Mated To Sins

Chapter 17

Chapter 17

Melted to you

Zima's POV.

We were in the car now, and Darius rested his head on my shoulder. He wouldn’t let me out of his sight, not even for a second. There were bruises all over his hand, his thumb swollen and his breath uneven. His shirt was torn, and faint scratches marked his chest probably from the shattered glass.

Darius has such a good heart. That’s what makes this harder. I hate that I have to do certain things to him, things he doesn’t deserve. He deserves love, all the love I can give him.

I brushed my fingers through his soft hair while he slept, a small snore escaping his lips. The driver had told me they injected him to weaken him, it was the only way to stop him. Now, he looked so fragile.

I’ll tell him what happened between Damon and me. A part of me regrets it, even if I can’t take it back. I pressed a kiss to his forehead and watched him sleep, peaceful and unaware. For all his power, in that moment, he looked like nothing more than a cub.

“I’ll take him from here,” a guard offered once we arrived at the academy.

“Be careful with him,” I ordered, heading straight to my dorm. Everyone listened to me now. Maybe it was the power of an incoming Luna or maybe they just didn’t want their heads ripped off.

The halls were quiet, almost too calm. A few people lingered around, their eyes glued to me. Not that I blamed them. Who wouldn’t stare? And then it hit me…shit, I still didn’t have my panties.

I pushed open the dorm door, and there she was. Betty. Lying on my bed like she paid rent.

“Where did you dump your brain, and what happened to minding boundaries?” I asked, my tone colder than the tiles under my feet.

“Oooh, you’re back,” she said, standing up and straightening her clothes.

“Whore.”

The word slipped out of her mouth as she brushed past me. Every part of me wanted to grab her by the hair and make her regret it, but I held myself back. I’d had enough drama for one day.

“Your mother’s name,” I muttered under my breath as I turned away, heading for the shower. After this, I was going to see Darius.

I quickly threw on a dress, just a pair of sweatpants, and rolled my hair into a bun. Right then, a knock sounded on the door.

“King Aiden has requested to see Zima,” a voice called from outside.

Betty scoffed from her bed, loud enough for me to hear. I ignored her and finished getting ready, my mind already spinning. The first thing that hit me was the wolfsbane. I’d start that plan soon, just not now. I couldn’t start showing up with coffee yet.

“You’re building a war you can’t win,” Betty said, her eyes locked on me.

I hissed softly and walked out. I’ve never met anyone as insane as her.

***

When I entered his office, he was standing in front of the window, a cigarette between his fingers. Smoke curled lazily into the air. He didn’t have his coat on, just a white shirt tucked into black trousers. When he turned to face me, his eyes held no warmth.

“Come closer,” he said, his voice deep and firm.

I obeyed, stepping forward until I could feel the weight of his gaze pressing down on me.

“I didn’t know you’d been fated to my son,” he said.

“I didn’t think it was necessary to tell you,” I replied quietly.

“No,” he said, his tone sharp. “You lied when I asked if you had a mate.”

My heart pounded so hard I could hear it in my ears. I clenched my fingers so they wouldn’t tremble.

“It didn’t mean anything to me,” I said.

“And why doesn’t it mean anything to you?” he asked, taking a slow drag from his cigarette.

“I don’t think your son and I have anything in common,” I said. “At least, not when it comes to desire.”

“Darius’s performance at my event says otherwise,” he countered.

“It’s not my fault he doesn’t know how to be a proper man when it comes to feelings.”

He arched a brow. “Is that why you let Damon go down on you in that room? My guard showed me the footage.”

My breath caught, shame and defiance colliding inside me. I looked him straight in the eye.

“There’s no harm in letting someone eat my p***y,” I said coldly. “At least it keeps cobwebs from growing in my coochie.”

The words flew out before I could stop them. I froze, not believing what had just left my mouth.

He chuckled, laughing so hard I thought his guts might tear through his throat. Then he stepped closer, and I could smell the smoke on his breath. He set the cigarette aside.

“I don’t want to choke you,” he said, his voice calm…calmer than I’d ever heard it.

His hand slid down my neck, slow and deliberate. The touch was gentle, almost tender, but inside me, a hot wave of anger burned through. I wanted to tear his hand away.

“I like you,” he murmured, his breath brushing my ear before his tongue followed, leaving a wet trail that made me freeze.

“A lot.”

He moved back, a smug smile curving his lips. I stood still, forcing myself not to flinch or react.

“I’ll make sure my sons stay away from you,” he said. “That’s easy. But you’ll stay by my side. And no more letting anyone go down on you. I’ll handle that myself.”

He laughed again, and before I could process his words, he pulled me hard against his chest.

“Do you understand me?”

I nodded, my voice lost somewhere in my throat. He leaned in, his breath warm against my skin.

“As long as you do my dirty work with me,” he whispered.

I nodded again, struggling to steady my breathing, praying he couldn’t hear how fast my heart was racing. I couldn’t let him see my fear.

“Why is your heart beating so fast?” he asked, his tone playful but laced with power. “Am I missing something? Speak.”

“Yes, Daddy,” I whispered. “I will do anything.”

He laughed again, louder this time, the sound cutting straight through me.

Then he slowly released me.

“I’ll host a dinner for you,” he said, voice low, almost amused. “To introduce you properly. A family dinner. Don't embarrass me, Zima. You may leave.”

His tone carried the kind of finality that ended every argument. I nodded, forcing my legs to move toward the door. My chest tightened, my pulse still wild from his touch.

I stepped out and shut the door behind me. The moment it clicked closed, I turned, and there was Damon, standing right in front of me.

“Yes, Daddy,” he mimicked.