Tied to Darkness Ch. 01

CHAPTER ONE

The throne room was uncomfortably quiet, except for the faint sound of my own breath on the stone tiles. My father, King Malik, was tall in his golden armor, his broad shoulders squared under the heavy weight of his crown. Time had turned him hard. The once gentle ruler who had taught me to ride horses, who'd helped me decipher star charts, had become a stranger. His dark hair, now laced with gray, his face etched into a mask of chill determination. His eyes, bright and calculating, revealed nothing of the man who used to sing me lullabies at night.

I held myself poised, but felt like I could throw up. I had inherited none of my father's determination or my mother's fiery temper. Instead, I looked softer, more fragile in my appearance. My long chestnut hair framed a face too soft for the crown I'd been born to wear. My round cheeks, full lips, and a sprinkle of freckles across my nose was a souvenir from childhood days in the sun.

But my eyes... they were hers.

My family's portrait loomed above the throne, my mother's emerald gaze--so much like my own--bearing down as if begging me to turn and run. My mother had been the last sorceress of my bloodline. I hadn't known until I heard about what had happened. Her death was steeped in secrets I'd never been permitted to unravel. Secrets my father had buried with her.

At the moment my eyes met my father's, he looked at me with such unyielding disappointment. My father had treated my potential as nothing more than an instrument designed to strengthen his position as king. Today, I stood as nothing more than a political piece to secure an alliance which would protect his power.

"Lilah," my father said, his voice cold and commanding, "you will do your duty for the kingdom."

I flinched as if the words were a knife, penetrating my very skin. For years I'd been groomed to rule. My intellect and ambition all honed to that singular purpose. But now, my life was no longer my own. It was the property of a marriage I had no control over, and to a man I'd never have chosen.

My gaze flicked towards the man who stood next to my father. My stomach twisted violently as our eyes connected.

Lord Kage.

His notorious reputation was enough to frighten even the most courageous individuals. Tales in the taverns and markets had said he sold his soul to demons in exchange for power. Some accused him of carrying out prohibited magical practices that used blood and shadows to alter his surroundings. Servants swore his lands were cursed, that whole villages had disappeared by his order. If you asked me, the most terrifying story was about his first wife--a woman who died screaming, whose body was never found and whose blood was smeared on the stones of his fortress. The only certainty about Kage was that he was a man who could not be easily understood. He was as much a mystery as he was a threat.

The air around Kage seemed calm as he stood with his back straight and his hands behind him, exuding an aura of confidence. His jet-black hair was pulled back, although strands had escaped to frame his face. He had sharp cheekbones, a blade of a jaw, and steely gray eyes. His cape, as dark as the midnight sky, was emblazoned with a silver sigil of a crow, wings outstretched as though to swallow the light.

But it was the scar that drew my attention. It was a jagged line creeping up above his collar, twitching softly with an unnatural darkness to it.

My father's voice was steady as he continued. "This marriage is going to protect our people. Kage's alliances are how we will protect our borders, and his power is what will let us survive through what is coming."

"Survive?" The word tore from me. "You've been spending years trying to silence me. Now you want to sell me to a stranger to clean up your mess?"

King Malik's jaw tightened. For a split second, his stony mask cracked and I saw the ghost of the man who held me whenever I had nightmares as a child. "This isn't only about alliances, Lilah. It is about your survival too."

I recoiled. "What is that supposed to--"

"Enough." His voice snapped like a whip. "You will marry him... without protest."

Kage came forward then, swallowing the few feet that stood between us. His proximity was so immediate that I could see a flicker of shadows in his eyes and smell the bitter scent of smoke and iron clinging to him. His scar pulsed as he spoke. "You misunderstand, my lady. I'm not here to be your enemy."

"Then what are you here for?" I hissed. "To bury me? To contribute my bones or my blood to your collection?"

His eyes dropped to the floor for a heartbeat before meeting my gaze again. "To do what's needed for both of us."

I laughed, the sound brittle. "Trust is a luxury I refuse to squander on a man who participates in black magic."

"And nor should you," he said quietly. "But you will learn the difference between lies and survival."

Before I could snap back, my father's voice pierced the air. "The wedding will be in two days. Until then, you are under the protection of Lord Kage."

"Protection?" I spat. "Or imprisonment?"

Kage's eyes narrowed. "You have my word. No harm will come to you."

"Your word?" I turned, laughing and began marching toward the door, my pulse singing in my ears.

I hadn't even taken three steps before my father's voice echoed against the stone walls. "There is one more thing, Lilah. The Bloodbinding."

I froze. The Bloodbinding--an ancient practice that Kage's people must perform to seal political marriages. I'd read about it first in my mother's journals, which I had found a few years back when snooping in her room. It required a mingling of blood, and in some interpretations, much more.

"No," I said, spinning to look at him. "That practice is--"

"Nonnegotiable," my father cut in. "It guarantees that the alliance can't be broken. Lord Kage's men will prepare the chamber." With a dismissing wave of his hand, two men standing at the back of the room pushed back the bright red and gold tapestry and disappeared behind it.

Kage approached, his voice low, and a hint of a smirk tugging at his lips. "It does not need to be consummated, Princess. But I won't be surprised if you end up begging me for it."

My skin prickled at his words. I turned and marched toward the throne room doors again, but two guards in black armor stepped in my way. Visors marked with Kage's crow sigil obscured their faces, and their silence was more terrifying than any threat I've encountered so far.

"Let me through," I said, my voice icy.

They didn't move.

Kage's voice sliced through the tension behind me. "The Bloodbinding cannot be delayed, Princess. Your father's orders." His eyes darted toward the portrait of my family above the throne. "The king himself signed the decree. The guards are only here to make certain you... comply."

The threat hung in the air, pulling my mind back to my earlier thoughts. This was far more terrifying than the guard's unsettling silence.

Unfortunately, I had no weapons, no allies, only the pendant beneath my gown to keep me company. I sighed in defeat and proceeded to follow Kage to the back of the throne room.

The guards bracketed me as Kage guided us down a narrow staircase behind the tapestry that I saw the others disappear behind. The air grew colder with every step, torches lined the wall as we descended. The further we descended, I observed that parts of the walls that were once smooth, now crumbled and cracked, stained with age.

"Where are you taking me?" I hissed, my voice echoing off the low ceiling.

Kage didn't bother to turn or to answer me.

The steps spiraled further down, the darkness closing in, even the torchlight appeared smothered. I fumbled over the uneven steps, and Kage's hand reached for me to steady myself. His grip was strong and his skin hot against mine. I flinched away, but not before catching the scar on his wrist, the same as the one on his neck. It seemed to glow slightly in the darkness.

"Why does it glow?" I asked, unable to suppress my curiosity.

He flexed his hand, the scar pulsing with a faint light. "A reminder of choices I made."

Before I could press him on it, we reached a heavy iron door at the bottom of the stairs, flanked by the two men I saw earlier in the throne room. Kage pressed his hand to it and murmured phrases in a language that I couldn't understand. The door creaked open to a temple-sized chamber within.

Flame-flickering braziers threw jagged light across rune-etched walls. The runes seemed to writhe like snakes whenever the flames changed position. The center was dominated by a stone altar, draped in black silk and scattered with pillows. The air vibrated with a low magical energy, enough to make my teeth ache.

I froze in the doorway. "What is this place?"

"A temple to old gods," Kage said and stepped in. "And tonight, a witness to our vows."

The guards pushed me forward, then fell back and began closing the iron doors, blocking my escape.

Kage walked up to the altar, taking deliberate steps. He cast aside his cloak and the fitted black tunic he wore beneath clung to him. The scar on his neck pulsed faster in this space, as if feeding on the darkness.

He pulled a dagger from his belt. Its blade was made of the darkest obsidian I have ever seen.

He slashed his palm without flinching and allowed his blood to drip into a chalice that appeared to be carved from bone. "Your turn."

I hesitated; the dagger cold in my palm.

His gaze darkened. "If you don't, then I will have the guards pin you down. I'd prefer your cooperation."

I drove the blade to my skin. Pain flared, bright and sharp, and my blood joined his in the chalice--crimson swirling with black, as if his very essence was tainted.

"Drink," he ordered.

I recoiled. "I'd sooner die."

In one swift motion, he was at my side with the chalice in hand. "Death is a luxury you don't have."

With his other hand, he tangled it in my hair, tilting my head back. Before I could scream, he took deep gulps from the chalice, then crushed his lips to mine.

It tasted like fire and ash, his blood burning like a poison down my throat. Magic ignited in my veins, violent and hungry. I gasped on his lips as the room seemed to spin. The hold he had on my hair tightened as he set the chalice onto the altar. His hand, now free of the chalice, slid to the small of my back, pressing me firmly against the cold stone, his hips pinning me there.

My eyelids fluttered closed, my vision swimming in a swirl of stars and light while the rush of blood thundered in my ears. It was not until Kage pulled away that I could breathe again, his fingers still tangled tightly in my hair.

Kage's stormy gray gaze locked onto me, penetrating and hot. He released my hair only to replace his fingers around my throat.

His thumb grazed my pulse and a shiver coursed through me, his eyes not leaving mine. I swallowed, feeling his fingers, lightly tightening around my throat, a warning. He stepped a bit closer, and said in a low tone, "This marriage... maybe you don't want it, but I promise you, Princess, it won't make a difference. You will be my wife, and I will have you."

My head spun, a hot fusion of the blood I had just drank and adrenaline pumping through me. The sudden closeness, the taste of him on my tongue, sent rippling shockwaves through me.

Kage's lips left a hot trail along my jaw and neck, his teeth scraping against the sensitive skin right beneath my ear. I wriggled in protest, but my treasonous body bucked into him, wanting more.

His free hand slid beneath my dress, easily finding the laces of my bodice. He ripped them loose, letting my breasts spill out. "Look at me," he growled. My body responded to him, nipples hardening in an instant, peaking in the cool air and against his hot gaze. His calloused fingertips dragged over them slowly, then pinching them sharply, making me gasp.

Kage gave a low rumble of a laugh. He wasted no time hoisting me onto the altar, spreading my legs and positioning himself in between them. His mouth found my nipple, sucking and biting until I began moaning again. My pussy was throbbing and dripping with arousal. I reached for his tunic, fumbling with the ties that held it shut.

Kage tore open my dress, his hands driven and fierce as he explored my naked body. My mind was shrieking for me to stop, to push him away, but my body had betrayed me.

My breath caught in my throat as his hands traced over my belly, sliding down towards the heat pooling between my thighs. He shot me a wicked smirk; the kind that said I fell right into the little trap he set.

His fingers danced along the hem of my undergarments before sliding under the silk. Air snagged in my lungs as his fingertips glided over the slickness of my folds. "Gods," I hissed, grinding my hips against him. Kage groaned, satisfied with my response.

He moved his hand lower, separating my drenched folds, his fingertips probing my wetness. "Your pussy is ready for me, isn't it Princess?" He slid two fingers inside of me, rubbing my clit with just the right amount of pressure with his palm. I bit down hard on my lip, suppressing a moan of pleasure.

My back arched sharply as he curled his fingers deeper inside of me, expertly stroking my G-spot. A half-choked sob escaped as waves of ecstasy began to build, threatening to swallow me whole.

With an audible pop, Kage pulled his fingers from my quaking core and put them in his mouth, swallowing my taste greedily. "Gods, Princess, you're delicious," he growled before claiming my mouth again with his. My mind spun with the thought of how my own arousal would taste on his tongue. My body was shaking all over, still aching for release after he had denied me it moments ago.

His cock pulsed against my thigh, thick and heavy through his breeches. I moaned, shamelessly rubbing myself against him in desperate need for friction. Without breaking our kiss, Kage grabbed my wrists, pinning me down onto the stone slab. With one hand now pinning me down, his other hand tore off my remaining clothes, leaving me completely bare and exposed. His hand explored the naked length of my body, squeezing my ample curves as though he was staking his ownership over every inch of me.

Kage ripped off his tunic, causing the ties that I was fumbling with earlier to tear. Underneath revealed a torso that was deliciously sculpted with lean muscles. His pants and tunic now joined the pile of abandoned clothes on the ground.

My heart roared as Kage shoved me back onto the altar, his powerful body looming over mine. My breath trembled as his eyes raked over my body, taking in every curve and dip. He smirked, eyes glazed as they raked over my heaving breasts, then rested between my spread legs. I rocked my hips instinctively, my pussy glistening in anticipation.

"Beg for it," Kage ordered, his voice rough with desire. His eyes roamed over me, consuming every inch of my naked body. "Do you want my cock inside you?" He asked, grinding his hips against me causing a wave of pleasure to course through me. I shook my head vehemently.

"Liar," Kage sneered, swiping his finger along my dripping slit. "Your pussy is begging for it." He circled my clit with just the right amount of pressure, causing me to moan and squirm underneath him. "Admit you want me inside of you."

I glared at him defiantly, hissing through gritted teeth, "You have no idea what I want."

Kage chuckled, his cock pulsating against my inner thigh. "Is that so?" Smirking, he ran the length of his cock along my entrance, taunting me with it and grinding it against my clit. "Tell me then, Princess," he teased, his fingers digging into my hips. "What do you want?"

While he spoke, I could feel the head of his cock against my opening, ready to thrust into me at any moment. I gasped for air, desperately fighting to retain some lingering control, some flicker of pride. But with Kage toying with my entrance, I felt something dark and feral stirring within me.

A half-sob, half-whimper escaped my parted lips as I gazed into his stunning, predatory eyes. "I want..." I began, struggling with myself, my heart pounding wildly.

I shook my head, fighting to hold on to the last ounce of control I had. "Shut up and take me already!" I snarled, grinding my hips against him, chasing the swollen head of his cock.

A wicked glint flashed in his eyes as he drove home, driving himself deep inside me. He thrust into me with brutal force, stretching me wide around his girth. I screamed as he filled me to the brim, my fingernails digging deep into his shoulders.

My legs wrapped around him, pulling him deeper inside me as he pistoned his hips, pumping at a ruthless pace. My hips rolled to the beat of his thrusts, keeping time with his savage rhythm.

"Dirty girl," Kage growled, enjoying the sight of his thick cock sliding into me. His pelvis grinded against my clit with each stroke, pushing me toward oblivion with every brutal thrust. His lips crashed against mine, devouring me as his body pinned me against the altar. He was going faster, slamming into me without any restraint. The sounds of our bodies colliding against each other echoed throughout the empty chamber.

"Harder," I groaned into his lips, as though I was possessed by someone else. My pussy tightened around him like a vice, gripping and contracting around his giant cock. Kage pulled back and grabbed both my ankles, flipping my legs onto his shoulders. His hands grabbed my ass cheeks tightly, hoisting me up as he plunged into me with more force. "Fuck!"

With my legs tossed high up over Kage's wide shoulders, he increased his efforts, slamming into me faster and harder. My back arched off the altar, every muscle strained and tight. My orgasm ripped through me like a storm, tearing a deafening scream from my lips. Kage's slamming assault only became more violent, pounding into me savagely as he rode out my climax.

Kage's persistent fucking showed no signs of slowing down, his hips slamming into me with such intensity that the air around us seemed to shimmer. My pussy spasmed frantically around Kage's thick cock as he continued to thrust deep into me, wringing every ounce of pleasure out of my spent body. His hand returned to my neck, his grip firm and commanding. "I think we both want the same thing," he growled, his pace increasing.

"Oh, is that so?" I let out a snort and lifted my chin, daring him to challenge me. "Prove it." A hungry gleam flared in his eyes, one that illuminated the empty corners of his soul. Kage dove forward, lips claiming mine once more, teeth biting savagely. His muscular body lay over mine again, pinning me to the cold stone beneath.

"Spread your thighs wider," he commanded. My legs obediently widened further, allowing him easier access to my aching pussy. His cock twitched deep within me, throbbing wildly against my hypersensitive walls. I could feel him hovering at the edge, ready to let go and spill himself into me.

"I'm going to fill you with my cum," Kage growled, his voice harsh like gravel. My pussy quivered at his words, hungry and needy for him. His cock throbbed, his climax building ready to burst. He leaned forward, the heat of his breath against the shell of my ear, "You ready for it? Ready to feel my cum inside of you, Princess?"

A shiver of excitement coursed through me, my hips grinding greedily into his. "Yes," I groaned, the sound escaping my lips before I could stop it. Kage growled like a savage beast as his dick spasmed and expanded, shooting his seed deep inside me. Heavy ropes of cum surged from his swollen tip, covering my inner walls with his seed. My pussy squeezed hungrily around his spurting cock, milking him dry of all his essence.

Kage's forehead dropped to mine, his panting, hot breath against my face as his cock continued to twitch inside me. His eyes locked with mine, his gray eyes stormy with an emotion I couldn't identify. As we struggled to breathe, reality struck me like a bucket of ice water.

Along with the cruel realization of what we had done, came an equally painful shame. Kage must have also felt it, because he withdrew from me at once, his seed trickling down my thigh. Ashamed and confused, I gathered up my crumpled and torn dress, desperately trying to cover myself.

"Was that part of your ritual too?" I spat, my throat dry. "Or just another way of claiming your prize?"

He didn't even flinch. "The Bloodbinding requires joining as one. Your father knew the conditions."

"Liar." The word cracked out like a whip. "You could have stopped. You decided not to."

For the very first time, a flicker of something passed through his eyes--guilt? Anger? However, it vanished as quickly as it was there. "You did not fight or resist me."

My cheeks burned with heat. I had not fought, not once the blood-magic had taken hold. The ritual had blurred pain and lust, anger and desire, so that I could no longer distinguish where his touch ended, and my own desire began.

"You used me," I breathed.

"No." He moved closer, and I stepped back, my hips hitting the altar. "The magic enhances what is already present. Your anger. My desire. They're not so different, Princess." His hand came up, to sweep the hair from my face, but I batted it away. "Don't. Don't touch me again."

A muscle tensed in his jaw. He turned around, snatching his cloak from the ground. The fabric was heavy and warm as he tossed it to me, the crow sigil glaring up at me. I wanted to throw it back in his face, but the cold cut deeper, and the shame caused my hands to pull it closer to me.

As I wrapped the cloak around my shoulders, I saw myself in a dusty mirror on the wall--hair askew, lips swollen, eyes smoldering with a mixture of anger and something I did not dare admit.

Kage's voice shattered the silence. "The guards will escort you to your room."

"To my prison, you mean."

He did not deny it. "Rest, Lilah."

I shouldered past him, the cloak trailing behind me like a mourning veil. At the door, I paused, my hand resting on the rusty iron latch. "What happened... it doesn't change anything. I will never be yours."

His reply was so low I barely heard it. "But you already are."

The guards followed me up the stairs, step by step, their armor clanking like chains. But it wasn't the sound of the guards that plagued me as I sprinted up the steps, it was the heat of Kage's gaze on my skin, and the treacherous part of me that still shivered at the memory of his hands.