Page 88 of Mated to Monsters
But then the short one caves, nodding at the tall one. The tall one sucks in his breath nervously, but steps aside. He waves his hand, gesturing that I should pass. Then both of their eyes dart around, taking in the scene to see if there are any witnesses of their discretion.
My hand, which was tense and ready for action, goes slack. I won’t need my weapon. In a way, I’m almost disappointed. My anger has driven me into a feral, animalistic state. A small part of me had hoped for a fight to satisfy my lust for blood.
They’re not my target, I remind myself, striding between them and entering the circle of houses. I have no doubt that I’m going to get the fight I desire, and I don’t need to waste my time on them.
The storm clouds overhead ensure that it’s dark. It’s always dark here, thanks to them. But it feels even dimmer than usual. My eyes glow, looking for a sign that will lead me to Laura.
I observe each house, moving studiously, trying to discern which one belongs to Yedina. I thought I’d know it right away, but I’m starting to grow anxious. Where is she?
And then I lock in, my target in sight.
54
LAURA
The cold bite of metal against my wrists is the first thing I sense upon waking. The second it the terrible reek of sex, which forces me to open my eyes.
I don’t recognize this place.
There’s little light here, but from what I can parse out in the dimness, it’s a well furnished bedroom. I’m alone in it, dangling from heavy manacles against the back wall. Beside me is a wide bed with tossed sheets, no question as to why.
It’s not hard to imagine how I got here.
I remember walking into the foyer to witness a stunning female demon with delicately curved horns, so different from Rej’thorek’s wicked sharp spires. I remember a struggle, and then everything going a prickling black, a sinister laugh driving me hard into unconsciousness. I tug on the restraints, but they only rattle against the wall.
My body is heavy with exhaustion, and my new clothes have vanished.
I squeeze my knees together, the last vestige of modesty. I can’t even hide my face in my shoulder, I’m strung so tightly. The sockets of my arms are burning under my weight, a fair indication of how long I’ve been hanging here. When my eyes finally grow accustomed to the darkness, a door opens and light floods in, blinding me.
A smooth, feminine voice breaks the silence. “You’re awake.”
The door closes again, and soft illumination flares around the room.
The demon’s skin looks like alabaster in the warm light of magical sconces, her immaculate features soft with pleasure, just as I remember them. “No need to struggle, little one,” she says, chasing her fingers down her silken robe, opening it to reveal the perfect swell of her breasts. “Not yet, at least.”
I struggle anyway.
Do I dare plead with her? Something tells me it won’t matter if I do. There’s an edge to her smile that chills me to my core.
When she speaks, it’s like liquid gold, as beautiful as it is dangerous.
“I’ve never seen a human before.” She drops the robe around her shoulders and it slips off her perfect figure to gather at her feet. She steps out of it and approaches, every movement of her naked body lithe and graceful. Her dark eyes never leave me, scouring me from head to toe. “I hardly see the appeal.”
Shame washes over me, though I should know better than to let her words cut. She seems jealous. But of me? I can’t comprehend why.
“Our dear Rej’thorek really took a liking to you, didn’t he?”
And there it is.
He never mentioned an old flame before, though he never mentioned much of anything about his past. “I’m nothing to him,” I lie, hoping beyond all hope that she believes me.
“You won’t be,” she promises with an easy smile.
My heart skips a beat. What could Rej’thorek have done to her to make her want to hurt me? He kept me secluded from the other demons in Ti’lith. But everyone must have heard about the spectacle in the arena. Even this beautiful devil.
She leans in close, her sweet breath washing over me as she runs her knuckles across my cheek. “Soft flesh. Soft, sad eyes. Little tragedy,” she whispers, our lips nearly touching. “I’ll take it all away, but only if you beg me to.”
I move to protest when her lips crush mine, and she lashes into my mouth with her searching tongue. There’s a flavor that makes me dizzy, and long after she’s pulled away, my tongue is heavy with the taste of bitter mint.