Page 23 of Dormeo

ASH

I ’m about to argue with her, to tell her that she can’t stop me, when I see the strange quiver in her bottom lip and the moisture gathering on her lower lids.

She’s going to cry.

Despite acting strong and feisty, something I’ve said or done has hurt her, deeply, if I consider all the other shit she’s been through since she was brought here from her home, none of which caused such a reaction.

She’s attracted to me. She’s enjoyed our intimacy. I’d asked her if she wanted to continue, and she’d consented.

And yet somehow, now, it’s all gone horribly wrong.

“I don’t understand. Surely, staying here with me, something we both enjoy, is better than going back to be auctioned off to some despicable man by your father?”

Why would she prefer some disgusting old lord who would only take pleasure from her and never give? Who’d spend her money and use her purely for breeding and titles?

“Because at least I would never mistake their affection for something else or crave it. I’ll hate them with every fibre of my being, but at least they won’t ever pretend to be anyone but who they are.”

Is she really saying that she cares for me?

“And you really prefer that life? Am I so unappealing?”

Rose laughs and reaches out a pale hand to press her soft palm to my cheek. “No. But you’re using me. Just like everyone else. Except unlike them, you have the power to break me.”

She turns and walks away, and for once, I’m stunned.

I go to follow her as she disappears into my chamber, her delicate scent leaving a tempting trail my body wishes to follow, but an urgent knock on the door stops me in my tracks.

With a weary groan, I halt and listen, hoping that person will take the hint and leave, but when the door shoves open and my sister stands in the doorway, side by side with Gaap, I groan.

This can’t be good.

“There’s another. But this one, well, he’s different.” Lily’s eyes dance, and I wonder what about this walking corpse has intrigued her so much.

“How so?” I’m not in the mood.

I want to speak with Rose, but my sister rarely gets excited about anything, and now, she’s shifting on her feet, anxious for me to go and see what she’s found.

Glancing back at my chamber door, now shut, I hesitate. Even if I go in there, I have no idea what I’d say. I’m not exactly in a position to promise eternal love and devotion.

Maybe I am using her. Maybe she’s so intoxicating that I can’t see beyond it, and I’m mistaking my craving for that energy as longing for her.

To tell her I can give her any more than this would be a lie. And I have no idea what a human woman wants.

“Fine. Let’s go.” It will wait. Perhaps a bit of fresh air and bloodshed will clear my mind.

Without bothering to tell her where I’m going or when I’ll be back, I slip out and shut the door behind me. Bronx will keep her safe, but this shouldn’t take long.

“Just one?” I ask, not understanding what could be so interesting about a rich fool who has no idea what he’s let himself in for. “These humans are stupider than I thought.”

Lily chews on her bottom lip. “He’s not stupid. Far from it. I was going to take care of him for you, but… I needed a second opinion. Gaap is useless. He’s definitely a kill first, ask questions later type of demon.”

I shrug. Normally, that’s a mindset I have no issue with. Chances are, anyone we encounter down there deserves it, and few will mourn their loss.

“What’s so special about this one?” As we leave the dark walls of the castle behind, the silhouette of a large, bearded man, his hair pulled back in braids and dressed in armour like a brave Viking warrior, stands tall, barely reacting at the sight of the three demons approaching him.

His hand remains casually resting on the hilt of his sword as we come to a stop before him.

“You appear to be lost, friend. You have one opportunity to retreat before we decide your presence here is no accident, but instead, an act of aggression.”

Bored with fending off these weak attempts to rescue Rose, I’m sick of offering chances and pretending not to be insulted that these humans think so little of us.

“I am not lost. I’m here for Rose.”

Something about his turn of phrase makes me pause. For her. Not to claim her. Not to bring her home. Not demanding her hand. There is no stench of greed or lust.

“Rose cannot leave. Her father is in the process of securing her return one week from now. In the meantime, she is safe.”

This man nods, seeming to accept my words at face value.

“I’m not interested in ensuring she’s unharmed for a week. I’m interested in ensuring she’s safe forever.”

My back instantly goes up at this big stranger appointing him her permanent saviour and guardian.

“And if that just happens to be from your bed, then so be it?” I ask, my voice dripping with scorn. And yet, even as my possessiveness surges, and my anger bubbles to the surface, I can tell that he’s not like the others.

“No strings attached. I’m aware of her father’s plans for her. She can come to live with me, and do as she wishes, or she can leave and find a new life elsewhere.”

It’s a noble offer, and a genuine one.

Lily raises an eyebrow at me. She can scarcely believe it either. “So, you came here, willing to risk life and limb for a complete stranger, expecting nothing in return? And if she doesn’t desire you…”

“Or I her,” he interrupts, seeming to find some amusement in Lily’s irritation and blatant disbelief.

“If she doesn’t desire you, you’ll give her a place to live just so she doesn’t have to return to her father?”

He nods. “Is that so hard to believe? Surely, even demons can appreciate that nobody deserves to be used as a bargaining chip and sold to the highest bidder as her father intends.”

Lily presses her lips together, refusing to concede that he’s right, but like me, she senses that this man has no ulterior motive. He’s merely here to protect a defenceless human.

“And why is it up to you to be her knight in shining armour?” Lily demands, apparently unable to comprehend this man’s willingness to come here to rescue a woman with no devious plan or demands.

“If not me, then who? As you said yourself, most who come here to retrieve her are not looking to free her, just to make her their own.”

For the first time ever, Lily has nothing to say. She stares at this strange man, huge in size for a human, with a deep scar down one side of his face, and yet, with no deviousness or guile to his persona at all.

This is one of the good guys.

My thoughts drift to Rose, locked in my room because she doesn’t believe that I am different from the rest. She believes my interest in her is down to her power, and I can’t deny that is one of the things that draws me to her.

She wants love, and she’d prefer to be disappointed by a man she knows is despicable than by me, who shows her kindness.

It makes me angry to know those are the only options she can envision.

Yet here, standing before us, is a third choice. A man who wants nothing from her and will give her true freedom if she wants it.

“I won’t leave knowing she’ll be handed over to one of his horrendous friends,” the man insists, his fingers wrapping around the handle of his sword, showing how serious he is.

Lily looks at me, not sure what to do in this situation.

We’re pros at spotting those who deserve the punishments we dole out down here. Conversely, that also means we can spot those who don’t deserve to be here. And this is not a man who deserves to die today.

“The terms of the agreement are that she will be released in a week if her father meets his end of the bargain. There is no way to avoid that. However, if she were to be intercepted, or choose to leave with someone else, well… that would be out of our control,” I say, watching the Viking closely to make sure he’s following my drift.

“And if he doesn’t meet his promises?” he asks, clearly anticipating, as I do, that her father will fail to live up to his word or will attempt to breach the agreement in some way.

“Then she is ours to do with as we please. And if she wants to leave with you, I will allow it.”

Lily gasps and stares at me in shock, knowing that my father would never agree to such a thing and would be furious to let such a treasure escape his grasp.

“Father will kill you,” she warns, keeping her expression neutral, although I know better.

She understands the wrath he will bring down on me if he finds out what I’ve done.

When I remain silent, my decision final, she sighs.

“Which is why the Viking should hide out with me, so that father doesn’t get a whiff of what’s going on.”

The Viking stares at my sister, clearly not expecting her to extend any hospitality. But I can see her curiosity is piqued. She’ll study him like a lab rat for the next week, trying to figure out what makes him tick.

Maybe he’ll flee, and I won’t have to deal with the consequences.

“You okay with that? You’ll be in danger every second. Nobody would blame you if you wished to leave.”

Chin lifted and eyes steely with determination, he smiles, like he’s been invited to Sunday lunch.

“That sounds perfect.”