Chapter 6
The rumble of voices on the other side of the door suggested he’d put me here to keep their conversation private, but the dagger he’d insisted on giving me before he left me in here was an odd move. Why had he insisted on me having it?
I looked at it, checking the weapon for tracking technology.
Not that I’d know what demons used. Our technology was nearly non-existent since the Fall, but dragon society retained everything from before and even had magical advances on their side.
It wouldn’t surprise me if the metal itself was the tracker.
Nothing screamed out at me, and I’d rather have it than not here in the den of devils. It was beautifully crafted. Something about it made me want to keep it with me everywhere I went. I was bound to the blade when my hand first wrapped around it. I didn’t want to go anywhere without it.
Maybe that was the purpose the dagger served, binding me to its master.
I didn’t know much about their technology, but the gangs running our sector whispered about it.
Through our regular intel collection, they’d insisted that demons were capable of more than what humans could devise before the Fall.
Magic, they called it.
And after knowing that these monstrous men turned into beasts that roamed the skies, breathing fire and conjuring disaster wherever they went, I didn’t think magic was such a far stretch of the imagination.
Nothing about what they did was seen before the Fall. We weren’t even sure if dragons were the only creatures capable of destructive magic. There could be others out there. What we did know was they were the most powerful. They’d reigned for hundreds of years after the Fall without contest.
And now it was my job to pit them against one another.
After hours of observation, I couldn’t figure Onyx out.
Everything he did was contrary to what I knew about demons, what I’d seen with my own two eyes since coming here.
And that scent, that fragrant citrus that saturated the air and destroyed all my mental faculties was a puzzle I couldn’t figure out.
The slick between my thighs grew heavier every second I was bombed by the scent of oranges. Was it a demon trick? A devious scent that rendered their victim helpless and horny?
I’d been suffering for hours, close to begging him to fuck me—and not for the reasons that brought me to enemy territory. Not even for the simple act of endearing myself to him and binding the powerful asshole through sexual manipulation.
I wanted him.
I craved him.
Swallowing, arousal was a hard pulse between my legs.
I clutched the dagger tighter. After several minutes of being free from the seductive scent, I could think again.
My mind hadn’t been much use after the aroma intensified.
I’d kept myself in check, but barely. If it was a trick, he hadn’t acted on it.
Maybe because he expected me to throw myself at him.
And I nearly had.
I brought my legs closer and waited for the voices to either fade or for Onyx to return. Quietly waiting, always in my head, always preparing my next move.
The voices faded after going back and forth for nearly an hour.
Then when another half hour passed and I didn’t sense anyone, I still didn’t leave my spot.
I wouldn’t. I’d sleep here if I had to. Anything to avoid falling prey to the scent of oranges again.
I couldn’t be sure if it was coming from him or the room itself.
My head was resting on my knees when the door to the bathroom opened. I dared a glance at it, and the person who appeared wasn’t who I expected. Onyx wasn’t anywhere in sight.
The female—the dragon who bathed and dressed me—sauntered in, smiling. It wasn’t a devious smile hiding sadistic intentions; it was warm and welcoming, a friendly greeting, and it confused me more than Onyx had.
“Hello, little one,” she murmured, her dark hair falling around her naked shoulders in tiny braided waves.
She was stunning, and I’d thought so when I first laid eyes on her.
Everything about her was captivating. She was taller than I was and toned.
She wore a similar outfit to mine, but a soft yellow instead of my black, and it sang on her dark skin.
Beguiled on glance. If I hadn’t known better, I’d think her an angel instead of a demon.
Her silver eyes beamed down at me as she crouched and offered me her hand. “Are you hungry?”
Even though I was sure her question was a trap, I nodded.
Her smile grew. “Good. I had some food prepared for you, but I think we should eat it somewhere that’s not the bathroom…”
Her little laugh made me smile against my will. “That’s probably ideal. You know, germs and all,” I found myself saying before I could stop the saucy words from leaving my mouth.
She says sitting on said bathroom floor like a filthy street rat.
Her nose scrunched in a way far too adorable for a demon. “So uncivilized. Come on, then. Onyx will be gone for a while, and he’s given me permission to be your night-time companion.”
I kept the staggering surprise I felt from reaching my face.
I’d explored pleasure and sex with women before.
Rebels often performed for our targets. The leaders had us learn the art of seduction as early as possible, and it was sometimes easier touching women than men.
I didn’t fear them hurting me, and generally women were gentle lovers.
I hadn’t met one yet who wasn’t. But it was rare to have one as a target unless said target asked for it.
I hadn’t considered that I might be commanded to be a female demon’s partner.
It was silly to respond so strongly to the thought.
Iris, as she’d asked me to call her while she washed the filth from my body, had been tender in every way imaginable.
Even when she had no reason to be. I could endear myself to her and capture secrets in her bed.
It would be far easier than some of the male demons here.
“I will do my best to please you,” I whispered softly, aiming for compliance. I hoped being more open to her touch would mean she’d want me again and Onyx would let her. “It’s been a while since I’ve pleasured a woman, but I’m a quick learner,” I added, casting hopeful eyes up at her.
Her lips twitched, then she started to laugh.
And loudly. “Oh no, my sweets. I hadn’t meant—I can see why you’d think as much.
But I promise you, you’re safe with me. You’ll never be forced to do anything when we’re together.
Not ever.” Her laughter died. “I hope to be a safe place for you here, as I am with many of the human females.”
Confused again, I tilted my head. “A safe place? From what?”
She didn’t answer me, just offered me her hand again. I took it and she helped me to my feet. Without another word, she led me out of Onyx’s room and headed to another part of the castle.
The demons we encountered cast their eyes down or away as we passed.
It was a little odd to watch. They didn’t look at her like I expected them to, and no one taunted or glanced my way either.
I was given the freedom to look wherever I wished, and I did as I did before—I marked rooms guarded and internally mapped the space, storing it away for another day.
The number of sentries was surprising. I expected more, and yet very few guarded the doors around the castle. Maybe because they had technology that aided them more than guards would. Something to check before I got myself in trouble.
Iris took a small corridor into a short line of doors, and then she pushed one open before gesturing me in ahead of her.
I only hesitated for a second before going inside.
I couldn’t be sure what safety she thought she could offer, but it made it easier to become her friend this way.
If I could work myself into her heart, I’d discover how to destroy the males around her.
Maybe she was a slave like me. Maybe female dragons were treated the same way as humans. But so far she had more freedom than any of the humans did, so I wasn’t entirely sure. Onyx appeared to have a soft spot for her. Perhaps she was his lover and I was taken as a pet for her.
A gift.
The room was far more decorated than Onyx’s was.
It was cozy, albeit smaller. It didn’t appear to be the quarters of someone enslaved.
It was one kept by someone valued, loved, and shown respect.
It cemented my theory that she was his lover.
Maybe one of many. Maybe the only one. Though, she was the first female demon I’d seen since coming here.
I only knew she was one because she said as much to me.
A table full of food was set up in a corner of the room. Iris motioned to it with another one of her warm smiles. “Have a seat…uh, what would you prefer I call you, little one?”
I hadn’t expected to use my name again. I didn’t even use it as a Rebel.
I always assumed an alias. I thought I’d buried my name along with my future when I was taken in the middle of the night.
So, I took longer than a few minutes to conjure the name I’d been given by my mother who’d died when I was young and used affectionately by my sister before she was taken from me.
“Mazikeen,” I finally answered after an awkward few-minute stare. “But…you can call me Maze.”
Another tactic of familiarity.
Iris beamed at me, her dress fluttering as she moved around the room like a creature of the forest. “That’s a beautiful name, Maze.
” She giggled to herself and walked to the table before noticing I’d stayed near the door.
“Come, come. I promise tonight you’re safe.
You’ll eat, sleep, and tell me everything about where you’ve come from. I want to know your story, Maze.”
Now it all made sense. She was gentle and kind to break me down, to find out what secrets I kept. I calmed a little at the thought. It was much easier to battle an opponent than to consider the novelty of a kind demon.