Kalina ~ Book Four

“Thank you for bringing me.”

Elias glanced at Sylvie sideways, sitting in the passenger of his Lexus, and palmed her thigh with a tight grip.

“You’ll be bored.”

“I’m sure you’ll entertain me.”

Elias’s grip on her leg tightened until she squirmed, a giggle forcing its way past her mouth as she tried to jerk away. He let go, and she curled up, leaning her head against the window as they wound through the forest.

The trip to the Fletcher-owned buildings would take a few hours, and Sylvie loved a road trip. Rowan stayed with her students, preparing them for their first shift trip, where the twelve children would go out with nothing but the clothes on their backs to camp under the stars and hunt for their food in their animal forms, strengthening the bond between their human body and the beast they contained.

Kian had work in Sagehill, and Rosie buried herself in work with her babies. Poor Rosie. That was another reason she begged Elias to take her to collect his things and organise the final details with the new ‘face’ of Fletcher Industries.

She had never seen Rosie so mad, her beautiful face contorted and red as she tried and failed to process Claudine’s choice. Over and over, all she could say was, “You should have woken me. How could you? Why didn’t you wake me?’

No apologies could fix this pain. Only time. The time she would willingly give. Rosie had lost enough.

They arrived just after midday. She swallowed the last bites of a burger Elias brought her from a drive-through and stepped into the bustling city street.

“Stay close.” Elias curled around her protectively as people rushed by on their bikes or running as if late for the world. She didn’t miss it. Not for a second.

They darted through across the path and through the front glass doors, heading for the private elevator. Things looked relatively the same, and Sylvie shuddered, remembering Rowan dragging her across those same polished floors when he first met her.

They rode the elevator and climbed out on his floor. “Hi, Penny,” Sylvie smiled at the white-haired assistant, who returned the grin while still typing lightning-fast.

“Morning, love. So good to see you again. You haven’t aged a day.” Penny blinked as if confirming it when Elias whisked her out of the lights.

“Won’t be long, Penny.”

“Alright, dear. Mr Grey is in the office now, Sir.”

“Thank you, Penny.”

Mr Grey. Sylvie wanted to snicker but thought better of it as Elias guided her to the space that started everything. A tall, well-built man with thick white-blond hair stood from behind Elias’ old desk as they entered.

“Mr Fletcher.”

“Sam.”

Sylvie stepped to the side, standing tall as Mr Grey looked her over. The gaze was a little too long and leery than she would’ve liked, and she narrowed her eyes at him.

‘Take a picture’ was on the edge of her tongue as Elias said, “My Wife.” When he didn’t offer a name, Sylvie took it upon herself.

“Sylvie.”

“Nice to meet you, Sylvie.”

“And you.” She ran her tongue along her teeth before adding, rather sharply. “Sam.” She noted the slow exhale and quirking of his lip as he stared down at a pile of papers on his desk.

“This is the final paper we needed signed for the lawyers.” He turned the folder to Elias and placed a pen at the base of it.

Elias tensed briefly at her side, and she controlled her eyes to not look at him. This decision hurt him more than he let on. He was losing control. Control of everything he worked for. He walked over, signed the paper and shook Mr Grey’s hand.

Done.

Elias turned, a storm on his face and took Sylvie’s hand, pulling her from the room. She followed with a strong stride and gave a short goodbye to Penny. “Goodbye, dear. I hope to see you again soon.”

Leaving the building didn’t feel like a weight from their shoulders; instead, a heaviness settled over them. Elias’ grip on her hand tightened, and she squeezed back, leaning against him.

“Lunch?”

“No,” Elias rasped, helping her into the passenger seat of the Lexus. “I believe I owe you something else.”

“Seven.”

Slap.

“Eight.”

Crack.

“Nine.”

Hiss.

“Ten.”

Sylvie yelped atop a clean hotel bed as Elias warmed her bare ass cheeks with his palm. “That’s a good girl.” He plunged his finger inside her, and she squirmed face down as he warmed her up, spreading her wetness until it coated her.

“Sit up, Kitten.” She scrambled to her knees and lay her palms face up on them, tilting her chin down to her chest. It had been a while, but she quickly found the position of submission—muscle memory. For once, she didn't think to disobey him, to tease and taunt. He needed this. He needed her.

Elias’s fingers hooked under her chin and tilted her head back.

“Tell me how badly you want it.”

“Elias,” his name came out in a hushed whisper. “I want to feel you on top of me, please.”

He hummed his approval and unbuttoned his shirt, letting it fall to the ground as she memorised every muscle from his traps to the sharp V heading for his cock. He undid his belt with a snap, letting the end slap against her palms. It stung, but she didn’t wince or whimper. The pain only made her wetter.

He undressed until he was naked in front of her, his hardness only inches from her face. Her mouth watered.

“Put your mouth here,” he ordered, pointing to his lips, and she rose up to kiss him. Deep and hard. Every inch of him burned a path along her body until she ached for him. Even her vagina seemed to complain at the lack of contact. It had been a while. Longer than she had been without sex with at least one of them. They had been busy, but not the fun kind.

He pulled back, and she whispered, “May I touch you?”

He paused for a few moments, contemplating, but eventually nodded. She kissed with soft, open kisses down his neck, sucked lightly on his nipple and swirled her tongue around his navel. A slap to her ass made her buck against him, but her exploration continued until she circled his tip with her tongue. Her hands cupped his balls and massaged them lightly with her fingers as she opened her mouth to enclose him.

It never got easier, his size stretching her beyond capabilities, but she persisted until she gagged. He fisted her hair and held it firmly by the scalp, not pushing her head but pulling as she reached the height of his cock.

She hummed against him, and the vibrations tickled her lips.

“Sylvie,” Elias said, pulling her off him. “Lay back.”

She shifted from her knees to her ass and lay back, almost buzzing as he crawled over her, caging her in and plunging inside her without warning.

He filled her, stretching her walls and reaching the deepest parts of her.

“Scream my name.”

It started as a whimper, to a groan, to a throat-aching scream. “Elias!”

“Good girl.”

She fell off the edge of oblivion, scrunching the hotel sheets and covering them in her wetness. She flushed with shame and desire; her rosy cheeks pressed hard against Elias’ cool one as he tensed and filled her.

“Fuck.”

Panting, Elias pulled from her and lay at her side, keeping his cool hand on her belly.

“Are you alright?” he asked.

“Perfect,” she whispered back, kissing his cheek.

“I’ll order you lunch.” He turned to reach for the phone, but Sylvie stopped his hand.

“Will you hold me for a while first?”

His hand lowered to her cheek and stroked, placing a kiss on her lips.

“Anything you want.”

“Where are we going?” Sylvie recognised the mangled suburbia. Elias turned down the street, and her stomach dropped—all that aftercare to butter her up for this.

“Don’t ask questions you already know the answer to, Kitten.”

“But why?” she whined, shifting her body on the chair so his hand couldn’t rest on her thigh any longer.

She never would have agreed to come if he was planning this visit.

“Business.”

“Bullshit,” she hissed. “Fucking business.”

“Brat.” He said it with a smile, but Sylvie wasn’t in the mood. She needed at least three business days to prepare for what he was about to throw her in.

They turned down a dead-end street as rows of townhouses peered down at her with their darkened windows dressed in gauzy curtains. Eyes watched from behind those curtains. Red ones. Ones that wished her harm with every stare. Ones that would have adored her. They called her their Queen once.

Elias drove the Lexus into the driveway of a three-story yellow townhouse, the well-kept lawn and vibrant gardens the only indicators of their house.

“I’m staying in the car.”

“They know you’re coming.”

“Elias.”

“Sylvie.”

With a huff, she unclipped her seatbelt, climbed out and slammed the door, ignoring the red flash of Elias’ eyes.

She leaned against the door with crossed arms as the front door opened, and Magnus came out. Alone.

“Magnus.” Elias greeted him.

“Prince.”

They clapped hands in a tight shake, and Magnus rounded to her.

“Kalina.”

“Magnus.” His jaw muscles jumped, but he nodded. “Where is she?”

“Your mother is out.”

That relaxed her, but only slightly. “Got anything to eat?”

The corner of Magnus’ mouth quirked, and he nodded again. “Come in.”

Inside was well decorated, mostly with quirky nature ornaments and paintings Kora had made in their years living there. The main entryway opened into the kitchen and living area, full of plants. Thriving plants. Sylvie was almost jealous. She wanted her house to look as green as theirs, but she didn’t have the time to care for the plants like they deserved.

“You want leftovers?”

Sylvie sniffed and glanced at Magnus perusing their fridge.

“Yeah. Please.”

He pottered around, transferring food to a bowl and heating it before placing it on a table mat on their glass table. So ordinary. So human. She sat and ate the food, a pasta dish while tuning out Elias and Magnus’ business chat. It mainly regarded keeping an eye on Sam Grey, so she ignored them, instead analysing the tray of succulents on display under the centre of the table.

How did she do that? Sylvie leaned over and peered under the table. A hidden shelf. Clever. She hovered her palm over the glass and focused her will, letting her power wash over the plants. They expanded and stretched towards the glass. She pulled back as the voices returned to her ears.

“-Taking care of some things.”

“Why?”

“Her business is her business.”

“And the vampires? What have you done about their beliefs about my Wife?”

“Those with Kindreds now are indifferent. Those without have been spoken to.”

“And the ones who don’t follow you anymore? That took on independence?”

“Anyone that threatens my Kindred or my daughter will die. Don’t underestimate me, Prince. I was a General once.”

Sylvie rolled her eyes and took her bowl to the sink to rinse. “Enough. I’ll just stay out of their way.”

“Kalina, you are the rightful Queen, whether in this realm or Argyncia. You should not hide.”

She scowled at the sponge in her hand. “I am not hiding. They know where I am. And if they want to talk, they can come and fucking find me. Elias. Take me home.”