Page 107 of Ravenrose

Ayer’s grip on my mouth loosens, while his eyes stay fixed on mine, willing me to stay quiet as he releases my mouth, reaching back slowly to grip the hilt of his sword.

A few more agonizingly long breaths and a branch cracks somewhere in the forest. The creature wheels around, surging past us at a shockingly high speed as it chases the sound, disappearing back into the forest's shadows.

Ayer doesn’t release me yet, waiting several seconds before finally exhaling and stepping back. The sudden loss of his warmth is far more noticeable than it should be. For a moment, nothing happens, we just… stare at each other.

“What was that?” I finally ask. My voice comes out hoarse; my throat is dryer than I thought.

“A slough demon,” Ayer replies while giving the forest a thorough scan. I suppose he’s waiting to be sure the monster has fully cleared off before continuing on.

I tense at the word demon. Clearing my throat, I reply, “Never heard of it.”

I feel his gaze find me again, his focus lasering in as he tilts his head to study me. “You’ve never heard of it?” I can hear the skepticism from here.

“Should I have?”

“It lives in your kingdom...” His brow lifts and I bristle at the call out.

I don’t know anything about the Wyldewood or anywhere else for that matter…

I push on with the conversation. “What is it?”

“A demon.”

I clench my jaw, trying hard not to roll my eyes. “I gathered that. So it’s a predator. Does it eat…” I swallow, chewing my lip while doing a quick scan of the trees. “People?”

“Mostly.”

“Mostly?” I ask, my head whipping back toward him, needing to know more.

Ayer stares down at me. “Sometimes it eats fae.”

I glare at him, catching the flash of amusement in his dark eyes. He indulges himself another few seconds before he releases a sigh. “A slough demon is one of the more dangerous pure-blooded demons to roam these woods. It’s remarkably hard to kill since that rubbery skin you saw is impenetrable. The only way to kill it is to take off its head by attacking the throat. It will eat just about anything with warm blood running through its veins. But not before immobilizing you, causing injury just enough to keep you from running away. Then it slowly strips the skin from your body, savoring each and every bite, while you can do nothing but watch.”

My jaw goes slack and I can only stare back at him.

He shrugs, looking away. “I thought it was best we try and avoid it entirely.”

I can’t say I don’t agree, but I won’t verbally acknowledge he was right. Instead, I remain quiet, blocking visions of being skinned alive, all while staring into the bottomless black depths of its eyes.

An awkward silence settles between us. I fill it by brushing some dirt off my skirt.

“You’re welcome by the way,” Ayer says, finally breaking the silence, assessing me with his gaze.

“For what?” My eyes narrow, already suspecting where he’s going with this.

“For saving your royal ass… again.” His lip quirks up, and with it, I see red.

“I never asked you to save me. Keeping me alive is your problem, not mine. You’re just a good little soldier, following orders.” I try pushing past him, moving for the path, but he blocks me with his body, stepping into me until he has me cornered once again with the tree at my back. He braces his arms against the bark, caging me in. I have to tilt my head to keep his eyes.

“Bonus points for creativity, Princess, but there’s only one way you’re dying while you belong to me.” His voice drops low as his eyes appear to darken. “Beg me.”

My lips part as my mouth drops open, and I watch as his gaze drops to them.

“Are you ready to get on your knees for me, Princess?”

My blood is boiling and my cheeks flame pink, a knot forming in my stomach at his words. I swallow, unable to form a worthy retort under the intense weight of his gaze.

He clicks his tongue at my continued silence. “Remember, kitten,” he bites down on each consonant, his words crisp and precise, “my offer stands. But until then, you live because I say you do.”