Regally Bitten (Blood Alliance Book 3)

by Lexi C. Foss

  The scent of his home drew my eyes upward to the familiar beams above, his legs having moved so quickly that I didn’t even realize we were here until the he slammed the door shut with his heel.

  I expected him to drop me in my room or on the couch, but instead he took me to his bedroom.

  Punishment, I realized. He had to do something, to put me in my place for behaving the way I did, and this was where he planned to do it.

  Would he make me blow him? Fuck him? Use a belt against my skin the way his father had? Strangle me? Burn me?

  Lycans healed quickly, especially purebreds like me. Which meant I could withstand all sorts of torture before passing out, and I’d almost always wake up as good as new without scars.

  I opened my mouth to explain, to voice an apology, to say something, but my throat refused me. It was too tight. I could barely even breathe.

  He set me on the mattress. “Lift your arms,” he demanded.

  I complied only because I didn’t know what else to do, and I whimpered as he peeled off the remains of my bloody shirt. He guided me downward onto my side, and my legs automatically curled into my abdomen.

  This was going to hurt.

  I needed to find my happy place, to think of the few moments I enjoyed in my childhood, to think about Logan and Claudette and all our lessons together about the old world. To pretend I lived there. With them. In harmony. Without tyranny. In a place—

  Agony sliced through my ribs, causing me to cry out.

  Edon held me down, his fingers prodding my tender skin, his expression livid.

  It took me a moment to realize he wasn’t inflicting pain on purpose but was trying to assess my wounds.

  “I’m going to fucking kill him,” he gritted out, slowly rolling me to my other side to better examine my back. It hurt like a son of a bitch, my entire body tingling beneath his touch. He cursed, the sound harsh enough to make me flinch. “Don’t move.”

  As if I could.

  My body ached from the two kicks. Wait, hadn’t there been more than two? Yes. Walter had a bloody belt. But I couldn’t remember what he’d done with it. I’d retreated into—

  Ice stabbed my arm, forcing a scream from my throat, but a stern hand forced me to stay put. The room began to spin a little, painting my vision in a drunk-like sensation. I tried to shake it off, tried to focus on the shifting wall, but couldn’t.

  Was this Edon’s punishment?

  To make me delirious?

  To fuck with my mind?

  “I’m not going to punish you, Luna,” he said softly, a warm cloth sliding over my back and causing me to hiss.

  “Fuck…” It stung. No, it burned.

  And, wait, had I said something out loud? Or had he read my mind?

  “Shh.” He combed my hair away from my face, his palm sliding to the back of my neck. “The pain medicine will kick in soon to provide some relief. It won’t last long with how rapidly our bodies consume drugs, but it should give you a little bit of comfort while your insides heal.”

  Another swipe of the cloth had me clenching the bedsheets, my lips parting on a groan that turned into a plea for him to stop.

  I hated this show of weakness.

  Hated more how I craved his touch.

  “I need to clean the wounds,” he explained, his cloth returning. Or maybe it was a new one. I couldn’t tell. The stench of antibiotics made my stomach heave, my skin screaming beneath the healing salve.

  Until another wave of dizziness hit me.

  I blinked rapidly, trying to clear the dots from my vision.

  “Pain medicine.” The two words were a breath near my ear, his touch turning into a caress against my back. My eyes drooped closed, the sensation easing me into a cocoon of warmth I longed to live in forever.

  Then a second prick had my eyes flashing open in concern, only to be soothed by a low growl from Edon.

  Mate, my wolf acknowledged, at peace with his touch, the way he took care of me, the manner in which he protected me from others.

  His warm body curled around mine in the bed, pulling me gently back into him. Sleep, my mind whispered.

  Or maybe that was Edon.

  Mmm, but I didn’t want to sleep just yet.

  My tongue felt too funny. Thick. Dry. Like I’d licked a lot of sandpaper.

  Odd.

  I twitched my nose, the scents swirling around us confusing me.

  I smelled only Edon.

  And another masculine scent, one that reminded me of cypress trees. I rather liked the calming nature of it but didn’t know where it came from.

  “My grandfather,” Edon whispered, either due to somehow reading my mind or possibly because he’d deciphered my sniffing. “That’s where I was last night, little mate. Bianca was showboating because I turned her down. She’s jealous of you.”

  I frowned. He might have turned her down last night, but he definitely spent yesterday with her.

  “Did I?” he asked softly, his lips caressing my neck. “I said someone sucked me off, but I didn’t say it was her.”

  I didn’t understand.

  I also didn’t know how he was in my head, how he heard my thoughts. Unless I was voicing them out loud? I did feel pretty weird. Dizzy. Like I was on the verge of a dream without sleeping.

  “It’s the medication.” He kissed my temple, his arm draping across my chest while his other slid beneath my head. “Rest, little mate. You’ll wake up as good as new. I promise.”

  Why is he being so nice to me? I wondered, suspicious. This wasn’t how alphas treated their mates. Not in a very long time, anyway.

  Claudette whispered of a different time, one where females and males chose each other for life, their faithfulness to one another the heart of the mating bond.

  Now males were encouraged to cheat and females demanded to endure.

  Logan once said he preferred the world Claudette spoke of in our studies.

  I did, too.

  But I wouldn’t be able to find that here. Or anywhere, really. The old world no longer existed. Only this new society controlled by the Blood Alliance.

  I closed my eyes, Claudette’s words a low murmur in my mind. “Everyone deserves a choice. Everyone deserves their very own Jolene Mason.”

  She loved once.

  A male named Jolene. Claudette spoke of him often, about how choices matter. In the end, his heart went with another, but hers always belonged to him. Which was why she never mated.

  “What did you say?” Edon asked, his breath a warmth against my skin.

  I shook my head, not sure what he meant. I hadn’t said a word. Or maybe I had. But what would it matter at this point?

  Dreams didn’t exist here.

  And love was a figment of the old world.

  “Give me a chance, Luna,” Edon murmured. “I just may surprise you.”

  “You already have.” The words slurred in my mouth, sounding drunk with sleep.

  He nuzzled my throat, the gesture far more alleviating than I wanted to admit.

  But it lulled me into a false sense of safety.

  One that followed me into my dreams, where I envisioned a world that didn’t exist. A fantasy future based on a past I didn’t know but wished I did.

  11

  Edon

  Luna slept soundly in my bed, her lithe form curled around one of my pillows. She hadn’t moved much in the last two days, but her body appeared to be fully healed. Finally.

  I swept her hair back to place a kiss against her temple and ventured into my living room, where Silas stood waiting.

  I’d called him here through the sire link, much to his annoyance.

  He was dressed similarly to me in a pair of jeans, his blond hair damp from his run, his skin glistening with a sheen of sweat that seemed to define his muscles even more.

  Silas arched a brow, his skepticism written in that single expression alone. But I also heard it in his thoughts, his uncertainty underlined with a begrudging satisfaction at my demanding his
presence.

  Is he going to kill me? Or fuck me? he wondered, causing my lips to quirk.

  “I haven’t decided yet.” A lie, of course. If I wanted to kill him, he’d already be dead. It was the fucking-him part I hadn’t quite figured out. Because I wanted to. I just didn’t think it would be right.

  Of course, I’d already taken advantage of his mouth. Why not push him all the way?

  “I hate that you’re always in my head,” he said flatly.

  “Better get used to it.” I would always be there unless one of us died. And if he looked deep enough, he’d realize the link went both ways. “I need you to watch Luna for me.”

  His lips parted, drawing my attention to his mouth.

  Which reminded me of the other night and how skillfully he took my cock.

  Mmm, yes, I wanted to do that again.

  “What?” He gave a laugh. “You’re fucking with me.”

  “Not even close,” I said, taking a step toward him. He held his ground, something that only intrigued me more. “You’re the only one I can trust with Luna.” Because I had a permanent link to him that I could access regardless of the distance. “Just don’t touch her.”

  Without my permission, I wanted to add, surprising myself. An image of Silas going down on Luna flashed behind my eyes, causing my blood to boil—in a good way. I shook it off, forcing myself to focus on the task at hand.

  “Can you do that, Silas? Can you watch without touching?”

  His nostrils flared, challenge written into his features. “You’re setting me up for failure before I’ve even begun.”

  “This isn’t a test.”

  “Everything in this fucking world is a test,” he retorted, his anger warm and hot. I wanted to play in it, to stoke it higher, to see how far I could press before he exploded.

  If it wasn’t, he’d have an actual friend do this, Silas added, speaking to himself.

  “I don’t have friends.” Nor did I need them. “My last friend—a term I use loosely—died just after my thirteenth birthday. My father called him a distraction. Said I didn’t need one of those and sliced the kid in half in front of the clan. Didn’t have a whole lot of offers for friendship after that.”

  Silas’s eyes widened a fraction, the only indication that my words had alarmed him.

  “Look, I need to go speak to my grandfather,” I continued, uncertain of why I felt the need to explain myself, but did so anyway. “And I need someone I can trust—someone I own—to guard Luna. You are that someone, Silas. I’m not asking you for a favor. I’m not testing you. I’m giving you a task as your alpha and sire. You will stay here and protect my mate until I return. Should anyone disturb my home or you or Luna, you will alert me. Do you understand?”

  He lifted a shoulder. “Fine.”

  Oh, his defiance goaded my inner wolf. I wanted to bend him over and fuck him into submission. But I didn’t have time.

  And it would wake up Luna.

  “We’re going to have a chat later about obedience,” I said, stepping away from him. “And it’ll probably end with you on your knees again.”

  Hunger flashed in his gaze before he could conceal it. “You’re the alpha.”

  “And you’re my omega,” I returned, amused. “Behave.”

  Silas barked into my mind as I left, causing me to chuckle as I took off at a jog toward my grandfather’s estate.

  The insanity of what had happened to Luna left me feeling on edge, but a few minutes with Silas had cooled me off enough to run the grounds without trying to kill anyone. That would change if anyone stepped into my way. Especially if it was one of the jackasses who joined my father in his little circle of punishment the other day.

  One of the older members of the clan, Barry’s father, found me in the woods and alerted me of my father’s intentions. I’d taken off running before he finished, arriving just as two of the wolves—Glenn and his idiot of a brother—started taking off their pants.

  It didn’t take a genius to understand their plan.

  They were going to gang-rape Luna into submission.

  Over my dead body, I thought, my bare feet pounding over the earth, my blood pumping full of rage yet again.

  If that had been another of my father’s little tests, I’d failed, and I didn’t give a fuck. Luna was mine. No one touched her except me. The others might crave a broken female in the bedroom, but I did not. Her fire was one of my favorite traits about her, and the pack had snuffed it out, leaving her cold and disturbingly distant in my arms.

  Luna had clearly been abused before, as she knew how to retreat into her mind.

  I’d seen that look so many times on my mother’s face. These days, she wore it permanently. She didn’t even acknowledge my presence when I visited her now, so broken and alone.

  That would not happen to Luna.

  I refused to allow it.

  Silas’s uncertainty trickled through our connection, causing my run to slow to a jog as I navigated through his thoughts for the cause.

  Hunger. He’d been about to eat when I called him to the house. Not wanting to sprint on a full stomach, he’d returned the items to the fridge and took off toward his fate. Which, apparently, he thought would include his very public death.

  The man sure did hide his fear well, because I hadn’t caught an inkling of it on him, just cocky, irritated male. But his mind painted a very different scene.

  Help yourself to whatever food you need, I thought at him. And I want to know when Luna is awake.

  Annoyance darkened our link. Sure.

  I smirked. Don’t sound too thankful, Silas, or I may be inclined to do something ungracious in the future.

  Like fuck my mouth? he drawled. Or should I consider that a gracious act?

  Oh, the pair of balls on that man nearly rivaled my own. Keep talking, progeny. I’m considering this foreplay.

  Probably best you don’t flirt with me too much, Sire. There’s a gorgeous alpha female in the other room.

  I stopped jogging.

  Like, flat-out froze.

  And he must have sensed my sudden pause, because he added, I’m not going to touch her.

  You better not. Except my earlier intrigue returned, causing me to wonder what would happen if I walked in on another sexual interlude between them. My blood heated once more, the idea arousing as fuck.

  Hurry back, Silas said, sounding bored. Or I’m eating all of your food.

  I snorted. Go for it. He needed it more than I did. His lean, muscular form could use a hint of bulk, something I knew he had more of prior to the Immortal Cup and recruitment into Clemente Clan.

  He’d get it back.

  I returned to my run and smiled when I found my grandfather waiting on his old porch, his shoulder braced against a pole at the top of the stairs. “Trouble in paradise?” he drawled, likely having sensed my hesitation about a mile ago when talking to Silas.

  “Errant progeny,” I replied, walking up the stairs and past him into the house.

  “I can’t wait to meet him.”

  “I know.” I’d already told my grandfather a few things about Silas, mostly in regard to his fighting skills and defiance. “I’m pretty sure you’re going to disown me for him.”

  My grandfather chuckled and shut the door behind us before collapsing into his favorite recliner. “It’s about time you had some competition for my affection.”

  I snorted and took over the couch. “Are you kidding? I can’t wait to be rid of you, old man.”

  “Yeah, yeah. That’s why you’ve been to see me practically every day since your mate arrived, right?” He gave me a knowing look. “What’d she do now?”

  Nothing like cutting directly to the point of my visit. “She attacked Bianca.” And, according to Barry’s father, the bitch deserved it for goading an alpha female so publicly. Luna’s possessive reaction should have pleased me, but the violent aftermath of the incident severely tainted my pleasure. “My father attempted to beat Luna into submission as
a result.”

  My grandfather whistled. “A ballsy move to touch another alpha’s female.”

  “I think we both know he has no respect for me or my pending claim to his territory.” Things had been tense with my father for years, and I strongly suspected he wanted me dead. Fortunately, he wasn’t strong enough to do it. Nor could he face the political repercussions of assassinating his only heir.

  “You need allies,” my grandfather said for the thousandth time. “Walter did one hell of a job alienating you, to the point where it’s almost a sure thing you’re going to fail these trials.”

  “Gee, thanks for the vote of confidence,” I drawled, irritated.

  “You need Luna on your side. And that boy Silas. And anyone else you can get to help you. Because whatever Walter has planned, it’s going to be bad.”

  “It already is bad,” I corrected him, thinking of the vampire I had to cut up into pieces before depositing him in the ocean. My grandfather had confirmed it was definitely the start of my Alpha Trials and that Silas’s idea to get rid of the evidence was a sound one.

  “He’s only just begun.”

  I know, I thought, leaning forward with my elbows on my knees. “I didn’t come here to discuss the trials, Gramps. I need to ask you about something else.”

  “Yeah?” He cocked his head in that curious way he favored, the one that made him look like a young pup despite being close to seven hundred years old with white hair and wrinkled skin. He was one of the oldest lycans in existence, most dying around the six- or seven-hundred-year mark. But not my grandfather. He was a stubborn old bastard, much to my father’s chagrin.

  The pack gave him his space out of respect, while my father avoided him entirely.

  “Well?” my grandfather prompted. “I’m not getting any younger over here.”

  My lips quirked. He always seemed to know what I was thinking. But I doubted he could anticipate what I wanted to know now. “Who’s Claudette?”

  Luna had murmured about the woman in her drug-induced daze, saying something about her lessons and the history of the world. Most of it I already knew, having learned much from my grandfather about the old times, but then Luna said something utterly fascinating.