His nostrils flared and the muscles along his body strained against the internal war he was waging with himself. It wasn’t entirely clear what he was fighting, but I’d seen that look of lust before. This powerful leader was practically broadcasting how much he wanted me. Why fight it? Why not rape me? Why not take what he wanted? Why was he holding back?
Interesting.
He took a step, and I recovered it with a backward slide, still glaring.
Then again, maybe I’d called it wrong. Maybe he wasn’t planning to fight it. Maybe he was playing with his prey because he wanted me afraid and desperate to get away. I’d act the part. Giving in too quickly would set off alarms. He’d wonder why, so I’d put up a fight. At first. But later, sex would be my weapon.
It didn’t make sense at first; all I smelled was citrus. It was so strong that I briefly wondered if he’d stuffed oranges in his pockets. But of course he hadn’t. I didn’t see food, either. But the smell grew so strong it distracted me from my thoughts.
I hadn’t had fruit in years. So little grew because of the Nuclear Wars during the Fall. The land had barely recovered over the years, so growing food had its challenges. Oranges were one of my favorite things to eat when we managed to get our hands on it, and the smell made my mouth water.
I stiffened in confusion. Gods, it smelled delicious. I blinked away the urge to get closer to the demon. The scent was practically wafting off him in waves. Was it coming from him? But why? What purpose did smelling like oranges serve?
Suddenly, my body was on fire. The place between my legs throbbed and squeezed around the dagger hidden inside it, coming to life in a way it never had. The air was a static shock away from exploding.
I’d never felt anything like it—this powerful urge to touch him and have him touch me. I found myself crawling closer, desperate, yearning for something I couldn’t name. All I knew was that I wanted to climb into his lap, taste his skin, and drown in his citrus scent.
Wait, what the actual fuck?
I snapped out of it, growling. I retreated and put space between us, dispelling the citrus aroma by refusing to breathe. The demon watched me go with his head still cocked to one side. As my thoughts spiraled in confusion and fear, he crouched in front of me and held out an all-black dagger he kept on his belt.
“Have it.”
It took all of my control not to let the surprise I felt show on my face. The scent was gone. He didn’t appear to be affected by it. What the hell just happened?!
I stared at the weapon he offered me, but I didn’t move. I didn’t take it or act like I even knew how to use it. It was over if he thought I could fight at all. I’d already given too much away because of my stupid reflexes, so I really couldn’t afford to make another mistake now.
My glare was full of heat and distrust. “You want me to use that to kill myself, demon? What, you get off on watching us pathetic, fragile creatures slice our own throats so we don’t have to be your toy?” I spat, testing him. “Well, fuck you. Do your worst, demon. You’ll have to do it yourself if you want me dead.”
His lips twitched, alluding to a smile but never giving me one. Then he tossed the dagger on the floor and walked away.
It was another damning reality.
Arming your captive could only mean one thing—he wasn’t afraid of me using it on him. It didn’t surprise me. I had hoped demons were vulnerable in their human forms, but it would appear that wasn’t the case. At least not for this one they called Onyx.
But I played my part well. I snatched the weapon off the ground and clutched it close to my chest, feigning fear. He didn’t look my direction after that. He left me there on the floor and busied himself with something on his massive desk, reading over several pages before folding and tucking them away in a drawer.
Papers were scattered across the top, several full of writing and others covered by drawings. Maps, probably. I’d been taught to read several languages. Education was vital to an assassin and never a waste, but I couldn’t read them all. I’d be at a loss if these demons had a language of their own.
Still, curiosity got the better of me, and I watched him carefully. Did he just leave them out? Who had access to this room? Was that wise?
I edged closer, hoping to see what might be written on them, but too far to know for sure if it was a language I could read or not. If he didn’t lock me somewhere or limit my ability to move, I’d look at them later. So far, he’d left me alone.
Patience, Mazikeen. Rushing things will make the demon suspicious. It’s too risky.
Based on what I knew, this demon never took a human for himself. At least that was what had been implied by the others. It was odd that he wouldn’t, but I got the impression that he hated our kind.
Still, he wasn’t the worst of the three. The one with silver eyes I’d do well to avoid. His sadism lived in every glance, and based on the humans at his feet, he found pleasure in torture. I could withstand it, but I was better off appealing to them in another way instead of dead.
The other one was a better bet. It was clear he liked sex. He’d talked about it pointedly enough. He wanted the fight before submission, and I was very good at both. I could easily manipulate his type. Plus, as much as it pained me to admit, he was just as pretty as Onyx.
A killer, but one I could bear looking at.
The other two leaders had threatened each other to claim me, but for some reason, this one took an interest in me. I needed to understand why to exploit it. Assuming it was something I could exploit. If not, I’d find a way to make myself appealing to the sexually promiscuous one and use him instead. One thing was certain, I needed to be careful how I moved and acted.
I couldn’t underestimate any of them.
I eyed the other door in the room. It was left open to a bathroom the size of an entire home in our sector. My bladder was screaming. I didn’t want to beg, but I’d do it before peeing myself.
