictures of me. It feels like I have stolen them from him and maybe I have, they were too personal. I rub my face and stand.

The distant dripping water and my breathing are the only sounds when I return to the cavern. There is a drop of blood, my blood, on the satin blanket on my little bed. I gather everything up and take it back to my cell. I can’t stay in there, not after what just happened. I don’t know how I am going to face him again.

Sleep won’t come, I feel energized and edgy. It’s going to be a long time before my mind will settle long enough to rest. My eyes press closed. Aydin, I worry, will regret this. He’s so cold and collected, only allowing small glimpses of who he really is. What we just shared, was far more intimate than any encounter I’ve ever had. I wonder if he lies in his cell, replaying the same images. Part of me hopes he is.

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When I wake, I drag myself to the mouth of the cave. Where bodies had been cast into the sea, their souls forever lost on the rocks below. My limbs are weak. Aydin had taken a lot of blood. Hopefully enough to heal him. I sit down putting the oil lamp behind me, away from the opening, and watch the sunset. I can’t see the burning ball, just the faint colors as it settles out of view. I stare out at the sea. I haven’t realized how much I missed it. The threat of violence beneath the calm waters, the slightest provocation stirs the waves, and they will crash and destroy everything in their path. Just like Aydin.

Pure energy fills the cave opening. My head is light and my pulse races. Aydin is awake. I breathe deep, trying to adjust to the new sensation. This is different. It is calm and serene, but somehow intense and consuming. He is everywhere, tingling over my skin, filling my nose with his smell. Do his marks make me feel his presence eve more? The idea of having to live with this is unnerving. I could barely handle being around him before.

“Are you feeling alright?” Aydin asks from behind me. The sound of his soft voice spreads a blush over my chest and cheeks.
Oh no, this is terrible.
So much worse than I thought it was going to be. I can’t turn to look at him. If I do, he will see the horror in my wide eyes, and wildly beating heart. He already feels it.

“I’m fine.” I place my hand where his mouth had been. The skin heats and pulls toward him. I stand, finally mustering enough courage to face him. I’m stuck here after all, until further notice. I turn and stop, frozen in place. My hand flies to my mouth and I back up to the cave wall to steady myself.

Sweet mother of Hades.

Aydin stands before me, but like I have never imagined, a massive, formidable presence. This burned skin is gone, replaced by vibrant, healthy flesh. It glows in the low light, its olive tone glistening in the flicker of the oil lamp. The shirt he wears is a cool gray matching the platinum of his eyes. The sleeves are rolled up over his large forearms, thin black hairs cover the thick muscles. The buttons are undone revealing his chest, the skin smooth and carved with thick slabs of muscle. His entire body is made of it, created from years of fighting for survival in a bloody ring. The legs of his pants form around his thighs, showing every muscle and hard curve. Gone are the gaunt bones, his cheeks are soft. His face is sensual, beautiful and kind. His clear gray eyes are warm and calm, holding something; a flicker. Pride. He has been restored. Freed of his failures.

“Aydin?” I ask, just to make sure he’s real. He is glorious, hideous, a beautiful, deadly creature. Aydin pulls me to him and I almost pull back. The air around us is heavy, I suck it in, absorbing his strength. I can imagine how men had quivered at his feet, how Ashur had seen in him a beast.

Aydin brushes his fingers, lightly, over my neck, the skin heating under his touch. My entire body pulls toward him, a magnetic force, drawing me in, wanting. He has removed the mark that bound me to evil and replaced it with his own. No one can touch me. Aydin has made sure of it. His deep marks will keep the monsters at bay, binding me to him. He brushes the hair from my face, leaning down to kiss the tip of my nose, his cool breath falls over me in a rush and my breath catches in my throat.

Aydin smiles. His smile. The one I know he saves just for me. “Hello, Miss Charlotte.”

Spring/Summer 2015

In

the

Shadow

of

Monsters

The Guardian

Book II

Fanny Lee Savage

Acknowledgments

The idea for this novel came to me long ago. What started as a simple story of a woman who finds her true love in France, grew into a complex tale, filled with colorful characters and places. I have always loved mythology, history and how it bleeds together, painting pictures of the people who walked before us. It is this love, that created this book and the characters in it. 

Thank you, to my sister Rachel. For trying to convince me, repeatedly, that I really could write, and that you weren’t lying. To my beta readers: Kendra, for re-teaching me proper grammar, laughing when I hoped readers would, and for pointing out my silly errors. Barbara, thank you for your amazing feedback and for believing this story. Jade, a big thank you for all your commentary, helping me with proper French, and for loving Aydin and his story as much as I do.

A huge thank you to my daughter. She put up with a boring summer-break, eating fast food and frozen dinners while I sat at the computer, typing words she wasn’t allowed to read, and for thinking I am clever, not crazy, from all the times she caught me talking to myself.

Thank you to my mom, for being excited for me when I embarked on this crazy journey, and for encouraging me to continue.

Last, I am indebted to my husband. He listened to every bit of information I discovered (thanks to Wikipedia, who, by the way, is a very reliable source) about vampires, gladiators, Sumerian gods, the origins of man, Roman emperors and the daily lives of people who lived then, how they spoke and what curse words they used.... The list of info dumps he endured is endless, and he listened patiently, to every one. Thank you for putting up with my vague descriptions, for pointing out my mistakes and giving me the idea that Charlotte needed to be a hotel maid. Thank you for holding me up and keeping me sane when I thought I would fall over the edge of reason.

Thank you all for believing in me when I doubted myself.

About the Author

Fanny Lee Savage was born in Florida where she became enchanted by its diverse culture and rich history. She spent most of her early childhood living in the central part of the state before her family moved to Colorado.

Some of her hobbies include: Photography, drawing, digital art and 3D model making.

Fanny now resides in Florida with her husband of eleven years, their ten year old daughter, collection of five cats and a dog. She devotes herse
lf to her family and spends her free time writing down all the stories that fill her head
.

For more information about this book and the author, visit her website:
fannyleesavage.com