502- Where Embers and Blood Meet
POV Thalyndra Moonclaw:
"Myrion, Aurelka, and I have always been like that, so you're right—our loyalty among siblings is above everything, even if that includes omitting some things from our parents."
I shrugged, letting out a broken sigh.
"I wish I had siblings to share that with too." He took a step, approaching me.
"My brothers have become yours, Little Beast, in case you haven't noticed. Myrion cares about you, about your safety and happiness. And Aurelka is always ready to please you, to bring you closer together."
Yes, I had already noticed that, but hearing it from someone else's mouth was quite different from assuming it.
"Why?"
He ran his hand over the back of his neck.
"Because they love you, because they know you're already part of the family. Now you just need to accept it."
I looked away to the ground and crossed my arms over my body. Anton's gaze went to my breast, the upper part exposed by the torn strap of my dress.
"I'm grateful for that affection," I murmured, my voice hoarse. Anton ran his tongue over his lips.
"It's not like before, Thalyndra. You don't have to leave immediately because the Merchants are coming. You've finally found a home, a place where you can stay for more than a few months. You're one of us now."
"Anton..." I interrupted.
"It's time to stop running. In Eldoria is where your journey ends and your life truly begins," he continued, ignoring me.
I felt my throat tighten and my heart race.
I had never allowed myself to believe that I would hear that one day, that it would be true. My eyes filled with tears before I could contain them. For the first time, the idea of a home didn't seem like a distant dream, but something real, tangible.
If I wanted to stay in Eldoria, I could finally breathe, feel the roots beginning to form, and that scared me as much as it comforted me.
I blinked once, twice, three times. It still wasn't time to think about that, to decide what I would do with my future. First and foremost, I had a mission to accomplish, a promise to uphold. First, I would kill the Merchants involved in my parents' murder, and then... well, I would figure that out later.
I managed to push the tears away and focus.
"We're... going home how?" I asked, changing the subject.
Anton fixed his eyes on my torn strap, on the curve of my breast, and swallowed hard. He raised his eyes to mine.
"You have no idea how sexy you looked killing that bastard," he stated, the color of his eyes shifting. "At the same time I felt the need to intervene and rip his head off for having hurt you, I managed to control myself. It wasn't a death that belonged to me, it wasn't my moment. I knew you would handle it, that you would deal with him, so I waited and watched."
"It wasn't that cool," I affirmed.
"You didn't see it from the outside, like I did, so you don't know what you're talking about. If I could paint a picture in my head, it would be that one." He took another step, as if hypnotized.
I smiled, shaking my head.
"You're just saying that to please me."
He denied and came even closer, stopping right in front of me.
"I have a thousand and one ways to please you, Thalyndra. Saying how sexy and beautiful you are while killing isn't one of them."
He ran his eyes over my face. My body yielded to his gaze, I felt my core contract. All the arousal I felt seeing him in the assassin mask came back with force. It wasn't just him who felt excited by the image, because I shared the same desire.
"Anton..." I panted.
He held my neck and tilted my head back, forcing me to look at him.
"I'm at my limit. I need you to tell me now to stop or I'll fuck you in the middle of this forest, dirty with the blood of our enemies, like the animal I am," he whispered, his voice rough and deep.
My heart was racing, pumping blood through my entire body at full force. My breathing became heavy, almost shallow.
It wasn't a desire anymore—it had become such a pressing need that it bordered on madness. It was much more than I had ever felt, than I had ever imagined experiencing.
Breathing was a basic bodily need; we needed to perform the task to keep ourselves alive.
And Anton Eldoria had become something similar to me. It wasn't like the humans I'd been interested in during high school, nor like it was with John. It went far beyond a basic, common feeling, beyond simple desire. It was palpable, tangible, extreme.
"Just do it, Anton Eldoria."
He opened a huge smile, showing his sharp fangs. His eyes vibrated, one golden and the other emerald green. It wasn't natural, nor human.
I felt something vibrate in my chest, as if my wolf were communicating with his.
In one second I was in front of him, in the next, my back was pressed against the rough trunk of one of the trees. He lowered his lips and kissed me hungrily, invading my mouth with his hot tongue. I clung to his shoulders, responding to every touch, every caress.
My nails elongated on their own, as I lost control.
He lowered his lips down my neck, running the tips of his sharp fangs over my skin, giving me goosebumps. I gasped, arching my back forward.
He pulled away, grabbed the good strap of my dress, and yanked it, breaking it. The fabric gave way, bunching at my waist, leaving my breasts completely bare.
I was covered in blood, just like him. Every inch of skin dirty with the remnants of the slaughter we had caused. He didn't seem disgusted by it, nor was I.
He brought his lips to one of my breasts and sucked hard, making me scream. Pleasure settled in me, burning me entirely.
"Anton..." I moaned his name, uttering it like a prayer, begging for him.
He slid his lips to the other nipple, giving it the same attention he had given the first. He rubbed his teeth, playing with me, teasing me. The arousal staining my underwear increased, the fabric rubbing against my swollen clitoris, bothering me.
I slid the blazer off his shoulders, pushing it away. It fell to the ground with a thud. I rubbed my hands over his shirt, feeling the contraction of his muscles. I grabbed his waistband and pulled hard, popping the buttons.
The hotel burning crackled beside us, the flames growing higher and higher, consuming everything with their intensity, illuminating us with their golden light.