Chapter 23: A Rogue Mate

"Ah, you're awake at last." When Vanya slowly opened her eyes that evening, exhausted from her failed escape attempt, a voice whispered into her ears. She could see a man through the thin gauze of the four-poster bed's curtain as she sat upright in the bed.
"Welcome aboard my ship, *Red.*"
When she heard his voice and the name he called her, she felt her heart spring out of her chest. She jumped from her bed, and before she could see him or call his name, she heard him pull a knife from his scabbard and approach her. She whimpered, expecting him to attack her, but he spoke gently instead.
"Relax, I’m not going to hurt you. "You want to be free of those restraints, don't you?"
Vanya hadn't even realized she had ropes around her wrists until that point. She gave a weak nod and held her breath. There was no getting away from him now. So she closed her eyes and braced herself for the worst. However, she just felt her hands come loose as he snapped the ropes, and her hands were immediately free of their bonds. She stroked her wrists gently as the circulation returned to them, feeling the roughness but also the warmth of his hands on her shoulders as he drew in close.
"Is that better?"  
"D-don't come near me," she flinched, taking a step back to appear tough. But this simply made Killian laugh.
"After all this time, I thought you'd be delighted to see," he remarked. "Very well. It's all right. In either case, you're with me. I suppose that's all that matters. But, by all means, Red, please have a seat." He sat down on a chair.
Vanya, however, stood firm. For a little while, they were both silent, her eyes shining with courage yet also showing dread; and with his predatory demeanor, Killian assumed the role of hunter, and she was his prey, snared in his net.
"What have you done to my pack?" she eventually asked. What about my father? My－"
"－mates?" Killian spat the word, and his mood abruptly changed.
"How－"
"I know all there is to know about you, Red."
"What have you done to them?"
"I thought Aurelius told you already. I haven't done anything, believe it or not. And all my men actually did was keep Ares and Cassian busy. They wounded several of my men, but I gotta say, my men did some damage, too. But don't worry, they're still alive. And Randall is unharmed. There isn't a single scratch. All I truly wanted was you."
"This can't possibly be happening." She shook her head, clearly in disbelief. "Killian, please let me go. Please! If it hasn't occurred to you yet, I'm worthless. Alpha Callum was even meant to send me to The Capitol. Surely, this is a mistake. Please, just let me go," she pleaded, but he only grinned and replied,
"I'm afraid I won't be able to, Red. You see, despite what you might think, you are really valuable to me. Everything onboard this ship is mine, even you. And, of everything and everyone on this ship, you are the most priceless." His voice was velvety soft, yet there was a steely undercurrent behind it.
"Is it revenge? Is that the reason I'm here? All those times I've tried to capture you..."
"Common, Red. Do you honestly believe that's the reason why I've sacrificed the lives of my men, in order to seek revenge?"
"So, what am I doing here?"
"Do I really need to explain it to you, *mate?*"
"What did you say?…" she said quietly. Her heart hammered so fiercely in her chest, and his breathing grew labored. "You're...my...mate."
"Surprise! And now that you're free of the grip from the Black Hollows pack, we may carry out what was written." Killian stood up and moved forward till he was directly in front of her.
Could Moira's prophesy really be true? So far, she had found out Ares was her mate, then Cassian was the guy in her dreams who was her second mate, and now Killian, the mysterious rogue she had been attempting to bring to justice, just told her he was her mate.
Could this be the reason he wielded such control over her?
Like the few times she had caught up with him in the woods, Vanya felt feverish when his eyes met hers. She backed away from him, sensing his predatory glance. "This cannot be true."
"Do you think so?" Killian took a step forward. She was now taking a step back for every stride he took towards her, until she felt her back hit a wall. He didn't waste the chance to trap her there. "I've got you now, Red."
On either side of her, he firmly pressed his hands on the wall. With their gazes locked, they didn't move an inch. "I have you all to myself now." 
"Are you going to cast your spell on me again?" Vanya asked quietly, examining his features for a response.
His jaw tightened.  She didn't take a breath, or blink. Then, all of a sudden, she noticed a smirk breaking on his lips.
"I'm sorry to disappoint you, Red, but I wasn't hypnotizing you at all. I could, but since our bond is so strong, I didn't have to."
"What－"
"It was all down to you, Red, and your body's inherent response to me." He suppressed a little laugh.
"No! You're lying!"
"I'm not lying to you. Interested in giving it another try and seeing what happens?!"
"What...?" she questioned breathlessly, their faces just inches apart.
His eyes fell to every inch of her frame. The nightgown she was wearing was little more than a slip held up by tiny straps, exposing her naked shoulders and arms. The silky material fell just over her mid-thigh, revealing her long legs, which were normally hidden by her leather pants. His attention moved farther lower, to the waist, which was emphasized by the white fabric around his waist, and then to the thighs.
He smiled, his gaze returning to Vanya's long, dark red hair, swept over one shoulder, revealing her slender collarbone and slender neck.
"Killian…" Vanya whispered, her cheeks heated.
"I can't wait to get my hands on what's rightfully mine..." His finger gently lifted one of the straps and pushed it off her shoulder. He watched it fall. If he lowered it, she'd expose her breasts to him. He tenderly cup her cheek with his hand, nose brushing against hers. "I've missed your scent, mate."
She let out a tight moan as his other hand ran up and down her back. He leaned in closer and, taking his time, brushed the delicate flesh of her ear with his lips, trailing down to her face and shoulder. "I want you so much right now."
"Killian…" His fingers were sliding her nightgown up over her thighs, his fingertips delicately teasing the sensitive flesh of her hip, fighting to hold himself in check. Vanya looked as if she wanted to protest but Killian immediately noticed the desire in her voice very strongly.
"Ah…"
"You shoud know by now that you can’t resist me, Red. I know how badly you want this, too," he said between the soft, open-mouthed kisses he began to shower the skin on her collarbone.
When the second strap dangled from Vanya's shoulder, he softly leaned his body against her and kissed her neck tenderly. He could feel her tense beneath him, yet she melted into him and moaned within seconds. Then another moan escaped her lips when she felt his cold fingertips stroke her hot skin, making circular motions with his thumb, ghosting over the section that was getting more and more sensitive. "I can smell your arousal, mate. Give in."
He held her hair away from her neck, kissing every bit of skin he could, nibbling at the delicate flesh of her neck while running his tongue over it, impatient to get his hands on what he truly wanted. He was immediately paid with another moan that grew louder.
Then his fingers went to tease her mound over her soaked panties, stroking her throbbing center.
"You’re already very wet for me, mate." He pressed his lips to her other neck, leaving a deep mark in her flesh. She took in a deep breath and arched her back against the wall, desperate for him to rub her with his fingers. She sighed into his ear and her legs automatically spread to give him more access.
"Give in."
Vanya bit her lip. "No."
She moaned loudly as his fingers moved her panties aside, allowing two fingers to glide over her curls and then skillfully slide between her wet folds. He ran his nose down her jawline, smirking, as she bucked her hips into his hand, desperate for him to push his fingers into her center.
But Killian pulled out his fingers and grinned when she whimpered. Then, as if that wasn't enough, he broke away from her and took a step back.
"You want me as much as I want you, Red," he said before closing his mouth around his two glistening fingers and sucking on them before smiling again. "I knew you’d taste good, mate."
Breathing heavily against the wall, Vanya clenched her legs and licked her lower lip.
Killian smiled. "If only you could see yourself right now, Red. I haven't really kissed you or touched you yet."
"Killian…"
"I know you know, Red. And you'll beg for me, and I'll take what's mine before this ship docks." He turned around and made his way to the door. "I'll let you rest...for now."
Vanya bit her lip and lowered one of her hands down between her thighs.
"I'm sorry, but you are not allowed to touch yourself, mate.  There will be consequences if you will." As soon as she heard him say it before laughing and closing the door behind him, she snatched her hand away from herself.
"Fuck!" she hissed, her face flaming red.