Chapter 8 Subjected

• "You're not my slave. But you are one of my subjects."
• "Don't you mean one of King Eternus'?" I sneered. Feeling a moment of true joy at sending that jab home.
• "It is he they serve, but I that protects them." Gray said flatly. Impossible to rattle.
• I knew that. But it's still worth a try.
• In truth, I found him incredibly intimidating when he was cold and calculatedly calm like this. I couldn't tell what he was thinking, or what he was up to. He seemed to operate very different then every other monster I knew.
• And I found that threatening.
• "Thus, you think they're yours?"
• "Yes. Mine to protect."
• "I am not yours. Nor do I need your protection." I sneered the word.
• He stiffened and rotated to stare at the same wall I was locked on. "Just because you don't want it, doesn't mean you don't need it."
• "Oh, you have me." I looked at him now. Less threatened when his dark blue eyes weren't picking me apart. "I need you, Gray..."
• "So badly." I feigned a yearnful whine.
• He grunted. "Careful. One day you may have to say those words with actual feeling."
• "Oh? You going to order me to do that too?" I faced him.
• "If I could order you to feel, I'd have done so a long time ago." He said nearly under his breath.
• "I do feel for you, Gray." I looked straight ahead.
• He gave me a questioning look.
• "Pure hatred."
• "If that were true, you wouldn't have to tell me so on every occasion."
• "You need a bath, and you need food. You're far too skinny."
• I was hungry. But I hated him for knowing it. "Don't pretend you care."
• "I just want you bathed to wash the other man off you before I have you."
• "Of course, you do."
• I didn't know why that jab hit home, but for some reason it stung.
• He went to the door and cracked it open. Stepping into the doorway.
• I was already there, my hand on the door. Hoping he'd step out far enough I could close and lock it. Sealing him out.
• Not that the barkeep wouldn't simply let him back in.
• Gray had a distinct way of getting whatever he wanted.
• Except me.
• He glanced at my arm vanishing behind the door and gave a lopsided smile. Knowing exactly what I was doing. "Nice try."
• He was careful to keep his leg and booted foot in the door.
• A leg which was well-muscled. Hinting at the strong body of a warrior. He called to summon one of the barmaids.
• She took the stairs, in such a rush that her feet thudded quickly.
• Nearly stumbling up them in her haste.
• Run, girl run. I thought contemptuously. Annoyed by her eagerness to accommodate him. I hated that everyone catered to his every whim.
• "Is she not moving fast enough?" I queried.
• "Plenty quick. You could learn something of it."
• "I move quick enough."
• "But never where I tell you to."
• "You mean, not toward you?" I lifted a haughty red brow and batted my eyes innocently.
• "That's precisely what I mean. As you damn well know."
• "I'm sorry I'm not as biddable as your fair barmaids." I said in a honeyed tone. "Perhaps you should join one of them in their chambers."
• "And enter the bed of a woman who begs me to?"
• "Exactly."
• "Why would I do that, when I can fight you down? Witness your inner battle, while I sink. Into. You." He leaned forward to emphasize each murmured word. Using that low voice to send shivers over me.
• "She'd obey you."
• "But you'll please me."
• "She'll want you."
• "So will you." He gave me a hooded study. "Soon as I get you down in the sheets where you can't resist me."
• "I can resist you."
• He scoffed. His head dropping back on what was an actual laugh.