“Listen—"
“No, YOU listen!” My knife was in his face, my eyes flashing. “No one touches me without my permission. Got it?” I tilted the blade, my eyes roving over his body.
“Fine,” he said sullenly, his shoulders drooping. “But the deal’s off unless I get something from you. I don’t appreciate being humiliated.” His eyes had that odd shine to it again, and I made a sound of disgust in my throat.
“It’s your choice, but I wanted to talk to you more about the lykos and D’Arcy.”
I glared at him, sitting down stiffly on the bench in front of my bed.
“You know, you’re more like your uncle than your brother after all.” A slow smile curled across his features. “I’ll take that as a compliment.”
I was tempted to tell him not to, but I let him think what he wanted. Something was rotten with D’Arcy, and Bair was acting like he knew what it was. I needed him on my side; he was the missing link between D’Arcy and Benedict. If I had to act a little distastefully to get what I needed, then that’s what I would do. Not all heroic actions were done with swords and bold words, after all.
I sat back passively on the bench, jerking as he withdrew a coil of rope from his waist. He scoffed.
“You think I’m going to let you stab me like Benedict or Trego? I don’t think so. Let me tie you up, or I’m leaving.”
My palms grew moist, but I allowed him to tie my wrists behind my back and empty my sheaths, throwing my daggers across the room. If I needed to, one scream would have four other drakens racing in here to beat him senseless. It couldn’t hurt to remind him.
“One sound from me and the others will be here, preparing your skins for my next dress.”
Bair snorted, running a finger down the contour of my chest, and then up to trace my lips. He leaned in close, and images of D’Arcy and Benedict flashed before me. I cringed when he sniffed me.
“I think you’ll be screaming another way.” He taunted, pushing me back on the bench, and bending down to meet me. He slid into his draken form, his fangs grazing the side of my cheek. I inhaled sharply, and he smirked against my ear.
“I think you like me.”
Not the total truth, but I could work with it; he might underestimate me.
“Maybe,” I admitted, “but you are not my mate. Try it, and I swear to the gods Benedict will be here faster than you could cum.”
I didn’t expect the smack to my face. The stinging pain caught me off guard as I turned my head with the force of the blow, my hair hanging down over my face. I started giggling uncontrollably. Some men’s egos were so fragile, it was laughable. He grabbed my jaw with his clawed hand, squeezing hard. The edges of his claws dug into the soft skin near my jawline.
“I could rip your head from your body before you could even scream.”
“You whisper those same sweet nothings to all the females you tie down and threaten? Oh right, there are no others so maybe you should be more polite.”
His body collided against mine, and I was unable to do anything as he thrust against me, twitching in disgust as he wetly kissed my neck.
“I could make you feel things Benedict never could, if you let me.”
If only he knew. I pulled against the rope, but it was too tight.
“Kindly go fuck all of the way off, take a break, then continue to fuck off even further.”
He grabbed the front of my tunic, ripping the neckline.
“It’s ridiculous the amount of clothing draken males destroy,” I remarked coolly.
His rage was simmering, bubbling just beneath the surface.
“Let’s take this outside, shall we?” He asked, while I wriggled in discomfort.
“Cut the rope, and I’ll go willingly with you.”
Something shifted in his eyes, and to my surprise he ripped through the rope on my feet with his claws. I didn’t have time to respond as we disappeared, his grip on my upper arm tight. My arms stayed tied behind my back as I stumbled against him.
“Human eyes are bad, aren’t they?” He said viciously, and I longed for my daggers. I took a deep breath. I needed to stay calm and deescalate the situation. I couldn’t win this way, unarmed and far away from the others.
“Sorry, I’m a bit edgy.”
He exhaled through his nose but was much gentler as he guided me towards the source of light up ahead. We were in a dark passageway, but the scent of the air made me think we were close to the outside. The light up ahead confirmed it.
“I’m not sure who knows about this cave. It overlooks the entire cliff; it's a great view at sunrise.” It was clear he was trying to impress me with the number of times he’d snuck out. I wondered how I could get him to release my hands. The mouth of the cave must have faced east, because the most magnificent view greeted us as we approached the edge, the sun bathing us in its warmth. I could see for miles down the expanse of forest in front of us, seemingly untouched by the war and those involved in it.
“Wow.”
Bair grumbled beside me.
“And just think; all this world out here, and we’re stuck in there.” He gave a petulant glance back to the mountain, and I frowned.
“Surely there’s a reason. Does it have to do with the protection Rhyfel cast?”
He jerked next to me, surprised.
“Now I know Benedict wasn’t the one who told you that.” I shot him a look, and he shook his head.
“He’s good at that you know; telling you just enough to make you feel
