Beneath The Shadows of Evil... Torn Read online

  Hope sprang into her heart when she realized the opportunity that had been given them and once again Mikhal felt confusion at the emotions he was feelings from the two women. He knew that they would indeed bear watching in the future and would have to make sure that Lucian knew Natalya wasn’t to be completely trusted. He should treat her with respect, do as she asked in relation to her needs regarding her work, but watch her closely nonetheless.

  Decision made, Mikhal turned his back on Natalya, effectively dismissing her, and focused his attentions on his wife. Alliana had risen during their talk and the vision of her in the gown that matched her fiery eyes so perfectly was quite a fetching sight. He planned on having a long relaxing dinner with her, one full of charming conversation, smiles, and soft touches, even if they were only on his part.

  Natalya watched him walk towards her friend as then quietly slipped out the door. Mikhal the Merciless’ dismissal of her didn’t bother her in the least. He was simply a typical Lord and she but a woman; besides, she needed to get ready for her trip to the village. The wind was blowing fiercely and the night was frigid, so a fur cloak and boots would be in order. As she went her mind brought back the image of the man who would be escorting her to the small village below. Would those dark hooded eyes show any more expression once they spent time together? Could the handsome and brooding man who was now to be her keeper be incited to show a bit of emotion if baited? Natalya didn’t know but she thought it might be fun to find out.

  Chapter Three

  Mikhal let his gaze rake over Alliana as the door closed quietly behind Natalya, leaving them alone. She glared at him, but he found her nothing but radiant, angry look and all. Her hair had been swept to one side, and fastened with a green velvet ribbon that matched her dress, the golden curls cascading down over her shoulder and one breast. The other side was left bare, revealing his mark of claim upon the ivory column, and it called to him, urging a nibble, a small lap, a taste that would send both of them spiraling into blissful heights of passion, but Mikhal knew that was not to be. Not now, not until she asked him to make love to her.

  The gown was low cut but soft white lace had been added to the neckline in a futile attempt to conceal her rounded breasts. Mikhal took note of the fact that they were much more rounded and full then before he had left to fetch Natalya and both the man and beast inside him appreciated that fact.

  The high waist fit snugly under her breast and then fell in folds down over her rounded belly, but couldn’t conceal the child that lay within altogether, and Mikhal would have had it no other way. The sight of her, of them, stirred him like nothing ever had in his life, and he knew he could spend hours just looking at his wife and child.

  “You look breathtaking, my sweet.”

  “Dead things don’t breathe.” Her sarcastic bitter comment stung him but he didn’t flinch at her anger. No, he took it as a challenge, a fierce battle to be won, a battle for her heart.

  “Then I will say you are ravishing, you glow, you look beautiful Alliana. I was expecting you to be in bed and am not completely sure I approve of you being about and dressed, but the man in me can’t complain with how lovely you look in that gown.”

  Alliana’s eyes shot more daggers at him. “I am quite well enough to stand and to dress, though if you would care to leave me to my solitude and rest I surely won’t stop you.”

  A slight growl rose from deep within Mikhal. Damn but she was stubborn. “You shall have a restful evening Alliana, but it will be spent with me. Now come to the table and sit down, I shall send for the servants to bring our meal.”

  He moved to her side and took her arm before she could protest, sliding his hand under her elbow with the gentlest of touches. She pulled just a bit and his fingers tightened almost imperceptibly, but she knew to allow him to hold her all the same.

  “I am not trying to manhandle you Alliana, I simply wish to make sure you are steady on your feet.”

  “Your touch means nothing to me, My Lord.” She turned her nose up and her head away, staring off into the distance as he led her to the table. Mikhal released her then pulled out her chair, taking her hand and seating her. He walked before her and briefly knelt down, leaning in to kiss his son, then stood, before more angry words could fly from her lips.

  “I shall bring you a lap robe.”

  “I am fine. The only chill in the air is caused by your nearness.”

  “Alliana, please, I mean for this to be a pleasant dinner. Nothing you can say will incite me to leave your side. Perhaps you could make an attempt to enjoy yourself.”

  Alliana refused to respond to his request, turning away as he went and sent for their meal. He came back and sat across form her, then took one of her hands in his across the table, holding her stiff fingers for a moment before bring her hand to his lips and brushing the softest of kisses upon it.

  “I’ve missed you, sweet.”

  “Then perhaps you shouldn’t have run off and kidnapped my dearest friend!” Alliana yanked her hand away and rubbed the back of it as if it had been scalded.

  “I refuse to speak of that issue with you wife. I did what was best for you. Natalya will be happy here. Do you not wish her to be your midwife? Do you not wish to be rid of Enid? Lucian will take Natalya to the village and then tell me as soon as he knows she is fit to tend you. I should think the news would please you instead of making that tongue of yours so very sharp.”

  “I do wish to be rid of that old witch. She should die for what she did to me and Marishka as well, but I can’t condone my friend being imprisoned here.”

  “Well I can and did!” Mikhal’s demon was roaring inside, churning, eating at him, clawing at his guts. The audacity of his mate was driving him insane. Alliana saw the amber flash in his eyes and made to push back from the table but Mikhal grabbed her wrist.

  “Alliana please. I do what I do so you will have the best care. So our son will be well. Please understand, Natalya is not here to suffer, she is here to bring you joy. As for Enid and Marishka, Enid has felt my wrath and will feel it each day for the rest of her existence. Marishka will be dealt with when she is found. I promise you Sweet, you will get your revenge.”

  “And what of Lucian? Did you hurt him as well? He wasn’t at fault. He...”

  Mikhal slammed both hands down on the table in a rage, making the silver bounce and jingle and the candles flicker, sending distorted shadows upon the walls. Alliana jumped in response, giving a small squeak as fear rose up inside her, expecting the wrath she knew lay waiting under his calm facade. Mikhal felt it, hated that he was the cause of it, and knew he had to regain control of himself, but at the moment his demon was winning. Jealousy was rising up inside him once more.

  He rose, the chair falling back to clatter onto the floor, the impact barely muffed by the thick rug. He strode across the room, distancing himself from Alliana, fighting for control cursing his mate and the demon that would have her throat. “I did not come here to discuss another man with you, Alliana. I came here to have dinner with my wife. I did what I saw fit, leave it at that. He will survive. Now hold your tongue!”

  Mikhal shook his head in frustration. This was not going well at all. He groaned and ran his hand back through his curls, then fisted his hands and looked down at the floor. What was he doing? He’d sworn to himself that he wasn’t going to let her incite him. He’d sworn that he would maintain his composure no matter what she did. He turned back around to find her staring at him, eyes huge as dinner plates, mouth pressed into a thin line, watching, waiting no doubt for his demon to come forth and retaliate against her for her impertinence. It was what she had been taught was the norm for her life here during her first months of captivity. Why should tonight be any different?

  Mikhal shook his head again; then tilted it to the side slightly, giving her a look that said volumes. It spoke of his exasperation with her stubbornness, and his doubts about himself, but it also spoke of his caring and determination. His blue eyes shone deeply as his
gaze pleaded with her for understanding. ‘Just try, Alliana, his eyes asked of her, just please try to see me for who I am and stop all this arguing’, but Alliana saw only the demon within struggling to win against the man.

  She saw his handsome face, saw the pleading in his eyes, but took if for only more lies. Yes he was controlling himself to some degree, but on the other hand, the chair laying tipped over on the floor was evidence enough. She’d seen the telling amber flash in those gorgeous blue eyes, telling of the monster that would gladly come out and hurt her, and she knew all too well how painful that hurt could be. No, Alliana wouldn’t give him a chance, she wouldn’t trust him and allow him to get close, because she knew, oh yes she knew, that he was evil and evil things never changed. This was simply a new ploy of some sort, why she didn’t know, but it was a ploy to lull her all the same.

  Perhaps he wanted to know about her magick. Perhaps he was doing it so she’d be calmer during her pregnancy, perhaps he knew if he bedded her it would have to be in a gentle manner so he thought this was the way to seduce her. She didn’t know and didn’t care. Evil was evil was evil. A handsome facade meant nothing. She would never let her guard down around him and risk herself and her child. Never.

  The knock on the chamber door cut the tension in the room and Mikhal hurried forward to pick up the toppled chair before bidding the servants to enter. There was no need for anyone to know they’d been fighting. What went on between the Lord and the Lady of the castle were nobody’s business but his and Alliana’s. Besides, he knew the servants had no real respect for his wife, and he didn’t need to add this to their list of things to gossip about.

  He went and sat in his chair, saying nothing as the dishes were placed before them, looking again at his wife whom he could feel fuming with anger, and again wondered why she had to be so stubborn. Weren’t women supposed to be docile creatures? A bit of fire was desired, but this. Well, he had fought in many battles and this was simply one more. He would batter down the fortress that she had built around her heart, and like it or not, she would come to love him as he loved her.

  That determined, knowing that once he set his mind on something or made a decision it was practically written in stone, Mikhal waited until the servants left then smiled at his dear wife who had taken a decided interest in the knife beside her platter.

  “I fear that will do you no good, my Sweet. True you could wound me, but I would continue to exist. Tell me; is your appetite better these days? I don’t wish for you to feel ill because of the food. Your tongue seems to have healed, has your stomach as well?”

  Alliana wanted to tell him that his mere presence made her stomach churn but in actuality she was famished. The mornings were still hard for her at times. A bit of bread was all she could manage and that was only after she’d been awake an hour or two, but come evening, she was famished. She’d begun devouring everything in sight these past few days, and tonight would be no exception.

  Instead of answering Mikhal, or even acknowledging that she had heard him, Alliana ignored him. It was clear he wasn’t going away any time soon, and she was hungry, therefore it would be best to simply eat and then claim fatigue. Hopefully he would keep his ungodly night hours and she could continue to live mostly in the daytime. That way they could avoid each other. He had allowed it before but the question was would he still. Her husband seemed different now, calmer, more in control of his bestial nature, and very intent on becoming part of her life.

  She set to work eating her supper seemingly oblivious to the fact that her husband sat across from her, as Mikhal began to tell her of his life years ago, when he had been growing up, before the tragedy that had beset their family. He talked and ate little, amused to see her devour every morsel on her plate, content to just watch her and soak in the beauty and aura that was his mate.

  ~~~~~~~~~~~~

  Natalya fastened the ties on her fur cloak then adjusted the dilko on her head, readying herself for her trip to the village. She would concede with the requirements of her new station and wear the garb befitting that of a Lady, but she refused to throw her beliefs away altogether. She had been born and raised as a Gypsy and though she now resided within the walls of a grand castle, that same Gypsy blood still ran through her veins, and a Gypsy woman, especially a married one, husband present or not, did not reveal her head in public. If she were going to the village, then she would abide by the traditions of her clan. A sharp knock upon her door pulled her from her thoughts. It was immediately followed by the entry of Lucian, Mikhal the Merciless's first in command, much to her dismay. He hadn’t even bothered to wait for her to ask him in. She stared at him, eyes hostile, not saying a word, wondering if the vampire was an uncouth lout. She had thought him to be different, yet he had barged into her quarters without a thought. Did he have no manners? It made her wonder if this was how it would be then. No real respect shown to her, no care given to her privacy. Lord Arcos had said things would be different, but perhaps Alliana’s assessment of their situation was correct. Well she’d have a thing or two to say about that. Natalya decided then and there that she hadn’t left one life of oppression simply to be trapped in another.

  "Is it not proper to wait to be bid entry before opening the door?" Her tone left no doubt about her displeasure, her razor sharp tongue said it all, but Lucian wasn’t fazed in the least. Marishka had acted the spoiled brat, and this one could be handled as well.

  "I accorded you the courtesy of a knock. That is sufficient." His unspoken tone said ‘You are but a woman, a human. I did what was required, be satisfied.’ but Natalya would not so easily be cowed.

  "No, it is not sufficient and you will afford me the civility of waiting next time you call upon me. In the future I expect you to respect my privacy. I was told that my position here was that of a Lady. If it is your custom to barge in upon the women of this castle with no care for their dignity, then you need to be taught some manners. I could have been unclothed or engaged in a private matter. If that is your idea of acting like a gentleman, then I shall request you leave me be."

  Lucian's hooded eyes remained unreadable, but they shone black as polished onyx in the light of the lamps. His thoughts on the tirade just unleashed upon him were a complete mystery to the woman standing before him with her hands on her hips and fire in her eyes, and he intended to keep them as such. A small smirk did however; touch the corners of his mouth at Natalya's bold words. She was new here, a human in the devil’s liar, yet she dared to talk to him as if he were hired help. Interesting. He didn’t find her behavior as objectionable as Marishka’s, no, this one hadn’t stamped her feet, pouted, or whined, she’d simply made her demands in no uncertain terms, ready to do battle for what she thought was right. It showed she had strength and character.

  Lucian decided in that moment that the one before him was feisty, just like her friend, and that perhaps his latest round of playing nursemaid might just be a pleasant experience. He wasn't sure if he liked her fire or merely found it annoying, but the anger she was feeling certainly did add a lovely blush to her cheeks, and the way her breasts heaved with each enraged breath was quite delectable. The image of discovering her unclothed was an appealing as well, as he looked at her further, seizing her up from head to toe. She was perhaps thinner than some of the women he bedded, but she certainly was rounded in all the right places. Even with her cloak in place he could make out a lushness of curves, and that hair, oh that hair was as fiery as her temper.

  Natalya saw the path his eyes were traveling and clasped the cloak tighter around her body, raising her eyebrows at his audacity. "If you are quiet finished ogling me perhaps we should be off. I believe you have your orders."

  "As do you, My Lady." The words were said with just a hint of sarcasm but no real malice; still, Natalya glared at him all the same. Her angry scowl only produced another smirk however, so she turned away, determined not to be baited by him. He seemed to be finding their argument much too fun.

  "Lead the way. I kno
w not where we are going."

  "Tis not far. The horses are ready and waiting in the stable. We shall go as soon as you remove that scrap of rag from your head."

  Natalya wheeled around to look at him, this time her eyes not merely glaring but shooting daggers. "The scrap upon my head is not a rag. It is called a dilko, and is a symbol of my status as a woman in my clan. I will not remove it. Not before you or anyone else."

  "I should have thought it was apparent that you no longer live with your clan. You are now a Lady of Arcos Castle, and as such must dress accordingly." Still his eyes betrayed no hint of his ire, but Lucian's fingers twitched nonetheless, with the need to curl into fists at the stubbornness of the woman before him.

  "You say I am a Lady, and you request I dress as you think a Lady should, yet you see fit to invade my privacy by entering before being bid. Which is it Sir? Am I to be accorded the rights of one of my station or not?"

  He stared at her silently then made a move towards her. Natalya skittered back, eyes flashing outrage, "Do not touch me!"

  "Be still woman." He stepped before her and quickly raised the hood of her cloak over the dilko scarf on her head, then gently but swiftly tucked the material back out of sight, one thumb trailing down her cheek in the process. She jumped as if burned by his touch, but he didn't remove his hand, simply looked at her with those eyes so dark and mysterious.

  "Keep your hood in place. It will be hard enough to get the village women to trust you because you reside in the castle. If they know you are of Gypsy decent, they will be even more reluctant for you to tend them."

  "Do they have a choice? Their Lord has issued his command."

  "They can hide, they can lie, and their families can help them run away if they think we are after their babes. Your willfulness in this matter will make things even more difficult. Try and do what you are told, however hard that may be for you."