The Prophecy Read Online Free Page B

body.”
    She felt warmth kindle inside her at his words, a throbbing heat between her thighs and she stared at him, almost mesmerised. She licked her lips and he smiled again. “So what do you say, Raven? Let me take the body you so obviously have no more use for, and afterwards, if you still desire it, I will take your life.”
     
    Kael searched her face and knew in an instant that her resolve was weakening. She had a slightly panicked look in her eyes; they darted from his face, down his body, no doubt searching for the truth of his words. Her eyes widened at the obvious evidence and then flew back to his face. He forced his breathing to slow as he watched her. She was still chained to the wall and he knew he should release her, but first he needed to touch her, taste her.
    He opened his fingers and the knife clattered to the floor. He took a step closer, reaching out to smooth the spot where his blade had pierced her throat. He traced the line of a vein as it pulsed beneath the fragile skin and he could feel the rapid throb of her blood beneath his fingers. His hand fell to gently cup her breast. Her skin was like satin, and he scraped the pad of his thumb over the taut nipple and felt a tremor run through her. He paused.
    She was a virgin and he had one chance to show her that she didn’t want to die. He felt a moment of panic. But then he was overcome by a feeling of rightness. This was meant to be. He leant forward and softly kissed the corner of her mouth, then brushed her lips with his. She stayed still and he deepened the kiss, stroking her lips with his tongue until she opened her mouth slightly and he slipped inside. She tasted sweet and hot and his hands slid up to cup her face, his mouth slanting over hers, his tongue thrusting into her mouth. He finally felt her move against him then. Felt the tentative stirring of her tongue against his, heard the clink of the chains as her arms came up to grip his and he was filled with a fierce exultation. She would be his.
    Then she went still. He forced himself to pull back, looked down into her face. Her silver eyes were unfocused, as though she was seeing something inside her head. A shiver of awe rippled through him.
    “Someone’s coming,” she said, her voice strangely blank. “One of Sorien’s men.”
    He frowned. “I thought you said you didn’t have the sight.”
    She blinked as if awakening from a trance. “No,” she replied, “I said I hadn’t seen Sorien’s death. You have to go.”
    He shook his head. “I won’t leave you.”
     
    The aftermath of a vision always left her slightly dazed and Raven frowned. Then it came to her—obviously he couldn’t leave her; he hadn’t yet done what he had come for and he couldn’t allow the prophecy to be fulfilled. Now they had run out of time and he would have to kill her after all. She felt a brief stab of regret and wondered at it. She had thought herself so willing to die, had welcomed the thought of peace at last and now she wavered. What had changed?
    She could still feel the sensation of his lips on hers. At the first touch she’d felt her body stir to life and, for a brief moment, she had felt as though he truly cared. But nothing had changed. He hadn’t come to save her; he had come to save the rest of the world. She bowed her head, praying for the strength to see this through, to be strong.
    “If they come now, then Sorien will win. Don’t you understand? I’d accepted my death. It was the thought of Sorien gaining from it that was truly killing me.” She slammed her hand into the rock wall behind her. “You must prevent the prophecy from being fulfilled.”
    He stared at her through narrowed eyes. “Forget it!” he snarled. “I came here to save you and I am not killing you now.”
    She searched his face. He spoke the truth. But he had to know that there was no way he could get them both out of here and she wouldn’t let them take her alive. He had to kill her. The prophecy could not