Defeated

ALASTAIR

~True love’s kiss? That’s just a fairy tale, my dear king...~

He’d made a fool of himself for her. And he’d do it again, if only it had worked. Hades doubted he could figure out what he needed to do to save her.

She was sinking deeper into the darkness every day. Soon, she’d push him away, too. She had no need for a king who could barely look at her.

“Don’t lose hope, my king,” Vidarr said, breaking the silence in the room. They’d retreated to their hidden lair in despair. The queen wanted Cathan’s head.

Though tempting, he was more of an ally to the king at the moment.

“Now that I’ve pissed off the queen, we need a new plan,” Cathan announced as though that wasn’t obvious to everyone in the room.

“She’s worse than I thought,” Olympia muttered, her hands clasped in her mate’s.

The king had been studying the couple since their journey began. He’d never met functional mates and their behavior puzzled him.

Neither of them had more power than the other in the relationship. Lochlan was hot-tempered, while Olympia was his calming force. They balanced each other perfectly.

Why had the king been paired with someone like Aurelia? He was a king: confident, dangerous, powerful. And he was paired with someone just as formidable.

He needed balance, too, someone submissive and quiet. That would be the perfect fit for both of them. But together, they were a ticking time bomb.

The king stormed out of the room, back into the castle like a bull charging through a tunnel.

Why did he feel this way? Why did he feel anything at all? It was crazy to think he wanted a little more excitement in his life just as she had wanted adventure. They both got more than they bargained for.

He didn’t hate her like he would have anyone else in her position. In fact, he still wanted her. The conflict was maddening.

Entering their chambers, he spotted the little queen by her dresser with Kenna brushing her hair.

“Out,” he growled. Instead of simply obeying, Kenna looked to her queen for instruction. That alone made him even angrier. Aurelia nodded her head and the maid left with a bow.

“Still mad, my king?” Aurelia teased as she approached him.

It was as though all his anger evaporated when he looked at her. She wore a sheer nightdress that left little to the imagination. The sight captivated him.

Her golden hair caressed her shoulder and hung beautifully down her back. Her sapphire eyes sparkled with desire and hunger.

A simple sway of her hips as she moved toward him had him entranced. She was mesmerizing.

Fae were known for their ethereal beauty while wolves had rougher, darker, rugged features. She embodied the true beauty of the fae.

Her fingers traced his cheek as her eyes met his in a heated stare.

“Forgive me, my king,” she whispered before his lips claimed hers.

His tongue invaded her mouth without warning, but a soft, sensual moan from the queen spurred him on.

He knew what he was doing, but he didn’t care in that moment what his mind was telling him. She was a master seductress, and he couldn’t resist her.

His hands found their way under her silky thighs, kneading her soft skin roughly. She ground against his hardness in need. He’d never seen her lust for him like this; it made him want her even more.

Throwing her onto the bed, he climbed on top of her and latched his mouth to her exposed shoulder. She squirmed beneath him in pure pleasure.

His claw glided down the valley of her breasts all the way to her stomach, ripping the thin fabric in one swift move.

He sucked on her breasts, his tongue darting in and out and swirling around her sensitive buds. Her eyes rolled back into her head, giving him complete control of her body.

She trusted that he knew how to pleasure her.

“Alastair...” she moaned, whimpering as his hand squeezed her neck in fervor. The pace of their intimacy quickened as he became more aggressive in his pursuit. “Please...”

He spread her legs forcefully. His pants had been tossed aside at some point, and his manhood was erect against his toned stomach.

She could barely breathe, but she was aroused by it. She watched him position himself before slamming into her like the beast he was.

Relentlessly pounding into her as if this was the last time he would ever get to. Her core was burning and raw, throbbing from his assault.

His fingers dug into her thigh as he held it firmly open, his grip stabilizing him and allowing him to move faster.

He pulled out of her and flipped her onto her knees. She had no time to catch her breath before his hand clutched back around her neck from behind, and he thrust inside of her.

She let out a passionate and pained scream as he did so. The line between pleasure and pain was so thin; she loved it. She didn’t need gentle—he wasn’t a gentle man. She just wanted him.

His other hand dug into her hip, occasionally giving her behind a spank. So many sensations at once had her reeling. He loved the power he had over her in that moment. He loved that she let him.

He loved... h—

“Alastair,” she breathed out in a strained voice, panting. He slammed into her harder at the sound of his name from her lips. It was rarely used.

The way she said it, he would be content if that was the only sound he could ever hear.

She clenched around him, her body spasmed as she reached her climax. Over and over again. He was never satisfied.

He held back his release to prolong it, for they knew afterward, everything was not as perfect as how they were now.

Her body was littered with red bruises from his rough touch, and her juices dripped down her thighs. The sound of their skin slapping against one another drove him even further.

Until he couldn’t hold back anymore, and he erupted inside of her.

He growled loudly, squeezing her neck and hip so tightly that her breathing hitched. She could no longer breathe, but the sounds he made were her oxygen.

They were both immortal. Nothing would ever happen to them. And with that knowledge, she relaxed in the lack of air.

The sudden loss of contact from her body made her whine a little. Her face fell onto the sheets, and she was desperately trying to find some oxygen.

She heard a rustle behind her and turned to see him pulling on his pants, not even bothering to look her way. He started for the door, then paused and turned back.

That’s when she noticed a single tear had trickled down her cheek. He studied it, then his gaze shifted to the dark bruises on her neck.

He figured that was the source of her pain. He’d been too rough. But he wasn’t the tender, gentle, soothing type she craved. He never would be. That’s why they were such a mismatch.

Without another word, he left.

Back at their secret hideout, the others were still deep in discussion, as if they had another move to make. All eyes turned to the king as he entered, and Cathan shot him a suspicious look.

“Where’ve you been?” he asked, a note of scorn in his voice. “She wants me dead, yet she sleeps with you. How am I more of an enemy than you?”

The others stared, their eyes widening as they realized where the king had been. The king responded to Cathan’s crude comment about his mate with a low growl.

It was jealousy, the king realized. Cathan was in love with his mate.

“Green doesn’t suit you,” he said, sinking into his chair. The silver-haired fae shot the king a narrow-eyed look but said nothing.

“I’d advise you to avoid... interactions with her until we’ve sorted this out,” he said, his voice bitter.

“So you have a plan?” the king retorted. Cathan gritted his teeth and rolled his eyes.

“Maybe you’ll be stuck here forever. We can all leave, but you’re the one being hunted. I’d suggest you focus on a plan instead of what I’m doing with the queen.”

The king’s tone was smug and arrogant, but inside, he was anything but. He couldn’t feel proud about giving in to his desire for her. As a king, he should have shown more restraint.

But she was so enticing, only a madman could resist.

When he’d entered their room, he hadn’t planned for it to happen. He’d wanted to punish her, to make her submit, to find a solution to his problem.

And she had submitted. She’d given him complete control. She’d enjoyed it.

Why had he done it? Why couldn’t he control himself? Why did he still crave her?

He’d almost figured it out before. It was because he loved her—

A knock at the door interrupted his thoughts, and the man who walked in was none other than Adalric.

“Adalric?” Vidarr said, drawing everyone’s attention. The fact that the man had found them in their secret meeting was alarming.

The high priest bowed and entered the room with confidence. Olympia and Lochlan looked out of place in a room full of powerful, dominant men.

But they sat quietly, watching the scene unfold.

“What’s the meaning of this?” the king demanded. He knew the high priests’ loyalties could be easily swayed, and the queen was now in power. Maybe they’d sided with her.

“I’m here to help you save the queen,” Adalric said.

“I spoke with her yesterday. She’s not the same woman I met at her coronation, and the visions we’ve had... they spell disaster for the kingdom.”

He looked genuinely horrified as he recalled what he’d seen.

“How can you help?” Vidarr asked.

“There’s only one way to save her. The first vision I had of her and the king’s fate showed two possible paths.

“Certain events set her on one. She’s on the destructive path now, powerful, ruthless, and tyrannical. She reached a crossroads at one point and chose that path. Her fate is sealed.”

“That was helpful. Thanks,” Cathan said sarcastically.

“I would’ve thought the only fae in the room would’ve figured it out,” Adalric shot back, giving him a pointed look. “A spell that can change fate... destiny.”

Cathan scoffed and shook his head.

“The destiny spell.”