In his mind, she hears a frantic call for help, a woman’s voice.
He releases Katie’s mind, “Don’t worry, we will play some more, later!” then he is gone.
Chapter 10
Stepping out on top of the Black Mountain, Reese looks to the night sky and leaps straight up in an explosion of stardust. As the Shadow King, he has untold magic. He follows the path in his mind and lands outside a castle wall. The castle is roughly eight hundred years old and surrounded by a moat. It is called the Water Castle because of the lake that it is built upon. Reese spreads out his senses and searches for the light that drew him here. He turns with his back to the graceful columns and tall towers finding he is drawn towards the lush forest. The moment he steps into the forest, he feels peace. Inhaling deep, he moves deeper and allows his spirit to savor. “Follow the light,” he hears in his mind. His eyes open and he begins to run, following the sunbeam that is directing him. Five miles deep into the forest, he comes to a stop in front of a two story, stone house.
Reese senses her inside the stone structure and his heart begins to pound. He takes a step towards the house but finds an invisible barrier bars the way. Reese smiles when the angel, Morgan steps outside.
“Morgan, thank you for your assistance,” Reese says as he steps forward to greet his friend. He is reminded once again of the size of Archangels. Morgan stands well over seven and a half feet tall. He has long brown hair and coffee color eyes with large bronze wings.
“Do not thank me yet, my friend. She is ill and angry. The wound she carries is poisoning her slowly and she is fading fast. Ariana needs to be healed by your people. Not mine,” he tells him. “The castle is closed now for repairs, and with the winter coming not many people will venture here. You should be safe for a while, but keep your magic close, Shadow King.”
“Thank you, again.” Reese watches as he turns and flies away. When he steps through the doorway into the small room, he finds a roaring fire, and hears her puttering in the kitchen. She walks in carrying a tray with coffee and creamer with cups. The cups rattle on the tray when she sees him. Her beauty stuns him, her hair is a riot of red curls to her waist and her eyes are the color of violets. She wears a long navy dress that accentuates her breasts. He can see the poison has moved further up her chest. She is pale, sweaty, and struggles to breathe.
“My Queen, I am Reese…” he starts to say but she interrupts him.
“You may call me, Ariana, I am no longer your Queen,” She responds in a husky voice. She walks toward the fireplace and sets the tray on the coffee table. Ariana looks around for Morgan. “Is my captor gone, now?” she asks.
“Morgan saved your life, Ariana. A little gratitude should not be too much to ask.” He tells her.
Her eyes darken for a moment when his eyes glance at the wound on her chest. “I must keep moving, Reese. It is not safe for you, for anyone to stay with me,” she tells him coughing loudly. She turns towards the fireplace and takes a deep breath willing the coughing spell away, “I am thankful to you both for saving me, but that is all you will do. I am leaving in the morning.”
Reese listens and walks up behind her. She smells of lavender and his body reacts. Unable to resist he reaches out to touch her but stops when she turns around. She looks up at the beautiful Fae in front of her and wishes for a moment that things were different. Ariana knows she has to get away from him. Her body is growing weaker by the second. She will not be responsible for his death.
He reaches up and strokes her cheek with the back of his hand, “Perhaps my Queen, it is time for you to stop running and put your faith in someone else. I am not so easily killed,” he says softly reading her mind.
Ariana’s eyes widen for a moment and she whispers, “Who are you?” backing away from him in fear.
“Much has happened since you left our people, and things are not as they once were. I will ask that you listen to me and if you still wish to go, I will not stop you.”
Ariana is confused, and the pain is back. It hits with a vengeance, doubling her over and she clutches his arm for support. Reese sweeps her up into his arms and heads down a hall. He kicks open a door and lays her on a large bed. He lights the room with a wave of his hand and starts a fire with only a thought. She is dizzy, shaking and confused, taking a breath she says, “They are close Reese. You must go!” she says pushing at his chest.
“Forgive me, my Queen,” he says, and he pulls his dagger. With one swipe of his blade, the bodice of her dress is opened. The beauty of her body stuns him; her pale skin and large breasts make his
