by Alice Wade
Chapter Eighteen
The building looked too alive and the cheery sight made Kaen snarl from his position where he loitered in the shadows. He had returned hours later for a second round of infuriating punishment as he watched and waited for another glimpse of Lainey. He’d stood still as if part of the scenery and just watched. He caught movement in the window where he’d seen her before, but the shapes were too concealed for him identify anyone. She was there, though. He loosely sensed it through his lingering weak link to her. They were fools. She had nowhere to go—trapped inside with no escape.
Inhaling deeply, he caught a whiff of an aroma that teased his mind, for he should know what it was. It smelled faintly of roses mixed with elven blood. Kaen snorted in amusement as he imagined Talon using such products…Then more scents wafted past him filling his head with new aromas that confused him further, for they all seemed so familiar yet were so alien that he just could not place them. Whoever it was, they were in the room with Lainey. His Lainey.
Kaen whipped around as if he were going to leave then slowly returned to his watch, unable to break away. He could not leave while she remained in there. Damn it! He could kill Talon with his bare hands for thwarting him, yet again. He was needed at the palace for the coronation preparations, but instead he found himself here, in the bushes, watching.
“Kaen let it go. She’s denied you. Come home,” Deandra said with calmness. “You have more important things to be dealing with than stalking useless prey.”
Kaen hissed quietly as her words sounded in his head. “Kaen, you lost her.” Deandra’s wicked laughter followed. “Think how lucky you are that you still have me, dear. Come home.”
Kaen growled when her mind probed his, searching for memories and meeting nothing but a solid wall of frustration. Her mirrored frustration brought a small a grin as she continued to wail against his barrier. “I’ll come home when I’m ready. Leave me, Deandra.”
He felt her mental sigh. “She’s rejected you. What, have you resorted to begging now? Talon severed the link, so what more do you hope to accomplish? This is pathetic.”
That did it. Kaen had enough with her disobedience and her idiotic thought that she was his equal. It was time to teach her how very wrong she was. He transported home in a flash of movement.
She realized he was in the room with her when his hand gripped around her throat and pushed her backwards against the wall. The intent was so violent she screamed before her air was choked off. Thrashing didn’t help at this point. Deandra submitted and terrifyingly stared into his blazing yellow eyes, reading his feral anger as it increased the longer he choked her.
“You play dangerous games, dear.” She shuddered at the coolness to his. Kaen only used this voice when he was about to kill.
“You need me, remember? You need me.” She begged desperately in his mind. This was it. This was the moment she feared would happen and suddenly, she was terrified.
Kaen laughed. “That’s where you are wrong. I only needed you to get married, princess. I’ve done that.”
“You can’t get the crown without my bloodline!” Her panic was increasing as her mind started to black out the longer she was denied air. Around her neck his fingers squeezed tighter, nearly touching at the base of her skull.
“Again, you are wrong. I changed the law. Before you killed your lovely brother, I had him change it while under my coercion; it was rather nice of him I must add. It has been decreed that as long as one of the spouses of a ‘married’ royal pair is still alive, either could assume the throne regardless of bloodline. So you see my precious wife, I don’t need you. I only needed your vow.” Kaen gave her one more tempting squeeze before he released her but not before he caressed the skin at her throat in a sinister fashion that sent shivers down her spin.
When he moved away in a flourish, she coughed and sputtered as the air filled her lungs in a painful rush. She slumped against the wall rubbing her neck watching him as he casually walked towards the wine and poured himself a glass as if this were an everyday occurrence.
Her throat hurt, especially when she tried to speak. At first no words were uttered, and then she rasped out one word that burned, “Bastard.”
He laughed, “Yes, I agree.” He slowly turned with the wine glass before him watching her through the vase, tracking her through the lens of the wine as it clung to the crystal.
“How could you do this?” She coughed again as her body recovered and her vampire blood healed the damage Kaen just inflicted.
“Easy; I want power.” He shrugged, “Nothing and no one will stand in my way.” Then he leered at her in a threatening manner, “Don’t get in my way. You won’t win.”
She had the nerve to laugh at him, a sound that grated on his nerves and caused a frown to mar his already misshapen face. She allowed just a little vampire to come out darkening her eyes and sharpening her features. “Oh, you scare me but this threat, this ‘don’t get in my way’ babble…it’s ridiculous. I had to endure Ondre for a lifetime and look who still breathes.” Deandra uneasily rubbed her throat; fully away Kaen could strike again. She didn’t relax her stance though. If she backed down now, he’d kill her for sure and she needed to ensure she lived.
He evaluated her carefully, admiring her arrogance and couldn’t help but find her absolutely adorable. He was angry with her for taunting him, but damn she was darling when she got all irritated. Kaen felt the anger dissipate only to be replaced with a different kind of fire.
Kaen smiled and turned from her, “You really do play dangerous game, dearest.”
“Only when pushed,” she said cautiously approaching to accept the wine he now held in his hand. She didn’t trust him at the moment, for she’d seen him strike when his opponent was least expecting it. After accepting the glass, she quickly moved off to glower in the corner of the room clutching the wine before her in both hands. He watched her, once more admiring just how stunning she was when she was angry. His desire pulsed to life.
“So, exactly what were you thinking by crossing me?” he casually asked.
“You are needed here. Not begging at the doorstep of some woman who obviously does not want you.” Deandra moved back as the flash of anger appeared in his eyes. Her back rested against the wall.
Kaen nearly laughed at her jealously, but refrained. “Submit Deandra. You won’t win.”
“I won’t cross you again,” she challenged. Her eyes never left him as he drank the rest of his wine, set the glass on the table and approached.
“Are you going to drink that?” he asked sweetly and waited for her reply. When she didn’t, he plucked the glass from her fingers and leaned in close. “I forgive you, dear.” He was inches from her face so his breath brushed across her senses and she smelled his arousal. Her nostrils flared just as he closed the gap and roughly captured her lips in a passionate kiss.
He allowed her to lean in for a kiss, lips parted in anticipation before he pulled back. “Tsk, tsk. You won’t get fulfillment until you submit, dearest.” With that, Kaen leaned back and sipped his wine.
Her scowl was intense, coloring her face with anger. How dare he make demands like this? Hadn’t she already submitted enough? She’d not utter those words to him, or any man for that matter. She was a princess after all.
“Let me be clear. You won’t get any fulfillment, from any vampire in the coven. One order from me and you will be off limits. Is that helpful to know?”
She growled.
“Don’t come between me and Lainey again. She is mine and I don’t beg. I claim. Are we agreed?”
She nodded without uttering a sound. Her body trembled with rage. This was insulting.
He read her reaction and looked smug, “How many times must I tell you, you can’t beat me?” he teased, remaining still while he held his wine glass. He wanted to toy with her a bit before giving i
n. He needed to hear her vow to him and would punish her by withholding sex if she denied. Two could play at this. If it was a power struggle she wanted, she was fully engaged in an all out war.
“You anger me greatly, but I do love your body, Deandra. I’ll miss our encounters if you decline.”
To add vinegar to the wound, he finally leaned forward and brushed his lips across hers but leaned back when she tried to kiss him back.
He looked down, feasting on her beauty. Kaen let his eyes roam over every inch of her body, traveling down one leg noting the decorative color she’d added to her toes. Letting his hungry eyes feast on the region near her inner thigh was enough to steal his breath. His wife was beautiful and he didn’t lie when he said he’d miss her. It had been too long since he’d allowed himself time to enjoy her fully.
“I’m yours. Whenever you want me.” She moaned, reading his desire blossom in his eyes. That earned her a slap that stung her cheek, but she didn’t back down. Instead she grinned at him in open challenge.
“How far do you want to push me tonight? How much punishment do you crave, dearest?”
She laughed a throaty sound while watching him closely and shifted by partially turning away. “I don’t think I need punishment. I need you. Here. Not standing vigil at some inn.”
His face contorted into a slight frown before raised his yellow eyes to stare at her. “Are you jealous, dearest?”
She matched his frown and looked away momentarily before pinning him with her own burning eyes, “I don’t like to be placed second to anyone. I’m your wife. I come first.” She saw his retort about to bubble forth so quickly added, “Even if you own me.”
Kaen smiled, running his eyes once more over her body. He felt his mouth drool at the thought of devouring her. “Acceptance is the first step to enlightenment. Accept what is to be and move on. I must have her, but right now, I want you. First I need your statement of submission. Just speak the words.”
She churned with anger, snarling out, “You can have me, right now. You want me. I feel it. Take what is yours and be satisfied.” Against her better judgment though, she couldn’t help the surge of arousal he generated with this little show of control. It was strangely appealing and made her burn with need. She was going to have him one way or another. Kaen would pleasure her and that was that.
“You haven’t said what I want to hear, love. I need to hear you submit to me, Deandra; that you won’t challenge me like that again…and mean it.”
Her response was a deep and menacing hiss. Her eyes radiated her need and he saw it.
“Do you submit?” he asked while he stepped closer to her. She really was quite impressive while angry. He could smell her arousal now, like a perfume used to attract men. It called to him, tugged at his self control and nearly was his undoing.
“I’ve already given you my promise. I won’t say it again.”
“Wrong answer.” With that, he walked away from her in search of other things to do. He knew she was frantic for more and he was going to make her work for it.
A horrific snarl erupted from her mouth as she’d been pushed to brink of madness by his taunts. He wasn’t going to make love to her? Was he serious? She’d been waiting for him to return for hours and now he was leaving her? That was unacceptable!
She was upon him in moments and tackled him to the floor where she straddled his waist, grinding her body against his clothed form. She ripped at his shirt, shredding the material in seconds. She spread the fabric and drank in the sight of his chest heaving with excitement. “I’m not done,” she growled.
“I can see that.” The smile he delivered set her blood boiling even more. “But do you submit?”
“I already gave you my word,” she hissed as she finally succeeding in freeing his erection from his pants, stroking him in temptation.
He was tempted. So very tempted, but she wouldn’t get to feel him within her until she said the words. Kaen let her think she’d won for a little longer before he plucked her hand free and restrained both wrists away from his body. She looked rabid in that moment, saliva bubbling at the corner of her mouth and fire smoldering in her blue eyes. She was truly and utterly enraged.
“Do you submit?” he asked again
“I won’t be owned, but as I vowed, I won’t cross you.” She ground herself against him in an attempt at distraction. She felt a brief moment of victory when his eyes flashed yellow before the coldness of black filled his orbs.
With lightening speed, he rolled her over and pinned her beneath him. He saw her surprise and then waited for the fury to erupt, because she was not pleased about the turn of events, “No!”
“You will submit, lovely wife. You belong to me.” He pressed hard against her body, feeling the tremors in response. She needed him. Needed sexual release and he was going to deny her. She’d get it and more if she’d just say the words. It wasn’t difficult, and Kaen was losing patience.
“Why are you doing this?” she begged when she realized she’d lost. He wouldn’t free her now that he had regained control. Not unless she agreed to his terms. Not unless she humiliated herself by admitting again that she belonged to him.
“Because I want you to be a good girl, princess. If you think you have power, you become wicked and obnoxious. The faster you realize you have none, the easier this will be.” Another thrust against her body brushed her clit and she jerked violently.
Tears spilled from her eyes again as she pinned him with her tortured stare, “Please.”
“You know what I want to hear.” Another thrust and Deandra shuddered with her need. It was getting painful and he knew she’d be close to saying anything so he’d have sex with her.
She knew when she was defeated. He’d won. She had no choice but to agree or he’d keep this up all night. “I belong to you and I won’t go against you again,” she finally whispered.
“Louder,” he demanded.
“I belong to you!” she screamed as his body once more brushed against her engorged clit that was now on fire again from her attentions a moment before.
He waited until he knew she would hear him to say, “That’s a good girl.”
“You are such a bastard,” she whimpered finally recovering some composure and wiped her face of tears.
“When will you all realize that name is not an insult to me?” He laughed and detangled himself from her luscious body long enough to shred her pants and rip her undergarments away in tatters. Now that she’d said what he wanted to hear, he was going to reward her.
“When you finally drop dead,” she replied half in jest. She hated that he made her submit like this. Hated that he forced her to admit that he was more powerful. When he made a move to free her of clothing, she held still, glaring at him. “You already had me Kaen. I love you and hate that fact. Making me say it wasn’t necessary.”
He laughed, “Oh, yes it was. You needed to be taught a lesson, wife, because you are not my equal. I’ll win every time. But…if you are a good girl, this will never happen again.” Kaen continued to meet her stare while beginning a lazy caress of her exposed region.
She couldn’t resist shivering in anticipation. This was what she wanted all along anyway and if he needed to be told fancy words, then whatever. She’d say them from now on. She couldn’t be denied sex with him, ever. “Fine. Does it make you happy to know you’ve won, yet again? Oh, you are a mighty vampire indeed.”
His voice lowered to a dangerous tenor, “Careful.”
She sobered immediately.
Seeing her in more biddable once more, he slammed into her body and gave her what she’d wanted all along. He wasn’t kind and released all the pent up energy and anger from losing Lainey.
Kaen owned her.
* * * *
Deandra lay panting as he rolled off, coming to rest at her side. On o
ne hand she felt amazing, but on the other, she was furious. Now that he’d given her what she wanted, she was back to being infuriated that he had done this. Without another word, she rose and stormed from the room in search of her servants. She needed to get away from Kaen but also needed to rebuild the destruction he’d wrecked on her appearance.
Kaen laughed before rising and locating his own clothes. Giving up his hunt for Lainey tonight, he decided to find his men instead and inquire how the coronation preparations were going.
All his plans were moving along just fine…except for Lainey. He needed to think on what to do about that woman. Maybe Deandra was right and he should let this go. Kaen scrubbed his bald head and he turned to pace around the room while he worked through this.
Leave Lainey to Talon? Could he do it? A frantic look in the direction of the inn had his heart beating faster. Maybe his should. This obsession was getting him into trouble and the timing could not be worse. His coronation was the following day and he really should not be focused on chasing his pixy faced woman like a lovesick schoolboy. She just drove him to distraction, and Deandra’s outburst probably did him some good after all. He became snarly and let his eyes shift to the open doorway where he could still hear his wife screaming out orders to the servants.
Kaen’s chest rumbled with a growl and he was forced to accept Deandra was probably right. He needed to let Lainey go. Forget her…walk away. That thought was like a vice like grip on his chest, but he knew it was the right decision for now. He’d rethink that after the coronation. After the crown was his. For now, he would try to ignore her and focus on what was demanding his attention—his new people; his country; his crown. Kaen would play the part of prince and king and be good…for the time being.
Just about the time he was moving towards the door to apologize to Deandra, his mind was interrupted, with the alarm from the warehouse. They were under attack.