Page 19 of Dark Company

It doesn’t look painful. Then again, the High Echelon probably embellished things, ensuring we remained intact. The look on her face is pure ecstasy as she rocks back and forth until her calves touch the backs of her thighs. I want so badly to experience the heavens she seems to be reaching.

The others gather closer, their bodies swaying to the beat of a silent drum. Everyone seems to hear it but me. Hot breath washes across the back of my neck as firm hands encircle my waist.

“Just rock with them. Like this.” Brennen’s arms wrap around me, pulling me flush against his body.

Try as I might, I can’t break free. All around me, men and women writhe together in a sexual, hungry mass. It’s thrilling and heady, but oh so wrong. Reaching down, I claw at his fingers, but he doesn’t budge. Instead, Brennen grips me even harder, until his nails dig into my skin through my dress.

“Please. You’re hurting me.”

“No, baby. You’re just fighting it. Relax. Let me make you feel good. Once you’re off of that statue, I’m going to caress every inch of your body. You’re going to feel me from the inside out.”

Rage tinges my vision as I lash out against him. “How? How will that limp appendage between your thighs ever compare to the massive power of an Alpha, statue or otherwise?” I hiss, twisting about as I try to squirm away.

Brennen turns me in his arms and stares at me, his eyes wild. “Don’t you dare speak to me that way, cunt. I may not be as big as that statue, but I’ll still make you scream.”

Unable to help myself, my hand, of its own volition, reaches up and slaps across his face as the venom spews from his lips. The sound of flesh smacking against flesh reverberates in my ears, vibrating up my arm and into my body.

“The only thing I will scream is for you to get the fuck off of me.”

“You think you’re better than me? That because you’re some spoiled little omega, the men here will line up for you? You don’t get to choose, little omega. I’ve already asked the Clan Mother for your body, and I will have it. Willing or not.”

Terror seeps into my core, wrapping around my limbs, holding me immobile. This is worse than Stanlion. Even as an intact beta, I was safe. Here, I’m nobody, just a receptacle for this beta’s rage. His lips slide into a feral smirk as he leans in to kiss me. It’s the final straw.

Something deep inside snaps as my mind goes blank. I’m back in that place where my dreams haunt me, and only my memories can hurt me. I have no other sensory input that tells me what is occurring. My hands fly out in front of me as the world goes dark. Shrieks and howls meet my ears, and at first, I think they’re coming from somewhere around me, but they’re not.

It’s coming from me.

Unholy screams claw up my throat as I slash at the form in front of me. It takes numerous hands to pull me back as I continue to slash at the air, determined to rid myself of this threat. I’m no longer willing to allow anyone to tell me what to do. It stops here and now.

The only thing preventing me from true freedom is this fucking barrier placed inside me to keep me pure. Once I rid myself of that upon the altar, I will be free to court whomever I want whenever I want. I will no longer be subjected to the careless pawing and demands of any man I do not deem worthy.

Wetness coats my fingertips as I continue to claw my way through any soft tissue that crosses my path. It’s as if I’m the embodiment of Jarosh himself, a vessel of judgment and condemnation. Fury and righteous anger flow from my body as I swirl about, snarling at anyone who comes near. They’re all shadows to me. There are no faces, no voices, just mist that dissipates every time I swipe at it.

Then darkness.

Sweet oblivion flows over my body, covering me in the deep darkness of true slumber. Nothing hurts, nothing pains me. Here, there is no anger, no bitterness. It’s nothingness, pure and simple.

Pain lances through my head as it rolls to the side, searching for the light of consciousness. Though, with the amount of agony that rolls about in my skull, I much rather prefer the darkness. It was restful, peaceful. Here, there is pain and despair. My memories are hazy and fragmented. The only thing that sticks out is Brennen and his insistent fingers.

Once more, fury starts to build, but it’s cut off by the soft voice of Alexi. Her sweet, lilting tones rush over me like a balm, soothing me, calming me once more. “Where am I?”

“You’re back in Jakrob’s medical enclosure. We had to put you somewhere safe while you came to.”

“And the pain in my head?”

I pry my eyes open, squinting into the dim light of the candles. Though the illumination is soft, it stabs at my eyes like needles boring into me. Groaning, I close them once more and flop my arm on top to seal out any potential light that might force their way past my heavy lids.

“Unfortunately, you had to be knocked out. No one could restrain you. I - I’ve never seen anything like what happened today. It was as if you were possessed.”

Bitterness coats my tongue as I turn my head to face the sound of her voice. “And yet, Brennen goes free. Or is he somehow strapped down in this room with me?”

“No. He’s with the Clan Mother. I can only assume he’s telling her what happened.”

“Lies, I’m sure. Everything that drips from his lips is sure to be a falsehood.”

“Do you think me so old or stupid as to not be able to ascertain the truth? Or is it you think you’re the only purveyor of all that is accurate? I am well aware that there are always two sides to every story. But, to create a full picture, I need both sides. In the middle is usually where the truth lies.”

The Clan Mother’s voice is no longer soft and matronly. It is hard and forceful, demanding a response. Once more, I compel my eyes to open, ignoring the dancing spots that float in my vision.