Anathema (The Eating Woods, #1)

by Keri Lake

The Eating Woods never returned what was given.

I was no more than a few days old when I’d been found abandoned before that cursed arch in a wicker basket, a single black rose upon my chest. No one knew who’d left me there, but every villager speculated that, whoever they were, they must have hoped the woods would eat me, as well.

“Go, my Darling, unto that place Where magic still exists Beyond the confines of this cruel world As you will not be missed Instead, I’ll find you in a dream Or a wistful plea on stars Hours of suffering no more redeemed For eternity is ours.”

Long, black hair lay strewn about her pillow and plastered to her sweaty brow. Porcelain skin that carried the soft pink of a fever. Full, bow-shaped lips, slightly parted. Fucking beautiful.

“You see, I may be a monster, but I can also be quite protective of you, my delicate little rose.” He brushed a lock of hair from my shoulder, my body so wound with shock, I hardly noticed the proximity of his lips to my neck, until he whispered, “Come. It’s almost time for your sister’s banishing.”

“How can you be so calm right now?” “I’m not the one he wants to eat.”

“What is that awful sound?” “Dolion. My brother’s other prisoner. Snores like he’s trying to inhale a small child, doesn’t he?”

“Good. Her scent has become absolutely repulsive.” Acids shot up into his throat, and Zevander realized the Nilmirth still hadn’t entirely left his system.

“You have a nice back.” The words tumbled haphazardly from my lips, and I slapped my hand to my mouth far too late to contain them. I turned away, covering my eyes and the humiliating blush that crawled over my face. “Bath. I meant you have a nice bath.”

Before he wordlessly strode from the room, closing the door behind him, I caught a distinct dimple in his cheek.

He glanced over his shoulder, and I jerked my head up so fast, I nearly toppled backward. “Perhaps you should walk alongside me, unless you insist on staring at my ass the whole way.”

“That could’ve been my fault, I suppose. I told him I’d seen something unusual in his bathing room.” My spine snapped straight. “You sent him to his room?” “You make it sound like a punishment.” “I was naked, Rykaia!”

Something scratched my thighs, and I opened my eyes to find the humanoid creature resting his head in my lap, his thin, pale body curled into himself.

“Flowers of the afterlife.” Wearing a slight smile, she sauntered toward the window, and something about her dark figure set against the misty, aphotic view, and the candles flickering around her, as if the light longed to touch her, made his chest clench. She was beautiful. No, beautiful was too weak a word. She was intoxicating. Exquisitely divine.

“Goodnight.” “Goodnight, Lunamiszka.” “Do I still annoy you?” she asked. “Endlessly.”

“But whoever enchanted you failed to consider one thing.” He pushed the man down into the hole, where he fell to the ground on a hard thunk. “I have an older brother.”

Ravezio rolled his eyes and patted Obsidyen’s flank, and as the horse trotted toward the gate, he called out, “I’ll be sure to pass along a goodbye kiss to her for you.” “Only if you intend to spend eternity in the Shadow Realm,” Zevander said over his shoulder,

Rykaia craned her neck back, and the moment she seemed to notice him, she snorted another obnoxious laugh. “We’re doomed, Maevyth. The fun governor has arrived, and he is not happy.”

“Do you know how the scorpion chooses his mate?” Rykaia whispered in my ear. “Promenade à deux. By asking her to dance.”

“I am angry at you.” The deep timber of his voice rumbled in my ear, and he spun me around, keeping in time with the other couples. “For wearing this dress. For looking so painfully exquisite, you’ve managed to draw everyone’s attention. Including mine.” Still clutching one hand at my waist, we held the other above our heads, staring at each other as we turned.

“The mortal is your problem. Not mine.” Damn the sharp stab in his chest as his cold words betrayed his heart. The urge to rip out his own tongue had his hands curled into tight fists at his side. “Oh, she is very much your problem.” Zevander ignored him and kept on toward Rykaia. “Fuck it all, you stubborn bastard. She’s your mate, Zevander!”

“What did you just say?” “I said she is your mate. I saw it in a vision. She wore your sigil, the mark of your scorpion. As did your son.”

A growl rumbled from his chest. “Because I’m a jealous cunt who refuses to entertain thoughts of you lying next to another man. Is that explanation enough?”

“Am I to believe you’re disappointed that I didn’t kill you?” “I’m simply curious as to why.” “You want the truth?” “Always, yes.” “Your snoring.” “What?” Heat flared in my cheeks. “I don’t …. I don’t snore.” “You do. Was awful that night. Scared me shitless.”

“You are mine, moon witch. For all eternity and whatever lies beyond it. No soul has ever been more intricately woven into mine than yours.”