Lord of the Abyss - By Nalini Singh Page 0,48

grass host to the most graceful dancers formed of stone. There was a woman, one leg raised, the foot of the other arched. She looked as if she would take flight. The sculpture next to her did look as if she had taken flight, the girl's small body held to the earth by a toetip at best.

But the dancers weren't only female. There was a male crouching at the foot of the woman poised on one leg, his hands cupped, as if ready to push her aloft. His face was adoring and filled with mischief at the same time, the woman's with laughter. In front of them, another dancer stood with his hands on his hips, his expression that of a fond friend.

Enchanted, Liliana craned her neck to see the other statues. There were too many to take in all at once, but she noticed one thing. None stood alone. Not like the man at the very edge of the garden, beside a long, rectangular pool filled with water clean and fresh. Several small birds frolicked in it, diving and flicking water at one another, their chatter a bright stream of music.

"Micah."

"Liliana." His slow, dawning smile stopped her in her tracks. No one had ever looked at her that way, as if she was the best thing they had ever seen.

"Is that for me?" he asked when she reached him.

She held out the cup. "Yes." So is my heart.

"No, not that."

As she stood there, confused, he stepped even closer. "Hold very, very still so you don't spill the chocolate."

It was difficult to follow the order with him so near. He smelled wonderful - soap and water and warmth. The black armor covered his chest and legs once more, but his arms were bare to the sky, and his skin glowed under the sunlight, making her want to touch, to stroke. "What - "

"Still, Liliana. So still." Curling his hands around her neck, he stroked his thumbs over her jaw. "This smile is for me, isn't it?"

"Yes."

Then she lost her words, because Micah was sipping at her lower lip, his mouth caressing, his hands possessive. The tenderness of it made her tremble.

"Careful." Spoken against her mouth. "I'm kissing you like you kiss me." Another soft sip, the feel of teeth. "I like it, but it's even better when you kiss me this way." Slanting his mouth over hers, he took her with openmouthed wildness that made her want to push him to the earth and do things no good maiden should even think about.

"You spilled the chocolate," he said, biting at her lower lip.

She glanced unseeing at her hands. "I did?"

"Let me." Taking the cup, he placed it carefully on the edge of the pool. Then he rose, lifted one of her hands to his mouth and stroked her fingers inside one by one. Each hot, wet tug pulled at things low and deep within her, her thighs clenching in darkest need.

"Chocolate tastes better on your skin."

"Don't stop." It was a whisper as he started on her other hand.

But he did so abruptly. "I smell blood sorcery."

Yes. A putrid odor infiltrated the air. That of a corpse defiled, a grave broken.

"Go inside," Micah ordered.

"I'm a blood mage." Never would she leave him to face such malignant power alone. "I can - "

Micah snapped out a hand, closing it over Liliana's wrist when he saw her pick up a sharp stone. "No."

"I must." Determination steeled eyes that had been sultry with pleasure only moments ago. "This is who I am."

"You are not this." And he wouldn't allow her to be swallowed by it.

Her eyes flicked up. "Look."

He'd already seen - the sky was turning a fetid brown streaked with red. The spreading color was no shapeless stain. It had the appearance of a skeletal hand tipped with claws. "Who is that, Liliana?"

"My father." Her pulse turned rapid, almost panicked under his hand, but her voice was resolute. "He's found me."

"Not yet." Squeezing her wrist, he made her drop the stone she'd intended to use to cut herself. "But he will if you spill your lifeblood."

"Sorcery of his kind is stronger than other magic. It's created of death."

"I am the Guardian of the Abyss and this is my domain." Releasing her hand, he gripped her chin, looked her directly in the eye. "You will obey me. Do not spill your blood."

"Take care, Micah." Shimmering emotions in those eyes that showed her every mood. "I'm not worth your life. You're meant for far more."

He