Cool hands gripped Helena's shoulders, preventing her from further humiliation. Her breath caught at her body's reaction to his touch. The frigid temperature under his fingertips cooled Helena's cheeks, yet her heart sped. Her breasts tightened and a kindling began between her legs. When she glanced up at Cassius, his slitted pupils caused whatever wave of Helena's emotions to wash ashore. Meanwhile, the Pegasi found equilibrium in the skies, albeit a bit jerkily.
"I don't know what you think you are doing, Ruined One, but whoring yourself will only get you so far." He shoved her away as if she were acidic.
Helena closed the distance between them again. "My apologies—I mistook you for part of that atrocious seating I tried to brace myself against." Helena growled, her voice low and dangerous.
"You're not just a blight—you're blind and physically inept. What use could you possibly have to Bedlam?" Cassius scoffed.
Helena ignored the sting of his words and steadied herself, fastening the seatbelts of her coachseat diagonally across from Cassius. The aerocart's coach offered little to no windows on either side. Helena glimpsed flashes of copper-toned vistas and expanses of sapphire waters. From her limited view, Helena thought this world a beautiful place.
Cassius added, "Who am I kidding? You'll probably end up serving a highborn. Seems fitting, really."
No, what would be fitting is seeing you chained and doing my every bidding, Helena ruminated darkly.
"Yes, bow to me, my wolf." The velvety purr from the beginning of the flight arrived again. It seemed to have hitched a ride with Helena.
"Technically, I only exist within your mind." The voice responded to Helena's silent question.
"What the fuck do you mean, my mind?" Helena whispered, panic seeping into each word.
"Be silent, and speak with your mind—the wolf watches," the sentient being said. Each vowel slunk in like a shadow, smooth and low.
The voice was correct, Helena felt those cold Egyptian blues zeroed on her person. A few heartbeats later, he stayed silent. For that, she was grateful.
Best not to give him more arsenal, Helena grumbled to herself.
"I agree." it intruded.
"And just what are you?" Helena asked.
"I am your instinct. The primal essence of your subconscious you have yet to connect with. " the voice softly growled. There's an edge of sharpness to it, as if claws are ready to unsheathe at any moment.
"Okay... This is freaky. Can you leave?" Helena requested.
It cackled, cloaked in mockery and aghast. "Only through death will you get severance. Else, we are forever intertwined in destiny."
"Riddle me this—What the fuck are you?" Helena hissed.
No response. The mental line between the two muted, until it finally answered. "I am not sure. Just know that I will be here while you traverse the unknown. Let me in. Let me be your guide and together WE will survive our punishment." Its voice wrapped around the female's thoughts, both seductive and commanding, a soft growl echoing in every syllable, like the brush of fur in the night.
Its temptation glided around Helena, awaiting permission. "Yeah, no thanks." Helena scoffed. There was no way she'd allow a nameless and faceless entity to bulldoze its way in. For all she knew, it meant her harm. Regardless of her objections, a small fraction of Helena was curious.
YOU ARE READING
Smoldered Flames (Edonia Series: Part I)
ParanormalA young woman wakes in a dungeon with no memory of who she was before. She's accused of murder and sent to an academy, meeting four men who will change her life. Follow Helena's adventure as she discovers who she was before and what she will become...
