Page 62 of Beauty

I stare down at Bronwyn. She looks soft and so damn sweet inShim’s arms. There are two perfect, delicate holes on her neck. They close as Iwatch her, but the temptation is right there to lean down and sink my fangs in,too. First blood.

I am made of the monstrous things of the planes. Unseelie sidhe.Vampire. Goblin. Sometimes I fear the scars on my face finally unmasked me forwhat I am, as though my ruined face is an outward expression of my inward soul.

King of the Dead. What right do I have to take a creaturewho’s so stunningly, gloriously alive?

Her eyes flutter open and a smile crosses her lips. “It’snot so bad now.”

Shim kisses her. “I’m taking some of the pain, love. We’rebonded. Not fully. That can come when you’re not under the influence of herbsand potions, but we do have a bond. There’s a piece of me inside you. Haven’tyou always been able to feel it?”

Shim belongs. Shim was the one to save her. Shim sent out apiece of his soul across the planes and placed it deep inside Bronwyn, givingher life where it was taken.

All I managed to do was save my brother from a fire thatwouldn’t hurt him. All I did was ruin my face and sit idly by my brother’sbedside, hoping he would awaken once more.

“There were years when I couldn’t feel you. I hated thoseyears.” Her hand drifts up. It doesn’t matter that Shim is taking some of herpain. Bronwyn is still under the influence of that potion. Her legs moverestlessly. She sinks her hands in Shim’s hair, pulling him down for a longkiss. “I was alone without my Dark Ones. Don’t leave me again.”

“Never,” Shim replies. “We’ll take you back to our home.”

“The Dark Palace.” Her feet tickle at my knees. I can’t helpit. I have to touch her. Her ankles are delicate, seemingly incongruous againstmy big, rough hands. “Will you carry me away to your bedroom? The one with thehuge, soft bed?”

We started taking her there in our shared dreams the yearbefore, gently herding her toward what we wanted. If we couldn’t have her inreal life, we decided, we would take her in our dreams.

But now she will come with us. We’ll settle her in our wingof the Dark Palace. She will be our princess. She’ll live with us and know thatno one respects a word we say because our father thinks we’re fragile.

“He won’t think you’re fragile when he hears how you raisedan army of dead and took out the entire village guard, brother.” Shim laughs ashe kisses the top of her head. Shim seems as drugged as Bron now, his handsstroking as though they can’t stop moving over her skin.

I’m not immune to whatever Bron and Shim are sending out. Mycock is still throbbing. If only my brain would shut down. It won’t happen aslong as my brother keeps eavesdropping. “Get out of my head.”

Bron laughs a little. “You’re both in my head. Be nicer toone another.”

My hands move up her legs to her knees. I can’t help myself.Her skin calls to me. I know I should stop. I won’t be good for her. She’s abeauty, meant for the finer, sweeter things in life. She’s small and delicate.How will she survive in my world thick with ogres and goblins and trolls, allwho will test her mettle before accepting her as a royal? Sweet Bronwynshouldn’t have to deal with a beast like me.

I want to dominate her. I want to be rough and fuck heruntil she screams out my name and begs my mercy because she can’t handle onemore bit of pleasure. I want to place a collar around her throat as vampires sooften do with their consorts—a symbol that she belongs to me. How can I tellher of my dark needs? The need to shove my cock in her pussy, up her ass, inher mouth. Anywhere it will fit. I want to fill her every hole.

“See, those are much more helpful thoughts, brother.” Shim’seyes shutter, his fingers on her breasts. “Let go of all that angst and revelin our bonding time. We won’t get much of it until we take our princess home.”

“Stay out of my damn head, Shim. You’re trying to influenceme.”

“No.” My brother shakes his head. “She’s influencing both ofus. She’s so damn strong. I don’t think she even knows how strong she is.”

Bronwyn smiles, pride in her voice. “I’m very strong. I canplow a whole field in a day.”

Both my brother and I shudder. The thought of our mate inthe fields is horrifying when she should have an easeful life.

I find myself between her legs. Close. So close. My cocknudges her. This should be the extent of her duties, taking care of her mates’cocks.

“You will never have to do that again,” I promise.

Her eyes find mine. “But I’m good at it.”

I rub my cock all along her labia, stopping just short ofpenetration. I’m trying to be patient. Trying to prove I’m not an animal.Perhaps she was too far gone to see my killing spree, to witness my dark power.“You’re good at this. Good at making us want you.”

She laughs. “All men want a woman. Even I know that, Lach.”

“I’ve only ever wanted you.”

Her smile turns slightly sad, and she cups my face in herhands. “Of course you have. And I only wanted you. What does it say about methat I only ever wanted a dream?”

“I’m not a dream, a chumann.” I’m more of anightmare, but it no longer matters. She’s too close, and I will have her. I’llprotect her. I’ll be a barrier against the harshness of my world, but I willhave her. She was promised to me. If I was half a man, I would walk away, butI’ll take her as comfort for all I sacrificed.