Total pages in book: 74
Estimated words: 69711 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 349(@200wpm)___ 279(@250wpm)___ 232(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 69711 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 349(@200wpm)___ 279(@250wpm)___ 232(@300wpm)
Claiming her wasn’t a mistake—I needed to mark her as mine, bind her to me always. What I didn’t anticipate was the depth of emotions the bond would make me suffer through. There must be a way to dull them, if not remove them completely.
Perhaps I shouldn’t spend so much time with her outside of the bedroom. After all, I don’t spend every waking moment with Plutus. Maybe that’s why he’s always so happy to see me.
I pluck a discordant note on the strings of my hriox, filling the room with a jarring twang.
My father always insisted that females should know their place. Renee does not, and it is my fault. By dining with her, having endless discussions with her, allowing her to meet another Hoo-man, I’ve obviously confused her. She is my pet. My plaything. A morsel for my sexual appetite. Nothing more. I must remind her of her place not with the physical dominance she so adores, but by withdrawing more. Spending more time as I used to—in my own company, relishing the solitude.
From now on, no matter how prettily she pleads, we will sleep apart. She will wait for me in her bedchamber, her thoughts focused on how she can entice me to stay by her side. And with space and time away from her, I will regain control over myself. No more a servant of the soul-bond, but a master.
In my mind’s eye, my father nods. He approves of this plan.
The hriox sings under my fingers, and I fall into playing a familiar melody. Beautiful, and sad. I play and play, ignoring the twinge in my chest that makes it hard to breathe.
“Here you are.” Renee stands in the doorway, her face half in shadow.
My fingers slip on the strings and the air echoes with the last sour note.
“I was looking for you.” She takes a small step forward then hesitates, her expression unreadable.
“And here I am,” I say, setting the hriox aside.
“What’s that?” Her gaze flicks to the ornate silver instrument.
“A hriox. My mother’s. She often played it.” The melancholy tune I just played was one of her favorites.
My pet approaches me slowly. “Maybe you could play it for me?”
“Another time.”
She rubs her head. “Krav… can we talk? There’s something I’ve been thinking about.”
I make no move to encourage her. I ache to reach for her, hold her close, but I will myself to be still. To treat her coldly. As a demon should. As my father would desire.
“It was after that orb call we had with Khan and Emma.” She settles on a nearby stool. “It’s about the whole kids thing.” Her gaze is on her hands, clenched in her lap. “See, I never thought it would be possible for me. First, because of my age, and because I couldn’t find any guy worthy of being my baby daddy back home. And then here, I ruled it out because I figured… well, we’re not even the same species. Sure, we can fuck, but I never thought we could…”
“Breed successfully?” I suggest when she trails off. My tone is deliberately cool. Disinterested. Conversations like this make me uncomfortable.
“Well, yeah.” She bites her lip. “But now I know otherwise. And it’s got me thinking… do you… would you ever… I mean, would you be happy if I got pregnant?” Her eyes are intent on me now. The ache in the bond is intensifying. I want to rub my chest but force myself to remain still.
“I have no desire for children,” I tell her. “So it won’t ever happen.”
She blinks. “Won’t ever happen? How can you know for sure?”
“Because I prevent it.”
“I’m sorry, what?”
“The same way I use a little magic to heal you after, to ensure I can fit inside you without causing you harm, I use magic to prevent any… consequences. To prevent my seed from taking root.”
Her eyes are wide, her fingers creep to her lips. They’re trembling. “Why?”
“As I said, I don’t want progeny. Demons don’t make good parents. Ulf knows, my father proved that.”
“But… why didn’t you tell me you were doing that?”
I’m baffled by her question. It never occurred to me. “Why should I?” She seems to be waiting for more of an explanation so I cast about. “You’re my pet, not my queen.”
She flinches as if I’d struck her. Her eyes are glistening. “All this time, I thought you were just emotionally unavailable. But now, I’m starting to wonder… do you even care about me?”
A crack forms in my chest at the accusation, but I infuse my voice with frost. “Of course I care. I see that you are sheltered and fed. I conjure pretty things for you. Ensure you’re clothed—albeit to my liking.” My gaze darts to her bare legs. “What else could you possibly desire?”
“That’s just it.” She rises and paces past me, knotting her fingers together. “I thought I could be content with that. Living here, surrounded by magic, with a guy who can fly—and who lets me explore my kinkiest fantasies with him. But I want more.” She stops in front of the window. Her posture changes—her shoulders draw back, her chin lifts. “I deserve more.”