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Natali might think she’s so clever, choosing me for whatever purpose it suits her, like one might move a pawn in the opening gambit…

…but I’ll put this beautiful girl in checkmate. I won’t play her game – and if she’s expecting weakness or mercy from me, she’ll get neither.

She doesn’t deserve them.

Natali nearly died last night because of her foolish escape attempt. I’m going to make sure she neverdreamsof trying anything like that again.

10

Natali

Well, I got what I wanted.

Fuck.

I thought I was being oh-so-clever when I pleaded for Otho to deliver my punishment, rather than Brennan. I could see how close to his breaking point the leader of the Aurelians was, and I thought the intense, beast-like Otho might have been a better choice to expose to temptation. It’s clear he desires me as much as either of the others do – but unlike Brennan, Otho doesn’t have a clear and sadistic desire to make me whimper beneath his palm.

But maybe, I’ve chosen poorly.

I’ve already meekly agreed to be punished by these aliens – but suddenly, Otho looks like he’s about as ready to snap as I’d feared Brennan was.

The veins in Otho’s muscular neck are twitching. He’s staring at me with naked, undisguised lust – but suddenly it’s tainted with something else. Something I can’t read.

Suddenly, the most open of the three Aurelians has become more inscrutable than even the stone-faced Lazar.

I gulp dryly as Otho’s two battle-brothers take a step back.

Filling my lungs with air, I brace myself. If this is going to happen, I’m not going to let them think I’m weak. They can give me their worst – and I’ll take it.

Looking up, I challenge the mohawked warrior.

“So,” I murmur. “What’ll it be, Otho? What are you going to do to me?”

I try to keep spirit in my voice. I try to sound confident – but it’s hard. My voice wavered as I spoke, and I’m ashamed of how my show of strength was tainted with weakness.

But I am weak. Weak, and scared.

I know this is going to hurt.

Worst of all?

I’m craving it.

Oh, Gods!Iachefor it.

I can already imagine the feeling of his huge, calloused hand slapping down against my flesh as he tames me – a hand that’s been used to fight a hundred battles. Now, it’s a battle of wills we face – him against me. There’s no denying that Otho aches for me – and his lust makes me feel powerful against him, just as his strength makes me feel so powerless and small.

He hasn’t even made a move toward me, and already Otho looks to be on the verge of snapping.

Yet, with some strange twist of irony, as much as I can see Otho battling his urges, I nevertheless feel like I can implicitly trust my kidnapper.

To demonstrate his power over me, Otho demands:

“Come here.”

He booms out the words, and they echo in the emptiness of this dark, underground chamber. His voice is certain now – unwavering in its focus. He could be ordering troops into a Scorp nest with that tone of voice – and suddenly I’m not so sure I made the right move by choosing him over Brennan.

But before I can even fully process Otho’s command, my feet have already obeyed him – jerking my body forward.