I gaze at the cowering human at the opposite end of the room, taking in her frightened eyes and quivering lip, wondering how I could have been so dense.
I must show her I am friendly.
I pull my lips back to showcase all of my fine white teeth. I have read about members of her kind greeting each other this way, and I hope mysmilegives a good first impression.
“Hello,” I say, making sure to keep my teeth bared. “You smell delicious.”
In response, she screams in terror, curling her arms over her head in a protective embrace.
Huh… maybe the smile was a bad idea.
I allow my face muscles to relax as I take a small step closer to her quivering form. “I didn’t mean to startle you… My name is Nyx.” My eyes catch on the metal collar around her slender neck, the chain attached to the wall, keeping her caged in this room. “I’m assuming you’ve met Rhune…”
She straightens slightly, taking her plump lip between her teeth as she gives me a nod. “He kidnapped me.”
A smirk tugs at the corner of my mouth. “Rhunestoleyou? What a naughty boy...”
I move closer to her—drawn by her scent, her aura, the beautiful green tint to her eyes. I want to touch her, to see if her skin is as soft as it looks, see if she tastes the way she smells…
Unable to contain my curiosity, I reach a clawed hand out toward her face, pinching a chunk of her dark hair between my fingers. The strands flow over my skin like fine silk, and a shiver runs the length of my spine as I imagine shoving my face into her heavenly mane.
“What is your name, little human?” I ask, gazing deep into her deep green pools. There’s fear there, and curiosity, plus something darker lying just beneath the surface.An ocean of sadness, pain, and heartache—so vast and deep, it makes my chest hurt to look at it.
“Willow,” she answers in a soft voice. “Willow Wood.”
“Why are your eyes so sad, Willow?”
She lowers her gaze, her bottom lip quivering ever so slightly. “I didn’t know they were…”
She’s lying. And yet, I don’t feel a need to press her. Not yet. Not while she has Rhune’s ugly collar around her neck.As I look at the collar again, a powerful wave of jealousy rises within me, heating my blood and causing my inner beast to let out a snarl.
“Let’s get those chains off you. I bet you’ll feel better.”
I pull from the river of magic lying deep in my soul, pulling just enough to snap the thick link connecting Willow’s collar to the chain. The links clatter to the floor, and Willow lets out a relieved sigh.
“What about this?” she asks, touching the strap around her neck.
“Hmm.” I reach up to cup her jaw, turning her face side to side gently. “I think I like you better with it on.”
She scowls, jerking away from my touch. The absence leaves me cold and empty, and there’s a tugging sensation in my chest I don’t know what to do with.
“If you’re not going to take it off, then you can leave.”
My chest rumbles with a laugh. “You don’t want company?”
She crosses her arms over her chest, all of her earlier meekness replaced with a fiery anger. “Not particularly. I’d rather go home.”
I tsk. “I’m afraid I can’t help you there. Rhune would be awfully upset if he came home to find his treasure missing.”
She swallows hard, some of the fire leaving her eyes as she gazes around the room. “Has he brought other humans here?”
“No. Dravik would have his head. This is a first.” My eyes darken with hunger. “You must be very special…”
“Dravik? Is that another demon that lives here?” she asks, deflecting from the latter half of my statement.That’s okay.
“Yes,” I answer. “Dravik is the leader around here. At least, that’s what he says if you ask him.”
“Any more dangerous nightmares I should know about?”
