Page 99 of Wingless Crow: Part 1

The king pressed on a vine on the side of the shelf unit, and it slid aside, opening a hidden staircase.

“Are you coming?” He squinted at me over his shoulder.

A shadow of suspicion drew over his blue gaze. If I didn’t obey fully and completely, he’d know I was still wearing the necklace. I hurried after him, keeping the carefree smile plastered on my face.

The king led me down a white metal staircase into a round room below. All-white crystals in the walls here shone brightly.

A high metal table stood in the middle, long enough for a person to lie on. Its shiny gold surface had a raised edge along the entire perimeter, as if to keep the contents from spilling over. My heart sank into my stomach even before I could speculate on what those contents might be.

Behind the table, a large cross shaped like the letter “x” was attached to the wall, with a polished manacle dangling from each of its four ends. Next to it, a cluster of golden chains hung from the ceiling with bejeweled leather belts of various lengths.

My head was spinning. The huge amount of gold and gems packed in here made this room look like a royal treasury. Except that all these treasures were used in devices clearly meant for some sinister purpose. Tiny spikes were embedded into the polished surface of the cross and the sharp blades were positioned inside the belts, clearly meaning to harm the person wearing them. The vast collection of blades and spiky balls on chains displayed on the wall opposite from the cross also told me this room was meant for torture, not pleasure.

I froze at the bottom of the stairs, suddenly wishing thecamytehad worked on me. Whatever the king was planning for me tonight, I would not be able to go through without the numbing effects of the drink. Obviously, that was the reason he made me drink it in the first place, to make me complacent and more manageable for him.

The king lovingly stroked the golden surface of the table.

“I’ll tell you a revelation I had not so long ago, little pet,” he spoke to me without taking his eyes off the table. “After decades of trying anything possible and beyond, I’ve realized that I enjoy making love to my own body far more than pleasuring anyone else’s.” He lifted his eyes to me. “There simply isn’t anyone more attractive than me. Why would I waste my time on anything far superior thanthis?” He pointed down his torso with an elegant gesture. “I prefer my own hand to any slimy hole of someone else. But the queen insists I breed you.” He shrugged. “So be it. Only I need to do it in my own way.” He patted the table. “Hop on. Let’s make it exciting, shall we?”

My legs felt like cotton. I barely made a step toward him without tipping over. He gripped me around my waist, then lifted me onto the table. Kicking my knees open, he wedged his hips between them.

“You see, my sweet, sex doesn’t excite me much anymore. When you can fuck anyone you want in any way you wish, it becomes boring.”

He knew he would make me forget this night, including everything he was saying right now. For once, he had no reason to lie or pretend. This was the most candid the king would ever be with me.

With the black and yellow dagger, he calmly cut off the scarfs that served as the bodice of my dress.

“You have the most magnificent tits. Truly, the best in the kingdom.” He cupped one of my breasts, lifting it in his hand. “I know most of my court are salivating to get their hands and mouths on these.” He kneaded my breast, smacking his lips appreciatively. “Only tits no longer excite me. Cocks were fun for a while, but I grew bored with them, too. That is the curse of havingeverything, my baby chick. Sooner or later, the novelty wears off and everything becomes dull.” He leaned closer to me, whispering into my ear even as there was no one else to hear him, “But there is still something that makes my cock as hard as a sword. Theonlything.”

Without a warning, he slashed with the blade, so fast, I had no chance to scream. Pain seared my skin. Blood beaded from the hair-thin cut on my breast. It trickled down to my nipple.

I bit my tongue, trying not to scream, and fisted my hands so hard, my fingernails dug into the skin of my palms.

There was no way I could go through with this. No way I would survive this night.

A whimper escaped me, despite my best efforts.

“Does it hurt?” The king glanced at my face.

The tears welling in my eyes were impossible to hide.

“Good.” He beamed.

Camytewould’ve dulled the pain, but it would not have eliminated it completely. Which was what the king wanted, it seemed. He thrived on my pain. The sight of my blood thrilled him.

My chest heaved with shallow panicky breaths.

“Mmm.” The king moaned in pleasure. Lifting my breast, he licked under the nipple, catching a drop of my blood on his tongue.

“I can’t do this to a fae,” he murmured against my skin, his lips smearing blood over my areola. “My High General even took down my Garden of the Cursed this morning. I don’t give a fuck what he thinks, but the Royal Council sided with him. They’re afraid of riots. Apparently, my giving the cursed what they deserve upsetsmy people.” Sarcasm curved his blood-stained lips. “The plain merchants of Elaros and the dirty peasants of Sky Kingdom are ‘upset,’ you see? I’m the Sky King, and I can’t do what I want because of some lowborns from farms and villages!” His voice lifted with an indignant shriek.

He straightened his back, drawing in a long breath to collect himself. As he caressed the cut on my breast with his thumb, a smile appeared on his face once again.

“Thankfully, no one cares what I do withyou. You’re not a fae. You aren’t even an animal. You’re something in between, beyond our laws—a human, mine to do with as I please. And do you know what the taste of your blood does to me?”

He placed the dagger on the table next to me, then yanked at the laces of his pants.

“Feel this.” He grabbed my hand and shoved it into the opening of his pants.

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