Overlords Chosen Read online

  Overlord’s Chosen

  A Dark Destinies Story

  By Bronwyn Green

  Resplendence Publishing, LLC

  http://www.resplendencepublishing.com

  Resplendence Publishing, LLC

  2665 S Atlantic Avenue, #349

  Daytona Beach, FL 32176

  Overlord’s Chosen

  Copyright © 2011, Bronwyn Green

  Edited by Michele Paulin and Juli Simonson

  Cover art by Chel Hickerty

  Electronic format ISBN: 978-1-60735-265-5

  Warning: All rights reserved. The unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this copyrighted work is illegal. Criminal copyright infringement, including infringement without monetary gain, is investigated by the FBI and is punishable by up to 5 years in federal prison and a fine of $250,000.

  Electronic release: **March, 2011

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and occurrences are a product of the author’s imagination. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, places or occurrences, is purely coincidental.

  **Overlord’s Chosen is a substantially revised version of a previously released title, Overlord’s Vessel**

  To Matt - you make me laugh, you drive me crazy, you’re good for research and you actually understand me. I love you so much.

  To Michele - the best editor I've ever had. Thank you for everything you do to make my stories better. I appreciate you more than I can say. I love you, too.

  Chapter One

  He was here. In her home.

  Elizabeth peered around the woolen blanket that separated the sleeping quarters from the rest of the meager cottage. He stood with his back to her, but there was no mistaking his identity. Micah Bleddyn, overlord of all of Maelgwn, towered head and shoulders above her father, who shifted nervously near her pallet.

  Countless black braids fell over Micah’s broad, muscled shoulders to hang to the middle of his equally muscled back. Several weeks ago, she’d seen him swimming in the river. She’d watched, fascinated, as the water coursed in rivulets over his creamy, cocoa-colored skin. He’d stood waist-deep in the middle of the river, the current flowing around him as if he were an immovable boulder.

  For long moments, she’d stared at him, tracing the planes of his chest and abdomen with her eyes. She couldn’t say what prompted the thought, but she’d longed to taste the water directly from his skin. She’d followed the path of hair from his chest as it narrowed over his stomach only to thicken again as it disappeared into the river.

  With dark eyes shining, he’d beckoned her toward him, as if he knew her thoughts. Though she’d thought herself well hidden behind the willow that bent gracefully over the bank, he’d known she was there. When she didn’t move, he’d taken several steps toward her, more of his body becoming visible in the shallower water. She’d ached to see what lay beneath the surface, but when he’d held out his hand to her, she’d turned and run. His laughter had followed her through the forest.

  Since that time, she’d dreamed of him—waking with her blood thrumming through her veins and her skin too sensitive to touch. The worst was the damp ache between her legs that throbbed for the want of a man. Not just any man. Micah.

  That same ache caught her unaware as she listened to the rumble of his voice as he spoke to her father. A cold knot of fear coiled in her stomach. Why was the country’s ruler here? Could he be here to bring her to the temple? Once she’d passed her last birthday, she’d assumed she wouldn’t be chosen as a consort, which was fine with her. No matter the tales of physical pleasure at the hands of the guardians, she had no wish to be passed from man to man until she bred the next generation of magic users.

  From what she’d heard, the women were well treated. Those who conceived were kept at the temple and allowed to raise their sons. However, if they birthed a daughter, the child was sent to the village to be reared. The mother had the choice of going to the village to raise her daughter or staying at the temple and trying for a son.

  Elizabeth was always surprised by the number of women who chose to abandon their children. She couldn’t imagine giving away a baby she’d created. Her dearest friend, Fiona, had chosen to stay with her little girl. The guardians had gifted her with a handsome dowry and arranged a marriage for her with a kind man.

  Serving the temple guardians was a great honor. Fiona considered her time there blessed, promising that Elizabeth would enjoy it, too. But, now, at twenty, she was too old to be chosen.

  Which brought her back to her original question. What did the overlord want with her family? Had her father failed to repay his debts again? Or had he done something worse?

  Since Micah had returned from the battlefield a few weeks earlier to assume the position of overlord, she’d often seen him ride past her home. She’d assumed he’d been patrolling the borders, overseeing the strongholds that protected Maelgwn from the threat of Cadeyrn raiders. Perhaps he’d had another reason to venture this way. He’d never spoken to her or even stopped. But he’d watched her. He’d watched her with those burning eyes that heated her skin and forced the air from her lungs. And now, he was here. In her home.

  “Where is she?” Micah demanded.

  Elizabeth startled at the deep timber of his voice. She? Perhaps he sought her sister, Maureen. After all, most of the men of Maelgwn had. Jealousy poked at her. Since when was she envious of Maureen? Since she imagined her with Micah—that’s when.

  “She’s gone to forage for herbs,” her father answered.

  Elizabeth placed her carefully gathered basket of yarrow and wood sorrel near her feet and crept closer. Obviously, the man was looking for her but why? Panic flared in her stomach. Had someone seen her practicing spells deep within in the forest? She’d taken great care to make sure her activities remained hidden from prying eyes.

  Magic was forbidden to women. All of the men of realm had some ability, but only the most powerful became temple guardians. In addition to helping to advise the overlord, they were permitted to manipulate the unseen forces of nature, helping to protect Maelgwn from the constant threat of the Cadeyrn.

  Women discovered to possess magical abilities were punished—some more severely than others. The greater the power, the greater the punishment. Though she could no longer remember her face, Elizabeth could still hear her mother’s piteous cries as the flames had taken her.

  Since the old overlord, Micah’s father, had died, Elizabeth couldn’t remember a woman being put to death for using magic. However, the last two mates of Micah’s brother had been killed because they hadn’t been able to conceive an heir. Several months ago, Collin, along with his third mate, had vanished.

  There were rumors the woman had enchanted the ruler and convinced him to take her to safety. But Elizabeth had known the young woman. If she’d had that kind of power, Elizabeth would have sensed it. Intuiting others’ ability was one of her more recent gifts.

  Her powers continued to develop at a startling pace. While she could hide her spell work, she couldn’t control the visions. So far, she’d been fortunate. They’d only revealed themselves when she was alone. However, lately they visited her with alarming frequency. She feared it was only a matter of time before her sedition was discovered. Perhaps, that time had come.

  “I’ll find her,” her father vowed.

  Elizabeth snatched up her basket and darted outside. She needed to discover why Micah sought her before she allowed herself to be seen by either man. Creeping around the perimeter of the cottage, she poised to escape into the forest should the need arise.

  Her father called her name, his voice ringing through the still air. It sounded as though he headed in her direction. She inched around the side of the house and realized she wa
s beneath the bedroom window. Unable to resist, she peered inside.

  Darkly handsome, Micah seemed to take up all the space in the small area. She watched, mesmerized as he lifted her nightgown from her bed. Slowly, he crushed the fabric in his huge hands and lifted it to his face. Closing his eyes, he inhaled.

  Elizabeth gasped as the ache between her legs returned and intensified. Though she’d made barely a sound, his eyes snapped open, and he pinned her with his deep-brown gaze. His firm, almost full lips curved in a knowing smile.

  “Mine,” he mouthed.

  “Elizabeth!”

  Her father’s voice galvanized her into action. With a last glance at Micah, she raced into the trees surrounding her home. Branches tore at her skin and dress as she crashed through the brambles. He must know of her treasonous behavior and meant to punish her.

  She would not die in agony like her mother. If she could get far enough upstream, she might be able to disappear into the catacomb of caves. If she were lucky, she could survive there until the search had been abandoned. Unless Cadeyrn warriors found her first. Distantly, she wondered where the temple guardians were. They’d been present when the former overlord had taken her mother.

  The crashing of branches sounded behind her. She glanced around. The only person she saw was Micah. His long, powerful legs closed the distance between them. Desperately, she tried to run faster, but he kept up with her. Leaping over a fallen log, she dodged a patch of briars. Her lungs burned as she forced air in and out.

  “Stop!” he yelled. “I command you to stop!”

  He was getting close. Too close. She pushed a whip-like branch aside, letting it fly free as she passed. Satisfied with the resounding thwack and the bellow of rage that followed, she turned west.

  The sacred oak grove lay on the other side of a deep ravine. If she could reach it, perhaps she could scramble up a tree and hide until he ceased searching for her. She spared a glance over her shoulder. The branch hadn’t slowed him as much as she would have liked. The anger seething in his eyes brought back memories she’d submerged until now.

  Fifteen years ago, on a day much like today, Elizabeth had cried as the overlord tore her from her mother’s arms. He’d dragged the chained, sobbing woman from her family. Now, at twenty years of age, it seemed Elizabeth’s fate would be the same. She consoled herself with the thought that she wouldn’t be leaving behind two young children.

  She struggled to keep her legs moving through the blazing pain that shot through her muscles. A dense copse of trees spurred her on. She needed to find a hiding spot and catch her breath. If not, she’d die of exhaustion long before the flames seared her skin.

  Micah’s harsh inhalations sounded in her ear. How had he’d gotten so near? Sensing his movement, she turned to the right. It wasn’t enough. His fingers tangled in her hair, and he yanked her back against his heaving chest. Despite her struggles, he wrapped his arms around her torso, holding her immobile. His hot breath burned a trail across her cheek as he tightened his grip, nearly crushing the remaining air from her body.

  “You will never run from me again.”

  Tears burned her eyes, but she refused to respond. Gripping her chin, he positioned her head so he could look into her face. Up close, she could see the flecks of gold and green that seemed to swirl through his brown irises. Startlingly long lashes framed his eyes, softening the harsh masculinity of his features. His neatly trimmed beard brushed across her skin, sending tingles of awareness through her limbs. She stiffened and tried to twist from his grasp.

  She should be terrified, and to be honest, she was. But his nearness roused other, more unwelcome sensations. As if he knew what she felt, he chuckled, the sound rasping against her taut nerves.

  “You are mine now, Elizabeth. Never forget that.”

  “My father—”

  “Your father,” he interrupted, “has been informed of my decision.”

  Staring at the ground, she swallowed hard and forced the words from her lips. “What decision?”

  She tried to keep from trembling as she waited for him to list her transgressions against the realm and the torturous death that awaited her. At least, she’d be with her mother again. The thought didn’t do as much to reassure her as she’d hoped.

  Micah tightened his grip on the girl. Woman, he corrected himself. She was already twenty, only eight years younger than he. He’d been surprised at the guardians’ choice for his mate. He’d expected them to pick one of the young, docile maids from the village. Not Elizabeth. He’d have the gods’ own trouble bending her to his will. But he had no doubt that, in the end, he’d prevail. And enjoy it. His blood stirred, and his groin tightened at the thought of mastering her.

  “Beltane comes, leannan, and I need an heir.”

  “I am not your lover,” she practically spat.

  Micah grinned, pleased by her fire. “You will be…leannan.”

  He bit the tender spot where her shoulder met her neck, and a tremor shot through her. She again tried to twist from his grasp.

  “I will have you,” he whispered as he savored the sweet taste of her skin. He wanted more. He wanted to take her, now, against the loamy earth, with only the spirits of the forest as their witnesses.

  The woman nearly growled as she struggled against him. In response, he thrust his hard cock against her ass. A whimper escaped her full lips. If she conceived, she might make a worthy mate.

  “The temple guardians have divined that, in seven days, you are to be mine.”

  “They must have made a mistake.” She shook her auburn hair off her face as she tried to meet his gaze. Her stormy, gray eyes shone with the beginnings of tears, but she blinked them away. “Perhaps, they’ve confused me with my sister.”

  Wry amusement filled him. “There’s no confusion.” Her sister had bedded nearly every man from here to the sea. Including most of the guardians. “The ritual of joining requires a virgin, and they’ve chosen you.”

  She shook her head, silently protesting the decree. Compassion tugged at his conscience, but he shoved it aside. He didn’t want this either, but sacrifices needed to be made. He amended his thought. He didn’t want the joining, but he did want her. He wanted to bury his cock inside her, thrusting until she came. He wanted to taste every inch of her skin. He wanted to fuck her endlessly until they were both sated. As often and as long as it took.

  He’d balked when the guardians demanded he produce an heir. By all rights, this was his brother’s duty. Not his. Three years after their father’s death, Collin had vanished, leaving Micah to rule Maelgwn. Micah hadn’t even held the throne for three weeks before the chancellor, his topmost advisor, had begun clamoring for an heir, pressing the guardians to find a suitable vessel. Micah had wanted to wait until the following Beltane, giving himself time to acclimate to his new station. Instead, it would happen in a few days.

  Before she’d come upon him at the river, he’d not seen her in years. She’d been among the townspeople who’d watched the troops depart to defend the border. He remembered glancing across the sea of faces to notice her standing in the shadow of a cluster of trees. Her hair had blazed against the foliage, flying in the wind like a banner. She’d watched the soldiers ride out, her huge eyes worried. For a moment, their gazes had caught, and she’d looked as though she might cry.

  Ten years ago, she’d been a skinny, gangly child, all arms and legs and wild red hair. Her hair still looked like windswept autumn leaves, but there was nothing awkward about her now.

  He’d known it was her at the riverside the moment he’d seen her huge, gray eyes. As she’d stared at him, the color had changed to liquid silver and her lips had parted as if she’d wanted to take him into her mouth. His cock jerked in response to the thought and he pushed closer to her. Full feminine curves pressed against him, and his body responded. He ground his hips against her backside. He wanted inside her sweet body. Now. Rituals be damned.

  As the younger son, he’d never planned on ruling the
nation. He’d never desired it, either. Anger at his brother flared again, and he tightened his grip on Elizabeth. “You are the one I shall mate with at the full moon.”

  Refusing to speak, she looked away.

  “I’ve been watching you.”

  “Why?” she blurted.

  He could tell by the disgust crossing her features she hadn’t wanted to voice her curiosity. She pressed her lips together in a taut line, as if that would be enough to keep her mouth closed.

  Trailing his lips over her neck, he swirled soft kisses over the exposed skin. He wondered if she was aware of her gentle sigh as he lapped and nibbled at her flesh. In truth, he’d been observing her since the guardians had prophesized her as his mate. They hadn’t chosen well for Collin. Micah didn’t want those consequences repeated. He pushed away thoughts of his brother and the tragedy that followed him, focusing instead on the rapid rise and fall of Elizabeth’s chest.

  “I’ve seen how your breath quickens,” he said, ignoring her question, “when your sister’s lovers arrive and drag her into the hayloft, insisting that you stand guard.” He loosened his grip slightly and slid his hands over her shoulders and down her arms, willing her to relax against him.

  “Your nipples tighten,” he murmured as he skimmed his hands up her torso, barely grazing the outer edges of her breasts. “And you grow restless listening to the sounds of their mating.”

  Groaning, she shifted as though trying to put some space between their bodies. Her nipples pebbled against the fabric of her dress. Gripping her hips firmly, he pulled her securely against him. Against the rock hard proof of his desire.

  Burying his nose in her silky hair, he breathed in the sharp scent of crushed greens and soft flowers and something vaguely spicy that was entirely Elizabeth. Gods, he wanted her. A week was far too long to wait to lose himself in her lush body.