Call Of The Dark

Chapter 17 Tempted

?An hour back, after Emma had left for her room along with Ginger, Lazarus had gone to find Maeve. She was sitting with King Viktor and Anton and discussing something but as soon as they saw him, they stopped talking.

She explained, "We were talking about the ritual."

"Come back," he ordered, glaring at Anton. Maeve got up immediately to be with him. Together they walked back to Maeve's room. Lazarus was so tense about the ritual and the trial that he wanted to spend time with Maeve. Maybe she would allow him to spend himself in her. But she was being reluctant.

When they reached her room, he caged her against a wall and said, "How long will you make me wait? Why aren't you attracted to me?"

She stood cold like a stone, pressed against the wall. "Lazarus, you should know that my body is weak. I can't take you. Why don't you use the mortal? That girl is good enough for you till the soul casting ceremony. Once I possess her body, I will freely give myself to you."

He growled. "You are the one I will marry. Then why do you hesitate so much?"

"I am not hesitating. I am trying to prepare myself for you. That's all. I am really looking forward to the ritual. Is the act of sex so important between us when we are going to be together in this for eternity? After all, your endgame is important. Do I have to remind you that I am a goddess above all these things. Besides, you need me to ascend the throne?"

Lazarus pounded his fist on the wall behind her out of frustration. The stone cracked.

Maeve flinched. Lazarus was a very strong vampire and in her current state she couldn't afford to antagonize him. Carefully, she ducked and came out of his cage. She walked further from him and said, "I am thinking of going to Vilinski for a few days. It is important for my health to be in a familiar environment else this body won't be able to sustain my powers. I know that it irritates you, but I am sure you will understand my position." Basically, she wanted to meet her fae lover Ailill.

With an impending trial, Lazarus was sure that Maeve would support him the next day, but looking at her condition he believed that she was not wrong. "When will you return?"

"As soon as possible dear," she replied in a soft voice. "I am leaving tonight. Use the human for your needs. I am absolutely fine with that."

Lazarus turned sharply to look at her, but she shrugged. "I am… benevolent." She left immediately after.

Alone, his mind went into turmoil. His anger increased. He went to take a hot shower and when he returned, he wore his trousers and began pacing the room. He couldn't concentrate on anything as his mind kept going back to Emma. In the chill of the night, he walked out. He was thinking of going to hunt some rogues, when he heard Emma's loud voice. He traced to her only to see that she was dancing sensuously, her body caged in between a man and a woman.

"Emmaaa!" he roared, his muscles bulging.

As soon as he traced her, he made her lie on his bed. She tried to struggle to be free but he slid beside her. He curled his arm tightly around her waist, caging her arms, and threw his leg around her thighs, holding her tightly in his grasp.

"Leave me!" she slurred.

"Never!" he snapped as he tucked her head under his chin. "Now sleep." Lazarus convinced himself that this arrangement was temporary. Only for this night. She was going to sleep in her bed from tomorrow.

However, Lazarus was now facing another problem. Surrounded by his mate's mouthwatering scent, his cock had painfully swelled. Her body was like a trap. His muscles bulged. The mate bond was fierce. The notion of mating with his mate was intense. It was like a primal instinct, overpowering his senses, his logic.

Sweat trickled down his temple at the control he was exercising on himself. He had never experienced the same with Maeve, who was his betrothed. And he had been in her proximity for a long time. Now he couldn't wait for the soul casting ceremony. With Maeve's soul in this body, he was going to spend himself inside her every day.

Emma was out of breath not only because her head was dizzy because he had traced her but also because she was feeling too sleepy after having fae wine and dancing. Her eyes were droopy. She murmured something incomprehensible.

"You've been a bad girl, Emma," he growled. "I am going to punish you for defying my orders. No one, and I mean, no one has the audacity to defy my orders!"

He sounded so stern that he was sure she would gasp in shock, tremble and fear him even in her state of intoxication and apologize to him…

Silence. He lifted his head and peered at her and his jaws clenched.

Emma was sound asleep.

He was threatening her and she had fallen asleep? He was so tempted to wake her up and repeat his threat, but he found himself staring at her face, his focus going to her plump lips and her pert nose. She appeared so fragile and young. She was so beautiful that his breath lodged in his throat. But—

She was nowhere close to goddess Maeve in power and abilities. He realized that Emma would have continued to live her mundane life but by bringing her here he had given her life a purpose.

Emma's lips parted slightly and he found himself staring at them, his fangs growing, goading him for a blood kiss.

Her scent of violets was mixed with that of wine. It surrounded him, intoxicated him. Her body lured him. She was so soft and supple and the way her curves fitted in his, it was surreal. She was made for him. Comprehension. No, her body was made for him.

He had to snap himself out and so he focused on listening to the rhythm of her heartbeat. Gentle, like music that entered his restless mind, binding it together and wrapping him like a lullaby. Tension seeped out of him and he couldn't believe what happened to him next.