Page 90 of The Magic of Betrayal
Bram pulled back, smiling widely. "Let's move, Goldie. Follow my lead," he ordered and then we were floating across the stone floor. He held me tightly as I let him direct my body, spinning me at the right times, pulling me close, and then letting me twirl out of his embrace. He was clearly an experienced ballroom dancer, he moved with confidence and sex appeal that was just allhim.
As he tugged my arm, spinning me against him so that my back was to his front, I turned my face to look up at him and we paused for a moment, staring at one another. His mouth landed on mine and the cheers from the room were deafening. Warmth was spooling in my core and I thought about what it might be like to claim him fully.
Bram looked sharply away from me, and I realized his father was standing next to him, hand stretched out, waiting for me. Was this part of their tradition? Did I have to dance with him? The thought of his hands on me made my skin crawl.
"Miss Wildes, may I have this dance?" Thane bowed and I flicked my eyes to Bram. He looked murderous, but he gave me a slight nod.Okay.This was something I had to do. Hopefully, it would be over soon.
He placed his hand on my waist, squeezing slightly too hard and I winced against the pain as he gripped my other hand and began moving us around the room.
"My son is quite taken with you, Miss Wildes," Thane stated, his eyes flashing with something I couldn't put a name to.
"It's mutual," I told him as he tugged me closer against his body.
"Yes, well, he's not king yet, is he?" he asked, sliding his hand down from my waist to the exposed skin at the base of my back.
"What does that mean?" I bit out, trying to remain somewhat calm and polite, but I didn't like his hands on my skin. It made me think of Bryce.
"It means that I have been without a wife for quite some time and I have been looking for a suitable replacement. The fact that you will be able to bear more of my children makes you perfect for me. You'd be queen, my dear," he whispered in my ear and I felt the blood run from my face.
"That- that is quite an offer, Your Majesty, but I'm afraid I cannot accept."
The music in the room was speeding up, the notes hitting a crescendo as I looked into Thane's eyes, and for the first time since I'd stepped through that portal I felt true fear.
"I think I'd better just—" I tried to squirm from his grip, but he dropped my hand and held my waist with his two large hands, keeping me from going anywhere.
"It wasn't an offer, my dear. I was simply telling you what would be happening. You will be my wife, and you will give me more children. Now, follow me," he ordered and I stared at him with my mouth open.Where is Bram? Where is Khol?
Thane guided me up the steps to the raised platform that held his throne and all eyes were on us. My stomach was churning, I needed to get the fuck out of here. Something bad was about to happen, I could feel it.
"Great citizens of Besmet!" Thane boomed and the room quieted. My eyes were darting across the room wildly, searching for the only two men here who I thought might give a shit about what was coming. Then I spotted them, against the back wall of the room. Those women from earlier were running their hands over their bodies, but my eyes were locked with Bram's. The way his were moving, I knew something was wrong. It was the only part of him that was moving. They were frozen like that. They wouldn't be able to save me now.
"Allow me to properly introduce Saige Wildes, daughter of Khol the Merciless, and future queen of Besmet!"
Applause rang out and trumpets started blaring loudly.This isn't happening. This can't be happening.
"I'd like to say that I would be able to wait to claim this woman until after our wedding, but with times as dire as these, I don't think any of you would mind if I put a royal Carlisle baby in her belly?" Thane bellowed, holding his hand out as his other one held me tight against his body and once again, the crowd cheered. Maybe they thought I wanted this, that being a queen is all any woman here would hope for in their life, but if Thane tried to put his dick in me, I would chop it off.
"How about a public demonstration?" Thane asked, his hand sliding up on my waist, brushing the side of my breast that was only covered by thin mesh.
Looking at Bram and Khol again, their faces were red and murder was in their eyes. They had no idea this was going to happen. That much was apparent.
I needed to get to them. Quickly, before this went any further. If I harmed the king though, would they kill me? They needed me, right? Maybe I can just subdue him long enough to escape.
When Thane moved behind me and lowered his mouth to my shoulder, I felt like I was going to faint. Or throw up. Or probably both. Breathing in deeply, I called on my green magic and felt it flicker in response. I felt his mouth open, trailing wet kisses up my neck and I swallowed bile as I waited patiently for his hands to leave my waist.
They did, finally. Just as I figured he would, he slid his hands down to cup my ass and that's when I made my move. Small vines exploded from my hands, seeking out his wrists and securing them tightly, I didn't even hesitate for a second before I jumped and let my wings carry me halfway across the room, my feet hitting the stone floor just as the king roared, "Get her!"
But that wasn't going to happen. I wasn't going to let him rape me. I was strong, and I only belonged to men I chose to give myself to. There was screaming and the off note chord of a violin as the music came to an abrupt halt. Bram's eyes widened and I held my hands out, more vines coming to my aid and a symphony of gasps rang out around me as the vines pushed all of those handsy bitches away from him and Khol. People were diving out of my path, yelling for more guards, but I didn’t stop. I wouldn’t. There was movement at my back and I knew I only had moments before I'd be captured and then who knew what they'd do to me.
Both men in front of me were frozen, just like Khol had done to the guys in that warehouse before.How am I getting us out of here?I needed to jump. Fuck, fuck.
I slipped my hands into theirs and remembered what Bram had told me about jumping. You just picture in your mind where you want to go and use your mind to push it into motion.Jump. Why can’t I just open a fucking portal? Of course nobody wants to teach me that.I thought about Bram's living room, if we could get there, we could regroup. Plus, we'd be far enough away that whatever Thane had done to them would wear off. Guards were running straight for us, hands reaching, wings extended, faces angry. I kept my thoughts on Bram's house. Jump. Jump. JUMP!
The three of us hit the rug in the living room.
"Holy shit, holy shit, oh my moons," I swore, my breathing ragged as I searched the room to make sure they were with me and we were alone.
"Khol, you okay? We need to get out of here. Now. He'll come looking here first.” Bram scrambled to his feet and Khol was hot on his heels.
