Sinful Instincts (Woodland Creek) (16 page)

He looks into my eyes, a small frown creasing his brow. “Okay, if you say so, Emma.”

“Put me down, please,” I request, and he hesitates but places my shaky legs on the ground.

Once I am able to stand on my own, I turn to the wizard. “Thank you. For what you have shown me. I hope to one day understand, and maybe I will, but for right now, for what I saw, thank you,” I finish, fighting the tears from flowing over.

“Be well, my child. And she is going to be beautiful.” I’m not completely sure of his meaning, but I’m so weary at this point, I wait to figure it out later. I turn back to Sin. “Let him help you. He is truly magical. I’m going to step outside, I need some fresh air.”

“Are you sure?” he urges, not wanting to leave my sight.

“Yes, get what you need. I need to be alone for a minute. I’ll be fine, I promise. And I’ll stay off the mat, pinky promise.” I offer a weak smile. I hear the wizard softly chuckle at that one. I turn toward him and smile, and without another word, I exit the cottage.

Sin

I swear if he did anything to hurt her, I’m going to slit his throat.
I watch Emma exit the cottage and the moment the door is shut, I turn, my eyes blazing fire. “What happened in here? What did you say to her?” I demand.

“Calm yourself. I did nothing but show her what she has been destined to see. She will be fine,” he notes, walking behind his dingy table and taking a seat. “Sit, Roxsin. We have a lot to discuss.”

“How the hell did you know my name,” I demand, forgetting Emma could have easily given this information.

“I have been waiting for you,” he answers.

His words taunt me, like my past is returning in full circle. The last time I met with a wizard, he spoke those same words. “Now sit, please.” He kindly gestures for me to take a seat. The animal inside me wants to forget this whole plan and rip his jugular out for how upset Emma looked, but I also know he might be my only chance of catching Zander and destroying the last item. I take a seat, giving this wizard a short amount of time before I pull out and leave.

“Good, good. Now, what do you know of your quest?” he inquires.

I’m thrown off by his direct question, but time is of essence so I get to the point. “I know my brother—that Zander is close to retrieving all the items from a scroll. If he accomplishes that, he succeeds in bringing much evil to this world, and I lose my mission of setting a soul free. It is in everyone’s interest that I find him or that last item on that scroll before he does.”

The wizard nods, bringing his hands upon his crystal ball, caressing the glass as if it were a pet. “Roxsin, I ask you what your intentions are with the scroll. What happens if the outcome that you foresee is not what is best? Will you sacrifice wrong to make a right?”

His question confuses me, but in any manner, I know the answer. “I will do anything that needs to be done to abide by my promise,” I state.

“And if this outcome will cause more pain for you?”

“There is no pain worse than the pain I have caused Gabriella. Even once I release her soul, that pain will not subside. It will forever live inside me. What I do know is that I made a promise, and there is nothing that will change that. I am sure of it.”

The wizard takes in my response and again nods. Silence washes over the room as he inspects his ball, an array of colors spreading across his aged face. “All right then.” He sits back. “Zander is close, but has yet to find the last remaining item. He is not a hundred percent sure what he is looking for. The scroll, if I see correctly, is written in the language of Arda. Only someone like myself would understand it. The wizard who created it would be one of the few people to decode it. It would have been his intentions to read off all the items before he sent either of you on your journey. Unfortunately, he was unable to do that. Your brother was unaware of this and took his life before figuring out the key. He has been lucky, I must say, in figuring out each item. But you see, the last item, it is a great treasure. And it would take him vocally telling you the item. The scroll is unreadable to a human, even a shifter for that matter.”

“Then how does he know what it is? What brought him to Woodland Creek?” I question.

“Many things. As you know, the land is very powerful. He may have an idea of what he is looking for, but I also think Zander is just traveling, wasting time. He knows he holds the power, and feels like he is so close that he is already cashing the check before it is even signed, as humans say.” He laughs at his own joke.

“So, I don’t get it. How do you know what it is?” This back and forth riddle bullshit is starting to grate on my nerves.

“Because I am a wizard, Roxsin, and we look out for our own. That item is not something that will be taken from this world lightly. You may save one soul by destroying it, but it will be yours you are damning in the process,” he confesses.

I slam my fist on the table, causing the wood to crack. “I am not worried about myself here. I just want the item. I can burn in Hell for all I care. It’s not me I am concerned about.” My anger is building quickly. “If you are able to help me then do so, but don’t waste my time,” I seethe.

Getting my drift, he stands slowly and walks over to a shelf, picking out a book. He rummages through some pages until an old, stained piece of paper falls from them. Bending to retrieve it, he returns to the table. I watch as he sits and in front of him opens the sheet, so worn it threatens to dissolve in the old man’s hands as he unfolds it. Taking his time, he starts to recite the foreign scroll, and it sends the ball into a blasting ray of white.

“
In lue for megn tow sea trus lewa
,” he chants three times before the lights pop, sending sparks from his fireplace shooting out of their cage. He finally turns his attention to me. “It is the heart of the Sirian Sea you will need. That is your final item.”

I have been chasing after this item for the last two years of my life. That’s how long Zander has been trying to figure out what that item was. And now it is being told to me, and I am completely clueless. “What the fuck does that mean? Like a fish? A sea creature?” The thought that it could be that angers me. I’m nowhere near the goddamn ocean, which means Zander has led me on a scavenger hunt to nothing.

“Rosxin, trust in your knowledge. The heart of the sea. Flawless beauty lies in the sea. It is in that which you will find the item you are in such dire need to destroy. At that point, it will be up to you if you decide to abolish it.”

I’ve had enough of his bullshit.
He thinks his petty words will convey me to change my plan? Nothing ever has and nothing ever will.
Except for Emma.
I can’t think about her right now. I made a promise out there I can’t keep.
Another reason why I deserve to burn in Hell.
I stand quickly from my chair, knocking it to the ground. The wizard, showing no bother for my actions, slowly stands, as well.

“If this is another goose chase, I’m coming back here and I’m ending your life,” I threaten as I make my way to the door. Just as I whip the door open, I hear his frail voice. “Good luck in your journey, son. I shall pray that your course leads you to the atonement you deserve.”

I take in his words, finding them unsettling. Saying no more, I slam the door behind me. I see Emma in the distance sitting on a rock. She hears me coming and jumps up, wiping at her puffy face. I don’t stop but walk straight to her, taking her into my arms. Her warmth, her scent, her touch—they consume me. They make me feel like my life can actually mean something. But then my mission and Gabriella come flooding into the front of my brain, and I remember my true purpose. I pull her away from me, hating the distance I am now placing between us.

“I need to shift. Grab my clothes. Don’t let go until I stop, you understand?” I order.

She quickly nods. “Yes, Sin, I know what to do.”

God, her voice. It sounds so fragile.
I will head out first thing in the morning and it crushes me, knowing I am going to hurt her. But it’s what I do. I hurt people I love. I rip my eyes away from hers and embrace the pull of my skin. Exploding into my animal, I roar at the buildup of rage I have flowing through my system. I watch as Emma cautiously picks up my clothes and wraps them around her forearm. She’s watching me, unsure if it’s safe to climb on. I coach myself to relax. The last thing I want is for Emma to fear me.

Feeling my anger subside, she carefully climbs on, her arms tightly enclosing my neck. With the comfort of her touch, I take off, darting through the forest. We make it to the outskirts just before dawn. I can sense Emma’s about to collapse; her hold has been loosening since the last mile. I stop right behind the bookstore and allow her to climb down. I shift instantly, knowing she is going to be unsteady on her feet. I catch her fatigued body in my arms and carry her up the back of the bookstore stairs that lead to her friend’s apartment.

“Sin, you have to put your clothes back on before someone sees you,” she murmurs, her voice weak.

“Don’t worry. If anyone sees me, I will lure them into thinking I am clothed in the finest attire,” I comment, trying to soothe her worried mind. We make it to the door where she’s staying and I turn the knob. Go figure; it’s unlocked. We’re going to have to talk about that before I leave.

“Sin, you’re squeezing me a little too tight,” Emma breaks my painful thoughts of what I’m about to do.

“Sorry,” I express, because I am. For so many things. We enter the apartment, and I can smell her friend. She’s home. Just then, she pops out of the kitchen, her irritating voice peppy as can be. I’m annoyed that we are not alone. I want to spend the next couple of hours just Emma and I, so I can memorize every single part of her body. Her friend squeals at the sight of us, most likely because I am nude. Emma begins to panic in my arms, squirming for me to put her down. I refuse to, because I need her that close to me. I walk toward her roommate until her eyes are staring right into mine.

“You’re going to leave now. You will spend the entire day away from your apartment. You will not return until the sun sets. Do you understand?” I smoothly command her. I watch as her eyes dilate. She nods willingly and steps to the side, heading toward the door as she grabs her purse.

“Em, I’m going out. I won’t be back until tonight. See ya,” her roommate replays, and then she is gone.

“What did you just do to her?” Emma’s shocked again at my ability. I don’t care, nor do I have the time to explain. I drop her legs so they are dangling just to guide them around my waist. I slam her not so gracefully into the wall, crushing my lips to hers. I don’t wait for an invitation, and force my tongue inside. I need to be inside every part of her. I need my tongue in her sexy mouth and my raging-hard dick inside her warm pussy. The pussy that is made just for me.

I show no remorse, and I hear her wince at the roughness of my brutal kiss. I know I’m being rough, but I can’t help it. I need this. I need
her
. Again, I hear the noise, but this time it comes out more like a moan than anything. Her hands are up and locking into my hair. She grabs on tightly as I pull and rip the dress off her body. Within seconds, I’m pushing two fingers inside her. God, her warmth is like home. The way her body just submits to me. I can feel her legs trembling as I finger-fuck her. But it’s not enough. None of it is. I haven’t even grazed the surface of my craving for her. I pull my fingers out; of course, they are soaking wet. I hear her whine of disappointment, but I’m about to give her something better. I maneuver myself just right and without a warning, I slam inside her.

“Jesus, Emma,” I grunt as I hit deep within her core. I can feel her clamping around my dick, taking me inside. The way perfection feels. I slowly pull out just to slam back inside her, my skin prickling every time. I fight to stay in human form. This is what she does to me; she drives me insane. Her hands are wild, pulling at my hair before scraping her sharp nails up and down my back. I lose all control and begin to pump into her faster and faster. Every moan that leaves her mouth pushes me farther off the edge.

“Oh, God, Sin. I’m going to— I’m going to co—” She doesn’t even finish her sentence because I bite down on her neck, breaking skin. Her moans are loud, but the pleasure overrides the pain. Her orgasm shoots through her as I bathe in the beautiful scent of her release. I speed up, knowing I’m so close. Then it happens. I lose complete control and allow something to open that has been shut down for so many years—my heart. I listen to her soft whispers, repeating my name over and over as she rides out her orgasm. It sends me over as well. One last, hard push and I’m letting go, releasing everything I have inside her.