Prince, Prelude-Legend Read online

  He pulled himself up to just hold her, reassure her. “You and me, my love. It appears that we are somehow chosen to allow them through us to fulfill their destiny…but I only feel the presence of you…I only feel my own soul…my own thoughts…and desires. If Jehu resides within me, he does so silently.”

  “I have a theory, Julian…” She took up the lantern and handed it to him before she led him up the stairs. She hesitated just a moment, opened the attic door, and waited for him to enter with her. She turned to him and continued, “I think that their…essence…yes, I will call it their essence or if you prefer, their spirits…Jehu’s and Madelyn’s spirits have been content to take a quiet place in our hearts—yours and mine. They are content to let us live our lives in our time…but somehow, they get to feel each other…have each other…through us…”

  He touched her face. “That sounds beautiful, my love, and acceptable. So long as I get to feel you…touch you, be with you…kiss you…” He reached around and pulled her in tight again. This time, there was no stopping him. He had been on fire for her too long. They had denied themselves too much. His blood seemed to sizzle as it reached his brain. He had no clear thought other than his need to have her, touch her, and be inside her.

  He lowered her to the flooring and stretched out beside her. His mouth covered hers as he pulled up her nightdress and worked his palm over her small, flat belly. He began a gentle erotic, movement there as he went lower and cupped the soft, fluffy triangle just below. He pressed there—working his fingers into her moist canal and thrilled as he felt a wildness take over her body and desire fill her with a heat she had never thought possible.

  His tongue began a suggestive dance, mating with hers, reducing her sighs to whimpers. She moved her legs, squeezed them together against his hand, and begged him with her bucking for him to seal the deal.

  His tongue stroked her tongue, encircled it, and taught it to tremble with need. His free hand moved to her breast and fondled it, prepared it as he lowered his head and licked her taut pink nipple. He suckled there as he worked her honey box with his fingers—first one entered, then two.

  She bent towards him and then pulled away as she went to take his cock and stroke it, lick it, kiss it. As she heard his words of encouragement, she took it into her mouth and sucked it hard and then harder, feeling empowered by his pleasure. Then he was pulling her up and laying her on her back as he groaned with his hunger.

  His groans thrilled her. It was exciting to find she could move him to so much passion, and then he was kissing her breasts, her midriff, her belly, pushing at her clit with his fingers once more, lowering his head between her thighs, using his tongue to make it tremble. Nibbling at the folds, he brought her to her first climax.

  She felt herself tremble with excitement, shuddering with shocks of pleasure, and then she was arching her back, clenching her thighs as she exploded. The implosions after the climax sizzled through her as she cried his name, “Julian…. Oh Julian…more…”

  He laughed softly but hungrily as he positioned himself between her legs. She backed up instinctively as she felt his hugeness and whispered worriedly, “It won’t fit…”

  “Oh yes, it will,” he whispered huskily. “We were made for each other…made for this…” He knew she was wet, she was ready, and he just had to get her into position for his thrust. He took up her tight ass and raised it high enough to meet him as he slowly rubbed his cock against her wet opening. He was pushing, demanding an entrance, and then enter he did as he rammed past her maidenhead and made her his own.

  She flinched but only for a moment before she joined him in the dance and said his name again. “Julian…yes … Oh yes, oh yes…” She was in a fury of desire. She whimpered with pleasure as he used his dick and played with her clit, rubbing himself against it and teasing her until she demanded, “Push in…more…more, Julian!”

  She almost screamed when she went off again, and then he muffled them both with a long, delicious kiss as he joined her in a climax that kept them shuddering against one another for a few moments afterwards.

  After an enchanted spell of time, he pulled her on top of himself and softly said, “Maxie. We are, you and I…a forever thing.”

  “Oh yes, my fine buck. Now that I am aware of all your talents…it is definitely a forever thing,” she teased as she dropped a kiss upon his lips and began riding that magic shaft that had just popped up again!

  * * *

  Shamon could not bear it. His mistress would kill Nell if he did not do something immediately. Lamia was taking too much blood…too much…

  “My only love,” he whispered, “my beautiful woman, my lady, my all…forgive me but the servants—they will notice if Nell is missing. She has become a favorite amongst them. They believe her to be your personal maid. She should be up and about or their stupid minds will start working…superstitious thoughts…”

  Lamia stopped what she was doing with a frown. She looked at him. Her amber eyes were red with frenzy, but his words pricked her instincts for survival. Thoughtfully she offered, “We can say she ran away…”

  “And then what, my lady? Bury her here on castle grounds, for some mischance to occur—and what if she were found? We cannot burn her body here. Someone would notice. All the servants are so curious about you—about everything you do and don’t do. We should not draw anymore attention—should we, my only love?”

  “You speak of consequences, and perhaps you are right.” Lamia pulled away from the limp girl and reached out to touch his face. “You are my boy, my wise boy. I trust in you to protect me in ways I cannot protect myself. There is no need to take more of her blood. Tape her wrist. See to her needs, Shamon. She will be weak for a few days—feed her red meat. You will say she has a touch of weather…you will know how to care for her.”

  “I will do as you ask, only as you ask, always.” Shamon was even afraid to breathe a sigh of relief. He felt something then, something warm caress his cheek and whisper his name. It was unfamiliar, and he froze in place. He could not have his mistress read his thoughts. He had been getting better at disguising his thoughts from her, possibly because he had her blood in his veins?

  Lamia sensed his sudden distraction and frowned at him. “What, Shamon?”

  “Naught…” He felt himself coached by some unseen force. “Naught.”

  Lamia looked into him but saw nothing out of place and ordered him impatiently, “Put her in the ante-chamber for now. And remember, if the other servants ask, she has caught a chill…and will be better in a day or so.”

  “If it pleases you.” Shamon lifted Nell from Lamia’s large, curtained bed. He set the poor girl into a standing position and then half-walked, half-dragged her across the wide room to the door that led to the small chamber.

  Lamia watched him with narrowed eyes. He was right, of course, yet she sensed that his concern was more for the girl than for herself. That was something she would not tolerate. She had trained Shamon to look out for her interests alone…no others’.

  Lamia’s years had taught her all about the intricacies of human nature. After all, there had been a time she had been one of them. More importantly, the years had taught her how to get what she needed by using human nature to her advantage. At the moment what she wanted, what she needed, was Julian Talbot.

  She was no longer interested in getting Julian’s love first. She was above and beyond that. What did she care if Julian came to her freely? It no longer mattered. All that mattered was making him hers alone. He was hers for the taking; she only needed to get close enough to use her siren’s chant, and then her blood would make him hers forever.

  The years had taught her another thing about human love: it had no boundaries. As long as Maxine was alive, Julian would lust for her. Although she had made up her mind to have Julian Talbot for herself by using the powers she had at her disposal, she knew the Reigate chit would have to be disposed of—and fast! Maxine had to die!

  She would be ready to lea
ve DuLaine the end of the week…and then the world would be hers once more.

  * * *

  With reluctance, Julian pulled Maxie up and helped her don her nightdress. He kissed her nose and sighed. “I hate to take you back to your room. I want you with me, beside me, never out of my sight.”

  She adjusted herself, handing him his shirt and reaching up to stroke his lips. “I love you. I want the same…but before we return to our rooms…there is something we have to do. You know it as well, don’t you?”

  “Aye. The Berkwick Talisman. I have heard the call as well.”

  “Right then,” Maxie said, looking around. “Where do we start to look?”

  Julian took her hand and strode purposefully towards the antique trunk. There he dropped her fingers and lifted the lid up and back. Maxie clutched his arm. Julian said softly, “The talisman was given to one of your ancestors…a Reigate … and it has been in Reigate possession for many centuries, Maxine. It has to be hidden in this attic, and this is as good a place to start searching as any. The talisman was a Fae Relic. Unseelie relics are capable of strong Light Magic.”

  “But, Julian…when I was up here that night…last week…it wasn’t here.”

  “You weren’t really looking for it,” he answered in an odd voice.

  “But I was looking for something.”

  “You were interrupted.”

  Suddenly the room was filled with particles of light, and a soft voice said, “The Realm will take you within.”

  Suddenly Julian’s hand was clutching something and he was pulling out the Berwick Talisman. It was an ornately carved piece of gold that encased a deep purple amethyst. It seemed to glow….

  Maxine reached out to touch it, and then without knowing why they put both their hands around it to discover its warmth. They instantaneously felt its power. It was a strong force. The guardian voice spoke then. “It needed you both here to show itself. The relics the Fae have given us…evolve, as does their power. The Druid Realm and the Queen of Fae need you both to continue.”

  “What does it do?”

  “It protects the spirit.”

  “From Lamia…from her sorcery?”

  “Not precisely.”

  “Be clear about this.” Julian had no patience for riddles.

  “Indeed, tell us something we can use,” Maxine urged.

  “We are the guardians of the Druid Realm—our spirits, not our bodies, have been granted eternal being by the power of Seelie Fae Queen Aaibhe so we may watch and govern all Druids.”

  “So then why has Lamia DuLaine been allowed to break our laws and go unpunished?”

  “Lamia was banished. That was her punishment for taking a human life. She cannot be punished again for the same crime. Such is the limitation.”

  “So you allow her to continue,” Maxine whispered angrily.

  “Her present crimes are beyond our right to punish. They are crimes against the human race and must be therefore punished according to human laws.” The voice spoke gravely overhead, and Maxie and Julian held each other close as it continued, “You are who you are. Madelyn and Jehu have quiet spirits within and infused with yours. Their sacrifice was great. The Realm owes them much. The queen of the Fae desired they be rewarded. Their spirits remain with us for safe keeping…with you…until they cannot be…”

  “Your words create more puzzles, more questions!” Julian was angry and irritated. He wanted to take his woman and be done with this.

  “Yes. It must be so. We may not speak of, or look into, the future. Thus, we speak of the past…and how it influences the now.”

  “Right then,” Maxine stuck in. “Speak of the past. I need to know about Lamia DuLaine. Her life had nothing to do with Jehu and Madelyn. Why then should we fear her now?”

  “You are correct. She had naught to do with them.”

  “Please…how specific a question do we have to ask? When was she born?”

  “What is important for you to know is the year her father broke the blood-law, she was just seventeen. The year was 829.”

  Maxie gasped and looked at Julian, whose dark brows were raised. “Say you she is over one thousand years old?”

  “It is truth.”

  “Right then, she was seventeen when her father was put to death,” Maxie said.

  “Yes.”

  “The devil you say!” blustered Julian. “She has scarcely aged…but she has aged. She is not seventeen now.”

  “No, now she is probably twenty-four…perhaps twenty-five.” The voice sighed. “It is time to show you the past.”

  A sudden swirl of light engulfed them. They put up their hands to shade their eyes, and Julian held Maxine tightly to his body.

  A face took shape. An enchantingly beautiful face with flowing yellow ringlets. It was Lamia DuLaine. She was just on the brink of womanhood. Her eyes then were hazel and bright with happiness.

  The guardian’s voice said softly, “Such was Lamia then. Long after Jehu and Madelyn made their great sacrifice…Lamia lived with her doting parents. Her time came during the Druids’ darkest hours.” The voice stopped, evidently to give them time to digest this.

  “The DuLaine as we have said was greatly respected. Lamia’s father was a highly knowledgeable healer. He had the gift. He was learned in the art of surgery. He was dear to our hearts…to mine. His wife was dying, and she was still a young and beautiful woman. He could not bear to lose her. She was his soul mate. Druids have the gift of finding their soul mates. It is both a wonder and a curse. He could not endure the pain of losing her. He refused to let her go. In the end, he vowed he would not allow her to be taken from him. He stole the forbidden ancient Book of Berwick from the temple. He stole it, and he knew … he was a Druid priest and he knew … that it contained much we are forbidden to use. He could only think of what he needed, what he wanted. It resulted in calamity.”

  “So then what…what did he do?” Max could not stop herself from urging the guardian to hurry on.

  “The book is one of truth and magic. It was kept in the temple to remind Druids of a time when we used Dark Sorcery to achieve individual desires. We have learned from our mistakes. The book now resides ‘within the Realm’ with us, the Ancient Council of Elders, quite out of reach.”

  “Dark Sorcery,” Julian said gravely and could not stop himself from pulling Maxine closer and dropping a kiss on her head. “It has temptation perfected. Few are the men that can resist its pull.”

  “Indeed, but we are Druids trained in such matters. We are Druids, made so by the Fae. Long ago, at the time of the Great Treaty, the queen of the Tuatha Dé forbade her Seelie Fae from interfering in the matters of man. However, we are Druids and held to a high standard by the Fae. We are expected to carry out their rituals at the designated times. These rituals keep the walls between man and all Fae intact. It is a rare thing, however, to have any interaction with the Fae, and many Druids have forgotten…” His voice trailed off for a moment and then continued. “At any rate, we speak of DuLaine and we speak of a time long before the Romans, when some Druids practiced the art of Dark Sorcery. That time is still regarded with shame…great shame. That time is past, and still though it shamed him to do so, DuLaine stole the book. In its pages he found what he knew was there, what he needed. It was an ancient ritual practiced by a faction of Druids who were angry that the Fae had refused to grant them immortality. They sought to gain it on their own. The Blood Ritual. Forbidden. He had the sarsen fragments, our blue stones, our precious gems, our crystals forever ours to use, but not like that. It was sacrilege to use the stones in the manner DuLaine used them. He maligned the stones. He maligned himself in the ritual of blood sacrifice.”

  The guardian allowed this to sink in before proceeding. “The taking of human life in such a fashion is repugnant to our beliefs. The act he performed was barbaric and can never be condoned or go unpunished. He was a healer, but he lost himself in the ritual for purely selfish reasons. He butchered several young women…peas
ant women who trusted us. They were our neighbors…these peasants lived in harmony with our community although they were Christian. The DuLaine slaughtered these women as he tried to perfect the ritual to fit his needs. In the end, he discovered the correct formula. He used their glands to create the new one, the Gland of Life.”

  “Why didn’t you stop him?” Maxie interjected.

  “Hush, child, and you will learn.” The guardian sighed. “The Gland of Life was something the Dark Druid ancients had discovered. However, the Fae took this from us and forbade its use. They wished their Druids to be noble, and this was a savagery that defaced us as a community. The only way ‘that gland of life’ could be created was by taking human sacrifice, using the glands of many to create just one…”

  “Monstrous.” Julian whispered.

  “Precisely. However, DuLaine’s need to cure his wife had become all-consuming. He did not have the strength to stop himself. He did not have the wisdom to confide in a friend, to seek solace from a friend. He did not have the goodness to accept his wife’s inevitable death knowing beyond doubt that their souls were destined to meet again. Instead, he lost control in every sense. He became seduced by the notion of immortality. He thought it a wonderful thing, more important than the respect for human life. Thus, he went on killing to create the glands for himself and his poor young daughter…”

  “Lamia DuLaine,” Maxie murmured.

  “Lamia DuLaine,” the guardian agreed. “The Gland of Life prolongs life, prolongs it while it protects the body from the ravages of disease and injuries. It heals the body when it does sustain an injury. It enhances all Druid powers. However, that same fantastic gland requires stimulation, feeding. It requires human blood, quite a lot of human blood.”

  Here the guardian stopped and waited for Maxine and Julian to look at one another.

  Maxie remembered Lamia’s amber eyes. Her nightmares about blood. She had actually seen Lamia in her dreams…blood dripping from her mouth…

  “This is unbelievable,” Julian said.