Cerberus woke me before the sun rose the next morning. I felt a lot lighter. My head was considerably clearer and it was easier to accept what happened in Merrer. I wasn't happy, but I was strong enough to hide my pain and keep up the act. Not ideal, but enough.

The lycan bounded over the landscape, seemingly tireless throughout the journey. It wasn't long before we came to an elaborate tent of crimson canvas pressed to the foot of a small drop off. A couple of large horses tied to a nearby tree skittered and snorted at the predator's appearance. This was near the border of the Lycan Mountains, just a little ways from Estil in an area called the Cliffs, the closest to neutral ground there was between my territory and Askance.

Howens stood just outside the entrance. He bowed at our arrival, sending us his perfect smile. I frowned, glad I didn't need to fake pleasantness behind my full mask. Something about Askance's military commander grated my nerves. Perhaps it was his unblinking fearlessness, even as Cerberus let out a low growl. I wondered if the lycan had the same intuition or felt my tension through my legs and grip on his fur. However, I couldn't let my unjustified annoyance get in the way of my plans. I swung myself off Cerberus's back, grimacing as my feet hit the ground and pain shot up my legs. Putting weight on them was like walking barefoot across gravel.

Despite this, I managed to walk inside the tent without showing any visible signs of my struggle. I was getting used to the pain. I left Cerberus outside, only fabric would be separating us after all.

The inside was even more vibrant than the outside, the walls decorated with colorful woodland murals painted on the canvas. A folding table was set in the center with a couple of chairs. I glanced around, realizing there was no one else in the tent.

"Where’s Lord Perimone?"

Howens let out a regretful sigh, gesturing to the seats. I pursed my lips as I sat down, it was so obviously fake. "As much as the Lord would like to see you, he had work he couldn't leave and sent me in his stead."

My eyes raked over him. His clothes, while still a vivid blue, were practical and made of a thicker fabric more suited to traveling. That was expected. He had a relatively good physique for a vice-Lord, he obviously did more than simple desk work. Then there were the leather gloves on his hands. Not that unusual for a man that traveled most of the day horseback, yet the fact he still wore them inside made me suspicious.

He noticed my staring. "You don't trust me?"

My eyes narrowed. I knew what he was doing, I did it myself more often than not. He was acting. For once, I was the honest one. "No."

"Well that is a pity. Lord Perimone is quite looking forward to spending time with you."

I smirked. "I’ve no doubt."

The man eyed me. Slowly, his false smile faded from his features. Good, now we were both being honest, this was going to be interesting. "So, how exactly did you entrance the lord so quickly? Did you sleep with him?"

It was a shame he couldn't see my expression. "Do you think me that sort of woman?"

"Yes."

I leaned back, folding my arms. "I'm not."

Howens raised an eyebrow. "With a name like 'Desire', you would understand why I question that."

"I don't need to go that far." I huffed, turning my face away. More like I couldn't, my partner would never survive the encounter. "What makes you think that anyway? Surely a name is not enough."

"I doubt a man would become so infatuated with a woman from a simple kiss, as he claims."

A grin spread across my face as a thought entered my mind. "Ah, but you’ve never tasted one of my kisses." If I had to deal with this man in Perimone's stead I would deal with him accordingly. Slowly, sensually, I reached up to untie the ribbons that held my mask in place. I leaned back more, stretching my arms above my head and sending him my best seductive smile. "Want to see what it's like?"

I didn't like the way his eyes traveled my body, but was familiar enough with this tactic not to let it deter me. It became easier as my excitement grew and he stepped closer, gaze focused on my slightly parted lips. Now all I needed was to decide if I would merely stun... or kill him.

One hand wrapped around my wrists, pulling me near. My heart pounded in my chest, the rush of success already running through me. I closed my eyes, ready for him to fall into my trap.

The other seized my face, covering my mouth and nose, forcing me to inhale the foul stench of tanning chemicals on his gloves. He released my wrists, allowing me to claw at his hand. Pain pierced my side, small and sharp. Not a knife... a needle? I tried to scream, but the thick leather muffled the sound. This couldn't be happening, not again. I swore this would never happen again. Even as my vision grew hazy and my limbs became numb I struggled. He was too strong for me to break his grip. My boot caught a table leg, kicking it in and sending the piece crashing to the ground.

The answering roar outside sent the horses screaming in terror. Cerberus! My captor cursed, dragging me to the back of the tent. He slipped through the rear flaps just as the albino lycan leapt in from the front. Wet stone scraped against my shoulders. My gaze met the lycan’s just before the fabric fell closed. Never had I seen such pure, unbridled fury in those red eyes.

My vision was too blurry for me to make out anything in the darkness I was dragged into. It took a moment to register the sound of splashing and recognize the feeling of water seeping into my boots. It was difficult to concentrate, or to think at all. Try as I might, I eventually lost the fight against the enclosing haze, listening to Cerberus rage somewhere in the distance.

***

I awoke to a pounding head and sunlight shining through my eyelids. I shivered at the sensation of a warm breeze over my arms. Breath? The touch of another's skin softly caressed my cheek.

My eyes flew open, blinking rapidly as they tried to adjust to the sudden brightness. I yanked away from the touch, tumbling onto soft grass. My vision spun and my head throbbed. Everything was too bright. Now in the shade of my own body I was able to see my hands. My wrists were bound in rope.

Not again...

"Hush Desire, it's okay..."

My breathing came in ragged pants. My eyes were as wide as my body would allow. Not again. This was never supposed to happen again.

"It's okay."

The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.

Tears streamed down my cheeks, dropping from my chin to my lap. Wetness soaked through the thin fabric of my clothes. I was supposed to be the master now. I swore to myself that I wouldn't be a slave again. Never again helpless, alone, hopeless... I paid in others’ blood for that. I watched so many lives ended to keep my power. I fought so hard to keep this from happening....

"Desire-"

"Cerberus!" I choked on my words, not caring if I sounded pathetic. "Cerberus! Blood Eye! Help me! Please! CERBERUS!"

"DESIRE!"

I flipped on my back and stared with wild eyes into the gray blue of my captor's. Lord Perimone reached out to place a hand on my exposed shoulder. I flinched away, curling into a defensive ball and feeling very much like an upturned turtle. He watched me for a moment before slowly pulling back. He sat cross-legged on the grass.

"I'm not going to hurt you..."

Cautiously, I rolled myself into a kneeling position. I had been put in a light blue sundress. Seeing so much exposed skin... I swallowed the lump in my throat and glared at the man who had done this, trying not to think of the stranger now doubtlessly seeking my touch.

The world was still spinning around me. It was hard to think. I couldn't panic, the Lady of the Lycan Mountains didn't panic. Where was my mask?

"You call this not hurting me?" I hissed through tears, holding out my bound wrists.

His expression softened and he reached out again. I yanked my hands back to my chest. The lord let out a small sigh.

"I wish it didn't have to be this way, but you are a wanted criminal."

My features hardened. "Then why am I not in a cell?"

"Because I love you."

A feeling like ice seeped through me. "Why do you say that?"

"Because you're beautiful and fierce and such a mystery and," he closed his eyes, a smile spreading over his face, "when I touch you, it's like nothing I ever felt before."

Of course, the fool mistook the effects of his addiction for love. I took a deep breath. This had happened before. I had to calm myself, to regain control so I could deal with this situation. He would listen to me, at least while his high clouded his judgment. All was not lost. I could still salvage my plan, I just needed to focus.

If only I didn't feel so naked without my mask.

"Surely you feel the same."

I concentrated on my breathing, trying to slow my pounding heart. If I could control the lycans, I could certainly control him. This was good, I told myself, he was desperate. A desperate man would give me what I wanted.

He was quiet for a minute, staring at me, then, "So you don't love me?"

I paused to consider my answer. Of course I felt nothing, but I shouldn’t upset him. Despite my hesitance, I reached out, gently brushing my fingertips against Perimone's cheek. A visible shiver ran through him. "Darling... don't you want to make me happy?" I asked in the sweetest voice I could muster.

Perimone nodded. "Yes," he breathed.

"Good..." I purred, touching him again, "then untie me."

"I can't do that."

I frowned, pulling back. With that look on his face, I almost expected him to whine. Perhaps I spent too much time with the lycans.

"Desire..."

"I don't want to be a prisoner."

"We have laws," he tried to explain, desperation clear in his voice. "Laws you broke. Now, I'm going to get you a pardon, but you need to have a trial. Please, let me right the mistake I made two years ago..."

No. Perimone may be under my spell, but the council jury would never forgive what I did to Estil, nevermind the other villages I conquered. They would speak up this time. I already knew how that would go. Pushing aside those thoughts, I fell forward, draping myself over him, careful to keep contact only where he was clothed.

"Oh, but my lord, don't you find these 'trials' and 'elections' to be so... tedious?"

"Uh, what do you mean?"

His breath quickened, drawing a smirk to my lips. I pulled myself up to brush ever so slightly against him as I whispered in his ear, "Have you ever considered monarchy?" I felt him tense beneath me, though was unsure if that was a good or bad sign, so hurriedly continued on. "The people already love you, they elected you after all. They won't mind. They know you have their best interests at heart, why chance it on a silly thing like a vote?"

My fingers were claws, sinking into the meat of his shoulders.

"You could be a king. Then you wouldn't need to waste time on formalities like trials and juries-"

My back hit the grass. Perimone glared down at me with a reproachful expression. I growled, laying back and crossing my legs. A frown settled on my features. "I liked you better when we first met," I huffed and turned away. "Now you're just whiny."

A finger traced along my jaw, pulling my face to his. "We need to play by the rules."

I ignored the pain that shot through both my legs and arms as I pounced, tackling the Askan politician. Straddling him, I grabbed his face. "Is this playing by the rules?" I purred. He tried to take hold of my arms, to push me off. It only made his situation worse and sent him into a dazed state as the drug took effect. "No kisses this time," I growled, sitting back and getting to my feet. "Talk to me when you have a better offer."

Looking around, I found he had brought me to some sort of indoor garden. We were positioned next to a clump of small trees. A pebble path wove through patches of grass and flower beds. From one of the walls a little waterfall poured into a tiny pond. I trotted to the great windows that made up a glass wall, where the back of a brick storehouse could be seen not far away. A rusted pole sported one of the old world’s metal signs depicting a forked arrow. We were on the first floor of a building somewhere in inner Obria, if I had to guess, the bank turned palace. I spun on my heels and marched toward the door across the room. I hadn't seen an indoor garden, we must be on the opposite side of the building.

Locked. I hissed a string of curses. Stepping back, I charged, kicking the door and crying out as pain shot up my leg. The wood made a loud thud, but didn't open.

"Perimone?"

I cursed again. Howens. If he found me here with Perimone passed out... Footsteps echoed from the hall outside. I needed to get out, now. I turned back to the glass wall.

"Perimone, are you alright?"

Off to the side I spotted a rock, small enough for me to lift, but large enough for the job. I rushed to it.

"Perimone, answer me!"

I lifted the rock and carried it to the wall. Using all my strength, I heaved it, shattering the glass.

The door handle jiggled. The hole wasn't large enough for me to fit, but a spider web of cracks spread through the entire panel. I backed up before charging.

The door opened. I jumped through the glass, hissing as hundreds of shards bit into my skin.

There was a shout behind me, doubtlessly Howens. I didn't stop to look, I learned long ago that could be fatal. As soon as my feet hit the ground, I was running.

Adrenaline dulled the pain as I wove through the wooden storehouses and buildings of Obria, shoving people aside as I went. I didn't care how many got addicted, nor even how many would die from the drops of blood I spread in my wake, I wouldn't be captured again. I darted through the open gate of the inner wall and bolted with blind focus to the city's border.

It was a blur. I wasn't sure how long it took me to get there, all I knew was that I could barely breathe when I did. It didn't matter though, I couldn't stop, nor even slow as I ran along the wall, searching for a gate.

The first one I came across was open, but guarded. It didn't matter. I needed out, and I need it now.

I didn't hesitate to pounce upon the first guard, shoving my bloodied hand in his open mouth. The drug sent him into an instant shock. I yanked back and charged the second soldier. He thrust out his spear. I sidestepped, smacking the weapon away and leapt towards him. My hand found his face and gripped it until he too fell under my touch. I stood, panting between the two fallen soldiers. Taking in a deep breath, I let out a long, low howl, announcing my position to my legion before bolting towards the nearest forest.