“Well, well,” a voice sang. “The little flame finally cooled.”
Iris.
Her laughter was sugar sweet, yet there was no warmth in it.
She stood near the foot of the bed, purple hair framing her perfectly structured face. Her violet eyes were glowing now, her demon side finally creeping through. Beside her wasanother demon; tall, broad shouldered, his skin dark with a bronze shimmer and eyes like liquid amber. The way he watched me made my stomach twist.
“You shouldn’t be here,” I said, my voice raw.
Iris smiled wider. “The King said nomarking,not nofun.Don’t worry, flame, we’re only here to… get to know you a little, test your patience, right Dirthraz?”
Dirthraz, moved closer. He said nothing, only studying me like a craftsman judging the tension of a wire before it breaks. His presence was worse than hers. Quiet, detached, like he lacked interest and goal, and he stank of blood as if he had bathed in it.
Iris leaned against the bed frame, eyes digging into me, her words like claws just beneath the skin.
“He must be something special, that half-breed who touched you. You still reek of him.”
My eyes slid to hers, hatred burning through me enough to ignite my shoulders, like a mantle of fire. Dirthraz noticed, his eyes locking in on it as he reached and—
I screamed.
His claws pierced through my shoulder as if trying to sever the flames from me. It only made me burn brighter, fire rising untamed above me, scorching against his hand. But he didn’t move, like he felt nothing.
“Interesting,” Dirthraz said, but his voice was the only thing changing, his expression remained bored.
“I wonder if the half-demon would still want you if he saw you now,” Iris continued taunting me, grinning wickedly next to Dirthraz.
“It seems her emotions are entwined with her flames,” he said, his voice flat but the way his eyes began to glow made it obvious he was intrigued, as he took a few steps back.
“Who cares?” Iris snorted, stroking two fingers across my cheek. “I’m here for your screams, not to understand you. Your screams tell me more than your words after all.”
My flames roared, devouring her hand in an instant. She pulled it back quickly, a fracture of a doubt crossing her face before she smiled again. “Feisty one. Tell me, do you think the half-breed will fight a King for you?” She tilted her head at me.
Each question landed like a spark next to a fuse. My power stirred, the fire whispering beneath my ribs, it wanted to consume them.
But I held back, breathing and waiting, making the flames calm down somewhat. But they continued caressing along my skin, a promise of protection.
Iris trailed a clawed fingertip up my arm, until she reached where Dirthraz had struck me. She brushed off blood that trickled down and licked it off her finger. I refused to show any reaction. That, at least, was mine to keep.
Zinlia’s voice echoed faintly in my memory, ‘she feeds on reaction’.
So I gave her none.
“Hmm, how can something be so utterly sweet and spicy at the same time?” she mused.
“You’re not supposed to taste,” Dirthraz reminded her blankly.
Iris glared at him. In a swift movement she swung her hand towards my thigh, claws extending from her nails into black thorns that pierced into my flesh.
I hissed, biting my lower lip hard to avoid letting her have my emotions, my pain.
Dark shadows, with a purple hue encircled her hand infusing her power into my wound. The pain multiplied, becoming unbearable as my thigh tensed and I screamedbefore I managed to muffle it. Tears burned at the corners of my eyes, but I denied them as well.
Iris’ grin widened, becoming unnatural even for her own face, it was too wide, like something from a nightmare.
She quickly withdrew, causing her claws to rip even more skin from my flesh and shepantedwith excitement as her eyes registered every struggle I let slip.
“Shit… I might grow to like playing with you,” she sneered.
