Page 32 of Cruel Devotion

“You’re not putting that muzzle on him,” I hissed. Standing, I walked over to Char and tore it from her grasp.

“You don’t know what you’re doing,” she scoffed. Ignoring her, I sat in my seat and threw the thing on the table.

“Andyouaren’t eating anyone today,” I huffed as I glared at Darius.

Before he could answer, groups of humans and monsters shuffled in one after the other. It felt weird being surrounded when I was just sitting down to eat. I didn’t even get to finish the feast or see if there was anything else I could wear when Char showed them in. As each one passed me, they dropped a box on the table. All different sizes, wrapped prettily, one after the other until there were three piles.

Is this some sort of payment?

Taking in the seating arrangement, I noticed that monsters were seated closer to us, while the humans were on the opposite side. Beside Ryder, a minotaur, and next to Darius, a dragon. A centaur stood, and a monster with smoke coming off him in waves beside him. The others, I couldn’t name. I assumed thesewere the representatives of other kingdoms, or maybe even realms. There had to be at least forty present.

“Ellie.” Turning in the direction of the voice, I found Little Finger himself. He wore a dark gray suit, and was as put together as always. Hair swept back, clothes too crisp, and a Rolex on his wrist. But I knew him, I could see the subtle irritation in his eyes when he didn’t get what he wanted. With a fake smile, he opened his arms and took a step toward me. Clearly this was the part where my mask was supposed to fall back into place and I’d get up to embrace him.

“No.”

My heart started pounding and I moved back in my seat. I didn’t want his hands on me ever again. Growls filled the room and a hush fell upon the guests. Darius and Ryder weren’t going to let him touch me. If I didn’t already know I wanted to stay, the comfort I felt from that would have been answer enough.

Normally Cohen liked the attention, but not when things weren’t going his way. Empty handed, he took a seat by the dragon. It was funny seeing him sit straight with his head held high when I knew he had to be shitting bricks. He wasn’t the brave type. He wasn’t here to rescue the damsel stolen by monsters. No, Cohen was a spoiled brat who wanted one of histhingsback. Blinded by jealousy, he was willing to step into the wolves’ den. He was so stupid he didn’t realize how much danger he was in.

“The man of the hour. Why don’t you tell us what you want,” Ryder’s voice boomed throughout the hall. All eyes fell on Cohen.

“I thought I’d made myself clear in the letter. Or can you not read?” His tone was confident as he taunted the monsters by my side. Or did Ryder’s glamour make him think he was only dealing with one?

Yeah. Definitely stupid.

The minotaur coughed into his fist as he tried and failed to cover a laugh. The men sitting across from me paled. At leasttheyhad common sense… or survival instincts.

“I want to hear the words come from your mouth.” Ryder was calm and collected as he stood and offered me his hand. I took it without hesitation.

“You’ve taken something that doesn’t belong to you. I’m here to take my wife back.” Cohen smiled as the words rolled off his tongue. Completely oblivious to the fact Darius was staring at him like he’d found his next meal.

“I think you’re confused.” Ryder pushed me down until my stomach touched the table, my silk robe barely concealing my backside. Darius stood and his chair scraped back like it didn’t weigh a ton.

“About what? You stole her. She’s mine,” Cohen seethed like a child.

“Do you want to go back with him?” Ryder asked, as if he’d let me go if I said yes. I felt the weight of everyone’s gaze on me. Turning to Cohen, I looked him in the eyes as I answered.

“No.”

“There you have it. My Queen has spoken.” Cohen shook his head at Ryder’s words.

“If you don’t give her back, I—what the fuck are you doing?” Cohen yelled as I felt Darius behind me.

“Darius, I don’t think this is the place for that,” I whispered. He gave me an answering lick on the cheek and I giggled. There was no reasoning with my midnight wolf. Claws pulled the material away from my neck. The other monsters leaned forward, staring intensely, but I didn’t miss the fact they avoided my gaze.

“Like I said, you’re confused. She’s ours. Our marks marr her body, and her cunt is filled with our seed. You’re in our world now, and we’re taking what’s ours,” Ryder hissed. Darius’leaking tip breached me. My brows scrunched together and my hands shook as I clawed at the table.

“Why are there two?! Fuck! Get off of her,” Cohen yelled as he got to his feet. But he had no power here.

With all these eyes on me, I felt my body grow hotter. I shouldn’t have liked an audience, but I did. I’d noticed that when Char came in the night before. Now, having all these men here watching my mates claim me as theirs only multiplied my need. A whimper fell from my lips as claws dug into the flesh of my left hip. His hips pushed forward, forcing his tips deeper, and I arched, my breasts squishing against the cool flat surface. My jaw fell slack as my pussy lips spread.

Darius slammed into me, filling me with both pink cocks until he hit resistance. Crying out as spittle went flying. I moaned as my body jerked forward. I widened my legs so I could better take him. My eyes crossed and my robe came loose as he took me. Forcing himself deeper until I could feel him in my rib cage. Before I could adjust, he withdrew and bucked into me again. His grip on me tightened, holding me exactly where he wanted me.

“Mine,” he growled.

“Please,” I whimpered.

“Look at him and tell him who you belong to.”

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