Reshina
Pain rippled through me as I bled for a third time onto this cursed land, the flesh along my neck tearing, followed by the tongue of a monster.
We fell together, down, down, down into the horrid stench of earth, long since seen the sun. Past the rocks and roots, into the stone walled corridors of the labyrinth within the Underrealm.
The pain of the fall was nothing compared to the fire burning across my skin and the resounding crack of my collar bone. Sharp fangs tore one last rip across my flesh before the mouth of a man traveled along the wound, sucking, nibbling, moaning into my skin, flayed and broken.
I panted through the throbbing, knowing I should push him away, aware that he was the one who had done this to me.
But his mouth soothed the fire in my veins.
The stinging pain of the Beast’s fangs, snapping my bone so clean, grew numb with Arthur’s tongue passing over my skin, gentle, and caressing.
My breathing eased and I opened my eyes, blinking away the bits of dirt. “Please,” I whispered, unsure if it was a plea for him to leave or stay.
When he lifted his head, his eyes of the palest blue caught mine and he seemed to realize what he had done. He bolted from me, backing up against the wall, wiping my blood from his lips. “I’m sorry,” he said quickly. “I’m sorry. Are you—”
He reached out a hand and I flinched away, sheltering my broken collar bone. “You were right,” I panted. “I didn’t make it.”
“I cannot control the Beast, Reshina. I tried to give you as much time as I could, and I tried to stop him, but…it’s now your blood he craves.”
I stood on shaky legs. “You as well?”
His lips parted, but he didn’t speak, shaking his head.
“Whatever you just did, it numbed the pain. The Beast’s bite was…excruciating. But your mouth—”
“I don’t know why,” he rasped. “I’ve never done that before.” He straightened his shoulders, adding, “Come. I’ll see you to your rooms where Piff can heal you and get you something to eat.”
I followed him in silence down the corridor, using the walls to keep myself upright, planning through my next attempt at escape.
I wasn’t fast enough this time, but if I flew higher in the sky and then across the grounds, I might have a better chance.
Though the last leap of the Beast before he caught me was impossibly high, as if he was flying himself.
I wasn’t giving up. I wasn’t even close.
Once I healed, I’d try again.
And again.
Until I got out of this curse the only acceptable way I could.
Piffle tsked for the tenth time, fussing over the state of my neck, not to mention the state of my dress.
He shook it out after I had changed back into my nightgown, ready to take a rest after a heavy breakfast of sausage, toast, and porridge.
“The Mistress will have to wait until morning before I can bring another gown. I’ve already started, you see, but with the interruption and tending to that nasty bite, I’ve not had the time to—”
“It’s alright, Piffle, thank you,” I yawned, feeling flushed, peeking under the new bandage over my wound.
When he’d attempted to heal it, the bone had snapped painfully back into place but the teethmarks remained, pulsing and red.
I told myself I just needed some rest and that when I woke, I’d see nothing but a slight bruise.
“PITCHER!” he yelled before popping into a golden container full of cool water, refilling my glass by the bedside table.
I only jumped a little that time and sunk under the bedsheets, exhausted and more than slightly dizzy. “Wake me in two hours if I’m not up already.”
He popped back into the shape of a Changlingfae, pulling the sheets up over my shoulders. “Yes, Mistress Reshina. I’ll leave you to rest then and work on your garment. I must ask—do you prefer beads or jewels on your corset?”
“Both,” I murmured, finding sleep overtake me.
I dreamed of the cold.
I lay over frozen earth, the icy chill at my back encasing each feather in a prison of sharp frost. But it was a dichotomous place.
Though my wings were frozen in place, my chest, my thighs, my neck were warm—hot—burning with a soothing touch that could only come from the bare skin of one meeting the bare skin of another.
The wound on my neck began to pulse, my heart timed to the same beat. A creature covered me, moving slowly, luxuriously—that languid place of enjoying the fruit of the flesh with all the time in the world to consume it.
I couldn’t see who it was, only feel, my eyes blinking rapidly, trying to wake, but trying so hard to stay.
And with one gasp and shudder, teeth dug back into my skin, igniting my body in fire, melting the ice at my back and whispering one word into my ear.
Mine.