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.