Page 57 of Vow of the Undead (The Bloodrune Saga #1)

T he candelabras burned so low now that several had extinguished.

Wax dripped to the floor like a circle of runes surrounding the throne.

Every nerve in my body buzzed with anticipation as I pulled Drak into the throne room.

If he was to become my husband, perhaps this craving wasn’t so depraved, monster or not.

It was selfish, yes, but not as disturbed as some of my past choices.

And if I chose to be honest with myself, every drop of pleasure from Drak shifted my thoughts away from Kayn.

Dim light flickered over the shining bronze throne. I stepped up to it and spun around to face him, dropping the stake at our feet. The hollow clatter echoed through the empty room.

“So, you have me here, what is it you’ve been imagining?”

My heart sped as he draped his hands on either side of my waist and inched me back step by step until the back of my legs stopped at the cold bronze. I reached out and linked my arms around his neck.

He dropped his mouth beneath my chin, brushing his lips over where my pulse thudded in my throat. Lifting his lips to the shell of my ear he whispered, “You on the throne as my queen.”

“That’s it?”

The spread of his smile stretched against the soft skin at my neck. “Both of us on the throne. Now is the only time we’ll be alone in this room. Soon it will be filled with the council and our wedding guests.”

Nipping at my ear, his palm followed the curve of my torso, snaking to the ribbons at my back.

He tugged, slowly, unraveling the tie and then pulling the ribbon looser and looser from each notch.

My hands cupped the back of his neck, fingernails digging in more than I intended as every slow release of the ribbon tested my patience.

I’d denied this attraction to him since he framed my body on the back of that damn horse. Every nerve in my body begged for me to succumb to selfishness once again.

This desire was weak and stupid, but it was mine. The only thing that was mine, for right now. The Gods wanted me to dedicate my life to being a huntress. My father wanted the connection my marriage to the king would give him. Kayn wanted my soul.

I wanted a monster.

I wanted him to tear me apart and carve out the key I’d hidden inside me, unlocking every memory I’d buried.

I wanted him to wipe my mind clear of the prickling nerves that tormented me with shame.

Nerves that brought me to my knees, shaking and dizzy and spiraling with thoughts that I’d lost control of.

He was just disturbed and violent enough to do it—if it were possible. But he could make me forget. For now. And despite every threat and the murder I’d witnessed in his bedchambers, he was safe.

Drak had never lied to me.

With the ribbons undone, he slid the sleeves off of my shoulders. The soft fabric slipped down my arms and off of my hips, rippling to the black floor in a puddle of red. Naked now, a shiver brushed over my bare skin.

Candlelight flickered muted yellow over the curves and dips across my body, creating shadows.

Spinning me around, he pressed his palm against my stomach and anchored me against him until I could feel every muscle and bend of his body, his cock harder than stone against my ass.

His hand ran up my middle and found my throat, his fingers closing around it.

When he dipped to sit down on the throne, he guided me with him, positioning me on his lap.

Kissing along the curve of my neck, he coaxed a groan from me. The sharp graze of his fang only heightened the sensation.

With my legs on the outside of his thighs, he spread mine wider. If anyone stepped into the throne room, I’d be on full display, the future queen spread out for King Drakkar’s pleasure. His fingers squeezed tighter at my throat.

“It’s for your pleasure too, Lux,” he said.

I sucked in a gasp, remembering he could read my mind in the heat of the moment.

His other hand slid down my body and cupped the inside of my thigh.

He swiped a finger across my core, and the hum of his chuckling only made me want to melt into him.

“My curious little killer, my wife, you’re dripping wet. Is it for me? Or just for release?”

I opened my mouth but my throat was full of the tension that hung between what I wanted to say and the truth. I couldn’t lie to him.

“For you,” I whispered. Fuck. This was sick and wrong.

I don’t deserve any pleasure.

I’m evil.

I—

“Focus on me,” Drak’s voice ripped through the spiral circling my mind. His grip tightened until I could no longer breathe. Even though I’d made my decision, I couldn’t help the thought clawing at the corners of my mind. What would the Gods think of me giving myself over to him?

Drak pinned me with his half-lidded gaze. “I am the only one you worship, Lux. I am your only thought right now.”

But I’m fucked up.

He released my throat only to grip my chin and force my head to the side.

For a moment, I thought he’d sink his fangs into the flesh stretched over my throat, but he only held my face in front of his.

Searching my eyes, his icy gaze drove shivers through me.

“Only me. Right now I am your God, your only obsession, and I better not catch you thinking anything like that about yourself again. Is that understood?”

I expected a hundred thoughts to twist and writhe in my mind, but he slipped his fingers over my core again, adding pressure so that the tips dipped into me, and my mind went blank.

He slammed his mouth against mine. Releasing my face, he ran his palm over my neck.

His finger tipped my chin back until I let my head fall to his shoulder.

Splitting his fingers, he formed a V around my core and teased, guiding his hand up and down so that only the base of his fingers at his palm brushed over my most sensitive nerves. I groaned, my body squirming and begging for more without me having to utter a single word.

I rubbed my ass against his cock until his fingers dipped into me again, fully this time. After pumping twice, his fingers slid out with slick wetness that he spread over my center. Rubbing intoxicating circles, he cultivated the tension and teased out a sob building inside of me.

I drew sharp breaths, just enough air to sustain me. Every touch made my head swim with pleasure. Every second tipped me closer and closer to the edge.

Drak whispered in my ear, guiding me to give him—give myself—the ecstasy.

“When you’re in my castle, what do you do, Lux?”

I whimpered as he circled the outside .

“What do you do?” he repeated. I worked my tongue in my mouth but my voice would not obey. “Come on, my wet little wife.” His fingers split me open again, slipping out drenched in the evidence of my need for him. He released my throat only to pinch at my hard nipple.

I writhed against his cock again, licking my lips. What would it be like to bring the king to this same bliss?

He chuckled again and lifted his wet fingers to my lips. “I know you want to use that pretty mouth to taste me, but for right now you’ll just have to enjoy what’s left of you on my fingers.”

I opened my mouth and sucked off the slickness.

“What did I tell you the first time you sat on my lap? Say it, Lux. What do you do in my throne room? ”

“I do what you say,” I breathed.

“Good girl.”

Rewarding me, he finally circled my core again. With this pleasure climbing closer, closer to the edge, it only took one more circle before I unraveled. Ecstasy rippled through me, my nerves not frayed but on fire. I gasped and arched my back, pressing my ass harder into him.

“That’s it,” he said. “I’ve been wanting to watch you come on my throne since you first walked in here. But I had to share it with you so I could feel you against me. Tomorrow, after we’re married, I’ll sit you on my cock right here and make you come again and again.”

My eyes peeled open and I straightened, twisting to look at him. “Ask me again.” He tilted his head. “To marry you. You never asked according to my standards.”

A grin split his mouth and his eyes dropped to my lips. “What are your standards?”

I stood, glaring down at him. I took a moment to enjoy this temporary power before I gave everything over to him. Even if I was naked, baring all before him. I didn’t care.

“Get on your knees,” I said .

He slid to the edge of the throne and, eyes locked on me, he dropped to his knees. “Marry me. Tomorrow.”

“Beg for it.” It may have been because of my selfish side, the darkness within me, but I wanted to relish this.

I wanted to pretend the man who was insisting I marry him actually wanted me more than anything in the world.

It was a childish wish, something a village girl in Skaldir may have had in a different life.

But I was born a witch and a believer in the Gods and a cruel person stained with a hollow heart full of Freya’s tears.

I didn’t deserve this moment for myself, but I took it anyway.

I took it because I needed him to convince me to forget everything and give myself over to him. “Beg for me, Drak.”

“As soon as I heard about you fighting off two vampires, I had to meet you. As soon as I met you, I had to get to know you. As soon as I tasted you, I had to have you. As soon as I got to know you, I…” The muscles in his throat rippled with a hard swallow.

“When I said you fascinate me, it was mere interest, but after seeing the fire inside of you.” You mean the darkness?

“I became obsessed. So, please, I beg you with every ounce of my immortal life, marry me.”

He took my hands in his, rubbing his thumbs to bring life and blood to my blue fingers. My heart pinched. He saw what plagued me, he recognized my struggle, never dismissing the silent and nearly invisible illness that I’d been taught to hide.

He knew to warm my hands without a word, so when I gave myself over to him, it wasn’t a lie.

“I’m yours.”