The Taming

A Rare Breed

They met in the darkness of the storm.

Sebastian could easily imagine how they'd look to someone watching.

The valkyrie in the shape of a beautiful white woman standing her ground. Still as a statue and contrasting with the bat wings which seemed black in the faded light. Her tunic nearly glowing in the bleak darkness. Vivid blue eyes now red with the blood filling them.

Her enemy was equally as motionless on the back of the white beast, dusky black cape billowing over the mount's rear and the dogs a single silken mass twining around its legs.

Strange toothy black beasts whose fur looked dense and rough. More like tree bark then hair. The most fearsome dogs she'd ever laid eyes on.

Demon Dogs.

Neither of them broke contact nor made a move.

I suppose we're two foes facing down in the storm. At least in her mind.

For now both of us are willing to see whose will shatters first.

It won't be mine... Sebastian was fighting the twitching of his lips again. Watching her so brave and bold was enhancing his arousal.

She's magnificent.

He couldn't recall the last time someone had challenged him this much.

He'd never yearned for a woman as he did this vicious little valkyrie. I want to bed her now. Toss her over the coverlets and take her until we're both raw and she's moaning desperately for more.

"Come little Harpie. Come back with me. To the warmth." His tone was soft, voice coaxing as he leaned over the horse to offer her a hand up.

Her back went ramrod straight. "As the devil likely said."

***

"Ah, but my touch is so much sweeter than the devil's hand, My Dear." He offered in a coaxing voice. His eyes turning hooded with desire.

She scoffed. "I will not!"

Refusing my hand yet again.

She clenched her fists and looked obstinately up at him.

Daring to call me the devil.

What could she even know of such things? Does she have any idea that his kind does indeed walk these lands? He immediately thought of Radix and the smile died on his lips.

With thoughts of the Demon King came memories of losing Chavias. Of hearing his screams as he was dragged off into the woods by ravenous nonis, already ripping at his flesh.

Willing to tear away at him until there was nothing left...

He banished such thoughts and refocused on the pretty bounty before him. She dares to defy me?

His eyes sparked until gold light, bright as sunlight on a river, glowed in the dark.

He dismounted in one graceful motion.

"Stay." He injected his power, the voice of persuasion, into his tone. Putting up a staying hand. Making his voice drop to such a low note that it caused a vibration in one's chest. Making them instantly wish to obey him. To please him.

Immersed in those eyes and lost in the strange, dark, tone, Elsabet could no longer will her body to move.

"What have you done!" She squealed. Fixated on him as he approached her. She was rooted where she stood. Wings relaxing involuntarily. Blowing a frustrated breath, she fought to budge. Jerking her torso.

But her legs refused her.

"Stay." He said it again. As he walked to her, the dogs moved in stride with him.

A rippling mass. One at each side and four flanking him. Hulking beasts.

As they drew near, she realized they were not dogs, but something nightmarish with huge, pointed teeth and wide mouths. She shivered.

His burning gaze seared into her as he reached out to her. His hand jerking in motion as if he moved too fast for her to catch.

She felt like a rabbit caught in a trap with the predator outmanning her as he maneuvered ever closer.

***

She jerked her shoulders back, but her body wouldn't retreat. Though unable to resist as he swept her into his arms.

"No! Stop!" She objected but her arms wouldn't lift to fight him. Her eyes turned from red back to dark blue.

He put her before him on the white stallion. Dropping her breech-clad legs aside the saddle. Leaving her to grip the horn to hold on.

"What are you doing!" She squealed. "This is far too fast in the dark! He'll surely break his neck."

Not my stallion. Sebastian ignored her. Letting Sivikon run. Knowing how unique his mount was. And that he can most certainly see in the dark. Likely as well as I can.

They rode through the forest, beneath leaden clouds, at a breakneck speed.

He released her will to some extent and heard her draw rapid breaths. Huffing in anger.

"How did you-"

"I crept into the parts of your mind that control your willpower." He omitted he now clenched it in an iron fist. Holding it to keep her still even now. Despite that he allowed her to move in tiny increments.

"You should be grateful I'm not using it to have you pressed against me. Molding all that sweet skin against me." He whispered into the hair near her neck. "Mmm."

A delicious thought.

But far less fun then persuading her to come to me.

***

She huffed. Her face a mask of fury as she looked over her shoulder.

She hates me. All men. He sensed her barely contained anger.

This close to him, he caught the scent of wildflowers coming from her shoulders and wet hair which was slicked against her back and molded her cotton tunic to her.

She gave him a withering look over her shoulder. The sapphire eyes changed. The pupil reddening as blood pooled in them. She's considering killing my mount to escape.

Fury snapped through him at her thoughts of harming Sivikon. But before he could react, he noticed her unusual stillness as she fixated ahead.

He twisted to see her profile and followed her gaze to the crown of his stallion's head as they passed through a patch of moonlight. The silver horn appeared, winding heavenward. Unbearably beautiful to behold.

And gone just as fast.

The instant they stepped back into shadow, the horse again seeming no more than it'd been before.

She gasped.

"His name," Sebastian whispered to her. "is Sivikon."