The Prophecy Read Online Free Page A

desire.”
    She hesitated and he felt the anger rise in him.
    “Raven, I promise you, however distasteful you find my taking of your body, it will cause you no pain.” He took a deep, calming breath. He knew there was something between them, some bond. Instinct told him that what they would have together would be special, magical. He needed the chance to show Raven that, to prove to her that life was worth living. “Come,” he cajoled, “you have known only darkness and pain for so long, let me show you a little of the pleasures of life, and afterwards, if you still desire to die, then the decision is yours.”
     
    Raven looked at him, tried to imagine what it would be like, his hands on her body. More than just his hands, and she felt a queer unexpected jolt of heat in her belly. Could she do it knowing that at the end he would grant her the peace she craved?
    His lips formed a grim line. He drew the knife from the sheath at his thigh. It was a wicked-looking blade and she felt a flicker of unease. Was she afraid after all? One thing she did know, she didn’t want to die on her knees. She struggled to her feet, clumsy in the chains. He didn’t help, just watched through narrowed eyes. He took a step closer. There was nowhere she could go; she could already feel the rough stone cold against her back. She watched, mesmerised as he reached out slowly and touched the point of the dagger to her belly. The metal was cold and she glanced down. It pressed lightly against her flesh, one quick thrust and it would pierce her. But he knew what she was; he must know he couldn’t kill her like this. Did he mean to torture her first? She closed her eyes. But instead of the expected sharp stab of pain, she felt the tip of the knife glide over her flesh. It slid up over the flat plain of her stomach, leaving a trail of fire, over the swell of her breast, pausing briefly to tease the sensitive peak. She felt the heat flare again in her belly and shivered at the sensation. She raised her head as the knife continued upwards, coming to rest at the base of her throat. The tip pierced her skin and her eyes flew open.
    “Do you really want death so much?” he asked softly
    She stared into his eyes. They were deep-blue, cold, showing no emotion. “I don’t fear death,” she said.
    His face twisted into an expression of scorn. “No, it’s life you fear.”
    Her anger rose at his words. She pressed against the point of the blade, felt it sink deeper. He pulled back and she felt a flicker of satisfaction. “What I fear is being the instrument of my enemy’s ultimate victory.” But even as she spoke she wondered at his words. She had accepted death, could she now accept a chance at life? Could she somehow learn to live with what she had become?
    “Well, then,” he said, “yield to me and the prophecy will never come to pass.” He paused. “Come on Raven,” he coaxed, “wouldn’t you like to live to see Sorien meet that messy end?”
    “I told you, I made that up.”
    He smiled then, a cold, cruel smile. “I could make it happen for you.”
    She considered him for a moment. “Why do you care?”
    “I let you down once before when I demanded your death. I won’t do it a second time. Besides…” he paused.
    “Besides?”
    He didn’t answer straight away. Instead his gaze wandered down over her body. His eyes, when they returned to her face were sleepy, heavy-lidded. A slight smile curled the corner of his mouth.
    “Besides,” he murmured, and his voice had lowered, soft, like velvet caressing her sensitive ears. “I find I want you.”
    Raven stared at him. It was the last thing she had expected to hear and she was speechless.
    His smile faded. “I didn’t expect to,” he continued, almost speaking to himself. “Nor desired to. But since you latched those pretty fangs into my flesh and sucked my blood, I’ve been as hard as a rock. You expect me to kill you and all I can think about is sinking myself into your