Abe looked at Levi, the deity who wanted to join forces with him. “I’ll try … but the connection is distorted. It’s like, when I try to appear to her, I get bounced to a random place that’s even further away.”
Levi scowled hearing this. “Maybe I can bypass it. Come. Let’s find your master.”
Lucie chargedinto the brick wall, and her fawn-colored lycan collided with the bricks again. They still weren’t budging, but she wouldn’t give up. Her body was battered and she was exhausted.
“I’ve always wanted a pet. Much to my surprise, I now have a lycan,” a voice snickered out.
Lucie lifted her gaze at the man and snarled, baring her teeth.
“Now now. You shouldn’t bite the hand that feeds you.” Erebus chuckled as food and water appeared on two large silver trays. “Now, if you would be so kind as to shift back …”
It wasn’t like Lucie could do anything to him in this form. And she knew she needed to play her part here. Her goal was to survive and escape. She shifted back to her human self, still wearing the black dress from the ball.
“Here you go. You can wear these.” Erebus tossed her a large shirt and joggers. “You’re going to be here for a while, so you might as well get comfortable.”
“I’ve been marked by another. There is no way this other mate will still come for me,” Lucie said as she gulped the water down. She needed to keep her strength up if she was going to escape, and it didn’t make sense for him to poison her when he could easily kill her. She began eating heartily.
“You are an interesting one. I figured you would starve yourself for days in protest.” Erebus leaned against the stone wall. A glint of humor flickered in his eyes as he watched her fearlessness.
“Why bother poisoning me when you could easily kill me?” Lucie watched his lips curl upward.
“Clever fairy. Like I said before, this is a game. I don’t know if he will come for you or not. But it is something to pass the time. Like I said, he may have just wanted you to be immortal.” Erebus studied her. “You really aren’t what I expected …”
“Why are you here? You said you were curious about how I would handle isolation.”
Erebus chuckled. “I am, but I’m also curious about you. And after watching you throw your battered body into the wall again and again … well you’ve piqued my interest, which is hard to do.” He pushed off of the wall and walked over to her. His eyes trailed over her, and he watched as she stood there, unwavering, looking at him with defiance. “Are you going to change?”
“Not with you in the room.” Lucie looked at him as if he was crazy.
“Princess, you don’t have anything I haven’t seen before,” he said with an arrogant grin.
“Perhaps not, but you haven’t seen me,” Lucie said flatly. She watched as his eyes darkened. He suddenly reached out and grasped her lower jaw, holding her firmly in place.
“You know, women don’t act like this around me. They either cringe in fear or throw themselves at me to take them.” He growled, closing the distance between them. He squeezed her jaw and pressed his lips roughly against hers.
Okay. Lucie knew she needed to survive and be as compliant as possible. However, on this issue, she couldn’t. To hell with the consequences. She tried pushing him off of her, but it was futile.So she did the only other thing she could think of. She bit onto his lip roughly, drawing blood.
“You bitch!” he growled.
The back of his hand collided with her face, and the force flung her against the wall with a thud. Lucie could feel her face swelling and the taste of her blood trickling in her mouth. She raised her gaze at him and struggled to her feet.
“What, you expected me to just allow you to touch me?” Lucie turned her head to the side and spit blood.
“I think you fail to remember who is in charge here.”
“Oh I know. I know you can kill me. But if it’s a choice between dying or letting you touch me, I’ll gladly accept death.” Lucie wiped her split lip. The sound of his laughter filled the room, and she stared at the maniac, who seemed to be enjoying himself.
“Oh what fun you are, Lucie. I wonder if I should just keep you for myself.”
“You gave your word that if someone comes for me, I’m free to go,” Lucie reminded him coldly.
Erebus clicked his tongue. “I did, didn’t I? But that doesn’t include escaping and finding help, princess. There is nowhere you can run where I can’t find you. So your only choice is to wait here obediently.”
Lucie touched her cheek and wondered why she wasn’t healing. She could still taste the blood trickling in her mouth, and that wound should have healed as well. That was when the realization hit her. She glanced at the food and drink, then back at him.
“Such a clever girl. You’re right. I wouldn’t poison you. However, I can’t have you shifting and hurting yourself either. It’s just a minor block. Nothing major. But you may not heal like you’re used to. Given your situation, you can hardly refuse to eatand drink. I think we’re going to be together for quite some time. And who knows … soon, you may want me,” Erebus said smugly.
“I made a blood pact with my mate. I won’t want anyone but him,” Lucie spat, watching his eyes dance in amusement.
