Into the Ashes [The Arcadians 2] (8 page)

ore, the Citadel was one of the few

places on the planet that had access

to the precious metal used to build

and create. Because of that, there was

an influx of males that worked in

various disciplines such as making

building materials or the creation of

highly sought items like swords and

tools.

Due to the growing population,

patrols were essential to ensure the

safety of every unmated female from

rogue attacks. Rogues sought to

kidnap females to be shared amongst

the many males that lived their lives

without honor and treated the

precious females as commodities to

be brokered for goods and services.

It was a horrible reality of their

world, but Savitar and his army of

elite warriors did everything they

could to curb the problems within

their region.

Savitar had tried to stay away from

the Iron Palace while the annual

spring festival had been going on.

Although he was the eldest born of

the trio, he was very different from

his brothers and didn’t enjoy being

around crowds. When his brothers

had contacted him and shown him

what had transpired upon Raven’s

arrival, he had been elated.

The moment he saw her image in

his brothers’ thoughts he knew she

was their mate. But his joy had

quickly turned to anger at his

brothers’ rough treatment of her, even

more so when they had discovered

her brutal past and the abuse she had

faced at the hands of someone who

was supposed to love and cherish

her.

Savitar felt despair at what she had

suffered, but also for the knowledge

that his brothers’ actions had caused

her to fear them as well. As Kings of

the Iron Palace, the Akira brothers

were highly sought after as breeding

partners due to their light-brown hair

and their positions as leaders of their

people. Although many females

sought out the trio as potential mates,

none had captured the brothers’

hearts. No matter what Kadan and

Tristan said, Savitar knew he was

part of the reason they had not yet

found a mate.

Born the largest of the trio, Savitar

had been different from birth. Where

once his size had been a sign that he

had been destined to lead, over time

it became one of the reasons that

females began to fear him.

During the rogue wars Savitar had

taken a blow that had almost killed

him when he had avenged the murder

of his fathers and mother at the hands

of the rogues. By some miracle

Savitar had survived, but it had left

him scarred. As one of the few

Arcadian males with such an

imperfection, he had been deemed

unworthy. Females had made it clear

they would take him in the trio only

because they had to if they wanted his

brothers, and that rejection hurt him

deeper than he ever let anyone know.

Savitar had felt his heart break at

the way Raven had spoken about

being stuck on Arcadia with them.

Rationally he knew that he would

feel the same if he had been taken to

a strange land, but his hope of having

a beautiful mate such as her want him

disappeared like smoke when they

had found her dangling from the

balcony. To his surprise she had

clung to him after he had rescued her.

He had not liked seeing the terror in

her

beautiful

green

eyes

and

promised himself that he would do

whatever he needed to ensure he

never saw that look on her face

again.

He paused as they came to a

seemingly solid rock wall. He shifted

to slide between the rocks, fitting into

a break in the mountain that was

hidden from sight. Sensing her

hesitation he held out a hand to her.

“It is a tight fit, but you will be

fine. Take my hand and I will guide

you through,” he said, holding his

breath until she placed her tiny hand

in his.

Savitar’s heart beat wildly in his

chest at the trust she placed in him by

allowing him to guide her into the

unknown. He had traversed this path

so many times it was easy for him to

maneuver them through the dark path

until they came to a small cavern that

was lit with beams of light that shone

through small cracks in the rock

walls.

He watched her face intently as

they entered the cavern, wanting to

see her first reaction to his secret

haven. It was a sacred place to him

that his brothers didn’t even intrude

upon without his express permission.

The cavern was beautiful, with a

slow, steady waterfall that poured

into a small pool. The pool fed out to

the sea below so there was rarely an

overflow and over time he had

carved out several seats from the

rock walls that allowed him to sit

and ponder whatever was on his

mind. He had placed several light

crystals that, when activated, would

light up the room with a soft blue

glow when the sunlight faded.

Pride swelled inside him at the

look of wonder on her face as she

looked around and his heart nearly

stopped when she gifted him with a

beautiful smile.

“This place is amazing!” Raven

exclaimed.

Savitar couldn’t smile back at her.

Desire flooded his system, making

his cock harden to the point of pain.

He inhaled deeply, his massive chest

expanding as he drew the air into his

lungs. The subtle sweet scent of her

desire for him was intoxicating. He

watched the smile fade from her face,

but could do nothing to reassure her.

His hands tightened into fists to stop

himself from grabbing her to him. Not

wanting to scare her, he struggled for

control.

“You desire me.” He wanted to

wince at the guttural sound of his

own voice. He watched her throat

work as she swallowed.

“W–why

do

you

sound

so

surprised?” Raven asked nervously

as she took a step back.

Savitar wanted to reach out, to pull

her into his arms so he could show

her exactly how much he wanted her

but he held back. He couldn’t bear

the distance she was placing between

them and stalked forward, following

her step for step until she was up

against the stone wall of the cavern.

Not wanting to frighten her anymore

he slowly lowered to kneel in front

of her. Even on his knees he was

almost the same height as her.

“Because females fear my size and

usually

find

my

appearance

unappealing.”

Her eyes narrowed on him. “What

do you mean? You must know you’re

a good looking man. You and your

brothers—”

“They are desired, but I am

flawed.” She would never know how

the confusion on her face warmed his

heart. Savitar slowly reached out to

stroke the back of his hand across the

smooth skin of her cheek then trailed

it down across her neck in the same

area where his own scar was.

Understanding brightened her green

eyes. “Do you mean because of your

scar?”

“Aye. It is rare for an Arcadian to

retain a wound such as I have. We

have a natural ability to heal except

from fatal injuries, but my wound

was so grievous it left me scarred.

Most females find me…unattractive.”

“Then your females are morons,”

Raven blurted out.

Savitar couldn’t help but smile at

that. He reached out and gently took

hold of one of her legs, placing her

foot on his knee. Her eyes widened in

bewilderment as he began pulling at

her strange footwear.

“What are you doing?”

“The water on Arcadia has healing

properties and you said you had been

struck by lightning earlier. It should

soothe any aches you may have. I

wish to take you swimming in the

pool.”

She choked out a laugh as she

looked pointedly at his straining

erection tenting his pants. “Umm…I

don’t think that’s all that you want to

do.”

Savitar looked up at her with a

serious expression after removing the

footwear from both of her tiny feet.

He wanted to drag her down to the

cavern floor, tear off the offensive

barrier of clothing between them, and

sink himself into her wet heat until he

poured his essence into her, but he

knew he could not. His mate was too

small to be treated without care and

he would rather die than hurt her.

This was his chance to show Raven

how a mating should be. This was his

opportunity to show her how he and

his brothers wanted to love and care

for her.

The question was, would she let

him?

“I want you, but I will not force you

to do anything you do not want. I

wish to show you how it should be

between mates. How we want to

protect and cherish you as you

deserve.”

Her breath left on a shaky sigh.

“Savitar, all of this still doesn’t feel

real. This…all of this seems like

some sort of crazy dream to me. I

don’t know the first thing about being

a mate or what you guys want from

me.”

Savitar placed his large hands on

her hips and pulled her to him gently.

He wanted to rub his face against her

and simply breathe in her scent but

kept his gaze focused on hers. “I

know that this is all strange to you,

but will you give me the chance to

show you?”

Raven’s thoughts swirled in a mass

of uncertainty. It really wasn’t fair

for

them

to

be

having

this

conversation when he was distracting

her with his bare, muscular, golden

chest.

Earlier Kadan and Tristan had

scared the crap out of her, but she

couldn’t deny that a part of her had

been attracted to them and had

wanted to give into the passion

between them. With Savitar it was

different. Somehow he had become

her gentle giant and she wanted him

with an intensity that frightened her.

Never one to back down from a

challenge, she slowly placed her

hands on the sides of his face.

Watching his glowing eyes burn for

her solidified her decision.

She leaned in and brushed her lips

softly against his. Wanting more, she

stepped into him and wrapped her

arms around his neck, taking the kiss

deeper. When Savitar growled and

hauled her closer, she felt her knees

buckle. Her nipples peaked as they

rubbed against his vibrating chest.

She felt drunk on lust as their tongues

dueled in an erotic dance. It was like

the taste of him mixed with his scent

released pheromones that heated her

blood and made her mad with need.

Raven angled her head, fusing their

mouths together. The taste of him was

addicting and she wanted more. She

could feel him thick and hot against

her thigh as she rubbed her body

against him. She felt her braid come

loose as he gripped her head in his

hands to hold her steady. His large

hands massaged her scalp as they fed

off each other. Her hands gripped at

the corded muscles of his shoulders,

holding her steady as he swept her

away in a storm of passion. Pulling

back they both panted for breath.

She wanted him, no, she needed

him.

There was no going back.

“Show me, Savitar. Show me what

it means to be a mate.”

Raven was fascinated as his golden

eyes seemed to glow brighter as he

reached out to take hold of her shirt.

She raised her arms to help him