Page 12

Annalise

C yrus is different. I expected him at some point to punish me for the things that happened in his absence, especially the incident with Dimitri. But he didn’t. He seemed calm. Gentle even. And while he barely touched me for the rest of the afternoon, he gave Ciel his undivided attention. He played with him, making him laugh while speaking to him in a strange language I didn’t dare ask about. He even spoke to me a few times, playfully touching me without a hint of anger.

And now, per his command. I wait for him to allow me entry to his chambers as the moon hits its peak in the night sky.

I tense as more moans sound from the other side of the door. There’s a woman in there, the sound of Cyrus’s grunts mingling with hers something I am all too familiar with. A heavy sense of relief washes over me at the sound. He will not touch me if he is occupied with someone else. I am safe from his bed for the time being. But it does mean I must have been called to his chamber in the late hours of the night for something else.

After what feels like an eternity, the doors open to reveal a beast. She’s Cyrus’s usual type with voluptuous breasts and curves. Her hair is wild as she steps out of the room and into the hall with a smug smile on her lips for having just slept with the king. Judging by her clothing, she’s a noble, and the servants who step up to escort her out of the estate prove my theory.

I’m just happy Cyrus didn’t force me to stand in the corner as he did in the past.

“Are you going to stand there all night, or are you going to come inside?” Cyrus’s voice carries into the hall, and I can tell by his tone that he is not happy with my presence. He’s completely different from earlier today.

I instinctually pull my robe tighter to me, stepping into his room.

The bed sheets are disheveled, the light from the fireplace casting a warm glow over the room. I shift my attention to Cyrus’s naked form just as he pulls on his robe, covering his muscular form from my gaze. He turns to me, gesturing to the small table, for once pouring his own drink as he watches me with that intimidating gaze.

“Did you enjoy yourself while I was away?” he asks after taking a sip.

I feel a sense of deja vu hearing those words from him.

“Yes, Your Majesty. Thank you again for allowing me to see Ciel,” I say softly.

Cyrus chuckles, taking a seat across from me. His eyes roam over me, taking in even the smallest movement.

“You and I both know the true reason you were able to see Ciel,” he says.

I nod. “Yes.”

“Now that he has seen the both of us together, I cannot let my previous punishment persist. No matter what you did in the past, you are still his mother, and I will not mistreat you in front of him,” Cyrus says.

His words catch my attention, however.

“In front of him.”

“I told you before I left that I do not trust you. Just being this close to you… I want to strip you and beat you within an inch of your life and heal you just to do it all over again,” he says, eyeing me as if imagining it.

I shudder at his words but don’t respond.

“I wanted to punish you and make you suffer for what you did to me, Annalise. However, due to unforeseen circumstances, I can no longer implement the previous plans I had for you. Now, you are to learn to be one of us so that the only way anyone can tell you are human is because of your lack of traits,” he says.

Cyrus pours himself another glass, his gaze never leaving mine as he takes another drink. Whatever situation he has been forced into, he is not happy about.

“You are punishing me for running away,” I say softly, “but rewarding me for bearing your child.”

I look at him, trying my best to remain brave.

“Had I stayed, you would have killed me. What was I supposed to do?” I whisper.

I tense when Cyrus throws his glass across the room, the fire burning bright as the alcohol explodes inside of it, matching Cyrus’s temper. He doesn’t scream, however. He is eerily calm as he points in my face, his gaze wild.

“You were supposed to stay and take whatever I gave to you, whether it was mercy or pain. You were a slave. You are a human. And you should have shared the fate of every human in my kingdom, but because of this… maddening obsession I have with you, you sit here able to keep your tongue after questioning me,” he growls.

Silence fills the air as he glares at me. He stands from his seat, pulling me up as well, and I cry out in fear.

“Take off your robe.”

He’s testing me. He’s challenging whether or not I will obey him. My fingers tremble as I open the robe, letting it slip from my shoulders. I’m in a thin nightgown that is a material I’ve never had the luxury of wearing. But I’ve seen the women Cyrus fucks wear it on several occasions.

Cyrus’s pupils dilate in the dim light as he steps close to me. His thumbs gently shift under the straps, lifting them so that they no longer sit on my shoulder. The dress falls around my ankles, leaving me naked in front of him. His eyes shift to my ribs where his seal sits, and he touches it, his thumb running over the skin. I flinch from the heat it begins to emit on my flesh.

“Bearing my seal means your life is no longer your own. It is mine, Anna.” His gaze shifts, holding my own.

“ You are mine.”