The Darkest Sword by Samantha Kroese (ebook voice reader txt) 📕

now?” Ashiyn pointed out. “It is not like she can harm me. Even if she kills me, that will just teach me ways to avoid it in the future.” He caught the woman staring up at him in shock, looking at him like he was a monster. Good. He twisted more to make her yelp in pain and return her gaze to the ground.

“It excites you to dominate her? Fine. Waste your time. Just do not waste any of the time that belongs to me,” Rhadamanthus snorted then stalked off back to the castle.

Once they were alone in the courtyard Ashiyn dragged the woman to her feet, and pulled her against him. He hissed into her ear, “I am trying to help you. Don’t make me regret it.”

“If you want to help me, finish me. Let me join my family!” The woman insisted as she struggled to free herself from his grasp.

Ashiyn turned her around so she had to face the remains of her dead family. “Do you think that is what they want? Would you want them to die if they were in your place?”

She collapsed into sobs against him, no longer resisting. Ashiyn grabbed her by the arm and dragged her into the castle. Rhadamanthus had given him an entire wing of the castle and there were a few rooms within walking distance of his own chambers that could be used as cells to hold prisoners. Ashiyn didn’t trust the woman not to try to escape him, so he threw her into a cell. He’d never had use for it before.

Part of him was tempted to throw her down and dominate her, as he had seen Rhadamanthus do to slaves his entire life. But the lessons Diredin had taught him were still fresh in his mind. Besides, he wanted her to talk to him. For that he’d have to befriend her. Breaking her by using her was not going to make her trust him. He slammed the door shut and left the woman alone with her grief for now.

CHAPTER TEN

“So, I am expected to be your bed slave? You think I will just submit to whatever you want from me now?” The woman growled when Ashiyn had time to visit her again. He’d had his servants visit her and clean her up, feed her. He had not returned to her until his servants had told him she’d become calm and sullen and had stopped trying to find creative ways to end her own life.

Ashiyn closed the door of the cell and leaned against it, crossing his arms. “I could have taken you any time I wanted. I would prefer you gave yourself to me willingly.”

“Never,” the woman vowed and turned to the wall, tears in her eyes.

“Why?” Ashiyn asked, curious. “I have only known one other human, and he was raised much as I was, in this land with these dragon-kin. I don’t understand. Explain.”

The woman looked back at him with confusion and doubt on her beautiful features. “Why?” she echoed, “I loved my husband. I have been only with him. I won’t betray his love by allowing any other to touch me that way.” She frowned when she saw his confusion. “I suppose you don’t know what love is either.”

“He is dead. He will never know.” Ashiyn frowned.

“No! But I will know,” she snapped as she glared at him. “What? Do women usually just open their legs and lay back for you?”

Ashiyn laughed, amused. “Actually, yes. That is why you interest me. You are defiant. The more you rage, the more excited I become.” He sobered at the glare he earned from her. “Do you have a name?”

“Not one I am giving to you, filth. Why don’t you just get out if you’re not going to kill me?” The woman threw one of her empty dishes at him.

Ashiyn side-stepped, then growled and used his magic to take control of her body, pushing her back on the bed as he advanced on her. He climbed on top of her despite her whimpering and leaned close. “My patience has limits. I am Prince of the world. I will someday be King of it. You would be wise to be more respectful. I don’t want to force you, but I will learn what I want from you one way or another. I am trying to be pleasant about it. I promise you I can be far less pleasant.”

She seemed to melt with fear and stayed where he had put her when he released her. He got up and retreated to the doorway again, scowling, his amused mood soured. “Tell me your name, woman, or I will make one up for you.”

“My name is Annalysa,” She muttered, her gaze locked on the floor, even though her fists were clenched and she shook with anger.

“Where are you from?” Ashiyn asked calmly, though he shifted and prepared for her to strike. He could read it in every line of her body that she wanted to.

“Sek, a small human town nearby,” Annalysa growled at him. “At least it was until your Master’s armies razed it to the ground. They killed everyone. I’m the last alive.”

“A fact for which you could be grateful,” Ashiyn suggested.

“If you think I prefer being your slave to being dead and free, you are mistaken,” She spat at him.

Ashiyn started to think maybe Rhadamanthus was right about this one. He sighed and stretched out his hand. He used his magic to grab her and yanked her to him then slammed her against the wall and pressed close to her, pinning her there. “I promise you if I kill you, I will make you suffer far greater than you ever will as my slave. Do not test me. Please me and perhaps I will let you free once I am tired of you.”

She stilled at that,