Page 38 of Own To Obsess

“Don't look at me,” she whimpered, chokingly. “D-d-don't look.”

Her hair.

Her beautiful hair that she was so proud of was gone. It had been hacked off without care, because what was left was uneven and jagged. It had obviously been done in a hurry but was also cut close to her head, so whoever did it would have had to hold her down and take off her wrap to get at it.

The rage that embraced Kardos was more powerful and deeper than any anger he’d felt before. He roared as he clutched onto her, but immediately the bond flared with fear and Shaya trembled wildly as though fighting it, which made him abruptly stop. Lifting her higher, he forced her arms around his neck and nuzzled his face into hers, pressing his nose to the bridge of hers and holding her there, murmuring that she was safe. After a few moments, her trembling stopped but her sobbing didn’t. Kardos kissed her gently realizing his effect on her; he couldn't rage while she was so frightened.

He wrapped her in his furs and then carried her out of the room.

Rozalia hovered outside the study, clearly worried. “She is well? Tell me she’s not hurt, Kardos!” She sounded almost hysterical.

“I need to you to organize the servants,” Kardos ordered, trying to keep his voice calm. “Send them on leave for a few days. I don’t want anyone in the house. Double the guards around the compound.”

Rozalia nodded, but still hopped from one foot to another.

“She is not hurt as far as I can tell but I need to examine her.”

Rozalia took a breath and her body relaxed somewhat. “Do you need any potions? Or maybe food? I can bring something from home—”

“Come back in a few days,” Kardos instructed. “I would appreciate your opinion about her then.”

Rozalia nodded, glancing at the shivering, sobbing bundle in his arms and then turned to deal with the servants.

Kardos made his way to his bedroom and lay Shaya down on his bed.

When he lifted the furs, she was curled up in a ball with her arms around her head, her legs locked together, and her body tight and tense.

He got undressed, and then gathered her back up, stroking her back, legs, and arms to try to calm her.

At first she didn't respond, but as he leaned in to press his face into her neck, she unfolded a little and he gently stripped her of her tunic. Lifting her against his chest again, he climbed into bed with her and cuddled her close.

Kardos was dismayed that she wouldn't stop crying.

The behavior disturbed him greatly. Her sobs were the most distressing sound he had ever heard. Every moment of them was like a thousand daggers stabbing him all over his body and he couldn't bear the feeling in the bond. He stroked her skin the way he knew she loved, he kissed every part of her he could reach, he spoke to her and told her she was safe until she finally quietened a little. But she still kept her arms around her head, her knees drawn up and locked together.

Kardos propped himself up on his elbows and began to slowly examine her. Although she had some bruises, there was nothing serious that would cause her any massive physical pain, but it was still disturbing that someone had managed to get that close to her. What the fuck had happened to his guards? They were supposed to be protecting her. He needed an exact account of what happened, and of course whoever did this was going to die as painfully as possible, but that wasn’t important right now.

Taking a deep breath, he discarded all sorts of anger and reason and logic. He put aside his concerns about his guards, or the culprit and how much he was going to enjoy ripping him from limb to limb. Turning his attention to the bond, he opened himself up to the feel of his Omega within him.

He eased himself on top of her and began to purr as loud as he could, ensuring she was smothered by him completely. Immediately her sobs quietened and her muscles relaxed. Her head inched up slowly until her nose was against his neck.

They remained in that position until her sobs petered out and then she wriggled, inching herself from underneath him. Kardos watched in amazement as she reached for a pillow and annoyance bounded through him. Growling, he grabbed her around the waist and yanked her back underneath him. Shaya hissed at him harshly, the tears making her hard eyes glisten.

What the fuck?

Kardos was so surprised, he let her wriggle away again, and as she grabbed the pillow to hide her head under, her back to him, he caught a whiff of that sweet aroma of her arousal. Kardos didn’t even need to think or analyze, her behavior and scent told something deep within him what she needed. Grabbing her hips, he slammed inside her.

She released a guttural breath as her body jolted and groaned into the pillow. He pulled right out and slammed in again, the smack of his hips against her ass hard and loud. Shaya pushed her ass back toward him as he pulled all the way out again and groaned loudly when he drove in again.

He continued to fuck her slow and hard with long strokes until she was crying out and calling his name.

“What?” Kardos growled, slamming in again, relishing the squeeze only she could give him.

“Please,” she gasped, grabbing his hand on her hip.

“Please, what?”

“I want to…” she swallowed as her body jolted again. “Fly.”

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