Feral Hearts

Chapter 6 Victoria's POV

“Don’t fight it.” A deep, silken male voice echoed around me. The feel of his fingers ghosting over my arms, across my back and tickling my shoulder blades, made me shiver with delight. How did he think that I’d have the will to fight him?

For no reasons I can’t.

I turned desperate to catch a glimpse of his face in the low-lit room. I never managed to see it. He was always a mystery to me, always eluding me.

His nails scraped down my arms as he came up behind me, his breath hot against my neck. It turned my skin sticky, adding to the already stifling heat of the room. My stomach tightened, clenching with arousal as his hands glided over my torso.

His fingers raised the hem of my camisole, bunching the material as he explored my bare skin achingly slow pace.

My body arched into him, rubbing my backside against his groin and feeling his desire. He was hard for me, pressed firmly into the crack of my ass. One hand came down to my hips, pulling me back as he ground into me, showing me just what was to come and making moisture pool in my cave. I groaned, titled my head to one side and tried to look over my shoulder at him.

A low rumble reverberated through me. It was liquid purr that I felt in every inch of my body.

I shifted my backside against his length, eliciting a deeper rumble from him, and smiled to myself over the effect I had on him.

The hand on my stomach snaked up to my breast, slipping under the camisole. I closed my eyes as his fingers teased and tortured my right n****e. He ghosted his other hand back up my arm, light enough that sensation followed in the wake of his touch.

He swept his fingers over my shoulder and slipped the strap of my camisole down over it, caressing me as he went.

His mouth was warm and satiny against my skin as he kissed my shoulder. He licked and tastes me, teasing my neck with blunt teeth, and turning the tightness in my belly into flames.

The only sound in my ears was our combined breathing, hit and heavy, panting as we moved against each other.

My heart thundered and I gave myself over its rhythm.

His tongue swept along my earlobe as my wet lips. My brows furrowed and I moaned, rolling my head to one side and bringing my other arm up. I reached over behind me and ran it through his thick hair. It was like velvet beneath my touch and I buried my fingers into it, feeling the softness and losing myself in the sensations flooding me.

He purred again.

I open my eyes and looked down at his hand as he slid it into my waist down to my feminine.

How had I got myself naked?

The thought fled my mind when his hand edged lower in circular motion.

I bit my lip in anticipation of his touch, willing him to move faster before I exploded with need.

He nipped at my ears and I groaned.

My eyes almost shut.

They flew wide when I saw the black fur erupt on his arms.

Wolf!

“You will be mine,” he whispered. “You can’t escape from me mate.”

I shot up in bed, and pressed my hand against my chest. It was sticky with sweat, my camisole top was soaked.

And damn that dream!

Why am I dreaming like that? This was the first time that it wasn’t nightmare who confronted my sleep but something I feel disgusted about.

Taking deep breaths, I kept one hand pressed against my chest and propped myself up on the bed with the other. The thin sheets stuck to my damp skin, I looked at the big window, welcoming the cool morning breeze that was coming through it and I silently cursed myself for waking up this morning feeling uncomfortable.

I stared distantly at the trees and remembered the dream.

I don’t know whether it was a sign, a warning or maybe a dream that only ought to taunt me.

After the encounter with that bastard my rage seems to grow more within me.

Though my mind kept on telling me to kill him, I can feel that it would be difficult.

I raised my fingers and touch the window, I saw that my nails are paler, which serves a proof that the poison is still inside my body.

If I won’t act my plan right away, I might find myself dead which will put my efforts in vain. I sighed, death would be my mercy, and one that would probably find me before that bastard could haunt me.

I remember that after three days I need to drink another set of poison, though I need to be more cautious.

“Tori,” I heard a meek voice coming from Lily but I can’t utter a word and maybe she was aware.

“I c-came here because I felt the need to apologize,” I frowned and hummed to tell her that I am listening.

“I know it’s my fault I shouldn’t—I’m sorry Tori I almost put you in danger.” I glance over my shoulder to see Lily looking so worried and in pain.

“No one is at fault Lily, it’s my choice,” I whispered and then added more conviction as I turned to face her,” “I’m going to help him no matter what Lily. Now that he knows I am a witch, I might put you both and your mate in danger if I say no; after all you are my sister.”

“Will you be alright?” I nodded.

I am born a witch and a warrior, I won’t fear him.

I lifted the heavy practice sword moving into the first stance readiness.

“Get used to the weight,” Edward had told me because I must be strong enough to strike and strike and strike again without being exhausted. It was my first lesson, to make myself stronger.

It will hurt but my pain will make me stronger. My enemies used their razor-sharp fangs to kill my parents and one day my sword will taste their blood. I’m nine and everything change.

I planted my feet in the grass. Wind ruffled my hair as I moved through the stances. First, the sword before me canted to one side protecting my body. Second, I held the pommel high as though the blade were a horn coming from my head. Third, I swing the sword down to my hip, then in deceptively casual droop in front of me. Then lastly, up again to my shoulder. Each position could move easily into strike or a defense.

Fighting was like playing chess, anticipating the move of one’s opponent and countering it before one got hit. Also, it left me bruised, wounded and tired. I am frustrated with myself, I wanted to make myself stronger but with my small body I can’t do it right away.

And my parent’s murderer King Luke was killed by his own son and that bastard had taken away my chance to kill his father. Now it is only King Lukas the new reign ruler, the son of the late king, the man who I ought to kill.

I need to learn how to ride and fight death.

“You are flaming with anger Tori, Now are you tempted to use some spells?” he taunted and I just stared at him with hate.

Yes, I wanted to use spell to kick his ass but I don’t want him branding me a coward. I wanted to fight him with strength and not cheating him with magic.

I swung my sword again but no matter how I swung at him, it just made him laugh. He liked it when I am engulfed with anger.

Flame, he called it.

I like it when I am angry too. Hatred was better than being afraid. Better than remembering that I am once a coward who wasn’t able to protect my parents and my village.

My parents are not here to save me or guide me.

It is I, being alone.

“Come here Tori,” Edward called her.

I walked to him, sword slung over my shoulders. The sun was setting, but werewolves are nocturnal, and their day was not even half done. The sky was streaked with copper and gold. I inhaled a deep breath of pine needles. For a moment I felt as though I were just a kid learning to play.

“Lord Edward the king is here, he will—“

“I know,” Edward replied before facing me again. “Now Tori and Lily it’s time for you both to show the king that I have chosen the right people,” he said and I felt Lily’s presence behind me.

“We will spar,” he excitedly muttered.

“It is a battle between the three of us.” Lily leaned against her sword, the tip of it sinking into the ground, she wasn’t supposed to hold it that way but Edward didn’t reprimand her, as always, I just felt she was his favorite.

“Strength,” he said. “Physical Strength can give you the ability to get what you want. But you should unite your strength with the power of your mind. We don’t bite enemies without thinking first what part we’ll bite. Aim for its weakness and enjoy the feast in the end. But how do we get strength?”

I stepped beside Lily. It was obvious that Edward expected a response, but I wasn’t able to answer him when Lily made the first response.

“By training?” when Edward smiled at her, she could see his lips curve and his fangs showing from his bottom lip. He tousled Lily’s hair an affection that I can’t understand.

“We get strength by having intentions. It might be an intention to win, the intention to survive, the intention to avenge and the intention to protect. No matter what it is, it would be your strength, so hold unto it.”

Hearing his words made me gritted my teeth.

It was hatred and the intention to avenge which gives me strength.

“What do you mean Edward? Can you please tell us what crazy game are you plotting right now?” Lily asked, without any particular excitement.

Edward looked into the distance, as though he was contemplating and discarding various doubts.

“Attack the King.”

“Wait what?” I asked. “Attack the w-what?”

“Is this a game or a sparring practice?” Lily asked, frowning.

Edward brought one finger under her chin, raising her head until she was looking into his amber eyes.

“It will test your speed, decision making and other skills. I will play the role as the protector of the king. He was right there watching us so don’t let me down. Now are you in?” he told us, with great seriousness.

“When the sun reaches the trunk of the tree, I will come close to the king. Now your task is to knock me down before I can’t get there and if you did then you win.” Then he departed for a copse of trees some ways away. Lily sat down on the grass.

“I don’t want these Tori,” she said.

“It’s just a game,” I murmured but deep within me I wanted to attack right now. Knowing that the king is a few meters away from me makes my head buzz in hatred.

Edward is right. Hatred gives strength and I use this to win.

Lily gave her a long look the one that they gave each other when one of them was pretending things were normal.

“So, what should we do?” I looked up into the sky where there are dark clouds.

“What if one of us tries to distract him first while the other will attack?”

“Okay,” Lily said pushing herself up and beginning to gather stones.

“What if he get mad—“

“If we don’t try he would still be mad.” Lily sighed after nodding her head as an approval.

“Get in the position,” I said, and Lily wasted no time in climbing a tree. I checked the sun mark, wondering what sort of tricks Edward might use. The longer he waited, the darker it would get, and while he could see in the dark I and Lily wasn’t good at that. My magic was not on its peak.

But as I watched Edward, in the end he didn’t use tricks. He came out of the woods in our direction, howling in a way of teasing us. My knees went weak in terror; I remembered how the same howl echoed in my village as they killed my family.

Focus!

This was just to test your skill Tori!

I reminded myself frantically. The closer he got, though, the less my body believed what my mind uttered. Every animal instinct she mustered fades rapidly. My strategy seemed silly now in the face of his hugeness and our smallness.

Fear started to crawl but suddenly I recalled my mother bleeding on the ground, recalled the smell of her blood as they leaked out. The memory felt like thunder in me.

RUN

Her whole body turned rigid.

No, I can’t!

Not again.

I made myself move into the first position, even though my legs felt wobbly. He had the advantage, even stones are raining down on him still he was able to maintain his pace.

I spun out of the way, not even bothering to try to block the first blow. Putting the tree between them, I dodged his second and third. When the fourth one came, it knocked I to the grass.

I close my eyes waiting for the impact of another attack.

“If you want to kill my King you should strengthen your body and your mind to not fear his protector.” I know that he was just telling me about the game but it meant something deep to me.

He is right.

“Fear won’t have a space in your heart Tori, if you are sure of your intention.”

“That wasn’t fair!” Lily complained.

I didn’t say anything for I know that nothing is fair in werewolf rules. She had learned to stop expecting it to be.

“They are still weak Edward, why choose mortals as an assassin? Are we running out of werewolves?” I can’t look behind me, hearing his voice sent different emotions within me and I hate it.

“They are willing to learn Lukas and they have potentials.” Edward smiled towards us and signaled us to go.

So, without glancing at the king I take Lily’s hand motioning her towards our exit.

But I promise myself that one day I’ll show the King how strong I am and I will make him regret insulting me, he would pay me with his life.