I Belong To My Three Forbidden Masters

Chapter 81: Chapter 81

Drake’s pov

I reached out, my long fingers catching his jaw, lifting his head until the fading mountain light hit the dark, raised violet mark on his collarbone.

Darius was right about one thing.

Hiding Lysander in shadow, keeping him locked away in isolated mountain suites while rumors circulated through the territory, only made him a prime target for speculation, Council raids, and blood-auctions.

The High Council saw a breeding machine waiting to be used and fucked till he was ready to pop our babies.

They needed to see that touching Lysander meant invoking an absolute, blood-bound war with the oldest pureblood lineage.

”What’s wrong?” He caressed my face, bringing me back to reality.

”Nothing, little bird. I am just thinking.”

”About what? You promised you would never keep anything from me, what’s going on.”

”Well, if you insist on knowing,” I murmured, my thumb smoothing over the warm, sensitive skin beneath his ear, feeling his pulse jump eagerly beneath my touch. ”The compound holds the Midsummer Rite. Every lord and elder in the valley will sit at the lower tables.”

He tilted his head slightly into my palm, his small fingers reaching up to cover my wrist. ”What does that mean?”

”It means you will be bound to me, little bird,” I whispered, leaning down to press my cold lips against the fresh mark on his throat, he arched into the pressure breathlessly. ”And you will be sitting up on the table with me.”

Lysander let out a slow, trembling breath, his arms sliding around my waist, burying his face into the thick wool of my coat.

He had no questions about his step father, just simply anchored his small frame against mine.

I pulled him tight against my chest, my gaze sweeping over the dark, fog-shrouded valley below.

”Sitting on my right hand tomorrow night is not merely a public display, Lysander,” I said into his hair. , ”It requires a formal declaration. Under ancient law, a lord does not place a pet at the head of the High Table.”

He blinked, his doe like eyes searching my face in the dim twilight of the gallery. ”A declaration, what is that?”

”The Mating Rite,” I murmured, my thumb tracing line of his jawbone down to the pulse point in his throat.

”It is a permanent, blood-bound ritual. Once it is done, vampire law recognizes you as my mate, an extension of my house, my estate, and my authority.”

His breath hitched, his chest rising in a quick, shallow gasp against my coat. ”Your mate...”

”If anyone attempts to touch you, to claim you, or to treat you as a laboratory asset, they will not merely be violating a territory,” I continued, ensuring every word got through to him. ”They will be committing an act of war against my entire lineage. It grants you total immunity under the Edict. But you must understand what you are accepting, little bird.”

I paused, leaning in closer so he could feel the cold draft radiating from my skin, my eyes locking onto his.

”It is irreversible,” I whispered into the quiet space between us. ”It ties your life, your blood, and your very will to mine for the remainder of your days. You will never walk away from my shadow. You will belong to me completely.”

A soft, shuddering breath parted his lips, but his eyes didn’t waver from mine. He kept my gaze, searching my eyes.

His small fingers tightened around my wrist, pulling my hand firmer against his cheek, leaning into my palm as he surrendered to me.

”Do it,” he smiled, ”I don’t want a life outside your shadow, Drake. I want to belong to you.”

A slow, dark smile touched the corners of my lips. I pulled him flush against my chest, my long arms wrapping around his small frame, sealing him tight against the cold, unyielding wall of my body.

”I am glad you said that because I was never giving you a choice. You are mine, little bird. Even if you like it or not.” I purred into his hair, ”the world will learn who you belong to.”

He purred into my chest, his whole body writhing against mine.

”Yes, master.”

I tensed, my blood roaring all the way to my cock. I wanted to fuck him so bad but I couldn’t.

I was still furious from dealing with that vermin, Darius. If I got a hold of Lysander, I would break him into two.

Sure, he was now much stronger than the fragile twink I met but after everything he has been through, he was much stronger.

But he wasn’t strong enough to handle me at full strength.

I lifted him into my arms, he settled against my chest. I carried him back down the long corridor towards our bedroom.

He rested his head against my shoulder, his eyelids heavy, lashes casting long shadows over his high cheekbones.

I bent and took a long hit of his scent, feeling it drive my pulse into a frenzy.

Down Drake.

I got to the bedroom and set him down gently on the edge of the mattress.

”Sleep, little bird. Today has been a long day.”

Before I could step back, Lysander reached out, his cool fingers catching my wrist.

”Stay,” he murmured, his voice already going slack from exhaustion. His doe eyes looked up at me, drawing me into their depths.

I unbuttoned my heavy coat, tossing it over the back of the leather chair, and lay down beside him on the sheets.

Lysander moved instantly, crawling into my side, resting his head on my chest and draping one arm across my waist.

I knew this was the method of reassurance that he needed.

I ran my long fingers through his soft hair, he nestled more into me. He let out a sigh of relief as he sucked a spot on my neck.

I let him drift off to sleep.

Tomorrow, I had a special surprise for all the vampires who had plans for my bird. When the lords of the valley gathered beneath the black wax chandeliers of the Great Hall, they would come expecting to see a High Sovereign like me parading a rare, fragile pet.

Instead, they would witness a transformation.

I looked down at the boy sleeping against my heart, he had made me his fierce protector by flashing his doe eyes at me.

My cold heart thawed whenever he was near.

This mating ritual would give him the chance to become the weapon people dreaded him to be. I was giving him my power so he would never be the hunted but the one thing everyone fears.

The hunter.