Primal Possession: A dark Omegaverse Romance (Alphas of Sandor Book 1) Page 11

“Yes, really. I have a couple of things to take care of, however, so either Tavos or Cerus will be escorting you. You must promise to stay close to them at all times. We cannot risk my uncle getting to you again before Saturday.”

  “I promise,” she said, her eyes shining with such delight, he felt his heart skip a beat. “I’ll stick to them like honey on a knife.”

  He chuckled. “Can’t say I’ve ever heard that expression before.”

  She grinned. “That’s because I’ve never said it before.”

  Her joy was so infectious, he let out a bark of laughter. “Come here, pet,” he said, patting his knee.

  For once, she came to him without hesitation, perching on his thigh. The feel of her firm, round buttocks made him hard, and her heady, sensual scent surrounded him like a cloud.

  “Kiss me,” he ordered.

  Her lips were cool and sweet. She tasted faintly of the grapes she had just eaten. As she parted her mouth for his delving tongue, he gave himself over to his primal lust and maneuvered her so she was straddling his lap, facing him, her thighs splayed over his own.

  His cock throbbed against the flimsy material separating him from her bare sex.

  Arius threaded his fingers through her long, soft hair and yanked her head back, taking the kiss deeper, drinking her soft whimpers of pleasure. He found the hard point of an erect nipple through the slinky material of her dress and pinched it, his erection twitching at her yelp of pain as it reverberated against his lips.

  Gods, but she felt good.

  Unable to wait any longer, he pushed himself to his feet, taking her with him to the bedroom, her legs wrapped wantonly around his waist as he carried her.

  They sank down to the mattress together and he freed his erection with his spare hand, tugging his pants down around his thighs, so desperate to be inside her that he couldn’t wait long enough to undress himself properly.

  With a groan of satisfaction, he sank into her slick, tight heat, reveling in the way she moaned into his open mouth as he penetrated her.

  “What do you do to me, pet?” he murmured, breaking the kiss and looking down at her.

  Her eyes had taken on their usual unfocused glaze, that lust-driven high their mating always induced in her. “Please,” she whispered, wriggling her hips as much as she could under his weight.

  “Please what?” Gods, but he enjoyed taunting her, making her beg.

  Her eyes fluttered closed. “Fuck me.” Even as she said it, he felt her contract and his engorged cock responded in kind, pulsing within her.

  Arius had intended to take it slow this time but the way she felt, tasted, smelled and looked once again unleashed the beast within him.

  Wrapping his hand around her slender, pale throat, he began to growl as he thrust in and out, burying himself to the hilt before pulling back until only the tip remained in her soaking pink slit. “Like this? Or harder?”

  “H-harder.”

  “Be careful what you wish for, little Omega.” Sliding his hand from her throat, he braced his forearm across her chest, pinning her in place as he took what was his, pounding her into the mattress as she shuddered with the force of her climax.

  The knot formed almost immediately, the now-familiar sensation sending waves of pleasure coursing through his body.

  He came with a roar, emptying himself into her with violent shudders, one word coming into sharp focus in his lust-hazed mind.

  Mine.

  Slumping, spent, on top of her, the knot still fusing them together as one, he tried to regain control of his breathing and groaned as the scent of her slick once again reached his nostrils. His every nerve ending tingled in response.

  She was more than just his perfect biological match. She was his mate. He realized in that moment that he would do anything to protect her—and to keep her by his side. And that by claiming her, he would warn off every reasonable Alpha; the mark on her neck would be enough of a sign for them to stay away.

  Unfortunately, Deimos was not reasonable. He was, quite literally, insane, and if he had no qualms about breaking into Arius’s apartment and trying to rape his nephew’s mate, he wouldn’t stop trying purely because they’d made it official.

  It was a wonder that hadn’t occurred to Arius before.

  Family. That was the key word. With both his parents long dead, Arius had no family remaining—other than Deimos. And despite his dislike of the man, blood was blood. It was what had kept him from overthrowing his uncle for all these years, even as Deimos’s grip on sanity had slipped further into the abyss, even as Arius’s own reputation had suffered simply for being related to the mad ruler.

  It was what had kept Arius from shooting the bastard in the head when he’d discovered him on top of Saskia.

  But now, as he rolled to one side, taking her gently with him so he could wrap his arm around her, the skin of her thigh like satin as she slid it over his own, Arius drank in the sight of his little Omega and knew one thing for certain: he would do anything to ensure her safety.

  As long as Deimos was ruler, as long as he roamed free, Saskia was in danger. And not just her, but any children they would go on to have. The very idea was enough to make him want to beat his fists against his chest in a possessive, protective fury.

  Saskia shifted slightly, snuggling closer to him, her breath soft and warm against his neck.

  Arius would kill to protect her.

  Unfortunately, it was very likely he would have to do just that.

  Chapter Eleven

  The sunshine felt incredible on her skin. Saskia tilted her face up and closed her eyes, drawing in deep lungfuls of fresh, clean air. Arius had told her to enjoy the gardens, he’d waxed lyrical about the different kinds of plants and flowers to be found when they were in season, but Saskia was so happy to leave the confines of his apartment, she wouldn’t have cared if the outing had been to a parking lot. She was outside, and that was all that mattered.

  She was vaguely aware of Cerus hovering nearby. Out of the two guards Arius described as his most loyal, she preferred Tavos. At least he exchanged kind words with her, whereas Cerus barely ever spoke. But she was so glad for the chance to escape the four walls which felt more like a prison than a home that she would have accepted anybody Arius chose to accompany her.

  Spring was still a while away and she was glad of the thick overcoat Arius had given her. She drew it around herself more tightly and thanked the gods for the—albeit watery—sun’s rays seeping into her pores, filling her with a sense of freedom.

  The claiming ceremony was in just two days’ time. Strangely, thinking about it no longer filled her with dread as it had just a short while ago. Fate had dealt her a cruel hand when it came to her place in society and her choices for the future, but the gods had been benevolent in matching her with Arius. It was still too early to tell whether he would ever allow her to have a hand in helping to reshape their society once he became ruler of Sandor, but she was optimistic. After all, he kept telling her how important her happiness was to him. And he had gone into town to stop the troops from carrying out Deimos’s orders. Surely that was a good sign? If the bad rumors were true and he was like his uncle, he would have supported the idea of rooting out Omegas in hiding.

  Saskia wandered along the pathways, wishing the flowers were in bloom. Everything looked so bleak in the wintertime. Still, she would take what she could get, and coming to the gardens regularly, watching the first buds blossom over the weeks to come, would give her something to look forward to.

  “Madam.”

  It was so rare to hear Cerus speak that at first she didn’t recognize his voice.

  “Madam.” He said it again with more urgency.

  “What is it?”

  “I’m sorry to cut your time short but we have to go.”

  “Go where?”

  “Back to the apartment.”

  “But we only just got here!”

  “Sorry, Madam, but I’ve been ordered to escort you back right away.�
�� He stepped close to her and took her arm.

  Glancing sideways at him, she noticed his earpiece and the sudden tense lines around his mouth as he hustled her down the path, back towards the apartment block.

  “Cerus, what’s going on? Is it Deimos? Is he coming here?”

  Infuriatingly, he didn’t respond, marching her straight to the bank of elevators.

  Bloody, bloody Deimos, she fumed. Arius had warned her that his uncle sometimes enjoyed a stroll in the gardens but he preferred to go later in the afternoon, just before dusk.

  It wasn’t until the elevator doors dinged open that she realized they were on the wrong floor.

  “Cerus, this isn’t where—”

  Rounding on her, the servant clapped his hand over her mouth. “Shut up,” he hissed. “Don’t make this harder than it has to be.”

  Stunned, rooted to the spot, she stared at him. His eyes were narrowed, filled with determination. His fingers smelled faintly of onions and she fought back a sudden wave of nausea. Before she could get over the shock of what was happening, he was manhandling her down the corridor. For such a slim man, he had a frightening, wiry strength about him and she felt her feet dragging along the floor as he towed her to a nearby door and rapped on it briskly, removing his hand from her mouth to do so.

  The door swung open before she could even draw breath to scream for help. She didn’t need to look to know who would be on the other side.

  Deimos.

  Cerus hooked her arms behind her back with the practiced skill of a trained security guard and propelled her into the room.

  “Well, well, what do we have here?” Deimos was clutching a glass of wine and wearing a long, crimson velvet robe. As he approached Saskia, she tried to take a step back but was thwarted by the immovable Cerus, who was still holding her in place, presenting her to the mad king like a sacrificial lamb. “My nephew not satisfying you? Come back to finish what we started?”

  “Never!” she snarled, her shock quickly giving way to anger.

  “You insult me.” Deimos made a great show of examining his fingernails, then he drew his hand back and slapped her, hard, across the face. “I would advise you not to do that again.”

  Saskia’s ear was ringing and her cheek stung like fire but she blinked back the tears that threatened to fall.

  Think. Think. How can you get out of this? What does he want from you?

  “I’m sorry, Your Highness,” she muttered, trying to sound demure.

  “Better. Apology accepted. Would you care for some wine?”

  The fucker sounded for all the world like she was there of her own volition. “No.” Then, at his raised eyebrow, “Thank you.”

  He shrugged. “More for me. Cerus, disrobe her.”

  Methodically, the servant began to pull the coat from her shoulders, careful to grip her with one hand at all times to stop her from escaping.

  “No!” Her cry rang off the walls.

  “No?” Deimos’s rugged, cruel face was bemused.

  “I…” Her mind racing, she cast about for something to say. It wouldn’t take long for Arius to find out she’d gone missing. If she could just buy him some time… “I don’t think we need Cerus for that,” she said, trying to sound sweet. “Wouldn’t you… like to watch me undress myself?” She almost choked on the very words but they seemed to have the desired effect, as Deimos’s gaze grew hooded.

  “Well, now. This is a surprise. After the struggle you put up last time—”

  “Arius isn’t the king.” She took a deep breath, hoping against hope that she was convincing. “You are.”

  Deimos addressed Cerus over her shoulder. “Women. So fickle. So power hungry. Thank the gods.” He chuckled. “Let her go, but remain by the door.”

  “Sire.” Cerus bowed, and Saskia rubbed her arm the moment he released his iron grip. She could still feel his fingertips digging into her flesh.

  Deimos sauntered over to a nearby end table and set down his empty glass before settling himself into a nearby chair. “Go on then,” he said. “Give me a show.”

  Glancing over her shoulder, Saskia saw Cerus still standing there beside the door. “I’d prefer to be alone with you, Your Highness.”

  Deimos gave a dismissive wave of his hand, a huge ruby ring on his little finger glittering as he did so. “Don’t worry about Cerus, he’s seen it all before.”

  I don’t doubt it, the fucking snake, she thought savagely. She crossed her arms. “You want the show, you’ll get it after you’ve sent him out.” Her heart was threatening to pound right out of her chest but she met Deimos’s gaze head-on.

  There was a long pause. Then, “Fine.” He nodded at Cerus. “Outside. But guard the door.”

  “Of course, Sire.”

  Saskia watched the servant leave, wondering why he’d turned on Arius, resisting the urge to hurl abuse at him. Arius had told her he’d been serving the Sandorus family for decades. He’d served Arius’s parents and watched him grow up. What had Deimos promised him in return for his deception? What would be his reward for betraying Arius’s trust?

  The door shut with a sinister click.

  Arius was in a meeting with the caterers when Tavos burst in, a look of such shocked terror on his face that Arius ordered everybody out of the room immediately.

  “What is it?” he asked, already suspecting—and dreading—the answer.

  “Saskia,” Tavos replied, panting. “Deimos has her—”

  “This time, I will fucking kill him,” Arius snarled, making straight for the drawer where he kept his gun. “Where the fuck is Cerus?”

  “That’s… what I’m trying to… tell you, Sire.”

  Arius forced himself to take a deep breath. “What are you trying to tell me?”

  “Cerus is… he’s in league with the king. He told Deimos that he’d be taking her to the gardens, and they hatched a—”

  “Where are they now?”

  “Not in the royal apartments. I already checked there. They must be somewhere else.”

  “Fuck!” Arius closed his eyes, trying to tamp down his rage and fear for his mate, and think clearly. He had to keep a cool head. The complex on the Hill was huge, with several empty apartments in between those which were lived in. “Get some men together,” he ordered. “Tell them to spread out and start searching. Vacant apartments first. I don’t think Deimos is stupid enough to hide in a random one and then post a guard on the door but you never know. Get them to check every apartment, even if there’s no sign of anyone being inside.”

  “Yes, Sire.” The man turned but Arius called him back.

  “Tavos?”

  “Yes, Sire?”

  “Why do you think Cerus did it?”

  Tavos ran a hand through his red hair. “I don’t know, Your Highness. You’ll have to ask him.”

  “Believe me, I will,” Arius said grimly. Once I have my mate safely back in my arms. And once I’ve made sure that Deimos will never be a threat to her again.

  He should have put a bullet in his uncle’s head the moment he’d come home to find the fucker sprawled on his sofa, trying to mount his mate. The acid, sick taste of fear filled his mouth as he made sure the gun was loaded and clicked off the safety.

  The gods only knew what Saskia was going through while he’d been sitting safe and secure in his drawing room, discussing canapes for the fucking reception on Saturday. He should have trusted his gut and never allowed her out. Fresh air be fucking damned.

  His heart was pounding and he had to keep reminding himself to breathe as he set off toward the east wing of the Hill Palace. The image of his uncle’s flabby white buttocks between Saskia’s slender thighs kept rising to the forefront of his mind like some hideous waking nightmare.

  She would never forgive him for letting this happen to her.

  And she’d be right not to.

  It would be like his parents all over again; stilted, forced cordiality in public, separate bedrooms. No warmth, no love. Just resigned toleran
ce.

  Servants and residents alike scattered as he stalked down the corridors, trying to remember which apartments were currently vacant. He should have waited for Tavos to coordinate the search, printed out a list… something.

  But his blood was boiling and a single second of inactivity was too much to bear.

  At least his phone was in his pocket.

  He kicked open the door of the first empty apartment he came to and scanned it, prowling through every room.

  Nothing.

  Fuck.

  Deimos had gone too far, too often. This would be the last time. He’d often taunted Arius for being ‘soft’, complaining that he didn’t have the balls to rule Sandor, which was why he’d be cast aside as heir as soon as Deimos found his Omega and got a child on her.

  Arius had accepted the scorn and bided his time, knowing that there was a difference between being a strong ruler and being a tyrant, waiting for his chance to prove it.

  Now he was done waiting.

  Deimos had overstepped the mark—not once, but twice—and Arius would relish the chance to show him just how ‘soft’ he was. He’d take care of his uncle and deal with that fucking traitor, Cerus.

  And then he’d spend the rest of his life making sure Saskia never had cause to be afraid again. He’d fall asleep stroking her soft, chestnut hair, breathing in her familiar, sensual scent, and spend every day doing all he could to make her smile, to compensate for what Deimos had put her through.

  But he had to find her first.

  “Alone at last.” Deimos tilted his head back and inhaled deeply. “Gods, but you smell good.”

  Biting down her fear and revulsion, Saskia forced herself to smile. “Thank you, Sire.”

  “I think, considering I’m about to squirt an heir into your belly, you should call me Deimos,” he said. Then his brow furrowed. “Clothes off. Now.”

  Unable to think of any other way to stall, she removed the coat, then her boots and socks. Her sweater was next. Once she was standing before him in nothing but her skirt and tank top, she hesitated.

  “Not a great seductress, are you?” Deimos sneered. “Cerus could undress himself with more flair than that. Try harder.”