Dreamwater (5 page)

He left her body, and gave her a hand up.

She sat, solidifying, not sure what she was now or what to do. “Why did you do this?”

His fangs receded until his smile looked almost human. “Don’t you feel it? You are stronger now. I have woven my power within your body.”

Mara stared at her hands, wondering if he told the truth. “Again, why?”

She sought her connection to Riffa, and instead of the familiar ache, she found a window through which she could reach out, observe, and maybe… Maybe even control Riffa. She tugged her mistress’ link, then recoiled. Swallowing hard, she slammed the window shut.

“You feel it, don’t you?” Azer bent over her. “You are stronger than Riffa. You can make her obey you.”

Mara blinked. “Can I? She’s a ghoul queen now, she rules any shifter she chooses.”

“Yes. And through you, I control her, and with her the shifters of the world.”

Oh hells
. He’d let all shifters loose, had even killed others of his pack, to lure her in, to reinforce the bond, to win total power.
Twisted
.

“Riffa never thought I would come out to play the game myself.” He smirked. “Now I’m at the top.”

Was Riffa now his pet? Laughter bubbled through Mara at the irony of it. “And what about my soul? What about my contract with Riffa?”

He stroked her hair, a possessive gesture. His eyes flashed with amusement. “Your soul is safe. Your soul is mine.”

That wasn’t reassuring in the least. “Wait.” Anger flared. “Am I your pet now, too?”

He leaned closer until his lips all but touched hers. “Would you like that?”

“Hells, no!” She’d been Riffa’s pet for far too long.

He chuckled. “You are a conduit, and you are bound to me.”

“And you to me, so what’s that supposed to mean?”

He licked her cheek. It was only then she realized tears spilled from her eyes. “What would you rather be? A slave to the ghouls?”

She shook her head, fought against despair and anger.
Not a slave, no, not again
. “It was a good plan, Azer. But you can’t control me. Let me go.”

“I cannot do that, Mara.” He frowned. “I must control Riffa. The shifters are my subjects, I am responsible for them.”

She should have known he’d refuse, but it had been worth a try. “I won’t be your slave.”

“I promise I won’t make you do things you hate, Mara.”

Not good enough. She took a deep breath, let it out. “You forced this on me.” He had toyed with her, had bonded with her, and, no matter how handsome he was, how warm, no matter if this bond freed her from Riffa’s contract, damn it, he had taken things out of her hands and way too far. Not again.

“I’m strong, Azer, stronger than a mortal. I don’t trust you, I’ll fight you every step of the way, and you don’t want that from a shadow. Unless…” She looked straight into his ice-blue eyes and took a gamble. “Unless you wear my collar. I may trust your word then, work with you to control Riffa.”

She waited, nails biting into her palms. Would he agree to have her as a keeper? He’d have to obey her to a certain degree, depend on her — a counterbalance to his control over her.

He frowned. “The werewolf King wears no collar.”

Mara balled her hands into firsts. “He will, now.” She wasn’t going to let him dominate her. Yet his strength drew her, she wanted to be his equal, nothing less. She had to try.

He must have seen the determination on her face, because his eyes widened. “You are serious.”

“You bet.”

“You think you can control me?”

She forced confidence she didn’t quite feel into her voice. “Watch me.”

He snorted, then licked his lips and snapped his fingers. The bond tightened inside her, pushed her to her knees, then to her belly, to sprawl before him.

Mara pushed back, grunting. The bond pressed her down like a hand of steel. She had to resist. The cold power of the dead gathered inside her. She sent it through the bond, pushed, and the pressure fell away. She jerked, and sat up. “My turn.”

Ignoring his gasp of surprise, she reached out through the bond, and pulled him down before her.

Azer’s eyes widened more. He pulled away, but his resistance was short-lived, and he knelt, bent forward until their noses touched. A touch of fear entered his clear gaze, then a spark of anger. “I cannot believe you are doing this.”

She wanted to shout it out with joy, but her voice wheezed from the strain. “Believe it.” That was as far as she could bend him; his will, his power was just too strong. A stalemate.

“I’m not a mortal, remember, I’m a half shadow. I’m not your pet, Azer.”

His gaze softened, then amusement filled it, and pulled his lips into a grin. “No, I see that now. A half Shadow, keeper of the werewolf King. It is fitting.” He became serious, but his eyes still danced. “Yes. I shall be yours.”

Mara let out a long breath. Through the bond, she felt the truth in Azer’s words, and something more, something warm like a caress. Not freedom, not independence, not dominance, but equal power, even affection. And that was more than she’d ever hoped for, dead or alive. “It’s a deal.”

About the Author

Greek Cypriot with a penchant for dark myths, good food, and a tendency to settle down anywhere but at home, Chrystalla likes to write about fantastical creatures, crazy adventures, and family bonds. She lives in Cyprus with her husband and her vast herds of books. Her stories can be found in Alienskin magazine, Lorelei Signal, the Shine Journal, Encounters Magazine, and
Bards and Sages ezine i.a. She is also an author for MuseItUp Publishing where you can find her YA Urban Fantasy novella
Dioscuri
and has just published her YA science fiction novel
Rex Rising.

Here is the link to Chrystalla’s writing blog where you can find short stories, samples and link to other longer works:

Blog:
http://chrystallathoma.wordpress.com

Twitter:
http://twitter.com/chrystallathoma

Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Author-Chrystalla-Thoma/117863861560579

I hope you have enjoyed
Dreamwater
.

You may want to check out Chrystalla’s new Urban Fantasy series “Boreal and John Grey”:

Centuries ago, they tried to invade us and failed. Now the elves are back.

Episode 1

The Encounter

Paranormal Bureau Agent Ella Jones knows her job: fight the Shades living between worlds and keep everyone safe. But then her partner goes missing, a mysterious guy saves her life, and increasingly dangerous creatures slip into her city. After centuries of peace, the gates beyond the Veil are opening and an old enemy is returning: the elves.

Ella needs to find her partner, uncover the identity of her savior, and find a way to stop the elves from invading again. With the world going to hell, what’s a girl to do but grab her guns and knives and figure it all out, one way or another.

Or if you like YA science fiction, check out the series “Elei’s Chronicles”:

Rex Rising

Book One of Elei’s Chronicles

In a world where parasites create new human races, Elei leads a peaceful life as an aircar driver — until a mysterious attack on his boss sends him fleeing with a bullet in his side. Pursued for a secret he does not possess and with the fleet at his heels, he has but one thought: to stay alive. His pursuers aren’t inclined to sit down and talk, although that’s not the end of Elei’s troubles. The two powerful parasites inhabiting his body, at a balance until now, choose this moment to bring him down, leaving Elei with no choice but to trust in people he hardly knows in a mad race against time. It won’t be long before he realizes he must find out this deadly secret – a secret that might change the fate of his world and everything he has ever known – or die trying.

For links to the two series, click here:

http://chrystallathoma.wordpress.com