GORVANE'S POV
The hall fell silent as all eyes turned to me, widened with fear.
Kaerith cocked her head, her gaze locked onto me. She didn't flinch.
Vythea froze, the dagger raised over Kaerith's heart. Rhazien's grin slipped, his face tightening.
"My Lord!" they chorused, their voices trembling.
Rhazien bowed instantly, his head dropping low. Even Vythea, though her lips pulled back in a snarl.
Velcira, ever composed, knees dropped to the floor, her head lowered in a deep bow in immediate submission.
I stepped forward, my gaze locked on Vythea, and I saw her tremble. Good. She dared to mess with me.
"She is mine," I warned. "Dare to touch her."
The dagger in Vythea's hand was still poised above Kaerith's chest. Rhazien gasped, signaling Vythea.
My eyes were pinned on Kaerith, the way she clenched her jaw. The way her body went rigid. I could smell the fear in the beads of sweat on her forehead.
The fact that everyone in the room bowed their heads low, but Kaerith's eyes glared on me.
It thrilled me. I stepped closer.
"Why don't you fear me?" a growl escaped from my lips. "Why aren't you on your knees like the rest?"
Not waiting for a response, I turned, my gaze locked on Vythea. "You. Wait…" my voice a dangerous rumble. "I will deal with you later."
Vythea's face paled. She slowly lowered the dagger, her eyes darting between me and Kaerith.
Vythea's head bowed lower. "As you command, my king," she said, her voice tight.
I moved to the edge of the mattress, my eyes on Kaerith. She looked away from me. Her gaze was locked on the ceiling, her breathing calm, as if she was already somewhere else.
I stood over Kaerith, close enough to smell the salt of her sweat, and the faint copper of her blood.
"Why did you survive?" My hands shook at my sides, my claws itching to touch her.
"Ask the gods." her gaze still locked on the ceiling.
I leaned closer, my breath stirring the hair at her temple as I circled her. My muscular shoulders blocked out the dimmed lightening as I studied her face, every twitch of her lips, every flicker of her eyes. Her breath came in ragged gasps, but she didn't turn away.
I could smell her fear, but it was buried deep. It felt like a fear she had lived with all her life.
I wanted to tear it out of her, and see what lay beneath.
"You will not die today," I crossed my hands behind my back. "You are not allowed to die. Do you understand?"
She said nothing, but her fingers twitched again.
I straightened, turning my gaze to Vythea. "You will answer for this later," I said.
She bowed again, her mouth a thin line.
I looked once more at Kaerith, at the way her chest rose and fell. She wasn't meant to be alive, but now she's alive…she's mine.
"You will bring her to me," I said to Velcira, who knelt at my feet, shaking.
"My king, she is… not stable," Velcira stammered. "She must undergo the rites—"
I snarled, cutting her off. "I said bring her to me. She will not be touched."
Velcira's mouth opened, but no words came. My gaze pinned her in place.
"She will come to me," I said again, each word deliberate. "But no one will touch her. No one will mark her but me."
A hush fell over the room, even the Woundmaidens who had walked in to deliver supplies for Velcira shrank back, their eyes wide with fear.
Kaerith's breathing quickened, but she didn't speak. She just watched me, her eyes defiant and bright. I couldn't look away.
Deep down, I wanted to know what laid beneath that calmness. What would make her break? What would make her scream?
But more than that, I wanted to know why she wasn't reacting to pain.
As Velcira scurried on her feet, I leaned closer. The tips of my claws hovered near Kaerith's throat.
I watched the way her breath caught, the way her pulse fluttered like a trapped bird. So fragile, and full of life.
Oh…how I loved the fun.
I inhaled deeply, drawing in the scent of her fear. It was different from the other girls I had fucked. I wondered if she knew what I saw when I looked at her.
I saw the little girl, beaten down by the weight of her bloodline. I saw the warrior that never was, caged by a pack that called her worthless. I saw the fire in her that refused to die, and I wanted to possess that fire. To hold it in my hands and feel it burn me.
But more than that, I wanted to keep it alive.
I realized that was the difference. All my life, I had devoured and destroyed. But with Kaerith, I wanted to watch. To see how far she could go before she would break. To see if she would ever break at all…
"Leave us," I commanded.
They hesitated but obeyed, leaving us alone. When they were gone and the hall was silent, I stood over her.
"Do you know who I am?" I trailed my claws down her chest.
She hissed. "The beast that fucked me…so bad I saw the devil."
"Oh, little Nyx."
I shifted part of my body into my beast form, and she stared directly at me, at the beast that I allowed to bleed through my human facade.
There was no flicker of recognition in her gaze. There was no sign that she contained my monstrous form with the… encounter in the vein bed. It was as if she had already faced her greatest fears and found them wanting.
Suddenly, I had the desire to delve into her mind, to taste her fear, and… observe.
My claws paused on her breast, yet she met my gaze without trembling.
"You intrigue me," my voice was rough. "You should be broken, yet you resist."
She remained silent, her eyes never leaving mine.
I reached out, my clawed hand hovering near her face. She remained still.
I squatted beside the bed, "Why aren't you afraid?" I whispered into her ears.
Still, no answer.
I leaned closer. I stepped back the moment I inhaled her scent, trying to regain my control.
"You will come to me," I said. "Not as a prisoner. As my slut. My feeding source. My slave."
She narrowed her eyes, a flicker of anger crossing her face. "I am literally your prisoner."
I spoke. "You stand in the shadow of your ancestors' betrayal, yet you do not bow."
Kaerith's eyes flickered, "Why do I have to pay for the crimes of what I know nothing about? For people who never accepted me as one of them?"
"You're defiant. Let's see how you keep up with that. You wear your scars like armor," I continued. "But I see the fear in your eyes."
I leaned closer, my breath stirring the strands of her hair. "You think I want your flesh," I scoffed. "But I want more. I want to see you stripped bare— of your clothes, yes. But, I also want you to strip off your lies… off your walls. I want to see what you are when everything else is gone."
I saw how she swallowed hard, her throat bobbing. I almost smiled. We're getting started.
My claws retracted, my hand hovering near her cheek. I didn't touch her, and I wouldn't. Not yet. The anticipation was too sweet.
"Rhazien. Velcira. Bring her." I turned towards the entrance, gesturing for them to come in.
Velcira walked in and paused a few steps away from me, like she was protective of Kaerith. I wondered what bond she wanted to form with her.
"Lift her," I commanded, my voice brooking no argument.
Velcira and Rhazien exchanged nervous glances before carefully lifting Kaerith from the mattress. Kaerith's body was limp, and fragile.
Rhazien signalled to Velcira. "I'll take care of her."
Velcira hesitated, then let go. Rhazien hoisted Kaerith over his shoulder, her body folding easily. Kaerith's eyes met mine as she bit her lips, her eyes piercing.
"Take her to my chambers," I ordered.