"No." It was a cold and resounding absolutely-fucking-not. He pulled the throne away from the table and pulled Grace to her feet. She gasped from his forceful yank. His eyes flared a bright red as he started dragging her out of the throne room.

She knew best not to speak with others around. She wouldn't argue with her Primus and mate; it might set a bad example. People needed to see them as a unified unit. She tried very hard to keep up with his fast pace, but she started huffing as they ascended some stairs. "Demise," she muttered, barely audibly.

Demise was quick with his movements, turning around faster than she could blink, and pushing her back against the cold, stone wall. His hands gripped her waist hauling her up. Her legs dangled as he lifted her high enough to look him equally in the eyes.

He didn't speak, but she could tell by his flaming red eyes that he was far angrier than he ever had been in front of her. Her hand shook as she cupped his jaw. "Demise," she whispered.

He snarled again. His wolf was clearly agitated by the prospect of a hybrid feeding off her. She understood. She buried the confusion in her chest and focused on her mate. He needed to calm down or she feared what would happen.

"You're a Primus and I am your mate. I do not consent to giving blood and you know this means they cannot take it from me. I won't give it to him."

She gasped again from his vicious snarl in her ear. She wasn't afraid of him, but she could definitely see why anyone else would be. His canines were far sharper than any other lycan's she had known.

She watched with apprehension as his canines retreated back into his gums. His eyes remained their startling shade of fire, but she could tell that the wolf had calmed down enough to hear her words.

She furrowed her eyebrows as something else flashed through his eyes. She didn't understand what it was. He lifted her leg and shucked off her shoe and then the other. He stood in front of her, towering over her head, his hands on the button of her jeans.

He didn't ask if he could unbutton them verbally, but she could tell by his pinpoint gaze that he was asking for permission. She nodded slowly before her button was undone and her jeans were slithering down her tanned legs. They pooled at her ankles, but the same attentiveness couldn't be said for her cotton panties that were brutally torn off by her mate.

It was only then, as Demise wrapped his arms around her thighs and sunk to his knees that she understood. Her cheeks grew red and her chest bloomed with so potent she only imagined it before.

He wasn't gentle with her as he leaned forward to taste her. She cried out, her hands immediately entangling themselves within his dark hair. She wanted to say something; that they were in public and at any moment someone could see him eating her out.

She moaned as his tongue circled her clit. What she felt couldn't be explained through words. It was the type of physical feeling that could only be felt.

If she had to explain it, she would say she felt like a volcano that finally erupted after years of being dormant.

His hands were tight on her thighs. She could feel the pads of his fingers dig into her skin. She didn't understand why his anger suddenly turned into raw savage desire for her, but she wasn't arguing.

With her leg draped over his shoulder and her core in his mouth, she felt herself shiver from pleasure. He was skilled with his tongue and knew just what to do to make her moan in ecstacy. As she reached her orgasmic peak, he was relentless in forcing her to practically ride his face through it.

She gasped as he pulled away from her and placed her leg back down. Her legs shook, and as she watched him lick his lips, she felt her core pulse again from need.

His eyes were still bright and his scowl was deep on his face. He pulled her pants up for her and put her shoes back on then grabbed her hand. He gave a soft tug as he led her back through the halls.

She suddenly realized where he was taking her and she stopped. "W-wait! We can't go back. I smell like sex."

He turned to her, not responding, looking her dead in the eyes. Realization dawned on her. "You did that on purpose! You want me to smell like an orgasm." She rolled her eyes. "Stupid, possessive Primus!"

He cracked a grin. "You're not mad at me."

"Well," she trailed off, "no, but you could have let me know. My underwear - gone! And you want me to go back in and sit there, acting like what happened didn't happen."

"No." He shrugged. "I don't care if you tell everyone. Are your legs still shaking? Do you want me to carry you?" He reached for her and she smacked his hands.

She knew he liked it. "Aye, hands off. Your ego is already too big." She huffed, pushing open the large doors. She walked back in with her head high this time. She could tell by the wrinkle in their noses that everyone was aware of what transpired.

Demise remained by the open doors. "All of you have five minute to get out of my Kingdom."

"But Primus-"

"Tell Xerxes he will not receive any blood and must find another substitute."

"Primus Demise-"

He snarled. "I am being very forgiving and I suggest you appreciate it. Don't fucking test me. Get your shit and go back to your Primus."

She watched as everyone scurried to their feet and made a beeline for the doors. The man that Grace knew was the last to leave...except he didn't. He turned toward her and grabbed her hand. It was an innocent touch. He only had a second to say, "he'll die, Grace," before he crumbled on the floor with his arm in his hand.

She screamed as Demise ruthlessly broke his arm. Demise was on top of him, punching him until his hand and the other man's face bled. Grace screamed beside them, trying to pull Demise off him. "Demise stop! Please!"

The large and angry Primus pulled away, hauling the other man to his feet. "How dare you lay a hand on my mate?"

"I'm sorry, Primus," the man sputtered. "I-I know her."

"It's true!" Grace announced. "We know each other. He was just being friendly."

He dropped the man. "Get off my land."

The man got to his feet as fast as he could and ran out of the palace. Demise slowly turned toward Grace and went to his throne, sitting down. He pointed to the chair next to him and she took the hint. She sat down and took a breath. Grace knew that the truth wouldn't make Demise happy. She knew she had two options. The first would be to tell the truth, in which case, Demise would probably go and kill that man. The second was that she could lie to her mate.

"If I tell you, you have to promise me something."

"What?"

"Don't hurt him," she pleaded. "Not because I care about him," she added quickly. "But because killing him would be unjust."

"Tell me."

She gulped. "You didn't promise."

"It depends on what he did to you and how you know him. Do us both a favor and tell me so I don't have to hunt him down and torture him for answers."

"He's the man who I was supposed to mate with."

There was an eerie calmness to his demeanor followed by a devilish grin on his usually stern face. He suddenly stood and walked past her to the doors.

"Wait," she called out. "Where are you going? It's not fair if you hurt him."

He turned toward her, his red eyes once again brighter than the sun as he stared her down. "Did he not say your genes were defected?"

Her breath hitched as she attempted to find an excuse. "Well, yes, but-"

"And he ended the relationship because of your sickness?"

"Yes, Demise, but-"

"But nothing, Grace. I'll be back. Stay inside and stay warm."

Before he had a chance to respond, he was gone, leaving her alone. She walked back to the throne, leaning on it as her eyesight blurred. She suddenly felt incredibly dizzy, and as she coughed into her shaky fist, she was hit with just another old, horrible realization.

She was getting sicker, and the blood in her palm was evidence.