Just One Golden Kiss (18 page)

Her life had once upon a time been a peaceful one. Once upon a time, she had enjoyed morning walks in the forest, the sun’s rays shining on her, the birds singing, animals frolicking about without a care…without fear. Once upon a time, she had enjoyed eating fresh fruit, warm bread, and tender meat. Once upon a time, she had sat on her father’s lap while he read her bedtime stories. Once upon a time, her mother had gently brushed her hair, kissed her on the nose and twirled her around. Once upon a time, Lela had been happy,
truly
happy.

“Be safe,” Xavier said. “My angels and I have done what we can.”

“Thank you,” Lela said, wrapping her arms around him.

Xavier gave the angels a nod. Moments later, they were gone.
A piece of Lela’s soul left with them.

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

Now alone on the beach with Eldrich, Lela said, “I’m afraid.”

“You won’t be alone,” he said.

“I won’t be with
you
.” She wanted to throw herself in his arms and beg him to come away with her.

“I need to end it,” he said, glancing at the trees. “My kind…we’re divided. If we continue this way, we’ll destroy each other. I can’t let that happen. I can’t let anyone harm you.”

She wanted so desperately to believe that they could run away to an unknown place and live together without fear; that they could start over in a far away land and leave their pasts behind. But she knew that no matter how much she wished they could run away, neither one of them was a coward. She would not abandon her place as queen of Barmoth. And Eldrich would not let his kind start a war with each other. If Barmoth had any hope of surviving, she needed to seek the help of the Elves. She knew nothing of elves but her instincts told her that they would help her. And if her instincts were wrong, she’d die in shame.

“Sweet prince, my heart is drowning for you,” she said, tears streaming down her face.

“As is mine,” he said, taking her in his arms. “We will not be apart for long, I promise you.

“I want you inside of me,” she said, moving her hand down to his hard cock.

He gently caressed her neck with his tongue.

Wrapping her arms around his buttocks, she pressed herself against his cock.
She freed her mind and surrendered to him. At this moment, she needed to unite Eldrich’s soul with hers. Yes, her body wanted him but her mind
needed
him. If she was going to travel far away from him, she needed take him all in…to keep him in her thoughts…to remember their love for each other…to remember what they had and what they were fighting to keep. Lela realized something just then. Her sexual journey with Eldrich meant more to her than just the extreme pleasure she experienced when he kissed her…touched her…thrust into her. When they were together; their bodies united, she was at peace, truly at peace. Eldrich was her new
once upon of time
and sweet gods, she’d fight for him; she’d surrender her all to him.

He wasn’t even inside of h
er yet and she felt she would gush. Clinging to each other, they slid to the sand.

On his knees, he unbuckled his pants. She couldn’t take it one more second. Quickly, she pulled his pants down and inhaled his beautiful, thick, cock.

“Sweet love of mine,” he moaned. “You feel so good.”

Slowly and oh so carefully she sucked his cock, and rubbed his balls. He tasted amazing and she thought she’d die if he withdrew himself from her warm mouth.

Pushing him down on his back, she climbed on top of him.

Blessed Gods, she was riding him as if she had knowledge that the sea was preparing to drown them both. She didn’t know if she would ever see the man she loved agai
n. She was not sorry for wanting him; for enjoying him more than she had in all the time they had been together. She was at peace with him.

“Slow down, love,” he said. “This will not be our last time, I swear to you.”

Exposing her breasts, she said, “Drink from me.”

“As you wish,” he said, sinking his fangs into her breasts.

Her head spinning, Eldrich’s mouth on her breasts, his cock still rocking her, she screamed in ecstasy. If she died right now, she’d die knowing she was loved and desired. She was beautiful. And he, oh, he was her connection to everything that was good.

She gave the golden ball a glance.
Curse you. I will find a way to destroy you.

“I love you,” Eldrich whispered.

“Promise me, swear to me that we won’t be apart for long,” she said.

“I promise,” he said, pushing his cock deeper into her.

He moved his fingers around her nipples, tugging them oh so gently. Then he sank his fangs into her once more.

Lela did not want him to ever leave her body. She wanted him to stay inside of her forever. But she knew it was not possible. In a few minutes, she’d be on a ship on her way to the Kingdom of the Elves, a place unknown to her, far away from Barmoth, far away from her beloved Eldrich
, far away from peace.

She fixed her eyes on the night sky; the clouds and full moon looked down upon her. And she knew they were telling her to hold onto harmony for as long as she could.

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

Lela took in a deep breath and stepped out of the boat and onto foreign sand. She was now a guest in the Kingdom of the Elves, a place faraway from Barmoth, faraway from Eldrich. Even though she was staring at a group of people, all of whom had smiles on their faces, she felt alone and quite afraid. The journey from Barmoth was long, some thirty days sailing on an unwelcoming ocean which more often than not seemed completely intent on drowning the ship.

Xavier and Eldrich had told her that the God of the Sea was on her side which is why he had provided an escape for her from the vampires who wanted nothing more but to drain her. She couldn’t help but wonder why then, the God of the Sea had not made her journey to the Kingdom of the Elves a more pleasant one. While on the ship, she had spent most of her time in bed hunched over a bucket, pleading with Godfather Death to rescue her, to take her to her father. She missed her father terribly and had not lost hope that she’d someday embrace him again, that maybe just maybe Godfather Death would free him from the Kingdom of the Dead.

She turned to glance at the ship, a part of her wanted to dive into the water and swim back to it. She’d endure sickness again if it meant she could return to Barmoth, if it meant she could hold Eldrich once more. She missed him so. Her love for him grew more and more with each day that passed. She knew Eldrich was not a perfect being. She accepted his flaws because he had opened his soul to her, protected her, and loved her. He was honorable, so unlike the other vampires she had met.
Oh, love of mine, please be safe.

She admitted to having fallen utterly in love with him from the moment he transformed from a frog
to a man. And while she had had moments of doubt, moments when she was sure she had gone mad for loving a vampire, she knew she could never journey without him by her side. He was part of her and she was part of him. And if while in the Kingdom of the Elves, she received news that Eldrich…no, she would not think such thoughts. She would not let her mind take her to dark corners. Eldrich was strong and determined. He would not succumb to Gretel and her bloodthirsty vampires.

Closing her eyes, she imagined him safe and sound lying on their bed in his house, his eyes on her as she undressed for him and slowly danced to him. She imagined his lips on her neck, kissing her; she imagined his hands caressing her breasts. Oh how she missed him.

She forced herself to return to the present. When she opened her eyes, the ship had disappeared. Sighing, she turned to the people on the beach. Dressed in long colorful cloaks, they each held a lit lantern even though it was midday and the sun would not be retreating for hours. Lela guessed they had to be at least six feet and several inches tall.

“Elves are creatures of light
,” Lady Rema whispered to Lela.

Lela was glad to
have Lady Rema with her. It was Lady Rema who had greeted her first when Lela had boarded the ship in Barmoth. Things were still unbalanced between Lela and Lady Rema. After all, Lady Rema had kept truths from Lela. For bloody hell’s sake, Lady Rema was a witch, a broom-flying witch, a truth Lela still had trouble accepting. No matter, she loved Lady Rema dearly and right at this moment, she couldn’t imagine her not being with her.

Lela did not know what was ahead of her in this strange new land.

“If they’re of the light, why would they help a vampire’s lover?” Lela asked Lady Rema.

“Settle yourself. I’m quite sure we will know the answer soon enough,” Lady Rema said.

The tallest of the group, a man with a white beard and piercing black eyes approached Lela and Lady Rema.

“I am called Nathan,” he said, offering Lela his hand. “I’m my kind’s leader. Welcome to our kingdom.” He kissed her hand.

“I’m grateful, King of the Elves,” Lela said.

“Oh, but I’m not a king,” Nathan said, smiling. “Elves are very much in control of their own lives.”

“I don’t understand. How then are you their leader?” Lela asked.

“They look to me for guidance, but I do not decree laws or force upon them a strict way of living. We’re peaceful beings. We prefer light over darkness and as such, we have no need for a ruling king who or may not share our same beliefs.”

“But yet, you call your land a kingdom,” Lela said.

“Indeed. Once upon a time, we were a kingdom,” he turned to look at his people. “That was a long time ago.”

“I’m afraid I’m not presenting myself in a respectful manner. I’ve no right to pry into your history. You’re kind and gracious for taking me into your protection. I will not forget it, I promise you.”

He nodded. “Come, you must be hungry and exhausted.” He took her hand. “You too, Lady Rema,” he said.

“Thank you, Nathan. If there is ever--”

“I can tell you’re an honorable woman, but please don’t mistake our hospitality. You’ve no need to offer anything to me. We have chosen to help Lela and we ask nothing in return,” Nathan said to Lady Rema.

“Understood,” Lady Rema said.

Lela had many questions for Nathan but she’d hold them back, only for the time being.

CHAPTER NINETEEN

As Nathan, Lady Rema and Lela walked through the forest on their way to Lela’s new home Lela couldn’t help noticing that the group of elves, ten of them to be exact, which had greeted her on the beach just twenty or so minutes earlier, were all walking a distance behind them. She found this to be very strange, particularly since Nathan had informed her that he was not their king. Why then, were they not walking with him? She gave them a quick glance. Something about their facial expressions unsettled her. Rigid stares, unblinking eyes and most unsettling of all was the very fact that they had not spoken a single word. They had greeted her with a handshake and a nod. And what’s more, Nathan had interrupted Lela when she asked one of them his name.

He had rushed Lady Rema and Lela into the forest under pretense that the man was not well and had only come to the beach to greet her because he did not want to appear rude and unwelcoming. A peculiar excuse since Lela had no idea the man even existed. Why would she have noticed his absence?

Indeed, Nathan was hiding something about his people from her and the thought gave Lela anxiety. Whatever it was Nathan was hiding, she prayed it was not something which would put her and Lady Rema in danger. The possibility that she had fled Barmoth only to find herself in even more danger sent a cold shot through her veins.

“We’re almost there,” Nathan said.

“May I ask what kind of dwelling you have prepared for us?” Lady Rema asked.

Loyal and protective, Lady Rema, bless you.

“Fear not. It’s a lovely place. So very lovely.”

“I’m sure it is,” Lady Rema said. “Still, my curiosity always gets the best of me. Will you be so gracious as to indulge an old woman?”

“I’ll do more than that if you don’t mind increasing your pace some,” Nathan said, darting ahead of them.

Lela ran after him. Lady Rema followed.

“Your new home is just behind these trees. Go on, take a look. I do hope you’ll find it pleasing and tasteful.”

Lady Rema winked at Lela. “Shall we?” she asked.

“Let’s,” Lela said.

“I will wait here,” Nathan said.

Off into the trees, Lady Rema and Lela went. What resided on the other side was nothing like Lela had ever seen, not even in her most imaginative childhood dreams.

“Oh my,” Lady Rema said.

Lela stood in silence staring at the dwelling in front of her.

“Say something,” Lady Rema said, tugging her arm.

Lela swallowed and cleared her throat. “I’m not sure I have words.”

“It’s magnificent!” Lady Rema said.

“Yes…but, what is it?” Lela asked.