Page 23 of Dark Goodbye

“One,” I growl, pinning her with a deadly glare.

“One? One what?”

“You’ll see when I get back home. Want to go for two?”

“N-no. I-.”

“Master,” I grind out, grazing her inner, uninjured wrist with my nail. Her body shudders at the contact as her eyes dilate just a touch. “You will refer to me as Master, for that is what I am, my little omega. I refuse to be this brute you think I am, but by the gods, you will mind me while you’re in my household under my care.”

“I don’t want to.”

“Too fucking bad. Now, give me your wrist like a good girl, or more punishment will be added to the one waiting for you.” The look of indecision that crawls across her face at my words draws precum up my shaft to pearl at the head of my cock. This omega is going to be the death of me.

We stare each other down, both locked into this stalemate. Eventually, she softens. The tense muscles in her arm relax, allowing me to breathe once more. “Yes, Master.”

There’s a bite there, a slight acidity to her words, but she says them all the same. Both my heart and cock leap at the same time drawing a ragged groan from my lips. “Good girl,” I murmur, resisting the urge to slide my lips across her temple. “Good. Fucking. Girl.”

With swift movements, I chain her back to the bed and stare down at her parted lips. If only I never promised to not touch her sexually until she begged me. Then again, I’ve always been the type to enjoy a challenge. And she will be the greatest one of them all with the highest reward.

“You will have dinner when I get back home. In the meantime, I suggest you rest and allow your body to heal.” Easing over to the other side of the bed, I rummage about in my drawer, fishing out a syringe.

The moment she sees it, her body becomes rigid once more. “Please. I-I said Master. Please don’t hurt me. I-I’m trying to be your good girl.”

Sorrow lances my heart as I stare at the terror in her eyes. Pulling a purr from my chest, I wait until she’s limp again before climbing back onto the bed. “This is to numb the pain and help you heal. I am not Malus. I am not doing anything that will harm your body. This will hurt, but the end result is a good one. I promise you.”

“I don’t believe your promises,” she wails, turning her face from the uncapped needle.

“I know, little Ladria. I pray to the gods that one day, you might.”

Not wanting to draw her agony out any further, I palpate her deltoid and slide the needle inside, deep enough that the medicine will find its way to the inflamed capsule. Her mewls of pain reach my ears, and it hurts. Seeing her in fear and agony physically hurts, but it has to be done. More purrs pour from my body in an attempt to take out the bite of pain.

“Would you prefer I put you to sleep while I’m gone? That way you’re not consumed with the thoughts of your mind?”

“No,” she sniffles. “I wish to be awake, to make sure you don’t take any liberties.”

Chuckling, I ease off the bed and take the needle into the bathroom where I drop it into an awaiting receptacle. I wash my hands and stare at my reflection, wishing there is something I can do or say to convince her that I’m not like the others.

But I can’t.

Because I am.

I may not harm her, but that doesn’t mean I still don’t want her to bow at my feet, to have me control every thought, every action. Somehow, we will come to an understanding. For her sake more than mine, we will come to an understanding.

Wiping my hands on the towel, I walk back into the room and stare down at the petulant face screwed up at me. “Mogen has the leash. Do not give her cause to use it, or your punishment will be doubled.”

“Yes, Master.” This time, she doesn’t even pretend deference, and the boldness of her actions brings another smile to my lips.

CHAPTER 11

Davix

The hospital is quiet as I walk up to the side entrance. Unless there’s a massive emergency, everyone should be at their various stations and not in a position to see me. Ducking my head down, I make my way over to the elevators and slide my card.

I’m still traceable, but as long as I don’t act suspicious, no one should be looking too closely at what I’m doing. In a way, having the main heads of the hospital get executed and gaining favor with the new queen will help far more than anything else.

It’s my right to be here, my prerogative even, and not one space is off limits to my perusal. Clout and status only go so far, however, and that’s why tonight is so precarious. Once I get this initial setup out of the way, everything else will be easy.

Even as I walk down into the morgue, pausing to look around for a brief moment, my heart is no longer in this. I would much rather be at home with Ladria, reteaching her that she’s safe in my presence and relearning her. It would be far more enjoyable to just make up for lost time and forge new memories.