Frozen Vengeance (2 page)

Stupid testosterone
.

When there were no more than a few phoenixes left. The remaining elder women had pooled their power and brought the survivors to this plane, and from then on, they’d shunned men. They only allowed female phoenix children to survive while they kidnapped the shifter males, bringing them to the plane for breeding purposes.

They didn’t target any other type of eternal for the breeding. To make a phoenix, you needed the mother’s fire and the father’s beast, so only lycans and therins were taken, and the child born from the union would usually have the male’s animal form.

The phoenix women had no choice in the matter either. They had one male per phoenix to breed with and once the deed was done, the male was taken away.

What happened to the male, Angelica didn’t know. She had a feeling the elder women killed him, and the thought put a cold spot in her stomach.

She turned at the stone wall and paced towards the wooden door.

One step, two steps, three steps, four steps, door.

She turned again and paced to the wall. She could count every stone, knew each piece of mortar personally, and felt like she was going to go insane from the confined space and the isolation.

Her food—what little she got—was shoved through a slot in the door with no word spoken. She was a prisoner of her own people, and it rankled her on the deepest level.

She sat down on the wooden bed and picked up her small eating blade. They’d left a blade and a fork with her since there was no way she could do real harm to herself with either.

She shifted to the foot of the bed and continued carving the bedpost into the shape of an owl. Angelica’s animal form was that of an owl, though she didn’t spend much time as one, but she loved the freedom of flying, and the thrill of the hunt.

Angelica stopped carving when she heard footfalls approaching her cell. She put the knife down and stood, dusting off her robe.

It wasn’t time for a meal. She swallowed the surge of nervousness that tried to claw its way up her throat. It had to be time for the breeding. Someone was fetching her to take her to the male so he could do what he needed to do to impregnate her.

Her pulse raced, terror snaking through her stomach like something alive. She didn’t want to do this. She
hated
that they were forcing her to do this. There had to be a way to get out of this. She’d spent too much time depressed about her situation. She was running out of time to think of a solution.

Angelica heard the rattle of keys on a ring, then the key inserted and twisted in the lock of her door. The doorknob turned and the door pushed open.

A tall woman with dark sable hair stepped into the room. Her deep brown eyes found and pinned Angelica where she stood in the small cell.

“So you are to be mated with the ice-bear.” As she spoke, she moved deeper into the room, her stare measuring Angelica.

Angelica straightened her spine, pulling her shoulders back, and trying to stand taller. “Who are you?”

The woman was a foot or so taller than Angelica, so the effort was a waste.

She lifted her chin. “I’m Malta, and I’m in charge of the breeding hall.”

Angelica wanted to snort at the sense of self-importance radiating from the woman.

“Is it time for me to be bred?” She tried to hide the terror the thought put in her, but she felt her palms begin to sweat and so rubbed them dry on her robes in an unconscious movement.

“Not yet. You will soon be taken to see the male that is going to breed you, but I’m in no rush.” A sly smile curved Malta’s lips. “I’m enjoying this male, and he will be disposed of as soon as you conceive, so you can see why I’m not in a hurry for you to use him.”

Angelica was confused. “Enjoying?”

A sardonic laugh burst from Malta’s lips. “Yes, using. Enjoying his—how shall I put this…ample charms.”

The smirk on Malta’s face grew and Angelica felt sickened. “I thought only one phoenix bred with one male.”

“Yes?” Malta looked confused for a moment, and then she seemed to get what Angelica was asking. “I’m not breeding with him. I’m fucking him, dear girl.”

Angelica felt heat creep into her cheeks, and dropped her eyes.

Malta scoffed. “Oh, come now, don’t be such a baby. Sex is what the breeding hall is

about.”

“Breeding is what the breeding hall is about, and I’m not used to such crassness,”

Angelica shot back forcing the words through clenched teeth.

“You will get used to it. You will have to.” Malta turned and started to leave.

Angelica didn’t want to be alone again even if it was the detestable Malta she was talking to, so she said the first thing that entered her mind.

“So he likes to…do it?”

Malta stopped and turned back to Angelica. “Of course not. It’s seldom that we a find willing males. He is forced. As they all are. Bound so we can take their seed into us…” She smirked again. “Or if we are lucky enough to be in charge…pleasure us.”

Bile rose in Angelica’s throat. She didn’t say anything else as Malta left, her horror at what she’d found out too great.

It was bad enough they would force her to bear a child for the good of the Phoenix race, but forcing the men? Wasn’t there a better way to do this?

She watched Malta leave and made a vow.

No! Angelica would not do this. They’d have to kill her, but she was not going to participate in rape. She’d find a way out of this, for her and the male who was supposed to father her offspring.

* * * *

With every day that passed with Colt strapped to the bed, his body felt stronger.

He’d woken up, blindfolded, naked except for a sheet draped over him, and tied to a bed, his restraints reinforced so that he could not break them, even with his massive strength.

Colt had called out demanding he be released and tried his best to break the bonds, but nothing had happened. No one had answered him.

He’d tried to let his bear come forward, but the creature seemed to be asleep inside Colt.

He hadn’t known how long he’d been there. There was no way to tell night from day with a blindfold on, and no smells that he could distinguish.

Except for the mist.

Every few hours, a mist-like-smell would fill the room and make him feel lethargic and weak. They were drugging him, but he hadn’t known for what until
she
had come.

Colt felt his body tense as he remembered her visits. He would hear her footsteps and the door would be unlocked and opened. He could never make out her scent. She seemed to blend in with the air in the room.

She would come in and close the door behind her.

Then, his horror would start.

The mist would come into the room again with a slightly different smell, and to his shame, his body would respond.

He refused to think any more about it. He couldn't bring his mind to remember what she had done to him. All he knew was that he had been violated and someone would pay.

His only consolation was that she could never bring him to come. He was grateful his body didn’t betray him to that extent, but she didn’t seem to care if he came or not. All she wanted was her own climax, so she’d finish, and get off, leaving him naked and sickened, shaking with impotent fury.

She’d come over and grip his chin, forcing water down his throat, throw a sheet over his nakedness, then leave the room until the next time. She’d never give him anything to eat—an added cruelty—but he was an Eternal, a little hunger wouldn’t hurt him.

His plans for her were far worse. Murder was too kind for her. Slow torture was what his torturer deserved, and he was going to give it to her.

He knew that because he was becoming immune to the mist. When it was quiet, he’d work at his bonds and this time he was able to break free of the one on his right wrist.

He’d pulled the blindfold off to look around.

He was in a small room—a cell. Bare, stone walls, and floors. The only furniture in the room was the bed that bound him. His clothes were in a heap in the corner of the room, and it was tempting to break loose and dress again, but he could give her no warning of his plans.

No, he would give himself one small thing. He got his other hand free of the restraint and sat up. He looked down at his body and clenched his teeth with the fresh remembrance of what she’d done.

Colt squinted and reached down to his thigh. He pinched his thumb and forefinger and picked up the strand of long dark hair that lay on his skin.

A brunette. What an irony. He usually preferred women with dark hair, but he’d never want one again.

Colt climbed off the bed, moved to the corner and pulled on only his pants, leaving the rest of his clothes on a pile in the corner. He didn’t want the woman to suspect he’d escaped his bonds. He turned back to get up and pretend he was tied down again.

He stopped, his eyes focused on the bed and his body clenched. He felt like he was about to go into a state of panic.

Lift your skirts, Colt
.

He got onto the bed again and forced himself to reach forward and tie the ankle restraints so that they looked secure. He threw the sheet over his hips and legs adjusting it so it hid his pants.

Colt needed her to be unaware of his escape. He wanted her in the room with her guard down before he attacked.

He couldn’t risk her knowing what was coming. She might be like the two women that had darted him and brought him here. She might be able to burst into flames.

There were no windows, and he didn’t know where he was, but he knew he was going to get out. When she came back in here, he was going to overpower her and make her release him.

He wouldn’t be leaving alone. He was going to take her with him. She would pay for the way she’d used him. By the time he was done with her, she would wish she’d never set eyes on him.

Colt promised himself this revenge as he worked the rest of his restraints, making them appear as if they were still secure. He put the blindfold back in place and settled down to wait.

It was only a matter of time before she came back for more. This time, she’d get much more than she’d come for.

Chapter Two

The sound of approaching footfalls had Angelica up and tucking her eating knife into the sleeve of her robes.

She knew it had to be Malta coming to take Angelica to meet the male she would to breed with, even though she knew no breeding would happen. Her heart pounded.

No—call it what it is—they expect me to rape him.

There was no way Angelica would do that or allow it done to her.

She had grown up knowing it would be her duty to be with a male that she didn’t know to create the next generation of phoenix, but
the male
hadn’t grown up with that knowledge, and she wouldn’t be that person.
She couldn’t
.

The door opened and Malta stood on the other side, a hand on her hip as if she felt above the chore of speaking to Angelica.

“Are you ready?” Malta held up a hand. “No, wait, I do not care if you are ready. It is time to go.” She turned her back on Angelica as if she expected the young phoenix to follow her without question.

“There are rules you must follow, on this, your first visit to the sire of your child.” Malta looked back, her long dark hair swinging with the motion.

Angelica nodded and continued to follow Malta down the passageway.

“You may not touch him. You are only there to get used to his size.”

Angelica frowned. “I don’t understand.”

Malta sighed, but explained. “We have learned that most young phoenix, when confronted with the largeness of a male’s body, panic.” Malta rolled her eyes as if the situation was beyond understanding.

“So, we take the girls in before they are fertile, to spend some time looking at the male and getting used to the fact that males are large creatures.

Angelica wouldn’t have a problem with that. She, Ath, Kell, and Danni had often used the viewing portals to watch people and Eternals on Earth so, she was aware of how tall and broad males could be. She wasn’t going to admit it to Malta, though. The less Malta knew about Angelica, the better.

“Can I talk to him?”

Malta stopped and spun around to face Angelica. “Under no circumstances will you speak to him. Ever!”

Angelica took a step back at the venom in Malta’s tone.

“Men are animals, good for one use only. You will not speak to him and get attached to him. When you are with child, he will be disposed of. Do I make myself clear?”

“Yes.” Angelica dropped her chin. Now, was not the time to agitate Malta. Angelica needed to get into the room with the male to enact her plan.

Malta seemed pleased that she had cowed Angelica. “Good.”

She started walking again and turned a corner into another long corridor, with Angelica following close behind.

Malta reached to the tie of her robes and withdrew a ring of ancient looking keys. She selected one, then stopped by the fifth door in the corridor.

“Remember what I’ve told you, Angelica, and you will be alright. Go against what I’ve said, and you will be punished.” Malta spoke in a whisper as if she didn’t want anyone to overhear them.

“I understand.” Angelica tucked her hands behind her back, and curled her palm around the hilt of her eating knife. She pulled down the sleeve of her robe to hide her whole hand. She needed to be sure that the other phoenix did not see the knife.

Malta stared at Angelica for a moment before she took the key and turned towards the door. She turned the key in the key hole, pushed the large panel of wood open, and stepped out the way, waving Angelica into the room.

Angelica walked past Malta.

“You have one hour,” the woman told Angelica, then slammed the door behind her, causing Angelica to spin and look back, her heart pounding in her throat.

Malta’s footsteps faded into the distance before Angelica could bring herself to turn around and look into the room.

Finally, she found her courage.