Hello dear friends! I know, I know. It’s been a couple weeks, but the holidays are over and this story is getting ready to take a turn!
When last we met, the Sharpest Pair, Clayan and Ananda had been reunited… in a most carnal way. But, what happened on the other side of the door? When Mari, the human servant, found herself face to face with the man who had loved her once and lured her to his mysterious land, only to abandon her and abandon his wife, Ananda’s sister, again…
Remember, if you have missed an episode or just want to read from the beginning, please feel free to do so at http://www.graysonreyescole.com/ASharpestWife.htm
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Mari wanted to stand, but her muscles refused to obey her. Her thoughts raced back and forth between the sight of Ananda feeding from her husband and the man trying to recover from Ananda’s power before her.
Hapod. This man had lured her from her home with the promise of a fantasy land beyond her imagining, and love. She had sold herelf into servitude for what she believed to be love. But he had left her, just as he had left his wife. Mari knew she should count herself lucky for her lesser fate.
She did not know how long it had been since she had seen him. She hadn’t been able to keep time as long as she lived among the tribe. She did know that it had been long enough for her pain to abate.
“Hapod?” To her own ears, her voice sounded dry, small, vulnerable.
He did not respond. Instead, he pushed the button for the elevator.
“You have to speak to me. You have to explain yourself to me.”
He didn’t look back and when the elevator doors opened, he got in.
Finally, Mari gathered her strength and spirit. She scrambled up to her feet and ran after him. She made it to the elevator just before the doors closed.
The guards did not follow her. They were there for the protection of the Sharpest Pair, not a foreign-born maid.
Inside the elevator, Hapod shocked Mari when he grabbed the material of the front of her shirt and yanked hard. The force made Mari spin around and her back was slammed into the back of the elevator. The skin on her back stung and her muscles and bones ached. Her tale bone caught the worst as it had hit the metal rail that lined the box. Tears sprang to her eyes but did not have time to fall.
Hapod leapt at her. His face came perilously close to hers. He bared his teeth and growled as he scented her.
Her eyes widened. Hapod had never treated her so.
When she met him, he appeared suave and exotic. He was aggressive, yes, and filled with leashed power that excited not frightened. But now, fear had wrapped the young human woman in electric fingers. Her heart beat quicker which caused her breath to come quicker; dangerous for a bound servant. The band at her throat did not give. She was unable to draw in the air required for a body pumping with adrenaline.
“We have tried to cure the Sharpest Curse for centuries,” Hapod said to her. “I thought you were special, because I could feed on you, little beast. I didn’t know your blood was worthless, that you could not nourish me. And I refuse the poisoned Blood of Sharpness.”
“I don’t know what you mean, Hapod!” she cried. Reflexively, her fingers came up to claw at the metal around her neck which had become nearly hot to the touch. “Hapod, you’re scaring me. I don’t understand.”
“Of course you don’t,” he snapped. His teeth lengthened before her eyes. “You are stupid and beneath me. I die, now, and it is your fault.”
“My—“
He snarled at her and Mari stopped speaking. Her throat closed over her desperate efforts to get air and she read cruelty in the metallic eyes glowing at her.
“Hapod,” she whispered. Ananda had once told her her there was power in using a male’s name. In a desperate whisper, she continued, “Please don’t hurt me.”
“I can’t even feed from you,” He lifted her by the upper arms and slammed her back against the wall again. She stifled a shriek. “You are useless and you serve her. This is a war, and you serve our enemy.”
“Please Hapod, I still have a lot of things to learn about your people. I don’t…” She lost the ability to speak. Her head started to swim. The metal band around her throat started to get hot. She hit the wall again, harder this time. Her head snapped on her neck. Then she was blinded by a bright, bright light.
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Grayson Reyes-Cole
http://www.graysonreyescole.com
Bright Star
Amused Authors 