5. Ayana

Iran.

I ran from Soren's snarling face, his fangs elongated and his eyes glinting with ravenous intent. I ran from Rikke and Vester as they struggled to hold him, their muscles bulging with the strain.

I ran until my lungs burned, and my muscles screamed. The wreckage of the Nightfall loomed around me like a graveyard of twisted metal. I dodged debris, scrambled over broken chunks of the hull, and ducked under cables sparking with the last vestiges of electricity.

But most of all, I ran from myself. From the raw power and energy that pulsed through me, demanding to be unleashed.

From the ache between my thighs and the heat pooling in my belly.

From the terror and pain that squeezed at my heart when I'd cracked open my eyes and found Soren impaled on pieces of his ship that would have meant my death. I'd acted on instinct, ordering those closest to me to help rip the metal from his broken body and throwing all my healing skills into those horrible wounds.

Soren's words echoed in my head, his voice taut with a dark promise. I'm going to chase you, Ayana. I'm going to fuck you wherever I find you and claim you as my mate.

I'd witnessed what happened when Soren tapped into his power, watched the way his shadows lashed out and ripped into flesh. I couldn't imagine what it would be like to have that unleashed on my body, to feel those tendrils caressing my bare skin as he claimed me.

I shouldn't have wanted him. He'd abducted me, held me at knifepoint, used me to save his spy.

But he'd also saved my life. He'd protected me and treated me with respect. He'd shown me that I was more than a slave, that I was capable of so much more than I ever imagined.

I stumbled through the ruins of the ship, my heart pounding and my breath coming in quick gulps. Overhead, the sky roiled with ominous clouds. The air crackled with the promise of a storm and sent a shiver down my spine.

I needed shelter. A place to hide from both the elements and the predator on my heels.

Desperation drove me forward. The jungle loomed ahead, a dense tangle of overgrown trees and glowing fungi. I plunged into the underbrush, branches tearing at my clothes and skin. The strange, gloomy light surrounded me and filled my vision with an eerie glow.

A crash sounded behind me and, against my better judgment, I risked a glance over my shoulder. A whimper clawed its way out of my throat at the sight of the creature giving chase. Darkness flowed from him like a cloak. His eyes burned with golden fire. He was a beast, a monster, a king of shadows, with his mate in sight.

Soren was magnificent.

"You can't escape me, pet." His voice cut through the gloom, sending another shiver down my spine.

I reached deep within myself and threw out my power behind me as I ran. Tendrils of green energy shot across the jungle floor, wrapping around the thick tree trunks. The plants responded to my call, fast-growing vines and roots snaking out to ensnare my wraith king.

But Soren barely slowed. He moved like a specter, his form fading in and out of view. Shadows danced around him and shredded the vegetation I hurled in his path.

I ran harder, my feet flying over the uneven ground. Rain began pelting the canopy overhead. Lightning lit up the sky, illuminating the ruined buildings of an ancient settlement ahead. Thunder rumbled as I bolted for the crumbling walls.

And still, he gained on me.

I leapt over the fallen stones, the mossy ground slick beneath my feet. My chest heaved and my legs ached, but I kept moving deeper into the ruins. Footsteps pounded behind me, ahead of me, all around.

I darted to the left, aiming for the deep shadows beneath a broken archway. The air inside the vast chamber was thick with the scent of rotting leaves and damp earth. Columns ran the length of the room, disappearing into the darkness above.

"Your power calls to mine." Soren's voice was closer now, a whispered promise in my ear. "I can taste you on the air. Feel you in every heartbeat."

I crouched behind the weathered slab of an ancient altar and slammed my hands over my mouth, trying to quiet my ragged breathing. A thrill of fear and anticipation shot through me.

An unnerving silence descended, broken only by the sounds of the rain falling outside. The hairs on the back of my neck prickled as I imagined my hunter stalking closer.

The wall across from me exploded in a shower of stone and choking dust. I threw my arms up to shield my face, coughing as the debris filled my lungs.

He'd found me.

Soren's eyes gleamed with golden fire as he stepped through the rubble. He moved with the grace of a predator, each step deliberate and purposeful as he closed the distance between us.

I ducked low and made a desperate sprint towards the nearest doorway. He didn't move a muscle. He had no need to when I was already caught.

Inky tendrils of shadow lashed out before I made it three steps. Darkness coiled around my wrists and ankles and yanked me to an abrupt stop. I struggled against their grip, but it was useless. He had me exactly where he wanted me.

The bright gold eyes of my wraith should have scared me.

A thrill sank slowly down my spine instead.

Soren moved with deliberate steps, a predator circling his prey. He paused only inches away, the warmth of his body washing over me like a wave. His chest heaved with exertion, the muscles of his arms and torso rippling beneath his purple skin.

His shadows skimmed up my legs, tendrils of darkness slithering over my skin like a caress. I gasped as they snaked higher, teasing the sensitive skin of my inner thighs.

He cocked his head, his eyes sliding closed as he inhaled deeply. A slow smile spread over his lips. "I can taste your need."

His words sent a shudder of desire through me. He was right. Adrenaline dumped into my veins and pure desire bubbled to the top. I'd never felt so connected to anyone before. I wanted to lose myself in him, to give in to the madness of this moment and to whatever lay beyond.

He leaned in, his breath hot on my neck. His sharpened canines grazed the delicate skin of my throat, and a small whimper escaped my lips.

"You are mine." He traced his tongue along my collarbone, a hint of his fangs dragging over the thin skin.

His hands landed on my hips. Heat blossomed on my skin under the pressure of his fingers.

And suddenly, I wasn't just trapped by his shadows.

I was trapped in his gaze.

His golden eyes bored into mine as he slowly dragged his palms upward. He took in every rise and fall of my chest, every shiver of pleasure. His touch was electricity in my blood, setting me on fire with every inch.

His shadows slid higher, matching the slow crawling pace set by his palms. I sucked in a shallow breath, a whine catching in the back of my throat.

Soren only smirked in response. He knew exactly what he was doing to me, and he relished in it.

"Let me ease that ache between your thighs," he murmured, his tongue flicking out to tease the sensitive spot just below my ear.

His hand closed around my breast the same moment a tendril of shadow pressed hard between my thighs. A moan slipped from my lips, the sound mingling with the howling wind outside.

The darkness ripped at my clothing, buttons flying everywhere. Cool air caressed my heated skin as the fabric pooled at my feet.

My knees nearly buckled as the tendril continued stroking, now against my clit, without any fabric separating us. I couldn't focus on anything beyond the pressure building within me. The world seemed to shrink, narrowing until there was only this moment, only us.

Soren's golden eyes raked over me hungrily, drinking in the sight of my naked form.

"So responsive," he murmured. "You like this, don't you? Being completely at my mercy."

His palm kneaded my breast, rolling the hardened peak between his thumb and forefinger.

I moaned, my eyelids fluttering shut. Pleasure rippled through me in waves, each one crashing over me with more intensity than the last. I was close. So close. I needed more. Needed to come.

My hips bucked wildly, searching for release. But each time I got close, the tendrils retreated. They teased my entrance, rubbing the seam of my pussy, but never dipped inside. It was torture. Sweet, delicious torture.

I growled in frustration and reached for my own power, sending the green shimmering sparks into my fingers. I shoved at him, the same as when he'd grabbed me in his quarters.

Soren staggered back as I landed on my feet. Surprise flashed in his molten eyes, quickly followed by amusement. His dark chuckle stroked my skin and sent a shiver of anticipation down my spine. "You want to play rough, pet?"

Without warning, his shadows lashed out, coiling around my waist and yanking me to my knees. More of the dark tendrils crept up my calves, winding around my thighs and spreading them wide. I felt utterly exposed and completely vulnerable.

Soren smiled, a wicked, delicious grin as he stepped forward. His fingers worked open the front of his pants and freed his thick length.

My breath caught in my throat. He was huge, bigger than any of the holoporn I'd glimpsed on venterran screens. His shaft was darker than the rest of his purple skin, and ridged just like his horns. A pearly bead of moisture glistened on the tip and, without thinking, I flicked my tongue over my lips.

"Yes, pet," Soren hissed. "Open your mouth for me."

His shadows crawled up my stomach and toyed with my nipples. Pinching. Rolling. Tugging. I arched into the touch, my mouth falling open as a strangled gasp escaped.

Soren wasted no time. He threaded his fingers through my hair, guiding me to his waiting cock. "That's it, pet. Take it all."

The heavy weight of him on my tongue sent a shock of desire straight to my core. I moaned as I wrapped my lips around the swollen head, tasting the saltiness of his essence. I could barely take him, his massive size stretching my mouth and making my jaw ache.

He tightened his grip on my hair, his nostrils flaring. "That's it. Gods, I've wanted this from the moment I saw you."

Shadows slithered between my thighs and stroked my clit. I rocked against the touch, desperate for friction.

Soren began to move, pumping his hips in slow, controlled thrusts. The silken slide of him against my tongue made me lightheaded, made my blood roar in my ears. My core clenched, aching to be filled.

"Relax," Soren growled, his voice guttural and rasping. "Let me use this sweet mouth."

He surged forward, his cock hitting the back of my throat. And between my legs, his shadows slipped inside me.

Pleasure wracked my body, each thrust of his shadows accompanied by a bob of my head on his thick cock. I couldn't focus on anything except the overwhelming sensation of being fucked from both ends.

I was close to coming undone. The shadows licked at my core, my own magic surging up in response. Together, they were a tidal wave, pushing me closer and closer to the edge.

"Yes," Soren groaned, his eyes wild. "That's it. Let me feel you come around me."

He pushed his shadows deeper, filling me until I was impossibly full. Stars danced in my vision as I teetered on the brink, and his shadows moved faster and harder, curling to rub that perfect spot.

My release ripped through me, my moan muffled by his cock buried in my throat. My whole body quaked, my vision blurring at the edges. I trembled from the sheer force of it.

Soren pulled back, his lips curled back in a snarl. He was breathtaking in his feral desire. His shadows whipped around him like a wild storm, lashing at the ground and walls.

Before I knew what was happening, Soren had lifted me up and pinned me against the altar. The tips of his fingers pricked with claws, fingers he dug into my ass to haul me to the edge of the stone.

Soren captured my lips in a hungry kiss, his tongue plunging into my mouth. He devoured me, consumed me, branded me with his touch.

I melted into him, lost in the wildness of it all. Nothing existed except us. No war, no armies, no Triarchy. There was only him, only this moment, only his hard cock poised at my entrance.

I moaned as his thick, ridged tip stretched my opening. He was a delicious, burning intrusion that had my toes curling.

"Fuck, you're tight," Soren groaned, his breath warm against my ear. "You feel so good, pet. So fucking good."

I threw my head back as he pressed deeper. His shadows licked at my skin, coiling around my breasts and teasing my nipples. Another inch, and another, and another. I was so full of him, of his scent and his power and his cock.

He gripped my hip in one hand, holding me steady as he sank the last of his length into me. "Gods, you were made for me."

I whimpered in response, unable to form words. His ridged shaft rubbed me in all the right places, creating an exquisite friction. Desperate for more, desperate for him, I grabbed his horns and dragged his mouth to mine.

Soren snarled against my lips as his hips snapped forward. He buried himself to the hilt, each ridge of his cock dragging along my inner walls. "Fucking perfect."

He gripped my ass and slammed into me, over and over, each stroke claiming me, marking me as his.

My nails dug into the muscles of his back as I clung to him. I wanted more, needed more. I rocked my hips to meet his thrusts, urging him deeper, harder. Those ridges hit that perfect spot, again and again, each pump of his hips bringing me closer to the edge.

"This is where I should crown you," Soren growled.

His shadows whipped around us. They curled around my ankles, my thighs, my breasts. Everywhere they touched, they left trails of fire in their wake.

"Where I should spread you wide," he punctuated the word with a deep thrust. "And let everyone watch me worship this dripping cunt."

I was spiraling out of control, losing myself in the heat of him, the strength of him. Every stroke of his cock sent me hurtling towards the edge of oblivion. I couldn't think, couldn't breathe, couldn't do anything except feel.

"Let them beg for the honor of hearing you come on my cock." He slammed into me again and again, his thrusts growing more frenzied, more erratic.

Shadows spilled from him like ink, swirling over and around us, cocooning us in a dark embrace. My eyes rolled back as the world went black, and all I could see, all I could hear, was him.

His breath was hot on my throat, his fangs grazing the delicate skin of my neck. He slammed into me again, driving me into the wall behind us. I was so close.

"Mine," he snarled, his voice low and dangerous.

Those shadows were everywhere, in every fiber of my being. They pulsed at my clit, drawing tight circles that had my breath hitching in my throat. Pleasure climbed up my spine, my every nerve ending alight with sensation.

With one final, brutal thrust, we soared over the edge. The world seemed to fracture around me, colors dancing at the edges of my vision. All I could feel was his heat, his magic, his cock buried deep in my core.

Soren sank his fangs into my throat. Pain bloomed, followed swiftly by a rush of ecstasy. Warmth flooded my body, infusing my blood and soul with the sense of belonging. Of rightness.

This was where I was meant to be.

Soren held me close as we rode out our release. His shadows slowly dissipated, allowing the faint light from the jungle to filter into our bubble. He raised his head from the crook of my neck, his eyes locking on mine as he pulled back and licked the tiny beads of blood off his bottom lip.

"Cor Umbra," Soren whispered as he pressed kisses to the bite mark on my neck. "My mate. My queen."