“Syn,” I whispered back, not daring to move from the gentle embrace I was wrapped into against his hard body.
“We will sin, of that I assure you. When I am done with you, you will want no other man. That much I promise you.”
“What is it you want from me exactly, besides someone to warm your bed?” I asked, unable to stop the words from coming out.
“This,” he said, and once again I couldn’t breathe, couldn’t think past the need for air. He’d taken it all from me, and my lungs burned with fire. I turned my wide eyes to his and watched as he licked his lips. I moved without hesitation. I kissed him, picturing Ryder as I did so. Would he hate me when I submitted to the Horde King? Would he even want me after I’d lain with the King? There was no way I would be able to get away from him; not before he took me, anyway.
I wasn’t an idiot. I knew this beautiful creature planned to take me to his bed tonight. I could feel the anticipation in his touch, in his kiss. He liked playing God, and right now, he was. He was giving me air with his kiss, and I wasn’t going to be an idiot and suffocate. If I planned to live, I would need to play by this man’s rules—for now.
When he finally broke the kiss and pulled away from me, a look passed between us. I got it, he was in control, and if I wanted to make it through this unscathed, I was going to have to give him what he wanted.
“Are you mine, Sorcha, and only mine?” he asked quietly as his hand cupped my chin.
“I am yours in body, but my soul will never be yours,” I answered honestly.
His liquid black eyes searched my face for something, and must have decided against demanding more at this moment, because his wings parted and the brightness of the room blinded me briefly. He continued to watch me before he shouted an order.
“Bring the chains for the Princess,” he said to his guards, who were covered from head to toe in a type of form fitting black armor that was light-weight, but looked strong enough to be effective. They all wore black cloaks over the armor and their eyes were the only visible sign that there was a sentient being behind the mask of the helmet. The first male stepped up and took my hands to slip thin silver cuffs onto each wrist, while the other slipped a delicate silver chain that looked as if it would be easily broken, through the catch of one cuff, and then the other. When he was done, I tested them and was shocked at how strong they seemed.
Well shit, it wasn’t looking like I would be getting away from the King unscathed, or without chains. I inhaled slowly and then let it out even slower. My heart was thundering with what was happening. It really was looking like I was on my own now.
The Horde shouted with cheers when their king was handed the length of chain that connected to the cuffs on my wrists. I turned a panicked look at Adam, and blinked as he disappeared from sight, only to appear in front of me as he pushed me back and away from the Horde King.
He moved so quickly that I was having a hard time keeping my eyes on him. It took me a few minutes to figure out that he was trying to sift me away from the Horde King. He was shouting, and I couldn’t quite make out what he was saying as he repeatedly disappeared, only to reappear and try again.
“Adam!” I shouted as the Horde King moved to attack him. He would be killed!
“I can’t let this happen to you, Syn!” Adam shouted as he gave up trying to sift me out and shielded my body with his own. I watched in horror as the deadly wing of the Horde King took aim, and moved with dire intent toward Adam’s heart. Adam was immortal, but as I had seen with Liam, the Horde King could do things that other Fae couldn’t.
“No!” I cried, allowing the King to hear the terrified plea that filled my voice.
The entire room was silent, as if someone had flipped a switch, and turned all the sound off. The only sound was the beating of my heart as it shattered for Adam, and what he’d just tried to do. I stood behind him with my eyes closed as I listened to the steady drumbeat of my heart that was pounding in my ears.
“Boy,” the Horde King snarled, which forced me to open my eyes. He held Adam by his dark colored shirt, his spiked wing inches from my best friend’s heart. “Kier, I suggest you take your son home, and teach him the ways of our people. Explain to him the exact details of our alliance. It might allow him to make better choices in the future.”
“As you wish,” Kier said grimly, grasping on to Adam as the Horde King shoved him away. I watched in silence as Adam turned a look of panic in my direction.
“Go; I’ll be okay,” I told him, and blinked back tears as Kier tightened his grip on Adam and sifted them both out of the room.
Chapter Two
I shivered, as the Horde King’s guards took up positions around me in case anyone else tried to save me. My hands were bound by magical chains. The tingle of the spell that they had been enchanted with was palpable against my flesh.