Phoenix Rising

Chapter Six

Scrambling to my feet I heard him strain out, "running is futile Ajei."

He was right it was pointless. If he could lift a thousand-pound iron gate with relative ease then he was unstoppable.

The fear had overtaken me though, and there was no common sense left in me.

So, I ran anyways.

My feet took off to the side running through the grass clearing that would lead me to the forests.

Even if I made it could I outrun a Lycan? The answer to that question was hell no.

I damn sure tried my best though, and I did at least make it to the tree line.

Right as I set foot into the forest I was tackled down to the ground forcefully. Panicking, I thrashed around underneath him pushing and kicking with all the might I had.

It only seemed to anger him further by the warning growl he sent ringing in my ears. My body was flipped over roughly as I struggled beneath to come face to face with the most beautiful, evil man I'd ever seen. Then it hit me that he wasn't even in his Lycan form anymore nor did he need it to catch me.

"Get off me," I bit out shoving hard at his chest.

My hands were snatched up immediately and pinned above my head. His eyes burned down into mine as the frustration I was causing him was clearly expressed across his face.

He growled once again as if to show his dominance. "Stop fighting me!"

A whim of anger flew over me as I surprisingly let out a growl of my own. "f**k you!"

His eyes darkened in response as I continued to wiggle out from underneath him. What came out of his mouth next though halted me instantly.

"That's the problem. I'm going to f**k you right here on the cold hard ground if you don't calm down."

His eyes let me know he was dead serious, and my brain let me know I was a moron.

This was a sensual, intimate thing between strong-willed mates. Having the Alpha male chase the she-wolf and catch her until she submitted. Except he was The King and he was far more dominant than a normal Alpha.

"I'm sorry," I mumbled between the heavy breaths each of us was taking. I was a fool to think my weak apology would suffice him though.

"Submit to me," he growled through clenched teeth with a slight snarl in his lip.

For a moment I contemplated if death would be a better option. If I submitted he would sink his teeth into my neck and mark me as his- binding us together forever.

He would take me on this forest floor and complete the bond. Something that's supposed to be intimate and sacred between Soulmates.

It dawned on me suddenly- I didn't even know his name.

Despite my brain screaming at me to fight to the death for my freedom my body betrayed me. My neck tilted to the side and was left wide open in submission.

Immediately his nose dug into my skin dragging across my cheek and down the side of my neck inhaling deeply.

That same purring sound from yesterday began vibrating through his chest causing my mind to fog along with it. Part of me was still fearful of him. Then there was this part of me that felt almost excited by him.

Involuntarily a soft whimper left my mouth as his tongue connected with my skin. He was roughly dragging upwards from the base of my neck to the bottom of my ear slowly, seductively.

His mouth aligned itself with my ear whispering gruffly, "Say it."

Laying there dazed my mouth also betrayed me as the two words fell from my lips. "I submit."

"All of it." He growled lowly.

"I, Pheonix Obsidian, submit and accept the mark of The King."

Oddly, his hands let go of mine and moved to slide his arms underneath me. They wrapped around my back pulling me up slightly from the ground as if he were hugging me.

He'd begun trailing open-mouthed kisses down my neck causing me to instinctively wrap my own arms around his shoulders and let out something mixed between a sigh and a moan in return.

As he reached the base a painful gasp tore from my throat while his teeth suddenly sank into my flesh. I tensed from the searing hot pain, but it only lasted briefly before a euphoric feeling washed over me. I felt my whole body relax and go limp with another quiet moan slipping between my lips.

My vision seemed to blur the trees above us while my mind went blank. It was a peaceful emptiness- one I'd never felt before.

At this exact moment, there was nothing else in the world that existed to me. Just this man who was licking the wound he'd inflicted on my neck, and the blissful feeling it gave me.

I wondered if the next part would be the same. I had my doubts. I've heard the screams of some of the female shifters Alpha Jack had taken to bed and they were not the good kind of screams.

No- they were the kind that put knots in my stomach and made me sick.

I felt fear creeping back up trying to over-power the blissful effects of his bite, even more as he slowly pulled back to look into my eyes. They had changed from the furious ones I was met with earlier though. The golden orbs now seemed more peaceful somehow.

"Do not ever try to run from me again Ajei. I do not wish to take you by force, but the demon within me will."

My eyebrows scrunched up in a hazy confusion trying to understand. "What?"

Before answering my question he decided to raise us up from the ground. As soon as my feet touched the Forrest floor they were swept up and so was my entire body. He had grabbed me up and was cradling me to his chest as if I were a baby.

"When we complete the bond it will be because you want it. I will not take your choice from you as long as you do not take mine from me by running again."

My fear oddly evaporated at his comforting words. I found myself thinking about all the conclusions I had jumped to about this strange man. I hadn't realized my arms had wrapped themselves around his neck, but once I had I didn't know if it was better to leave them or remove them. Now I just felt shy- like a complete fool.

Why did I run?

I put emphasis on the phrase he had used which surprisingly earned me a slight grin from him, "I bear your mark now my King. Even without it- running is futile."

"I do not wish for you to call me King, Ajei."

I gave him a dumbfounded look for a moment as he began carrying me out of the treeline and back to the castle. He didn't want me to call him king, but I hadn't a clue what else I would address him as.

The Lycan? Sir?

"Uhm, I- I don't know what else to call you."

He gave me the same tight grin like he was trying his hardest to keep a real smile from appearing on his handsome face.

"My name perhaps," he chuckled slightly.

I stumbled over my words for a moment unsure of how to tell him I didn't know his name without looking like more of a fool than I already did.

Everyone in the shifter world probably knew his name- except me.

I should have listened more carefully to the gossip that passed through the Omega Slave house.

"Oh. I uh. Well. I don't actually know what your name is."

Abruptly he stopped to look at me with a stunned expression. I could feel my cheeks begin to heat at the embarrassment creeping up on me.

A few odd moments passed before his face broke out into a genuine smile- the most beautiful one I'd ever seen.

The sound of his deep laugh rang in my ears like a song that was made just for me. Shock overpowered my embarrassment and I was the one who was now staring at him with a stunned gaze.

"My ego seems to have gotten the best of me Ajei. I am Zirablade Xerox."

"Zirablade." I repeated before asking, "Why do you call me Ajei? What does that mean?"

The smile on his face remained for a while as he began walking us to the Bridgeway, yet he did not answer my question.

Kronos awaited us as we crossed the gate. The wolf seemed to give me the same grin as he had earlier when I escaped The Kin- Zirablade.

I found myself wanting to talk to the majestic wolf and ask him about the increased speed I'd suddenly developed when he had been near. Then the courage I'd felt that seemed to come from some other being. I was sure he had somehow been the reason, but I had no clue as to why or how.

Instead, I kept quiet for now as the K- Zirablade lead us to the doors of the castle. I decided I would wait until I could be alone with the wolf before I voiced my curiosity.

As soon as he pushed open the wooden double doors with his foot the most heavenly smell drifted through my nose.

My stomach furiously growled at me reminding myself I hadn't eaten in almost two days.

"Hungry? Dinner should be ready by now." The King smiled at me once again.

My eyebrows rose in question as he lead us down the corridor and the scent of food grew strong enough that I could practically taste it in the air. "Uhm. Am I to eat with you?"

He looked at me taken back by my question for a moment before speaking. "Of course. Your friend Lilith and my nephew Radic will join us too."

Lily. I hadn't seen her since early this morning. I wondered where she'd been.