VANESSA
The next time I opened my eyes, I was surrounded by dim golden lights, soft fur beneath my fingers and complete silence.
My fingers went up to touch the side of my neck to feel for blood but came up empty.
What did he do to me?
I realized to my horror that my movements had been restricted and I was truly trapped in this place.
He meant every word.
"Fuck!" The word burst out of me. "Fuck me! Fuck this!" No matter how hard I pulled, the chains wouldn't budge.
I was well and truly fucked. Not only would the Serpent Sisters be disappointed, they'd find my head if the seven night ultimatum elapsed and I still hadn't completed my assigned task.
And Nyra…oh, I didn't want to think about the look in her eyes before she'd take my head off.
What the fuck was wrong with that deranged man? Why couldn't his death be as easy as the past ones?
"Because you underestimated him, you whore," I swore aloud to the empty room, bemoaning my ill-luck.
Forcing a calmness I didn't feel, I studied the chains clasped around my wrist, taking note of how I could slip my way out.
The iron clasps were small around my wrist. Lucky me, my hand was smaller.
There was only one way, I thought to myself, staring at my thumbs. Agonizing, but I needed to get out of here fast.
Without hesitation, I tucked my thumb into my palm and slammed the side of my hand against the headboard.
There was a sickening pop as the joint gave way, sending a white-hot spike of pain shooting up and down my arm.
I repeated the same for the other hand.
By the time I was done, copper had filled my mouth from biting down too hard.
Now, for the hard part…I gripped the displaced thumbs and gave them a sharp yank.
Pain flashed everywhere white as the bone seated itself. A scream died in my throat, swallowed back before it could reach the surface.
I forced the pain somewhere into a lidded box in the back of my mind and tried to focus on my escape. When I tried to stand, I found my legs had been chained in tighter clasps too.
The door opened just in time, revealing a very put-together Leonidas in his regal uniform, looking every bit like the man I wanted to fuck and less the beast I almost killed.
I hid my hands behind me.
"I'm sorry about the chains. I didn't want you roaming about the palace."
He'd fool anyone else but me. "Why are you doing this?"
He cocked his head. "I'm not sure I understand your question."
"To what gain is holding me hostage? Why don't you just kill me already? You know, cut off my head and hang it on a stake so everyone would see and take lessons. The whole tough ruler charade."
He laughed, a rich timbre that tickled at all my senses. Especially the one that'd been going haywire for the past two days now.
"Did you think I waited that long only to hang my mate with my own hands?" He shook his head. "That's not me. Believe me, you're safer here. If only you knew."
"No, I'm not!" I snapped, then realizing that shouting won't solve anything, I softened my voice. "Why are you holding me hostage? Don't give me that nonsense about mates. Those only occur in silly fantasy books."
His gaze turned serious, then he walked over.
"You're bleeding. Let me see it."
I found myself presenting my hands in front of him…against my will.
"You tried to escape. You're a tough little thing, aren't you? Let me take care of that for you."
Stroking my trembling hands, he cradled them in his large ones and lifted to his face.
Almost immediately, the pain slowly faded until it was gone. Afterwards, he pressed a kiss to each of my hands.
Stunned, I asked, "So what the fuck just happened?"
"Usually, I'd punish traitors. But given the circumstances, I can't. I'm ready to accept you if you'll have me, but the beast doesn't trust you. He wants you dead. Not me."
The beast wasn't a hard character to forget, especially as he tried to kill me hours ago.
Nyra's warning rang in my ear like an alarm bell. Leonidas' true identity was even all the more reason to finish him and I'd rather die trying.
How can beasts rule over humans? Was the natural order not the other way round?
"So what do I need to do to earn your beast's trust?" Came my next words.
A corner of his lips tipped up in a very mischievous smile. It turned my insides into mush, reminding me of the one man I truly panted after.
"What do you think?"
I smiled knowing fully well that the thoughts I had in mind were not at all noble. They were the best weapons in my arsenal and he just gave me approval to use them.
I held his gaze for a second hoping he read my intentions from my eyes.
"Careful now," he murmured low, sounding amused. "You look like you're about to do something reckless."
I let out a soft, deliberate laugh and tilt my head to study him. "Reckless? You don't even know the half of it."
Eyes darkening with a hunger I was well versed in, he took a step closer toward the bed.
"Let's be honest." I leaned in slightly so only he could hear the next words. "I do not earn trust. I take it."
His smile stretched wider this time. "Is that so?"
My heart began racing fast which I knew he could hear. But drowning in this lust I'd tried to tame, I didn't care.
"It depends on who I'm dealing with."
And like that, I let my gaze drag over his body. Slow and purposeful. Pushing aside my true opinions for one night only.
I already knew how far I was willing to go to achieve my aim, and I knew he was dying to find out.