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“Confident. That’s the word I would use.”
I stared at this creature across from me, a monster that had a beautiful face, a beautiful body, but an enormous void inside his chest. “If I were to cooperate and we did discover a cure for my people…would you let me go?”
Silence. An eternity of it.
I waited, unsure what he was thinking or if he was thinking at all. His face was hard, and his emotions were subdued.
“Every prey I’ve ever had has fulfilled their use. Their taste grows stale, and soon, I crave something different. Once I’ve grown bored of your taste, I will release you. What you choose to do at that time is your concern.”
“You don’t kill your prey when you’re finished with them?”
“No. They usually become prey to someone else. Or they leave.” He studied my gaze, watched me work out the information he’d just given me. “Contrary to what you’ve been told, we’re not monsters. We don’t kill humans unless by accident. We’re no different than fisherman. After we’ve made our catch, we toss it back into the water.”
The comparison was a stretch, but I kept my opinion to myself. “You give me your word? You’ll let me go?”
He held my gaze for a long time before he gave a subtle nod. “Yes.”
I didn’t know him well enough to trust his word, but honorable kings kept their promises—and he seemed honorable.
“I can’t force you to do this.”
My arms crossed over my chest.
“Because if I do, there’s a good chance I’ll kill you.”
When I pictured myself submitting to his bite, I was filled with self-loathing. But if there really was a possibility this could lead to the salvation of my people…it would be selfish to refuse.
“I need you to submit to me completely.”
That was an impossible task.
“Can you do that?”
My hands automatically rubbed up and down my arms, fighting the chill that suddenly crept into the room. My entire life, I’d been warned about the horrors of these creatures, and to allow yourself to be bitten…was unspeakable.
“You can trust me, Larisa.”
“Trust you how?”
“Trust that I won’t kill you.” He hadn’t moved in the last ten minutes, hadn’t even blinked. His snakelike qualities became more apparent the longer I was in his presence. “Trust that you’ll enjoy it.”
I was horrified that I was actually considering this.
“Will you let me, Larisa?”
My heart had picked up in speed, and the fast rate made me a little sick. My palms were suddenly clammy even though this place was eternally chilly. I suddenly felt hot, like the sun could pierce through the clouds and solid wall. “Yes…I’ll let you.”
