2. Sadie

Sadie

Being chosen wasn't a privilege—it was a death sentence, as Sadie Winters had learned the hard way.

It was her duty to warn the village of those who lived in the castle built into the mountainside. She had discovered their dark secrets while she was their unwitting guest. Now she understood why the sky was always bleak and no Winter Maiden ever returned.

These poor women thought they were receiving a grand offer, but in truth, their families were compensated for their daughters facing slaughter like cattle. Lucien told her he had never participated in the Offering before. She clung to that hope that her baby wouldn't face the same fate.

With her swollen belly, Sadie scaled down the mountain to seek refuge away from the castle. Wolves silently stalked her, but the hunter frightened her most. Cain rode her down on his black stallion, the same she tried to protect moons ago in the village. Was the animal broken of his spirit, or did he fight like hell to survive, like her ?

Sadie didn't want to drink the concoction thrust in her face. With a weapon threatening her unborn child, she did the only thing she could to try and keep it safe, and that was to comply.

The Winter Maiden screamed in terror as the knife sliced through her body, cutting her from breast to pubis. The snowy ground was quickly stained red and became slushy from the blood draining from her body.

Excruciating pain turned her vision white, but she clung to consciousness. Constance laughed as she tore the baby from Sadie's womb. A tiny infant, born too soon, wailed as they whisked it away.

Falling in love was the most incredible experience of Sadie's 18 years. Every fiber of her being awoke in her lover's arms. His promises meant nothing now as her heart slowed.

The pillow was wet with tears as Sadie awoke, gasping for breath. She shakily dropped her hands to her belly, no longer swollen with child.

Panic overwhelmed her, causing her to break into a sweat. It wasn't a nightmare—it was real. Sadie had to find Constance and get her baby back.

The vivid memory of hearing her baby's first cries made Sadie's lower lip tremble. How scared and tiny it was without its mother to protect it.

But Sadie wasn't helpless in the snow now. She was in a comfortable bed with silk sheets atop the down mattress. There was no cradle for a baby.

"Lucien!" she sobbed, shaking him awake. "Where's the baby? "

Lucien rolled over with a devil-may-care smile and lazily brushed his hand over her soft stomach.

"What baby?" he asked. "There is no baby, Sadie."

She pushed herself up, wanting to smack him as he wrapped his arm around her bare waist and pulled her against his side.

"Let me go!" she cried, attempting to wiggle out of his grasp. "I have to find my baby."

"Shhh. Calm down, Sadie. You were never with child."

"Why are you lying to me?" she asked through tears.

Something wasn't right. She felt it in her bones. She'd never had a dream as vivid as the nightmare of lying in the freezing snow while her life slowly drifted away. There was no forgetting the wailing newborn Constance clutched to her chest as she turned and ran away.

The devastation on Lucien's face when he had found her shattered her heart into tiny fragmented pieces. She hadn't meant for any of this to happen. She wished she could take away his pain. Even though he smiled at her, she could still see the misery in his eyes.

"Sadie, please." He cupped her cheeks and peppered kisses on her forehead, nose, and lips. "Stay here with me. Let's enjoy the morning together."

"Lucien…"

He'd returned home to see his father and just returned the night before. Though she'd missed his arms and wanted nothing more than to spend the day in bed with him, there was no explaining why her heart felt torn in two .

"Let me make you forget everything, Sadie," Lucien said as he kissed her shoulder and cupped her breast.

She closed her eyes and inhaled his fiery brimstone scent before pushing him away.

"Please, Lucifer."

"Look into my eyes, Sadie," he began. "We have a small amount of time before I have to leave again. I promise you have nothing to worry about. Trust me. It was only a bad dream."

She did trust him with every fiber of her being. Was it possible she was only dreaming, as he said? Did it matter, if they were here together? She couldn't deny that sense of something missing.

"I must not be doing a good job if you still have that frown on your face," he cajoled.

"No, Lucien."

He looked near tears as he said, "Please, Sadie. I need this."

She wanted to weep at the forlorn expression on his face.

"We'll talk after." It wasn't a request.

No matter how often they were together, Sadie was forever in awe that this devil would bow before her. He had the power to take what he wanted, and sometimes, he did. But in moments when he showed her vulnerability, there was no denying the love they shared.

Lucien's hand moved between Sadie's thighs, and soon all coherent thought was pushed from her mind.

"Mmm," she moaned .

"Does that feel good, tulip?"

She nodded and tilted her head for more hungry kisses. Sadie melted into Lucien's chest, becoming pliant to his desire.

"Oh, Lucien. Please…"

"Please what?" he whispered into her ear.

She closed her eyes and released her anxiety, losing herself in sensation.

"I need more."

"Then my distraction is working. Let me give you what you're craving."

There was no doubting what her aching core needed. She craved Lucien's hot manhood, which was throbbing against her lower back. But he was in no rush to give it to her. He dipped two fingers into her dripping slit.

"It's been too long, Sadie."

"We were together all night." Her giggle quickly became a moan when his thumb brushed her clit.

"Are you feeling sassy today, tulip? Do I need to teach your mouth how to behave?"

Lucien's seductive words sent a shiver down her spine. Her chest heaved in excitement as he pinched her nipple and curled his fingers inside her. He shifted his hips, grinding his arousal against her backside. The warmth of Lucien's breath caused goosebumps along her collarbone.

"You're a dream, Sadie Winters. "

He lifted her by the hips and guided her onto his cock. She moaned as every inch of him made her deliciously full. When she was fully seated, he grabbed her by the hair and pulled her flush against him.

"You're so fucking tight," he growled into her ear. " I'll never get enough of how eager your cunt is for me."

"Only for you, Lucien," she whined.

"That's right, tulip. Don't forget that."

Her hips rocked back and forth, searching for the perfect rhythm to chase her pleasure. Lucien thrust his hips repeatedly.

Sadie was desperate to gaze at Lucien's face. She wanted to see him, hold him, and kiss him. As usual, he seemed to know her very thoughts. His lips caught hers as she twisted her neck toward him.

She sobbed as she came apart.

"Someday we'll be together forever, Sadie," he promised.

Sadie held that promise close to her heart.