Love's Predator (Love's Predator Trilogy Book 1) (29 page)

“Come, dearest,” Lord Shade hissed like a sly serpent.

He raised the apple to Lindsey’s lips and held her tight until she reluctantly bit into it.
A satisfied smile curved Lord Shade’s lips and he held his head high with the pride of his triumph.

“Now,” he began brightly. “It is time for you to rest. The game must have been tiring for you.”

Lindsey silently nodded.

“Oh, my dear one,” Lord Shade laughed lightly.

He turned Lindsey to face them, but she would not look him in the eye, not even when he tried to charm her with his sweet, seductive smile. Lord Shade then took a hand and gently cupped her face, making her look up at him and into his sparkling eyes.

“Please,” he said. “Don’t be disheartened. Even if you had won Lindsey, would you really leave this paradise I have made for you?”

Lindsey didn’t breathe a word.

Lord Shade smiled, taking her silence as a submission.

“You belong here, my dearest,” he told her with a warm smile. “This is home.”

Tenderly, he wrapped an arm around Lindsey’s waist
and began to gently lead Lindsey from the labyrinth. Lindsey was surprised by how intimate his hold was. It was as if Lord Shade’s confidence in his charms were growing.

But Lindsey said nothing and she continued her silence to th
e bedroom, which made Lord Shade believe she was upset with the outcome of his game.

“Come here,” he said very delicately.

This change in tone caught Lindsey’s attention. And before she could react to him, Lord Shade pulled her into him and held her as he lovingly caressed her neck with his lips. “Lindsey,” he whispered. “I know you have been looking for answers.”

Her eyes almost bulged from their sockets. Had Lindsey been caught? Did Lord Shade know she doubted him?

He turned Lindsey to face him.

“You want to know why it was you I took. Why I arranged all this for you,” he continued as he stared into her eyes.

Lindsey felt her face redden under his gaze. Suddenly her whole body was warm.

“It’s very rare that demons have feeling for…humans.” Lord Shade
was smiling to himself now. “Yet when I saw you Lindsey I felt something I had never felt before. At first I admired your light; I was drawn to you. But as you grew my feelings changed…”

Lindsey swallowed heavily. She knew what was coming.

“I love you,” Lord Shade admitted.

Lindsey could tell that this was the most human Lord Shade had ever felt before; his eyes were wet and his lips trembled as he smiled. It was clear he was glad to have finally told her in words.

“You are my world,” he grinned.

Lindsey could feel his grip on her tighten and it was then she knew what was coming. All of a sudden she was full of fear, but it was too late.

His lips pressed against hers, at first it was just a touch. Although they had kissed before, this kiss was different. This was not to seal a deal; this was the demon confessing his undying love to her.

The kiss deepened, becoming more urgent and passionate as Lord Shade savoured her taste and how her lips felt on hers. The entire time Lindsey felt like she was in a state of ecstasy. It was as if some sort of destiny had been completed through the kiss; it felt like it was meant to happen.

But then Lord Shade froze.

He pulled away.

Now his eyes were narrow and full of suspicion as he glared at his precious soul. “Lindsey,” he said, his voice
was no louder than a whisper. “Open your mouth.”

Lindsey tried to object but before she could do anything Lord Shade had grabbed her chin and was roughly pulling at her, opening her mouth forcibly. He slid his fingers inside her mouth, being more careful now, and he removed a slice of apple from her.

Lindsey rushed to speak first.

“I know you have hexed the food! I know it makes me forget!” She blurted out quickly.

Lord Shade’s glare darkened. He took a step towards Lindsey, closing the distance again between them.

“I did it for your own good,” he said in a low voice. “To help you forget that mess.”

“The mess that you got me in to convince me to come with you,” Lindsey reminded him sharply.

His eyes flashed dangerously.

“Humans look to demons when they are desperate,” he told her cunningly.

Lindsey looked away and bit down on her lip. The situation was difficult; she had been caught with the evidence of her distrust. She didn’t know what to do; she didn’t want to anger him more. After all, she had to live with him and she did not want to lose this world.

But paradise had come crashing down.

“But you wanted an Angel,” the demon sighed.

He reached out for Lindsey and gently cupped her face. Frowning, he stroked her soft skin.

“
I could be an Angel for you, my dearest love,” he told her softly. “I could give you everything.”

“You could try,” Lindsey replied in a whisper.

Lord Shade gazed at her, confusion in his eyes.

“But it would never be enough, not until I have freedom
,” she went on. Lindsey had selected her words very carefully; she had learned from Kyle that saying the wrong thing could be fatal. “Since this all began, it is all I have wanted. Just to be free again.”

Lord Shade’s frown deepened and he gently placed a kiss upon Lindsey’s forehead. “Perhaps I’ll give you another chance to win your soul back, your freedom,” he said quietly. “Would that please you?”

Lindsey considered the offer. It seemed genuine but was it really enough?

“We made a deal Lindsey,” Lord Shade reminded her. “Just remember what your freedom bought you.”

“I do remember now, I remember everything,” Lindsey replied, her voice was a little firmer now. She felt more confident.

“You gave me your soul, your freedom, to save the lives of your friend and her child. Don’t you realise how few humans would give their life for that of another, Lindsey?” Lord Shade asked her. “Very few. But you did,” he answered by himself without a pause.

“It was the right thing to do,” Lindsey murmured. “I couldn’t let them die because of me.”

She watched Lord Shade closely, wondering where he was going with this. Lindsey felt like he was working her up to some conclusion, one that she may not like very much. And then he smiled at her. It was a warm smile, but it did not reach his eyes, which were suddenly crafty.

“Well I would say your freedom was well spe
nt,” Lord Shade finally mused.

Lindsey felt her heart sinking in her chest and she let out a heavy sigh of disappointment. But what she expected? Lord Shade would never let her go, not willingly. Lindsey could bet that if she ever won one of his games, he still would not give her back her soul.

“Lindsey, I love you,” Lord Shade repeated in the kindest voice he could manage. “I will stop enchanting your food and I hope this can resolve the situation.”

It wasn’t her soul, but to know her memories were safe made Lindsey feel more at ease.
But then Lord Shade’s mood changed swiftly.

“And you’ll never lie to me again, my dearest,” he said in a low growl. His eyes were narrow and his face had darkened. He looked demonic.
But Lindsey didn’t quake. Instead she agreed with him and said she would go to bed, which pleased the demon.

He turned to leave, but stopped. “Lindsey,” he said, and for the first time he sounded unsure. “May I hold you until you fall asleep?”

His warm eyes addressed her, full of hope as Lindsey nodded in response. He then left her to change and make herself comfortable in the room. But whilst Lord Shade was looking forward to holding his Lindsey, Lindsey was climbing into bed and re-thinking her decision to let him have such intimate contact with her.

She reminded herself of the kiss they had shared and how it had felt to have his lips on hers. The kiss had been explosive, full of an undiscovered passion which could be explored. And yet Lindsey feared another kiss, just as she had been afraid of Kyle’s touch before.

What if she couldn’t resist him?

There was a knock at the door and Lord Shade entered promptly. Lindsey watched him carefully from the comfort of the bed as he approached with gentle grace. He smiled softly at her, as if silently thanking her for the privilege of joining her in her bed. But as soon as his warm energy engulfed her, it was Lindsey who felt privileged to have him.

She rested her head on his strong chest
and she was surprised to hear his heart beating fast in his chest. Lindsey then was still when he wrapped his arms around her, forming a resilient fort which Lindsey felt safe in. A strange thought occurred to her then; maybe she could call this place home.

Chapter Thirty Seven

             
It wasn’t long before Lindsey was sleeping and had lost awareness of Lord Shade’s gaze, which did not leave her until he closed the door gently behind him on the way out. Lindsey was then left to dream, and now that her memories had returned they wreaked havoc upon her unconscious mind.

             
A cold darkness swirled around Lindsey, blinding her. Biting down on her lip, Lindsey fought the urge to cry out for Lord Shade and kept herself silent. It was not long before a gentle light began to flicker ahead of Lindsey. She stepped forward and prepared herself; she knew something was waiting for her.

             
The light gradually spread into a fine line and Lindsey grasped out for it, surprised to find that it was light slipping through the slim crack of the door. Doubts whirled around Lindsey’s mind as shivers raced up her spine, making her body tremble. She knew something was lurking on the other side of the door.

             
Lindsey couldn’t stand the anticipation anymore, and so to escape the darkness she threw open the door to reveal a very familiar room. It was Kyle’s bedroom.

             
A sharp gasp passed Lindsey’s lips and her desperate eyes searched the room for her greatest fear. Now she could feel her lips moving rapidly.

“Kyle,” she whispered. “Kyle.”

No sooner had she uttered his name, Kyle appeared before her. His eyes flashed like blades and he grinned widely, exposing his pearl white teeth. His skin seemed paler than ever.

Lindsey stared at him, waiting for him to speak. But he said nothing; he only watched her with those haunting eyes.

At last Lindsey had to look away from him and it was then she found the courage to fill the silence swirling around them. “I’m not coming back, Kyle,” she told him firmly. “You should give up looking for me.”

Kyle said nothing. He only grinned.

The lights flickered. It was as if Lindsey was blinking rapidly and then there was only long pause where there was no light at all.

“Lindsey,” Kyle hissed in the darkness.

Cautiously, Lindsey took a step backwards to find that something was sitting directly behind her.
The thing pressed against the back of her legs and it was cold upon her bare skin. Lindsey’s hands went down to feel the thing, but whilst preoccupied in the darkness, someone violently shoved Lindsey back.

The room was suddenly illuminated.

Shocked, Lindsey discovered she was sat in a black wheelchair. She made an effort to get up, however Kyle was stood in front of her and he had pushed the chair back against the wall.