Page 11 of Love Bites Harder (Mated to the King #3)

eleven

CLEMENTINE

After a few more minutes, Kai carried me out of the pool. He gritted his teeth when the eclipse’s magic hit him again without my water easing it, but he didn’t let it slow him down. As he crossed the room, he buttoned up my shirt with one hand and pulled the fabric over my ass with the other.

When he opened the doors, we found the hallway empty.

That didn’t surprise me. My magic would’ve been working on anyone out there. Closed doors didn’t stop it, only distance could.

Kai strode down the hall and around a corner, and we finally found Paul sitting on the floor with his back to a door that thudded rhythmically.

My eyes widened when I realized why it was thudding.

Someone was having sex.

Against the door.

While Paul blocked it.

“Pool’s ready,” Kai said, barely glancing at the wood.

He was hardly new at seeing people screwing, given the state of his kingdom.

“Might want to put the siren away before we start hauling everyone into the water,” Paul said, avoiding looking my way.

Guilt made my stomach clench.

He obviously held some resentment toward me for what had happened with Kai, and I felt like shit for it. Yes, I was always flirty, but I was careful never to lead people on. And even though my suitors hadn’t really been interested in me, we had been friends.

Friends enough that the put your siren away barb stung.

Kai agreed, and hauled me into a small, empty bedroom we’d passed a moment later. “Don’t try to leave,” he said, before stepping out and closing the door.

The vines that stretched over it on my side of the door told me I’d just become a prisoner.

Yay.

There was a nicely-made bed a few feet away from me, so I plopped down and sighed loudly.

I needed to stop being sad.

Sadness and I were not friends. I was much better at ignoring the sadness and putting a smile on my face. Being sad was the freaking worst.

So, I tried to come up with the positive aspects of my situation.

For one, Kai was really good at sex.

Like, really good.

That was definitely a bonus. We didn’t even have to go all the way for me to be sure about that.

And Fae Manor was beautiful. There were plants growing wildly everywhere, which made it feel peaceful. The whole place looked extremely cozy, done in light, natural colors, emphasizing the feeling of comfort.

Plus, they had a great pool. It wasn’t anywhere near as incredible as Blair’s, but it was large, and the deep end was probably fifteen or twenty feet deep. So, nothing to scoff at. The plants growing around it made it feel like some kind of natural sanctuary, which was cool, too.

On top of all of that, there was…

Nothing.

I was out of ideas.

My eyes burned a little more, and I wiped the tears hastily.

Maybe I just needed to figure out how to channel my inner Zora. She was my sister that I was closest to, and would probably be furious with me when I got back. I wasn’t really prepared for that.

But anyway, maybe I could embrace my anger or something. Anger would be better than sadness. Probably.

I definitely had things to be angry about. Like Kai, giving me no choice but to mate with him. And him being so good at sex that I was starting to soften towards him.

And him screwing up my friendships with the guys who had been my potential mates. And the fact that I was going to have to feed on him and only him for the rest of my life. And the way he hadn’t acknowledged that there were better choices than ditching me right after we sealed our mate bond. And?—

I let out a shaky breath.

Yeah, there was no shortages of reasons to be angry.

I didn’t want to think too hard about it, though. I was pretty sure that if I did, I’d start to feel angry at myself for the stupidity that landed me in the fae realm in the first place.

And being angry with myself didn’t accomplish anything.

So, I focused on the ceiling and pushed my anger away.

I would think about… my sisters.

Shit, I missed them.

My eyes started stinging again.

Bad call.

Really bad call.

I wiped away a few tears and forced myself to sit back up. Sitting and thinking clearly wasn’t the right move at the moment.

My gaze swept the room. There weren’t any books on the shelf to the side. There was a small desk, but it was empty other than a small plant that looked like it was trying to strangle its pot.

There was nothing to occupy myself.

My gaze swung to the bathroom, whose door stood open.

Not even a bathtub.

Did Kai have a death wish? Because a man did not lock his mate in a room like a prisoner without at least a bathtub to occupy her, unless he had a death wish.

With an angry huff, I strode into the bathroom and turned on the shower.

At least the falling water would help drown out my thoughts.

I was angry when I turned the water on—but when at least two hours had passed without any sign of Kai, food, or a way out of the room, I was livid.

I dried off and stormed back to the room’s door, yanking at the vines.

The damn things didn’t budge.

I raised my voice, calling out, “If anyone’s in the hallway, tell Kai that his mate is going to kill him if he doesn’t let her out.”

There was no response.

Even if there was movement on the other side, I wouldn’t hear it.

I banged on the door again, louder, yelling, “I’m threatening to kill your king! Assassination attempts should be taken seriously, even if?—“

The vibes disappeared from around the door.

My anger surged as Kai pulled it open, his long, blond hair dripping wet and slicked away from his face.

“Fuck you,” I snapped, surging past him. “I’m not your prisoner, and I’m going to see my sisters whether you like it or not. Go back to your pool and have fun screwing fae women for the rest of your life, because I’m done with this.”

Kai’s hands caught my waist, stopping me just outside the bedroom door.

He stepped up behind me until I could feel his raging erection against my ass. His lips brushed my ear, and my traitorous head tipped to the side for him, as if he deserved access.

He didn’t.

He was an asshole.

Being my mate didn’t mean he could lock me up or use me.

“The only woman I have any desire to fuck is you, Five. I’ve been rounding up Fae in Mistwood since I left you. There aren’t many of us who can resist the eclipse’s sway, as you know. I just dropped the last one in the pool and was in the hallway, when you threatened me with death.

“You deserved it.”

“That’s debatable, but?—“

“No buts, Kai.” I shoved his hands off my hips and continued walking in the direction of the elevator I’d taken to the pool. I’d paid close attention, so I would know how to get out in case I needed to leave.

Which was happening, so clearly it had been a good call.

“There’s no reason I couldn’t have gone with you into Mistwood. We have a sealed mate bond. No one would have any reason to try to take me from you. I fed on you while we were in the pool, so I’m not radiating magic. You locked me away so you wouldn’t have to deal with me, and I deserve so much better than that. I’m going to see my sisters, and if you try to stop me, I will not forgive you.”

Kai was silent as he followed me into the elevator.

I waited for him to say something when I stabbed the button for the floor his room was on, but he stayed quiet.

Of course he did.

My anger didn’t fade, like usual—it stewed.

And stewed.

And kept stewing as I changed into yet another clean pair of his boxer-briefs and a button-up shirt. Part of me wanted my own clothes, but to be honest, most of them were at least a little uncomfortable. And there was something I liked about being more covered-up, the way I was in Kai’s shirts. Dressing for sex appeal had gotten old a long, long time ago.

It was just a fact of life for me, though.

I was tense when we finally reached the lobby. It felt like I was waiting for him to grab me or force me to stay with him.

He didn’t.

“Which way leads to the vampires?” I bit out, and he gestured to my right.

If he was leading me the wrong way, there would be hell to pay.

But thankfully, it didn’t take long to get to the neutral building that separated each wing of the Manor. When we made it into the center, I knew exactly where to go, and ignored the big bastard next to me entirely.

He could go to hell for all I cared.

When we made it to the Vamp Manor elevator I’d used a thousand times, I stabbed the button for the right floor. Then, I leaned against the elevator wall and tried to calm myself down. My sisters would realize I was angry the moment they saw me if I didn’t.

Kai let out a slow breath. I could feel his tension through the wall we leaned up against. “I understand that you’re angry with me, but please try not to do or say anything that will hurt my kingdom. We’re vulnerable right now.”

“So you can be polite,” I said flatly.

Kai didn’t respond.

“I would never risk anyone’s life, no matter how angry I am. You might be a bastard, but I know that being your mate means I have some responsibility here, and I have no desire to cause problems for anyone other than you.”

I’d spent hours in the pool with him, even though I had been pissed at him, for the sake of his people’s sanity. I wouldn’t pretend it was some great sacrifice, but I wouldn’t have done it if not for them. Obviously, I wouldn’t do anything to put them at risk. Not if I could avoid it.

The doors finally opened on the right floor, and I strode out first. Kai remained close behind me, but luckily for him, seemed to realize he’d better not touch me.

My gaze landed on Izzy first, and my stupid eyes stung a little.

I hated being away from them.

I threw my arms around Iz, and she hugged me tightly while her mate welcomed Kai to the family.

“You’re okay?” Izzy demanded.

“So okay,” I mumbled into her hair, fighting back the tears that threatened to surface.

Someone tugged me away from Izzy, and I buried my face in Zora’s curls, hiding the tears I could no longer stop.

“What the fuck, Clem?” Zora whispered angrily. “I can’t believe you ran off in the middle of the night, and mated with the fucking fae king, and?—“

“She knows,” Avery said gently, tugging me free of Zora to hug me too. “We’re glad you’re back. We’ll talk after we eat.”

I nodded, swiping my few escaped tears away. “Definitely. I’m starving.”

Zora flashed a glare at Kai.

“Hey, I need a hug too,” Blair said, coming up and throwing her arms around me.

My eyes watered all over again.

“Do I need to kill him?” she murmured.

“Probably.”

“I’ll start making plans.”

I laughed tearily, and she winked at me when she let go.

Zora grabbed my arm and led me over to the chairs she and Avery had been sitting in earlier. She dragged me into the one to her right, then grabbed a third chair, and set it on my other side.

When she gestured to Avery, Avery glanced at Kai.

My gaze followed hers.

He was still near the door, and honestly looked a little uncomfortable. He was talking with Porter and Izzy, and Porter seemed to be trying to make him feel welcome, but Izzy wasn’t. That wasn’t really her style. She was actually kind of glaring at him.

She’d probably noticed my tears.

I would’ve stayed next to him if he hadn’t been such a jerk. Which was his fault, entirely.

…but, also, I had kind of put him in the position he was in. My stupidity in getting whisked away to the fae world was on me. He’d protected me to prevent a war, and ended up developing some kind of possessiveness toward me, but none of it would’ve happened if I hadn’t gotten myself abducted.

And if I was being honest, there was no guarantee my mate bond with any of the other three candidates would’ve been better. We’d been friends, but they weren’t interested in me enough to care that I was screwing Kai in the fae realm that morning.

So basically, I couldn’t be a total bitch to him. Some bitchiness was deserved. But abandoning him at what was basically my family party with a few of the other kings who were sort of his allies, and definitely kind of his enemies?

That was too far.

“I think Kai is going to sit there,” I told Zora, shooting Avery an apologetic look.

Her lips curved upward.

She was rarely on the side of unnecessary bitchiness. She was the nicest of us, without doubt, even though I was the friendliest one. Nice and friendly didn’t necessarily have to accompany each other.

Zora grabbed the chair on her other side for Avery, before Blair’s brother-in-law could claim it.

My gaze went back to Kai, and I found him looking at me. I gestured to the chair next to mine, and his eyebrows lifted just slightly. Slightly enough that no one who wasn’t already watching would’ve noticed.

I gestured again and he finally crossed the room, taking the open chair.

I focused on the table, covered in serving dishes wrapped in silver foil. My sisters and I had always celebrated with the driest of turkey—we’d never figured out how to cook it without drying it out—along with mashed potatoes and some fancy dessert Zora spent way too long making. She loved to cook, unlike the rest of us. We were shitty in the kitchen.

“Thank you,” Kai murmured, as Hale wished everyone a happy Thanksgiving and a few people started pulling foil off the food dishes.

“I did it for myself. The alternative was to watch you keep talking to Porter awkwardly.” I watched Zora uncover a gorgeous cake that she had clearly made. There were plenty of kitchens in the building outside Vamp Manor’s dining room, and I had the impression that most people there had at least contributed to the meal.

Though I wished I’d been one of them, that hadn’t been possible in our situation.

Kai didn’t reply.

I didn’t know whether he bought my lie or not, but I didn’t particularly care.

He and I didn’t talk during the meal—I chatted with Zora and Avery about what I’d missed in Vamp Manor, and no one asked what had gone down between me and Kai.

I was pretty sure everyone knew that conversation would happen when the king wasn’t there.

When Hale asked Kai about the eclipses, my mate surprised me by telling the other king that I’d helped a lot when I flooded the pool with my magic.

I hadn’t expected him to say anything nice about me, so that was strangely kind.

When the meal was over and everyone had stayed to chat for another hour or two, Hale’s family and the few people Porter and Izzy brought with them all made their way out.

Then, it was just me, my sisters, and the three men we’d brought into the family—willingly and unwillingly.

“We should take this party to the pool,” Zora said, flashing Kai a glare that said she had absolutely not forgotten about my tears earlier.

“Agreed.” Blair stood, and Hale rose with her.

“We’ll find some drinks,” he said, looking at Porter and Kai.

Relief rolled through me, even though the fae king tensed slightly.

I didn’t know why he would be tense. The bastard had literally locked me in a room after ditching me in our bedroom, so he couldn’t have been uncomfortable with walking away from me.

I followed my sisters out of the room, and Zora glanced down at our feet before looking back.

“What the hell is that?”

I didn’t have to ask what she was talking about.

“Mated fae are connected by a vine. It’s supposed to discourage us from leaving each other, I guess. It’s really flexible, and doesn’t seem to break even when there are closed doors or elevators between us.”

Zora made a face. “Creepy. Remind me not to mate with a fae.”

“They usually avoid taking mates, so I don’t think you’ll need to worry about it.” I patted her on the arm as we all got in the elevator, headed up to the top floor.

All of us watched the vine get squished between the elevator doors. They didn’t seem to register it as something that should keep them open.

“That’s so weird,” Zora said.

“Yeah. The vines do have perks, though. Big ones.”

All of them looked at me.

I gave them a quick smile.

“What, exactly, happened between you two?” Izzy asked.

I gave them the same rundown I’d given Blair as we got off on the pool’s floor, and made our way down the hall. Probably should’ve left out the spicy bits once again, but that wasn’t really my style.

None of us had swimsuits, and swimming naked was a no-go for Blair and Izzy thanks to their possessive mates, so we just sat on the edge of the pool with our feet dangling in the water while I finished my story. There were a few other people on the other side of the room, but they were far enough not to hear us.

“Shit.” Izzy leaned her weight on her hands, positioned behind her. “The situation sounds like a mess.”

“That’s an understatement,” I agreed.

“How much do the eclipses actually affect his thinking?” Avery wondered. “If the other fae are mindlessly lost to their lust, anger, and who knows what else, is some of his behavior change by it?”

“I don’t know. He was like a totally different person after the eclipse ended in the fae realm, but it’s supposed to be more intense there.” I dragged my hand through my hair. It was probably drying weird, but that was fine. I didn’t really need to impress anyone anymore, and it wouldn’t truly impact my sex appeal. I was a mated woman—and my mate was clearly attracted to me, even if he was a dick.

“Where do you go from here?” Zora wondered. “Move back to Vamp Manor and tell him to suck it? He’d deserve it.”

“I can’t do that. Mated fae don’t traverse realms without each other, and he lives there as much as he lives here. Not to mention the vine. Plus, he’s the king. And it sounds like no one else wants the job.”

“Then what are you going to do?”

“I have no idea.”

A few people climbed out of the water on the other side of the pool, and I glanced upward before looking back at my sisters.

“All of our sirens are together again,” one of the guys said, spreading his arms wide with a grin. I recognized Colby immediately, and forced a smile that would look genuine to him.

“Hi, Colby.” I tried to be cheerful.

He and I had hooked up a week or so before I was taken to the fae realm, which was almost a month ago for me. He had definitely shown interest in getting together again. It hadn’t been as bad as it was with some of the other guys, but I was never interested in him romantically.

His eyes landed on my throat, and widened. “Holy fuck, you’re mated? To who? It’s only been a week since we were together!”

Time passed so differently in the fae realm, it was bizarre.

“It’s a long story,” I said weakly.

“A really long story,” Zora agreed.

He plopped down between me and Avery, and though I could tell she was annoyed, she scooted away to make room. Blair did too, on Avery’s other side.

The side of his leg pressed against mine, which was uncomfortable, but I was already squished against Zora so there was nowhere for me to scoot.

His friends sat down on the other side of Izzy, leaving plenty of room. Unlike him. They knew exactly who she was mated to, and if I had to guess, weren’t about to risk pissing him off.

I honestly didn’t know how Kai would react to another guy’s leg against mine, which made me kind of curious. Not curious enough to test him, but we hadn’t seen any sign of our men yet, so I had time to get rid of Colby.

“I’m not in a hurry. Let’s hear the story. Did he force you?” Colby asked, leaning closer.

“Of course not,” I scowled.

“You’re going to want to scoot away, buddy,” Izzy warned from where she sat. “Mated men don’t take well to anyone else snuggled up against their woman.”

“It’s obviously not a love match, considering she was in my bed nine days ago. I?—“

His eyes bulged, and my lips parted in horror when I saw a vine wrap and tighten around his throat, before yanking him backward.

The vines held him off the floor a ways behind us, in front of a very clearly pissed fae king.

I froze where I was, not sure what to do.

And oh, shit . Had Kai heard what Colby said?

That was bad.

And awkward.

So awkward.

“Would you care to repeat what you just said about my bond with my mate?” Kai asked, his voice low.

I knew him well enough to hear the anger he tried to keep under control.

Colby choked, unable to get any words out.

Hale stepped up behind Kai and set a hand on his shoulder, saying something quietly that I couldn’t make out.

Another tense moment passed.

Finally, Kai released Colby.

He crashed to his knees, gasping for air and clutching his throat.

“Kai!” I finally stood, though I didn’t rush to Colby’s side or anything. That wouldn’t do the situation any good, and it definitely wouldn’t calm down my mate.

His gaze lifted to mine, and his fury was clear.

“I think we need to go,” I said.

“Are you sure?” Zora asked, already standing next to me a with her hand on my arm.

If I wanted her to, she’d go toe to toe with my mate for me. Hell, if she thought I was in danger, she would whether I wanted her to or not.

“Yep,” I said, more confidently than I felt.

“We’ll pack your things and bring them over to Fae Manor,” Avery said, as I crossed the room and stepped up to Kai’s chest. He didn’t wrap his arms around me like I would’ve expected, but put one hand on my hip. His grip was a little tighter than I found comfortable, but considering the situation, I didn’t blame him.

I didn’t even really like him, but I would’ve been pissed if another woman was pressed up to his side, reminding him that they slept together a week ago. Which couldn’t have happened, because more time had passed for us in the fae realm and he had literally never left my side, but still.

“Thank you.” I gave her a small smile.

“It’s not safe for them inside our wing,” Kai gritted out.

Oh.

Right.

“We’ll meet you at the entrance. Just text Kai’s phone when you’re ready,” I said, glancing at him to make sure.

He jerked his head.

His hand tightened on my hip, though.

I started to think he wasn’t going to move until I pulled him. And the way his eyes fixed on Colby again told me I needed to get going.

“I have his number,” Blair said.

“Perfect.”

With that, I started back toward the elevator, and Kai stayed close to me, albeit very stiffly.

I expected him to relax when the elevators shut, but he didn’t.

Pressing the button for the ground floor, I stepped back against Kai’s chest and silently debated my next move.

Was I supposed to stay mad at him?

Apologize?

Calm him down somehow?

Tell him he deserved to be fighting the possessiveness he was so clearly struggling with?

I didn’t know.

I had to do something, though, so I cleared my throat. “Look, I—“ I started, not entirely sure what I was going to say.

Before I had the chance to figure it out, the elevator stopped on one of the middle floors, and the doors opened.

My eyes widened when two men and a woman stepped in, laughing about something we’d missed.

One of the guys grinned at me, and my stomach clenched.

Shit.

I knew him too.

I’d screwed him too.

And the wicked grin on his face would tell anyone that we’d slept together.

Especially anyone who was an over-possessive, mated fae bastard struggling under the weight of an eclipse.

Kai growled behind me, and I hit the button to hold the doors open.

“Get out,” I ordered, and all three of them obeyed.

The guy I’d slept with shot me one last look over his shoulder as the doors started to close, and my heart sank.

Vines exploded around us, ripping the doors open as Kai stormed through.

Shit.

Shit, shit, shit.

I threw myself out after him, yelling, “Go!” to the vampires.

Vines shot toward them, catching them before they could tap into their speed, and I knew there wasn’t any more time for me to waste.

“Kai.” I rushed between them and the furious king. Putting my hands on his face, I lowered his chin toward me.

His eyes stayed on them, but his vines wrapped around my ankles. They moved much slower than the ones he’d attacked the vampires with, which made me think he wasn’t moving them on purpose.

I didn’t know him well enough to talk him off the ledge, so I used the only real tool I possessed and leaned in close to his ear.

My heart beat fast as I wove my magic into my voice and whispered, “I want you to fuck me in this hallway. Do you think there are cameras? I don’t want anyone to see us.”

He snarled, his body shaking violently as his arm snapped around my waist and yanked me to his chest. His erection was massive, and straining against my belly.

Despite his clear anger, his eyes lifted to the ceiling, looking for cameras.

I knew they were there.

They were everywhere.

I slid my fingers into his hair, making him shudder again as I hit him with a much more intense dose of my magic. “There aren’t any cameras in the elevator. Let the annoying vampires go, and claim me the way you want to. I need you.”

It was a lie.

There were cameras in the elevator. Blair would wipe them for me, though.

He only growled in response.

But a heartbeat later, his hands were on my ass and he was hauling me back to the elevator. I heard the vampires hit the ground with a heavy thump, and winced inwardly for them.

But hey, bruising their asses was better than losing their heads.

I hit the button to stop the elevator as we passed it, and the vines disappeared from the doors. They made a few screeching noises as metal scratched metal. Kai had definitely dented them. I’d have to apologize to Hale for him.

Kai yanked my borrowed shirt up to my breasts with one hand, shoving my boxer-briefs down and filling me with three fingers in one rough motion with the other.

“Fuck, you’re good at that,” I gasped out.

“You’re mine,” he snarled.

“Yeah, I am.”

Kai pulled his hand free, dragging my slickness around my entrance before he freed his cock. He pinned me to the elevator wall and lined the tip of his cock up with my entrance, meeting my gaze with those fury-lined eyes.

“Whose bed were you in nine days ago, Clementine?”

“Yours.” Technically, I’d just been sleeping in his room, but this was not the moment to point that out.

I buried my fingers deeper in his hair, trying not to arch my hips and just take him. I wasn’t sure how he’d turned me on so fast, but I guess the wild, demanding possessiveness did it for me.

“Whose bed will you spend every night for the rest of your life in?”

“Yours.”

“And who do you belong to?”

“You, Kai.” My words came out a gasp as he finally thrust his cock into me hard and fast.

My back arched.

Hell, my entire body arched.

He was big—but more than that, he was electric . Something about his magic and his body was overwhelming.

Overpowering.

Over…everything.

He pulled out and filled me again, and again, not taking the time to be gentle or careful or anything else. Normally, that wouldn’t have done it for me, but nothing about us was normal.

I came with a scream that surprised the hell out of me. He snarled and fucked me harder, throbbing violently as he filled me with his pleasure. It was a good thing I had an implant, because we sure as hell hadn’t had the birth control conversation.

“Holy crap,” I panted, still clutching his hair. “That was—wow.”

Kai pulled out of me and stepped back, his eyes burning into me and his chest rising and falling violently. “We’re going back to our room.”

“Okay. Why?” I was catching my breath too, a little confused about why he didn’t look as thrilled about what we’d just done as I was. My legs were shaking and his release was dripping down the insides of my thighs, and I loved it.

“I need you,” he bit out, like the words hurt to say.

But I loved them anyway.

He had enjoyed it as much as me. The eclipse was just pushing him for more.

“Okay.” I hit the button to restart the elevator, then grabbed one of his belt loops and tugged him closer. He wrestled with the button on his jeans before giving up when I leaned back against him.

He smoothed my borrowed shirt as far down my thighs as he could get it, then wrapped one arm around my waist. The other went over the top of my chest, and the weight of it was comforting somehow.

“If anyone else you’ve fucked gets in this elevator, I will kill them, consequences be damned,” Kai murmured into my ear.

I couldn’t stop myself from shivering. He pulled me closer when I did.

“You should screw me in front of them instead,” I whispered back. “That would make more of a statement.”

He chuckled, but the sound was low and measured. “I don’t give a shit about statements. I don’t fucking share.”

“Technically, it wouldn’t be sharing. I was with them before we?—”

He sucked the side of my throat, hard, and I breathed in sharply.

Obviously, I needed to stop talking.

His vines curled further up my bare legs, but thankfully, we made it to the ground floor and back into Fae Manor without any other catastrophes.