Pain and Love: Forever Entwined

Chapter 3

Reilyn woke shortly before Murtagh left, lying next to his warm body staring as his chest rose and fell. Tentatively, she reached out and brushed her hand down his side, trying to finish exploring him. He yawned, shifting, and she went to pull her hand away.

"No," he mumbled, gently grabbing her wrist. "Don't stop, please."

She didn't know what to do. She longed to finish memorizing his stunning body, but was nervous about it. Slowly, Murtagh put her hand back to his side, guiding her to his chest. She watched her hand as he moved it over his body, taking time to memorize what she was looking at as well as touching.

"Reilyn?" he murmured. "Is this all right with you? I'll stop if you-."

"No, it's fine. . .but no farther than this, okay?"

"Of course," he whispered.

Her hand traced his stomach, slowly going over the well trained muscles as he guided her. A growl became audible and she smirked, knowing it was Murtagh. His strong hand released hers, allowing her to continue on her own. The growl grew louder as she ventured on her own, slowly transforming into a moan, and he arched into her hands.

I should stop. . .she thought. Before something goes wrong. . .

But she didn't stop, forcing herself to go on. She traced his sides, letting her nails sink in a little, and he moaned and growled at the same time. He arched again, grabbing her hands, and gasped for air. He pushed her nails into his flesh, dragging her hands down, creating long scratches in his flesh, and let out a muted whine.

"Murtagh. . .enough, please," she whispered, trying to pull her hands from his.

"No, please, Reilyn!" he moaned desperately.

I should have stopped. . . Why didn't I stop?!

"No, enough!" she said loudly, pulling away and finally escaping his grip.

Murtagh growled, sitting up and stared at her. He panted and licked his lips eagerly, he yearned for more. He reached out for her and she shrank back, afraid of what may happen.

"I got carried away. . ." he mumbled, tracing her face.

"I should have stopped. . ." she whispered.

"Don't blame yourself," he leaned in and kissed her. "I should have stopped when I. . .well. . ."

She giggled at his sudden shyness, it was the one emotion she thought he lacked, and relaxed a little bit. He pulled her to him and sighed, laying back. Reilyn rested her head on his chest, listening to the strong heart beat inside him. She couldn't stop thinking of what had happened, what she had done to him.

The noise he made. . .I was the cause of that. . .me, she thought, shivering slightly.

A loud knock, followed by the door opening made her heart stop. Murtagh jumped as the footsteps neared and Reilyn shut her eyes tight.

"Boy! What are you-?" Morzan demanded, cutting himself short. "Oh! So I see!"

A hand touched her face, too rough to be Murtagh's. She shifted , moving her face into Murtagh's neck, and pulled closer to the older man, faking sleep. The pale teen's heart pounded as her face nuzzled his neck, his arms going protectively around her, a low growl in his throat. The rough hand left her and didn't touch her again.

"You stop that growling you filthy little runt!" his father barked. "Or I swear!"

The growl deepened, filling with pure rage. Reilyn moved her mouth up to his ear, trying to prevent him from getting beat-he had enough problems today.

"Murtagh," she breathed, "stop."

The loud growl vanished, Reilyn curled closer, still pretending to be asleep. His hands touched her back, very carefully, with measured motions, and she heard Morzan laugh.

"Don't get too eager boy," Morzan chuckled. "You have a job to do today, now, tell her good morning and get moving."

She felt Murtagh shift beneath her, moving from under her arms, and her heart leapt.

What is he going to do?

Slowly, she was rolled to her back, the strong hands pinning her by the shoulders. The older teen moved and straddled her, and Reilyn struggled internally to stay still, to keep faking sleep. His actions caused red flags to shoot up everywhere, she was slowly realizing that even though she was strong, she was no match for Murtagh-he could do anything he wanted to, if he chose. He kissed her hard, forcing his way in her mouth, and she felt fire in her body.

I like this?! she was entirely stunned.

Murtagh kissed deeper, the growl becoming noticeable, then suddenly pulled back out. He bit her lip, growling loudly, and she tasted her own blood. She tensed, trying to hold still, but her hands betrayed her and moved to cup his face. A moan escaped the boy and his tongue dove back in her mouth, eager and aggressive.

"That's good enough, boy!" his father growled, pulling Murtagh off her by a handful of his hair. "Didn't you hear me the first time?!"

She rolled to her side, curling and praying Morzan didn't notice that she was fully awake. Her heart beat deafeningly in her chest and she had trouble keeping her breath even. She listened as Murtagh threw open the wardrobe, then the rustle as he looked for a clean vest. Morzan leaned over her as his son was distracted, his foul breath warmed her ear as he spoke.

"Enjoy waking up, you little wench?" he touched her hair. "You belong to my son now, you understand? Anything he wants, you give. You don't want to know the consequences," he hissed.

Reilyn shivered, clenching her jaw, and growled. He made her soul cringe, pure hatred and rage surrounded her, this man who killed her parents. His laugh grated her and she shuddered. He grabbed a handful of her hair and pulled her head back, growling in her ear. She closed her eyes as tight as she could, tensing her body, expecting a blow.

"You best remember what I said, girl! You will do anything for him!" he hissed, releasing her hair and pushing her head into the bed.

She growled loudly and buried her face into the bed, disgusted with the evil man as well as herself. Was she really going to obey Morzan's orders to do whatever Murtagh wanted?

If worst comes to worst, then possibly, she whispered to herself. But I don't think it will come to that. . . .I hope. . . .

"Murtagh! Come!" Morzan bellowed, being obediently followed by his son.

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Murtagh followed his father from the room, thinking over what he had done to Reilyn. In order to please his father (and himself…) he had pinned her, straddled her, kissed her aggressively, and bit her hard enough to draw blood, yet she seemed to enjoy it.

"You're still soft on her," Morzan grumbled.

Murtagh looked at his father, almost running into the man. Father had stopped walking and turned to face him.

"What?" Murtagh asked.

"Reilyn, you're still soft on that damn little brat!" Morzan grabbed Murtagh's shoulders and slammed him into the stone wall. "I've seen you when you train, the first session you allowed her to pin you! She has lost a lot of her strength and you let her think she can still beat you!"

Murtagh shoved his father back, defying the evil man, and lashed out. The first blow landed on the jaw, knocking the man's head back, and Murtagh threw his shoulder into the chest. Father roared in rage and backhanded his face, then punched him in the gut. While Murtagh doubled over, out of breath, he saw a knee rushing to his face and slid to the side, just avoiding the blow.

Shoving himself from the wall, Murtagh straightened up, ready to attack, only to be grabbed by the back of his vest and thrust face-first into the wall. Morzan wrenched his arm up between his shoulder blades, yanking his head sideways to speak in his son's ear.

"I want you to swear to me that you will toughen up on that girl, in every aspect!"

"No," Murtagh defied through clenched teeth.

"Yes! Or lose that bastard tongue of yours! Swear you will cease the softness, toughen up on Reilyn in the arena, as well as behind that closed door of yours!" his father roared. "I have well seen just how you can be with women, boy! Never have you been so gentle!"

"I will not swear such a thing!"

"Then your tongue," Morzan hissed. "Pity, I know how much you like it."

Murtagh! Swear to him, right now! Thorn bellowed.

No! Never, Thorn!

Now! In the ancient language, swear! The words can be bent, you can work around them! Now, do it!

"Last chance, boy! Swear!" Morzan growled, pressing Murtagh's face to the stones.

Murtagh swore in the ancient tongue, saving his own in the process. He felt enraged, but empowered at the same time. Maybe he wouldn't need to hold back so much on Reilyn, but he didn't have to be near as harsh as his father wished.

That could be a relief, he thought, smirking. I've sort of been craving to test her. . . .Only a little, of course.

His father led the way to Lazaar, seemingly unaware of the fact that Murtagh eagerly wanted to go see Reilyn.

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He opened his bedroom door very slowly, entering in silence. Reilyn sat curled in his chair, staring at the stone wall. Eragon was nowhere to be found, most likely for the best with what he had to tell Reilyn. Her ears twitched back in his direction, she knew he was here. He sat in the chair with her, sitting so he was facing her.

"How did you know it was me? I didn't make a single sound!" he smiled.

"The first thing Morzan taught us-well me. 'Always be alert of your surroundings, or else you will be killed,' he told me to use my senses as an animal. . .old habits die hard I guess," she said, still staring a hole in the wall.

"I need to tell you something," he murmured, putting his mouth to her ear. "You may not like it, but. . ." he trailed off, waiting for her.

"What's that?" she asked, turning and looking at him.

Murtagh's heart leapt in his chest; god he wanted her, but now was not the time.

"You and Eragon have to swear you will not use your magic against myself, Galbatorix, or my father, once it's been unsealed."

"Why?"

"That is self-explanatory, Reilyn. We need to ensure our own safety. After today, we will train you in the dark arts-the realm which even elves are afraid to venture into. . .And within the next few days you will swear loyalty to our King."

Reilyn growled at the mention of swearing loyalty, a deep, angry, animal sound. The sound made him smile, she was so much like himself.

"Don't get so upset," he kissed her neck. "There's a nice celebration that goes with it, very formal. . .actually that might piss you off more."

"How could that possibly piss me off anymore?!"

"You would have to wear a dress, I said it was a formal affair. You'd have to look like the young woman you are," he laughed, kissing her growling mouth.

"Reilyn in a dress?!" Eragon appeared, laughing. "That I'll have to see!"

Murtagh snickered himself, kissing Reilyn again. He personally didn't think the celebration would come soon enough, he was dying to see her dressed up. Her growl subsided, but her body still showed her anger and frustration.

Something else is bothering her. . . .what?

Your father-something he said, no ordered, her to do, Thorn replied.

What do you mean?

He told her she belongs to you and she is to do anything you want, anything

That bastard! And now I've promised to toughen up on her, in all aspects. . . She can't even stop me. . .

No, but you can stop you. Your father never specified what you had to do in order to "toughen" up on her. . .

Good point. . . Well that settles that problem for the time being. . .I guess. . .

Very good, Brave one.

A knock summoned him from his conversation with Thorn. He looked at Reilyn briefly, touching her shoulder, then got up. Eragon stood in front of the wardrobe, fussing with his shirt.

"Leave it Eragon," Murtagh smiled. "It'll be off you shortly anyway."

The brunette's hands fell to his sides and he gave him a puzzled look. Murtagh snickered at the simple look, then opened the door to find Lazaar.