35 Chapter 35: Almost Brideknapped

They had stayed in Novas longer than Yuliah wanted. Blocked and flooded with debris both roads were, and Ryas left every day to help Lucan's guards clear them, leaving her open to Lucan's company and excuses to see her.

She liked Lucan's company. He was like an older Brother she never had but grew tired of pretending not to notice his advances. Besides the time she spent with Ryas, the amazing sex they had, and a beautiful collection of clothes paid for by Ryas, she was growing restless.

He had taught her how to harness the Ethereal Spirit, but she had a hard time controlling it still. Ryas said it would take a few years for her to be able to control it fully, and made her meditate every day, to try and sense the flow of the Ethereal Spirit. Some days she managed to, but most days she sensed something else. Something darker.

Yuliah considered the possibility that it could be the indent on her arm. For it burned brighter every day and she still didn't have the guts to tell him the truth yet. Too afraid to lose him or what they had and he hated the Nomens too much.

In the day time when they were out, he ignored her. Left her to Lucan's advances but at night when they were alone. His jealousy came out in the form of punishment for Yuliah.

"Stop leading him on," Ryas said and flipped Yuliah onto her back positioning himself between her legs. He looked tired but relaxed.

"I'm not. Lucan's like an older brother. A pesky one." She giggled at the thought of what pleasures he had in store for her. He always did the best things to her body. She stretched her neck out and tasted his lips. Sweet and cool from the glass of wine he drank.

His hands move up her outer thigh lifting her skirt as he glides along, exposing her lace underwear. A hot flush spreads from her core outward until her entire body is smoldering in desire.

Ryas reached down and tore her underwear off, causing Yuliah to gasp. Then tossed it aside.

"What about my skirt and top?" She asked.

"Leave it. I want you in them."

He was utterly naked his weight bearing down on her. She loved the sight of his tight chest and broad shoulders when they flexed as he hovered on top of her.

The thought of him filling her up started to build, and she spread her legs wide inviting him in, but he slightly strokes the outside of her slit instead moving down and then up slowly — Yuliah's legs quiver beneath the strength of his hand and touch. His fingers teased her until she throbbed wetly in his hands and the tiny sounds that escaped her mouth turned his eagerness hard against her thigh. He could do wonders with his fingers; she gasped again.

Ryas slipped his finger inside her and Yuliah's arms coiled tightly around him, letting out a tiny moan. Her breaths become choppy as she rocked back and forth against his finger. "Ryas..." Her breathing in shallow pants. She couldn't get enough of him - she needed more.

His fingers continue to curl inside of her, "Do you want me to fuck you?" He whispered in a deep raspy voice right next to her ear. The heat from his breath sending chills down her spine.

Yuliah replies with a moan.

"Then say it?" He planted kisses and licks from the base of her neck to her earlobe.

"I..." Yuliah panted harder. Fuck was such a dirty word. She wasn't sure if she could say it but needed him inside of her so bad, and he wouldn't give it to her unless she did.

"Don't pretend to be so coy with me." Ryas removed his fingers from inside of her and pressed the tip of his thick erection against her lips. Sliding it up against her bud and down hovering right over her entrance.

He looked incredibly handsome kneeling over her like this with his arousal in hand. Yuliah loses it. Forget modesty. "Fuck me Ryas," she screamed, and with one deep push, he entered her. A moan exploded from her lips, and he chuckled then leaned back to admire her need for him.

Yuliah reached for his muscular arms, for his embrace but he pushed her back.

"No. I want to see you come undone," Ryas took Yuliah's wrists and pinned them above her head, "That's your punishment," then pounded into her like a hammer. She felt like she would split apart, but the pleasure between her legs overpowered all else.

Yuliah had no idea how long this went on. She had surrendered herself over to his will, and it wasn't until she shuddered underneath his sweaty body exhausted and he spilled into her that her senses returned. If this was his punishment, she wanted to get punished every day.

"Be good tomorrow, while I'm gone," Ryas kissed her forehead as she curled up inside his arms and slept.

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In the morning there was a knock on their door. Ryas undid the latch, and the door opened.

Three of Lucan's guards stood outside their room. "The Regent said the road to Murai should be clear now. We'll take you up there today."

Ryas took a long look at them, "Wait outside for me," he instructed before closing the door.

"I thought you did that yesterday already?" Yuliah asked. She had hoped they would be able to leave today. Being here in this town caused the indent on her arm to flare up. She wanted to go before it burned again or did something else.

"I did, but that was the main road. Today we'll be looking at a different road. This one is supposedly just a three day ride to Murai," Ryas said as he walked over to Yuliah. "What's wrong?" His fingers skimmed over her cheek.

"Nothing. I was hoping we could leave today."

"We will, soon," he kissed her. "I'll be back shortly. Try not to lead Lucan on too much," he joked.

"I will," she waved to him as he left.

The moment he left there came a knock at her door. That was fast. Yuliah was pretty sure she knew who it was. She flipped the lock, and the door swung open. "Lucan," a forced smile spread from cheek to cheek.

"Hi. I have some free time today and wanted to show you the gardens in my Manor. The ones you wanted to see."

She didn't want to see them but only said that to be nice. Lucan talked about them so much she just wanted him to shut up about it. "Sure," Yuliah agreed. Just give me a moment. I have to grab my bag first. She glanced around the room. Where did she put her bag?

Lucan stepped into the room and headed towards the pile of clothes next to the nightstand. "Here it is," he moved the clothes aside and dangled her bag in the air.

"How did you know it was over there?" Yuliah's eyes creased together. He seemed always to know where her things were.

"Lucky guess. Shall we get going?" He stuck out his arm for her to hold.

She linked her arm through his and smiled. "Alright, lead the way. Let's go and see these gardens you talk about so much. I hope they are as beautiful as you claim them to be."

He walked and chatted her ear off while they strolled through the town square. She stopped at a few shops to buy a gift for Ryas. Lucan had offered to pay for everything, but she refused. Ryas would never accept her gift if he knew Lucan paid for it and she wanted him to keep this.

The days dragged on without Ryas. She missed him too much, and by but with Lucan's company time moved a bit faster for her. Ryas didn't mind that she had made Lucan her friend. He just warned her to be careful because a Man was still a Man. Lucan was harmless though just a bit overbearing. They walked further than she'd been before. The rows of buildings and shops thinned out, and now it was just a long dirt road ahead, littered with abandoned buildings.

"Where are we going?" They must be in the run-down parts of Novas. Every City had a slum, and this must be it. Yuliah started to wonder if she had made the right decision to come out here without Ryas with her.

"To my Manor. It's on the opposite side of Town. Don't worry. I'm not going to do anything to you."

"You live too far from the Inn," Yuliah ignored her doubts. "Can we take a horse back to the Inn? I don't think I can make this walk a second time."

"Yes, but I want to show you where I used to live," Lucan pulled Yuliah towards an empty building.

"What is this place?" She asked.

"My old Manor."

His home was the size of a storage shed at Wey Manor. It wasn't much. He did mention to her before that he was born from a lower class family, but eventually worked his way to Regent. Yuliah admired his determination and will. These past few days she had gotten to know Lucan more, and he wasn't all that bad.

Yuliah stepped inside. The smells of dust and mold hit her nose. It reminded her of the cave with Crazy Eye. She had to get out of here. Yuliah turned to leave but ran right into Lucan and jumped. "Lucan!" You scared me.

He laughed at her, "So what do you think, Rhea? If I lived in a place like this would you still stay with me?"

"No," she made a face at him. "But I'm sure some poor peasant girl will," and headed out the door.

Lucan smiled after her. "Wait for me? I don't want you to get lost."

Yuliah took a deep breath thankful to be back outside. Caves and dark buildings. Places she would never go into again; not since her encounter with Crazy Eye. It took her days to get over the smell of blood and the sight of their dead bodies.

With the sun still high in the sky which meant she would have a few hours left before Ryas came back. She smiled to herself, excited to give him his gift. Yuliah looked down to take another peek at it, but the bag was gone. She dug through the other bag strung over her shoulder. It wasn't in there either. Great! She dropped it back at Lucan's old house.

"I left my bag back in your shed," Yuliah closed her eyes. Dammit. That's not what she meant. "I mean your old home. I'm just going to run back and grab it."

Lucan waved at her, "Go - go get your bag. I'm exhausted. I'll wait here for you besides my Manor is just up ahead," and plopped down on one of the large stones next to the fountain.

Yuliah felt terrible for calling his home a shed. She hoped he wouldn't be too offended.

She found her bag on the floor of Lucan's old house. She must have dropped it earlier.

Yuliah had rounded the corner of an old building almost back to Lucan, but she paused when she heard another Man's voice talking to Lucan.

"Does she suspect anything?" He asked Lucan.

"No, she trusts me. We have to get her back to my Manor. They have the wedding ceremony all setup," Lucan answered.

What the hell was Lucan talking about? Yuliah crept closer but quietly. Was he getting married today?

"What about her Brother?" The guard asked.

"He's not her Brother, but lover," Lucan's voice sounded irritated. "The guards I sent will take care of him."

Yuliah felt her heart sank. Ryas! She had to get back.

"How do you know that?"

"The Inn Lady. She gave me access to their room. They share the same bed, and I've seen him making love to her. I know she'll be a good wife."

She'll make a good wife? Was he referring to her? He even spied on them! Yuliah wanted to rush out there and confront Lucan but decided not to. She wanted to hear what more he had to say.

"Your sick Lucan," the guard laughed.

"Hey I have to make sure she would be worth it first before I made my decision," he laughed back.

"So?" The guard asked.

"I'm impressed. Let's leave it at that. I know she will make an excellent bride and breed a new generation of Nomens for us."

Yuliah had to swallow a few times to unlodge the lump in the back of her throat. They were Nomens. Her pulse began to race. Did he know all along who they were? How did she? No. Her eyes widened. That's why the indent on her arm flared up. The Mark of the Nomens, it must only do this around Nomens. She needed to leave quickly. Yuliah turned and bolted in the other direction but ran right into the two guards behind her. The indent on her arm burned again, and she winced.

"Lucan. She's trying to run," the guards yelled.

Her arms pushed hard, straight ahead, trying to break through there blockade but they were stronger, and she fell back. "LET ME GO," her eyes lite up, and the indent on her arm erupted into a fiery glow, red vines shot out spreading across her arm.

The two soldiers drop like flies onto all fours. The muscles on their neck bulge as they try to stand up but stay stuck to the ground.

A burst of energy coursed through her veins and Yuliah coughed when she took a breath.

What the hell just happened? She glanced at her arm. The vines formed into a Map then changed shape again. Her head whipped around at the sound of Lucan's voice.

"What did you do?" Lucan slowly advanced towards her.

"Stay back," Yuliah motioned to him. She had no idea what was going on with her arm, and the last thing she needed was to excite it more.

Lucan gasped. "The Mark of the Nomens! Impossible!" His face was beaming at Yuliah.

"How do you know about this?" Yuliah scooted back. She should have never trusted him. That tricky bastard.

"I'm half Nomen," he inched even closer. "You must be a Nomen too. That's the only way you could possess that."

"What does it do?" Yuliah stepped backward until she stood behind the two soldiers, still stuck to the ground.

Lucan burst out laughing. "You have no idea what that's for do you?" He took a step towards Yuliah.

"Stop," she screamed, and Lucan halted, his knees hit the ground staining the white pants he wore. A barricade of guards appeared from the shadows and surrounded Yuliah.

"Release me Yuliah," he demanded.

"No!" She bolted back to the shed and slid the latch to the right securing the door shut. Just in time as more guards closed in on her. He knew her name. That meant he knew who they were. Ryas...