“Let me go home, you fucking asshole! You don’t want me here, so just let me leave!”
He rolled his eyes, which only angered her further.
With a frustrated cry, she lunged at him, aiming the dagger at his chest.
He caught her wrist, his hold firm but gentle, halting her motion. Using his free hand, he pulled the dagger away from her and tossed it aside. Only then did he really look at her.
Fear shone in her eyes.The way she looked at him sickened him. He was supposed to protect her. Now, she’d see him as athreat.
His frown deepened. Frustrated, he took the easy way out and pushed his power into her once more. The compulsion rolled off him, dragging her under. It was invasive and controlling. A weapon.
And he’d just used it on someone he was meant to protect.
He winced as her body sagged and her eyes fluttered shut, fresh tears trailing down her cheeks.
Damn it.
He hadn’t needed to force her to sleep again. He could have explained, attempted honesty, but he’d made his decision.
He scooped her up, carried her back to the guest room, and laid her on the bed. He brushed a loose lock of hair off her face. A bead of moisture slid down her cheek. For reasons he didn’t want to acknowledge, he caught the last tear before it fell, lingering on her soft skin. Feeling the tear on his fingertip stirred a distant memory of caring. The memory vanished, leaving an ache he couldn’t brush off.
“Sleep, restless one.” He hated that it sounded tender.
This had to stop. From now on, he’d keep his distance. He’d let one of the other gods deal with her.
She was safer asleep.
Chapter eleven
ILIANA
Something warm and wet touched Iliana’s cheek, pulling her from sleep. Her hand collided with soft, short fur.
Her eyes popped open to find a black muzzle hovering inches from her face.
She was sure the hammering of her heart was loud enough for the dog to hear it. Any second now, it would lunge.
It didn’t. The dog pulled back, settling onto its haunches. It waited. Watching.
When no attack came, some of the tension left her shoulders. “Hello there,” she croaked, then cleared her throat and tried again. “Hello there, handsome. How did you get in here?”
The animal stayed perfectly still, staring at her with bright golden eyes.
She moved slowly, pushing herself up as her muscles protested, her body stiff from staying in bed for too long.
The dog stood at chest height with the bed, so large it caught her breath. It cocked its head, curious rather than aggressive, watching her with intelligence beyond a normal animal.
Did he send this dog in here to prevent her from trying to escape again?
As the thought crossed her mind, she caught a subtle aroma, like incense. It was odd. She’d expected wet fur, or…something worse.
She wanted to scream in frustration, to charge out of the room and confront the man again, but changing tactics was her only way to move forward. She wasn’t foolish enough to barge past the dog or repeat her failed attempts at escape.
Her last conversation with her captor resurfaced, her accusations. The strange loss of control and the way she felt pulled to sleep when he spoke. The unnatural speed when he’d stopped her attack. Not a human? She scowled.
Drugs. It was the only explanation that didn’t make her brain hurt.
She stretched. Dizziness struck, and she steadied herself against the bed.How long had she been asleep? Her full bladder suggested it had been quite a while.
