Chapter 5 - Rocky

Behind me, I hear the dominion stagger to her legs. She must have turned and looked at the couch, for with a little scream she rushes out.

I take in deep breaths of air, and again, then wipe the puke from my face.

I hear the door open, and there’s the sound of footsteps entering. My shoulders tense. The heavy tread of what can only be another leader reaches me. The man marches across the ground to stand behind me.

“The General is dead.”

“No shit.” I laugh, not sure why, but it looks like the most appropriate response. I swivel around to face John.

Those cool gray eyes watch me. There is no expression on his face.

“A thank you, perhaps?” I smirk.

He clasps my look, then lowers his head. “Long live the General.”

My head spins, and I grip the ledge of the window for support. Of course, I am the leader of London now, except I hadn’t really believed what he’d said earlier.

“The laws are in your favor, sir. Unless someone decides to challenge you, you are the General.”

“Bloody-shiting-hell.” I throw my head back and laugh.

“What’s your first decree, General?”

Right. I rake my fingers through my hair.

The dominion walks in, fully clothed now. Her hair is already braided and put up,

she wears a long silk tunic and slim-fitting pants. Walking over to me, she stops, keeping enough distance between us to avoid her fragrance from reaching me.

“General.”

“What were you doing with him?” I look to where Alter’s naked body still lies on the couch.

She tenses, and so does John. He doesn’t say anything else, though. Just keeps his look on my face.

"Alter screwed me in return for sparing the rest of my dominion clan.” She double overs her fingers into fists at her side. “What's your name?” I ask.

“Mirela.” Her chin trembles. She’s a reminder of Alter, and right now I can do without that.

“You can tell your dominions that they are safe. I don’t plan to take any of them by force.”

Her look flies to my face.

“As long as they make themselves available to my men to choose from when the need to rut takes them. Or when they hit a warmth cycle and need a leader to break them.”

She frowns. “But—”

“They have every right to refuse.”

“Will your men heed your words?”

“They’d better.”

"On one condition." She raises her chin.

"I wasn't aware that this was a negotiation." I widen my stance.

Next to me, John bunches his shoulders. He makes no move to go to her… doesn’t even look at her.

The knuckles of his hand are white.

Interesting. He may just have a soft… or is that a hard spot for her? I purse my mouth.

She clasps my look.

"Speak then, I won't deny that your candor is refreshing."

Mirela looks at John from under half-closed eyelashes. “I want him to break my next warmth cycle."

John stiffens, then pulls himself up to his full height. “I do not sip from castoffs.”

She draws in a sharp breath, and the color fades from her cheek. So, I was right.

The chemistry between these two is through the roof. The very fact that he turned her down confirms that he is emotionally attached to her.

I’ve just found John’s weak point, and I intend to use it against him. It’s what I am good at.

“Well, then," I jerk my chin at him, "I do believe you need to get on and see to the formalities in my taking on as General.”

“Of course.” His look snaps on me; his eyes glitter with anger… retribution? Bring it on. It’s exactly how I like my men. Hungry… and angry. He turns to go.

“John.”

He turns.

“Take the dead guy with you, will you?”

A vein springs to life at his temple. But he doesn't protest. He stomps to the couch, heaves the dead Alter over his shoulder, then heads to the exit.

Mirela's look follows John as he strides out the door. She makes to follow him.

“I’m not done yet.”

She pauses and angles her body toward me but keeps her look lowered. “You know what turns me on more than power?” She shakes her head.

“It’s taking the thing that someone else covets most.” Her shoulders square. Golden-brown eyes stare at me. I know then that I am lying.

I don’t want her. I want another.

A dominion whose green eyes are burned into my soul. And shit me, but I am not even sure if she is real or just a figment of my dreams. I am besotted by a ghost, a dominion that doesn’t even exist. I’ve shited my way through all the East End, yet my body aches for a pussy that isn’t even real. Shit me over.

“You can’t be worse than your dad.” Her sound is soft, her spine stiff.

A shudder of apprehension rises over my surface.

I don’t want to be compared to Alter. I am nothing like that man. And yet, I had walked in and strangled my own parent. Does that make me like him?

I stalk toward her. “You are wrong.” I pause in front of her.

Her look skitters away.

“I am more dangerous. Alter was a fool; he never could hide his true intentions. Me? I keep my enemies closer.”

“And your friends?”

“I don’t trust anyone.”

“Not even John?”

“Especially not John.” My mouth twisted in a smirk. “He had a vested interest in making me, General. He turned on the very man he’d sworn allegiance to.

Tomorrow he could do the same to me.”

“Does that bother you?”

I hold her look. “No, but it should bother you.” “Why?” Her shoulders stiffen.

“I saw the way the two of you looked at each other. He has a thing for you…”

“Everyone has a thing for me.” Her mouth curves up.

“Exactly.” I peel back my mouth, “Going forward, you will be the head of the Dominion Harem.”

“Me?” She frowns.

“The leaders will petition you to choose a dominion. All the dominions in this stronghold and any who need shelter in the city will be housed there.”

“Why would you do that?” She doubles over her arms over her chest, her nails digging into her forearms. The surface of her knuckles is stretched white.

“It’s one way to contain the leaders inside the stronghold. To ensure they don’t hunt the dominions in the streets.”

She gulps. “If I refuse?”

“I’ll hand you over to the leaders.”

She pales. “You wouldn’t.”

My look goes to the dent in the mattress that marks where Alter’s body had lain.

The meaning sinks into her. “Fine.” She nods. "But you allow me the freedom to refuse anyone too.”

I tilt my head. “You mean John.”

She doesn’t confirm nor deny.

It doesn’t matter to me if she wants to refuse John. If anything, it only adds to the power I have over my second. And that’s just the way I like it. Leverage over those closest to you.

It’s the only way to ensure those in my inner circle will never stab me when my back is turned to them.

Not that I intend to do that, no way.

I plan to stay alert and never show my vulnerable side… not that I have it in me to be emotional in any way, get what I mean?

My mother’s dead, and I just murdered my bastard of a dad.

That leaves no living blood relation, nothing except this legacy. One which I plan to rip apart so there is no trace of the bloodline that gave birth to me.

I hold out my hand. “Deal.”