Chapter 164 Slave

Nikolai

After searching for Adrik all night, we had found nothing. Absolutely nothing. No scent, no trail. We just knew he was there. There was a slight lingering scent under the canopy tree. Avalyn had popped his eyeball out of his socket. And the squashed eyeball was lying on the floor with drops of blood around it.

I was so fucking proud of her.

I wanted to talk to her. I wanted to talk to her earlier, I wanted to keep her near me all night, especially after I heard what happened. But fucking Eli took her back on the ATV. I didn't even need that thing. My legs are just fine, thanks.

I knew how to control my scent. It travelled through air. So I kept it contained around my body and didn't let it float away. And that is exactly what I was doing as I paced outside Eliyah's room, wondering if I should go in or not.

She was injured. In ways that I hadn't imagined. I wasn't thinking about anything other than the fact that I wanted her around me more. Especially when I saw her horrified eyes when she was back in our bedroom. I thought that being around me would calm her down. But I ended up hurting her more.

Just because we weren't mates anymore didn't mean I didn't care about her. I wanted to hurt her, yes, because I was still fucking furious that she hurt me like she did, but it had to be on my own terms, not like this, never like this.

Which is why I needed to make sure she was okay.

And then I heard a whimper. "No. No...please no...stop..." and then her soft cries, "please…red..."

I slammed open the door and stepped inside, looking at Avalyn lying in the middle of the bed, tears pouring out of her eyes and her sweat coated body struggled in the bed.

Eliyah was trying to shake her awake since what seemed like a long time. "Avalyn, wake up!"

He hadn't seen me yet, his entire focus was on her. And she wasn't waking up. The normal style never seemed to work whenever she was having a nightmare. Only I worked.

"Avalyn!" I snapped in my Master tone.

Her eyes, like always, snapped open and then she sighed and closed her eyes, covered her face with her hands and began crying.

I leaned back on the wall and stuffed my hands in my pocket to stop them from doing something stupid.

"What are you doing here?" Eliyah asked, an undertone of anger in his voice.

"Doing what you can't do." I replied.

"Like what? Hurting her and trying find new ways to do so every single day?" He hissed.

"Watch your fucking tone." I said with no heat as I kept my eyes on Ava. "Why didn't you tell me?" My voice sounded accusing.

Her hands lowered from her face and she looked at me. "Tell you what?"

"Everything that happened with Adrik."

When she realised that I had heard their entire conversation, her eyes were spitting fire at me as she screamed. "Why? Why would I tell you? You wouldn't even have cared!"

Her words angered me, hurt me so I hurt her right back. "Of course I wouldn't care." I scoffed. "But keeping things to yourself affected the investigation."

Her face crumpled in pain.

"I doubt that since you ended up hearing our entire conversation." Eliyah interjected, his eyes red and his vampire itching for blood.

I flashed my canines at him and his eyes lowered.

"Anyways. I would like to apologise. I didn't know you were hurt. It was not my motive to hurt you." My fists clenched in my pockets as I waited for her next words.

I needed to hear her say that it was okay. And that she accepted my apology. I needed her to know that I was saying the truth. I meant what I said.

"It wasn't your motive to hurt me?" She cracked, her voice low but rough, like it hurt her to speak. "It wasn't your motive to hurt me?" She repeated, her voice loud and hard. "Don't lie to me! That's exactly what you wanted!" She screamed, her eyes wild. "You want to hurt me. You always hurt me. Always."

My body vibrated with anger. She thought that. And why wouldn't she? It's true. I hurt her. That's all I do. That's what I'm good at.

That's what she expects of me. So that's what she is going to get.

"You must be a sick masochist then. Since you always come back begging for more." I pushed myself off the wall and walked out.

It was four thirty in the fucking morning and I'm all charged up. There was so much energy in me that I was practically bouncing on my feet.

Valerie isn't even here to siphon it out of me. I'm sure as hell isn't asking Avalyn.

I didn't feel like working out. It didn't help. And no one was strong enough to spar with me without it being fatal for them.

I walked out of the west wing. Searching for something I can use to exhaust myself.

A few vampires were roaming around and the guards were on their duty. The slaves were cleaning the palace.

I turned around a corner and a particular slave caught my eye.

I can get fucking laid.

It's been too long.

Ever since Ava was pregnant and when I was in that other world. Ten months. Seven years. Whatever the fuck it was.

"You." I called.

She stiffened before she turned around and looked at me. I looked at her face. She would do. She immediately bowed. "Alpha King Nikolai. How may I help you?"

"Follow me." I said and walked towards the guest bedrooms. I entered one and started unbuckling my jeans.

"Alp—"

"Shut up. Lock the door. Strip. Kneel."

The smell of her arousal hit my nose as she did what I said. I didn't like the smell. It just wasn't right. Her knees were spread apart, showing me her glistening pussy. Her hands were placed on her thighs and her eyes were lowered. Perfect position for a slave.

I looked down at my limp dick.

Nothing.

A fucking naked woman didn't turn me on. At all.

Her hair weren't long enough or straight enough. She was too tall. She wasn't curvy enough. Nor were her ass or tits big enough. Her lips weren't plump enough. She wasn't pretty enough. Her smell wasn't right.

She wasn't right.

Avalyn has ruined me for all other women.

It pissed me off.

I started jerking myself off, trying to bring some life into my dick. After I got a little hard, I stepped forward.

"Come here." I said and she scrambled to crawl and kneel in front of me.

"No teeth. Deep throat. Drink all of it." I ordered. Her salivating mouth opened and grubby hands were about to touch me.

Instinctively, my hand reached out and caught her wrist before she could even touch me. I couldn't bear being touched by another female.

It didn't help that I could smell the faint smell of another male's seed on her.

And in the next second, a scream ripped from her throat. I released my hold on her and she cradled her hand to her chest, crying.

I noticed her wrist was broken.

I didn't even use any pressure or held her with a tight grip.

Maybe I had grown stronger than I had realised. But if I unknowing broke the wrist of a human being, I knew for a fact that I'd rip any slave apart if I fuck them.

I punched the wall behind me in anger. What the fuck am I supposed to do now?

I put my jeans on again and walked out.

There is only one person in this entire palace who will listen to my order as the absolute and not care about Avalyn.

'I want you to hand-pick slaves for me— the most beautiful ones in the palace. Send them to my office right in two hours. I'll take my pick later. Make sure to bring a collar and a leash too.' I mind-linked him. I don't want anyone else touching my property. I don't want to smell other men's cum on her. Won't help with the fact that it's already difficult for me to get turned on.

'Yes, King Nikolai.' Ratmir replied.

I went outside, shifted into my wolf and went for a run. I ran hard and fast. I needed to release more energy. I was too keyed up.

Avalyn has fucked me up in more ways than I can imagine. I need to get her out of my system.

I have rejected Avalyn so we are no longer connected. Our souls are different. We can no longer feel each other. But I wasn't with her just because we were mates. I loved her. All of her.

I still do.

I know it.

But it's just a human feeling. And it will go away. Soon, hopefully.

My wolf has finally stopped being mad at me. He refused to come out for an entire week after I rejected her. But then one of the cases in the court pissed me off and my body started filling itself with this overflowing energy again.

So much so that I ended up using it to push my wolf out shifting into my fur.

'We await you in your office, King Nikolai.' Ratmir's voice floated in my mind.

'I'm on my way.' I turned around and ran back to the palace. The energy was finally enough for me to handle. I no more felt like it would burst out of me.

Thank fuck.

About twelve slaves were kneeling in a line at the side of the room and Ratmir stood in front of my desk, waiting for me.

He bowed deeply when I entered. "Good morning, King Nikolai."

"It hasn't been a very good morning." I said.

"Apologies." He murmured.

"Report on the investigation?" I asked as I looked at the slaves.

"Stand up." I ordered them.

In a swift and graceful move, all of them stood up, their feet apart and their hands behind their back. All of them looked trained.

"Light traces of scent are found here and there. We haven't found the exact direction he went to. I believe he was roaming in the woods for quite a while. We will be able to have a solid track by the end of the day. My men are working on it." He replied.

"Good." I affirmed as I scanned all the slaves.

"You're too tall. Get out." I pointed at the one. "Your hair is too short," I pointed at another one, "get out. You have no curves. Out. Small tits. Out. Saggy ass. Out. You're too thin. You're too muscular. Out. Thin lips. Out. I don't like your smell. Out."

Only three remained in the end.

"Kneel." I ordered and the three of them jumped to their knees to please me. I could smell the scent of all their arousals. It boosted their ego that I chose them.

I walked to my desk and pulled out the plastic pouch that held Adrik's eyeball.

"Preserve it and put it in a jar and then give it back to me safely. It is one of my most prized possessions." I gave it to him.

A slight smirk tilted his usually stoic lips. "As you wish, King Nikolai." He took it carefully and put it in his chest pocket. "If you do not wish for me to do anything else, may I take my leave?"

"No. I want you to turn the slave I choose into a vampire." I told him. "I'll tear her apart if she's a human. And I can't be bothered to search for a perfect slave again and again. It's a waste of fucking time and it's inconvenient."

"As you please, King Nikolai." He replied.

"First slave. Come here." I said and she got up and walked over to me.

She stood in front of me nervously. I cupped her tits.

Should do.

I moulded her ass before I gave it a couple of healthy smacks. She winced and didn't voice anything out except a slight squeak.

I'm liking this one.

I pushed my finger in her pussy. She was nicely wet and she squirmed as I pushed her to an orgasm.

She started moaning.

"Don't cum." I ordered and pushed another finger in. She was a little too tight but she'll do. I quickly pumped my fingers, bringing her to her extreme.

Her moans got louder and breathing got heavier.

I wanted to see for how long she could hold and how far she would go to please me. She started moaning a little but I didn't like her voice. It was too whiny. Ava never whines.

I grabbed her throat and choked her a little, silencing her.

The door slammed open and Eliyah stalked inside, angry like a bull.

"What?" I snapped.

"You fucking dick!" He snarled and tried to punch me but I caught his fist and punched him instead.

He fell on the floor but was up the next second, sporting a bloody nose. "She can feel it." He screamed, "she can feel it you sick bastard."

Did he mean...?

He tried to attack me again but Ratmir caught him from behind and ordered a few guards to take him away.

I trailed my fingers through my hair.

Fuck.

The door opened again Ava walked inside, crying her eyes out. Her teary blue eyes pierced through mine. "I -if yo-you want to f-fuck...u-use me. Plea—please." Her voice was rough.

I couldn't move. I couldn't speak.

Her eyes fell on the slave besides me and I instinctively stepped away from her. Her eyes fell on the other two slaves kneeling.

Another sob tore through her throat.

And then she absolutely sliced my heart when she took off the dress she had worn— she was naked underneath, and then kneeled next to the slaves. Her body shook as she forced herself to maintain the position.

I squeezed my eyes shut.

"It wasn't your motive to hurt me?" She asked, her voice low but rough, like it hurt her to speak. "It wasn't your motive to hurt me?" She repeated, her voice loud and hard. "Don't lie to me! That's exactly what you wanted!" She screamed, her eyes wild. "You want to hurt me. You always hurt me. Always."

Her words echoed in my ears.

She was right. She usually was.

But this wasn't my motive. I didn't want to hurt her. I didn't know she would still feel it. I rejected her, how could she feel it?

What have I done?

There was blood smeared between her thighs and over her core.

Because I had been finger fucking a slave not even five minutes ago...

I can't feel her anymore. Because I rejected her. But there is a slight possibility that she can still feel me. Because she hasn't accepted the rejection. I should have thought about this.

This is not general knowledge. Mates that have already mated each other don't reject each other. Ever. It hasn't happened before. Until now.

"Take the slaves out." I told Ratmir who had respectfully lowered his eyes when Avalyn had stripped.

"Stand up." I ordered and she jumped to her feet, her legs trembling.

"Wear your dress." She wore her dress again.

"Accept my rejection." I hardened my heart.

This needs to be done. This is not the way I wish to hurt her.

And while I won't go out looking for women to fuck, I'm not going to remain celibate for the rest of my life. Once I'm over Avalyn, I'm sure I'll start finding other women attractive again.

Her eyes flow up to stare into mine. More tears filled into them. "P-please don..t." Her throat was raw. "I -I can't."

Her face crumpled in pain and she hugged her own trembling body. "Use me. I -if you wa-want to fuc-ck. Use my body. I -I can't t-take it if you—you..." she sobbed.

The fact that she offered...it angered me. She is practically offering herself up to be used? The thing she detests the most? The thing of her past that she is the most insecure about?

And it angered me more because it was very tempting. She turned me on like no other. She knew my body and knew what I liked like no other. There was no other female in the entire fucking world more beautiful, with a better scent, with a more melodious voice— more perfect than her.

I strode to her and stood in front of her, looking at her with anger I didn't bother masking. "Do you know what you speak of?" I hissed. She is out of her fucking mind. "You want to be used? Is this one of your mind games? Nothing will ever make me like you ever again."

She flinched and then softly replied, "it will hurt less than seeing you with oth-other women."

"Then why don't you accept my rejection?" I growled. "It won't hurt at all." And it won't hurt my conscience either.

"I'm s-sorry. I -I can't do it. It's yo-your only order I ca-ant follow, M-Master." She rasped.

Her calling me that name again angered me. It reminded of the time when things were good. So good. We used to have fun times when she called me that.

How dare she refer me like that again? How can she taint it?

"You want to be my fucking slave? Fine. One mistake—one single mistake, Avalyn, and I'll punish you. And this time, I won't hold back." I snarled in her face.

She meekly nodded.

I slapped her ass hard. She jumped, a shriek coming out of her mouth.

"Yes, Master." She whispered.

I extended my claws and tore her dress before I grabbed the dainty gold collar that Ratmir had brought and locked it around her neck.

"Do you know what this means?" I hissed in her ear as I cupped her throat from over the collar. "It means that you belong to me, that no other man can fuck you, that you aren't allowed to let other men touch you." I hissed as I taunted her past sins.

She flinched.

I pushed her on the desk, face up and then placed my hand on her stomach, keeping her down.

She gasped when I inserted my finger in her. It felt damn good as I fucked her pussy with my fingers. She was perfect. Her smell, her warmth, the way her core fit so snug around me and milked my finger.

A growl left my lips as I increased the intensity of my ministrations.

Her eyes were squeezed shut.

I want her to look at me. I inserted another finger and fucked her harder. Her groans increased and she started squirming. She still wasn't looking at me. I wanted her eyes on me.

"Look at me." I ordered.

She opened her eyes and started only mine only to squeeze them shut again in a couple of seconds.

I growled and twisted her nipples. "I said, fucking look at me."

Her eyes flew open and she stared into my eyes as I started fucking her harder.

A million emotions were passing through my mind, so many that even I didn't fully comprehend what I was feeling.

I was so fucking turned on, I felt like I'll come just by fingering her. I haven't had sex in too long.

I noticed that she had squeezed her eyes shut.

Keeping my fingers inside her, I grabbed her collar and pulled her in a sitting position. "How many times do I have to fucking tell you to look at me?" I growled in her face.

Her eyes opened and a few tears slipped down her cheek.

"Why are you crying? Huh? Isn't this what you wanted?"

"I —I'm sorry, Master. This is what I want." She replied softly but her voice was thick.

I looked down at her plump, reddened lips that were inches away from mine. They were always red and extra soft when she cried.

And I couldn't control myself.

I kissed her. I sucked on her bottom lip and bit softly before I pushed my tongue in. A shiver raced down my spine the second her tongue met mine. My hand moved from her collar to the back of her head, angling her properly so I could kiss her deeply.

I tasted the salty taste of her tears but I didn't stop kissing her. I couldn't.

Why is she crying?

I sucked her tongue and a moan released from the back of her throat.

I felt her hand on my chest. Over my heart.

My eyes flew open and I stepped away from her, releasing my hold from her.

She was breathing heavily as she started straight into my eyes. She looked like a fucking Goddess. Like my Goddess.

I felt like she would wink at my playfully right now and say 'gotcha'. And she would be right. She's got me.

I closed my eyes and cooled myself down. I need to think straight. This woman has me under her spell.

I need to differentiate between the Ava that was my mate and Ava that is my slave.

I opened my eyes.

I saw something in her eyes that I knew I needed to crush, that I wanted to crush— hope. The kiss was not a Master kissing a slave. It was Nik kissing Ava.

It can't happen again.

I stepped forward and pushed her on her back before I flipped her around. It's better if I don't see her face.

I unbuckled my jeans and pushed them down along with my boxers. My hard on sprang out. There was so much blood flowing there that it was almost painful.

I pressed my hands on her ass and moulded her cheeks before I spread them apart and saw my target.

Her dripping wet pussy.

I angled my cock in front of her entrance.

Avalyn and him were in the middle of the fucking bed with Avalyn on her hands and knees, facing me and that little bitch fucking her from behind. Her tits bounced as he thrust into her with a groan.

Her eyes flew open and they widened when she saw me. She pushed him off her and covered herself up with some sheets.

Her eyes blurred with tears. "Nikolai..."

A sense of satisfaction pooled in his eyes.

The memory flashed in front of my eyes and I stumbled back.

I remember the expression of bliss on her face for the split second when I saw her closed eyes. I remember how she was wet for him too.

The smell of her arousal was thick in the room but it didn't arouse me the way it did five minutes ago.

I looked at her waiting for me, squirming with anticipation.

I don't think I'll ever be able to fuck her.

I squeezed my eyes shut.

Goddess. It hurt. Even thinking about it hurt. So fucking much. Her betrayal hurt me more than anything else ever has. She was the one person I bared myself to. I bared my soul to her. She was my whole damned world. I would've done anything for her. I fucking gave my life for her. I let her in. I trusted her. I gave her my heart. And along with it, I also gave her the power to crush my heart.

I had practically laid my heart at the bottom of her feet. And what did she do?

Took one look at it with her ice cold eyes and stomped all over it.

I rubbed my chest. Why did my heart still hurt?

It was all because of her.

Avalyn.

The best thing of my life and the worst thing of life. All wrapped up in one.

I pulled up my pants.

She turned her head and looked at me in question. "Aren't you going to fuck me, Master?"

"I don't think I'll ever be able to fuck you Avalyn." My voice shook with emotions. I decided to tell her the truth. "You—you are filthy to me now." She flinched. "Not because of your past." I shook my head. "It wasn't your fault. I would never hang it over your head like that. I don't care how many males took advantage of you. I don't care if the person was related to me." My throat closed as I was about to speak of what bothered to me. "It's because he fucked you. With your consent. You chose to let him touch you. Especially after you told me that you loved me, that you chose me."

She let out a heart wrenching sob.

I continued softly. "You thought I was dead and you decided to be with your faye mate, I would have been fine. But I came back, Ava." My vision blurred with tears. "And you chose him. You gave me hope every time you let me come near you. Yet, you chose him, crushing my heart yet again. You did it every single day. I thought you were just confused. I made excuses for you. But you just know how to twist the dagger for fun, Love."

She was crying uncontrollably now.

"You told me you loved me. You promised me a future that night. You called me to your room. If you chose him, you could have told me. But you showed it to me by making me watch him fuck you instead."

She scrambled off the desk and ran to me. She grabbed my arms tightly and looked up at me, her eyes wild. "I -I didn't. I didn't call you!"

I shook my head. "Doesn't matter. You were still with him."

I grabbed her hands on my arm and gently took it off me. "I knew you had changed. You had turned into the Ice Queen, as people said. But I never thought you could be so cruel." I shook my head and turned around to walk out.

"Nikolai!" She gasped. "Please! I -I don't know what happened that night. I chose you! I was going to break up with him!"

She's still just as cruel.

"Don't lie to me." I hissed. "Not after I've just been honest to you."

"I'm not lying!" She followed me and caught my hand in between hers. "Please! Nikolai! I'm sorry." She cried. "Please. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry."

"We will never work." I hardened my heart again and pulled my hand out of her hold. "You aren't pure to me anymore. I can't stand to even think about fucking you."

She sobbed. "I -I'll do anything! Anything!" She said desperately. "Let me be your slave. I -I promise I'll be a good girl. I do everything you say. I -I'll take care of all your needs. Maybe—no, I promise you'll be able to fuck me once you see I'm a good girl. You won't have to go through the inconvenience of finding another slave. I'll be good. I promise. Just please— let me be your slave. Your only slave."

Does she even realise what she is saying out of desperation? Does she realise that she can free us both if she just accept my rejection?

She's asking me for the life I helped her escape. Does she realise that?

"Fine." I know how I'll make her realise it. She needs time to think. I'm going to give her that.

"Kneel." I ordered and she swiftly got into the perfect kneeling position.

"Now I'm going to go out, I'm not sure when I'll return." I told her. "But I want you to stay in this position, okay?"

"Yes, Master." She whispered.

"The moment you change your position, I'll know. And you will be released from your slave duties. You know what that means, right, slave?"

"Yes, Master." She replied again.

"Good girl." I said and then walked out and closed the office door behind me. I placed my hand on the red and golden circle and locked it. Now, like the lock that I make on the doors of our bedroom, only Avalyn and I will be able to open it.

No one else can go in or come out. I didn't want anyone to help her. I didn't want anyone to see her like that either, especially not our kids.

Only Avalyn can unlock the door.

And I'm not going in there. She will come out on her own. She will not be able to stay in that position for more than a couple of hours, half a day at the most, she'll get tired. She will need to go to the washroom or eat or have water and she will feel the need to move even more.

She'll come out.

And then it'll be done. We'll be done.

I'll make her accept my rejection. And then, we both will be free. Forever.