Chapter 8
My body has forsaken me. As I stand here shivering in the snow, my lips swollen, my nipples raw, all I can think about is what torment awaits me next.
This monster before me is as stunning as he is brutal. I can’t tear my eyes away from his face. And the memory of his cock on my tongue does things to my body that I didn’t know could be done. It was suffocating at first, vile even. But then it sparked a fire in me. A need to feast on his flesh.
Famine’s gaze travels down the length of my body, his lip snarling while his eyes remain amused. He looks at me like I’m a toy to be played with. Without warning, he swoops me into his arms and places me on the saddle.
He mounts the horse and nestles in behind me. “The journey won’t be too long, but I’ll need to occupy myself along the way.”
I shudder as his ice-cold fingers settle onto my hips. “Can you not spare me a coat?”
He chuckles softly in my ear. “You won’t be cold for much longer.”
“What do you—” I gasp as he slides his fingers down my slit. I buck against him at the intrusion.
“I’m going to play with your pretty pussy the whole way there. Death will want you raw and ready for him,” he rasps.
He flicks the reins with his free hand, and the horse takes off into a trot through the forest. The more I bounce against the leather saddle, the deeper Famine’s finger finds its way inside my tender flesh.
I whimper but bite back a moan. “Have you no decency?”
He slides a second finger inside. “None whatsoever.”
I lean forward, shocked by the pleasure building in my core. His cock hardens against my bare ass as he hums to himself.
His thrusting slops my juices all over the saddle. I feel my cheeks flushing, the temperature in my body rising. The icy wind is a respite and not a hindrance as I first feared. I hate him for being right.
He grinds his cock against me, a low growl escaping past his lips. “We’re turning you into a proper whore now, little doe.”
I clench my thighs to the saddle and cry out. “Please… this is agony.”
Famine laughs as he urges the horse into a gallop. Its hooves pound hard against the ground as it races through the trees. The scenery we pass becomes a blur as the wind violently whips through my hair. He adds a third finger and presses a spot deep inside me.
I arch my back, tossing my head against his shoulder, my moans drowning inside the howl of the wind.
He flicks harder, growling like a wild animal behind me. “I can’t wait until your cunt bleeds for me.”
The path is rocky and jagged, causing us to bounce wildly. And his fingers are as rough as the terrain. “I can’t take much more… please. I need to…”
He grabs the back of my neck and squeezes. “What do you need? Say it.”
I bite back another moan as he stretches his fingers, opening me up wider. “Please…”
Famine grabs the reins and wraps them around my neck, pulling them tight. “Say. It.”
As the tears spill down my cheeks, I know that I must surrender. It’s the only way I’ll survive this.
I jerk my hips forward and rub my pussy against his cold hand. “I need release,” I admit.
He pulls on the reins, yanking my head back against his chest. “Now you’re learning how to behave. That pleases me.”
I gasp as he presses his frozen thumb against my nub and rubs in circles. His other four fingers work their way back inside. A shuddering moan leaves my throat raw. It’s a feral noise that startles both of us.
I’m so swept up in what he’s doing to me that I don’t immediately notice we aren’t in the forest anymore.
We’re winding up and around a steep path on the side of the mountain.
Devil’s Mountain to be exact. It is forbidden for any mortal to enter.
Legend has it that one would burst into flames the second they reached the top.
I latch onto his wrist. “Wait. You cannot take me there. Please. I’ll die.”
I can feel him smirk against my cheek when he presses his lips to my jaw. “You put too much faith in your false prophets. The only ones who die up here are the ones we kill. But you…” He cups my breasts with one hand while fucking my pussy with the other. “We have other plans for you, wildling.”
The black rocks stick out of the mountain like swords waiting to impale anyone who missteps. I close my eyes and take a deep breath. But fear will have to wait because the crescendo of sensations building in my core is clouding all reason and logic.
I scream as he flicks a spot that sends me into a tailspin. I clench my pussy around his fingers as my release soaks him. And something feral awakens in me.
He lets go of my breast so he can grab the reins again. He pulls them tight around my neck while I buck and writhe on his hand. I’m needy for more, desperate to draw out every spasm. “Fucking… gods.”
“Mmm, let’s see how hard you cum when I cut off the air to your lungs.”
Stars dot my vision before it darkens. I gasp for breath but cannot feed any into my lungs. Panic grips me. I flail my arms back in an attempt to stop him from choking me. But in my futile attempts, another deep spasm rolls through me.
My whole body shudders as I drench his fingers in my cum. I’m falling deeper into the darkness, twisting and contorting as he violates me. Until I cannot catch even a sliver of a breath. I slump back and surrender to it, accepting my death.
“Oh no, little doe. You’re not going anywhere,” he whispers as he unwinds the reins from around my neck.
A sharp burst of air floods my lungs, burning my throat. I choke and cough, my chest heaving. “You could’ve killed me.”
Famine strokes my thigh with one hand but doesn’t remove his fingers from my pussy. “I can always kill you. Don’t ever forget that.”
The rest of the ride up the mountain is quiet except for the sounds of wolves howling in the caves.
I glimpse their glowing eyes watching us every step of the way.
Famine keeps his word and threads his fingers through my wet folds the entire journey.
I squirm as a barrage of sensations toys with me.
All he does is laugh like I’m the most amusing thing he’s ever seen.
I believe he lives to torment me, teasing me and taunting me with his wickedness.
And I become needier, hungrier, for his touch.
In all of my youth, I never imagined being with a man like this.
I never even let myself fantasize after Papa first told me of my fate.
I was only a child, barely ten years old, when he sat me down and told me of the great sacrifice I was destined to make. When I was robbed of my choices and my freedom. I became a cold shell then. Never seeking pleasure or adventure. I stuck to my chores and kept my head down.
My sister Lucy was my only joy. The only one I attempted to have fun with. But that was more for her sake than mine. I was determined to ensure she had a happy childhood. And I vowed to never let her fall victim to the fate laid out for me.
If any of the boys in the village found me attractive, I’ll never know. Why entertain a chance of love, or even lust, when I knew it was only temporary? But now… my body is on fire and alive with a carnal thirst that is nowhere near being quenched.
“You’re doing it again,” Famine growls in my ear.
I shift back against his chest, silently praying for him to move his fingers. He’s kept them still inside me for the past hour. “I am not doing anything but obeying your commands.”
He sucks on my earlobe, drawing yet another new sensation out of me. “You’re dwelling on the past. Your previous life is over. Gone. This right here is all you need to focus on. That is my command.”
I sigh and nod. “As you wish.”
When we finally reach the top of the mountain, the terrain flattens out.
There’s a shadowy tree line that runs along a calm stream.
The air is colder, crisp, and biting. And yet it’s so clean.
I inhale a deep gulp of it, relishing the way it soothes my throat.
Maybe it’s the height of the mountain or the euphoric residue of my release.
Or maybe it’s because this is their land up here.
The land of the Four Horsemen in all its glory and monstrosity.
My mouth gapes when I spot their castle. It’s made of stone and glass with great iron spires that stretch up so high, it seems to go beyond the sky. We gallop across the cobblestone path, riding for miles before we reach the entrance.
My head spins as I look up at it. “I’ve never seen a castle so enormous.”
Famine slides off the back of the horse. Once he’s firmly on the ground, he pulls me down. “There are also dungeons underneath. They reach far below the ground.”
A shiver snakes up my spine. Dungeons? I hope that isn’t where they plan to keep me. I cross my arms over my chest, stroking the goose bumps that have spread across my skin. “Are the others here?”
Famine nods as he ties the rope around my neck. “Get back on your hands and knees, pet.”
My stomach knots. “Again? Haven’t you degraded me enough?”
His eyes darken right before he kicks my legs out from under me. All the breath leaves my lungs as my back smacks against the cobblestones. He leans over me and snarls. “Ask me another stupid question and see what happens.”
My chest heaves as air slowly returns to my lungs. I tremble and shake while trying to turn over onto all fours. “Y-yes, sir.”
Another round of crude laughter erupts from his chest. “You will crawl because you are an animal. Our pet. We will feed you, bathe you, and fuck you whenever and however we see fit.”
I pinch my eyes shut as a dark fury builds in my chest. “Yes, my lord,” I grit out. This cannot be my life. As much as I crave these vile things, I know that I shouldn’t. That it is unholy.
He pats my head like a dog. “Good girl. Now, let’s go find the others. I’m sure they are eager to break you in.” He clicks his tongue the way he did to his horse and slaps my ass.
He pulls me by the rope, forcing me to crawl across the ground. My knees are raw from the jagged stones, but it also makes my pussy ache. I’m angry and aroused at the same time. Another new sensation for me.
Once we pass through the giant steel doors, he leads me into a great hall.
The walls are black, the chandeliers a cold metallic hue, matching the iron spires outside.
The floor is hard and unforgiving. He drags me to the middle of the room and yanks my shoulders back so I’m sitting back on my heels.
“Wait here. And do not move a muscle until Death commands you to.”
I cannot stop trembling. “You’re not staying?”
He gently tilts my chin up, forcing me to meet his sadistic gaze.
“Don’t fret. You will have me buried deep inside you later, sweet doe.
Right here…” He shoves a finger in my mouth and presses down on my tongue.
Then drags his finger down my chin, marking a trail with my own saliva, down my chest and belly, until he reaches my pussy. He pushes it inside. “And here.”
I bite my lip to stifle another moan as he pushes the tip of his finger inside my anus. “And here.”
This is so wrong. I shake my head. “No. It won’t fit. Please.”
He laughs. “It will once we’ve ripped you open.”
“How long must I wait here?” If Death is as cruel as Famine, I pray that he makes my torture swift.
“As long as he wishes.” Famine ties the free end of my rope to a steel ring that’s been forged into the floor. He tugs on it once more, making sure it’s secure. “So you won’t be tempted to run away. We can’t stop him from killing you if he catches your scent. Best to be a good little pet for him.”
My stomach churns, forcing bile up my throat.
My heart pounds as I listen to the sound of Famine’s boots clicking against the floor.
I flinch as the heavy steel doors slam shut behind him.
Alone for the first time in this castle of nightmares, I can only pray to the gods for mercy.
But I fear they’ve abandoned me after the things I’ve done.
A few minutes tick by when I hear the thud of boots from the opposite side of the room. A large figure emerges from the shadows. His eyes are as black as night. He studies me as if I truly am a wild animal that he needs to break in.
My breath hitches as he moves closer. The sides of his head are shaved and marked with ancient runic symbols.
A halo of black hair gathers on the top of his head in a knot.
When he steps under the candelabra, the light flickers over his bare chest, revealing more of those intricate designs and hard, chiseled muscles.
His shoulders are broad, his arms thick and shapely.
His black deerskin pants sit low on his hips, showing off the washboard pattern of his belly and a very distinct V shape of muscle that stretches past his belt.
Moisture gathers in my mouth and in between my thighs.
He’s breathtaking. Beautiful. But every inch of my body lurches back, reminding me he’s a predator.
A monster that doesn’t have a stitch of remorse or empathy.
I can see it in his cold, dead expression.
I am nothing but a piece of meat to him. A feast to consume any way he sees fit.
His upper lip twitches as it curls. He sniffs the air between us as he struts toward me like a lion about to pounce.
My heart pounds so fast I fear it might burst. I don’t dare speak or look away.
He has command over me without even uttering a word or raising a finger.
But the one thing I can’t control is the trembling.
Every muscle in my body twitches, begging me to get up and run.
Yet there is nowhere to run anymore. Nowhere to go.
And now I know by the way he looks at me, by the way he glides across the floor, that there is nothing more terrifying than Death in the flesh.