7. Chapter 7
Chapter seven
Leena
B lind panic flashed through me like a whip. “What are you talking about?”
He grinned with wicked delight. “You’re mine now, little dove.”
“What are you—Why?”
He looked to my side and lifted one hand in a curved, upside-down motion like he was grabbing something and pulling it up. And he did precisely that. Through an invisible power, the vines jutting from the soil moved with the motion of his hand. Slowly, my body rose from the ground; he pulled me forward until I was standing right in front of him on the soil that now held me prisoner.
His eyes fell to the exposed skin of my thigh. At some point, a vine must have whipped against it, slashing it in just the right place so my entire right leg was left without cover. I tried wriggling my wrists and ankles free, swaying my hips to also get the skirt to cover my leg, but none of it amounted to anything. All it did was give a new look of hunger to the monster’s eyes as they swept up my body before meeting my gaze.
“Why what?” His words were clipped, but I could tell he was baiting me. That he was playing some kind of game.
“Why are you doing this to me?”
He stepped so close that it hurt my neck to look up at him, then bent his knees so he could whisper in my ear. “I was told you’d be a perfect companion for me.” His breath was hot on my skin.
“What? By who?”
“The matriarch of your village. When the arrangements were made, I was told of your character.” I’d been so stupid. Ms. Tomlin had played dumb. I’d already been arranged to be a sacrifice. “Thank you for coming to me.” His finger traced my jawline. Even after capturing me and proving that he truly was the monster I’d thought he was, I couldn’t help the involuntary heat that rushed up my legs. And for one brief second, I longed for those lips to once again find my skin. To linger and explore.
I turned away, refusing to look at him. Refusing to feel this way. I had to stay strong. “You’re wrong. I’ll be your greatest antagonist. I’m not a good companion for anyone, much less you.”
He paused before grabbing my chin and forcing me to look at him. His green eyes bore into mine. “I’m never wrong.”
I scowled and jerked from his grasp. “There’s a first time for everything.” A new look of excitement ignited in his eyes .
“Not today.” He stroked up my throat with one finger, flicking it off at my chin, then took a step back. “Now, I have business to take care of, so you be a good girl and wait for my return or to be fetched by one of my servants.”
Fury shot through me like gunfire. I tried lunging forward but was kept back by the vines. “You’re vile. You’re such a…” I gritted my teeth. No words would wound this man. This ghoul. I couldn’t find a word strong enough to satisfy me, but there were a couple my mind kept gravitating to.
He leaned in closer. Something darkened in his eyes. “A what?” My heart sped. My eyes burned. The glare I shot at him would have killed anyone else, but he simply moved closer, challenging me as he said, “Say it.”
“You’re a sick bastard. A monster.” A tear skated down my cheek; he swept it up with a finger and studied it as he rubbed it between his thumb and forefinger.
He swallowed, his Adam’s apple bobbing as he continued to stare at his fingers. Then his eyes met mine. “You’re as feisty as she said,” he chuckled. “Anything else you care to say?”
“Many things.”
After his eyes lingered on me for one more moment, he was gone. And I was left there, alone and confused.
And very, very afraid.
** *
Bratan
You’re a sick bastard. A monster.
My teeth clenched as I weaved between the trees. I gritted them the entire way to the village, my jaw tight and aching when I finally got there. I’d been told the maiden would be wild and that she wanted things a certain way, but the way she acted and what she called me…
I didn’t care for it.
“Master,” a female called out. Her long, earthen hair covered a spherical wooden head; it creaked as she bowed. Others behind her followed her lead. “Are we to believe you have found the maiden you’ve been searching for?”
I thought of the girl. Leena . I thought of the curves of her body and the violent ferocity in her eyes. I’d never seen anyone quite like her before.
“I found a maiden,” I grumbled.
The female creature might have cracked a smile if she hadn’t been so frightened.
“We should set up a bed for her, then. A nice warm meal, too.” The creature glanced behind me. “Where is she, master?”
Chewing on the inside of my cheek, I tried formulating a response. “She’s tied up at the moment. Make the preparations at once. And find Melora. I have questions for her.” I started walking away, but the creature’s voice made me stop. “But Your Majesty, you haven’t even wooed her—”
“Quiet!” I spun around with a look so fierce that the leaves across the female’s head shook uncontrollably. I bent down to look at her, but she didn’t return my gaze. “I said, make the preparations at once. Is that clear? Or are you going to insult me further by questioning my orders?”
“No, Your Majesty. I’ll tell the others.”
I straightened. “Good.” Heart racing, I spun back around, trying not to think about the words my subject had spoken, but it was impossible. I needed a companion. Not a captive.
The thought had already crossed my mind. I required the help of a maiden to keep the forest, and I’d been told it had all been arranged. I was supposed to find one centuries ago, but I didn’t feel it necessary; I’d been told that we leshies—and many other deities—each had a mated soul in our world. I figured that one day I would find her, or she would find me, and that would be that. But centuries had gone by, and no one so much as tempted a second glance.
Until now.
I thought of Leena, the softness of her skin beneath my touch, those full lips, those fleshy hips. Love was the last thing on my mind, especially with a human, let alone one from a village so carelessly desecrating my home. But I couldn’t help indulging in whatever this was. She was to be my companion, after all.
The male Leshy before my father had been wed for millennia, and the forest never had trouble. Things had been growing worse for a long time now. I needed help. It couldn’t be any maiden; no matter how dire things got, I had to be choosy. The Leshy bride had to be someone I could form a strong alliance with. Someone who could do the job right. Despite my strong attraction to her, what made this girl worthy?
My bride would need to both tempt me and be my queen. I could have taken whomever I desired, but none had been suitable. But there was something promising about this girl. Despite only knowing her for a sliver of time, there was something about her I couldn’t shake. She was strong, protective, and she’d been so eager…
The memory of her taste teased my lips, and I could still feel the warmth of her skin. The way her body felt beneath mine. My blood turned white-hot. Maybe I’d been too hasty tying her up. Maybe I should have wooed her as my subject suggested.
I winced. I’d never wooed a maiden before, but…I swept a hand through my hair. No. I couldn’t risk it. Things were escalating with her village, and odd things were happening all throughout the woods. I needed a companion, but I had to be sure she wasn’t a threat—that she was worthy of being in this realm with my people.
I didn’t have a choice. At least, not for now.