Page 63 of When Eden Falls

I recognised the pristine corridor, displaying several closed doors to the right, and the large, oval window at the far end. This was where I needed to wait until Rooke called me into see Havav. It reminded me of attending an appointment with my doctor or lawyer. I chuckled to myself. Havav seriously thought far too highly of himself.

Peering at the sea and distant cliffs through the oval window, I slowly ambled towards it, lost in the beauty of the view. But a figure emerged from around the corner up ahead, blocking it.

Walking towards me was an Akquarian male, dressed in bronze trousers clasped around the ankle. They hung off his slim hips, accentuating the series of muscles framing his abdomen. The broad shoulders and strong chest were familiar. The large, golden tattoo I recognised—Dybgo. His eyes were averted to the floor, his stance a little clumpy, but it was definitely him.

“Hey, you,” I said amiably, “I haven’t seen you for a while.”

Halting his strides, he peered at me with an abruptness. The look on his face made me freeze. This malewasDybgo, but he was different.Verydifferent. The look in his eyes was savage. A red swirl had been painted on his forehead, emphasising the rawness of the skin around his eyes. His fists were clenched so tight the whites of his knuckles shone through his pale skin. He appeared agitated, angry.

Everything about him felt off. He wasn’t wearing his golden armour, nor the blue cape. There was something wrong with him, I could sense it. Was this…was this why he’d been absent?

Flaring his nostrils several times, his eyes raked the full length of my body. Then he began to stalk forward with such a ferocity, it scared me.

“Dybgo,” my voice warbled. “Are you? Do you need?” Before I could finish my words, the air was stripped from my lungs as he forcefully pushed my back into the wall. Nux, he was strong.

Blinking back the shock, I realised he was standing over me, gripping my wrists against the cold, rugged stone, then raising them painfully slowly above my head. When my arms were at full stretch, he pushed his body against mine, pinning me in place. I stared at his powerful chest. He felt hot, abnormally so. And I could smell him. He smelt male. A strong, musky scent. Not despising but…strange. Was this…Nux, was this what Zamya had warned us about? Tek…Tektrasc? It had to be. He seemed possessed.

My breathing became erratic. What was he doing with me? I couldn’t remember exactly what Zamya had told us about the extent of Tektrasc. It was primal, aggressive maybe? Nux, had she said it was highly sexual? I glanced up at Dybgo’s face high abovemine. He was watching me with a fierce intensity, his nostrils still flaring.

Lowering his face to the crook of my neck, he pushed his full weight against my hips. Shit, I could feel his…this was definitely sexual.

I tried to push him away, but he was a monstrous weight, an immovable force.

He took one, long, deep inhale, breathing me in. The incredulous panic rising deep within caused my breath to catch several times as he traced his nose along the line of my neck, my jaw, before nuzzling at my ear. His voice grumbled, “You smell divine.”

I tried to say something to deter him, but what could I say? He was drugged with testosterone. Drunk with desire.

Unable to stabilise my breaths, the panic reached a new peak, and I glanced down the corridor, praying someone would witness this and help pull him off before…

His hand clamped around my neck and my eyes widened. He turned my face to his and I met his blood shot eyes. The crystal blues were there, but diluted by red, primal lust.

“Dybgo, please. You’re…you’re not yourself.”

He rumbled his disagreement and in one swift move, he turned me around. My cheekbone hit the wall as I was pressed into the uneven stone. With Dybgo’s large body behind me, encasing me, I couldn’t move.

Both my hands were clasped above my head in one of his, allowing his free hand to roam the fabric of my bodice and skirt. Dread flooded my body. I could feel the fresh air hitting my legs, then his hot hands were on the skin of my thighs, rising.

“Dybgo, please.” I was trying to keep calm, but the tears were burning at the corner of my eyes. “You need to stop.”

In response, he lent forward and nicked my earlobe with his sharp canine. I squeezed my eyes together. A wave of confusion drowned my thoughts. This was the male who saved me from the Igknamai, who protected me and made me feel safe. And now…now it appeared he was going through the primal motions of unconsented mating. Every action was beginning to scream rape. He wasn’t going to stop, I knew it.

That’s when I began to shout. “Help! Help! Someone, please!”

In an attempt to silence me, Dybgo grabbed at my neck, ripping the neckline of my dress. I haphazardly stumbled backwards and found myself being launched, facedown, onto the chaise lounge. Now with Dybgo's large hand covering my mouth, I felt him kneel behind me, raising my skirt. I whimpered at the action. I didn’t want this!

I fumbled to pull my skirt back into place, but he growled, pulling at my wrists painfully. A tear trickled down my cheek and for a moment I laid there like a rag doll, allowing his hands to rove my curves. I needed to calm down and think myself out of this situation. The thought of Rooke walking out into the corridor to find us like this, with my bare butt in the air, let alone try to intervene…Dybgo would rip him apart. No, I needed to get myself out of this. I still had time.

A chilled air touched the skin of my upper back and I realised Dybgo was unbuttoning the bodice of my dress. Why would he do that so attentively if he was possessed with primal lust? Hot lips traced the ridge of my spine as more buttons unfastened. My skin prickled, my muscles tensed. I felt sick, but it was clear this action was his attempt to seduce me, trying to pacify and entice me to come round to his advances. And in doing so, he seemed calm. I needed to act now.

“Dybgo?” The waver in my voice made the words sound pathetic, not quite as convincing as I’d hoped. “If you want me in this way, please, let me look on you. Let me see your face.” The words felt wrong, so wrong, but I needed him to turn me over.

He raised himself over me and rumbled his approval in my ear. Before I could think, I was abruptly flipped over, and just as I’d presumed, he was now standing over me, straddling my legs. I met his gaze. There was so much heated desire pouring out ofthose eyes. A look I’d seen him give me before. A look I’d previously regarded as sympathy or concern. Nux, had he always wanted me? I needed to put an end to this.

With all the strength I could conjure, I swiftly flicked my knee into my chest and kicked him hard between the legs. Eyes wide, he groaned and stumbled back. The shock that lined his brow was quickly replaced by ruthless anger. His recovery was rapid, and he lunged for me, only to be met by my foot in his chest and my fist in his jaw.

The force jolted my bones, but I sprang to my feet, adrenaline surging through my tired legs as I accelerated down the corridor to Havav’s study. Rattling the door handle, I cried out. It was locked and I could hear Dybgo’s anger escalating. I hammered both my fists against the stone, trying to get Havav and Rooke’s attention. “Let me in. Let me in. Please, I…”

Dybgo was upon me in seconds. This time, he was furious. He slammed my back into the wall sending a sharp pain rippling down my spine. His large hand wrapped around my neck, and I felt my windpipe crushing under the sheer strength. With his face up close, he bared his teeth, snarling animalistically. I clawed at his fingers, trying to dislodge his grip, but it was no use. I’d pissed him off. He wasn’t going to let me go this time.