Hadaen [The Marujan Brothers Series] Book One (22 page)

"It's about time..."

"Just get on with it."

Amelia almost laughed at the woman's
audacity. She was grateful, of course, that Sienna had took the
time out to train her and help her with centering her energy; but
that had absolutely nothing to do with them liking each
other.

"You want him, don't you?"

Sienna remained silent for a minute.
She then shrugged and placed her empty cup down. "I had
him."

"Did you really?"

"We enjoyed each other's
company."

"You enjoyed his bed."

Sienna laughed. "What's the
difference?"

"The difference is... that was a long
time ago and Hadaen does not require you following him around like
an attention-starved poodle."

Sienna quirked an eyebrow up at her
and scowled. It was a couple minutes before even a word was spoken.
The woman then chuckled lightly and shook her head.

"I'm no fool that I can't realize when
I'm no longer wanted. And Lord Hadaen no longer desires me. He's
labelled for another. More like stamped and sealed."

Amelia stopped chewing for a while and
then met Sienna's eyes.

"Well, I'm sure everyone has reason
for whatever they do in life. I won't hold you to it."

They looked at each other for a moment
and then resumed the technique they had been practicing.

In.....
out.....

In.....
out.....

A wolf howled in the
distance.

* * *

F
earing Deorci seemed to be a contagious disease that shook
the souls of the villagers.

But they never showed it. Never
revealed just how frightened they really were...or the worry that
ignited within them whenever the name of the dark beast was
uttered. They were good at concealing their feelings. Protecting
their mental selves.

And so was he.

Amelia glanced over at Hadaen as he
gazed at the bonfire blazing within the circle of villagers. His
eyes were thin slits narrowing down on the flames as they writhed
and twisted in a ritualistic dance. Around them, were the other
villagers waiting silently as the Elders Marlak and Joséah made
their arrival, taking a seat on a log.

The night was silent. Some would say
too silent, perhaps.

"We should ask The First for His
guidance throughout these last days," Elder Marlak said, his eyes
blazing. Rubbing a palm over his bald head, he released a heavy
breath. "Deorci must never have the upper-hand..."

"What do you suggest?" Hadaen queried,
his gaze never wavering from the fire.

There was a brief silence.

"I believe we are indeed in the
correct position," Elder Joséah interjected. "We have prepared
ourselves enough. What we need is to ensure that Deorci is not
successful."

"Where do I come in?"

All heads turned to look at Amelia.
Elder Joséah beamed warmly despite the anxiety evident in his
eyes.

"You, my dear, are our only hope in
destroying that beast for good."

"I will shield you..." Esyth said.
"Deorci will not be able to pick up on your energy."

"You'll be fine." Gideon
spoke the words but only she knew the true meaning behind them. But
all she heard was,
Tell him! Tell him what
you have planned to do!!

One of the male villagers stood at
that moment, his large physique like a robust wall. Compared to
Hadaen, this man looked like a monster. A handsome one, at the very
least.

"Elders, I believe I can vouch for the
rest of us when I say that it would an honour to fight alongside
Amelia." The man turned to face her. "We will all protect you until
what is to be done...is done."

Murmurs of approval came quickly,
threading through the group as they all waited for her
response.

"Thank you." She then glanced over at
Hadaen who was watching her intensely. "I-I'm sure that after all
of this is over, we will all find redemption."

Elder Marlak nodded and continued,
"The First will protect us all. Sienna will--Sienna?" The Elder
spun around slowly. "Has anyone seen Sienna?"

"Right here, Elder!" a voice came a
good two meters away. Sienna then came trotting forward towards the
group. "I'm sorry for being late. It's my night to scan the
hills."

She cast a glance in Hadaen's
direction and then took her seat.

"And how was it?" Elder Joséah
asked.

"The trails are clean. We will need to
sit tight tonight though as I'm sure you all can feel Deorci’s
energy even though we can't really locate it."

"She's right," Hadaen muttered. "What
he wants is to catch us at our most vulnerable moment and that
cannot happen. We will need to be on guard at all
times."

"When the time comes, we--Hadaen,
Sienna and I--will be the ones to stand up to Deorci first," Gideon
said, eyeing each and every one of the attentive faces around him.
"We would be best able to keep him occupied while you surround him.
We cannot afford losing any of you."

…..
we cannot afford losing any of you.

The intensity of the words echoed
through Amelia and landed like a stone in the pit of her
stomach.

C
hilled air threaded its way pass the flap of his tent and
throughout the scant area. Hadaen had just refilled the oil in the
lantern and now it was burning gently. In his bed, Amelia lay
curled up like a ball, lost in the realm of sleep.

She had managed somehow to shield her
mind from him even while she was not awake. For now, he still had
no access to her thoughts. None whatsoever. And it enraged him for
he knew something was not right with her. He could feel
it.....taste it. And his instincts were always right.

Deciding to keep his jacket on, Hadaen
kicked off his boots and strode towards the bed, easing down on it
behind her. She shifted slightly and eased back against him. Amelia
was warm to the touch; her slender curves heating him to the bones.
His hand came up before he even realized he had moved it, reaching
over her side and towards one small breast. Closing his palm over
it, he squeezed gently.

She moaned softly and shifted once
more.

Hadaen eased back--but only a little,
creating space to roll her onto her back. Thick black lashes batted
twice before her mesmerizing blue eyes to focused on
him.

"Tired?" he asked, one warm palm
slipping over her belly and beneath the waistband of her
pants.

Amelia released a deep moan; music to
his ears, really. "H-Hardly..."

Right answer.
"Take off your blouse."

It hadn't taken her a minute to send
the thin blouse sailing across the tent. And it hadn't taken Hadaen
long either to lean towards her and close his lips over one
hardened nipple, tugging teasingly. The grip of her fingers in his
hair urged him on, pulling him closer.

Grasping her firmly by the hips, he
yanked her further down the bed, flicking open the buttons of her
pants quickly. He moved fast...rough perhaps hut he wanted her.
Tugging the pants down and over her legs, he inhaled sharply as he
felt her feminine juices...proof of her desire for him as he gently
caressed her tightening bud through the cotton of her
panties.

"Don't stop...."

The ripping sound of her underwear
sliced through the silence. Amelia's eyes widened with shock.
Anticipation.

"I cannot wait much longer," he
muttered, surprising even himself at how much he desired her. She
watched him eagerly as he shoved his jeans past his hips and
crouched over her. "Open your legs for me." She did.
"Wider."

Raising her knees, she noticed the
glint that flashed in his eyes and fought against the embarrassment
that bubbled in her gut at how exposed she was. And then in one
quick thrust, Hadaen was inside her, forcing a high-pitched cry
pass her lips. The muscles in her abdomen quivered as Hadaen held
her thighs pinned down tightly as he slammed into her...over and
over again. Amelia's mouth fell open, her breaths coming in rapid
puffs as he slid in and out of her slickness.

Hadaen groaned throatily. He need this
release...to bury himself deep inside her tight pussy and fuck
whatever was troubling him away.

Amelia's shrieked slapped up and
around him, her hands reaching out but only ended up gripping the
sheets and thrashing her head from side to side. She felt like he
was ripping her apart. And she loved it.

"You want this..." he
grounded, thrusting harder and faster. "
You want me
! Tell me.."

"Yes, yes; I want you!" she
gasped.

...don't let...

Hadaen slowed his pace a bit,
thrusting deeply still. Her mind--her thoughts... Was that a break
in Amelia's guard? Gently withdrawing, he yanked her up and flipped
her over onto her knees until she knelt, butt jotting out towards
his straining cock. He then pushed inside her again, moving quick
and forceful.

"Hadaen!" she screamed. "Oh
god!"

....shit! Be
strong....

Grabbing her hands, he stretched both
arms behind her towards him and pulled hard until her chest pointed
outwards and head rose, her muscles straining painfully yet
sensually.

......Fuck! Y-You can't
let him know......

Hadaen went still and she almost
landed flat on her face if he hadn't grabbed her in
time.

"You can't tell me what?" he almost
shouted in her ear.

Amelia shivered beneath him. "I-I
can't--"

"Tell me, Amelia.
Now
. What are you hiding
from me?"

"Hadaen--please!"

And he slammed hard inside her again,
choking a groan from her.

"Start...talking..." he said between
clenched teeth. Between thrusts.

She sucked in a breath as her eyes
rolled over in her head. It was all too much for her to handle. He
was punishing her, she knew. But the sensations that came along
with it were all too mind-bogglingly good.

She could feel her vaginal muscles
tightening, clenching tight around him as the oncoming spasms of
her orgasm rocked her senseless.

His seed came spilling deep inside
her.

"Damn you, woman!" he swore. In a
minute he pulled her around to face him but was only startled by
what he saw. Tears. Lots of it. Rolling thick and heavily down her
face. He slowly reached a hand out to wipe them away--

Then a heavy crash resounded outside,
shaking the ground around them. By instinct, Hadaen flew up off the
bed and yanked on his pants.

"Stay there!" he cautioned. He was
already moving towers the flap.

"No. Wait--"

"Amelia, I have to see
what's--"

"
Hadaen, please
."

There was something about how she said
those two words. They were so softly spoke he was sure at all if he
had really heard them. Two words, filled with so much affection,
passion...and guilt? So he stopped dead in his tracks and peered
narrowly at her.

"What is it?"

The tears came heavier, much like a
flood. Strengthening his resolve, he forced himself to remain
looking at her without having to fall to his knees and begging her
to stop crying.

"Deorci is here."

Chapter Sixteen

Fools! They were all
fools!

Slumbering at a time like this. They
should have been sitting up....awake...awaiting his arrival like
the servants they'd be when he destroyed their livelihood. Not
sleeping away like humans.

Deorci signaled his first in command,
Malakai, who nodded his understanding. The man then nodded to the
group of men crouched behind them in the bushes.

The first bomb was thrown, bringing
down a few trees with its explosion. There was no movement within
the village. No sign of life. But Deorci knew better. He knew they
were there. Possibly cowering like children, he thought. He
chuckled to himself. He could have easily just swept in and started
breaking necks and taking hearts--their mana--but he needed not
waste his energy. He intended on giving them the chance to stand up
to him. He signaled to Malakai again.

The other bomb exploded just outside
the village. Fire crackled, dust blew up and around, sizzling
beneath the bright half-moon. Crossing his arms and widening his
stance, Deorci waited silently until the fires died
down.

Still no evident movement in the
village.

Rage burnt in his veins and he roared
throughout the night; a fierce sound causing his men to whimper and
slap their palms over their ears.

"Don't just stand there like idiots!"
he yelled at them. "Move in! Wipe out everyone you see. But do not
touch the girl. And leave the brothers to me!"