Page 26

Chapter 25

Not a Damn Thing

Silvana

R aiden and I ended up back at the manor, but not in his office where I expected. We were back in the library, in two of the chairs that overlooked the Forest of Feronia, glasses of blood in our hands. The sky was slowly turning a deep midnight blue, the clouds leisurely rolling in. I knew Raiden’s shadows would cover the windows at any moment, but like a lost girl finally seeing the light at the end of the tunnel, I didn’t want to miss a single moment until I had to.

I could feel that he was itching to talk, and I understood, truly. But I wasn’t sure where to begin. Was I okay with the bond that linked us? Maybe. Was I okay ruling by his side? Did he even want that? I had no idea. Sure, he called me his queen, but that could easily just be a nickname. I didn’t even fully know what it would entail, being his queen. Or even his mate. Would he expect me to stop killing the filth of this world? What would it mean if I refused? A vigilante queen of the Court of Shadows? I’m sure the rest of the court’s citizens would love that. I scoffed internally.

“I can feel you thinking over there. What’s going through your mind, darling?” Raiden asked quietly.

I glanced at him and then took a sip from my glass, buying myself time. The crimson liquid sat heavily in my stomach. Ever since I tasted him that night, my stomach wanted nothing else but his blood. I guess what they said about mates drinking from each other was truly an option. I swirled my glass for a moment, watching the way it moved and flowed around the clear sides. Wishing I knew for a fact that this conversation would flow the same. Letting out a breath, I looked over at him again—deciding to just be honest.

“I don’t know how this goes, Raiden. I don’t know… how to be… your anything. I don’t know what it means or entails or— What if the entire court hates me? What if they try to usurp you for choosing me? I don’t even know who I am!” By the end, I was yelling at him. Which wasn’t my goal. I was trying to remain calm and collected. Go figure it didn’t work out for me.

Raiden set his glass on the table next to him and then dropped to his knees in front of me, his hands on my thighs. They spread out easily and covered my entire thigh, making me feel petite in a way I never had before.

“Listen to me, and listen well, my little ice queen. I would burn this court to the ground, subjects and all, just to see you smile. I would give up my seat as ruler and run from this place if that is what you wished. I would give up my never-ending quest for revenge and throw away every weapon I own if I thought it would have you agreeing to be mine. There is no one you could’ve been in another life or this life that would make me feel any less for you.” His onyx eyes reflected just how deeply he felt every word he was saying, and it took all of me to continue voicing my worries before agreeing to this.

“I don’t want to be owned, Raiden… I did that before and I… I can’t. Not again,” I whispered.

He sat up on his knees. Reached for my face with one hand and cupped my jaw. “You are mine, as I am yours. You own me just as much as I own you. We are each other’s alone. You and I against the rest of this Fates-damned world, Silvana. I wouldn’t have it any other way. I’ve been waiting all of my existence for you, and you couldn’t be any more perfect if I wrote the list out myself.”

“So… you don’t want me to change?” I asked, my tone clearly confused.

“Not a damn thing. I want to begin each day wondering if you’ll fight me at knifepoint or fuck me the same way. I want to watch you torture subjects who deserve such a thing, but only if you let me help kill them by your side. I want to read books by the fire and wake up next to you every sunset for the rest of our existence together.”

The part of this bond that I couldn’t believe was real, was that I could feel his truth. I could feel how much he meant every single word. I could feel that deep in his very soul, his heart beat for me, and me alone.

Without another thought about how wrong this could go, I leaned forward, pressing my lips to his. Where the first kiss we shared nights before was intense and rough, this was gentle. Soul-consuming. Never-ending need rushed through my body for this male, in a way I’d never experienced before. His lips were bruising as the need intensified between us. His hand ran down my jaw and rested around my neck. He gently broke the kiss and looked at me, his ebony eyes peering into the soul he was slowly consuming and claiming as his own.

“Tell me you want this, Silvana. All of it, with me,” he said, his voice pleading. I nodded my head in confirmation, but he growled, “Words, Silvana. I want no confusion on either end about what is beginning here tonight.”

I felt the smile curving my lips as I bit my bottom lip, in the exact way I now knew drove him crazy with lust. “This is what I want, Raiden. I don’t know what it will look like, and I’m terrified of what the future holds. But I’m here, by your side. I’m not going anywhere.”

He inhaled sharply, and I knew it was everything he wanted to hear. He stood, quickly scooping me up to carry me bridal style.

“Where are we going?” I yelped.

“I’m not about to make you my mate, wife, and queen on the floor of the library, darling. Don’t be ridiculous.” He kissed me swiftly and then carried us out of the room and down the hall toward the steps that led to our chambers.

Thankfully we didn’t run into anyone on the way, because being carried by this male was just increasing the level of my arousal by the second.

We crossed the threshold of his room, and he kicked the door shut behind us. Slowly setting me down beside his bed, he stepped back. His hard length already clear through his pants. But instead of touching me like I expected, he turned one of the chairs beside the window to face the bed, and he sat down. Leaning back, his thighs wide, he leaned onto the armrest and sat his chin on his clenched fist.

“Strip, darling,” he ordered, his voice hoarse.

Somehow, I knew this was a small punishment for the way I reacted to this news before. I knew he didn’t blame me for having reservations about it, but it didn’t mean he wasn’t hurt by the rejection.

“I won’t ask again, Silvana. Strip,” he growled, and I realized I hadn’t moved a muscle.

If it was going to get my fangs in this male’s neck while he was buried inside of me? I would do almost anything. I locked eyes with him, only breaking contact for the moments I needed to pull the shirt off my body. I dropped it on the floor and took a step closer to him. Only stopping when he shook his head.

“I want to see all of you, in the light. I want every bit of your body memorized by my eyes, hands, and teeth before the sun dips below the horizon tomorrow evening,” he purred.

I smirked. “As you wish, My Lord.”

I pulled the cloth band off and tossed it with my shirt. Then my boots and leggings. Leaving me in nothing but my shadow stone and silver daggers. I reached down to strip the holsters off my ankles and remove my weapons when he cleared his throat. I glanced up at him, an eyebrow arched.

“Leave the shadow stone, darling. If you don’t mind.” I undid the silver and tossed it on the side table next to his bed, and started to slowly stalk toward him, my male . I stopped when I was standing between his thighs, looking down at his hungry gaze.

“Now what, My Lord?” I whispered.

His hands came up to rest on my hips. “You are the most beautiful creature I’ve ever seen, Silvana,” he said, as he leaned forward and gently kissed just below my navel. “I’ll never know how I talked the Fates into blessing me with such a breathtaking, strong, and phenomenal mate.”

I could feel the blush creeping up my cheeks the more he spoke about his love for me. Nothing about this was normal to me, but I soaked it up anyway, never breaking eye contact with him.

His hands gently caressed down my hips, and before I could say a word, he picked me up and switched our positions, leaving me in the chair and him on his knees in front of me. He pushed my thighs apart, baring me to him, and pulled me forward to the edge of the chair. Leaning down, he picked up my thighs and pulled them atop his shoulders.

“I’ve been thinking of this sweet cunt of yours all day long, and now that we’re here, I won’t be letting a single thing stop me from tasting you again,” he rasped, so close to me I could feel the breath from his mouth against my wetness.

“There’s the male I’ve been waiting ages for,” I said as I tried not to twitch with anticipation.

“You get both versions tonight, my little ice queen. Now, the only noises I expect from those lips are words of worship for your ruler.”

I playfully rolled my eyes. “Yeah, I hear you, My Lord. Let’s see what you’ve go?—”

I was cut off when suddenly his mouth was pressed against my aching core and it was all I could do to not scream. Gripping his hair, I quickly pulled the tie from it, letting it down—finally. I dug my hands into the thick tendrils as he made a feast out of my soaking cunt.

His mouth moved back and forth between sucking on my clit and his tongue dipping between my folds and inside of me. My hips jerked, aching for him to stick with just one, but he seemed intent on edging me into insanity. Moving every time my body started to tense up.

“Please, Raiden. Please. Please,” I muttered, so close, yet so far. I heard him snicker from between my legs.

“Please what, my darling?”

“Please let me come,” I begged.

The short laugh I heard told me I was right about his intentions. Evidently, he didn’t want this to be easy for me. He pulled his mouth away only to exchange it for his fingers, pushing two deep inside my cunt as he stared up at me. “The only place you’ll be coming tonight, is on my cock, Silvana. Not a moment before.”

As he spoke, I could feel it rising again, my body tightening. I tried to hold him there with my thighs, but like a true sadist, he pulled his fingers from inside me before the wave had the opportunity to finally crash.

I opened my eyes and stared down at him for a moment, trying to catch my breath and decide if I wanted to use that dagger he asked me to keep. Before I could act, though, his shadows had my hands tied together in front of me. I growled as he smiled.

“Open,” he demanded.

I opened my mouth, although somewhat reluctantly. I was suddenly feeling bratty. He stuck the two fingers he had deep in my cunt into my mouth and I sucked my juices off. He pulled them from my lips with a pop , only to replace them with his tongue, kissing me deeply. I forgot my anger for a moment because kissing this male was something I could do all day long—and planned to.

He nipped my bottom lip with a fang and gently sucked the blood until it healed. I tried to reach for him but realizing my hands were still tied, I let out a small whimper.

“Fuck, I need to touch you, Raiden, please.”

“Soon, my darling queen. Soon,” he whispered as he kissed down my jaw to my collarbone. I could feel his teeth graze against my skin, only he stood before he sank his fangs into me, leaving me even more of a mess than before. I wondered if vampires could die from edging. I’d always been more of a ‘take what I want and leave’ person when it comes to sex with anyone, but Raiden seemed intent on making me wait for it.

He pulled off his shirt and tossed it onto the floor. Then he untied the laces on the front of his pants, and my mouth went dry as he stepped out of them. This was my first time seeing my male fully naked, and I was thanking all the Fates listening that the room was lit because I wouldn’t wish to miss a single bit of him.

My eyes took in all of the ink scarred into his skin from the bottom of his neck, down his chest, his stomach, and along his left leg. Swirling marks of black, some lines were thin, while others were thicker patches of winding ink. When I finally made it to the spot between his thighs, I swallowed in anticipation. Never one to back out of a challenge, and taking this male would be just that. A challenge almost as long as my forearm, and as thick as my wrist.

“I need the shadows gone, Raiden,” I said as I held up my wrists.

He smirked. “Feeling a bit exhilarated now, are we?” He didn’t remove the shadows and instead pulled me to my knees in front of him. “Remember our safe word, darling? Because I’m not even close to being finished with you. I plan on taking our time. But I promise there will be multiple orgasms in your future, but only on my cock. Is that understood?”

I gritted my teeth and nodded.

“Good girl. I’m going to move your hands behind your back. If you need to stop, use a bit of your ice. Preferably not as much as I’ve seen you use, but I’ll get the point if it gets cold.” He smirked at his own joke, and I tried not to start panting over what his praise for my more… unhinged behavior did to my already soaking thighs.

Without replying because, truly, I needed to taste him, I opened my mouth, stuck my tongue out, and gazed up at him.

“Fuck, look at you. I don’t know if I like it better when you listen or when you don’t, Silvana,” he muttered. Stepping closer, he slowly pushed his cock into my mouth. I wrapped my lips around him as he pulled back out and repeated as I adjusted to his size. He hit the back of my throat and I suppressed a gag, moaning around him. Swirling my tongue around his head and swallowing the precum leaking from the tip. I looked up as his head fell back and he groaned.

“That’s right, darling.” He reached around my head and wrapped my braid around his hand a few times. “Fuck—remember ice if it gets too much.” I glanced up at him in confirmation as he used the hold on my hair to start fucking my mouth. I could feel his hand tightening in my hair the more he moved. He looked down at me, no doubt seeing my lust-filled eyes. That seemed to be his undoing. He quickly pulled his cock from my mouth, a line of my saliva going with him.

I licked my lips as he panted. “You seem a little worked up over there, My Lord.” I grinned.

He dropped to his knees and shoved his hand between my thighs. I gritted my teeth to hold back my moan as he gathered the mess of wetness there, before bringing it to his mouth. “Mmm. Seems like I’m not the only one worked up, darling.” Raiden pulled the tie from my braid and unraveled my hair around my shoulders, looking truly mesmerized by it. “Did you know your silver hair was the first thing I noticed about you when you walked into The Arcane Theater? Just a flash of silver, swaying around in that little crimson dress. Begging me, even then, to ruin you.”

His ability to mix romance with absolute filth made me want to suck his cock again.

He reached down, taking my hands in his. The shadows disappeared back into his hands from around my wrists. With them finally free, I pushed him until he was flat on his back, a smile across his face.

“I know you brought us in here for the bed, but I’m too impatient,” I said as I crawled on top of him. “I’m done waiting, Raiden,” I whispered as I sank down onto his cock with a groan.

“Fuck, Silvana. You’re so tight,” he breathed, looking down to where we were joined. Finally. “So fucking perfect. Taking my cock so good, darling.”

He snapped his hips up against me and I started riding him as if my life depended on it because it did. I knew it was the bond, but it felt more like pure magic. The sort they write stories about. Being joined with him, I could feel my magic seeping into him as his was doing the same to me. I didn’t know if that was normal, but I knew I needed him in every aspect of the word. I leaned down, my forehead pressed against him, as we set a punishing pace together.

“I need you, Raiden,” I whispered, our breaths intermingling.

He looked up at me, his eyes filled with a mix of lust and love. “Take whatever you need from me, my stunning ice queen.”

I kissed him gently and then continued down his jawline and neck. I stopped just above his collarbone—sucking, licking, and running my fangs over the skin there. Our pace staggered because we both knew what was coming. Raiden reached back, gathering my hair in his fist, as he moved it from my neck.

“Do it, Silvana.” His voice was absolutely feral with need.

So I did. I sank my fangs into his neck as he slammed his hips against mine, burying himself as deep as he could go into my cunt. Just when I felt like I couldn’t feel any more full, I felt his fangs pierce my neck and the world went white. My orgasm hit me like a wall of fire from my head to my toes as I swallowed mouthfuls of Raiden’s blood. He tasted like what I imagined warmth to feel like and I wanted it, always.

Time slipped by before I was finally sated. I lazily licked the bite marks on his neck and leaned my head on his chest. He started running his fingers through my hair, his cock still buried inside of me.

“I can feel you, everywhere,” he whispered.

I tried to think about what he was saying, but my entire body had never felt more relaxed than it did at that moment. As if for the first time ever, I could stop running.

“I love you, Raiden,” I whispered, realizing that I truly did love this male with every fiber of my being.

Sleep claimed me before I could hear his response.