Chapter 96: Cursed
Emira cursed herself with every step she took toward Prince Kael. Why had she come down at this time? Why now, of all moments? If she had only stayed in her room, none of this would be happening. She could have thanked him later in the day, right? But no! She had to be a fool!
And when she had first heard their voices, why hadn’t she turned around and run? Why had she frozen instead? Had she lost all sense of self-protection after escaping the Moonville Pack? She used to remain ’invisible’ there to escape punishment but somehow, she was continuously coming into the limelight, despite not wanting to.
She clenched her jaw at the thought. She was supposed to know caution. She was supposed to be adept at avoiding traps. And yet here she was...walked right into one like a fool.
And now, the trap was closing around her.
The future Luna’s anger burned against her like heat from a fire, even though the woman was smiling still, her eyes were already promising her retribution.
And Kael... his provocation had been deliberate, to push the other woman further. What happened to his warning to her about not hurting his mate? So, it was okay if he hurt her? What a bas*ard! Just like Prince Zen.
Emira swallowed hard and tried to focus on the problem at hand.
How in the world was she supposed to know how he liked to be kissed? That wasn’t something she should be expected to know.
At this, her wolf stirred inside her, and said tauntingly. He has kissed you several times. You should know by now.
Emira felt her cheeks heat, and she quickly shoved the voice aside. That had been just during the heat... to help her.
Her wolf gave a low, taunting laugh in reply, but she ignored it, pushing it down, as she tried to hold herself together.
Her eyes flicked toward Ramona as she walked, and something desperate tightened in her chest. The woman stood a little distance away, frozen, her fists clenched at her sides, her gaze locked on the scene and tears in her eyes.
Emira sent her a silent, pleading look.
Come on, she begged inwardly. Be jealous. Stop me from kissing your mate. Isn’t that what mates do? Where is your possessive instinct? Where is your animal?
She begged harder with her eyes, hoping, wishing, but the woman didn’t move or even look at her. Not a step. Not a word. Not a glance.
And so Emira kept walking, each step heavier than the last. If only it was so easy, Prince Zen would not have put her upto this task... hmpf.
Her breath caught as she came to a stop before him and he did not even give her a glance. Was he really going to make her kiss him in front of his mate? And was he going to pretend that she was Ramona, Emira could not help but wonder.
Slowly, carefully, Emira lifted her leg and swung it across. Then the other. Then, she lowered herself down, her heart pounding painfully in her chest as she straddled his lap...
Finally, his eyes turned to her as he stared at her. Emira quickly turned her head away, baring her neck to show her surrender. She was not doing this of her own free will. It was only because it was his order! She just hoped he would not blame her later.
She felt his hand move and then stiffened when she felt him trace the Marking scar on her neck...
She stiffened, her heart hammering wildly. He knew what that scar meant. He knew it was theirs. And yet here he was, touching it in front of his own mate, almost lazily, like he wanted her to see. The taunt was clear.
Ramona didn’t carry his mark. But Emira did.
Emira’s stomach twisted painfully at the thought. Shame burned through her chest. She had never imagined that she would end up like this... She’d never known that the wolves could even take a slave, despite having a mate...
Her hand rose shakily and she cupped his face before leaning in slowly.
She didn’t want to hurt his mate. She didn’t want to become a weapon like that... But even though she felt resistant, she knew she could not refuse him... So, she closed the distance between them and tilted her head.
Her head tilted. The distance between them shrank.
She could feel his breath against her lips now even though his gaze was still on his mate.
Just as their mouths were about to meet, a broken whimper echoed in the room.
Emira froze. Her lips hovered a breath away from his.
Relief swept through Emira’s chest. He would go to his mate now. He would stop this humiliating act. She was ready to scramble off his lap and eager to get away but before she could move, his hand pressed hard against the back of her neck.
She looked into his eyes and suddenly, he was looking at her directly...
And then, with deliberate force, he pulled her down and crushed his lips against hers.
Her eyes widened and her body went stiff with shock.
The force of his mouth on hers was as demanding as it had been when she had first woken up. Not giving her a chance to think or act, simply taking what belonged to him.
She tried to remind herself that this was only for show, only meant as a weapon against his mate. But the strength of the kiss, the way his mouth slanted over hers and his tongue caressed hers, she soon lost her train of thought...
Her lips parted on a gasp, and he seized the chance, deepening the kiss with such dominance that it stole the very breath from her lungs and she kissed him back, trying to get closer to him. Her insides heated up and she let out a moan, unable to hold back...