Kingdom of the Feared (Kingdom of the Wicked, #3)(49)

The damned demon was right; I started cursing, the filthy words encouraging him to continue. His hand cupped my jaw as he covered my mouth with his and deepened our kiss. My fingers dug into his shoulders as I clenched around him.

Wrath brought those wicked lips to my ear. “You’re close?”

“Yes.”

“Thank fuck.”

His hand slid between our bodies, and he placed his thumb against my sex, increasing the timing on his thrusts, adding more pressure to that spot that sent a hot ripple through me.

I climaxed again, his true name flying from my tongue. He withdrew and thrust in deeper, a little faster this time, my own name slipping from his lips. Before I had time to come down from the soaring heights of my last release, Wrath had me climbing that same pleasure peak again. Soon we were both panting, our lips and breath mingling.

“You’re mine.” His voice was rough, deep.

“Just as you are mine. Forever.” Wrath hitched my leg a little higher, and I gripped his shoulders, a moan escaping me. My responses had him working even harder. He thrusted again and again, pleasure steadily building until I thought I’d combust. My body throbbed, and I could no longer hold myself back from the tidal wave of pleasure that broke. “Samael!”

He rode me through my orgasm, then joined me, my name shouted into the cave, bouncing back at us. We caught our breath, hearts pounding as he kissed me gently and lowered my leg. It prickled a little; I’d been so caught up in pleasure I hadn’t noticed it had gone numb.

My husband rubbed my aching calf muscle, searching my eyes. “Are you still here with me?”

The warmth of the water, the feeling of Wrath against me, cradling me. I hadn’t once drifted into another time or place. “I am.”

Relief flashed in the demon’s eyes, and I wondered if he’d always seemed so tense when we’d kissed or had been physical. “Let’s go to bed, my lady.”

Instead of swimming to the shore, Wrath scooped me into his arms, splashing me playfully in the process. It felt so good to just laugh, to not feel the weight of the world for once. Down here, with my prince, I didn’t have to think of betrayal or murder. Fear and darkness. Down here, within the magical lagoon under House Wrath, only love existed.

I wriggled out of his arms and dove under the water, exploding near him and earning a surprised chuckle when I succeeded in my return fire.

Afterward, we fell onto the glittering dark sand, and I pounced on my husband, who didn’t seem to mind one bit as I guided his length into me. Once we were tired from laughing and making love on the shore, Wrath magicked us back to his bedchamber. A beautiful pale lavender slip was folded on a pillow, and when I pulled it over my head and shimmied it down my body, I noticed the tiny gold stars across the top. It was soft and feminine, and I adored it.

Wrath gave me an appreciative look. The slip hit at midthigh, showing off my bronze skin. If I wasn’t so exhausted from our ordeal, I’d have been tempted to take him once more. He patted the bed, a debauched twinkle in his eye. “Save your energy for morning. You’ll certainly need it.”

With the promise of waking up and making wild, untamed love, I climbed onto the massive bed. Wrath tucked me against his body, and within moments, his breathing turned deep and even. I relaxed into his embrace and closed my eyes. Peace. I couldn’t recall the last time I felt so settled on the inside. There was still much chaos in the world, but in here, in this bedchamber and moment, I knew the true meaning of the word. Perhaps it was that sense of security that was my undoing. I’d forgotten, for a brief moment, what it meant to be cursed.

From one second to the next, I was magically wrenched from Wrath’s bedchamber. And the next nightmare began.





THIRTEEN


“Welcome back, princess.” Domenico bared his teeth in what no one would mistake as a smile. A quick survey of my surroundings confirmed my fears. Once again, I was in the Shadow Realm, chained. It was the same small stone chamber, the same alcove with manacles.

This time, at least, I had a slip on and wouldn’t need a shadow robe. It was the only positive bit of luck. They’d struck while Wrath was asleep, and it would likely be hours before he woke up and found my soul gone. Given his extreme reaction before, they better hope he remained sleeping. I didn’t bother testing the chains. I already felt that same bite of magic, locking my powers away. I glanced at my captor, hating the smug look on his face.

“I assume this means my sister would like to talk.”

“Maybe I just wanted to see if you still bore my mark.” The werewolf raked his gaze over me, pausing on my chest. It wasn’t sexual in nature, but I didn’t like it, either. “Did you know, a wound from an alpha can sometimes cause a feeling similar to what animals experience when they go into heat? Especially if that alpha infused his bite with a bit of magic and intent.”

“I wasn’t wounded by you, I was clawed.”

“And who sank his teeth into that wound? Not your demon,” he said, his tone mocking. “Have any animallike urges, lately? Perhaps you wished to get on all fours.”

“No. And you’re disgusting.”

He laughed, and it raised the hair along my arms. “Don’t worry. I didn’t actually infuse you with an alpha mark. And I have no desire to touch anything tainted by demon cock.”