Free Seduced by the Beast by Jaide Fox Page B

the throne for ease and
affability of nearness.  “She is but a thorn in my side, Blasien.  I do this
only to be rid of her.”
                “Strong words
that have not the ring of truth.  I see it in your face, you desire this
woman.”
                Desire?  If this
insatiable need to claim and possess her was desire, then yes, he felt such
feelings, but fire eventually burned itself out, leaving only ash behind.  He
could not give over to insanity.  It would spell her demise, and likely his
own.  “You know no human could rule beside me over the hunters.  They are too
savage.  She would be torn apart.  Your own people lick their chops when she
passes by.”
                “You needs must
mark her, until her scent is your own.  Their control is hard pressed.  Times
are lean.  The land has been hunted until kill is scarce.  Each day we go
deeper into the wilds.”
                “It is the rise
of the vampires.  They leech the land until it is nigh barren.”
                Blasien rubbed
his chin thoughtfully.  “They will sate themselves and soon go underground, as
they have in the past.”
                Raphael shook his
head, slowly crossed his arms over his chest.  “I fear it is different this
time.  Something calls, yet I do not know what.  I feel war is brewing, distant
but palpable.  That this woman is here only proves the humans have lost their
respect for our borders and fear of retaliation.”
                “They think us a
dumping ground then?”
                “For
undesirables.  They have no respect for the land, devour its resources with their
greed.  Shadowmere is tempting with its unspoiled riches.  Your own capture
proves they grow bolder.  The rise of the vampires will only worsen the
situation.  The pact may soon be null.”
                Blasien tensed in
surprise at his words.  “Ill news you bring from the border.”
                “It is suspicion
only at this time.”
                “I’ve learned to
trust your instincts with my life, Raphael.  Your senses are the uncanny of any
I’ve known.”
                “I thank you. 
There are times I feel my age in the weariness of my soul.”
                Blasien smiled
faintly. “I know a cure for your ills, but you do not listen.”
                Raphael waved the
matter away.  He knew all longed for him to settle with a woman and produce an
heir worthy of carrying on after he was gone, but now was not the time to
consider such things.  “That is not my concern this day.  I came here seeking
Syrian.”
                “He is seeking
within the flame.  Mayhap he felt this call, as you put it.  He is acting most
strange.”
                “I wish to be
alerted the moment he returns from the portal.”
                “Even this night?”
                “Even so.  The
woman is human but not.  She lives under an enchantment that sees her change
with the sun’s rise.  She must speak to Syrian when I do, and yet I feel we
cannot wait for tomorrow night.  The morning will be too late.”
                Blasien clasped
his shoulder in sympathy, and they both rose from the stone step.  “I will send
for you when he comes from the seer’s flame.  For now, you must follow my
advice and mark the woman as your own.”  At Raphael’s scowl, he added, “You
need not bond with her, as well you know.  Under this enchantment, the old laws
are hazy.”
                Raphael nodded. 
He knew well ancient law.  Had she not been part changeling, he would never
have taken her so deeply into Shadowmere.  He was a keeper of the law, bound by
it as all inhabitants were bound.
                There were but
two ways to be marked, one was permanent, the other was sexual claiming. 
Marking Swan would be