Chapter 19 Nineteen.
King Sven jaw clenches, a vein pulsing in his neck. His voice sharpens. “Eris was never home. It was a prison.” His eyes burn, dark green ringed with fierce gold, reminiscent of the day he dragged me to the council room. “And you're seriously asking why the walls of Eris fell? Even after everything Katniss told you?”
“I’m not judging,” I say quietly, taking a step back from his burning gaze that unnerves me. “I’m just… curious.”
He steps even closer, and I can feel the heat of his body in the narrow space between us. “I meant what I said at the Pegasus,” he changes the subject smoothly. “When I said you're mine-”
“Then why keep me as a slave?” I ask before I can stop myself. “Besides, I'm not and will not be yours forever. We had a deal, Sven, I'm to accept the mate bond between us, give you a child, and die. It's simple. Don't ever think I will remain the property of yours forever.”
There’s a beat of silence before his gaze lowers to my lips, then lingers. “You speak of dying so easily. But every part of you clings to life.”
“I won’t be your property,” I whisper.
“You already are,” he murmurs. “And tonight will make it even easier to claim what’s mine because we'll be accepting that mate bond.”
“What?”
“You heard me right, Little Fae. We'll be doing what we should have done on the first night I took you for the first time.”
He moves even closer, his breath brushes against my throat. Then, slow and deliberate, his tongue traces a line along the side of my neck and it makes me shiver.
“On the bed, Little Fae,” he whispers.
My heart clenches. A knot of dread coils in my gut, heavy and cold, but I don’t argue. I turn away from him and begin to undress, fingers trembling only slightly. The dress slips from my shoulders, pooling around my feet. I stand there for a moment, bare under his gaze, feeling it scorch across my skin.
There’s no shame. Only resignation.
I climb onto the bed and lie flat, limbs spread like a starfish just as he commanded last time.
“No.” His voice is a low ripple. “Turn around, Little Fae. I want to see your face.”
I obey, slowly rolling over. When I meet his eyes, I find them hooded, intent. He watches me as he undresses, piece by piece, until he stands fully naked before me. It’s not the first time I’ve seen him like this. But it’s the first time I let myself truly look.
As much as I hate to admit it, King Sven's body is beautiful. His abs are toned, and his ivory skin is free from blemishes. He's also hairless — it makes me wonder if he shaves regularly. “Like what you see?” He asks, smirking.
I flush and look away. “Just get it over with.”
“Sex is dull with only one participant.” He climbs over me, his weight pressing me into the mattress.
“Maybe I’m only doing this because I have no choice,” I snap, breath hitching as his hot tongue licks a trail from my leg to my inner thighs that knocks the breath out of me.
King Sven doesn't reply as he places gentle kisses on my thighs as one hand draws them apart, leaving me completely exposed. I can feel my wetness. “One day,” he murmurs, tilting my chin so I meet his gaze, “you’ll beg for me.” His voice is a promise, a confident threat. “You’ll ride me until your moans echo off these walls. Until my name is the only word you remember.”
“Or that day never comes,” I breathe.
He laughs, low and dark, before his fingers plunge inside me. My back arches, a moan tearing from my lips. It doesn’t hurt this time. Not like before.
My eyes flutter shut as, instead of pain, pleasure coils tight, his fingers relentless as he increases the pace, wringing sounds from me I didn’t know I could make.
“Fuck. Your moans are so damn satisfying,” he groans as he plunges another finger into me.
I let out an even more embarrassing moan that has me placing my hand over my mouth.
King Sven doesn't allow it as he grabs both of my hands and pins them above my head. “Open those eyes, little Fae. I want to see them water as I thrust into you.”
Slowly, I open my eyes. King Sven has a wicked grin on his face as his gaze locks with mine. And then, he leans in.
And I know what’s about to happen.
But I turn my face away before his lips can brush mine.
“No,” I whisper.
A flicker of disappointment flashes in his eyes, but it's gone as soon as it comes.
He nods once, almost to himself, and takes his finger out of me, replacing them with his penis in one swift, unforgiving thrust that wrings a cry from my throat.
He doesn’t wait, doesn’t hesitate.
His pace is brutal, each snap of his hips driving me closer to the edge.
“I, Sven Magnusson,” he snarls between thrusts, fangs sharp, grip bruising, “accept you, Olivia, as my mate.” His voice is raw, possessive. “Now. Say it back.”
“I—Olivia—” A gasp. A moan. “Accept you—” Another punishing thrust. “S-Sven Magnusson—” My words fracture as unfathomable pleasure crests. “—as my mate.”
His grin is feral as he drags me over the edge.