Chapter 6 #2
I imagine the few kisses I placed on his neck helped a little, and I remind myself that I shouldn’t give him too many if I want him to feel the branding as it takes hold.
My saliva will heal him and it’s a comfort that I’m not sure he’s earned, at least not when it comes to the pain of my mark taking hold.
I want Jude to remember every second as my collar embeds its patterns into him and its runes work their magic, so that it serves as a reminder of who owns him in more ways than one.
A servant enters moments later, carrying a silver tray laden with food. Soren must have sent her. She places the tray on the table and bows before scurrying away, the door shutting behind her with a whisper.
“Go on, then,” Soren calls as he enters, lingering near the door. “Wake him up and feed him, Lorien.”
I scoff, and Soren stares me down.
“I don’t need help,” I muse, grabbing a piece of fruit from the platter. “He was more than willing to indulge me last night. Besides, I’m charming. Everyone knows I’m charming.”
I walk across my chamber and hold the fruit in front of Jude’s mouth, right under his nose. He does not react. Doesn’t move in the slightest. Not even a little. It’s infuriating and I’ll lose my patience if he doesn’t wake soon.
“Wake him up, then feed him, Lorien.”
I hold the fruit closer to Jude’s mouth, the scent of it sharp and sweet. He doesn’t stir. Not even a twitch. My irritation bubbles to the surface, and I resist the urge to shove the fruit into his mouth outright.
“Jude.”
My voice is sharper than intended, but it has the desired effect.
He jolts awake, his eyes wide and wild, chest heaving as though he’s just surfaced from a nightmare.
He takes a moment to orient himself, his gaze darting around the room before landing on me.
Fear flashes in his eyes, quickly replaced by anger.
“Eat,” I command, pushing the fruit between his lips. “Before I tire of feeding you and you go hungry.”
I expect gratitude.
I get none.
He glares at me, defiance sparking in his gaze. Then, to my astonishment, he spits the fruit onto the floor.
Soren snorts from the doorway, clearly amused. “Charming, indeed.”
I don’t bother dignifying his comment with a response. My attention is fixed on Jude, who is now struggling against his chains, his movements clumsy but determined.
“You’ll regret that,” I say coldly, my hand tightening on his jaw to still him. He flinches at the contact, but his glare doesn’t waver.
“I’d rather starve,” he spits, his voice hoarse but filled with venom.
“You’ll do as you’re told,” I snap, my patience thinning. “Whether you like it or not.”
My fingers dig into his skin, and he doesn’t flinch.
“It seems you have a long way to go, Lorien,” Soren says from behind my shoulder.
For a moment, the room is silent save for the distant roar of the ocean. I can feel Soren watching, his presence a quiet reminder of the power dynamics at play. I release Jude’s jaw and straighten, a cruel smile curving my lips.
“Eat, willingly or by force. It matters little to me which way you choose.” I lean closer, my face inches from his.
“We can play this game as long as you’d like, but you will lose, human.
It would be a pity to hurt such a pretty thing, but I am not beyond it if you insist on pursuing this course and testing me. ”
Jude’s breath catches, his defiance faltering for just a heartbeat. It’s enough. I turn away, letting the weight of my words sink in.
I grab the platter of fruit and hold it out to the human who’s staring at me with that look again.
The one that sets me on fire and is more dangerous than I want to admit.
It’s a challenge to my authority and I haven’t seen anything close to it in a while, and it’s making me want to break the fragile human who dares to think he can defy me.
He grabs an apple and bites down hard. The insolent idiot is chewing louder than he needs to, and I’m certain it’s designed to test me.
To see how I’ll respond, and perhaps Jude isn’t quite as stupid as most of the other humans I’ve known.
He’s trying to work out my tells, my responses, and where his boundaries lie.
The human is trying to learn what the rules of my game are, and how to play it so that he survives.
Or wins.
“See, Soren,” I announce, turning in triumph to my advisor. “He’s learning. We’ll get there, eventually.”
Jude chews voraciously, and perhaps he’s hungrier than I thought. He’s devouring that apple like he’s starved, and I wonder how long it has been since his last meal. He’s been in my care for the better part of a day now, and before that, it might have been a day. Maybe more.
His eyes flick down to the platter, and he’s definitely hungry. He doesn’t want to show it, and he knows it’s a weakness, but he can’t stop looking at the food, desperate to eat it. Even though he knows his desperation can be used against him.
And so can my kindness.
“Eat,” I say, softly. “I don’t want you hungry.”
He hesitates and then grabs more fruit, wolfing it down.
I contemplate stroking his hair, but I suspect that would make him pull away.
“Eat as much as you want,” I continue. “Then we’ll bathe you, whether you eat or not.”
My gaze remains fixed on him, daring him to challenge me further. Jude stares back, his chest heaving, his lips pressed into a thin line. For a fleeting moment, I wonder if he’ll submit, or if the fire in his eyes will dim.
It doesn’t, but he grabs another piece of fruit.
Soren chuckles dryly behind me. “A long way to go, indeed.”
I ignore him, plucking a piece of cheese from the silver platter. I take a deliberate bite, my eyes never leaving Jude. I’m letting him see that I control everything here—his life, his comfort, his survival.
It’s a game, and I intend to win.
But it isn’t fair that he doesn’t know the rules.
“You’ll eat and bathe, and we’ll discuss my expectations. My boundaries. Your rules.” I pause as I stare at the human I own, infuriated and intoxicated by his defiance. “And the punishments you can expect for disobedience.”