Aria/Lysara's POV

He held me tight to his chest, his hand firm on my ass. He didn't squeeze, but he held me like I belonged to him, every bit of me, like he owned me, his property. I know I should hate him. I should dislike the way he holds me, the way he demeans me to a mere property. But why? Why do I enjoy the warmth of his body around mine and enjoy the delicious heat seeping from him to encircle me? Why do I seem to relish his harsh, cruel touch as he molests me?

He lifted my jaw up, raising my eyes to level with his, and his lips pressed into a hard smile. “I loved what you did to the Crimson Mooners today. Though I won't tolerate a repeat of that, as law and order need to be maintained in my kingdom. But today, you earn yourself a reward for taking a stand and defending yourself and your hate for them. I will not only reward you by absolving you of your punishment, but I also grant you the Muse’s favor. Use it well.” He said.

“The Muse’s favor.” Nahlia echoed behind us. “Alpha King Kael, you can't possibly do that. It belongs to Vyxen for this week. You have already promised her.”

“I can do whatever I want.” Alpha King Kael responded, and though he sounded calm enough, there was a sternness in his voice that quieted Nahlia’s further protests. I didn't need to see it, but I felt it, the heat in her eyes burning hot searing holes behind my head.

Alpha King Kael smiled down at me. “Good job for today, Lysara.” He said. Then he squeezed hard at my ass, so hard a hot moan broke out of my lips, and I vibrated like a bell in his hands.

“I like the way you moan, Lysara. It echoes how much you love my touch.” He grinned, and he squeezed again, this time grabbing both my ass cheeks with both his hands. Pain radiated through the whole of me, charging like hot needles for my brain, and with it was a subtle mix of pleasure, blooming from my stomach up. He stifled a chuckle when I jerked against his arms, my throat splitting for another moan.

He chuckled again as he dropped me. He walked away from me then, bouncing down the end of the hallway behind me. Nahlia went after him, trying to convince him against his decision. She turned at one point to slant me a glance. Her eyes were woven in a tight snarl that screamed one word—hate.

I bowed low, holding my legs, and still trying to get my breath into focus, rubbing my ass and waiting for the pain in them to subside, when suddenly someone came at me. I had a brief knowledge of the charging footsteps tapping the floor, yet before I could develop an idea of what was going on, I was slammed hard against the wall.

My lips twisted in agony, and my eyes closed shut as a hot force radiated through the whole of my back, crumbling down walls of my nerve endings. I groaned heavily in pain.

I blinked my eyes open slowly. I had already had a feel of the cold breath fanning my face and the strong arm pinning me to the wall, even before I saw her.

I had been thinking it was Selene or Nahlia, but the woman before me was neither of them. But from her superb beauty and the chain-like rusting necklace that sat on her collar, I guessed instinctively that she was Vyxen. The last sub. The one Nahlia had said I should pray doesn't find me.

I recognized the feral look in her golden brown eyes, and I understood why Nahlia had said what she said. I could tell the lady before me was wild and crazy. Her eyes echoed her whole essence, and even her wild, copper-red curls hinted at her rebellious nature.

But however wild and crazy she looked, I wouldn't let her bully me; I won't be anyone's punching bag. I tried to push her off me, grunting hard as I grabbed her arm with both hands, pushing. But hell! She was superbly strong. I dropped my hands back to my side at that point, and I panted gently from the effort.

She grinned hard at me, and then her arm pressed harder on my chest. It tightened on my windpipe, freezing the air supply off in my lungs, and I coughed.

“Let me go,” I yelled, resuming my push of her off me. I held the heat in her eyes. Her golden brown orbs darkened in a massive murderous snarl.

“Why should I let you go, bitch, when you just stole something important from me?”

“I didn't steal anything from you.” I retorted, coughing out the words, my chest tightening as every air I breathed gathered in my chest, unable to reach my lungs.

With my eyes misted with pain, I traced the grin that split her lips. “You stole something from me. You just stole the Muse Favor from me. It should be mine. It belongs to me for this week.”

I tapped at her arm, my eyes closing shut a bit. Still, she didn't release her grip on my chest. The whole inside of my chest felt like one big blazing furnace, extremely hot and loaded with stranded air.

I panted and coughed as I spoke. “I don't even know what that is or what it means. And Alpha King Kael gave it to me. I didn't steal it.”

“That's because you seduced him into giving it to you. You charmed him with this miserable body of yours.” She growled.

“I didn't,” I coughed again, still tapping at her arm. Now I felt blood rushing up to my brain, my head heating up gradually as my chest did.

“Oh! You did, bitch,” she roared at me, spitting at my face. “I am going to make you pay for what you did, bitch.” She grinned. A sharp swishing sound sliced the air, and a penknife appeared in her hands. She steered it for my neck.