Tempting The Dark King [Enchanted World Series Book 2]

Chapter 8

There was muffling of voices from a distance and it sounded as if two people were arguing. Lyrah's head throbbed as if someone was chipping against her skull with an ice pick. She cracked her eyes open and darted them through the dim room. It looked familiar yet it wasn't hers. She tried to remember what happened then memories began to gush in like a broken dam. She remembered being in Rhol's office and arguing about her not endangering her life. She remembered that horrible and nauseating feeling she had just before that dark strand of energy tried to attack her. She also remembered the clear warning Rhol sent to her to step out of the way. This rest was very vague.

She blinked several times and noticed Leah sitting next to her with a bowl of clean water in her hands and a towel. A little further from the bed was a large brooding male dressed in black and right beside him was Zafrina and Muriel. It looked as if they were trying to tell him something but he wouldn't hear of it.

Typical. She thought as she shifted slightly to make herself comfortable. She must have used up too much energy in killing that abomination because she felt as light as a feather.

“She's awake!” Leah exclaimed looking at her with big bright eyes.

Everyone's attention was turned to her. She could almost hear the reprimanding that was about to occur. Was all her life going to be based on everyone around her telling her of how she was to behave and what she could or couldn't do?

“Lady Lyrah!” Muriel exclaimed touching her cool hand with her warm ones. “How are you feeling?”

“Drained.” her throat was dry. “Can I please have something to drink?”

Leah bobbed and quickly went to the table behind her to pour a glass of water before bringing it to her. Zafrina moved forward and helped her sit up. All the while, Rhol stood right at the back with his face blank but dark and dangerous. She had no idea what he was thinking but feared for her life. She had seen that kind of calmness before and she didn't like what followed.

“You should have taken it easy.” Muriel fussed over the covers of the bed trying to keep her warm. “You are still trying to heal yourself. You shouldn't have used that much energy.” She stopped abruptly and sighed then smiled. “I have heard the rumors about Gregor's gifted daughter; Mage of life, but I have never imagined how powerful you are. With enough practice you could be rivaling with your brother.”

Lyrah couldn't help but smile. “I'm not nearly as powerful as my brother.”

“But you could be. But for now, try not to strain your body. Give it time to heal before trying anything like that again, okay?” Muriel's face was full of concern.

“Everyone, get out.” Rhol's deep voice growled from behind.

Leah was the first one to find her way out while Zafrina and Muriel eyed Rhol wary.

“Don't stress her, Rhol.” Muriel warned.

All Rhol did was turn to look her before he stepped to the side to give them space to leave. Muriel went out the door but Zafrina puffed her way out.

Lyrah felt her heart jerk in her ribs. Now, she was in for it. She watched as Rhol stalked closer to the bed. It reminded of the night he came for her at the Nosferatu's house. He shook his head light as if he couldn't quiet understand something then looked up at her. “Tell me something, Lyrah, do you have some sort of a twisted death wish or is it just mind imagination. I wonder why is it that every time my back is turned, you're out there risking your life without the care in the world.”

“I don't have a death wish, Rhol.” She answered and she would have pouted if he didn't look like a lethal warrior in front of her. “Both of us were in danger and I had to do something.”

“It was not your call. I'm the king of this fortress. I say what should be done and this is the last time you ever do that, understand?”

Lyrah's eyes narrowed at him. “You can't do anything about it if you can't feel it. Muriel might be able to recognize the evil of it but only I can pinpoint its exact location. You need me.”

“I don't need you for that, Lyrah.” he hissed making the hairs at the back of her neck rise. “I never did. You are injured and can barely heal yourself so why don't you do us all a favor and stay out of this? This is not your fight.”

Rhol's words were like a slap on Lyrah's face. His stubbornness reminded her so much of her own brother. To the both of them, no matter how much power she harnessed, she was still very weak. She didn't even know what to tell Rhol. She couldn't argue with him if he had that kind of mindset. The only thing left was to prove herself with actions.

“This fight is for the entire enchanted world, Rhol. Now, I don't care what you think of me but know this, you can't dictate to me on what I can or can not do.” Lyrah's sparkled. “If you can't bear the sight of me aiding my world and my people, I suggest you turn the other way.”

“You are my mate!” Rhol roared and his tattoos became solid and slithered in the air.

“You rejected me!” Lyrah cried back feeling the energy veins pulsing around her body.

They stayed like that for what felt like eternity waiting for the other to back down. Lyrah was tired of being treated like an egg. She never had to prove herself to anyone before but right now, she wanted to show the whole world just how capable she was. She might be the Mage of Life but she was still as strong as the rest of them especially having King Gregor and Queen Sapna's blood running through her veins.

Before she knew it, Rhol's tentacles wrapped themselves around her forearms and pinned her on the bed. Lyrah gasped in surprise as he moved closer to the bed and crawled over her, his face hovering inches from hers and his body so close that she could feel his heat seeping in her body right into her bones.

“You are my mate!” Rhol gritted his teeth as he growled at her. “Mine, no one else's. You should learn your place when you challenge me.”

 “I don't have to do anything.” Lyrah spat as the temperature of the room lowered and shadows began to dance around them. “As much as you don't want me here, I sure as hell don't want to be in your presence. Let. Me. Go.”

“No.” his eyes moved from her eyes to her mouth and the tattoos started changing color. They became a deep violet color. “You deserve punishment for going against me, dirani peeta.”

“Get off me.” Lyrah pushed hard against the heavy body but he didn't even flinch.

A warning growl reverberated from deep inside Rhol's stomach as he came down and nipped hard on Lyrah's lower lip.

Lyrah cringed away from him but she wasn't prepared for that electricity that seared through her body and ignited her womb. She wanted to fight him off but his tentacles held her tightly underneath him. His eyes were darker than the darkest night and the intent in them was as raw as the wound on her thigh. This was not Rhol. This was that primal beast inside each male that always wanted to claim his mate. Some males were able to control it but others weren't so lucky.

“Rhol, don't do this.” She desperately tried to get the male back.

Rhol didn't say anything but claimed her lips in a hard, hot and demanding kiss that had all her bones melt into ponds of heat inside her body. Rhol's lips burnt against hers, making her mind reel out of control. She tried to pull herself together and come up with a sane thing to do but her body was not hers anymore. It belonged to Rhol to command it as he saw fit. This was the same male who wanted nothing to do with her yet here she was responding to his kiss and having her hands itch to touch him. His tattoos caressed her, their warm penetrating deep into her core and causing it to clench deliciously inside her.

She was a slave to the mate bond and so was he. This was what happened when mates were constantly in close proximity every time. The bond became intolerable.

Something at the back of Rhol's mind told him to stop what he was doing but his body wouldn't listen to the commands. Lyrah was injured just a few hours before and now here he was on her trying to claim her as his mate. She wasn't fighting him. In fact, she was returning all his kisses with the same ferocity. She was maddening and that rage turned into a desire he had never felt before. He watched as she challenged him, watched her stubborn chin rise up defiantly and all he could think of was to take her body and make her realize just who she belonged to.

He didn't want it to come to this but the pull was just too intense. He erection was throbbing inside his pants to the point of pain. Not even Jezeray had ever got him that hard before. Kissing her lips was like nothing before. He couldn't even compare to the other females he bedded because everything about Lyrah overshadowed them. She was his mate, someone he wanted as far away from him as possible but he doubted he could do that now.

Rhol was a hard male who endured a lot in his long existence. There were times when they found themselves going for days without food or having wounds that were all pain. He endured the pain and the almost-starvation because he could but now, he even stunned himself that he couldn't endure just two days in Lyrah's presence. He wanted her with every fiber of his being!

Her skin was soft and her scent was a pheromone, fueling up the lust that was threatening to consume him from the inside. Her pale hair felt like silk as he ran his fingers through it and held her head in place, kissing her and tasting her until she was out of breath. Rhol had to stop the insanity. This was not the time for such things. Her body was simmering with heat because she was still trying to heal herself. She passed out right after neutralizing that abomination and now here he was trying to seduce her. With his last string of control, Rhol yanked himself away from her and retreated to the darkest corner of the room.

Lyrah was breathing hard and her eyes were drooping with the power of their kiss. She parted her lips as if she wanted to say something but it came out as a short moan as her eyes rolled and she fell into unconsciousness once more.

Rhol returned to her side, his heart thudding loudly in his chest as he rested his hand softly on her chest. Her heart was still beating but she was exhausted. He pulled the sheets over her small body and walked back to the corner where he sat the other night watching over her. The deed was done. There was no way he was sending her back now that she was in his system. f**k! But that didn't mean he had to succumb to the weakness of the mates. He was a potent male with needs and he had a very high s****l appetite. As his mate, she needed to see to his needs. He just hoped she was strong enough to endure it. With a sigh, Rhol rested back on the chair and settled his eyes on his beautiful mate while she was in her sleep.