Page 21 of Red Queen

“Strategize,” I command my officers, my voice resonating with an authority born from centuries of warfare. “Plan every detail. This fortress must not fall.”

“Yes, General Amanar,” Marianne says.

Ivan nods. “Of course, General.”

“Your stronghold won’t collapse as long as we are united against her,” Eleanna says, the steel in her voice matching the resolve in her stance.

“Confidence in me?” I ask softly, raising a brow.

Her expression doesn’t change. “In your masonry.”

I hide my smile as I lift my chin and look around the room at the faces and steadfast expressions of my officers. “Let Catarina come with her garrison. She’ll find no easy conquest here. Only her demise.”

The others nod with grim resolve. Bending over the table, we pore over the maps and plot our counterattack, aware that our next moves will decide the fate of empires.

And as I stand beside Eleanna, the air between us pulsates the awareness made of raw, pagan sexual chemistry that refuses to die.

But I’m aware that what’s at stake is more than even the fate of empires.

It’s deeper, darker. More elemental. Power play at its purest form

Combined in this battle is more than a fight for power over realms; it’s war of the heart and soul. The latter’s the real one. I’m both destined and doomed to wage it.

It’s an ancient battle, one I feel powerless to ignore. Eleanna Cordon is my only weakness, my only shortcoming, and my lusty passion for her knows no bounds.

This is nothing as flimsy as love, a thing I no longer believe in. It’s blood and bone and the meat and blood of the soul. Ownership. The conquered and the conqueror.

I wish it was love, I could deal with that, tuck it away as a trifle. No, it’s far more complicated and deadly than that. Not even Catarina and her ways can touch this danger.

With a breath I put it from my mine and go back to the battle and war I know I can win.

The hours pass, and the war council concludes. Ivan, Henry, Nicolai, and Marianne file out of the room, leaving me alone with Eleanna. My eyes drift over her enticing form, the power of her that harbors soft spots, all of them she sees at weaknesses, and I take in her fiery hair, wanting to wrap it about my fist and bend her over the war table, take her ass the way I want, decimate her more.

She catches my gaze and lifts an eyebrow, curiosity flickering in her bright blue eyes. “You’re staring at me.”

I clench my fists at my sides and force myself to look away. “I was merely admiring your restraint, and of course, your commitment. You’ve proven yourself a worthy ally.”

She narrows her eyes, her lips curving into a devious smile. “Only an ally?”

“I thought you didn’t want to share my bed?” I decide to taunt her, the easiest way to turn up the fire inside her. It always has been.

Eleanna’s a warrior at heart, and it’s been a day or so too long since I’ve tasted her flesh.

“I thought I have to?”

My heart pounds in my chest, and I reach for her hand. “There was a choice.”

She pulls me closer and I go willingly. For now.

“An ultimatum of survive or perish framed as a choice.”

“Still a choice.”

“You vex me, Alexandru.”

“And yet,” I say, moving closer still, “you crave this.”

She lifts her face, placing her free hand on my chest as she rubs her body against me. Eleanna always was drawn to dangerous games.

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