Jah’ruud hangs his head. “The holder of the lamp may make three wishes. I am bound to grant them.”
It’s not his fault, but the sight of him bound to serve my enemy is awful.
“Well this is interesting.” Tharael taps his chin with a clawed finger. “There are so many things I want, but do you know what I want most of all? I want my brother to suffer for betraying me. And I want this little upstart bitch to suffer too.”
Oh gods. My stomach drops and a wave of nausea hits me as he calls for Aurelion to be brought back in. Three guards drag him in soon after, muzzled and bound, with his arms behind his back and his wings strapped to them. His face is the deep red color of fury, and he writhes in their grip until they almost lose control of him.
Tharael grips my face, his claws digging into my cheeks. He twists my head to expose the fading bite mark on the side of my neck. “Your mate already, hmm? She is a pretty morsel, isn’t she?”
Aurelion growls behind the muzzle.
Tharael only laughs. “I think I’ll start by making her mine. She’s far too good for you, brother.” He snaps his fingers at Jah’ruud. “Make it so.”
A tic in his jaw is the only indication that Jah’ruud has any reaction to this at all. Is he really going to do it? I look away, unable to face what’s about to happen.
Jah’ruud’s voice is cold, detached. “I cannot change her feelings. I cannot make her fall in love with you.”
Relief courses through me, and my gaze snaps back to him.
Tharael’s grin turns dangerous. “I never said she had to love me. I will have her. Though. I suppose I do not need a wish for that.”
He hauls me to my feet, and before I can catch my balance his sharp claws pierce the front of my dress. There’s a terrible ripping sound as he tears the front of the garment clean off, leaving a gaping hole which exposes my chest and part of my belly.
There’s a ferocious roar from Aurelion, but though he struggles, he cannot break free of the guards.
Tharael laughs a wild laugh. Dropping the lamp into his pocket, he reaches into the top of my dress and grabs me roughly, squeezing my breast until I cry out. That only seems to urge him on. His claws dig into my flesh as he tightens his grip. I bite back another cry. I can already see on Jah’ruud’s face how much this is costing him. And I know without looking that Aurelion’s is a mirror image.
Instead I lift my chin, meeting his deep black eyes. “You may think I am powerless, but I am Solhara of Vathira. I swear to you, you will regret it if you do not let me go right now.”
Tharael withdraws his hand from my dress, and for one fleeting moment I think that is it. I have convinced him to think twice. Then his stinging slap forces my face to one side andtears to my eyes. “You might have been a queen once, but you’re nothing more than my whore now. Learn your place.”
I gulp back a sob. The side of my face throbs. I can’t fight him when he yanks me to my feet and pushes me over the arm of his throne. A carved claw—thank the gods they are carved and not real—digs into my stomach. A moment later he pushes up my skirts unceremoniously.
“Demon, I have thought of a use for your wish after all. I want my brother to feel every thrust as a stab in his heart while he watches me fuck his mate. Make sure he watches and cannot look away.”
I squeeze my eyes shut tight, pressing my thighs closed though I know that will do me no good. There is no way I could fight his strength even without my hands bound.
“Is that your wish?” asks Jah’ruud.
“It is.”
There’s a hiss from Aurelion, and I feel the thick, hot tip of a huge cock nudge between my legs. It feels nothing like my couplings with any of my lovers. I am bone dry. Just the feel of Tharael there makes bile rise in my throat. I do not know how I will endure this.
Just as I feel him prepare to push forward and enter me, a familiar voice rings out across the throne room.
“I wouldn’t do that if I were you,” Kaelun calls.
Yalina
I try to look, but I only catch a glimpse of Kaelun standing in the middle of the wide-open space, holding Jah’ruud’s lamp before a cruel hand forces my head down again, pulling my hair until my eyes water.
“How did you get free?” Tharael growls.
Kaelun laughs. “You think a few guards and a cage is going to hold me? This is not my first time being arrested.”
“What kind of prince are you?”
He laughs. “Not a prince at all. Just a lowly street thief. But I guess that’s exactly who she needs.”
