Beast of Burden Read online

  “I thought I’d lost you,” he murmured into the thick raven locks of her hair.

  “Of course not. It would take much more than a snake like Ioin Lescoux to kill me.”

  Cianan nodded and chuckled to himself. “You’re such a savage beast, you know.” He pressed his lips against her temple and reveled in the taste of her skin. “Ironically…he saved your life.”

  Sascha snorted. “Why would he do that?”

  “He bit you.” He nodded to the wound on her chest where Lescoux had torn into her flesh.

  “But that was Ioin…”

  “I’d bitten him just before you brazenly burst on to the balcony. He was infected with my venom.”

  “But…that means…” She couldn’t finish the sentence. It was too frightening to bear. “Will I be what…what you are?”

  “We’ll know in time,” he said gravely, stroking a fingertip down her cheek. “But for now, I’m grateful. That cursed blood was all that stopped you from dying out there. The venom healed your body, and that’s all I care about.” He pulled her closer, brushing her hair back from her face. “I’m so sorry, Sascha. I never meant for any of this to happen.”

  “Don’t be sorry, my love,” she whispered, taking both of his hands and holding them tightly. “I want to be like you. To see what you see. To live with you forever. I don’t care what the consequences are.”

  “But the monster…”

  “Sssh…” she soothed, pressing a single fingertip to his lips. “I don’t care. I am your mate.” Looking into his eyes, she knew it was true. Her whole life was encased in those pools of amber fire. “I am your mate. And that’s all that matters.”

  About the Author

  Alexandra Christian is an author of erotic and paranormal romance and horror. In case you don't know what that means, she writes about not-so-nice girls getting it on with out- of- this- world heroes. Vampires, werewolves, selkies, angels and demons-- and that's just recently! Her first novel “Hellsong” was published three years ago and ever since, she’s been working her sweet Southern ass off to churn out as much sin and debauchery as possible. She lives in a small town in South Carolina, the same town she’s lived in her whole life. The rich Southern culture, fried foods and a healthy dose of superstition have colored her personality and writing style. She lives with her extremely tolerant husband, author Tally Johnson, and their epileptic wiener dog, Murphy. Since “Hellsong”, Lexxx has written several other pieces of erotic paranormal romance and horror that include several short stories, novellas and another novel. “Beast of Burden” is her second venture with Purple Sword.

  Visit her online at:

  www.lexxxchristian.wordpress.com

  PURPLE SWORD PUBLICATIONS

  Romantic Speculative Fiction

  www.purplesword.com