4. Chapter 2 Arden

Chapter four

Chapter 2: Arden

T he first thing I do is push my cot up against the wall under the tiny window in our cell so when I'm laying down I can at least look at the sky. It's still daylight, and through the bars, the sky is crystal clear and icy blue.

After a long silence, Dira tries once again to talk to me. "I just want to understand why you're so set on being with the men in Feldorn."

"Well, for starters, I'm mated to one of them."

"But he's not a true Feldorite. He's from Solardin."

"His mother is from Feldorn; she's from one of the villages. But the people in Feldorn—the commoners—they're incredible people. And thanks to your father, the females in the villages are being rounded up and brought here to be bred."

"They are not !"

"Did you not see the pregnant women in the cell across the way? They don't even give them decent quarters while they're pregnant. They're forced to live in this filth and suffer even while carrying the children that the Solardin royalty claim to care so much about."

"How is that my father's fault?!"

"Because his little clan of goons have been going around kidnapping and raping the women of Feldorn."

"You're wrong."

"And you're blind."

The large wooden door to the dungeon opens and two vampire men stroll in. I stand and shift closer to the bars. The guard unlocks the cell and opens the door with a pitying look on his face.

"I'm really sorry, ladies."

"For what?" I whisper.

"For what has to be done," the vampire closest to us says, stepping into the cell. " Grandmother is demanding that we break and breed you, and I'm sorry for that."

I shift a step back from him and he advances one step toward me.

"Why?" I whisper.

"She says that you're too strong-willed, and you'll need to be broken in before it's time to put a baby in you so you don't do anything untoward. Please just don't fight us. We don't want this any more than you do. And if you make it easy for us, we'll be gentle with you. I can even try to make sure you enjoy yourself."

He steps up into my space and I freeze. I want to punch him, to kick and scream and run away, but where the fuck would I go? He begins unbuttoning my shirt, baring me to him. He doesn't see the way my lip trembles or my hands shake as he slides my pants to the floor.

He gives me an appreciative once over. "You're far more voluptuous than the female vampires. That shifter blood does wonders for the curves."

My hands are cold, and I'm willing myself not to cry as he removes his own clothing. He's attractive. His muscular chest is pale and broad. By the size of his arms, he could probably toss me around even if he didn't have fae strength.

"Lay down on the cot."

I shake my head. "Please don't."

"Please just listen to me, and lay down on the cot." His voice is tired, and his eyes weary. When I don't move he reaches down for his pants and says, "The hard way, then."

He pulls a small dagger from a sheath on his belt and grabs my hand. He applies enough pressure to prick the skin, and small drops of blood surface. His nostrils flare and his eyes go black as he takes the blood between his thumb and forefinger and holds it to his nose, inhaling deeply.

He drops the dagger on the pile of clothes, and a plan blooms in my mind. He may have just inadvertently given me my ticket out of here.

Then my body is moving of its own accord. I'm no longer in control of my own fucking meat suit. I lay down on the bed, and he stands over me.

"Spread your legs."

When I don't comply, he makes me. My body does as he says, and he lays between my thighs. I'm surprised to find him flaccid against my center. I glance at his face with furrowed brows, confused about what's happening.

"I told you. I don't want this either." He breathes out a regretful sigh. "I'm already mated, and having a baby with another fae is not on my to-do list for my life. But here we are. Now rub my cock so we can get this over with."

I reach between his legs and take him in my hand, stroking him. But it doesn't work. He remains limp in my hand.

Shaking his head and rolling his eyes up to stare at the ceiling he mutters, "Unbelievable."

"What?" I whisper.

"I'm going to have to feed from you. Sometimes that's the only way to make things...work."

He takes my nipple between his teeth and gently nibbles on it, then licks the slight sting away. He places soft kisses up my breast, then sinks his teeth into the soft flesh, and drinks down my blood.

This is my chance.

I surreptitiously reach down and grab the dagger while he's distracted. Then I bring it up with one violent swing and sink it into his side. He pulls his mouth off my flesh, and my own blood coats my chest, as he lets out a roar of agony. The guard hurries to the cell.

"I've got it handled," the fae on top of me grunts out. He wraps both hands around my throat and squeezes, only letting up as I start to black out. "You just fucked up. I told you I would take it easy on you, but you had to go and get violent."

His cock is now hard as steel and rubbing against my core. He leaves one hand on my throat, and takes his cock in the other and shoves it inside of me without letting me get ready or adjust. It stings, and tears pool in my eyes.

He slams into me relentlessly for what feels like hours, but I'm sure it's not much more than a few minutes. He squeezes my throat and my tears finally pour down my cheeks. With two final thrusts, he unloads inside of me, with a groan. He doesn't wait a full second before he pushes off the cot and grabs his clothes.

"You're a fucking cunt. Sending me was a mercy. Now you'll have to deal with my cousins. You're going to regret stabbing me."

He storms out of the room leaving me in a puddle of blood and cum. That didn't play out how I expected it to, and now I've got a target on me for nothing. A quiet sob escapes me as the other vampire leaves.

Dira and I remain in silence for a long time, neither of us daring to speak. I pull my shirt back on over my bloodied torso once most of it has dried.

I thought being taken by Zorvan was bad, but it pales in comparison to this. I need to get out. I need to get back to Feldorn, but right now all of that seems like a pipe dream. I stare out the window at the sky and eventually, exhausted from the adrenaline drop, I drift off to sleep. In my slumber I have vivid dreams. Most of it I can't remember, but there's one thing that stands out: a massive dragon soaring through the sky, and blotting out the sun.