CHAPTER FIFTY ONE

Bastion's POV

"Mm, King, that was nice." The bitch purred, running her tongue along my panting chest up to my lips.

I managed to turn my head, but she just let out a disgusting chuckle.

"Though, I can't say our little tryst felt nearly as good for Aria."

Aria. I'm so sorry.

Tears started falling down my cheeks as she raised herself off of me.

"You know, if it weren't for the mutt smell you put off, you would make quite the lover for me. I'll certainly enjoy playing with you. But I'll give you a little break. You need food for endurance, after all."

My gaze darted back to her sinister grin. She was going to come back?

"No more," I choked out, my voice hoarse and weak.

I had never felt so helpless in my life. Not even because she was using my body, but because she was hurting my mate. And I couldn't do a damn thing to stop it. Hell, I even enjoyed it to some degree because of her damn venom. She laughed maniacally.

"Did you really think I would just have you once? Oh no, my dear. Be ready because I'm going to take you again and again and again until we have that bitch in our grasp, or until your bond kills her for us. Whichever comes first."

Dorian was growling in our head, but I didn't have the will to protest out loud.

I had never witnessed the pain that came from affairs, but we were taught in school that it was comparable to losing a mate. If that was true, I would never forgive myself for putting Aria through that.

Annalise donned her slutty dress and waltzed from the room carrying her heels in her hands.

"Au revoir, King. See you in an hour."

No. At this rate, she would kill her.

As soon as the massive door screeched shut, I heard a loud click and noticed that my cuffs had opened.

I sat up, rubbing my wrists where the silver dug in.

I had never felt so filthy in my life. I shivered, deciding that the first thing I needed to do was clean her disgusting scent off of me.

I swung my legs over the bed, hoping I could hide my nudity. But looking around, my clothes were gone.

What the hell? I wasn't even allowed to wear clothes? Those sick fuckers.

I grabbed the sheet from the bed, draping it over my shoulders and hugging myself.

Then, I went to the sink behind the door. A note instructing me to clean well was attached to a bottle of soap.

I considered skipping it to spite her, but I honestly couldn't bear feeling or smelling her come on me for another second. I nearly scrubbed myself raw, only stopping when I felt I was mentally as clean as I was going to get.

By the time I had returned, a tray table was sitting on the bed.

The food looked disgusting. Some sort of stew that I was convinced would give me a disease and a stale piece of bread.

Oh well. At least I had a bed and a toilet.

I pushed the questionable bowl aside and bit into the bread.

I had to stomach it. If I wanted to break out, I needed strength.

But after one bite, I was running to the toilet to expel it.

It wasn't the taste. It was the terrible feeling in my gut that remained after she violated me.

I needed Aria. I needed to know she was okay.

I dragged myself back to the bed, curling up in a ball and hugging the rolled-up sheet to my chest. I looked pathetic, but I wanted to pretend it was her in my arms.

After a few deep breaths, I opened the link.

"Baby...?" I called weakly.

Nothing. Maybe she's asleep.

Or maybe she was pissed at me. There was a chance she didn't even know where I was. She could've thought I had just run off and fucked a random woman. She wouldn't think that, though. Right?

"Aria." I called a bit more desperately. More silence.

I wanted to sob, but I couldn't bring myself to do it. I didn't deserve to release my pain like that. If she had to suffer, so did I. I just hoped that the babies were okay.

"Aria... I love you."

"Bastion?"

I jumped when I heard her soft and broken voice in my head.

"Aria, are you there?"

"Bastion." She sobbed, making me want to die right then and there.

"Aria, I'm so sorry, baby. I tried. I couldn't stop her. She wouldn't stop." Now I was choking on my words. "Aria, please don't hate me. I'm so sorry for hurting you. Please, just tell me you're okay!" I pleaded.

After a moment of silence, she spoke again.

"It's okay. I love you."

I thought I would die when I heard those words. I needed them. I needed them so fucking bad.

"Are you... okay?" Another pause.

"No." My eyes shut and I fought my tears. "But Rory is here. And the doctor and our court."

Doctor? Wait.

"Baby, did you find out the genders...?"

This wasn't exactly how I'd wanted to find out, but I needed to know. It drew me away from the pain and guilt I felt.

"Yes. Do you want to know?" She asked softly. She sounded exhausted.

"Yes, baby. If you don't mind. Do I have two sons?"

She gave me a halfhearted laugh. "No."

Oh no.

"Two girls?"

"No." She responded again.

"Wait, we have one of each?" I couldn't hide the excitement in my voice. She giggled tiredly.

"Yes."

"Oh man. That's amazing, baby. I'm so excited to see them. To be able to hold them. You know, we will have to come up with names."

She got quiet for a second.

"Rory likes Lilly for the girl."

"Lilly. Seems too... girly."

She snorted. "That's ridiculous."

"How about the boy?"

"Actually... I was thinking maybe James." My heart stopped.

What? She wanted to name our son after my dad?

I must've stayed quiet for too long, because she spoke again. "If you don't want to, that's fine. I know it might be weird for you—"

"I love it." I cut her off. I did. The fact that she would honor him in that way warmed me inside and out. "James. My son." I tested, smiling like a fool.

The sound of the door creaking open before me tore me from my daydream, and panic overtook me once again.

"She's back, baby. I'm so sorry. I love-" The connection died as soon as I felt Annalise's beguiling presence.

"I'm glad to see you've washed up." She glanced over to my plate, which had remained untouched save for one bite of bread.

"You didn't eat." Disappointment laced her words, and she glanced back at me coldly. "King, how are you supposed to satisfy me if you're weak?"

I stared back at her, void of emotion. She didn't deserve to see me affected by her bullshit.

I didn't realize at the time how much my short conversation with Aria had given me strength and courage. I would come back to her. I would protect her. I would hold our baby boy and girl.

I assumed my spread position on the bed, making her raise a brow.

"Oh? Are you eager to feel me again? Was your Queen not satisfying you?"

Just ignore her. She can take your body, but not your mind.

Her fangs bared, and she began to strip. I attempted to shut my eyes, but she didn't let me.

"You'll look at me, Bastion. I want you to remember what killed your mate."

And I did.

For the next month, I had grown to memorize every single dip and curve of Annalise's body.

I hated it. But I eventually got used to it.

She soon realized that she couldn't physically keep drinking from me without me losing too much blood, so our trysts were cut to once a day.

They were still effective, as Aria was sleeping more and more as time went on.

She was getting weak. I could feel it.

She tried drinking Rory's blood to heal, but the damage was too severe. Her body was giving up the will to live.

When I did talk to her, she seemed empty. Broken.

But I guess so did I. Being used will do that to someone.

Finally, one day, I managed to get through to her.

"Bas."

"Aria, it's been days, baby. What's going on? Are you okay?"

I could hear her sniffling through the link. "I have to come to you. I have to get you."

I flinched. "No, baby. You can't. Please, just a little longer. I'll find a way out."

"I can't anymore. The doctor said that the babies are struggling. They could die. I could die."

"I won't let that happen. I need you to stay strong. Just a little longer. Please. Where's Rory?"

"Here. He's sleeping. It's four in the morning." Shit. I had no concept of time anymore.

"Does he have any new ideas? Any leads?"

I heard Sella whimper through the connection.

"No." She answered simply before falling silent again.

I waited for a minute, wondering if she fell back asleep.

Then, I heard her fragile voice speak for one last time.

"It hurts."

Then, it all went static.

"Have a nice chat?" Annalise mocked as she shut the door behind her.

My body moved to position on its own, but I was no longer sure if it was the beguiling or a force of habit.

"Like you care," I snapped, still shaken by my mate's last words. It hurt. And I was about to hurt her again.

"Of course I care. I'm still waiting for the day I come in to hear that she's dead."

The bitch had started trusting me to speak on my own. As long as I didn't directly insult her, she said she'd rather spare the energy of having to completely control me.

I appreciated the minute freedom, but it just made it seem that much stranger when we were having sex.

I tended to bite my tongue so I didn't let how I really felt as she rode me tumble out of my mouth. I needed to be able to communicate with her before and after.

"Why do you want her dead so bad? Are you that insecure about your title being taken?"

She scoffed, unzipping her red jumpsuit and revealing more of her sickening skin. "Of course not. You have to know by now that there is something much bigger going on."

"Bigger? We have done nothing to provoke you, Queen." Her chest puffed at my use of her title and she sauntered over to the bed.

"My husband and I will have much greater power and status once the true King awakens. We will be over all; Werewolf, vampire, and even human. Not just in Vegas, but across the world."

"What does that have to do with Aria?" I prodded, hoping she would confirm my suspicions that she knew of the prophecy.

She cocked a brow, swinging her leg over my torso.

"Oh, I think you already know that, honey."

But this time, even her venom couldn't mask my pain.