The Vampire King's Pet

MATURETHEMES:Slavery…TWelementsAfterherfamilyisbrutallymurderedinfrontofherbytheVampireKing,ZyrenBlackthorn,forbeinghunters,Ariaisleftbrokenanddevastated,desperatefordeath.HerworldisshatteredwhenZyren,insteadofkillingher,claimsherashispet,draggingherawayfromhervillageintotheheartofthecentralcity.Asahumanslave,sheisforcedtoendurehissadisticdesires.Everynight,heremindsherofherhelplessness,butbeneathhiscrueltyliesanobsessionthatburnswithintensity.Despiteherhatredandlongingforrevenge,Aria’sbodybetraysher,andshefindsherselfcaughtbetweenadarkdesireandherdesperateneedforrevenge.Excerpt:Aria’sbreathhitchedasZyren’sfingerstracedthelineofherjaw,histouchcolderthanice,yetsearingherskinwiththepromiseofmore.Sheshouldresist,shouldfightback,butherbodybetrayedher—shivering,cravingthepleasuresheknewhecouldgive.“YouthoughtI’dkillyou,”Zyrenmurmured,hisvoiceadarkpurr.“Butinstead,you’llbelongtome.Everypartofyouwillbemine.”Herlipspartedtospeak,butthewordscaughtinherthroat.Thememoryofherfamily’sbloodstainingherhandsmadeherstomachchurnassheglaredhatefullyathim.“Tellme,”hegrowled,hishandsmovinglower,pressingagainstthesoftnessofherskin,“doyoustillwishtodie?”Sheclenchedherfists,tearsthreateningtospill,butherbodytrembledunderhistouch.“Iwishfornothingbuttobefreeofyou,”shespat,butevenasthewordsleftherlips,shefeltthehungerinher—ahungershehatedbutcouldn’tdenyasshestaredintohisredeyes.AneedtoPRESENTherselftohimandhavehimmounther…bodyandsoul.