Chapter 9 The Price of Defiance
Aurelia
“Ass up on that bed, Aurelia.”
My body obeyed before my mind could protest. I climbed onto the massive bed, my knees sinking into the soft midnight furs.
I lowered my upper body slowly, my cheek pressing into the cool silk sheets, and arched my back.
My ass lifted high in surrender, the sheer gown riding up to bare the full curve of my cheeks to the firelit room. Cool air kissed the damp heat between my thighs, a humiliating reminder of how ready I already was.
My breaths turned to shallow inhales and exhaled from the anticipation.
Heavy boots thudded once behind me. Then his large hands seized my ankles.
He dragged me backward with effortless strength until my knees no longer touched the mattress. My feet dangled helplessly off the foot of the bed, my toes barely brushing the floor.
A gasp tore from my throat as he hooked my legs over his broad shoulders, folding me in half. My thighs trembled against the hard muscle of his neck, my calves pressed to his back.
If I called on the moon goddess for help, would she listen to a witch’s prayer? My heart was galloping like a racehorse as I anticipated the worst to happen.
He rose slightly on his knees, lifting my hips clear off the bed.
My center, already slick, exposed, and aching, hovered inches above his mouth. His hot breath ghosted over my most sensitive skin. I could feel every exhale, every hungry stare he leveled at me there.
The position left me utterly open, utterly defenseless. I was folded and presented like an offering.
His fingers dug into the soft flesh of my thighs, holding me exactly where he wanted. One low, satisfied growl rumbled against me.
“Have you ever collapsed from pleasure, little witch?” His voice was a dark purr against my slick folds, each word vibrating through me as his tongue traced long, deliberate licks along the trembling insides of my thighs.
Every wet stroke sent shivers racing up my spine, my skin prickling with heat.
“Stop calling me that,” I snapped, the words sharp despite the way my voice cracked.
A low, amused growl rumbled from his chest. I felt the vibrations in my pussy.
I felt thick, coarse ropes slithering down my back like living shadows. Their weight settled heavily across my skin, the rough fibers scraping lightly over the curve of my spine.
My breath hitched in my throat. What the hell was he planning? I didn’t have long to wonder.
His hands moved with ruthless speed and precision. He yanked my arms behind me, crossing my wrists at the small of my back.
The ropes wound tight thrice, biting into my flesh just enough to burn without breaking skin. The knots cinched mercilessly, leaving zero slack.
I tugged once, but nothing gave. I was bound and helpless against him, my ass still high in the air with my thighs draped over his shoulders.
His palms slid under me, cupping the heavy weight of my breasts. His fingers squeezed, molding them in his grip.
“You're an exquisite creature, Aurelia. Created just for me.” If I didn't know better, I'd think he was praising me.
Suddenly, his claws extended, sharp, deadly points pricking my sensitive skin.
He pinched my nipples hard between his claw tips, the sting blooming instantly and fiercely. I cried out, my back arching, the pain shooting straight to my core like lightning.
“Let’s see how that sharp mouth saves you now,” he murmured, his voice dark with satisfaction.
Before I could draw another breath, his mouth closed over my clit.
The sudden suction dragged a raw, broken moan from my throat.
He was rearranging my whole system with just his tongue. This level of pleasure was new, nothing I'd ever felt before.
The mate bond burned like a furnace, roaring, clamouring to be let loose.
His teeth grazed my swollen lips once in a deliberate and teasing stroke. The second time, it was sharper.
Then I felt it, the slow, terrifying stretch of his fangs lengthening against my most vulnerable flesh.
Oh, shit.
He didn’t bite, not yet. Instead, he tormented me with them, letting the razor edges skim my slick skin while his tongue plunged deep inside me in quick, powerful thrusts that stole my breath and scattered my thoughts.
This was supposed to be punishment. But fuck, it felt like ruinous bliss.
Until his claws twisted harder on my nipples and
pain exploded across my chest. Red and white stars burst behind my clenched eyes.
“What are you—” I gasped, my voice fracturing.
He didn’t answer with words. His tongue flicked mercilessly over my clit, his fangs pressing just enough to remind me how easily he could break me.
Suddenly, he sucked my swollen pussy lips into his mouth in hard, greedy suctions as if he were starving and I was the only feast that could sate him.
The pull was fierce, almost savage, his tongue pressing flat and hot against me while his lips sealed tight.
I screamed. The sound ripped from my throat, a raw and unrestrained shriek of pleasure that echoed off the bedroom walls.
Deep inside me, my magic answered with a dark, satisfied roar, like a caged beast finally tasting freedom.
It surged through my veins, hot and wild, as if this exquisite torment was exactly what fate had written for me.
As if this punishment was destiny itself. He released me with a wet pop, the cool air stinging against the throbbing heat he left behind.
I'd barely taken another breath when his hands gripped my hips and flipped me. I let out a small gasp, not expecting the switch.
The sudden shift left me dizzy, staring up into his blazing green eyes. Alpha Zhayad looked more lethal than I'd ever seen him. He looked like sin and perfection in human form.
His teeth were fully bared now, sharp canines that lengthened into deadly points, his onyx fang glinting in the firelight. His jaw clenched tight, muscles ticking, as if he were fighting every instinct to bury those fangs in my throat and devour me whole.
He reached behind me, his fingers working the knots at my wrists. The ropes fell away, leaving red marks on my skin. The relief lasted only a heartbeat.
In seconds, he looped the same thick cord around my chest, under and over my breasts, pulling tight in a cruel harness.
Each pass squeezed, forcing my already sore breasts forward, the circulation cut just enough to make them throb heavier, fuller, the skin stretching taut.
The tips, red and aching from his earlier claws, jutted forward obscenely, begging for mercy they wouldn’t get.
He caught one nipple between his claw tips again, pinching slowly, teasing the hardened peak until pain mixed with pleasure.
The sting shot straight to my core.
“Please, Alpha…” The plea tumbled out from my mouth before I could help it.
I didn’t even know what I was begging for anymore. I didn't know if it was mercy, more, release, or ruin.
“Please what?” he growled, rolling the hardened peak between those lethal claws, tugging until tears pricked my eyes.
I writhed beneath him, my back bowing off the bed, my fingers twisting violently in my own hair, pulling hard enough to hurt.
It was too much, too intense, too consuming. I couldn’t believe simple foreplay was unraveling me like this, stripping away every defense.
Without thinking, my thighs snapped around his narrow, muscular waist, trying to pull him closer, needing the hard press of him against the ache he’d created.
He froze, his eyes flashing dangerously.
“I’m not going to fuck you, Aurelia,” he said, his voice rough with restraint. “This is punishment. Nothing more.”
Then he leaned down, his hot breath scorching my skin, and closed his hot mouth over the nipple he’d just tortured.
The first pull hurt for a few seconds, a sharp, burning feeling that took my breath away.
But the pain melted into blinding white pleasure as his tongue soothed and sucked, drawing the peak deep into his mouth.
Without warning, his mouth left my breast with a soft, wet sound. Cool air rushed over the slick, aching peak, making me whimper. He rose to his full height, towering over me as I lay sprawled on the bed.
Those ruthless green eyes swept over me once, but the storm in them had banked into something colder.
As if he’d just realized how far he’d let this go.
“Get yourself back in order,” his voice was all dark promise withdrawn like a blade sliding back into its sheath. “The Claiming Ceremony begins in a few minutes.”