Chapter 16 #2
I dove to the side and rolled to my feet, keeping my bow out to avoid crushing it. When I straightened and turned toward the monster, the air from my lungs caught in my throat.
It was a thing of nightmares—a serpent-like behemoth with an obsidian hide covered in thick armoured plates that glistened with a strange, oily sheen under the dim light. The monster split open its large, circular maw to reveal row after row of jagged, serrated teeth that curved inwards.
Curved inwards to prevent prey from crawling back out.
I shuddered.
If we’d run down any of the tunnels, it would’ve trapped us. It would’ve run us down and without any room or space to evade its attack, it would’ve gobbled us up.
Under the flickering light from the torch and small fire, the beast’s small, beady eyes gleamed. Along its sides, short, bristling setae twitched with every movement as if searching for vibrations along the ground. Two wispy antennae, thin as gossamer threads, stretched out in front of the beast.
The monster shifted toward Ace and surged forward. I drew my bow and released arrow after arrow. Each hit the target but bounced off the armoured plates to clatter to the ground. Ace dodged the worm’s attack.
The air in the cave grew thick, suffocating my lungs. The walls closed in.
With only the small dagger in his hand, Ace fought the beast, his movements graceful, fast, and deadly.
The ragged whisper of his breath echoed along the cavern walls as he slipped through the shadows, gaze locked on the beast. His every motion was fluid and would be beautiful to watch if we weren’t facing our own deaths.
I released more arrows. They bounced off the plates with no effect until finally one arrow sliced through the air and embedded deep into the creature’s thick hide between two armoured plates. A sharp screech echoed through the cavern, and the monster recoiled, but only for a moment.
It wasn’t enough. The arrow didn’t sink in deep enough.
Ace continued to dance around the monster, only moving within range to strike. He darted to the side, his body twisting as the worm lunged, its circular mouth snapping shut with a sound like grinding stone. With daggers as teeth, each one was sharp enough to tear through flesh and bone.
The thing was nearly as wide as the cavern itself, its massive form coiling and writhing as it stalked Ace.
“Gales.” I nocked another arrow while my heartbeat hammered in my chest. I was running out of arrows, and we were running out of time.
I let another arrow fly, aiming for the exposed flesh between the plates.
The creature twitched but kept its attention on Ace.
I may as well have flicked it with my finger.
Unsuccessful arrows littered the cavern floor, the monster crushing them under its gargantuan weight.
Ace lunged in again, his dagger slashing across the monster’s tough hide of its belly, leaving deep, red gashes that oozed dark blood.
Ace’s movements became strained and his breath grew heavier with each dodge, each attack.
“Aim for the gaps between the plates,” I yelled out.
“Working on it.” Ace dodged another strike from the worm, jumping to the side again to avoid getting snapped in half by the worm’s serrated mouth.
As if it had anticipated Ace’s move, the monster lashed out with its tail, catching Ace’s side with a sickening crack. He was thrown like a ragdoll, spinning through the air before landing in a heap against the jagged rocks.
My stomach twisted and a knot of dread formed in the pit of my gut.
“Ace!” I called out, but my voice felt so small against the creature’s angry hisses.
The worm’s attention remained on Ace, its massive body surging forward like a wave crashing on the shore. I pulled another arrow from my quiver.
I fired again, the arrow flying toward the beast’s thick, armored hide, but it didn’t even flinch. I cursed under my breath, my mind racing. The antennae were too small a target and I didn’t have a clear shot of its eyes.
Through the chaos, Ace stirred from where he lay on the far side of the cavern. His chest rose and fell in sharp, ragged breaths. Slowly, he pushed up from the ground, his hand trembling as he gripped his dagger, his gaze never leaving the monster in front of him.
I glanced down at the dagger. There wasn’t enough time to reach it. I shot another arrow, but the worm lunged again, lightning fast, its mouth opening wide, its teeth flashing in the low light.
My heart stopped in my chest, but Ace was somehow already moving. He darted to the side again. He slashed his dagger across the beast’s exposed flank, in a beautiful, fluid motion.
The monster didn’t even seem to care. The gash was deep, but the beast was too enraged to notice, just like it barely registered my arrows striking.
Ace didn’t hesitate. He leapt, his feet finding the cavern floor like he had wings, spinning and slicing with deadly accuracy. He was fast, so fast, but the worm wasn’t slowing. Each strike, each cut, seemed to only piss it off more.
And then, as if the earth itself shook beneath us, the worm’s tail lashed out. I saw it coming a second too late. It slammed into Ace and sent his body crashing into the cavern wall with a sickening crack.
I gasped, my throat closing as I watched him crumple to the floor.
No.
No. This wasn’t how it was supposed to go. This wasn’t how things were supposed to end. I couldn’t lose him.
The creature's heavy, trembling body loomed above him, mouth agape, its serrated teeth gleaming in the dim light. A hungry growl escaped its mouth and the ground shook with its anticipation.
I threw the bow down and snatched the dagger from the ground.
With an ear-piercing scream, I leapt at the monster and slammed my dagger into its back, slicing deep between the plates.
The monster reared, flinging me back. I flew through the air and slammed into the ground.
The impact jarred my body and rattled my teeth. I rolled and shot to my feet.
The monster loomed over Ace. Its tongue darted out as if to lick its own jagged teeth.
With a snarl, I clenched my teeth and dove at the monster again. This time, I slammed my dagger into its sensitive skin where the setae protruded.
The monster howled.
I pulled the dagger free. Blood spurted everywhere.
I plunged the dagger in again and again and again moving up the body until the monster toppled over. I followed its momentum. Blood coated my face, my hands. It dripped from my chin.
The monster’s head dropped to the ground, and I leapt onto it, slamming the dagger viciously into its beady eye.
“Mouse.” Ace gently placed his hand on my shoulder. “It’s over. You killed it.”
I paused, panting, and stared down at the horror I had created, at the mess I’d made of the monster’s flesh because I thought I’d lost Ace.
I had slid off the monster at some point to continue stabbing its face. I whirled around.
Ace bent over me, concern etched in his brow.
He looked torn between yelling at me and something else.
He didn’t look scared. He looked fierce and proud.
I didn’t have a chance to ask him. By the time I registered the emotions flashing across his dark gaze, he’d thrown his weapon to the side and was already reaching for me.
He wrapped his large hands around my shirt and hauled me to my feet.
His mouth crashed down on mine.
I dropped my dagger and wrapped my arms around him. He felt so good pressed against me. The heat radiating off his skin warmed mine and his strong frame made me want to climb him like a mountain.
His tongue slipped into my mouth, and I moaned at the taste of him. I wanted more.
I snaked my hands under his shirt. I wanted my skin against his, I wanted his weight on me. I wanted to lose myself in his touch and forget the reality around us.
His lips lifted under mine. “Mouse,” he groaned, his breath whispering along my lips. “You just got me into clothes, are you sure you can handle me out of them again?”
“I want you naked.” I moved my mouth to kiss along his jaw and neck. “And I can handle anything.”
He groaned into my ear and lifted me in his arms. I wrapped my legs around him, lost in the taste of his skin. In three short strides, he pressed me into the stone wall of the cave, propping me on a ledge while he tore at my clothes. My pants hit the ground. No underwear. Mine was still drying.
I had already worked his belt free and tugged at his pants. They whispered to the rocky floor, a sound barely audible over our breathing.
Ace stepped away long enough to pull the large shirt over my head. He flung the clothing away as if it offended him. The shirt landed in a pool of blood with a splat, but I didn’t care.
All I cared about was the intensity of Ace’s gaze. His wolf’s golden gaze flashed as he studied me, his attention snagging on my bare breasts.
“You’re so phaaning beautiful it hurts,” he said, his voice low and husky.
“You have such a great way of showing your admiration.” I tugged at his shirt, and he quickly whipped it off before stepping between my legs. He ran his hands up my bare thighs, his gaze lingering on my naked skin. He licked his lips.
“I want to take my time with you.” He leaned down to trail kisses along my shoulder. “I want to savour each kiss, each taste of you.”
“If you don’t phaan me now, I’ll never forgive you,” I snapped.
Ace chuckled and gripping my hips with both hands, dragging me to the edge. The head of his penis bobbed between us, thick and ready. I wanted to grip the silky skin and stroke. I wanted to tease him with my mouth.
But more than anything, I wanted him inside me. Now.
“Are you sure?” Ace rubbed his cock along my entrance, pushing the tip inside. He stilled and leaned down to press his forehead to mine. “You’re already so wet.”
“I’m phaaning sure I will never forgi—”
I didn’t get to finish my threat.
Ace thrust forward, filling me with his delicious thickness. He held my hips in place and pumped into me. My back slammed into the cave wall and all I could do was hold onto his broad shoulders as he pistoned his hips. He ran his teeth along the sensitive skin of my neck.
“You feel so good,” he growled into my ear. “You feel like you were made for me.”
I arched my back, pressing my breasts into his chest. I wanted to splay myself all over him so every single inch of myself touched him in some way. My head dropped back into the cave wall and a gasp escaped my lips. “I thought I’d lost you.”
“Never.” His raspy voice brushed the sensitive skin along my neck.
As I moved my body to meet each stroke, Ace continued to thrust. He angled his hips and slid his thick shaft into me, again and again.
It was hard, rough and exactly what I wanted.
What I needed. I wanted him to pound into me with enough force I’d feel him there forever.
I wanted to ache and know that this was real. He was real and alive, and we survived.
Each slap of his body into mine, drove me toward absolute delirium. My vision swam, my senses sung and then pleasure exploded through my entire body, racing along my limbs to the tips of my fingers and toes.
With a guttural growl, Ace pulled out and emptied himself on my stomach. He panted into my chest as I held him in my arms with my legs still wrapped around him. All I could do was hold him. My limbs still tingled with pleasure, and I wasn’t walking anywhere anytime soon.
“Phaan,” Ace said.
I agreed.
Instead of saying anything else, Ace knelt and picked up his shirt. He reached forward and cleaned me, running the soft fabric over my skin gently.
I remained splayed out on the cave ledge, my legs dangling off the side, my arms helping to keep me propped up. Exhaustion tugged at my eyelids, but I refused to close them and miss out on the sight of Ace tenderly cleaning me like I was the only thing that mattered in the world.
“Come on.” He chucked the shirt to the side and gathered me in his arms. “We should leave this place.”
I shook my head and pressed my lips to his. He kissed me back, slow and tender, as if savouring the taste of me.
“I don’t want to leave yet,” I said.
“No?”
“No.” I trailed my fingers along his jawline before running them along his neck and shoulders. “I want you to do that again. I want you to show me what it looks like when you take your time with me.”