Dark Promise (Underworld)

13



“You were given a wonderful gift-the ability to heal two worlds,” the Wraith said. “The White Dragon Ring’s magic is based on healing.”

“I can now heal demons and humans,” Cassandra said.

The Wraith smiled, but her smile faded. Sadness mirrored in her silver eyes. “Yes. But like many times through history, these gifts are not always easy to bear.”

The Wraith’s statement was definitely underrated. All the teasing of seeing ghosts and the Wraith had made Cassandra’s childhood lonely. “I never thought seeing ghosts or seeing you were gifts.”

The Wraith laughed. Her laughter lightened the air.

Cassandra smiled and forgot about her childhood misery.

“People rarely do,” the Wraith explained. “But, as a little girl, you were able to see me without going mad, and were able to look upon ghosts without experiencing fear. Without these two legacies, you never would have been able to touch and heal the Golden Tree.”

Cassandra glanced at Toby who wrapped his arms around himself and hide his hands underneath his armpits. His hair dangled in his face and she couldn’t see his eyes. He put one foot over the other. If the wind blew, he would crumble to the ground. He was a poor lost child and one she desperately wanted to help if she could. “Wraith, are their limitations to the healing?”

“The only limitations are the ones you place on yourself. If you believe in yourself, the power works. If you don’t believe in yourself, the power fades along with your healing. But—” She held up one finger.

There was always the almighty but.

“Sometimes the ring will pave what is to come. You must trust that it knows the way, even if the power doesn’t always reveal itself.”

Toby wound his long hair around his finger.

She clasped both his hands and squeezed, wanting to send reassurance through him. “Look at me Toby.”

Toby hesitated, but raised his head and watched her warily, tears glistening in his eyes.

Cassandra wanted to chase away his pain and sorrow.

“When I was a little girl, Toby, kids used to call me names, because like you, I was different, an easy target.” Hanging his head, he sucked in his breath and pulled on his hands, but Cassandra gripped tighter, refusing to release him.

“I stuttered. I couldn’t say my own name. Kids groaned when the teacher called on me in class. On the playground, no one would play with me, no one would be my friend, no one would stick up for me when I was bullied. Being bullied was a daily occurrence.”

Toby glanced at her and relaxed.

Encouraged, Cassandra continued. “I wanted so much to have a friend. A new girl came to school and befriended me. I decided I would tell her about my ability to see ghosts and to see the Wraith. We shared secrets. It was a secret I lived to regret sharing.”

She tried to keep her voice steady. “In class, my new found friend announced my secret and the kids laughed. They chased me after school and threw rocks at me. I had cuts and bruises everywhere.” She choked. “I was so scared, so betrayed, so alone. I didn't tell my mom the truth.” She cleared her throat. “I told her I fell, but I always suspected she knew I lied.”


A tear slid down Toby’s cheek.

“Toby, I can’t begin to comprehend the pain you’ve suffered.” She rubbed his palm with her thumb. “Like me, you have a light within you, one darkness could not douse. You will survive.”

Warmth radiated from her ring, sending energy through her body. A river of light left her finger, whirled around Toby’s hand.

Toby’s eyes widened. Silver light flashed over him, softening his features. As the light faded, the shadow of fear on his face slowly vanished.

Cassandra relaxed her grip on Toby’s hands.

He examined his healed hand and stared at her, his eyes pleading. “I don’t want to stay here,” he whispered. “I want to come and live with you.”

“Oh, Toby,” she said. “I don’t know if…”

He yanked his other hand free. “Fine.”

His pain sliced through Cassandra and she could feel the terror he experienced in The Chamber, the shock of not having any of his loved ones save him and the loneliness of being forgotten.

Scowling, Toby stepped away.

She clasped his cheeks between her hands. “Toby, I promise if the king and queen will release you, I’ll take you to Earth to live with me.”

“You promise?”

At his eager face, she vowed to do whatever it took to bring him back with her. “Yes, I do.”

The queen approached Toby. “Toby, please forgive me. I promise no one will hurt you again.”

Toby pulled away from Cassandra. He pushed his shoulders back and clenched his fists.

Toby's bloody print marred the queen's blue dress.

He curled his lip. “Forgive?” He snorted. “You want me to forget—”

The Queen reached for him.

He jerked away. “Don’t. Touch. Me.” He glared. “If you had even once…”

Tears streaming down her face, she lowered her hand.

Toby marched toward the keep, the guards stepping aside and averting their gaze.

Cassandra wiped away a tear. What could the king and the queen say? No one had tried to intervene to protect Toby from Gryffin. God knew what the bastard did to the poor boy.

The king held his sobbing wife in his arms and the dazed guards murmured among themselves.

Cassandra wanted to ease the woman’s overwhelming regret, but how could she? If she told her the relationship with her grandson would heal, it would be lie. When she’d healed him, he’d been brimming with hatred.

Obviously her new found gift failed to heal such a wide rift.

“What will happen?” Cassandra asked.

“Those consumed by the Darkness will heal and eventually blissful forgetfulness will blanket them, but only if they let go of the past and move on,” the Wraith said.

“And if they don't?”

“Their memories will eat away at their soul.”

The queen released a mumbled snivel and Cassandra ached for her. How could Toby forget what his grandmother did to him? She felt his pain, but it was the betrayal that broke him and fueled his hate. She hadn’t erased the betrayal. She could feel it still rotting inside him.

“Wraith, I believed in the ring. I didn’t heal Toby.”

“The ring has left its mark on him. He has another path to follow and it will be his choice if he will be healed. I’m afraid if he chooses poorly, his pain and rage will destroy his soul.”

“No,” Cassandra insisted. “I will help him heal.”

“Cassandra?” Eric stretched out his bloody hand. Cuts and bruises marred his red splattered skin. She couldn’t tell which stain was his blood or someone else’s.

She clasped his hand, feeling his strength. “Let me heal you.”

He shook his head. “Not here.”

“Then where?”

He lifted an eyebrow and a secret smile spread across his lips.

Heat splashed onto her cheeks. “Eric.”

Wraith gave her a sensual smile then tilted her head. “Take him to his bedchamber.”

Eric dragged her away. “I have need of you.”

Bowing their heads, the guards parted as he led her toward the castle.

She nearly wept at Eric’s torn flesh and dried blood. It looked like an animal with sharp claws had attacked him. He panted and his pace slowed, and he gripped the doorway into the castle. “Shit, I can’t make it to my room.”

“Eric, put your arm around my shoulder,” Cassandra ordered.

He laughed. “You can’t carry me, mate. I am too weak to draw upon my magic.”

“I possess the White Dragon Ring, you stubborn he-man. Don’t argue.”

Eric draped his arm around her and her legs shook, but her ring spun on her finger faster and faster. Waves of tingles rushed up her arm and soared through her blood stream, giving her strength. Not sure what she was doing, but trusting in her ring, she snapped her fingers. “Take us to Eric’s bedchamber.”

The ring blazed. Cassandra’s vision blurred and wind gusted, lifting her and Eric into the air. She wrapped her arms around his waist. What was she doing? She should have ordered a guard to carry him.

The wind stopped and Cassandra staggered. Dizziness swept over her. Had she hurt him? Damn it. “Eric? Where are you?”

“I’m here.”

Her mind whirling, Cassandra leaned against a wall to keep from stumbling. “I don’t think I’ll get used to time travel.”

“Yes, you will,” Eric said. “Come to me.”

Eyes hooded, Eric lay naked and stretched out on his bed. Deep red gashes and purple bruises marred his torso. His lashes were dark against his bruised cheeks and his bloodied mouth looked so painful it took all of her willpower not to fling her arms around him and cry in the crook of his neck. How could he endure so much pain?

“Come to me, Cassandra.”

She rushed to his bed and clasped his rough hand. She rubbed it against her cheek. “Tell me what to do?”

“Love me.”

“As you wish, mate.” She leaned over and pecked him on the lips.

She stripped down to her bra and underwear as fast as she could. She didn’t know if loving Eric would heal him. He was so bruised and bleeding. Sex wasn’t exactly known for healing people.

“You’re beautiful,” Eric whispered. Face ashen, gasping for breath, he looked too weak to make love, but his cock stood deliciously erect, looming over a pair of full, taut balls.

She wanted him, thrusting inside her, but what if she hurt him? “Eric let me stitch you up, first.”

“No, I will heal.” He gritted his teeth. “Take. It. Off. Now.”

Heat blazed in his eyes.

She had underestimated his weakness. She kept forgetting he wasn’t a man, but a demon. She shed one bra strap down her shoulder and then the other. She unclipped the clasp, freeing her breasts, and could hardly wait to feel his lips on them again. He was alive and hurt, but alive. She wanted to please him and do whatever she could to help mend him. Meeting his hungry gaze, she shed her panties as wetness pooled between her legs.

Eric groaned.

“Are you in pain?”

“Yes, you’re killing me.”

He needed to heal. Why wouldn’t he let her use the ring? How would making love heal him? She crawled next to him, stretching out beside him, and traced his nipple. He sucked in his breath and arched his back.

“Eric?”

“Ride me,” he gasped between breaths.

She pushed herself up and searched his scowling face. “I hurt you?”

“You’re f*cking going to kill me. Please, Cassandra, ride me. Now.”

His body shook and she was afraid she was too late. She climbed on top of the bed and lowered herself onto his cock.


His cock pierced her tender folds and she jerked, waiting for pain to seize her, but she was surprised there was no pain.

Friction ignited between them and she enjoyed the pleasure of flesh against flesh. She loved the feel of him, the intimacy between them. Her embarrassment and fear were shifting to a need that only he could fill. She wanted him, trusted him.

Instinctively she rode him, enjoying the stroke of his cock against her. Wicked fingers rubbed her *, sending waves of pleasure rippling through her. An orgasm building inside her. Pleasure blossomed with each long stroke, blooming brighter and brighter.

Their pace quickened, grinding them together, and passion drummed inside her, her nipples budding, begging for attention. He pinched her nipple and she cried out, riding him faster and faster. Arching her back, his hand caressed, molded and massaged her breast, but she wanted his lips on her sensitive nipple.

As if he could read her mind, suddenly, he drew one nipple into his moist mouth, scraping with his teeth, sucking her enough to send her body quivering into shivering pleasure. Hands shaking, she threaded trembling fingers into his thick hair and clasped his dark head to her chest. Stubble on his cheek chaffed her skin, scratching her and sending tremors through her body. Sweat unleashed around her, lathering her with heat.

The first spasm shook her to her core, her muscles clutching him tighter as she rode him fast and hard, his balls slapping against her. Rocking his hips, he drove his cock deeper inside her. She overtook the orgasm she had been chasing, and splendor ripped through her veins, blinding her to everything but riding his cock. Strong fingers gripped her hips grinding him to her.

Eric thrust hard, arching his back off the bed and cried out. Gashes and bruises on his chest diminished the blood fading until his smooth skin remained. Fire burst out of his mouth, circling around their mating bodies, warming and comforting her, but not scalding. Flames sizzled and burst into tiny specks, landing around them. Lightning rushed over her oversensitive flesh and pooled into her core, sending her into another pleasurable orgasm. Eric roared sending his semen rushing inside her.

Panting and her body quaking, Cassandra collapsed on top of him. Embedded inside her and slowly thrusting his hips, Eric wrapped his arms around her and held her close, his masculine scent marking her. She wanted her scent branding him He kissed her neck and whispered, “That’s how demons heal.”

Trying to catch her breath and tiny orgasms still strumming through her body, she gripped his shoulders. “You’ve got to be kidding.”

He raised his eyebrow. “You weren't pleased?”

She punched his tight chest. “Don’t be so smug.”

He clasped her chin, his thumb stroking the side of her cheek. “I plan on taking you on another ride,” he promised as he rolled her onto her back.

Her heart quickened, and she waited for him to fulfill his promise.

Moving his hand down her side, over her breast, he gazed at her. “Um, by the way did I mention you are immortal?”

“What?”

“You didn’t think touching the Golden Tree or wearing the White Ring would leave you unchanged?”

“I hadn’t thought about it. So, I can never leave here?”

He kissed her, opening her mouth with his determined tongue, taking command of her, making her forget her worries. She clutched his broad shoulders, holding on for another exhilarating ride.

Leaving her mouth, he stared at her with hooded eyes. “Did I say that?”

“No,” she gasped as he sucked her neck.

Biting her shoulder, he murmured, “We can come and go as we please, Cassandra.”

“We?”

He tensed and lifted his head, eyes narrowed. He curled his lips. “Meaning?”

She touched him with her finger. “My, what little faith you have, my lord.” Wrapping her legs around his hips, she laughed. “After all I’ve done, does it look like I want to leave?”

He nipped her finger. “Try and see what happens.”