Charlotte Boyett-Compo- WIND VERSE- Hunger's Harmattan by Unknown (best management books of all time TXT) 📗

his Transition will allow him to be. When it is over, he willbe back in the beat of a heart. I would not put it past him to fly here onwings his mind will create.”

“He can really do that?” she asked, hereyes wide.

“If he so desires,” Tariq said with asmile. “And it is a sight to behold.”

Chapter Six

Ailyn stared up at the smooth glasslikewall of the lava tube. He was bone-tired, hungry for Sustenance and his bodywas itching, on fire, for want of the tenerse waiting for him. He had chosenthis dark place, this makeshift containment cell, because when he was inTransition, he could not scale the sheer walls nor could he spring up to thetop rim that was at least two hundred feet above him. He could—however—shiftinto a raven at will and fly out of his self-imposed prison when the Transitionhad run its course. At that moment though, he was too weary to rearrange hismolecules and make the change. He had to wait until he had a bit more energybefore he could shift.

He sat down on a low ledge and reached outto touch the silica-rich lava flow from centuries earlier that constituted theslick walls of the cone-shaped hole that was his prison cell. The solid sheetof obsidian glass that encircled the room that was rich in iron and magnesiumhad been formed when the molten lava had cooled too quickly to crystallize andhad created this mysterious chamber, the floor of which had bubbled up to formlittle ledges around the base.

“I want you to see this chamber one day, ionúin,”he said as he trailed his fingers over the smooth surface.

Though the chamber was pitch-black with nolight casting upon the chill walls, he could see well enough with his enhancedvision. The only illumination came from the top of the chamber and that was amere glow from farther back in the cave.

A half-hour passed and his addictive needfor the tenerse pushed everything else out of his mind. He knew he had to haveboth the blood and the tenerse as quickly as possible, and the longer hewaited, the harder it would be to push aside the craving. He got up, closed hiseyes and willed his body into the form of a raven, taking flight as easily astaking a breath, and when he landed, shifted once more into human form.

As always, the vac-syringe of tenerse was afiery agony as he injected the thick drug into a vein in his neck. Even afterall this time he had not grown accustomed to that stinging, burning pain andknew he never would. With trembling hands he reached for the first bottle ofSustenance and drained it in three gulps before reaching for the next one.

His addiction assuaged, his hunger fed, hefanned his hand over his hips to settle a new breechclout in place then headedback to the chamber he called his home.

* * * * *

Shanee saw the raven sitting in the mangotree looking down at her and she smiled. “Hello, little thief,” she greeted it.To the Amazeen, ravens were sacred and a symbol of wisdom. It was also alegendary shape-shifter.

As that thought flitted through her mindshe stared at the bird, glanced around her then whispered, “Ailyn, is thatyou?”

The bird turned its head to one sideinquisitively then made the cur-rak sound that was its trademark call.It took flight and disappeared behind the hut the villagers had helped Shaneebuild.

Sighing with disappointment, Shanee turnedaway from the tree.

“Where are you going, ionúin?”

He was there behind her, walking toward herfrom the rear of the hut. He smiled when she whooped and rushed him, throwingherself into his arms and wrapping her lovely long legs around his waist beforeshe plastered her lips to his. She was holding his face between her hands asshe devoured his mouth, totally oblivious to the villagers watching them.

“Whoa, wench!” he said, pulling his lipsfrom hers. He was supporting her shapely ass in his hands. “Much more of thatand I’ll be tempted to take you up against the gods-be-damned tree I wassitting in.”

Shanee grinned. “That was you!” shesaid. “You were a gorgeous little fella!”

“I am an engorged big fella,” he said, andpushed her bottom down on his hard erection. “Is that our hut?”

“Can you thrust into me now?” she counteredas she gazed intently into his amber eyes.

“With as much power and speed as youdesire, little Amazeen,” he replied.

“It’s our hut,” she stated.

He carried her over to it, ducked down withher still clinging to him and carried her over to the pallet some of the otherwomen had helped her stuff. Practically falling atop her, he took her to thesoft surface—pulling one hand free of her ass to fan away her clothing in theblink of an eye.

“A damned fine ability you have there,” shesaid, aware his breechclout had also disappeared.

He lay paused above her, his eyebrows drawntogether. “Seeing me as a raven did not disturb you?”

She wriggled beneath him. “Hell, no! And Iwant to see you as a wolf,” she said. “Are you as handsome as a lupine as youare as a corvine?”

“You amaze me,” he said in a near whisper,his eyes roaming over her beautiful face.

“Why?” she asked. “Because I accept you asyou are?”

“You have not seen me in Transition norwill you but…”

“But I will see you as a wolf,” she said,“and anything else you care to show me.” She nipped at his lips. “But for now,you will show me how much you missed me, ehemann.”

For the first time in over a week AilynHarmattan felt at peace. There in the arms of his woman with their Ceangal—theirJoining—on the horizon. He knew tranquility, a harmony with his nature that hehad never experienced.

Her breasts were pressed flat against hisbare chest, her swollen nipples burning his flesh. Those long, silky legs werestill wrapped around him and she was rubbing the cleft of his rump with herheel. She held him to her, arched her hips up in invitation to his plunder andground herself against him.

“Ah, wench,” he said, unable to hold offany longer.

For the first time in Ailyn’s life, hethrust his aching,