Beneath a Midnight Moon

It was dark and she was alone beside an iridescent waterfall. Moonlight danced upon the face of the ink-black water. Countless shooting stars chased each other across the indigo sky. A night bird lifted its voice to the heavens, its three-note mating call begging for attention.

Sitting alone on a flat gray rock, she searched the darkness, a nameless fear making her shiver with apprehension.

There was a soft rustling in the underbrush as a huge black wolf materialized out of the shadows, its dark gray eyes fixed upon her face.

She should have been afraid. In her own world, she would have been afraid. But here, suspended in a dreamworld of illusion, she held out her hand.

The wolf drew closer, close enough to touch. A low whine erupted from its throat, and then it lowered its head and licked the palm of her hand. The velvet stroke of its tongue coursed through her, hot as molten lava, sweet as sunbaked honey.

A soft sigh of pleasure escaped her lips. And then, to her disbelief, the wolf changed shape, its image blurring, until a man stood before her. A man with hair the color of pitch and eyes the color of storm-tossed clouds.

"You." The word whispered past her lips.

"My lady . . ."

"Your name," she begged. "Tell me your name."

"Search your heart, lady. You know who I am."

"I don't. Tell me, please."

She wanted to plead with him, to tell him that it had to be now, this very night, because it was to be her last night. But the words seemed trapped in her throat.

And then he was touching her, his big, callused palm cupping her cheek, his dark gaze lingering on her face, as warm and sweet as a caress.

"I won't leave you alone, lady."

She heard the promise in his words, the underlying anguish in his voice.

He gazed deeply into her eyes, her soul. "Only swear you won't betray me."

"I swear," she murmured.

His smile pierced the dark clouds of her despair, and then he was gone, leaving her alone once more, left to wonder how she could possibly betray him when she didn't even know his name . . . when she was doomed to die by the Executioner's hand.