[Aera's POV]"Ah, yes, harder, Aera!"I lift a hand and bring it down on Corinna's ass cheek, leaving a print behind."How do you address me?" I ask, stopping my movements."I'm sorry, Daddy," Corinna whimpers. "Please punish me for my slip-up."Grunting, I grab onto the headboard in front of me and begin to thrust harder in and out of her until her head is close to connecting with it.With each movement, her fingers dig deeper into the mattress beneath her, to the point where I fear I may have to buy another one.Deciding to avoid that possibility, I reach down and wrap her long black hair around my hand. Tugging, I pull her against me, I hold her in place while my other hand slides up to her throat and begins to squeeze, choking her just enough to make things interesting but not enough to scare her.Giving it a squeeze, I quicken my movements, fucking her as hard and fast as I can until I feel her pussywalls squeeze tightly around my dick while her juices begin to flow."Ah, daddy,
[Ayla’s POV]I look up at Marah’s balcony, wondering whether or not I should climb up. I can hear the sounds of her and Jayden going at it like rabbits, but the clawing in my chest pushes me to take my chances.Rushing to the side of her house, I begin to climb and then hoist myself over the balcony, only to collapse to my knees and clutch my chest in pain.Fuck, I didn’t know what was happening, but since my encounter with Aera, the darkness was desperately trying to escape, and nothing I did could stop it.Letting out a hiss of pain, I reach out and begin to pound my fist against the glass of Marah’s balcony door until she appears with a blanket wrapped around herself."Ayla?" she gasps, yanking the door open and kneeling in front of me. "What’s wrong?""It’s…" I rasp as dark spots begin to dance in front of my eyes. "Getting worse."Understanding flashes in Marah’s eyes, and then she is moving, heading back inside and grabbing Jayden so he can pick me up and carry me inside, then l
[Ayla’s POV]I stare at Aera in disbelief, trying to make sense of what he’s getting at. What the hell did he mean by saying he was going to ask Uncle Silas for me? Did he think I was some object that could be obtained that easily? And why the fuck wasn’t he turning me into the council of elders?"What are you getting at?" I hiss. "Have you lost your damn..."No other words manage to escape me as the door in front of us flies open and Uncle Silas’ worried gaze comes to rest on me before turning to Aera and then shifting to confused."Ayla?" he says, though he’s watching the man beside me. "What’s wrong? Why are you out again? What did we tell you about resting so your injury can heal?""That’s my fault," Aera offers, diverting his attention entirely. "I asked her to come see me.""See you?" Uncle Silas repeats, his expression immediately shifting to guarded. "Why would she...""Could we go inside and talk?" Aera tries. "What I have to say is pretty important, and I don’t think it is a
[Ayla's POV]I stare out the window of Aera's car trying to fight the urge to ask him exactly what is going through his head.Since leaving Crimson Tides, neither of us had spoken, which would have been fine, but there were so many unasked questions hovering around us that it was about to drive me insane."Why?" I finally ask, unable to take it any longer. "Why are you doing this?""Doing what?" Aera murmurs, keeping his gaze fixed directly on the road. "I don't know what you mean."I bite back my initial response, which would only make him defensive, while clenching and unclenching my fists to remain calm.Keep it together, Ayla. I chant internally while taking a few calming breaths."Why aren't you turning me into the elders?" I continue. "Why take me to Caelum instead?"When he found me associating with Marah, I truly thought that this was it for me. Aera would turn me in to the elders for treason, and then I would be thrown in a cell to rot. But instead, here we were playing fake
[Ayla's POV]I pull out my phone, which Aera had so generously allowed me to keep since the cell service around Caelum was jammed around the premises, and search up some music. Once a song that has recently been popular begins to play, I begin to sing along.However, before I can get too far into removing the packed on layers of dust, the sound of locks being unlocked reaches my ears.Turning, I wait until Aera appears with a woman dressed in a simple gray shirt and black pants with her dark hair tied into a bun at the top of her head appears.For a moment, they both eye me as I wait for an explanation for the sudden intrusion."What are you doing?" Aera finally asks, breaking the silence."Isn't it obvious?" I respond, motioning to the area I've already cleaned. "This place is filthy, so I was giving it a clean. I'm assuming I'm going to be trapped here for some time, so I'm trying to make it feel more homey."Once again, Aera and the woman simply eye me as if I'm this strange creatu
[Aera's POV]Ayla's words haunt me as I leave her and head back to Caelum's packhouse. I don't understand why, but they leave a bad taste in my mouth and leave me on edge as I head upstairs for my nightly visit with Alphonze.When I find him, he is sitting in front of the window, staring down at the grounds below."Who is she?" He asks in the way of greeting."Who is who?" I ask, moving forward and wrapping an arm around him to help him from the chair he sits in to his bed. "I don't know who you're referring to.""Aera!" he sighs, his voice filled with warning. "Don't play dumb with me.""I'm not," I counter, easily lifting Alphonze and wincing due to just how light he truly is. "Anyway, why did Martin leave you alone in that chair, knowing damn well that you're unable to get out of it yourself?"The thought of firing Martin on the spot hits me, but I know damn well that Alphonze wouldn't allow it.For years, we searched for a caregiver that meshed well with Alphonze's personality, an
[Ayla’s POV]A low growl erupts from Aera’s throat as his quickly darkening eyes take me in with both hunger and hesitance.Despite being aware of the fact this was nothing more than a dream, he was still holding back, interesting. But if this were easy, then it wouldn’t be fun, and I loved a good challenge."Do you not want me?" I pout, feigning hurt.For a moment, Aera’s expression shifts, and he sits up, giving a huff as if snapping out of some daze, giving me the perfect chance to attack.Getting to my knees, I push my bare chest against his back, being sure to gently rub it as my arms reach around so my hands can touch his broad chest with the right amount of hair sprinkling across it.Goddess, he was gorgeous, and even if this was nothing more than revenge for him using me in some fucking bet, I still intended to get my fill of this man."Come on," I whisper, nipping at his ear while one of my hands heads south. "Are you really going to deny a woman who is all but throwing herse
[Ayla’s POV]My eyes snap open, allowing morning light to attack them, so I have to blink a few times to clear my vision.Once I can see, I hop up in bed and head toward my window, extending my senses until I can hear Aera cursing.Smiling brightly, I feel a wave of satisfaction rush through me, knowing he was probably in a lot of pain. However, before I can really let myself get lost in my gloating, my stomach rumbles.Giving Caelum Estate one more look, I turn and head to the kitchen, then begin to rummage in the fridge until I find some eggs that Angelica brought over the night before.Pulling them out, I begin to search through the cabinets lining a small gas-burning stove until I find a pan.Humming to myself, I begin to fry up the eggs while brewing up some coffee, and once my breakfast is ready, I prepare to plop down on my bed to eat, but stop as the sound of locks unlatching reaches me.Frowning, I sit my spoils down on the kitchen counter and head to the door just in time fo