Page 14 of Shadowed Summer Sun
The King of Summer’s End seized my arms and legs, fingers changing to smoky vines as he took form in the Darkness and slunk behind me.
“Mmmiiinnneee.”
“I must pass,” I said firmly, pushing against the ground with all my strength.
On my hands and knees, his hands smoothed over my legs and up my sides, brushing my breasts, and I quivered. One of the King’s massive hands wrapped around my throat and squeezed as he dragged his claws across my back. An uncontrollable moan tore from my lips, subtle warm wetness trickling up through the slashes in my skin.
“I will get to you. I will obtain the power I seek,“ I said in my mind.
I felt him behind me, and it rippled over me like being watched. The grip on my neck tightened as my skirts were lifted over my hips. I pulsed, the exposure and depravity making my cheeks and core burn. With every second, every step further into the darkened trees, his presence grew more powerful, and my resolve to fight it more futile… more an act that I put on for Gods knew who.
A Shadow vine crawled up from beneath me and wrapped its way around my thigh, snaking higher and higher until it hit my growing wetness.This has to be wrong. I was secured to the Earth by his magicked ropes of Shadow and vine at the foot of a grave, a resting place.
More smoke-like tendrils slithered up my arms, forcing me down onto my shoulders and pinning my forearms together to anchor them to my back. I felt them twist around each other in intricate knots. The smell of vanilla, vetiver, and walnut enveloped the space around me and made my mind spin.
And then I noticed the red streaks of resin painted across my shoulders and chest glowing faintly. The spell from the greenhouse reappeared on my skin, and it burned.
With my head bowed completely to the Earth, my hips angled up toward the sky, and cool air danced over my skin. I shivered, moaning low in my throat as the breeze chilled my wet slit. The vine circling my thigh pressed in, and I arched, gasping at the sensation. I… enjoyed it.
In truth, I had never desired companionship. It never excited me. But the King, each timehevisited me, I was left wanting more.
Tension built in my core as the vine slowly worked me over. I teetered on the edge of release, the desire for it stinging and forcing my eyes shut.
Then, his claws were back in my skin, sinking deeper into my flesh and making a thin trail of blood leak down my sides. I hissed, my eyes flaring open as I continued sitting on the edge of bliss. Just in front of my face, I saw another smoky tendril reach for one of my conjured lilies. It snatched it free, and the bloom quickly withered and turned black.
He moved the dead flower beneath me, my dripping blood landing on the once beautiful petals and absorbing into them. Shadow swirled around the stained bud, sealing it and transforming it into a black powder.
Thirdly, mingle your blood with the essence of Death and sprinkle it across the ritual site.
Abruptly, I was released.
The red of the spell was still there, and a low pulse of carnal energy thrummed through my veins.He didn’t stand in my way. I needed that powder. I needed…My thoughts drifted off.
It took a moment for me to stand. Wetness clung to my thighs, and heat flared in my cheeks. The warmth I felt behind my ribs ensured I was still permitted to pass through the Hidden Graves to reach the 100 Steps.
“Come to me,Ssssuuummmeerrr….”I shook as his breath caressed the skin behind my ear.
Badb returned and landed on one of the graves before me. I met her black eyes, my mouth hanging open slightly.
“I…”
She cawed, gesturing to the component and onward with her beak. I just nodded as I straightened my skirts, retrieving the powder. The sting in my back from the King’s attacks faded. Reaching a hand to the wounds on my side, I pulled back only a few drops. I was already healing.
I quickly looked at Badb, and her stare seemed to bore into me. The bond between me and my familiar pulsed, a feeling of fate echoing down the line and landing in my frantic heart.
“Okay,” I said, tucking a hair behind my ear.
She hopped on my shoulder, and the welcome feeling of her talons lightly squeezing forced me back into the present.
“To the steps.”
Chapter Five
Count The 100 Steps On Your Way Up & On The Way Back Down.
Afewminuteswalkpast the Hidden Graves was a hill that swooped upward toward a crumbling stone arch. A set of rough stone stairs created a path up to the gate. They were a deep gray covered in the swampy green of moss. Beyond the arch, the forest continued toward Cottlewick Lake, and you could see the other side of the hill that dipped back down into the woods.
“One hundred steps.” I looked to Badb. “This is going to be one hell of a climb.”
