Reign to Ravage

by Zoey Ellis

  When he finally released her head, she opened her eyes to see Cailyn glaring at him and Amara’s smile returned. It was good to see that Cailyn still had her sharpness, even with an Alpha like King Malloron. However, when Amara glanced at him to see his reaction, he was staring straight down at her. And she was once again reminded of his refined good looks. She turned away and huffed, annoyed. Cailyn took her hands again, but this time she placed them on the thick arms around her waist. Amara lifted her hands off quickly, but Cailyn returned her hands to him.

  Amara shook her head sharply. If Cailyn thought that she would try and persuade her to be with this Alpha, especially when she had no idea what he had done to her, it was not going to happen.

  Cailyn grabbed her hands again, and this time she came closer and pulled Amara down, placing her hands on her rounded stomach.

  Amara blinked in shock.

  "She said this is her second child. You already have a niece. She is hoping this one will be a boy."

  Amara felt Cailyn stomach tentatively for a long moment and then looked up at Cailyn in shock.

  "She asked if you remember who her Alpha is?"

  Amara thought back to when Cailyn was leaving the Omega Compound to go on her next mission. She had ranted about Emperor Drocco and his savagery in the Eastern Lands, and certainly never spoke of him with any fondness at all, but that didn't mean anything. Emperor Drocco couldn't have done anything to her that was worse than what Malloron had done. Cailyn lifted her hands again and placed them on the forearms around her waist. This time she did not remove them, but couldn't help the tears falling. Cailyn pressed her forehead against Amara’s and wiped away the tears.

  "She said you are so strong, Amara. You have always been the strongest one. You can get through this. And when you do, she will bring the rest of her family to see you."

  No. Amara did not want that. It was bad enough that Cailyn was here, that Malloron had seen her and knew who she was. It was bad enough that he had manipulated her into coming and trying to persuade her on his behalf. What the hell had he said to her? He had poisoned her before, had he done so again? She needed Cailyn to stay away, especially with her children. But she could not say all of that because she could not communicate with Cailyn directly. Even if she tried to communicate, the Alpha was the one that would hear it, and who knew if he would repeat exactly what she would say.

  "She said give him a chance.”

  No! She didn't understand. The tears turned into a quiet sob. Cailyn embraced her again in a hug, but the Alpha’s arms around her tightened. Amara forced herself to calm. She needed Cailyn to leave. She couldn't risk anything happening to her. Her situation was worse than before with Cailyn here. She wiped her tears and smiled and nodded until Cailyn sat back down on her heels.

  They played the game again and again until they lost count of their wins and losses, then Cailyn slowly rose to her feet.

  "She said to be strong. She will be thinking of you.” He paused. “Amara, if you speak she will hear you. You may not hear yourself but she will hear you.”

  Amara ignored him. There was nothing she really wanted to say to Cailyn in front of him—she just wanted her away and safe. She nodded at Cailyn, and after another hug, she watched her walk into a part of the room that hadn't materialized properly. Pushing her attention and focus, she willed the dull, slow magic to seep into that area but it caused the pressure within her to increase. She held her focus and watched the magic as it slowly and jerkily came together. It showed a large portal, beyond which stood Cailyn and a large Alpha who had his arms around her, pressing her into him. The Alpha nodded toward them and she felt the king behind her nod back. The portal slowly dispersed, breaking apart in streams of shimmery magic. She withdrew her focus and breathed a sigh as the pressure within her lessened.

  The Alpha lifted her and lay her down on the bed on her back. She lay still, unsure what he planned next. Her mood was much lighter after seeing Cailyn and she couldn't bring herself to withdraw again—not when Cailyn had basically told her she was better than that.

  The Alpha lay on top of her and she immediately found herself pressing her face into his neck. Before she could even really be annoyed with herself, a heavy drowsiness fell on her and the rumbly purr began. And she drifted to sleep.

  When she woke up again something was different. She lay still trying to figure out what it was. The Alpha lay on top of her but his neck was not near.

  Feeling around her, she realized his elbows were by her head, and he was propped up, leaning over her.

  She lay still, wondering why he was silent and still. After a while, her curiosity got the better of her and she focused her mind. Her surroundings materialized again with difficulty, some of the room remained a blank space, but King Malloron loomed over her, blocking most of her view.

  Unlike the room, he had fully materialized. He held himself up on his elbows, looking down at her. He didn't say anything, just continued to stare at her.

  His vibration was greatly muted from what she had felt while out over the Western Lands and the draw to be close to him barely existed. Even so, she wanted him on top of her, smothering her with his body and scent, not hovering above her staring at her strangely. She huffed out a breath and turned her head away. The man always had to be so fucking annoying.

  "I want to fix your eyes and ears, Amara.”

  Amara kept her head turned away and didn't respond.

  "It wasn't my intention for this to happen,” he continued. "The tenebris affected you in a way I wasn't expecting.”

  Liar. He said he had done this before.

  "I want to fix it but I need you to communicate and tell me how it feels.” He hesitated for a long moment. "It seems the tenebris has reformed, but it is not moving freely as it needs to. If you don’t tell me how you’re feeling, I will be forced to try to fix it without your guidance… it might make things worse.”

  Amara closed her eyes. Did he really think anything could be worse than this?

  "So I’m offering you another agreement.”

  At that, she had to laugh. She turned back to him unable to stop herself from responding. "Why the fuck would I want another agreement?” She paused at the sound of her own voice in her mind. It felt… comfortable to communicate in this way—almost as though she had spoken aloud.

  "Why not? I don't understand why you wouldn't want me to heal you. I know you are upset but you don't have to exist in this way.”

  "What difference does it make if I can see or hear?”

  "It matters to me,” he responded irritably. "I do not want you in this state.”

  "You are the one who did this to me!”

  He growled. "It was not intentional! I want your eyes back.”

  Amara was lost for words for a moment. Her eyes? He liked her eyes. She pushed away the swoop in her stomach—her idiotic body was always reacting in strange ways around him. She turned her head again. "We cannot always have what we want, Your Majesty.”

  "I always get what I want,” he growled. "I can fix it. I’m sure I can. I just need to know how the tenebris is existing inside you for me to have success. You need to work with me, Amara.”

  "I don't need to do anything,” she replied, nonchalantly. "Either way you have me here as your prisoner. Being in this state is simply a great reminder of my own failures. I have nothing left to ask for that you can give me.”

  He paused. "So you wish to negotiate for your freedom?”

  "I wish for nothing from you,” she spat. "Nothing. I am your slave, and I have enough honor to accept that I agreed to it. But I am not going to make any more fucking agreements with you.” She glared at him, her anger smoldering in her chest. "Why did you bring my sister here? Is she somehow included in your agreement offer—are you threatening her?”

  "No.” The Alpha frowned. "You told Emric that friends can be a comfort in unbearable situations. You are finding this situation unbearable, even if you say you are not.”

  Amara
had no words to respond. She stared at him, unwilling to believe he had brought Cailyn here for her benefit alone, but the look in his eyes… She turned away, suddenly uncomfortable with the intensity of his gaze.

  He used a finger on her chin to turn her face back to him. "Don't turn away from me, chameleon.” His tone was low and almost… desperate. "Don't turn away from me again.”

  He lowered down onto her until their noses touched, and she exhaled with pleasure at the weight of him pinning her down.

  "Let me fix it.” His voice was a whisper now.

  The temptation to just agree with him was so strong—it pierced through the muddle of her mind that couldn't determine what was genuine and what wasn't. She squeezed her eyes shut, trying to separate her thoughts. Nothing was genuine about him—she had to remember that. Cailyn said to give him a chance, but she had already given him one.

  "You have what you wanted, Your Majesty,” she said, opening her eyes to meet his. "You have this thing inside me, you have my body, you have the shell of a queen you wanted. There is nothing I want badly enough to be fooled by you again.”

  She could feel his annoyance, but she ignored it as her resolve strengthened. He had to be insane to think she would agree to something like another agreement with him when she had already lost everything.

  "I can tell you about the red dungeon—the children.”

  She shook her head slowly. "You will not honor any agreement you make. It doesn't matter what you try to tempt me with.”

  The king growled, his body tensing. "Is your team not safe? Did they not leave here unscathed and unharassed as you asked?”

  At that, she said nothing. She could not deny he was right. They had.

  "I have honored every agreement I have made with you,” he insisted. "I have done everything I said I would do. It is you who had expectations about things we never discussed.”

  "I have no more expectations about anything,” she muttered.

  "Then make this last agreement with me.” His statement was a demand, and suddenly she realized he would not allow her to say no—this was not a negotiation in which she could decline completely. "What do you have to lose from it?” he asked. "You will get the information you wanted and, if things go well, you get back the use of your eyes and ears.”

  "You mean, you get my eyes and ears.”

  He bent his head to kiss her neck, his heat sending a shiver of desire through her body. "We both benefit.”

  Amara ignored her body’s response to him and thought quickly. Maybe she could use this last agreement to try to help the children in whatever way she could. She couldn’t do anything about this fake desire he wrecked her with, but perhaps she could try and make things easier for the children.

  She turned her head back to him. "What are you offering?"

  King Malloron stilled and then lifted himself back onto his elbows to hover above her again. "What do you want?"

  "I want the children released."

  Malloron shook his head. "I cannot give you that. I can give you information about them and the red dungeon, but I cannot free them. It is impossible."

  "Then I’m not sure what your agreement is worth."

  "It would do them more harm to release them than to keep them where they are," Malloron said, the irritation returning to his voice. "There is much you don't understand, Amara. You cannot hope to make such demands when you have no idea of the impact of what you’re asking for."

  Amara ground her teeth together. It was true that she did not know what exactly was happening to the children. "Fine," she ground out. "I want to know everything about their situation.”

  Malloron nodded.

  "I also want to know everything about what you put inside me."

  He dipped his head and a sharp nod again. "If that is what you want. But I will only tell you everything once you are healed.”

  Amara scowled. "Why?”

  "Your emotions could affect your healing.”

  She thought for a moment. If she regained her sight and hearing she could potentially do more for the children, but right now, she was limited. It wouldn’t hurt to wait. "Then you answer my questions about everything else.”

  "I will.”

  "Truthfully,” she added, even though she knew she couldn't trust him.

  He nodded.

  "I don't want Cailyn brought here again. Do not involve her in this.”

  “That is fine.”

  "And I want my own room back."

  Malloron’s entire body stiffened and then he closed his arms around her, holding her tight. "Impossible.”

  "I want to have a room to myself."

  The growl that Malloron emitted vibrated into her from his chest, but she also heard it in his mind, strong and deep. "You cannot be separated from me. Ever."

  "I will not be separate. I will simply be in my own room." She turned her head away again. "It is a vital condition of the agreement.”

  "Why?” Malloron shot at her. "We will both suffer.”

  "I need my own space.”

  "The only thing you need is your Alpha. Your body knows it.”

  "I want clean food and water,” she added, ignoring him.

  "You have always had that,” he snapped. He shook his head. "We cannot be separated. I do not agree.”

  "We can be separated,” she argued. "You just don’t want to be.”

  "You need me as much as I need you, Amara,” he said, the anger in his tone clear. "Do you think I don't notice how wild you are for me whenever we are apart for too long. Your pussy is on fire for me when I come back in here. You’re wetter than the fucking White Ocean and as desperate for me as I am for you.”

  "Potions!” she pushed back at him, her inner voice yelling. "Potions, magic, and lies!”

  The king was still for a long moment. "You think I am forcing these reactions from you?”

  Amara pressed her lips together and didn't respond. It was obvious he was. There was no other reason that she would behave that way toward him, no other reason she had these feelings.

  The king lowered his face close to her own again. "I am not poisoning you, Amara, I don't need to.”

  Amara turned her head away, tired of this conversation. She held herself stiff and waited. He would have to agree with the final condition for the agreement to happen. She needed time away from him and his poisons so she could think. Her desire for him clouded her mind and distracted her constantly. Even now she was highly aware of his thickness pressing into her hip. She needed to remove herself from his influence.

  "The connection—this draw—between us is natural, Amara. It is not a fabrication of potions or spells. It cannot be helped.”

  "It only existed since you put this thing inside me,” she snapped. "It is not natural.”

  "The process of the tenebris entering you broke through all magic,” Malloron explained. "Any spell you had hiding your true dynamic was destroyed. Everything you are feeling is what an Omega would feel for her Alpha.”

  Amara turned her head to him, curious. "You knew I was blocking my Omega signals?”

  "Yes, I suspected.”

  "And you didn't take steps to remove them?”

  "No.” Malloron didn't elaborate. He shifted on her, seemingly distracted from what she was asking. "I will not be moved from this position, chameleon. You will not sleep separately from me. I need to check on you and make sure the tenebris—”

  "Everything is about the fucking tenebris,” she hissed. "It is important to you not me. I want my own room back and my own privacy or you can fuck around with it on your own!”

  Malloron’s face darkened to such a degree that she suddenly remembered how big he was, looming over her. In a swift movement, he got up, and she instantly missed the heat of his body. She watched him pace the length of the room, his fists clenching and unclenching as agitation took hold of him. She couldn’t help but be distracted by his physicality. It was undeniable; he was incredibly sexy. He prowled fluidly and smoothly, his hu
ge, bulky form strangely majestic and exuding a powerful self-confidence that was laced with a sophistication and poise rarely seen in Alphas. Amara watched him, her desire twisting stronger in her with every moment that passed. The man embraced his royal stature with elegance and he was indeed incredible to look at. His handsome features, his muscled arms, the way he carried himself… The tingle between her legs strengthened. She suddenly wanted him back on top of her. She wanted his mouth on her nipples and his tongue—

  "I will agree on one condition,” he said, turning to face her abruptly.

  Amara blinked and snapped to attention, pushing away the thoughts that began to cloud her mind. "What?”

  The Alpha’s eyes narrowed and he walked slowly to the bed, his eyes running over her whole body. He breathed out a rumble and then lowered to kneel beside her, the desire strong in his gaze. Reaching out, he dipped his large fingers between her legs and ran them over her moist slit.

  She hummed at the feeling, but forced herself not to say anything at all, her attention completely on him. He bought his fingers to his mouth and sucked them, the look of pleasure on his face sending a blissful wave of satisfaction skipping through her.

  "What is the condition?” she forced herself to ask.

  King Malloron gripped the back of her head, squeezing her scalp to cause that pleasurable pain she had come to love. He lowered his face close to hers, desire shining bright in his eyes. "How the fuck am I supposed to concentrate on what I’m saying when you look at me like that? When your scent calls to me to drown in it? Stop.”

  Amara was almost breathless and the zing in her nipples at his proximity was not helping. "I’m not doing anything.”

  The Alpha slid his fingers down her slit again, this time rubbing her sensitive clit gently. She gyrated her hips and moaned as the pleasure spread through her. He bought his fingers to his mouth again and she could smell the potency of her scent on them. Her body really was a traitorous whore.