Page 44 of Witch’s Heart

Panic welled in my chest. I couldn’t allow that. Without thinking, I dropped to my knees. I kept my offering outstretched. “I submit,” I repeated.

“Fuck,” he hissed, running a hand over his face. “Mina, my issues are mine to work through.”

“They involve both of us. You told me your fantasy and I never gave you a solid answer. I’m giving you one now. I’m giving you complete control. Maybe it won’t fix everything, but if I can make your job even a little easier, I will. I will give it all up to you. My control. My magic. My heart. My body. All of me.”

He whirled around and walked several paces away, keeping his back to me, then spun to face me again. “You would be powerless if I put those on you. Completely powerless.”

“I know. I—” I cleared my throat. “I want that.”

“If I put those on, I will use them to punish you. There will be pain.” I thought of our reunion in the stable, of how he’d tied me up and punished me, of how I’d delighted in the pain, but there had been just as much pleasure. Just the mere memory had hot arousal slicking the junction between my thighs. What we’d done, I’d loved every minute of it. Only, this time I would be powerless to stop him if he truly hurt me. A flash of fear had the dark thing inside me squirming. Over the past few months, I’d become more powerful, not less. Now, I would be giving that power up completely. The thing inside me didn’t like the idea, even if it was hungry for pleasure, but I ignored it. “I understand the circumstances, Rixon. I want the pain—and the pleasure.”

“What if I decide to give only pain?” His gaze held mine, testing me. “What if that’s all there is?”

My heart hammered a little faster. While I didn’t truly believe it, I needed to accept the possibility. “Whatever you decide—it is your decision, Lord Wielder. That is the point of my submission, is it not?”

His throat bobbed. “Where are the keys?”

“On the table.”

Rixon held still. I could see the war of emotions raging in him. “This might not fix anything.”

“Would it fix things between us, though?”

“Yes.”

I blew out a breath, one I hadn’t realized I was holding.

That was all I needed. To fix what had happened days ago. But also, to help with how he felt about ruling, about being king, even if only a little bit. My heart pounded against my rib cage, dum-dum-dum, making me sway slightly as I waited.

Rixon’s expression settled into something I couldn’t quite read. He calmly turned and went to the door, clicking the lock into place. His broad shoulders bunched, and I traced the outline of him.

His steps were measured as he approached me. My breaths heightened. From my position on my knees, he towered above me, reminding me just how small I was compared to his massive bulk. He gently tugged the shackles from my grip, his eyes locked on mine the entire time. Tension snapped between us. “Give me your hands,” he said, voice low. A shiver raced over my skin. I quickly lifted both wrists, eager to comply. Eager to show him what a good girl I could be.

Fuck, was I that depraved?

Yes. Yes, I was. I wanted this, even if I was also terrified. The fear only made it that much better.

He positioned the cuffs around my wrists, his thumbs caressing my bare skin, lingering over my pulse. Could he feel how it raced? His eyes held mine, a question that didn’t need voicing. I gave a subtle nod, my final consent that I was in—all in. The shackles clicked. I instantly felt my magic dwindling before it died completely.

The breath whooshed from my lungs at the shock of it. It felt like being underwater. Being compressed.

“There is no going back now,” he said.

I knew that. Whatever happened, I was powerless to stop it. “I understand,” I rasped, taking a desperate inhale.

“If you say stop, I won’t stop. If you beg and plead, I’ll still do as I see fit.”

Gods, this was so fucked up. So…why was I trembling with eager anticipation? Had he turned me into this?

“I won’t ask you to stop.”

“We’ll see about that,” he grunted. “Now, stay here.” With that, he walked away. I frowned, watching as he took the keys and disappeared into the sleeping chamber. I craned my neck, tempted to get up, to see what he was doing. Was he preparing something wicked for me? The thought had me rubbing my thighs together, desperate for friction as I tried to imagine what situation he had in store for us. Already, I felt wetness smeared by my actions. I tried to steady my breathing, taking long inhales through my nose.

When Rixon emerged, his shirt was gone, making my mouth water. I swallowed the saliva pooling there. Despite his bruises, every taught muscle was on full display and I wanted to lick each one. A small whimper rose in my chest.

Rixon froze at the sound of it, his back to me, then continued walking. He went to the liquor cabinet and poured himself a drink, then took a seat on the sofa and crossed an ankle over his knee, sipping it while he watched me.

I frowned in confusion. “I thought we were going to⁠—”