I jerked my head back from the crack, panic suddenly clenching my chest—he did not look happy. I started to grab my bag to make a run for it, but Iscreamedas the shifter king grabbed ahold of my ankles. I struggled for any purchase I could find, but it didn’t help. My cruel soul mate dragged me out from under his desk.
I panted in the cool air, from my back on the stone ground, and stared up at him in shock. I sputtered in dread, “W-What are you doing?”
“How quickly you forget, elf.” The King of Shifters bared his teeth in a forbidding grin. “I’m getting my retribution on a rat.”
CHAPTER SEVEN
Confession of a princess:
The shifters are so odd to me that it is hard to comprehend why they do what they do. After all I have learned, I will need to think long and hard about my next actions where the shifter king is concerned. Everything is so bloody complicated now.
I do not want the King of Shifters.
But he is mine.
I must deal with that.
“NO, NO, NO.”I shook my head fervently and tried to kick my legs loose of his grip—it did not work. “Retribution does not need to be had. I am sorry for touching your dick.”
King Athon growled deep within his chest. “You damn near broke my cock in half.” My furious soul mate bent down quickly, not releasing my ankles, and bared his teeth. “There is something other than euphoria that happens after a fight, Princess. You torturing my dick with your damned breath did not help. Do you want to know what that is?”
I bit my lower lip with my fangs. “Not particularly.”
“That is unfortunate for you. You’re going to damned well hear it anyway.”
He tugged my ankles hard, releasing them with a flick of his wrists, and my body scraped along the stone ground. His face was directly above mine now. His head dipped, the tips of our noses almost touching.
He snarled. “I need to fuck.”
My mouth gaped open. I stared up at him in disbelief, and I explained very,veryslowly, “I am not having sex with you tonight, King Athon. The mere fact that when I go into heat, Imusthave sex with you again turns my stomach. The thought of doing it outside of that is even more vile. Surely you feel the same way.”
The King of Shifters snorted and lifted an arrogant eyebrow, wrath dancing in his solid black eyes. “Believe me, I do. That is why I will not be having sex with you this evening.”
My forehead instantly wrinkled as confusion bogged my thoughts. “Then what are you talking about?”
Cruel, dusky pearl lips curved up at the edges.
I stared…not liking this.
King Athon grabbed my hips, gripping them roughly. He yanked me off the ground, dumping my body over his right shoulder and trapping my legs against his chest with a fierce arm.
“Ow!” I grunted in shock. I hung over his massive body as he stood to his enormous height. He marched toward the hidden passageway, my arms wrapping around his waist quickly for support. I stared at his bare back, barking, “What in the Fairy are you doing?”
“I’m showing your revolting ass what I’m talking about like you asked.” King Athon trotted up the stairs, my stomach jarring on his shoulder with each step. He clomped through his bedchambers and then dropped me to my feet on his balcony. With brisk hands, he gripped my frozen form and jerked me around to the night view—his capital city, Mount Hawthorne. “Do you see this?”
“Yes,” I whispered. Was he going to throw me over?
He pointed down to his city over my right shoulder, standing directly behind me, his heat and disturbing honeysuckle scent shrouding my senses. King Athon snarled and quietly spoke, “Down there are many women.Shifterwomen. You are going to pick one for me to fuck.”
My whole frame tensed, turning as rigid as the stone beneath my sandals. That kernel of possessiveness coiled inside my gut, burning hotter and fiercer. My vision blurred—the homes and businesses meshed together into a city from nightmares.
Retribution.
King Athon bent and pressed his lips to my left ear, his horrible chuckle vibrating against my flesh. “It is terrible, isn’t it? Feeling this way for someone you hate. But, Princess, youwilldo this for me.”
I choked on air, my body beginning to tremble. “No.”
“You will,” King Athon stated in a soothing tone, as the old might speak to the young. His fingers brushed against the side of my neck, my skin burning at his dreadful touch as he brushed my hair back over my left shoulder, revealing my ear. A tiger’s growl vibrated in the air as he stared at the pointed tip. “I am at least giving you the choice of who it will be. Pick the ugliest woman you can find to soothe your soul, but you will find a shifter’s cunt for me to fuck tonight.”
