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“Next time you make a sound of pain escape your Queen’s lips, I will give her your heart,”
Turning to her, his face softening, he held out his hand to her. Fighting back the urge to let the hot tears slip down her cheek. Talia hesitated just a moment before placing her hand in his.
Pulling her to her feet. Draven rested his forehead against hers.
His dark eyes staring into her.
“I’m sorry,” her voice was a soft whisper, just loud enough for his ears.
Nodding, his thumb stroking the back of her hand.
“I know” relief flooding through her she almost sank against him. Eyes closing, she leaned her head against his.
“But if you don’t lie down willingly, then Ghost will receive double your punishment,”
Eyes flying open, she stared at him. Her body starting to tremble.
“What?”
“I can’t blood bond you, Talia. It would taint your spirit. The only option you have left me is this.” His eyes almost tormented as he looked at her. “I adore you. I even understand how overwhelming all of this must be for you. But you betrayed me,” His grip on her hands tightening, “A powerful King keeps his people’s trust by fear and love. And if I will do this to you. My Queen. My love. Then what would I do to them if they ever betrayed me?”
“But you hurt him for hurting me. I don’t understand,”
When he lifted his hand to her cheek, his touch was gentle and tender.
“I know you don’t understand.” His eyes were soft, almost pitying. “I am the only person you ever need to fear, I promise. Only my hand will bring you the sweetest of pleasure or the stinging release of pain.”
Bringing the back of her hand to his lips, he placed a cool kiss against the warmth of her skin.
“Now lie down,”
He stepped back and glanced down at her. Her gaze flickering from him to the eager onlooking vampires. The werewolf guards showed no emotion except for Ghost. With a tear streaming down her cheek, she was held in place by another wolf’s firm grip.
Swallowing the lump in her throat, Talia nodded slowly. Numbly.
In a room full of people, she was alone. Not one person was going to step up. They were all going to watch what he planned to do. She wasn’t sure what was worse.
Looking down at the rising manacles chained to the floor, her whole body shaking. Lie down or have Ghost be punished instead.
It wasn’t even a choice.
Punishment wasn’t death. She tried to convince herself. It was going to be ok. Punishment today, escape tomorrow.
With a deep shuddering breath, she knelt down and laid flat. Willing herself not to show the terror that was coursing through her with every fevered beat of her heart.
“Roll over” His word was stern, as cold as the tiles she pressed her body against. Rolling onto her stomach, she felt a sudden chill as the dark-haired vampire appeared above her.
Blood staining his cheek, he glared down at her as he pulled her hand into the cuff of the metal. Securing the lock around her wrists, then her ankles.
Unable to see more than the floor. Talia bit back a gasp of shock as she felt the tip of a knife run down the back of her neck.
“How I wish,” Draven’s voice was a soft whisper, “you had indeed worn this for me.”
Before she could even think of an answer, the blade cut through both her robe and her chemise underneath. His hands almost trembling as he pulled the soft silk aside. Fingers tracing over the curve of her back as he exposed her bare flesh to the room.
“Please don’t do this,”
“This hurts me so much more than you can imagine.” Leaning over her, he pressed his lips to the top of her spine. “You are so beautiful,”
