Something inside me snapped. I pushed into her room and gripped her face between palms, smashing my lips to hers with bruising force.
I felt her struggle against me, but I couldn’t stop. Nothing in this world had the power to pull me away from this goddess of a woman. I wanted to devour her whole, to own her, to…
I faintly heard her scream and still, I didn't stop. My pants were already down before I could stop myself and Tetia’s dress was a piece of scrap on the floor. Turning her around forcefully, I had her breasts pushed against the wall.
I pushed into her slick wetness, and everything felt right again. I heard her moans as I took my pleasure vigorously. Over and over again I slammed to the hilt, feeling her walls squeeze my cock the way I needed her to. I didn’t last long after that.
I pulled out as I gaped at the priestess in horror. Tetia turned towards me, and I watched as my seed poured down her legs, puddling on the stone floor. I was shaking with shock and terror at what I'd just done.
Tetia stood tall and graceful, her eyes spearing me into place. “You're going to pay for crimes, your majesty. You'll pay for them dearly." Her every word cut me straight to the bone.
I tried to find the words to explain that I didn't mean to harm her. Something had come over me, a force that was out of my control. My confusion turned to rage. “What magic is this?” I hissed, drawing my blade. "What have you done to me, witch?!"
“I don't know what you're accusing me of, your highness, but it's absurd." Her eyes were wide yet suspicious.
“I couldn’t control myself! What have you done to me?!"
“That’s not possible,” she whispered, her eyes flitting from side to side. “There's only one sort of magic that makes a man act against his will and that's mating magic, which is preposterous. A true mate bond between a human and a priestess is not only impossible, but goes against the nature of the Source."
"You're a liar and a heretic!" I spat, my hand shaking as I clutched my dagger, contemplating how easily I could plunge it into her heart.
Her eyes became cold and unfeeling. “If a bond truly exists between us, any of your seed inside another will wither and die."
“Liar!” I shouted at the witch.
Her lips spread into a wicked sort of smile that turned my stomach. "The child inside of her shall die, and you'll only have yourself to blame. You, King Animus, will never have a natural born heir."
My feet were already moving as I cursed under my breath and headed for the Queen’s rooms, slamming doors in my wake, leaving that foul priestess behind
It was unbefitting of a king to run, but I felt in my gut that something awful was about to happen. I was out of breath when I made it to Amaeria’s room, and I could hear the shouting of already healers inside.
“BRING ME THE CHILD KING!” I roared as I made my way to Amaeria’s side. She was crying hysterically, as blood poured out of her, soaking her white sheets with crimson.
“I am here,” King Basillius said as he entered the room. "Tetia alerted me," he tried to say, but my screams cut him off.
“Save them, you fool!” He had the Source on his side, he should have the power to stop this vile curse threatening to take everything from me.
“I cannot,” the child king confirmed my worst fear. “The Source will not allow the bastard child to survive. Your wife might yet live, but Tetia is your natural mate. By right, she is your true queen, the future mother of your rightful heirs.”
“That witch is not my anything!” I shouted, pointing my blade at Basillius's. "She'll hang for this! Your priestess will swing from my fucking gallows!"
The room was silent save for my wife's endless screaming. Screams that would haunt me for years to come.
“So be it,” King Basillius muttered before he finally left without looking back.
I cursed him as I held my wife's hand tight. Hours passed and dawn came as I sat and stewed in my hatred. I held my dead son in my arms as Amaeria sobbed and still, my fury grew.
My wife would never bear another child, and she knew what that meant. She could never be a true queen. My betrayal hovered between us. An unspoken final blow to her fragile heart.
The Source was to blame for this. No longer would it have a place in Avedin. Never again would I make that mistake. I would have a son without my false mate, and after that, Basillius's and his heretic kingdom would feel my wrath.
Xmara Bane
Twenty-five years later
We had minutes, maybe seconds, before someone would come looking for me. Caldor’s lips traveled up the side of my neck, kissing me just below my ear until my eyes rolled back in my head.
His every touch had my skin on fire, and every part of me wanted to peel off these layers between us. Tears pricked my eyes as I held his strong body against mine, knowing that these moments with him would be my last. This was the last time I’d ever hold him, the last time I’d feel his breath on my skin or his fingers in my hair. Soon my betrothed would send the guard out looking for me.