CHAPTER SEVEN

The night sky lit up in a dazzling display of metallic fireworks. The loud booms and brilliant patterns left me momentarily stunned. Just how long had he been planning this? The entire cityscape was painted in Maelstrom colors, creating a mesmerizing backdrop to the cascade of thoughts racing through my mind.

Aidoneus sat adjacent to me, pouring two glasses of an amber liquid from a crystal decanter. "To vows of blood and the beginning of us," he offered me one along with the first words he'd spoken since we had gotten into this vehicle.

I silently accepted the glass and downed it in one go. The liquor burned its way through me, a welcome distraction as I tried to find any semblance of clarity.

"Looks like there's a lot on your mind."

"I can't make sense of why this is happening. What's the reason you're doing this?"

His gaze met mine, steady and unwavering. "I already told you that, before we even reached home—the estate."

"That is not my home," I shot back.

He leaned closer, his voice low and assertive. "It is your home now, Korinna. And there, you will live like the queen you are."

I squeezed the glass, feeling trapped and overwhelmed. "Why was my family dragged to the chapel? I thought if I went with you, they'd be safe."

"And they will, so long as they don't attempt anything heroic. Your father's face? That was his from his first try. There won't be a second."

I swallowed and glanced away from him, knowing he meant that. It was no idle threat or promise. He refilled my glass, and I immediately took another sip, slower this time. Whatever this was had a potent effect. "Is that how it's going to be? You use my friends and family to keep me under control?"

He laughed lightly. "I don't need to resort to threats to keep you under control, Korinna. I'm capable of doing that on my own."

"Then why were they there?"

He took a sip of his drink and glanced down, swirling it within the glass, meeting my eyes again when he took another drink. "How could they miss such an important event in their daughter's life?"

I barely stopped myself from swearing at him. "You can't be serious."

"I'm nothing but serious. You're only doing this once. I will ensure they are present for all of your achievements, even if it's at gunpoint." He glanced at my attire, his lips curling into a faint smile. "You look exceptionally beautiful tonight, by the way."

"So you mentioned."

He chuckled, unbothered by my retort and less-than-enthused attitude. "Look outside. We're nearing our destination."

I looked out the window just as the limo smoothly glided onto a secluded road.

Elysium's noise faded into a distant hum as we drove farther. Not long after, a sign that read Horizon Resort began to glow brighter the closer we drew to it. I'd heard of this place from Nefertari.

The resort was renowned for its exclusivity and was an oasis of opulence and privacy. It cost a small fortune to stay at and was nestled between the mesmerizing expanse of the ocean and the lush, sprawling beauty of the Obsidian Gardens.

The limo eased to a gentle stop at a secluded walkway lined with softly glowing lanterns. This path, I gathered, led directly to the suite reserved for us. I could think of only one thing that would occur once we were inside. The door of the limo slid open, the mechanism controlled by an unseen driver. Aidoneus stepped out first, extending his hand to assist me. As I took it, the reality of my situation pressed upon me once more.

The distant sound of waves crashing against the shore was somewhat soothing. The scent of blooming flowers from the gardens wafted toward us, making the setting even more surreal.

Aidoneus led me up the pathway, his gait unhurried . A surge of nerves threatened to overwhelm me. Reaching the suite's entrance, he used his fingerprint to unlock the door. It granted him access with a soft beep. We were greeted by an intimate setting. Deep red, nearly black, drapes hung from the ceiling, pooling onto the floor. On a table to our left, a chilled bottle of champagne rested in a bucket of ice, two slender glasses placed beside it, waiting to be filled.

I stepped inside and looked around. Aidoneus moved behind me, his fingers lightly brushing the back of my neck, sending shivers down my spine.

"Do you like it?" His voice held a note of amusement, almost as if he already knew the effect that he had on me.

"It's...overwhelming. A lot to take in," I whispered, my gaze drawn to the king-sized bed in the center of the room. Its covers were a deep black, contrasting against the crimson pillows and white narcissus petals scattered upon it.

He leaned down, his lips grazing my ear.

"Perfect for our first night as an official couple, don't you think?" His words were imbued with an underlying dominance, holding a promise and threat all in one.

I pulled away, needing to put some distance between us, my heart racing. "Was the lavish suite necessary?" I questioned, trying to mask my vulnerability.

He walked to the side table and took his time pouring champagne into the glasses. The liquid bubbled and frothed as he spoke. "I would've fucked you at the coffee house bent over the counter. At the chapel on top of the altar. The back of the limo. The location didn't matter." He paused and looked over at me. "I don't need any of this extravagance to fuck you, Visara . It's what you deserve."

I shifted uncomfortably at his declaration—the directness of it. "Now you're concerned about what I deserve?"

"If I wasn't, things would have gone much differently."

I held back my next retort, remembering how easily he'd had Dominic, my neighbor, killed.

"Now, enough with the unpleasantries. We don't need to worry about those right now." He approached me, holding out one of the glasses.

It wasn't wise for me to be mixing so many alcohols. My body still felt warm and heady from whatever I'd drank at the chapel. But I was in no state to turn it down, either. As I accepted the glass, our fingers brushed, an electric charge passing between us.

"To us," he toasted, clinking our glasses together.

His beautiful eyes bore into mine, filled with promises of power, pleasure, and a depth that both intrigued and frightened me. Despite the twisted nature of it all, his allure was undeniable, a magnetic pull that I couldn't resist, no matter how much I tried. As I drank, I felt more of that strange warmth spreading through me, like a subtle awakening of something deep within. The connection between us felt more tangible, a silent thread pulling us closer.

I took another sip as if it would chase the sensation away, champagne bubbles dancing on my tongue. The air carried the scent of daffodils, and petals were scattered across the polished wooden floor. A large floor-to-ceiling window framed a picturesque view of the night sky and the vast ocean beyond, illuminated by the distant glow of the city. Silvery light from the moon poured in, casting ethereal shadows on the floor and walls. It painted both of us in a soft glow, adding to the ambiance . The surreal beauty of the scene clashed with the chaos inside me.

From my peripheral, I watched Aidoneus move away and sit his glass down, reflexively tightening my grip on mine. He returned to my side, and though I did my best to appear oblivious, I could feel the warmth emanating from him.

"I've never been one for patience." His voice dripped with dark intent. "But for you, I'm trying." He moved so that he was in front of me, his footfalls silent for such a large man. His proximity had the subtle warmth I had felt intensifying, spreading through me like a soft flame.

Every breath I took was filled with his intoxicating scent, clouding my thoughts and making it difficult to focus on anything else but him. It was so potent I had to catch myself before I reacted. I tried to shake off the feeling, but the pull was undeniable, and I couldn't help but wonder what it was about him that drew me in so completely.

His fingers, gentle yet firm, traced along my jaw, causing me to shiver involuntarily. His thumb brushed over my lower lip, hinting at a more possessive touch. I could barely breathe; every ounce of my awareness fixated on him. I could feel my pupils shift slightly, my vision momentarily sharpening to an almost supernatural clarity. Colors seemed more vivid, and I could see minute details with startling precision. The sudden change scared me, and without meaning to, I looked up at him and said out loud, "I don't know what's wrong with me."

"Absolutely nothing," he replied, his voice a deep rumble. "You're exactly what I've been waiting for."

I didn't understand, but all thoughts were forgotten when his eyes seemed to flash, and he pulled me closer. There was a charged moment of stillness before he broke it by pulling me to him. Our lips met in a searing kiss, a mix of his command and my vulnerability. It was hard and demanding, an assertion of dominance, but also an act of possessiveness.

My glass fell from my hand, shattered and abandoned as he held me tighter and moved me to the bed. My dress was removed in much less time than it had taken me to get it on. Once it hit the ground, he ran his fingers down my arms and took both of my hands into his as he stepped bac k , the new ring on my finger a reminder of what I was to him. I was exposed, but also strangely exhilarated under his piercing gaze.

The lace undergarments still offered a semblance of cover while the heels I wore emphasized the difference in our statures. The bow in my hair seemed out of place, a symbol of innocence amidst the inevitable carnality.

"Look at you," he murmured quietly. "Every inch of you—this beautiful body belongs to me. I'll make sure you remember that."

That wasn't just a statement—it was a decree. I swallowed hard, trying to process his words, the suite, everything. It was all happening so fast. He pulled me close again, his mouth finding the curve of my neck. My entire body warmed at the contact, and I barely suppressed a moan. His lips trailed up my jawline and skimmed across my cheek before meeting with mine once more.

I couldn't hold back this time. A treacherous, breathy sound escaped me as he deepened the kiss, his tongue gently seeking entrance. There was no denying the connection between us, one that seemed both forbidden and inevitable. His hands traveled along the curve of my waist, each touch sending waves of sensation coursing through me. My fingers found their way to his hair, gripping the dark strands. He broke the kiss, trailing a series of soft pecks back down my jawline and onto my collarbone.

The lace of my bra disappeared, joining the dress. As he continued to kiss his way down my body, my stomach dipped. He used his teeth to slide my lacy thong down my legs, his hands making quick work of his shirt.

When he shrugged it off, never stopping what he was doing with his mouth, I caught sight of the sleeve that covered his entire right arm but was too focused on what he was doing to study it. His lips and the tip of his tongue moved over my center, the small triangular patch of hair that had been left on my body, teasing me with the lightest of touches. I breathed in and out, my thighs clenching in response to what he was doing.

Drawing back, he looked at me.

I met his gaze, torn between right and wrong and the whirlwind of feelings he had evoked within me. My vision sharpened, allowing me to see him with an almost otherworldly clarity. He was so gorgeous, every detail of his face etched with perfect precision. Unable to resist, I reached out and him, my fingers trembling.

"Your eyes... they're glowing," I murmured, entranced by the luminous intensity.

His expression softened for a moment, a mix of power and tenderness that left me breathless. I knew I could either accept this or fight it and be forced to endure. I didn't want to do that to myself. There was a silent acknowledgment between us—a mutual understanding that tonight, boundaries would be pushed and lines would be crossed. Not breaking eye contact, he spread my legs apart and slowly ran his tongue over my pussy from bottom to top.

"Mm," he hummed appreciatively. "I've dreamed of tasting you for months on end." He gently teased my clit before repeating the motion, going back down.

I rolled my lower lip between my teeth and closed my eyes.

"Look at me." His hands went to my hips and gripped them harshly.

I forced myself to comply, gasping when he pushed his tongue inside me.

He kept going, sucking, licking, and fucking me with his mouth. I couldn't move, his grip too strong. I was forced to stand and let him make a mess between my thighs. I was so wet, I could feel it on his face. He closed his lips around my clit and began to stroke it with the tip of his tongue, back and forth until my legs started to shake. I was hit with a sudden wave of pleasure that had me loudly crying out and grabbing handfuls of his hair.

Before I could come down and attempt to gather my bearings, his hands slid up and cupped my ass. He rose in one fluid motion, lifting me and dropping me onto the bed. The air whooshed out of my lungs, my body cradled by the plush bedding and large mattress. His face was covered in my juices and cum. He didn't even attempt to wipe it off. With one hand, he undid his belt and pulled it off. I ran my eyes over his gorgeous body, feeling them widen when his slacks and briefs came off.

Gods, he was huge .

His cock was long and thick. A thin vein ran up the side of it. He moved forward with a predatory grace and spread my legs.

My heels were the only thing left of my attire and he removed them with ease, flinging them across the room. He positioned himself over top of me and leaned down. His mouth connected with mine, and he began to ease his cock inside me. I whimpered against him and reflexively grabbed onto his broad shoulders. I couldn't hold still as he eased in farther, beginning to slide up the bed. He drew back and wrapped his hand around my throat.

"Be still," he commanded, pinning me in place.

I moaned unintelligibly in response, barely registering him speaking to me. He was stretching and filling me more than I ever had been before.

"Please," I begged, not even sure what I was asking for.

He swore harshly. "I'm not even halfway in , Visari ." He repositioned himself, and keeping one hand around my throat, he hooked one of my legs over his shoulder. "Take a deep breath, sweetheart."

I did as he said, crying out loudly as he forced himself all the way inside me, going so deep it felt like I would be split in two.

The warmth flared into something so unbearable I was caught in an orbit of pain and pleasure. He lowered my leg and pressed himself impossibly closer. I whimpered softly, struggling to adjust to the size of him as he began fucking me savagely, every thrust eliciting a cry from my mouth. His eyes never left my face. I could plainly see how affected he was by being inside of me. His smoldering stare and the bruising grip he had on my throat only heightened my pleasure.

An overwhelming surge of energy coursed through me unlike anything I had ever felt before. The heat seemed to radiate from the very core of our beings. The air around us crackled with a palpable, electrifying force . The moans pouring from me bounced off the walls in tandem with the sound of our bodies coming together.

My body began to tremble. I was so close to the edge I couldn't help but use him to anchor myself.

I dug my nails into his back—his grip tightened in response, a low growl unfurling from his chest. Aidoneus's eyes remained locked onto mine, the usual intensity now magnified with a brilliant, almost otherworldly light. The energy between us grew stronger, reaching a peak that was both exhilarating and overwhelming. As my body began to tense, my pussy tightening around his cock, I instinctively pulled him closer. His grip strengthened, and I started to feel light-headed.

"Fuck, you're so beautiful" he groaned harshly, hitting a spot inside me I could never find. I flew apart, coming so hard spots danced across my vision. As they cleared, my senses heightened; I could see every detail of Aidoneus with crystal clarity, his form radiating a powerful, almost mythical aura.

The scent of his skin, rich and intoxicating, wrapped around me, pulling me deeper into the moment. I cried out as I came again. Aidoneus kissed me, swallowing each of my ragged breaths as he continued to make good on his promise of my body belonging to him.

I was on the cusp of surrendering to sleep's embrace when Aidoneus' fingers began to weave through my hair, drawing lazy patterns on my scalp. I didn't bother protesting. After what we'd just done, him playing with my hair was innocent and the least of my concerns.

Just as I was about to drift off, his voice, cold and smooth, whispered in the dark. "I have one last surprise for you."

Before I could protest, he was on his feet. I remained as I was, not wanting to move. His dark chuckle was what ultimately caught my attention.

"You won't want to miss this."

Hearing him say that had a small ball of dread forming in my gut.

His idea of endearing gestures seemed to come with chaos or bloodshed. Nothing with this man had been simple thus far.

Not even sex.

No, that wasn't what we'd just done.

What happened between us was some kind of twisted need to fuck. I had never wanted someone the way I did him. I needed him inside me. I'd wanted it. And that heat…I could still feel it, just less intense. The warring between physical and mental left me almost as drained as he did. He had continued to make me come with his cock, tongue, and fingers again and again until finally allowing his own release.

I didn't know what came over me and wasn't in a place to examine my actions too closely without completely breaking down. I sat up, ignoring the aches in my body as best I could. I didn't dare look at my neck right then. He handed me his black suit jacket before I had the chance to ask what I should put on. I could barely register the stark contrast it made against my skin as I pulled it around me.

The rhythmic crash of the ocean below filled the silence, punctuating each of his movements. He extended his hand, pulling me upright. My legs felt like jelly beneath me, but he held me firm, his grip unyielding. Without a word, he guided me to the suite's door.

As Aidoneus and I walked, cascading waterfalls trickled into pools, reflecting the pale moonlight, their depths seemingly infinite.

Marble statues loomed around us, their stoic faces turned to the night sky as if in prayer or lament. The air was fragrant with night blooms, their soft aroma enveloping us, and the gentle glow from fungi painted our path in ghostly luminescence. We reached a central clearing, dominated by a black marble dais. The blue flames from the torches at its corners threw eerie, dancing shadows across its polished floor. Above it, a gothic canopy stood sentinel, the intertwined vines and roses glistening in the shifting light. In the center was my surprise.

Ezra.

On the raised dais, he stood naked and visibly battered. His defiant eyes landed on me for a brief moment before looking away. Two imposing men stood on either side of him, ensuring he remained in place.

"What is this?" My voice was barely a whisper.

He slipped an arm around my waist and leaned close. "This is your final goodbye."

"What?"

He kissed my temple and stepped away. "Ezra didn't tell you he'd joined the Viel?"

I swallowed harshly as his rhetorical question confirmed my worst fear.

"He joined up with them and then got close to you, to get to me," he continued.

My brow pinched, and I looked between the two of them. "What do you mean?"

Aidoneus stopped and stood so that he was facing both of us. "Exactly what it sounds like. Ezra was using you to get to me."

Ezra didn't deny or confirm the accusation, but his entire body tensed in anger.

I wasn't na?ve or foolish enough to take Aidoneus' words at face value, but it was just the same for the opposite. My whole life seemed to be unraveling at a speed I couldn't comprehend, and deceit and secrets were at the root of it all.

That didn't matter right then.

Whatever Ezra may have lied to me about, I didn't want to see him dead, but I had no idea how to save him from this.

"I…I don't know what to do."

Aidoneus tilted his head and looked at me with an inscrutable expression for a brief moment. "You don't have to do anything. I will handle it all."

"I don't want—"

"Wait," he interjected, beginning to circle Ezra, a sinister smile on his lips. "You know, he always believed you and he had something special. That he could protect you from the world's dangers. From me." Aidoneus paused, and one of the Enforcers took a silent step back. "Look at her, Ezra. Isn't she beautiful? Does she look like someone that belongs in the slums?" He gestured towards me, drawing Ezra's gaze in my direction.

I felt exposed under their combined stares, like a deer caught in headlights, wearing nothing but Aidoneus' suit jacket. It covered everything while leaving no guesses as to what we'd been doing.

"She never sounded like that when you fucked her, did she? Never begged for more or came so hard she drew blood."

I clenched my fist, guilt gnawing at my gut along with a slow-churning rage.

"He didn't see anything, Visari ," Aidoneus stated. "I would never allow another man to see you like that." He reached out and took hold of Ezra's flaccid cock, gently extending it and brushing his thumb over the tip.

I blinked, taken aback by the act. Ezra's chest heaved like an enraged bull, but he made no move to stop Aidoneus from doing whatever he intended.

"This itty-bitty cock did nothing for her. I almost feel bad for you." He held his other hand out and issued an order in his dialect that I couldn't understand. The enforcer closest to him fluidly removed a gun from his side and handed it to Aidoneus.

The sight of it made my stomach drop. He cocked his head and ran the barrel up and down the length of Ezra's cock. I could do nothing as all the color drained from his face.

"It sickens me that you put your hands on what was mine, Ezra. You're absolute fucking scum. A bottom feeder I wouldn't allow to eat a whore's ass."

"She isn't yours," Ezra seethed, his skin drenched in sweat.

"No? She's draped in my jacket, resting in my suite, and very soon she'll be wholly mine, in every sense of the word. How does it feel? Knowing you couldn't protect her from me?"

I wanted to scream at him to stop, but his visceral reaction when I simply mentioned Ezra's name warned me from pleading on his behalf. Ezra's eyes met mine, and I could see that his fierce defiance now simmered with raw pain and rage. The secrets he kept from me hurt us both. There was so much we needed to say, and I could feel it in my soul that we wouldn't get the chance to do so.

I opened my mouth to speak, and the look that came across his face stopped me cold.

"You won't break her spirit, Aidoneus. No matter what you do. She's stronger than you think."

Tears sprang to my eyes, and I slowly shook my head. I wasn't strong, not at all. I wasn't brave either. The idea that everyone had of me was nothing like who I believed myself to be.

"Your concern is touching." Aidoneus chuckled coldly and moved so that his back was to me. "I wanted you to have one last memory of her. I think her screaming my name is fitting; shame you won't be alive to cherish it."

He raised the gun and pulled the trigger.

The world seemed to stop.

He kept going until he ran out of bullets. Ezra's body fell limp, the light in his eyes fading away. A stifling silence gripped the gardens, the air thick with the finality of death. I felt a scream building up inside me, but before it could escape, it transformed into gut-wrenching sobs.

My knees buckled, and I would have collapsed had Aidoneus not caught me, holding me up with an iron grip.

"Steady now," he murmured, his voice chillingly calm. "No need for dramatics. The night's still young."

He tossed the emptied weapon to the Enforcer who had handed it to him and then, with surprising gentleness, lifted me into his arms. From over his shoulder, my gaze collided with Ezra's empty eyes, a sight that would forever haunt me.

Tears blurred my vision as Aidoneus silently carried me back into the suite. The darkness of the room enveloped us, the outside world seemingly locked away once the door closed. He took me to the bed, gently setting me upon it.

"Go ahead and cry ." His fingers weaved through my hair in a soft caress that contrasted starkly with the coldness of his actions.

I didn't need his encouragement. I sobbed, raw and unrestrained, grief and guilt threatening to shatter me from the inside. "Why did you do that?" I choked out, my voice trembling. "Why did you make me watch?"

He glanced down at me, a dark glint in his eyes. "Do you really hate my gift that much?"

It felt like an eternity passed before he cupped my face, forcing me to meet his gaze.

I could see a flicker of something—maybe adoration—that I didn't understand.

"Even now, you're breathtakingly beautiful."

I had no time to react. He leaned in, his tongue darting out to catch a salty trail of my tears. The sensation was both intimate and terrifying. The intimacy of the gesture felt like a violation. He pulled back slightly, his eyes holding a dark promise. "This is the first and last time you cry over another man," he declared softly. "Starting tomorrow, your new life begins."

The words hit me hard.

I was trapped in a world I didn't understand, bound to a man whose capacity for cruelty seemed limitless. My life, my choices, were no longer my own. I was now irrevocably entwined with Aidoneus Maelstrom, and nothing would ever be the same.