When Masu tapped on the door to check on me, I told her I wasn’t hungry or thirsty yet. She said she would be back shortly and not to worry too much.
I nearly laughed aloud at her admonishment. Not worry? That was impossible. In fact, I was worried about so many things I couldn’t pick just one to focus on.
I decided to sit on the couch and distract myself with a book. I really wanted to practice my fighting techniques, but I was already tired from training with Bokkan all day. If I had to defend myself or run for my life, I needed to be rested.
I’d just stretched out on the sofa with my back against the armrest when the front door slammed. I was on my feet by the bedchamber door within seconds, listening intently to the thud of boots on the stairs. I knew as soon as he entered the hall that the daemon coming toward the bedchamber wasn’t Bokkan. The footsteps were too heavy, almost plodding. I wasn’t sure, but my suspicion was that the male headed my way was Bokkan’s commander, Guldan.
I backed away from the door, setting the book on a table and tiptoeing to the bed, where I crouched to pull the crossbow from beneath it. I’d never shot one before, but it was set up with a stock and trigger that resembled a rifle, something I was familiar with.
If nothing else, I could fire a bolt to distract the daemon if he managed to break through the thick door.
I jumped when his fist pounded against the wood.
“Female, open the door.”
“I don’t think so,” I mumbled to myself.
There was a pause. “I heard that.”
I raised my voice. “Good, because it’s not going to change. Bokkan told me not to open the door foranyoneuntil he returned.”
Another brief silence. “You want him to return?” The daemon sounded almost incredulous.
“Of course I do,” I snapped back.
“If I told you there was a way you could help him, would you be willing?”
It was my turn to remain quiet. Finally, I said, “It depends on what it is. If you mean become a sex slave, then no. If you meanspeak to the authorities about how I ended up here and how Bokkan has treated me, then absolutely yes.”
“I’m afraid it will be more complicated than either of those things,” he said.
I sighed and closed my eyes. Of course it was. I’d had nothing but complications since I’d been kidnapped and brought to this place.
The silence stretched on so long that Guldan called out, “Human, did you hear me?”
“My name is Leda, and yes, I heard you. I’m thinking.”
“Can you think faster?”
I rolled my eyes. “Fine, I’ll think while you speak. What exactly do you want me to do to help Bokkan?”
“Mate with him.”
Of everything I expected him to say, that was the least likely. “What?”
“Or at least accept him as a potential mate and allow him to pursue you in the way of daemons.”
“How exactly will this help him?” I asked, my question laden with suspicion.
“As a human, you have no standing as an honored guest. You are either bound to servitude or slavery by a contract with another daemon. They even produced a forged contract saying as much for the magistrate. But as a potential mate or bonded mate, you are protected by our laws and traditions. Right now, the magistrate is not inclined to allow Bokkan to claim hosting obligations toward you. But there are a few daemons who have mated humans, and our law prizes the mating bonds above all other family ties except for offspring. If you are his mate and acknowledge that you are letting him pursue you, his actions today will be considered acceptable in the eyes of our laws.”
“Wait, you’re saying someone has a contract that I supposedly signed stating I agreed to this?”
“Yes, but that isn’t the important part. The contract will easily be proven as a forgery. The problem lies in the fact that Bokkan will have to claim you as either a slave or a servant. In either of those situations, his actions toward Darkblade are not defensible by our laws. He nearly killed the male for trying to touch you. That is attempted murder according to the laws.”
“So, he could have grabbed me and harmed me and that would have been fine?” It was my turn to sound incredulous.
“He would have been legally obligated to make reparations to your owner, but that is all.”
