Induced Heat

"Drink it. All of it."

The head servant held the steaming cup to my lips while two guards stood by the door, watching. I clamped my mouth shut, glaring at her.

"It's just tea," she said, but her eyes flicked away. "The king ordered it. Special blend to make you receptive."

I turned my head. "I'm not drinking your fucking poison."

The younger servant stepped forward, voice low and nervous. "Please, Eli. It will be worse if you fight. He wants you ready by evening."

Before I could twist away, the head servant pinched my nose. I held my breath as long as I could, but eventually I gasped and they poured the bitter liquid down my throat. It burned going down, sweet and heavy with something unnatural.

They forced a second cup on me minutes later. Then came the pheromones, thick incense burned in a brazier near the bed, filling the chamber with Vesperian’s concentrated scent. Cedar. Smoke. Pure Alpha dominance.

I paced the room like a caged animal. "This is sick. You're all sick."

The servants left quickly, bolting the door behind them.

At first, nothing. Then the heat slammed into me like a hammer.

It hit ten times harder and faster than the one in the mud. My knees buckled. I caught myself on the bedpost, gasping as fire raced through my veins. Slick gushed down my thighs instantly, soaking the fresh silk they’d dressed me in. My cock hardened painfully, my hole clenched and fluttered around nothing.

"No... not this soon," I groaned, sliding down to the floor.

Every breath pulled more of his scent into my lungs. My skin burned. My nipples ached. The soul resonance in my chest throbbed like a second heartbeat, calling for him.

The door opened.

Vesperian stepped in, already shedding his outer robe. His golden eyes raked over me on the floor, trembling, legs spread, slick puddling beneath me, and something flickered across his face. Not just hunger. Something deeper. Hungrier.

"Look at you," he said, voice rough but controlled. "The tea works well."

I tried to push myself up, dignity hanging by a thread. "Get out. I don’t want this."

He laughed low as he stalked closer. "Your body says otherwise. You’re dripping for me already."

I bared my teeth. "My body’s been betrayed enough today. Don’t pretend this is anything but you forcing me."

Vesperian grabbed my arm and hauled me up, pulling me against his chest. His hand slid down my back and cupped my ass, fingers pressing against my soaked entrance. "You can keep your pride if it makes you feel better. But we both know what you need right now."

Two thick fingers pushed inside me without warning. I cried out, knees buckling again. He held me up easily, pumping them deep and fast.

"Alpha…fuck…" I grabbed his shoulders, hating how good it felt. "Slow down..."

"No time for slow." He added a third finger, stretching me open. "I have council meetings in an hour. You’re going to take my knot quick and deep."

He walked me backward until my back hit the bed. In one motion he shoved me down and flipped me onto my stomach. I heard his belt, then the rustle of cloth. His cock slapped heavy against my ass.

"Wait…" I started, but he gripped my hips and drove in with one brutal thrust.

I screamed into the sheets. The stretch was even bigger than last night, my heat making me impossibly sensitive. He didn’t give me time to adjust. He fucked me hard, hips snapping forward, the sound of skin slapping wet and obscene.

"That’s it," he growled. "Milk my cock like the breeding vessel you are."

I tried to stay quiet. Tried to hold onto some scrap of pride. But every thrust punched moans out of me. My body pushed back to meet him, greedy despite everything.

Vesperian leaned over me, teeth grazing my neck. "Good boy. Taking me so well."

I turned my head, breathing ragged. "I hate you."

"I know." He slammed in deeper, hitting that spot that made my vision white out. "But you’re still going to come on my knot."

He reached under me and stroked my cock roughly. The pleasure built too fast. I was losing control. And in the middle of it, I made a decision.

I stopped fighting the draining magic.

I let it open wide.

Power surged from him into me. Stronger than before. I felt his legendary strength pouring into my body, making my muscles sing, my senses sharpen even more. The glow under my skin flared bright for a second. He grunted, hips stuttering once like he felt something but couldn’t name it.

"Yes," I whispered into the sheets. "Take that, you bastard."

Vesperian fucked me harder, almost angry now, like he could sense the challenge. His knot swelled fast, catching on every thrust until it locked us together with a brutal pop. He roared as he came, flooding me with pulse after pulse of hot seed.

My own orgasm tore through me so hard I saw stars. I clenched around his knot, pulling more of his power into me while my body shook apart.

For one vivid moment while we were locked, everything crashed together.

I saw myself curled against his chest willingly. Felt the terrifying safety of his arms. Craved the way he said my name like I belonged to him. Longing hit me so sharp it stole my breath.

Then the hatred surged right behind it, hot, pure, vicious. For every cousin he’d killed. For my mother’s fear. For turning me into this desperate, leaking thing begging for his knot.

Which one was stronger?

I didn’t know.

The bond hummed louder between us as his knot kept us tied together. His weight pressed me into the bed, breath hot against my neck. I could feel him weakening just slightly, that stolen power making me stronger while he stayed buried deep inside me.

Vesperian’s hand stroked down my side almost possessively. "You feel different today," he murmured, voice dark and satisfied. "Stronger."

I closed my eyes, torn between pulling him closer and sinking my teeth into his throat.

The worst part was I still didn’t know which urge would win.