Feral Darlings

Chapter Five

Paloma

I hate myself for how quickly I ’ ve let him overcome me, but that is how it ’ s always been between us. From the moment I met Emris, he had complete control over me. It was a miracle that I could see sense long enough to turn him into his clan all those years ago. And if I ’ m being honest with myself, I knew that he would eventually make it back to me. I knew that they wouldn ’ t end his life or keep him locked up until the end of time. It would just be a punishment, keeping him away long enough to come back, crawling on his knees and starving for me.

He swings me out of my little cocoon, my silken robe falling open to expose my entire body to those around us. I ’ m not embarrassed or ashamed—almost everyone here has seen me naked. It ’ s a brothel, after all. But my stomach rolls with anxiety, knowing that this time will be different because my husband is up to something. Part of me worries he ’ s about to go on a killing rampage, razing the entire place to the ground while I struggle to fight back from under the hazy cocktail of feeding, orgasms, and drugs.

He walks to the raised circular platform at the back of the room. It ’ s covered in lush carpet, and as he sets me on my feet, my toes curl into the softness. I watch him warily as he looks around for a moment, formulating whatever plan he has in mind. And then he ’ s off, stalking toward the deep green Chesterfield sofa against the far wall. He lifts it, finally grabbing the attention of the room as he makes his way through the throng of bodies with a whole piece of furniture above his head, a grin breaking out across his beautiful face as he spins it once and then plants it down behind me.

“ There is no need for theatrics, Emris,” I groan, my patience for him wearing thin. I glance out at the vampires and humans who are now staring at me, and I tie my robe back together under their watchful eyes. “ You ’ ve interrupted their fun,” I say, gesturing out to them. “ They ’ re paying customers. We can surely discuss our issues in private.”

“ Oh, my sweet little dove,” he murmurs, walking around the sofa to stand beside me. “ I am going to make sure they get their money ’ s worth. Trust me.” He winks and then turns toward the room with a flourish. He has always loved an audience.

“ Hello, patrons and esteemed workers of Revelry,” he says, his voice booming through the room, putting a slow halt to the moans and whispers. “ I fear that sweet little Paloma has neglected to inform you all that she has a husband.” He takes a quick bow, and I can feel the tension in the air thicken.

I watch them all glance at each other, some of the vampires whispering low enough that the humans won ’ t be able to hear. But I can. I can hear the shock—the judgment. As if I should have been celibate this entire time just because my husband was being rightfully punished for something strictly against his clan's rules.

“ Maybe give them the full story,” I say loud enough for my trusted workers to hear. I refuse to let him tempt them into thinking I ’ m the one in the wrong here. Emris looks back at me, and I can tell he wants to play. He still thinks I ’ m the timid little wife he left behind. But a century changes someone, and I ’ m ready to bite back. I answer his smile with my own. “ You changed me against my will, husband.”

There are a few short gasps in the crowd, but they all come from my people. The vampires in the room are unfazed, as Emris ’ clan is one of the very few who respect humans as those with free will. Others couldn ’ t care less. So, to hear that I was taken from my family and changed doesn ’ t faze them. They ’ re probably wondering why Emris is even letting me speak on the subject to begin with.

Emris narrows his eyes, and I know I ’ ve touched a nerve. I can feel his anger—his darkness—seep out of him. He ’ s old, very old, which means he probably has more strength and power than anyone in this brothel. It crawls out of him like smoke across the carpet, and I can feel it as if it ’ s a caress against my bare skin. I know what this means. He ’ s used it on me before, only briefly, but the hair on the back of my neck stands on its end, the fear seeping into my bones as my sense of self sinks further and further to the back of my mind. I lose all feeling, all free will, as Emris takes control of my very self.

“ Strip.”

His mouth doesn ’ t move. He ’ s speaking from inside of me, forcing my brain and body to succumb to his will. I do as he says, even while the small part of me that ’ s still present riots in my skull. My fingers untie the loose knot at my waist, and the robe falls open. I ’ m naked, bare again to everyone in the room, as the silky fabric rolls off my shoulders and onto the floor at my feet.

Emris ’ eyes eat me up from my toes to the top of my head. And I stand there, an unwilling soldier waiting for my next command. I watch as he moves his attention back to the people in the room, his power morphing and stretching out to them as he seizes their minds as well. It ’ s dizzying, feeling his full potential again for the first time in so long. It should terrify me. But my body betrays me, and I can feel the wetness between my thighs as he shows his dominance.

This time, his mouth moves with a command as he looks out at our entranced audience. “ Kneel.”

Instantly, everyone drops to their knees, their eyes almost shocked that they ’ ve obeyed. A deep chuckle comes from my husband as he rolls and cracks his neck.

“ Now, my precious wife,” he says as he turns his gaze back onto my naked form. He unbuttons his coat, shucking it off and tossing it on the arm of the Chesterfield. Then comes his vest, then his shirt. It ’ s a slow tease, and my thighs clench involuntarily when the expanse of his chest comes into view. He still looks just as good as he did all those years ago when I first saw him like this. “ It ’ s time I stake my claim and show these fools who you truly belong to.”