Page 6 of To Crave Madly
“Of course, Mistress.” Torsten’s voice pulled my attention back to him. I’d have to get rid of the formality. I did not like being called ‘Mistress’ at all. “I will need to place my hands on you. Is this permitted?”
I nodded my agreement, but I didn’t fail to notice the way that Torsten glanced above my head to get Lucifer’s approval as well. He must have agreed because the next minute, Torsten’s hands were clasped tightly around my waist.
I took one last look at Lucifer, my heart already yearning for the next moment we would be together. I really needed to figure my shit out. I had no idea whether I was coming or going most days.
“I’ll be seeing you soon, my sweet.” Lucifer blew me a kiss and a smile spread across my face at the gesture.
“You may want to hold on tight, Mistress.”
I was barely given a second to grab a fistful of the tunic that covered the broad chest in front of me before shadows burst around us and consumed the light. I couldn’t see anything beyond the inky blackness. The only things I could sense were the large hands at my waist and the huge chest beneath my fingers.
Wait. What was that?
Something grabbed my leg. I could feel it wrapping tightly around my calf. I tried to kick it off, but it was fixed firmly around my limb.
Oh god, what was happening?
A scream erupted from my throat as the world disappeared around us, leaving nothing but darkness and smoke swallowing me whole.
Chapter 2
LORI
The world lurched dramatically as solid ground materialised beneath my feet. My heart pounded rapidly in my ears as my knees gave way beneath me. Large arms wrapped around me, pinning me to a firm chest, and stopping me from crumbling to the floor completely.
My body trembled as it came down from the adrenaline rush. My stomach churned and I refused to open my eyes. The world still felt like it was spinning, and I could feel bile rising in my throat.
I took a deep breath, hoping to calm my frazzled nerves, but all I managed to do was get a lung full of the man I was clinging on to for dear life. God, he smelled good. All clean and fresh and –
“You can let go now, Mistress.”
Nope. Not letting go just yet.
“Just give me a second,” I whispered. I still wasn’t sure I could stand on my own two feet.
I could tell Torsten wanted me out of his personal space. His arms held me stiffly like he was uncomfortable being this close to me. I tentatively opened my eyes, and I was rewarded with a view that was, thankfully, completely devoid of motion.
I took a step backwards, forcing Torsten to release his grip on me, but I had clearly been too premature with thinking that I could stand on my own. My legs collapsed under me and my ass hit the floor with a thud. I winced as the gravel cut into the palms of my hands, but my string of expletives was cut short by the realisation that my right leg was hovering a few inches above the ground.
I looked from my leg back to Torsten. “What is that?”
“Forgive me, Mistress. You were flailing excessively when we shadow jumped that I had to secure you to me. I hope I have not caused offence?”
A cord of thick black shadow appeared to be wrapped around the lower half of my leg. It looked like the plaited leather of a whip and I watched incredulously as Torsten unwound the dense shadow from my limb. The solid inky black mass faded into a wisp of smoke as he pulled it back into his body. I was amazed by how solid that shadow had felt around my skin but now it had morphed back into the Shadow Fiend like it had never existed. How fascinating. And how terrifying. I bet that was a handy skill to have in an assassins’ tool kit. It would certainly make sneaking up on someone super easy if you could morph into shadows at will.
Torsten frowned down at me as I lay ungracefully on the floor. He looked like he was trying to decide whether I needed help or not. But before he could make a decision, an inhuman growl was wrenched from his chest and he collapsed to his knees.
“Torsten!”
Spurred into action by his cry of pain, I launched myself towards him. Fear pumped through my veins and my eyes darted all around to find the source of the attack. But I couldn’t see anything.
His hands pushed against the sides of his skull as his head snapped backwards. I grabbed his arms and tried to get him to look at me, but his eyes were scrunched closed under the onslaught of whatever was attacking him.
I heard boots crunch the gravel behind me and spun to see Jasper, Fenris and Saskia running towards us.
“What’s happening?” I shouted at them. Crap. We must have triggered the wards around the base. “Make it stop!”
“Lori?” Jasper looked at me in disbelief.
