Akila knew she was in trouble from the murderous look reflected in Zagan's imprisoning eyes. His lips flattened into a thin line and his skin turned ashen. Unparalleled fear unfurled within the depths of her soul. He was beyond mad.
"Zagan…" She unwittingly stuttered, taking a wary step back. His face twisted in obvious pain, perspiration trickling down his forehead. What had Garrin done to him?
As quickly as he collapsed, she never saw him coming until her back slammed against the brick wall — hard — and his fingers threatened to crush her windpipe. She clawed helplessly at his unforgiving grip, gasping for air as her feet dangled off the ground. Horror overwhelmed her when she noticed his glowing red eyes beneath hooded brows, elongated fangs, and emerging horns from the crown of his head.
His berserker demon!
"Zagan, p-please stop!" she choked, knowing her face was turning a hideous shade of blue. Fisting her hands, she forcefully whacked his forearms in hopes that he would release her.
"Don't try to escape me again," he growled in a feral, beastly undertone that overlapped his natural voice.
Wild fear made her extremely conscious of his devastating strength that could easily break her, and yet her core clenched from the dark promise of punishment. Had she lost her mind? Why did this man — no, demon — inspire such bewildering feelings? Sometimes despair, often anger and the rarest moments that caught her off guard was the glimmer of desire.
Akila stiffened when he lowered his head and trailed his nose from her leaping pulse at the side of her neck to the sensitive spot behind her ear. She gasped softly when he nipped her skin, marking her before abruptly releasing her.
Cold, silver eyes pierced her in an unforgiving glare, the words rumbling off his chest. "This will be the last time you're permitted to leave the castle. It seems you still can't be trusted." Moments earlier, he'd barely been able to control his demon when Akila attempted her escape. The beast raged with the intent to hunt her down — to retrieve what was THEIRS. This surprised and infuriated him. He didn't need anyone, and he was content to be alone. He couldn't care less what his demon wanted. No one was going to ruin the years he spent clawing his way to the top, especially not a "human" female.
Oblivious to his thoughts, Akila coughed uncontrollably and massaged her bruising throat. "A fool you are to trust your enemy."
A scowl framed his lips. "Who was that man?" he demanded impatiently. "You're acquainted with him." It was a statement, not a question.
Hoping that her face was a portrait of calm, Akila lied through her teeth. "He's a foot soldier serving under Ywain's command." In fact, she was surprised he didn't recognize the crown prince's face.
"You mean served," he corrected tersely. "Your fiancé is dead and you're lying to me, little lamb. The way he defended himself is beyond the average skill of a common swordsman. His astounding ability to protect himself means he's powerful — a man of influence and authority."
Zagan's deduction was uncanny and unwelcomed. "You're jumping to conclusions," she countered with a glower, standing taller. "I never said he was unimportant."
"Were you both plotting behind my back?" He tilted his head in a predatorial manner, keenly observing her expression. "Don't bother lying to me. I can hear your heart pounding." A low, approving sound followed. "And I can smell your fear."
Clenching her fists to stop her hands from trembling, she squared her shoulders. "Even if we had been 'plotting' as you so kindly put it, I won't admit anything."
"You're an open book, Akila. It's clear you don't want me to know what happened but allow me to disabuse you of the notion that you're both safe." The tip of his fangs peeked from behind curled lips. "Your comrade isn't as clever as he thinks. If I had to hazard a guess, I imagine he left you behind for a reason," he paused, looking her squarely in the eyes. "He requested that you stay behind and act as his informant."
Confronted with stubborn silence, he persisted arrogantly. "Am I wrong?"
Akila dug her nails into palms, forcing herself to remain calm. A single hitch in her breath would reveal the truth and further endanger her brother's life. Damn this demon! His question made her extremely nervous. How could he be so astute?
"No matter, I don't require an answer," Zagan drawled, his gaze remaining vigilant. "For the time you've bought him, you could have escaped together, not that I would have allowed it." Unable to help himself, he traced a finger over the curve of her smooth cheek, enjoying the way she shivered at his touch. "The question is why didn't you?" Her breathing turned shallow, and her cheeks became flushed. It was a beautiful colour on her pale skin, and he wondered if her blush covered other more...intimate parts of her body.
"Perhaps becoming a demon's concubine is a better future than living in destitution," she answered.
He arched a dark, cynical brow. "That's a suspicious choice of word coming from your lips. I suppose your friend isn't living in the lap of luxury or enjoying the comforts of basic necessities at the moment, is he? That certainly helps to narrow down the places to be searched. One church mouse isn't going to be hard to sniff out."
It was unbelievable how he picked out information from her words and silence alone. Her heart stuttered in quiet panic, knowing she had to proceed cautiously, and at the very best attempt to mislead him.
"Believe whatever you like," she said stiffly, turning her nose up at him. "If you don't mind, I think it's best if we return to the castle. I have seen enough for today."
Zagan ignored her. "Your comrade isn't going to get away with this. If you won't tell me your secrets, then I will simply abide my time and wait for him to strike. From this day forth, you're not allowed to leave your quarters without supervision. I don't reward untrustworthy liars with freedom."
A black scowl marred her pretty face. "You cannot be serious! I am not a child who needs to be tended to around the clock and withholding my thoughts doesn't make me a liar."
The demon gave her a condescending look as he summoned his horse. "The fact that you're arguing with me proves that I'm right, and it accentuates your naivete." He grabbed Ares's reins and turned to face her fully. "In a power struggle, there's no underestimating the enemy. The second I let my guard down, I'm as good as dead. This is the basics of warfare."
"Yes, we're enemies, but we aren't at war." She dug her heels into the ground when he approached and spanned his large hands around her waist. This close, she was reminded again of how much taller and stronger he was. Strangely, it made her breathless. "W-What are you doing?"
In an effortless lift, she found herself seated on Ares's saddle and startled when Zagan's long fingers wrapped around the delicate curve of her ankle. "Don't think that your actions today will go unpunished, little lamb. As a matter of fact, I think I will have a taste of your delectable body tonight."
Her mouth opened to reject him when Garrin's words echoed through her head. "Obey him" her brother said. Biting back the swell of frustration, she met his anticipating gaze and grounded out. "Do you worse, demon. I'm not afraid of you."
A hint of unease crawled up her spine when his lips cracked into a wide smile, allowing her another peek of his fangs. How she wished she had kept her mouth shut.
"Oh, little lamb, hasn't anyone ever told you not to bait a demon?" His hand crept indecently higher, brushing from her calf to the back of her knee, leaving a burning trail of fire in its wake. "It only makes me impatient to sink my teeth into you."
Akila had a horrifying suspicion her face lost all colour. She could taste panic, sour and electric on the tip of her tongue, her throat working convulsively. Squaring her shoulders with the bravado she wasn't feeling, she declared, "I may be ignorant about many things, demon but, I wasn't raised a weakling."
Zagan mounted up behind her, surrounding her with his heat. His head dipped low. She knew from his sharp inhalation that he was scenting her — again. "Good. Then I shall enjoy my time breaking you, savouring you and making you entirely mine." His warm, sultry chuckle stirred the fine hairs on her nape. "You're not the first female to defy me and sooner or later, everyone breaks under the overwhelming pleasure of sex and desire. And you, my little lamb, are attracted to me. I can smell it" — his hand pressed blatantly over her womb — "coming from the deepest, secret part of you."
Goosebumps broke out along her flesh, and she suddenly felt hot all over. And angry too. His shameless arrogance only strengthened her will not to succumb to him. Keeping her voice quiet despite the flare of angry heat in her chest, she openly acknowledged her desire. "It's true that I find you attractive but, you're not the only male who has ever captured my eye. Ywain is just as good-looking and he's the man I chose to marry."
The demon's unexpected growl greeted her ears. "If you don't want to be fucked on top of Ares for your first time, then I suggest you keep your pretty mouth shut."
Dumbstruck by the raw hostility in his voice, Akila wisely heeded his words. It seemed the reminder of her betrothed wasn't welcomed, and she realized all this time, his displeasure towards her barely scratched the surface of his true temper.
What was it about Ywain that triggered his anger? Did Zagan perceive her betrothed as a threat to his throne, or did his anger hold a deeper meaning?
---------------
Upon their return to the castle, a surly-looking Mara awaited them at the main entrance. Her lips were pinched as she observed them dismounting the stallion. Beside the demoness was Akila's petite maid, Bennu.
Impatiently, Mara swept forward in a rush of heavy skirts. "Zagan, I was looking for you when the maid informed me you took the human out for a walk," she complained, her eyes shooting daggers at Akila who deliberately ignored her goading and slipped off the horse without assistance.
"What do you want Mara? I'm busy," Zagan demanded curtly, his silver eyes tracking Akila.
Annoyed that he wasn't paying her any attention, Mara sauntered to his side and staked her claim with a ferocious kiss, brazenly sucking on her master's tongue with a demonstrative display of possession that left Akila and Bennu blushing.
The sudden tightness in her chest made Akila turn her head away. Her conflicted emotions confused and frightened her. Zagan was her enemy. He meant nothing to her, and she shouldn't care whom he kissed.
"I missed you, Zagan. I want to feed from you today," Mara purred, gliding her red nails against the patch of exposed skin below his collarbone. "It's been awhile, and you didn't drink from me last night."
The tightness sharpened.
Akila knew now why he had left her tossing and turning the entire night — not — because she wanted him but because she dreaded wondering if he would appear. The questions she had tortured herself with seemed ridiculous now.
"I'll visit you later," Zagan casually lied, eyes narrowed on Mara's smug countenance. He was no fool. He knew what her game was, and he wasn't going to fall neatly into her plan. How strange that her deviousness used to amuse him, but not today. His gaze shifted to the little lamb who appeared unconcerned. If he dared to admit, he was upset by her placidity. "There's an issue I need to discuss with Balan, and I don't know how long it'll take."
Mara pouted at his lack of interest when usually he would pounce on the chance to feed and fuck her. Regardless, she knew better than to interfere with his decision. "Fine, but don't keep me waiting. I'll be wearing your favourite ensemble — nothing."
Akila was relieved when Mara sauntered off, waving off her cloying perfume. "Your mistress is a handful."
"Not as much trouble as you," he responded glibly, handing Ares's reins to the stable master.
She bristled in offense. "I am most certainly not troublesome."
"Oh, but you are proving to be," he muttered, turning to address the forgotten maid. "Bennu, please escort Akila back to her chamber. Under no circumstances is she or anyone else permitted in or out, and I'll be dining in her bedchamber tonight."
"Yes, master." The maid bobbed a swift curtsy.
"Why are you dining in my bedchamber?" Akila's brows rose in bewilderment.
Zagan's soft sigh betrayed his impatience. "Because my pet, we are going to get intimately acquainted with one another and tonight, you will be my main dish."
Even a fool would grasp his meaning. She swallowed hard, her face turning ashen. "You don't mean…"
"Oh, yes," he eagerly confirmed her greatest fear. "I've been waiting for this moment, and I won't be denied the pleasure of your blood."
She blinked rapidly; her tongue stuck to the roof of her mouth. "But...but...what about your mistress?"
"Mara is none of your concern," he dismissed her with the attitude of someone who always got what he wanted. Giving her one final scorching look — filled with lust and longing it sent shivers down her spine, he bid her in a silky tone. "Until the sun sets, little lamb."