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I slide two fingers into her slick heat. Blood from my palm marks her inner thigh, a primitive claiming that satisfies something ancient in me.

Her release builds quickly, walls tightening around my fingers as my tongue works her clit with relentless pressure. When she comes, her body shudders violently as pleasure claims her.

I rise to my feet, unfastening my trousers with desperate need. My cock springs free, hard and aching for her.

I lift her from the display case, turning her to face it, bending her over the glass that contains evidence of my violent past. Her hands brace against it, bloody palm leaving a perfect red print on her skin as I position myself at her entrance.

"Tell me you're mine," I demand, the head of my cock teasing her sensitive flesh.

"I'm yours," she responds without hesitation.

I enter her with one powerful thrust, burying myself in her tight cunt. The guttural sound that tears from my throat is barely human as I establish a punishing rhythm, claiming her body as completely as she's claimed my soul.

My hands grip her hips hard enough to bruise, to smear the blood that mixed between us, bonded us with a physical evidence of possession to match the emotional surrender I've given her tonight.

Each thrust drives her against the display case, weapons and trophies witnessing our primal union.

"You're perfect," I tell her, one hand sliding up her spine to grip her hair. "Perfect for me. Perfect queen. Perfect monster."

Her responding moan drives me closer to the edge, her body accepting every brutal thrust as if designed for me alone. I reach around to circle her clit, determined to feel her come around my cock.

"Again," I command, feeling my own release building at the base of my spine. "Come again. Let me feel you."

Her body obeys, inner walls clamping down on my length as she shatters a second time, the spasms pushing me over the edge. I empty myself inside her with a hoarse shout of her name,marking her from the inside as my blood has marked her from the out.

For long moments after, we remain joined, my body curled protectively over hers as our breathing slowly returns to normal. The blood on our palms has begun to dry, a permanent covenant sealed in this room of death and violence.

I help her straighten, turning her to face me, struck by the transformation I see in her eyes. No longer captive, no longer even partner.

Queen in truth now. My equal in every way that matters.

"The blood oath ceremony," I tell her, brushing hair from her face with my unblooded hand. "We'll complete it properly. It needs to be official. With witnesses. With proper ritual that will warn the underworld we're about to strike."

She nods, intertwining her fingers with mine, blood binding us further. "And then?"

"Then we take what's mine. What'sours." I press my forehead to hers, sharing breath, sharing purpose. "The throne. The empire. Everything."

Her smile matches mine, predatory and determined. "Together."

"Together," I agree, knowing that the monster Vito created has found its perfect mate in this woman who entered my life as merchandise and transformed into salvation.

The blood continues to dry between our palms, a covenant no power on earth could break.

Queen and king. Monster and monster.

Bound by blood and darkness and most surprisingly…love.

Chapter Twenty

Francesca

Steam rises around me as Elise pours another pitcher of water infused with rose petals and sacred herbs over my naked body.

The penthouse's Roman-style bath has been transformed into something ancient and mystical for tonight's official ceremony.

Candles float in the large marble tub, their flames reflected infinitely in the water's surface, while more line the stone walls. Incense burns in bronze burners at each corner of the room, filling the air with sandalwood and myrrh.

"Hold still, Ms. Castellano," Elise murmurs, her hands working scented oil into my skin. "Or should I say,Mrs. Ravelli?"