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Phoenix snorted. "You would've been withering away without being around us. You should thank my brother for his compassion, convincing me to let you sleep in my bed."

"I know you and your brother are responsible for thousands of deaths. Did you show any of them compassion?"

"We do what we must to keep order."

"You're a horrible person. Monster."

"So they say."

"Am I anything more than just a servant? Is that why you mated me?"

Phoenix laughed—it was a loud, barking sound that rang through the hallway. "Youmustbe slow. We mated you for the same reason that all Alphas mate: to impregnate you. To create an heir, or as many as you're physically able."

Lars felt sick. Of course he'd known—his own body had been calling for it. Maybe, somehow, he'd managed to convince himself that wasn't what his fate would be, but now hearing the words spoken gave it reality.

"Now, enough," Phoenix said. "I'm tired of speaking to you."

This time, Lars didn't respond.

They continued through the building, making their way upstairs to the main command center. Lars was again struck with a whiplash of emotions. The ill feeling was soon replaced by arousal, and his imagination burned with thoughts of the ways the two of them could take him. He fought to stay in control, to keep the fantasies at bay, but heat was growing between his legs and his cock was swelling to hardness.

They passed soldiers and officers who stopped to salute Phoenix, and Lars was certain that every single one of them could smell his excitement. Maybe Phoenix was relishing it, knowing that if a single one of them made a wrong move towards his Omega he would be within his rights to challenge them to combat.

The worst part of that realization was that it managed to turn Lars on even more. How the refined had fallen. He was losing his way, slipping further from the elegance and sophistication of his upbringing into this carnal madness.

"What's the matter?" Phoenix asked, when they were walking alone. "No, let me guess. Are you enjoying the thought of my seed inside of you? Of a baby growing in your belly? My baby? Griffin's baby? Does that make you hard and wet, Omega?"

Lars didn't want to reach down to confirm it, but he felt that his excitement had soaked into his pants. He was sure the grey fabric must've been pockmarked with grey spots at the crotch and between the thighs from his slickness.

"Lars," he said in a low voice. "My name is Prince Lars Lia—"

Phoenix grabbed him by the scruff of the neck and threw him into an empty office, slamming the door behind him. He unbuckled his trousers and pulled out his prodigious manhood, which was already rock hard, and threw Lars over the edge of the desk that sat against the wall. Then he grabbed Lars's pants and yanked them to the floor.

"What are you doing?" Lars cried out. He looked over his shoulder at Phoenix as he clutched the sides of the desk. He found himself widening his stance for him, giving him access to penetrate him. He was dripping wet, down his thighs and his balls.

"I told you, you would be punished if you tested me."

Phoenix palmed his ass, sending a loud crack through the room. Lars shouted, tensing. Phoenix swatted him again, and this time a moan emerged from Lars's lips. "Stop," he begged.

"Not until you've learned your lesson, Omega."

Phoenix pulled him off the desk and drove him down to his knees in front of him, and Lars looked up at him with hazy eyes. The mating lust had overtaken him again, making him drunk. Phoenix swung his heavy cock in front of his lips, and the Alpha's strong scent filled his lungs. He opened and greedily gulped him down all the way to the hilt. His own cock was painfully hard, begging for release. But when Lars tried to touch himself, Phoenix snatched up his discarded pants and used them to bind his hands behind his back.

"This is a punishment," he snarled. "Now take it." He took his cock and pushed it back into Lars's waiting mouth.

He struggled to breathe as Phoenix pummeled him, thrusting down his throat. The Alpha glared down at him with wide, serious eyes. He was taking no pleasure in this. As he stated: this was punishment. This had to be done, because Lars had pushed him too far, hadn't heeded the warnings of his Alpha.

Phoenix roared and his cock swelled, expanding at the base of its head into a knot. His hot fluid spilled across Lars's tongue and down his throat. Phoenix held himself there, throbbing as Lars swallowed every drop he was given. Tears spilled down his cheeks, a reflex from gagging down his massive cock. Finally, Phoenix pulled away. Unable to support himself with his hands bound, Lars fell sideways, but was caught by Phoenix's massive palm before he hit the floor. He looked blearily up at the Alpha, coughing for breath. His body ached. He needed his Alphas to relieve him of the pressure.

"Please," Lars whispered. "Make me come."

He shook his head and held Lars's chin with his thumb and forefinger. "No, Omega." His voice was stern, but soft. "This is punishment. Do not disobey me. Understand?" He leaned forward and kissed the side of Lars's mouth, where a pearl of semen remained. Lars quickly turned his head, wanting to resist the strange show of affection. Phoenix untied Lars's hands and dropped the pair of pants on the ground in front of him.

They left the office. Lars kept his hands pressed over his crotch in an attempt to hide the erection that was tenting his pants. He could still taste Phoenix's flavor lingering in his mouth. He could still feel the burning desire to be filled by him. Having been given that taste and denied the release of being taken was truly the ultimate punishment.

* * *

A long table occupied the center of the command room, its surface an illuminated viewscreen that displayed a flickering map of the region marked with troop and armor placement. The men around the table snapped to attention, saluting Phoenix as he walked into the room with Lars following behind. All except one, an older man with thinning hair who wore a grey suit with a Xyletian sigil pin on the lapel. Lars noticed that there was no ranking collar around his neck—he wasn't military.