Page 10 of Shadowbound

“I only know I must bring it to the GodKing or die trying,” I say stubbornly. “I won’t stop pursuing you until I hold it in my hand.”

Her frown deepens.

“Hmm, you’re quite determined, aren’t you?”

“I am.” I glare down at her. She is so petite, so small and curvy—who knew so much evil could indwell such a lovely little package?

“Well, first of all, you’ll have to stop thinking of me as ‘evil’ she says, tapping the gem at her temple and frowning. “If you can do that, perhaps we can make some kind of a deal.”

“A deal?” I ask, frowning. “What kind of a deal?”

“You tell me.” She steps up to me, close enough to put a hand on my chest. My whole body shivers at her touch. “What would you be willing to do in order to have a chance at The Heart of the Eclipse?”

“Anything,” I say at once. For I cannot go home without it. The GodKing has told me his holy Citadel will be barred against me if I do not bring him The Heart.

“Anything, hmm?” Her long nails draw a pattern on my flesh and I feel my body reacting, though I don’t want it to. All my life I have heard the men around me speaking of the joys of the flesh—of the pleasure of a woman’s touch—but I have never felt it myself. Not until now.

“Would you submit to me?”

“Would I what?” My heart jumps in my chest and for some reason I am reminded of how Sister Beatrice forced me to kneel and kiss between her thighs. “Submit to you? In what way?” I finally manage to get out.

“I have need of a Blood-servant. Someone to act as a bodyguard—to serve and protect me and to help me build my power,” she tells me. “But you would have to swear an oath of loyalty and submission and promise to do as I say.”

“Would you believe me if I did?” I ask bluntly. “I am your enemy, after all.”

“I’m aware of that. But the Jewel of Knowing tells me that you have never yet broken any oath you have sworn,” she tells me. “You are honorable and loyal, despite being a barbarian. I believe I can trust you. If you take my oath, you will not break it.”

Unfortunately, she’s right. I cannot bring myself to break a promise or an oath. This would be so much easier if I could.

But am I really considering this? I tug against the shadow bindings again—they are like stone. Have I really no other choice?

“No, my Paladin—you have no choice. Not if you want a chance at The Heart of the Eclipse,” Sylvanna says. Her eyes are serious. “Would you rather that I leave you here? If I do, you’ll never find my tower. I can obscure it by my magic for a thousand years while you wander in circles.” She reaches up to stroke my cheek again, bristly with many days worth of whiskers. “Or will you come with me and take my oath? Will you submit to me as your Mistress and vow to give me your blood and your body and to protect me when I need you?”

Suddenly I see myself kneeling before her, pressing my face to the tender place between her thighs. I can almost feel her heat and smell her warm, feminine scent as she cards her fingers through my hair and moans my name while I taste her juices…

Finally, to be able to touch a woman! To let her touch me! To know the pleasures of the flesh, which I have heard about all my life and to give myself willingly to one who will take me in her hands and do whatever she wishes to me…

“Ah yes, my Paladin, my holy warrior…” Sylvanna murmurs. “Of course the pleasures of the flesh are included in my price. I know you are a virgin…I know what you yearn for.”

Her words sting me but I feel almost drugged with desire. I look into her face. Her glowing eyes are melting me. Is she using a spell on me to weaken my will?

“No spell—merely your own desire,” she murmurs. Her hand trails down my cheek and throat, over my chest and down my belly. I feel her soft fingers close around my cock.

“Ah, Gods…” I groan, unable to help myself. Her fingers are so sweet upon me—I’ve never felt another hand but my own on my bare shaft and that not very often. Self-pleasure is a sin which I try my utmost not to indulge in.

“There is no sin in pleasure…it can feed your magic the same way pain or blood can,” Sylvanna purrs as she strokes me. “Can you feel your ‘Holy Fire’ burning brighter as I touch you?”

As a matter of fact, I can. I think for a moment that I might let loose a blast of Celestial Fire to incinerate her…but then how would I find The Heart of the Eclipse?

“You wouldn’t find it,” she murmurs, still stroking. “For it is not where you think it is, my Paladin. Besides, if you blew me up, then who would pleasure you? No one else can touch you but me—only my Shadow Powers are strong enough to counteract your own magic.”

Her soft fingers on me are torture. As if the stroking isn’t bad enough, she reaches below my shaft with her other hand to cup my balls. They feel heavy with seed and with need as she rolls them delicately in her palm.

Gods damn it, I’m so fucking close! I strain against the shadow restraints, wishing I could get loose and take her. But…do I really want to be free? The feeling of being restrained—held against my will—while she touches me…it makes the pleasure even sweeter somehow.

“That’s right, my Paladin,” she purrs. “You like to be punished and tied up, don’t you? You want to submit.”

Again, she’s reading my thoughts. I take hold of the traitorous ideas in my head and push them firmly away.

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