PLEASURE AND POWER

THE INTRUSION

THREE:

Zee and I both froze. There was no mistaking that sound. My heart had been racing with pleasure just a second ago, but now it was thumping with pure fear. Zee’s smile disappeared instantly. She went stiff and slowly turned her head toward the door.

We both looked at the shadow near the exit. Standing there in the moonlight was Marcus. He was a low-ranking sentinel, who was supposed to be watching the outer fences, not walking through the private areas of the castle. His eyes were wide with shock. He looked back and forth between Zee’s messy hair and my bare, flushed skin.

"I... I was just..." Marcus started to speak, his voice shaking. He knew exactly what he had walked in on. In a pack as traditional as ours, seeing the Alpha King’s daughter with the Beta's daughter in such a compromising position was a big problem. It could mean death or a chance for him to blackmail me.

The mood changed in an instant. The soft, happy feeling I had was gone. It was replaced by the cold, hard power that ran in my family. I stood up slowly. I wasn't embarrassed to be naked. I picked up my silk robe and wrapped it around me with an almost scary calm. Zee stood up next to me, looking ready to fight.

"Marcus," I said. My voice was as cold as ice. "You are not at your post."

"Lady Ava, I didn't mean to... I’ll just go," Marcus said. He turned around to run away.

"Stop," I said it like a queen. Marcus froze as if his feet were glued to the ground.

I walked toward him. The sound of my bare feet on the tiles sounded like a countdown. When I reached him, I didn't wait. I swung my hand and slapped him so hard that the sound echoed across the pool like a gunshot. A bright red mark showed up on his face.

"You dare look at me?" I hissed. "You dare stand there and breathe my air after what you’ve seen?"

Marcus began to shake. His knees were knocking together. "Please, I won't say a word! I swear!"

"I don't want your promises, Marcus. I want you to obey," I said in a dangerous whisper. I stepped back and pointed to the floor. "Kneel."

"Ava, maybe we should just..." Zee started, but I held up my hand to quiet her. This was about power now. If anyone found out the truth, my life would be ruined.

"Kneel!" I said again. Marcus dropped to his knees and bowed his head.

"Do you think you are worthy of what you saw?" I asked him. I looked down at him with total disgust. "Since you like being so close to the ground, stay there. Lick my feet, Marcus. Show me how low you are."

Marcus looked up with tears in his eyes. "Please... My Lady, don't make me do this..."

"Do it," I commanded. My voice was firm. "Or I will call my father right now. I’ll tell him you tried to assault me in the dark. Who do you think he will believe?"

That threat ended the argument. Marcus leaned forward, his hands shaking on the cold tile. With a sob, he did what he was told. He touched his tongue to my damp feet. I watched him with a bored, cold look. I put my hand on Zee’s shoulder to stay steady. Zee watched with a dark look on her face. She knew my temper, but seeing me take total control reminded her why everyone feared me just as much as they feared my father, the Alpha King.

After a few minutes, I stepped back. I pulled my foot away as if his touch was gross.

"Stand up," I snapped.

Marcus scrambled to his feet. He wiped his mouth and looked completely broken. He couldn't even look me in the eye. I stepped into his space until our faces were inches apart.

"Listen to me," I said. My voice was low and scary. "If a single person hears about tonight, if I even think you’ve looked at Zee or me the wrong way, I won't just kick you out. I will personally make sure you are killed. I’ll tell my father you are a spy. You will be hunted until there is nothing left of you. Do you understand?"

Marcus nodded as fast as he could. "Yes... Yes, My Lady. I saw nothing. I wasn't even here."

"Good," I said, shoving him away. "Now get back to your job. If I see you near this pool again, it will be the last thing you ever see."

Marcus didn't wait. He turned and ran into the darkness. We stood there in silence as the sound of his boots faded away. Eventually, Zee wrapped her arms around my waist from behind.

"That was intense," Zee whispered. "You really are your father’s daughter."

I sighed and leaned my head back against her. My cold act started to go away, showing how upset I really was. "I had to do it, Zee. If he tells my father, everything we have is over. My father would send you away forever before I could even explain."

"I know. But he’s terrified now. He won't say a word." Zee assured me.

The moonlight was still pretty, but the night felt ruined. I looked at Zee, my heart feeling heavy. "I just want to be safe with you. Is that too much to ask?"

Zee shook her head, "We are safe. Because you’re the strongest person I know."

We stood at the edge of the pool like two shadows with a deadly secret. The night was ours again, but it felt darker. It was a reminder that in our world, love can cost a very high price.

The tension from Marcus didn't just go away; it turned into a hungry energy. I turned in Zee’s arms and held her face. Her eyes were full of heat. I didn't wait. I kissed her deeply. It wasn't a sweet kiss; it was a hungry one. Zee groaned and held my waist so tight that it would leave marks—marks I would be proud to wear.

"I can't stay out here anymore," I whispered. "I feel like eyes are watching us from every shadow."

Zee pulled back just a little. "Your room?"

"My room," I said, my voice shaking. "I want us to finish what we started without anyone else getting in the way."