The King part 10

DIONNE

I’ve never been more terrified in my life. Not when I was crushing on Trey and we crossed paths at the workplace. Not when I was teleported to Zolan. Not when I first made eye-contact with the seven-foot, red, furious, farmer that rippled with muscle and power.

As I sit between his sturdy thighs, I fully encompass terror. Because I’m not only afraid for myself, but for Vadnar. If anything happens to him, I’d be destroyed. I found heaven and hell in his arms; in his eyes. He burns me from head to toe with want, empties my lungs and fills my mind with daydreams. Passion burns like an inferno in my chest when he smiles at me. But when he’s gentle with me; when kindness seeps out from between his mighty muscles, I’m in heaven.

He told me he’ll get us out of here, and I trust him, but there’s no guarantee he won’t get hurt in the process. These slavers are determined to own us. I don’t even know if Trey is still alive.

It’s dark in the back of this cart. The only bits of light I see are in the corners, and in the glints of our kidnappers’s eyes. We’re traveling through a town. I can hear the chatter of townspeople and the calling of animals. I could scream, but what good would that do? Vadnar told me masters are feared and unwelcomed. I doubt they would come to our rescue, especially with me in tow.

Vadnar is stiff. His chest rises and falls faster than it does at night when he’s laying in bed. I know, because I tune into his soft breathing to lull me to sleep. This isn’t how I wanted to lay on his chest for the first time, but I have more important things to do than lament the past. I need to focus. To survive.

After hours of riding in the cart, my ass becomes numb, and there’s a dull ache in my lower back. When we come to a halt in the dead of night, I perk my head.

Did we arrive at the colosseum already?

The men jump out of the cart. The one that I stabbed in the thigh struggles to keep his balance. Vadnar killed many of them, but the shock of the violence is being smoldered by adrenaline. My heart had been racing because I thought Vadnar was going to kiss me. Now, it races for different reasons. I know he killed because he had to, but the memories of the bloodshed will follow me forever.

Outside, I see trees. Vadnar inhales deeply, probably trying to sense where we are since he’s blindfolded.

“Forest,” I whisper.

The men empty the cart and pull the cloak off the cart. I can feel Vadnar slightly shifting as he fights his restraints, but they’re bound so thickly it will take all night to break free. Being watched doesn’t help.

A man stands guard in front of the cart, watching us closely. Vadnar is getting agitated because there’s no opening to escape.

The ringleader feeds the animals, sharpens his sword, and falls asleep against the tree by the fire. The other men rest, too, but there’s always one that’s keeping watch. I don’t sleep, and neither does Vadnar.

“Don’t try anything,” he whispered. I’m surprised by how much the sound of his voice comforts me.

Early in the morning, we’re covered under the tarp, and rolled through bumpy roads. We don’t stop again. For hours, we’re crouched in the same position. The kidnappers seem to become more fidgety wherever we so much as shift a foot. They threaten and order us to stay still.

When we stop for the first time in hours, I’m dragged by my legs away from Vadnar, who growls so powerfully the cart trembles.

I blurt, “I’m here!” before he loses control.

They drag him out next, stepping on his feet so he can’t kick out at them. He’s disoriented and feral, the darkness driving him mad.

“Vadnar!” I call for him, afraid they’ll hurt him.

They shove me against his side, like I’m a chew toy he needs to calm down.

Vadnar’s growls reduce to heavy breathing, and the ringleader curses. “Keep him with the bitch. Lock them up. Let’s go!”

We’re pushed forward, toward the stone colosseum with crooked stairs. It’s surrounded by trash and overrun with a vertical garden of vines, ivy, and ferns. The small taverns outside the colosseum are flooded with loud folk music and so much alcohol I can smell it from here.

Drunks stagger outside, nude or barely clad. I don’t get to see much more before I’m led up the stairs. The inside is just as dingy, dark, and dirty. The walls and floor are speckled with holes, and suspicious stains are splattered in every corner. I hear loud yells from the heart of the structure, and feel vibrations of stomping feet, like an auditorium of people.

We walk down a hallway full of empty cells. After we descend to the lower floor, the daylight is stretched thin and replaced by torches.

“Fresh meat,” a male in a cell says. His eyes lock on mine, and his smirk is replaced by surprise.

Vadnar and I are shoved in a cell, the door slamming shut before I can find my footing.

“My hands,” I yell before the slavers leave. The ringleader scoffs before sliding a knife between my wrists, cutting the rope off. I instantly yank Vadnar’s blindfold and untie him. His wrists are bleeding from his constant tugging.

“You,” the master in the cell across from us calls. “Female. Who are you? What are you?”

Vadnar launches himself at the bars. “Are you willing to die for those answers?”

The guy laughs, his voice filling every cell. I study him closely. He’s young, and although he’s covered in shabby pants and a tunic, I can see his bulging biceps. A scar runs across his neck, and he’s bald.

“I can’t wait to try you out in the arena.” He cracks his knuckles, and then shifts his gaze to me. “And you. Why don’t you visit my cell and help me enter the Enraged state tonight?”

“Be quiet, Hull,” another master says. He’s further away. I can’t see him since he’s laying on his bed. “Leave the poor bastard alone.”

Poor bastard? Aren’t all captured here?

Hull winks at me, and drops on his bed.

The master in the distance keeps speaking. “Seven new masters were just taken from their cells to the arena for testing. Hull and I have been here for a month already. They’ll come get you for testing next. Say goodbye to your little cell companion. They don’t keep females here.”

I’m not sure if Vadnar is listening. He’s pulling at the cell bars, testing their endurance. Then he goes to the brick wall and knocks on the rock, looking for weaknesses. He only steps away when we hear approaching footsteps.

The ringleader appears again. He changed his boots and clothes, exchanging the dirty furs for silk. “We’re taking you to the arena. Enter the enraged state now. Go on, rut the girl. Or do you want to pick a different one?”

Things are escalating quickly. I knew this moment was coming. That I can’t be a damsel in distress even with Vadnar beside me. I need to cooperate to make this easier for both of us.

I step closer to him, pressing my palms on his biceps and silently begging my hands to stop shaking. It’s just sex, right? I’ve been lusting him for weeks, so I’m just getting what I’ve been asking for.

“Vadnar?” I whisper, feeling the glare of the ringleader on the back of my head.

Vadnar’s eyes fall on mine, scouring for the truth. Although I try to pretend, he finds my hesitation. Of course he does. He’s a hunter.

“No,” comes his smoky voice. “Not like this.”

The male is honorable to a fault.

“This isn’t a choice!” The ringleader screams. “You’re property now, both of you!”

“Just give us five minutes,” I plead, approaching the cell door. If he gave me some time, maybe I could convince Vadnar.

The door is yanked open, and before I realize it, I’m on the other side, with Vadnar locked inside. His fingertips touched the bars as the lock clicked, but he was too late. We’re separated now.

“Good news, Hull. Lunch came early for you.”

I catch a glimpse of the armed guards by the wall. They’re smiling. They’re enjoying my torture. Hull is grinning, too. When his cell opens and I’m tossed inside like a piece of meat, he grabs me by the waist and pulls me close to sniff my neck. Repulsed, I reach to grip his hair and pull his head away. My fingertips meet his bald, smooth, head, and scratch him, instead.

He laughs, but quickly sobers when an unrelenting boom fills the corridor.

I look back, and find Vadnar hauling himself at the cells, shaking the foundation until dust rains from above and the stone threatens to collapse on us all. It’s… disturbing, watching him self-maim in desperation to reach me.

Hull releases me and steps away. “Alright,” he tells Vadnar, looking unsettled. “I won’t touch the rotten female. Stop your madness.”

“Stop!” the ringmaster panics, like he can’t stand the sight of him getting hurt. “I’ll bring her back.” He opens Hull’s cell and pulls me out. “Stand back, and don’t try to escape or the guards will hurt the girl first.”

Vadnar presses his back against the wall, his eyes narrowed on me.

The ringleader hurries to open the door and get me inside. “You’re fighting in the arena today. If you don’t want to enter the Enraged state, fine. I hope you enjoy being ripped apart by your opponent.” With that, he walks away.

“Vadnar,” I cup his face, and his arms come around me. “You need to stop hurting yourself!”

“That’s the only rotten way they’ll do as I ask. They don’t want their ‘merchandise’ getting damaged.” He spits the word, hating it.

I press my forehead against his chest. “You need to enter the Enraged state,” I breathe shakily. “Please. You can’t fight the other master like this. I will… I will be okay.” I take one of his hands, and bring it to my breast.

His fingers curl, squeezing gently. Then he leans in, and I shut my eyes tightly.

“I don’t need the enraged state to best any male. Master or not, I will defeat him.”

He’s doing this for me. He doesn’t want me to be forced into sex, but I’ve made up my mind. I will protect him. Sheathe him deep inside me to unleash his potential.

A/N: SMUT NEXT CHAPTER!!! He’s going to enter that enraged state, after all

READ PART 11 >

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