PRINCE ALPHA ONYX: The Mark of Lucian. Chapters 41-67
BOOK 2
Chapter 41: His Mark, My Wrath.
I barely had time to catch my breath before his lips were on mine again, this time even more demanding. His hands gripping my waist, pulling me impossibly closer until there was no space left between us. Every inch of me pressing against his, and my body responding on instinct, melting into the heat of his touch, the roughness of his kiss. I hate how much I crave him, how every touch sends fire racing through my veins, making it harder to think, harder to resist. But I don’t want to resist. Not anymore. His hands slide up my back, fingers tangling in my hair as he deepens the kiss, his mouth moving over mine like he’s trying to devour me. My heart pounding in my chest, my breath coming in short gasps between the frantic clash of our lips. I pull him closer, my fingers digging into his shoulders, needing to feel more, needing him like I need air. Every kiss, every touch feels like a battle—fierce and unrelenting, as if we are both trying to prove something but losing ourselves in the process.
He breaks the kiss, his lips barely leaving mine as he whispers against them, his voice ragged. “You drive me crazy, Ava. You have no idea what you do to me.”
I swallow, trying to catch my breath, my hands still gripping his shirt as I look up at him. His eyes are darker than I have ever seen before, making my pulse race even faster.
“Then stop fighting it,” I whisper, my voice barely audible but filled with all the longing I’ve been trying to hide. “Stop pretending you don’t want this as much as I do.”
His eyes flash, and in one swift movement, he lifts me off my feet, laying me on the bed, his body pinning mine as his lips found my neck, trailing hot, open-mouthed kisses along my skin. I gasp, my head falling back as the sensation of his mouth on me sends waves of heat crashing through me. My legs wrap around his waist, instinctively pulling him closer. My body shudders as his kiss becomes more fervent, his lips and tongue ravaging mine with an almost violent passion. His hand on my hip tightens, fingers digging into my flesh with a possessive force that makes me moan against his mouth. His free hand slides down, gripping my thigh and hitching my leg higher around his waist, pressing himself harder against me. The friction between us is intoxicating, the heat of his body searing into mine. His tongue explores every inch of my mouth, his teeth nipping at my lips, demanding everything I have to give.
A low growl escapes him as he pulls back, his breath hot and heavy. “You have no idea what you’re asking,” he murmurs against my mouth, the words sending a thrill through me.
“Then let me find out,” I urge, my hands sliding down his back, pulling him closer, urging him to give in. “I want all of you—every part of this.”
He hesitates for a moment, and I can see the struggle playing out in his expression. “Ava… My world is dangerous. Dark. You can get hurt.”
I meet his gaze, unwavering. “I’ve seen darkness, Onyx. I’ve faced my share of danger. I’m not afraid of your world.”
His eyes narrow slightly, a flicker of admiration mingled with the worry etched across his features. “You don’t understand what you’re getting into. It’s not just about us. There are consequences.”
I reach up, gently cupping his face in my hands. “I’m not asking for a fairy tale. Just let go for once. Let me in.”
“You think you want this, but you don’t.”
“I’m a grown woman Onyx. I can make my own decisions.”
“God, you’re stubborn,” he says, shaking his head, a mix of frustration and admiration in his eyes.
“Maybe,” I shoot back, my voice low and fierce. “But I know what I want.” I bite my lips. He groans.
For a moment, he just stared at me, as if weighing his options, and then I saw it—the moment he decided to give in. He leans in closer, his lips brushing against my ear, sending shivers down my spine. “Remember, you asked for this.”
I feel a thrill rush through me as he captures my lips again, this time with an intensity that speaks of his desire and the promise of what’s to come. His kisses deepen, devouring me as if he wants to consume every part of me. I let myself melt against him, surrendering to the heat and urgency of the moment. My fingers tangle in his hair, pulling him closer, urging him to take more.
“Onyx,” I whispered between kisses, “Show me. Show me everything.”
He pulls back just enough to look into my eyes, his expression fierce yet vulnerable. “You need to be sure, Ava. There’s no turning back.”
“I’m sure,” I reply, my heart racing as I hold his gaze. “I want all of you, dark and dangerous.”
His breath caught, and I could see the internal battle raging behind his eyes. But then, something shifted. With a low growl, he captures my lips again, his hands roaming my body with a possessive urgency that ignites every nerve in me.
His hips ground into mine, the hard cock pressing against my core, sending waves of pleasure coursing through me. My body arches into him, desperate for more.
He pulls back slightly, his breath ragged, his eyes dark with an unspoken promise. “You drive me insane,” he growls, his voice thick with lust.
“Good,” I panted, my own voice trembling with desire. “At least I’m good at something.”
He didn’t respond with words. Instead, he crushes his lips to mine again, more demanding, more relentless. His hands roam my body, exploring, claiming, his touch setting me on fire. I am lost in him, in the overwhelming sensation of his touch, the intoxicating taste of him. All that matters is the here and now, the raw, primal connection between us, the insatiable hunger that consumes us both. He violates my mouth in so many wonderful ways—sucking, biting, licking, exploring it rapaciously. He bites down on my bottom lip with just enough pressure to make me taste my own blood. A low, approving growl tears from the back of his throat. His fingers digging into my hip with a ferocity that will surely leave a mark, but I don’t care. It’s getting harder to breathe, but I don’t care. To me, this is the perfect way to meet one’s maker—death by a toe-curling, spine-chilling kiss. His soft lips are merciless and hostile yet tender and possessive, charged with longing and desire. I am lost in him, in the overwhelming sensation of his touch, the intoxicating taste of him. My mind is a whirlwind of emotions—anger, desire, frustration, and something deeper, something I don’t want to acknowledge. His kiss is a drug, and I am hopelessly addicted. Every rational thought screams that this is wrong, that I should stop, but the overwhelming desire drowns out all reason. I need him just as much as he needs me, a mutual hunger driven by our own inner demons.
My hands move instinctively to lift his shirt, my fingers desperate to feel his bare skin. He catches on immediately, peeling off his shirt and discarding it beside us. The sight of his chiselled chest makes my breath hitch, and the heat between us intensifies. His lips crash back onto mine in a fierce, vehement kiss, consuming me completely. A moan escapes me, swallowed by his mouth. My hands explore his muscular back, feeling the tension and raw power beneath his skin. His lips trail down my neck, biting and sucking, marking me as his. I gasp, arching into him, my need for him growing with every second.
“God, I want you,” he growls, a primal sound that makes my pussy clench. “You have no idea how much I want you,” he murmurs against my skin, his breath hot and tantalizing.
His hands slide under my shirt, lifting it over my head and tossing it aside. His eyes darken with lust as he takes in the sight of me, and I feel a thrill of power knowing how much he desires me. His lips find mine again, more demanding, more desperate. His hands move to my breasts, kneading and teasing, making me gasp and writhe beneath him.
“Onyx,” I gasp.
He growls in response, a primal sound. “I know, baby,” he murmurs, his lips trailing down my neck, over my collarbone, leaving wet, sloppy kisses in their wake.
I moan, arching my back the moment his lips find that spot right above my collarbone. Oh, dear God. Fire ignites in my veins, every fiber of my being burning with want, need, desire, and lust. It feels like a hot, steaming iron had been pressed to that very spot, sending waves of heat and pleasure radiating through my body. The surrounding air is charged with electrifying passion, excitement, and arousal. The way he nibbles and grazes that spot with his teeth drives me into a delirious frenzy. I can’t think, breathe or speak. My body demands something only it seems to know.
“Onyx, please. Please,” I beg, my voice trembling with need, desperate for something I can’t quite grasp, yet my body knows exactly what it wants.
His eyes darken with a mix of desire and possessiveness. “Tell me what you need, baby,” he whispers against my skin.
“I-I don’t know,” I stammer, my mind foggy with lust. “Just... more. I need more.”
He chuckles darkly, the sound vibrating against my skin, sending another wave of pleasure coursing through me. “I’ll give you everything you need,” he promises, his voice low and seductive.
His hands roam my body with a possessive urgency, his fingers tracing the curves and dips of my body as if committing every inch to memory. His lips continue their assault on my sensitive spot, driving me to the brink of madness with each kiss, each nibble, each teasing touch. He quickly removes my pants and knickers in one move. Then slides his thick long fingers inside my wetness and I moan. I nearly come from just hearing that.
“Fuck,” he groans as he starts drilling my needy pussy. “You’re so wet.”
“Yes, yes, yes,” I moan, my voice trembling with desperate need.
He slips a third finger inside me, his thumb circling my clit. “You like that, baby?” he growls.
“Yes,” I pant, my body arching into his touch, craving more.
“You want to come on my fingers or my cock, angel?” he whispers, his voice dark and seductive, filled with a possessive hunger.
“Um…” I stammer, my mind foggy with lust as he slows his fingers, moving in and out of me at a painstakingly slow pace that drives me wild with anticipation.
“Answer me,” he demands.
“Your cock,” I finally gasped, my body trembling with need. “Please, Onyx, I need you.”
A wicked smile spread across his lips. “Good girl,” he murmurs, withdrawing his fingers and quickly shedding the rest of his clothes.
He positions himself at my entrance, his eyes locking onto mine with an intensity that makes my heart race. “You’re mine,” he growls, pushing into me with one swift, powerful thrust.
I cry out in both pain and pleasure, my body arching against his as he fills me completely. The sensation is overwhelming, a perfect blend of pain and pleasure that sends shockwaves of ecstasy through my entire being. He moves with a relentless, steady rhythm, each thrust deep and powerful, driving me closer to the edge with every stroke. His hands gripping my hips, holding me firmly in place as he pounds into me.
“Oh, God, Onyx,” I moan, my fingers digging into his back, desperate to hold onto something as the pleasure builds to an almost unbearable peak.
“You like that?”
“Yes! Yes! Yes!”
“You like being fucked hard and ruthless?” Onyx chuckles darkly, his breath hot against my ear as he thrusts deeper.
A shiver runs down my spine as his words send another wave of pleasure through me. “Please, don’t stop…”
“Oh, I’m not stopping,” he growls, his voice low and rough. “Not until I’ve wrung every last drop of pleasure from this gorgeous body of yours.”
I whimper, my legs trembling as his pace quickens, each thrust sending me spiraling closer to the edge. “Tell me, who’s making you feel this good?”
“You… Onyx, it’s you!” My voice came out breathless, barely able to form the words.
“Good,” he murmurs against my skin. “Because you’re mine.” Onyx’s teeth graze my neck as he growls, his voice dripping with dominance. “Look at you, completely at my mercy. You’re so wet, so fuckin’ desperate for me. You take everything I give you, don’t you? So needy for my cock. I’m going to ruin you, over and over again, until the only name you know is mine.”
The raw intensity in his voice makes my head spin, my body trembling beneath his touch. “I want that… I want all of it.”
He chuckles darkly, his lips brushing my ear. “I know you do. And I’m going to give it to you—hard, deep, until you’re screaming for more.” His hips snap forward, making me gasp. “Tell me how much you need it.”
“I need it… More, Onyx… please, I need more,” I beg, my voice barely a whisper, lost in the haze of pleasure.
“Good girl,” he groans, thrusting even harder. “Let me hear those pretty little moans as I fuck you like you’ve never been fucked before.”
Onyx’s pace quickens, each thrust sending shockwaves of pleasure through my body. I can feel myself teetering on the edge.
“Yes, yes, yesss, yesss!”
“Come for me,” Onyx growls, his grip on my hips tightening. “Come all over my cock like the needy little thing you are.”
His command is all I need. A powerful wave of pleasure crashes over me, my entire body convulsing as I shatter in his arms. My vision blurs, my breath catching in my throat as I cry out his name, lost in the overwhelming ecstasy.
“Fuck, yes,” Onyx groans, his own breath ragged as he rides me through the high, his voice raw and hungry. “That’s it, baby. Just like that… Let me feel every bit of it.”
But it still isn’t enough. I need more. “Onyx, please. Please,” I beg, my voice barely more than a whisper. I starve for something only my body knows it needs.
“You don’t know what you’re asking,” he says, his voice heavy with lust.
“Please?” I moan, desperation dripping from my words.
The air around us crackles with electricity, thick with passion, excitement, and arousal. He leans down and grazes that spot with his teeth, sending me into a delirious frenzy. My body demands something from him, something primal and urgent, but I have no idea what or why.
“Onyx?” I cry out.
He pins my wrists above my head as he buries his head into my neck, breathing heavily as if he’s trying to hold himself back. “Ava,” he groans, his voice laced with pain and desire.
I writhe beneath him, feeling the intense pressure building inside me. “Please, Onyx. I need it. I need you,” I whisper, not fully understanding what I am asking for but knowing I need something more.
He growls deeply, the sound vibrating through me, making my pussy clench aground him. He groans.
“You have no idea what you’re begging for,” he says, his voice straining.
“I thought we’ve been through this already.”
His eyes darken, a primal hunger taking over. “You really want this?” he asks, his teeth grazing that sensitive spot on my neck again, sending shivers down my spine.
“Yes,” I pant, not entirely sure what I am agreeing to but knowing I can’t deny the overwhelming need.
With a low, guttural growl, he sinks his teeth into my neck. The sharp bite ignites a rush of pain that swiftly morphs into an overwhelming, burning pleasure, radiating through every inch of me. I gasp, my body arching into him. My breath came in ragged gasps, and before I knew it I was coming again, harder and more intense that ever before without him even needing to move inside me. But this feels different. Every nerve ending is on fire, the pleasure almost too much to bear. My heart leapt with joy and every inch of my body is singing his praise. I feels like our souls mashed together as one.
Like we are one.
Like I belong to him and he belongs to me.
Like leaves and trees.
Like bees and honey.
Like peanut butter and jelly.
Like sugar and kool-aid.
Like hot cocoa and marshmallows.
I can feel it in the depth of my soul. From the tip of my head to the bottom of my feet and deep in my bones. He pulls his fangs from my neck and claims my lips once more, swallowing my fervent moans as he starts moving inside me. I moan like a bitch in heat, arms locked around his neck, legs wrapped tightly around his waist. His hard chest rubs against my erect nipples, sending electric shocks of pleasure through my body. Everywhere we touch feels supercharged, a delicious mix of pleasure, desire, and lust blazing in my veins, spreading heat all over my body. He’s rough like the way I love, yet tender at the same time. His touch is sensual and aggressive, but his lips are gentle and caring. I love how every inch of his hard body feels against my delicate one. His passionate groans and grunts with each hard thrust are music to my ears. My entire existence narrows down to him, to this moment. The only thing my body knows is him. The only thing I want to breathe is him. And the best part is knowing he feels the exact same way. I can feel it flooding into me, just how much he cares, how much he loves me. It’s all so overwhelming that my brain hasn’t processed all my new found emotions as he drives himself deeper, harder, and faster inside me. I feel my muscles tightening as I raise my hips to meet his thrusts. He picks up the pace, growling approvingly. I scream his name as my pussy clamps around him, and he sinks his fangs into my neck again. I know he’s feeding on me, but it feels elating, as if I’m drunk on it. Waves of hot pleasure ripple through my body, leaving me whimpering and writhing beneath him.
“Fuck, Ava,” he groans, his voice filled with raw desire. “You’re mine, all mine,” he says more to himself than me.
He bites the top of my breast, feeding as he pounds into me relentlessly, each thrust driving me closer to the edge once more. My body quivers under his assault, each sensation heightens to an unbearable degree. His cock fills me completely, stretching me to the limit. The pleasure is intense, almost too much to bear, but I want more. I need more.
“Come for me, baby,” he growls, his pace never faltering. “I want to feel you come around my cock again.”
His words push me over the edge, and I scream his name as my orgasm tears through me. My body clenches around him, and he follows me over the edge, his own pleasure ripping through him as he fills me up. He collapses on top of me, both of us panting and spent.We lie there, our bodies still entwined, the connection between us stronger than ever. I know that I belong to him, and he belongs to me. And no matter what happens, nothing can ever change that.
Then suddenly it hit me, regret, guilt and something else. But just as fast I felt it, it was gone. Onxy pulls out of me cursing as he snatches his jeans off the floor. I become overwhelmed by all the emotions I am feeling, I don’t know if they are mine or his but I know they weren’t all mine. But the final words he uttered before leaving delivered the kill shot. I saw the knife before I felt it impale me.
“This was a mistake. I don’t even want you,” he grumbles as he storms out the room slamming the door behind him.
An intense pain radiates from my neck, my heart shatters, and my lungs feel as though they have shrivelled up. I can’t breathe; it feels like someone is holding a plastic bag over my head. Dark spots begin to dance before my eyes as I pass out.
I wake up feeling exhausted, sore, sad, and hollow in a cold, empty bed. I lay curled up, replaying last night over and over in my head. And cue the waterworks. His words feel like billions of needles being jabbed into my skin. Then I was chopped into millions of pieces, tossed into a freezer, and dropped at the bottom of a frozen lake. My numb, cold body can’t feel anything except the excruciating pain of his rejection. At least I know I’ll definitely hate ice fishing.
I hate him. I don’t even want to see his stupid, hot face. Yet every inch of my body, every cell, every fibre, every ounce of blood yearns for him, even though he poured acid into my very soul. But what hurt the most, besides my pulverized heart, was my neck where he fed. It feels sore. Bloody brilliant. Just what I need—a love bite from a vampire that probably comes with a free tetanus shot. Because why not add a side of infection to my menu of misery? Maybe next, he’ll gift me a complimentary rabies vaccine. Ah, the perks of being his bloody chew toy
I drag myself out of bed for a long, well-deserved shower. I scrub furiously, trying to rid myself of his vile touch and scent, but it is utterly pointless. My skin feels raw, and no amount of scrubbing can erase the lingering sensation of his despicable touch. The water turned tepid as I stood there, feeling defeated and empty. No matter how hard I scrub, his scent clings to me like a stain I can’t wash away. It is as if his touch has seeped into my pores, leaving me feeling contaminated and violated. Tears mingle with the water as I try to wash away the emotional turmoil he has stirred within me.
I finally leave the shower. I wipe the fog off the mirror and stare at myself in the mirror. My eyes widen so much I think they might fall out of my face. There, on my neck, were two deep bite marks in a ruby red circle outline, surrounded by a wider black circle outline. And around it, in bold black letters, is the wanker’s name: ‘Onyx Kayli Dreklaus.’ I didn’t even know the shithead had a middle name. The bite mark throbs slightly, reminding me of his violation.
“He branded me in my sleep! How dare he!” I scream, storming out of the bathroom towards the closet. In under a minute, I throw on some clothes, my mind racing with fury. “I’m going to hunt that mutt down and shove my foot so far up his ass he’ll need a proctologist. He does not get to be an asshat to me and then tramp stamp me! AHHH!” How can he do this to me? After everything, he has the audacity to mark me like some possession. It wasn’t enough that he shattered my heart into a million pieces, but he had to leave his mark on my body too. The nerve of that blood-sucking, arrogant prick!
Chapter 42: Sensing the Enemy.
How did I know he was outside? My Spidey senses are tingling, fully loaded and ready for action. That bloodsucker—coffin stuffer, tail chaser—is dog meat! Just wait ‘til I get my hands on him!
“What did you bloody do to me?!” I shout, my voice shaking with fury as I stomp towards him.
“Have to be more specific,” he replies coolly, not even bothering to turn around.
“My neck, you dingbat!” I snarl, turning to the side and pointing at his handiwork. “Did you think your little vampire voodoo would go unnoticed?”
Ace, drops his cell phone onto the grass in front of Onyx while choking on air with his eyes wide as tennis balls as he stares at my neck. Beside him, Damian is so shocked he lets his laptop slip from his grasp, his jaw following. Aurora, holding a bow and arrow, releases the arrow unintentionally, her gaze fixed on my neck. A scream echoes from somewhere in the yard, indicating the arrow has landed. Theron’s mouth opens and closes repeatedly, like a fish out of water. At that exact moment, Sky takes a sip of her red wine, only to spray it across Sirius’s back. Sirius, completely engrossed in the sight of my neck, didn’t even flinch.
“You wanted it,” he shrugs and shoots the reapers a look and they quickly recover.
Ace and Damian pick up their devices. Sirius finally notices the red wine staining his shirt. Skylar shoots him an apologetic look. Theron and Aurora just stare at each other, trying to process it.
“When was this!?”
He laughs darkly, the sound sending shivers down my spine, and finally turns to face me. “You were begging for it.”
“Beg? Why you… you….” The instant his eyes locked with mine, a shiver ran through every fibre of my being, igniting a wildfire beneath my skin and I lost all words.
My heart is pounding erratically, each beat sending waves of excitement through me, while a swarm of butterflies erupt in my stomach. The mark on my neck tingled fiercely, as though it recognized its counterpart. My gaze is glued to him, an unbreakable connection that feels vital to my very existence. My body thrums with a euphoric resonance, a melody of yearning that seems to sing directly to him. My breath catches in my throat, and the mere thought of blinking fills me with dread as if he might vanish in that brief instant. If I looked away, surely my lungs would seize and my heart would stop. Suddenly I ached to fling myself into his strong muscular arms, to lose myself in the solidity and warmth of his presence. I clench my fists at my sides, squeezing my thighs together, and dig my heels into the soft earth beneath me, battling the torrent of wanton thoughts that assailed me. The more I struggle to suppress them, the more vividly they surface, relentless and consuming. All I can think of is him inside me pounding me into oblivion.
“W-what did you do to me?” I manage to gasp, my voice thick with longing and breathless with the intensity of my desire.
I could feel the heat rising to my cheeks, betraying my embarrassment. I cringe inwardly as Sirius, Skylar, Theron, and Aurora all cast me knowing glances, their eyes sparkling with amusement and understanding. Ace and Damian, on the other hand, look confused.
“You marked her?” Ace asks, disbelief clear in his voice.
“Maybe it’s just a press-on tattoo?” Damian suggests, frowning as he tries to make sense of the situation.
“Or maybe you two are just idiots,” Theron mutters, shaking his head in frustration.
“Do you have any idea what this means?” Sirius says.
“I’m not an idiot,” Onyx snaps, his tone tight and defensive. “I know exactly what I’ve done. Leave us.” His eyes not once left mine.
“What did you do to me?” I repeat.
“Come,” he commands, his voice deeper and sexier than ever.
My eyes trail down his body, drinking in every sculpted muscle and sinew. He is the epitome of hot—sexy and ripped, the living embodiment of “sex on a stick.” Everything about him, from his voice to his presence, is intoxicatingly perfect or rather a hundred times more perfect.
A smirk curls at the corner of his lips as if he can read my thoughts. Before I knew it, his strong arms snaked around my waist, pulling me against him. I hadn’t even realized I moved. The air between us crackled with electricity, and all my worries, all my pain, evaporated. In his embrace, I feel safe, loved, and content. Every wrong he’s done seems forgotten and forgiven in an instant. Maybe he was part witch? The tingling sensation is so intense, I have to bite my inner lip to keep from moaning. Even his scent is overwhelmingly intoxicating, making my head spin. Everything about him is a thousand times more mesmerizing and seductive. Oh God, is this some kind of new date rape drug? It must be some kind of drug.
“I didn’t drug you.”
My eyes widen in shock. How did he hear that? I didn’t say it out loud. Had I? No, I was certain I hadn’t.
“How did you know what I was thinking—,” I gasp in realization, “you can read my mind—you always could.”
“Not always.”
“When?”
“After I had you.”
My cheeks warm instantly. “So you’ve been reading my mind this whole time?”
“I try not to, but you make it so hard.”
“Really? I make it hard for you to not read my mind?”
Even though I want to be furious, downright livid, my voice remains soft and calm as my fingers absentmindedly fiddled with his shirt buttons. I feel him tensing under my touch.
He chuckles, the sound vibrating through his chest and into my fingertips. “Your thoughts are so loud sometimes, like a damn megaphone. You’re impossible to ignore.” He reaches up, tucking a loose strand of hair behind my ear, his touch sending another wave of tingles down my spine.
I scoff, though my resolve is weakening under his gaze. “Well, maybe if you weren’t so… distracting, my thoughts would be quieter. That’s not what I mean—”
His smirk grows, eyes twinkling with amusement. “Distracting, am I?”
“Don’t get cocky. It’s not a good look on you.”
“Is that so?” he murmurs, leaning in closer. His breath is warm against my skin, and I can feel my heartbeat quicken. “What look do you prefer, then?”
I swallow hard, my fingers still playing with his shirt buttons, trying to maintain some semblance of control. “The one where you’re not invading my thoughts.”
“No promises, Angel.”
“Then I want to read your mind.”
“Okay.”
“Okay?” I arch an eyebrow at him suspiciously.
That was too easy.
“I’ll teach you.”
“You will?”
“Don’t sound so shocked.” He gently closes my gaping mouth with a finger, his touch soft and reassuring.
I swat his hand away playfully. “I’m not shocked. Just… surprised, that’s all.”
He chuckles. “Surprised? You look like a fish out of water.”
I huff, crossing my arms. “Well, excuse me for not expecting you to be so agreeable for once.”
His grin widens. “I’m full of surprises.”
“Yeah, well, we’ll see about that. So, when do we start?”
“Impatient, are we?”
I roll my eyes. “Just eager to level the playing field. Can’t have you knowing all my secrets while I’m in the dark.”
He leans in closer, his breath warm against my ear. “Trust me, love, your secrets are safe with me.”
I raise an eyebrow, trying to ignore the shiver running down my spine. “And yours with me, once I learn this mind-reading trick.”
“We’ll see if you can handle it,” he teases, his eyes twinkling with mischief.
“Oh, I can handle it,” I shoot back, a determined glint in my eyes. “Just you wait.”
He laughs, the sound deep and genuine. “I look forward to it.”
His eyes darken, a shade I have never seen before, as he stares at my lips and licks his own. I nearly melt in his arms, teetering on the edge of losing all control. Just as I am about to succumb to the urge to throw myself at him, his gaze flickers to my neck. His eyes narrowed, and in an instant, the heat between us vanished. He releases me and steps back abruptly, as though my touch has scalded him. Then his words slithered into my mind, icy and cruel: “It was a mistake. I don’t even want you.”
Rejection and anger surged through me like wildfire, shattering the trance I had been under. “Get it off!” I demand, my eyes narrowing into slits.
“I can’t,” he gritted out.
“Why not? Isn’t there some kind of vampire/werewolf after-pill or something?” I fling my hands up in exasperation.
“No,” he says bluntly.
“So what, I’m supposed to walk around with this bloody logo on my neck?”
“Look, what happened last night—”
“I know!” I snapped. “It was a mistake and you don’t even want me.” For a split second, I thought I saw him cringe with a flicker of regret in his eyes. “Guess what? I don’t want you either! Get it off.”
His jaw clenched in annoyance, and his eyes narrowed at me. He had the nerve to be mad at me for saying that. “It’s not that simple.”
“It never is with you, is it?” I laugh dryly, amused by the absurdity. “One moment you’re pulling me close, the next you’re pushing me away. Make up your mind!”
He turns and starts walking away, his back radiating indifference. “You’re kidding me, right?” I call after him, incredulous.
“Spare me the melodrama.”
“Melodrama?” I echo, my voice rising. “You think this is all some act?” My fists clench at my sides as I stomp after him “You’re such a cold-hearted bastard. You think you’re so much better than everyone else, don’t you?”
“I don’t think. I know. Unlike you, I don’t let emotions cloud my judgment.”
“You’re unbelievable,” I spat. “You act like you’re some kind of god, but you’re just a coward who’s afraid to feel anything.”
He laughs, the sound harsh and condescending. “Afraid? Hardly. I just prefer not to wallow in pointless sentiment. But if you want to continue being a slave to your emotions, be my guest.”
“Not all us have a humanity switch we could turn off whenever we want.”
“Too bad.”
“Call Boss,” Ace says as he darts between Onyx and me nervously.
Onyx arches an eyebrow at me, and I shoot him a look that clearly says, ‘You can suck on garlic; I’m not going anywhere.’ With a long, exasperated sigh, Onyx reluctantly takes the phone from Ace as the reapers gather.
“Well, hello, old friend. I was surprised when I got your call,” a man with a warm Indian accent greeted, his voice tinged with both curiosity and delight.
“It’s been a while,” Onyx replies, his voice uncharacteristically softer, indicating his fondness for this man.
“Getting kidnapped will do that,” the man chuckles. “Come visit and bring the reapers. It’s been half a century since your last visit.”
Half a century? My mind reeled. How old is he? He barely looks a day over twenty-one. Ewww, I shagged a grandpa. I grimace in disgust.
Onyx shoots me a look that says, ‘Seriously?’
I shrug and turn away, choosing to ignore him. Yep, he can definitely read my mind. I need a foil hat. Stat.
“After I deal with these fuckers, I assume by now you’ve heard?” Onyx continues, his tone hardening.
“Everyone’s heard about your victory in North America at the Hollow.”
“Then you also know why I called.”
“The flower you seek is in the mountain of Bellary.”
At the mention of the name, I perk up. The mountain of Bellary was in my hometown, Shirton. My family and I hiked there often, but the entrance was blocked off by a giant boulder.
“But my friend, the entrance is—”
“Blocked off by a giant boulder.” Onyx glances at me.
I’m mentally flipping you off!
I say loudly in my head and he shakes his head at me.
“Someone did their homework,” they sound impressed.
“And it’s enchanted too, isn’t it?” Onyx pinches the bridge of his nose in frustration.
“You know those Fae’s well, my friend. Nothing is ever easy. But there is a way. To move the boulder, you need the blood of a Fae maiden.”
“Easy,” Damian smirks, confidence oozing from his stance.
“Venom of a desert rogue wolf.”
“I’ve got that covered,” Theron declared, his voice steady and sure.
“The wolf must be alive when you extract the venom, or it won’t work.”
“Yay, more fun.” Aurora hugs Theron, who growls approvingly at her excitement.
“A blue siren scale and a witch’s mug.”
“I know a siren,” Ace smirks, sharing a knowing look with Onyx.
I roll my eyes.
“And I know where we can get the mug,” Skylar adds.
“But here’s the fun part. It only works on the first full moon of the fourth month, every four years. And it so happens that’s in two days. Oh, one more thing before I forget. A female can only pick the flower. A human female.” All of them turn to me.
What are they looking at?
Human female? I’m a human female.
Bollocks.
“I appreciate it.”
“Anytime my friend. I hope to see you soon. Oh, I forgot to mention. I got a new selection of exotic beauty for your pure human stash. Would you like me to send them over, or would you prefer to visit and sample them first?” His excitement churns my stomach.
Everyone’s eyes turn to me, awkwardly. Pure human stash? My mind reeled, the words sinking in. Pure. Human. Stash. Why that—I couldn’t bear to stay and hear his answer.
You know that saying about your life flashing before your eyes? This was my second time experiencing it. I felt like a deer caught in headlights, my heart frozen mid-beat. I stare, paralyzed at the silver arrow inches from my face, clenched in Onyx’s hand. His roar, primal and furious, sends birds scattering from the trees, which tremble as violently as my legs.
“Find the shooter and bring him to me alive!” Onyx’s voice drops to a menacing growl, his eyes glowing a menacing red, encircled by a golden band.
In a heartbeat, he scoops me into his arms and whisks me inside the house. He sits me down, his hands frantic, searching for any sign of injury. The shock left me numb. When he found no harm, he wrapped me in a possessive, protective embrace, burying his face in my hair and inhaling my scent. For someone who claimed not to want me, he was terrified of losing me.
“Angel. Princess. Say something,” he pleads, cupping my face and brushing his thumb gently over my pale, ghostly cheeks.
“S-something,” I whisper, my voice barely audible. But he hears it.
He sighs in relief, but the tension in his face quickly turns to frustration as he cradles my cheeks in his large, warm hands. “You scared the hell out of me,” he mutters, his voice sharp. “I can’t afford distractions.”
“Why do you care so much?” I ask, my voice trembling. “You say you don’t want me, yet here you are.”
Onyx’s eyes narrowed, the golden bands around his irises flaring. “Because you’re mine,” he snaps. “Whether I want you or not is irrelevant.”
Tears well up in my eyes as I shake my head. “I don’t understand. One moment you push me away, and the next, you’re holding on like your life depends on it.”
He pulls me closer, his grip almost painful. “It’s complicated,” he says, his voice low and menacing. “You’re a liability, but that doesn’t mean I’ll let anyone else have you or hurt you. You should be grateful,” he says, his tone harsh. “Without me, you’d be dead.”
I pull away. “Grateful? For what? For being your possession?”
He smirks, his eyes glinting cruelly. “Better a possession than a corpse,” he retorts.
“I hate you.”
“Good.”
Ace returns with a severed head in his hand. I scream and bury my face in Onyx’s chest. He immediately wraps his arms around me protectively, growling at Ace. I can feel his satisfaction as I cling to him, the strength of his embrace is both possessive and reassuring.
“Shit. Sorry, man. I forgot she’s human,” Ace mutters.
“I thought I said not to kill him,” Onyx growls, his tone dangerous.
“I didn’t,” Ace replies defensively. “The freak slit his own damn throat. Theron and Aurora caught a scent and went off after it. Skylar is checking the wards; Damian is running surveillance, and Sirius is examining the body.”
They believe the arrow was meant for Ace, not me. I just happened to be in the way. Ace, being the closest thing to Onyx, was the intended target. The hunter had slit his throat the moment Onyx roared. Skylar expanded the wards, and Theron and Aurora lost the scent by a river.
Onyx’s fury was palpable. He summoned all the guards on duty, leaving and returning drenched in blood. The entire night left me mentally and physically exhausted, too drained to scream at the sight of him bloodied again as he headed for the shower.
The bed dipped, and I was pulled into his strong, warm body. I didn’t have the energy to argue. He made me feel safe. For now, I found an odd peace in his arms.
He nuzzles his nose in my hair, mumbling to himself. Sleepily, I can’t make out his incoherent words, but his presence, as infuriating as it is, brings a strange comfort. His possessive grip tightens as he whispers, the warmth of his breath soothing despite the chaos around us.
“Are you always this clingy?” I mutter half asleep.
He chuckles softly, his lips brushing my ear. “Only with you, princess. You seem to bring out the worst in me.”
“Oh, lucky me,” I shoot back, rolling my eyes even though he can’t see it. “Is this your idea of flirting? Because if it is, you need a lot of work.”
Onyx laughs, a deep, rumbling sound that sends shivers down my spine. “Maybe I just like a challenge.”
“A challenge? Is that what you call kidnapping and branding?”
“I thought we were making progress.”
“Progress?” I snort. “If this is your version of progress, I’d hate to see what you consider a setback.”
His hand gently traces patterns on my arm. “You know, you’re cute when you’re angry.”
I try to ignore the way his touch makes my skin tingle. “If this is you trying to charm me, you’re failing miserably.”
“Is that so? Because from where I’m lying, it seems like you’re not trying very hard to escape.”
“Maybe I’m just too tired to bother.”
He pulls me closer, his breath warm against my neck. “Or maybe you’re starting to realize that being in my arms isn’t the worst place to be.”
I feel a blush creep up my cheeks, annoyed at how easily he can fluster me. “Don’t flatter yourself,” I mutter.
He laughs softly, his lips brushing against my shoulder. “Too late.”
I didn’t respond, my exhaustion finally catching up to me. As I drift off to sleep, I can’t deny the small part of me that found comfort in his words, no matter how infuriating he was.
I wake up alone and surprisingly disappointed. I don’t know what I was expecting. Rubbing the sleep from my eyes, I sit up, disoriented.
“Finally!” Aurora’s overly cheerful voice jolts me awake.
“Bloody hell! Trying to give me a heart attack?” I yelp, clutching my chest.
“Sorry. I just wanted to be the first to welcome you to the reapers—”
“Hold on there a sec,” I interrupt, snickering nervously.
Aurora’s cheerful expression falters, her eyebrows knitting together in confusion. Skylar remains stoic, her gaze unreadable.
“I’m not part of this,” I insist, gesturing wildly. “I don’t mean to be rude, but I don’t know any of you, and I definitely don’t plan on staying. I have a life. A family. School. This,” I wave my hand in a circular motion, “is all temporary. I can’t stay here. Especially not with him.” My heart aches at the thought of leaving Onyx, but I push it aside.
Aurora and Skylar exchange a knowing look, their silent communication only heightening my anxiety. “What are you guys not telling me?”
“That’s not exactly how a mate bond works,” Skylar says, her voice calm but firm.
“The bond is the most wonderful thing in the world,” Aurora adds, her eyes dreamy. “It can also be one of the most dreadful things.”
I frown, feeling a chill run down my spine. “What do you mean?”
Aurora sighs, her expression turning serious. “A mate bond is a connection that transcends everything—time, distance, even death. It’s a bond of the soul. When you’re bound to someone, they become a part of you in ways you can’t imagine.”
Skylar nods, her eyes unwavering. “You can’t just walk away from a mate bond. It’s not like a regular relationship. It’s intense, consuming. You’ll feel drawn to him, even if you try to fight it.”
I shake my head, panic rising in my chest. “But I have a life outside of this! I didn’t ask for this bond.”
Aurora’s gaze softens with sympathy. “None of us do. It just happens. And when it does, it changes everything. Your heart, your mind, your very being.”
I feel tears prick at my eyes, the weight of their words crashing down on me. “So, what? I’m just supposed to accept this? Accept him?”
“It’s about understanding that this bond is a part of you now. You can resist, but it will only cause more pain.” Skylar says.
Aurora smiles gently. “And maybe, just maybe, you’ll find that being with the prince isn’t as terrible as you think. The bond chose you for a reason.”
I look between them, feeling a mix of anger, fear, and confusion. “And what if I don’t want this?”
Skylar sighs. “Then you’ll have to live with the consequences of rejecting a bond that’s meant to be. But know this—the bond will not let go easily.”
I swallow hard, the reality of their words settling in. The bond is a part of me now, whether I like it or not. And as much as I want to deny it, a small part of me was curious about where this path might lead.
In the past twenty-four hours, I had gone from hating Onyx to sleeping with him, to being marked, to nearly dying, and now this. Joining the reapers? I was human. I mentally sigh, feeling overwhelmed. Everything was happening too fast.
“I need a drink,” I groan, slumping in defeat.
There is no way I am escaping them, especially with Skylar’s penetrating gaze fixed on me.
“I know just the place,” Aurora says, her grin devilish.
This looked like trouble, but I have a feeling I might enjoy it.
Chapter 43: Dancing on Thin Ice.
We end up cracking open a rather posh bottle of champagne from Onyx’s private collection. Skylar warns Aurora that Onyx would have her hands for it. Aurora frowns and reluctantly agrees, but then a mischievous glint sparkles in her eyes. That’s how I ended up holding the bottle.
“He won’t hurt you,” she assures me, and like a fool, I believed her.
I threatened that if I lost my hands, she’d lose hers too. Several bottles later, we found ourselves singing and skinny-dipping. I had completely forgotten about the guards until I noticed them respectfully turning their backs when they saw the mark on my neck. Whether out of respect or fear, I couldn’t tell. Aurora and Skylar are like goddesses, their bodies flawless. I was thankful to have a Brazilian wax before all this, or I’d have been well… let’s not go there.
With a few drinks, Skylar seems more approachable, less intimidating than usual. She isn’t all that bad. Aurora and I giggled uncontrollably, and even Skylar let out the occasional laugh at our antics. For once, I felt free and happy, the worries and the infuriating, temperamental knob who kidnapped me was all but forgotten. Aurora fancies a dance, and since her iPhone isn’t doing the trick, we decide to hit the club. Skylar was reluctant at first, but we dragged her along anyway. Aurora’s room mirrored Onyx’s, albeit smaller, reflecting her personality perfectly. Lilac walls adorned with exquisite oil paintings of forests, flowers, and even some nudes that made me blush. Photos of her and Theron, as well as antique crossbows, daggers, and swords, hang on the walls. The kitchen is pristine, with brand-new, never-used stainless steel appliances and a marble countertop. But her closet, oh, her closet was even bigger than Onyx’s, filled with every fashionable item a girl could dream of. She was a true fashionista and I was in love with her shoe rack. That thing was as big as my dorm room.
Skylar wasn’t one for dressing up, and we practically bullied her into an outfit. She was too drunk to protest effectively and eventually gave in. Aurora slips into a multicoloured mini sequin dress that hugs her hourglass figure beautifully. Skylar dons a black leather backless mini dress, showing off her curves and accentuating her long, gorgeous legs. I wore a long-sleeve leopard print backless lace-up mini dress. It was quite revealing and far from my usual attire, but I’m too wasted to care. Our hair was down, and we tottered on high heels. Before we left, Aurora worked her magic and concealed my mark so well that it is practically invisible. She did a fantastic job. We call a cab and Skylar compelled the driver to forget he’d ever picked us up and to erase any memory of the mansion’s location, leaving him with a very generous tip.
As soon as I see the line outside the club, I frown. “We’ll never get in,” I whine.
“Who says we’re joining the line?” Aurora giggles, hooking our arms together.
We burst out laughing and swayed to the front of the line. I’m too high on life to care about the jealous glares from women and the lustful stares from the blokes. The bouncer unhooked the rope the moment we reached the front, earning us even nastier looks. Inside, the club was packed, wall-to-wall with electrifying colours and glow sticks everywhere. The air is thick with the smell of liquor and smoke, pulsating with the beat of the music.
“Is this a human club?” I shout.
Skylar leans in and says, “No need to shout. We can hear you just fine.”
Right, super hearing. I giggle at my own silliness.
“It’s a supernatural club with humans,” Aurora explains, leading us to the bar. “But humans don’t remember much after they leave.” She spoke something to the bartender that I couldn’t hear over the noise. There is no need for her to shout; he is clearly not human.
The bartender grins wickedly, “Coming right up,” he says with a wink in my direction.
He is a sight to behold, wearing tight leather trousers and a red tie leaving his toned chest on full display. Not as chiselled as Onyx’s, though.
“Stop eyeing him up,” Aurora nudges me, giggling.
“Can you blame me?” I feel my cheeks warm.
“Nope,” Skylar giggles as well.
Aurora rolls her eyes at us playfully. The bar is packed, and I feel a pang of guilt for cutting in front of all those people waiting for their drinks. But they took one look at Aurora and Skylar and didn’t dare complain.
“Alright, ladies, bottoms up!” Aurora cheers.
We each grab three shots and down them quickly. The fiery liquid burns down my throat, making me feel even more alive. The music throbs in my veins, and the crowd moves like one living entity, drawing us into its pulsating heart. The energy is intoxicating. Aurora, Sklar, and I dance with abandon, our bodies swaying to the rhythm. I’m not thinking about you know who or my troubles. I’m just living in the moment, surrounded by laughter, music, and the magic of the night. We are three goddesses, ruling the night, untouchable and free. I knew this night would be one to remember, even if the humans around us wouldn’t.
We dance and drink as if it is our last night on Earth. I know I’ll be suffering a killer hangover tomorrow, but at this moment, I feel alive, happy, and utterly carefree, as if I can shout it from a mountaintop. The music moves me like a puppet on strings, the beat pulsating through my body. It is like a drug, lifting me higher and higher until my mind buzzes with unadulterated joy. The night is young, my limbs brimming with energy. I can dance all night and then some. Covered in beads of sweat—some mine, some not—I know tomorrow will bring hell, but tonight the alcohol flows like an IV drip, and I dance my life away with Aurora and Skylar.
We sway our hips, moving to the deafening beat like every other drunken idiot in there. So far, only one bloke has tried to dance with me. When he got too handsy, Aurora stepped in. Aurora went off to get us more drinks, and Skylar disappeared to the loo, leaving me dancing alone. The whole time, I feel eyes on me but ignore it until I feel two hands on my hips and a cold body behind me. I begin grinding back, moving to the beat with him. His body is big, hard, and firm. It feels wrong, but I dismiss the feeling and let the music take over. I spin around to get a better look at my dance partner. For a moment, I thought it was Onyx. He looks like him, except for his eyes, and he doesn’t feel like him. I shake my head, thinking I was way too drunk.
“What are you?” I ask, wrapping my arms around his neck.
“Very forward and brave of you, little one,” he smirks, amused.
“That’s not an answer,” I roll my eyes playfully.
He elongates his pointy fangs, and I giggle. “Vampire.”
He looks taken aback for a second as if expecting me to run for the hills. “Good girl. Now tell me, why is a human playing with my brother’s reapers?”
“Brother?” It takes me a moment to figure it out. “You’re Onyx’s brother?”
“Don’t look so shocked,” he teases. “Most people say we look alike. But I assure you,” he spins me out and back into his arms, making me giggle, “I am nothing like my brother.”
“Good to know,” I giggle.
“He lets you call him Onyx?”
“He doesn’t let me do anything. I do as I please,” I say, rolling my hips.
“I see,” he growls approvingly
He pulls me closer, his grip firm, yet gentle. “So, you do as you please, eh? Sounds like you have quite the influence on my brother.”
I shrug, still swaying to the music. In my drunken haze, I miss the disdain in his voice when he says, brother. “Maybe. Or maybe he just knows better than to try and control me.”
He chuckles, the sound low and almost predatory. “Interesting. So, tell me, how did you end up with Onyx and his lot?”
I giggle, the alcohol making my thoughts fuzzy. “Long story. Involves a bit of drama, a lot of shouting, and shooting, and kidnapping.”
His eyes narrow slightly, though his smile remains. “Kidnapping, you say? That doesn’t sound like my brother. He’s usually more... persuasive.”
I roll my eyes. “Persuasive? That’s one way to put it. But yeah, he dragged me into this mess. Tonight’s too much fun to worry about it.”
His gaze sharpens, though his tone remains casual. “And what about tomorrow? When the fun’s over, what happens then?”
I frown, trying to focus through the haze. “Tomorrow? Who knows? Cross that bridge when we get there, I suppose.”
He spins me around again, his eyes never leaving mine. “You’re quite the enigma, aren’t you? Onyx always did have a taste for the unusual.”
“Unusual? Is that what I am to him?” I ask, raising an eyebrow.
“Perhaps,” he says, his voice softer, almost contemplative. “Or maybe you’re something more. Something valuable.”
“Valuable? I’m not some trinket,” I shoot back, a sudden wave of irritation cutting through my drunken haze.
Something was off here.
“No, you’re not,” he agrees, his tone soothing. “But you’re certainly special. And special things have a way of attracting attention.”
I squint at him, trying to read his expression. “Why do I get the feeling you’re fishing for something?”
He smiles a slow, lazy smile that doesn’t reach his eyes. “Just curious, that’s all. My brother’s affairs intrigue me.”
“Well, I’m not some piece of gossip,” I say, pulling away slightly. “If you want to know something, ask him yourself.”
He nods, conceding. “Fair enough. I don’t mean to pry.” His grip tightens on my hips, moving in sync with me. “Let’s just dance,” he murmurs, but before I can respond, he is ripped away from me.
Everything is happening so fast, and I’m too drunk to fully comprehend. There are screams and fists flying, a chaotic blur. Then I feel someone grab me, dragging me out of the club and into a dark alleyway. He shoves me against the wall, and I look up to see Onyx. His eyes are a storm of furious azure blue, speckled with red and gold. His nostrils flared, fangs protruding. If I wasn’t so drunk, I might have been terrified. Instead, I thought he looked scary hot.
“Did you have fun?” His voice is calm, but each word is laced with a chilling, sinister edge. I swallow hard, the lump in my throat making it difficult to breathe.
I am scared now.
“What happened? Did my brother get your tongue?” He spat ‘brother’ with such bitterness that it almost stings.
He inhales deeply, releasing a growl that makes my knees tremble uncontrollably. My bottom lip quivers in fear as his face reddens, a dangerous aura radiating from him.
“C-calm down—”
He growls in response and slams his fist into the wall, inches from my head. I squeal, instinctively raising my arms to shield my face as he leaves a fist-like hole in the brick wall. “How the fuck do you expect me to calm down when you reek of another man?” He chuckles humorlessly; his rage is barely contained. “My brother.”
I lower my arms slowly, my voice trembling. “W-we were just dancing.”
I can’t understand why he is so enraged. It’s as if his anger is seeping into me, fueling my own confusion. He didn’t want me and treated me like a pawn, but here he is, acting as if I’m the one who wronged him.
“Dancing?” His voice is flat, his eyes cold. He scares me sober if that was even possible. I watch him with trepidation as he steps closer, pinning my hands above my head against the cold brick wall.
“Is that what you call it?” His voice is dangerously low. “Rolling your hips on him like some trained whore.” His other hand digs into my hip with a grip so tight it is almost painful.
The insult hit me hard. Just because a girl knows how to enjoy herself and move her body doesn’t mean she’s a whore. I am furious. “You think that just because I dance, I’m a whore? Piss off!” My voice cracks with indignation.
His eyes flare with anger, but I stand my ground, meeting his gaze with as much defiance as I can muster. His grip on my hip doesn’t loosen, and the tension between us crackles like electricity.
“You think you can shake your ass on my brother without consequence?” His voice is a low growl, filled with venom. “You’re playing with fire, and you don’t even know it.”
“I’m not your property,” I shoot back, struggling against his hold. “You don’t get to dictate who I dance with or what I do.” He is acting like a bloody lunatic, a jealous, bloody lunatic.
His eyes narrow, and all I see is red and gold. He is pissed. I cringe remembering he can read my mind. Bloody hell. “You think you’re so clever, don’t you? You’re playing a game you don’t understand. My brother is not someone you should toy with.”
“I’m not toying with anyone!” I retort. “I was just dancing. If you’re so insecure about your brother, that’s your problem, not mine.”
He leans in closer, his breath hot against my face. “Insecure? That’s not the word I’d use. You see, my brother’s little games can have consequences far beyond what you’re prepared to handle. You might think it’s all fun and games, but in my world, actions come with prices.” His lips curl into a dangerous smirk. “You think you’re just dancing with him? How quaint. But let me give you a little advice, when you play with fire, it’s not just the flames that can burn you. Sometimes, it’s the smoke that chokes you.” He gives me a once over and his jaw ticks. “And no less dress like this. Did you enjoy his touch?” His voice is a sinister purr, and his fingers trace a trail up my inner thigh with a chilling, electrifying caress. Each stroke sends shivers through me, making my breath hitch. No, no, no. Don’t let him get to you. I stand there, trembling, as he looms over me, his anger crackling in the air like a storm about to break. “Did he make you feel good?”
I feel my resolve wavering, but I force myself to answer. “Yes, he did. He has the magic touch.” My mind screams at me to stop, knowing fully well that I am playing with fire and it would end badly for me.
His grip tightens painfully, and I bite back a whimper, holding his gaze with a stubborn defiance. His nostrils flare, and his lips press into a hard line. I wince inwardly, regretting my words but refusing to take them back. I refuse to back down. His lips curl into a menacing smirk, and my heart drops. Maybe I should reconsider. His fangs extend, sharp and threatening. Okay, definitely reconsidering.
He brushes his thumb over my mark, smudging the concealer with a brutal growl. If I thought he was angry before, it was nothing compared to the fury now blazing in his eyes. He looks like a predator ready to strike, his anger so palpable it is radiating off him in waves.
“Onyx—” My plea is cut short as his fangs sink into my neck.
Chapter 44: The Cruel Tease.
The sharp pain is quickly eclipsed by an unexpected surge of pleasure that courses through me. I gasp, a shiver running down my spine as his mouth works on my skin. A moan escapes my lips, filled with a mix of desire and confusion. Heat pools in my core, a response I can’t deny no matter how much I want to. He lifts me against the wall. My dress has hiked up around my hips, and my legs instinctively wrap around his waist. I feel his hard, thick cock press into my stomach as he slides my panties to the side and shoves two fingers into me.
“Tell me,” he whispers aggressively in my ear as he pumps his fingers in and out of my pussy, which was wetter than I had thought possible. “Are you this wet for me or him?”
You. Only you. I bite my lip, struggling not to give him the response he wants. “Him.” Lacking any sort of self-preservation.
Yet somehow, as scared as I am, I’m weirdly excited.
He growls low in his throat, the sound vibrating against my skin. “Liar,” he hisses, thrusting his fingers deeper, making me cry out. “You’re mine. Your body knows it, even if you stubbornly refuse to acknowledge it.”
His words send a shiver down my spine, my body betraying me with every pulse of pleasure that radiates from his touch. “I-I don’t belong to anyone,” I gasp, trying to cling to some semblance of defiance.
“Oh, but you do,” he murmurs, his lips grazing my ear. “You belong to me. And I’m going to prove it.”
He withdraws his fingers suddenly, and I whimper at the loss, only to gasp again as he replaces them with the tip of his cock. My breath hitches, my heart pounding in my chest as he begins to push inside me, stretching me with a slow, deliberate motion.
“You feel that?” he growls, his voice thick with desire. “That’s me claiming what’s mine.”
I can barely form a coherent thought, the pleasure and fear swirling together into a heady mix that leaves me breathless. “Onyx...” I moan, my nails digging into his shoulders as he fills me completely. The mark on my neck singing his praise. It was like nothing I ever felt.
This shouldn’t feel this good. Nothing should feel this good.
He thrusts into me hard and deep, each movement sending waves of desire crashing through me. “Say it,” he demands, his lips brushing against my neck. “Say you’re mine.”
I clench my jaw, trying to hold onto some defiance, but the sensation of him inside me, dominating me, makes it hard. “Never,” I spat, my breath hitching with each powerful thrust.
His eyes darken, and with a primal growl, he slams into me harder, faster, the force of his movements making me see stars. “You will,” he hisses, his voice a mix of fury and lust.
I can’t hold back the moans that escape my lips, each one louder than the last. My body betrays me, responding to his every touch, every thrust. The alleyway around us disappears, leaving only the two of us in a whirlwind of passion and anger. His fangs sink into my neck, the sharp pain quickly giving way to a wave of pleasure that makes my toes curl. I cry out, the sensation overwhelming, as he feeds on me and continues to thrust into me at a relentless pace. I’m almost there before the bastard slows his pace making me want to murder him. I bite back a plea. I will not beg.
Yeah, you will.
He growls against my skin. “Go on, say it,” he demands, his voice thick with need as I tremble in his arms.
The knob knows exactly what he is doing to me. I shake my head, biting my lip so hard I taste blood. He lets out a low growl, brushing his fingers across my lip, unfastening my teeth from the tender flesh. Leaning in, he licks the blood from my lip. I nearly come from that alone.
Was that hot or is it just me?
“You don’t hurt yourself,” he murmurs, his voice a dark, possessive whisper. “That’s my job.”
“Go to hell,” I spat, defiance burning in my eyes even as my body betrays me in every sense of the word.
“Oh, I will,” he replies with a wicked grin, “but I’m taking you with me.”
With a fierce growl, he slams into me harder, each thrust harder and more demanding than the last. His hands roam over my body, claiming every inch of me with a possessive touch that leaves me breathless. He yanks my breast out and bites my hard, aching nipple. I moan, my nails digging into his back, unable to control the sounds of pleasure that escape my lips.
“You like this, don’t you?” he hisses, his voice dripping with a mix of praise and disdain. “You love being fucked like the little slut you are.”
His words are both stinging and arousing in ways I can’t comprehend. “No,” I whisper, even as my body tightens around him.
He chuckles darkly. He slaps my breast.
I gasp. Son of a bitch.
“Liar. Your body doesn’t lie, princess. It knows who it belongs to.”
His hand slides down to my clit, rubbing in tight circles that has me gasping and moaning louder. “Say it,” he growls, his voice a dangerous edge. “Say you’re mine.”
“I...I can’t,” I stammer, my resolve weakening with each powerful thrust.
“Yes, you can,” he insists, his movements relentless, pushing me closer and closer to the edge. And just as I think I’m about to get what I want he stops. “Say it. Say you’re mine.”
I clench my teeth, trying to hold on, but the pleasure is too overwhelming, the intensity too much to bear. “You’re a monster.” I buck my hips trying to force him to move but he holds me in place.
“The same monster with his cock buried in your tight, perfect cunt,” he growls. “You were made for me, weren’t you? This slutty little cunt just begging to be filled.” He moves in and out, taking long, deliberate strokes as he circles my clit. I can’t take it any longer. “You want to cum angel, all you have to do is say it.” He adds a bit more pressure to my clit and I buck against him moaning.
I hate myself, but I hate him more.
No, you don’t.
“Alright!” I scream. “Just make me cum and I’ll say it.”
“Tsk, tsk, tsk,” he taunts, slamming his cock hard into me, causing me to cry out from both the pain and pleasure. “Now we both know that’s not how this works.”
I whimper, the mix of sensations overwhelming me. His fingers continue their relentless assault on my clit, each stroke pushing me closer to the edge, and then he stops.
“Bloody hell,” I cry. “You are truly a monster.”
He chuckles a smug and arrogant sound. “Yet here you are, dripping wet and begging for more. You love it, don’t you? This tight little cunt can’t get enough of me.” He leans in. “Admit it. You crave my cock, you need it.”
“Piss off.” I bite my lip, trying to resist, but the desire is too strong.
His fingers resume their torment on my clit as his pace quickens, each movement deliberate and forceful, driving me wild with need.
“Please,” I gasp, my voice cracking. He won. “Please, just let me cum.”
“Then say it,” he growls, his voice rough with need.
I clench my teeth, trying to resist, but the pleasure is too intense, too consuming. “I’m yours,” I finally cry out, my body trembling.
I hate myself, yet it feels right. Which makes no sense. I’m bonkers.
“Good girl,” he murmurs, his tone both possessive and approving. His thrusts become more forceful, his fingers working me over until I’m on the brink of ecstasy. His lips crash into mine, muffling my loud, lustful moans as he pounds into me harder and faster.
“Yes, yes, yes!”
I am sure everyone around can hear and see us, but at this moment, I don’t care. These people are strangers and my reasoning is as reckless as my actions.
Bloody hell.
My body burns with desire, and our kiss grows hungrier and sloppier. I dig my fingers into his back as he pumps in and out of me faster, my walls tensing, the fire in my stomach growing.
I moan louder, tightening my grip on him as the familiar sweet spasm builds up inside me. Just as I am about to tip over the edge for the umpteenth time, he stops moving, breaking our kiss with a smug look on his face.
He wouldn’t. I am ready to kill him.
“We wouldn’t want you to forget his magical touch now, would we?” he teases, gently pulling out of me.
My body screams in frustration, every nerve alight with unfulfilled desire. I glare at him, my breath ragged. “You bastard,” I spat, my voice a mix of anger and desperation. “I said it!”
“That you did,” he replies smugly, making me want to claw that arrogant smirk right off his face.
As soon as he sits me down, my legs wobble beneath me, the loss of his touch almost sending me crashing to the floor. My body still hums, burning with unfulfilled desire, and the sting of rejection hits me like a brick to the face. I yank my dress back down, glaring at him with enough venom to kill a lesser man. The pulsing ache of the mark he left on my neck isn’t doing me any bloody favours either. I can still feel the raw, electric tension throbbing through me, and the bastard has the audacity to take his sweet time buckling his trousers, stepping back with that damn smug grin on his lips.
“Are you proud of yourself?” I spat, the words seething out of me. “Y-you, you—”
“You what?” He taunts, stepping closer, his presence overwhelming and annoying. “Going to call me names again? Or maybe you’re ready for round two?”
Oh, how I want to punch that look off his stupid hot face. No, not hot. Ugly face! Who am I kidding? He has the kind of face every girl dreams of sitting on. How dare he do this?
“Oh, I’m so proud of myself,” he adds smugly.
His presence is suffocating, but I’m not about to let him know how much it affects me.
I cross my arms and roll my eyes, trying to appear as nonchalant as possible. “You must be so proud,” I mock, my voice dripping with sarcasm. “It’s truly impressive. Should I clap? Give you a medal, perhaps? World’s biggest tosser award?”
His smirk widened. “I am happy to... finish the job if you ask nicely.”
I scoff, taking a deliberate step back, waving my hand in mock dismissal. “Oh please, don’t flatter yourself. I’m fine, really. It was just... meh. You’re like the takeaway I didn’t order but got stuck with anyway. Not exactly what I wanted, but I guess it’ll do in a pinch.” I shoot him a pointed look. “And for the record, I’ve had better... much better.”
His eyes flicker, but I keep going, refusing to give him the satisfaction of seeing me rattled. “Honestly, I don’t even know why I’m still bloody here. You’re like that mediocre movie everyone hypes up, and when I finally watch it, I’m left wondering what all the fuss was about.” I shrug with a little too much nonchalance. “A total letdown.”
His grin falters for a split second, and I revel in the tiny victory.
“You can keep pretending all you want, but we both know you’ll be back for more.”
I meet his gaze, refusing to back down. “Back for more?” I snort. “If I ever do come back, it’ll only be because I forgot something. Like my dignity. Or my patience.” I flick my wrist dismissively again. “Don’t worry, though. I’m sure there’s some poor soul out there who’ll be thrilled with your... half-efforts.”
“Oh, but you loved every second of it. So much that you were begging for it.”
My cheeks flushed with both anger and embarrassment. “Go play in traffic,” I spat.
“Aww. Is someone upset because she didn’t get to cum?” He teases with a fake pout. I let out a squeal of frustration, pounding his chest, as he laughs at me.
I forgot how nice his laugh was. Wait, no. I hate him and his baffoon laugh. His eyes darken, and he licks his lips. My eyes follow the slow, sensual movement of the tip of his tongue.
“Does that bad little pussy want to feel my tongue this time?”
I feel my pussy clench. “Why bother? It’s not like you’re going to let me cum.”
A grin appears on his lips. “Be a good girl and I’ll let you.”
“I don’t need you to let me do anything, mate. This is the twenty-first century; a girl can satisfy herself.” I lean in a little closer to his ear, feeling bolder. Thank you, tequila! His body tenses. “But if you be a good boy... maybe I’ll let you watch.” I purr seductively.
A low growl vibrates in his throat. I can’t help the triumphant smirk on my face as I watch his eyes darken lustfully. I straighten my spine and turn to leave when he pulls me back into him. The second our bodies connect, those familiar tingles shoot up my spine and the mark on my neck rejoices.
“Where do you think you’re going?” His warm breath fans the side of my neck.
I bite my lip, feeling my anger melt away under his fiery touch. His scent makes me dizzy, and with his arms firmly around my midsection, I love and hate the way he makes my body feel.
“Not here, obviously.”
“You’re not going anywhere smelling like that.”
“Smelling like what?” I huff out before I can process what he means.
“Like you just got fucked. At least you smell better than before.”
I shove his arm off me and spin around to tell him to go suck on drywall, but suddenly felt light-headed. His hands instantly shoot out and grab my hips, steadying me. He raises my head, staring into my eyes. I didn’t feel that drunk. Maybe it was an after-effect?
He clenches his jaw. “I took a little too much blood from you. We need to get you fed before you pass out.”
I ignore what he says and ask, “What are you doing here anyway?”
“The better question is what are you doing here?”
I glare at him. “Not that it’s any of your business, but I was out with friends. You know, having a life.”
His grip on my hips tightens with a tick in his jaw. “A life that involves dancing with my brother?”
I scoff, trying to push him away, but he holds firm. “I didn’t know he was your brother. And even if I did, it’s none of your concern who I dance with.”
His eyes darken. “Everything about you is my concern, Avaluna. You belong to me.”
I shiver a mix of anger and desire coursing through me. “I belong to no one. Least of all you.”
“Keep telling yourself that, but we both know the truth.”
Suddenly, he pulls back from me and turns to face the club entrance just as his brother bursts out, flanked by the reapers and a few other men.
“Really, Onyx?” his brother sneers, his voice dripping with contempt. “Is this how you treat family?”
Onyx stares at him with a look of disdain, as if he was beneath his notice. This only seems to enrage his brother further. He sniffs the air as he gets closer, his eyes narrowing when they land on me. “A little midnight snack?” His gaze travels down my body and back up to meet my eyes. “Looks like you almost sucked her dry. Having control problems, brother?”
The innuendo isn’t lost on me, and I can feel my cheeks heating up. Onyx’s lips tug into a faint smirk, sharing the same thought. Aurora and Skylar look worried, while Ace and Sirius seem poised to attack if his brother makes a wrong move.
“I am,” Onyx says, his voice smooth and lethal. “You wouldn’t want me to prove that to you now, would you, Octavius?”
Octavius’ lips thinned, his eyes blazing with anger. Just as he is about to retort, his gaze shifts to my neck. “What is that on her neck? Why is it covered in makeup?” His tone a mix of surprise, irritation, and confusion.
“Good question,” Onyx replies, arching a brow at me, his annoyance evident in the tight set of his jaw.
I swallow hard, feeling the weight of both their gazes on me. “It’s, um, nothing?” My voice wavering, sounding more like a question than a statement.
Bollocks. I had nothing. I shrug, giving Onyx a nervous smile, hoping he wouldn’t murder me and dump my body in the garbage bin beside us.
He sighs, shaking his head. With a firm grip on my hip, he begins leading us out of the alleyway. But Octavius sidesteps into our path, his presence radiating a deadly power.
“I asked you a question, brother,” Octavius snarls.
“And I choose not to answer, brother,” Onyx shoots back, his voice dangerously calm. “Get the fuck out of my way, or I’ll remove you piece by piece.”
The words were delivered with such chilling calmness that a shiver ran down my spine. This is not a side of Onyx I had seen before, and it terrifies me.
Octavius’s eyes flicker with fury. “You’re protecting her?”
“That’s none of your business. So are you going to move or do I have to make you?”
Sometimes, I forget just who Onyx is. His voice, so dominant and filled with an unsettling power, makes me shiver and clench with a mixture of fear and arousal. Bloody hell, I was both terrified and turned on. Octavius isn’t as clueless as he seemed; he knew Onyx’s threat was genuine and that he wouldn’t hesitate to follow through.
As Onyx and I moved to leave, Octavius stepped aside, his eyes burning with a murderous intensity. “See you soon, baby girl,” he purrs, his wink making my skin crawl.
Onyx’s body tenses beside me, his expression cold and unyielding. “Not if you want to live,” Onyx says matter-of-factly as he winks cheekly at his brother.
It is obvious there’s no love lost between them.