by Celia Kyle
A lot of thought had gone into the construction of her prison.
Her lion whined, wanting free, wanting to go to the male who’d caged her. She’d purr and rub on him, beg him to mount her.
Honor didn’t fight back the vomit that rose. She let it come, let it fill her mouth, and she spat it on the ground. Let him smell that, let him come in and try to take her. She’d roll in it if it kept her safe.
She moved to do that, but the animal rushed forward in a lightning-fast move. It wrenched control from her human half, stilling her movements. She pushed again, reaching for the small puddle and the beast denied her. Tears filled her eyes once again. The cat wanted him. She accepted the initial desire, but it wouldn’t relent in its yearning for the lion.
He would have her. Come full night when the moon was bright in the sky and the drugs in her blood worked free, he would have her.
Honor’s heart cracked, crumbling into tiny pieces. She’d built up this glorious fantasy about Grayson and now…
The lioness didn’t give a flying fuck.
Her bound hands trembled, the weight of the coming nightmare settling on her shoulders. Any moment her hell would begin.
Low, gentle words murmured into the darkness of her mind, pulled her away from the past. Grayson’s deep voice blanketed her in warmth. He pushed past Maddy’s restraining presence and reached for her.
“You don’t have to continue, Honor.”
“I do,” she whispered back. Her voice was flat, still in the cavernous space while his echoed around her.
“No…”
“Don’t let me go,” she pleaded and it felt as if he embraced her.
“Always, I told you.”
“I need you to remind me. Just… always remind me.”
“Anything,” he vowed once again.
That let her push on.
At some point, the cat decided the rope around her wrists was unwanted and she worked free of the bindings. A twist, a tug, a slice, and she was released.
The drugs were slowly releasing their hold and sounds eased into her mind as they lessened. Moans, groans, the slap of skin on skin. The building was dim, but the light of the moon shining through the windows was unmistakable.
As she’d fought for freedom, the Gaian Moon appeared.
Honor’s body reacted, her heat burning hotter with each passing second, with each indrawn breath. The flavors of sex, pure animal sex, surrounded her. Her pussy begged for attention, her clit whimpered and wanted to be stroked. Her nipples were once again rock hard and looking to be suckled.
Her heat, the moon, they demanded she be satisfied over and over again.
The cat was in agreement.
Honor was not.
And, god damn, she fought it. She tore at the lioness, scratching and scraping her with her human nails and blunted teeth. She wouldn’t yowl for a male, wouldn’t beg to be taken by anyone but Grayson.
Never.
As she struggled, one male after another walked past her, their eyes glowing brighter when they saw her nude body. She curled in on herself, covering her breasts and pussy. They didn’t get to see her this way, they didn’t get to see her ready for mating.
The pleasure belonged to one male.
Her lioness assured her it belonged to many.
Fuck the cat.
“Hey, Angus, you need to hose her cage down. You can’t get her out without puke getting all over her body. I want her cunt, but I’m not gonna fuck her smelling like that.” One of the males sneered at her and she glared back even as her beast purred in appreciation.
That’s when Angus approached her prison again. He reeked of other women, females who’d spread their legs for the Prime’s son. Semen and the juices of each lioness and human he fucked coated his skin.
Her scent wouldn’t join the others.
The animal assured her it would.
Honor looked around for anything she could use to slice her wrists. They’d heal over and over again, but eventually she might get lucky and bleed out. She wouldn’t be raped by her own mind, by her own cat.
Suddenly water soaked her, covering her and coating her body. The frigid liquid dimmed some of her beast’s need, but not for long.
“There, the whore’s clean.”
A familiar feminine snicker came from her left and she turned her head to find her friend, her ex-friend, laughing at her.
“Bianca, you have to help me.”
The woman rolled her eyes. “Why? He’s a good fuck. If you’d get rid of your uppity attitude and enjoy yourself…” She shrugged.
Betrayal cut hard and deep. She didn’t know why she thought she’d suddenly get help from that quarter. For some reason she still clung to the values she’d learned in Ridgeville.
Not that they helped her in London.
The scent of her friend’s need came to her and she knew the woman wasn’t excited about Honor. She turned her attention and found Angus strolling forward. With each step closer, Bianca became more aroused and anxious.
The woman wanted him, her body called to him.
Angus only had eyes for Honor.
The lioness pushed against the thin bindings in Honor’s mind, breaking the tendrils as if they didn’t exist. In truth, they might as well have been spider webs. She was so tired, so exhausted from the long, constant battle she knew she’d soon lose. She’d lose and the cat would win and Honor’s beast would betray her.
Even as she screamed no, it would say yes over and over again.
How many would have her by morning?
The lioness purred. All of them.
Honor sobbed, tears trailing over her cheeks as the truth of her coming night assaulted her. She would be used, taken repeatedly, and discarded.
Angus finally stopped before the door of the cage. “Hurts, doesn’t it? I told you you’d crave this when the time came. The moon is high and my cock is ready for your sweet cunt. Are you ready now, little cock tease?”
Bianca whimpered and squirmed beside him, the scent of the woman’s arousal growing and filling the area. “Angus…”
Angus reached for the woman, hand cupping her mound. Bianca sucked in a breath and released it on a moan. Her friend widened her legs and Honor watched as he finger-fucked her.
Honor was both aroused and disgusted. The lioness wanted it. The human half begged the cat to give her claws so she could slice her own throat.
Her beast didn’t listen. No, she found herself staring at Angus’s cock fill and lengthen. She licked her lips, imagining her mouth wrapped around his length.
“I will fuck this pretty cunny as soon as I teach this bitch who’s boss. You’ll help me with that, sweet Bianca, won’t you?” He purred the words and shoved his fingers deeper into the woman.
Bianca moaned and whined, riding the lion’s hand. “Yes. Please. Anything.”
“Such a good girl.” He pulled his touch away and the woman whined. “Fetch our friend, like a good little kitten. Make sure she says yes before I shove my cock into her and as soon as I’m done, I’m going to fuck you hard and fast.”
“And mate,” Bianca whined. “It’s been so hard watching you be with other women. My mate…”
“Of course, love. I can’t wait to make you mine.”
Honor’s cat snarled. Mate? He had a mate? She breathed deep, hunting for any indication of their connection. Bianca’s scent called to the male even though she was covered in the cum of other lions.
The male did not care. No, if the two were mates, the male would be enraged that another touched his. Her lioness calmed at the realization. He simply messed with Bianca’s mind. It wasn’t true and wasn’t her problem. No, the cat purred, they needed to remain focused on the male.
Angus was theirs.
“Get Honor out of there now. You know what we talked about.” Angus’s voice was soothing, cajoling.
“Yes, Angus.” Bianca reached for the lock and latch on the cage, low light of the building glinting off the key.
> Honor clung to the bars, pleading with her cat. Please, don’t do this. Please.
It snarled. They didn’t know if Grayson was truly theirs. They weren’t betraying anyone. If he wanted her, he would be here, in London, taking care of her. He would be sating her need and satisfying her heat.
A foreign presence invaded her mind, the soft, soothing touch blunting the fight between Honor and her cat. It dropped a masking blanket over them until she no longer saw her beast inside her.
Panic assaulted her, dropping dose after dose of adrenaline into her veins. It pumped fast and furious through her body. Where did her lioness go?
Then she didn’t care because yet another soothing pet slid over her body.
That’s it, come from the cage, submit to Angus.
She knew the voice and the cat knew it too, recognized the lyrical words.
The lion scratched at the veil separating them, tearing at the blunting fabric.
But then another layer appeared, replacing the last.
The cat wanted Angus, not this… thing inside her.
Stay calm. Step out. Now straighten.
Through half-blinded eyes, she emerged from the cage, rising to her full height beside… she turned her head… Bianca. That was the voice in her head.
Smiling Bianca. Bianca the ex-friend. Bianca the Sensitive.
The animal inside her growled, the sound immediately quieted by the extra presence in her mind.
“Stay calm now,” the woman murmured. “You will answer ‘yes’ to all questions.”
The order was reinforced in the back of her head. They echoed through the cavern of her mind.
She would answer yes to all questions.
Angus strode forward.
When had he left?
The Prime followed in his wake, fit body coated by bodily fluids. Did the London pride not know about paper towels?
The thought had her lips twitching.
“You see, Father? She’s looking forward to a good fuck. Aren’t you, Honor?” The Prime’s son glared at her.
Answer yes to all questions. The lilting demand came again.
She turned her head to focus on Bianca once again. The woman she’d called friend.
Honor fought the word from springing to her lips, fought the syllable from bursting past her throat, but it still emerged. “Yes.”
Her lioness clawed the thin veil again, tearing at it with teeth and claws. Bianca flinched, but another layer emerged.
“Do you want me to fuck your sweet cunt?” Angus breathed deep. “She smells so delicious.”
Answer yes to all questions.
“Yes.” Her beast fought again, tearing down layer after layer. It wanted Angus, but on her terms. Hers. Not some Sensitive’s.
Bianca paled, color fleeing her face.
“Is that what you want, Honor?” The Prime’s voice vibrated through her.
Power. Mated power, but still power, and it called to her cat.
Answer yes to all questions. Bianca’s wide-eyed stare remained locked on hers and the order repeated once more. An additional shove of demand struck her, the woman’s powers working double-time.
But she recognized it for what it was. Both Honor and her lion acknowledged the strange flavors of this “other” inside their shared mind.
And they both rejected its presence.
Honor’s fingernails dug into the veil while the lion did the same. As one, they yanked and tugged, pulling the clouding power from them and shoving it from their mind. In one great heave, it left them, allowing them to think with a clear head. A head that had one thought in mind.
She swung her attention to the Prime, ignoring a swaying Bianca, and hissed a single word at him. “No.”
With the same movement, she struck out, sinking her claws into the Sensitive’s flesh. Nail slid through skin and muscle, pushing deeper until she hit bone. Bianca’s bones. Sensitive’s bones. She needed to take control before the woman dug into her once again.
Yes, the cat purred. It no longer wanted the male Angus. He’d tried to use a female to trick her, tried to force a Sensitive to do his bidding. It reminded Honor too much of what her friends in Ridgeville endured at Alistair McCain’s hands.
She wondered if this was what crazy looked like.
Screams and tugs on her arm had Honor focus on the female she held. Ah, her paw found home in her neck, several vertebrae held captive by her claws. She wondered what would happen if she pulled. How many bones would she bring with her?
Honor tilted her head to the side, trying to recall the single Biology class she took. Hmm…
“What the hell are you doing?” The roar shook the building to its foundation and she diverted her attention to the Prime.
“I’m not fucking anyone.” She bared her fangs and hissed again, ending the sound on a low, threatening growl.
Bianca struggled, tugging and fighting Honor’s hold, and she shook the woman in response. She hauled her closer, fingers tightening. “Do you know how easy it is to kill you right now? Do you understand what I’m saying?” She didn’t bother keeping her words quiet. They were shifters, she didn’t have to scream to be heard. “I may not have gone hand-to-hand with any of the Trackers that trained in Ridgeville, but it doesn’t take a scientist to know that ripping out your spine will end you.”
“She’s crazed. She’s going to kill my mate. The heat sent her over the edge. Get a gun!” Angus’s panicked voice cut through the silence.
“I’m crazed?” She slowly turned her gaze to him, to the pathetic male before her. The cat was in agreement with whatever Honor decided. Already it begged forgiveness. She wasn’t sure she could ever grant it. She wasn’t sure if she could ever trust the lion again. It’d almost allowed… “You kidnap me, restrain me, lock me in a cage, and then have a Sensitive control my mind and I’m crazed?”
The Prime sneered. “We do not make war within the pride. Release her.”
“I’m not in your fucking pride!” Her roar nearly matched his.
“Careful, bitch.”
Honor hissed back at him. “I’m walking out of here and not one of you is going to stop me.”
Angus tried where his father had failed. “You—”
“I’m leaving! I’m leaving or I swear I will tear apart every fucking lion in this building!” She could, too. Right now, she could destroy them all.
She ignored Bianca’s blood flowing down her arm and the way the stench filled her lungs. She ignored the others in the area who eased out of her path. Step by step, she dragged the lioness toward the double doors, carefully making her way to the exit. She’d shift once she got outside, shift and run and run and run and…
She didn’t care. Her lion didn’t care.
Anywhere was better than here.
Bianca whimpered and whined with every step. Honor was tempted to kill her merely because she annoyed her.
Instead, they dragged her along, forcing her to comply. She sensed the exit, the soft blowing wind that filtered beneath the doors. Freedom. Freedom smelled like old oil and gas.
“I’m done with this game. You will release her and face justice.” The Prime’s chest puffed out, fur lining his jaw. “By my law, you belong to this pride and you will do as I say.”
Honor’s skin prickled, fur sprouting from her pores. “By mine, I don’t.”
The Prime’s gaze flicked to Bianca and the woman whimpered.
Then she felt it, a tentative, gentle touch in her mind. It tasted the same as before, a soft veil of demands clouded her mind. Only now, the human was in charge, the human didn’t give a flying fuck about the woman’s life. The human used her cat’s shifted claw and destroyed the threat.
More blood, more flesh, loud roars, and then the rolling pain of her shift and then…
Honor stepped back to the present, staring down at the mass of darkness that writhed before her. She sensed the trio nearby, apart from her and yet not.
“I killed her.” Honor’s voice was hoar
se after pouring out the story that’d forever changed her. “It wasn’t the cat. It was me. All me. There was no instinct. I can’t fall back on ‘the beast made me do it.’” She held up her hand, imagining blood coating her skin. She let the flow of her change slide through her. “I pulled and she was gone.”
“You did what you had to do.” Grayson’s words were firm and filled with conviction.
She shook her head. Even now, months later, and she wasn’t sure if that was true.
“Yes, you did. And I’m so damned proud of you. You’re so fucking strong and I don’t know how you made it this far, how you’re still sane and able to let me touch you.” Grayson’s presence surrounded her and she sensed the truth in his words. There was no disgust, only fact.
Silence reigned for a while as she replayed those last few moments once again. She didn’t want to move on, didn’t want to continue past her first escape. She didn’t want to think about what happened after she killed…
Honor ran. Oh god, she ran and ran. Her paws pounded the dry ground, slid through moist patches soaked by recent rain and stumbled across the gravel that lined the ditch. She scrambled, fighting for her life. If they caught her, she was dead. The rage and anguish in Angus’s gaze when she’d ended Bianca’s life had been unmistakable. He wanted her blood. Hopefully, he wanted it more than he wanted to possess her body.
It was sad, but she preferred torture to rape. It would be rape now. Before, the cat had craved him like a drug, but now they knew of Bianca and her relationship with Angus. It accepted that the Prime’s son was no longer acceptable and it begged for mercy. Except within the pleas lingered a curiosity as to whether there were other males who were acceptable.
The beast was suddenly intrigued by the idea, forcing her footstep to falter.
No, you stupid fucking whore. No.
The lioness whined and tugged on her.
Fuck you. No.
A low growl came from behind her. It traveled up her spine, jarring her bones and spurring her on. She demanded her lioness’s body run faster, dig into the ground harder, fight and fight to be free.