Bastian retreats into himself, quiet and defeated. He shoots me a pitiful glance. Ifhe'slooking for sympathy, hewon'tfind it with me.
"Permission to speak, Master," Vesper whispers, head bent.
Drogonconsiders her a moment before agreeing. "Speak."
"The mortal has been useful to us," she surprisingly defends Bastian. "If it pleases you, permit him to swear fealty to you."
The Demon King releases his hold on Vesper and strokes his clean-shaven face. "You want me to spare his life?"
Vesper falls to her knees once again, not daring to meet his unholy gaze. "Only if it pleases you, Master."
Bastian swallows so hard I see the knot in his neckbounce.He'sscared. Rightfully so. He fucked up and nowwe'reall going to pay for his mistakes.
Before Drogon decides, Vesper adds, "He brought you Enver Sol's daughter."
As if planned, the demonsstandingin front of my cage part, giving the Demon King a clear line of sight to me. He grins, his tongue spearing across his lips like a serpent. My heart thunders in my chest, threatening to break every rib bone in my body. His unrelenting gaze is sosuffocating,I find itnearly impossibleto breathe. I instinctively reach for my magic to shield our cage, but thesugovanis still in my system.I'mhelpless.
Shit.
"Enver Sol's daughter." The words ooze from his lips like poison. "My, my. What a delicious gift your mortal has brought me." He stretches his hand out and motions for me to join him. "Bring her to me."
My body screams to escape, butthere'sno one here to rescue me. Nyx is still unconscious and even if he were healthy,there'dbe nothing he can do to stop whatever is about to happen to me. He would have to watch just as I was forced to watch him suffer. Better for him not to see.
There are suddenly dozens of hands all over me, touching every inch of my skin. With my hands bound,there'snothing I can do to stop the demons from pulling my hair, groping me,pinchingor slapping me asI'mdragged through the crowd and forcefully yanked up the wooden steps. By the timeI'mthrown atDrogon'sfeet, my hair isdisheveled,some strands even missing entirely from being ripped out. My clothing is torn and tattered.I'mluckyI'mnot completely exposed for all to see.
A grey hand with razor sharp black nails slides beneath my chin,leave a trail of warmth.Drogontiltsmy head upward to meet his yellow gaze. Vesper stands beside him, grinning in triumph.
I refuse to whimper or weep, reminding myself I am aBasilius,and we do not beg nor surrender. If I die today, Idiefighting. I stare up atDrogon, defiance in my eyes. He smiles, using his other hand to swipe brown hair from my face.
"Oh, you are pretty, aren't you?" He purrs, the tips of his fingers feeling like small burns across my skin. "Maybe I should add you to my collection of playthings."
"I would rather die," I hiss, which seems to please him.
"Fiery." He kneels so his face can hover above my own. He snakes his fingers through my hair, tugging the back of my head, holding me in place. "I will enjoy watching you break."
"Fuck. You." I grit through my teeth.
"Master," Vesper's voice slices through the tension between me and the Demon King.
A flash of irritation seizes his molten gaze. "What is it?"hegrowls.
"She is a threat to you alive," Vesper slips her personal vendetta in, my death her only mission. "Perhaps, you should consider killing her – "
The Demon King moves with frightening speed. One second,he'sholding me firmly in place, the next,he'son top of Vesper.She'spinned beneath him, his enormous hand squeezing her neck.No. Burning her neck.Her eyes bulgeas her skin sears.Her screams are deafening. Smoke from the burns wafts upward but no one makes a move to saveher orstop the Demon King from inflicting his torture.
He’s killing her.
"Who do you think you are to advise me on anything?"heflashes his teeth like fangs. "I amlordandmaster. If I want to kill her, I will kill her. If I wish to fuck her, I will fuck her. Itdoesn'tmatter what you think or say, is thatclear?"
Vesper is turning frightening shades of blue and purpleas her oxygen is being cut off by his ever-tighteninggrip. Her feet kick beneath him, her body squirmingfrom the shock.
Bythe looks of it,he'snot going to giveher the opportunity to apologizeor beg for her life.
Suddenly, Drogon opens his mouth and sucks in a deep breath. Vesper's black, shadowy soul seeps from her mouth and nose and enters his body. Within seconds, she shrivels and her body ceases to move.
I force myself to stare at hercharred and blistering neck.There'sno wayshe'sreally gone though, right?She'sa demon.Ididn’tthink you could kill a demon. A creature, yes, but not a demon.
Drogon twists to look at me, as if he read my thoughts. "She's been consumed."
