while those inside had a clear, unobstructed view of the dazzling cityscape.
There was no clutter of ostentatious statues, fountains or paintings to distract from the elegant beauty of the architecture itself, but what embellishments were there were of the highest quality and taste.
As Eveline slowly made her way down the center aisle toward a massive, yet simple throne, that looked to be carved from a single solid block of obsidian, she tried not to let the multitude of eyes on either side of her make her feel uneasy, on display.
Though, of course, she was.
Instead, she focused on the breathtakingly magnificent warrior king who sat upon his throne.
And the moment their eyes met, she forgot about everything else.
Ramses was dressed all in black as well, similarly attired as his Chosen. In fact, there was little about his wardrobe that distinguished him from his guards. He wore no crown, no adornments, his raven curls lose and disheveled about his face, as if he just rolled out of bed.
After a day of tireless fucking.
Just like his guards, Eveline reminded herself firmly. Inanimate art was all he was. But try as she might, she would never mistake him for anyone else but the most powerful ruler of the vampire race. The first-ever Dark King.
His presence permeated every particle of the throne room. It was his space. And everything within it was his to command.
And when he held her gaze like he was doing now, connecting them intimately even though they were surrounded by dozens of his noble court, Eveline felt his possession of her too, from the top of her head to the soles of her feet. His unwavering gaze reminded her, as she walked toward him, that he’d penetrated her vein, taken her blood. He’d surrounded her with his essence, his naked heat, that glorious, massive, muscular male body.
They had a Contract. She was his.
When Eveline finally stood before him, he didn’t greet her, didn’t say a word. He simply looked down at his feet and looked back at her.
Eveline frowned.
He wanted her to sit at his feet while he sat on his gigantic throne.
Like a dog.
Well, at least there was a thick floor pillow to cushion her ass.
A pampered dog, then.
She glared at him to indicate what she thought of that idea.
He arched a black brow ever so slightly back at her.
He was reminding her of their Contract. In public and in private, she was his for the duration of three months. And she was required to behave accordingly.
She arched a brow right back at him. Because the Contract went both ways.
He was hers too.
So, Eveline regally took her seat (which was to say, her butt found the floor pillow without much of her usual clumsiness) between his spread legs, but draped a possessive hand on his knee, and leaned her head against his thigh.
Staring out at the sea of Dark nobles who gathered a couple of steps beneath the dais of the throne, she daringly ran her other hand up his inner thigh and skimmed the back of her knuckles along the length of his manhood, blatantly outlining the shape of his cock and balls with her barely-there caress, as if to declare to all observers:
This is mine.
Eveline was the only one who heard Ramses’ soft exhale, a release of breath that expressed disbelief, frustration and arousal all at once.
She’d surprised him.
Good.
She leaned her head back against his now stone-hard groin and settled in the V of his thighs, keeping her hand on his knee. Though she sat at his feet, it almost looked as if the Dark King’s body was her throne.
Eveline caught Devlin’s eyes in the back of the room. The Hunter’s sapphire orbs were sparkling with barely-suppressed humor. He was obviously enjoying the show.
“You asked for an audience, Anya,” Ramses’ low, husky voice commanded everyone’s attention at once.
“Do not keep me in suspense.”
A tall, voluptuous, regal-looking vampire with long, tawny tresses stepped forth from the gathering of nobles.
Why were Dark females always so sexy and gorgeous, Eveline wondered, her fingers involuntarily tightening on Ramses’ knee.
“Allow me to congratulate you on your…new acquisition, Dark King,” the queen of the Great Plains hive said in a sultry voice.
Sexy, gorgeous, and sultry.
Eveline disliked her on sight.
Given that she was practically gouging the back of her head into his crotch, she felt the subtle shrug of Ramses’ body.
“My little sprite begged to be acquired. She is quite ecstatic to be here, as you see. Who am I to refuse?”
Eveline fought to keep