A Ruin of Roses (Deliciously Dark Fairytales – B&tB Book 1)
A Ruin of Roses: Chapter 10

Nyfain wrapped an arm around me and gripped my hip possessively, keeping me close. I glanced back as we continued down the hall. The demon stood in the middle of the space with his robe now open, showing his hairless and shiny nude body. Tendrils of his magic fluttered across me, making my skin crawl.

“Well, that guy was a charmer, huh?” I said with a grimace.

Nyfain glanced down at me. “You don’t find him attractive?”

I studied his flat expression. “I can’t tell if you’re kidding.”

He looked straight ahead, not noticing the two people ahead of us—one dressed like a tiger, the other like a rabbit—getting busy between two dragon statues.

“I also can’t tell if they are joking.”

The tiger with the large, fuzzy head stood behind the bent-over gray rabbit with floppy ears. The tiger growled as he thrust, making the rabbit mew happily.

“Wrong sound for a rabbit,” I said, aghast, as we passed. “Won’t that get the costumes all gross? There’ll be jizz and juice all over the place.”

He chuckled softly. “It’s been a long time since someone…rational was in this castle after dark. I can’t imagine what this must look like to you.”

“I’ve seen a lot in one day. That’s for sure.”

“I doubt you’ve seen much of anything. I once walked in on an entire room filled with people in costumes like that. There was so much fur and movement that I just backed out. A woman trying to give a blowjob through a hole in her squirrel mask… My brain wouldn’t make sense of it. I didn’t push the issue.”

“Does their sexy magic affect you? The demons?”

“If I let it.”

“But you never give in?”

“No,” he growled. “Never.”

“You have a strong will, then?”

“A strong will and a large stubborn streak.” We reached the door leading outside, and he stepped forward to open it for me. He guided me through, his hand still on my hip.

The chilled night air greeted me as I stepped out. “To answer your question, no, I did not find that demon attractive. Wait…”

He paused, his hand snaking around to my belly to keep me at his side.

“No, I meant wait, as in halt the conversation.” I tried to pry his hand off me, but he slid it back to my hip. Apparently, he wanted to keep up the possessive pretenses when in public. It couldn’t hurt with the strength of the demons wandering around. I huffed and gestured him on. “Keep walking. I was telling my brain to wait. You’re too literal.”

He resumed his unhurried walk toward the everlass field.

The supplies I’d need rolled through my head. I’d need to grab something for transporting the leaves, as well as check out the setup to work with them.

“Wait,” I said.

He kept walking.

“No, this time… Would you just…” I twisted and spun to get away from his hold, then put up my hands. “Where will I be drying the everlass? It needs to be done in the evening tomorrow, and the leaves should be kept flat and wet—”

“We have a large station for working with the plants,” he said, hooking his thumbs in his belt loops. “You’ll have at least two of everything you need, with enough room for multiple people to work with you. If you want.”

I looked around. “And who would that be?”

Was it just me, or did his body language scream uncomfortable?

“I was hoping you’d let me shadow you. I realize we…have our differences, but I could be of use. Also, it’s been a long time since I worked with someone knowledgeable. It would be a special favor to me.” He paused for a moment. “That I would be willing to trade for.”

I nearly waved that away, rather enjoying the idea of having some help, but stopped myself. “Okay, fine, but you better hold firm on that trade, the terms to be decided later.” I immediately thought of talking to my family. “What about something to hold the leaves as we pick and then transport them back?”

“It’s all set up.”

I narrowed my eyes. “We’ll see.”

He grinned but didn’t say anything, snaking his arm back around me. I tried to wiggle out of his hold, which didn’t budge, and then decided to let it go. We were still within sight of the castle. There might be one or more demons looking out, watching their newest prey. Me.

Getting back to his other question, I said, “That demon gave the impression of someone who is attractive. His face wasn’t too attractive, though, so it must’ve been his glamor affecting me, right?”

“You’re a quick study.”

“When it comes to my survival…or chastity, yes.”

“You’re not chaste. At least, you’re not a virgin,” he said matter-of-factly as we walked down the stairs to the deadened grass beyond. His flat expression gave nothing away.

“How do you know?” I asked.

“A virgin would be a lot more nervous about what we’ve done. About things in the castle. You might not be experienced, but you’re not a virgin.” He blew out a breath and ran his fingers through his hair. “Change of subject.”

I grinned maliciously but didn’t taunt him. I knew where that would get me. It seemed our beasts were happy to stick to the background at the moment, and we needed to keep it that way.

“His magic left me feeling disgusted, though, not turned on. Same with the other one, once I realized what was going on.”

“That’s the…” He looked away. “Your animal. It’ll fight off the effects. It won’t totally null them, though. You need to make up that draught.”

“I’ve chosen the garden. I just need time outside of my tower to start working.”

“You’ll have it. Tomorrow. During the daylight.”

I wasn’t going to argue with him about that, not after tonight. I’d be a target for that oily demon, especially after it learned that Nyfain had killed the other one, and I didn’t trust myself to stick to the wilting flower routine.

“I hated not being able to talk back to that demon,” I said, looping my hand around his forearm. I just needed a little solidarity. That had been gross. I’d tolerated the demons in the village because they weren’t worse than the sickness, but this… I wasn’t going to be good at tolerating this. “There were so many things I could’ve said that would’ve knocked him off his high horse.”

“I could feel your frustration as you burrowed into my back.” A grin lit his face, transforming it. “There’s no point in it, though. They want to taunt. To get a rise out of people. Once they know what affects you, they’ll keep pushing. I say very little to them if possible. I would advise you to do the same.”

“Easier said than done.”

He chuckled softly. There he was again, the guy who allowed himself a little levity. The man who was pretty damn hard to resist.

“What has you in such a good mood?”

He took a deep breath and slowly rubbed his thumb along my hip. “Some of my fondest memories are of working the everlass fields with my mother. She loved to garden and work with plants, and I enjoyed sharing her passion for it. She didn’t have an easy life in a lot of respects, but when she was in the fields, she would smile and laugh. Being out here together lifted our spirits. It was the thing we did together. The thing no one could take from us. I miss those times.”

“I should warn you that I’m a hack. I doubt my methods are going to be anything like your mother’s.”

“You have passion for the plants. I can hear it in your voice when you speak about working with them. The method might be different, but the joy of it is the same. I can’t wait to see how you do.”

“Why haven’t you kept it up?”

He looked down at me, his face cast in shadow. I couldn’t see his eyes well enough to read the expression in them. We approached the field, but he still didn’t let me go, slowing.

“Not everyone has the gifts that my mother did. That you seem to. I know how to take care of healing plants—that’s a duty within a dragon line—and I know a few rudimentary draughts to help heal wounds. I’d be dead without those. After that, I’m a novice at best. I need guidance. Most people do. The faeries use everlass to give their potions and elixirs unparalleled strength, but what you claim to be doing with the nulling elixir sounds like the work of a master.”

“I’m hardly a master. Still, you’ll learn that I don’t make unfounded claims. Come on, let’s get cracking.”

“I can’t wait.”

It sounded like he actually meant it.

Sawhorses holding large wooden trays with lips about the length of my pinky had been spread out along the edge of the field. The moon shone down, at its full strength and providing plenty of light. The night breeze ruffled the leaves, and a night bird screeched in the distance.

I smiled and closed my eyes for a moment, taking it all in.

“A copper for your thoughts?” Nyfain said quietly.

I spread my hands and took a deep breath. “I have all this everlass to work with, at the right time of night, and I don’t have to worry about a great beast or some other creature killing me. I don’t have to be jumpy or always looking over my shoulder. It’s like a dream come true.”

“Or would be if you weren’t doing this to negate the nightmare in which you live.”

“Way to steal the moment.” I ran my fingers along the inside of one of the trays and then felt the lip. “Cedar works better for trays. This tray is pine, if I’m not mistaken. That’s second best.”

“I’ve heard the opposite.”

“The book said the opposite, as well. There are limits to secondhand information. Your mother said pine was king, and so you went with that. Your mother’s mother probably said the same thing. The guy who penned that book clearly heard it too. They had no reason to question it. Had I not been using oak before I read that, which was worse, I wouldn’t have thought to experiment either, but the differences were stark enough to make me wonder about the impact of other types of wood. Through trial and error, I discovered cedar worked the best, hands down. It’s the most forgiving, and it produces the most potent leaf.”

He didn’t comment, as I’d thought he might. I’d probably want to argue if someone told me that my mother’s knowledge was mistaken. Then again, it wasn’t like I was telling him to change out the trays. He had clearly grown accustomed to letting the demons rattle on. That was probably what he was doing with me, too.

I paused when I ran my fingers along the top of the last tray.

I lifted it and tossed it to the ground. “Someone polished that one. That’ll wilt the leaves at twice the speed.”

He crossed his arms, still watching me.

I paused. “That was a test, wasn’t it?”

“Yes. Was that in your book?”

“No. I learned that one the hard way. I tried to increase production once because a neighbor was on her deathbed and her husband, who usually made the elixir, was injured hunting. My mother was gravely ill then, too. I tried to double the batch. I used the neighbor’s tray and damn near lost all the leaves.”

“Did you save the neighbor?”

“I didn’t save either of them. I haven’t saved anyone. Just given them more time.”

“And yet you still think you’ll be able to save them all.”

His tone had turned rough. Mr. Broody Fucker was never far away.

“I’m at least trying. Are you going to help me or not?”

“What’s your process?”

“Given the size of those trays, you’re going to have to follow along behind me, holding one until it’s full.”

He picked the first one up without another word, and I started harvesting leaves—one per plant, the biggest and healthiest ones I saw. As I went, I took care of any pruning he’d missed, adding the plant fluffing into the routine. Taking care of these plants was relaxing in a way. Meditative. Probably because giving them love and care meant I’d be able to give family and friends love and care.

Halfway down the row, I heard a soft tune in a deep, rumbling voice. The notes rose and fell delicately, beautiful and intoxicating. A glance back said he was in the same headspace, peaceful and meditative. It was like he’d started singing without realizing he was doing it.

“Louder, please,” I said as I deposited three leaves on his tray. I met his deep, soulful eyes.

“My mother used to sing that song when she worked the everlass. I didn’t mean to sing it out loud.”

“It’s beautiful. Did your mother die before the curse?”

“Yes.”

“Then she was spared the nightmare.”

“This is the only nightmare she was spared.”

I layered my hand over his on the tray, running my thumb across his knuckles. I didn’t really know what to say, so I repeated, “Sing louder, please.”

He sang with words this time, in a language I didn’t know. An ancient language, it sounded like, with rolled vowels and soft consonants. His pitch-perfect voice was still deep and scratchy but pleasing in an unexpected way. It lifted my spirits and soothed my anxiety. His tone was full of sweet sorrow and soft lament, his voice now billowing larger, lazily sifting through the air.

Before I knew it, all three trays were as filled as they safely could be. He pulled over two carts with space for two trays each, and we loaded the trays up, each of us wielding a cart. Only when we reached a large shed with two tables spanning the length with various stations for working with plants and herbs did he finally let the song die on his lips. The absence left a pang in my heart.

“Was her version sad, as well?” I asked as he helped me deposit the trays near the end of the nearest table.

He studied me for a moment, something he’d been doing a lot lately. “I always thought so, but she said it was supposed to be a joyous song.”

“Do you know what the words mean?”

He shook his head as we grabbed buckets to collect water from the pump. “She was from the mountain region in the Flamma Kingdom, ruled by the wolf king, Cincious, and his queen, Elmerdonna. They had a regional mountain language. It was allowed in that kingdom, but the king here outlawed it. He said it would be too easy for her to pass secrets.”

“Wow. That sounds crazy.”

“It wasn’t just at the end that he was mad. He’d never been quite right in the head—it was just kept quiet.”

“And look how well that royal secret worked out for everyone.”

I held the bucket in front of the pump, but he took it from me. “This is a man’s labor.”

“Pumping water is a man’s labor?”

His smile softened all the harsh planes and vicious scars on his face. He flexed his bicep. “Me strong. Hold water for smart lady.”

I laughed and stepped back as he worked. “Earning your keep, then?”

“I always had the grunt jobs as a kid. I was big for my age and lacked the natural dexterity to work the plants and healing remedies. My strength is in…well, strength. Brawn. Power. My role as a dragon male is to protect. And while I formed a brotherhood with the other dragon shifters through training and after, we were always at odds with each other. We were taught to compete— Can you handle that?”

I picked up the water bucket with two hands. “Yes, thanks.”

He nodded, easily holding one bucket in each hand like they weighed nothing. Meanwhile, I’d probably have to come back for more after I spilled half the contents of mine.

“We were taught to compete with each other for placement. To dominate each other. There was always an underlying hostility with us. The women working the plants…it was different. They always worked in harmony. They helped each other instead of trying to show they were better than each other. It was probably because I spent so much time with my mom, but I gravitated toward that mentality. My dad hated it. He called me weak because of it.” His smile dwindled. He set his buckets on the table and reached down to grab mine.

“And are you?” I asked.

He poured the water into the first tray, and I went about reorganizing the leaves.

“Wait, whoa—” I held up my hand when the water was at the right depth. “Not too much. They don’t like being too deep, like in a flood. Just enough to keep them damp.”

He nodded and worked on the other trays. I wasn’t sure if he didn’t plan to answer my question or just needed time, so I didn’t press.

“You leave these inside?” he asked.

“At home? Yes, because I didn’t have sawhorses, and I didn’t want any wild animals getting to them or desperate neighbors stealing them or demons pissing on them. A backyard isn’t as secluded as one might hope. As you know, since you invaded mine before kidnapping me.”

“But they would do better left in the moonlight?”

I pulled my mouth down at the corners. “I don’t know, actually. Let’s put one out and try it. It’ll need to be brought in at dawn, though. Do you trust me enough to leave me a key?”

“At the moment, yes. In an hour, likely not. But I’ll bring it in. You might spill everything.”

He had a point. They were large and heavy trays.

He insisted I stand back while he set up a little table and placed the tray on it. That done, he put his hands on his hips and looked out at the fields then glanced at the sky.

“What?” I asked.

He was back to studying me again. “I should probably take you back.”

Part of me didn’t want to go. I wanted to stay out here and find some new things to try with the everlass. Or maybe go check out that rose garden with him following behind. Or maybe just…stay with him a little longer. Listen to him sing in the moonlight or tell more stories of his past. Maybe tell him a few of mine in return. When he was calm like this, it was so easy to keep company with him. Easy to talk to him. It felt like we could maybe get to a place of joking and banter. Of being friends instead of enemies.

Watch, folks, as the abductor dupes the abductee into thinking he’s an okay guy. Don’t worry, she’ll get the hint when he locks her back in the tower and refuses to let her see her family…

“Yeah, probably,” I murmured.

We turned toward the castle, and he slid his arm around me, resting his hand on my hip again. Even though it probably wasn’t necessary for him to do so, I didn’t resist. Tomorrow we could go back to being enemies. Right now, I wanted to create a memory to savor.

“No,” he said when we were halfway to the castle. “I am not weak. Cultivating life and health with women does not make a man weak. If anything, it made me stronger, because it made me pliant. It allowed me to see a different perspective. It made me tolerant in the way battle training never could have. But there was no explaining that to my father. He didn’t have a great relationship with women. In truth, he didn’t think much of them as a whole.”

“Sounds like a real treat, this guy. And your mother married him why?”

“Arranged marriage. You must know that nobles don’t have much choice in such things. We consolidate money and power, both socially and magically. Our parents make careful choices in our alliances.”

“Did your parents choose someone for you before all this?”

“Yes. It wasn’t a choice I would’ve made for myself.”

“What happened?”

“In the end? The curse happened.”

He didn’t elaborate as we reached the steps to the patio. Then again, he didn’t really have to. He was the only noble left. Clearly his intended hadn’t made it.

He slowed, looking at the door. Several glass panels were embedded in the wood, and a bare ass was pressed against one of them. As we watched, the back of what looked like a woman pushed against the glass pane above. Just beyond, two legs faced it, the knees bending before the flesh against the window shifted. Two palms flattened against the glass. They were fucking against the back door.

“Let’s go around,” I said quickly, knowing he’d probably want to force that door open and ruin their time. He clearly wasn’t ignoring these shenanigans like he had the furry situation earlier.

His fingers dug into my hip angrily. A nerve jumped in the side of his clenched jaw. He did turn, though, heading around the side of the castle toward another entrance. Nearly there, he halted. His arm constricted around me, smashing me to his side before he swore softly and abruptly turned.

“What’s hap—”

“Say nothing,” he whispered furiously, moving his hand to my shoulder and pushing me toward the trees.

I hit a rock with my toe and tried to correct, but he caught me first, dragging me upright.

Once in the trees, he whispered, “They’re looking for us. It either means they are suspicious or they want to taunt me. We need to ensure it’s the latter.”

“What do they want to taunt you about?”

He ducked behind a tree and dragged me with him, pushing me against the bark. He stood close, caging me in with his body. Showering me with his heat.

“I take my honor very seriously, and I’ve been celibate since the curse came into effect. There are a few reasons why, but one of them is that I will not allow them to twist me sexually like they have twisted everyone else in that castle. Now you’re here, and they will think I am starting to break. That I have seen my true fate—failure and death—and decided to forgo my duty and let go of my honor. They think I have captured you for stealing and intend to use you sexually until I’ve had my fill. I want to propagate that illusion. They will taunt me to play on my supposed guilt. They want to twist the knife and, in so doing, twist my mind. Once they see that they are having an effect, they will go after you to incite my animal.”

“Why would that incite your animal?”

“Because I do not share, Finley. If I lay a claim on my chosen, there will be no other. Not for me, and not for her. My animal will not stand for it, even if I could. Through me, they will aim to ruin you. But I will not let them hurt you, do you understand? I will not let them touch you. You are here under my protection, and I will do whatever it takes to keep you safe and whole. Whatever it takes.”

“But you need them to think you’re defiling me, and I need to play along. Otherwise the cover is blown and you’ll get me killed or worse.”

He lifted his hand slowly and ran his thumb along the edge of my jaw. My heart fluttered at that delicate touch.

“The plan was to keep you to your room at night. But your nulling elixir could save lives, and so the plan has changed. I told you I was not a nice man, princess,” he murmured with a bite of gravel in his voice.

He tensed and turned his head to the right just a little.

“They’ve caught our scent,” he whispered. “They’re winding closer.”

My animal prowled in my chest. I chanced tugging on her a little, needing her access to scents. She stepped forward in a hurry, the familiar fire washing through me and a musty sort of funk immediately accosting my senses. I crinkled my nose.

“Yes. That’s the scent of a powerful demon,” he said. “The higher they are on the power scale, the mustier they are to our senses. This might be hard for you to understand, but I need you to act like this isn’t your choice. That I’m forcing the issue.”

“To make them think you’re losing your morals and degrading yourself, thus convincing them they are finally having an effect on you?”

“Okay, maybe it won’t be hard for you to understand.”

“It wouldn’t be hard for anyone to understand. You literally just spelled it out a second ago.”

“You haven’t been in this castle long enough, clearly.”

He grabbed my hands and pushed them above my head, trapping both wrists in one of his large hands. He pushed closer until every inch of that hard body was pressed firmly against mine. He settled his free hand on my hip and dipped his head, running his lips along the side of my throat.

“Make a show of resisting,” he murmured, bending a little and rocking his hips forward. His hard bulge rubbed against my pelvis, not where I needed it. I ran a leg up the outside of his thigh and over his hip. He caught my knee and rocked his hips forward again.

“No, please,” I said in a husky voice and moaned as he sucked in the fevered flesh on my neck. His lips skimmed up to my jaw and ended at the outside of my mouth. He gyrated again, rubbing against my leather-clad pussy.

He chuckled darkly. “You’re not a good actress.”

He moved slightly, adjusting so his lips were right in front of mine but not touching. Our breath mingled. He thrust forward again, his bulge rubbing just right.

My eyelids fluttered shut. I was so turned on I couldn’t help myself. Damn me, but I wanted more of the sensations he elicited in me. Of his delicious body rubbing against mine. More friction. More heat. More, more…

I rocked my hips. My body tightened up.

He ran his free hand up my side and in, over the hard peak of my breast. He rubbed through my clothing with his thumb, sending shocks of pleasure straight down to my sodden core. I groaned, delirious with desire.

“It’s too bad things are as they are,” he murmured, trailing his lips along the outside of mine, holding my wrists firmly, grinding his cock into me. “I’d love to fuck you so hard you beg for mercy.”

“Yes.” I pulled my other leg up, wrapping it around him. My hips jerked frantically into him.

He pushed his hand up under my shirt and ripped at my binding. Fabric tore. It yanked down under my breast. He stroked my flesh with his rough hand.

I didn’t know if it was my animal coming out in me or the desperation to end this terrible ache throbbing in my core, but I went full-tilt filthy.

“Fuck me, Nyfain,” I begged. “Destroy my needy cunt with that hard cock.”

He growled and crushed his lips to mine.

The world spun then dropped away entirely. In this moment I didn’t give a shit about our problems and my current prison. That was a chore for tomorrow. Right now, I just needed that big cock pounding the stress and worry out of me. I needed an escape from my life, and his big-dick energy would provide it.

He twisted my nipple between his fingers. The bite of pain made me suck in a breath, but in a moment it turned to sweet, sweet pleasure, and I struggled to get my hands loose so I could feel his perfect body.

“I need you to fuck my wet pussy, Nyfain,” I said huskily. “I need you inside of me.”

“Fuck me,” he said, pain lancing his words. “You’re so fucking sexy.”

He gave me a dominant, bruising kiss. I opened my mouth in a moan, and he filled it in a rush, his tongue sweeping through. Oh, holy goddess, he tasted so good. Like liquid smoke and fresh spring mornings. Like the thrill of the hunt.

Lost to sensation, to the feeling of his hands on me and his body trapping mine to the tree, I pumped my hips wildly. He hooked his hand around the back of my knee and pushed his body closer. His cock rubbed hard against me, our clothes in the way. This consuming ache made me desperate.

“You’re supposed to be resisting,” he said against my lips, his breath coming fast now.

“No!” I called as I gyrated, struggling to get closer. “Stop!”

He kissed me again, ragged and desperate, then shoved against me harder and growled into my mouth. His tongue thrust in time with his hips.

“What were you dreaming about earlier?” he asked, pushing my legs away and going for my pants. “The demon made you have an erotic dream. What were you dreaming about?” He yanked the button away and pushed down the zipper. I spread my legs in desperation.

“Let me have my hands,” I begged. “I want to get at your cock.”

“What were you dreaming about?” he insisted.

He shoved one side of my pants down before the other, managing it with one hand.

I struggled to get my hands free. “Let me get at your cock. I want you to force that big dick all the way down my throat, then flip me over and ram it deep into my pussy.”

“I will not fuck you, Finley, no matter how much I want to. I will not be the ruin of you.”

It almost sounded like he was begging me to understand.

“The best I can do is pleasure you,” he said. He dug his hand into my pants and between my thighs.

My mouth dropped open as his fingers traced along my panty line. The world paused as he dipped a finger in. Hungry chills spread across my flesh.

“Yes,” I whispered, widening my legs for him. “I mean…” I raised my voice. “No, please, no. Not yet. Or ever.”

My eyes fluttered as one finger slowly ran along my slick folds.

“Fuck, you’re so wet,” he growled. He dipped his finger in before rubbing my wetness against my clit. “I’m going to make you come for me, princess.”

My movements were reduced to little jerks of pleasure as he returned to my pussy and threaded in two fingers.

“I’m going to make you come so hard you can’t think of any other name but mine.”

He kissed me, pushing his tongue inside. His thumb massaged my clit as he started finger-fucking me, hard and fast.

I groaned, gyrating with him, my senses on overload.

“Tell me what you were dreaming about,” he commanded, his power blistering through me. My hard, bared nipple rubbed against his chest. His fingers pumped in and out of my pussy, his thumb circling my clit.

“You,” I admitted with a cry of pleasure, my body impossibly wound up. His fingers slammed through my wetness. “I was dreaming about you fucking me. I want you to fuck me. So bad. So hard.”

He growled, and his whole arm was moving now with delicious roughness. I spread my legs and arched, giving him as much access as my pants would allow. His thumb massaged. I was right on the edge, just…about…

“Well, my goodness, what is this?” a voice said.

Nyfain’s animal surged aggressively, the feeling like a string yanking on my middle. Fire soaked my already heated body as my animal tried to push up as well. I forced her down lest she get me into trouble, and Nyfain ripped his hand from my pants. He yanked me away from the tree and crushed me to his side possessively.

I let out an anguished cry, and I was not acting.