I stare at him. I’d known that he wouldn’t be happy over the idea of drugging Arista, but this is overly dramatic. Are we even talking about the same thing here? “Just what do you think I’m going to do?”
“The mating ceremony, and the physical mating,” he says with disapproval.
My eyebrows lift. “You think I’d rape her?”
Anton unflinchingly holds my gaze. “To save Davina, yes.”
I’m silent as I think over his accusation. Yeah, everyone knows that I have a few screws loose, but so do a lot of other drakons. I’ve never hidden my craving for blood and death, and I like sex just like every other man.
Rape though, it’s a fucking turn off. What’s the fun in that? Sex is only fun when the partner is willing. Granted, I could make Arista willing—a lot of clans use drugs to secure the bond. But the idea of fucking someone that’s only enjoying it because of the drug is unsatisfying for me. If I’m going to make a woman lose control, it’s damn well going to be because of me.
I’ll gladly apply dirty tactics to seduce Arista, but she’ll be completely alert—and willing. If she can give me the power that I think she can, then I most definitely want that part of the mating consensual, because that’s what triggers the bonding.
I set aside the cigarette and look at Anton. “I want her cooperative for the ceremony, and I want it tonight. The physical bonding will come later, and she won’t have a single drug in her system,” I inform him.
Anton looks relieved. “I don’t think GHB will complicate anything in her system, but let me figure out the correct dosage she’d need. How do you want the drug administered?”
“Put it in her drink. Do the women have lemonade up there? Have Cassius offer some of that with her meal this evening. The natural tartness of it will hide any bitterness from the drug.”
Anton nods. “Anything else?”
“No, I’ll take care of the rest.”
Seventeen
Arista
I linger in bed far longer than what I’m accustomed to the following morning. I feel weirdly groggy, and I yawn widely before turning onto my side, allowing my eyes to drift closed again. I had the strangest dream last night.
It seemed so real…
Lethe and I had been part of a ceremony in front of the entire clan except for Evie and Tenley. In the dream, we’d exchanged vows in an odd language with English mixed in. Then, we’d cut our palms with a knife and joined our blood in an ancient chalice. We’d even drank it.
My nose wrinkles, and my eyes slowly open. Thank God it was nothing more than a dream. I would never willingly vow to be obedient and tend to all my mate’s needs. The vows were so outdated, and there’d been nothing in them about the man respecting his mate or caring for her needs.
And drinking blood?
Blech.
Now that I’m becoming more alert, I sit up and fight back another huge yawn. Just to be on the safe side, I peer at my right palm. I wouldn’t put it past Lethe to drug me and coax me into a stupid ceremony.
Nope, no cut.
Whew.
With a soft sigh, I toss back the bedsheets and head for the bathroom to shower. After what I’d suffered at the hands of my captors before I was sold, I know I should consider myself lucky. Strangely enough, this clan isn’t violent with their women. In fact, they give us more space than I ever could have imagined. Evie’s been here for at least a year I believe, and Tenley half that. Yet neither of them have been mated off.
Honestly, if I wasn’t craving my freedom and the right to make my own decisions, this probably wouldn’t be all that bad of a place.
After I shower, I wrinkle my nose and reluctantly slip into a skirt and a matching top. Now that my morning needs have been tended to, I stand there and look around with boredom.
Now what?
I hear a key in the door and look up as it opens.
Cassius kindly holds it open as Tenley steps inside carrying a tray. When she sees me, she smiles brightly. “Morning, Arista.”
I hadn’t been expecting to see Tenley, and my mood instantly brightens at the sight of her friendly face. “Can you stay for a few minutes? Please?” I ask hopefully.
Tenley turns to peer over her shoulder at Cassius, who is now standing outside the doorway where I can’t see him. The sound of his rumbling voice reaches my ears, and Tenley nods before stepping forward, her eyes turning back to me. “I can for just a little while.”
Cassius closes the door, and I hear the distinct sound of the lock.
“Where should I put this?” She frowns as she looks around, looking for a place to set the tray. “You don’t have a table?”
“You can just set it on the bed. Have you eaten yet?” I inquire.
She walks to the bed and carefully sets it down. “Yes, I ate earlier. You should eat while the food is warm. I made omelets.”
We sit on the bed, and I lift the lid on the plate to see a mouthwatering omelet. Hash browns are nestled next to it along with a few sausage links. A glass of orange juice has been placed beside the plate.
I reach for the fork and dig into the omelet. “Tenley, you’re an amazing cook,” I tell her after I finish chewing. When Tenley doesn’t reply, I glance at her and see that she’s looking at me oddly. “What?”
“Is it true? That you stabbed King?” she asks quietly with tentative eyes.
“Big guy with a blond ponytail?” I question.
“That would be King.”
“Then yes, I did.” I study her, because her expression betrays that she’s troubled by the news. “That bothers you?”
She gives me an honest look. “Yes, it does. He didn’t deserve that,” she says lightly.
She’s entitled to her own opinion, and even though I feel a hint of regret over doing something so dreadful, I still feel that it was the right thing to do. I offer her a wry smile. “We both grew up differently. I was taught to defend and protect everything that I have. I just wanted my freedom—I still do,” I add.
Tenley’s fine eyebrows pull together. “I don’t know what I would do out there.”
“You’d be able to make your own choices,” I offer.
She shakes her head. “I don’t know the first thing about surviving outside of a clan. I like being protected.” She looks at me sincerely. “I’m okay with this life. I don’t mind it, and it’s all that I’ve ever known. This life here is much better than my old one. It’s an upgrade, I guess you could say.”
“But don’t you want to be able to choose who you end up with?” I prod.
Her face flushes, and she averts her gaze. “There is someone that…I think may turn out to be my mate,” she confesses.
“And you’d be okay with that?”
She nods.
Now I’m curious. “Who?” I ask with interest.
“Maverick,” she says softly.
Now I frown. “Maverick? Which one is that? Come to think of it, I don’t know anyone’s names except for Lethe and Cassius. Oh, and Anton.”
Tenley’s face brightens at the mention of Anton. “Isn’t he easy to be around? I wish I saw him more often so that I could learn about first aid and medicine.”
I study her. “So Maverick might be your future mate, but you have a thing for Anton?”
She blinks, looking surprised. “What? Oh, no. Anton’s like a brother to me. Maverick…” She bites her lip. “He’s…” She shrugs and looks a little uncertain. “The way he watches me and talks to me, I like it,” she admits.
“So how does Maverick fit into the clan? And when have you seen him? I thought the men stay away from this floor.”
“Maverick is Lethe’s brother,” she explains. “He’s the head of security here. In fact, he was the one who was up here a few days ago installing your intercom system in your room. He comes to our floor once in a while to check up on our electronics and stuff—he likes to make certain everything is running smoothly.”
“Isn’t that what Cassius is supposed to do? I mea
n, isn’t he the one who monitors everything?”
Tenley nods. “Cassius is wonderful, and so kind.” She reddens slightly. “I think Maverick’s been up here to see me instead of actually checking things over. He always takes time to talk with me.”
“And you’d be okay with him taking you as his mate?” I question.
She nods.
“But you barely know him,” I point out.
“That’s the way it is in the clans.”
She’s just too accepting of others deciding her fate, and I want to lean over and shake some sense into her. Instead, I decide it’s best if I switch the topic. “So, who’s the blond guy that looks pissed all the time? He has green eyes,” I add.
“Oh, that’s Kai. He’s Lethe’s second in command,” she tells me.
“And what about Lethe? What does he do? How can he afford all this stuff?” I ask as I look around the gaudy room.
“Oh, um…”
My eyes swing back to her. “What?”
“He owns a club,” she offers, looking hesitant.
“A club?” I echo. “What kind of club?”
“The kind that guys like,” she says tactfully.
“He owns a strip club?” I ask, not the least bit surprised.
She nods. “There’s more that goes on inside there, but I don’t know all the details.”
“What do you know?” I boldly pry.
“Well, I’m pretty certain he’s in the drug market. The illegal kind.”
I slowly nod. With the decline of the US, it’s much easier these days to get away with illegal operations.
“That’s really about it.” She shrugs. “They don’t inform us about what they do or what’s going on.”
“Do you know what they want with me?” I ask, studying her. Just how much does she and Evie know when it comes to me?
“I’m assuming that you’ll one day become someone’s mate.”
“And these?” I ask, lifting a wrist to show off one of the slim, gold bracelets.
“No one’s said anything.” She looks at me questioningly. “Are they important?”
“No, not really,” I lie. So Evie and Tenley know nothing about my ability to wield fire. Nor do they know that Lethe wants me for himself. Those bastards literally keep these women locked up here without any knowledge of the outside world.
We look up when we hear the key in the lock, and the door opens. Cassius looks in at Tenley. “Time to go,” he tells her lightly.
I watch as she obediently rises to her feet. She flashes me a parting smile and then walks out of the room without a backward glance.
Cassius gives me a curt nod and then closes the door, locking it.
I sit there for a long moment after she leaves, and my jaw clenches. They are not going to turn me into Tenley.
* * *
His lips trail down my jaw, and I feel the warm, velvety touch of his tongue as he tastes the pulse in my throat. It feels good, and I sigh and run my hands over broad shoulders. Those lips trail back up to my mouth, and he kisses me fully, his tongue slipping past my lips to dance inside it. I’ve never been kissed like this before, and I move restlessly against him, yearning for so much more.
His body settles over me, and I feel his hand touch my thigh, urging me to part them. I willingly spread my knees, and his hips press into mine. My back arches as my core cradles his hardness, and I undulate against him. The rough texture of his jeans feels really good against the fabric of my panties.
As my hands wander over his back, lingering over the taunt muscles, his lips leave mine and trail a fiery path back down my neck. Fingers brush across my thigh, and then move over my hip and then my waist. The camisole I am wearing is eased up, and his warm hand cups my breast.
I moan as his thumb finds the pert tip, and as he strokes it, I begin to grind against him.
“Fuck, that feels good,” I hear him whisper in my ear, his warm breath tickling the fine hairs there.
“Don’t stop,” I whisper, my hands sliding beneath the hem of his shirt to touch smooth, hot skin.
He shifts, and then I feel cool air on my chest until warm lips cover my nipple. I sink my hands into his hair, holding his head in place as he laves at the distended tip. I shudder and arch my back, enjoying every single moment of this torturous pleasure.
Somewhere in the back of my mind, I can’t help but think this dream seems awfully real. The sensations feel too good, and my panties are wet with arousal. As much as I don’t want to go back to reality, I’m starting to get a bad feeling. Even as he flicks his tongue over my nipple—I open my eyes and try to distance myself from the dream.
The sensations are still there, and I gasp as teeth very gently skim the tip of my breast.
I’m awake, but he’s still here.
He wouldn’t…
He has.
I yank my hands out from beneath his shirt and shove against his shoulders as hard as I can, pushing him off me. I hear a low, masculine chuckle as I pull my shirt down to cover my breasts. After desperately reaching for the lamp, bright light blinds me as I switch it on. I sit up and squint until my eyes adjust.
Lethe is standing at the foot of my bed with his arms crossed. He has a very satisfied expression on his face that looks devious in combination with his messy hair—hair that I’d had my fingers tangled in.
“You can’t just come in here and—and do that!” I am beyond rattled that I’d let him get so damned close without realizing it. I typically wake to odd sounds, but have I grown that accustomed to the sound of the key in the lock? The conniving bastard.
His smile widens. “I just did.”
“You can’t seduce me into being your mate!” I say furiously.
“Then I will take my leave,” he says easily, turning and opening the door. He steps out of the room, closing the door behind him, and I hear the lock click into place.
I stare after him, shocked that he’d done something so underhanded. I want to scream at him, but I swallow back my fury. Instead, I begin cursing myself. My body is still wired and wanting more, and it infuriates me that it’s him that I want. Now that I’ve had a taste of him, it’s going to be hard to forget.
I have a feeling that’s exactly what he’d wanted.
Eighteen
Lethe
I watch the fight from my private booth, and I take a sip of my favorite brand of whiskey. The crowd seems to be enjoying the pair fighting in the ring, and the more blood that splatters, the more worked up the crowd becomes.
“We’re making a killin’ tonight,” Maverick comments as he slides into the opposite side of the booth. “Pun intended,” he adds with a grin.
I nod in greeting and reach for my cigarette as my attention shifts from the fight to my brother. I’m certain he isn’t here just for idle chit-chat.
“So, where do things stand with Arista?” he asks, getting straight to the point.
“I almost have her where I want her,” I tell him.
I think back to the other night when I’d climbed in bed with her. She’d responded without any hesitation, just as I’d expected. It had taken her longer than I’d anticipated to fully wake up, and I’m pleased with how far things had gone. I have every intention of doing it again soon, and I’m hoping next time we’ll go further. If she’s as attracted to me as she seems, there might be a chance that she won’t want to stop and will give into the sex. She has no idea that we’ve already completed the ceremony, so she might assume that there’s no harm in having a little taste. It’s a deceitful thing to do, and I know she’ll regret it afterwards. A little regret won’t hurt anything though, and I’m certain I can turn it around so she’s not so bitter.
“And what exactly does that mean?” Maverick asks, drawing my attention back to him.
I’m not one who likes to share details, because I answer to no one. “It means exactly what I’d said.”
He reclines back in the booth and studies me with amused eyes. “Should I be going over her n
ightly surveillance?”
I have someone watching Arista’s room throughout the day, but not at night. There’s not much trouble she can get into when she’s sleeping. I opt to ignore his comment. I don’t care if he sees what we did, but I have no intention of giving him the impression that I want him to.
“Once Davina has the baby, it’ll be even harder to extract her,” Maverick says quietly as his expression sobers.
“I’m aware.”
Something flickers in Maverick’s gaze. “If this mating with Arista doesn’t work…”
“It will.”
It has to, because as much as I hate to admit it, I’m not strong enough and neither is the clan. But if I become immortal, there will be nothing on earth that can stop me from retrieving my sister and her child.
Nineteen
Arista
I slowly wake to one of Lethe’s wickedly sensuous kisses. The sneaky bastard has snuck back into my room, and I’m not really all that surprised. I’d known he’d try again. His masculine scent fills my nostrils, and his velvety tongue tantalizes mine in a sinful dance. His hand is running over my body, his fingers brushing over the satin camisole top, searching for the distended tip of my breast. When he finds it, I can’t help but gasp into his mouth, and my body feels like it’s on fire.
I want him so badly.
His lips leave mine, and as they trail down my throat—I willingly tilt my head back. Just a little more, I tell myself. Then, I’ll stop him as I’d originally planned when I’d known this might occur again.
I run my fingers over his broad shoulders, and I explore the taunt muscles as I feel the tickling sensation of Lethe’s whiskers brushing the sensitive skin along my throat. His hand begins pulling up my camisole, and I’m more than willing to experience the pleasure he’d given me last time. I’ve never felt this kind of desire, and when I’d had sex with that stranger in the backseat of his car, he hadn’t explored my body or made my breath hitch like Lethe is doing.
His warm lips find my nipple, and I moan and arch my back as he ruthlessly flicks it with his tongue.
Captive (Igniting the Flame Book 1) Page 11