Amanda Aren casually curled his arm around my shoulders. "Alessa, I'm pleased you've become friends with Cee." He looked over my head. "Cee, get to the dining room and prepare everything. We will catch up to you." The demon woman nodded and fell into a graceful curtsy before scurrying down the hall and leaving me with my new tormentor. "Amanda," I replied softly. I was willing to put up with this, but I refused to lose my name. No matter how many times he called me that name, it wasn't mine and I wasn't answering to it. "You are a stubborn little pup," he scolded, clucking his tongue at me. "No matter. I know how to punish those that disobey me no matter what they are. I suggest you start listening to me now or your stay here might be quite unpleasant. I'll be willing to overlook your offenses for now, but you'll learn my good will only stretches so far." He leaned close and the tip of his nose grazed my neck. "You'll be wearing my mark soon, and once you do, there will be nothi

AmandaI was pregnant? Slowly, my hand traveled to my stomach. It was still normal. It wasn't exactly flat, but it was the normal level of baby fat I'd always carried. Could there really be a child growing inside of me?Zale's child? Or did it belong to one of the others?"Whose is it?" I asked her. I couldn't tear my eyes away."It is the heir of the Prime, just as was planned. He'll be the one that destroys the Primes and their abominations once and for all. "No," I whispered. I took a step away from the being that had saved my life. "You can't be serious. Why?"The Goddess took a step closer to me and she held her hand out cradling my cheek with her palm. "Child, you shouldn't worry so much. Everything is going exactly as I planned. You have been freed from the one that abused you before, and the Prime and his men will never touch you again.""But, I want to be with Zale, Javier and Bo. I don't want to be apart from them." I shook my head slowly, trying to come to grips with her

Zale "Is Bo going to be okay?" Javier half-turned back. "I can't imagine how the bond being dissolved like that has to feel." "No matter if he is or not. We have to find a way to get to Amanda." I replied. I kept an eye out on our surroundings. The storm had abated, for now, but who knew how long it would last. The weather here had no reasoning, and until I had control of my powers and was a Prime in full rights it wouldn't be. "I get that, I do. But he's part of us too. We can't just abandon him, Zale." "We're not abandoning him. I told you why he has to stay. Clara needs protection and watching. She might come from Amanda, but she hasn't earned my trust. Especially after her being there when Amanda got away from us." I couldn't stop the anger that simmered inside of me. I would need to punish her for this. When I was done she wouldn't be able to walk for a week. Her limbs would shake, she'd have all the fluids drained out of her, and she wouldn't even be able to form words. S

AmandaMitsi led me down the plush pathway and to a large door at the end of it. It had dozens of images of carved naked women on it. They all had a sadness in their eyes, conveyed even through their wooden features. There was nothing beautiful about this display. This was truly just about power. I shuddered. "Cold?" I looked up. Just inside the room Cee had a feathery red robe wrapped around her. She tilted her head when she saw me, a small smile playing on her lips."Cee," I gasped. I scurried into the room and shut the door in Mitsi's face. As much as I liked the maid, I wasn't sure I could trust her at this moment. I couldn't risk any of this going wrong. "Cee, have you heard what's going on?"She glanced past me at the door and gave a little shake of her head. "I don't bother with the thins that happen outside of my domain. Here I'm the one in control. If you agreed to obey, it could be a kingdom we both rule." she gestured me closer with one of her long fingers. I looked be

AmandaCee didn't stop me from leaving her room. All she did was silently watch me.And all I could do was pray that she didn't try to report me before I got out. I hesitated outside the door. Should I try to free more women? I wanted to. I didn't want anyone to suffer the fate the maid had before. Was there any saving her or had she already been killed?I forced myself forward, and pressed against the wall. I didn't have time to worry about others. I needed to focus on myself and getting out of here. I couldn't let my mates be hurt. The carpet ate the sound of my travel so I rushed down the hallway, checking each of the doors. There had to be a way out of here. All of the doors were locked. I ended up back in the hallway where the maid had been left to her fate. I shuddered to see the wind still swirling through the bubble. I couldn't see through it, but I could almost imagine the inside of that blasted thing was tinged red.I wished I could reach my wolf but she remained silent and