Page 11

ISABELLA

he walk towards the castle gates is peaceful and quiet. The afternoon sun is pleasant, streets busy with merchants selling everything from spices to rugs. Strolling next to Jacob, my hand brushes against his and heat travels from my hand and into my core.

Just a single touch reminds me of the way his fingers held mine while he made me feel the most incredible things. His tongue against my skin felt like heaven when he pressed my fingers against my nub. The tone of his voice was everything I needed to drown in bliss.

It was terrifying at first. I worried that my monsters would squash the yearning I have for him – the desire to be free –and force me to refract. He moved slowly though, giving me time to adjust, and magical shivers ran through me.

Ever since that beautiful moment we shared, my heart flutters every time he looks at me. My fingers itch to lock with his. Biting the inside of my cheek, I brush my fingers against his palm and slide them through his. His head tilts to look down at me with a playful smile, melting me with his gaze.

Am I a fool for giving my heart to him so easily? It doesn’t matter. With him, I don’t feel like I am suffocating.

A guard walks us through the halls of King Adiran’s castle, his hands on the spear. I expected the castle to be more lavish, like my father’s, or even more so, but it is simple. The woodwork and brick are elegant, and the stone is smooth and shiny. A few walls have some gold and silver decorations that spread around with intricate shapes. I like it; it gives me a sense of respect and confidence.

Jacob walks next to me with his shoulders straight and head held high. My palms, on the other hand, are sweating. King Adrian is a dangerous man who has a strong dislike for vampires.

Our steps echo in the massive open space. I try to focus on the elegance of the white statues we pass, instead of the possibility that King Adrian could choose to kill me. Jacob said that Rosie is his childhood friend, and King Adrian would do anything she asks of him. I would like to believe that, but the deeper we enter, the more my fear grows.

“I already told you, all Rosie needs to do is just look at him, and he will melt into a puddle. Trust me,” Jacob whispers into my ear and presses his hand on the small of my back. “It is actually amusing to watch.” He chuckles in a hushed tone.

“Jacob!” A female voice, full of pure joy, yells.

I turn to the sound. A stunning, short woman runs towards us. For a moment, I stare at her. Her curves are something out of a painting – luscious and soft. The way her black hair messily sits in a bun makes her appear like a delicate flower. Her wide smile is the definition of happiness.

Her body collides with Jacob’s, and he embraces her, lifting her off her feet and spinning her in the air. His body a few steps away from mine, I feel exposed and alone. My chest aches at the way he holds her.

Childhood friends . I remind myself.

“Look at you!” He takes a step back and locks his eyes on her face, a bright grin on his. “A queen and a princess in the Underworld.”

Jealousy claws at my heart. I hate it. My mind forces me to feel small and insignificant. Inhaling, I focus on the way he held me last night.

He cares about me. I ball my hands into fists to chase away the thoughts.

“Stop it.” Rosie giggles.

I want to hate her laugh, but it is soothing and disarming.

You are nothing to him. Just a distraction . The small voices snicker in my head.

A tall man with black hair and piercing blue eyes saunters to us casually, his glance falling on me. King Adrain. My body shaking at his flat expression, I take a step back. He quickly turns his attention to Rosie and Jacob, his lips twisting with disgust. Then he looks at me again – assessing.

“This is Izzy.” Jacob’s arm wraps around my waist and tugs me toward Rosie.

At his touch, I can breathe again. Rosie looks at me, her eyes such a deep brown that it is mesmerizing. She smiles – a pure, genuine smile that makes my heart ping. Unsure how to greet her properly, I bow with Jacob still holding me. The woman bolts towards me and squeezes me in her arms. Freezing on the spot, I don’t know what to do. Even though it feels as if she has knocked all of the air out of my lungs, her touch is soft.

“Such a pleasure!” she exclaims, pulling away from me.

“A vampire and an angel. Interesting,” King Adrian says, his voice calm as he looks at me. Fear grips my chest at how quickly he figured me out. “Angels, they love too easily. That was Cassandra’s downfall.” There is still no emotion on his face as he speaks.

Cassandra? I tilt my head with my brows together. I do not know anyone by that name.

“Of course, Victor would not let his pet project know that he made her mother fall in love with him, deliver him a child, and then kill her,” he says bitterly.

Pet project? Kill her? My brain scrambles to put together the pieces.

“I don’t understand,” I mumble, my voice losing its strength.

“Cassandra was your mother. Victor always wanted to experiment with angel and vampire abilities. No one believed he could do it. There is a reason Vampires can’t have children with angels. I suppose he found a way. I am curious about the price he paid for it to work,” he explains casually.

The words ring, making it impossible to hear anything else. The room is spinning, the food I ate earlier is coming up my throat, and my lungs don’t want to expand.

Why? All he has ever done was ignore and use me.

“Adrian…” Rosie scolds the king, her voice tender.

“It is the truth.” The king’s voice is distant and muffled. “Fine, I will apologize when she isn’t…” I don’t hear anything else.

My father tricked Cassandra – my mother – into loving him and then he killed her. Pet project . Experiment . Am I not as strong as he wanted me to be? Is that why he allowed for my body to be used?

My lungs burn. I feel dizzy.

Familiar arms engulf me, creating a cocoon of warmth.

“Breathe, Izzy. I got you,” Jacob whispers in my ear.

Inhaling sharply, I focus on remaining composed. I will not break down because of something my father did. The pain of losing my mother like that is overwhelming. I never knew her, yet I always felt as if she wouldn’t have left me with a monster like my father. Or maybe I convinced myself of that to help cope.

“I’m okay,” I mumble and pull away from him.

I can sense the hesitation to release me, but he does so anyway. His eyes are still on me, an arm around my waist, when he strokes my face with his thumb.

The king clears his throat to get our attention. I pull away and turn to face him, heat creeping on my cheeks. He knows a lot. I suppose I shouldn’t be surprised he knew my mother.

Rosie is standing next to him, tucked under his arm. They are so different, yet they look like they fit – right puzzle pieces coming together. She looks up at Adrian with a soft nudge and his shoulders slump a little.

“My apologies for being so blunt. It could’ve been handled more appropriately.” His tone is stiff, but a little more sympathetic.

Flustered at his apology, I don’t know what to say. Jacob, on the other hand, chuckles from next to me. Adrian’s head snaps, his eyes turn dark, and his lips go into a thin line. He looks angry and terrifying, but Jacob doesn’t even flinch.

“You fucking halfling. Today is the day that I kill you,” Adrian growls.

Frowning at the sudden change of tone, my heart rate picks up.

“Do try.” Jacob laughs and stands behind me, his arms around my waist.

Adrian’s eyes drop on me and I want to shrink. His knuckles turn white when he looks at Jacob again. Confused, I steal a glance at Rosie. She is rolling her eyes. It seems like it is something Jacob and the king have done before.

Rosie, the woman I cannot believe is the queen, was giddy to place us in a lavish room. The bed can comfortably fit four people on it, and the white sheets look like they could be clouds. A gentle wind blows into the room from the open window, making the light fabric of the curtains float.

“This is so beautiful,” I breathe out as I walk toward the bed. “There are rose petals on the covers.” I gasp and turn to look at Jacob.

“That’s Rosie’s idea.” He lets out a small chuckle and places his bag on the chair in the far corner of the room.

That’s sweet. The woman is perfect in every way.

The mattress looks so plush that the urge to jump flat on my back takes over. I bet I would melt into the bed. With a giggle, I jump into the center. It is a silly and childish act, but with everything happening, I want to enjoy something simple. My body sinks into the fresh sheets, relaxing my muscles. At least for now, in Adrian’s castle, I will be protected.

“Are you okay?” Jacob lies on his side next to me, his hand supporting his head.

I turn my head to him, my eyes dropping to his chest. A few of the buttons on his shirt are loose, exposing his defined chest muscles. My cheeks burn. To avoid staring, I look away. That did not work, because under his short sleeves are his bulging biceps.

Oh, all the saints… My body warms up quickly, and I don’t know where to look, my fingers itching to undo those buttons further and untuck the clothing from under his pants.

“Izzy.” He chuckles, taking my face in between his fingers. “You can look and touch if that is what you want.” His fingers graze against my chin and lips so tenderly that it makes me shudder.

The things he makes my body feel with the softest graze is incredible. I want his fingers on every part of my body. My eyes locked on his, the only thing I can think about is his touch. My hands a little shaky, I grab his shirt into my fists and tug him to hover over me. He follows without resistance, his eyes never leaving mine.

“What would you like, Izzy?” he whispers and nuzzles his nose against mine, playfully and gently.

“Your touch,” I breathe out.

“Mmm.” His lips brush past my cheek and to my chin. “Where?”

“Everywhere.” The words come out desperate and needy.

“Your hands free?” The question is soft and casual, but it makes me pause.

My mind runs wild with images of being tied bare before him – exposed and completely at his mercy. Clara suggested it might be something we both would like. I shrugged it off, unsure of the idea. Right now, the thought ignites something within me.

Trust.

“Tied,” I whisper, my heart beating out of control.

The words slip out of my mouth, and I can’t believe I said them out loud. He moves away a little, and I stare at him.

What if I panic and ruin everything? What if I don’t like it? What if this makes him uncomfortable? My mind spins.

“Only if you promise to tell me when you don’t like something.” His gaze is seared into my eyes, making sure I understand.

“I promise.”

He would never hurt me.

“Good.” He smiles and with his lips softly brushing against my neck, he undoes the buttons of my blouse.

I am not sure what to expect, but I let him take the lead. My shirt falls to the side, and his lips travel lower to the middle of my chest, always soft and delicate – like butterfly wings. I inhale deeply, letting the sensation flood my senses. The belt of my skirt comes off. A moment later, I am left in my underwear. Excitement builds in my stomach, and tension grows between my legs.

Moving up again, he slides the blouse off my shoulders and unclasps the bra. One more small move and I will be utterly naked before him. He looks at me, asking for permission to proceed. Swallowing my nerves, I nod.

With all my clothes gone, he vanishes as well. Confused, I look up to find him stripping one pole of the bed for the white, thin fabric. He is efficient with it because he comes down to me with a satisfied smile quickly.

“Remember to tell me if you don’t like something,” he whispers as he hovers over me, his eyes boring into mine – demanding honestly.

“Mhhm,” I mumble, watching his eyes darken with something primal.

He leans in and kisses my lips while his arms stretch above me, my hands in his. Pinned under him, his firm muscles pressing against my hardening nipples, my body heats. Pulling away, he moves up and ties my wrists with the soft material. His chest and torso are at my eye level. He is so close that I feel the warmth radiating from him.

He comes to face me, but I follow his body, my mouth watering. With a smirk, he reaches for the helm of his shirt and pulls it over his head. Muscles glide smoothly under his skin, making my breath hitch. Swallowing, I ogle.

He exudes power with every move. His strength will be mine if only I let go.

His bare skin presses against mine as he leans in to land a tender kiss on my lips, and I arch my chest to relieve the growing need to be one with him. Peppering kisses along my jaw, his hand grips my hip, his fingers digging into the flesh of my butt. I gasp, and the need in me grows.

Black walls crack and tumble from around my heart. Light fills that space. For the first time in a long time, I do not feel the lingering fear. My body deserves love – to be caressed and savored.

I deserve freedom .

Leaving my tied hands, his other hand cups my breast, kneading it. Jolts of pleasure shoot into my core. My clit throbs, begging to be touched. I jerk my hips into him, but the hand on my hip pushes me down.

“The thing about submitting control is that now, you are at my mercy, baby,” he whispers into the skin of my chest. His mercy. I will gladly succumb to him. “Now, be a good doll, and don’t move.” His voice is low and threatening, making every fiber of my body crave to submit.

His lips travel lower to my belly, licking and kissing while the hand on my hip slides to squeeze my butt. My breath catches when his lips touch the slit over my clit, and my eyes flutter shut. His wet tongue slides in smoothly, stimulating the sensitive nerves. My breathing ragged and heavy, I twist my hands to grip the sheets.

The other hand has my breast in it, his fingers moving to caress my nipple while his tongue goes deeper inside of me. A loud gasp escapes my mouth. With my lips parted, I arch my back.

His mouth leaves my needy center to pepper kisses on my hip and the inside of my thigh. With a desperate moan, I shift my hips, begging for more.

“Don’t move,” he whispers into my thigh and bites the tender flesh.

The vibration of his voice so close to my entrance sends a wave of warmth through my skin, making the walls of my vagina spasm, screaming for him to enter me. My muscles tight from restraining myself, I stay still.

“Relax, Izzy,” he murmurs, the touch of his lips against my hip delicate. “Breathe.” His breath fans my belly, and his hand leaves my breast.

Exhaling, I loosen my limbs. His lips go around my other hard peak, and his fingers slide around my nub, rubbing around the moisture. The stimulation floods my senses, forcing another moan out of me; it is loud and needy. The tension that builds in me is so intense that my feet go numb, and I see white in my closed eyes.

Unable to control myself, I squirm under him, searching for that release. Biting on my nipple, he keeps rubbing me below, his motion fast, smooth, and steady. My body light, I feel as if I will explode any moment now. Whimpering, my legs shake, the release close.

“Scream, doll. Scream,” he demands as he roughly trails kisses along my chest and neck.

Holding pressure on the throbbing clit, he slides his fingers a little deeper, everything inside of me shatters, and the need to scream takes over. His lips press against mine firmly, muffling the sound of my yell as I spasm in bliss around his hand.

“Let it out,” he whispers and cups my face. Heaving, I slump. He hovers over me, his breath tickling my cheek. Never in my life have I felt this free. “Don’t get too comfortable just yet.” He looks at me, his eyes sparkling with mischief.

My mind is too slow to process his words, so I don’t say anything. Instead, in my blissful state, I chose to get lost in the shimmer of his eyes. His smile grows as he lies on his side next tome. I follow him with my eyes, expecting him to untie me. He lazily grazes his fingers around my mounds, nipples, and arm. Then lower to my belly. The touch is barely there, but it leaves traces of fire on my skin.

“How many orgasms do you think you can have before you beg for mercy?” he casually asks and lingers at my slit again. My heart hammers in my chest. I don’t know what to say. “We will test those limits today.” His voice is a low hum.

I stop breathing. The ideais intriguing yet terrifying. His finger goes low again, massaging me. My clit is still sensitive, but the touch awakens every cell.

The kisses never stop, loving every part of my body. His touches don’t cease until I am ready to explode with a scream. When I do, he kisses me, taking away the doubt and pain. Again and again, until I can no longer lift my head, and my eyes can barely open.

Slowly blinking, my mind a blissful fog, I watch him hover over me. My legs and arms tremble when he unties my wrists. Lethargically, I turn my head to look at him, too weak to move. I lost track of time, but I feel so elated that time does not matter.

“How are you feeling?” He brushes his finger along my cheek.

With my face resting on the sheets, I peer at him through my lashes.

“Good,” I answer sleepily. “Thirsty.” A slow smile forms on my lips.

“I’ll go ask a maid to bring you some food and water.” He presses a soft kiss against my lips. “I will be back in a minute. Okay?” he says, locking his eyes with mine. “I will be back,” he repeats.

I nod, and he is gone. Without his body heat, it suddenly feels cold, and then lonely. Taking a deep breath, I wait for him, the feeling of being used and dirty clawing at my chest. Pressure inside my head builds as I try to chase away the nagging voices.

Used . The thought is persistent. Everything seems to be falling apart, and tears rim my eyes. My chest hurts, making me want to run away and hide. Before I realize it, a sob escapes me.

I don’t understand what is happening. Curling into a ball, I hold my knees to my chest as tightly as I can.

Stop it. I am not dirty . I squeeze my eyes shut.

“Izzy.” I hear his voice, but I can’t open my eyes. The pain of being alone is too much. “It’s okay. I’m right here.” He collects me into his arms. “I’m sorry. I had to get you food and water. It has been a few hours, and your body has been through a lot,” he explains, his voice soft. “I’m right here.” He holds me tight and strokes my hair.

Melting into the warmth of his body, the ache vanishes, and I can breathe again.

I’m not used. I’m okay. I’m safe.