WitchofArundaleHall (14 page)

Sarah noted that Jaimison’s stare was not on Chantal’s slick
pussy or her generous breasts, but focused on her face. His voice was hoarse
when he responded to her order. “Let me touch you.”

For a moment Sarah thought Chantal would refuse. In a way
Sarah believed Chantal was banishing her own demons that had arisen from her
encounter with Lord Robert. With Jaimison she would be in control and she would
make all the decisions.

Chantal released Jaimison’s hands and started to shift away.
Jaimison reached up, not to grab or control, but to tease and touch Chantal’s
pussy. He dipped his fingers into her slick channel and Chantal hissed in a
breath. When he finally used his tongue, she jerked against his face. Still he
kept his hands gentle, stroking, touching. Even when his mouth was frantic
against her, his hands were slow and light.

The contrast was visually arousing and Sarah’s hands
clenched. Part of her wished Perry were here to see the way Jaimison learned a
woman, the way he studied her needs. But then that had never been what she
wanted from Perry. She enjoyed his possession and adored his seduction.

Chantal seemed to struggle, to fight against the release
Jaimison offered. The tension and need became too much for Chantal and she
scrambled away from him, her gasps the only sound in the large room. Jaimison
did not move. He stroked his cock and held her stare. He said nothing but their
silence seemed filled with meaning.

“Edward,” Chantal whispered, so low that Sarah thought she
was the only one who caught the word.

“Mistress, let me serve you,” Jaimison answered.

A fleeting expression of anguish crossed Chantal’s face then
she rose to her feet. “Follow me.”

Jaimison rolled onto his stomach and crawled after Chantal. She
led him to a stone pillar at the pinnacle of one of the pentagram’s points and
said, “Stand up.”

Even Sarah gasped at the ease and grace of Jaimison’s tall
form as he stood in front of Chantal. She pointed to the pillar. “Face out.”

Jaimison obeyed her and Chantal disappeared for a moment in
the dark recesses of the room, only to come back with a bolt of thick rope.

Her voice was hard and strained. “On your knees and put your
hands back.”

He didn’t hesitate. Chantal adjusted his hands, tying his
wrists together around the pillar. His ass was against the stone and his cock
was huge as Chantal connected the rope around his wrists to tie his ankles
together. When she was done she dropped the remaining rope and stood in front
of him.

His head was breast high and his cock brushed Chantal’s
thigh. She gripped his hair and yanked his head back to meet her gaze. “You
will fuck me to bring me to orgasm.”

“Yes, Mistress. But may I—” He stopped and licked his lips,
his gaze dropping to the floor.

“Ask,” she ordered him.

“Mistress, will you kiss me?” Though it was a request, there
was a sensual demand behind it that made Sarah’s insides quiver and she was
sure Chantal had to feel the same if not more.

“Edward,” she whispered. “Are you sure of what you are
about?”

“Since the moment I saw you,” he answered softly.

“Then let it be,” she said, and pressed her lips to his.

When their mouths touched she lowered her body onto his, his
cock sliding inside her, and they both groaned. The sexual energy in the air
increased and the other women touched themselves as Chantal thrust against
Jaimison.

Their lips were fused and Chantal’s hands were buried in
Jaimison’s hair as if she wanted to breathe for him. The connection that
Jaimison had had with the other women seemed to pale in comparison. There was
something…special between them that included an overwhelming passion Sarah
understood all too well.

Chantal never allowed the kiss to end as she jerked against
him and screamed her release. Jaimison could not hold on and broke contact with
her. “Mistress, I’m going to come. I’m going to—” His sentence ended in a heart-wrenching
shout.

“I want you to, Edward. I want your seed.” Chantal murmured
the words but Sarah heard them and tears pricked her eyes.

It hadn’t been fucking. Edward had done it all at Chantal’s
command, a gift of submission that made Sarah’s heart break for him. For she
could not believe that the woman who had been taken by Lord Robert the way
Chantal had could love a man with tenderness.

But when Chantal lifted her head and met Jaimison’s glassy
stare, Sarah had to rethink her belief. There was adoration and need in
Chantal’s face. It was quickly wiped away and the woman stepped back but Sarah
had seen it and it gave her hope for him.

“Now, Sarah. You must come into the circle. We will summon
Wisteria now.”

At full speed Perry careened down the country roads. The
pounding hooves sounded behind him and he noticed that a band of men on
horseback followed. He flicked the reins, wishing he could go faster.

Two men rode alongside him and crowed closer to Perry’s
carriage. One of the riders raised a pistol, aimed and fired, which killed one
of the horses, threatening to overturn the carriage. Perry jumped onto the back
of his remaining horse and used his knife to slice through the reins. Then five
more attacked him. Their pistol shots were wide of the mark but it was only a
matter of time before one found its target.

Perry zigzagged through the countryside, barely avoiding the
bullets aimed in his direction. When his horse was finally killed, caught in
the hail of gunfire, Perry was forced to transform. He jumped from his mount’s
back as the poor animal dropped to the ground, and allowed his inner beast
free.

In his wolf form, he turned on his attackers, going by
instinct rather than sense. With a roar he leaped toward one man and gutted
him. Whirling to the next rider, Perry gripped the man’s foot and yanked him
down, beheading him before he hit the dirt. The other three were less
enthusiastic after that but they hounded him still. Perry fled into the trees,
trying to lose his pursuers in the forest. He was more wolf than man when he
reached the house of Chantal D’Insigny. It was dark by the time he arrived, the
men having slowed him considerably.

On the steps a small boy greeted him, holding a lantern as
if he was expected. “You must follow me.”

“There are men who pursue me. You will be hurt. Tell me the
way.” Perry glanced back at the trees, the sound of the men’s shouts growing
louder.

The boy grinned. “I am not afraid. My mistress told me what
to do. This way.” The boy darted toward the back of the house and was far ahead
before Perry followed. The boy darted down a worn trail into a dark wooded
area. Perry had to stay in wolf form to keep up as the child ran ahead,
changing direction abruptly several times. He led Perry to a hidden opening in
a massive rock face. “Through there. I must go now.”

“Be careful,” he told the boy, and sprinted through the
entrance to the gaping maw of darkness.

A hairy fist slammed into his stomach and he lost his
breath. He flung himself away from the dark figure and readied for a fight.

Light blazed as Perry’s enemy lit a torch, illuminating the
cavern. The other wolf crouched, his fur matted with blood and his claws sharp.

“By the time you reach her she’ll be dead, another victim of
the curse,” he said, and smiled even as hatred burned in his gaze.

“Move aside, wolf. She is my mate and you will not come
between us.” Perry focused on the man and noted that his eyes shone blue in the
dim light.

They circled each other and Perry sought a way to break from
the strange wolf to find Sarah. His adversary had all the time in the world,
since Perry was the one who would lose if he was forced to fight here.

Suddenly, at the mouth of the cave, a new form appeared.

“Ben!” Perry exclaimed.

Ben’s focus was on the wolf that threatened Perry.

“Simon, stop this.” Ben’s voice was filled with desperation.

“You know him?” Perry asked Ben.

“I know him.” Ben shot Perry a quick glance and nodded his
head toward the interior of the cave. “Let me handle this.”

“You will not stop me,” the wolf stated in a low, vicious
tone. “I will kill you as well.”

“No, you won’t.” Ben stood his ground. Perry had always
thought of Ben as slight in build. His dark hair was shoulder-length and his
features were rather too angular to be masculine. Something in his tone clued
Perry in to one important aspect of his friend he’d missed.

Ben was in love with the killer wolf.

“You are not angry with Perry Arundale, Simon. He is not to
blame for what happened between us.” Ben’s face was pinched with pain.

Perry started to back away into the dark recess of the cave.
As fascinating as the drama was between Ben and Simon, Sarah was in danger.

Suddenly Simon moved like lightning and blocked Perry’s
exit. Ben stepped between them, his dark-brown eyes filled with sadness. “Simon,
no.”

“Get out of my way,” Simon growled, and Perry tensed.

“You loved me once. Listen to me now,” Ben said calmly.

The words seemed to inflame Simon. “Love? What do you know
of love? You’re a coward.”

Ben winced but held Simon’s hostile gaze. “You know why.”

Simon’s lips twisted. “Because you are not my mate.” He spat
the words and stepped closer, his nose almost touching Ben’s. “You feared for
your precious skin and left me.”

“You know why.” Ben reached out to touch the wolf but
recoiled when Simon snarled and snapped at his hand. “Why won’t you believe—”

“You could have stayed if you’d wanted me.” Beneath the
hatred in Simon’s voice there was a thread of hurt. “But I will not allow
anyone else to have you. I’ll kill them all.”

“Then you’ll doom us both.” Ben stared at Simon.

Perry’s stomach clenched at the confrontation. So much pain
and agony lay between them. Simon howled, his cry filled with the pain Perry
sensed. As Simon brought his hand back, the wolf’s claws extended, Perry braced
himself for the blow to Ben that would kill the smaller man and lead to a fight
to the death.

Ben did not move. He faced Simon’s rage, tears glistening in
the torchlight. “Simon,” he whispered.

Simon lowered his hand. In the blink of an eye he sprinted
away from the cave as if demons from hell were on his heels.

Ben whipped around and gripped Perry’s arm. “Hurry. Sarah
does not understand what she is truly sacrificing. You must save her soul.”

“Ben—”

“Listen to me,” Ben demanded. “The author of this curse is a
woman who hates love, hates happiness. She will rob Sarah of everything, not
just her life. You must save her.”

“What about you? Simon may come back.” Perry peered into the
darkness.

But Ben’s tired face said much. “No. He won’t come back.” There
was so much heartbreak in his tone that Perry gripped the man’s shoulder.

“I will return for you.” He turned and sprinted into the maw
of the cave.

As Sarah dropped to her knees, naked, terrified, she
reminded herself that she was doing this for Perry. He deserved to be happy. He
would be too late to save her and he would be released from the curse that had
made him so miserable.

Chantal gripped her chin and forced Sarah to look at her. “We
do not have to do this.”

“Yes, we do.” She glanced at Jaimison’s exhausted form, limp
against the stone pillar. “Would you have him live in misery if you could end
it for him? Would you allow his heart to be broken and alone when you had the
power to stop it?” She met Chantal’s glare steadily. “I have seen what I have
seen, mistress. To free Perry this is what I must do.”

Chantal let her hand drop away and pressed her lips
together. “Then let me say this. I am a D’Insigny. I do not trust the shade of
my ancestor from hundreds of years ago. You should not trust her either.”

Chantal and the other women joined hands and began to chant.
It was low and insistent. The air around them changed. The torchlight flickered
and shadows seemed to lengthen. A distant roar filled Sarah’s ears, like the
sound of the ocean across miles.

In front of Chantal a column of orange smoke hissed. A voice
came from the depths, a deep, strong voice. “You have brought me a sacrifice.”

“In return for the favor you promised,” Chantal said firmly.

The laughter in response sounded maniacal. “I made no
promise but death and blood.”

Chantal’s gaze was steady. “You are bound by your words. We
are all bound by blood.”

“A test then,” the voice said. “To see if your gift is
worthy.”

Before Chantal could say another word, the smoke surrounded
Sarah and her mind was not her own. It was as if she could see and hear
everything but could say or do nothing. It owned her, this spirit.

The spirit spoke to Chantal. “Bring me the blade.”

“Why must you kill them?” Chantal asked. “That is not what
we are taught.”

“That is what my lover taught me.” The spirit hissed in a
breath. “She stinks of his blood. Bring me the blade.”

I will not fight you.
Sarah relaxed her mind and
allowed the spirit deeper inside.

For a moment the spirit of Wisteria seemed to hesitate.
You
would sacrifice yourself for him? He is a beast, an animal of my own making to
show the true colors of the men of DeFalk.

And yet I sense how much you still love the man who took
you.

It will not stay my hand.

What did you mean by a test?

Let us see what this new DeFalk generation has to offer.
The
spirit laughed as she turned and allowed Sarah to see Perry emerging from the
darkened cavern. He had come. He had come to rescue her. Her heart leaped with
joy. And the joy was followed by abject fear.

What would Wisteria do now?

A woman, tall, beautiful and naked stopped Perry from
rushing to his wife. “Wait.” He focused on her and she spoke firmly. “I am
Chantal D’Insigny. If you are to save her you must listen.”

“Be quick,” he snapped, and kept his gaze on Sarah.

Chantal gripped Perry’s sleeve. “Listen to me. We have
little time and you must do as I say.” Her intense stare held Perry still, even
though every muscle in his body strained to break through the circle of clasped
hands to reach his mate.

Naked and on her knees, Sarah would have resembled a saint
praying if it hadn’t been for the dark chanting and the pentagram on the floor.
Fear streaked through him as he noticed the glint of candlelight reflecting
from a wicked-looking blade at her knees.

“She cannot die.” He switched his attention to Chantal. “Tell
me,” he demanded.

“You must go into the circle naked and weaponless. The curse
was created by magic and the thing that Sarah challenges is powerful.” Her gaze
slid to Sarah’s still form. “You must master her or it will take her.”

He gritted his teeth. “What do you mean?”

Chantal made an impatient sound. “Dominate her, own her,
take her in the most primitive way a man can master a woman. How much clearer
must I be?”

Perry slowly let out his breath. “I understand.”

Chantal’s grip on his arm tightened. “If you have no feelings
for her, if you are motivated by lust, then it is better if you leave her to
die. Her death will be swift and painless. If you step into that circle and
there are no tender emotions involved in your possession of her, you will lose
and she will be tormented for an eternity.” Her jaw clenched. “It is a test. One
that your ancestors failed at the cost of a woman’s life.”

He narrowed his eyes to glare at Chantal. Of course the
woman didn’t know what he and Sarah had already endured. “Let me in.” He
divested himself of his clothes quickly and strode toward the circle.

For a moment he thought the group would hold fast against
him but Chantal spoke two words in a language he didn’t know and a gap was
made. Chantal shoved him into the circle and the gap closed on her words,
“Blessed be.”

Once inside he only saw his mate. She lifted her head and
his stomach plummeted. Her eyes were black like onyx and filled with hate. Instinctively
Perry understood that this entity was born of Wisteria’s hatred for the man who
had repeatedly raped her. What kind of power would come from it?

“Another sacrifice?” Sarah, or the thing inside Sarah,
licked her lips.

“No,” he said as he approached her. “I am Sarah’s mate.”

Sarah’s head tilted. “I smelled your hideous mark. I feel
her desperation to get rid of you. She does not want you. Get out.”

An invisible force slammed into Perry’s chest and he was
flung back. But the circle was surrounded by an equally impassable barrier, so
his body bounced hard and he hit the floor. He couldn’t stop the impact of his
face on the hard stone surface

Slowly, painfully, he rose to his feet and strode with
purpose toward his mate. He noted the flicker in the black, swirling depths of
Sarah’s eyes and sensed a struggle beneath the surface. Since Sarah was still
on her knees, Perry towered over her.

To master her, he had to use the thing between them, her
submissive nature and his dominance, to break the hold of the dark one inside
her. “Arch your back, Sarah. Grasp your ankles with your hands. I want those
tits offered up to me.”

The flicker in her gaze increased, the lighter color of
Sarah’s eyes flickering in her fight to come back. But the black stain held
even as Sarah obeyed him. He couldn’t stop his appreciative reaction to her
graceful pose as she did as he bade. Her nipples were hard points, a sign that
the woman he loved was there.

He cupped her left breast and Sarah shuddered as his fingers
touched the hard ridges of her flesh. He gripped her hair in his right and bent
down to brush his lips over hers. “I am going to suck on your breast. I own
your flesh, Sarah. You are mine. No one and nothing else may have you.”

Her muscles tensed and an inhuman growl vibrated from her
but she remained in position as if waiting for him to put his words into
action.

He slid his hand out of her hair and let it drift over her
skin. She was hot to the touch and trembled as he stroked the side of her
breast, her belly, her hip to the inside of her thigh. He continued to stroke
her nipple with his other hand as he sought the hard nub buried in the sweet
curls between her legs.

Her damp response emboldened him to slip two fingers inside
her and slowly thrust in and out. He bent his head to her left breast and blew
over its erect flesh. She whimpered, definitely his Sarah, as he lowered his
mouth to her tit. The taste of her skin, so precious, so warm, was enough to
drive his arousal higher.