Chapter 5
Chapter Five
KYELLA
I hadn’t really thought the bastard would do it.
He was really going to let me be sampled by every vampyre Lord in this room—which was a lot. I didn’t even think I had enough blood in my body to satisfy them all, and I was positive none of them would pass up the opportunity to touch what was off-limits at all other times.
It only made me more enticing, I’m sure.
I had assumed Malakai was bluffing because of how possessive he was over my blood usually. But his words echoed through the throne room, inciting a level of excitement that was so much more than any reaction the orgy or spilled blood in the room could’ve caused.
Shit. This was really happening.
“So, please step up!” Malakai said, motioning for his guards to form the guests into a line.
Then he looked down at me and hissed, his eyes flashing with a darkness that caused my skin to crawl as his fangs lengthened.
“Receive your punishment and we can move past this. I’ll forgive your transgressions.
Cause a problem and you will realize just how cruel I can be.
You think you’re safe from my wrath? Never fucking doubt my threats again, Kyella. ”
I had to bite down on my bottom lip to keep myself from spewing all the vile things in my mind. While I didn’t want to be treated like a buffet for the vampyres, I did want to live to see another day. Then I could try to escape again.
I knew Tristan was in here somewhere, but when I looked for him, not able to handle looking at Malakai anymore, I couldn’t find him anywhere.
I knew he couldn’t stop this, but I suppose I wanted to know that someone was here, seeing the proof of my unwillingness to be a Thrall.
Witnessing the law being broken. I wanted to know that at least one being in this room didn’t support this.
“Your Majesty.” A nasally voice drew my attention to the tall willowy vampyre standing directly in front of us, who had white hair down to his waist. Despite looking young, there was an air to him that told me he was nearly as old as Malakai, if not older.
His dark eyes moved to me, hunger flashing in his gaze.
“This honor you’ve bestowed upon us is far too much. We are humbled.”
His Thrall, a young man probably around my age, offered me an indifferent look, but I could see his anger—was he mad at me?
Because his Lord wanted to drink from me?
These people were insane. How much more obvious could it be that I wasn’t willing?
I would’ve shouted it if I thought it would be worth it, but I knew I would be the only one to suffer.
“Lord Croitillon!” Malakai beamed. “You’re always welcome in my home, you know this! And today you’re even welcome to my Thrall.”
“May I?” Lord Croitillon motioned to me, not asking for my permission but Malakai’s.
Despite the sandwich I had on the way here, I was still incredibly weak.
I may not have looked like I spent two days in the dungeon, but I felt it, and when my wrist was thrust forward for Lord Croitillon, I refused to watch, my gaze moving over his bent head.
There was a line, a very, very long line, each looking as eager and hungry as the next.
The Thralls looked angry, even if it was disguised under a pleasant expression.
I was going to be fed on without my permission.
These Lords were going to drain me dry.
I winced as Lord Croitillon broke my skin, and tears almost welled in my eyes at the sensation of him pulling blood from me, my stomach rolling with disgust. I hated this.
I hated this so much. Everything about this felt violating and wrong, and even when he stopped, I felt like something had been taken from me.
With a deep bow, Lord Croitillon moved on. I forced myself to zone out, keeping my gaze on the room as Malakai laughed at something being said. When a foul-smelling man gripped my arm, I turned my head far to the side to avoid putting a face to this moment.
My thoughts trailed off as everything seemed to fade away.
A pair of hazel eyes held mine from a distance as a blissful sensation trailed through my body, warming every frozen part of my soul, all at once.
My lips parted in surprise as I continued to hold the gaze of a man that should’ve rightfully terrified me—I mean, he was massive.
The Lord had to be 6’5”, if not taller, his muscles were nearly busting out of his expensive clothing, making me swallow harshly.
I felt a weird heat lick through me, wanting to know what his golden skin looked like bare.
Holy shit. What was going on with me?
His lips began moving, and while I couldn’t tell what he was saying, it did draw my attention to his caramel-colored beard.
His hair, despite being styled, somehow still looked wild.
I wanted to run my fingers through it—badly.
His eyes were heated on me, with both desire, which for once didn’t upset me, but also something softer—something nearly affectionate.
When he broke eye contact, looking at the man next to him in shock, my gaze traversed past him to a man that was only slightly shorter than the first. I froze, feeling a different sensation work through me as his emerald gaze pierced me, sending a flushed feeling through my system.
The man was obviously someone of power, the way he stood and the energy surrounding him demanding and mesmerizing.
His exterior was controlled and clean cut, but there was something more there, a darkness that my soul was reaching out to.
I found myself wanting to crawl on the floor towards him for protection…
Which was insane. Who were these Vampyres?
His warrior-like build was fitted in expensive material as well, and despite his attempt at a relaxed expression, I could see emotions brewing underneath—which had to do with me, if his attention was any indicator.
What did he want from me? I didn’t know this man, and despite being beautiful—from his icy skin that looked like diamonds, to his golden hair, neatly styled like his beard—it didn’t change the fact that he was a vampyre.
One that would probably be drinking from me, like the four that had taken their turn so far.
I snapped my attention away from the blonde man to the final member of their group.
He was looking away from me, talking in a harsh tone to the other two, giving me a moment to appreciate how handsome they all were.
I had never felt this strong of a reaction to anyone, and not just physically, either—there was a strong connection I couldn’t quite understand yet.
I wondered if maybe they had some type of influence that they could cast over humans without making them a Thrall.
It wasn’t something that I was aware existed, but this type of reaction seemed unnatural.
I was in the middle of an event as Lords drained me of my blood, slowly weakening me, and I found myself wanting to go to them.
Not even to escape—just to feel their hands on my skin.
The final man was the shortest of their group at maybe six feet, his lean muscles making him look absolutely deadly.
His dark hair was slightly messy from a hand he ran through it as I trailed my gaze down to his strong jaw and the dark shadow there.
I stared momentarily at the vein that seemed raised, from the tension in his body, along his neck.
My tongue nearly darted out, imagining how his skin would taste if I kissed him there.
I blinked rapidly then, inhaling sharply and trying to keep from screaming out as someone bit my arm even deeper, a space up from the other bites.
I would have so many scars from this, a reminder of how Malakai controlled my life, but before I could turn to see who was drinking from me, a pair of chocolate brown eyes, surrounded by long lashes, met my own… And holy shit was it an intense stare.
I felt ensnared, as if I was truly the prey vampyres assumed I was. I shifted where I sat, and Malakai yanked on my chain, causing me to whimper as I looked up at him. But his eyes weren’t on me—they were on the three Lords.
Crap.
Malakai stopped the next Lord in line from walking forward when the current finished and scampered away, and called out, “You three, against the wall.”
All three of them looked at the Emperor, worry flashing in the middle man’s eyes, but only for a mere second before disappearing.
“Come forward!” Malakai’s fake smile made my gut churn, and I suddenly found myself worried about them.
It was ridiculous—they were obviously Lords chosen by the Emperor, so they were probably the same as him.
Yet, as they neared, I was caught off guard by my desire to keep them far from Malakai’s reach.
I had to squeeze my fists to ensure I didn’t move forward, and when I looked down, I realized blood was trickling down my arm from the open wounds, my head spinning.
I wasn’t sure how much blood I had to lose before I passed out, but I was hoping not much. Then I wouldn’t have to deal with my reality… although Malakai would probably heal me just enough so I’d be conscious to endure more.
He wouldn’t let me out of this punishment easily.
“Your Majesty.” The middle man bowed along with the other two, and I found I couldn’t look away from them. There was something off about the way they were acting, almost as if they didn’t like the Emperor—something I recognized since I hated him as well.
“I saw you looking at my Thrall, but you didn’t come to drink from her. Why?” Malakai asked. I was interested in that question as well. From my brief glimpse around the room, they were the only Lords that hadn’t lined up.
“We came to honor you,” the spokesman in the middle explained, “but because our own Thralls had to stay back in our lands, we didn’t feel like it was right to participate when we can’t offer their blood in exchange.”
Oh.
My chest squeezed at the thought of them drinking from Thralls.
I looked away and down at the floor, masking my ridiculous hurt.
I hated the idea of them having a Thrall, not only because the system was so screwed up, but because…
I think I was jealous? It had to be the blood loss making me feel this way. I wasn’t thinking clearly.
My heart hammered loudly in my chest, and my head spun as I stared down at the blood pooling on the floor beneath my hand. When I gripped the chain lightly, the Emperor chuckled and grabbed my hair, keeping me upright as if he knew I was getting close to slumping over.
“Well, as much as I appreciate the sentiment,” Malakai mused, “this gift is for all. So please—drink.” The ending was a sharp command, and I stiffened, wondering what they would do.
My face flushed as I looked over the three of them, my breathing a bit uneven as I attempted to control it so that Malakai wouldn’t notice.
I wanted them to prove they weren’t like every other Lord in this room.
I wanted them to prove that perhaps Tristan wasn’t the only decent vampyre in this castle.
I wanted to feel validated in my instinctive pull towards them.
“Emperor Malakai, respectfully—” The first man, the largest one with the hazel eyes, seemed more hesitant than the other two, making my heart beat fast. So fast that it added to the dizziness I was feeling, and I leaned back into Malakai’s hold, my body hurting from having to sit upright.
“She looks like she’s about to pass out. We don’t wish to be the Lords that hurt your Thrall,” the final man gritted out, turning his chocolate brown gaze to me.
Malakai’s body tensed, and the room went silent. His voice dropped an octave, turning deadly as tears started to well in my eyes. I jolted as he commanded, “Now.”
It was enough to make them obey. The man in the middle stepped forward. He was actually going to do it.
Just like the rest.