I cried out again, but the sound was animalistic, a shriek of intense pleasure that resonated deep within my chest. Benedict twitched at the sound, grabbing my neck and squeezing. There was something so deliciously feminine about having his power unleashed on me in this way, and though something may be deeply wrong with me, I wanted more.
“If you make that sound again, you won’t be leaving this room without becoming mine.”
His voice was so rough with desire I panted, and I tried and failed to find fault with what he said. I shook my head, remembering I was supposed to hate him. More to the point, he was the one who hated me, wasn’t he?
“Let me go.”
He squeezed my neck again, not to hurt me, but just to remind me of his position of power over me. I cursed as my body immediately went limp in submission. Some part of me wanted this, craved it, even, and it was much stronger than my rational brain. How long would I keep fighting it?
“As you wish.”
I went rigid in confusion as the cool air replaced the heat of his body. He was backing away, his eyes pained as he nearly stumbled in his effort to get away from me.
“My apologies. I got caught up in... instincts.”
I raised my face to him.
“Instincts?”
He held out his hand, his face devoid of any emotion. I knew then that whatever had just happened...whatever we had just shared, was gone. Benedict was all rigid muscles and tightly controlled stiffness.
“Let’s get you to bed. The third Game is tomorrow.”
“Of course,” I whispered back, confused and sad.
NINE
I sat dully on my chair next to Benedict, exhausted. I blinked blearily, not interested in the breakfast laid before me. I’d spent the night tossing and turning, the feeling of Benedict’s body against mine plaguing me all night.
“You look awful.”
Benedict appeared in his own chair, his usually unaffected self. It made me want to punch him.
“Don’t you ever walk places like the rest of us?”
He snorted, a rare grin turning the corner of his mouth before it disappeared. I looked away, unable to keep up with his changing moods. I longed to be with Kieran and ask his opinion; dear Kieran, who cared only for my happiness and well-being. Instead, I was stuck here with Mr. stick-up-his-ass.
“What is the task today?” I asked, mostly to distract myself. He faced me fully, and I struggled not to blush. After yesterday, I found it hard to meet his eyes. He sneered, and I knew I had to decide. Either I was going to continue to let him walk all over me, or I was going to be the new Wren.
“I’d say all drakens were rude, but experience has told me it’s just you.”
His head whipped back to me, interest flaring in his eyes.
“What you know about drakens could fill a drop of rain.”
I refused to look at him, knowing I’d lose my nerves if I saw his face. I kept my gaze steady over the arena, which was filling up with eager spectators.
“Then educate me, oh benevolent king.”
He growled, then exhaled again through nose. I couldn’t help but admire how the firelight caught the hidden tones of green in his purple and black scales.
“Fine. I will tell you some basics, but only to stop your nagging.”
He took a breath.
“Not all of our females died on Lyoness.”
I went very still in my chair, wanting—no, needing—him to continue.
“Most of them did; hunted down and slaughtered like animals. There was one though, they took her alive. I don’t know if the vampyres holding her thought they could ransom her as the last female draken or not, but they kept her for weeks. Whatever the reason, it was a gift from gods as she was pregnant. She endured torture, beatings, and near starvation, but she held on for the child she carried. She hid her pregnancy from her captors and was forced to give birth in a filthy cell, alone and fighting for her life. As the vampyres came for her child, she used the blood of her labor to lay a powerful enchantment on the baby, sacrificing her life to keep the last draken babe safe. Her enchantment was strengthened by one my fa—by another spell nearby, and the combined power ensured that no one except the draken king could claim the child. The lost daughter disappeared into history and was never heard from again.”
He laid his head back against the stone, his eyes closed.
“That power is what keeps us here, and lets me know she is still out there, somewhere. It was black magic of the most magnificent kind.”
My hands covered my mouth in horror. “That’s so sad, and yet so…”
“I know.”
Our eyes met, and for a moment, I felt like I saw him. Then he looked away. “What was the draken’s name?” I asked. I couldn’t explain it, but it felt important that I knew.
“Rhyfel.”
Goosebumps erupted along my skin, and I crossed my arms to ward off a sudden chill.
“Kieran said you keep everyone under the mountain, not some enchantment.”
He looked away.
“The child is lost to us, so I can’t claim what doesn’t technically exist. Besides, how would you feel if your mate were picked out before you were even born, and you had no choice in the matter—” He cut himself off, realizing he was revealing too much.
“Yeah, how awful would
