The Beginning of The End
Chapter 22

She took a step back once she had finished, looking over me as though I was her best piece of work yet. And I had to admit, I did look good, I was ready for the mating ceremony. A mating ceremony I wanted no part in.

The door opened to reveal my two worst nightmares, Maddox and Ryker. Ryker wore a blue suit jacket with black trousers. His white shirt unbuttoned halfway down. Maddox on the other hand wore a black leather jacket and jeans roughly the same colour, his shirt a blood red.

They both looked intimidating and strong, yet they looked at

Me with a gentleness I hadn't seen since my parents died. I slowly stand up and turn towards them, bowing as MRS vampire told me to. I hated that I had to be like this, that I had to obey them, but I knew my choices were limited.

Ryker walked towards me, taking my hand in his, I thought he was going to say something nice, but instead he locked an iron bangle around my wrist, a padlock preventing me from removing it.

I try to put up my shield, worried that something was going to happen to me, but when I tried nothing happened, it was as though I couldn't feel my magic anymore. "W-what have you done?" I stammer, trying to move away from him.

Maddox walked towards us, smiling his evil smile. "It's to make sure you behave."

"I will remove it when you learn to behave, but until then, you won't be able to use your powers." Ryker explained, taking my hand once again, "the ceremony is about to start."

I tried to pull away, nostrils flaring. "You can't just take away my magic!" I scream, kicking Ryker in the shin when he wouldn't let me go.

Ryker growls, roughly slamming me against the wall beside the door, his eyes glowing crimson. "Strike me again and it will not just be you that suffers but that human B*tch as well. I will make her scream and believe me when I say she will know that you are responsible for her pain." He pushes some of my hair to the side. "Taking your magic is temporary, when you learn how to behave you will get them back, but not a moment before."

I open my mouth to speak but before I can Ryker's lips crash down on mine, his kiss rough and hard, just like his attitude; and yet, my legs still trembled from excitement. "Your face is red little fae." Maddox laughs, pulling me towards him when Ryker releases me. "Its my turn."

That is the only warning I get before his lips smash into mine, his tongue entering my mouth the second I try to gasp for air, and I would never admit it to either of them, but heat pools between my legs and my heart rate spikes.

I have never been kissed like this.

It is different. I don't know how, but its more than a kiss, it's a promise somehow.

When Maddox pulls away both him and the Dragon King smiles at me, replaceing my shock amusing, but I didn't, my body was betraying me by acting like a lovesick teenager. These men were my enemies, they were holding me captive and yet my core was soaked with a promise of what they could do to me.

Maddox smiles down at me as though I am the most precious thing he had ever seen, "We better get going, wouldn't want to be late."

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Ryker takes my hand again, kissing my knuckles as I hold my breath. "You look beautiful little mate." He says.

I blush despite my anger. "Thanks."

This was going to be a long night.

Maddox takes my free hand as we walk, his voice oddly gentle. "You don't need to look so scared; my bite won't hurt as much as you think, I will make it as painless as possible."

"Why would you do that?" I ask, eyes wide.

Why go to the trouble of making it less painful? It wasn't like my life was going to be full of chocolate and roses. I was their prisoner.

"I don't want it to hurt you, I want you to look back on it in years to come knowing

that I didn't want to hurt you." He explains, tightening his grip on my hand. "You are my second chance at a mate, and while we haven't got off to the best start, I want it to work."

I frown, "What do you mean second chance?"

Maddox's jaw ticks, "A story for another time. When we build trust with one another."

"What about you?" I ask Ryker, "Am I your second chance as well?"

He shakes his head, a dark look crossing his features. "Dragons only get one mate in a lifetime, no matter how many centuries we live."

That is so sad. He is immortal and can only ever have one partner?

How long had he been waiting for me?

No Elora, don't get attached to them! They are your enemy! I remind myself harshly, I

can't afford to lose my mindset.

I will not let them win.

I would gain my freedom back, no matter what the cost.

i would never be theirs.