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Elias gritted his teeth. He would speak to Hayley before the fight began and get her to change her mind. He hated the thought of her being injured because she was trying to keep him safe. This claim was wrong. He would find another way. A way that kept Hayley out of danger and away from this crazed demon.

“All you have to do is get this human to remove her claim and this can be over,” Princess Isolt said as she stroked a finger down his arm.

“What about your new mate?” Elias said. “Aren’t you here to take a mate? You should be the one to remove your claim. Your mate won’t be impressed that you’re challenging for me.”

She waved a hand dismissively in the air. “He is of no concern to you. He has come to me willingly, just as you will.”

“You mean, you’re not going to eat him?”

Princess Isolt’s smile grew sly. “I have made my assurances that I will not kill him. That doesn’t mean, however, he will be entirely unharmed. There are ways to sample the delights of human flesh without the individual dying.”

Elias’s lip curled in disgust. “You are the ugliest individual I have ever met. On the outside, you are every Retar’s dream. When your true nature is discovered, it wipes away all that physical beauty and shows you for the twisted bitch you really are.”

Princess Isolt snarled at him. She grabbed hold of his arm and tried to bite his flesh.

Elias shoved her back, ignoring the raised lasers the guards pointed at him. “Keep your teeth to yourself. You don’t get to touch me, not yet.”

“That is where you are mistaken. Guards, hold him down,” Princess Isolt growled.

Elias saw the guards exchange a cautious look as they holstered their lasers, but he knew they’d dare not defy a princess. They marched over, grabbed his arms and held him tightly in place.

He writhed in their grip, but it was no use. There was nowhere for him to run, even if he got free.

Princess Isolt smirked as she walked slowly toward him. She traced a finger from the base of Elias’s throat down to his stomach. “You are my subject. You live under my rule. You will do everything I tell you to do.”

“No, I won’t,” he gasped. “I do not acknowledge you.”

Princess Isolt tore through his jumpsuit with her teeth, exposing his stomach. She made a show of licking her lips, her gaze never leaving his.

Elias yanked on the guards’ grip, twisting his torso and trying to get free. He kicked out at Princess Isolt, and she backed up.

“Bind his arms and hold him still,” she told the guards.

The guards did as they were ordered. They shoved Elias against the wall, so he was trapped, before holding his legs in place.

Princess Isolt advanced again. She yanked down his torn jumpsuit and ran her fingers across his bare flesh. “You are so lovely to look at. It’s almost a shame I have to do this.” She ducked her head and sank her sharp teeth into his side.

Elias bit down on the cry that threatened to tear from his lips as she tore through skin and muscle.

Princess Isolt jerked her head back, taking a lump of flesh with her.

Elias groaned. His head slumped to his chest. A jagged chunk was missing from his side, blood oozing out.

Princess Isolt took a few steps back, her expression satisfied as she chewed on her gruesome mouthful. She wiped a hand delicately across her mouth and licked each finger. “You see I always get what I want. That is just a taste of what’s coming. Once I’m done with you, you will be begging me to put you out of your misery. But remember one thing; you deserve this. You disobeyed me, and I will never forgive that.”

Elias didn’t bother to raise his head. She had him, and there was nothing he could do about it.

“Take him to the committee,” Princess Isolt said.

“Princess, shouldn’t we treat his... injury?” one of the guards asked.

“There’s no need. He will survive without medical attention for a few hours. Put something over the wound so he doesn’t bleed out. I want him to watch as I destroy this human who has dared try to take him from me.”

Elias growled at her, his stomach dropping as he saw the hatred sparking in Princess Isolt’s eyes. She was lost to her mad desires, and nothing would stop her.

“As you wish, Princess.” The guard made swift work of carrying out her orders, staunching the bleeding and fixing the jumpsuit so the wound wasn’t obvious.

Elias glared at Princess Isolt as he was marched out of the room and off the ship by the guards. His side throbbed along with the beat of his heart, and his vision blurred as blood continued to seep from his wound and weaken him.