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  A Savage Lust

  ISBN 978-1-60592-097-9

  ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

  A Savage Lust Copyright 2010 H. C. Brown

  Cover Art by Fiona Jayde

  This book may not be reproduced or used in whole or in part by any existing means without written permission from the publisher. Contact Noble Romance Publishing, LLC at PO Box 467423, Atlanta, GA 31146.

  This book is a work of fiction and any resemblance to persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental. The characters are products of the author's imagination and used fictitiously.

  Book Blurb

  Prince Rio of Knight Watch's mission is to visit London, to retrieve the Lady's Book of Knowledge. He encounters Humans for the first time and his life freefalls into chaos. Torn between his love for a magnificent Fae male and an unusual Human female, he must complete his task or fall foul of Nox, King of the Faerie.

  Prologue

  Extract from the Great Book of the Prides.

  Personal Entry by King Blaise of Knight Watch:

  There is unrest throughout the realms. The Lady's Book of Knowledge is missing from the Royal Library, stolen during the festival of Arious. The Knight Watch has searched relentlessly without success. It grieves me one of our own has performed this foul deed. I pray the Lady guide my hand to retrieve this most holy relic.

  Chapter One

  Other World.

  Rio ran his hand down Tanz's back. Damp, peach fuzz skin slid tantalizingly beneath Rio's fingertips. He smiled into the darkness. This evening, he had taken Tanz's ass four times, and listened to his groans of delight each time he took him in his mouth. Tanz's essence still coated Rio's tongue. He longed to immerse himself completely in the man's taste and smell and never come up for air.

  In the twilight, Rio could see Tanz clearly. He reached out to touch the damp, moonlit curls pressed against Tanz's blushed cheeks. Rio ran his fingers down across Tanz's pointed chin then up to trace the line of his swollen lips. Overpowered by the need to kiss him, to feel his passion, Rio groaned. He ached to bury himself deep inside Tanz's smoldering heat, just one more time, before daylight. Bending his head to nuzzle Tanz under one tall, pointed ear, Rio breathed in his unique, earthy scent. He wished Tanz would open his eyes; those sultry jade orbs could melt an iceberg and bring Rio to his knees. Tanz had become his weakness. Lady's blood, I'm infatuated with a faerie. Rio sighed and turned onto his back. Pride females would never leave him wanting and he had two waiting at home. Tanz chose that moment to roll over, exposing his full, magnificent length. Rio's heart quickened. Tanz's pale, opalescent skin caught in a beam of moonlight and shimmered. Rio reached out, traced a path across his broad chest, and circled each flat nipple before he rested his palm over Tanz's substantial prick. He enjoyed this far too much; this Fae male had taken him to a level he had not experienced before. No, none of his male or female lovers had incited such intense lust in him.

  The King of the Faerie's voice echoed in his head. He groaned; trust Nox to disturb a night of bliss.

  "I know you're awake. King Blaise has requested you return to Dryad without delay. There's been a robbery; someone has stolen the Lady's Book of Knowledge from the Royal Library. Blaise is convinced the Druiks or the Humans are to blame; he has already begun investigations in Druik Void I'm leaving for the Human realm now." Rio grunted his assent; a request from his king required an immediate response, the fact he was his brother notwithstanding. He shook Tanz gently but he slept in that delightfully exhausted way that only came from a night of erotic euphoria. Pressing a kiss to Tanz's forehead, Rio lingered to memorize the man's unique features. His heart twisted in regret; he had forged a deep connection with Tanz over the past year and wanted it to continue. But a relationship between them could never work; Fae and Pride males were literally worlds apart. Each time he left Tanz, it became harder to forget the delicious faerie. He wished Tanz would wake, so he could explain his abrupt departure. He had no idea when, if ever, he would be invited back to Other World.

  * * * * *

  Feltich Castle, Dryad

  "I'm fully aware of the danger but I've little choice. The Druiks are behind this; you mark my words."

  "Yes, no doubt, but sending a Pride brother into the Human realm . . . gods, Blaise, we may never get him back," replied Dare.

  Rio squared his shoulders and stepped silently into the king's solar. His brother, King Blaise of Knight Watch, paced up and down, his boots silent on the thick, red rug. Another of his seven brothers, Dare, leaned casually against the wall beside the fireplace, his arms folded across his chest.

  "Is Nox with you?" Blaise turned his head and waved Rio to his side, his eyes wide with expectation.

  "No, he left for the Human realm."

  Rio lifted his shoulder in a small shrug at Blaise's dismissive snort; he knew the King of the Faerie left to quell unrest in a Human village called London. Nox had described the place in detail, in the hope Rio would use his new skills to follow him.

  "I know where he is but I've no idea how to contact him. I suggest you contact Other World; Allure the Fair will get a message to Nox."

  Rio looked from one grim face to the other; an outsider would believe them to be triplets, although two years separated each of them.

  "Do you really believe the Druiks have stolen the Lady's Book of Knowledge?

  How could that possibly happen? Nox himself cast the spell to close the Five Gates to the Druiks."

  "I know they took it but don't know how. The Druiks swore to get even with us after we defeated them in Druik Void. They've technology; mayhap they contrived some way around Nox's spell, although I doubt it." Blaise sighed deeply, ran both hands though his long black hair, and gazed at the ceiling as if to gain divine intervention.

  After pouring a goblet of the spicy wine, Miza, Rio took his cup and sat on the edge of the sofa. "Mayhap we have a spy? Rams work in the Druik laboratory and the Druiks have the knowledge to alter them to resemble a Pride member. Nox couldn't prevent a Ram from using the Gates; unfortunately, we aren’t at war with them."

  "Rams are little better than cattle; do you really believe they'd have the brains or the guts to walk into the Royal Library and steal a treasured relic?" Dare snorted and pushed off the wall.

  Rio sipped his wine, conscious of the swell of anger in the room. "What makes you think the book is in the Human realm?"

  "We slipped through the Gate to Druik Void last eve and captured a Ram when he left the Druik experimental laboratory complex. He works in the new director's office, and after a little persuasion, he informed me they were using the book as proof of our existence. The Human realm is the only known realm that doesn't know of the Prides. If the Druiks align with the Humans, their advanced technology would be a substantial threat to us and the Fae," said Blaise. He began to pace again. Rio waited until Blaise had stopped then held his gaze. "And you intend to send who to the Human realm?"

  When both his brothers turned and stared at him, Rio took a deep breath and let it whistle out between his teeth. "Me? Now wait a minute, you can't possibly think I can search an entire realm alone?"

  The way Blaise lifted his chin and stared at him for a long moment sent his stomach into freefall. "You're the only one of us who has the magyck to cross into the Human realm and back. You've the skill to change your appearance with glamor and can track an ant through a haystack. Your training with Nox these past two years won't be in vain. I've arranged for Dare's mate to instruct you in the ways of Humans first thing in the morning. You'll leave in two days."

  * * * * *

  Jill twirled a lock of red hair around her finger then dipped the silver-tipped quill in a pot of black ink. She sketched a car, a truck, and an
aircraft on a piece of white paper then chewed on the end of the pen, deciding what else to draw. Hearing voices in the hallway, she lifted her head.

  "Hey, so we're going to try to prepare Rio for life in London; fat chance if, you ask me. Mind you, if he gets there and back it might mean we can go home." Beth's cheery voice echoed in the deathly quiet room. She chuckled and pulled out a chair, joining Jill at the table. "Although, I wouldn't want go back; my home is here now." Jill glanced toward her mate and son. "So is mine; I wouldn't leave Dare and Flame for a trillion dollars."

  "Do you mind the constant protection?" Beth whispered. Raising her gaze, she grinned at Dare; her delicious mate gave her a slow smile in return. Heat flooded her body but then he always made her feel that way. Their son, Flame, lay sleeping on his shoulder with a thumb in his mouth and his hair sticking up in an abundance of bright burgundy curls.

  Beth's mates, Thryll and Zandor, lounged in nearby chairs, speaking in hushed tones. Zandor stretched his long legs and gazed briefly at Beth before returning to his conversation.

  "No, I love having him around all the time. Dare's such a great father; when he went to fight the Druiks, I missed him terribly. Now that's when the real protection started; I was guarded by the king's guards every minute of the day."

  "Yeah, well I love mine around too, but surely they trust us alone with Rio, don't they?"

  Zandor got up slowly, shaking his mane of amber hair, and walked toward them. He stood behind Beth and massaged her shoulders. "It's Rio we don't trust, little one, or any unmated male. Our presence enforces our claim on you; it's what we do, Beth." Zandor kissed Beth with passion before returning to his seat. Jill lowered her gaze and pushed the papers into a pile. She glanced up into Beth's face; her cheeks were glowing a deep crimson. "Just keep reminding yourself they're cats and can hear a needle drop a mile away."

  Dare looked at her and narrowed his amethyst gaze and she smiled at him before turning her attention back to Beth. "You're lucky having two males so devoted to you. Although," Jill hastily added, "Dare has the stamina of two." Rio stepped into the room looking dark and dangerous. The intensity of this male unnerved her. Jill clenched her hands together to disguise the tremble and forced a smile. Her face grew hot at the appraising glance he gave her before he inclined his head to his brothers and Thryll. Dressed in black leather that hugged his body like a second skin, he slinked across the room toward them. He resembled her mate, Dare, right down to the amethyst eyes, although he wore his hair shorter; it hung just past his shoulders like black water. But that was where the resemblance ended. Dare exuded warmth and gentleness concealing the strength within, but Rio, well he wore a sign round his neck that said: Danger, approach with extreme caution. Rio sat at the table and gave her a predatory smile. Jill lowered her gaze, flustered. He rested his chin on his linked fingers and stared at her with a faint expression of amusement. Stop it; you know you're intimidating me.

  "Eh hem." Beth cleared her throat, bringing Rio's gaze toward her.

  "It's cold this time of the year in London," she said. "It's coming up to Christmas, a religious holiday. There'll be decorations in the streets and lots of men in red suits saying, 'Ho, Ho, Ho'. You'll have to lose the earring and the gold armbands; you might get away with the braids." She gestured toward the elaborate gold ear adornment, and the three gold beaded braids hanging from his right temple.

  "I'll not remove my warrior braids," he replied, a challenge in his eyes.

  "Oh well, it is London. You might get away with it . . . I guess," Beth mumbled. Smoothing back her long, auburn curls, Jill laid the drawings in a line on the table. She explained each one in detail, until Rio's impatience became evident and he began to drum his fingers on the table.

  "You need to know these things, Rio. Life here in Dryad is like the medieval period in the Human realm. You live here in a time that reflects the Human world a thousand years ago. People don't live in castles and ride to battle on a horse carrying a sword anymore. There are millions of people in London, of many different races, and there are gangs of armed males who attack people . . . to steal their shoes, for God's sake! It's not a safe place. The buildings are different, the technology is nothing you've seen before, and it won't hurt to spend a little time familiarizing yourself with what you can expect."

  "If they are as you are, Jill of Knight Watch, they're not so different . . . and I have magyck." He shrugged dismissively.

  "And the females, Rio, they don't offer themselves . . . well not unless they're hookers. They expect to be romanced a bit before sex," Beth exclaimed, her cheeks becoming bright pink.

  Rio's deep, rumbling growl brought the three males to the table to defend their mates. Undaunted, Rio lifted his chin toward the angry males, and his eyes flashed them an amber warning. Beth trembled, glad of Dare's closeness. Rio glared at Zandor and gestured toward Beth.

  "Your mate oversteps her mark; I'll not be lectured on how to behave with a female. However, I would be interested in what kind of female is called a 'hooker'."

  "Women who sell their bodies for sex." Beth sighed.

  "I'm familiar with harlots, Beth. I'm not a cub, as you can see," he said with a wolfish grin.

  Collecting the drawings, Jill pushed them into a pile and mumbled under her breath. "You'll need to change your name."

  "I will not," he said, banging a clenched fist on the table.

  "Yes, you will," Dare replied leaning across the table and glaring at his brother.

  "And you'll speak to my mate with respect."

  "Have I not been the epitome of respect, brother? I'm here, sitting at a table, under threat of death from my own kin, and suffering the ramblings of once Human females, for the Lady's sake."

  Jill poked her head around Dare's massive form.

  "Would you consider Rio Knight?"

  "If I must."

  "And you can't use your magyck in front of Humans . . . and you can't morph." Jill relaxed with Dare's reassuring hand on her shoulder. Rio rolled up his eyes, pushed the chair out from the table, and stood. Inclining his head toward his brothers and Thryll, he then bowed to the females.

  "Thank you; your tuition has been most . . . enlightening." Jill leaned back into Dare's embrace and watched Rio stride confidently from the room.

  "The ungrateful bastard."

  Chapter Two

  London

  Nox rolled his shoulders and stretched out his midnight wings, allowing the silver tips to brush the ceiling. A news report on the flat screen TV had brought him out of a slumber.

  "Tonight on Behind the News: More reports on mysterious alternate universes. Professor Linberg will explain the String Theory. Our reporter, Jim Sutton, interviews Aria d'Lion on her latest book, Shape-shifters Are Among Us , the long awaited sequel to The Fairy in My Garden ."

  Nox pulled The Fairy in My Garden from the shelf and turned it over to examine the photograph of a young woman with elfin features. He slammed the hardback onto the bookcase, turned, and glared at the TV.

  "Treasonous bitch. If you're Fae, Aria d'Lion, I'll kill you myself."

  * * * * *

  Aria wiggled in her seat, a bead of perspiration trickled between her breasts. The lights from the TV studio were hotter than hell. The chat in the Green Room with the producer of Behind the News did little to allay the fear welling up and making her sick to her stomach.

  Make-up artists hastily applied powder to Jim Sutton's glistening forehead and someone counted down the ad break.

  "We're back with Aria d'Lion, author of The Fairy in My Garden, and just released this week, Shape-shifters Are Among Us. Now, Aria, you had us all checking over our shoulders with the last novel; what can we expect from Shape-shifters Are Among Us?" Aria lifted her chin and frowned. "My books are based on fact, Jim. I have in my possession an ancient document that tells of alternate universes and the people who live in them."

  "Will you allow this find to be validated by the museum?"

  "Not at this time."
/>
  "So you'd have us all believe faeries are real and so are shape-shifters, and we just need to take your word for it." He grinned, pulling a face at the camera. Aria stiffened and glared at him.

  "Yes, the Fae live in Other World but many live here. They use glamor to disguise themselves. They're not tiny; in fact, many of the males are seven foot tall."

  "So I read in your last novel, but the shape-shifters, can they really change a human into one of them, like vampires do?" he said teasingly.

  "Yes, if they enter our world no woman will be safe from their evil blood sucking. We must use our technology to find the Gates and destroy them."

  "So the Gates allow people to jump from one parallel universe to the next?"

  "Yes."

  "Well I guess we all have to make up our own mind." Jim turned toward the camera and smiled. "Aria will be appearing at a book signing in Hobbs and Sons tomorrow morning at ten. Thank you, Aria."

  "Thank you, Jim."

  * * * * *

  Aldis gripped his cap to prevent anyone from noticing the slight tremble of his hands. Aria had performed admirably and as yet, not a Fae or Knight Watch warrior in sight. Not a bad effort for a changeling, stolen from the dying body of a faerie some twenty years ago and surgically changed. He sighed; he had become quite fond of Aria, a name her mother gasped in her dying breath. Aria, child of Barric of Pride Lyoness. He had, foolishly perhaps, kept her name, but then without the telltale fangs and pointed ears, she passed as Human as he did.

  Aldis, born as a Ram with horns and pointed ears, happily served the Druiks. He relished the chance to become Druik. His looks notwithstanding, as a Ram, he could move throughout the Gates unchallenged. Stealing the Lady's book of Knowledge on a Pride feast day had proved incredibly easy, and had only required a simple disguise. He smiled when Aria stepped from the TV studio, her cheeks flushed with excitement.