Chapter 4: Eldritch

Chapter Four

Eldritch

T he smell isn’t right for this to be Faere. I’m not even sure it’s the human realm. The beastly part of my consciousness seems to be resting, and without his enhanced eyesight and sense of smell, everything is muted.

I briefly contemplate why I’m not more alarmed, but the beauty of the woman stops all thoughts. She’s slender, with delicate curves, long golden-brown hair, and striking blue eyes.

She is lovely.

She stares at the spot where the nightmare disappeared before sliding her gaze to me.

“I feel like this has to be so weird for you,” she says, shoving her thick hair behind her ear.

I stride forward as my body urges me to erase the distance between us. “I must admit, I have no idea where we are or how I came to be here.”

The nightmare called her Charity. It’s an unusual name that you wouldn’t find in Faere, but she has slightly pointed ears and the type of ethereal beauty that points to some type of fae heritage.

She takes my hand and gently tugs me toward the piece of furniture that appeared when the nightmare left. “Do you know how you came to be in the human realm?”

The female takes a seat, and I find myself joining her, but my mind radiates with pain as I contemplate her question.

“I believe I was ordered to the human realm for some form of reconnaissance.” It’s difficult to believe the words spill from my lips with such ease.

Being the bastard-born son of the king of dragons has taught me well how to accept pain. My father used dire forms of torture to ensure I would keep my mouth closed if I was ever intercepted by the enemy.

Torture is not the method this female has opted for. Her soft skin brushes my inner wrist, and I glance down to see her fingers still linked with mine.

If this is a new tactic, it’s one I haven’t experienced before. Then again, no one would ever attempt to seduce my kind.

“I know the nightmare introduced us, but do we know one another?” My nostrils flare, catching hints of her floral scent. It’s delicate and reminiscent of cherry blossoms. I’m unsure if they have them in the human realm, but they likely have some equivalent.

“We do,” she says, turning in her seat until she faces me fully. She keeps her hand wrapped in mine and stretches the other over, placing it on my heart. “Can you feel the connection between us?” Her striking blue eyes rake over my face.

I pull a palm up to place over her hand. A sizzle of strange electricity completes a circuit between us.

“I believe I do,” I admit. “Do you possess fae blood? Is that what I’m scenting?”

“I’m half siren.” Charity pulls her lithe shoulders back. “This is so bizarre. I feel like I know you so well, but not at all.”

“Is there a reason I should know you?”

She swallows thickly. “You’re my mate.”

My fangs pulse, and I move quickly. Sliding my fingers into the hair at the base of her skull, I tilt her head to the side and bury my nose in her neck.

My tongue flicks out, testing her skin, and a low groan escapes. Her salty taste hits my system like an explosion, and it takes everything in me not to plunge my teeth into her tender flesh.

Her hands dig into my sides, tugging me closer.

I freeze completely as her arms wrap under mine, and she hugs me.

The daft woman hugs me.

Then again, I can’t seem to force my tongue to stop savoring her skin.

“Okay, so, I’m pretty sure we’re in a dream created by my friend’s mate,” she whispers. “Meaning, it’s probably not the time to get handsy.”

Charity doesn’t release me as I place my palm on her back, lowering her to lie on the strange piece of furniture.

Her brilliant blue eyes stare up at me, and she licks her lips.

“I’ve been told my entire life that wyvern don’t have mates,” I tell her truthfully.

Her small, cold hands slide around my sides to rest on my chest. “I take it you’re half fae, in addition to your dragon ancestry?”

I nod. “My mother was fae. My father had her murdered for the crime of successfully birthing me.”

“Eldritch…” She moves a hand to my neck and pulls me closer until her lips are only a hairbreadth from my own. “I’m so sorry.”

“It was many hundreds of years ago,” I say, studying the light dots that cross the bridge of her nose and the tops of her cheeks. They’re quite cute and a solid distraction from the pain that comes when I think of my mother.

She committed no sin. Although, my father considered her beauty to be one. He took her to bed, despite having a mate of his own for hundreds of years. And yet, my mother was punished while he still walks free.

“Time can lessen the ache, but I don’t believe it truly heals all wounds.” Charity stares up at me from under her lashes, and I ache to do…something. “So, um, I need to ask you?—”

My wyvern stretches in my mind, and I exhale in pure relief. It was strange not being able to feel him.

“Oh, the wyvern is back,” Charity whispers. “Dammit, we haven’t had the chance to talk about anything important.”

Her delicate scent hits my senses, and my nostrils flare.

“Mate,” I hear myself growl.

I’ve been holding myself up on my knees and an elbow, but I fall, plastering my front to hers.

The wyvern doesn’t want to risk allowing her to escape.

My eyes fall shut as I breathe her in, but they immediately pop back open as she presses her lips to mine.

What an unexpected turn of events .

My mouth moves against hers, but I’m unsure what I’m supposed to be doing. Considering this is likely a dream, I give in to the sensations and allow her to guide the kiss. Her legs tug from under me, wrapping around my thighs.

What an odd but magical thing to dream up.

Her tongue licks at the seam of my lips, and I open my mouth as our breaths mingle. Everything in me screams to toss her head to the side, so I can bite her to permanently solidify my claim.

Her soft body feels incredible under my much harder frame.

Speaking of hardening…

All thoughts disappear as my lower lip aches. The naughty little vixen scrapes her teeth over it, swirling her tongue in some pattern meant to make me lose my mind.

The wyvern roars. His desperation to bond his mate spills into me, and it is staggering how committed he is to claiming her immediately .

Charity’s hand moves to cradle my cheek.

The monstrous side of my consciousness sends me implicit instructions and, with her scent so heavy in the air, it lessens my already low inhibitions.

Pulling back from the kiss, I bump her face to the side and strike.

The little siren mewls, her fingers digging into my ass as a loud moan slips from her lips.

My teeth puncture her tender flesh, and her blood coats my tongue.

The explosion in my mind must be her emotions. It’s so intense, it takes my breath away, and for several long seconds, I simply suck exquisite gulps of her blood like a vampire.

“Eldritch, holy shit.” Her fingers dig into the back of my neck, and I finally gather my wits to clean and seal the bite.

The wyvern is smug, sending me flashes of what he imagines she would look like on all fours.

Now that we’ve claimed her, it’s time to breed our mate.

It’s illogical, since wyvern are infertile, but the thought of practicing does make my cock jolt in my leather breeches.

“Damn,” the nightmare says, breaking the silence of the moment. “I was like seven seconds too late. Oh well, I can tell them I tried to prevent it.” He claps and goes on, sounding much more serious. “I’m genuinely sorry to have to say this, but my magic is tapped. You’ve got no more than a minute or two to say your goodbyes.”

I snarl, blocking my mate’s body with my own. She’s just as clothed as she was the last time he saw her, but my monster is riled.

“No one will be taking her away from me,” I growl.

“Are you okay?” the nightmare asks, and it’s clear he’s not talking to me.

“Yes,” Charity says with a firmness to her tone that makes my chest fill with pride. “But I’m not ready to leave him. Is this even real? Will the bond?—”

“I don’t know,” Malice replies. “Truly, I don’t. Say your goodbyes.” He lifts a hand, studying his disappearing shadows. “I can’t hold the bubble any longer.”

“I need you to come back to me, okay?” Charity runs her fingers through the hair at the base of my skull. “I know something awful happened to you, and the wyvern has been safeguarding you from that, but if you don’t face it, I’m afraid I’ll never be able to touch you like this again.”

My head tilts as I try to determine what she means. The agony that pulses in my skull is so severe that my entire body trembles.

“Shh, it’s okay. If it’s too painful, I just need you to tell me it’s okay to take those memories…” Charity stares up at me with her brow furrowed, brushing her fingers over my cheek.

I open my mouth to reply.

In place of words is a horrible screech from the maw of the wyvern. The nightmare places a hand on my shoulder, and everything goes black.