“She made a pact with a goddess of fertility who sympathized with their cause, and as a result, all female demons would be able to decide on the gender of their offspring as it grew in their bellies. It did not take long before we realized just how devastating that was for our society. Even with the Lords, the females soon overran us in great enough numbers that they would be able to overthrow the male dominion and force us into subservience.
“Matings were banned. For years we were at a standstill, and on both sides, concern grew that our dwindling population would leave us weakened—that the gods would take advantage and shift the balance in their favor when we were too few to fight them.
“Negotiations started, though no one wished for them. It’s not in our nature to share power with our females, and they had tasted freedom and did not wish to give up even an ounce of it. But before any agreements could be reached, something unprecedented happened.”
He smiled and stroked a hand over her belly. “We have always enjoyed human company, and especially that of the few gifted with the ability to see through our illusions. Your scent has always driven us mad with lust.
“Just as we were about to concede to the females’ demands, the King’s human lover fell pregnant. No one had ever heard of such a thing being possible, but nine months later, she gave birth to what was clearly his child.
“And it happened again—human women taken for their ability to give pleasure while we were barred from mounting our own females grew round with our seed. We soon learned that it was only the ones with the Sight who could bear our offspring.
“The female demons were furious that they had lost their bargaining power, especially when it became clear that the new Breeders only gave birth to males. And so the war unfolded. They refuse to bend to us as their natural masters, and they fight vehemently to rid the world of Breeders so they can once again attempt to force us to negotiate—something we will not stand for.
“And so there is the explanation you asked for, my sweet; the reason for the attack you had to endure is the result of centuries of hatred and envy for the life you are able to give.”
Selma gaped at him. They had fought for centuries for the right to treat their own females as breeding slaves? What hope did she have of ever being seen as anything more than a sweetly scented uterus, if that was all they wished for from their own species? Even when she escaped Marathin, she would spend the rest of her life hiding the mark he’d given her, either to prevent herself from being killed or to escape being dragged back to perform her duty as a broodmare.
“Shh, don’t fear, my sweet.” He hugged her when her scent undoubtedly took on a fresh note of terror. “I will keep you safe and happy. You and our offspring.”
Selma stared down at Marathin’s hand as it once again caressed her belly, and another horrible thought made it to the forefront of her mind. If she didn’t escape before she fell pregnant, she’d truly be bound to him. Trapped for an eternity. She wouldn’t be able to flee with a baby, and as much as her gut clenched with terror at birthing his demon spawn, she knew deep down she’d never be able to abandon her child. Even if it had horns.
“I think it’s time I give you your second lesson,” Marathin whispered in her ear as he slid his hands down to grab the hem of her shirt. “I’ll show you I can take care of you. Protect you from all who’d do you harm. Who’d take you away from me.”
Selma stood still as he undressed her, raising goosebumps along her arms with every stroke of his warm fingers against her skin. There was nothing she could do to escape this—nothing more she could say to delay the inevitable.
When she was finally naked in front of him, he drew a finger through her slit, toying with the metal ring he’d placed the day before.
“Your smell drives me wild,” he murmured, the heat in his voice sending shivers down her back. “For centuries, no cunt has called to me like yours does. I know you don’t want this—not yet. That’s fine. You don’t have to want it. But I’ll teach you to take it.”
Selma closed her eyes tight, drawing in a breath to steel herself for the pinch when he’d twist the ring and bring on the dark magic meant to take over her mind.
But just as his fingers tightened on the metal, the sound of a lock sliding open echoed through the office like a gunshot.
They both looked at the door as it banged open, revealing a uniformed police officer holding a pistol, as well as a smaller form half-hiding behind him—Marie.
Terror tightened Selma’s throat as the officer’s eyes widened, then narrowed. He lifted the gun, aiming it at Marathin.
“That’s his patient,” Marie said, her voice thrill.
Oh god, no!
“I heard him threaten her,” she continued hastily. “He told her he’d kill me and anyone else who might get in the way if she didn’t... play along.”
The demon growled low in his throat, eyes locked on the officer who didn’t seem to realize just how much danger he was in.
“Step away from the girl,” the officer said. “No one needs to be harmed here, but you have five seconds to step away from her with your hands above your head, do you understand?”
Marathin’s growl only rose in volume, his lip curling high as the shadows thickened around him.
It was like watching a slow-moving horror film play out in front of her eyes.
Selma covered herself with both arms, trying to put herself between the demon and the two humans. “Please, you need to leave.” She pressed against Marathin as he shoved her to the side, desperately hoping to stop him from lashing out. “Right now! Marathin, don’t, please...”
“It’s gonna be all right, sweetheart. Stay calm,” the officer said, not realizing the irony in his chosen endearment and not taking his eyes off the demon. “Three seconds, doctor.”
Selma felt rather than saw Marathin’s back muscles flex, his growl rising as something dark swept through the room, dimming the lights.
“Two.”
