Page 28

Annalise

I feel the gaze of a room full of beasts on me at this moment. I know that I can handle this one of two ways. I can let the beasts watching know I have fucked up and angered the king, or I can be brave and feign ignorance.

I quickly compose myself, clasping my hands in front of me as I move to pull the woman from Elias’s hold. The intensity of Cyrus’s gaze makes me nauseous as I hold the sniveling woman in my hands. But I’ve watched him the entire night. He’s entertained a beast he clearly dislikes for the sake of his people. He won’t hurt me now. Not with a foreign king and the servants watching. Word would spread.

Elias watches me in amusement as I straighten my spine, feigning confidence.

“You have already made the mistake of bringing this woman within the palace walls. Do you really intend on insulting the king further by staining his floors with her blood? I don’t know how things are done where you come from, but everything you have done so far is a sign of disrespect,” I say.

I look away from Elias, studying the girl. Upon closer inspection, she is much younger than I thought. She can’t be older than eighteen. My gaze shifts to the fresh brand on her throat, and I fight the discomfort I feel as I take it in.

“I will take her,” I say softly.

I ignore the heat of Cyrus’s seal as it rises, bringing discomfort to my side.

Elias scoffs, handing the blade back to his guard as I move the girl behind me. It takes all my strength to look at Joan across the room. Her skin is pale as she watches the scene unfold in horror.

“Joan,” I call to her.

Joan hesitates, looking at Cyrus briefly before making her way to where we stand. I gently push the girl into Joan’s arms as I turn back to the room of shocked faces. But there’s only one face I care about, and I finally find it in myself to look at him.

Cyrus has masterfully wiped his face clean of any emotion, his steady gaze watching me.

“If it’s okay with you, I would like to retire early for the night,” I say softly, lowering my head.

Cyrus doesn’t respond; only a breathy laugh leaves his lips as I turn away from him to speak to Elias, who is watching me in awe.

“I hope you enjoy the rest of the night. And I hope you won’t continue to take advantage of His Majesty’s kindness. Goodnight,” I say softly.

I keep my head up and my hands visible as I make my way out of the dining hall. I hear my servants following me, and I feel all eyes on me. The guards standing near the doors pull the doors open for me, and to my shock, they utter their respects.

“Goodnight, Your Grace.”

I nod in acknowledgment as I continue to walk, my breathing steady, through the halls of the palace with all the false confidence I can muster.

I have been summoned to the king’s chambers. I knew I would be. I knew there would be no getting past what happened tonight. I made multiple mistakes. I challenged Cyrus’s authority, I showed weakness, and I currently have a human within my servant’s ranks without express permission from Cyrus.

I look down at my hands. They are trembling violently. Even Joan had nothing to say to me upon our return to my chambers. Her looks of disappointment tell me all I need to know. Elias baited me, and I took the bait like a fool. I interfered where I shouldn’t have. I asserted authority I do not have. I have broken what little trust Cyrus had placed in me.

I reach Cyrus’s chambers, staring at the golden doors in fear. I don’t want to enter, and I don’t want to face him. But I don’t have a choice. Before I can knock, the doors whip open, and Cyrus is standing there, his expression filled with irritation as he looks down at me. He’s wearing only a pair of low-slung pants and his robe. His gaze slightly narrows as he takes me in, but he finally steps aside, wordlessly telling me to enter.

I’m full-on shaking as he closes the door and I no longer have it in me to be brave. I sink to my knees, keeping my head down.

“I’m sorry,” I whisper, tears spilling down my cheeks.

Cyrus laughs as he steps past me. When I look up, he is making his way to the decanter on the table. He keeps his eyes focused on his task as he pours himself a drink. It’s almost as if he can’t stand to look at me.

“Do you think yourself above my rule?” he asks.

He keeps his gaze lined to mine as he approaches me. Once he’s standing over me, he kneels so that he is at eye level with me, his deep blue gaze boring into mine with malice.

“Do you think that because I enjoy fucking you, you can do as you please? Answer me,” he growls.

“No, Your Majesty,” I whimper.

Cyrus scoffs, taking another sip and standing.

“‘It was never my intention to save the human race. ‘I never cared about humanity’s place in society. ‘I only cared about surviving.’ Those were your words, Annalise, not mine!” he shouts.

I flinch, keeping my eyes down.

“I told you to be careful. I fucking told you! And you…” Cyrus points at me as he speaks, his rage pouring out of him as he tries to find a way to handle me. “Now you come to me on your knees begging for forgiveness,” he finishes.

Cyrus snatches me up. I cry out as he smashes me into the wall, his grip on my wrist unbearable. His eyes meet mine, and I can see him warring with his inner beast as he looks at me.

A bitter laugh leaves his lips.

“Where is all that bravado from earlier?” he hisses.

When I don’t respond he pulls me off the wall only to push me back into it.

“Answer me, Annalise!”

“I don’t know!” I sob.

Cyrus chuckles, releasing me, and I cradle my wrist to my chest as he steps over me.

“Do you think that because of your title, you are no longer obligated to my rule? I gave you that fucking title Annalise! Is this another part of your game? Acting as if you want to know who I am and about my past so that you can somehow betray me in the end and get away with it? So that I’ll let my guard down with you?” he shouts.

I look up at Cyrus, his words shocking me.

“No, this wasn’t some premeditated plan! I couldn’t just stand by… you were just going to let him kill her? Even though she did nothing wrong? She didn’t willingly step into your palace—”

“I’ve killed slaves for breathing wrong, Annalise.”

Blood drains from my face as Cyrus stands over me, his expression terrifying.

“I almost killed you for knocking over a glass. Did you forget? Did you forget how easily I stained my floors with your blood because you made a mistake?” he asks.

My tears are heavy. I don’t know how to deal with this side of Cyrus. Any semblance of the beast he was days ago when he opened up to me and showed me kindness is gone. There is no mercy in his gaze. He keeps his eyes focused on the fire before looking back at me.

“I told you to abandon that fight. I warned you. You have overstepped. And you will be punished for it.”

I slowly shake my head. I see the direction of his thoughts.

“No, please don’t… don’t take him from me again, Cyrus. I’m begging you,” I sob.

I realize all too late I used his name. I’ve made another mistake when his mental state is barely intact. I may not see it through the night.

Cyrus’s eyes meet mine. He glares at me, a bitter chuckle leaving his lips.

“This is the consequence. This is what happens when you overstep.” Cyrus walks to the door, pulling it open. “Now, get out.”

I shake my head finding strength I didn’t know possible.

“No. You’re not taking him from me. He is my son. I carried him, I raised him, I told him I would see him soon…”

My sobs fall on deaf ears, though. Cyrus laughs softly, slamming the door as he crosses the room.

“You have grown arrogant,” he says.

I barely have time to register what his words mean as he grabs me by the arm, pulling me to the bed. He throws me down, tossing his robe to the ground as he crawls over me.

“Fine. If you do not want to leave, then I will make good use of you while you are here,” he says.

My eyes widen as he tears at my dress, ripping it from my body with ease.

“No, wait—”

Cyrus roughly fists my hair, pulling his cock free as he kneels over me. He pushes the tip against my lips.

“Open.”

His eyes are devoid of emotion as he glares down at me. And I follow his command. He roughly thrusts his cock down my throat, muffling my cries. I press my hands against his thighs, trying to get air in my lungs, but he holds me tight as he fucks my throat, only pulling out fully sheath himself again. My eyes water from the intrusion and lack of air.

Cyrus’s shaft grows thicker in my mouth, my jaw aching as he thrusts roughly, holding himself in the back of my throat as he finds release. I squeeze my eyes shut, having no other choice but to swallow as he pumps thick loads of cum down my throat. When he finishes, he releases me, and I fall back on the bed, coughing as I try to breathe in as much air as possible.

I cry out when Cyrus pulls roughly at my ankles, flipping me over so that my ass is facing him. He doesn’t speak as he places his hand under my waist, pulling me into him. I feel the tip of his cock pressing against my entrance, still hard and ready.

“Cyrus wai—Agh!” My cries echo in the room as he roughly thrusts, entering me in one motion. My body is forced to stretch to accommodate him, but it’s painful. I reach my hand behind me, pressing against his thighs, trying to get him to stop, but it only makes him angry.

His arms come around, holding both of my arms down as he pulls me flush against his chest, fucking me relentlessly from behind. His cock thrusts out of me without mercy, forcing cries from my lips.

“‘I will satisfy you as I once did. Only me.’ Those were your words as well, Annalise. Do you take those back, too?” he growls as he thrusts again.

He’s too deep. His cock strokes me deeper than I’ve ever felt, the rush of pain and pleasure clouding my mind. My head lolls back against his chest, and I can think of nothing else as he continues to sate himself with my body. His hand comes up to snake around my throat, clenching me tight as he reaches his peak. His thrusts don’t slow, and he fucks me at full strength as he releases his seed inside of me.

I can feel the thick heat of his release rushing out of me with each thrust as he continues to fuck me. His breathing is labored, and to my relief, he releases me, allowing me to slide off his cock and lay flat on the bed.

I’m scared of what I will find if I look at his expression. So, I keep my eyes down as I slowly move to the edge of the bed.

“Where do you think you are going?” Cyrus growls.

I tense, but he doesn’t allow me to answer as he roughly grips my wrist.

“I gave you the opportunity to leave, and you told me no.”

When I look at Cyrus, my heart leaps into my chest, and I immediately try and pull myself out of his grasp. His eyes have taken on the shape of beasts, the pupil sharpened as he studies me. He smiles at the sound of my heart speeding up.

“Cyrus, please…”

His smile widens at my words as he pushes me back on the bed.

“When will you learn that begging only makes me want to fuck you harder.”