CASVAN
Fuck, I hurt all over.
I tried to open my eyes, but they were heavy. The amazing smell of berries filled my nostrils.
I must have been hallucinating to smell my mateâs delicious scentâit had been three days since Iâd last seen her. Iâd missed her so much and tried to reach out to her via the essence trajectory, but I was so weak after my interrogation.
Did she think I would be angry with her for Jakoâs death? I didnât blame her.
I blamed her mother and the council, though, for their ignorance.
I sat up, wincing when my stitches pulled tight. Maybe I shouldnât have pushed that sadistic bitch of a doctor too far by calling her a quack who had no idea what a real doctor really was.
Sheâd been really creative with her tools, trying to make me pay for insulting her. Iâd be lying if I said I regretted it.
Despite the fact I hurt all over, I enjoyed riling the old hag. She might be a real witch, but she was as evil as those dark magic witchlings.
She and the frigid queen thought I would bow down to them. Beg for mercy from them and tell them everything.
Iâd fucking laughed in their faces. I told them how their queendom was going to be nothing but rubble and how they were going to lose everything for being so damn stupid.
The doctor had lost it and almost killed me. I never begged. Iâd grinned while she sliced through flesh and I bled crimson.
I was a king, for fuckâs sakeâI wouldnât bow down to anyone. Only my mate had the power to have me groveling on my knees, not that old bitch.
I knew that not cowering or succumbing to my torturerâs methods had made them extremely angry. It was probably why they had killed Jakos.
We were different creatures, though from the outside we looked humanoid and functioned the same way. We really werenât from the inside. Our life essenceâwhat humans call the glowâwas proof of that.
They were fortunate and should be grateful to my Reyna. She was the reason why I wouldnât kill them.
If it werenât for her, I would have made them suffer for Jakoâs murder. Though women were already scarce, I honestly believed the world would do well without the two evil witches.
I didnât want to hurt Reynaâs feelings in any way or form. And killing them would definitely hurt herâotherwise I would end them before I left this place.
I was beginning to get my strength back. I was healing.
Soon I would be as good as new. I forced my eyes open, caught a glimpse of some ethereal being before they fluttered closed.
I shook my head and tried again. My eyes widened when I realized it was my mate.
She was here, in the cell with me. That was why I smelled berriesâmy Reyna was sleeping, her back against the wall.
My eyes fell on the things she had brought with her. Things sheâd used to care for me.
Love for her swelled inside me. Vague memories flashed through my mind, of how she had been speaking to me softly even though I couldnât recall what sheâd said.
She was close enough for me to touch her without the chains pulling at me. So I did. I stroked her smooth cheek.
Softâshe was so soft, and just that one touch was enough to make my cock stir. There was a smear of my blood on her other cheek. It didnât take a genius to know how it got there.
I wiped it off with the pad of my thumb. I grinned, my chest expanding when she leaned into my touch.
I didnât thinkâI just did what my instinct told me to. I picked her up and hugged her to me, burying my nose in her hair and smelling her delicious scent, as Iâd been wanting to do forever.
My cock shot hard instantly. I wanted to claim her so badly. To kiss her, lick and suck on her mouth before burying my tongue in her cunt and feasting on her.
Lick her right there until she came for me again and again, sate my hunger. While I wanted all these things, I knew I couldnât do much in my current state, at least not until I healed.
I felt so fucking weak and I hated it. But all that feeling was instantly gone when Reyna sighed and pressed closer to me.
Nothing existed beyond the feel of her delectable, warm body in my arms. I forced the thought of mating away from my mind and just enjoyed the feel of her right where she belonged.
With the recent visions, I knew the wait was almost over. I just prayed that by the time all was said and done, and I was back in my kingdom with anchors for my Dakkuth warriors, my queen wouldnât feel betrayed by me.
I hoped sheâd give me the chance to explain, and that she would understand the enormity of my situation that had driven my decisions.
As though she could sense the direction of my thoughts, Reyna stirred, moving that plump ass over my cock. Lust instantly shot through me.
I shuddered hard, making the chains jiggle just a bit.