Dark Sonata Read online

  Where she got such a garment was not the point, it was why.

  Victoria closed her eyes, slowly exhaling and letting the cool breeze caress her. Tonight, on this calm night, she would kill herself. She was choosing to take her life in honor of her broken heart, in the memory of Ezra. The suffering had to stop for she couldn't bear another day in this emotional agony, this mental torment.

  She couldn’t even find the right words to describe her pain, such agony didn’t need defining.

  Victoria quickly cleared her mind, telling herself she would not cry. Pulling out a long skinny blade that was strapped to her thigh, she uttered an oath. She unsheathed it making a threatening slicing sound that broke up the dead silence of the land.

  Looking up into the calm sky, Victoria raised her knife with eyes alight. She would make one last attempt, clinging on to an ounce of hope. “I will kill myself if you do not spare his life,” her voice broke, meaning every word. She didn’t know who was in control of the Gates of Hell, but they better not have disposed of him yet. Victoria wanted the Lord of Spirits, the ruler of everything, to hear her. The Highest. She would not go to the Council with her request, she would speak to the Divine Leader with her own lips. If Victoria’s life was worth anything, then maybe she had leverage. If not, then she would just go through with this suicide. Her story would indeed become a tragedy. “This will be the one and only time I will ask you to spare a life, you have my word.” She felt her eyes well up with tears. “Please hear me! I will never ask for anything else again.” More tears sprang out of her glassy gaze. “Bring him back to me! His death was undeserved!”

  She waited as her pulse thundered against her neck, her breathing shaky and uneven.

  Victoria felt more and more tears stream down her cheeks as she raised the knife to her chest, letting her head fall back. You can do this. Time seemed to stand still, her bold request must have been denied, such the pity. With both hands she placed the tip of the blade onto her right breast, ready to impale herself straight through to her broken heart.

  The sky suddenly flickered and twisted, sounding like a deep clap of thunder. Victoria tensed and opened her eyes, watching the sky, shocked to see that something was actually happening. Her tears stopped as she watched in stunned surprise. She stared in awe as the once clear sky morphed into something ugly, as if a monstrous storm was brewing within seconds. Flickering colors of yellow, orange, and red danced in the night air making her gasp and step backwards, shielding her face from the sudden heat.

  Then, something spat out of the sky like a fiery comet heading straight for instant impact. It all happened so fast that she had little time to react; she heard a loud explosion and blinding white light as her body was propelled backwards.

  When she came to, she was laying on the ground with her hair and dress a mess. What just happened? Her mind was fuzzy and she was quite disoriented. She slowly sat up and looked around and quickly placed a hand over her mouth to stifle her scream. The land and trees of Lior were burning, covered in a layer of black gritty ash.

  Her eyes were drawn to a large human form lying not far from her. She shot up to her feet.

  Mercy. It was a man.

  Unbelievable.

  Without thinking she took off into a dead sprint. It was Ezra, like a Demi-God being thrown back by Hades himself, ejected out of the depths of Hell.

  Victoria fell next to his unconscious body. Dear Heaven! He was naked, magnificently naked. Mercy, why was he unclothed and … bruised? She could see deep purple abrasions littering his large body, where he had been beaten. Her mind went suddenly blank as she gazed down at him, her pulse beating against her neck. What a particular situation she was in, never before had she seen a naked man, let alone it being Ezra of all men. What a heady combination, her cheeks felt on fire. Victoria reached out to touch him but then brought her hand back, scared. Scared of what?, she wondered wildly.

  Surely he would not mind. She bit her lip and reached out to touch him, her hand softly grazing his hard shoulders. His arm felt like stone, as if he were not made of flesh and blood. Her hand feathered across his chest and loved the deep ripples she felt, a body so different than her own. He was lying on his side, unmoving. He had to be hurt, for who wouldn’t be after they were thrown out like a ball of fire from the pits of Hell. Oh, but he was very much real and alive. His massive chest rose and fell with steady breaths making her skin prickle.

  He was alive once again.

  “Ezra,” she whispered and sniffed, tears stinging her eyes. He didn’t move at first but just moaned, a deep sound that put gooseflesh all over her body. “Ezra, can you hear me? You’re alive,” she said gently, her hand going to his face again. Her eyes darted over his naked form and her cheeks grew hot as fire. Victoria knew that she’d never get used to this sight. Mercy, she had never seen something so masculine, so powerfully male. Her thoughts were flustered, her mind jumbled. She had forgotten how large he was. The muscles on his forearms and shoulders were vast like an ancient warrior’s, ready for the most brutal of battles. Her eyes followed down the hard line of his narrow waist to his trim hips.

  Her face burned as she averted her gaze, chiding herself. She should give him more respect than that. She should not be ogling him, he was barely living. Looking down at her dress she ripped a large portion of the shimmering fabric and draped it over his hips, face still red with embarrassment.

  Ezra suddenly moved making her tense and fall back. In one fluid motion he rose to a sitting position, his hand going to his head. A loud hiss emitted from his lips from the obvious pain. His hair was damp and hung in wild disarray around his face. He took a moment as if to get his thoughts together then raised his head and their gazes clashed instantly.

  She couldn’t breathe.

  The sound of her heart thumping against her chest echoed throughout her body as if hollow.

  His pale gaze seemed to burn her for he was looking at her like she sprouted five heads. Maybe she did? She knew nothing anymore, her mind scattered in all different directions. He then looked up to the sky and then back to her in disbelief, his eyes wide and intense.

  “Victoria,” he said in a parched voice, “Please tell me this is not Hell and you are but a delusion of my tormented mind.”

  She slowly sat up higher, shaking her head. “I am real,” she said breathlessly.

  “How?” he rasped.

  She felt her emotions take flight, still unbelieving that he was alive once again. Tears streamed down her face as she laughed. “I saved you, not thinking it would work, and here you are.”

  He tilted his head at her, eyes wide. “You saved … me?”

  Victoria wiped her face. “It would appear so, Ezra. This is your second chance at life.”

  Ezra looked down at himself, probably realizing that he was naked. She blushed and averted her eyes when he picked up the fabric she draped over him.

  She heard him laugh, the sound breathy.

  “Victoria.”

  She glanced at him, making sure to ignore his lower regions.

  “How did you save my life?”

  Closing her eyes she took a steady breath. “I came here tonight to end it all … if the Highest denied my request to spare your life this once.”

  He make a strangled sound and took a sharp intake of breath. “You would take your life for mine?” he asked, his voice raw with emotion.

  “Yes,” she whispered and felt more tears stream down her cheeks, not being able to keep eye contact with him.

  His arm was suddenly wrapped around her waist, pulling her to him. The touch of his mouth on hers felt like a strike of lighting, electrifying. It was hard and demanding, excitement flashed through her senses. It felt like hours before he lifted his head, his breathing harsh. “Who did you tell about your plan? Does anyone know?”

  She looked dreamily up at him, trying to think intelligently. “No one.”

  He glanced up and around, acting very paranoid. “They will take you from me.�
�

  “They can’t, and wouldn’t dare!” she blurted, her eyes narrowing, her heart starting to pound. “You are a new man, back from the dead!”

  “That does not change what I am. All I know is this,” he took a breath and softly brushed away a silver strand from her face. “Whoever threw me back wasn’t quiet about it, and I am positive the Liorian army will be on their way.”

  Her breathing hitched, her mind running in all different directions.

  “You are Royalty, I am not,” he said and stood up, taking her with him. His silver gaze skimmed over her and he expelled a breath. “God’s teeth, you are a stunning creature.” With a gasp he picked her up and carried her off the ash and into the adjacent forest.

  It wasn’t easy to keep her mind clear when she knew he was naked and more importantly alive. Everything he was saying didn’t seem to soak into her mind. Not at all. He was talking and all she could hear was a faint humming. Victoria didn’t know what was happening and she didn’t care, for she was in his arms. If she was suffering from shock, she wouldn’t know.

  He was looking up into the sky as if he were expecting something horrid to pop out. Ezra glanced back down at her and a beautiful smile touched his lips. “I don’t know what the future holds but all I know is that we have this moment.”

  Suddenly his lips were on hers, moving over them as if she was the air he breathed. He tasted of bliss, of Ezra. His hands slid around her waist and smoothed up her back possessively. He groaned as he kissed her frantically, lowering them both and pushing her back onto the soft mossy ground. “You are mine,” he breathed into her neck. His lips trailed a hot line down her throat, whispering into her flushed skin as if she were a queen. “Say it,” he demanded.

  “I am yours,” she whispered.

  He suddenly lifted her into his arms, all the while never breaking their smouldering kiss. Her soul was singing, being in the strong arms of the man she loved. Something inside of her adored the possessive way he held and spoke to her. Tears slid down her cheeks, not knowing if it was ever possible to feel this complete and cherished. She was quaking like a leaf as his mouth explored hers. Her arms went around his neck and she kissed him back with the same heated fervour.

  Her dark warrior back again.

  Ezra lifted his head and was looking down at her with an expression that stole her breath away. If she ever had any doubt that he loved her she didn’t now. The heady desire she felt made her insides liquefy. He touched her cheek then brushed his thumb over her lips. He closed his eyes, savouring the image of her.

  “You’re alive,” she whispered, her hand touching his face, such dark beauty.

  “I’m not going nowhere, love.” He continued kissing her, lifting her soul as he touched her everywhere, her body sensitive and alive. Her mind was in a dreamlike state, still unbelieving that her Ezra was back from the dead and making love to her in the pale moonlight. His hands found her breasts and she moaned as he tormented her with his fingers, heightening her senses even more. Their rushed breathing matched each other’s as his mouth moved over hers and scorched a trail down her neck. “I need you now,” he breathed against her skin. “We are playing against the clock.”

  “This is not fair.”

  His pale gaze looked up at her. “I will make this up you, mark my words.” Ezra’s lips were on her neck again, his tongue swirling.

  “Will they take me away?”

  “Yes.”

  “Let’s run away then.”

  He grabbed her face in his hands, his gaze searing into hers. “Listen to me Victoria, I will not be stupid again. I have a plan and I am going to do this right this time. I don’t want to steal you—I want you mine by law. Putting you in harm’s way again, I will never do. You must trust me.”

  Tears streamed down her face. “I trust you.”

  “That’s my girl,” he whispered into her jaw. “Now all I want you to do is to forget everything but me. You are the only thing I care about and our story is far from over.”

  In an instant, Ezra had her shimmering gown up around her waist and his hand smoothed up the soft skin of her inner thigh, he glanced up at her with a searing grin. His gaze roamed over her body. “Did anyone else see you in this dress?”

  “No,” she said breathlessly, trying to be brave and keep it together.

  “Good, I’d hate to commit murder my first day back. I’m am still trying to get over the red dress you wore.” He clicked his tongue. “Naughty girl you are.” His hand neared her most secret part and proceeded to tease her. Coming close then pulling away, watching her with a dark look, driving her wild. “Pay back love.” He applied pressure just close enough to drive her wild, making her moan helplessly.

  “You need a lesson on manners,” she breathed, head falling back.

  “Oh?”

  She hissed as he kept teasing her, coming dangerously close, fingers feathering over her there then pulling back. “Ezra!” she pleaded through gritted teeth.

  “That’s all you had to say.”

  His lips were suddenly crushed to hers and his hand plunged into her making her gasp. Her eyes widened as she felt him work his mastery with his fingers. Her world shatter into beads of sensation. Victoria was surprised fireworks weren’t firing off in the sky. She flushed from head to her toes. This torment was bliss. The man knew how to make love to a woman, making her feel an indescribable amount of pleasure.

  But most of all.

  She felt loved.

  Ezra whispered words of endearment as his skilled hands moved inside of her, heightening every color, awareness, vibration around her. He was kissing her neck as his hand continued to wreak havoc on her body, her muscles tightening and contacting multiple times bring her to new heights

  “I can’t wait any longer,” he breathed urgently.

  Victoria heard what sounded like distant thunder but it didn’t register; the desire she felt blanked it out. Her eyes flew open when she saw him fully aroused as he leaned back in all of his glory. Ezra was looking down at her like he was ready to devour her, the flicker in his eyes seemed to go straight to his soul.

  “I feel faint,” Victoria murmured. She never felt such a heady amount of desire, it was shameless. She’d do anything for him, anything.

  He laughed and leaned forward, “You better not pass out on me now or I might die—again.” He grabbed her and brought her up so that her legs wrapped around his hips. Victoria felt his manhood pressed up against her and closed her eyes, head falling to the side so she could kiss his neck. He smelt like heaven, despite where he’d just come from. Even the pits of Hell could not take the pure sexuality away from this man.

  This is actually happening.

  Their gazes clashed. “I will go slowly, love, but we are running out of time,” he whispered in a pained voice then cursed. “I wish I could have hours with you, to do whatever I wished. I want you so many ways.”

  “Ezra,” she cried as tears slid down her cheeks and nodded, needing him more than she ever thought possible. She opened up for him, practically begging him. Merciful heavens how he’d ever fit in her she’d never know. The pain she felt was nothing compared to the pleasure of what he was doing now, moving in and out of her, gaining speed as seconds passed. She was floating, her mind in another place, something close to Paradise. She closed her eyes, never thinking that this carnal act would be so pleasurable. Pure ecstasy. She wanted this to never stop. Her nails were digging into his back and his lips were on her neck, lips, and breasts never breaking their perfect harmony. How long had she waited for his moment?

  They were forever branded.

  Victoria had to grab onto him for dear life as intense sensations erupted out of nowhere, making her scream Ezra’s name to the night sky above. His lips were on hers, drinking up her screams in a searing kiss. She felt him tense as well, their breathing harsh as waves of pleasure racked them both. This was soul shattering for her; life changing.

  He laid her down, placing kisses on her lips
then forehead.

  She stared up at him, admiring his gloriousness. He was bathed in a light sheen of sweat, muscles gleaming in the moonlight as he loomed large over her.

  “So,” she said with a coy, dreamy smile. “What now?”

  “Now,” he breathed as he glanced up, “We will have company soon.”

  Victoria frowned at that then her mind slowly returned. She jerked up at the distant sound of horses, trying to cover herself. “Ezra,” she said nervously. “Who?!”

  Ezra grabbed her arms to still her and smiled. He glanced up then back to her, giving her a wink. “My love, do not worry, all is well.”

  She widened her eyes, “I am naked! You’re … naked!” Mercy she could not have the whole Liorian army see her completely in the nude. Why did they have to come and spoil everything? What horrid luck. “We must hide,” she hissed, frantically looking around for something.

  “Victoria.” Ezra’s intent stare bore into hers. “It pains me to do this,” he murmured, then snapped his fingers putting her into a modest white silk dress with long sleeves. “Because you look astonishing without clothing, my dear.”

  She exhaled as she was suddenly clothed, eyeing her gown. “Ezra,” she breathed, taken aback.

  He leaned down in front of her and took her chin in his hand and lifted it up. “Listen to me well, my darling. I am back and I am alive, and I will not fall prey to anyone ever again. I will always be near, I will always be close—this I promise you.” He snapped his fingers and a scarlet top hat appeared on his head and a plum suit of magnificence appeared on his nude body. He smiled at her wide-eyed expression and took her hand in his gloved one and kissed it. “Until we meet again, my love.”

  “Ezra!”

  He grinned at her, his silver eyes sparkling. “Never forget that you’re mine, and always will be.” He tipped his hat and was gone.

  Victoria slowly stood and could not help the smile that threatened to overtake her lips. There will only be one Ezra Stone, and he was hers.

  “Until we meet again.”

  The End