Page 91 of Oath of Betrayal
He looked at me in shocked disbelief, his gaze lingering on my face as he tried to assess my true intentions. ‘Didn’t you hear a word I said? I’m a liar, an evil necromancer who will only cause you pain …’
I couldn’t bear the anguish in Ari’s voice, so I silenced him with a tender kiss. His stunned expression lasted longer than I expected, but once he’d gathered his wits, my dark fae leaned into the kiss, testing my resolve. Moments later, my hands were free and clasped behind Ari’s neck, pulling him closer.
As soon as we came up for breath, Alaric looked into my eyes, stroking a gentle finger across my lips. ‘Why are you doing this?’ he asked in whispered awe, his hands not once leaving my skin.
‘Because despite the incredible strain you’ve been under, you have integrity. Whatever your plans were, you never went through with them. You stopped because of me, choosing to suffer through your curse rather than betray my trust. You may see a liar when you look in the mirror, but I see a tormented man who told me the truth, sacrificing himself in exchange. I don’t need a pure heart. I need a man who would burn the world for me, and you, Alaric’va Shen’ra, are such a man. I claim you. You are mine.’
I scraped my nails over his marks. The guttural moan that Ari made sent shivers down my spine. His body shook with raw need, his touch growing more insistent, and when he kissed me this time, his tongue explored my mouth with a passion that I couldn’t help responding to. I didn’t care about the world anymore. I wanted this man, his bright mind, his magic. I craved it all, and my body reacted in the most primal way.
My hand trailed over the hard muscles of Ari’s abdomen, threatening to disappear under the soft fabric of his trousers before he stopped me. ‘Ani, I will do whatever you want, but I cannot Anchor you, not right now. You said you had to feel ready to accept me, but now I am the one who cannot accept you.Hrae!I want you so much, but I cannot do it.’
There was a finality in his words, but it couldn’t disguise the desire in his voice. I knew he felt he didn’t deserve me, but I refused to let his despair take this moment away from us.
‘Ari, I understand. I would welcome you as my Anchor, but this isn’t about magic. I can’t let you wallow in the guilt of your deception so let me give you what you need. Redemption through the pain you enjoy so much. Will you accept the agony of my touch and be mine?’
He shuddered under my scrutiny. In some strange way, I understood him. Alaric was a good man, but deep inside, he was a broken soul overcome with a guilt that he felt he needed to atone for.
‘I … Yes,’ he breathed. Despite his hesitation, I saw the flicker of something in his eyes and felt the press of the bulge in his trousers. He was aroused by the mere suggestion of my offer.
‘Release me, Alaric.’ As Ari took a breath, I could see the struggle he was under, but he fell back. My smile turned almost vicious as I followed, pushing him back until he fell, helplessly staring into my eyes. The hand I laid on my prey’s chest was open and gentle, but as I maintained eye contact, my fingers curled. I pressed my nails into his flesh, drawing them down over the marks of his curse, scoring his flesh.
Ari cried out in response, and my lips moved, calling on magic. With a twist of my wrist, I released my power, forcing it into his body, and his outcry became a moan. I slid my other hand down a hairsbreadth above the delicious muscles of his abdomen, watching them tense and shiver as he strained for a single touch until I stopped over his cock.
Ari’s back arched in desperate yearning, but I laughed and moved my hand away. ‘Kneel,’ I said, and his response was instant.
‘Yes, Domina,’ he breathed, and I gasped at hearing the dark fae term of endearment.
‘Good, now you understand.’ I bent forward to kiss him.
I teased Alaric with tenderness, feeling his reaction before releasing lightning from my fingertips. The flash as it arced to his body made him flinch, but I deepened the kiss to swallow his scream. Another gesture and the magic disappeared. I didn’t stop there, though.
As Ari gasped in relief, my teeth bit down on his lip and blood flowed over my tongue. When his eyes flew open in surprise,I deepened the kiss and nicked my tongue on his fangs. It hurt, but when my blood mixed with Ari’s and flowed over his tongue, I felt him almost melt in ecstasy. When I drew back to end the kiss, Alaric pushed forward, his magic blossoming and surrounding us, trying to keep me close.
The slap I delivered to his cheek rocked him backwards, and as he swayed, I grabbed his throat with uncompromising strength. The response was immediate, my dark fae lover freezing beneath my hand. I had no means of physically overpowering him; he was stronger and had proved to be a much better mage. Yet, at the very core of his existence, he was dark fae, and their men never disobeyed their domina. I was walking blindly into the role, but his voluntary surrender flooded me with arousal.
‘What do you want, Alaric?’ I asked, almost purring at the hunger I saw in his eyes.
‘You, my Domina, I want to follow your every command and please you in any way I can.’ His voice was so hoarse and filled with desire that I gestured for him to rise. He was fully erect and as beautiful as the gods themselves. With a gesture, my magic blew across his trousers and the material unravelled, falling to the ground. I grasped the base of his exposed cock and gave it a harsh tug.
‘Like this?’ I asked, already knowing the answer.
‘Yes, my … Harder …’ he stuttered into silence as I knelt down and took his length into my mouth, sucking so hard my cheeks hollowed. ‘Dark Mother! Annika, please,’ he cried as I continued to move my hand and mouth. He was mine, and I wouldn’t let this end with such simple pleasure. I felt Alaric’s fingers tangle in my hair, but after savouring the salty liquid gathering on the tip of his cock, I stopped.
‘Ani!’ My name was a guttural half-growled protest from a man at the end of his tether, and I chuckled, giving him one last lick with the tip of my tongue. ‘I promised to make you suffer,’ Ipurred with a wicked smile, and he grabbed the nearest bedpost, panting heavily and looking like a wounded animal.
‘You are a cruel mistress, Annika. Beautiful, but cruel. Gods, you’re fucking perfect.’
I teased my magic into wrapping around Ari without him noticing. Then I muttered a short cantrip and the aether solidified, turning into thorny vines that pierced his skin with thousands of tiny needles.
‘Tell me all your secrets. If you want to taste me, to take a bite, you will tell me all the dark, vile thoughts you are harbouring.’ I moved to the middle of the bed and slowly spread my legs, letting him see everything as he stood there powerless.
Alaric’s eyes were pure crimson, his breath ragged as he struggled against the magical restraints. ‘I want Orm to join us in bed. I want us all to be together. I want to feel him fucking me while I feast on your cunt.’
I gasped, surprised at Ari’s confession, my mouth falling open at the image his words painted in my mind. I had been with two men before; Tal and Arno liked to share my affections, but they never touched each other intentionally. I wasn’t sure if Orm would even agree, but as my power surged, almost Anchoring Alaric without me uttering the oath, I realised how much I’d love it.
Alaric noticed my surprise, and I caught his vulnerable expression before he looked away. I wanted to slap myself for making him doubt me. ‘No?’ he asked, refusing to look me in the eye, but I wiggled my finger at him, dropping the restraints.
‘Yes, but only if Orm agrees.’
