by Sarra Cannon
“What is this one’s name again, Jaxen? Do you remember?”
“I believe it is Michael, my lord.”
“Ahh, that’s right.”
Val stiffened and then leaned forward, keeping Abby firmly on his lap. He studied the small, trim man standing calmly in the middle of the arena. He looked to be in his thirties and he was shirtless. His upper torso was covered in bruises and old scars and he was barefoot.
Abby was staring at Michael with a terrified look on her face and he squeezed her waist harshly before placing his mouth at her ear. “Hide your emotions, Abigail, or it will be us in that arena.”
She nodded without taking her gaze from Michael and, irritation flooding through him, he held her chin and turned her face toward him. “Do you hear me?” He breathed.
“Yes.” She muttered impatiently. Already her gaze was sliding back to her beloved Michael and he could barely hold in his snarl of jealousy. He squeezed her chin tightly and, before she could react, kissed her deeply. She twitched in surprise and he continued to kiss her until her body relaxed slightly.
“Remember who you belong to.” He breathed against her mouth before sitting back in the chair.
“This one is exceptionally good with a sword.” Darius said as he hoisted the slave girl from the floor and back on to his lap. He cupped her breast, toying absentmindedly with her nipple, before dipping his head and drinking from her throat. The girl moaned in delight, her hands gripping his arms as he feasted, and arched her back.
Darius wiped his mouth and pushed her back to the ground, ignoring her soft cry of dismay. He gestured to the vampires in the arena and they handed swords to Michael and his opponent.
Abby studied Michael’s opponent. He was tall and blond with the hands of a farmer and a sunburned face, but he held his sword with the ease of one well-practiced, and nodded to Michael.
Michael returned his nod grimly before raising his sword. Abby jerked on Val’s lap at the first clash of their swords and he squeezed her thigh tightly and gave her a warning look. She forced herself to relax as Tavien raised his eyebrows.
“It appears your slave has gotten over her squeamishness, Lord Joven.”
“I have no doubt at the first sight of blood, it will return.” Val said dryly.
Abby ignored them both as Michael and his opponent moved swiftly around the arena. Their swords struck repeatedly, sparks flying from the edges of the blades, as neither one was able to break through the other’s defense.
“This is turning out better than I thought.” Darius raised his voice over the roar of the crowd. “Normally this one kills his opponent within minutes. Perhaps we have finally found an opponent who is worthy of his—”
There was a gasp from the crowd and Darius fell silent as Michael’s sword pierced the stomach of the blond man. The man fell to his knees as blood poured out and darkened the ground around him.
Darius made a grunt of irritation. “It would seem I spoke too soon.”
Michael bent and clasped the larger man’s shoulder. He whispered in his ear as Darius snorted angrily and stood.
“Finish him!” He bellowed.
The crowd screamed and then echoed Darius’ shout. Chants of “finish him”, “finish him”, filled the arena. Michael ignored them and continued to speak into the dying man’s ear. After a few moments he stepped back and raised his sword. The crowd’s chanting faded away as they waited for the final blow.
Abby, blinking back tears, swallowed heavily as Michael gave the man in front of him a look of sorrow.
“I am sorry, my friend.” His voice was soft but audible in the sudden silence, and Abigail bit the inside of her cheek as he swung his sword and decapitated the blond man. His head fell to the ground with a soft thump and the crowd screamed raucously, stomping their feet and clapping their hands, as the guards returned and took Michael’s sword before leading him out of the arena.
Abigail collapsed against Val. Her heart was thudding heavily in her chest and she was close to vomiting. She curled into Val, hiding her face in his throat under the pretense of kissing him, so that Darius and Tavien would not see her emotions.
He stroked her back soothingly as Darius stood and hauled his slave girl to her feet. “Come, Lord Joven. You and Faren must join us in the common room. It is our custom to have a gathering for some of our more honoured guests.”
Chapter 11
Abigail sat stiffly on Val’s lap and tried to ignore what was going on around her. They had been in the common room for the last two hours as Darius and about fifty other vampires had feasted on their slaves voraciously while they mingled about. In the last half hour, the festivities had become more decadent and, while she didn’t consider herself a prude, she was becoming increasingly uncomfortable with the dark desire the vampires were indulging in.
Even Jaxen was participating. The old vampire had spent most of his time sitting with Val but he had wandered away about five minutes ago, and she watched as he took the hand of a man wearing a dark red collar and led him to a chaise in the far corner of the common room. The slave knelt at his feet and she looked hastily away when he began to undo Jaxen’s pants.
Her gaze landed on Faren and she was relieved to see that he had chosen Sienna again. The brunette was lying on his lap, her hand kneading his crotch and her eyes closed in ecstasy as he fed from her.
She could feel Val’s cock hard and hot beneath her. She wasn’t surprised. All around them, the vampires in Darius’ household were being pleasured by their pets. The thought of public sex had never really appealed to her but as she watched one of the women lift her skirt and straddle the vampire beneath her, she realized wetness was dampening her thighs. The wetness grew when the vampire guided his cock into the woman’s pussy, and she gave a loud squeal of pleasure and ground her hips down.
Darius was watching her. His hand was wound through a woman’s hair as she knelt between his thighs and sucked enthusiastically on his cock. Her breathing shallow, she unconsciously pressed her ass against Val’s cock and he groaned softly. Darius was still staring at her and she knew that he was wondering why she and Val were not joining in on the orgy around them.
Val’s hand was suddenly on her head and he drew it down to his mouth. His voice rough with need, he whispered, “In a few minutes you’re going to tell me that you’re not feeling well. Say that you feel sick to your stomach. I’m going to slap you and be angry with you, before I drag you out of here. Do you understand?”
She nodded as her gaze returned to the woman bouncing on the vampire’s cock. She knew what Val was doing for her. She knew that he believed deep down she was horrified and would take any excuse to leave.
She took a deep breath. She also knew that no matter how realistic Val made his anger with her look, Darius would not fall for it. If they left now, without Val proving to Darius that she truly was under his control, he would kill them both before the morning. She took another deep breath as Val pushed lightly on her back. She turned to him and smiled before kissing him firmly on the mouth.
He gave a grunt of surprise but his hands were already circling her waist and he was pulling her against him as she explored his mouth with her tongue. She ran the tip of it over his fangs and then sucked hard on his lower lip before gazing at him.
He was staring at her, his eyes glowing with surprise and lust, and she gave him another slow smile before sliding off his lap to the floor at his feet. She knelt between his legs and reached for the buttons on his pants. She flicked them open, keeping her eyes on his face. As turned on as she was, she was afraid she would lose her nerve if she looked around the room. She blocked out the sounds of the moans and groans coming from all around her, and smiled up at Val before licking her lips.
“Little dove…” He whispered in a strangled little voice.
She pulled his cock out of his pants and without speaking, leaned forward and wrapped her lips around the head of it. She suckled hard and ran her tongue over the slit, licking away the
drop of precum that dripped out of it.
He groaned loudly and knotted his hands into her hair. He pulled gently, urging her to take more of his shaft into her mouth, and she rose up a little and slid her mouth down his cock until the head of it brushed the back of her throat.
He moaned, staring down at her with eyes burning with lust, and petted her long hair like she was a cat. “Such a good girl, little dove.” He whispered.
She sucked harder in response, darting her head back and forth quickly as she pumped the base of him with her hand. His hips rose from the chair and his hand tightened almost painfully into her hair before he made himself relax against the chair.
She sucked on just the head of it, and then licked the thick vein that ran underneath the shaft. He groaned and cried out with pleasure before whispering, “Take more. I want you to take all of my cock into your pretty little mouth.”
She hesitated and sat back on her heels. She stared up at him and he stroked her face encouragingly. “Try, little dove.” He murmured.
She nodded and slid her mouth over his cock once more. She angled herself over him and slowly moved her head downwards. His cock brushed up against the back of her throat and instead of pulling back, she took a deep breath through her nose and relaxed her throat. She swallowed and swallowed again, pulling more of his cock down her throat until she realized with a soft kind of wonderment that her lips were touching his pubic hair. She moved up and down, sucking hard, her cheeks hollowing with the effort, his soft groans encouraging her to keep going. She could feel his cock swelling in her mouth and his hands gripped her head tightly as he gave a hoarse shout and came in her mouth. She swallowed his warm seed, her mouth milking his cock until she had pulled every drop from him and he was shuddering beneath her.
She pulled her mouth away, taking deep breaths and biting her lip compulsively as she squeezed her thighs together. Her pussy was dripping wet and pulsing and throbbing heavily, and she had never wanted to come so badly in her life.
He pulled her up off her knees and onto his lap. He kissed her hard on the mouth, his hand slipping into her bikini top to cup her breast. His fingers pulled at her nipple and she moaned loudly. His mouth slipped to her throat and she lifted her head as he sucked and licked at the sensitive skin. His hand crept between her thighs and she spread them eagerly.
She was only vaguely aware of the other people in the room, of their own soft cries of need and pleasure, and she made a loud groan of frustration when Val’s hand slipped out from between her thighs without touching her pussy.
“Please!” She cried, looking down at him. He was staring across the room and she followed his gaze. Some of the others had finished and were lying sated on the couches or the floor of the large room. Still others were in the midst of fucking and she watched as a few of the couples left the large room for more private quarters, their hands groping and squeezing each other’s flesh.
Darius, his hips pumping furiously as he fucked the woman bent over one of the low couches, was watching them closely. His gaze travelled over Abby’s body, his eyes dark with lust, and she felt a tremor of nausea go through her.
Val lifted her off his lap, standing abruptly and doing his pants up before taking her roughly by the arm. He nodded to Darius, who gave him a clear look of disappointment, and marched from the room, dragging Abby with him.
They walked silently towards their room. Away from the gaze of Darius, Abby felt her lust returning. She wanted to cry with frustration. Once they got to their room, Val would close off from her again and she would be left with nothing but her own need.
They reached their room and Val pushed her roughly into the room before slamming the door shut behind him. She stood by the bed, her entire body trembling with need, as he walked to the fireplace and stared silently into the flames.
“Why did you do that?” He asked hoarsely.
“Because,” she swallowed hard, “because if I hadn’t, Darius would have killed us both. You know that, Val.”
He didn’t reply and she hesitated before asking almost timidly, “Why did you stop? Why didn’t you make me…”
She trailed off, her face red with embarrassment.
His hand tightened into fists. “You belong to me. I will allow no other to see you.”
He cursed under his breath and she jumped when he slammed his fist against the stone wall next to the fireplace. Blood marred the stone where his skin tore but he didn’t seem to notice as he stared moodily into the flames.
“Go to sleep, Abigail.” He commanded roughly.
“I’m not sure I can.” She whispered shakily.
“I told you I won’t fuck you. Unless you’ve changed your mind about letting me feed from you?”
“No.” She whispered. “I haven’t.”
Despite how much she wanted him, despite the fact that her entire body was crying out for release from the lust that was throbbing through her and how she wanted to feel that sweet pain as his fangs slid into her skin, she couldn’t allow him to bite her. She never wanted to be under anyone’s control again.
“Then go to sleep.” He bit out.
Her hands trembling badly, she turned down the covers of the bed. She could feel tears threatening and she blinked them back fiercely. She was dangerously close to breaking her promise and she was deeply ashamed of herself.
Val finally turned and looked at her. He took one look at her shaking body and her white face and snarled loudly. “Fuck!”
He was suddenly standing in front of her and she cried out in surprise when he pushed her roughly on to the bed. He was kneeling on the floor, his hands pulling her legs apart and shoving her skirt up, before she had bounced to a stop on the bed.
He bent his head and licked the swollen, wet lips of her pussy. She cried out and spread her legs wide, exposing her hard and throbbing clit. He growled and buried his face into her, sucking and licking her clit as he shoved two fingers deep into her aching cunt.
She screamed as her orgasm roared through her, her entire body shaking and jerking against the bed as he continued to lick her clit. He thrust his fingers back and forth and she tried to scramble back, the pleasure suddenly too much. His other hand grabbed her hips and clamped down, pinning her to the bed, as he licked and sucked on her clit. The pleasure was building inside of her again, hard bursts of lust exploding in her belly, and she shouted his name and thrust her hips upwards as she came again, flooding his fingers and face with wetness.
She collapsed against the bed, her pulse roaring in her ears and her breath heaving in and out of her chest. Val pulled her skirt down and moved her gently to the far side of the bed. He stripped off his clothes and crawled in beside her.
His hand reached for the clasp of her top and she made a half-hearted attempt to stop him as he opened it and pulled it from her body.
“No.” He growled. “I will no longer be denied what is mine. If I want your breasts bared, you will bare them. Do you understand?”
She murmured something he didn’t hear but the tone was obvious. He leaned over her and sucked hard on one nipple while his fingers pulled the other, until her hips were arching against him and she moaned her assent.
He smiled with satisfaction, pulled the covers up around them and turned her on her side, spooning her tightly. She could feel his half-hard cock against her ass as he put his arm around her and cupped one naked breast.
“Go to sleep, little dove.”
“Thank you, Val.” She whispered.
She craned her head to look at him and he hesitated before kissing her gently on the mouth. “Go to sleep.”
— —
“Sienna? Where are the slave quarters?” Abigail asked as they left the stone building. It was early the next morning and she had once again slipped out while Val was in his daysleep. She had accompanied Sienna to the prisoner house and had spent a few precious moments with Michael.
“Why?” Sienna asked curiously.
“Lord Joven brought two other slaves
with us and he asked me to look in on them.” Abby smiled cheerfully at her.
“Oh. They are in the west end of the castle. I am on my way back to my room, I can take you there if you like.” Sienna touched the small holes on her neck as she led Abigail back through the front doors of the stone castle. The brunette was pale and tired looking, and she yawned hugely as they walked through the wide, empty corridors.
“You were with Faren again last night?” Abby asked.
“Yes.”
“Did he treat you well?”
“He did.” Sienna smiled a little.
“Does the Lord Darius have parties like that every night?” Abby asked.
“No. Only on the nights of the games.” Sienna answered. “If he did this every night, we would be drank dry in a matter of days. He may not have much mercy for his slaves, but even he realizes we need a day or two of rest in between feedings.”
She gave a small, bitter laugh. “I will be off the menu this evening, even if Faren wishes to choose me again.”
“How many slaves does Lord Darius keep?”
“Not as many as some vampires. He keeps enough to rotate us every couple of days. He enjoys having a variety of humans to quench his thirst and that of his men, but he does not enjoy having to feed us. Since he started his games, we are given even less food to compensate for the food he must give the slaves who fight.”
“He does not seem to have many vampires in his household.” Abby said thoughtfully.
Sienna shrugged. “He does not need many. The vampires he allows to live in his home are all very old and very powerful. It would not take many to protect his home against a threat. Besides, he has the shifters as well.”
“Would the bear shifters really defend the vampires against other threats?” Abby asked. “I have never heard of shifters being loyal to a vampire before.”