Knox felt a surge of adrenaline at her provocative words. He made quick work of stripping them both of the last scraps of clothing separating their bodies, and tossing the garments aside in a careless trail leading to the bed. Once they were fully bared to each other, Knox skimmed his large palm down the curve of her spine in a slow, deliberate caress until he cupped the firm swell of her ass. He gave the soft yet firm flesh a rough squeeze before positioning her just right so that the blunt, rounded head of his thick, heavy shaft nudged against her slick entrance. Serena clung to the doorknob, bracing herself with her free hand against the door as she anticipated what was to come with trepidation and excitement that her heart galloped. Knox continued nuzzling and nipping along the sensitive column of her neck. His harsh pants fanned over her flushed skin as he muttered a low, guttural rumble against her nape. The vibrations of his deep grunt reverberated through Sere
Meredith and Enzo had returned to their sprawling estate after dealing with the dramatic events from earlier that evening. She was lounging with her head resting comfortably in her husband, Enzo's lap, letting the tension slowly bleed from her lithe frame, when a sudden, insistent psychic tug swelled within her mind. She instantly jolted upright, recognizing the familiar sensation of Knox's desperate cry for help, and vanished in a swirl of shadows without a second's hesitation. Meredith rematerialized in the bedroom of Knox and Serena's private villa, and was greeted by a scene that was at once hauntingly familiar yet utterly petrifying. Her grandson had clearly lost himself completely to his feral instincts and urges. Poor Serena looked like she was barely clinging to consciousness, her body wracked by tremors as Knox ravaged her mercilessly. Meredith didn't even have a chance to react before another thunderous roar ripped from Knox's chest. He threw his head bac
Meredith's arms wrapped around Serena in a strong and reassuring embrace and Serena clung to her like a lifeline, burying her face against the soft fabric of Meredith's blouse.Her sobs intensified as though the floodgates finally burst open.Her body shook with the force of her emotions.She wept unabashedly, pouring out every ounce of anguish and self-doubt that had been festering within her.Meredith simply held her, murmuring soothing words and gently rocking her back and forth in a soothing rhythm."There, there, dear. Let it all out," Meredith crooned. "You're stronger than you know, little one. This is but a temporary setback, a hurdle to be overcome."“I’m useless…” Serena insisted."Hush now, child. You're far from useless," Meredith murmured, reaching out to brush a stray lock of hair from Serena's tear-stained face. "What you and Knox share... it's rare and precious. But it comes with its own set of challenges."Serena looked up, her eyes red and filled with uncertainty. "Bu
~It was finally time for the mating ceremony~A small crowd gathered in an open space carved out on one side of the extensive estate.It was like a little grassy meadow, surrounded by tall evergreen trees that provided dappled shade and a sense of seclusion from the outside world.Strings of twinkling fairy lights were draped artfully between the branches, illuminating a warm, romantic glow over the area and creating an almost ethereal ambiance.At the center was a raised platform made of polished cedar wood, with an archway covered in lush vines and an assortment of vibrant wildflowers standing front and center as the focal point.Despite the picturesque, dreamlike setting that seemed plucked straight from the pages of a fairy tale, the atmosphere was anything but celebratory.A gloomy, oppressive pall seemed to hang heavy over the gathering. The usual excitement and joy one would expect from such an occasion was notably absent.Serena was nowhere to be found, and neither was Knox for
Meredith held up her hands to gather everyone’s attention. "We are gathered here to witness a joyous occasion. A celebration of two souls to be joined in holy matrimony," she called out in a firm yet soothing tone that instantly commanded respect and obedience Her piercing gaze shifted to the two burly guards flanking the disheveled maid. The wretched creature was bound in searing silver chains that left angry, oozing burns wherever the metal kissed her flesh. The maid's head lolled forward, her matted hair hanging in a limp, greasy mess to obscure her face. The occasional whimper of pain that slipped past her cracked lips hinted at the utter misery etched into her features. "Bring her forward!" Meredith commanded with a curt nod of her head. The guards responded instantly, each seizing one of the maid's arms in a bruising grip and hauling her struggling form into the center of the gathering. A pitiful cry was torn from her throat as the movement tugged viciously at the
The newly mated couple were both red-faced and silently panting when they eventually broke apart. Their glassy eyes were dark and full of undisguised desire. Dimitri extended his arm and wrapped his fingers around the handle of the elaborate ceremonial dagger that was perched on a silver platter next to them. The blade was an exquisite work of art, its handle inlaid with precious gems and intricate engravings that seemed to writhe and shift in the flickering light. Then he drew the wickedly sharp blade across his upturned palm in one smooth, decisive stroke. There was no hesitation, no flinch of pain etched into the hard planes of his face. The instant he raised his hand in an almost reverent manner, a thin droplet of red began to spring up and rapidly gathered in the center of his hand. Emilia watched with trepidation, her slender throat working convulsively as if she had to resist the urge to dash out right then and there. "Relax," Dimitri murmured as he cradled her sma
The raucous cheers and thunderous applause seemed to reverberate through Serena's very bones as she watched Dimitri and Emilia bask in the adulation of the crowd. The newlyweds were practically glowing with joy and contentment bliss that comes from finding one's other half in the world. Everything before her right now looked and seemed so simple. But Serena knew otherwise. She couldn't help feeling a pang of wistful longing mingled with envy at the sight. Would she and Knox ever share a connection that carefree? A bond so all-consuming that the rest of the world simply fell away until there was nothing but the two of them locked in their own private universe? Without worrying about harm or danger, even from intimate moments that ought to be pleasurable. But in her case, it felt like everything had a price. "Luna."The gentle murmur of a voice at her side snapped Serena from her reverie. She turned to find Lara, her newly assigned maid, watching her with eager eyes. The
A strangled sound escaped Serena's throat, something between a squeak of outrage and a mortified gasp. She could actually feel the heat radiating from her face, certain she must be blushing a violent shade of scarlet by now that put even the deepest of roses to shame. Sweet heavens, this woman was utterly shameless!Even President Bolting seemed taken aback by Meredith's brazen words and crass insinuations. He shifted uncomfortably from foot to foot, clearing his throat in a rather obvious attempt to diffuse the awkward heat-filled tension that had descended over the group. "Surely there must be some other way," he began, "Some compromise that doesn't involve my daughter being subjected to... to...""To the beautiful, natural act of mating?" Meredith supplied helpfully, her grin widening to show a flash of teeth. "Come now, Mr. President. Surely you're not so prudish as all that. After all, how do you explain your precious child came into this world, hmm?"Across the way, Dim