Isprint out of the stables, my heart stuck in my throat. I kicked him. I kicked him so damned hard!
A laugh bursts from my chest. I didn’t think it would work. I thought once I kissed him he’d push me away, probably lecture me about knowing my place before commanding I return to his bedchamber for another poisoned meal.
I hope it hurts. I hope he spends the next hour squealing like a pig.
I don’t expect two arms to wrap around my waist and throw me to the ground. My cheek slams against the grass.
“You think you can run from me, human?” Tauren hisses into my ear.
A yelp tears through me. Before I can move, he flips me over, straddling my hips and pinning my arms above my head.
“I could have you killed for that,” he laughs cruelly. “The law of my court states that anyone who harms their lord should be executed in the dungeon.”
“Let go of me!” I writhe against him.
“You’re not going anywhere, sweetheart.” Grinning, his lips brush my forehead. “Because I have a much better idea.”
Pushing up from the grass, he takes his weight off me. Air rushes back into my throat. I’m not given a moment to rest as he yanks me up with him and forces my arms behind my back.
Keeping my wrists locked behind me, he shoves me towards the stables.
“I’m sorry,” I plead. “I shouldn’t have kicked you. That was too far.”
“It was,” he says as we pass under the brick entrance, but he doesn’t let go of me. Pushing me into an empty stall, he releases my hands and I tumble to the hay-covered floor.
My palms sting against the cold stone.
“Get up,” he orders.
I don’t hesitate. Tauren swings the door shut behind him, and we’re alone in a small wooden horse stall. My chest heaves. Above us, an iron lamp hangs from a chain, filling the stall with warm light. It catches on Tauren’s dark demon horns, making him look even more monstrous than he did before.
A shudder rolls over me. He’s never looked so sinister.
Until he smirks wickedly, and my shudder becomes an audible whimper.
“Raise your arms.”
My breath catches. “What? Why?”
“Raise your arms.” My arms shoot up, no match for his magic tongue. I keep them above my head while Tauren disappears behind me. Metal clinks against leather, but I don’t dare turn around to check what he’s doing. It’s only when something wraps around my wrists and binds them together that I lift my chin.
My hands are tied with a lead rope to the chain above my head.
I shudder as Tauren runs his hands down my arms, stroking my body until he reaches my waist. Pulling me against him, he whispers into my ear, “If you behave, I’ll let you keep the gownon. But one slip, and I’ll leave you here naked for the stablehands to find. Trust me, Princess, compared to the demons I have working down here, I am a perfect gentleman.”
Frowning, I nod my head. I want to tell him that he wouldn’t know a gentleman if one punched him in the face, but I keep my lips sealed. The sooner he finishes whatever dark plan he has for me in here, the closer I’ll be to sleeping in his bed again.
And in his bed, hopefully he won’t notice my hand dipping below the covers to deal with the problem that’s only growing more desperate every second I’m tied up in here.
“Sweet, fragile, human,” he tuts, pacing around me. “What am I supposed to do with you?” Pausing in front of me, he tilts his head. “I’ve tried being pleasant. I brought you food, found you a nice room to rest in.”
I bite my tongue. His food was laced with sedatives, and I’m fairly sure he slept in the same bed as me last night. The sheets on his side were warm when I woke up and smelled just like him: crackling fires and something almost sweet, like dark chocolate.
I haven’t let myself think about what happened while I was drunk on sleeping powder. I know he changed me out of my gown, so he’s at least seen me bare. Or maybe he called in a servant to do it.
A traitorous part of me hopes it was him, and I hate that.
I hate that more than his flawless grin as his eyes pause on my chest.
