Lost in the Woods

by Lorraine Margaret

Genres: Erotic & Steamy Romance; Fantasy Romance; erotic romance; enemies to lovers; fairy tale romance; spiritual romance; psychic romance; alpha male

Synopsis

Mystical, sensual, passionate, intense... Their love is as magical as the woods it was born in, but can it survive in the real world?

Princess Lilliana is fighting for her freedom in a world governed by men and falling in love with its dominant, charismatic leader is not part of her plan...

When Princess Lilliana is abandoned by her cruel uncle in the perilous woods of Sapphira, she relishes the first moments of freedom in her restricted life and vows, if she survives, to never obey a man's command again.

Lord Elijah finds a beautiful, naked woman dying in the woods. He is shocked to discover she is the princess of his deadliest enemies and stunned by the immediate onslaught of strange new feelings of love and tenderness when he looks into her eyes.

Lilliana and Elijah are thrust together in a desperate situation beyond their control – to ensure Lilliana's safety they must promise themselves to each other and consummate their union in the woods that very night. Entranced by the tender, uninhibited passion of their lovemaking, they are propelled headlong into an intense, tempestuous relationship for which neither is prepared. All too soon, Lilliana realises she has fallen hopelessly in love with a dominant alpha male used to absolute obedience in all things...

Lilliana rebels against her powerful lover and his patriarchal world as together they embark on a passionate, sensual journey, fighting to retain the magic they found in the woods. Is Lilliana ready to embrace Elijah's dark desires and domineering nature or will she begin a brave new life alone? And can Elijah accept his new-found vulnerability and learn to control his terrible fury before it destroys the woman he loves? Overwhelmed by the intensity of their love for each other, Lilliana and Elijah's conflicting emotions spiral out of control, setting in motion a devastating chain of events that threaten to tear them apart forevermore...

Breathtakingly romantic and seductively sensual, discover the magical world of Lost in the Woods today!

Release date: October 10, 2018

Publisher: Tenshi Books

Print pages: 390

Sample

Chapter One

She would die a free woman, free from the dominion of men at last. That would be enough.

Death was not far away, it was beckoning her freezing body, taunting her for it knew she could not resist for long – but she would fight. Her spirit deserved its moment of triumph, a little time to delight in the paradise of a free woman, of Lilliana liberated at last. She was finally free to make her own choices and decisions, to follow her battered, aching heart... yet all she had were these few moments alone in the woods.

She shuddered at the inevitability of her imminent demise. Death was seductive, coquettish and alluring, promising a release from all earthly misery and pain, from this breathtaking cold... If she succumbed to its charms she would be rewarded with an eternity of liberation with no further need to fight. Her spirit was weary, it had fought too hard and far, far too long, it needed... peace, some respite from suffering and conflict. Her every breath was shallower and more self-destructive than the last, sucking the icy air inside of her body, piercing her lungs with pain so intense her head swam, freezing her blood, slowing it, numbing her from the inside out. She knew she was too cold, too weak to live much longer, but she would battle for every agonising breath, cling to the sweet freedom she had been dreaming of all her life. Her blessed day had finally dawned but would be her last day on earth. She was lying naked and alone in the great woods of Sapphira on the very blackest of nights, alone in darkness... but not in despair. She had these few precious moments of absolute freedom, unable to move and getting colder by the second as her body began to shut down and prepare for death... but she could still think, still breathe – just. And the joy of her freedom soared within her fading heart. Free at last! I will never obey a man’s command again. Lilliana is an independent woman, dying alone in the woods...

Or was she alone?

What was that?

The faintest rustling of branches, whispering... deep male voices whispering...

The Terrians.

The Terrians were coming for her, she had to move, find some way of killing herself before she suffered a fate far worse than death...

But her body wouldn’t work, wouldn’t move, no longer obeyed her commands... no longer belonged to her. She was a dying, bodiless spirit in the woods, couldn’t move, could barely breathe... too cold, too weak, too fragile...

It was too late. Her courage had run dry. She had no more rallying words for her soul, her battle with the elements was over. Nature had won as it always did, beaten her soundly, left her vulnerable and powerless with the most terrible thing in the world growing in her heart.

Despair.

She was alone in darkness and despair. It was over. She was over. She knew it. This was the end. This was despair. The despair of a soul finally set free to fleetingly feel that glory and wonder, only to have that freedom ripped away and crushed in the cruellest, most barbaric manner imaginable...

***********

“The bastards have been laying traps again.”

The repugnance in Rafael’s voice was undiminished despite their triumph over the Millasians. They had defeated their eternal enemies but memories of their inhumanity would not be banished soon. The agonised wail of a tortured animal was all it took to transport them back to horrors that could never be unseen, the brutal, callous acts of the truly evil. The Millasians routinely set traps with no apparent motive, leaving their victims to slowly and painfully die alone. They simply enjoyed suffering – and death. Elijah had seen it all too many times before. But he was confused, distracted – by what? There was something different this time, something not quite right about that moaning sound...

“Christ, it’s in agony. We should really go and put it out of its misery.”

Rafael was staring at him, waiting for approval of his suggestion, but Elijah was troubled, something was just not right. The moaning was softer now as if life was ebbing away from the tormented being, but he could hear the feeling in that soft wail of anguish, hear the emotion within the sound. There was such despair, disbelief...

“That’s not a fucking animal.”

What an idiot he was! That was it, this was clearly not an animal, there was just too much awareness in the misery of the sound. This was emotional, even spiritual anguish as well as physical suffering. It was not just the sound of a sentient creature but of an incredibly sensitive, intelligent one. He was listening to the tortured soul of a highly evolved being. What the... ? How could he possibly know all that from one wailing sound? But he did. He just did. And this elevated soul needed his help, his and his alone... what?! He shook his head at his sudden onslaught of fancy and moved fast, silently, stealthily towards the ever-decreasing sound. Were they too late?

“Elijah, be careful, brother, it could be a trap.”

Rafael was with him, speaking sense as always, but he wasn’t right this time. This wasn’t an animal and it wasn’t their enemies lying in wait for them. This was something else. This time, Rafael was wrong.

“No, that sound... it’s real.”

It was tearing at his soul the way a baby’s anguish would tear at its mother’s heart. The wailing sound was the only thing in his world right now, it was his life, the reason he existed, it was calling for him... him and him alone; it needed his help. Only he could help, he knew it, and he didn’t stop to question his judgement or his sanity, he simply moved blindly towards his reason for breathing...

As he moved into the tiny clearing, he saw the reason for his life on earth. It took a moment for his eyes to adjust to the darkness but the moon thoughtfully assisted him, filtering through the embracing branches of the tightly packed trees to highlight the very faintest of movements – if you could call it that. It was really just a pitiful twitching, a barely perceptible shaking, the pathetic action an instinctive response to the painfully cold night. The being was suffering, weak, feeble, in pain... He could see its torment.

He could see... her.

Her. A woman. A naked woman in the vast, freezing woods of Sapphira in the middle of the night. What the fuck! She was lying against a fallen tree, clinging to it as if adrift in the sea, her golden hair falling forward over her face, her creamy-skinned body inert except for a constant feeble trembling. He saw her slender shoulders shaking as he drew closer, saw the gentle curve of her soft breasts squashed against the rough wood. Naked and defenceless, she was barely breathing, her shapely legs covered in scratches from the splintered trunk of the fallen tree. Her fragile figure was highlighted by the ghostly glow of the moon, blessing her skin with an ethereal shimmer, and he wondered if she was an angel sent from the heavens to test his questionable belief in the divine. What? He somehow managed to suppress the profanity forming on his lips; she did not need to be traumatised further by a great oaf like him. What the fuck was going on here? Rafael breathed out sharply in surprise as he moved into the clearing behind him and the angel’s head slowly lifted...

“No!”

The pain in that pathetically weak sound! It tore at his soul again. She needed his help, his and his alone... what was happening to him? Every sound she made connected with his soul on an instinctive, primal level, vibrating deeply and powerfully throughout his energised body. She was the reason for everything, the reason he was on this earth. Her huge, haunted, sky blue eyes focused on him and she opened her mouth wide as if to scream but no sound emerged. She was too weak to manage any more than an agonised murmur...

“Fuck!”

But he wasn’t...

His head was reeling. She wasn’t an angel sent to test his faith, she was something far more dangerous...

“Princess Lilliana.”

It was an earth-shattering moment, but Rafael’s response was far more gentlemanly than his. What a surprise... Lilliana, Princess of the Millasians, was lying naked in the woods. What the fuck was she doing here?  Her enormous eyes achieved the improbable feat of widening still more; he was afraid they would burst.

“No! Oh, no... no.”

She knew. She had recognised them. But she was too weak to run or even crawl away. She couldn’t fucking move; it was heartbreaking. She was totally at their mercy, powerless in every way. His soul ached with empathy as her head sagged in despair. She was terrified and immobilised by her desperate physical condition, she had given up, surrendered to the horror she expected to befall her. But she had called for his help, for her most unlikely protector. He was sure of it. She might not know it yet but she had called for him and him alone. She was the reason he was on this earth.

He had gone mad. Lost control of his mind.

Unable to comprehend his sudden descent into insanity, he did what he always did instead. He acted fast, made an instant, instinctive decision. Fucking crazy decision. He felt not a shred of doubt or hesitation. Lilliana, princess of his eternal enemies, was lying naked in the woods... a helpless, fragile, terrified woman was alone in the perilous woods. That was all that mattered. He was going to do what he had always done, protect the weak and helpless. Protect her. She was the reason for his existence.

“No... ”

Her tiny fists pummelled ineffectively at his strong chest as he scooped her into his arms. Fuck, she was slender! She weighed nothing at all. Had they starved her? And she was so cold, as if she was already dead. Christ...

“No... ”

“Stop it!”

The pummelling was so weak he could barely feel it, as if butterfly wings were caressing him, but she was exerting herself when she had no energy left to exert. No strength left. He was afraid for her.

“We’ve got to get her back to camp fast, she’s freezing.”

He stood up, holding her firmly against his chest, and her eyes locked with his. His world spun... exquisite, huge, pleading eyes... desperate eyes... He couldn’t believe the intensity of the wrench he felt in his heart and stomach as he gazed into them. He was breathless.

“Please... please... my lord... please.”

“Shush, it’s alright, I will take care of you, it will be alright, you’re safe now,” he whispered, cradling his precious jewel to his chest. Lilliana. The reason for my existence...

“Let's go. And whatever happens, don’t let her fall asleep, Elijah.”

“What?”

He knew what Rafael was saying so why did he feel the need to ask? Idiot. He could barely think and barely speak; what was happening to him? His friend nodded curtly.

“We’ve seen it so many times in battle... if she closes her eyes, we could lose her. Let’s go.”

They were only ten minutes or so from camp. They had wanted some space, a little time to talk in peace away from the other men. But now the distance seemed interminable, as if they were running for miles... running to save Lilliana’s precious life. A lifetime spent in the woods led them instinctively back to where they had come from and his only thought was Lilliana. She would be his only focus from this moment on. He ran blindly, running from his confusion and shock as he raced towards the warm fire of the camp and salvation for Lilliana. He held her naked, freezing body tightly to his chest, praying his body heat would bring some warmth back to hers and help save her life, but her eyes were closing...

“No! Don’t you fucking dare, Princess, don’t you fucking dare!”

Rafael’s head turned as they ran to the light from the camp fire.

“Don’t let her fall asleep, Elijah!”

As they burst into the clearing, the men scattered, jumping up in shock, loud cries of “Fuck me!” filling the peaceful night air.

“Fuck! It’s Princess Lilliana!”

“What are we going to do with her?”

“She’s fucking beautiful, just look at that!”

It was not the right thing to say at such a desperate time, at any time. Lilliana was his reason for living, not some whore in a bar. His precious princess’s elevated soul did not deserve this disrespectful verbal barrage. Christ, what was he thinking?! His head spun as his life turned upside down and inside out. He had gone mad and now he had to contend with his men’s reactions to the enemy in their midst... this he did not need, Lilliana’s life, that was his only focus now. He stared furiously at the perpetrator. Jeremy was always full of smart ass comments; they were often amusing, but not this time...

“Shut the fuck up, Jeremy.”

Fortunately, Rafael stepped in, shutting the idiot up immediately. It was unlike him to be so curt and all the men fell silent in response. Elijah sank to his knees as close to the fire as he could without throwing himself and Lilliana onto it. Rafael raced over to him, a thick cloak in his arms.

“No!”

Christ, she couldn’t be trusted for a minute! Lilliana’s eyes were firmly closed, clamped shut, the tremulous twitching of her body her only feeble sign of life.

“Don’t you fucking dare! Don’t you die in my arms, Lilliana, don’t you dare! I will be furious with you if you do that! Open your eyes! Wake up, Lilliana, fucking do it, open your eyes right now! Fucking do it! Wake up right now!”

Lilliana’s eyes sprang open, instantly locking with his, as Jeremy muttered, “I’d open my eyes if he shouted at me like that.” She didn’t react to this, didn’t react to anything around her at all. She didn’t move her beautiful sky blue eyes from his. She simply stared at him as if he was the most fascinating creature in the universe, as transfixed by him as he was by her. Her little rosebud mouth pouted furiously... what? Was she angry with him for shouting at her? He bit his lip and murmured, “Good girl, that’s right,” as Rafael stooped to wrap the cloak around her shaking shoulders. She flinched and stared up at Rafael, who smiled his kindest, most reassuring of smiles.

“Princess Lilliana, Elijah and I have tended many wounded men after battle and learnt much about the human body. Please give me your wrist so I can feel your pulse and judge how we might help you.”

Her eyes widened again but she did as he asked. Rafael shook his head as his gentle fingers rested on her tiny wrist.

“Keep her awake, brother, I’ll get some water.”

“Here you go, Rafael.”

“Thanks.”

Rafael took the flask from Daniel and handed it to Elijah. “I’ll get some soup, is there any still hot?”

As Rafael went about his soup mission, Elijah pulled the cloak tightly around Lilliana’s trembling body and held the flask to her pouting lips. She clamped them firmly shut.

“Open, Princess, you need to drink.”

“No.”

One small word her mouth opened for and then clamped resolutely shut again. The men laughed raucously. Christ! This was not a laughing matter; this small, insubordinate princess defying their fearsome leader was... life or death.

“Fucking drink, Lilliana, you need to. Come on.”

“No.”

No one said no to him. He was furious and was just about to force the bottle between her resistant, enticing little lips when he saw it, the sudden change in her expression that changed everything for him. All her stubborn resistance had disappeared and a profoundly shocking vulnerability had taken its place. Oh, sweetheart!

“You need to drink, Lilliana.”

His voice was softer but still firm. This was life or death, she had to listen to him; this was no time to mollycoddle her. She must do as she was told, no questions asked. Her chin wobbled pitifully.

“I will never obey a man’s command again. Never.”

Her voice began strong but the last word was a heartrending plea for autonomy. This meant the world to her, she was willing to die for her freedom. His soul ached in empathy; what had the bastards done to her? He would kill them. She was terrified, freezing and probably starving but still fighting. She was fighting for herself, for her right to be Lilliana, a free woman in a land mastered by men. She was magnificent. He adored her.

“Then do it for yourself, Lilliana, drink to keep the breath going in and out of your body or you will not be alive to ignore the dictates of domineering men. Do this for yourself, Princess, make yourself strong.”

Well, that hadn’t gone down well, her chin was wobbling all the more. And then she nodded, a barely perceptible little gesture of acquiescence, and he sighed with relief. She had fucking done it, she had got to him. No one got to him. Ever. She opened her mouth and he quickly inserted the flask before the stroppy little thing changed her mind. She kept her eyes fixed on his as she drank, like a baby hypnotised by the person nurturing it. This, he liked.

“Good girl.”

He managed to wrench his eyes from hers to search for his best friend; Rafael, where is that fucking soup? He would fetch it himself. He started to rise but she clung desperately to his chest, the cloak falling from her shoulders, leaving her naked and exposed once more.

“No! Please don’t leave me!”

There was a collective shocked murmur from the men, but also much amusement.

“Whoa! You’re a lucky man, Elijah!”

“Yeah, Princess Lilliana really likes you!”

“Just look at her! Beautiful.”

Poor little naked princess. But he was astute enough to know the men’s reaction was a good thing. Her presence would only be tolerated while they saw her as a potential sexual conquest for him. Spoils of fucking war... They knew very well he would never hurt a woman or force her into intimacy so Lilliana’s obvious fascination with him was aiding her cause, whether she was aware of it or not. If she willingly coupled with him it would be symbolic of the Jivarians’ ultimate triumph over the Millasians, and the men would gain supreme satisfaction from that. He glared half-heartedly at them as he hurriedly scooped her back into his arms, knowing full well she would have to learn to accept their ribald humour and her place in their world. He wrapped the cloak around her again, moving his hands underneath it to encircle her body and pull her tightly against him. She did not resist or react in any way, and he wasn’t quite arrogant enough to believe this was because of their unspoken attraction. Whatever magic was happening between them, he was still her enemy and a stranger and she was disorientated by cold, hunger, shock and fear... she wouldn’t even think about fighting him, poor little thing. Her soft breasts were squashed against his chest and he marvelled at the unreal perfection of her silky skin under his fingertips, soft icy breasts, silky icy skin...

“You’re still freezing, I’ll get you warmer quicker this way, sweetheart, my body heat will soon warm you up.”

“Yeah, I bet it will.”

Jeremy looked very self-satisfied as the men sniggered appreciatively at his words. Despite himself, Elijah smiled. Lilliana was gazing trustingly up at him, helping her cause yet again by gazing adoringly at her enemy. It was unbelievable... and beautiful. She had been calling for him, he had been right. He was not insane. This might be crazy but it was very real. Lilliana felt their magical connection as profoundly as he did. She sighed softly and snuggled into him as if she had known him forever and his heart swelled so powerfully he thought it might burst. He smiled down at the huge eyes staring so intently up at him. What wonders were going on behind those eyes? Those wise, emotional eyes...

Rafael grinned knowingly as he finally handed him a bowl of soup. His friend was wise too, he saw the magic between them and knew something unfathomable was happening here. Elijah shook his head, irritated with his train of thought. Looking after Lilliana was all that mattered, this was no time for self-indulgent musings.

“Alright, Lilliana, time to try a little soup. It’s plain but nourishing and will give you strength.”

“I can’t... can’t eat. Feel sick.”

Her legs were kicking like a baby’s but he couldn’t smile. This was serious.

“Please try – for me?” He ignored the sniggers of his irrepressible men. “You need to eat, you’re weak. Come on, Lilliana, it will make you feel better, do it for yourself, eat to make yourself strong. Try.”

She made an impossibly adorable protesting sound deep in her throat but opened her mouth anyway. He quickly inserted the soup-laden spoon before she changed her recalcitrant little mind.

“She certainly likes opening her pretty mouth for you, Elijah. That bodes well for future delights.”

He smirked at Jeremy, whose grin was broader than ever. Poor Lilliana was suffering and all they were thinking of was blow jobs... if only she knew. Maybe she did. She had turned her head and was staring mutinously towards Jeremy, who smiled and jumped back comically as if he were terrified of her evil glare. The men laughed loudly and Lilliana trembled in his arms. Poor little thing must be terrified...

“Brother, she’s got some fight! And we all know how much you love fight, Elijah!”

The dark shadow of vulnerability crossed her cherubic face again. She didn’t know them, didn’t know Jeremy was alluding to his love of strong, spirited women, she only knew what her people had told her about them, about him... She would think he wanted to overpower her, would enjoy the battle to control her and the triumph of bending her to his will when nothing could be further from his mind. Nothing. His people were a coarser, earthier people than hers but she knew nothing of the truth about them. What he wanted? He wanted her to desire him as much as he already desired her. She didn’t know that when he looked into her eyes he felt nothing but awe, admiration and a compulsive need to protect. He already adored this gutsy little wonder...  What was happening to him? He suddenly felt as vulnerable as she looked. He had never experienced anything remotely like this before and didn’t like the feeling of losing control one little bit. And then he remembered her words: “I will never obey a man’s command again. Never.” The emotion in her words had really affected him, but what exactly had she meant by them? What horrors had befallen her at the hands of men for her to think in such a way?

“What happened to you, Lilliana? Why were you abandoned naked in the woods? Tell me.”

His voice shook on the last two words. He really didn’t know if he could stand the truth. He was steeling himself for her answer, for he had the terrible feeling that if it was a devastating one he would crumble in front of them all... he knew he couldn’t bear her pain. She closed her exquisite eyes, causing him to panic immediately.

“No! Open your eyes, Lilliana, open them now! Look at me. Good girl, now answer my question, please. I need to know what happened to you so... so I can help you.”

So I can help you if the very worst of things has befallen you. Was he really strong enough to withstand that? The sickness in his stomach was saying otherwise, it was stronger than any he had ever felt in war. How could he bear it if some... animal... had violated her wonder in any way?

“Need to sleep.”

Her eyes were closing again, rolling dramatically back into her skull. She was exhausted. Yet still he persevered with his selfish, masochistic questioning.

“No, you need to eat and you need to tell me what happened to you... please, Lilliana.”

His voice was soft; she wouldn’t speak if she thought she was being ordered to do so. “I will never obey a man’s command again. Never.” She was determined to keep her resolution regardless of being surrounded by men, enemy men... she was so brave! Her eyes slowly opened, widening as they stared into his. He could see the rest of his time on earth in their limitless depths... Christ, he was well and truly fucked, defeated by a tiny princess. Thank God the men couldn’t see what was going on inside his stupid head. She stared longingly at the bowl of soup and he gently pushed a spoonful into her mouth. He had to forget about his selfish concerns and concentrate on looking after her.

“They... always hated me... all the courtiers and especially my uncle... they left me here... with nothing... not even my clothes... to be attacked... to die alone.”

Her eyes closed again as Elijah felt the all too familiar rush of burning blood to his head. This was too fucking much for him to bear. Her own kin did this to her! He flung the bowl of soup on the ground and leapt up as his anger escalated, its power surging through his body, threatening to take control of it, of him... threatening to transform Elijah into a monster. Oh, fuck, not now, not so close to Lilliana, this will terrify her...

“C’mon, Rafael, we’re going to do what we should have already done, we’re going to fucking kill every last one of them!”

“Please don’t leave me.”

Her shoulders were shaking, her voice tremulous and small. He had pushed her aside without thought for her feelings or well-being, driven only by his desire for revenge. Fuck. Her sky blue eyes were liquid magnets pulling him mercilessly towards them, forcing his gaze to rest on their beauty and forget the existence of all else in the world. Lilliana. He was mesmerised, her willing slave... What magical power did she have over him? She was far more terrifying than any adversary he had ever met in battle.

He breathed out sharply as his ominously shaking body began to calm. He had recognised the truth just in time, just before the final surge of blood that allowed the devil to consume him and use his body as if it were its own. There was no threat to Lilliana here, no need for his terrible fury to be unleashed. Lilliana was safe, the threat to her was past. The bastards still had to be dealt with but they could wait; all that mattered at this moment was her. Protecting her, taking care of her... His body had recognised that just in time, just before the fury took hold of it. He had no dominion over his fury, it was as if an unseen demonic force took possession of his body and pushed Elijah out. His terrible fury caused his enemies to freeze in fear before him, grown men trembling at the monstrous sight. But his fury was not needed now. Lilliana. She was all that mattered here. The men were staring at him with a curious mix of shock and bemusement on their faces – all but one of them, Jeremy. He was staring at Lilliana and grumbling quietly to himself, “Leaving that little thing naked in the fucking woods.” And Elijah realised the men were bemused by his behaviour but it was not that which had shocked them; they were shocked by something far more profound. His anger subsided completely as he absorbed the significance of this development. His men felt empathy for Lilliana, they were shocked by what had happened to her. All their hatred and disgust was directed at those who had treated her so cruelly. They had no thoughts of abusing the Millasian princess and were behaving according to the example he had always set them. He was thrilled, but knew they would still not accept her into their society permanently unless she coupled with him. He shook his head and forced himself to concentrate on the here and now. That could wait – not for long, but it could wait. Even his rough and lusty men would not expect him to take the princess in her present pitiful physical condition and he didn’t trust himself to be gentle enough with her anyway... He wanted her too much. He would be a sex-crazed beast if he touched her now. Christ. He stared down into her huge, imploring eyes and sat beside her, pulling her into his arms again. She curled her hands around his shirt and his heart contracted with pleasure. She needed him.

“Alright, it’s alright, Lilliana, I’m not going anywhere. Yet.”

He let that word linger ominously over his men. They would know what it meant. He would hunt the bastards down, find and destroy those responsible for Lilliana’s near death, the heartless cowards capable of leaving a fragile woman to a terrible fate. If the Terrians had found her... fuck. He held her tighter still and she snuggled into him, murmuring sweetly. That could wait too, tonight Lilliana needed him. Tonight she needed protecting – by them all.

“Need to sleep.”

Rafael moved closer, crouching down to gently take her wrist in his hand again. “Not yet, you’re still too cold.”

“Need to.”

Her voice was pitifully weak and Elijah let go of all his selfish concerns. He had so much to think about – his intense feelings for her, their instant magical bond... and how his rising fury had been curtailed. How had that happened? Somehow his body had decided there was no need for it just before he reached that terrifying point of no return when his men would quake before him. Lilliana. Christ.  It was all about her now; killing her evil uncle, deliberating on his fury, it could all wait. Everything could wait except Lilliana. She needed him. He slipped his hands under her cloak again and began rubbing them gently over her slender torso. She felt exquisite, impossibly soft, skin like silk... His job tonight was to keep her alive, but his cock had other ideas, it was rock hard and throbbing impatiently as he luxuriated in the feel of her skin. She was beyond perfection, so smooth, so incredibly soft... and so fucking cold. He cursed the dramatically changeable climate of Sapphira for not cooperating by transforming into a warm evening when Lilliana needed it most. She closed her compelling eyes, releasing him momentarily from his mesmerised servitude, and he shook his head violently, forcing himself to focus on his task. He moved his hands over every inch of her body, warming it with his touch, up and down her back, skimming over the sides of her gently jutting breasts... oh, fuck...  The things he wanted to do with her, thank God she couldn’t read his depraved mind. Her only reaction to his intimate caressing of her body was to snuggle even deeper into him. Her trust and compliance were breathtaking, and he felt tears sting hard behind his eyes. What?! This would not do, she had far too much power over him. For a moment he hated her as passionately as he loved...

“Hey, Elijah, what does she feel like? Does she feel different to our women? She’s so small.”

For once, Jeremy did not sound lascivious, just fascinated by this odd little creature in their midst.

“She feels like nothing on earth, unlike anything I’ve ever felt before. She’s velvet, satin and silk all rolled into one. Her skin is too perfect to be real, she’s a fucking angel.”

“Whoa!”

Elijah had crassly added his final words aware he was becoming a little too effusive and poetic about Lilliana’s charms, but the expletive did nothing to lessen the impact on Jeremy. This information had clearly astounded his prurient friend. And someone else... Lilliana’s enormous eyes had opened and were staring into his. They were soft and full of wonder, full of awe. She was captivated by his compliment and this pleased him; he had a modicum of his power back. He smiled softly at her.

“Need to sleep.”

“Not yet, sweetheart, I need to warm you up first.”

“Need to.”

He sighed and took hold of her small wrist. Her pulse was stronger. “Hey, Rafael, what do you think?”

Rafael stooped and Lilliana stared as his fingers replaced Elijah’s on her wrist.

“Yeah, good job, brother. I think she’s alright to sleep now.”

She was still staring at Rafael, her eyes enormous and enquiring. Christ, he was jealous as fuck! Ridiculous, what was happening to him?

“If I sleep, will I wake up?”

His heart fractured in response to her sweet, tremulous question; she knew how close she had come to death.

“Yes, Lilliana, you will wake up, I promise you.”

“Oh, brother.”

Jeremy’s voice was husky; Elijah was surrounded by his bawdy, lusty men and their faces were full of concern for Lilliana. Her plight had mobilised their hatred and fury towards her people and set her apart from them. His men saw her as a victim of her people’s inhumanity as surely as the poor villagers of Sapphira were. And the bastards would pay for what they had done to her – but not tonight. Tonight, he wouldn’t even find out why they hated the little wonder so very much, he couldn’t risk stressing or tiring her further with questions; that would have to wait. So much had to wait; his reason for living was simply to take care of Lilliana, his only mission to have her sleep safely in his warm arms.

“Alright, thank you for taking care of me.”

She blessed Rafael with a breathtakingly beautiful smile, full of warmth and gratitude. What was that all about? Did she desire Rafael? Elijah’s head swam with confusion and a terrible feeling of powerlessness. He hated it. He just didn’t know how to handle this strange new state of vulnerability. But then Lilliana snuggled deep into his arms and looked up into his eyes. And he knew. No doubt at all. Yes, she did like Rafael, he had reassured and comforted her, made her feel safe. But her exquisite eyes had changed on their short journey from Rafael’s eyes to his. A deep, luminous light had appeared within them, the pupils huge and dilated, staring dreamily at him.

Lilliana felt the same way he did. Lilliana felt it too. There was no imbalance of power here, no need for vulnerability. At this moment he was supremely certain of their joint destinies. They had found each other in the most unlikely of ways, in the most unlikely of places. They were the most unlikely of lovers but lovers they would be, he was sure of that. They were simply destined to be together and had always been; his entire life had been moving towards this earth-shattering night in the woods from the moment he took his very first breath. The luminous light in her bottomless eyes told him that, told him everything he needed to know. He smiled, relaxing at last, and she smiled back, the light in her eyes glowing brighter still. He held his breath at the beauty of the moment and watched as her eyes finally closed...