bloodlust

10

Rhysand stared at her, awaiting an answer. She swallowed, shaking her head. His eyes narrowed.

"Rhys?" Morrigan asks, concern painted on her perfect features. "You look pale, are you okay?"

The dinner's candlelight catches the sweat beading on Rhysand's temple. "Just a headache," he grumbles, turning his attention to the food being presented to them. Cassian lounges backwards, watching Rhysand's discomfort with sly amusement.

"Perhaps he's just deeply appreciating the evening's company," Cassian smirked. Feyre's face flushed hot, the bright red tone of her skin alerting everyone to the fact that something was wrong.

"Everyone. Stop. Talking." Rhysand growled out, his fingers gripping the table's edge so hard his knuckles turned white. The table quieted, everyone looking at Rhysand with hidden amusement, pressing their lips tightly together. The tension at the table becomes palpable.

Rhysand cleared his throat. "Everyone leave. Now."

They all blankly stared at him, blinking before they slowly got up, like poorly behaved children and all excused themselves, leaving Feyre alone at the table with a very, very angry  Rhysand. She swallowed harshly, biting her lip and waiting for him to explode on her.

"Rhysand-"

"You conniving little minx."

"I didn't think it'd be so strong, I-"

Rhysand grabbed her arm harshly, spinning Feyre to face him as she stood. Within moments, he'd fluidly stood himself and walked her backward until her back hit the wall. His arms bracketed her in, giving her nowhere to run as he leaned in closer, the smell of him enveloping her.

"You didn't think? What exactly were you thinking, Feyre?" He said, his breathing ragged and hot against Feyre's neck. "You drugged me. In front of everyone." His hand fell to her hip, his voice a low, furious whisper. "I've killed for less."

"I-"

"Do you have any idea what you've done?" He presses his body against Feyre's, pressing her harder into the wall, leaving no doubt about the potion's effectiveness. His hardness pressed into her stomach. Her heart was hammering in her chest. "They all knew. Every one of them."

"Rhysand, I'm sorry-"

"You wanted an audience? You got one," he murmured against her neck, lips ghosting against her skin.

She involuntarily arched into his touch, opening her neck up more for him. His hand reached down, tracing the back of her thigh until he reached the pit of her knee, hoisting it over his own hip, allowing him to press himself harder at her center, and she gasped breathlessly.

"You think this is a game?" He purred, leaning back to look her in the face, his violet eyes blazing with intensity. "You humiliated me in front of the inner circle." His fingers reach up to wrap around Feyre's throat, not squeezing, just holding her in place. "Do you know what they're all saying right now? They're laughing about the High Lord lost control over a human girl."

She was frozen, panting and having no clue what to say. No smart ass comments came to mind, and she couldn't seem to summon the bravery to shove him off of her.

"And you're going to spend the rest of the night proving them right." Feyre's stomach flipped under his gaze.

"I am?" She squeaked out.

"Oh, you are," he confirmed. "You wanted to see me desperate?" He pulls Feyre from the wall by her hand, marching down the corridor toward his room. Her hand felt tiny in his.  "You're about to get a very thorough lesson in what it means to play with fire."

When they get to his room, he kicks the door shut and backs her against it, his hands pinning her wrists above her head. His eyes are wild, the potion's effect stripping away the last of his restraint. "You're going to learn exactly what it costs to embarrass me."

His mouth crashes against Feyre's in a punishing kiss, all teeth and desperation. She found herself moaning into his mouth, arching into his touch. She wasn't sure why she was allowing this to happen, allowing her kidnapper to kiss her. But here she was. Allowing it to happen and even moaning for him.

"You think you can dose me and walk away unscathed?" He demanded, moving to kiss along her jaw. "You wanted me out of control? Congratulations." The door trembles slightly as he holds her harder against it, his body a live wire of magic and need. "You're going to be the one begging before I'm through with you." He lifts her effortlessly, pinning her against the door as his hands work open his belt buckle.

"Wait," Feyre panted, panic starting to set in. He pauses for a moment, arching an expectant brow. She bites her lip, warring inside of herself between what she wanted in that moment and what she was sure to regret as soon as it was over. "I don't... I don't know."

He sighs, closing his eyes tightly and stepping back and away from her, letting her feet drop back to the ground. She ached to reach out for him, to tell him to keep going, but she couldn't make herself. She just stared at him, watching him try and regain any form of composure.

"Drug me again, or do anything against me, and I'll have your head on a spike." Was all he said forcefully before shouldering out of the room, leaving the door open and heading down the hallway to his study, closing the door behind him with an air of finality.