Chapter 4: Bound by Blood
Elyra's blood sizzled as it seeped into the Ashen Heart, the relic's surface pulsing like a living thing. The voice in her mind—Claim me, and they are yours—grew louder, its command sinking into her bones. The Ruins shook, dust raining from the ceiling, but her focus was razor-sharp on the men. Zane, Cassian, and Theron stood frozen, their shirtless bodies tense, muscles gleaming with sweat and blood, their eyes locked on her with a mix of awe and raw hunger.
The chains of red light she'd felt in her mind materialized, wrapping around their wrists, binding them to her will.
"What the hell did you do?" Zane roared, straining against the chains, his biceps bulging. His axe lay at his feet, useless, and his gaze raked over her, lingering on the blood trailing down her leg, his desire thickening the air.
"Bound you," she said, her voice steady despite the burn in her hand. "You wanted the Heart. Now you serve me." She stepped closer, testing the magic, and the chains pulsed, forcing him to his knees. His growl was feral, but he obeyed, his eyes burning with defiance and lust.
Cassian laughed, a dark, throaty sound, his runes flaring as he tugged at the chains.
"Clever girl. But I'll break this—and you." He rose, stepping toward her, the chain pulling taut. His hand reached for her face, but the magic jerked him back, and he snarled, his chest heaving. The necromancer's gaze promised pleasure laced with pain, and she felt the pull of his magic, teasing her senses.
Theron dropped to one knee, his sword clattering to the stone, the chains forcing him down. His head bowed, but his gray eyes burned into her, a storm of rage and need. "This curse will kill us all," he muttered, his voice breaking, his hands flexing as if fighting the urge to touch her.
Before she could respond, the Ruins' shadows coalesced into a towering figure—a bloodlord, its embers-like eyes fixed on the Heart. "The Heart is mine," it boomed, its claws slashing toward her. Elyra ducked, rolling to the pedestal, but the chains yanked the men into action. Zane charged, his axe swinging with brutal force, cleaving a limb.
Cassian unleashed a wave of necrotic energy, black tendrils wrapping the bloodlord's legs, and Theron's blade flashed, cutting deep into its side. The magic compelled them, their movements synchronized with hers.
The fight was brutal. The bloodlord's claws raked Zane's chest, drawing a roar of pain and fury, blood streaming down his abs. Cassian's magic faltered, his focus split between the beast and Elyra, his eyes devouring her torn trousers. Theron took a hit, crashing into her, their bodies tangling as they hit the ground. His hands gripped her hips, his breath hot against her neck, and she felt his hardness against her thigh. She shoved him off, her face burning, but the contact fueled her adrenaline.
Together, they drove the bloodlord back.
Zane's brute strength, Cassian's dark magic, and Theron's precision—guided by her blood—brought it down, its body exploding into ash. The chains tightened, and the men stumbled, their breathing ragged, their eyes on her with renewed intensity. Elyra stood, the Heart in her hands, its power coursing through her, her leg still bleeding.
"You're bleeding again," Zane said, stepping closer, his voice a growl. He reached for her leg, and the chain pulsed, allowing it. His fingers brushed the wound, rough but careful, and she bit back a moan, the sensation shooting straight to her core.
Cassian knelt beside her, his hand on her arm, his magic soothing the pain with a sensual edge. "Let me heal you," he whispered, his lips brushing her ear. The chain held him, but his intent was clear, his fingers lingering on her skin.
Theron stood over her, his gaze dark. "This bond… it's changing us." His hand hovered near her face, trembling, then dropped, his erection straining against his trousers.
Elyra stood, the Heart's weight grounding her. "You're mine now," she said, her voice firm. "And I'll use you—every one of you—until I decide otherwise." She turned, leading them deeper into the Ruins, the chains glowing, their desire a weapon she'd master. The air grew heavier, and a low growl echoed ahead, signaling the next threat.