2
CRAZE
Such a pretty little rabbit , I muse, watching Ailsa Marvel freeze as my power runs through her. Time to run, sweetheart.
Her big blue eyes dart around, terror rippling through her athletic limbs.
Then she bolts, just like I desire.
I follow her with my gaze, aware of her every movement. Her sweet scent curls around me in a welcome kiss, that elixir already working its magic.
First, she’ll glow.
Then, she’ll burn.
And finally, we’ll chase .
Graves, I can’t fucking wait to hunt her.
Our Omega.
Our future queen.
I’ve dreamt of this moment for centuries, of when our circle would finally claim our intended. Of when we would finally be complete.
Krolic discovered Ailsa two years ago, but she wasn’t ready then.
Oh, but she is absolutely ready now, I think, smiling as she runs.
Ailsa’s the salvation we’ve been searching for. The Omega who can give our true king an heir.
Welcome to Monsterland, my sweet girl, I whisper to her. But watch your step. It’s a long… way… down.
I slip back into the shadows and wander into the mist between our realms.
It’s time to prepare. That elixir will work quickly, giving us a handful of days to convince her to be ours. Because while we may be Alphas, we still value consent.
Mostly, anyway.
Seduction is an art form.
And sometimes all an Omega needs is a little taste of oblivion to willingly fall into the illustrious pit of eroticism and carnal pleasure.
Tempt you, we will, I think. Beg us, you will .
Because an Alpha’s touch is all that will save her now.
The elixir has awoken her dormant spirit.
In one week’s time, she’ll be screaming with need. Demanding satisfaction. And it will take all three of us to please her. Fuck her. Claim her .
Catum meets me in the darkness, his eyes lit up like twin flames in the night. “The androgynous voice was a bit much,” he says conversationally.
My lips curl. “It worked though, didn’t it?”
“I think your comments on breeding are what set her off,” he returns.
“Hmm.” He has a point. “I thought Omegas were supposed to supplicate and beg to be fucked. The notion of breeding should have excited her, not scared her.”
“I don’t think Ailsa Marvel is an ordinary Omega,” he murmurs, a hint of admiration underlining her name.
“Is anything in our world ordinary?” I ask him.
He shrugs. “I suppose that depends on your definition of strange .”
As though to punctuate that point, the dark hole around us begins to spin, stirring the hairs along my nape. In a blink, a land of color appears, the purple-rooted trees a stark contrast to the evergreens of the realm we just left behind.
“Fires, it feels good to be home,” Catum says as a flurry of vibrant red fireflies swirl around his hand.
I grunt. “This isn’t our home.” But it will be again soon. Thanks to our beautiful little rabbit.
Flames play over Catum’s fingertips, exciting the fireflies dancing around him. His gaze glows with triumph, yet his voice is bored as he says, “I need a pipe.”
I scoff at that. “You always need a pipe. Personally, I would prefer a violet tea.”
“Says the Mad Hatter,” he murmurs.
I roll my eyes. “I hate that nickname.”
“Yet it suits you so well,” he muses.
I hum noncommittally and shift my attention to the rainbowlike horizon. A new day is approaching. A rebirth of sorts. “The kingdom knows.”
“The kingdom knows,” Catum echoes.
“Everyone is going to be hunting her now.” I can’t help the hint of excitement in my voice. I should be concerned. Yet the notion of impending death has my blood heating with expectation.
All that blood.
All those screams.
All for her .
“She’s ours to claim,” my best friend states. “They just don’t know it yet.”
“They will,” I say, smiling. “And soon, she will, too.”
“That she will.” Catum’s voice deepens with the words, his expression bordering on feral. “Let the fun begin.”
My smile grows. “See you in the caves?”
He nods as ash-like tendrils swirl around his legs, his power igniting. “You know just where I’ll be.”
“And you know just where I’m going,” I return.
“Happy hunting, de Hatte.”
“Happy nesting, Pillar,” I tell him as he disappears into a cloud of smoke.
We all have roles in this courting game.
And mine has finally been activated.
I pull out a deck of cards, my fingers instantly shuffling them while avoiding their sharp ends.
The clock starts now.
Tick, tock.
Tick, tock.
Tick… tock.