Total pages in book: 63
Estimated words: 58365 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 292(@200wpm)___ 233(@250wpm)___ 195(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 58365 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 292(@200wpm)___ 233(@250wpm)___ 195(@300wpm)
Her blood like ice, Morgaine said aloud what they all knew, certain every move she made had been projected for strangers to witness all these days of her captivity, “You watched?”
“Of course.” Sergeant Uriel pointed at the artificial view of the forest on the screen that had previously shown the death of Esmerelda and the mating of the estrous-high Omega. “Beyond that wall, many Alphas observe your every move. There is a team in place to regulate your keeping and assure your happiness. Many among them are your suitors who have a legal right to have proof you are honored.”
Honored? If Uriel was frustrated, Morgaine was exasperated.
Love, happiness, safety, joy, pleasure—these words had been barked at her over and over, but never once had she felt any of them in Alpha care. Honor did not exist here.
He wasn’t done. “Furthermore, all mated Omegas are broadcast in their finest moments. How else are Alphas to learn how to please them, care for them, and discipline them where there are so few to go around? Grow accustomed to being watched.”
Amazed these monsters had found another way to shock her, Morgaine’s jaw dropped. “You allow other men to view your mate during...”
Pride swelling his chest, Sergeant Uriel stood tall. He even dared a hit of a smile. “Alphas need release. If they can find pleasure in the same moment I do, then it is my duty to provide it. An undrained Alpha is dangerous.”
“She is comfortable with this?”
“Like you, she has no choice.” He seemed to consider as if the thought had never occurred to him, following with, “I believe she takes delight in doing her duty for both me and the crew.”
Cheeks fiery red as the concept sunk in, she dared to meet the Alpha’s eyes. “Have you asked her?”
“Why would I?”
It was such a flippant reply that Morgaine could not help but snarl, “Because you love her… Because sex is sacred? Because even now I feel as if it was more than Esin who violated me.”
He gave her a slap, hard enough to sting, but not rough enough to knock her down. “Grasp this. You cannot be raped by an Alpha. You are an Omega, designed by nature to respond to our call.”
Hand to her stinging cheek, Morgaine stumbled back. “I did what he wanted…”
Countering her wobbly retreat, the sergeant came down upon her until she’d tripped and fallen hard on her rear. Reeking of furious Alpha musk, he roared. “You spent half the experience screaming for your mother! You are lucky he chose to exercise patience and leniency! Had it been I, you would have been silenced with that first embarrassing bleat!”
There was nothing to do but try to shrink back and appease, her every synapse warned that she was in danger. “I’m sorry.”
Seething, he closed his eyes, took a breath, and slowly grew collected. When a full minute had passed, he nodded at a thought, became the meditative man she’d first met, and said, “You’ll be silenced now. One more mention of her in any context, Morgaine, and there will be three strikes of the cane for you and a public whipping for Elizabeta where all your settlement might watch.”
Stricken, Morgaine could mutter no more than a terrified. “No…”
“Yes.” He seemed proud of the decree. “You will learn discipline. The best you can do for your mother is to forget she ever existed. Slip up, and she will bleed far more than you will. Someday you will even thank me for breaking you of your childish habit.”
His threat had set Morgaine into uncontrollable sobs no amount of purring could ease. Her punishment she could bear, but knowing her mother, a woman who was already grieving and in pain, would be whipped, could never be borne.
“Think on all I’ve said.” Uriel kneeled down and placed a hand on her bowed, shaking head. “Tomorrow you will impress me with the behavior of a woman and not the poor conduct of a child.”
He’d left her alone to cry it out. The lights had gone down and she had dumped herself into the sunken bed far away from the reeking furs and crusting remnants of Esin’s semen.
Hopeless and exhausted, she lay as still as a corpse no matter the artificial chill they pushed into the air.
They had taken her from her home. They had forced her to watch unspeakable things, made demands that were degrading and repugnant. And now… now they wanted to take her mother’s name out of her mouth.
It was worse than being stolen away, because Morgaine knew that one day she would slip. One day she would mention her mother, and the woman who loved her above all things would pay dearly for it.
***
When the lights came up, it had been after another sleepless night.
Sergeant Uriel entered with renewed vigor. Professional, with none of the prior day’s harsh temperament, he said, “I see you’ve spent a great deal of time in thought.”