Chapter 1
Origins Of Darkness starts a long series of standalone high fantasy romance books. There are currently over twenty books written.
Each book tries to explore a different theme and a different problem the MMC/FMC must heal from. Each novel also tries to explore a different kind of sexual interest.
This novel contains themes of homelessness to having a home, imprisonment to freedom, and the dynamics of a MMF romance.
This contains open door romance between the FMC and MMC, the MMC and MMC, and the FMC with both MMCs.
Rose’s left leg throbbed with a deep, persistent ache. A reminder of the perils she had just faced. The slavers seemed like a distant nightmare, yet the fear they instilled in her lingered like a bitter aftertaste. The first light of dawn struggled to pierce the gray curtain of rain as she found herself on the damp earth of a riverbank, the gentle flow of the river a whispering companion to her thoughts.
She tried pushing herself up, her fingers sinking into the mud. A new hot wave of pain washed up her leg. Bloodstains dotted her torn dress. The pack that had all of her supplies, food, tools, all her worldly belongings was gone, lost in the forest during her frantic escape to freedom.
Gritting her teeth, she pushed herself up. She sucked in her breath quickly as the pain throbbed once again. Within a couple of steps, she sensed… danger. The tell-tale prickling that went up the back of her neck. She looked around, spotting a tall male figure with piercing green eyes and white hair standing by the tree line, watching her.
Rose backed away quickly in panic, her heart instantly hammering in her chest. “Who are you?” She staggered and then gasped from the sensation like a line of fire was getting drawn up her leg.
The man’s eyes widened for a moment before he held up his hands in a calming gesture. “Easy, I’m not here to harm you. My name is Georgie. I’ve been watching you from afar. You’re quite... talented. That limping you’re doing, your leg is injured, isn’t it?” Georgie’s gaze lingered on her leg. He took another step closer. “That looks like a nasty gash on your leg.”
She pulled her dress up just enough to finally get a look at the wound. It was deep, red and angry. She was a master at healing others, but with no ability to use healing magic on herself. The thought, as it had so many times before, made her stomach twist into frustrated knots.
She’d been on the run, fueled by fear and adrenaline that had overridden the exhaustion. Until now. The pain, the tension, the fear all came crashing down on her so hard she staggered.
Georgie crossed the area between them in swift strides. His boots squished on the wet ground. She gasped, but didn’t have time to run. He was already there, his hand gently grasping her arm. His touch was supportive, not restraining, and his hands were warm. A stark contrast to the cold rain that had her soaked through her thin dress.
“Let me help you. I have some medicine that might help. But you need to sit down, you look pale.”
She shook, but didn’t pull away. There was a deep kindness in his voice, something that calmed her when he spoke. “Why were you following me?”
Georgie’s grip on your arm tightened slightly. “I was tasked with finding you,” he said, his voice low and even.
She pulled away from him in a sudden rush of fear based energy. “You’re just one of them. I’m not going with you!”
His expression turned calm, almost placid. He took a step back, lifting his hands again in a peaceful gesture. “I’m not here to harm you, Rose. I’m trying to help. My patron wants to protect you, not exploit you. She’s got connections that can keep you safe.”
“No. I’ve heard those lies before.” She took another step back, but the gash sent a wave of burning pain through her.
His eyes flickered to her leg. His expression broke, and for a moment, he looked almost scared. “You’re bleeding again,” he said, quickly moving to her side. “You need to sit down, let me take a look.” He gently pushed her towards a nearby tree, his eyes locked on the gash in your leg.
I need to get away. I don’t… She sucked in a sharp breath as she stumbled.
His arm wrapped around her waist, holding her steady. He was surprisingly strong, which was both helpful to keep her from falling, but terrifying as well. He wasn’t a person she had any chance of overpowering.
“Easy, easy,” he whispered, his voice low and soothing. “Just sit down, I’ll take care of the wound.”
Georgie carefully lowered her to the ground, his hands still holding her steady. The tree above gave some shelter from the rain. She leaned her back against the rough bark, feeling it poke her through her thin dress.
He assessed the wound, his fingers probing gently at the gash in your leg. “This is nasty, but I think I can clean it up and get it to heal.”
She swallowed hard and nodded, feeling like an injured deer at the mercy of a hunter.
“Easy, I’m here to help,” he said, his voice low and soothing. He pulled out a small pouch from his belt and rummaged through it, producing a vial of liquid, and a small knife.
She flinched, pulling her arms around herself as she quivered from both fear and the damp cold of the surrounding mist.
His hands froze in mid-air, and he looked at her with a concerned expression. “Hey, hey, it’s okay,” he breathed, his voice calm and reassuring. “I’m not going to hurt you. I just need to clean and dress your wound. You’re shaking like a leaf. Let me get you wrapped up in something, it’s cold and wet out here.”
She sniffed and then tried to calm herself before slowly nodding.
He took off his coat and then held it out to her. He didn’t force it on her, instead waiting for her to take his offering. She leaned forward for him to wrap it around her. Her hands trembled from fear, the cold long ago numbing away any feeling.
“Better?”
She nodded, the motion unsteady like a leaf in the wind.
“Good. Now, let me take a look at that leg of yours.” He gently knelt beside her, his hands reaching for her injured leg. He skillfully cleaned the wound, his touch gentle but firm. Then he picked up the small vial he had pulled out.
“This might sting a bit, but it’s good medicine.”
Rose tensed, bracing for whatever pain might come.
He gently dripped the liquid onto the gash. She felt a warmth spreading through her leg, and the pain began to recede. Her breathing slowed back down as a fragile sense of calm set in over the initial panic.
Georgie’s paused and he looked, his green eye, the color of bright moss, locked on hers. “Is the pain less?”
“Yes,” she whispered, her voice barely audible.
“Good.” He took a deep breath and then started to carefully bandage the wound.
She felt a sense of calm wash over her. His hands were gentle, and his touch was soothing. She began to relax, feeling the tension finally ease. She took in a long breath, feeling the exhaustion in her body. I should run… But I’m so tired. It’s… Everything is so heavy.
Georgie’s hands paused for a moment, and he looked up at her with concern. “Are you okay? You’re white as snow.”
She shook her head.
“Can you tell me what is wrong?”
“I don’t know you,” she muttered.
He nodded slowly. “That’s okay. I’m here to help you. The wound on your leg looked deep. Do you know how much blood you lost?”
She shook her head again.
“Then I’m guessing it’s more than I thought. I saw the man who attacked you. A slaver that specializes in mages. Even hurt, you were able to get away. It was… impressive.”
“Slavers…” She groaned out the word as if grating rocks with her teeth. They were just one group hunting her. Slavers wanting to sell her to the highest bidder for her healing magic. Then there was the vampires that would chase her. Even he had said his patron had sent him.
She stiffened, remembering that he was there for the same reason. He was planning on capturing her. The thought made her try to scoot back, only for her to feel the tree bark press harder into her back.
“I followed you,” he continued, seeming to not notice her reaction. “After I dispatched the slaver, I went after you. You’re not really dressed for the cold rainy season. I’m assuming you’re not from around here?”
She shook her head. “I don’t have a home anymore. I’ve... I’ve been running from them.”
“I see,” he said quietly. He seemed to look at her with more intensity, but there was a distance in his eyes like he was thinking of something. “You’re safe now. I won’t let anyone hurt you.”
“That’s what they all say. Why are you any different? You’re just going to take me back to your patron.”
Georgie’s eyes flashed with a hint of anger, but a calm, measured expression quickly replaced it. “I’m not like that,” he breathed. “I’m not working for anyone who wants to hurt you. I’m trying to help you.”
Her chin quivered. I’m vulnerable either way. At least I might be safer with him. She shook her head. No! That’s stupid. I can’t trust any of them.
“I swear, I’m here to help you. I’ve seen the way they treat people like us. I won’t let that happen to you.”
Her head snapped up, her eyes meeting his. “Us?”
“Mages.”
“You? You’re a mage?”
Georgie nodded. “Yes, I am,” he said quietly, his voice filled with a sense of reverence. “I’ve been studying and mastering my craft for years. I can help you, Rose. I can protect you.”
“I can heal... almost any wound except any of my own. But I cannot fight.” She lowered her head as she began to feel more vulnerable. Her own frustration as he limitations were coming out to him, a total stranger.
He reached out to gently lifted her chin. “You’re not alone in this.” His gaze flashed down to her bandaged leg before returning to hers. “I can help you, and I will protect you. We’ll find a way to defeat your enemies together.”
She shook her head. “There’s no place safe. They’re everywhere.”
Suddenly, he wrapped his arms around her, holding her close. Her whole body stiffened for a moment. He was so much larger. His body wrapped around her like a shell. She squirmed, wanting to pull away, but the instant heat from his body was like getting dipped into a warm bath.
“There has to be somewhere,” he whispered. “We’ll find it, together. I promise.”
“They’ve tracked me everywhere. I’ve been on the run for days.”
Georgie’s grip on her tightened, and he pulled her closer, his face buried in her hair. “I know. You’re safe now, though. I won’t let them get to you.”
She froze at the sudden level of affection. Although, it felt nice and he felt warm, she knew he was being ordered to find her and could easily be being paid to win her trust. Despite that, she knew she didn’t have any chance out there. She was exhausted, cornered with no way out.
“I know it’s hard to trust right now, but I swear I’m here to help you. I’ve been ordered to protect you, and I won’t let anyone hurt you.”
She nodded, relaxing into his grasp, surrendering herself into his care. For now. Until I’m better.
Georgie’s chest rose and fell with a deep breath. “I’ve got you, Rose.”
Her breathing slowed, but it let more of the exhaustion in.
“Sleep, Rose,” he whispered, his voice a soft murmur. “I’ll keep you safe.”
She wanted to fight it. She wanted to fight back. But she had lost too much blood and had been running too long. She couldn’t fight, and finally, she passed out in his arms.
