Tamed by Her Mates

by Sassa Daniels

  “There is no need for sorrow,” Marc said, pulling her into his arms as Ren came down onto the bed on the other side of her. “Today we won a great victory and tomorrow we retake our rightful place.”

  “What?” Lottie wasn’t sure she was hearing correctly. After all this time, was their struggle to reclaim their homeland over?

  “We have beaten Zalyn Marr,” Ren confirmed. “The last of the traitorous scum are being cleared from the Imperial Palace. We’re going home, Charlotte.”

  Home. It was a nice word, one that conjured up feelings of warmth and comfort. As Lottie closed her eyes, however, she couldn’t help but wonder what it would really mean for her. In all the time she’d imagined their triumphant return to Bylanthia, she had seen herself ruling by their sides. Now that she’d fallen from grace, she had no idea what awaited her. Would it be a sumptuous bedchamber where her mates would dance attendance on her or a dank dungeon where she’d be left to rot? Lottie sighed deeply. Only time would tell.

  Chapter Ten

  Overhead, a storm raged behind gloomy gray clouds. There was little light despite it being early afternoon and something prickled on the air as though trouble was about to erupt. There was nothing unusual about this unpleasant atmosphere. Bylanthia was a hostile planet and even its native population rarely spent time outdoors. Instead, they build elaborate networks of houses interlinked by brightly lit, covered pathways that allowed them to escape the unrelenting dreariness of the natural environment.

  Lottie stepped out of the transport vehicle she’d been bundled into the moment she got off the shuttle from the command ship. She hadn’t seen any of her mates since last night but heard they’d traveled to the surface a few hours ahead of her. Looking up at the gray stone building in front of her, she shuddered. Completely soulless, the Imperial Palace was functional rather than decorative, not unlike some of the government offices back in New Cambridge. Although she’d been on Bylanthia before, her mates had already been forced from the palace by then, so this was the first time she’d laid eyes on the place. Feeling at home here would not be easy under the best of circumstances. In her situation, it would be impossible.

  Unsure where she was supposed to go, Lottie started to walk up the steps toward the door. A woman appeared at the entrance and she recognized her immediately as Marra, the one who’d carried out that humiliating examination on her.

  “Follow me,” Marra instructed.

  “Why? Where are Jax and the others?”

  “Their Highnesses are too busy to concern themselves with the needs of a prisoner.” Marra’s words were harsh but her tone was not unkind. “They have entrusted your care to me.”

  This was worse than Lottie had feared. Now that they were back on Bylanthia and in power once more, they would have less time to think about their wayward mate. Marra’s reference to her being a prisoner was not comforting either, but at least Lottie now knew where she stood. She pulled the blanket she’d been allowed to take from her cell around her shoulders, concealing her nakedness. She had still not accustomed herself to walking around unclothed. Fortunately, as she followed Marra through corridors that seemed to be leading down into the very bowels of the building, they didn’t encounter another living soul.

  “This is where you are to sleep,” Marra said as she pushed open a heavy steel door. “You are to clean yourself up and be ready and waiting to be summoned.”

  Lottie nodded and stepped into the room. The heavy clunk of the door closing behind her and the clatter of the metal bar sliding into place to seal her in sent a shudder down her spine. There was a finality to the clanging of the metal that filled her with dread. On board the ship, the electric field in her cell had let her see into the corridor, giving her the illusion that freedom was within her grasp. This big, solid door stripped away that hope. Something told her she would have to make herself at home in here.

  Although not quite the dank and dismal dungeon she feared she might be shut away in, her new accommodations were not as comfortable as she would have hoped for either. The room was small, but it had a proper bed, one with a latticed metal headboard that was ideal for chaining a person to. There was a separate bathroom area hidden behind a screen with a shower and toilet. As far as she could see, there was no surveillance disk on the ceiling or anywhere else in the room. That meant, if nothing else, she was to be allowed some privacy in this new prison cell.

  Heeding Marra’s words about getting ready, Lottie put her blanket down and stepped into the wet room. She activated the shower and enjoyed the warm water cascading over her shoulders. It felt a bit strange, still, to be washing with the leather collar on, but she guessed she was going to have to get used to it. Ignoring the pressing at her throat as she tipped her head back in the water, Lottie wet her hair. There was a dispenser on the wall that contained a liquid she assumed was for washing. She pressed a button and was struck immediately by the beautiful scent of the gel that ran out onto her palm. It smelled like the finest synthetic flowers from back on Earth and she thought it a strange contrast to the stark gray cell she was in.

  She lathered the gel into her hand and over her skin, washing herself thoroughly. Then she stood in the flow of water until the scented foam was rinsed off. A working shower was such a simple thing, but right now it felt like the greatest gift she’d ever been given. The rudimentary washing facilities in her cell on board the ship had left her wondering if she would ever feel completely clean again.

  She changed the setting on the shower to drying mode and the flow of water stopped. Warm air wafted over Lottie until her body and hair were dry. She stepped out from behind the screen and went to sit on the edge of the bed to wait. It didn’t take long before she heard the bar being pulled back from the door. For someone to have come for her so soon after she’d finished showering seemed a big coincidence. Perhaps there was surveillance in here after all.

  Realizing she was probably meant to be kneeling in anticipation of one of her mates coming to her, Lottie got down onto the floor. She touched her forehead to the cold stone just in time for the door to swing open.

  “Very good.” It was Marra who spoke. “Now, get to your feet and I’ll help you with your attire.”

  Disappointed that it wasn’t one of her mates who’d come for her, Lottie stood up. Her gaze went to the beautiful gown Marra was laying down on the bed. It was made of a light, floaty fabric that would feel like water trickling over her skin. Wearing it, she would feel like a goddess. Less exciting for Lottie were the golden chains that Marra had brought with her or the strange item she wasn’t sure she was really seeing.

  “It’s a chastity belt,” Marra confirmed, clearly recognizing the bewilderment on Lottie’s face. “You are to wear it as a symbol of your mates’ control over your body.”

  Lottie didn’t much like that idea. It wasn’t just the message it sent, it was the thought of what it would feel like against her skin. Although made from what looked to be a soft, pliable metal that would mold closely to her body, she imagined it would nip her sensitive flesh if she moved the wrong way. She scowled at Marra, but the older woman met her glare with an expression that showed she wouldn’t back down. Lottie had no desire to mark her first day here with a spanking for disobedience, so when Marra urged her to step into the device, she did as she was told. Worn like a pair of panties, the chastity belt latched onto her skin. She felt its grip and knew it could only be removed by whichever of the brothers had imprinted his unique mark onto it.

  A nasty little surprise nestled within the belt in the form of a smooth, round protrusion that slipped between her lower lips to rub against her clitoris. She took an experimental step forward and shivered as a spark of arousal went through her. This was going to be a challenge.

  “The Exalted Ones said you would understand the necessity,” Marra told her.

  Lottie quirked an eyebrow. The Exalted Ones? Was that how her mates were going to be addressed from now on? If so, it was going to take some getting used to. She
wasn’t sure she did know why they felt it necessary for her to wear this torturous device. Obviously, their words were intended to convey that there was a reason for it, though.

  She stood still and allowed Marra to pull the diaphanous gown on over her head. It felt just as good against her bare skin as she’d thought it would. In this dress she was incredibly alluring. Although covered from neck to ankle, the transparency of the fabric meant she might as well be naked. Everyone would see the rosy tips of her breasts and the glimmer of gold metal shielding her sex. Her collar, of course was visible at her throat as a mark of her subjugation. In case anyone doubted she was a prisoner, Marra placed gold cuffs linked together with a short, heavy chain around her wrists and similar ones around her ankles. Walking was going to be difficult and she would have to take small, shuffling steps.

  Marra produced a comb from somewhere and held it up as though asking Lottie’s permission to use it. Hiding her amusement that the same woman who’d probed the most intimate parts of her body without saying a please or thank you was now checking it was okay to brush her hair, Lottie nodded. Less than a minute later, she understood why this was different. There was a sensuality in the other woman’s touch as she caressed her head and ran the comb gently through her long red hair that hadn’t been there during the very clinical examination. Her care as she teased out the tangles reminded Lottie of her childhood, when her mother would fuss over her hair. The closeness she felt with Marra in that moment made her want to cry and she was glad when the other woman stepped away.

  “Follow me and keep your eyes on the floor,” Marra instructed. “When we get to the feasting hall, you will be required to make a public demonstration of your submission. Do not fail your mates.”

  Lottie swallowed hard as she walked out of the cell, a few paces behind Marra. She struggled to keep her balance with the chains hobbling her. She had no idea what her mates would require of her, but she was determined not to let them down. If she could prove she was worthy, perhaps she could work her way out of the prison cell and back into their beds. If submission before an audience was the price she had to pay, then so be it. She was ready to do their bidding.

  * * *

  Daen drained the last drops of ale from his tankard and set it down on the table in front of him. He leaned back in his chair and cast an eye over the room. Everyone of importance in Bylanthian society was here to show their respect to Jax now that he’d finally taken back the throne that had been stolen from him after their father’s death. While it was good to be home at last, Daen sensed that danger would never be far away. It was fortunate the brothers had each other for support because holding onto power was not going to be easy.

  Although in his thirty-sixth year, Jax was the youngest ruler the planet ever had and some of the older members of the aristocratic classes had openly expressed doubts about his ability to lead. His brother had proved himself a worthy warrior but for those who harbored uncertainties, it wasn’t enough. They needed him to demonstrate strong diplomatic skills by keeping peace with the Taar-Breckians and Earth’s High Council. Thanks to Jax’s efforts in working with Taryn Duff, they’d made some progress with their nearest neighbors but relations with the people of New Cambridge were still strained. Humans needed to be handled carefully. Deceit and betrayal were their trademarks and they could not be taken at their word. Lottie was evidence of that.

  “Cheer up, brother,” Ren said as he flopped into the chair next to him. “This is a celebration.”

  “I know, and I am pleased for Jax.”

  “Be pleased for all of us. We are where we belong at last.”

  Nodding, Daen summoned a serving girl and took a mug of ale from her tray. He ignored the flirtatious way she narrowed her eyes at him and dismissed her before swallowing his drink back in one go.

  “Take it easy with those,” Ren advised. “You will not make it through the claiming ceremony if you drink too much.”

  Daen scrubbed a hand over his face. The claiming ceremony wasn’t something he wanted to think about. He hadn’t decided yet if he was going to take part and what it would mean for his future relationship with his brothers if he refused. Publicly claiming a mate was an important ritual in Bylanthian society and it was intended as a way of binding together all those involved for eternity. As much as he loved his brothers, Daen wasn’t sure he wanted to go through with it. He hadn’t felt like being near Lottie since they left Taar-Breck. Her actions had wounded him deeply, and just looking at his mate made him want to hurt her in ways neither of them would ever recover from.

  “Jax still intends to hold the ceremony tonight?”

  “The sooner the better,” Ren confirmed. “He is under some pressure to make Charlotte’s position here official.”

  Daen was well aware of that. Their chief advisers wanted them to demonstrate their power over their mate and to show they intended to give her a permanent place in their lives. The Bylanthian advisory council, made up of men from the aristocracy, wanted there to be no room for doubt about her role in their society. If she was to stay here, they wanted it to be clear she was there to serve their rulers and provide Jax with the necessary heirs.

  It was also a means of showing Earth’s High Council that they were not going to give Lottie up. After her plea to stay on Taar-Breck, she had become a target for those New Cambridge politicians who wanted her returned to Earth to stand trial. They had a list of charges to levy against her, including high treason, which was punishable by death. Daen might not be keen to welcome Lottie back into his bed anytime soon, but he didn’t want to see her harmed either.

  “And you and Marc intend to participate?” Daen asked, although he already knew the answer.

  “We do.” Ren gave him a thoughtful look. “But you are not certain?”

  Before Daen could answer, the doors to the hall swung open and everyone fell silent. His assistant, Marra, entered the room, closely followed by Lottie. The sight of her took his breath away. She was the most beautiful thing he’d ever seen, a goddess in a shimmering white gown that let him see every curve of her amazing body. Although she wore chains, her bearing was regal. She held her head high in defiance of the instructions Marra would surely have given her to keep it bowed. He caught a glimpse of the chastity belt Jax would remove from her as the ceremony began and his cock stirred.

  “Look at her.” Ren leaned in close to speak quietly to him. “She’s everything we’ve ever wanted. Look at that perfect body, that fiery red hair. She’s magnificent. Her strength shines through even though she’s afraid.”

  Like his brother, Daen could see that Lottie was trembling, but the set of her jaw showed determination to control her fear. Ren slapped his shoulder and barked out an incredulous laugh.

  “How could you not want to fuck her?”

  Daen had no answer to that. The truth was he did want to fuck her, more than he could ever express. But that didn’t mean he was going to. Whether or not he would take part in the claiming ceremony was something he had yet to decide but he had to do it quickly. Time was running out and his entire future depended on the path he chose.

  * * *

  Although the atmosphere was celebratory, Lottie still felt distinctly uneasy as she followed Marra through the enormous hall. The place was packed but she heard barely a whisper as she walked by the various dignitaries who’d gathered. Their interest was entirely focused on her and goosebumps rose on her skin under the scrutiny she was subjected to. Refusing to be cowed, she held her head high and looked around the room. She noted that there were Bylanthian women here with the men and their position as second-class citizens was apparent. While the men were richly dressed in robes of silver and gold, depending on their status, all the women appeared to be wearing long, shapeless dresses in drab grays and browns. They weren’t eating or drinking and sat to one side of the hall looking thoroughly miserable. Many of them had collars around their necks and Lottie became acutely aware of the symbols of subjugation she currently wore.

>   When she and Marra got closer to the front of the room, she saw Jax on a raised platform, sitting on a great throne hewn from granite. It was good to see him occupying his rightful place, but her stomach dropped when she looked to the right side of the dais. There was a bench there that could only be intended for spanking or fucking someone on. It was then she realized the significance of the way she’d been brought here. More was happening than a celebration of Jax’s ascendance to the throne—they were also planning a claiming ceremony. Now it made sense that she’d had to wear the chastity belt and this dress that made her look like a sacrificial offering.

  Jax had told her once that this was a custom his people insisted upon following when the most important members of their society decided to take a mate. The chosen woman was brought in, stripped bare, and strapped to the bench before being fucked mercilessly in front of witnesses. Taken whether their bodies were ready or not, some women never really recovered from the brutality their mates inflicted upon them. Lottie wondered if that was why so many of the Bylanthian women assembled here looked so forlorn.

  Jax had spoken of his distaste for the ritual where virgins were cruelly claimed against their will and had promised her he would abolish the practice once he was on the throne. He’d told her that since they were already in an intimate relationship, she would never have to go through the ordeal of being laid bare in public and fucked before a baying crowd. Yet it looked like that was what was planned here, and she couldn’t believe Jax would allow it. Perhaps he wasn’t going to demand this of her. If he did, she had no idea what she would do. She wouldn’t just lie back and let it happen.

  When they reached Jax, Marra bowed low and moved off to the side. Remembering what Marc had taught her about kneeling in supplication, Lottie sank to her knees. The little knob on her chastity belt rubbed against her clitoris as she slid forward, getting into the required position with her forehead touching the floor and her arms stretched out above her. Although she couldn’t see him, she was aware of Jax getting to his feet. A moment later he began to speak in his own native Bylanthian tongue, his voice booming through the hall. She barely understood anything of what he was saying, but she did catch her own name being spoken here and there.