Part 1 (2/2)

Nothing happened. f.u.c.k.

I took several strides toward Sanctuary and stopped. The small town lay quiet just below these hills, but if they had the dagger, it would be long hidden by now. It could take years to recover centuries even. Rose was a formidable opponent.

My heart raced, pounding futilely and angrily at my carelessness. I should've noticed the chain being broken. I should've felt the loss of connection with the key.

Turning to the Djinn standing at my side, I snarled, ”Take me to the palace.”

The man bowed, touched my arm, and we were instantly returned to the place I called home for now. The dry heat of the desert air calmed my shattered nerves somewhat. What I really needed was someone to punish, and I knew exactly who I wanted it to be.

”Bring me Mandana Farrok,” I ordered, walking out of the main hall toward my suite of rooms. A crisp ”Yes, sir,” echoed through the marble halls as I left him behind.

Two Djinn guards on either side of my suite entryway opened the doors wide as I approached and closed them softly behind me. My girls jumped from their seats on the couches off to the side of the room and hurried to bow at my feet.

I needed a quick f.u.c.k before the guard returned with Manda or I'd never keep myself under control. Though perhaps staying in control wasn't what this situation warranted.

”Lily,” I snapped, ”bring out the sawhorse bench and the red cat-o-nine.”

”Yes, Master,” she answered, the slightest hitch in her breath.

Her pulse raced at the mere notion of a beating. The air filled with the scent of her arousal. My little s.a.d.i.s.t.

Barely a minute pa.s.sed before Lily returned, pus.h.i.+ng the large sawhorse toward the play area of the bedroom. She went to work locking it in place over the large drain in the floor. Once it was properly secured, she returned to the closet briefly and emerged carrying a red leather cat-o-nine, custom made for shredding skin. Bits of metal and gla.s.s had been expertly sewn along the thin leather thongs. It cut through the air with speed and inflicted painful damage on its victim. Perfect for the demonstration I planned.

Lily bowed at my feet and lifted the flogger in both hands.

I took it and snapped it in the air. ”Good girl. Now go fetch me the b.i.t.c.h I put on a leash yesterday.”

Lily rose to her feet and practically ran from the room. I smiled, her eagerness lifting my mood slightly.

Knocking at the door pulled me from my thoughts. I gestured to Roshanna, another of my bedroom slaves, to open the doors. She rose from where she'd been kneeling on the floor, her bare feet pattering softly as she scurried across the marble tile. She unlatched the large lock across the middle of the doorway, pulling the two doors open wide.

Manda walked through the opening, her shoulders drooping more with each step she took. The two males I'd a.s.signed to shadow her walked only a few feet behind. Her gaze fell on the whip in my hand, and a smile teased my lips at the slight gasp she let escape.

”You may go.” I waved my hand to them. ”I'll send for you when it's time for her to leave.”

They bowed and exited the room quickly.

Manda stood silently. Her eyes were wide, and her bottom lip trembled.

Pleasure surged through me at the slight tremor. Fear was something I still wasn't used to seeing on Mandana Farrok's face. I loved it.

I raised my hand, grabbing her with my magick. She whimpered just a moment, but didn't struggle against my hold. She'd learned the futility of it the last few times I'd brought her over.

This time would be different, though. This time she would watch another woman suffer before I touched her at all. She thought she was tough, taking whatever I gave her. But I knew she cared about her people more than anything. If I truly wanted to motivate Manda, I had to hurt others ... not just her.

I rubbed my d.i.c.k and growled deep in my throat. ”I can't wait to shove my d.i.c.k between your silky p.u.s.s.y lips today. It was such a pleasure the last time you were here.”

Manda's face turned green, but the coldness I'd come to expect appeared quickly in her eyes. She already distanced herself from me, from the experiences we'd explored already - flogging, caning, and f.u.c.king her. I especially liked the last one.

I moved her across the room with a flick of my wrist. Once she was standing under the chain that hung from a large beam in the ceiling, I dropped my hold on her.

”Strip.”

She followed the command without a word. No fight. No hesitation. No emotion.

b.i.t.c.h.

She thought she could pretend what I was doing didn't matter anymore. I had a surprise in store for her today.

”Put the cuffs on your ankles.”

A slight hesitation resonated through her muscles; still, she complied without a word.

”Now the cuffs above your head.”

She refused to look up, but I could see the tendons in her neck tighten at the command. Perhaps she could convince her mind that she wasn't present for these little sessions, but her body knew what was coming and hated it.

Once locked into position, her range of motion was severely limited. Perfect for the torture I had planned.

Lily came through the side door of the suite leading a naked woman by chains that looped around her wrists, ankles, and through the enchanted rings I'd pierced through her nipples, c.l.i.t, and l.a.b.i.a.

”Esther!” Manda choked out, lunging against her restraints. She glared at me, hatred sparking her glazed lavender irises to life. ”What are you doing? You b.a.s.t.a.r.d!”

”Making sure my punishments and threats are taken seriously.” The corners of my mouth turned up in a smile. Esther had been the perfect choice. The Djinn was - correction - had been Manda's personal a.s.sistant.

”Manda?” The other woman's face pleaded for help that her mistress couldn't deliver. The servant's whole body trembled. Fear filled the room with its sweet scent.

Lily pushed the other Djinn female toward the sawhorse bench. A few sharp tugs on the woman's chains ensured her cooperation. Once Esther was secured, I held out the heavy flogger.

Lily approached. Surprise and pleasure colored her face. ”Thank you, Master.”

”Make her bleed,” I said. ”But just a little at a time. I plan to enjoy these two all day long.”

I stroked my hard d.i.c.k again through the fabric of my pants and stepped toward Manda. My toys were arranged on a table just behind her. The first to catch my eye was the electric wand.

Picking it up, I flipped the safety switch off and let the tip run across her soft skin. Over her hip, up along her ribcage, across the rise of her breast ... When the tip touched the ring in her nipple, I bathed in her terrified gaze. That was what I had been waiting to see again.

”This is what happens to you when things don't go my way.”

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