Own to Obsess, page 13
“They are doing well,” he called to the instructor.
The instructor looked at him warily. She’d informed him she was nervous about putting such pressure on their bodies at such a young age, worried that it would cause them physical problems later, but Kardos explained his intention was for them to learn the instructions now so when they came of age, they would be ready.
“Indeed,” the instructor replied reluctantly, “but there are still too few. They will be in great demand whether they can learn the instructions quickly or not.”
Kardos nodded. That was true. “Tomorrow I will bring you—”
An incredibly powerful darkness slammed through the bond and pulsed across his chest. Kardos stilled, his words dying in his mouth.
Shaya.
Turning on his heel, he ran to his tobo, hurriedly preparing to leave. The tobo was a sled that only held a seat for one person. There was no roof and no walls, like normal carriages, just the seat and the long ski paddles designed so that one man could travel quickly on his own with his own sled-dog pack. His guards stood staring at him, shocked for a moment, and then hurriedly rushed to their own tobos to follow him.
“Shinno?” the instructor called, surprised.
“I have to go,” Kardos growled back. “I'll be in touch.” He barked an instruction to his pack and they shot forward before he’d even finished it.
When he had bitten Shaya, completing the bond between them, the awareness at the edge of his mind had tunneled directly into his chest and bloomed into the most incredible feeling. It had been like a floating ball of life; bright and radiant and shiny in his chest, especially when he was with her. In the two days since he’d bitten her, he’d come to deeply appreciate being able to discern Shaya's mood without having to question Rozalia extensively each day or judge her mood solely by her actions. The awareness of her before the bite was only an echo, and one he’d been able to ignore when he needed to, but the bond brought him closer to her in such an intimate way that couldn’t be replicated.
This change panicked him.
It had begun as a dip of surprise and discontentment, but the blast of dread and horror, then fear, was so severely unpleasant, he knew something had to be happening to her, and the idea of that sent him into a panicked rage. She should be coming back from Rozalia’s hut at this time, so he wasn’t sure the potionist was even with her to help protect her from whatever was happening.
He urged his sled-dogs to travel faster, so fast there was a real fear of toppling over or breaking away from the dogs and slamming into a tree, but Kardos trusted his pack, so he kept his focus on the bond, monitoring the fluctuations within it.
By the time he reached the port, the potency of the horror and fear had lessened a little only to be dominated by a dark, bitter gloom. The bond itself had shrunk to something cold and lifeless.
Kardos boarded the boat that would take him from the training island back to Nyek and ordered the ship's captain to travel as fast as he could, not waiting for his guards who had fallen behind.
Fixated on the bond, he stood on the deck throughout the journey, watching as Nyek Island came closer as the ship's hands fed and watered his pack, rubbing down his tobo with oil. But compared to the speed of his tobo, the boat was moving at an incredibly slow pace. Even his own enormous ship that they journeyed to and from the Western Lands with was quicker than this.
He growled his frustration as the bond within his chest shriveled even further until it was like a lump of iron. What the fuck was happening? If anyone had done anything to her, even looked at her harshly, he would kill them. There was no question about it. The other shinnos thought they were smart to summon her without him, but their plan had backfired. News was starting to spread he had mated his Omega in the Central Lands’ temple, and it put a new perspective on the mating they’d had outside the temple steps. The people of the Isles were starting to speculate that Kardos and his Omega were drawn to the temple to mate, and the only couple known to do that was Az Eshra. In truth, he had been unable to stop it both times. He hadn’t realized that the completion of the bond would cause such an immediate desire to get inside her, and she was just as eager. The interesting result of that experience was the only reason why he hadn't completely distanced himself from his father. He had been furious to find out the high chief had accommodated the shinnos’ summoning. It was one thing to be bound by traditional rules, but there was nothing that said that he must honor their request to see Shaya alone. But then, his father had made confusing decisions lately, and Kardos wasn’t sure if he was trying to help or just fucking things up because he was angry with his son.
Finally the boat reached the port, and Kardos paid the captain, as the servant carried his tobo onto Nyek port. Within a few moments, he was racing along the snow again heading toward his hut.
All kinds of thoughts crossed his mind as he approached, but nothing seemed to be amiss. There was no snow storm, there was no siting of any animal that may have been heading in her direction, all the people of Nyek Island were going about their daily duties as normal.
When he arrived at his hut, he jumped off his tobo, hoping he’d find her inside.
He burst in, frightening some of the servants at the entrance, and when he looked at them, he could see in their eyes something had happened.
“Where is she?” he bellowed.
Rozalia came hurrying down the hallway. “She's in your study.” Kardos was shocked to see tears in her eyes. “She doesn't want anyone near her.”
“What happened?” Kardos growled.
“I-I… I don't know,” Rozalia stuttered. “It happened on the journey back from my hut. One of your servants sent for me, but I haven't been able to see her properly.”
“What do you mean?” Kardos barked. He burst into his study, but it was empty. He turned to bellow at Rozalia but she pointed at the desk.
Kardos leaned down and saw Shaya was curled up underneath his desk far back against the wall. “Come out, Shaya,” he ordered.
She didn't respond and all he could hear was quiet sobs.
“Shaya,” he demanded. “What has happened? Come out from under there!”
But as he spoke the despair in the bond deepened, becoming colder and more despondent, a reluctance twisting through it. This wasn't working.
Kardos thought for a moment and then gestured for Rozalia to leave. She turned slowly, her eyes flitting between the desk and him, and then left the room and close the door gently behind her.
Kardos stilled, quietly examining the bond within him. Shaya was still scared, but even more so she was upset about something specific. The jagged emotions were stronger than anything he had felt before—almost unbearable—and the idea that his Omega was suffering in this way both angered and alarmed him. He wanted it to stop. Immediately. But it was clear she needed careful handling.
Lowering onto his hands and knees, he crawled to the desk and reached for her.
“No, no, leave me alone,” she sobbed, her voice raspy. “Don't touch me! Leave me alone.”
Kardos growled in annoyance at her instruction. There was no way he wasn’t touching his own Omega. He reached farther in and hooked his arm around her waist and gently pulled her toward him, gathering her up in his arms.
As soon as he had her, he stood up slowly, but she curled herself tightly into a ball, wrapping her arms over her head and burying herself into his chest.
“Don't look at me,” she whimpered, chokingly. “D-d-don't look.”
Her hair.
Her beautiful hair that she was so proud of was gone. It had been hacked off without care, because what was left was uneven and jagged. It had obviously been done in a hurry but was also cut close to her head, so whoever did it would have had to hold her down and take off her wrap to get at it.
The rage that embraced Kardos was more powerful and deeper than any anger he’d felt before. He roared as he clutched onto her, but immediately the bond flared with fear and Shaya trembled wildly as though fighting it, which made him abruptly stop. Lifting her higher, he forced her arms around his neck and nuzzled his face into hers, pressing his nose to the bridge of hers and holding her there, murmuring that she was safe. After a few moments, her trembling stopped but her sobbing didn’t. Kardos kissed her gently realizing his effect on her; he couldn't rage while she was so frightened.
He wrapped her in his furs and then carried her out of the room.
Rozalia hovered outside the study, clearly worried. “She is well? Tell me she’s not hurt, Kardos!” She sounded almost hysterical.
“I need to you to organize the servants,” Kardos ordered, trying to keep his voice calm. “Send them on leave for a few days. I don’t want anyone in the house. Double the guards around the compound.”
Rozalia nodded, but still hopped from one foot to another.
“She is not hurt as far as I can tell but I need to examine her.”
Rozalia took a breath and her body relaxed somewhat. “Do you need any potions? Or maybe food? I can bring something from home—”
“Come back in a few days,” Kardos instructed. “I would appreciate your opinion about her then.”
Rozalia nodded, glancing at the shivering, sobbing bundle in his arms and then turned to deal with the servants.
Kardos made his way to his bedroom and lay Shaya down on his bed.
When he lifted the furs, she was curled up in a ball with her arms around her head, her legs locked together, and her body tight and tense.
He got undressed, and then gathered her back up, stroking her back, legs, and arms to try to calm her.
At first she didn't respond, but as he leaned in to press his face into her neck, she unfolded a little and he gently stripped her of her tunic. Lifting her against his chest again, he climbed into bed with her and cuddled her close.
Kardos was dismayed that she wouldn't stop crying.
The behavior disturbed him greatly. Her sobs were the most distressing sound he had ever heard. Every moment of them was like a thousand daggers stabbing him all over his body and he couldn't bear the feeling in the bond. He stroked her skin the way he knew she loved, he kissed every part of her he could reach, he spoke to her and told her she was safe until she finally quietened a little. But she still kept her arms around her head, her knees drawn up and locked together.
Kardos propped himself up on his elbows and began to slowly examine her. Although she had some bruises, there was nothing serious that would cause her any massive physical pain, but it was still disturbing that someone had managed to get that close to her. Where the fuck had his guards been? They were supposed to be protecting her. He needed an exact account of what happened, and of course whoever did this was going to die as painfully as possible, but that wasn’t important right now.
Taking a deep breath, he discarded all sorts of anger and reason and logic. He put aside his concerns about his guards, or the culprit and how much he was going to enjoy ripping him from limb to limb. Turning his attention to the bond, he opened himself up to the feel of his Omega within him.
He eased himself on top of her and began to purr as loud as he could, ensuring she was smothered by him completely. Immediately her sobs quietened and her muscles relaxed. Her head inched up slowly until her nose was against his neck.
They remained in that position until her sobs petered out and then she wriggled, inching herself from underneath him. Kardos watched in amazement as she reached for a pillow and annoyance bounded through him. Growling, he grabbed her around the waist and yanked her back underneath him. Shaya hissed at him harshly, the tears making her hard eyes glisten.
What the fuck?
Kardos was so surprised, he let her wriggle away again, and as she grabbed the pillow to hide her head under, her back to him, he caught a whiff of that sweet aroma of her arousal. Kardos didn’t even need to think or analyze, her behavior and scent told something deep within him what she needed. Grabbing her hips, he slammed inside her.
She released a guttural breath as her body jolted and groaned into the pillow. He pulled right out and slammed in again, the smack of his hips against her ass hard and loud. Shaya pushed her ass back toward him as he pulled all the way out again and groaned loudly when he drove in again.
He continued to fuck her slow and hard with long strokes until she was crying out and calling his name.
“What?” Kardos growled, slamming in again, relishing the squeeze only she could give him.
“Please,” she gasped, grabbing his hand on her hip.
“Please, what?”
“I want to…” She swallowed as her body jolted again. “Fly.”
“You will fly when I say you can, little bird,” Kardos said through gritted teeth. “When you stop this disobedience.”
Shaya whimpered, her sobs returning as she shook her head in disagreement. But this time Kardos knew those tears were necessary. Those tears were the sign of her realization that she needed her Alpha, and that he was in control of her soothing in any way he saw fit.
So she sobbed as he battered her body with slow, halting, wet slams that kept her on the brink of her flight.
Finally she pushed the fucking pillow away, howling in frustration and Kardos rumbled smugly. He yanked her back underneath him, this time face down and fucked her hard and fast as her slick spurted out onto his balls. She took flight immediately, screaming as her whole body and that beautiful pussy tensed and convulsed. He rammed her, keeping her orgasm going until she was mumbling and clawing the bed.
Flipping her over, dove into her once more and knotted her as he came, powerful waves of the most intense ecstasy cresting over him as his seed shot inside her.
Kardos maneuvered her so he completely covered her body again, pressing her down into the bed with her legs around his waist.
Shaya wound her arms around his neck and he couldn’t help but rumble in satisfaction. He loved when she did that. In fact, her assuming the right to touch him nearly brought him to his knees every morning when she groomed him. She combed his hair and fixed it the way she wanted, she trimmed his beard and treated it the way that pleased her, and she had taken to kissing and stroking his shoulder or neck or chest wherever she chose. She didn't have to be told, she simply took ownership of her Alpha as she prepared him for his day, and it turned him on more than any other behavior he had seen from her so far. It made leaving her even more of a chore.
Underneath him, her breathing was uneven and hitching until her panting calmed, but soon she was asleep.
***
The night passed uneasily. Shaya slept as long as Kardos' weight was completely on top of her, but when she was awake she was upset; tearful and silent. She settled better when he was inside her, but the cold depression in the bond did not improve. He kissed her frequently telling her she was beautiful, but she didn't speak to him at all, she barely looked at him.
She was insistent about covering her head with her arms, but Kardos pinned them to her sides as soon as she was asleep and kept them away from her head when she was awake, which fed into her distress, but he wouldn’t have her hiding any part of herself from him.
Kardos remained awake, watching every movement she made and every expression on her face. In the early morning, she stirred awake and turned her face away from him sharply when she saw him looking at her. “Don’t look at me,” she whispered.
Kardos nudged her face back to him with his finger. “But it’s my favorite thing to do,” he murmured.
Shaya hesitated at his words, searching his eyes, before her head dropped to one side again. “It’s not.”
Kardos nuzzled her neck. “All right, it’s my third favorite thing.”
He kissed her neck and felt her shudder underneath him, her legs opening and hips tilting as she sought what she wanted. He filled her up, she blinked rapidly and her eyes focused on him as she gasped. Before she could do or say anything, he was building up a slow rhythm between her legs.
Her moans sent ripples of pleasure through him, and her hands ran over his lower stomach and waist, where she could reach with her hands pinned by her side. Her legs spread wider and her little pussy clenched down on him as he worked in and out, her hips tilting to meet his thrusts.
Kardos tucked one of his arms between her and the bed to hold her securely around the waist. Lowering his head, he pressed his nose against hers, feeling her breath increase as he became rougher and her pussy drenched with her slick.
“This is my second favorite,” he growled.
Her back arched and she moaned, gripping onto him. He pressed his lips against hers and thrust his tongue in, eager to capture every sound she made and every breath that came from her body. When she wound her arms around his neck he groaned and trailed his other hand up her stomach to her breasts.
Playing with her nipple, he slammed into her as her orgasm approached, and rode her roughly through it, relishing the sound and sight of her flight. She still flew so freely, and he was pleased that her distress did not negatively impact that part of her, the part of her that only he could trigger, the part of her that only he saw.
As she came back down gasping, she pulled away from sucking on his tongue to look at him. Blinking rapidly, slightly confused, tears filled her eyes again.
“That is my favorite,” he concluded. “Watching you fly.”
“Stop looking at me,” she whispered and turned her head to one side as the tears began to fall.
Kardos squeezed her breast and continued to fuck her as he lowered down to her neck and licked on his claiming bite. A sudden shudder went through her body as his tongue grazed it, and suddenly she was flying again.
Kardos mated her all morning, keeping her locked in his arms and her mouth close to his so he could kiss her and give her his tongue. By the time he knotted her, she was clearly exhausted and the bedding was soaked in their sweat.
He pushed his knot in, spilling inside her as she clamped down on him and milked his cock for every drop of his seed. Laying his forehead onto the pillow, he groaned and panted.
