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“I’m not done yet, dear one.” He backed away, only a few inches. “There is more of the story to tell.”

“How did you become King?” I asked, my voice barely audible over the rushing in my ears.

“It is so easy to claim power over the oppressed.” Theron grinned. “The Seraph troops were treated so poorly under Tannis, indeed, the whole kingdom had become tired of him. My father -“ He scoffed. “The useless brute, in his eyes Tannis could do no wrong. He did nothing, stood by and watched while Tannis killed and punished and beat them down. So then, when I offered them something, even the smallest scrap, they fell to my feet.” He brought his face close to mine, his hot breath washing over my lips. “Give a starving man food, you are his master. Give a homeless man shelter, you are his king.” His eyes bore into mine. “Give a weak man power, and you are his God.”

“And you did not want to claim me for yourself?” I asked, trying to sound defiant despite my legs threatening to buckle beneath me.

Theron’s eyebrows shot up. “Oh but I did, dear one. That was the bargain.” Under the water, his hands bracketed my waist. “Your father insisted I had to wait, because you were still a girl. He promised me that when you turned 21, you would be mine.”

“No, they would never - they wouldn’t give me to you. I had a - a Mate. They knew of him, they knew…” I was going to faint, the sharp stab of betrayal piercing me to my core.

“I had no choice but to declare war on Peyrus, in an attempt to claim you.” Theron’s grip on me tightened. “And then I was informed that you were on the battlefield, delivered straight into my waiting arms. Such…” He brought his face down to the side of my face, the tip of his nose tracing my jawline. “Serendipity.”

“You said you were going to let me go.” My voice croaked out of me as hopelessness crashed onto my shoulders. “Today, you said - you said-” Tears bit at my eyes. “You told us-”

“Mmmm, I did, didn’t I?” He raised his head and smirked. “You, and your mate.”

My eyes widened. “My - my what?”

“Did you think I didn't know?” Theron raised a hand to my cheek, stroking it gently with the backs of his fingers. “I confess, at first I thought it was just fucking. When your chambermaid informed me of the moans and cries of ecstasy coming from your chamber, I did not think it was anything more than a stupid young girl being taken in by a voracious predator. The Night Demons are so very dangerous, you see.”

I slumped back against the cave wall. Drusilla had heard us. She’d heard us, and betrayed me. Of course she had. Stupid, stupid little girl. I clenched my eyes shut as Theron went on.

“I was tempted to kill Rook for taking your maidenhead.” His voice was thick now, dripping with poison. “But then the most extraordinary thing happened. The Ladaian priestess in my service, she informed me…” He hand cupped the back of my head, firmly, and I opened my eyes to meet his. “She informed me that there was a Bond. And suddenly, I found myself in a rather fortuitous position.”

“And what position was that?” I asked weakly.

“I had your whole world in my hands.” His eyes, like a cat, like a viper’s, narrowed. “Winning back your parents, your broken kingdom, what good was that? But now, well now…” He pressed himself against me, and I suppressed a sob as I felt his hard cock against my stomach. “Now, I own you. Both of you. For you do not want any harm to come to him, and he is helpless to stop any harm from coming to you.”

“What if I kill you in your sleep?” Tears blurred my eyes. “What if I run you through in our marriage bed?”

“Then you will kill him.” Theron lowered his mouth to mine. “Whatever happens to me, happens to him. Whatever he does to me, he will do to himself.” His lips curled back into that sickening grin. “There are consequences, dear one. Consequences to ever saying no to me. If you refuse me, I will cause him insurmountable pain while you watch.”

A tear ran down my cheek, scalding hot. “You said you would let us go.”

Theron tutted, forcing me up out of the water, leaning me against the rough stone wall. “I have such a gift, do I not? For attaining trust?” His eyes moved down to my chest, and he exhaled heavily. “So beautiful.” His eyes flamed as they moved back to meet mine. “Do you consent to be my wife?”

“No.” I bit the word out through gritted teeth, raising my hands to push against his chest.

One of his hands curled around my throat, and Theron slammed me back against the cave wall. “I ask you again, with the knowledge of what I just swore to, should you ever dare refuse me.” His hand crushed my windpipe, and my breath rasped out of my lips. “Do you consent to be my wife?”

I struggled against his hand, desperate for air, the oppressive heat of the cave suffocating me further. “N-No.”

Theron released my throat and seized my hair, yanking my head back. “Which of his limbs do you suppose he will miss the least?” He snarled. “How much blood do you suppose a night demon can lose before he succumbs? Shall we test his ability to heal?”

The sob I had been fighting to suppress finally tore from me. “Please, don’t.”

“Shall I add his eyes to my collection? Or one at least, I wouldn’t want him to miss out on seeing our marital joy.” His voice was maniacal now,

I shook my head, more and more hot tears pouring down my cheeks. “Please-”

“Or perhaps I shall haul his beloved sister back, and see just how quickly those wolves devour the sweet little princess?”

More sobs bubbled up my throat. “Please no, no,no.Don’t hurt them. Please… please.”

His face softened slightly, and he cocked an eyebrow. “So I ask you again - what is your answer?”

I closed my eyes. I had no choice. I was a prisoner, ever a prisoner. I had to protect him. This was the only thing I could do. Theron wouldn’t stop. He would come up with ever more depraved ways to torture Rook and his family. I couldn’t let that happen.