Charm Of Sensuality

Chapter 20

Kane clutched Eden close as they landed back in the dark realm. He knew what waited for him but Eden did not. He had taken her innocence, stolen her from her chosen mate. He would be punished, and he knew what it would be.

It wasn't often that a knight gave up his place and lost rank. In fact, it rarely happened at all. Kane had only witnessed it once, when he was still a child in training. The man had been brought to the center of the city. He had been a large, burly man covered in muscle.

He had gotten to his knees and leaned forward over a leather covered stool. High mages of the coven had evoked dark fire that did not allow fast healing, it guaranteed months of a wound that barely healed. They had branded him across the back, sticking the hot poke into his skin over and over again. The scene had been bloody, and cruel. And yet the man had not budged. He did not scream. He merely took his punishment stone faced, even as sweat cascaded down his body and the smell of his own flesh cooked under the heat of the branding iron. Once it was all done, the man had stood tall for a moment before he fell to his knees. Several other knights had lifted his pain-stricken body up and Kane could not recall ever seeing the man again.

The scene was scarred into his memory. As he was sure it was scarred into the memory of all who pledged knighthood that day forward.

He knew what was coming. He anticipated it but still the price to make her his was not one that he regretted. He knew for a fact that if given a second chance he would have done the same thing.

Their feet landed on the ground with a flourish, and he immediately steered her forward. People on the streets all seemed to freeze as they were noticed but still Kane did not falter in his steps.

He knew where they needed to go. He also knew that he couldn't waste any more time.

They moved swiftly through the crowds of people, many of them smirking, others frowning with distaste.

Suddenly the main counsel hall loomed before them and he gripped Eden tighter.

She glanced up at him but she stayed silent. They walked inside, their footsteps echoing as they ventured down the long, dark hall. They stopped as they neared two large steel doors.

The doors began to creak as they opened on their own, slamming against the walls.

"Get in here!" An angry female voice demanded.

Eden bristled but Kane leaned toward her, "Relax, sweetheart. They can do you no harm, they need you."

His words made her look up at him with wide eyes as he walked her forward, though he made sure to stay one step ahead of her.

Inside the large room sat several throne like chairs seated on a high platform, similar to a stage.

Below it was several long tables adorned with chairs filled with beautiful men and women of all race and ethnicities dressed to the nine's in expensive looking black clothing with splatters of red and glittering jewelry.

All the thrones were filled expect for the one in the middle.

A woman dressed in a tight black dress, sitting in one of the thrones stood as soon as they were in the room, her eyes blazing.

The woman had long black hair that stopped in the middle of her back. Her eyes were a fluorescent honey gold color that glowed. Her skin was the color of almonds.

"How dare you?" The woman began, her hands on her hips, "You had no right to take her, Kane. You of all people should have known better!" She screamed.

Kane didn't even flinch.

"You're a god damn fool, Kane! To think that you were one of the best knight mages of the dark realm, only to give that all up for a... for a-" Kane cut her off, "Be careful what you say about what it is mine."

A hushed silence fell over the room and then mumbled chatters of conversation burst out.

Suddenly one of the men sitting at one of the long tables stood.

"He deserves punishment, I will not argue that. But I will not agree to him being stripped of his knighthood."

The woman sneered as all eyes fell to the lone man standing, "You would deny what he is rightfully due, Abril?"

Abril lifted his chin higher, "Punish him how any mage who commits a wayward act is meant to be punished but his knighthood is not for you to decide, Vidal. Do not forget your position."

Vidal's eyes widened and suddenly her hair began to stand on end, like an angry cat ready for attack. "I have not forgotten my position, but I think you forget yours too often, Abril." The woman stiffened and her eyes began to glow. She was like an angry panther in human form.

"Your loyalty is strong, Abril. Be careful it does not get you killed." Vidal said icily before she sat down in her throne like seat once more. The angry look on her face remained.

Abril merely smirked, "If death is on the table, we both know it will be you first, Vidal." And then he took his seat once more.

Vidal stayed silent for a moment, her eyes flashing as if she were liable to explode at any moment. Vidal's took a deep breath before her eyes landed on Kane and Eden. She looked them over before she tapped her long red fingernails on the wood of her arm rest.

"I take it that you've had her? I can smell you both from over here, especially her. She reeks of orgasm and you."

Kane grinned slightly, "I claimed what was mine and I will not repent for it."

Vidal sneered again before pointing a long finger at Eden. "I want to hear her say it."

"You don't need confirmation from either of us, you can smell her pheromones from a mile away. You know she's no longer pure. Stop the games, Vidal. Everyone in this room can sense that she has experienced euphoria."

His words only seemed to make Vidal angrier.

She huffed before standing, the look on her face morphing into a pleased kind of excitement.

"You're right," she mumbled sweetly.

Her cold eyes fell on Eden, "You are now a newborn dark mage. You have experienced pleasure and now," Vidal giggled, "You will experience pain. Welcome to the coven, you sweet, silly creature."

Eden moved closer to Kane, her hands tightening in his.

Vidal snapped her fingers, and several large men filed in. Abril also stood, standing in front of the formation of men.

"You will now accept your punishment, and you will do so without complaint. Kane, Knight Mage of the high court, I hereby sentence you to branding via hell fire. 5 rounds, no stops. And no healing magic. You will suffer until the hell fire marked into your flesh burns out. Oh, and your ranking shall be disputed. I may not have the power to banish you but I can fuck with your standing amongst your peers. You will suffer through the pain and your new mate shall have the pleasure of watching your flesh burn. I hope she was worth it; you fucking fool." She said giddily.

She turned to the others in the room, "If anyone sees fit to object to this punishment do so now but just know that this is nothing compared to the banishment he deserves."

No one objected.

Vidal snapped her fingers, "Let us get on with it."