Ensnared by the Dream Lord (Dark Lords) Read Online Free
Author: Jaide Fox
the floor as best she could and then performed her morning ablutions, delighted by the possibilities inherent in such a discovery. She was more determined than ever before to summon Morpheus to her again.
* * * *
The day wore on, agonizingly long. Adriana felt more penned than ever before, since freedom seemed so much the closer to her now.
Her father had come to her and kissed her goodnight. He’d brought her more books to read and apologized again for having to do this to her. He felt extremely guilty, but not enough to risk losing her. She loved him still, but she would not be denied by any means.
She meant to regain her liberty.
As the castle quieted with the dipping sun, Adriana began to pray for Morpheus to return to her. She watched the sky, hoping to see his arrival before darkness settled across the land.
As with many times before, she saw nothing, but she continued her pleas until her knees ached and her back screamed in agony. She begged for him to come back to her until darkness crouched above the castle and the torches were lit.
An hour passed as she knelt in the darkness, and then another, until time became a blur and her mind began drifting into the realm of slumber. Her eyelids flickered shut. Her head drooped, yet still, she murmured, “Return to me, my dark lord. Come back, Morpheus, Lord of the Night, guardian of dreams.”
As sleep claimed her, in the distance rode a dark swathed man on a steed of midnight with hooves and mane of fire.
* * * *
Adriana stood in the empty courtyard. Her father’s castle had been abandoned of all life save her own. She was alone in facing a terror that bore down on her. Thunder clapped in the sky, shaking the ground. Her legs felt unsteady, knees weak, muscles as substantial as jelly.
She had no time to wonder what had happened—not when the creature approached so rapidly. She couldn’t bar the keep from him, not without five men to push the door.
Whirling, Adriana ran for the castle. She threw the door shut and struggled with the bracing until she’d managed to drop it into place, marveling at the strength fear had given her. Outside she imagined she could hear the creature gain entry into the courtyard, then climbing the stairs. She could practically feel him on the other side of the door.
She turned then and ran for her tower, dashing up the long, winding stairs with break neck speed. Below, she heard the unmistakable sound of wood splintering from a massive blow.
He was inside. The knowledge leant speed to her feet. She continued running, her endurance lagging, but she reached her room and darted inside, dropping another brace on this door, though it was probably useless. He so easily burst through the other, what deterrent would this flimsy door be for him? Likely none, but she had to try.
She looked around her room for a hiding spot and then laughed a little hysterically at the absurdity of that thought. She had no obvious weapon to fend him off—nothing sharp and wicked. Cursing herself for not grabbing something before she came up, she searched the room desperately anyway. Her gaze settled on the thick book lying on her bedside table. She hefted it in her hands.
The book of legends…. She lovingly traced the ornate tooled leather. How could she have forgotten…?
The door rattled behind her. The bracing clattered noisily to the floor. Adriana ignored the sound of the door pushing open, the hollow steps of booted feet.
A memory tickled the edges of her mind. She struggled to catch it, closing her eyes.
Hands locked onto her shoulders, turning her to face the invader … him….
She tipped up her face, instinctively knowing he was tall, the tallest man she’d ever known. Slowly, she opened her eyes.
“Morpheus,” she said on breathy whisper. The book slid out of her arms, dropping
* * * *
The day wore on, agonizingly long. Adriana felt more penned than ever before, since freedom seemed so much the closer to her now.
Her father had come to her and kissed her goodnight. He’d brought her more books to read and apologized again for having to do this to her. He felt extremely guilty, but not enough to risk losing her. She loved him still, but she would not be denied by any means.
She meant to regain her liberty.
As the castle quieted with the dipping sun, Adriana began to pray for Morpheus to return to her. She watched the sky, hoping to see his arrival before darkness settled across the land.
As with many times before, she saw nothing, but she continued her pleas until her knees ached and her back screamed in agony. She begged for him to come back to her until darkness crouched above the castle and the torches were lit.
An hour passed as she knelt in the darkness, and then another, until time became a blur and her mind began drifting into the realm of slumber. Her eyelids flickered shut. Her head drooped, yet still, she murmured, “Return to me, my dark lord. Come back, Morpheus, Lord of the Night, guardian of dreams.”
As sleep claimed her, in the distance rode a dark swathed man on a steed of midnight with hooves and mane of fire.
* * * *
Adriana stood in the empty courtyard. Her father’s castle had been abandoned of all life save her own. She was alone in facing a terror that bore down on her. Thunder clapped in the sky, shaking the ground. Her legs felt unsteady, knees weak, muscles as substantial as jelly.
She had no time to wonder what had happened—not when the creature approached so rapidly. She couldn’t bar the keep from him, not without five men to push the door.
Whirling, Adriana ran for the castle. She threw the door shut and struggled with the bracing until she’d managed to drop it into place, marveling at the strength fear had given her. Outside she imagined she could hear the creature gain entry into the courtyard, then climbing the stairs. She could practically feel him on the other side of the door.
She turned then and ran for her tower, dashing up the long, winding stairs with break neck speed. Below, she heard the unmistakable sound of wood splintering from a massive blow.
He was inside. The knowledge leant speed to her feet. She continued running, her endurance lagging, but she reached her room and darted inside, dropping another brace on this door, though it was probably useless. He so easily burst through the other, what deterrent would this flimsy door be for him? Likely none, but she had to try.
She looked around her room for a hiding spot and then laughed a little hysterically at the absurdity of that thought. She had no obvious weapon to fend him off—nothing sharp and wicked. Cursing herself for not grabbing something before she came up, she searched the room desperately anyway. Her gaze settled on the thick book lying on her bedside table. She hefted it in her hands.
The book of legends…. She lovingly traced the ornate tooled leather. How could she have forgotten…?
The door rattled behind her. The bracing clattered noisily to the floor. Adriana ignored the sound of the door pushing open, the hollow steps of booted feet.
A memory tickled the edges of her mind. She struggled to catch it, closing her eyes.
Hands locked onto her shoulders, turning her to face the invader … him….
She tipped up her face, instinctively knowing he was tall, the tallest man she’d ever known. Slowly, she opened her eyes.
“Morpheus,” she said on breathy whisper. The book slid out of her arms, dropping
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