The pleasant, warm notes of clean citrus and earthy bergamot tickled her nostrils when she stirred, her lids peeling back to reveal the familiar draperies of her own bedroom. As she laid there, Akila wondered if everything had been just a bad dream — no demons, no bloodshed, and no Zagan —until his voice penetrated her confusion.
"Did you have a good sleep?" Zagan drawled languidly.
Still suffering the effects of her little rebellion, Akila was too drained to give him a desired reaction except to glare at him. The insufferable demon sat beside her — in her bed — with a book in hand giving the misguided illusion of a civilized gentleman. It annoyed her how gorgeous he looked...and smelled, experiencing the same dizzying attraction when they first met. Her eyes swept over the smooth, broad expanse of his chest, realizing with alarm that he was half-dressed. She caught the arrogant twitch of his sensual lips knowing she'd been caught gawking.
Clearing her throat in annoyance, she winced at the dryness. "Why am I here?" Her voice regrettably hoarse.
"Well, my little lamb it seems your body has finally admitted defeat from your trivial rebellion. I've summoned the physician to examine you and until I say so, you will be relegated to strict bedrest," he said as a matter-of-factly. "I trust this incident has made you come to you senses and convince you to stop acting foolish and accept your fate." Silver eyes mapped her features intimately, making her stomach flip. "It's been a week and I expect an answer."
It grated on her nerves for him to chastise her like an errant child. "If anyone is being foolish, it's you! You know exactly what my answer will be, and I won't change my mind, demon. Death is a desirable fate than becoming your concubine."
Zagan set his book aside, granting his full attention on the pale beauty beside him. Reaching out with his fingertips, he brushed them against her lips. She gasped lightly. They were soft as he imagined, and he enjoyed how her lower lip quivered — whether from fear or desire — he relished them both. "I'm glad that you're feeling better enough to argue with me."
"Don't change the subject, Zagan." Vexed, she jerked away, putting an insignificant distance between them, unable to move in her weakened state. It was a point she was trying to make; well aware he could easily overpower her if he chose to. "I'm serious about not accepting your so-called preposition. Given the sins you've committed, we both know it was never a choice."
"Excellent. I see you're finally understanding your place." He smiled faintly, although it bore a hint of mockery tinged with resentment.
She suspected their contempt for each other was mutual, which begged the question of why he wanted her so desperately. If she could unearth her importance, she could have power over him.
"Yes, I was only giving you some time to come to terms with the idea of serving as my concubine," he explained. "I never intended to release you. All you need to say is that you'll submit and take your rightful place here in my bed, and I won't throw you back into the dungeon."
"You mean MY bed," she pointed out morosely. "This castle is still MY home."
His eyes roamed the feminine furnishings and floral draperies, his lips pursed thoughtfully as if he'd never noticed them before. "Hmm, I'm afraid this won't do. Everything must be replaced if I'm going to move in."
She threw him a baffled scowl. "There are many other inhabitable chambers in this castle that is more suited to your lurid taste."
"No, they won't do because they're not yours."
Her scowl deepened. Akila refused to acknowledge the way his words made her heart flutter like butterfly wings. "What's that supposed to mean?" she demanded irritably. "And why is mine special? It's only a room. Besides, do demons even sleep — what with you terrorizing humans and all?"
"Stubborn prisoners don't have the right to ask me questions." Zagan ignored her sarcasm, casually brushing her off and clamping his fingers around her nape. "You still haven't answered mine. I warn you, don't test my patience."
She strained to extricate herself, a common struggle around him. "My final answer is still no. And why are you always grabbing my neck? Let me go! It's hard to breathe as it is." It wasn't a complete lie. Whenever he touched her, Akila's mind turned to mush, and her body became overwhelmed by an irrational desire that she'd never felt with Ywain.
It terrified her.
This demon was dangerous — to her heart, and her wellbeing.
The agonizing silence stretched, and she held her breath, entranced by wary pools of silver. Her lungs expanded greedily when he finally released her and rolled out of bed to yank on the bell pull. Now that he was standing a few feet away, she took the opportunity to study him, having never seen a half-naked man before — at least — not one this up-close.
Zagan was taller than the men of her acquaintance, his upper torso lean and firmly sculpted with ridges of muscles that descended into a light trail of hair disappearing into his pants. Her cheeks heated. Dropping her gaze, she noticed that his legs seemed to stretch on forever making her quite envious for she wasn't exactly the tallest princess.
Former princess, she corrected herself.
"Like what you see?" His low chuckle drifted towards the bed, his eyes twinkling with male arrogance.
Her face flushed a brighter red and she deliberately turned her nose up the other way. She would die first before she admitted the attraction that existed between them. Don't forget that he killed your father! She chanted the words repeatedly in her mind.
A knock sounded on the door and Zagan answered it to reveal a young woman followed by three small children – a boy and two girls.
Why were they brought here? Akila had a bad feeling about this.
"I've brought them as you instructed, master," the woman murmured meekly, her eyes cast down in deference.
"Well done, Bennu. You may wait outside."
Akila didn't like where this was going. Since meeting Zagan, only misery and carnage followed, stirring a foreboding feeling within her heart. Despite her trembling muscles, she struggled to sit up. "What are you doing, Zagan? Why are these children here?" It was hard to believe that he was laughing a second ago. Now, he wore an impassive mask, mimicking a stone statue. She couldn't read his mind at all. "I'll ask you once again, Akila. Are you willing to submit to me — your new emperor?"
Her instincts warned her to thread carefully. She noticed that Zagan only used her name when he was angry or extremely serious. If there was one trait she understood about him, this demon never did business without some form of collateral. He was a wily fox who would cannibalize his own without thinking twice. She believed he didn't even know how to make a jest.
"Think carefully, little lamb." His warning soft and insidious, it sent shivers down her spine.
Akila swallowed hard, eyes shifting anxiously to the children standing by the door with their heads hung, shoulders hunched in fear and their eyes oddly glassy. Her fingers belied her unease, strangling the sheets in a death grip.
"From this evening onwards, you will be my concubine and worship me. You'll let me feed on your blood and let me into your tight, little body. Maybe I'll even breed you," he suggested with genuine eagerness. Children never played a role in his plans but, he supposed an emperor would need an heir and a spare to secure his reign.
"No!" she blurted forcefully, her eyes widening in horror when she realized her err and saw his mouth curved.
Damn it! He was baiting her! Zagan had been waiting for her refusal because he wanted her to suffer.
"No, you won't submit?" he demanded silkily, walking over to a table by the window and picked up a glint of steel. "Then you will have to live with the consequence of your choice." Without warning he hurled the knife, and it flew straight into the little boy's skull, lodged between his shocked eye sockets. Down he went, collapsing to the carpet floor like a lifeless ragdoll. The two little girls screamed, jumping into each other's arms, no doubt praying they wouldn't be next.
"I'll give you one last chance Akila," Zagan warned, his tone was pure, lethal steel. "I've been lenient with you, so please don't ruin it. I won't ask again so tell me what I want to hear."
Akila hung her head in defeat, biting her lip to keep the angry tears at bay. She squeezed her eyes shut, swallowing hard with bitterness. "Yes! Yes, I'll submit. Yes, I'll be your concubine! Just please, don't kill anyone else! Leave the children alone!"
Victory flashed in the demon's silver orbs as he called out, "Bennu, take the children away." The same maid entered and ushered the terrified girls out, shutting the door with a resounding click. With their departure, the room thickened with silence.
"You're a monster!" she accused hatefully; eyes red-rimmed.
Zagan was unmoved by her hatred and disgust, regarding her nonchalantly. She wasn't the first human to have insulted him. "I've always known that I am monster, Akila. It's you who failed to heed your instincts in the first place. I am a vile predator and I have no regrets on how I came to be." His reply was wretchedly calm and collected, as if he had no soul to begin with.
"You're absolutely heartless!" She shoved the covers aside with the intention of getting out of bed, only to fall to her knees. This demeaning position only emphasized his power over her, even though it wasn't his fault her limbs shook like a new-born fawn. "How could you use those innocent children against me?"
"People are all pawns in a game of power. It's either use or be used. Save your tears, little lamb. The boy's family will be well compensated for. These demon worshippers believe it's an honour to be killed by my hands." An empty smirk contorted his lips, his hand rubbing the spot where his beating organ laid. "A heart I will never have, little lamb…just this one that keeps me alive until the day it stops pumping."
"Even if I am forced to become your concubine, you may own my body and drink my blood, but you'll never own my soul." She scrambled back when he approached her, pressing her body into the bed. "What are you doing? Get away from me!"
"Quiet," he admonished, effectively silencing her as he scooped her into his arms and gently deposited her back into the bed. All the while she was stiff and awkward. His attentiveness only confused her. Why was he being — helpful? Chivalrous? Considerate? She was at a loss for words.
Unfortunately, he was right that she should listen to her instincts, and they warned her not to believe his words or actions. Zagan enjoyed manipulating and forcing others to do as he pleased. Akila's head started to ache. She'd never met anyone who mentally afflicted her this much. One thing was for certain, she would never be foolish enough to fall for his tricks or good looks. Akila had been surrounded by beauty her entire life. His face would be just another handsome one in a sea of males.
As if he had read her mind, his whisper tickled the downy hairs by her ear. "Only time will tell, little lamb."
To her embarrassment, she let out a soft squeak when his tongue darted out to lick her pulse. Reeling back, she cupped a hand to her neck, staring at him in blatant accusation. "What are you doing!" It was revulsion, she told herself, and not a brazen thrill that shot to her core.
Akila expected Zagan to provoke her with a smug smile but, the troubled expression on his face as if he had made an unpleasant discovery stirred her curiosity. What was he thinking about?
He crossed the room and grabbed his shirt draped upon the velvet settee. She couldn't help but admire his rippling muscles as he slipped an arm through each sleeve. "I will be back in a few hours," he announced, still brooding. "I'll inform the servants to remove the corpse and, in the meantime, get some rest. And Akila, make sure you finish every crumb of dinner. You're not going to like how I'm going to force it down your throat if I learn that you are once again starving yourself." The reminder of his past, begging for meal scraps had him adding tightly, "If you're going to fight me, then you'll need your strength."
"You're despicable, Zagan! You won't get away with this!" she spat out, forcing herself not to wonder at the change of his tone. She didn't want to feel anything for this demon. In fact, she wanted to do him bodily harm and she wasn't a violent person. It shocked her a little. In her family, she was the sweet-natured one, not this...possible harpy.
"Spare me the theatrics little lamb because I've already gotten away with it. The sooner you get that inside your stubborn head, the better it will be for you." He paused at the door, turning just a fraction. "And, insulting me with your words isn't going to work. I'm afraid you'll have to try harder as I've heard them all."
Akila was tempted to throw her pillow at the shut door behind him, anger and something more she didn't wish to examine boiled in her veins. "Bastard!" Her eyes fell onto the corpse lying in the corner and the tears flowed. "I'm so sorry, little one. It was all my fault…,"