Only to be confronted by the cat who’d been playing with them.
I sent bolts of lightning into the chests of the first several humans who ran outside. I let the others who arrived after them stop in horror as they came upon their king carrying out their punishment.
More humans who lived nearby congregated as they heard the ruckus, saw the fire, or smelt the smoke. I let more arrive before I said a single word. Leaving them all watching me with fear in their eyes.
“If any more attacks occur, if one more act of rebellion takes place, more humanswilldie,” I announced, before taking off into the air without giving them time to react.
* * *
Returning to the palace,my mood was still dark, and finding Zerlina lounging around my rooms didn’t help matters.
“What are you doing in here?” I demanded as I unbuckled my sword belt, dropping it on the table.
“Waiting for you, of course,” she simpered at me, and I fought to not roll my eyes. Did she really think me so dim I couldn’t see what she was doing?
Then again, did I care?
I could certainly use the distraction right now.
I’d been more stressed than usual lately. All my plans finally coming to fruition was exhilarating, but it was also a lot of hard work. The battle plans to take down Calix alone, while dealing with these insipid lords and rebellious humans… it was all a lot. And it was all onmyshoulders.
No one around me could be trusted, leaving me isolated. It was why I needed Asteria. Only she could understand. Or I thought she could. The way she left me…
No. Shewouldunderstand. I would make her.
Zerlina smiled at me as she sauntered over. She tried to look innocent, but something about her too-sharp eyes and cheekbones made it look more comical. Now, her sister, Sybella, could pull off innocent. With her more cherubic cheeks and wide eyes, she was the sweet and innocent-looking version of her sister.
But I found I preferred the sharpness of Zerlina. It matched what I knew was inside her. She was no soft princess, and I found myself enjoying her claws.
As long as she knew her place, that was.
I did need a proper queen, after all. Asteriacouldhave been that, had she not run from me. But she chose her fate, and I would ensure the punishment fit the crime.
Zerlina leaned up to kiss me, and I bit her plush lips as I grabbed her by the hair. My tongue dominated hers, and she gave herself over to me willingly. I pulled back from her lips, using her hair to force her back.
“On your knees,” I growled, and that was all she needed as she hit the floor, her hands eagerly undoing my pants and taking out my cock.
She pumped her hands down my shaft, my length thickening in her hands even before she trailed her tongue down it, following the veins. My head fell back when she took the crown into her mouth, sucking and licking around it.
I buried my hand in her hair, pushing her down until she choked on my cock. Her eyes watered as her hands came up to grip my thighs, digging her nails in. I pulled her head back, letting her get a breath in, before pushing her back down until she swallowed my entire length.
She breathed harshly through her nose, running her tongue along my base where my cock sat heavy in her mouth. I groaned, using my hand to guide her head up and down, enjoying the feeling of a hot mouth and wet tongue swirling around my cock.
I could feel my release building, and began to thrust myself into her mouth, fucking her face harder than necessary. Her groans each time I thrust too hard only added to the experience, however. As I spilled down her throat, I held her down, not letting her up until she’d swallowed every drop.
She panted once she popped off my cock, and I took the time to remove her dress, leaving her glorious breasts bare to my eyes. I maneuvered her with me, sitting on the sofa and gripping her by the ass to lead her to straddle me. She slowly sank down on my cock, groaning as I stretched her cunt out around my girth.
I closed my eyes as she began to ride me, letting myself imagine Asteria above me, eagerly riding my cock. I thrust up into her, the sound of skin slapping against skin a beautiful rhythm. My hands found her breasts, squeezing, but her moans shook me out of my fantasy.
The dark hair was replaced by a lighter brown streaked with blonde, and the shade of blue in her eyes was all wrong. Zerlina’s breasts may be as good as Asteria’s, but otherwise, she wasn’t nearly curvy enough. She may be beautiful, but she wasn’t Asteria, and that only served to make me angrier.
I grasped her hips hard, lifting her as I stood and brought her to the nearest wall. I pushed her against it, holding her hips down so they lay flat against it, and began pounding into her. My cock hitting deep inside and making her scream with each thrust.
I kept my eyes trained on where I was splitting her open, not wanting to look at her face. But she grabbed me by the hair and forced me to meet her eyes.
“You don’t get to pretend,” she hissed, before her lips crashed down on mine.
I swear I hated how smart she was sometimes.
