by Erin R Flynn
“I’m trying not to hurt you,” he growled.
“Hurt me. Tear me. Just fuck me. Drill me. Fuck me, please.” That was it, he cracked with my begging. He slammed into me, and it hurt, damn it hurt, but it hurt good. It was past what I might ever want again, but it was… Every nerve came alive in some bizarre blending of pain and pleasure and everything in between.
“Yeah, fuck that bitch,” someone growled. “Beg him like a good slut.”
I saw the rage simmering in Kristof’s eyes someone would speak of me like that, but I did it still. I did it for him, not them, but I gave him all they wanted.
And they kept jeering more and more, and I did all of it. I pushed up my breasts for him to bite. I begged him to fuck my ass next—which really got him excited. I screamed he was hurting me so good and I was his slut. I let them give me every idea of how to let Kristof own me completely and allow him whatever he wanted.
It was thrilling and crazy especially because we both knew they were all in for a huge fucking surprise they wouldn’t like.
He made sure I finished twice before coming deep inside of me.
“Great, you got your turn, now let us have her,” someone snapped.
“Only him,” I said firmly.
“Whatever, a bit more blood and you’ll be begging for us all, whore,” he sneered.
I saw the darkness and scary in Kristof’s eyes and for once wasn’t afraid but comforted, as he would use it to save me. I pressed my lips to his ear and barely breathed what I said next. “Let the monster out. Let him out for me and drain them all. They tried to use their blood against me, take all of it. Bathe in it and then fuck me again because I’m yours and they tried to take me from you.”
“Yes, My Princess,” he whispered against my lips, gently pulling out of me.
“Your princess? You just swore to her?” someone demanded, the energy of the room changing from excitement to a mix.
He glanced around the room and smiled at them. “No, we’re courting and you’re all fucked.”
And then he attacked. I watched as they suddenly fell to the ground, unconscious. One he brought over to me and sliced the throat open of the guy who had been the loudest and meanest to me. I hissed as his blood spilled all over my naked body, the monster I used to fear in Kristof’s eyes, but now I knew the truth.
The monster was mine. He loved me just as much as Darius and Jaxon and could never hurt me.
“Is Darius okay?”
“Yes, it’s just a knock out potion,” he told me.
I nodded, relieved even as the fire roared hotter again. “I want to see you drain the one who hurt him.”
“Yes, My Princess,” he growled, bringing a guy over to me and shaking him awake. The guy screamed as Kristof sank his fangs in his neck as he broke his body.
And I loved every fucking second of it.
He dropped the now dead guy with a thump, and I shoved the other one off of me as I slid off the table. We only had eyes for each other as I moved him to the leather couches along the wall. I shoved him and watched as he landed, his eyes filling with heat that I wasn’t simply reacting to the fire and need, but this was need for him.
I licked my lips as I nodded to his dick. “Is that for me?”
“Yes, always,” he whispered.
“Is it mine?”
“Yes, always,” he swore to me.
I sliced my hand on my fang and wrapped it around his dick, stroking him and shivering when he moaned deeply. “Is all of you mine?”
“Yes.”
“You came because I called you. Did you hear me?”
“No, I just knew you called me somehow,” he admitted, looking a bit confused on that. “I will always come for my princess.”
“Am I yours?”
“Yes,” he snarled, and I rewarded him by lowering myself on him. He took down my hair as I moved my body. “You are my princess for as long as you’ll allow me at your side.”
“Mmm, all of this is mine,” I purred, moving my hands over his strong chest and arms. I leaned in and gave him the barest of kisses as I moved his hands to my ass. “Does the monster inside of you feel the same?”
“Yes.”
“Is he mine too? Is that why I’m not scared of him anymore?”
“Yes,” he breathed, cupping my face and kissing me desperately. “I love you, Inez. My heart is yours. All of me is yours forever. I thought I would die when I felt your desperate call and knew someone would hurt you. I would have died if I was too late.”
“You weren’t. You saved me again,” I rasped even as I moved my hips faster. I whimpered when he hit that perfect spot. “Always be mine. I need you, Kristof.”
“Yes, My Princess,” he growled, moving me faster, taking me deeper as he sat up and did everything to my body in a way that blew me apart. He brought me twice, and then to his shock I pulled off of him.
“I love you too, Kristof,” I whispered before dropping to my knees. I took him in my mouth, not caring he tasted like me, and sucked him with all I had.
“You’re so stuck with me now,” he warned as he cupped my face gently. “You are such perfection, and one day I will beg you to accept my oath.”
I smiled and sucked harder, driving him absolutely mad. He warned me when he was coming, and I swallowed it down. I smirked at Branko who was watching as I licked Kristof clean. “We play a bit naughty now and again. Do you object?”
“Nope, just jealous.”
“Why are you here?” I asked him.
“I felt you were distressed somehow,” he admitted. “I was much further away and came as fast as I could. I would assume the others are as well.”
I crooked my finger at him, smiling when he immediately did. Reaching up, I undid his fly and pulled his seriously wide dick out. I leaned in and gave it a kiss to tease him but then licked off the precum that it gave me.
“You’re only the second man she’s done that to,” Kristof muttered.
“Not the others?” he checked, his voice strained.
“They’re not on board with a princess on her knees,” I admitted. I looked back at Kristof. “This was as much fun as I had sucking you the first time. I think that second time never happened.”
“You are too sweet to all of us,” he whispered, pulling me up on his lap and kissing me. I thought it was a quick move, but also Branko tucked his dick away so I was clued in they sensed the others.
Sure enough, Cerdic showed up moments later. “What the bloody fuck happened here?”
“A trap,” I whispered, shivering, and Kristof hugged me tighter. “Kristof saved me.”
“I’ll explain, you don’t have to say it,” he said gently, and I realized I was having trouble getting out the words. He kissed my hair when I thanked him quietly. Branko did one better and covered me in his sweater.
“You’ll kill them all, right?” I checked with Kristof.
“Not the witch.”
“Witch?” I asked, blinking at him. “There are witches?”
“We keep telling you there are other non-humans, but you always make exploding noises,” he reminded me. He stood with me and handed me over to Cerdic to protect before grabbing a woman he’d apparently tied up behind the bar.
She sobbed when he took the gag off. “I didn’t know, I swear I didn’t know. It’s my spells that doesn’t allow anyone to sense the nobles here. It was a defensive spell to knock out anyone who might come here that was more powerful. I didn’t know you were a princess or not a threat, I swear it.”
I believed her, and Kristof nodded it was the truth, but she’d still hurt Darius, and I wasn’t happy about that. “I would suggest leaving New Orleans and maybe North America, as I’m taking over a lot of the areas not already claimed.”
“That’s generous,” Kristof said when it looked like she might object. “Maybe you should drain her and acquire a new gift, My Princess.”
“That’s just an old myth to make witches serve vampires,” she argued, wincing when he pulled her hai
r. Her eyes went wide when both Kristof and Branko snorted. “No, it’s a lie.”
“It’s not,” Kristof promised. “I’ve done it myself. There is a reason there are so few witches left, as they used to be bred at covens just to drink down when they got old and were losing their magic. We had a whole herd of them at my birth coven. It’s why the house of Priest all has so many gifts.”
“That’s horrible,” I muttered, glad when I saw in his eyes he felt the same. “I can barely handle the gifts I have. Let her run.” I narrowed my eyes at her. “Deceived or unknowing or not, you ever touch or hurt a noble of mine or anyone in my coven and I’ll gladly suck you dry.”
“Yes, Princess,” she rasped. “The potion won’t hurt him, I promise. He’ll wake in a few hours. It’s just meant to get away and wipe our scent from him being able to track. It’s only defensive.”
“Fine.”
“Send her to Nora,” Cerdic breathed. “They respect witches and would protect her. You’re too angry she hurt Darius and this whole situation to look on her again, but she’s cannon fodder.”
“Do it,” I agreed. “She can hide from me on the merchant ship that docks soon and I won’t be near.”
“I’m sorry,” she cried again, getting we decided her fate even if she didn’t understand it. “I helped, and they would protect me.”
Yeah, I couldn’t hate her, I understood that, but Cerdic was also right.
Branko stole a kiss and then took the witch to handle everything. Jaxon showed up a bit after looking terrified.
“You’re okay?” he whispered, tears filling his eyes. “I felt you needed me, and I couldn’t get to you fast enough.”
“Kristof did,” I promised, snuggling in his arms as Cerdic gave me over. He hugged me tighter when Kristof filled them in. I stared at Darius the whole time, worried by how upset he’d be that he’d brought us right into a trap. “Of all the fucking buildings we had to pick to check out, we had to come here.”
“I have a feeling that’s why they picked here,” Cerdic muttered. “This is one of the nicer hotels New Orleans had and certainly the one that held up best. If people were going to check out where to stay or the area, it would make sense to check here out.”
“Yeah, that’s exactly why he wanted to,” I rasped. “I’m demolishing the place.”
“Good,” they said together.
Even better, I watched as they drained the nobles who had tried to use their blood against me. They weren’t that clean about it either, the monsters inside all of them coming out. It was almost a waste of blood.
Kristof snorted, letting me know I’d said it out loud. He winked at me and held out his hand. I watched in awe as he called every drop of spilled blood to him and soaked it into his hand and forearm.
Well, fuck me, that was cool.
“Yes, I would like to fuck you again,” he teased me.
“I don’t realize I’m doing it,” I sighed, getting I’d muttered that thought too. I tapped Jaxon’s arm to set me down and peeled off Cerdic’s sweater as I stepped over dead bodies and went to the bar. I leaned over it and grabbed my ass cheeks, showing Kristof how turned on I was. “Fuck me with their blood like it was yours, and then fuck your princess until she screams so she knows she’s yours.”
So he did. A lot. Like a lot. Damn, that was really waving a red flag before him.
“Shit, you really enjoyed that, love,” Cerdic muttered. “Good to know.”
“Better to feel,” I moaned. “I can’t move, and I’m going to be so amazingly sore.”
“I’ll carry you and take care of you,” Kristof murmured against my skin, gasping for air as well. “Can I call you what they do now?”
“Once we’re engaged,” I replied gently. “I want to keep it to just us for a bit longer.”
“I’d like that too,” he agreed after a moment. He teased my nipples until I whimpered they were so sensitive. “Thank you for giving me another chance and letting me be with you, Inez.”
“Thank you for wanting to and giving me time to trust you again.” I glanced at him over my shoulder. “I’m really glad you did. I might still flinch or have moments I need you to be patient with me, but I’m really glad I fell in love with you.”
“Fuck, I need you again,” he groaned.
And I let him. Even if I ached, even if I burned a bit more than was pleasant, I let him because he needed me and I would be there for him just as he was for me.
I was extra snuggly with him the rest of the day, trying to really process what had happened and how close I’d been to being gang raped basically. It was terrifying, and I could tell I wasn’t the only one who felt that. The three of them wouldn’t let me out of their sight as we collected and buried what was needed from New Orleans.
And yes, I destroyed the fucking building. And a few parking lots full of cars.
21
“What happened?” Thomas asked as we finally caught up with him.
“Slight problem in New Orleans,” I answered, fidgeting with Cerdic’s sweater. “Can we relocate? Darius is going to be out a few hours from a witch’s potion, because, you know, there’s that.”
“If Thomas vouches for you to hear you out, I’m fine with it,” the shifter I didn’t know agreed, taking it in. He winced. “You came across the nobles of no court? I didn’t know they were back in New Orleans. They travel pretty often to stay off the radar.”
“Well, they’re dead now,” Kristof drawled. “Let’s get back.”
I nodded and let Cerdic whisk me off while Kristof handled the rest. Darius was already waiting in the hotel lobby on the couches along with Jaxon who looked as frazzled as I felt.
And of course Sebastian and Jacob and their parties were there.
“What the fuck happened?” James worried, hurrying over to me.
“I need to change and shower,” I whispered, scrubbing my hand over my head. “Why was I handling this better earlier?”
“Shock, love,” Cerdic whispered. “You were in shock and then relief it didn’t happen plus a whole bunch of happy hormones from their blood. Now it’s sinking in.”
Okay then, as long as someone could make sense of it all. He brought me to our room, and I was so exhausted and spent I let him shower me. I changed into fuzzy and comfy, weirded out I was so upset now when before I had been all hot and bothered and begging Kristof to fuck me.
So. Much. Crazy.
I thanked Cerdic but wanted Kristof when we rejoined everyone in the conference room. He gave me a wink it was okay, and that helped me some. Kristof seemed to need to hold me too as he wrapped his arms around me the moment I sat on his lap.
“It’s sinking in for me too,” he explained. “At first you were in such a state and begging me, but now all I can think of is how I found you.”
“Me too,” I admitted, hugging his arms to me. “Thanks for the save.”
“Always, Inez.”
“Sorry about the crazy,” I said to the new guy.
“I’m sorry you were attacked, Princess,” he said, dipping his head. “I’m Lorenzo, head of clan Payne.”
“Inez Garner and my nobles, Kristof Priest, Cerdic Wessex, and Jaxon O’Cleirgh. My soon to be father-in-law Sebastian O’Cleirgh who is apparently joining us, and Jacob Wessex who is of Cerdic’s mother’s court. Darius Katz was the unconscious one.” I sighed and accepted a mug of coffee from Trisha who gave me a worried look. “I’m okay. They were touching me with their blood, but they didn’t touch me.”
“They couldn’t. It would have killed them,” Jacob said gently.
“Yes, they knew that and a slut princess would just cave and beg for it after enough blood,” I rasped, staring at my coffee.
“They’re all dead now,” Kristof whispered and kissed my shoulder.
I nodded, glancing between Jacob and Sebastian. “So you guys are just part of the inner crew of my coven now?”
“They’re speaking to how fruitful an alliance with you is,” Cerdic explained.
>
I nodded, studying Lorenzo. “What kind of shifter species are you?” I glanced at James. “Is that the PC way to ask? It feels weird to ask what kind of animal like that’s all you guys are.”
“Though most do phrase it that way,” Lorenzo admitted, studying me back.
“Wait, before he answers, what do you feel when you see him?” Sebastian asked curiously.
“So he’s not a cat,” I muttered, getting they were testing a theory. I searched Lorenzo’s eyes and used that power that helped me find artifacts from the quest to open myself up in a way. “To be careful with him. I don’t feel the pull I do with my knights or cat shifters, but I want to be careful with him, let him curl up on my lap while reading a book maybe?”
Lorenzo’s eyes flashed shock. “Armadillo.”
I had to think about that a second but then smiled. “The cute little guys that curl up with the protective shells?” I bit back a squee when he nodded. “Those are cute.”
“We’re prey as our animals only eat grubs and insects mostly,” he muttered.
I shrugged. “So? I drink blood and it soaks in my skin. I’m a corrupted magnet. What’s the big deal?”
“She’s serious, isn’t she?” Lorenzo whispered, giving Thomas a look of complete shock.
“She’s truly not an elitist, and everything I’ve seen is she treats shifters as equals and her knights are her friends,” Thomas promised.
“Is it really that weird?” I asked, feeling almost as if I should apologize for not being princess like.
Except Sebastian and Jacob shifted in their seats a bit. Well, clearly it was.
I thought of something else though, glancing at Trisha. “Is Simon or Maggie around?”
“Simon’s helping the kitchen for lunch,” she said, giving me a knowing look. “I’ll go get him.”
“Thanks. Sorry, I just feel all over.”
“I’ve been there,” she said sadly.
“It’s too cold for you to have wet hair,” Kristof muttered as if explaining why he took down my hair and started combing it.
“Thanks.” I glanced back at Lorenzo. “So Thomas and his clan know farming. Sebastian wants to teach them dairy and cheese I guess. Anything your clan is into?”