Page 46 of A Serenade To The Elf Queen
“I was betrayed. That’s how I ended up here,”he says at long last.
“You’re so warm,” I whisper, burrowing against him. I try not to be a creep as I run my hand on the coiled muscle of his abdomen to steal some of that heat.
His breathing turns sharp.
I move again, and he makes a soft, strangled noise.
“Naughty girl. Don’t do that.”I hear him say.
“I’m just trying to get comfortable,” I say innocently.
We keep gazing at each other despite the darkness. I wish I could get a better look at his face. I touch the outline of his features, the sharp lines that cut into the finest details.
“You’re beautiful,”he says to me. The lower tone of his voice makes my heart skip a beat.
If it’s hard for my elven eyes to see him in this dim light, it will be impossible for his mortal eyesight. I still treasure his compliment and lock it in a precious chest in my heart.
“You taste good too,”he adds, kissing my temple.“So good I could eat you up.”
I feel like laughing again. Svenn says the strangest things. His head tips down and suddenly our lips are inches apart. I can feel his breath against my cheeks. I angle my face closer to him, accidentally brushing my lips against his. A delicious jolt sparks through my body.
“Let’s try that again,”he suggests in a sensual, seductive voice.“But you better finish what you start this time.”
Desire stirs low in my belly. But I find myself unable to rise to the challenge. I curl myself like a little turtle into his lap and pretend to sleep.
I hear him chuckling in the dark.“Goodnight, Rhianelle.”
He presses another soft kiss on my hair and holds me close.
“Goodnight, Svenn.” I shut my eyelids to get some rest.
“Is the demon gone?”There’s a slight tremble in my voice.
“I believe so,”Svenn says. He rises to his full imposing height, pulling me up with him.
“Shall we?”He clasps my hand, threading his fingers through mine. Heat pools low in my belly at the simple touch.
My knees wobble, and he moves his hand to my waist. The skittering flames now spread like wildfire all over my body. I know he means to help me, but I can’t stop my body from reacting this way. He’s making me feel things I never knew I was capable of feeling.
“I can walk,” I stammer quickly. He ignores my comment.
The strain on my left leg eases a little at the support. I like the feel of his hand on me more than I care to admit.
We emerge from our hideout into the destruction unleashed by the demon. I didn’t get a good look at the hall in our earlier run. Not even the Ashmedai is capable of demolishing the glorious architecture of this place. Demons, fae, elves and even the long-forgotten seraphim make up some of the sculptures. I can’t even name some of the otherworldly beings carved in the stones.
“It’s like the work of a god,” I marvel in awe. I feel Svenn stiffen beside me.
“If only you knew the monster who built this,”he says.
I am too wrapped up over his remark that I don’t notice the phantom hands sprouting from the darkness.
“Svenn, look out!” I scream, but it’s too late. The shadow spears straight through his chest. A grunt rips from his throat at the sudden attack. There might not be a physical wound, but I know they’re eating his soul.
“Get out of here!”He motions me to go away.
But I cannot abandon him.
They begin piercing hooks into his back, attempting to drag him back into the abyss. The curse is demanding him to stay.
