Braxis' jaw clenched and he went back to filling the plate. He placed it in front of me silently and made one for himself. Then he started eating so I did as well. Let him stew on my words for awhile.
“When you... ran from me and became ill, I felt ashamed,” Braxis finally broke the silence.
I looked up at him, my heart starting to race hopefully. Miracle of miracles, the big brute did have some compassion.
“Why?” I asked softly. “This is what you wanted, isn't it? To hurt me and make me feel what it's like to have no control over my body. You've achieved that magnificently. Here I am, at your mercy, feeling powerless and afraid. And I did cry, by the way, I just refused to do it in front of you. So, congratulations, Braxis, you've won.”
“Fuck, Amara,” Braxis growled as he surged to his feet. “I'm trying to apologize and you only make me feel worse.”
“You'reapologizing tome?” I asked in shock.
“Not for what I did buthowI did it,” he said firmly. “You're right, I have you now. You're mine—well and truly captured. I've spent all of these months thinking about you—about what I would say and do to you. About how you would look at me and beg me for mercy. About how that would avenge my brother warriors. And about that damn tehom you fell into. The image of you falling with that river of magma below you has haunted me.” He returned to his chair and sat down to face me. “I don't want you dead, Amara. I want...”
“What, Braxis? What do you want from me?”
He swallowed visibly and looked away.
“You know that I'm immortal, don't you?” I asked softly.
Braxis looked up at me. “Yes.”
“You can do a lot to me without killing me. Not even your witch's spell can take my immortality away from me. It's not magic, simply part of who I am.”
“What are you trying to say?”
“There are other ways to get your vengeance.” I lifted my chin. “You could string me up in front of your men and whip me. You could even give each man a turn at wielding the whip. Blood for blood. It would appease them, I've no doubt, and I would survive. I'd feel the pain and bleed, I assure you; I would just heal rapidly.”
Braxis gaped at me. “Are you out of your mind, woman?”
“You vowed to make me scream,” I reminded him. “You could still have those screams without becoming a rapist.”
Braxis exhaled roughly. “I couldn't have you whipped, Amara.”
“But you could hold me down and force yourself on me?” I countered in bafflement. “Can't you see that I would rather endure the whip than your attentions?”
Braxis roared, shot to his feet, and swept the tray off the table. It crashed into the far wall. I sat back, saving my wine, and took a calm sip as he raged. His eyes went crimson and began to glow as his body bulged and lengthened. The sound of ripping fabric added to his feral howls and a crack resounded as his leathery wings sprung open. Braxis bent his horned head and thrashed it like a speared bull, his fangs gnashing at the air. Most of his clothing fell away as he shook furiously, baring a monstrous body that towered over me. If he had been tall before, he was now gargantuan.
Adrenaline shivered through me at the fearsome sight of the Fengoth Chief's battleform. I wanted to flee—every cell in my body screamed at me to do so—but I knew that would end with me gored—by horns or claws or that enormous cock that thankfully laid flaccid between his thick thighs. Perhaps by all three at the same time. So, I remained still and as calm as possible. I knew that in this form, he'd be able to scent my fear and it would only excite him. But as quickly as the change came over him, so did it recede. Braxis visibly shook himself and—with what must have been a great force of will—pushed back his anger and returned to his other form.
Braxis' battleform shrank, condensing down and in. Muscles compressing, wings and claws withdrawing, and horns sliding back into his skull. The process happened in seconds, almost too fast for me to track, Braxis going from monster to man in a moment. He stood there before me, sculpted chest heaving with his primal pants, and set his stare on me. His eyes were back to pale green, though they still glowed. I met that alien gaze and stood to face him.
“You demanded the truth from me, Braxis,” I said. “Are you brave enough to face your own truth?”
“What truth?” he snarled, completely uncaring, or perhaps unaware, of his nudity.
“Why I'm really here. Ask yourself what you would have done had I been a man.”
“If you were a man, you'd be dead.”
“No, I wouldn't be, because you can't kill me,” I said confidently. “So, what would you have done?”
“There's always a way.” Braxis bared his teeth.
“Touché, darling.” I lifted my glass in a toast. “Very well. What if I had been another woman? One you weren't attracted to. One who didn't say such frustrating and fascinating things to you. What would you have done to get your vengeance?”
Braxis frowned.
“Would you have come to my mating and watched me with my mvarro?” I stepped closer. “Would you have left that letter and threatened to take me away from him?”
