Enough
CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR
“Vessel!” Cassiel roared, the resounding echo pounding against my ears.
“Go, I will stop him.”
Egan had turned multiple shades paler.
“Step. Away. Vessel.” Cassiel’s hiss sent chills up my spine.
With a final insistent look at Egan, I collected the long skirt of the scarlet dress and whirled. I kept my chin up. He slowed, eyebrows furrowed, as I bolted toward him. It took him only a moment to snap back to the present. His upper lip curled high again to display his lethal fangs.
I collided with him, hoping with all my will that Egan had left.
“I have warned you once before.” His head cocked. “Any who touch you will forfeit their lives.” He leveled a cold glare at me. No, I could not allow him to make me cower.
I gripped the lapels of his black velvet coat with my fists.
“Enough, Cassiel!”
There was only stillness and ringing silence.
I clenched my fingers harder into his coat. I refused to cower.
He grabbed my jaw in a harsh grip.
“You belong to me, mortal.” His sweet breath wafted against my senses, intoxicating me. He straightened, towering as he studied me in silence.
Anger flared, and I shoved his immovable chest.
“No, my body will be.” I lied through my teeth. “But not me. Never me.”
“You dare?”
His unreadable features remained harsh as he unwound his belt with quick jerks, the straps smacking against each other.
Every one of his movements was a threat.
I lunged to one side, but he was there to block me.
I was no match for his speed. Digging my palms into his chest, I desperately tried to shove him, but he did not budge.
“Do not act as if you care,” I scoffed, no longer able to hold my anger. “You dropped me with your harem after having your way with me. You ignore me when we are in the company of others. I know where I stand with you.” I squeezed the front of his black tunic.
“So you turned to a male in a fit of jealousy?” His irises bloomed. In the same breath, he slammed me against the wall, hands squeezing my shoulders.
Words escaped me as I reeled. Aches spiked outward from the point of impact along my shoulder blades.
“I did not!” I screamed.
“And you will never,” he hissed. With one hand, he yanked the skirt of my dress, splitting it right down the middle.
Such anger. Such . . . such a frustrating man.
I yanked at the front of his trousers until his length bobbed free. If he was going to claim me, I would claim him in return.
“Pose it however you like, but you are mine.”
“Go to the Hollows!” I shouted at him, the insult spilling out for the first time in my life.
He snarled with a frightening baring of his fangs. His hands clamped on my thighs, and my legs spread as he lifted me. His fangs flashed, sharp and intimidating.
Then he struck.
Fangs burrowed into my throat with startling speed, the sting giving way to unbelievable pleasure. The sensitivity between my legs turned into a dull throb that gathered moisture. I arched my hips to get closer, wanting more of him.
“Make me yours,” I moaned, clamping my fingers into his shoulders.
He snarled against my throat, then he lifted me higher. Blood stained his mouth and the prod of his length found my channel.
Not wasting another moment, he slid inside me with a harsh thrust. Hard enough to steal my breath. He thrust again, the speed applying friction to my channel. I whimpered, writhing under him as I lifted my hips to meet his harsh invasion.
But there was something different in the hitch of his hips. He rammed into my sex again, all the way to his knot.
Spots began to dance before my eyes.
He seemed maddened. Something became startlingly clear—he had not used the entirety of his strength when we’d been together.
The pleasure turned to pain, too much pain. He rammed into me again, and something popped.
“S-stop,” I whimpered, trying not to vomit.
Intense agony sliced across every nerve ending. My insides felt like they were set aflame. Cassiel moved, and it wrenched a scream free. I slapped and shoved Cassiel.
But he did not stop.
“Mine,” he snarled, his lewd pants puffing against my cheek.
A haze coated my mind, and numbness had begun to spread, mingling with the pain. Sobs caught in my throat. My head drooped to the side.
“Mine.”
I wheezed out a breath, the pain too much for me to be able to speak. The taste of copper spread on my tongue. I could no longer feel my lower half.
Consciousness faded in and out.
I drifted into nothingness.
“Mortal?” Cassiel’s whisper floated forward, then, “Amara?” I must be dreaming. He never said my name.
A smile tugged at my lips.
“Amara,” he whispered, his hand clasping the side of my face, pulling me away from the agonizing torment. “Mortal, open your eyes.”
Such a command from a lyrical, silky voice. A pained one that made me desperately want to do as it said.
“DRUSILLA!” he roared, the sound deafening.
No, why was the beautiful voice saying another’s name? Why was it so angry? Before I could grasp my thought, I floated higher into nothingness.