Page 104 of Their Blood Rite

My body goes rigid, but he keeps swaying with me.

‘Your secret is safe with me. You saved my friend. Archie would have died without your help. I will never betray you.’

I relax. At least for now. I don’t get the feeling he’s about to execute me.

His lips start to work my neck, and a warmth travels the length of my spine.

‘Are you using your magic?’ I ask.

‘No. But good to know you’re enjoying it.’

I reach back, my fingers sinking beneath his hair, urging him closer.

My eyes close, and my other senses take over. The sounds. The smells.

The feel of firm hands belonging to a powerful and beautiful male set every one of my nerves alight and eradicate the jealousy that was there moments ago.

I’m free. Actually free to drink, dance, and enjoy others.

My body is my own for the first time ever. I will not be shamed for finding pleasure. Pleasure seems to be all that matters here. After all, they ordered me to come here. To join them. And if they can enjoy others… so can I.

Kieran’s hand slides down, resting at the waist of my trousers.

‘Get. The fuck. Off my Witch,’ snarls a dark voice.

I open my eyes to see Dorian’s wrathful face glaring murderously past me to Kieran.

‘Step away now, Faerie. Before I break every single finger you have touched her with and rip your fucking lips off for daring to place them on her neck.’

‘No offence intended, My Lord,’ Kieran says in that same silky tone.

He removes his hands and steps back. Dorian’s finger hooks into the waist of my trousers and gently tugs. I stumble towards him, my body rigid.

‘I was unaware she belonged to you,’ Kieran adds. ‘I thought she was nothing but a little mud witch you have been stuck with.’ His sarcasm drips from every word he speaks. ‘Clearly, I was wrong.’

‘Clearly.’

Dorian's anger spreads out and ripples through the air around him. Absolute and sheer rage that I swear I can taste. Dorian watches Kieran step away, and when he’s gone, his dangerously dark eyes look down at me.

‘I don’t belong to you,’ I manage, despite a crippling terror making me immobile. ‘I can do whatever I want as long as I keep up my end of the bargain.’

He keeps pulling me until he’s close enough to have me pinned to his body, and his breath moves the loose strands of hair over my face. I don’t dare look away. My head is tilted back to keep his gaze, frightened to move away in case he tears my throat out.

His palm settles on my lower back before he yanks me towards him so hard I stumble and fall into his chest.

He drapes my arm around his neck. Then he starts to move, swaying slowly from side to side.

Our hips sway as one as we fall into a fierce and intense rhythm.

‘You’re dancing with me,’ I whisper.

‘Hmmm.’

‘But you hate me.’

‘Shut up and dance with me, poppet.’

I’m acutely aware of those around us watching, stunned perhaps at the most terrifying man amongst them dancing with the “runaway earth witch”.

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