Chapter 20
CHAPTER 20
H elheim
Hades
The castle was silent as we walked through the halls together, the only sound our footsteps echoing off the stone walls all around us. I was acutely aware of every breath she took, of every step she made, of the faint scent of her sweat mingling with the metallic smell of blood.
She could have died out there.
I couldn't shake the image of her standing alone against the Sun King's commander, her slight frame so vulnerable yet defiant compared to his. From the sky during the midst of my own battle against the Sun King, I'd watched her with a fear I hadn't felt in centuries. I hadn't realized I could feel that sort of terror.
She meant something to me.
A cold dread settled in my chest as I realized just how close I'd come to losing her.
I didn't want to lose her.
Not now. Not ever.
I had been so consumed by my quest for power, so focused on the prophecy and the need to sacrifice her, that I hadn't allowed myself to truly see her. Not until now.
She was powerful in ways I had never imagined. She had saved me, saved Helheim, and in doing so, she had proven that she was more than worthy of standing by my side.
She wasn't just a means to an end. Somehow, she had become the very heart of my world. The idea of sacrificing her for the sole purpose of gaining more power now seemed unthinkable.
No, she was my equal, my match in every way. The power we could wield together was beyond anything I had ever dreamed of, and for the first time, I found myself imagining a future where she was not just a fleeting presence in my life, but a permanent one.
Together, we could rule Helheim with a strength that no one would even think to challenge, a union forged not just in power, but in something deeper, something that had begun to take root between us from the moment we first met in that dark alley back in Sungard not so long ago.
Aria was my salvation, my light in the shadows, and as I walked beside her, I knew that I would do anything to keep her by my side.
As my queen .
Without a word, I led her down a darkened corridor, deeper into the castle than she had been before. The air grew cooler as we descended, the sound of trickling water growing louder with each step. Finally, we arrived at a heavy wooden door, its surface worn smooth by the ages. I pushed it open, revealing a hidden grotto nestled deep within the castle walls.
The room was dimly lit by flickering candles, their soft glow reflecting off the smooth stone walls. Steam rose from a natural hot spring in the center of the grotto. The sound of the water cascading over the rocks was soothing, a stark contrast to the deafening battle we'd just emerged from.
I turned to her, my gaze dark and intent.
"You're covered in blood," I said, my voice low, the words carrying a weight that was more than just concern. It was an excuse really, just a reason to touch her and to claim what was mine.
Aria met my gaze, her eyes wide with both defiance and something deeper, something that mirrored the hunger I felt.
"So are you," she whispered.
Without another word, I reached out, my fingers finding the clasp of her battle leathers. With one swift motion, I ripped the reinforced material apart, the sound of tearing leather echoing through the grotto like a thunderclap.
The armor fell away in pieces, scattered at her feet, leaving her bare before me, her skin flushed and glistening in the low, flickering torchlight. The sight of her, stripped of all of her defenses, sent a surge of primal need coursing through me, and I knew I could never get enough of her.
She gasped, her breath hitching as the cool air of the grotto kissed her exposed skin. I took a step closer, my eyes raking over her naked form, taking in the lush curves of her body, the rise and fall of her chest, everything about her as she struggled to maintain her composure. I undressed quickly, discarding my bloodstained clothes in a heap beside hers.
"You belong to me, Aria," I murmured, my voice rough with desire as I reached out and traced a finger down her collarbone, brushing away the dried blood that marred her perfect skin.
She didn't respond, but the slight parting of her lips, the way her body leaned into my touch, spoke volumes. I didn't wait for her permission—I didn't need it. This was my right, my duty as her king.
I took her hand, leading her into the steaming pool, the heat of the water enveloping us both as we stepped into its depths.
Once we were submerged, I pulled her close, my hands sliding over her slick skin as I began to wash away the remnants of the battle. My fingers traced the contours of her body, each touch deliberate and sure.
She shivered beneath my touch, her eyes fluttering closed as I washed her, but I knew it wasn't from the cold.
I tilted her head back, allowing the water to cascade over her hair, washing away the grime of battle. My fingers tangled in her wet locks, pulling her closer until her body was pressed against mine. I could feel her heart pounding in her chest, her breath coming in short, shallow gasps as I continued taking care of her.
When her body was finally clean, I allowed myself a moment to just look at her, to take in the sight of her, standing before me in the steamy water. She was breathtaking, her skin glowing in the dim light, her eyes half-lidded with desire.
"You're mine, Aria," I whispered against her ear, my voice full of dark promise. "And tonight, I'm going to show you what that means."
I moved behind her, my hands skimming down her sides, feeling the softness of her curves beneath my touch. The water lapped gently at our bodies, the heat from the pool mixing with the heat that radiated between us. I leaned in, my lips ghosting over the nape of her neck, where her pulse beat rapidly beneath the delicate skin.
"You've been defiant, little thief," I murmured, my voice a low growl against her ear. "I should punish you."
I felt her tense beneath me, her breath catching as I pulled her back against my chest, her wet hair clinging to my skin. My hands moved to her hips, gripping them firmly as I pressed myself against her, letting her feel the full force of my desire. She let out a soft gasp, her body arching involuntarily against me.
"But I wouldn't be alive if it wasn't for you, would I?" I continued, and she shivered.
"What do you want from me, Hades?" she asked, her voice trembling slightly, but still holding that edge of defiance that had drawn me to her in the first place.
I smiled against her neck, my teeth grazing her skin in a way that made her shiver.
"I want your surrender," I replied, my voice dark with promise. "I want you to give in to me completely, to let go of that stubborn pride and trust me to take care of you."
She turned her head slightly, her eyes meeting mine with a fierce, determined gaze.
"And if I don't?" she challenged, though I could hear the uncertainty in her voice, the way her resolve was beginning to crumble under the weight of the tension between us.
"Then I'll take what's mine," I said simply, my hands sliding up to cup her breasts, my thumbs brushing over her hardened nipples. "But I think you want this as much as I do, Aria. I can feel it in the way your body responds to me, in the way you tremble under my touch."
She bit her lip, her breath hitching as I continued to tease her, my hands roaming over her body with a possessiveness that left no doubt as to who she belonged to. Her defiance was slipping, giving way to the desire that I knew was burning inside her, just as fiercely as it burned inside me.
"Tell me, my sweet Aria," I whispered, my lips trailing down her neck, leaving a path of heat in their wake. "Do you want me to stop?"
She didn't answer right away, her body trembling with the effort to resist me, but I could feel her resolve crumbling as I pressed her further, pushing her to the edge of what she could handle.
Finally, she shook her head, her voice barely above a whisper.
"No," she breathed, the word filled with a mixture of surrender and longing. "Don't stop."
A triumphant growl rumbled in my chest as I turned her around to face me, my hands sliding up to cradle her face.
"Good girl," I murmured, capturing her lips in a fierce, claiming kiss. She melted into me, her arms wrapping around my neck as she gave herself over to the moment, to the fire that had been building between us since the day we met.
The kiss deepened, becoming more urgent, more desperate as we gave in to the need that had been simmering just beneath the surface. My hands roamed over her naked body, exploring every curve, every dip and rise.
I could never get enough of her.
The water swirled around us, warm and soothing, but it was nothing compared to the heat that blazed between us. My lips moved to her jaw, her neck, trailing down to her collarbone as I savored the taste of her skin, the way she trembled under my touch.
Her hands gripped at my shoulders, her nails digging into my skin as she held on to me, her breath coming in short, ragged gasps. I could feel the way her body leaned into mine, the way her heart pounded in time with my own.
"You're mine, Aria," I whispered again. "And I'm never going to let you go. Not now. Not ever."
Her breath hitched at my words. The last of her resistance seemed to melt away, leaving only the raw, unfiltered need between us. I could feel it in the way she pressed herself against me, her body surrendering to the heat that had been simmering between us for so long.
I pulled her closer, the hard length of my desire pressing against her thigh. She gasped, her eyes widening as she felt the evidence of my need for her, the proof that she was driving me just as wild as I was driving her.
With a growl of hunger, I captured her mouth again, this time with even more intensity. The water around us churned as I lifted her, her legs instinctively wrapping around my waist as I backed her against the cool stone wall of the grotto. The contrast between the cold rock and the heat of our bodies was intoxicating, sending a shiver through the both of us.
I broke the kiss, my forehead resting against hers as I caught my breath, the air between us heavy with desire.
"Aria," I murmured, my voice rough with the need that clawed at me from the inside. "You have no idea what you do to me."
Her eyes, dark with want, met mine, and I could see the conflict within them—the fierce determination that had kept her alive in battle today warring with the surrender she was so close to giving me.
"Show me," she whispered, trembling with both fear and anticipation. "Show me what it means to be yours."
A dark, triumphant smile curved my lips as I claimed her mouth once more, this time with a possessiveness that left no room for doubt. My hands roamed her body, exploring every curve, every dip, every inch of skin that was mine to claim. The feel of her beneath my hands, the way she responded to my touch, was almost too much to bear.
Almost .
I could feel her trembling beneath me, her body arching toward mine as if she couldn't get close enough, like she needed this as much as I did.
Aria's breath came in ragged gasps, her hands clinging to me as if I were the only thing keeping her grounded in this moment. The water swirled around us, the steam rising in thick tendrils, but it was the fire between us that threatened to consume everything.
I could feel her hips arching toward me, her body begging for more. A low growl rumbled in my chest as I kissed her again, this time with a desperation that was unlike anything I had ever felt. My hands gripped her hips, pulling her flush against me as I let the raw, primal need take over.
There would be time for slow exploration later—for now, I needed to claim her, to mark her as mine, to show her what it meant to truly surrender to me.
She moaned against my mouth, her fingers digging into my shoulders as I turned her around and lifted her, bending her over the ledge so I could see every inch of her delicious body waiting for me. I pressed her down onto the smooth, cold stone, drawing in a heated breath as she moaned low, the sound surging straight to my cock.
I traced my fingers up her upper leg, grazing along the curve of her beautiful ass all the way to her inner thighs. She shivered, not with fear, but with anticipation as I slipped my fingers between her legs. She was already slick with desire, her body begging for me, for what only I could give her.
Pulling my hand back, I slapped her ass lightly, jostling it just enough to make her gasp. She arched her back and I smacked it again, harder this time, hard enough to make her whimper.
She looked back over her shoulder at me, her eyes wide and glazed with need. Her cheeks flushed with color, her breathing shallow and fast, her body trembling.
"Please," she whispered, the word barely audible above the trickling water.
I decided to take my time. First, I was going to paint her bottom bright red, not because she had been naughty, but simply because I wanted to. I wanted her to feel the sting of my hand before I sank myself deep into her over and over again until she screamed my name.
I spanked her, hard and fast, causing her to squirm. Aria cried out, her body jerking with each blow, but there was no pain in her voice, only the pleasure of submission.
I wasn't punishing her. I was claiming her.
As mine, truly and completely.
I didn't stop until her ass was glowing a deep red and she was panting and crying out with each stroke of my hand. Only then did I finally step up behind her and run the tip of my cock over her wet slit.
She gasped and arched her back, pressing herself against me, but I didn't give her all of me just yet. Instead, I taunted her, tracing the head of my cock up and down her folds, grazing it over top of her clit, teasing her.
"Do you want this, little thief?"
"Yes," she moaned, her voice trembling with desire.
"Say it," I demanded. "Beg for your king's cock."
She let out a shaky breath, her voice barely above a whisper.
"Please, my king… please fuck me. Please give me your cock," she pleaded.
A growl escaped my throat as her words washed over me. My cock throbbed, fully erect and ready to take what was mine. As much as I wanted to make her wait, to drag this out for her and make her beg for me, I wanted to sink into her too, to feel her wet heat grasp at my cock as she broke apart beneath me.
With a single, fluid motion, I thrust into her, burying myself to the hilt. Her body tensed, her fingers gripping the stone ledge as I sank myself inside her. Her muscles clenched around me, squeezing my shaft as she took all of me.
Dear gods. This was what heaven felt like.
She was so tight, so wet, and so ready for me that it took everything I had not to spill myself into her right then and there.
I would fuck her long and hard, the way she needed to be fucked until she screamed my name as she came for me, and then I would introduce her tight little asshole to my tail.
I couldn't wait.