Page 34 of Dark Souls

Pretty Angel

I grumbled incoherently for Luka every time the unyielding throbbing between my legs tore from sleep me. I was completely disoriented, with no idea how long it had been or where I was, and I’d lost count of how many times we’d had sex. Though my body ached beyond belief, the burn ignited a passion that wouldn’t be extinguished. I buried my face in the pillow and groaned, my arm snapping out behind me for any sign of him. I had no idea how he was still alive. Was death by too much sex a thing? He’d let me drink from him until I passed out. He fucked me until the burning sensation faded. He never complained or denied me what I needed. Yet he must have been exhausted.

Hands snaked around my waist, pulling me back into his hard chest as he buried his head into the curve where my neck met my shoulder sleepily.

“I’m here,” he mumbled, his voice hoarse. He shifted my leg over his thigh as I lay on my side, too exhausted to move and slid back inside me. I hummed in relief as the pain subsided when he moved his hips up against my ass, making slow and sensual movements.

This differed from all the other times we’d fucked where it had been frenzied and primal. Whether it was down to exhaustion or the fact he was so in tune with my needs and how sore I was, he kept it slow and tender. He held one of my breasts in one hand, playing with my nipple bar, and circled my clit slowly with the other hand while peppering kisses along my shoulder blades and up my neck. With my eyes remaining closed, my lips parted as my breathing became more ragged to match his. This wasn’t just fucking. This was something I’d never experienced before, and I doubted he had either.

I lifted my arm clumsily behind me, running my fingers through his hair and forcing his lips to my neck.

“Bite me, Luka,” I whispered, as he nibbled at my earlobe.

“You sure, love?”

“Yes,” I husked and he wasted no time in sinking his fangs into the jugular vein in my neck. My eyes rolled into the back of my head as he took slow, erotic gulps of my blood, matching the relaxed rhythm of his thrusts. His arms wrapped around my body so tightly as I shook uncontrollably. My voice became lost to a silent scream of ecstasy when I felt his cock pulsing inside me, spilling himself into the rubber between us. At that moment, I would have done anything to have him bare, but I knew my sensible brain would thank me for keeping my mouth shut once this was all over.

He removed his fangs from my neck, and we lay there entwined, only our heavy breathing filling the silence. His panted breaths slowed first and turned shallow as they tickled against my shoulder and I realised he’d fallen asleep with his tattooed arms still wrapped tightly around me like the safest blanket and his dick still buried deep inside. I wasn’t a cuddler. Especially not after sex. Ever. But for the first time in my life, I understood the appeal. This was kinda nice. A small smile curved my lips as I allowed sleep to take me under once more.

I stared up at the beautiful face of a woman with light brown hair and even lighter green eyes that sparkled like emeralds as she caressed my cheek with her dainty fingers.

“You must be more careful when you play outside. Fortunately, this cut will not scar. You’ll be healed by sunrise.” She traced her fingers over my forehead and smiled.

“Will you kiss it better, mama?” I spoke, but the voice wasn’t my own. It was of a young boy.

“Of course,” she replied, leaning over and placing a sweet kiss on my forehead.

She started to sing. The softest, most comforting lullaby, but I couldn’t understand it. It was in another language. When the song finished, she smiled and blew out the candle next to the small bed.

“Sweet dreams, my child. Sleep now. We have a big day ahead of us.”

“Why must we leave again? I like it here. I made friends in the village.”

She closed her eyes, trying to hide her sorrow, but failing. When those green eyes settled on me once more, they were glistening with unshed tears. “Because they are too close. It is not safe for us, so we must keep going. I suppose you are old enough to hear the truth now, my son. The truth about who you are and why you must never tell a soul.”

I frowned, pulling the handmade woven blanket up to my chin as I blinked up at her, feeling a sinking feeling in the pit of my stomach.

“I don’t understand, mama. Who am I?”

I bolted upright in the bed, completely lost in my surroundings, as I scanned the strange bedroom I was in. What a weird fucking dream. But if it was a dream, why did it feel so real? More like a memory.

I rubbed my eyes, smudging my left on make-up from the event even more than it probably already was and sighed. The relief when I realised my heat had finally passed had me wanting to jump up and down on the bed in celebration, but the soreness between my legs told me I definitely would regret any sudden movements right now.

I peered across the room at the large bay window with shattered glass and tattered curtains. The curtain rail was wonky and barely hanging on one side. It was still nighttime. The glow from the full moon through the broken glass was the only light source. How long have I been here? Two nights? More? And where the hell was here, exactly? Tapping into my vampire ability to see in the dark, my eyes adjusted as I took in the faded wallpaper peeling away at the edges and the dark mahogany furniture around the room. There was a chest of drawers on one side, with a thick layer of dust on the surface, as well as a desk and chair near the window. One I had seen before. Wait. This was the same room Luka had been in on the footage from my necklace. I turned to look at the other side of the enormous bed to find it empty.

“Luka?” I called out into the darkness, my voice echoing off the bare walls. Where the fuck was he? If he’d done another disappearing act on me again, I’d cut his balls off.

I noticed my phone sitting on the bedside table and dived for it, wincing when I forgot to be gentle with my overstimulated body. Sweeping it into my hands, I saw I had a message waiting there from him.

IF YOU WAKE UP BEFORE I GET BACK, DON’T KILL ME. YOUR HEAT HAD PASSED AND YOU NEEDED REST. AND I NEEDED TO GO BACK AND DEAL WITH THE SHITSHOW WE LEFT BEHIND. I’LL BE BACK AS SOON AS I CAN. DON’T LEAVE.

A second later, he’d sent another text.

PLEASE.

I had more texts from my Grandma and Sienna.

Hi sweetie, Luka told me what was going on. Don’t worry about anything. Sienna is covering for you as Raiden is away on SIA business, so no one will know you didn’t go back to her place after the event. Call me when it’s over. Love you. Grandma M. x

Hey. Maddy just called and told me you’re with Luka… and why. Don’t worry, Ezra and Arius think you are at my place. But you best get your rocks off and ass back home before Raiden gets back today because I ain’t lying to my man. Sienna.

I huffed, dropping the phone back on the bed as I fell back against the pillow, throwing my hands over my face. Now that the fog of intense sexual urges had lifted, mortification was creeping in. What brilliant timing to go into my first ever needing at an Underground sex event. And what did Luka mean? What shitshow did we leave behind? My memory was hazy but I didn’t think anyone else knew what was happening to me except Luka, and he got me out of there as quickly as he could, didn’t he?

Dropping my hands down to my sides, I stared up at the ceiling and screamed. Layers upon layers of thick cobwebs clung to the wooden beams. Which meant… I was sleeping in a room full of my worst nightmares. Ripping the sheets off me, I jumped out of the bed and cursed as my pussy throbbed at the rapid movement. But fuck if I was staying put and waiting for any of those eight-legged freaks to join me.

I raced into the adjoining bathroom and closed the door, pressing my back against it. I tried to flick the light switch but nothing happened. There was a large free-standing bathtub and toilet on one side of the room that looked fairly sanitised compared to everything else I’d seen so far and a sink with a sizeable chunk of porcelain missing from the side of it. The remnants were all over the floor. Did Luka seriously live here like this? Was my mate a complete slob who had never heard of dusting or cleaning? Frowning, I walked over to the sheet that was hanging above the sink and yanked it down to reveal a rusting mirror. I balked at my reflection. Bloody hell.

My lips were swollen and bruised from the amount of passionate kissing they’d received. Dried blood stained my neck, and my hair looked like a tangled bird’s nest. My naked body was marred with faint bruises and love bites. But despite all the mess, I was practically radiating. My pink eyes were brighter than normal and my skin had a healthy, flushed glow to it. And it wasn’t just my appearance. I felt… different. Stronger. Satisfied. My mind felt sharper. I felt no blood thirst at all. And I knew it must have been because of Luka’s blood pumping through my veins. The memories of how I came to look like this raced through my mind and caused a flutter in my stomach and a warmth in my chest.

“Come on, Ilaria. You’ve got this. Spiders can’t hurt you. You are the scarier monster.” I gave myself a pep talk before I splashed my face with water and scrubbed off my makeup as best as I could. At least this place had running water.

I opened the door tentatively, peering up at the ceiling before stepping back into the bedroom.

“Did you enjoy the show, you little creeps?” I whispered to the beady eyes that were following my every move from above. Noticing a metal clothes rail, I dashed over to it and grabbed a baggy black t-shirt off a hanger and pulled it on over my head. Grabbing my phone off the bed, I turned on the torch feature and made my way out into the corridor.

The floorboards creaked beneath my bare feet as I took in the dated and clearly abandoned décor of this vast house. Shabby wooden bedroom doors lined the corridor with faded paint, giving the impression that this place was once a beloved home to many. The air was potent with damp and musk. Making my way down to the ground floor, I found more evidence that revealed glimpses of the manor’s former elegance as large, crystal chandeliers hung precariously from the ceiling, covered in dust and cobwebs, as well as missing a few dangling gems. Time had yellowed the white sheets covering most of the furniture. I pulled one back to reveal a beautiful antique chair with gold embroidery of star constellations through the navy velvet fabric. The more I discovered; a cabinet of sentimental objects and expensive china, an antique rocking horse with a frazzled mane and shelves of ancient books, the more I felt like an unwanted visitor encroaching on forgotten memories of a family long gone.

Was this Luka’s home? Or just some abandoned manor in the middle of nowhere that he’d stumbled upon in our hour (or many hours, I should say) of need? No. His clothes were upstairs. He had been here in the necklace footage. He was living here but why?

I paused in a hallway on my way to the kitchen when I noticed an entire wall adorned with various-sized framed portraits. The subject’s piercing eyes followed me, making me feel like an intruder in their home, sending shivers down my spine. Fuck, I loved this shit. This place was so fucking spooky, I was already convinced it was haunted. I stepped forwards, shining the bright torchlight to get a better look at the people in them and swept my hand over the largest portrait, removing the thick layer of dust that showed it had been untouched for years. The faces of over a dozen men and women stared back at me with expressions frozen in time as they stood for a group photo in front of a beautiful manor with ivy and bright flowers climbing the majestic stone architecture. I could tell the picture was taken well over a century ago from the clothes they were wearing. Some letters were slightly visible that had been engraved into the gold, intrinsic frame and I wiped them clean.

I gasped, stepping back in shock when I saw the words, The Knowlton Coven . These were the previous leaders of The Underground ? The founders. Which meant Luka killed them all. I swallowed thickly as I stared at all their faces, wondering what they had done to my mate to warrant so much of his hatred. Had they deserved their fate? Or were the rumours true, and my mate was just a ruthless, heartless monster who wanted their empire for himself for greed and power? Somehow, I knew that wasn’t it. Luka didn’t strike me as someone who indulged in the finer things in life. There was far more to this.

I moved along the wall, taking in all the single portraits of the coven members and reading their names. I stopped at the last three, or perhaps they were the first three, depending on which way you were walking. Just from the way they held themselves so regally, I could tell they were the leaders. They looked like they had giant sticks up their asses by the way they were sitting so straight. A dark-haired, rather striking man called Alatar Knowlton. A brunette woman with large eyes that seemed to look straight through me called Sable Knowlton and a younger, very stunning woman with black hair and a strong resemblance to them both, called Belladonna Knowlton. My gut twisted with something dark and vicious as I narrowed my eyes on her pretty face. I instantly disliked her. No, I hated her. Which was just ridiculous, seeing as I knew nothing about her, and I was pretty sure she was long gone from this world. But the more I stared, the more the darkness at the core of me multiplied, and I felt a deep loathing and anger spreading through my veins. I shuffled back, turning away and made my way into the kitchen, taking deep breaths and going through my steps from therapy to regain my composure.

Once I felt more in control, I opened the fridge just to be nosy. The light didn’t even turn on. And it was completely bare. Did the man not eat? My phone started ringing in my hand. The moment I saw the caller ID, I threw my head back and groaned. How much trouble would I get in if I ignored his call? How long until he’d send the entire Blood Moon pack out searching for me when he realised I wasn’t at Sienna’s place?

I accepted the call, keeping my eyes closed as I answered.

“Hey, Dad.” That sounded normal, right? There is no way he could know I’d spent the last however long fucking like animals just from my voice, right?

“Ilaria, where are you?”

“I’m…” I opened my eyes and peered around the unused kitchen. I couldn’t even tell him the truth if I wanted to. “At Sienna’s.”

“Still? I’ve been worried. You could have called.”

Guilt tugged at my insides as I ran my hand through my matted locks to tame them.

“I know. I’m sorry. I’ve been busy.”

“Yeah.” He paused and exhaled a heavy breath. “I’ve only just got back from Heroux. We’ve been enjoying the celebrations. That pack sure knows how to drink. But I wanted to talk to you about Leif…”

“What about Leif?” I asked worriedly. Leif was never someone we had to worry about, mainly because he just got on with life. Nothing ever seemed to faze him, but I knew after the losses he’d suffered in the war, he’d take a bit longer to bounce back.

“He’s not himself. I swear he is trying to drink himself into an early grave. He won’t talk to anyone about anything of substance, even your Grandma Alina tried and failed. Your mum is beside herself with worry and I don’t know what—”

“It’s okay, Dad. I’m coming. I’ll…” I placed my hand on my forehead as I thought about how Luka had asked me not to leave. But if Leif needed me, nothing would stop me from being there for him. “Just get my things together and come home. Is he still in Heroux?”

“No. He’s currently passed out on the sofa. I dragged him home for the night before he embarrassed himself in front of his new coven. I still can’t believe he’s taken over as the Father of the Heroux Coven! What was he thinking? That’s the other thing we are trying to get him to discuss with us, but he just keeps brushing the whole thing off and saying what’s done is done.”

I sighed. I was definitely the most stubborn triplet, but my brothers still had a streak of stubbornness that came out to play now and again. And I knew Leif, probably better than I knew myself. Which meant I was likely the only one who could get through to him right now.

“Okay, Dad. Don’t worry, he’ll be fine. I’ll be back soon.”

Ending the call, I turned and faced the window. Beyond the overgrown wild bushes was a large plot of land and, in the middle, a raging bonfire. The orange and red flames licked the air with savage movements, blazing higher than the shadow of the man standing in front of it. Luka. Relief flooded me as I’d be able to explain why I needed to leave, and I raced for the back door, yanking it open.

The grotesque smell of burning flesh had my feet coming to a halt and my eyes widening when I realised there was a heap of bodies beneath those flames. The figure slowly turned around, curved horns now visible against the backdrop of fire as black, soulless eyes met mine through the dark.

“Heathen?” I breathed, unable to believe what I was seeing. “What are you doing here?”

He took two large strides towards me, eating up the space between us and I stumbled back, my heartbeat pounding like alarm bells in my ears at the fierce expression on his face.

“I could ask you the same thing, Snow.” That ancient voice was the deepest I’d ever heard it and I gulped as I realised just how bad this really was. His eyes glided down my body, taking in Luka’s black shirt that stopped at my mid-thighs and narrowed. Oh shit. Shit, shit, shit. How the hell was I going to explain this without putting Luka’s life in danger? Or mine from the terrifying look on Heathen’s face.

My eyes flicked over to the burning corpses and, in an attempt to distract him from the obvious, I lifted my chin to hide my anxiety and attempted to ask calmly, “What’s going on? Who are you burning?”

He didn’t answer me, just carried on staring with hellfire blazing in his eyes like I’d committed the ultimate betrayal. Or maybe that was just me projecting my guilt that was chipping away at me now I was face to face with him, forcing me to realise my feelings. Which was just crazy. Luka was my soulmate. I shouldn’t even have feelings of guilt for being with him. For fucking him for days and enjoying every second of it. But if that was the case, why did the look on Heathen’s face cause a lump of emotion to lodge in my throat?

“Heathen… it’s not what you think…” My voice shook when he took two more steps towards me, towering over me with his enormous body.

“Tell me what I think,” he hissed through his razor-sharp fangs. His claw snapped up and grabbed my jaw firmly. My lips parted as he pulled me into him. The size of his hand wrapped around my jaw made me realise just how easily he could crush my skull if he wanted to. I blinked up at him, my eyes glistening under the moonlight and the dancing flames behind us as I met his gaze. Fear mixed with desire when he leaned forward, inhaling deeply, and ran his nose along my cheek.

My body trembled as the chilly breeze whipped up my bare legs, but I knew it wasn’t the weather that was affecting me. I squeezed my eyes shut to fight back the complicated emotions that were threatening to come to the surface when he growled with so much beastly aggression.

He forced my head to the side abruptly. His forked tongue darted out and flattened against the side of my face, licking up my cheek and temple before he moved down my neck, noticing the bite marks that were slowly healing.

“His mating scent is all over you. And I can smell him in your blood,” Heathen whispered in my ear with such icy calmness it sent a shiver of trepidation down my spine. My nostrils flared as my breathing quickened and panic took hold. He knew. There was no denying it.

“Heathen… please listen…”

“I SAW YOU FIRST,” he bellowed. Rage made his voice boom across the rolling hills like thunder and his grip on my face tightened to a point I felt his talons pinching at the surface of my skin. “He’s been keeping me away from you! Killing for The Devil in my place! Now I know why.”

“What? No, you don’t understand. He has agreed to help you. Now that he’s made me a member of The Underground, we can work together to help you! He’s onboard with our plan!”

Heathen threw his head back and released a sadistic laugh, as though he didn’t believe a word of it.

“And is this how you persuaded him?” he asked, his voice laced with bitter sarcasm. My expression morphed into anger as I glared up at him. I ripped my face from his claw and stumbled back unsteadily as his black wings started beating viciously behind him when he paced the grass.

“Heathen, just calm down. Don’t hurt him! I will never forgive you if you do.”

He grunted with aggression, “Don’t hurt Ronnie. Don’t hurt Luka.”

He glared at me through crazed, manic eyes and, for the first time, I truly feared just how deep his obsession with me ran. Preparing to transport myself out of here if I really believed my life could be in danger, I held his gaze while I said the words that could end this all.

“He’s my soulmate, Heathen. Luka is my soulmate.” I held my breath when he froze. He stared at the bodies burning in the raging fire for a few seconds before I noticed his tense shoulders start to rise and fall. The action was subtle at first but became more pronounced when he looked up at the black sky above and released a strange noise. The demon was laughing like a maniac.

I stood still, not really understanding his reaction at all. When he finally calmed down and turned to look at me, the hairs on my skin stood on end and my heart beat out of rhythm. His expression was so unreadable, I had no idea what was going through his mind and it made me beyond nervous.

“And me?” he asked, taking deliberately slow steps towards me once more. I blinked twice as I craned my neck to hold his gaze when his arms locked around my waist, telling me I wasn’t going anywhere. “Who am I to you, Snow?”

My mouth opened and closed multiple times as I tried to find the right words but there were none. Because I didn’t fucking know. I didn’t know what Heathen was to me. Confusing. That’s what he was.

He clenched his jaw, lowering his forehead against mine and closed his eyes. Unsure whether to push him off or melt in his embrace, I gripped his biceps as he groaned, rolling his head slightly. He gripped me so hard it almost hurt, as if he needed to keep me exactly where I was because he was terrified of losing me if he let go.

I felt a heat I knew all too well rising in my core as that familiar sensation of desire being in this beast’s arms took control. The tension became so thick with electricity, I could practically feel the sparks buzzing between us. He was projecting his longing and it was only magnifying mine. His eyes slammed open and held me captive with that dark, dangerous and tantalising allure. Not knowing what to say, I swallowed roughly before glancing down to his lips and back to his black eyes. And then his lips were on mine, fierce, dominating and possessive. It took me by surprise. I couldn’t tell who made the first move, but all I knew was I didn’t want it to ever end.

Our hands were everywhere as he lifted me off the floor and I wrapped my legs around his waist. My tongue slid against his, feeling its power and strength as he stole the air right out of my lungs, making me believe I couldn’t physically breathe without him. Completely caught up in the moment, it took me a few seconds to recognise the ringing of my phone and I gasped, ripping my mouth away from his as I looked down to where I must have dropped it on the grass. Leif. Shit. I had to go.

Sensing the moment between us was over when I unhooked my legs from his hips, Heathen lowered me to my feet. I bent down, grabbing the phone and silencing it for something to do and to avoid looking at him. My stomach was in knots and my heart ached as I realised I had just kissed a man who wasn’t my soulmate. What the hell was wrong with me?

“I have to go.”

Heathen placed a talon under my chin and lifted my face to look at him. A sad smile curved his lips as he stared at my cheeks. It was only then that I realised my cheeks were wet with tears.

“You’re so pretty when you cry. My pretty angel,” he breathed.

“I don’t know what you are to me.”

“Figure it out, Snow. Because the next time I see you, I’m taking what’s mine. And no one can stop me.” He leaned forwards and brushed his lips against mine before taking off into the sky.