Page 39 of Marked By the Dark Lord
What the fuck is going on? Why can’t I move?
“What did I tell you?” Korr’ok whispered in my ear, the hot wash of his breath trickling down my neck.
I wanted to jump or shiver at his sudden closeness, but I could do nothing. I stared straight ahead, fully aware of his body behind me and his control over mine, but I was helpless against it.
“You said the words,” he reminded me, the bass of his voice felt deep in my chest. “Did you forget already, tiny witch? You. Are. Mine.”
Nowa shiver ran down my spine. Because he let it.
“Perhaps I should give you a demonstration,” he said. “Of just how strong my control is. Of what I can do if you force my hand. Should I do that?”
I tried to shake my head, to tell him no, that I wouldn’t do it again, that I would be good, just please, don’t hurt me. But the fire in my chest burned brighter, holding me rigid.
“Mila,” Korr’ok growled in my ear, leaning over my left shoulder, notquitetouching me.
I braced myself for whatever pain he inflicted upon my poor …
“Comefor me,” he whispered.
And I did. Without warning, a blinding wave of ecstasy ripped from between my legs. It was so strong that I actually managed the barest hint of a whimper as air exploded from my nose. Myeyes rolled back into my head as Korr’ok egged me on with an approving rumble.
My mind was pummeled by the intensity of the unexpected climax, my chest the only thing rising and falling as my lungs worked furiously, them and my brain taking the brunt of the physical impact of his command. Korr’ok stood behind me the entire time, never showing his face, never letting me see him. I heard his voice, felt his breath, and stood in his shadow.
People walked by, a few staring at me. I was on display and yet fully clothed.
“Blink twice if you promise to be good from now on,” he said once my breathing returned to normal. “If you don’t, I’ll be forced to show you just how obedient you’ll be to me.”
Control of my body returned the instant I finished blinking. Spinning, I glared at him, disguising my arousal with anger. I shouldn’t have been turned on by that. I should have been running. Yet, if he hadthatmuch control over me, he could have done worse. Much worse. I had been ready for pain. Not pleasure.
It was confusing. One moment I thought he was growing kinder toward me. The next …
“Let’s go,” he said, and I followed, trying to sort out my brain and his actions.
We reached the bakery without further incident. I noticed the sheet was still covering my little alcove in the brick out back. Nobody had removed that. The door to the bakery, however, was unlocked and hanging open.
No police tape. No signs of life. No nothing.
Something was very wrong.
Chapter Nineteen
Mila
“Why does everything look so … normal?” I whispered.
It should have been night. That was a better time for skulking and talking so low. With the sun just now dropping below the horizon, I felt a little silly in my half-crouch, talking as quietly as possible.
“I’m not sure,” Korr’ok said, sounding equally distrustful.
“He was burned alive in the oven. That should have been a crime scene. Yes, it’s been several days, but I mean, it doesn’t look likeanyonewas here. Look, my, uh, whatever, is still in one piece. Nobody has touched it.”
I pointed at the sheet covering the entrance to my little abode. Korr’ok moved to it, pulling the sheet aside to look within. His shoulder twitched, but he made no remark as he ran his hand through the air. I caught a hint of what might have been red light from the underside of his palm, but it was gone so quickly I couldn’t be sure.
Had I seen that correctly? My eyes dropped to my palms, where in that very spot a few nights earlier, I’d held red magic in my palms. Did that mean Korr’ok used the same magic? What wasn’t he telling me?
The tightness of his face when he pulled his head back told me he didn’t like what he’d found.
“What? What is it?” I hissed.
