My eyes burned with tears. “Give that back.”
“I don’t think so. You once took what was mine, so now I’m taking what’s yours.” Lyall didn’t look away from me as she dropped my cape on the muddy floor and stepped on it with her boot, just like I’d been expected to stand on Moon with mine.
I didn’t need my shadows to see red. The cape had become my link to my mom and Charmer legacy. The wolves had stolen mom and now they were taking even her memory. If Amadeus hadn’t been wound around me holding back my rage, I’d have been throwing myself into a fight, even without my powers.
“Trust me,” Amadeus whispered, “I’m not only a pretty behind.”
“What…?”
“Now for the disgrace.” Lyall’s grin widened around her fangs, as she stalked towards me, raising her claws.
Here was the vision of the wolf who’d haunted my nightmares over the last decade. I stumbled backwards, but Amadeus spun out of my arms towards Rhona. Then he swayed to the haunting music that bled out of the Betas’ tent, teasing off his long gloves and revealing his tantalizing alabaster skin.
Okami slunk out of my pocket, slithering sensuously around Amadeus, who arched into his touch like they were lovers caught in private passion, rather than the sudden stars of a sinful show that had caught the Alphas in its thrall.
Every shifter desired Amadeus, and I was breathless myself at the need to yank him back into my arms and slip my hand down his pants, until I could touch his cute ass and the WCH that he’d requested to be branded there, which proved that he was my Charm.
Okami flashed back-and-forth like the Dance of the Seven Veils, whilst Amadeus swayed towards Rhona. In the shimmering light of the moon, there was no doubting his incubus blood, as his ruby eyes glittered.
I might’ve wished that he only danced for me, but I wouldn’t be that kind of possessive asshole. Plus, my pretty Beta had the sinful body and angelic eyes that my aunt had warned me about with the shifters, but I was also learning that I wouldn’t want him as an enemy. His dance, body, and sexuality were his weapons, and boy, did he know how to use them.
Rhona panted, leaning forward with her hands on her knees and an expression of rapt attention like the rest of us had been spelled into non-existence. When Amadeus danced closer with a swing of his hips, she snatched his wrist like a snake clamping its fangs into its prey and hauled his slender body onto her knee.
And he let her.
Emperor growled.
“How can I please you?” Amadeus nestled his head against Rhona’s chest. “Pleasure with sexy little me is far more fun than revenge.”
Rhona laughed, although she still stroked his hair. “Nay, you can’t bargain with a queen, Be. You were given to me, so I already own you. What if I simply take?”
I grabbed onto Emperor, stopping him from storming to save Amadeus.
Amadeus had asked me to trust him, and I wouldn’t underestimate him. Emperor had spent his childhood protecting Amadeus. Maybe he needed to learn that his friend had grown up…?
When Emperor turned his betrayed gaze on me, I winced.
Okami wrapped himself around Rhona’s hand, before she could get any naughty thoughts. Amadeus snickered, as Rhona tried to flick her new silver glove off, even as he caressed his own gloveless hand down her cheek.
I shivered at the same time as Rhona did. The touch of an incubus’ bare hand on skin was like every pleasure, desire, and need flayed, whilst the incubus could read and manipulate them. Then they were able to bring you what you most desired, whilst your pleasure gorged them.
If an incubus failed to please you, they starved. Once fed, however, they were powerful…and hold onto your flaming panties hot.
Rhona’s eyes rolled back, as she shuddered, clutching Amadeus closer and whimpering. The Alphas around her shifted uncomfortably, muttering.
Huh, even I hadn’t been able to reduce her to whimpering with all my magic.
“Ma,” Morag begged, reddening. “Will you leave off…”
“Don’t you want my touch?” Amadeus murmured. “For me to please you like this?”
“Aye,” Rhona rasped, humping against him.
“Then remember that I’m a Beta and not an Omega. Plus, I’m the Prince of the Gods.” Amadeus’ gaze was steely, as he pulled away his hand. Rhona blinked, looking at him with hazy eyes. “If you don’t take anything from me, then I’ll give you what you desire.”
Rhona reached out to tuck a strand of Amadeus’ hair behind his ear, studying him with a softer expression than I’d yet seen. “Does the daft Charmer know what she has in you?”
Amadeus peeked at me through his thick lashes, and my knees almost buckled at the heavy-lidded need in his gaze. “She’s learning.” Then he glanced at Moon. “Your son carried on about the Countess all the time. He wouldn’t admit it, see, but he missed her.”
My chest ached, as I hunched my shoulders. Why did it hurt so much, even though I knew that Amadeus was only lying to make things easier for Moon?
He was lying, right?
“He did…?” Lyall’s eyes lit up, before she smiled encouragingly at Moon. “On my fangs, it can be like it always should’ve been before the witches. You’ll be my Bitten as was promised.”
I waved my hand in the air. “Hey, not to be the buzzkill, but he’s already Bitten…by the witch over here.”
“All Claims are broken by death,” Lyall snarled.
Maybe I shouldn’t have put my hand up and waved so enthusiastically…
“The Wolf Charmer won’t be executed tonight,” Rhona bellowed, stilling Lyall in shock. Then Rhona kissed the top of Amadeus’ head. “I swore off revenge, which leaves me with the question: what to do with the witch and her final Charm?”
Okay, so not death, which is always freaking fabulous. But the sadistic way that the queen was examining Emperor and me like she was imagining a long list of nasty options made me squirm.
“A bath, snack, and a good night’s sleep because I’m beat…?” I smiled winningly.
Rhona only scowled, before turning her attention to Emperor. “Since you were a cub, I’ve noticed you, Prince of the Alphas, fluttering around like a haughty butterfly. It’s time an Alpha broke your wings.”
I clutched my arms around Emperor’s waist, whilst my trapped crimson raged to be free and able to cocoon him in its safety.
Yet Emperor merely arched his brow. “I already have a Chief Alpha, and she doesn’t break my wings. She sets me free to fly.”
Rhona snorted. “That’s because she’s an unworthy witch who doesn’t know any better.”
“Nothing but an unworthy witch, is it?” Amadeus cocked his head. “Then would it please you to toss them both in the Witches Well for the Unworthy? No witch has ever escaped, or those are the stories that I’ve heard.”
Rhona smiled cruelly; her eyes blazed. “You heard right. Although, if it rains, they’ll drown.”
“Witches in a well. Throw them in, throw them in. Witches in a well.” The Alphas chanted, circling closer and closer.
I stared at Amadeus, even as I shook.
Why had he offered up a life-sentence as a punishment? If I found a way up from a prison that was inescapable, his sexy behind was in for a spanking.
I refused to beg and show how terrified I was of being trapped in both the water and dark, which were my nightmares, because I was unworthy.
This time, it was Emperor’s arms tightening around me to stop me swaying with dizziness.
I’d been thrown to the wolves by the witches, and now I’d be thrown into a well to drown.
CHAPTER THREE
In the blackness, I clung to Emperor, wrapping my legs around his waist like we were in a seriously adventurous sex position. Instead, we were shivering at the bottom of the narrow stone Witches Well (which I refused to even think was for the Unworthy), which crushed us together in a cruel parody of a lovers’ embrace. Although, if I had to be trapped down a well with someone, Emperor was now top of my list
because of his strong arms and the way that he licked and nuzzled at my neck to distract me from the gnawing hunger and thirst.
The only guy that could’ve knocked Emperor off the top spot was Moon because his cuddles were kind of addictive…like toasted marshmallow lattes.
Trust me, addictive.
Except, it hurt to think of Moon, whilst I rested my arms around Emperor’s neck in the dark, when I didn’t know whether Lyall was hurting him. It was equally painful to think of what Amadeus was sacrificing with Queen Rhona to keep us alive down this well, rather than savaged at Lyall’s fangs.
When I shifted in frustration, the water that rippled up to Emperor’s middle splashed. I wrinkled my nose against its rotten egg stench. My clothes stuck to me, rubbing in uncomfortable — intimate — places.
I peered upward, but the well cover had been slammed with a resounding and far too ominous clang, after Emperor and I had been lowered in here by a rope that’d then been pulled up after us. The dickhead Alphas had reassured me that the lid had tiny holes in it for air…and to let the rain pour through.
I’d never been frightened of stormy weather, until now. Morag had described how sluices would open from the side and drain the Wilds’ rainwater into the well.
Drowning had always been my recurring nightmare.
Boy, was this not my week.
Emperor’s fingers stroked down my back, before digging into the tension between my shoulder blades. Every touch was much more intense in the dark. The last time that I’d been trapped like this, it’d been in the wardrobe in my parents’ bedroom, during the massacre in the House of Silver. I should’ve been terrified. Yet I was safe in my Charms’ embrace, even if I ached, was chilled to the bone, and close to gnawing off my own arm in hunger…or Emperor’s because at this point, I wasn’t picky.
Yep, I’d best keep that last part to my witchy self.
I groaned, banging myself against the stone wall. I felt Emperor flinch against me. For the last…however long we’d been stuck down here…it was as if he was part of my body; his movements vibrated through me.
“Hey, were you holding out on me?” I licked his cheek. “I thought that you didn’t know massage techniques?”
When Emperor paused, I squirmed, willing him to start up his delicious touch again. “Did I?” I could hear the grin in his voice, even if I couldn’t see it. “I believe that I said it wasn’t taught on my curriculum.”
I huffed. “Honestly, it’s my mistake. I should’ve known that a pampered prince had massages coming out of his ass…”
I jumped at the sudden swipe of his thumb down the hollow of my back. “I’m certain that you haven’t forgotten how sweet a sight I made tied to your bed by my own kingdom. Massages were useful tools in my diplomacy, and I learned that they were much preferable to being on my knees or back.”
“I’m sorry,” I whispered.
“Why? You’re the only one who unbound me, or have you forgotten that as well?”
My lip trembled, and I couldn’t help the tears, which had been threatening ever since Lyall had stolen my cape and desecrated mom’s memory, from falling. I knew that Emperor must’ve been able to feel the way that I was shaking.
He hushed me, resting our foreheads together; his scent of sweet honey washed over me. “It’s hellish to be confined like this, but I’ve been caged on the night of the full moon my entire life. We’ll survive this, or are you truly an unworthy Wolf Charmer?”
I bristled, stung. My shadows battled at the binding that wound around them like vines to show him just how worthy I was to have him as my Charm, and I could sense the binding begin to loosen. “Dude, I’m a rogue witch. Does your loser ass need a lesson in Charmer and Charm relations?”
Emperor rolled his hips against mine. “That’s right, filthy little witch, teach your bad wolf.”
I giggled. Oh, I got it, he wanted to piss me off. Mission accomplished. His way was more creative than most to take my mind off…everything.
“Come on,” he hissed, “I can’t do all the work here.”
I sighed, before tightening my legs around his waist and making him gasp. “What a bad wolf you are. Now I’ve caught you, whatever shall I do with you?”
Emperor’s breath was hot against my ear. “You could punish me…?”
I didn’t miss the hopeful lilt or the way that the words curled warmth through me despite the chill.
I rolled my eyes.
How in the witching heavens could I role play discipline, when I couldn’t even stand?
Then I remembered the scars on Amadeus’ back, and it wouldn’t even have mattered if I’d had room to swing a bull whip, I wouldn’t have struck my prince.
“How about if I think he’s a good wolf?” I turned my head to catch Emperor’s lips in a tender kiss. He shuddered, but I had the feeling that it’d been more at the good wolf, than the kiss. Hey, a praise kink I could work with. “And I only want to snuggle with the wickedly hot prince…?”
“Then I’d say…” Emperor’s lips brushed against mine on each word. “…Damn you for making me hard in these tight wet pants.”
I snickered. “I’m so not saying sorry.”
Then I sighed, at last allowing myself to think about the House of Silver and the two angels and Moon’s brother, Moth, who we’d left behind.
Zetta, who’d been created from the essence of all Wolf Charmers and had taken mom’s appearance, was still in the house, yet she’d been the one to betray me to the witches. Ramiel, the warrior angel who was also an Addict under the control of the witches, was looking after Mischief.
Nope, I still couldn’t think of Mischief lying unmoving in the nest of blankets like he was already dead…
I closed my eyes and took a shuddering breath.
Emperor stilled against me. “Crimson…?” He asked cautiously.
“Do you think Mischief is still alive?” I murmured. Emperor’s breaths were suddenly as unsteady as my own. “Why on earth is his energy being drained? You know, Ramiel will be freaking out…in a quiet kind of way…that we haven’t gone back to them. I’m gutted that they could think that we abandoned them.” I bit my lip to hold back the sob. “Jesus, I can’t bear not being able to use my magic. It’s kind of like I don’t even know what I am if…I’m not a witch. Mischief once told me that having his magic bound was like being shattered. Boy, was he not lying.”
“Undo my shirt,” Emperor commanded.
I sniffed. “Nope, the mood’s officially killed, sexy.”
“Although I won’t argue the sexy,” Emperor replied, “it may surprise you that I can think with more than my dick.” I flushed, fumbling with the buttons of his shirt to push it open above his waistcoat. “Now reach inside and—”
“Pull out a rabbit?”
“More like a butterfly.”
I brushed my fingers underneath Emperor’s silky shirt to his chest, edging across to his shoulder. I shuddered, as the dark magic of the Purple Emperor butterfly that was tattooed on his skin nipped me, until I could trace its outline by touch alone. Emperor’s heart thud — thud — thudded beneath the slow sensual sweeps of my hand.
“So strange that only you and my sister have found beauty in my Curse.” Emperor shook, pressing into my caresses. “Does it intrigue you? This Omega who was born wrong as an Alpha? The clever tattoo that uses magic on a wolf?”
My hand stilled. “I’m such a jerk. It’s just that your ink—”
“Binds me,” he said, softly, “repressing who I am. I understand your loss, but it’s only temporary. When shall I be allowed to escape my cocoon?”
When I kissed his cheek, I startled at the taste of his salty tears. Then I licked their trail in comfort.
I swept my fingers lower, just above his heart and over the WCH that he’d chosen to have branded over the OM mark, until it looked like nothing but his own beautiful pattern, which belonged to him alone. His dick twitched against me through his pants, and I shivered.
“You�
�ve already broken out of the asshole Kingdom of the Alpha’s cocoon by yourself. You’re my Charm but you don’t need me to fly.” I smiled at his sharp intake of breath. “You’re my Purple Emperor.”
I eeped at the sudden violence of his kiss. Our teeth clacked, then he bit at my lip, before his tongue thrust into mine with desperation and longing. The sharp scent of liquorice overpowered the sweet honey, until I lost myself in it and the vibrations of Emperor’s fierce growl. I didn’t know whether I was being kissed or savaged.
When he pulled back, panting, he snarled, “You truly like to tempt me, don’t you? Let us be clear on something, your magic will return, but you still have power without it. I don’t care whether you’re a witch, wolf or Queen of the Fae, you see me, even in the dark.”
I jolted at his nibble to my ear, then his soft suck along its shell. My skin felt too tight and hot.
“May I…?” Emperor’s hands skirted lower along my back towards my ass.
My eyes fluttered closed. “Holy hell, don’t stop.”
He chuckled, warm and intimate in my ear. Then he cupped my ass under the water. I arched, whilst I was a hundred times more sensitive to every brush of his fingertips because of the blackness.
Please, please, just touch me a little bit lower…
Suddenly, electric guitars and throbbing organ music burst from the well’s walls. Emperor and I both screamed, clutching each other tighter in shock.
Were my guts seriously dancing to the loud pulse of The Animals “House of the Rising Sun”?
As the haunting voice howled out its dark warning of pain and regret, I shivered because boy, did I get those vibes right about now, which I guessed was the point of whoever was tormenting us. Then in a blaze of light that burned my retinas and made me howl, the walls were flooded with images repeated on loop all around us, so quickly that my stomach lurched.
Finally, the halos in my eyes faded, and I blinked to clear my vision.
Only Pretty Betas: A Shifter Paranormal Romance Series (Rebel Werewolves Book 2) Page 3
