Oath of the Alpha - Eva Dresden Page 0,53

her gaze to the growing night. Insects and creatures who roamed the darkest hours began to call to one another, and she lost herself in their song until Er’it snapped his fingers in front of her face. Scowling up at him with all the anger she could muster in that moment, Aida felt a rush of emotions she didn’t expect.

There was impatience aplenty, but beneath that, a gnawing concern. Deep and far-reaching, it spread wide as it devoured sense. Entangled in the corrosive swamp of it was fear. Bright and pure, she knew it well. In the next breath, Aida understood it wasn’t hers.

Eyes widening as the realization came to her, she scrambled away from Er’it. Heels and palms digging into the soft, loamy soil, Aida prepared to run as far as she could from the sucking wave as he directed it all at her. Amber eyes exuding a golden light, Er’it bared his teeth in a snarl, his growl savage as he wrapped a wide palm around Aida’s ankle and dragged her toward him.

“I did not give you leave,” Er’it bit out through clenched teeth as he lowered his weight onto her, crushing her by degrees while Aida’s thrashing became more panicked.

“No!” Aida shrieked when his thighs wedged between hers, the long muscles of her legs trembling with the strain to remain shut tight. It proved a futile effort that did nothing but hurt as he made her open for him.

Screams erupted into the night, exploding inside her skull and pummeling her brain into gooey pulp as a fire raged out of control, tearing through the sprawling splendor of cool marble stained with soot. Brilliant red splashed over shimmering sands of deepest black, bubbling as it disappeared beneath the ever-shifting dunes. Wind as hot as the fire raging around her, Aida screamed and threw her small fists at the beast atop her. Roar weak and as small as she was, she found the knife at his side. Plunging it hilt deep when he lifted his hips to shuck down the breeches stained with the blood of her family, she rammed it home over and over long after the death rattle spattered her face with his life blood.

“Aida! Stop!” Er’it bellowed, shaking her shoulders hard enough to slam her head into the ground. Shouting curses even as he gathered her up into his arms, his petting was more akin to a beating as he tried to quiet her.

“Your Majesty! Come away now,” Ath’asho yelled, voice whipped away on the singeing wind that smelled of dead things and ash.

“Er’it, you must be calm,” Tor’en shouted, collapsing to his knees as a branch whistled over his head.

“Stop this, kou’va.” Er’it took a deep breath, eyes squeezed shut as he wrapped Aida in his arms. Curling his body around her as he rocked them, purr rough and broken, he petted at her hair with ragged strokes. “It is not real.”

“It is,” Aida sobbed as she flung her arms around Er’it’s neck. Crying hard against his shoulder, her lips found the mark of her teeth. Calm descended as she pressed her open mouth against the weeping wound, the salty tang of his blood smearing her lips.

She needed to be closer, to feel more of the cool quiet exuding from the tangled web around her heart and deep in her soul. Fingers like claws, she tore at the ruined tunic and blanket covering her. Struggling with the ties of his pants, Aida wailed when he caught her hands and held her still. She did not quiet even when Er’it enveloped her in his arms once more, crooning wordless sounds of comfort against her mussed hair.

“I-I need—”

“No, kou’va. You do not need that, as much as I wish it.” Laugh hoarse, he pushed his face against Aida’s neck, nuzzling the soft spot behind her ear as he rocked them in slow, steady sways and tried to purr for her.

Long moments passed where Er’it’s harsh sounds softened. Becoming rich and deep, the perfect resonance was a balm to Aida’s raw nerves. Crushed against the incredible reverberation, she went limp one muscle at a time, sighing as Er’it poured her into a more comfortable position on his lap and kept her tucked tight against the bare expanse of his chest.

“What were you thinking, boy?”

“It’s nothing more than a fire. Anyone can teach that, Tor’en.”

“Apparently not,” Tor’en said with a bald snort.

Aida jumped as something coarse and fuzzy brushed over her back. Her low keen was met with a