To Tame An Angel: A Femdom Fantasy Romance

CHAPTER TWENTY

NALLA

The hours felt like a blur, and I lost track of them. We fucked, we slept, we ate. At one point, we even laughed. We lived in a world of lingering, of perusing one another while discovering our body’s soft spots. When I woke from our fifth nap, Tannor’s head was on my stomach and his muscled arms gripped my hips as he snored on my belly. I found myself caressing his hair and admiring the rise of his ass. But the longer the bliss continued, the more my thoughts soured. Time passed too quickly, too swiftly, and soon we wouldn’t be able to hide in rooms. As all women, I would be required to report to court and take my first assignment, likely under my mother.

From that moment on, the nights I’d be able to spend with Tannor would be limited. Most women didn’t seem to mind, for they enjoyed the war parades and expeditions to the south, ensuring our borders were safe. But none had dared attack our lands in over a century. All I cared about was my sisters and the man resting on top of me. The thought of mother wanting to hurt, kill, and torture him haunted me. Overwhelmed by fear, I was plagued by the fear that I was incapable of keeping him safe, and my relentless pursuit of something tangible would only bring him misery. Would it have been better if I’d simply broken him from the beginning? Or even allowed him to fall to his death on that cliff?

Manifesting my festering thoughts, the door to our room was thrown open and Tannor was instantly on his feet, crouching before me on the defense. A blade was already in my hand as I stared transfixed when my mother walked in. The blood drained from my face, and my skin went cold and clammy. Her eyes were sharp, like a nestled eagle studying the prey below.

She regarded Tannor with little amusement and a snarled lip. This went against our entire agreement. I still had two more days. Tannor slowly stood and took a step back, but still clearly protecting me. Mother didn’t move. She simply stared at us with a displeased gaze.

“Get dressed and leave him chained,” she instructed and pivoted on her heels. Her black cape fluttered behind her as she closed the door with a resounding thud.

My heart was in my ears and my breath turned panicked. Tannor was pale himself, still attempting to understand the severity of the situation.

“Brand me now. Do it quickly,” he said, taking my shoulders.

“No. This won’t be how I’ll do it,” I said and pulled back, but captured his face with my hands, attempting reassurance.

“You should’ve branded me already,” he said, his jaw tight, so tight it might crack.

I said nothing and tossed a dress over my head, clasping it at the shoulder with trembling fingers. In my head, I prepared myself for the nightmare I was about to encounter. The questions I would have to answer and the verbal gymnastics I’d have to perform to keep my mother and her power at bay. She would break me if she had to, if she thought it would save me. She would break Tannor, and I wasn’t ready to digest those implications. I needed to ensure his safety, no matter what. The moment I left that door, I was a warrior of Actasia and Tannor was mine.

Tannor saw the change in my demeanor. I pointed to the chains we’d not used since the first night I captured him and dragged him back. His face slacked and his eyes darkened. This was not play, he knew that. There was nothing sexual about it. Chaining him now would show his rank as my slave, but there was no getting around that.

“No,” he stepped back, a flush covered his cheeks.

We stared at one another. It was a battle; one he knew he wouldn’t be able to win. One I don’t wish to have.

“Tannor—”

“And that’s how it’ll be, won’t it?” he snapped, turning and grasping the chain, making it rattle loudly in the room. He dragged the long metal to me and pushed it into my hands with a hard gaze. “Go ahead,” his words were clipped. “Chain me like the dog I am.”

I yanked the chain and opened the cuff, clasping it around his wrist. I heard him swallow and my fingers lingered on his skin, looking up at him. His eyes were downcast, and I paused.

“She won’t kill me,” I said with urgency. “She’ll kill you.”

“But she’ll hurt you and I’ll not be able to do much chained like this,” he snarled and lifted his chained hand.

With a sad smile, I closed the other cuff over his remaining hand. “You think I can’t handle it? Give me credit, my angel. I wouldn’t have hunted you through a dark forest for nearly two days if I wasn’t resilient. I’ve been trained since childhood.”

The chains looked and felt wrong on him. He didn’t even fight me; he seemed to sink down when I clasped the link around the pillar. I looked back at him, standing chained and worried. Almost dejected. I wanted to tell him all would be well, but I was admittedly uncertain. Thinking that they would come for him while I was gone, I pulled the key from my drawer. I tossed it to him, and he caught it. He stared at his hand and then back at me.

“Put it in your mouth. If they come for you while I’m gone, leave. Don’t look back,” I said. My words trembled at the thought of never seeing him again.

We gazed at one another, and he took a step toward me.

“I don’t wish to leave without you.” His words were low, raw, and real.

I didn’t answer him because I was petrified of my answer. Of what it would mean. Of the sudden pain deep in my heart at the thought of returning to my room and finding him gone. To spend the rest of my life wondering if he escaped and if he was happy. If he’d learned to love another not bound by family obligations and a corroded society.

Clutching all of my words at my throat, I turned from him, effectively giving him my answer.

My mother lingered in the stables. She inspected my horses as four of her angel-men stood in the distance, armed and staring at me with dead eyes. One of them I helped train myself. He’d been nothing more than practice.

“I have two more days,” I said as I walked to her. My stride was as strong as I could manage.

She didn’t deign me with a response. Instead, she caressed the neck of the mare, taking time to form an opinion on the animal. The silent minutes were long, and I felt sweat pool at my spine. I wouldn’t balk.

“Mother,” I tried again. “I have two more days.”

“To do what, child?” she asked. Her voice was deceptively even.

“I’m not a child,” I snapped.

This made her turn her head. Her eyes were cool and detached, her demeanor mechanic. She moved towards me, and it took everything in me not to balk, not to cast my eyes to the ground. I was a woman now and I wouldn’t cower before my own mother. When she stood before me, so close I could see the fine lines spreading from her lips, she smacked me.

The sound resounded in the empty stables and all I could hear were the neighing horses, startled by the slap. To my credit, I didn’t fall. I clutched my cheek, cupping the pain and seething as I breathed through my nose. A burning, violent fury nearly made me hit her back. I met her eyes, those cold detached orbs that held no pity. Not even for her own children.

“You think that because you’ve gotten a cock in you that you’re grown?” Her tone was low and deadly. “You think that man up there is not willing to whisper sweet words to you, making you believe he cares? Just so that you’d loosen his reins, drop your guard, and strangle you in your sleep?”

The words of denial were thick in my throat, and I had to hold myself back from denying her. A childlike need within rises, a justification, an explanation. I held it in. She’d just use it against me. Against Tannor.

“My daughter,” she took a sharp breath. “Is not a cunt to be fucked.”

She gripped my chin, pulling me in as I struggled against her. I felt her magic sparkling from her fingers. I feel the electricity she used when we were children to put us in our place.

“I did not risk everything for you to fall for some blue eyes and a thick cock,” she hissed. “You want two days? You’ll get two days, I’m good at my word. We shall see how good you are with yours. If I must kill him to show you what life is truly about, I will. And you may hate me, but I’ll ensure you live. Because you may not believe it, but I loved you from the moment I knew you were in me, and I’ll not witness your death. I cannot take it. You hear me?”

She let go of me and I stumbled back, shocked at her treatment. She’d never behaved as such, and I felt my body trembling violently. The fear was mingled with such anger I could scarcely think.

Slowly, she slid on her gloves even as the magic still sparkled from her fingers. She was angry, so angry, but it was hard to know. Not a hair was out of place.

“I shall return to inspect him in two days with the queen’s guards. If he’s not tamed and branded, you can bid your lover goodbye.” She paused and into her eyes came a gentleness, but it felt wrong on her. Like a piece of clothing rarely worn. “What I do is to save you, Nalla. Everything I do is for my children. Everything. For every one of you. And if you think I’ve not been in your same position, then you’re wrong.”

I felt a thickness like tears well up in my throat and all I wished to do was destroy the stables with my own hands until I was nothing but an exhausted girl on the ground.

Mother’s green eyes lingered on me and her mouth slightly parted. “You bear a striking resemblance to your father. Did you know that?”

Her voice was faint, like a brushstroke that ran out of paint. Then she turned on her heels, snapping her fingers to her men, and stormed out of the stables.

I was left without breath or strength. I couldn’t even move. The day felt normal. Balmy air filled with the smell of the horses’ feces and the sounds of chirping birds. The world continued, and I was left at a standstill. The desire to retreat upstairs and seek refuge in the room, embracing Tannor and letting everything else fade away, is strong. I couldn’t do this. I couldn’t be brutal for the sake of being brutal. It gave me no pleasure.

All I could think was Tannor was right. We needed to leave. But mother… she would find us. To the ends of the world. She would only stop searching if I was dead.

We would know no peace. No respite.

Mother left behind a battalion of two dozen of her soldiers. They littered the ground of my home, making it impossible for me to leave without me being stopped. I realized I was just as much of a prisoner as Tannor was.

The only reason I didn’t stay away from Tannor longer was because he awaited me. Chained. When I stopped my trembling, I made it back to him. He sat on the bed and was instantly at his feet; the chains rattling loudly.

His eyes were wide and concerned. “Nalla—”

“I’m fine,” I said quickly and walked to him, holding out my hand for the key.

He removed it from his mouth and handed it to me, watching me as I unlocked the chains. The moment he was freed, his hands were on my shoulders, and I sighed into him. I clasped his waist, feeling an overwhelming sensation of dread.

“What happened?” he asked into my hair.

I closed my eyes and willed myself to forget. But time was already passing, and the day was already ending.

“We’re going to have to work hard to convince her and the queen’s guards,” I murmured.

He pulled back and stared at my face, his eyes going to the bruise which was surely forming on my cheek. His eyes darkened and his lips snarled in anger.

“Did she hit you?” His voice is low.

I laughed a little. It lacked all humor as I shook my head. “Who else? She’s the only one allowed to.”

His face seemed like a stony reflection of a human. “Because of me.”

“No,” I said with a tight smile. “Because of me. Because I’m not cruel like she wants me to be. Because I’m not willing to break you, like she taught me. Because she’s afraid, afraid of what it’ll mean for me once word gets out.”

He cupped my face, gently kissing my cheek. “Then we leave tonight.”

It was a lovely dream, etched in idealism. Trapped here as I’ve kept him, he didn’t know the changes outside. He didn’t know how I too am trapped. I too await when the knell rings.

He studied my reaction, my hesitation. It was all there for him to see. I had no strength to hide it, to showcase resilience when I felt so defeated.

“You won’t come,” he surmised.

“Mother left a small battalion in my home. To monitor us–to monitor me–until she returns in two days.” I was surprised by the evenness in my voice. “If we’re to escape, it will have to be after the inspection. We just have to convince them.”

Despite my words, I didn’t believe we could do this. I’ve not broken him. On the contrary, all of my tactics have bloomed a stronger man. One who doesn’t mind submitting to me–right down enjoys it–but would battle anyone else. One who’d become protective of me and that would quickly be seen as a fault. I supposed that’s what love was. Strengthening and not defeating. But we weren’t allowed to love because it would give strength to our men. They would become overprotective of their families and the slope would slip into the chaotic past.

He grasped my arms and pulled me to him. “Brand me.”

I was startled as I stared up at him. His face is open, honest, and determined.

“No.” I tried to pull back, but his grip was tight.

“I want you to,” he said.

“No, you don’t,” I insisted and yanked myself out of his embrace.

His arms quickly took me once more and held my face in his hands. “I want you to. Not for your mother or the queen’s soldiers or anything other than because I wish to belong to you. For that reason alone.”

My mouth dried as I studied his sincerity and unwavering decision. “Why do you wish to belong to me?”

His eyes softened, and he tenderly curled his finger over the hair falling over my face. He smiled a little, and it was one of his few genuine smiles. It warmed my heart and belly, and I became desperate to hear words I’d never heard before.

“Because you’ve become my home.” His voice was low and open, as if he didn’t dare say the words.

Without thinking, I kissed him and drowned in his taste. He pulled me in as if I could truly become his home in the flesh. The kiss became passionate, and I felt him growing against my stomach.

“Nalla,” he whispered against my mouth.

“Get on the bed,” I blurted, before his cock distracted me.

He inhaled sharply, still staring at me, with his forehead pressed against mine.

“It’ll be quick. I’ll never leave your side,” I assured him, cupping his face.

The brand was ready, and I was careful with the items when I brought them to Tannor. He sat hesitantly on the bed, observing me. I pushed back his hair, kissing his face and reaching between his legs to rake my nails over his cock and balls. He grunted and thrust himself into my hand.

“You’re certain?” I asked him.

His hands slid up my body as his eyes locked on the brand. He turned to me and nods. “Do it.”

I helped him get on his hands and knees and took a moment to admire his physique. The muscled thickness of him. Keeling behind him, I ran my palms over his body, pressing against his thighs. He was quivering slightly, and I kissed his lower back.

He did this to survive. But also, he did it for me. To belong to me. Once this was done, no one else could have him. They would have to wrench him from my hands. His willingness to do this and the progress we made from the moment he struggled against his binds while I tried to heal his feet overwhelmed me.

I studied his face and closed eyes. “I love you, Tannor. Now you’re truly mine.”

He sighed and looked at me. “You don’t have to say that simply because—”

“I say it because it’s true,” I said.

His blue eyes widened and filled with many questions, likely more questions than I had answers to. I enjoyed the way he didn’t shy away from meeting my gaze. He was braver than I could’ve ever imagined, and it heightened my lust mingled with love.

“Then I’m truly yours,” he finally said.

His words warmed me, and I kissed him once more, treasuring each bit of his skin, the same skin he gave over to me now.

I reached between his legs and played with his cock until he was grunting and seeking more. When I felt he was truly hard and desperate to come, I took the disinfectant pomade and choose a spot on his ass. The left one for it was my favorite. I nuzzled and kissed it.

“Right here,” I said.

He sighed as I cleansed the area, watching his skin prickle. I had to be quick; it wasn’t meant to torture him. I grasped the red-hot brand by the handle and took a deep breath. Now I was nervous. What if I hurt him more than I was supposed to?

“Nalla,” he said, with a tinge of desperation.

I ran my other hand over his thigh, gentle strokes to offer comfort. “Tell me when.”

He took a deep breath, and finally he hung his head between his shoulders.

“Do it.”

I didn’t wait. With purpose, I brought the brand to his skin and in one motion, I pressed it against the chosen spot. Immediately, he gasped and arched his back. I used my magic to hold him in place and it sucked the strength from me as he strained, but I held on. If Tannor could do it, so could I.

I counted to three as his gasp morphed into a yell. Seeing him like this, I began to cry because it was beyond anything I’d caused him yet.

“I’m sorry,” I whimpered and pulled back the brand.

The room was enveloped in smoke, and I could smell Tannor’s burned flesh. I threw the brand on the stone floor and quickly released him from the magic hold. He collapsed on the bed, twisting his body, desperate to find a reprieve from the burning.

Sitting down next to him, I pulled his head over my legs. His teeth were clenched, and his eyes were shut. I kissed his head as he grasped my legs. Desperate to distract him, I turned him to his side so that the brand would heal.

Sliding down, I captured his cock in my mouth. He gasped and his hands fisted my hair. I pulled back, and I found him taking sharp breaths as he looked down at me. My thumb circled the head of his cock and he let out a small guttural cry.

I hooked my arm over his leg and once more sucked his cock. The act was intimate and desperate. He gasped when I scraped my teeth over the underside of his member as he twitched and furiously grasped my hair. I didn’t relent, tasting the slick weeping of his cock. When he grew close to release, I pulled back and looked up at him.

Mouth open, he stared at my wet lips, his eyes nearly black with desire.

“Come in my mouth, Tannor. Let me eat you up,” I said huskily as I took him back inside.

He was incoherent as he spurted inside of me, his cum coating my mouth and throat as I desperately tried to swallow and hold him in place, so I didn’t choke. His cock slowly deflated, and I pulled back to stare at it. I found I loved it as much as I adored the man who carried it. I kissed, licked, and took my time lavishing him with worship, caresses, and nuzzles.

When I finished and looked up, he was looking at me with a lopsided smile.

I rubbed his leg, keeping him on his side as I returned his smile. I realized my face was wet with cum and sweat.

“You did so well, my angel. I’m so proud. You’re the strongest person I know.” I kissed his pelvic area. “Rest now. I’ll make sure you heal properly.”

“Nalla,” he whispered and pulled me up.

I crawled up, and he relaxed into my touch as I caressed his face and neck, peppering him with kisses.

He closed his eyes and whispered, “I think I fucking love you.”

I watched him drift to sleep, stunned by his words. Allowing myself a few moments of delight, I kissed his cheek and said his name. He mumbled in his sleep, and it was the loveliest sound I’d heard. When he was fully asleep, I turned to his brand.

There was a sense of pride at the sight of it. It was a clean mark, with raw pink edges and my initials are now permanently on him.

He was mine.

No other one could have him. After I slathered the healing ointment, I cuddled myself into his arms and he buried his face in my hair.

It was only then that fear coiled itself into my belly.