Page 49 of Stolen By The Beast
Karvik’s eyes flickered, going black for several seconds as the meaning of my words sank into his adorable skull.
I wanted another story, but having my sexy monster’s silken fur brushing my skin as I lay on top of him was testing my self-control.
It wasn’t long before story time turned into snack time… and not the type that featured actual food.
Our bodies spent, Karvik slipped my homemade dress over my head and settled me on his chest. “Sleep, my Chosen.”
I was yanked from the best sleep I’d ever had by something crashing through the woods.
Karvik sat up, shoving me behind him. I clutched at his hand, needing reassurance that everything was okay.
My mate’s nostrils flared as he took in the scent of whatever was heading through the forest toward us. A heartbeat later, the intruders broke through the tree line.
They were human…human men.
Noise erupted around me as the men shouted at us and at each other. Sun glinted off their weapons. Birds screamed, and a warning rumble of an approaching tornado vibrated from Karvik’s chest.
“She’s alive!” one man bellowed.
“You two grab her. We’ll cover you!” a second intruder ordered.
“Run, lady! Run!” a third man yelled.
My stomach twisted and invisible knives stabbed my brain as the barrier keeping me from my memories began to crumble.
“Where are you going in such a hurry? No need to be rude, little lady.”
The words were an echo of the past.
My past.
A past I desperately didn’t want to remember.
I clutched at Karvik’s back, needing him to anchor me. This was not the time.
“You look cold,” a man’s voice whispered in my skull. “And I’ve got just the thing to warm you up.”
I was running through the darkness.
Wait. That made no sense. It was morning, and the sun was warming my skin. But the real world grew further away as I was sucked into the memories of my past.
I was running, branches slapping my face and thorns tearing at my skin.
But what was I running from?
Monsters.
I fell, and the monsters pounced. Clawing at my clothing, the alcohol on their breath gagging me.
“You aren’t going anywhere!”
I was pinned, trapped beneath my attackers.
My cheek burned as a hand connected with my face.
Terror soaked every fiber of my being. These men were about to take what they wanted, and leave me broken or dead on the forest floor.
But they didn’t get a chance.
