Inaru Hanshite

I wake up in a lavish bedroom, tied to a bed. My arms pull at the ropes binding me as I glance around, taking in the luxurious decor of the room before a thought struck panic through my heart.

"Xo?" I spoke up hesitantly, worry and fear evident in my tone, "Xo, are you there?"

No answer... tears spring to my eyes as I fear the worst.

"Xo, please wake up," I plead as my chest tightens, "Xo'oth, please tell me you're okay!"

I feel a stirring in my head and gasp in relief, "Oh thank gods! Xo! I was worried- how are you feeling? You okay?"

"You were worried about me?" his groggy thought voice sounded pleasantly surprised and somewhat touched before he shook it off to wake up more fully, "I'm alright, Ina- it'll take more than a tranquilizer dart to get rid of me."

A faint relieved chuckle escapes as I tell him warmly, "I wouldn't want to get rid of you, silly!" Glancing at the bindings holding us in place, I shift my focus to trying to escape, "Think we can get out of these ropes?"

Before we can begin to attempt it, the bedroom door swung open to reveal a man with dark hair and striking emerald eyes that I instantly recognize, "You..."

"Now, now," the mafioso smirked knowingly, his eyes gleaming with a light that I'd only seen in anime, "Is that any way to greet your future husband?"

A growl involuntarily leaves my throat as Xo'oth responds with a possessive energy, but I quickly pull him back within my mind, "Who said I would marry you? Besides, I'm already married- in case you didn't know."

"No you aren't, ragazza mia," the man responds with a low chuckle, stepping closer as he continues, "There was never a certificate, so you aren't married- and I happen to know you weren't happy with that pathetic excuse of a man, so you've no reason to refuse."

Xo'oth let out another possessive growl before I pull him back again, "Well, I certainly wouldn't be happy with someone like you!"

A sense of smugness flashed through my mind, causing a hint of confusion and amusement to cross in response. I shake off my thoughts to continue, "You have nothing you could offer in exchange for this, and not only tha-"

My eyes widen as I question how he knew the state of my marriage before narrowing in suspicion at the darkly attractive mafioso, examining his energy. A growl of anger escaped as I recognized that aura, "You... You're the one who's been spying on me- you're the one who tricked me into believing you were my soul mate!"

Xo'oth let out a possessive growl at that as I continued, "All so I would let you into my mind and heart- you just wanted easier access to my inner workings, so what the hell do you think you're doing here now? You think I'll fall for you all over again, but you're wrong!"

"Oh, am I?" the mafioso moved closer to the bed with a dark smirk as he reached out to caress my face. I move my head away, glaring at him warily as another possessive growl fills my mind, "Yes, you're wrong. There is no way in hell I'm letting you back in after you played games with my heart and mind!"

He grabs my chin, forcing me to look directly at him as he spoke in a possesive tone, "Is that what you think, principessa? I know exactly what you like- I know what makes you tick and what you long for most... I'll have you falling head over heels for me before you even realize what's happened- and you'll do so willingly, you'll be completely dedicated to me."

A growl escapes from me and Xo'oth simultaneously as the mafioso's hand leaves my chin to caress down my throat. I have to fight my instincts because he was right- he did know exactly what catches my interest and makes me feel weak. He had been inside my head, he knew all the right moves... but that didn't make any of it real. I swallowed hard as his hand travels down to my skirt and I look at the man with a mixture of anger, fear, and determination, "You wouldn't- surely you have more class than that!"

A wicked laugh leaves the mafioso before he flashed a wicked grin, "Oh but I would- all is fair in love and war, as they say!" With that, he ripped off the fishnet tights. I try to squirm away, but the ropes held me in place. There was no point in begging him to stop as his hands knead my upper thighs, slowly moving toward my lacy black underwear. Squeezing my eyes shut in panic, I look away in anticipation before a black tentacle slithered from my back and slapped his hand away with a possessive growl. My eyes shot open with surprise and I let out a relieved gasp, almost shouting Xo'oth's name in gratitude before he shushed me withing our mind.

"It's okay, Inaru," Xo'oth tells me through our mental connection, his tone sounding almost protective and... affectionate? "I won't let anything happen to you."

"What the hell?" the mafioso stepped back in shock before his wicked grin deepened, "So, you've found our missing parasite have you? And it looks like you've become friends... I'll have to handle this a little differently, then."

The man turns to the guards at the door, "If they make any attempt to escape, tranq them- I've got a phone call to make."

His guards nod as he leaves the room, closing the door behind him and leaving us alone with the guards outside the door.