Page 15 of City of Promise and Light (Mates of Gods and Fae #1)

Ambrose

I watched Sybil follow Samian out the door, waiting until it fully closed before returning my focus back to Arianna. Ezra still stood by the door, his gaze lingering after Sybil, keeping his thoughts hidden. Arianna, however, picked invisible dirt from underneath her manicured nails.

Ezra, while irritatingly honorable, was a male of ambition. He knew that with my rise to power, he would quickly ascend through the ranks if he stayed by my side. He had been faithful to that promise of power throughout the years, and I had no doubts that he would continue to fight by my side.

Arianna, on the other hand, was vindictive, spiteful, and volatile.

Her emotions were a constant change and could turn against another in a heartbeat.

She was like the ever-changing flame that flowed through her veins, and was someone that I needed to keep a close eye on.

Luckily, her emotions were easy enough to read and even easier to mold.

Ever since our younger school years, I could simply grab hold of her emotions, crafting them into a weapon of my choosing.

I just needed to give her the right motivation.

Fortunately, her lithe body curved in just the right ways, making that motivation pleasant enough to endure.

“Is it really necessary to bring her onto the team?” Arianna asked pointedly.

My gaze drifted to Arianna’s hands, my irritation flaring while she continued to pick at her nails.

Rolling my shoulders, I moved around the couch, stopping in front of her chair.

I leaned over, grabbing her face, my hands tight enough to bruise.

A gasp escaped from those full lips, and I pulled her face close, forcing her to look at me.

Fear flickered in her eyes when my lips curled in a snarl.

“Yes, Arianna,” I growled, pushing her back into the chair but I remained close.

“She is the answer to us gaining complete power over that bitch of a queen. She may not know how to control her magic yet, but she’s powerful; I can feel the hum of it.

If I can get her to agree to my bargain, we can use her as a weapon to wipe out the queen and those infernal rebels for good. ”

Walking over to my desk, I sank into my chair and leaned back, picking up a picture of Sybil that lay there.

It was taken unknowingly as she crossed a street in the city I found her in two weeks ago.

The picture captured the sunburst of green that surrounded the golden-brown of her eyes as she looked almost directly at the person capturing it.

“She’s vulnerable right now, having been rejected by her father and fiancé.

We can use that against her, make her feel as if she is unable to control that power.

We need to make her so afraid of it that her only option is to come running to me.

Only then will she agree to my bargain, and she will agree to my bargain, Arianna. Have I made myself clear?”

Scoffing, Arianna looked toward the window, her body tight, but eventually nodded her head in agreement. Cutting my gaze to Ezra, his indifference gave away nothing of his emotions, but his curt nod was all the assurance I needed. My plan would not fail.

“Good,” I said, pausing to glance back at Arianna. She still looked out the window, her eyes had become misty. “Ezra, leave us.”

Ezra bowed while I continued watching Arianna and made his way to the door, closing it softly behind him. Tilting my head, I inhaled deeply, letting the air fill my tight lungs to calm my frustration. As much as Arianna grated my nerves, I needed her for my plan to work.

“Arianna, my love, come to me,” I said, softening my voice. Arianna stayed seated, though I could see the bobbing of her throat. “I won’t ask you again, Arianna.” My voice deepened and I grabbed hold of her emotions, pushing a small amount of longing through her.

Arianna sucked in a breath before finally cutting her heated gaze to me. I arched an eyebrow, a silent command to not keep me waiting.

Arianna stood, her tight dress clinging to her supple body, showing off her delicate curves. Her back straightened and she boldly strode to me until she stood between my legs. Sweeping my gaze along her body, my blood sang. “Kneel for me,” I muttered softly, the corner of my mouth rising.

Arianna’s breath caught, her eyes burning as I watched her slowly drop to her knees, tilting her face up to hold my heated gaze.

I rested an elbow on the arm of my chair, reaching out and grasping Arianna by the chin.

Gently drawing her closer, I leaned down, running my lips along her jaw and breathing in her sweet lavender scent.

Arianna leaned her head to the side, giving me easier access.

Reaching her ear, I nipped at it softly before licking the pain away.

Arianna’s gasp turned into a quiet whimper.

I could feel her shifting on her knees, my nostrils flaring at the scent of her arousal filling the air.

“I know it will be hard, my love, but I need you for this task. Will I be able to count on you to take care of this for me?” I whispered softly into her ear.

“Yes,” Arianna breathed, slightly arching her back, giving me a delightful view of her full breast.

Humming my approval, I placed a tender kiss on the nape of her neck, and Arianna’s breath quivered.

I slowly left a trail of kisses down her shoulder, giving her another soft bite.

Arianna’s soft cry made my blood heat. Catching the strap of her dress between my teeth, I slowly moved it off her shoulder, while my hand moved the other strap down her arm.

As I leaned back into my chair, Arianna’s face warmed, giving her a soft glow.

Her eyes were glazed as the top of her dress fell to her waist, revealing her full and heavy breasts.

Her nipples peaked from the chill of the air, her chest quickly rising and falling.

She dropped her gaze, her lips curving into a sensuous smile at the tightness of my trousers.

Her hands moved to the tops of my thighs, slowly winding their way up to my belt.

Before she could fumble with the buckle, I grabbed her wrists, using my strength to pull her hands above us, lifting her off her knees so her face was a hair’s breadth from mine.

“Not so fast, my love. What do you say?”

“Please,” she breathed, her voice thick.

Chuckling softly, I caught her lips with mine, kissing her slow and deep. Capturing her moan in my mouth, I released her hands to grab onto her waist. I broke our kiss, pushing her back down to her knees, allowing her to continue what she’d begun.

Arianna whipped off my belt in one steady motion, undoing my trousers and freeing my hard length.

Licking her lips, she eyed me hungrily before meeting my gaze, her eyes eagerly asking for permission.

My cock twitched at her pleading look. With a nod of my head, her smile grew before leaning down, taking me deep into the warmth of her silky mouth.

Groaning, I twisted a hand into her hair, pushing her to take me deeper. Her moans reverberated through me and my other hand tightly gripped the arm of my chair. Tipping my head back, the swirl of her tongue had me fighting for air.

Before I lost all control, I tightened my grip on her hair, pulling her head back.

Arianna whimpered in protest as I pulled her up to her feet and moved her back against my desk.

I stood, my mouth crashing into hers, my tongue forcing her lips to part so I could deepen our kiss.

Running my hands down her back, I stopped at the curve of her ass, gripping hard and drawing her closer to feel my hardness against her. Arianna moaned, loving the roughness.

I lifted her, and Arianna gasped when I dropped her on top of my desk. Before she could react, I closed the distance between us, deeply breathing in her lust and letting it consume me. It felt like fire burned through my veins as it fueled my magic, and my control shattered.

Roughly dragging the silky fabric of her dress to her waist, I used my knees to spread her legs further apart.

Arianna’s hands craftily pushed down my trousers before working on the buttons of my shirt.

I pulled her hands away, and my lips met hers in a bruising kiss.

One hand firmly held onto her hip while the other snaked up her arm, continued to move across her chest, only stopping when I reached her neck.

My grip tightened around her throat as I shoved her down against the desk.

Arianna cried out, but her whimper quickly turned into a moan when I pushed my magic into her, intensifying her desire.

The sudden rush of hunger had her wrapping her legs around me, clawing and begging for my touch.

Her skin was flushed; the sight of her half-naked and quivering for me made my cock throb.

With an uneven breath, I gripped my cock, giving myself a quick pump before lining myself against her slick center. “Please, Ambrose, I need you,” Arianna panted, as if the heat at her entrance would drive her mad.

Giving her a wicked smile, I slammed into her in one quick motion.

Her moans echoed through my study, her silky cunt clenching tightly around me.

Groaning, I pulled out slowly, then slammed back into her before setting a hard and unforgiving pace.

A deep rumble sounded low in my chest at how well she was taking me.

“I know what I’m asking of you will be difficult, my love,” I repeated, growling as her cunt clenched tighter around me, “But once this is over and her magic belongs to me, you will be the one standing by me. You will be my queen.” Arianna’s breathless mewling grew louder, and my pace quickened.

“You will be the one they all bow down to, and you will be the one that rules by my side.”

“Yes,” Arianna breathed, her face fixed with pleasure, her back arching off the desk.

“Now tell me,” I grunted, “what are you going to do for me?”

“I’ll bring her down,” Arianna whimpered, when my lips clamped around her peaked nipple. “I will make her magic yours and you will become my king.”

My lips found hers again before my hand tightened around her throat, constricting her breathing.

I pushed more of my magic into her, heightening her pleasure, making her feel so sensitive that even a soft breeze could make her scream.

My thrusts deepened; her cunt clenched around me as ecstasy ripped through her.

Continuing my unforgiving pace, I rode out the waves of her pleasure until I yelled out, finding my own release.

Arianna wrapped her legs tighter around me, pulling herself up from the desk. Her lips met mine in a slow but passionate kiss and she sighed deeply, still unknowingly relishing in the remnants of my magic.

Giving her one last kiss, I walked to the washroom to clean myself. When I returned, Arianna had fixed her dress and hair, though her complexion was still flushed, gleaming in the soft light. Leaning against my desk, she held out my trousers, giving me a wicked smile.

After I dressed myself, I leaned into her, inhaling her soft lavender scent. “Now, are you ready, my queen?” I purred, low and deep.

Arianna placed a finger at the center of my chest, pushing me away. “I’m ready, my king.” Her lips curled into a slanted smile before stepping away, her finger sliding across my chest as she headed toward the door. “I will rule by your side, Ambrose. There will be no one else but me.”

Opening the door, Arianna left before I could say anything.

Exhaling, I dropped into my chair, rolling my neck.

Glancing down, Sybil’s picture stared back at me, glaring in the light.

Seeing her magic on display today told me everything I needed to know.

If I was to be a king, she was the key to getting me there.

She would be the one that could eliminate those who opposed me.

She would make me into a fearsome king, but I needed her to fall for that to happen.