My heart leaps.
Dardana glares at me, and Arnau stares through me like I’m a window.
Vahan pulls me into the unoccupied couch, and Vosgi starts delivering food and drinks to the tables. One of Vahan’s soldiers walks in, and two men follow him.
Vahan rises to his feet and greets them.
I don’t like his guests. There’s the air of ruthlessness around them. One of them has a bald head and looks forty; the other has curly ginger hair and looks thirty-five. Their eyes sweep over me—assessing, slicing like sharp blades. Groping.
I feel naked and vulnerable. A memory flashes through my head. I see the moment of Lanee’s death. Then I hear her pain when the hunters raped her.
“Yeegor, Dmistri,” Vahan says, bringing me back to reality. “Enjoy my hospitality.”
Vahan steps back, and I cling to his arm, seeking shelter from the men’s impure glances.
Vahan strokes my cheek and kisses my temple. We sit in one couch while the guests settle themselves in the couch that stands opposite ours.
“How much for that little gem?” the ginger asks, tilting his head to me.
Ice fills my veins and my heart thumps in my ears.
“She’s neepreedaj, Yeegor,” Vahan says and throws his arm over my back. “Mine.”
The guests shake their heads so the word neepreedaj must mean that I’m not for sale.
“Do you intend to share?” Dmistri asks.
“No,” Vahan says, the tone of his voice sending a warning.
“No whores tonight, and it seems like no slaves to share as always,” Yeegor says and he shakes his head.
“We can focus on doing business and getting drunk,” Vahan says.
“Give us Vosgi at least,” Yeegor says.
I feel like there’s something slimy and cold in my stomach. My eyes fix on Vahan.
“My slaves are here to work for me not to entertain my guests,” Vahan says.
“I’ve brought my own whores,” Dmistri says. “I knew we’d get bored in your house as always. So I’ve brought the girls from my bordello.”
Four women walk in. Their chests are naked while translucent blue skirts hug their hips. I watch their graceful movements—they’re dancing, floating, exuding the air of seduction.
Pain jabs my heart. They remind me of Lanee.
One of them sits beside Arnau, and Vahan gives him an encouraging nod. Two of them sit beside Yeegor and Dmistri and the last one twirls around the room.
“Why don’t you take her, Dardana?” Vahan says, clearly having fun at Dardana’s expense.
I want to nudge his chest with my elbow, but I restrain myself.
“Let’s begin,” Vahan says.
Vosgi and Kendy start filling our goblets with wine, and I open the account book.
The men start talking business. My head starts to throb. Names, numbers, growls and swear words bang against my skull like they’re tangible. Their conversation brings an image of a busy market to my mind—with stalls full of goods and people arguing.
Sweat pricks my forehead as I try to focus and find some sense to the flow of sentences.
“We got a deal?” Dmistri finally asks.
Vahan looks at me, seriousness darkening his eyes.
My heart jumps up to my throat. I feel dizzy.
Then I take a deep breath and my mind detaches.
“No,” I say. “This is not a fair deal.” Everything is crystal and light in my head. “Lord Vahan employs mostly free people, two-thirds to be precise. There’s this custom law that says—“
“Nobody uses this custom law these days,” Yeegor growls with fury.
“Because very few people know about this little custom law,” I say. Yasen knows about it, but apparently, he forgot to mention this to Vahan. “You want to trade with us—you have to pay more. Our wine is the best on the Continent, but if you don’t want to buy from us…” I look at Vahan, but he only grins at me. “We got a deal?”
There is silence, as cold as harsh winter.
“Deal,” Yeegor says.
“Deal,” Dmistri says. He nods several times. “If your master ever frees you, I’m happy to employ you. And give you a good fuck every night.”
Yeegor and Dmistri erupt into laughter.
Vahan pulls me onto his lap. “She’ll be my wife soon, but I’ll never free her.”
Coldness fills my veins. My glance shifts to Vahan’s; I open my mouth to protest but he slams his lips on mine.
“Let’s have more wine,” Vahan says. He lowers his head and nuzzles his nose against my neck then kisses me on the cheek and licks my earlobe. “My pretty little lawyer. My precious little gem.”
He reaches out for his goblet and sips wine. His guests start groping the whores and the women laugh and squeal. The atmosphere resembles that from expensive bordellos. Lust hangs heavy and hot in the air.
Vahan kisses my neck and squeezes my breast.
I turn on his lap so I face him, my lips an inch from his ear. “Who am I to you now? Your wife? Your lawyer? Your slave? Your whore?”
“My whore,” he says and grunts as his mouth latches on mine.
I avert my face. “Whores should be paid for their service.”
“Whatever you desire.”
“I want—“
He kisses me. “Later.”
His hand travels to the back of my neck, and he grips it as his mouth moves down along my neck. I feel his other hand land on my ass cheek. He squeezes, massages then runs his fingers over my hip and shoves his hand between my thighs.
“Not here,” I gasp.
“Why not?” His eyes are burning with primal need.
“I—“
“You have to obey me.”
“You want them to envy you,” I whisper into his ear.
“I want the whole Continent to envy me,” he says. “I want the whole Continent to know that you belong to me.” He bites my earlobe, his breath scorching. “I’m your master. I’m your owner. I’m your husband.”
His words wake something dark inside me. Something untamed and lustful.
I turn my face to the side and see one of the whores sitting on her heels between Arnau’s knees. She’s sucking Arnau’s dick. Her mouth moves up and down his shaft as she squeezes his balls with her hand. His eyes roll back. His face sharpens with pleasure.
I’m so embarrassed I avert my eyes. My glance flicks over Dmistri and Yeegor. They’re fucking one whore—her mouth and her pussy. She moans and takes every punishing thrust, clearly enjoying getting fucked.
“Dmistri pays them well,” Vahan says. “They’re all free women, the best in the city.”
“Very interesting. How do you know this?”
Vahan smirks, spreads the lips of my pussy and strokes my clitoris with his thumb. Heat fills my tummy. I put my hands on his neck and straddle his lap, my knees at either side of his hips.
He pinches my clit and my head drops back. My whole being pulsates. Wild desire consumes me like fire.
It’s so wrong and it isn’t.
It’s so dark yet it’s so light at the same time.
It’s forbidden. Decadent. Coated with love.
Vahan lowers the straps of my gown, exposing my breasts and draws one into his mouth. His tongue swirls around my nipple and it hardens. He massages my clit with more pressure and pushes a finger into my pussy. He bites my nipple and my pussy clenches around his digit. He shoves two fingers into my channel and works me faster. I hiss as I feel three of his digits inside me. I raise my ass a bit, my eyes locked on Vahan’s. He slides his fingers in and out, deeper and deeper until I find pleasure in my pain. I cum with a moan and he kisses me deeply. Then his arms engulf me and he runs his palm up and down my back. My muscles are still shivering. My hazy eyes sweep over the others, but they’re occupied with themselves. Only Dardana looks at me like she wants to kill me.
“Alyssa,” Vahan kisses my temple. “I want your sweet mouth.”
“Not here,” I g
asp.
“Alright. They’re drunk enough.”
He rises to his feet, as my arms and legs wrap around him, and we leave the room, hiding in a niche obscured by a red curtain. Dust tickles my face as he lets me slide down and pushes me to my knees.
Panic forms a knot in my stomach. I’ve never done this before.
Vahan opens his trousers as his stiff cock springs free. He holds it and runs the tip along my lower lip, spreading his precum around my mouth.
“Open,” he demands.
So I open my mouth for him. My thighs quiver, but my pussy pulses with need. He drives his cock deep into my mouth, slamming on my throat. I gag and tears well up in my eyes. Vahan strokes my head, allows me to steady my breath and slides his cock in and out. I gag again. He grunts as though my struggle to take him pleases him.
“I’ll teach you,” he says with amusement, thrusting into my mouth slowly.
I focus on breathing, but his cock is too big. My cheeks hurt, and I gag again.
Vahan chuckles, pulls out then hooks me under my arms and lifts me. He braces my waist with his hands and slams me on the wall. I sigh as he lifts my leg, wrapping it around his hip, and drives his cock into my pussy. He stops moving.
I wrap both my thighs around his waist and wait until the pain from his intrusion fades. My forehead rests against his.
“My little wife,” Vahan says. “So deliciously tiny.”
“You love it when your big cock is almost ripping me apart.”
“Yes, I love it.”
At least, he’s honest.
I yelp as he thrusts into me hard and my back slides up the cold uneven wall.
“Love it,” he says as his punishing thrusts make me mewl.
Our lips meet—his hunger collides with mine in the ardent dance of our tongues, and he fucks me like he wants to reach up to my throat.
I rise. I explode. My scream echoes in the corridor then his growl follows. We gasp and we kiss.
I feel sweat trickling between my breasts.
“I love you so much, Alyssa.” There’s raw pain in his voice like he’s scared to lose me. “My beautiful wife.”
“When is our wedding?” I rasp.
“Soon, dzie’ta.”
“You’ll give me my freedom back.”
“No.”
Well, I knew it wouldn’t be easy but at least I tried.
I plant my feet on the floor as his cock slips out of me.
“Go to the bedroom,” he says. “I’ll join you soon.”
“Come with me. They’re drunk and busy.”
“They’re my guests.”
“They—“
His lips slam on mine. “You talk too much.”
“You want a wife. Wives talk a lot.”
He squeezes my ass then turns me round and shoves me forward. “I’ll only give my orders to Vosgi and Arnau.”
I turn around and wink at him. “Love you, you big scary wolf.”
“What is a wolf?” he asks.
“Wolves are animals on Earth. They’re beautiful and noble predators. They mate for life.”
“Like you and me.” There’s joy in his gaze.
“Like you and me.”
He chuckles and walks off.
I turn around and start walking, my body covered with a veil of exhaustion. My mind is still a bit hazy. I put my feet on the step and rest my hand against the railing. Something slams into my back, knocking the air out of my lungs. I start tumbling down the stairs.
They say you see your whole life before you die.
I see my mom, my grandma, my best friend Lisa, and Lanee.
There is a red explosion in my head. Then there is pure darkness.
Chapter 12
Vahan
Arnau passes me, and I hear a scream. Her scream. Her fear. Arnau and I start running. As I reach the top of the stairs, I see her lying at the bottom of the stairs in a pond of blood. Her limbs are thrown over the floor like she’s a rag doll. Blood is gushing from her nose.
I run down the stairs and kneel down by her. Arnau kneels by her other side.
“Dardana sneaked out just after you,” Arnau says as his voice falters.
I lower my head and feel Alyssa’s breath on my cheek.
“You think Dardana did this?” I ask as I palpate Alyssa’s neck so I can assess her injuries.
I know how to check whether the cervical spine is damaged or not. A group of my brain cells can do this for me—I can examine and diagnose the most life-threatening injuries. It’s the benefit of being one of my race. Arnau can’t do this. Maybe it’s for the better though. I can’t treat any serious injury—I can only separate living corpses from those who can make it.
“I know she did it.” There’s fury in Arnau’s voice.
I look at him. “Deal with her. Just be discreet.”
He bows his head. His face turns into an emotionless mask. No more words need to be said.
I slide my arm under Alyssa’s back and the other under her thighs as Arnau rises to his feet and strides off.
I carry Alyssa to our bedroom and lay her gently. Her right arm looks like it’s broken. Her ribs must be broken too. If her skull is broken, she won’t make it. My mind detaches. No, I won’t allow her to die.
I continue to examine her body. Her breaths are shallow. Her lips tinge with purple.
“I forbid you to die,” I say. “You hear me? Nobody defies me.”
***
Arnau evens the top layer of soil with the shovel then he leans against it and we stare at the mound.
“We should have burned her body,” Arnau says. “Now she’ll wander in the fog for eternity.”
“She didn’t deserve to be burned.” I allowed her to rest in the ground. She’d been useful to me so I was forgiving—if I’d left her body to rot outside Nassara, she’d have been just a mindless molecule of energy. “I was generous enough.”
Arnau nods several times. “I told the soldiers she’d gone to the Scarlet City. They don’t suspect anything.”
“Good.”
I should have listened to Kohar. I should have gotten rid of Dardana a long time ago.
My little flower is dying. Arnau had to slit a free woman’s throat.
“I’m going to the abbey,” I say. “You know what to do.”
He bows his head. “As always.”
I lay my hand on his shoulder and squeeze it. “Take Almast as your wife.”
He grins at me. “I want Kendy. She has really nice thighs. And she has a good sense of humour. Almast is too unorganised.”
“Alright. Take Kendy then.” I take a deep breath. “It’s good to be happy in life, boy.”
Silence envelops us for a moment—the kind of painful sacred silence.
“She loves you,” Arnau says. “She is meant for you. I can see this now.”
I grin at myself. I allowed him to be a free man a long time ago so he speaks to me as a free man would. I’ll prepare the papers to make it official as soon as I’m back from the abbey. He should be my equal.
Arnau is my brother, not my slave. He’s never been my slave.
My eyes sweep over Dardana’s grave, and then I walk towards the stables. I sit on my stallion and gallop until I see the abbey.
Then I face the god.
Wuylir guides me to a small room and I drop into the armchair by an arched passage that leads to a balcony. I put my elbows on my thighs. Wuylir settles himself in the other armchair.
“You’re worried,” he says.
“Alyssa is dying.”
“I can’t help you. We don’t interfere, you know this.”
I straighten. “I’ll do anything.”
He tilts his head and stares at me. One corner of his lips crooks up.
“You’ll become a senator,” he says.
“Alright.”
“I will guide you and you will listen to me.”
“Alright.”
“You’re going to owe me.” Wuylir rises to his
feet. “Let’s go then.” He waves his hand to me, encouraging me to come closer to him.
I rise to my feet and stand two steps away from him. He touches the brooch on his frock—it’s an eagle with outspread wings. A dense electric blue mist envelops us and it pricks my skin like tiny needles. A strange smell settles in my nostrils. It’s sharp and fresh like the air before rain.
“What the fuck is this?” I growl.
“A portal,” Wuylir says. “My own idea. I’m fucking good, aren’t I?”
“You’re fucking creepy.”
I take a sharp breath and dizziness fills my head. Nausea hits me, causing me to bend with my hands clenched in front of my stomach. I close my eyes, open them and find myself in front of Nassara.
Wuylir slaps me on the back. “Guide me, my friend.”
Alyssa
I’m all pain. I’m all darkness.
A husky voice calls me, “Alyssa, dzie’ta, wake up.”
The darkness claws at me, stabs me with invisible knives, torments me with coldness. A jolt of electricity surges through me. My muscles become rigid. I scream all my pain.
Another jolt. I hear my own bones crack and click. I scream again. Another jolt. I wail.
Brightness floods my eyes. My lungs expand and pain braces my chest. Hot lips land on mine.
“Let her rest,” another deep male voice says. “She’s fine. The baby in her womb is fine too.” There’s something eerie yet alluring about the huskiness in that voice.
My eyes are burning. I can see a grey wall of fog, nothing more.
My muscles start burning then just ache.
A fat warm drop of thick fluid lands on my forehead. The smell of herbs settles in my nostrils as the drop slides down my temple and tickles my skin.
“Yours officially,” the eerie voice says. “You’ll thank me later, Vahan.”
Blackness cuts me off from reality. I’m all nothingness.
A force kicks me out of my non-existence.
I open my eyes. The ceiling spins. Vahan’s face wavers above mine.
“My little flower,” he says as his voice falters.
“What happened?” My throat is so dry that it comes out in a screech.
“A bitch happened. Don’t worry. She won’t hurt you again.”
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