Page 23 of Cruel Devotion

“Good little Bunny,” he praised. Darius pulled me back into his arms and I twitched on top of him. Ryder got off the bed and Darius kept my legs open.

“I’m done,” I warned.

“You’re stuck to me,” Darius chuckled as he nuzzled my neck.

“Oh, I’m sorry. I didn’t know there was a time when you couldn’t fuck me,” I sassed.

At first, I thought his fur would be coarse, but it was soft and fluffy. His grip tightened as Ryder approached. In his hand, a long iron rod, half of which was glowing red-hot. I didn’t understand what he was doing with it until he brought it to my inner thigh and shoved it onto the x.

The pain was blinding. I screamed as my skin melted away. The stench of burning flesh hit my nose, and I fought to get free. I was so drained, my attempts were pathetic. Ryder removed the rod, and I slumped into my mate’s arms. Darius licked the mark on my shoulder as I quieted down. Tears streamed down my cheeks.

“Mine. No more cutting. Disobey us, and we’ll know. Don’t ruin my mark.” I sobbed as his words hit me. The meaning behind the searing pain. Combined, they both touched me in a way a man never has.

It’s so twisted, but I feel seen.

I feel cherished.

They are now the only source of my pain and release. It’s tragic and beautiful all at the same time. His finger traced thetears as they ran down my face. Ryder turned to Charlotte, and I followed his gaze. Her cheeks were flushed, and in her eyes, I saw desire. She took a step forward, further into the room, closer to us. I didn’t like it. I shook my head and Darius growled. She stopped, and I sighed. Leaning back into my beast’s arms.

“We’ve received a letter from the other side. The human brought it himself to the castle walls. Now that I’ve seenher, it makes sense.” Charlotte folded her arms.

“Why did he come?” Darius rumbled, even as he continued to fill me with cum.

“Her fiance is the son of the speaker,” Ryder growled. Darius froze, and all the hairs on the back of my neck stood up. With a claw, he lifted my chin. I felt like a kid who’d been caught with her hand in the cookie jar. His rough hand slid up my stomach. Fingers brushed against my ribcage, and his claws scraped against my nipples. I let out a shuttered breath as his hand wrapped around my neck possessively.

“What does he want?” my monster king snarled.

“Cohen demands the return of his bride. They’ve called for a meeting, and if we refuse, it’ll be considered an act of war,” Charlotte’s answer was quick, and I knew right away what she wanted to do. I didn’t doubt she would hand me over in a second. The grip around my neck tightened, and his thighs tensed beneath me. Sitting up, I winced from the pain.

Holy fuck, that hurt, but Cohen did what?

“Don’t get your pretty little hopes up,” Ryder warned, misinterpreting the surprise and confusion on my face.

“You belong to us,” Darius snarled.

“And we’ll kill everyone who tries to take you from us,” Ryder promised, his grip on my neck loosening.

“Let them come,” Darius sneered, his voice dripping with confidence.

“I think we should… discuss this… before you make any rash decisions,” Charlotte started.

“What are you going to do?” I murmured. Three sets of eyes locked on me.

“It’s obvious,” Ryder said, a smirk playing at the corner of his mouth as he booped me on the nose. Darius licked the side of my face.

“We’re going to declare war,” my monster promised.

Snack

The room was silent as his words filled the room, seeping into the cracks. They were talking about war here, and the only one who seemed worried about it was Charlotte. I still didn’t know how she fit into the puzzle.

Who was she, and why was she still here?

“First off, I wasn’t getting my hopes up,” I huffed. Ryder smirked as he dropped to where Darius and I connected. His brows scrunched together as he ran a claw around his mark. Goosebumps broke out along my skin, and the corner of his lip twitched. The bastard was pleased. Straightening, he grabbed a sheet and put it over me.

“My King, my Prince,” her voice dripped with honey. Irritation filled me as she addressed my mates. I didn’t like those words coming from her mouth and I didn’t like the not-so-subtle possession in her tone. As if she were chastising her friends and not overstepping. They weren’t her anything. Balling my hands into fists, Darius groaned as everything clenched. His cocks twitched inside me.

“Easy, little mate,” my beast teased.

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