Chapter 17
MALIK
L eonora chuckles as she runs her hand through my fur. She leans back, resting against my side, using me as a pillow where we’re sprawled on the floor in a nest of blankets of her making. She purrs, “Do you feel that, pet? I was right to enlist Circe to our cause.”
I don’t know what she’s talking about, I can’t feel anything. Leonora stripped most of my magic away this morning, blocking the rest. I can’t even shift back to my human form.
But my goddess is in a good mood, and so she gloats, “All that power, all at once, just poof. I did expect Circe to eliminate the witches.” She laughs, the humor in her tone cruel.
“And in a way, I guess she has, since without access to their precious Earth magic, the witches are just pitiful humans now.” She stretches, rubbing herself all over my fur. “How delightful.”
Tension vibrates through me. I’m glad that the witches are still alive, but knowing Circe will come to collect me soon makes anger, sharp and familiar, sweep through me.
I’m a pawn in other people’s misery. I’m payment for services rendered.
I can’t stand the male I have become, Amri’s earlier words doing nothing to soothe my self-ire.
She may choose to remain involved, but she’s just going to get hurt …
or worse. Just like my brothers, like Askari, like countless other Leos, and now like the witches.
Fuck!
My tail swishes, brushing against Leonora’s thigh.
She grabs it, stroking the thick length.
“Don’t worry, pet. It’s only three hours.
I won’t let her keep us apart for a moment longer.
But please do your best to repay her properly.
I’d like to keep Circe in my pocket. She has proven to be quite useful. ”
I sink a little deeper into my beast, but I know that while hiding inside my beast may grant me refuge from Leonora and Circe and …
everything else, I can’t hide from myself and the pitiful alpha I’ve become.
So I stay present, facing the horrors head on.
I can do this. I will endure. Maybe it won’t be so bad?
At least time with Circe will be time away from Leonora.
But I’ll also be away from Askari. I won’t be here if he needs me … not that I’m ever much help.
Footsteps approach. I keep my body relaxed, well-practiced at hiding my emotions, though they are getting harder to keep leashed. Leonora continues to stroke my tail, snuggling deeper into my side. She’s so small against my giant beast form. I could fit her entire head in my jaws. One snap. Crunch.
Saliva fills my mouth at the thought.
Askari enters, his gaze finding and staying on Leonora, not even sparing me a glance.
Good. Don’t give her any reason to act out against you. Ignore me .
It hurts, but it’s the right move. Still, this isn’t right.
He should be able to approach with a smile.
I should be able to hold out my hand to him and have him brush against me in greeting.
We should be able to wear each other's scents with pride.
I should be able to claim him freely and provide him with the protection he deserves.
My beta bows to Leonora. I hate it. I hate my life. I hate this woman sprawled against me. So much hate!
Screech. I look down at the small noise and remove my claw from where it is embedded in the wood floor under the pile of blankets. I force all my muscles to relax once more.
Leonora doesn't notice and lifts her chin at Askari. “Has Circe arrived then?”
Askari nods, remaining bowed before his goddess.
She chuckles, scraping her nails under my chin, turning my face towards her.
She leans forward. “Seems the sorceress is eager to collect her payment.” She kisses my muzzle, then licks me and rubs her cheek against mine.
My snout draws back with the threat of a growl, but I keep it from escaping.
I let her rub against me in a gesture that is meant to be comforting for feline shifters, but instead, there’s just revulsion. And anger. Always the anger.
With her face still pressed against mine, Leonora says, “Bring her in.”
Askari backs away, still bowed. “Yes, my goddess.”
Please, don’t leave me.
Only a handful of moments pass before Askari reappears, but he doesn’t enter.
He sweeps his arm out, steps away into the hall, and Circe strides into the room.
The sorceress’ eyes gleam as she looks at me, a smug smile on her face.
Her braids are piled on the top of her head, making it look like she’s wearing a crown.
A slim tank top shows off quite a bit of her belly, and a wrap skirt exposes the entirety of her thigh with every step.
Dried sand clings to her bare feet like sugar.
Leonora’s voice breaks my attention from the sorceress. “Excellent work, Circe. Draining the witches’ power.”
Circe smiles, placing one hand on her hip, holding the other up to flick sand from under her nail.
“Child’s play, really. They are witches no more.
Just stupid useless humans. The threat against you is eliminated, as promised.
” Her hungry eyes land on me, and she bites her lip. “And now, I’ve com?—”
“Yes, yes. I gave you my word.” Leonora sits up, and as she stands, the gold links of my leash appear, looping from my collar to her waiting hand. I stay right where I am, trying my best to look indifferent. Leonora strides towards Circe, the leash clinking.
She stops, gives the chain a yank, and I stand, stretching just to buy a little more time.
I hate this. My muscles roll and flex under my midnight fur, and my claws extend with a flash as I pretend to yawn.
Once standing at my full height, I tower over the two women, but neither reacts with the fear I should invoke.
They should be cowering before me, begging me not to tear them limb from limb.
They should reek of their fear. But no, Leonora is all pleased confidence, and Circe is flushed eagerness.
I hate them both, but not as much as I hate myself. An alpha turned pet.
Circe raises a brow at me, and I wonder if she can feel my rage.
If so, she doesn’t say a word; she simply holds out a hand with a smile aimed at Leonora.
My goddess hands my leash over, and a mental timer starts ticking down the three hours I have to spend with this sorceress, the sound heavy in my head like working gears in a grandfather clock.
Click, thunk .
Click, thunk.
Leonora says, “My pet will take good care of you, Circe. And don’t worry about breaking him. He’s quite … resilient. Oh, and I’ve drained most of his magic, so you will have to give him a helping hand if you want his human side.”
Circe laughs. “Not a problem. I’ll have him back in three hours.” She turns, giving my chain a gentle tug, but Leonora reaches out and touches her arm, stopping her.
My goddess grins, cocking her head with a look that borders on insane. “Not a second more.” Circe doesn’t react, simply nodding, but Leonora goes on. “We can accomplish great things, Circe. Don’t make me regret trusting you.”
Leonora trusts no one, and I think Circe knows that as her fingers tighten ever so slightly around my leash.
But her voice is calm as she strokes her free hand over my chest, patting me, running her nails through my fur.
“Don’t worry, Leonora. If you recall, I came to you.
I understand the potential of our friendship . ”
Leonora smirks, eyeing me. “Indeed.”
I remain still, confused by the emotions I read through Circe’s touch.
It’s much less possessive than I expected.
In fact, it’s almost … comforting. Then she drops her hand and turns, waving goodbye over her shoulder.
She leads me out into the hall, and I subtly search the dim light to see if Askari is still around, but his scent has faded.
My beta is long gone. And I can’t blame him.
I wouldn’t want to watch the shifter I was hoping to be my alpha being led away on a gold chain.
I don’t realize my chest is rumbling with my rage until Circe steps close, yanking on my chain. “Save it for later.”
I swallow my growl, dipping my large head in acquiescence.
Great. Sounds like Circe likes a little—or maybe a lot—of rage play in her bedmates.
Well, that’s just fine. I have plenty to go around, and I can’t help but smile a secret smile inside my beast. This might be my chance.
Circe is going to take me out of the palace.
My panther and I worked out a plan yesterday.
I’m going to relinquish myself to him. Completely.
He was able to inflict damage on Leonora, so maybe, just maybe, he can kill Circe.
And if he can’t kill her, he’s going to inflict as much damage as possible to give us a chance to escape. And then I’ll?—
“Malik!” The combined voices of my brothers snap me out of my head.
I focus; quite sure Circe cast some sadistic hallucinogenic spell. My brothers stumble through the deep sand of a beautiful beach, tears in their eyes, rage on their faces as they see my leash in Circe’s hand. What are they doing here? Has Circe somehow captured them as well?
Circe holds up her hand and says something, but I don’t hear her because my focus zeros in on someone else who shouldn’t be here.
My mate pushes herself up from where she was kneeling in the sand, and she wobbles on her feet as she stares open-mouthed at me.
She’s just as shocked as I am. But then she staggers, nearly falling.
She’s exhausted. It looks like she hasn’t slept a wink since I last saw her, and she was beyond tired then.
Bodi yells with the force of his beast, “Let him go!”
With a growl that vibrates the sand under my paws, I rear back, yanking on my leash as Amri sprints towards me, fury in her blue eyes.
Circe’s grip tightens on my chain as she shakes her head. “Everyone, just calm down.”