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“Help me feed them.” He drops the bucket and grabs one of my hands, slopping the meat into my palm. I force back a gag as he scoops up his own shredded meat.
“This is Jenol,” he says as he offers the treat to a dog with two heads. “Arolath,” he gestures to one with spiked horns like his. “Ogdrech.” It has spiked sides. “Elzroth is one of my gentlest. Give her some of yours,” he insists.
I hold out my hand to the beast, and she licks at my skin gently, nipping to take the meat with her. Even though I can see her three rows of deadly teeth and her claws as thick and sharp as knives, she is careful with me.
“See? They aren’t mean creatures. They’re just misunderstood. Deep down, they are sweethearts, even if they look scary.”
His eyes are trained on the dogs, but I’m staring right at him. Coming here has shown him to me in a whole new light, and I see now that despite his kidnapping of me, he is still kind—far kinder than the dark elves and even some humans.
“Yes,” I murmur back to him as he feeds the dogs another piece of meat. “Sometimes people forget to look past appearances and see what is on the inside.”
“Exactly,” he answers, though I doubt we are talking about the same thing.
20
GIROTH
I’m funneling the dogs back inside when I feel Cora’s hand brush the underside of my wrist. I click the lock in place of the pen I’m standing in front of before turning to look at her.
Some of the hounds are still rushing around us, excited but exhausted from their run. I had let them loose outside to show her their skills, pride busting through me. I haven't managed to put them all back, yet, and I throw my hand out to command them to stop jumping on me.
Her blue eyes sparkle in the light pouring in, and in them, I see a certain sadness that I’ve been trying to ignore. Her eyebrows pinch together as I stare at her, her lips parting slightly.
I know she’s going to ask me another question I either can’t or won’t answer. Why can’t she just stop with all of it and enjoy some time with my beasts?
“Please let us go,” she breathes, and my mouth pulls down in a frown for the first time since I brought her here.
I suck in a deep breath and move to turn away, but she darts forward, grabbing me and this time not letting go. “Please, Giroth. I’m begging you.” Her eyes are pleading as she searches mine. “Please.”
I stiffen, clenching my jaw. Her voice is so soft and sweet, even as it trembles a little, and I hate the way that it makes my body react. My heart constricts as I take her in, and I open my mouth to respond.
The problem is I can’t. I can’t let her go. I can’t help her. So, I clamp my mouth shut instead. I should just be honest with her, tell her that there’s no way for me to let her go, that I couldn’t set her free even if I wanted to—which I refuse to admit that I do.
No, I’m too afraid to see her heart break plainly on her face when I tell her that she is a prisoner here with no other option. Instead, I turn away.
I almost scoff at the thought as it runs through my mind. I am a demon. I should not be afraid of anyone or anything. Others fear me. I am of the stories of nightmares, my beasts whispered about by only the bravest. There is no reason that a human should render me speechless.
I spin toward her with newfound resolve, but before I can tell her the truth, I see the sadness has only deepened. Her shoulders are curved under the weight of it, and it strikes me deep to my core to see her like that.
Clearing my throat, I try to smother my guilt and shame. I know I can’t tell her the truth, so instead, I ask her, “Why do you want to go back to your elvish masters?”
The raw emotion on her face captivates me as she answers, “Like any slave, I want to be free.”
My heart aches from the pained tremble in her voice and the crease between her brows. I feel like her pain echoes within me, and it destroys my resolve.
My mouth runs dry, and the only thing I can force out is, “Give me one second.”
I busy myself with putting the rest of the hounds away. They whimper and yip in protest, and I toss treats inside the pens to appease them. I needed to break away from her stare before I took her out of here and tried to save her myself.
I curse myself for caring so much. I don’t understand how this human has such a hold on me, but she does. It makes it hard for me to wipe the erratic thoughts from my brain as I finish up my work and turn to find her fidgeting close to the door.
With a sigh, I cross the room, motioning for my pups to fall silent instead of the excited howls as I move in their direction. Thankfully, they do as I ask, and I stop just in front of Cora.
“I haven’t answered your questions today,” I start, feeling my stomach tighten as her eyes lift to mine. “I feel you deserve to know the truth of your fate.” I swallow the lump forming in my throat as a shadow of fear passes over her face.
“I was sent on a mission by the Demon King to obtain human women. He has plans that involve you and those we brought with you.” I feel it’s important that she knows I want no part of this. “My only role was to bring you here. I was not supposed to let you out of that cell, and I certainly had no choice when it came to my involvement in the mission. The Demon King doesn’t leave much room for choice.”
Her voice is little more than a whisper, like mine, as she asks, “What kind of plans?”
