FOREVER KNIGHTS: #5 Subjugation of Beasts
Kill Her or Keep Her?

Cease! He ordered himself. Shaking his head. I’ve been too long without the tender touch of a woman. He couldn’t concentrate on anything else. Where has all my honor gone to even consider such thoughts? This isn’t like me. I’ve been surrounded by demons and hearing their evil thoughts for far too long. I refuse to become one of them!

Thadeus hopped on the vanity. Shifting restlessly as he moved his head in circles looking at her.

I know. Chavias looked at him fondly. She’s mesmerizing.

I won’t scare her. He sighed, deciding against his more wicked self. His honor winning out over starved attraction.

In my defense, I’ve not been this close to a woman in longer than I can remember.

Radix kept him busy with the horrors of their lifestyle.

And the joys of slavery. Bitterness helped assuage Chavias’ arousal like ice water.

As if sensing his thoughts, she shivered. Taking a step toward the crow who lowered his head and hissed threateningly. She took another step and he flew out the window as fast as he’d come.

Controlling his darker urges, Chavias caressed a gentle hand down her arm. Letting the heat of his touch soothe her like a warming block.

Heat I can’t feel. He reminded himself.

She gasped. “How are you here?” She turned again. Skirts crinkling. “Who are you? I can smell you. Sandalwood. And I feel your touch. Are you taunting me apurpose?”

She turned slowly the other way.

I’ve never seen a woman so beautiful.

I should go. Before my yearnings get the better of me. His thoughts had begun taking on a dangerous vein. Swallowing hard, he decided it best he leave her. He aimed for the window, crossing the room.

“I’ve felt and smelled you for days.” Her words stayed him. He turned from the window.

How’d you manage that?

“You want to touch me. I can feel you.” She murmured almost beckoningly.

Making him rear back in horror.

“Perhaps if I knew you, I might feed that hunger I feel in you.”

He choked a little. Would you now? His brows shot up.

What manner of little temptress…? He stared at her stunned. What’s she about!

Her face darkened at his lack of answer.

This scrap of a woman isn’t as delicate as she seems. Though her face screamed sultry innocence her mind was anything but. There was no naivete or fear.

She’s a lion in the beautiful, touchable body of a woman.

“Do you want to touch me?” Her voice was lilting.

He felt like someone had punched him in the gut. He groaned. Aloud.

She smiled slowly. “Ah, I do have your attention…Show yourself to me.”

It’s time to go. He exited her chamber nearly panicked.

He returned to his tortured body on the physical plane. But his thoughts stayed with her. What manner of a woman?

Did she mean it? Her teasing remarks that she might let him touch her racked his mind. Sending blood pumping through his body.

All he could do was shake his head in utter bafflement. Unsure what to think.

Seven nights later found Chavias staring at the stunning little creature again.

Sabine, she’s called. It rolled through his mind with the same sensual effect the image of her in that powder blue nightdress had.

Not a moment had gone by since that evening, that she’d not consumed his thoughts.

Asking me if I desired to touch her. He groaned inwardly. What man in Ardae would not?

Thinking about it caused him pain beneath his belt even now.

Tonight, the projection of his spirit stood in the dark corner of her room. Walking the edge to circle the foot of her bed. Sharpest dagger in hand.

Silken white hair framed her face in her sleep. Dark lashes brushed her cheekbones and full lips were soft in slumber.

Such a woman…

A glance down revealed the ashen filth of his own hands.

What am I doing here? In the private chambers of a miss I could never touch?

It’s no place for me. He chastised himself.

But it’s an escape from the torture. A little voice in his mind argued. Wincing at the thought, he tried not to think about what was currently happening to his physical body.

Think about the woman! It wasn’t hard to manage. He cocked his head. Gaze roving her sleeping form. He tapped the dagger on his palm thoughtfully.

She’s the type of a man obsesses over.

He strolled the shadows, dragging the dagger over his palm.

Thadeus flew soundlessly in the window and found his shoulder. Even though it was only in spirit form the bird seemed to have no trouble replaceing his perch.

Killing her where she lays in that soft nightgown is the most practical option. It would serve the purpose. It’d defeat Radix’s efforts to get her under his power. Chavias lifted his chin as he circled closer to her face.

She’s innocent. He debated.

One small hand lay open near her face.

He lowered the dagger to rest along his thigh. Incapable of resisting the urge to use a fingertip to slide a tendril of her hair from her face.

“Alright Lovely…So how do I get you out of this house?”

Sorely tempted to touch her cheek, he somehow resisted. Unwilling to wake her.

Knowing if she’d opened those gorgeous blue eyes, she’d have perceived him as a hazy outline. He was too weak to manifest any truer right now.

I was bled well this fortnight. He thought in disgust. If nothing else, Radix is good at torture. It was Okine’s favored pastime.

But what of this strange creature? She’s no stranger to magic, being the essence of it herself. So, he knew directly manipulating her with it would prove impossible. How else can I get her to leave here before he gets to her? He thoughtfully tapped the dagger to his lip.

Thadeus gave a rumbling chirp. Like a purr and rubbed his head along Chavias’ jaw.

This requires planning.

Chess.