Come to think of it, she didn’t seem to be quite as lost as he’d expected her to be. Perhaps she’d somehow learned a few of the olden Scondeladian dances. A pleasant fluttering filled his chest at the idea. Even if she hadn’t, she looked like she belonged here amongst his people. She’d make a fine addition to the royal line. And it would destroy Arian to lose both his crown and his Marked—force to watch Oricus and Harlow rule forever.
At the first swoop of their hands, Kel and Harlow both spun, then Xalicur was there in Kel’s stead. His hand hovered above her waist, while hers held steady over his shoulder. They stepped back once, twice, thrice. Her head turned to one side while Xalicur played the part of a jilted lover and spun away, marching back several places, only for Arodis to step in.
Holy fuck, they planned this.
Oricus couldn’t help but snort a laugh. He’d gotten her all to himself while the others shared one dance. And yet, the way they seamlessly rotated around her was mesmerizing. Those that watched without knowing who they were to her or what she was to them looked just as entranced by their sensual play of teasing, but never touching.
Harlow’s cheeks were flushed a pale pink that made Oricus want to peel off that sexy dress and fuck her silly for everyone to see. He found himself rising from the dais and slowly stepping closer. The final triumphant cords ratcheted through the air as she twirled like a ballerina, spinning and spinning until he caught her in one arm, pulling her tight against him.
Her arousal was pungent and sweet, clouding his senses. Dazedly, she blinked up at him, the corners of her mouth lifting.
He wanted to press his lips to both corners, to kiss that little smile away until she was panting and begging him to fuck her. The beast inside thrashed for freedom. To pin her and make her take all of him.
Claim her.
Mark her.
Instinctively his eyes lowered from her mouth to the deep pink scars that ran over her collarbone. His mark for all to see.
The moment he’d decided he wanted to keep her.
He wasn’t even aware he was doing it until his lips brushed hers, sparking a fire in his veins. His fingers dug into her, keeping her rooted to him.
And the entire room exploded into cheers and applause, jolting him back into himself.
HARLOW
Her mind was hazy with lust and adrenaline from the incredible choreography the guys had spent several hours teaching her until late last night. Then the softest kiss she’d ever received came from the hardest and coldest man she knew. It made her blood sing with desire, even after everyone had burst into applause.
The cheers coming from all around the dance floor made her heart soar. Pride lit Oricus’s eyes, along with a hunger that she felt everywhere. One by one she met her mates’ eyes, seeing the same desire reflected back at her.
They all felt it. Some insane part of her wanted to ditch the rest of the evening to find somewhere for her mates to claim her. But then the hole in her chest ached, reminding her that part of that package was fighting for his life, and it dampened her lust-filled craze.
A new melody softly played, and Harlow shuffled out of the way of the couples that drifted onto the dance floor, embracing their partners close. Oricus followed, a possessive hand on her lower back as they made their way up to the dais.
A hand wrapped around hers, twirling her away from Oricus.
She spun with a gasp, facing a man with dark hair slicked back and a black mask that covered half of his face. His eyes were piercing green, his lips full and sensual.
“May I steal you for one dance?” he asked, voice deep and husky.
Harlow couldn’t stop staring. Even when Oricus growled, “No you may not,” and the stranger spun her like a top into the crowd, appearing before her as though he were some kind of wraith. Her heart hammered in her chest, drowning out the music and the chatter. The man snaked a hand around her back, pulling her flush against his body.
“You look stunning,” the hauntingly familiar man whispered. He led her, moving her body effortlessly when she misstepped.
“Thank you.” She’d choked up, and when she glanced around, she spied the faces of her mates with looks of violence and confusion. Oricus sat on his throne, elbow planted on the armrest and chin held up by his fist. His expression was calm and—amused?
Shaking herself mentally, she gazed back into the man’s face. “I’m sorry, I didn’t catch your name.”
They whirled in a circle, her dress fanning out around them. “You can’t guess?” he asked. There was a roughness to his voice that seemed faked.
Harlow lifted a brow. “Should I be able to? I’m afraid I don’t get out much.”
The stranger hummed noncommittally. “Are you happy here with your keepers?”
His question caught her off guard. “My keepers?”
The turn of his lips and the glint in his eyes made him look sad suddenly.
“I’m sorry, I just—”
He shook his head. “No need to apologize, Miss Marks.”
She jolted, halting, and her skirts swished about her ankles. Their eyes remained locked, though out of the corner of her eye, she saw Rex and Koen start toward her. Like magic, white, puffy flakes of snow began to fall, and the song ended just in time for everyone to cheer and clap.
Oricus stood from the dais, raising his hands and silencing the grand room in a matter of moments. His eyes were locked on Harlow and the man beside her.
“I want to thank you all once again for accepting my humble invitation to join us on this eve. Many of you may recall the delightful festivals hosted by my father, your former king. It felt only fitting to celebrate tonight in honor of his memory. In a moment we shall feast of the harvest this Mkorath.” Oricus’s lips curled in a polite smile, though the action seemed to pain him.
The room filled with applause once more, followed by a distinct chill. His next breath curled in the air, and instantly the energy around them became charged with fear. Around them, webbed icy fingers wrapped around the open doors.
The stranger stepped into her once more, his lips hovering above hers. “What about now?” he asked urgently. She inhaled deeply, preparing to snap that she still didn’t recognize him.
Until his woodsy, pine scent hit her, along with the intoxicating smell of snow and ice. Pain lanced through her skull and she dropped to her knees, clutching her head. Inside, her blood turned to fire. My brain is fucking melting! She wasn’t sure if she screamed it in her head or out loud.
A million images surfaced at once. Names and voices roared through her mind. Her lungs seared, refusing to draw in air.
It was too much.
Too much!
TOO MUCH!
A pair of forest-green eyes flecked with gold swam into focus behind her eyelids. She heard his voice, felt his touch on her skin. Their bodies fevered and thrusting, aching for more. His voice played on repeat all the things he said. The promises he made.
Arian.
Her head whipped up, but the man in the mask was nowhere in sight. Her Marked, her mate.
“Arian!”
People shuffled back with strangled cries, and many tried to flee. The massive doors were thrown shut by invisible hands, the boom echoing through the room and drowning out the screams.
Ice converged in the middle of the dance floor, forming a snowy lump until it rose, twisting and cracking, into the shape of a long, bony woman with skin a vibrant shade of a turquoise. Her hair was a deep, majestic blue and her gown was sheer, a fabric that shone like ice. She was painfully familiar; just looking at her caused a stabbing pain in the back of Harlow’s skull. Then she recalled the painting.
The Empress.
Onoliza.
Her frigid stare was on Oricus. In one hand she held up a vial. “I brought you a gift. Two, actually.”
Harlow’s brow furrowed. Beside the woman, a second shape took form.
But it was not a person.
A beast with black fur and wicked, curved horns snarled. A metal collar wrapped around its thick throat, Onoliza’s other hand gripping its chain. Its liquid-gold eyes locked on Harlow.
Her feet were moving before she had time to process what she was doing. Distantly, she heard her name being called. Bellowed, really, but she sprinted the short distance, those eyes drawing her in.
When she was close enough to feel the heat of its body and the puffs of its hot breath, she threw her arms around his neck.
Arian.
The beast reared back and let out an earth-shattering roar that had her falling. She landed on her knees, the ice-coated floor burning her skin.
The sound was so achingly familiar, Harlow thought her heart would burst.
Her vision blurred with hot tears and she bowed her head in shame. She’d kissed Oricus not more than a few minutes ago. The lies they’d told her, she’d believed them all. Harlow felt for the bond to Arian.
But it was gone.
Only the twelve bonds she’d had before.
“No, no, no, no,” she whimpered.
A shrill laugh echoed in her head.
Squeezing her eyes, Harlow saw Oricus in his beast form as he clawed his mark onto her chest. The pain of it tore through her anew and she grasped the wound as though her blood spilled from it again. Next was Rex coming to her in dreams, warning her.
The attack on Arian’s house. Rex stealing her away.
Tied to a chair, the agony of whatever they pumped into her eating away at her sanity.
At her memories.
They’d hidden them.
To trick her.
To hurt Arian.
Tears poured down her cheeks, scalding her chilled skin. The images began to fade once again, but she kept her eyes closed.
It was all a lie.
It was all a lie.
It was all a lie.
Betrayal. Hurt. Anger. Then fury.
When she felt the unchained rush of her magic pulsing through her, she welcomed it. Lifting her head, she saw the woman towering over her smile. Why was Arian with her?
The beast chained at the Empress’s side was not looking at Harlow. He growled low and menacingly. Up at the dais.
“I thought you might like to see your mate again,” Onoliza crooned with faux innocence. Looking behind her, to where Harlow knew Oricus still stood, she tacked on, “Oh, isn’t that strange? He’s not her mate anymore.”
An ugly, strangled sob wrenched itself from Harlow’s throat. They’d severed the bond. She glared at Oricus too. He severed the bond. Looking around at the others, she made sure each of the men saw the hatred boiling inside her.
The liars.
“How did you accomplish that, I wonder?” Onoliza still addressed Oricus. “And how did you manage to become her mate?” With a smirk she glanced at the other men, who each took a step forward as though sensing a danger that Harlow didn’t. The Empress gave Harlow a salacious wink. “A girl after my own heart. My, my, what a lovely harem you’ve assembled.”
Rising to her feet, Harlow could have sworn she heard crackling. Looking down she saw writhing flames lashing the ice underfoot. Her entire body was enveloped in them.
She turned to Oricus, who met her lethal stare head-on. There was no apology in his eyes—just his usual cold indifference.
“You’ve done your damage,” Oricus said. His voice was loud, but his tone was bored. “Leave the antidote for Viktor and take your pet with you.”
Onoliza laughed loudly, yet she tossed the vial to where Kel stood, as if it meant nothing to her. The sound grated on Harlow’s ears, but Arian pulled on his chain, snapping and snarling his own fury, capturing her attention once more. Whatever magic kept Arian locked in his beast form also kept the chain from snapping or breaking from the Empress’ grip.
Harlow ached to go to him. To close the distance that separated them. Her chest felt hollow, as though he’d died. Yet he stood before her chained at his enemy’s side. A prisoner, just like her.
Onoliza flashed Oricus a knowing smile. To Harlow she said, “We’ll be seeing you again soon. And don’t worry. I’ll take very good care of your precious ex-mate.” Her form and Arian’s melted into the floor as Harlow lunged. But all that was left was the faint tinkling of Onoliza’s laugh, like ice shattering.
Harlow’s anger threatened to consume her.
“Harlow,” Oricus’s voice boomed. It stirred the fearful Scondeladian citizens that had stood back and watched the whole debacle, trying to remain invisible to their oppressive ruler.
Their reaction seemed to remind him that they were there. Oricus bellowed, “Leave!”
And they did after the doors were pulled back open. By Rex, Harlow imagined, though she’d get to him in a moment.
She marched up the steps, preparing to eviscerate the bastard where he stood, when strong hands clamped around her wrists, heedless of the flames that flickered from her skin. Rasimus and Arodis tried to hold her, gritting against the pain of her fire.
She sent a burst of magic from each palm, knocking them back far enough for her to sprint the rest of the way up the stairs, toward the man who had played her like the fool she was.
He was before her in an instant, matching her look of murder with a cruel, arrogant grin. His hand wrapped around her throat and pulled her face inches from his. For whatever reason, her fire went out in an instant, though she still felt her magic roaring through her veins. “This changes nothing,” he spat. “You still belong to us. Once Viktor is healed, we will complete the Mark. No matter how much you hate all of us, you will beg us to fuck you. You’ll bear our marks and we will take yours.”
There was a specific piece of the puzzle that snapped to the forefront of her mind like a rubber band. “You can’t force me to drink your blood. None of you can.”
His fingers tightened in warning. “My brother was too weak. He waited twenty-five years to claim you, but I will not make that mistake. You were not meant for him. You were meant for us. I made that happen.”
Harlow jerked back, out of his hold. “I am nothing more than a means to punish Arian. I mean nothing to you,” she snarled.
Oricus sneered. “Be that as it may, I will complete my revenge. My pathetic brother couldn’t go six months without climbing into bed with the foul bitch that enslaved our entire planet and a dozen more. It shows just how much he cared for you that he gave up so easily. Now he’ll be her sex slave. He loses, and I win.”
Harlow launched her fist at his face, though he caught it with ease. She drove her knee into his groin. He nearly blocked that too, but was a fraction of a second too late. He hissed in a breath and Harlow let loose.
She exploded in a flurry of punches and blasts of magic while a scream climbed up from the depths of her shattered heart.
These men she’d gotten to know had gotten her to care for them, and they’d made her believe they cared for her too. She was nothing more than a plaything. A pussy to fuck. A cruel prank.
Nothing. I am nothing.
The scream she unleashed was desolate and furious. Distantly she heard rumbling, the floor beneath her shoes vibrating.
Her throat burned as her voice went hoarse. Arms reached for her, grabbed her, and hauled her away.
Even with blood streaming from multiple cuts on his face, Oricus smiled. A trickle fell over his lip and stained his teeth, the final touch on the image of his insanity.
She flailed and struggled against those that held her back, so she turned on them too, landing several decent hits that were met with satisfying crunches before she was tossed to the floor.
Rex knelt beside her, a bruise on his cheek. It wasn’t nearly enough. She wanted to claw out his eyes and peel the skin from his bones.
“Harlow, please,” he started, but she leapt for him.
With a wave of his hand her entire body went rigid like stone, crashing back to the floor hard, her head smacking soundly.
Dots of color swam in her vision. Then, Oricus stood above her.
“I liked you better like this anyway,” he said, wiping the blood from his split eyebrow with the back of his hand, though he only managed to smear it across his temple. “I’d rather fuck you with hate in your eyes while you try to pretend you don’t want it just as much as we do.”
She stared up at him with every ounce of loathing filling her bones. This was the image she wanted to keep of him: bruised and bloodied by her hand and looking exactly like the monster he truly was.
Not a dark knight, there to protect her, as she’d believed.
Not a misplaced prince.
A villain.
That’s all he was, and all he’d ever be.
“We shall see,” he drawled, making her realize she’d said that last part aloud.
Then her eyelids drooped. But her nightmares were just beginning.
REX
Ten of them stood outside the room containing an unconscious Harlow. Geoff had taken the vial up to Viktor and stayed to see what happened. Oricus seemed confident that the Empress had truly handed over the antidote just to prove that she was in control. There was enough only for one dose, by their estimation. Meaning the humans still in the recovery ward would die.
But the damage she’d done by slipping Arian in—masked in ways that prevented any of them from discovering who he was until it was too late—was done. Her memories had returned. Now they were back at level one.
When she wakes, she’ll hate us. Rex’s fists clenched, power filling his palms. For her, the urge to complete the Marking will have all but vanished, but for the rest of them… Well, they were hanging by a thread.
“What’s the plan?” Lefayon asked around his third cigarette, leaning against the wall as though he didn’t give a shit about any of it.
“The plan is the same,” Oricus stated flatly.
“She’s not going to want anything to do with us,” Rex said, fighting and failing to reign in his anger. “Much less submit to the bonding ritual.”
Chained to Darkness Page 20
