Page 33 of Seized to Sacrifice
He opened the book and began to read. He would find a way to get her memory back. He'd get what he wanted and then he'd cast her into the breach and forget she ever existed.
The day passed quickly as he researched and by the late afternoon, he thought he might have found a way. He closed the book and, taking his goblet of wine with him, he made his way up the stairs to his chamber.
He passed a casement in the hall and saw Nyx training with the guards in the yard. He chuckled in spite of himself. He knew exactly why Nyx was down there and it wasn't because he was rusty with a sword.
He passed Nyx’s room and the scent of her coming through the closed door made him pause.
* * *
The Beast
He tooka long sniff as he stretched, his eyes darting around to make sure there was no one around to see him. He flexed his black hands and scratched at the fine scales on his muscled chest.
It had been so much easier to break through Thorne’s defenses this time. He gritted his teeth as he smelled the delectable scent of her.His mate.It had been so long. Perhaps that was why he hadn’t recognized her properly at first.
He slinked into the room and found her sitting in the chair reading. Why was she in Nyx’s chamber? She should be in his.
He was silent as he moved across the room, and she didn't notice him at first, not until he came into her periphery. By then, he was right in front of her. She gasped as she looked up and fled the chair, dropping the book, and backing away slowly.
He could feel her fear, but that wasn't what he wanted – not from her. Regarding her unblinkingly, he picked up the book and glanced down at the title.
‘Nyx’s reading choices haven’t improved with time,’ he rasped quietly, giving her a grin, and throwing the book back on the table. It landed on top of a haphazard pile.
The Beast took a step towards her, and she took another one back.
‘Who are you?’ she asked.
‘It doesn't matter, but I know whoyouare.’
He closed his eyes for a moment savoring being in her presence. He’d been so lonely, missed her so much. It felt as if a piece of him had returned. A calmness settled over him that he hadn’t had since she’d brought them here. He knew that Thorne was still furious with her, angry enough for the both of them. He had forgiven her as soon as he'd smelled her in the dungeon, he realized, when his sanity had begun to return.
‘Are you here to hurt me?’ she asked, looking up at him with the large, innocent eyes that made him remember the first time he’d noticed her in the crowd, watching him in the rings in some Dark Realm and he’d disemboweled the creature he fought just to impress her.
‘Silly female,’ he murmured. ‘Never.’
She cocked her head to the side, looking confused.
‘Do we know each other?’ she asked softly.
He frowned. From the snippets he'd gleaned from Thorne’s mind, he gathered that she did not remember them. To see the truth of it in front of him now made him despair.
‘Yes,’ he said sadly. ‘A long time ago.’
He stepped forward and, miraculously, she let him touch her. She wasn’t afraid of him, and their very beings called out to each other. Perhaps all was not lost.
His fingers grazed her skin, down from her temple to her chin reverently. He put his forehead to hers and still she didn't move.
‘You may not remember me,’ he murmured. ‘But a part of you knows me.’
She gave a small, contented sigh.
His hands went to her shoulders, and he looked in disgust at what the others had clothed her in. His female was watching him, her eyes unwavering. She didn't move as he unlaced the ridiculous garment she wore and he slowly pulled it away, leaving her bare.
Looking his fill, he noticed she was quivering slightly under his gaze, but he didn't smell fear.
He wanted her, but, as she looked down at the large, ridged and very hard rod that matched his black skin, her eyes widened and she looked at him in trepidation, her breathing quickening.
‘I would take you now,’ he said, ‘but this is not my domain.’
