Chapter 351: Armored by Bonds
The silvery clouds tried to invade Kai's mind, but he was no longer so vulnerable to Anaelina's sexual manipulations. When she struck at his throat, he caught her arm. Now that he had her by the throat and wrist he slammed her back against the wall and pinned her there.
"I can't believe it..." Anaelina somehow purred the words through the claw around her throat. "How have you gotten so strong?"
Her power was still coursing up both of his arms, trying to fill him with lust, but Kai was stronger than that now. He beat it back now, maintaining control of himself, and glowered at her. "Stop that."
"Fine." Her power vanished and she went limp, entirely within his power. "Are you going to have your way with me now?"
"I'm going to kill you."
"You know, I was honest with you, all those years ago. I grew up with nothing, just like you. The only thing people like us will ever gain in life is what we seize for ourselves. So I hurt a few people... isn't that true of Zae Zin Nim and especially Omilaena? Am I any worse than them?"
"You've tried to use me from the beginning..." But Kai found his grip slackening on her neck.
When she was free, Anaelina didn't attack him. Instead she dropped to her knees, gripping his legs and pressing herself against him. "And I was wrong. Please, don't kill me, let me serve you. I can help you drain those who were born with power and lord it over everyone else. I don't understand how these abilities of yours can be so powerful, but I know I can help feed them, if you'll accept me."
He was skeptical at first, but when he grasped her head he felt her mind submit itself to him, and then suddenly she was under his control. Anaelina rose meekly and followed him as he ran down the last staircase to the core that powered the First Crest's weapon. To test her submission, he ordered her to destroy it, and she did so willingly.