I’m not a spiteful male. I perform my duties, protect my king, and train with my men.
But I can’t ignore the gratification I feel at seeing this vindictive female at my mercy.
It makes something tighten in my stomach, and I run my gaze over her, from her flushed face, to the pale skin above her dark-gray dress, to the worn boots on her feet.
She makes a strangled sound, beating those feet against my bed, and I laugh.
From the look on her face, she’s planning my murder.
A spark of interest ignites before I can dampen it. It has been many years since I was concerned with anything other than protecting Arix from the numerous attempts on his life.
“Let me tell you what will happen now,” I say, and Sarissa narrows her eyes at me. They’re the strangest color—neither green nor blue but somehow both at once.
“You will sleep in here, as you can’t be trusted not to attempt to sneak out of this castle and I need to rest before our journey.”
Her eyes flash at me, and I can’t help but grin. I haven’t felt this light for days.
“That’s correct. I’m going with you. We leave at dawn, so I suggest you get some sleep.”
She gives me a look so scathing that if I were a lesser male, I would wither under it.
“If you agree not to scream, I will remove your gag. Not that anyone would come for you, but it’s time for me to rest.”
She nods, and I lean forward. Her legs tremble, her feet twitching as if she is fighting the impulse to kick me in the head, and I almost smile. This female is not stupid. If she knocks me out, she will be stuck in this room, gagged and bound, until I awake. And then I will be furious.
“Look,” she says when I untie the gag, “why don’t you just tell Arix you went to get me but I’d already escaped?”
Her tone is cajoling, as if she’s attempting to reason with me, and I almost laugh.
Instead, I slowly shake my head. “No. I have made a deal with Arix. If I take you back to Rakiz’s camp, he’ll give me something I very much want.”
Her eyes sharpen with interest. “And what do you want?”
“That doesn’t concern you.”
Her lips thin, and her ire makes my shoulders lighten with amusement.
“I can’t sleep like this,” she says.
“Too bad.”
“Korzyn. My hands will be damaged if I sleep with them like this. This rope is cutting off my circulation.”
I’m not an idiot. She’s hoping I will free her and she will somehow escape. However, Vivian will be upset if her cousin is damaged, and when Vivian is upset, Arix is enraged.
“Roll onto your side.”
She thinks about it for a moment but finally complies. Her tiny feet shift, likely as she again debates whether to kick me, and I feel the strangest urge to…laugh.
She huffs out a breath as she turns over, and I take another long piece of material, tying it around her right wrist.
“Make a fist.”
She does, letting out a snort when I loosen it slightly.
“Have a lot of experience tying up women, baby?” The human endearment is heavy with sarcasm, and I grit my teeth.
“If there was ever a female who deserved to be tied to a male’s bed, it’s you.”
She lets out a strangled noise, and I push her onto her front, enjoying her muffled growl. I tie the other end of her new tether to my bedpost before removing the cloth tying her hands together. Since I’m a merciful male, I allow her to have one hand free so she can sleep easier.
I withdraw as she flips onto her back. She glances up at where the material is attached to my bed and again rolls her eyes.
I study her face. She seems entirely too calm.
“Where are your weapons?” I ask.
“Hmm?”
From the lift of her eyebrow, she’s attempting to pretend indifference. That means the female probably has at least one knife hidden somewhere. A knife she would likely use to free herself before castrating me in retaliation.
I smile. “You know, the guards are still talking about the way your cousin killed Bevix. A poisoned dagger. Brutal yet elegant. Not only did she get the poison in his bloodstream, but Arix said the way she threw that knife at his throat was a thing of beauty.”
Pride flashes in Sarissa’s eyes. “Vivian has always had exceptionally good aim.”
My smile widens. “You know what I found most interesting about that?”
“I’m sure you’re going to tell me.”
“No one knew she had a knife. Otherwise, our enemies would have taken it from her.”
From the rage burning in the hellion’s eyes, she knows exactly what’s going to happen next. She lets out a shriek, and when I push up her dress, this time she does kick out.
I freeze. Her thighs are pale, toned, and ridiculously smooth. But from her knees down, long scars trail across her shins, onto the tops of her feet.
“What happened here?” The long white scars wind around her legs like ropes. A small part of me pities her. The pain must have been excruciating.
“None of your business.”
Her other hand is free, and she aims it at my head, growling when I catch it.
“Let me go, perv.”
I smile at the sheath strapped to her thigh. “Is this knife dipped in poison?”
“You’ll find out when you least expect it,” she vows, and I laugh.
She stares at me, likely unused to hearing me make such a sound. Truthfully, I’m also unused to making it.
“Where are your other weapons?”
She clamps her mouth shut, and I sigh. I check her boots next, encountering not one but two small daggers. I run my hands up her arms, finding another knife. I frown at the long piece of metal wrapped around her upper arm.
“Jewelry,” she tells me, and I sigh, removing the metal band. While even I can admit this female is beautiful, there’s no doubt
