Scarcely had the council-chamber settled, when again the aura of Lucian appeared, more thick than the former. With their heads down, the wolves submissively bent their bodies. Got, kneel. made an attempt to bend, but I clumsily held it with a tremendous effort. I would not. bow.
Get out, otherwise, Lucian said, his voice deep and firm.
The chamber cleared away nearly at once. No one dared to stay behind. No one dared turn back.
We were alone when the big doors closed their doors behind us. His gold eyes flared up against me, anger and something I could not place.
You think you are free because you are rejected. he snarled, moving closer. His hand came out and grabbed my wrist, and I shivered at the shock of the electricity passing through me. My wolf was unfaithful and feeble.
I had a hard time trying to loosen up, and he fastened his grip further. You will know, little wolf, you will know, menacingly, hard, his tone. You do not get to put your back on a relationship that was created by the goddess of the Moon.
"Let me go!" I spat, and my voice broke with the strain of struggling with him.
He pushed me up against the cold of the stone wall. Hard enough not to hurt me, but hard enough to keep me in mind of his power. His face inches from mine, his smell overwhelming—cedar and smoke and something wild.
I ought to be punishing you because of your disobedience, his lips were hot on my skin as he breathed. "The council demanded it. The kingdom demands it. Without any punishment, an Alpha King cannot be disrespected.
I was afraid--but so was it--so was something that was even worse.
His eyes glimpsed, one second, and I caught sight of the man behind the King. The soldier who trampled centuries of load. The mate who, at all rates, would not set me at liberty.
His thumb stroked my pulse. He could sense it thrumming.
You feel it as well, I said, more submissively. You may fight it, and curse and hate me--but you may not refuse me.
Nothing was said for a little, and it was good thick stuff.
I should have denied it. I should have screamed. But the connection buzzed through so hard I could only watch with inaction as my lips parted without utterance.
Lucian has thrown me down, and stood back, his grip falling into position again.
This is your warning," he growled, and his voice was once more steel. Disobey me one more time, and the penalty will not be so benevolent.
And so he walked off, and I stood quail-like against the wall, with feelings of rage... and the pull of a tie I said I did not desire.