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“Pomegranates…fuck!”he guessed, making me jump at his next lash of anger.

“Yeah, then I woke and found that I had no powers left,” I finished again, making him sigh.

“It was a creature known as Epiales, master of Melas Oneiros.”

“Yes, that was it,” I said, remembering Lerna telling me now.

“I had wondered why you didn’t even try to fight me at the village of Ananke,” he said, making me grit my teeth at the memory, knowing that I could have ended this then and there if I’d had them.

“Well now you know, I am obviously useless to you,” I said, making his head snap up as he growled.

“Oh, you think so, do you?” His mocking tone instantly put me on edge.

“I er… well yeah, that’s what you want me for, isn’t it?” I asked nervously. Once again, he started to stalk me, only this time I was backed up into the bed. Which meant that as soon as the back of my legs hit the edge, I went falling back onto it. Leaving me feeling far too vulnerable because I couldn’t get away before he began lowering himself down over me.

“Oh, my dear girl, my sweet scented, foolish girl… if only you knew all there is that I want from you,” he purred, making me shake my head.

“I don’t… I don’t understand,” I told him as he lowered his weight further into me, one hand next to my head while the other came to stoke back my hair.

“For I want it all, you see,”he whispered, leaning toward my ear, making me hold myself deathly still.

“All you have left to give and more,”he told me, this time making me shudder against him as he put his lips to my ear.

“I want every inch of you,”he told me, fervently kissing me there at my neck, making me turn my head away. Something that clearly angered him, because he gripped my chin and forced me back to look at him. He snapped his growing fangs at me before letting me go and grabbing on to my hair.

“And I will have you!” he growled, before suddenly removing his hand. Doing so by pulling the glass rose from my hair, now holding it as he lifted himself off me. Then he walked to the door and paused long enough to tell me the shocking truth.

“Just like the last time you begged me, Ella.”

“No… No…”I denied over and over again.

“You will beg me again, beg me…to make you mine,”he promised, before crushing the rose in his hand and letting the tiny shards fall when he opened his fingers.

I could take no more and I turned away from him to cry, not wanting him to see my tears. In fact, I had expected him to just leave in his anger, but he seemed to linger for a few moments. Then after my shuddering sobs had eased, I finally heard him leave… he no doubt wished to enjoy my pain for longer.

I honestly didn’t know.

In fact, I couldn’t be certain I knew anything anymore. And worst of all, without my memories, I didn’t know if he was telling the truth or not.

Or was I now…

Just lying to myself?

* * *

I didn’t knowhow much time had passed, but after my frustrated tears had run dry, I had torn myself free of my dress and put back on the clothes that Jared had created for me. The feel of his ring firmly in my pocket was one comfort I needed right now.

By the time I opened my eyes, the first thing I saw was a tray of food waiting for me at the end of the bed. But even more confusing wasn’t that I hadn’t heard anyone come in, no, it was the sight of the glass rose back to being perfect and sitting on the tray next to my plate.

“He fixed it… but why?” I asked myself out loud, as if hearing my own voice was also a comfort. As for the food, I knew that starving myself wouldn’t achieve anything either, because well… I didn’t think going on a hunger strike would make any difference to my current situation. Not when I had my baby to think about. Another life I had every reason to fight for.

So, I grabbed the bread that I now recognized as the same type I had eaten in the tavern with Tyr and Asher. Two people I hoped were okay, along with everyone else I had been forced to leave behind.

Of course, my mind kept going back to Jared and what he must be going through, while he was no doubt trying to plan ways for getting me back. Which was also why I knew I needed to be ready for when he did. Keeping up my strength being one of them.

When my door unlocked again, I had just finished everything on my tray. Even draining the glass of water twice, as it came with a jug to refill it. I tensed as the door opened, expecting once more to find Garmr entering the room. However, what I didn’t expect was the guard who wouldn’t step foot over the threshold. A demon that once upon a time I would have no doubt found terrifying. But since entering Jared’s world, I had honestly seen too much to be scared right now. Even of the dark grey demon that had wrinkly hard skin, a jaw full of too many jagged teeth, and twisted gnarled horns that looked like pieces of a dead tree. His eyes, like Garmr’s when angry, were a glowing red and deep set under high arched, over pronounced brows.

“The King requests your presence in the throne room,” he stated, making me repeat a single word of that sentence.