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“Fine, laugh away, the big bad monsters kidnapping a lone female.”
Interesting, she isn’t telling us about her friend, probably to protect her. I hold up my hand to silence the laughter when it only seems to infuriate the tiny female. “You were trespassing,” I reply, my voice carrying easily across the space. Her eyes widen at it, and her tiny tongue darts out to wet her lips. I am enchanted by the movement, and I want to see it again. Everything about this human is small.
“My bad. I didn’t see any signs.” She shrugs.
“You’re bad?” I repeat with a frown.
She sighs and mutters under her breath, not realising we can clearly hear her. Are humans’ ears really that bad? “Remind me not to talk slang to the big bad monsters that want to kill me.”
“We don’t want to kill you,” I retort, leaning forward, placing my hands on my knees.
A ripple goes through the crowd, but I silence them with one look. She stiffens and raises her eyes to mine, searching them for the truth. “And why would I believe you?”
“I have not hurt you, have I? No, I saved your life.” I grin. “So, little human, what shall I do with you since you walked so easily into my land?”
She purses her lips for a moment as if she’s thinking over my words. “You could just let me go.”
I can’t help but grin as she smiles cheekily at me. This little human sure is funny. I’ve been dreaming of speaking to her for so long, and now that it’s finally happening, I’m greedy for her every glance, word, and reaction.
“That we cannot do. You know where we live now, and we cannot guarantee you won’t betray that to your people,” I respond easily, purposely not mentioning that I don’t want to let her go.
“My people?” She snorts bitterly. “Those humans beyond the wall aren’t my people. Most have either tried to rape me, kill me, or use me.”
I narrow my eyes as anger surges through me so fast, my tail stills before it starts to quiver. I push it back, not wanting to scare her. If what she says is true, it’s no wonder she spends so much time behind the wall with us monsters.
“We cannot trust any human.” Even as I speak the words for the benefit of my people, and a reminder to myself, they feel like a lie. “You will stay here until I have decided upon what to do.”
“Reigner.” One of my people, Astoff, grunts and steps forward, glaring at the human for a moment. “We should just kill her now, like we have the others who tried to hurt our people.”
“She is not like the others. Can’t you see that? She is not a soldier, she isn’t male, and she did not attack us, therefore I cannot justify killing an unarmed, non-threatening human female. Can you? Just because we look like the monsters they claim us to be, that does not mean we should act like it,” I snap, laying down my law on this. His head lowers in shame as he steps back.
“Of course. As you command, Reigner.”
“Reigner?” she repeats. “Is that your name?” She cocks her head, seemingly unafraid of the man next to her, who just tried to petition me for her death. Strange little human.
“No, it is a title given by my people,” I answer. The others stare at me in confusion, wondering why I am telling her this.
“I see. What is your name?”
I don’t answer her, and she sits up taller.
“Mine is Aria.”
Aria.I repeat it in my head, curling my tongue around the name, claiming it and her.
“Akuji,” I tell her, though it sounds nothing like how my people pronounce it.
She tilts her head at the growling third syllable of my name. “Yeah, I can’t say that.” She smirks. “I’m just going to call you Aku or Red.” She shrugs.
Why does the thought of this little human giving me a nickname make my cold dead heart fill with warmth for a moment?
I rub at the infernal organ as my people stir further. “Indeed. Well, Aria, come with me. You are bleeding, and it is making my people hungry. We shall heal your wound, and I can think of what to do with you.” With that, I stand to my full height.
She gulps, running her eyes up and down my body, and I can’t help but pose a little for her before I step closer and offer her my hand. I hear my people gasp and begin to whisper, but I ignore them, knowing I am breaking all of our protocols, our rules, for this little human.
She hesitantly takes it, and I haul her gently to her feet before patting her hand and turning. Without another glance, not wanting to seem too obsessed with the little human, I walk away. My people part as I stroll through their masses, and when I look back to check, I see her hurrying towards me. Her little legs are unable to keep up, so I slow my steps until she is behind me. My people reach out to touch her, but I snarl and they retreat.
Once free of the crowd, I move to the tunnel to the left of the main room—the entrance to my chambers and my chambers alone. A guard stands there, and he tilts his head in respect as I move past him, the little human in tow. I hear her stumble, and when I glance back, I find her looking around. She winces and blushes as she catches me watching and focuses on her feet, making me grin.
