Chapter 3
Boris, as I’d heard the others call him a few times, set my cage down in the middle of an oversized room with very little in it aside from a bed and desk. He removed the metal cuffs on my wrists and ankles without ever really touching me. Guess he thought I wouldn’t need them anymore?
But that was it. Then he was gone. Probably went back to guard duty outside the door. He didn’t bother to address me more than “Be good” and “No biting” before he sauntered his way out of my life. But hopefully not forever. The more demons I cozied up to and charmed, the better.
My nerves were shot. Thankfully, my feisty attitude didn’t get me killed.
Yet. If anything, it seemed to resonate in a way I hadn’t expected.
I witnessed scales fading in and out along the naked flesh of two of the three demons.
The one with red hair and tattoos had even shown his fangs.
I suffered a brief moment of fear before violent rage swiftly took its place.
I’d trained for this every day since I was eight. Since my sister went missing, taken by a demon. I never questioned or feared giving my life for the cause. But the sight of humans like myself, bruised, battered, and kneeled at the feet of demons, had rattled me more than I’d ever openly admit.
I’d never felt a fear like it. Not when I was stabbed and nearly killed in a scuffle with the sector gang responsible for hand-picking human sacrifices for the demons.
Not when several of the members took turns raping me as I bled out.
Not when I was left for dead and just barely dragged myself back to the safety of the hideout to live another day.
But today, fear ate away at my confidence. Fear sat in my throat when rage and determination weren’t dominating the senses. I had to do this, but the question was…could I?
Their omnipotent power electrified the air in that room.
Not once in my life had I felt so small and insignificant.
But those demons sitting on their thrones made of glass, metal, and gold acted as though nothing fazed them.
Like nothing and no one could ever hurt them. Like I was a new toy to fight over.
But I was determined to find their weakness. I’d exploit their confidence that no one could ever get to them. I’d do whatever it took to displace and upend these vicious beasts, or I’d fucking die trying.
I readjusted inside the metal cage, the muscles in my body on fire after days of being awkwardly stuffed and crowded in a tiny prison.
But it was more than that. I’d securely wrapped and stuffed a blade in my vagina.
The angle I was forced into made it press painfully against my insides, and no matter what I did, I couldn’t ease the discomfort.
It was worth it, though.
We hadn’t been told when, where, or how it’d happen, but our intel suggested soon. So, I’d kept a dagger up there for several days before my capture. I was glad I hadn’t been tempted to remove it. Being uncomfortable was better than being unarmed in a den full of demons.
I could disarm someone without a weapon to use, but after seeing the strength I was up against, I’d need to be clever. Regular methods for disarming an enemy wouldn’t cut it.
Hours passed, and nothing. Every part of me ached—my limbs, my stomach, my head. I’d thankfully swindled some water from that bastard Boris earlier, but I hadn’t eaten in several days, and my stomach reminded me every chance it got.
There wasn’t anywhere to go to the bathroom in this cage.
Degradation took on a whole new form when you were made to wet and defecate yourself.
I hadn’t had the pleasure of undergoing that sort of shame yet.
I’d been leashed and taken to a bathroom over the last few days.
The urge to go was nearly as torturous as having my fingernails removed at the root.
Finally, the door behind me opened, the heavy wood dragging across stone.
Hopefully they’d remember I was a living, breathing thing and take me to the bathroom, or at least give me some food and water.
If not, I’d get mouthy and demand it. No sense in acting compliant just yet.
I hadn’t any reason to. I’d wait until they tortured me first, then I’d pretend to be more obedient to avoid it.
I turned my head, but I couldn’t see who had come through the door without the top of the cage getting in my way. Someone sighed before large boots came to a stop beside me.
I remember those boots…
“I’d tell you not to run, but you wouldn’t get far even should you try, human,” a deep voice that rolled over my skin like thunder said before the lock holding the metal cage together was removed.
My limbs sprang out. If not for my reflexes, I would’ve whacked my head on the ground the instant the metal holding me gave out. Instead, I was in a crouch before I knew it, cutting a violent look up at the demon standing over me.
His eyes were narrowed with hostile curiosity. I’d forgotten to lean into my angry but helpless woman disguise. My movements gave me away, and I had to hope he wasn’t clever or had abilities that gave him access to my thoughts.
My neck hurt from the angle I’d jerked it into. After being bent toward my chest for several days, the sudden backward curve was slicing pain into my head already.
It couldn’t be helped. This bastard was at least six and a half feet tall.
Maybe taller. It was a little difficult to tell from the ground, but he was absolutely massive.
His throne hadn’t made him seem so large, but on his own, towering over me, he was the biggest enemy I’d ever encountered.
A fucking giant. A beast of myth and legend.
But I refused to let his size get to me.
I wasn’t tiny by any means. I towered over most women, and I’d learned how to use my body to outmaneuver any enemy. I wasn’t terribly worried about evading him. Still, it made my stomach twist to think demons were this large out of their dragon form. I couldn’t imagine how massive they were in it.
Eyes the color of sapphire mixed with specks of black danced around my barely-clothed figure. The tendons in his neck were pulled tight as the silent assessment went on for minutes.
I shivered.
Despite the startling size of him, this demon was gorgeous.
I’d been warned they would be. Stories of them captivating and capturing humans on looks alone preceded them.
But Boris hadn’t been, so I was hoping this one wouldn’t be either.
I wasn’t that lucky. He was so pretty it made it hard to look away and remind myself he was a killer.
A demon.
My enemy.
Silently, the demon folded his massive arms over his door-wide chest and tilted his head to one side.
His long black hair washed over the golden skin peeking out around his neck and arms. He’d pulled part of it back, which meant his gorgeous eyes, aristocratic nose, and lush lips surrounded by a barely-there shadow of hair weren’t obstructed by the silky length.
He hadn’t worn anything spectacular. Definitely not what I’d expect from the Sky Demons leader. Just a black shirt that stretched across massive pectorals and a pair of dark pants.
I’d thought for sure they’d wear capes or something befitting their leadership station. Maybe armor? But to my eternal dismay, minimal armor was another damning discovery.
They didn’t need it.
Fuck.
The look of him made him come across far more dangerous than any other person I’d crossed paths with, including the other demons I’d met so far. Especially after no one fought him for me when they were perfectly happy to fight each other.
Something told me there were very few who were brave enough to challenge him. He might appear more man than beast at first, but the feeling he put into the air was all vicious demon.
Perfect. I couldn’t have asked for a better outcome.
He was trying to figure me out like something didn’t make sense to him. Had he already sensed the truth? No, that wasn’t it. The glow in his sapphire irises wasn’t that of an enemy sizing up a challenger. It was…lust?
His nostrils flared and the muscles along his body strained against the internal war he was waging with himself.
It wasn’t entirely clear what he was fighting, but I’d seen that look of lust before.
This powerful leader was practically broadcasting how much he wanted me.
Why fight it? Why not rape me? Why not take what he wanted? Why was he holding back?
Interesting.
He took a step, and I recovered it with a backward slide, still glaring.
Then again, maybe I’d called it wrong. Maybe he wasn’t planning to fight it.
Maybe he was playing with his prey because he wanted me afraid and desperate to get away.
I’d act the part. Giving in too quickly would set off alarms. He’d wonder why, so I’d put up a fight.
At first. But later, sex would be my weapon.
It didn’t make sense at first; all I smelled was citrus. It was so strong that I briefly wondered if he’d stuffed oranges in his pockets. But of course he hadn’t. I didn’t see food, either. But the smell grew so strong it distracted me from my thoughts.
I hadn’t had fruit in years. So little grew because of the Nuclear Wars during the Fall. The land had barely recovered over the years, so growing food had its challenges. Oranges were one of my favorite things to eat when we managed to get our hands on it, and the smell made my mouth water.
I stiffened in confusion. Gods, it smelled delicious. I blinked away the urge to get closer to the demon. The scent was practically wafting off him in waves. Was it coming from him? But why? What purpose did smelling like oranges serve?
Suddenly, my body was on fire. The place between my legs throbbed and squeezed around the dagger hidden inside it, coming to life in a way it never had. The air was a static shock away from exploding.