AllFreeNovel
Share Us
My body moved even though I didn't want to. I quickly approached my King and bowed low at his feet. My nose hovered just above the floor.
"You must prove your worth to him," Strayton smiled, placing her thin hand on our father's shoulder. "Prove what your King means to you."
A baby's cries filled the hall, echoing off the walls and reverberating through my bones. One of my father's stewards stepped toward me with a tiny pup in his hands. The child's arms and legs kicked out, and it cried louder as the thin blanket covering it slipped off, leaving the poor thing naked and shivering.
Strayton stepped forward and placed a dagger in my hand.
"Prove it," she said, her wicked grin displaying pointed teeth.
My fingers curled around the cold handle as I stepped toward the pup. A red, crescent-shaped mark shone brightly on its belly. I raised the blade and swallowed back a thick sob, then took a deep breath allowing silent tears to roll down my face.
"Do it!" My father roared.
I let a sob rip from my throat as I plunged the knife down.
I jerkedawake in a cold sweat.
My breath was ragged as I wiped at the tears running down my face and neck. I couldn't remember the last time I had slept soundly. Every night the souls of those I had murdered haunted my dreams. I had taken their lives, and now they were slowly taking my sanity.
I was a warrior. I had fought so many magical beings and beasts. Killing for honor, love, and pride. But I had never killed a child before, and I feared my soul would never recover.
I stood up and looked up at the Moon. She hung brightly in the night's sky, bringing me the smallest amount of comfort. I took a heavy breath, then moved my feet. I needed to keep going. I needed to make it to Vaesen as quickly as possible.
It had only been a few hours since Byna's lifeless body lay at my feet, and I didn't know who might be on my heels.
I had stepped out of the Inn, needing a break from the rowdy crowd and stale air, when Byna's body flew out of a window, splattering onto the road in front of me. The shock of seeing her broken, bloody corpse made me freeze momentarily before my senses returned. I looked up at the broken window she had fallen from to see an Omega leaning out. I recognized her almost immediately.
She was the mate of an Alpha we killed at Madra. Hida tried attacking her, and now this was our penance, being done in by a simple Omega. The stars were so clearly angry with me, they sent the weakest creature in our lands to deliver me to my end.
But if I could get to Vaesen, perhaps I could escape my fate...I hoped.
Death was coming for me, as it should. I just prayed it would be quick. Not that I deserved it.
The Next Morning
Tzidal
The sun pouredthrough the broken window, casting golden streaks of light across the floorboards.
I straddled Joon, rolling my hips at a lustful, sloppy pace. My body tensed, and I called out as a wave of pleasure ripped through me. Joon's large hands gripped my ass as he thrust up into my spent body, causing me to jerk with each rough movement.
"Don't stop, baby," he growled through gritted teeth. "Just like that."
My body went limp, and I struggled to stay upright, exhaustion consuming me. Joon grabbed my hips, helping me move over him. He swelled and hardened within me, on the verge of coming. He pulled my head down by my hair and latched his lips onto my throat. His hips stilled, and his body stiffened as he spilled his orgasm into me, dragging his teeth over my flesh.
Panic flashed through my body, and I went rigid, jerking out of his hold. I clamped my hand over my old mating bite, where his teeth just grazed, unsure of what to say or do.
"I wasn't going to mark you," Joon said softly through heavy pants. His cock still pulsing within me.
"I know," I whispered, keeping my eyes cast down. The apples of my cheeks going bright red.
“Baby, are you okay?" His voice was tender and concerned, making me feel even worse.
Joon cupped my cheek briefly before running his fingers through my hair. I nodded quickly, suddenly consumed with an urge to cry. I swallowed it down and smiled as brightly as I could, but I could tell he didn't believe it.
An awkward silence settled between us. Joon looked like he wanted to say something, but instead, he turned his attention to rubbing small circles over my thighs with his thumbs. It was so comforting.
I opened my mouth to apologize, but I didn't want to say out loud that I didn't want him to mark me, so I kept quiet. The scar from my mating bite was the only piece of Korban I had left, and I wasn't willing to let it go just yet.
