Chapter 49 The Storm Barracks pt 2
“Anara, sweet girl,” Alric whispers, pulling me against his chest and hugging me. He strokes my long black hair softly, almost reverently.
“Alric…please?”
“Alright, it’s time. Time to admit the truth.” He takes a deep breath and pushes me out at arm's length, bending at the waist to look me in the eye. “Anara, I knew your parents. I knew you before you were even born, I—”
“What the fuck is this?”
I blink and shield my eyes as bright light beams into the little shed and Zaries storms in.
“Get away from her, you old creep!” he roars, shoving Alric so hard that he falls on the ground and grunts in surprise.
“What is with you and making every man you see want to get you alone?” Zaries growls, grabbing my elbow and yanking me out of the shed.
“What? Zaries, it’s not what you think! Alric just wanted—”
“Oh, I know what that old pervert wanted,” Zaries hisses between clenched teeth. “Here I am worried that you’re dead after two fucking days of not seeing you and then when I finally do, you’re sneaking into a shed with an old man?”
Zaries sounds beyond angry, and I don’t miss the hint of disgust in his tone.
“Why do you care?” I snap, stopping in place and ripping my arm out of his grasp.
Zaries turns on me, fire in his dark eyes and his teeth bared like an animal. He shoves me against the alley wall and pins me there, one hand on my throat and the other planted beside my head on the wall as he growls every single word he speaks.
“How many times do I have to tell you? You are mine!”
“W-what?” I stammer, blinking rapidly.
Zaries takes a deep breath and shakes his head. “You are mine to kill, Anara!” he finishes, refusing to look at me. “I will kill you, woman. Not the captains, not some old perv with some sick maid fantasy. Me. I will be the end of you. Do you understand?”
He looks at me then, his eyes dark with fury, his face too close to mine for comfort. My breathing is coming faster, each breath coming more and more difficult with the force of his hand on my throat.
Zaries stares at me for a long time, his anger rising and falling with each breath he takes. “Answer me, Anara. Do you understand that you are mine—”
“To kill, yes.” I interrupt him, squeezing each word out of my throat against the pain of his grip.
Zaries nods and loosens his hand, but he doesn’t let me go. In fact, he leans closer, his body nearly flush with mine. “If I ever see another man touch you, Anara, I’ll kill him.”
I swallow hard, unable to make any other response. If he knew about Oberon. If he knew about my dreams last night—
My train of thought ends rapidly when Zaries presses his cheek to mine, his unshaven face scraping roughly against my skin.
My whole body trembles, remembering so many things. Remembering how I felt about him before everything happened. Remembering my dreams before Elysandra died and how every one of them involved Zaries and me, either in a bed or married.
“What if I meet someone here?” I tempt him, daring him to admit he has feelings for me. “What if I take a lover? Will you kill him for that?”
Begging for there to be something in the way he holds me other than murderous intent.
“Oberon’s days are already numbered for the kiss he stole in the maze. Will you condemn another?” Zaries presses his body to mine, pinning me against the wall. “The only touch you will feel is mine, the only blade to cut your flesh will be mine, and when you die? It will be my eyes staring down at you. I will be the last fucking thing you ever see.”
“I’m not sure Thorne will allow half the shit you're spewing!” I snap, trying to push him off me.
“Thorne may be powerful, Ana, but he will never be king. He will not get in my way.”
Zaries’ face is so close to mine, his body so hot and hard. I can’t breathe, can’t think.
His eyes drop to my mouth and I watch as he wets his lips with his tongue.
All logical thought leaves me with that one gesture and I do something I’ve dreamed of doing my whole life. Before he can pull away I lean in, pressing my lips to his and tasting his mouth like I’ve always wanted to.
Zaries growls, but he doesn’t pull away. He smashes me into the wall harder, gripping my hip and yanking my leg up as he crashes his mouth into mine violently.
I whimper, the pleasure and the pain of the kiss making my mind reel. My arms tangle around his neck, pulling him closer, clinging to him for dear life as he kisses me so hard I can’t breathe.
His teeth graze my lower lip, sending shivers down my spine, and I moan into his mouth, the sound swallowed by his relentless kiss. I gasp against his mouth, the intensity of his kiss consuming me completely. Every nerve in my body is alive, electrified by his touch, by the fierce way he holds me.
Time seems to stand still, the world narrowing to just the two of us and the overwhelming sensations coursing through my body.
Finally, he pulls back slightly, resting his forehead against mine, our breaths ragged and intertwined. “I should kill you now,” he growls against my mouth, his teeth biting my lower lip. “I should pull my dagger and stab you between your ribs, piercing your heart and stopping it forever.”
“Then do it!” I dare him, pulling my own ruby-hilted dagger out of my sheathe and holding it up beside us. “Put me out of my misery.” I don’t mean for my voice to break as I say the words, nor do I expect the tears to slip down my face.
Zaries grips my hand over the handle and presses it against the wall behind me. “Not tonight,” he whispers, brushing his lips against mine one last time. “Tomorrow my captain will come for you for your training.” He tenses, his jaw clenches. “I’ll kill you tomorrow…” He lets his voice trail off as he slowly backs away from me, leaving me panting against the wall.
“Tomorrow then?” I say, forcing myself to stand on my own two feet even as I sway back and forth.
“You die tomorrow,” he says matter-of-factly with a curt nod, then wipes his mouth with the back of his hand and walks away into the dark night that surrounds Hellbane.
I lower myself to the ground, trying not to hyperventilate, and let my fingers trace over my lips. Mine, he said, and for a moment there it felt like he was claiming me more than for my death. For a moment, I thought he was going to take me right here in this alleyway.
Unlike with Oberon, I don’t think I could have stopped him.
I don’t think I would have wanted him to stop.
My body is hot all over, my breathing ragged. Why can’t I turn these feelings off? I scrub my hands through my hair, pulling it over my shoulder and twisting it nervously.
Younglings are truly disgusting.
I sigh and look inwardly, trying to find whatever connection my mind mentor has to me so I can cut it off like the head of a snake.
Nice try, child. Now get off your rear and go to bed. I have to figure out how to keep you alive for training tomorrow and keep the voracious prince from killing you.
If you aren’t at least rested and alert in the morning, I might just let him try.