Dark strings

Handfasting

"Where was that hiding?" I asked as we were catching our breath. Crowe kissed me on the cheek and said " I was saving it for when we were all alone. I thought you might have brought worry to the neighbors if we were in town. I'm glad you liked it so much."

"Any more tricks I should know about?"

Crowe sat up and said "Not a trick, more like a surprise." He walked over to his bag and pulled out a small cloth. He was unwrapping it as he walked back over. He sat down on the bed and showed it to me. I couldn't believe my eyes "When did you get this?" It was the beautiful silver necklace with sapphire stones that I saw when we were in Bradford. He sat smiling at me "I got it when you weren't looking. I saw you looking at it and decided it would make a good gift and here I was right."

He folded it back up and set it on the bedside table. He then snuggled up behind me, wrapping his arms around me and whispered in my ear "What do you say about going for a second round?"

"Are you going to show me anymore tricks?"

"I think I'm all out of tricks. So what'd you say?"

"Make it as good as the first and I might do a round three." A smile formed on my face as he laughed and rolled on top of me. "What if I do better than the first time?"

"Well you'll just have to make me believe that you can."

A smirk appeared on his face "Challenge accepted." He gave me a deep kiss as he entered me. I let out a gasp as he continued to kiss me. His hands were playing with my breasts and he was kissing and nipping my neck. Next thing I know, I'm flipped over and he's going from behind. He still has one hand on my breast and the other is supporting his weight, as he is practically lying on top of me. His head is next to mine and he's whispering obscenities in my ear. Tensions are high and he's thrusting faster. I couldn't help but scream out, a little louder than last time, as pleasure washed over me. He was rather loud himself, finishing at the same time. He got off me and collapsed onto the bed next to me. I rolled to face him and said "Where the fuck did that come from?"

"I'm not sure, but I'm pretty sure that I completed the challenge. Don't you think?"

"I think you have. It took so much out of you and I don't want to go again unless it will be this good."

"It did take a lot out of me, but that's alright because I'll make you scream like that in the morning."

The two weeks had passed and as we made it back into town, there seemed to be a commotion. Something seemed to have the town talking. As we passed one of the taverns, we saw horses that looked like part of the royal guard. What kind of business did they have here? We don't typically get royal guard up and as far as I know all of their deliveries had been made. As we got to the house we stabled the horses and went inside. Abagail and Lucious were talking to my mom as she knit something. As we walk in, their conversation stops and Abagail gets up "You're back. How was it?" she asked as she gave us a hug. "It couldn't have been any better." I say as I walk over to give my mom a hug.Crowe takes a seat in one of the open chairs and asks "Why is the royal guard in town? I saw their horses outside the tavern."

Lucious spoke " Not sure why they're here. Something about lords business I heard. I guess we'll find out eventually."

That's when Alastair walked in. " I've got news. Apparently the guard is here looking for an escaped demon. They say it takes a human form."

"Alastair," Crowe says " What would a demon want with our town?"

"They said it was looking for something or that it was on the run."

Alastair had walked up behind me and moved my hair to one side. I turned to face him "What do you think you are doing?"

"Confirming my suspicions. It looks like you had fun." He ran his finger over the hickey that was on my neck. I brushed his hand away and said " I did have fun and there was nothing you could do to stop it. "

"I wouldn't dream of stopping you. I've already been scared."

There was a knocking on the door and Alastair answered. There was a guard standing there " Good day sir, I wish to speak with Annika. It's rather urgent."

Mom sat down her knitting stuff and walked out the door to speak with the guard. "Long time Annika. I'm sorry for you your lose."

"What do you want?" Annika said crossing her arms.

"Lord Victor wants his niece and her husband to come and visit for a while and possibly stay down there."

"Absolutely not! I left Victor to keep my children safe."

"Lord Victor thinks they'll be safer at the palace. "

Annika was getting frustrated. Victor was very manipulative and no matter how hard he tried, she could always see what he really wanted. " You can tell Victor that I'm not sending Salina to him. If he wants to see her and congratulate her, then he can come up here."

"Very well my lady. I'll tell lord Victor, but don't think that he won't push for it."

The guard walked down the drive and mounted his horse. When he was gone Annika went back inside. "Is everything alright?" Salian asked.

"It will be. You don't have anything to worry about."

Annika sat back down and continued working on the blanket she was making for her grandbaby. She hadn't told Salina what it was and she also didn't tell her that Alastair was making a cradle for the baby either. He wanted it to be a surprise. Just like the baby. Victor wasn't going to get his hands on the child. She knew that he wouldn't harm the child, but he would turn him into a weapon. Victor was twisted and did anything to make sure he would come out on top. That's why Annika had left. She didn't want her children to get caught up in his path to self destruction. He had almost killed them once before and he wasn't going to do it again.