AVAILABLE FORMATS:  
PDF  MSReader (LIT)  

CHAPTER I

Gravel crunched under her bare feet, the small sharp edges of the stones cut into her
flesh even as she tried to hurry towards the distant gate. A chill breeze caressed her
body, tormenting her naked form, each step a bringing to life a new wave of pain that she
could not ignore.

Why was she taking the risk of running from him?

He`d find her, punish her for trying to escape and then lock her back in the cage at the
foot of his bed. It wouldn`t take much to anger him, she`d seen that before but this was a
chance she had to take.

But why now?

The snort of a horse, the sound of its shod hooves on the expensive gravel told her why.
The tall figure on the back of the black beast, a man wearing the tri-corn hat she
recalled, the black coat and the handkerchief over his face. A form she knew all too well,
a man whose image she had carried with her as a beacon of light in the darkest times.

He`d finally come for her.

The Raven.

Tiny stones dug into her bare feet as she hurried towards him. The edge of his great coat
caught in the wind, the large black horse he rode shied away a little from the still
closed gate but at least he made no move away from her. Had he come all this way to find
her?

Her mind raced.

How had he found her?

Why had he come for her?

People just didn`t travel all the way from Ireland to rescue someone because of one kiss.
That wasn`t how life worked. Yet he was there, waiting for her on the other side of the
closed gate.

`I`ll come for you my lass.`

How many times had she heard that in her dreams? Enough that she had clung to the words
during the dark times with Davien and she`d used them as a lifeline to see her through his
cruel touches and sadistic needs.

"You`re here, I never thought you`d find me." She grasped the iron bars of the
gates, shaking them. Locked gates, chain binding them closed, but there had to be a way
out, she couldn`t make it this far only to be stopped by something as simple as a locked
set of gates.

With an easy grace he slid down from the back of the horse, his boots hitting the gravel
with a soft crunch. What was he doing? Did he plan on climbing the gate or shooting the
lock open? She could see the hilt of his flintlock, the smooth walnut handle stuck out of
his belt, but the sound of a shot would be enough to alert the men and women back at the
house. She couldn`t risk that.

"Don`t shoot the lock, please."

To come so far only to be betrayed by a sound, no a foolish notion.

One dark eyebrow arched, almost disappearing under the brim of his hat as he lifted out a
large key from the black leather pouch on his belt.

Where had he found a key?

"You bribed someone?" She hissed, watching as he slipped the key into the
lock.

He shook his head, turning the key and opening the gates up.

"Well however you got the key it doesn`t matter now, I guess." She darted out
from behind the gate and into his arms, half throwing herself into the safety of his
embrace.

His strong arms wrapped about her, one arm scooping under her legs as he lifted her up to
cradle her against his chest. Her breath caught in the back of her throat. He was here,
finally here. No more Davien, no more pain or fear, just the safe, warm arms of Ireland`s
best.

"Why wouldn`t I have the key?"

His voice, it didn`t sound like the Raven`s. No brogue, no familiar lilt that had
reminded her so strongly of the home she had been forced to leave. Instead there was
something else, a familiarity that sent a shiver of fear through her near naked form.

"Raven..."

"What sort of a Master would I be if I failed to have a key to my own front
gates?" Pale blue eyes, ones she well knew, ones that reminded her always of shards
of ice, glinted from above the dark kerchief.

Celeste screamed and reached for the cloth, tearing it from his face.

"You`re mine, my slave. My property. It`s time you realized that, time you accepted
that. There is no escape for you, not for as long as you live." The hand that cradled
her back slid upwards, black gloved fingers tangling in her hair as he forced his mouth
down onto hers in a brutal kiss...

Celeste half swallowed the scream as she sat bolt upright in the small cage, the top of
her head barely an inch from the bars of the cage. Cold sweat coated her naked form, the
thin blanket had been kicked away during the dream and now lay tangled about her feet.

Just a dream.

A cruel, heartless, hope destroying dream.

He`d never come for her. Why would he? He barely even knew she existed beyond that one
brief kiss so many months ago. No doubt he had kissed, fondled and loved a dozen women
since that day, remembering one woman was simply expecting too much of a man like him.

The fire flickered in the hearth as she reached out for the blanket and pulled it back
over her body before glancing over at the bed. She could see him, her master, curled up
beneath the soft comforter, his head resting on goose down pillows whilst she made do with
a cage and a thin blanket. The days of sleeping in his bed were rare, and even then her
rest within such softness came only after she had earned her place with blood, sweat and
tears. She had never truly been permitted the luxury of a full night`s rest in his bed.