Page 85 of The Sorcerer of Shadowholde

He had to drag his eyes away from a couple having sex, his mouth agape with shock.

When she reached him, he pulled her into a hug, and she could feel his heart pounding in his chest.

He pulled away, brows furrowed as he glanced about the room. “Whatis going on here?”

“Apparently a typical High Consul party. Drusus wasn’t wrong about the rumors of debauchery.” Vita followed his gaze to the man still strapped to the wooden X, still writhing in agony from the denied orgasm. “I don’t know half these people, though. Some of them are Renatus’ thralls.”

Verian took a gulp of air as his stare pulled to another sight. Again, she turned to see what had his eyes so wide, but snorted a laugh as she realized who it was.

Aurora and Petran.

More specifically, Aurora fucking Petran, a faux phallus strapped around her pelvis with leather bindings. Petran was on all fours while she kneeled behind him, thrusting just as a man would.

“I did not know that was something people did,” Verian murmured, clearly enamored with the view in front of him.

This was new to her as well.

Petran must have sensed their gaping stares, turning his head to them with a grin. He reached between his legs, stroking his hard cock in time with Aurora’s thrusts. With a crack, she slapped his ass, hard enough to leave a red imprint, and he just groaned as she reprimanded him.

“No touching until I say so.” Her words were harsh, but Vita could hear the affection underneath it all.

Aurora winked at them as she continued to plunge into Petran, who moaned with each thrust.

“Perhaps we should speak with Renatus…” Vita muttered, trying to drag Verian’s attention back to her.

The wide-eyed stare transformed into a mischievous smile as he cupped his hands around her cheeks, tangling his fingers in her dark hair.

“So many interesting things I’d like to do to you,” he whispered, his lips close to hers. He paused, as if pondering whether to continue. “And some I think I’d like you to do to me…”

She bit her lip into a grin, then let out a chuckle. Despite the madness occurring around them, she had to admit the thought excited her. Trying new things with Verian. And perhaps with Renatus as well, even if it was only sex to him.

Renatus.

She glanced his way, a pull at her chest telling her to go to him. Did Verian feel it too? He was staring in the same direction as her, eyes glued to the High Consul, smirking as he sat on his throne.

Beckoning them.

They obeyed the call, and as they approached, a sense of foreboding flooded her, every nerve tingling with anticipation, as if something were about to go horribly wrong.

“Enjoying yourself, Verian?” The words were as sibilant as if a snake had hissed them.

“Y-Yes, High Consul,” he replied, bowing deeply.

Renatus stood now, just about eye to eye with Verian. The grin on his face bordered on cruel, and Vita was about to step between them when he spoke.

“Dear Verian, tell me the truth. Tell meeverything.”

Verian went stiff, as if clenching each muscle in his body. His hands gripped into fists at his sides, teeth gritted with tension, a battle waging through him. Vita knew what was happening. There was a power that Renatus held over them, held over anyone he came in contact with. Just as he’d done to her at the Aonalia Feast, and to Drusus at Ad Noctua.

Compelling them to spill their secrets.

“I want Vita… IloveVita. I love her more than any person in the city, any person I’ve ever known. I would do anything for her, die for her.” The words were hissed through gritted teeth, though she knew they were true.

They had to be. Vampiric compulsions made sure of it.

Renatus continued to smirk, though he glanced at Vita before returning his gaze to Verian. “What else?”

“I-I want you, High Consul. Want Vita between you and me, want to please you, obey you. I want to be on my knees for you, want you to fuck me, want Vita to fuck me. I would do anything for you, for both of you.”

---