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“Go on!” Briar insisted, folding her arms under her breasts, but I couldn’t leave it alone.
“Just out of curiosity, why do you think you’re here?”
The query took her aback, and she sputtered for a moment before responding.
“You’re a demon!” she answered matter-of-factly when she’d found her voice. My brow rose in confusion.
“So?”
“Who knows why any of you soulless beings do anything that you do?! You don’t need a reason to kidnap innocent women.”
“Ah.” I snickered and opened the door, seeing myself into the hall where Draven remained, staring straight ahead.
When I locked the door again, I turned to the guard, mildly bemused. On a whim, I asked him the question on my mind. “Is she always that irritating?”
“Yes, sir.”
I nodded, swallowing my smile. I was conflicted by the way Briar made me feel, and I hoped Draven didn’t notice. I turned away again but hesitated, feeling like I should leave more instructions before heading off for good.
“Make sure she’s unharmed and has everything she needs—no matter how annoying she is.”
Draven nodded again, his eyes fixed fully forward.
“Yes, sir.”
I couldn’t resist looking at the closed cell door before wandering out of the prison wing and into the massive courtyard leading toward the main grounds, where my house stood in the distance. It was a rare night when the moon shone brightly in the sky overhead, its glow shining a bright light over the sprawl of my compound, illuminating every building easily.
The farther I got away from Briar’s cell, the more my amusement faded until I was back in my quarters and no longer smiling. My mouth hurt as the last of my grin faded, and I found myself embarrassed by the understanding that I’d been so enthralled by her in the first place.
That bastard better get his payment in order,I growled silently.The sooner she’s out of here, the better.
Chapter5
Briar
Ididn’t realize I was hyperventilating until several minutes after Ash left me alone, and by then, I had worked myself into such a frenzy, my breathing exercises weren’t working.
How dare he talk about my father like that! Ash had said that Father had done very bad things. That was impossible. Father had done nothing but help people since before I was born! Leave it to a demon to bastardize even the most giving people in this world.
I was rattled, not only by Ash’s accusations, but also by the force he’d had on me. Again, I reminded myself that demons were magical that way and had ways of manipulation that the rest of us didn’t know or understand. The hot flashes running through me at that moment had nothing to do with attraction. I wasn’t envisioning his angry, pouty mouth on mine, that tantalizing campfire smell overwhelming me to send prickles of desire through my nether regions.
Oh, gods. Did I just think “nether regions”? He really did put a spell on me.
I closed my eyes and settled back against the cot, ignoring the flickering of the lantern perched on the side table. It hadn’t bothered me earlier, but suddenly, it irked me from behind my closed eyes, fueling the rapid beating of my heart until I turned over on my side to face the wall, eyes still firmly closed.
Forget about Ash and his demon ways. They have nothing to do with you.
But he did rouse a very good point, one I couldn’t easily ignore. Demon or not, beings didn’t just kidnap other beings without reason. Ash had given me a time frame, although I wasn’t sure I believed in “three weeks,” not when it sounded like it wasn’t going to be three weeks at all. If he had intentions to sell me or worse, why wait?
This had absolutely nothing to do with Father. Ash was only trying to confuse me. Or maybe he was trying to turn me against Father. Yes, that was it!
Although I wasn’t sure I understood that, either. None of this made sense, and the more I attempted to patter through it, the more confusing it got.
The door opened again, and I turned around, shocked that it was morning already. To my surprise, it wasn’t Draven who showed up at the threshold. And this male wasn’t holding a tray of food, either.
“Who are you?” I asked warily, sitting up quickly.
Instantly, my senses were on fire, my instincts distrusting of the leer forming over the thin lips of this newcomer.
